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Thursday's Featured Matches
No. 1 Seed Maria Sharapova vs Michaella Krajicek - not before 2 PM
Sybille Bammer vs No. 2 Seed Jelena Jankovic - 7 PM
No. 3 Seed Ana Ivanovic vs Lucie Safarova - following 2 PM match
No. 4 Nadia Petrova vs Katarina Srebotnik - 11 AM
No. 9 Elena Dementieva vs No. 5 Daniela Hantuchova - second match, following Petrova/Srebotnik
Today's Notes:
Mara Santangelo retired from today's match with a left foot injury. Eleni Daniilidou retired due to breathing difficulty.
Tomorrow will be the 11th career meeting between Elena Dementieva and Daniela Hantuchova and the first in 2007. Dementieva leads the series 7-3 and has won four of the last five
meetings. The two also met in 2005 at the East West Classic and Hantuchova prevailed 6-3, 6-4. Four of their 10 meetings have been three set matches.
This is the second time Dementieva has played in the East West Bank Classic. She won the singles championship last year, a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over runner up Jelena Jankovic.
For Jankovic, this is her fourth time playing in Los Angeles. She also competed in 2002 and 2004.
Thursday Preview:
No. 1 Seed Maria Sharapova vs Michaella Krajicek
- These players have never faced each other at the East West Bank Classic
- Sharapova is currently ranked No. 2 in the world while Krajicek is currently ranked No. 34
- This is their third career meeting and the second in 2007; Sharapova has won both previous matches
Sybille Bammer vs No. 2 Seed Jelena Jankovic
- This is their fifth career meeting and first at the East West Bank Classic
- Jankovic holds a 3-1 series edge in previous meetings; The two played each other three times a
year ago
- Jankovic is currently ranked No. 3 in the world and Bammer is No. 20
No. 3 Seed Ana Ivanovic vs. Lucie Safarova
- Ivanovic entered the week ranked No. 5 in the world and Safarova No. 24
- This will be the first time the two have ever faced each other
No. 4 Nadia Petrova vs. Katarina Srebotnik
No. 9 Elena Dementieva vs. No. 5 Daniela Hantuchova
Dementieva Quotes
I feel good. I still remember last year when I was playing here - It is nice to be back in Los Angeles.
It is a very special feeling to come back as a defending champion. I have so many great memories in my mind. It is nice to play in a stadium that you like to play and in front of a
crowd you like to play. It is a special feeling.
Jelena Jankovic Quotes
For me the first round matches are really tough. I came in cold and did not practice for the last four days. I did not feel so hot. I did not know how I was going to perform I did
okay but I need to get back in shape again and get my rhythm back.
I managed to serve out the games I needed. When I needed to play good I did. I am still not happy with my game.
I am still not 100% but I am hanging in here and am quite excited to get back do my job. I was in bed and taking my medicine. Just last night I finished my antibiotics I have been
talking to the players and a lot of people have had it (being sick). Better now then the U.S. Open.
I was proud of myself. I felt like I was in slow motion out there. When the fastball came to me, I was swinging late. I felt a little bit like I was late and did not know where my
body was going. It is normal after being sick I cannot expect my body to fly like a butterfly.
I want to get in as many matches in as I can on hard court and get ready for the U.S. Open.
Eleni Danilidou Quotes
I have had a virus for four days. Of course I wanted to try. Maria has been playing so good lately. I was trying... I was taking antibiotics for four days and it was not helping
much. I wanted badly to play. We had a good fight in the first set. The first round yesterday was tough. I did not practice at all (for the last few days). We work hard to play
against the top players and I do my best.
Maria Sharapova Quotes
Fingers crossed I am feeling okay. In the beginning of the second set you could definitely tell, the points were shortly. In the first set she was hitting the backhand big. I
expected her to come out strong. She is quite dangerous. The court was playing a little faster than the practice court.
After two days off I should be fresh. This was the first match after winning a title so it takes getting used to a different atmosphere. You try and adapt as soon as you can. I
was doing the right things. When I was up 5-4 I missed a few easy balls. Other than that I feel I did not do too much wrong before that. (On difficulty of winning back to back
tournament). If I win it here then I will let you know. I feel better and my confidence increases the more I keep winning.
Ana Ivanovic Quotes
I am really happy with my performance. It was my first performance of the tournament. She had a few matches behind her already this week. I was a little nervous. I served some
good serves and some important points. I was really happy with that too. Hopefully tomorrow I can play even better.
I had a good feeling... I tried to look for my forehand. I still need a few matches to get in good form. I am still feeling confident. I was really happy today. It was a good
test. I am happy it is behind me now. (On tomorrow's match) I think I played her in juniors but that was some time ago. It is important to play my game and to try and bring more
power. It is definitely not going to be an easy match for me.
Media Resources:
- The Press room phone number is (310) 630-4051 or (310) 630-4052
- The press fax number is (310) 630-4058
- Parking Passes are available in the press room each evening for the following day
- Media that need to pick up credentials may do so at the white tent, next to lot #15
- Please note all media must enter through the Southwest media gate
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