CHARLESTON: A Heroine Returns On Tuesday Night - 網球

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CHARLESTON: A Heroine Returns On Tuesday Night
11/04/2006:

The classic historic American city of Charleston, SC is playing host to the
world's best clay courters. Justine will be retracing her terre battue map of
cities she conquered, and it all starts on Tuesday night 7pm on center court
against Austrian Sybille Bammer. The queen of clay will no doubt get alot of
encouragement from the local crowd as she returns not only as the 2005 Roland
Garros champion, but the defending title holder of the Family Circle Cup.


The Belgian virtuoso, and players were out in ernest this weekend practicing
their timing, sliding, and swings preparing for the first Tier 1 matches for
the clay season. Justine will certainly be encouraged by the Charleston
tennis public. The city paper, and official newspaper of record to the Family
Circle Cup, The Post and Courier has seen many champions in their tournament.
Justine is the only player of her generation to have won Roland Garros twice,
and to have graced their event as a launch pad to the Paris crown. She will
surely get a heroine's return welcome, and out to please them with more of
her dashing ways.

Justine will first have to defeat Sybille Bammer (WTA# 59), a player which
she has never met before. The Austrian defeated Czech Iveta Benesova in two
sets 6-4 6-1 on Monday. Bammer had her first career semi-final in the Pattaya
hardcourt earlier in the season. The Austrian left hander will celebrate her
27th birthday later this month on April 27th. She's also had a good run this
year at Indian Wells defeating Zheng, Jankovic, but halted by Martina Hingis
in the 3rd round. And a career best showing in a grand slam reaching the 3rd
round. An interesting side note to Bammer is that she's one of the few on
tour with a young child; a girl that was born in 2001.

Feeling the Love in Charleston?
The early hardcourt season started out incredibly well, but in the American
leg of the tour Justine lost to Elena Dementieva in three hard hitting sets
(6-2 5-7 5-7) that lasted three hours at Indian Wells, California, and
wearily lost to Meghann Shaughnessy (5-7 4-6) in Miami. The world's most
amazing 1-handed backhand has recharged her batteries during her two week
break, and looking to reclaim the glory which is rightfully hers. As her
rivals are all too aware, the Roland Garros champion is the most dangerous
when she has been down.

Justine's clay match history is one of the best. The breakout year was 2003
with everything starting in South Carolina. Justine defeated Serena Williams
in Charleston in two easy sets for the trophy, and again defeating the great
American in Paris at the semi-final in a historic thriller of three sets to
crowning glory for her first grand slam at Roland Garros. 2004 was Justine's
lost year unable to defend her titles due to illness, but 2005 presented an
outstanding 24-0 unbeaten record.

Will Justine Reign Supreme Again in 2006?
The answer to this question, and many more will be unveiled in Charleston,
and the weeks ahead in Europe.

Cheer on the Belgian all court virtuoso as she tries to win her third Family
Circle Cup trophy in Charleston. Our chatroom will be open to supporters for
live scoring match frenzy, and lively conversation.


Allez Justine!

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