Katarina Zoricic 2003 News

Katarina Zoricic 2003 News
Wednesday 8/6/03
Since Wimbledon (perhaps even during), Katarina has had a bit of a knee problem - but that seems to be now clearly solved, based on a GREAT VICTORY today!
Today was the 1st Round of Pre-Qualifying for the Rogers AT&T Cup (Canada Open) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, North America - a Tier I WTA event, with $1,325,000 in prize money.
The Pre-Qualifying is being played at York University, in Toronto. There are 4 players participating in the 2-Round Pre-Qualifying: Katarina Zoricic, Sonya Jeyaseelan, Melanie Gloria, and Monika Dancevik.
In the 1st Round, it was Jeyaseelan vs. Dancevik (Jeyaseelan won) and Zoricic vs. Gloria.
In Kat's match, Melanie took the 1st set 6-4, then went up a break in the 2nd set, and, perhaps some who don't know Katarina may have thought the match was nearing an end at that point. But it wasn't! Kat came back to take this 2nd set 6-4 (turnabout is fair play!). So each had a 6-4 set, and a 3rd set would decide the match. Kat won the 3rd 6-2! YEA! Very well done, Kat!
Tomorrow will be vs. Jeyaseelan for the sole Pre-Qualifier to move into Qualifying. Jeyaseelan is an experienced player - probably "hungry". The pressure will be on Jeyaseelan.
WIN AGAIN, Katarina! And HAVE FUN!
Thursday 8/7/03
Today was the 2nd (and Final) Round of Pre-Qualifying for the Rogers AT&T Cup (Canada Open), a Tier I 1.325M WTA event, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, North America (the Pre-Qualifying is being played at York University).
It was Katarina Zoricic vs. Sonya Jeyaseelan for the opportunity to participate in the actual Qualifying.
Jeyaseelan took the 1st set 6-3, but then Kat took the 2nd 6-2, and Kat had the lead in games, and seemed to have the momentum.
The 3rd set (clearly a great show for the crowd!) went to 5-5, but then Jeyaseelan took the last two games, and the match: 7-5. Oh well...
Even so, these were 2 GREAT matches for Katarina, in the Pre-Qualifying for a very MAJOR Tournament! In both matches, Kat came back from a set down to force a 3rd set. GREAT SHOWS for the crowds! The victory in 1st Round was very impressive, and the 3rd set in 2nd Round was clearly very close!
VERY WELL DONE, Kat!
And I hope it was FUN!
Saturday 8/9/03
GOOD NEWS (kind-of) from Toronto!
Despite losing (barely, though) in 2nd (Final) Round Pre-Qualifying, Kat got a "Wild-Card" into actual Qualifying at the Rogers AT&T Cup (Toronto Open), a Tier I WTA tournament with $1,325,000 in prize money. YEA! (Melanie Gloria, who lost to Kat in 1st Round Pre-Qualifying, also got into Qualifying as a "Wild-Card", as did Monika Dancevik, who lost to Jeyaseelan in 1st Round.)
In 1st Round Qualifying, today, Kat (unseeded) faced the #22 seed, Janet Lee of Taipei, an experienced player.
Well, Lee went up at least 2-0 in the 1st set, but Kat came back (somehow, some), but Lee took this 1st set: 6-2. Kat then went up 3-0 in the 2nd set, but Lee then won 6-in-a-row to take the 2nd set, and the match: 6-3. Oh well...
An observer of this match reports that both players played "very well" and that it was "closer than it seemed". The outcome was a combination of the "experience" of JL and "silly errors" by KZ, according to this observer.
Even so, there was clearly some EXCITEMENT for the crowd - and watching Kat play is always a TREASURE! Katarina acquired many new fans today!
WELL DONE, Kat!
And I hope it was some FUN!
Thursday 8/21/03
This week, Katarina has done some GREAT things at the Metro Label Under-18 (Juniors) Canadian Outdoor Nationals, playing both Singles and Doubles, in Downsview, Ontario, Canada, North America.
In Singles, Kat was seeded #3, and drew a "bye" in the Round of 64. In the Round of 32, Kat profoundly defeated (unseeded) Alizee Paradis: 6-1, 6-1. YEA! The Round of 16 Victory was almost as impressive: Katarina Zoricic d. Stephanie Wetmore: 6-3, 6-1. YEA YEA! In the Quarters, Kat got another EXCELLENT victory, this time over the #8 seed, Valerie Tetreault: 6-4, 6-1. YEA YEA YEA!
In the Semis, it was Katarina Zoricic (seeded #3) vs. Stephanie Dubois (seeded #1). Well, this one went to Dubois (not an upset!): 6-3, 6-2. Oh well...
Even so, this was 3 GREAT Victories for Kat! VERY WELL DONE, Kat!
In Doubles, Katarina teamed with Ekatarina Shulaeva, and they were seeded #2. In the Round of 32 ZS drew a "bye". In the Round of 16 it was Zoricic/Shulaeva d. (unseeded) Sydney Lederhouse/Mariko Wakefield: 6-1, 6-1. WOW and YEA! In the Quarters it was ZS d. (unseeded) Anna Leonenko/Leyla Morzan: 6-2, 6-2. YEA and YEA!
The Semis were the #2 seeded team of Zoricic/Shulaeva vs. the #4 seeded team of Eunice David/Melanie Gloria. Well, this went to DG in a walkover/injury (tonight I have no further details).
Even so, this was clearly a very GREAT Tournament for Katarina, with many GREAT victories, in both Singles and Doubles. And I hope it was MUCH FUN!
Tuesday 9/2/03
Only the Very Greatest Tennis Players, in the Entire World, play at the US Open. Katarina Zoricic is one of them - and that is entirely appropriate!
Kat is playing in the Juniors Tournament, both Singles and Doubles.
In 1st Round Singles, it will be Katarina Zoricic (unseeded) vs. Neha Uberoi (USA - also unseeded), maybe tomorrow. Win, Kat, WIN!
In 1st Round Doubles, it will be Katarina Zoricic/Megan Moulton-Levy (seeded #5) vs. (unseeded) Jennifer Elie (USA)/Sesil Karatancheva (BUL), also, maybe, tomorrow. Win Kat/Megan, WIN!
And HAVE FUN!
Thursday 9/4/03
GOOD NEWS from New York!
In 1st Round Girls' Singles at the US Open today, it was Katarina Zoricic d. Neha Uberoi (USA), both unseeded: 6-3, 6-4. YEA!
(This match was originally scheduled for Monday, then Tuesday, then Wednesday, and was finally played today, after being moved from a "regular" court to Auxiliary Court #1 (probably an indoor court)).
In 2nd Round Singles, it will be Katarina Zoricic (unseeded) vs. Katerina Bondarenko (UKR - seeded #15), probably(!) tomorrow. Win again, Kat, WIN AGAIN!
It may be that Girls' Doubles will actually be cancelled, after three and a half days of rain, considering that no one has yet played 1st Round, but if there is a 1st Round Doubles, it will be Katarina Zoricic/Megan Moulton-Levy (seeded #5) vs. (unseeded) Jennifer Elie (USA)/Sesil Karatancheva (BUL), also, maybe, tomorrow. Win Kat/Megan, WIN!
HAVE FUN, Kat!
Friday 9/5/03
Kat played a GREAT match in New York today, but lost. Oh well...
In 2nd Round Girls' Singles at the US Open today, it was Katarina Zoricic (unseeded) vs. Katerina Bondarenko (UKR - seeded #15). Well, KB took it: 6-4, 6-4. But Kat made it VERY close! Hooray for that!
It was the 1st match of the day on Court #9, scheduled for 11am, but didn't start until more like 11:30 (for some reason). There was no hint (or expectation) of rain.
It went like this (KB served 1st): 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 4-6, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 4-6. Oh well...
In more detail: KB held the 1st game (unknown how), then Kat was broken, sometime after 15-30: 0-2. Then KB went up 30-0, KZ came back to 30-30, then KB held after 40-30: 0-3. Kat then went up 30-0, and it went 30-15, 40-15, 40-30, deuce, add-KZ, hold: 1-3. Then KB held at love, and Kat went up 40-0, and finally held after 40-30: 2-4. Then KB went down 0-30, then it went 15-30, 15-40, break: 3-4, back on serve. But then Kat went down 0-30, came back to 30-30, but was broken after 30-40: 3-5. KB's 5th service game went just like her 4th - 0-15, 0-30, 15-30, 15-40, break: 4-5. In Kat's 5th service game, she went up 15-0, then Java Scoreboard briefly showed 30-0, then it showed 15-0 again, then 30-15, 30-30, 30-40 (set point for KB), deuce, add-KB, break: 4-6. Oh well...
In the 2nd set: KB went up 15-0, then it went 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 30-40, break: 1-0. YEA! But then Kat went down 0-40, and was broken after 15-40: 1-1. Then KB went up 30-0, but Kat got the break with 4 straight points: 2-1. YEA! But then Kat was broken at love: 2-2. Then, KB serving, it went 0-15, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 40-30, hold: 2-3. Then, KZ serving, it went 15-0, 15-15, 15-30, 30-30, 40-30, deuce, add-KZ, hold: 3-3. Then KB went up 40-0, and held after 40-15: 3-4. Then Kat went down 0-30, came back to 40-30, but was broken after a deuce: 3-5. With KB serving for the match, the score went 0-15, 15-15, 15-30, 15-40, 30-40, break: 4-5. Then Kat served, and went up 15-0, but KB took the game, and set, and match, with 4 straight points: 4-6. Oh well...
This was not an upset (seeded defeated unseeded - big deal), and there seemed to be many long points, and it seemed Kat was "in it" throughout. That's good!
It is very nice, and impressive, that Kat was able to break 5 of KB's 10 service games, but it is distressing (and surprising) that Kat was able to hold only 3 of her 10 service games.
Anyway: It was clearly a GOOD SHOW for the crowd, and, hopefully, MUCH FUN for everyone!
This was a good US Open for Katarina. There was a good victory, and a close loss which Kat was not "expected" (by the seeders) to win. So, whatever...
(By the way, the Girls' Doubles was cancelled due to the three and a half days of almost constant rain this week. No Girls' Doubles matches were played. Katarina Zoricic/Megan Moulton-Levy were seeded #5. Oh well...)
Now it's probably some School Days for Kat. Get some A's! And ENJOY LEARNING!
Friday 9/12/03
Next week, Katarina will be in Essen, Germany, Europe, playing Junior (16 and under) Fed Cup. Matches start Tuesday 9/16.
Kat's Canadian teammates will be Ekaterina Shulaeva and Aleksandra Wozniak.
All 3 Canadians are 16; Kat is the oldest.
Oh, Canada! WIN!
And HAVE FUN!
Tuesday 9/16/03
Today, in Essen, Germany, Europe, the Canadian Team played 1st Round in the Junior Fed Cup Finals (clay courts, by the way).
And Canada won! YEA!
Sixteen nations are participating (some advanced through Qualifying - Canada is seeded #2 in the Finals, so didn't have to Qualify) in 4 Groups. Canada is in Group #4 - the top seed (of course!) in that group. Each day's "tie" consists of 2 consecutive singles, and then a doubles, which may or may not be decisive, but is expected to be played anyway.
Today was Canada (seeded #2) vs. Russia (unseeded). Ekaterina Shulaeva (CAN) d. Ekaterina Kirianova (RUS): 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. YEA! (This was the longest of the 24 matches played today: 2 hours, 16 minutes). Then Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS): 6-1, 6-3. YEA! This put Canada up 2-0, so the "tie" victory was theirs already, but the doubles provided an opportunity for another point. Unfortunately, Ekaterina Kosminskaya/Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) d. Katarina Zoricic/Ekaterina Shulaeva (CAN): 6-3, 6-3. Oh well - but Shulaeva was probably very tired!
SO: Canada won: 2-1! YEA!
Tomorrow will be Canada (seeded #2) vs. Thailand (unseeded). But Thailand d. Brazil (seeded #8) today, with a split in singles, then a decisive doubles victory. Hmmm....
Thursday will be Canada (seeded #2) vs. Brazil (seeded #8).
Win, Canada, WIN!
And HAVE FUN!
Wednesday 9/17/03
GOOD NEWS today from Essen, Germany, Europe! Yesterday, at the Junior Fed Cup (16 and under), two of the four teams in Group 4 won, and two lost (obvious, eh?). The two teams which won yesterday, Canada (seeded #2) and Thailand (unseeded) played each other today (and the two teams who lost yesterday, Brazil (seeded #8) and Russia (unseeded) played each other - this was not by design, per se, it just worked out that way).
Canada won! YEA!
In the 1st match, Ekaterina Shulaeva (CAN) d. Nudnida Luangnam (THA): 6-4, 6-0. YEA! In the 2nd match, Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Pichittra Thongdach (THA): 6-3, 6-4. YEA!
SO: Canada was already up 2-0, and, like yesterday, the doubles would not decide the outcome of today's "tie". Yet, the doubles match would, no doubt, be a "real" match for all involved: a "point" was involved, after all!
In the doubles, it was Katarina Zoricic/Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) vs. Nudnida Luangnam/Varanya Vijuksanaboon (THA). KZ/AW (CAN) won: 6-2, 6-2. YEA!
Although today's win 3-0 over Thailand assured that Canada had won Group 4, and would play in Friday's Semi's, tomorrow's matches vs. Brazil (seeded #8 - the first seeded team that Canada will face in this Tournament) will provide an opportunity for Canada to demonstrate that they are "for real".
Win again, Canada, WIN AGAIN!
And HAVE FUN!
Thursday 9/18/03
VERY GOOD NEWS today from Essen!
Today, in the final Round Robin round of the 16-nation portion of the Junior Fed Cup (despite Canada already being the winner of Group 4, based on victories in the past 2 days), Canada clearly showed substantial quality with an awesome victory over it's 1st encounter with a seeded team: Brazil (seeded #8).
And Kat was a HUGE part of it! In the 1st match, it was Katarina Zoricic (CAN) d. Brunha Cunha (BRA): 6-0, 6-1. YEA! (And WOW!) Then Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Teliana Periera (BRA): 6-2, 6-0. YEA! (And, also, WOW!)
In doubles, it was Katarina Zoricic/Ekaterina Shulaeva (CAN) d. Bruna Paes/Bruna Cunha: 6-0, 6-3. YEA! (And, yet again, WOW!)
SO: Canada won today: 3-0! YEA! And Kat was a big part of it! Only Kat was involved in two of today's three wins.
The Semi's, tomorrow, will be The Netherlands (seeded #1) vs. Poland (seeded #3) and Canada (seeded #2) vs. Israel (seeded #5 - who defeated the USA, seeded #4, in a very gutsy performance today).
Win again, Canada, WIN AGAIN!
And HAVE FUN!
(And here's a pic! (Copyright 2003 Ulrich Borchel))
Friday 9/19/03
EXCELLENT NEWS from Essen today!
In the Semi's of the Junior Fed Cup today, Canada d. Israel: 2-1. And it was very dramatic - and Kat was (at least!) a big part of today's win!
In the 1st match today, Ekaterina Shulaeva (CAN) d. Efrat Zlotikman (ISR): 6-1, 6-3. YEA! But then Sharar Peer (ISR) d. Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN): 6-3, 6-7(3-7), 6-3. (This match lasted 2 hours, 26 minutes!)
So it came down to the doubles: Katarina Zoricic/Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) vs. Sharar Peer/Efrat Zlotikman (ISR) to determine which team would be in the Finals.
SO: Zoricic/Wozniak (CAN) d. Peer/Zlotikman (ISR): 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 - in a match which MUST have been a HUGE show for the crowd. SO: Canada won: 2-1! YEA! And HOORAY!
Canada's Team Captain, Ms. Rene Simpson, said that a "fresh pair of legs .. paid off" (that means Kat), and that she has "three girls of equal standard".
In the other Semi, The Netherlands (seeded #1) d. Poland (seeded #3), as expected (although it was not a "cakewalk").
After a day of rest tomorrow, the Finals, Sunday, will be Canada (seeded #2) vs. The Netherlands (seeded #1). Sunday will likely be a day which hundreds, or thousands, of spectators will always treasure because of the quality of the matches that they will see. But it will be more special for the 6 players playing than it will be for anyone else.
Win this Junior Fed Cup, Canada, WIN IT!
And HAVE FUN!
(And here's a pic! (Copyright 2003 Giorgio Maiozzi))
Sunday 9/21/03
Canada's Junior Fed Cup Team is one of the two best in the world!
Today, in the Final of the Junior Fed Cup in Essen, Germany, Europe (on clay), it was Netherlands (seeded #1) vs. Canada (seeded #2). Both Teams had won on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
In the 1st match, Ekaterina Shulaeva (CAN) d. Bibiane Schoofs (NED) profoundly: 6-1, 6-3. YEA! (And WOW!) Then Michaella Krajicek (NED) d. Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN): 6-0, 7-5. (Oh well...)
(Actually, the 2nd set of this match was very close, with AW up 5-4, serving for the set, then, later, MK needed 4 match-points to make it 7-5 instead of 6-6. MK was "the elephant in the room" all week - yeah, she's HIS sister...)
SO: again it would be decided by the Doubles. Well, BS/MK (NED) d. KZ/AW (CAN): 6-1, 6-4. Oh well...
(The 2nd set of this match was also quite close. Canada had at least 1 chance to make 5-4 into 5-5 with a break-point, but, oh well...)
After the match, Canada's Team Captain, Ms. Rene Simpson, said that Canada was a "very happy team" all week, and, today, "Both players were nervous in the Doubles, they had their chances but couldn't quite pull it off.".
This whole Junior Fed Cup was truly a tremendous VICTORY for ALL 3 of Canada's players! Great experience! And, hopefully, VERY MUCH FUN!
(And here's another pic! (Copyright 2003 Ulrich Borchel))
Friday 10/24/03
Kat dipped her toe into the "Big Time" (good song by Neil Young of Canada, by the way) of Pro WTA today.
And Kat got a WIN! YEA!
Today was the 1st Round of Qualifying for the Advanta Championships, a $585,000 Tier II WTA Tournament, hard-court, indoors, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, North America.
The 3rd match on Court #7 was Katarina Zoricic (Wild Card - WTA unranked) vs. Kelly Hyndman (USA - WTA ranked #633), both unseeded.
Kat won: 6-4, 6-4! YEA! And HOORAY!
This victory earned Kat 1 WTA Singles point, and $625. Don't spend it all in one place, gal!
Tomorrow, again on Court #7, but this time the 1st match, it will be Katarina Zoricic vs. Teryn Ashley (USA - seeded #6 - WTA ranked #130).
This seems likely to be more of a challenge for Kat than the 1st Round was, but looks like at least a possible thing, especially if Kat can get an early lead.
Win again, Kat, WIN AGAIN! And HAVE FUN!
Saturday 10/25/03
Today Kat (an unseeded Wild Card - WTA unranked) played 2nd Round Qualifing at the $585,000 Tier II WTA Advanta Championships - a hard-court indoors Tournament in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, North America.
In the 1st match on Court #7 today, it was Kat vs. Teryn Ashley (USA - seeded #6 - WTA ranked #130). Well, TA took it (and fairly handily, apparently): 6-1, 6-0. Oh well...
This may have just been a matter of a "bad day" for Kat, but it may more likely be that Kat was valuably shown what is involved in passing through the #130 level on her way to the Top 10.
Tier IV's can also be FUN, Kat! Getting A's in school can be FUN, too!
Anyway: take care, be good, and HAVE FUN! You're a real PLAYER now, Kat!
Tuesday 11/18/03
It looks like Katarina will be challenging many of the world's best Juniors for 3 weeks in a row, beginning December 1st.
Kat is on the Main Draw Entry Lists of the Eddie Herr (Grade 1, Bradenton, FL, December 1-7), the USTA International Winter Championships (Grade 1, Key Biscayne, FL, December 8-14), and the Orange Bowl (Grade A, Key Biscayne, FL, December 15-21).
If Kat can do well in 1 of these 3 Tournaments, then that will be SIGNIFICANT!
If Kat can do well in 2 of these 3 Tournaments, then that will be GREAT!!
If Kat can do well in all of these 3 Tournaments, then that will be AWESOME!!!
Win, Kat, WIN! And HAVE FUN!
(By the way, 42 new pics of Kat, from May of this year, have recently been posted to the picture galleries. These 42 pictures were all taken by the very talented photographer Roland Charles Goodman.)
Go: to next KZ 2003 News: click here!