Jelena started as good as I have hardly seen her playing before. She just demolished Panova. Her first serves were the fastest of all players who were playing at Filderstadt today, and they were pretty save, too!

If she needed her second serve they came faster as most of Panovas first serves, and until Jelena was 5-0 up (3 breaks!) she did not serve a single double fault.

After leading 5-0, Jelena slowed a little bit down, had one double fault, one unf. error and one unlucky ball, where she hit the ball with her frame and nearly hurt a spectator, and got broke for 5-1 but got the re-break right away to win the first set 6-1.

Jelena was playing perfect tennis and many spectators left after the first set for court 3, where a doubles match was going on, because Panova just did not have a chance to get into the match.

After that i am not sure what happened. I got the chance to talk to Jelenas double partner Nadja Petrova after the match, and so I decided to ask her for advice:

J-D.com: Nadja, did you see the match?
Petrova: Only the beginning.
J-D.com: But you know the result, right?
Petrova: Yes
J-D.com: Can you explain me what happened? How could Jelena loose that match?
Petrova: You know, Panova i a tough opponent. Really hard to play against. She is fighting for every ball, and as soon as you allow her to get into the match, its very hard to play her.
J-D.com: Jelena did not play very well in the last weeks. As you are a good friend of her, do you know if anything is wrong with Jelena?
Petrova: It has been a long season, especially for her. Maybe she is just tired.
J-D.com: "Maybe" tired sounds like you dont know. But I am sure that you know.
Petrova: I cant tell you anything else.....
J-D.com: Different subject. Your doubles performance with Jelena was terrific. Will you play with her again.
Petrova: Yes, definately
J-D.com: On a regular base, or just when you enter the same tournaments.
Petrova: No, we try to play doubles on a reguar base in future.
J-D.com: Will you try to qualify for the Wta-Championships in doubles?
Petrova: We will try, its definately possible.
J-D.com: This year or next year?
Petrova: No no, in 2002 it probably wont happen. We have only one result until now. The time to the Champs is just to short. But in 2003 its quite possible.
J-D.com: Thank you very much

(Parts of that interview were answered not by Nadja, but by her coach)