'Jelena,You Have a Great Future Ahead''

         Yesterday,Jelena claimed her first title of  the year by a straight-sets win over Tatiana Panova  of Russia in the final of the Sarasota Open.  It is the first title of her career on the USA  tennis courts,and it is her first title as the  number one seed.With this title,Jelena showed to  herself that she can beat tricky player in a  row,that she needs very little to gain her  confidence,and what is most important,that she is  ''on the road'' again.  ''To play entire tournament without getting  injured,and to get my first win this year is  nice.''-said Jelena.  ''I was able to adjust to clay and play my game,and  not let anyone change my game,because clay can do  that to you.Even though I hit pretty hard,I feel  like my game is very suited for clay.''-she  finished.  In the whole match,everything was up to  Jelena.Tatiana was very nervous,she double faulted  at some crucial points,and if you look at the scoreboard,the scoreline was deceiving.Jelena and  Tatiana went to deuce five times in the first  set,and Tatiana won only one of them.What was good  for Tatiana,is her great fitness.She was so fast on  the court,trying to catch Jelena's powerful  shots,but as she lost the first set,in the second it  was all about Jelena.  Once again,Jelena's power on the court made the  difference,as Panova was blown away:  ''I was running all over,but she played a good match  and I expect her to win.I was always on second  serve,but the point was already over.I'm just  pushing the ball in,and she is too good for  that''-said Tatiana.  Whit this title,Jelena also collected the $22.000  top prize,and what is also interesting,for the first  time in her career,she won the doubles with Elena  Likhovtseva.That was Jelena's second career doubles  titles,which didn't look like possible at the  beginning of the match.Jelena and Elena were 5:2  up,but Conchita and Callens fought back to win the  first set 7:5.Than,Jelena and Elena took next two  sets 6:3,6:3.  After the match,Elena (laughing) said that Jelena's  regular partner is Conchita,and that they will not  play next week.  What can we say now?Congratulations Jelena,and maybe  Panova's words can tell as all:''Jelena,you have a
 great future ahead.''



 by Madonna