Polish Hot Flash Marta Domachowska Wins Third Match at Dow Corning Tourney
First Seed Lucie Hradecka Toughs it Out Over Swedish Challenger
February 11, 2010
By: Dave Rogers
Polish star Marta Domachowska is exciting fans at the Dow Corning Tennis Classic in Midland and in her hometown of Warsaw.
(UPDATE: Marta Domachowska, of Poland, was defeated Saturday by the No. 3 seed, Great Britain's Elena Baltacha 6-3, 6-1. Tonight's feature match pits No. 1 seed Lucie Hradecka of Czechoslovakia vs. unseeded Laura Granville, of Chicago, a two-time champion.)
They're cheering in Warsaw!
Sensational Polish professional tennis star Marta Domachowska has won her third match at the $100,000 Dow Corning Tennis Classic in Midland.
Domachowska, who upset American No. 2 seed Vania King on Wednesday, defeated Lilia Osterloh of the U.S. 6-2, 6-4, Thursday and Great Britain's Anne Keothavong 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Friday.
The Polish flash had a clear path to the semifinals since No. 7 seed Monica Niculescu from Great Britain was ousted in the first round by Eleni Daniilidou, of Greece, 6-4, 6-2. Daniilidou, meanwhile, was ousted by Keothavong.
No. 1 seed Lucie Hradecka, 24, of the Czech Republic, ousted Valerie Tetreault, of Canada, 7-6 (3). 6-3. in a hard-fought battle and prevailed over the Swedish star Sofia Arvidsson, No. 5 seed, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 on Friday.
Hradecka, 5-10 tall, holds the highest rank in the tourney at No. 64 in the world. She is the defending champion at Midland and reached the second round last year at the French Open.
Domachowska is flying high and hoping for a break. Her website, that posts hundreds of pictures of the strikingly attractive player, is tracking every move as is Warsaw news media.
She lost her match in Australian Open qualifying rounds in three sets against Sweden's Arvidsson, a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 loss.
In the semi-finals, Domachowski will face Elena Baltacha, the No. 3 seed, from Great Britain, who defeated Rebecca Marino, of Canada, 6-4, 6-4 on Friday.
Domachowska, 24, stands 5-9 and has a signature win against Mary Pierce on carpet in Tokyo in 2000. Her career best ranking was No. 37 in the world in 2006.
Thirty-two touring pros are fighting it out at Midland, one of the women's tour favorite stops, to hopefully qualify for the majors. Many big names in the women's game have played Midland enroute to the big time.
In other action Thursday, Laura Granville, U.S., defeated Anna Tatishvili, Georgia, 7-6 (6), 6-0 and now faces No. 8 seed Arantxa Rus, of the Netherlands; Three seed Baltacha, of Great Britain, topped Severine Beltrame, of France, 6-2, 6-0; Sweden's Arvidsson, the No. 5 seed, won over Kathrin Woerle, of Germany, 6-3, 6-3; Arantxa Rus, of the Netherlands, handily defeated American Beatrice Capra, 6-0, 6-0; and Rebecca Marina, of Canada, beat Madison Brengle, U.S., 6-2, 6-4.
The tournament, estimated to attract 15,000 fans over eight days, builds to a Sunday conclusion, with singles finals starting at 1 p.m. and doubles finals to follow.
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