An-Sophie's Tennishome on the Net
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Hello tennisfan!
As a new tennisplayer on the international tennisscene, I would like to invite you to get to know me. I am only 17 today, but my hopes are high. The future looks bright, and I have a few accomplishments I can be proud of.
Today, January 4th, I left for Australia. I am SO glad I can be on the court again and play tournaments. I can tell you, 7 months without playing matches was "like hell" for me.
BUT, I am feeling good and ready to go. Playing my first match in the Q's of the Australian Open will - no doubt - be a challenge. But I am ready for it.
During the Astrid Bowl in Charleroi last May, I injured my wrist.
Oh my... a worse "timing" was not possible.
Missing Roland Garros, Rosmalen and certainly Wimbledon.
In early July I had a wrist operation.
A tough decision, but there was nothing else I could do.
It does mean missing out several more months of tournaments.
A real pity, but that is how tennis can be.
The plan is to start playing tennis in November and then prepare for the Australian Open 2012, in which I will play in the Q's of the main tournament.
Today, January 29th, I won my first Grand Slam! Winning the Junior Australian Open is something I will never forget! Especially because it is in singles ànd doubles (with Demi Schuurs) ànd it makes me the next number one in the world, in the junior rankings! It is more than I could hope for!
Thank you family and friends, trainers and sponsors and everyone who has been my support the past few days, weeks, months and yes, years!
I can look forward now to a new promising year in tennis!
January 23rd 2011
Australia is just a GREAT country (in every possible way). The warm-up tournament in Traralgon didn't go so well: I injured my calfmuscle a bit. So, I had to retire from the tournament and take a few days rest.
BUT, I am playing in the Australian Open right now. It is pretty warm here, even "hot"! 30°C in January, it's usual for Melbourne, but we never have that temperature in Belgium in January (of course).
My first match against the Chinese Deng went OK: 6-1 and 6-1; I am happy with the way I played and the result. Tomorrow is only doubles and on Tuesday I will play a gainst the Japanese Hozumi in the second round.
January 26th 2011
What a week it has been so far! Tuesday against Hozumi from Japan was not an easy game as she has a strong return. But I did OK and won 6-3 and 6-2.
Then against Nastja Kolar from Slovenia, that was a challenge for me. In five matches in the past I could not win. So I was very motivated and did win with 6-1 and 6-2.
The next match was against Kovinic from Montenegro. 6-1 and 6-3, that was a good win too.
Tomorrow against my "rival of the month", Caroline Garcia from France. I did beat her in the finals in Mexico and Costa Rica, but now we both want to play in the Rod Laver Arena and there's only place for one! Caroline won today with the same score as I did, but against Khromacheva.With Demi Schuurs we play the final of the doubles tomorrow as well. It's going to be a BUSY day!!!
And earlier this year...
Yesterday January 2nd 2011 I won the singles final in Mexico, after winning the doubles final (with Demi Schuurs) the day before! The first GA tournament victories. I was pleased with my game and hope to continue the same way later on this month. Thanks for all the support (and the best wishes to everyone for 2011!).
Today, I also reached my best ever ranking with the juniors under 18: I'm in 3rd place now.
A day ago, on January 8th, I also won the G1 in Costa Rica, for the second time in a row. I really like the country, as well as the tournament!
Now, I am on my way to Victoria, in Australia, for the next tournament. It's a 40 hour long trip, and I will "loose" a day along the way. Thàt never happened before! (But I'll get that day back when I return home.)
MOST RECENT RESULTS: April 12th 2010 is a day I 'll remember! I entered the ITF Juniors Top 10 that day. The "Telenet Open" 50.000$ tournament, in Torhout was great.... thanks Laurence! (and everybody else who was involved in the organisation). Tessenderlo was next and was quite an experience for me. First I played against Schaul from Luxemburg and won; then against Oprandi from Italy, 7-5 for her, 6-1 for me... and then I lost the 3rd set. 2-6. Both Schaul and Oprandi were WTA Top 50 a few years ago.
Tortosa was great: I reched the finals. The week thereafter in Bucharest I got to the quarterfinals. I am now WTA 670th in singles and 626th in doubles.
Right now I am playing a G1 in Charleroi, in my homecountry. It's a preparation for Roland Garros next week. Tomorrow Friday the 28th of May is the semi-final.
I played the final... but lost. Not a bad result though.
Roland Garros was not a success this year. Lost in the first round against Dinu from Romania; it was 6-4 in the third set. Too bad ... BUT, now I can do better in Roehampton and then on to WIMBLEDON!
In Roehampton, 1/8F in singles and WINNER in doubles (with Demi Schuurs). Now on to Wimbledon!!!
Playing on the Wimbledon grasscourts is always a highlight of the year. My second match against Bogdan was very tight, but I managed to win. The match after that, against Laura Robson, was very close as well... I had two setpoints but I couldn't make them... (Laura made two of her incredible serves, both were aces). This time I played very well, but just not good enough on the points that really mattered. However, it was quite an improvement, compared to the one other match we played, which was more than 4 years ago.
Indonesia was next. Playing a 10.000$ and a 25.000$, before moving on to the 1st Worldwide Youth Olympics, in Singapore!
Two nice results: semi-finals in Jakarta and runner up in Balikpapan. It was really very hot and humid there! Hopefully it will be a bit less warm and rainy in Singapore. It was a great experience meeting all the other members of the Belgian team there.
What a great week it has been in Singapore! And coming home from the first Youth Olympics with a bronze medal for doubles (with Timea Babos from Hungary) was the cherry on the cake! Thank you everyone that made this event such a memorable one!
The US Open was a tournament with mixed feelings for me. In singles I didn't do so well... lost in the first round against Robin Anderson. Doubles was better, I got with Silvia Njiric into the finals. But alas, I couldn't play the final, due to a abdominal muscle injury. And returned home to go to the doctor and take a 2 week rest. It's all OK now, I'm training again.
Wednesday the 24th of November I was leaving for Florida. Two tournaments there, then a couple weeks of training. On to Mexico fist, then Costa Rica (had a great time there last January) and a LONG haul flight to Australia, to play a G1 and then play the Australian Open (I am looking forward to that GS, a lot). I'll be back in Flanders early February (maybe just in time to watch the Fed Cup in Antwerp?)
I'll miss this years election of "Tennis Promise of 2010" (Saturday the 27th of November). But you're very welcome to vote for me! I was elected this year for the second time! THANKS EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR ME!
In Eddie Herr and the Orange Bowl I reached twice the quarterfinals in singles, won the doubles in Eddie Herr with Demi Schuurs.
AND BEFORE THAT: on Saturday January 9th 2010 I won my first major tournament with the ITF juniors under 18. I'll always have fond memories of Costa Rica! Winning the G1 against the Puerto Rican Puig was great. The first set was a real thriller, I won in tie-break 11-9! Second set was 6-3. And with Demi Schuurs, we also won the final in doubles!
I am not yet leaving South America... tomorrow I'll be on my way to Venezuela, for another G1!
...in which I reached the semi-finals (but lost against the French Garcia 7-6 and 6-4). Demi Schuurs and myself did win the doubles final though. And today, January 17th, I'm on my way to Colombia, for the next G1 tournament. Wish me luck!
Just finished another great week! Another double win...in singles I won the tournament final against Veronica Cepede from Paraguay (I won in the same place against her last year in the 1/4F...) and the double final Demi Schuurs and I won too!
I am ready to move into the ITF u18 top 10 ... 12th place today, February 23rd.
Being a member of the Fed Cup in Poland was a great experience. I played my first match (in doubles) with Sofie Oyen and we won a set against the two Polish players, both highranked in doubles.
My favorite tournament ... WIMBLEDON
Pictures taken by Rowland GOODMAN (during Wimbledon 2010)
