[parurorges]

OK, to be fair, there do seem to be a couple of spectators, at least I could hear applause just now on my stream.

[slarceSelia]

There a huge differences between Northern Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Although Ghadaffi (or however he is spelled) is trying hard to change it, Northern African countries tend to associate themselves more with other Arab countries than with Sub-Saharan countries. And you already have enough representation of Arab countries.

I know that, but I suspect most of the spectators in say Cape Town would have been white making it not so different from USA or Australia...

[parurorges]

I know that, but I suspect most of the spectators in say Cape Town would have been white making it not so different from USA or Australia...

OK, I have to agree there. Can anybody confirm this who saw the two recent events in Jo'burg?

[Quick$bux]

There a huge differences between Northern Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Although Ghadaffi (or however he is spelled) is trying hard to change it, Northern African countries tend to associate themselves more with other Arab countries than with Sub-Saharan countries. And you already have enough representation of Arab countries.

Khadafy....Quadaffi.... I think there are a million ways of spelling it.


Given history, I wonder if politics was a/the reason for years that they stayed away from South Africa. Not that that would prevent the Tour from having a stop in another country on the continent.

How long they have had a WTA event in Morocco - the WTA site says it was held in Casablanca in 2001, and for a few years after, then Rabat for a couple of years, and for the last couple of years in Fes.

[parurorges]

The real reason probably is that there is no one willing to sponsor it.

Why do you think South Africa would represent Africa better than Morocco?

I can't seem to leave the topic. Why is SAA a major sponsor of the ATP tour (see rankings) but not of a local women's tournament where they could help develop South African women's tennis into a more diverse and successful sport?

[gettoblaster]

Order of Play - Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Court Mjid (from 11.00hrs)
1. Vinci vs. Hercog
2. Medina Garrigues vs. Zakopalova
3. Groth vs. Kleybanova
4. Makarova vs. Morigami
5. Groth/Zakopalova vs. Domachowska/U.Radwanska

Court 1 (from 11.00hrs)
1. Hradecka vs. Peer
2. Pavlyuchenkova vs. Czink
3. Cetkovska/Hradecka vs. Ani/Vinci
4. Hercog/Olaru vs. Pavlyuchenkova/Rezai

Court 4 (from 11.00hrs)
1. Keothavong vs. Domínguez Lino
2. Fernández-Brugues vs. Domachowska
3. Cirstea/Kirilenko vs. Czink/Keothavong (after suitable rest)

[PyncGyncliacy]

RESULTS
Singles - First Round
(1/WC) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) d. Camille Pin (FRA) 61 61
(2) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) d. (Q) Corinna Dentoni (ITA) 62 64
(3) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 61 62
Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP) d. (5) Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 63 64
(7) Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. Mariana Duque Marino (COL) 26 64 61
(8) Shahar Peer (ISR) d. Aravane Rezai (FRA) 64 26 64
Anne Keothavong (GBR) d. Maret Ani (EST) 62 76(3)
Melinda Czink (HUN) d. (Q) Nathalie Vierin (ITA) 36 62 60
Jarmila Groth (SVK) d. (Q) Paula Fondevila Castro (ESP) 63 75
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) d. (WC) Nadia Lalami (MAR) 64 63
Klara Zakopalova (CZE) d. Urszula Radwanska (POL) 75 62
Akiko Morigami (JPN) d. (WC) Fatima Zahrae El Allami (MAR) 26 55 ret. (heat illness)
(Q) Polona Hercog (SLO) d. (LL)* Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) 61 62
(LL)** Eva Fernandez-Brugues (ESP) d. Petra Cetkovska (CZE) 26 64 62

* (LL) Vitalia Diatchenko replaces Patricia Mayr
**(LL) Eva Fernandez-Bruguesreplaces Yanina Wickmayer

Doubles - First Round
(1) Cirstea/Kirilenko (ROU/RUS) d. Fernandez-Brugues/Thorpe (ESP/FRA) 64 64
(2) Kleybanova/Makarova (RUS/RUS) d. Kapros/Shamayko (HUN/RUS) 63 75

[masteryxisman]

I can't seem to leave the topic. Why is SAA a major sponsor of the ATP tour (see rankings) but not of a local women's tournament where they could help develop South African women's tennis into a more diverse and successful sport?

South Africa is so far away. Morocco is just a jump from Europe and for Spanish, Italians, French it is a great place. In addition, Maghreb countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, ...) have an identity of their own and should have tourneys for them, while South Africa represents more black Africa. I think it has nothing much in common, South Africa and Morocco. It is great to have a women's tourney in Magrheb countries where women have to fight muslim integrism. Go Fes !

[priceyicey]

How far has Shahar Peer fallen?
She just lost 6-4, 6-1 to Hradecka; after going out to a 3-1 lead in the first set.

[FelixQY]

Roberta Vinci,Barcelona winner, lost 2 and 4 to Hercog.