Groth Gathers More Steam

January 15, 2011

HOBART, Australia - As though scoring her first Top 10 win the week before
wasn't enough of a confidence boost going into the Australian Open, Jarmila
Groth continued to show why she is one of Australia's brightest hopes this
week, winning the second WTA title of her blossoming career in Hobart.

Groth, the No.6 seed, was in top form all week, not dropping a set en route
to the final, including in wins over fellow seeds Roberta Vinci and Klara
Zakopalova in the quarters and semis. And that trend continued in the final
as her huge groundstrokes were still on the mark: she broke Bethanie
Mattek-Sands five times and won over half of her return points to prevail, 64
63.

Groth has had a meteoric rise over the last eight months. She reached her
first Grand Slam second weeks at the French Open and Wimbledon last summer,
won her first WTA title at Guangzhou last fall and in the first week of the
new season beat Sam Stosur in Brisbane, her first Top 10 win (as well as her
first Top 20 win). At this time a year ago she wasn't even in the Top 100;
this week she's No.40, and that will go even higher when the new rankings are
run.

"It's my second title and it's a home title, so is it my highest point?
Probably," Groth said. "There were a couple of times the wind came down so we
could play proper tennis, but most of the time it was just try to run and
fight as much as possible. Anyway, hopefully it's not the last title and I
hope I keep improving."

Mattek-Sands fell to 0-3 in WTA finals, having been a runner-up twice at Qué
bec City (to Nadia Petrova in 2008 and to Tamira Paszek in 2010).

"I think I served pretty well today. It was up and down but the times I did,
I got some aces in. I'm happy with that," Mattek-Sands said after the match.
"I'm really excited. This is the best beginning to a season I've had in a
long time.

"I'm healthy, and that's the most important thing."

Groth took the court again for the rain delayed doubles semifinal, partnering
Zakopalova; they lost to Kateryna Bondarenko and Liga Dekmeijere, 64 62.
Later in the final, Bondarenko and Dekmeijere in turn lost to No.3 seeds
Vinci and Sara Errani, 63 75. The Italians won their third title together,
having won International clay court titles in Marbella and Barcelona last
year.

Rain wreaked havoc on the schedules all week long, with only one match
getting completed Wednesday and a total washout taking place Thursday.


奪冠記錄－

Tour, AUSTRALIA, January 9 2011, $220,000, HARD (O)
Draw: 32M/32q/16d, Rank: 40 Seed/entry: 6/

Rnd          Opponent             Rank   W/L   Score        
R32    Larsson, Johanna (SWE)      71     W   6-1 6-3       
R16     Paszek, Tamira (AUT)       92     W   6-4 7-6(5)    
Q    (4) Vinci, Roberta (ITA)      39     W   6-1 6-2       
S    (5) Zakopalova, Klara (CZE)   42     W   6-3 6-2       
F   Mattek-Sands, Bethanie (USA)   59     W   6-4 6-3       

WTA Championship Pts: 280 WTA Ranking Pts: 280 Prize Money: $37,000