2008 Qatar Telecom German Open

In this article, we will explore in depth all the facets related to 2008 Qatar Telecom German Open, addressing its importance in different contexts and analyzing its possible implications for our daily lives. Throughout history, 2008 Qatar Telecom German Open has played a crucial role in the development of various disciplines, and its relevance continues to be debated today. From its origins to its evolution in the modern era, we will examine its influence on society, culture, science, technology and many other aspects of our daily lives. Through an interdisciplinary approach, we aim to shed light on the different aspects that make up 2008 Qatar Telecom German Open, delving into its implications and offering a comprehensive vision that allows us to understand its scope and relevance today.

2008 Qatar Telecom German Open
Date5–11 May
Edition39th
CategoryTier I
Draw56S / 28D
Prize money$1,340,000
SurfaceClay / outdoor
LocationBerlin, Germany
VenueRot-Weiss Tennis Club
Champions
Singles
Russia Dinara Safina
Doubles
Zimbabwe Cara Black / United States Liezel Huber

The 2008 Qatar Telecom German Open was a women's tennis event that was played from 5 May to 11 May 2008. It was one of two Tier I events that took place on red clay in the build-up to the second Grand Slam of the year, the French Open. It was the 39th edition of the tournament and was played at the Rot-Weiss Tennis Club in the German capital of Berlin. The tournaments offered a total prize fund of US$1,300,000 across all rounds.

World number one Justine Henin, the three-time French Open defending champion, was the tournament's top seed. She was hoping to win this event for the fourth time after collecting titles here in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Defending champion Ana Ivanovic was Henin's biggest threat for the title as the number two seed, with Jelena Janković and Svetlana Kuznetsova rounding out the top four seeds. Fifth seed Serena Williams was also a big threat for the title; she had won her last three tournaments and is a former French Open champion. Russian pair Anna Chakvetadze and Elena Dementieva brought the field up to seven of the world's top ten players.[1] Maria Sharapova and Daniela Hantuchová were also due to play the event but it was announced that both had pulled out on 30 April.[2]

Review

Champion Dinara Safina during the final match.

The tournament was won by Dinara Safina, who started the tournament as the thirteenth seed. She enjoyed the best week of her career to win her first ever Tier I title.[3] In the third round, she beat top seed Justine Henin in a match that turned out to be the last before she retired, her second victory over a world number one, and followed it up by stopping Serena Williams's 17-match winning streak.[4] She defeated Elena Dementieva (who had defeated defending champion Ivanovic in the semi-finals) in the final, in the 14th all-Russian final on the WTA Tour, and the third of five in the 2008 season (Dementieva would go on to beat Safina in the final of the Olympics).[5]

Ana Ivanovic was the only top six seed to reach the semifinals in a tournament littered with upsets. Henin and Williams lost the aforementioned matches to Safina, third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova lost to Alyona Bondarenko, Jelena Janković lost to Elena Dementieva and Anna Chakvetadze went down in her first match to Victoria Azarenka, who eventually made her first ever Tier I semifinal. Ivanovic, for her part, was defeated in the semi-finals by Elena Dementieva; the defeat dropped her to World No. 3 behind Henin and Maria Sharapova at the conclusion of the tournament.

World number ones Cara Black and Liezel Huber won the doubles title, beating the unseeded Spanish pairing Nuria Llagostera Vives and María José Martínez Sánchez, who had upset number two seeds Květa Peschke and Rennae Stubbs in a thrilling match tiebreak in the semifinals, which ended at 16–14.

Finals

Dinara Safina (l) and Elena Dementieva (r) shake hands after the final.

Singles

Main article: 2008 Qatar Telecom German Open – Singles

Russia Dinara Safina defeated Russia Elena Dementieva, 3–6, 6–2, 6–2

  • It was Safina's first title of the year and 6th of her career.

Doubles

Main article: 2008 Qatar Telecom German Open – Doubles

Zimbabwe Cara Black / United States Liezel Huber defeated Spain Nuria Llagostera Vives / Spain María José Martínez Sánchez, 3–6, 6–2,

Prize money and points

Total prize money: $1,300,000[6]

Round Singles Doubles
Prize money ($) WTA ranking points Prize money ($) WTA ranking points
Winner 196,900 430 59,000 430
Finalist 100,000 300 30,000 300
Semifinal 51,000 195 15,351 195
Quarterfinal 26,050 110 7,800 110
Round of 16 13,285 60 3,980 60
Round of 32 6,775 35 2,030 1
Round of 64 3,455 1 - -

Images

  • Dementieva hitting a backhand.
    Dementieva hitting a backhand.
  • Preparing for a serve.
    Preparing for a serve.

References

  1. ^ "Entry List 2008". German Open Official Site. Archived from the original on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  2. ^ "Sharapova, Hantuchova pull out of German Open". Yahoo! Eurosport UK. 2008-04-30. Archived from the original on 2008-10-06. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  3. ^ "Safina secures German Open title". BBC Sport. 2008-05-11. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  4. ^ "Safina ends Serena's winning streak". CNN.com. 2008-05-09. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  5. ^ "Dementieva, Safina Set Up 14th All-Russian Final". Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  6. ^ "Prize Money & Points". German Open Official Site. Archived from the original on 2008-05-06. Retrieved 2008-05-03.