Tashkent ,September 26: Olga Govortsova and Tatiana Poutchek of Belarus battled cold winds and a fighting pair of Vitalia Diatechenko of Russia and Ekaterina Dzehalavich of Belarus to win their first ever career title on the WTA tour winning the doubles title at the Tashkent Open a Sony Ericsson WTA tour event being played at the Olympic Tennis School Tennis Courts.

The Belarusian pair of Govortsova and Poutchek of Belarus scraped past the pair of Diatechenko and Dzehalavich 6-2,6-7(1)10-8. The winning pair received the winner's purse of $11,000 and 280 points, while runners-up had to be content with $5,750 and 80 points along with a Local gold embroidered Uzbek dress presented to the winners

"We're both very delighted winning the doubles event here, we have played here for the last five years and this is our first title here, and we are thrilled " said Govortsova after the win.

"We're both good friends and will surely thinking of playing more tour event doubles in future ", she added when questioned whether the pair would continue to play in future too.

The Deputy Mayor of Tashkent Nizamiddin Bakhtiyorov , The President of the Russian tennis Federation Sharmil Tarpishaev the Tournament director S. Uthrapathy and WTA supervisor Martina Lutkova were present for the well attended awards ceremony.

Doubles (Finals)
Olga Govortsova /Tatiana Poutchek(Blr) bt Vitalia Diatechenko(Rus)/Ekaterina Dzehalavich (Blr) 6-2,6-7(1)10-8.

Tashkent, September 26: Second seed Shahar Peer will clash with unseeded Local Star Akgul Amanmuradova made in the finals of the finals of the 11th edition of the Tashkent Open Sony Ericcson WTA tour event being played at the Olympic School Tennis courts here.

In the semifinals played today Tashkent girl Akgul Amanmuradova shocked top seed and 55th ranked Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan 6-4, 7-6(7-3) in a 1 hr 35 minute tussle, while the in form second seed Shahar Peer of Israel kept herself in hunt for the second consecutive title on the WTA tour outplaying fourth seeded Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-4, 7-6(7-3) in a 1hr 57 minute battle.
Akgul Amanmuradova buoyed by a large home ground gave a sterling display of tennis  to out hit the topside  Shvedova  6-4,7-6(7-3).
“It was a fast paced match with lot of winners and good points, positive tennis and I’m thrilled to win and reach my second final, said Akgul after the match.
“I was always under pressure from the 1st to the last point, but I ‘m happy to have survived. Its big responsibility to play in front of your home crowds and that adds up,” but I was relaxed, played well, served well and used all my weapons, she added.
Akgul mixed up her shots well; mixing her backhand slices and power packed forehands successfully in the first set and secured the decisive break in the 10th game, with Shvedova serving the lone double fault of the set at match point.
In the second set Both players traded breaks early in the set, but Amanmuradova had 2 match points in the 12th games, but Shvedova showed her fighting capabilities blasting down two down the line serves to save match points and then  hold on to her service game forcing a tie break.
In the tie-break, the tall and lanky Uzbek ranked 113 currently, attacked the net at every opportunity, a brilliant net game at 5-2 which saw the top seed Shvedova scampering all round the court, changed the course the match for Akgul, who sealed the match with a blistering serve.
“  I was a little tired after my marathon match yesterday , but Akgul played brilliantly and did everything correct ,  I give her all credit” Said the sporting Shvedova after the match.
On her prediction about the winner of the event, Shvedova said “I’ll be thrilled if Akgul wins the crowd, I know it is a tremendous feeling to win a home and also it will do well for Uzbekistan tennis”.

In the other semifinal , second seeded Shahar Peer gave a display of cool and clinical tennis accounting for fourth seeded Olga Govortsova 7-6(5),6-2 in a 1hr 57 minute match. For Peer the victory also brought an end to her string of 3 earlier losses to Govortsova.
In the first set both players’ matches each other stroke for stroke, this was evident with the first game itself being played for more than 13 minutes. While Govortsova broke Peer in the 3rd and 11th game, Peer broke back in the 10th and 12th game to level scores at 6-6.
  In the tiebreak Peer rushed to a 5-1 lead, but Govortsova pulling out 4 points in a row to reduce the deficit, But Peer served confidently at 6-5 and went to take the set in 1 hour 20 minutes.
The second set was much easier than Peer expected, as she broke Govortsova in the 1st and 5th games at love, and then clinically going on to hold her serves and take the second set 6-2 in about 38 minutes and enter her second consecutive WTA Tour final and two weeks.
“ I’m happy I’m playing better tennis after every match ,and just want to go  on that way tomorrow,” said Peer currently ranked 46th in the world.
“I just go out and play my tennis, and my earlier losses to Govortsova didn’t bother me, nor did I think of it, she said answering a question if she was under pressure Govortsova who had beaten her thrice earlier.
Asked about her take on tomorrow’s match Shahar said” I’ve played   Akgul before I’ve to do my job and winning is my aim”.

The winner will take home a winners purse of $37,000 and 280 WTA points, while runners-up will get 19,000 and 200 WTA points.

Following are the results: Singles (Semifinals)
Akgul Amanmuradova(Uzb) t S.1 Yaroslava Shvedova (Kaz)  6-4,7-6(3)
S.4Olga Govortsova (Blr) v/s S.2 Shahar Peer (Isr)  7-6(5),6-2

By Sunder Iyer   25.09.09
On behalf of the Tashkent Open Media Team

Seeded Fourth at Tashkent, Govortsova is regular to the Tashkent Open, having started here as a qualifier reaching the semifinals in 2007, and now making it to the semifinals again. Olga spoke to the Media Team after overcoming close friend Darya Kustova

You liking playing at Tashkent Open , don’t you?
Olga: Yes, this is one of my favorite tournaments, playing here is like playing at home. I started playing here first as a qualifier in 2005. I reached the Semifinals in 2007, but last year I was not well and lost first round. But I’m happy to be back and playing well too! I think “I’ll do better this year”.

So tell us about Today’s match?
Olga: I’ve known Darya since the age of 6, and we have played a lot of tennis together, we have represented Belarus in Olympic doubles. I knew her game and know that she is very tough player. I had to give all my best today and finally won the match.

This your fisrt Semifinal on the WTA tour this year ,and also it’s not been a good year for you till now?
Olga:  It is very  true that my performances have not been , consistent I was not well at the beginning of the year and have missed quite a bit of tennis, Also I have not done well at the beginning of the year, but I have made my comeback in May this year after a small break , and have been playing well since then.

You will now play Peer in the semifinals, what are your thoughts on tomorrow’s match?
Olga :   I have played Shahar three times before and have won every time , I know her game well and also know how to handle her game. She’s playing well, but “I need to play my game” and play aggressive like I always do

So you think you are contender for the title?
Olga:  Smiles, “I know they present the national dress of Uzbekistan to the winner, and I’ve always wanted it. This year is no different, and I’ll go all out for sure.

By Sunder Iyer  
On behalf of the Tashkent Open Media Team

Russian Alexandra Panova currently ranked 193 , made it her second consecutive Quarterfinal at the  WTA tour events scoring an upset win over seventh seeded Patricia Mayr . With today’s win Alexandra has won has won five matches on the trot so far having come in a qualifier . The team spoke to her after the win.

Congratulations, How does it feel, to be in the second quarterfinal on the tour in two weeks
Alexandra :  “It feels incredible”, to be in the quarterfinals of a WTA tour event for the second time in two weeks. I was not sure whether I could play here, as my match at Guangzhou finished  on Friday. However we managed to reach ,play two back to back matches and beat higher ranked players than me on the way to the last eight, just incredible .

Was today’s win easier than you expected?
Alexandra :  This is the first time in three meetings I’ve managed to defeat Patricia, She had earlier defeated me on clay earlier , so she was the clear favourite, but as the match progressed I smelt I had a chance to win.

In the first few games, I didn’t know what was happening, but after the eighth game of the first set I found my rhythm and then there was no stopping me. The second set was really easier than I expected.

You’ve had a fabulous run so far and tomorrow you will take on Shahar Peer the second seed in the quarter finals, you’re thoughts?
Alexandra :  I know I need to concentrate and focus and play my best tennis , like I’m doing now. I’m sure she will be challenged.

After you’re performances in the last week your rankings are bound to rise considerably?
Alexandra: It really doesn’t matter, All I know that I have to play well and consistently. I know, with this ranking I can make to the qualifiers of the Grand slams, but my aim is to be in the Main draw and I’ll do everything to make it. My focus now is to try an beat players in top 100. Last week I beat Govortsova and now Mayr, I’m happy playing , rankings will follow.

Qualifier Panova makes it to second quarterfinals in two weeks

Tashkent , September 24: Local star Akgul Amanmuradova displayed tremendous grit and determination disposing off Ekaterina Bychkova of Belarus to enter the quarterfinal round of the 11th edition of the Tashkent Open a Sony Ericsson WTA tour event being played at the Olympic Tennis School Tennis Courts here today.
Second seed Shahar Peer of Israel, Fourth seeded Olga Govortsova of Belarus and qualifier Alexandra Panova of Russia who upset seventh seeded Austrian Patricia Mayr also made it to the last eight of the event.
In the second round matches played today Akgul Amanmuradova(scraped past Ekaterina Bychkova 4-6,7-5,7-6(4) in one of the best matches of the day, fourth seeded Belarusian Olga Govortsova had an easy 6-2, 6-3 outing against Russian Vesna Manasieva, second seeded Shahar Peer continued her good form accounting for Germany's Kathrin Woerle 6-2,6-4, while qualifier Alexandra Panova made it to the second quarterfinal on the WTA tour in two weeks upsetting seventh seed Austrian Patricia Mayr 7-5,6-1.
"Today is a big day for me to win at home, and a sweet revenge for my earlier loss to Bychkova a few weeks back", said Akgul after a marathon encounter that lasted 2hours 40 mins.
Akgul started with determination breaking Bychkova in the sixth game , but then lost her own serve in the seventh game to level scores. But Bychkova who upset the third seed Roluca Olaru earlier kept up the tempo to break the hard serving Amanmuradova again in the 9th game to take a 5-4 lead, She then held on to her serve and took the first set at 6-4.
In the second set both players traded breaks in the 4th and 5th games . However in the 12th game Amanmuradova raised her game a few notches and hit an array of winners to break Bychkova and win the game and level set scores.
In the decider both players displayed good tennis breaking each other in the 3rd and the sixth games, Bychkova hit some good return winners to break Amanmuradova in the 9th game and looked like serving out the match.
With a large crowd behind the local star Amanmuradova she looked determined to break Bychkova ,and succeeded in the 10th game leveling scores . Both players survived anxious moments on their serves, but managed to hold on to force a tie break.
Amanmuradova started the tie break badly losing 3 points in a row, but from there, she looked a different player, winning 6 points in row to lead 6-3, Amanmuradova then committed a unforced error to let Bychkova close in, However the higher ranked Russian, lost momentum and the match to let the Uzbek win and enter the last 8 for the second time.
On the adjoining court Russian qualifier Alexandra Panova caused the biggest upset of the day knocking out seventh seeded Austrian Patricia Mayr 7-5,6-1 to make it to the second quarterfinal in two weeks. Panova a quarterfinalist at Guangzhou showed off the tremendous form that she has been in disposing off the 83rd ranked Mayr in a 1 hr 10 minute battle.
"It feels incredible", to be in the quarterfinals of a WTA tour event for the second time in two weeks. I was not sure whether I could play here, as my match at Guangzhou finished on Friday. However I managed to reach here played two back to back matches and beat higher ranked players than me on the way to the last eight, just incredible" said Panova after her match
Panova will now take on 57th ranked second seeded Shahar Peer who disposed off Katherin Woerle in 1 hour 16 minutes. While the 73rd ranked Fourth seeded Govortsova also had an easy outing against the Russian Vesna Manasieva winning 6-2, 6-3 in a 1 hour 21 minutes.
The quarterfinal line up is as follows Shvedova v/s Niculescu , Stefanie Voegele v/s Amanmuradova, Darya Kustova v/s Govortsova , Panova v/s Peer.

Following are the results:

Akgul Amanmuradova(Uzb) bt Ekaterina Bychkova(Rus) 4-6,7-5,7-6(4)
S.4Olga Govortsova (Blr) bt Vesna Manasieva(Rus) 6-2,6-3
S.2 Shahar Peer (Isr) bt Kathrin Woerle (Ger) 6-2,6-4
Alexandra Panova ( Rus) bt S.7 Patricia Mayr (Aut) 7-5,6-1
Vitaliya Diatchenko (Rus) Ekaterina Dzehalevich (Blr) bt Akgul Amanmuradova (Uzb) Darya Kustova (Blr) 6-2,1-6,10-8
Arina Rodionova (Rus) Olga Savchuk (Ukr) bt Yuliana Fedak (Ukr) Vesna Manasieva (Rus) 6-1, 6-1;
Olga Govortsova (Blr) Tatiana Poutchek(Blr) bt Ipek Senoglu (Tur) Yaroslava Shvedova (Kaz) 6-4 4-6 10-4