Final Day at Ordina Open 'sHertogenbosch

By Etienne Stekelenburg
June 22 2002

After Ruxandra Dragomir was the first woman to bring home the Ordina Open Trophy in 1997, the 2002 version will be brought to Thessaloniki, Greece after Eleni Daniilidou won her final match against Elena Dementieva in three sets (3-6 6-2 6-3).

For the first time in her career the 19-year-old Greek Eleni Daniilidou won
a Sanex WTA tour title. After her service was broken at 3-1 Daniilidou lost
the first set 6-3 in 33 minutes. Maybe a little nervous from being in the
final for the first time, in the second set Daniilidou regained her good play and form she showed previous days and broke Dementieva's service to make it 4-2. With attacking Dementieva's forehand the Greek #51 in the
ranking exposed her opponents weakness today. Daniilidou broke serve again to finish the second set at 6-2.

In the third set Dementieva took advantage of Daniilidou slowness and scored good backhand winners. The Greek who weighs 72 kg (158,5 lbs) and measures 182 cm (5'11 ½") is not the quickest among the players field but she is compensating with giving everything she's got. Dementieva never got the better side of the game and had to deal break changes for Daniilidou at 4-3.

With the greatest effort and fighting spirit Daniilidou broke Dementieva's
serve again to make it5-3. Serving for the match the promising star from
Thessaloniki, Greece finished her first Sanex WTA final in style with 40 -
love to win the 2002 Ordina Open in 'sHertogenbosch.

Eleni Daniilidou did not have the easiest draw, after beating Tatiana
Poutchek from Russia she won matches against Christina Torrens Valero,
Amelie Mauresmo, Justine Henin and Elena Dementieva in the final. 'Great, my first title on the tour', she said radiating from joy, 'and especially on grass which is my favourite surface. It was a tough draw and I never would have expected to win the Ordina Open. I will surely be back next year to defend my title.'

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