notes on a draw sheet

Serena's headaches could take her out of LA
Despite Paris pull-out, Agassi could play TMC Houston

Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

Los Angeles could prove to be a big headache for Serena.

By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net

With Serena's migraine reaching pull-out proportions, the former No. 1 has put herself at slight risk to lose out on a shot at next week's WTA Championships.

After Serena pulled out of Philadelphia, the draw fell into about as a dramatic place as it possibly could. There are two spots left for LA and, had Jennifer Capriati, Venus Williams and Vera Zvonareva all been on the same side of the Philadelphia draw, Serena would have been a shoe-in for LA. But not now, as Zvonareva and Capriati are in the same quarter and Venus is on the other side of the draw.

Very unofficially (since the officials haven't worked out the math yet), if Venus and Capriati meet in the final and beat the highest-ranked players along the way (such as No. 2 Amelie Mauresmo and No. 7 Maria Sharapova in Venus' case, and No. 3 Anastasia Myskina in Capriati's case), they could pass Serena and knock the six-time Grand Slam champion out of the Championships. Zvonareva has to knock off high-quality players and likely win the tournament to qualify, unless Venus (who plays Lisa Raymond in the opening round) and Capriati (who has a bye and then plays the winner of the Meghann Shaughnessy-Kelly McCain match) lose early.

How would that be that for an off-season migraine for the fabulous Ms. S?

© Mark Lyons

Andre Agassi may be pushing his body too far as he competes in Stockholm, Paris and Houston.

In assessing TMC Houston, TR.net contributor Brad Falkner of The Tennis Channel made the excellent point in that Andre Agassi will still likely make the final cut given that three qualifiers, Roger Federer, Guillermo Coria and Carlos Moya are hurt, and at least one of them will probably withdraw. BTW: Why did Agassi play Stockholm when he knew he had a better shot at Houston by playing TMS Paris? His right hip hasn't been in good shape all year and he knows better than anyone that playing two weeks in a row on non-forgiving indoor surfaces was a big risk. Sure, he reached two consecutive finals, but wasn't reaching Houston the reason why he decided to go to Europe in the first place? Agassi still would have had to have had a great week in Paris, needing to reach the final to insure a definitive Houston berth.

Even if one of the aforementioned injured three do pull out of Houston, whose to say that Andre will heal in time? Apparently, Houston has sold all almost all of its sessions, but if Federer and Agassi both don't show, look out for the no-shows. The field for November 13-21 tournament at the Westside Tennis Club is as follows: Federer, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Moya Gaston Gaudio, Coria, Marat Safin and Tim Henman.

DOUBLES COMPETITION CONTINUES
Three spots remain up for grabs for Tennis Masters Cup Doubles at this week's TMS Paris Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro became the fifth team to qualify for Tennis Masters Cup doubles after they won St. Pete. Bob and Mike Bryan claimed their 20th ATP doubles title as a team and their sixth crown of the year after defeating Lucas Arnold and Mariano Hood 7-6(9), 6-2 in the final of Basel.

WTA Tour

Amelie Mauresmo

Over the weekend, former Aussie Open champ Thomas Johansson said he played his best match ever and denied Agassi the 60th title of his career while by winning the Stockholm Open 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). The victory marked Johansson's first win over the American in their seven meetings. … Mikhail Youzhny claimed his first title of the year and first on home soil with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Karol Beck to win the St. Petersburg Open. … Jiri Novak claimed the seventh ATP title of his career with a five-set victory over fourth seed David Nalbandian in the final of the Davidoff Swiss Indoors in Basel. Nalbandian hurt his knee and promptly pulled out of Paris.

Props to Amelie Mauresmo, who won her fourth title of the year by crushing Elena Bovina 6-2, 6-0 in the final of Linz. Mauresmo – who had been sidelined for most of three weeks prior to coming to Linz with a left adductor strain – is another player tasking big risk with her body by attempting to play three weeks in a row. She'll play Philly this week and then LA in pursuit of the year end No. 1 ranking. … Alicia Molik won her second straight title, defeating Dinara Safina in 6-3, 6-4 in the Luxembourg final. "To win two tournaments in a row feels great," Molik said. "It's something I've never done before." The Australian has reached a career high No. 13 and if she does very well in Philly this week, has a chance to finish the year ranked No. 11. It's not the Top 10, but the women's star-starved folks Down Under will take it.