Couldn't be worse. That draw is just horrible.

Let me just analyse the current situation:

Daniela: far away from 100% and top form

1st round Sugiyama: in good form

2nd round Wozniaki: even better form

3rd round Dementieva: also in good form

Last but not least Serena: no comment

This is a tough draw as Ai's been a nemesis of Daniela lately and Wozniacki's in good form, so this will be difficult for her. We'll just have to go by the old cliche of one match at a time. A lot will come down to Daniela's fitness and confidence. She beat Na Li in extreme heat in the 2007 Indian Wells semi-final so hopefully the conditions won't affect her. Daniela's done some training at Sanchez Casal so that should help as she's hardly had any opportunity to train this year but this time she's been able to prepare and she's fit.

It's harsh as there are a lot of players worse than AI or Wozniacki that Daniela could have played, but she's just got to focus on beating the players she's drawn against. The doubles draw doesn't bring too much consolation either.

It's also interesting how someone can reveal, or should that be flaunt, their prejudices when commenting on a tennis draw.

It's also interesting how someone can reveal, or should that be flaunt, their prejudices when commenting on a tennis draw.

Is this a reference to my comments about Olympic entry system, using Selima Sfar as an example? I wrote: "What the hell is a stiff like Sfar doing in this draw? Nadia Petrova cannot play but Selima Sfar gets a free invite? Shouldn't the Olympics be all about merit, not trying to concoct some ethnically perfect stew."

If so, you are way off base. If you interpreted any racial or ethnic prejudice in my remarks, you either misread my remarks or worse are one of those fools who can find racism in a ham sandwich. I have a prejudice in favor of merit, that's all. The best players should play regardless of national origin, color, religion, whatever. I only used Sfar as an example because of her proximity in the draw to Daniela. I'll say the same thing about Alicia Molik, as well. You can disagree with my opinion all you want, but don't you dare call me anything derogatory when there's no evidence of that whatsoever.

first time when i saw the draws i thought Why Daniela have a terrible draws??

This time I'm try to think a positive " EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE "

GO GO GO!!!!! Daniela

It's also interesting how someone can reveal, or should that be flaunt, their prejudices when commenting on a tennis draw.

Is this a reference to my comments about Olympic entry system, using Selima Sfar as an example? I wrote: "What the hell is a stiff like Sfar doing in this draw? Nadia Petrova cannot play but Selima Sfar gets a free invite? Shouldn't the Olympics be all about merit, not trying to concoct some ethnically perfect stew."

If so, you are way off base. If you interpreted any racial or ethnic prejudice in my remarks, you either misread my remarks or worse are one of those fools who can find racism in a ham sandwich. I have a prejudice in favor of merit, that's all. The best players should play regardless of national origin, color, religion, whatever. I only used Sfar as an example because of her proximity in the draw to Daniela. I'll say the same thing about Alicia Molik, as well. You can disagree with my opinion all you want, but don't you dare call me anything derogatory when there's no evidence of that whatsoever.

pmrd44 - I totally get your point. Its Olympic rules though, only six participants per country (I think its a maximum of four singles participants and two doubles teams). The likes of Petrova didn't make the cut.
I agree with you about Sfar in the sense that she doesn't normally appear in Tier I or even Tier II draws that often on the tour, but the Olympics is a different kind of event and lets face it if it went on ranking then there would be 10+ Russians in the draw, which wouldn't be that exciting.

no need to say that it's a hell of a draw...
Sugiyama has become a bogey opponent for Daniela, and I don't think that she has already forgotten these heavy losses against her in 2008...
Anyway i wish Daniela all the best and hope she enjoys her time in Beijing.
I saw her today at the Opening Ceremony, has anyone a screenshot?