Madison Brengle defeated Sesil Karatantcheva in three sets, 7-6(6) 2-6 6-2.

Sesil russian Elena Bovina beat 6-1 4-6 7-5 to advance to the main draw of the $50k tournament at Las Vegas.

Sesil won 6-3 6-3. Now Sesil needs to beat Elena Bovina (RUS) (WTA Rank 336) to enter the main draw.

Sesil defeated 6-2 6-1 Maureen Diaz (USA) (WTA Rank 972) in the first round of the $50k Las Vegas tournament qualifications. Sesil Karatantcheva will play Amber Liu (USA) (WTA Rank 270), who defeated russian Ekaterina Afinogenova.

Sesil was defeated 6-7(2) 4-6 by Czech Hana Sromova (WTA rank 160) in the first round of qualifying at Regions Morgan Keegan Championships (Tier III, $175,000) in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Memphis is a Tier III, 175,000 USD event to be played between February 24 and March 1. Sesil has been given a wild card into the singles qualification draw.

Sesil played at Memphis in 2005, she beat Seda Noorlander 7-5 6-3 in first round but lost to Jamea Jackson 6-3 6-4 in second.

53 points earned by Sesil in last 3 tournaments (26 at Surprise, 26 at La Quinta, and 1 at Midland) place her at 382th position.
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/rankings/singles_numeric.asp?page=4

Sesil lost in the first round of the Dow Corning Tennis Classic in Midland, Michigan. She was beated by Valerie Tetreault, the score was 6-2 6-1. Maybe just a bad day, or she was too tired due to having to play too many matches to get a ranking soon. Now that she have played in three tournaments she have 53 points and will be at least in top 400.

Sabine Lisicki (GER) (WTA ranking 129) was Sesil opponent... until Lisicki withdrew from the tournament... Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) (WTA ranking 90) also has withdrawn, so now it looks like Sesil has been given an easy draw. She will play Valerie Tetreault (CAN) (WTA ranking 347) in first round, definitely an easier match (Lisicki reached third round of Australian Open and defeated Lindsay Davenport at Fed Cup last week).

Sesil beat German Sandra Kloesel 6-4 7-5 to win her second title in a row, extending her winning streak to 19 consecutive matches since her comeback. The match lasted one hour and 36 minutes. Carly Gullickson and Shenay Perry won the doubles title, defeating Angelika Bachmann and Tetiana Luzhanska 6-1 6-4.

Next tournament will be the Dow Corning Tennis Classic, at Midland, MI, USA.

Photos Courtesy of MyDesert.com

Sesil beat (again) Viktoria Kutuzova, but it was not an easy victory, she needed three sets 6-1 3-6 6-4 to reach her second ITF final. If she wins Sandra Kloesel (GER) (now ranked 117) Sesil will be inside the top 400 in the WTA rankings ...not officially since she needs to complete 3 tournaments before getting a rank. Hopefully after her next tournament ($75k Midland, MI, USA, where she have a WC to the main draw -> link) she'll be top 300.

Match starts at 11.00 PST (19.00 GMT) and will be broadcasted live on http://www.radiotennis.com/

Bulgaria lost at Fed Cup against Netherlands:
R.Reinhard def. D.Evtimova 6-0 6-3
A.Rus def. T.Pironkova 6-4 6-4
N.Thyssen/P.Wong vs D.Evtimova/T.Pironkova Not played

Sesil beat French Irena Pavlovic 6-4 6-2 to advance to the semi-finals, where she will face No. 5 seed Viktoria Kutuzova (UKR) (WTA Rank 178) ...once again, Sesil beat Viktoria 7-6 6-0 two weeks ago in Arizona, at Surprise semi-finals.

The other semi-final will match Germans Kathrin Woerle (WTA Rank 213) and Sandra Kloesel (WTA Rank 162).

Sesil easily beat Tina Schiechtl 6-2 6-2 to advance to the quarter-finals of Charlie M. Desert tournament at La Quinta, that was her 16th straight (singles) victory this year. Next to be sesilated is French Irena Pavlovic (WTA Rank 257), who defeated No. 8 seed Seiko Okamoto.

Also good news from Budapest, where Bulgaria is playing Fed Cup. Tsvetana Pironkova and Dia Evtimova defeated Portugal (3-0) and Luxembourg (2-1):

D.Evtimova def. A.Nogueira 6-2 7-5
T.Pironkova def. N.Silva 6-1 6-0
D.Evtimova/T.Pironkova def. M.de Lattre/M.Koehler 6-1 6-2

M.Minella def. D.Evtimova 6-3 6-7(2) 6-3
T.Pironkova def. A.Kremer 4-6 6-1 6-3
D.Evtimova/T.Pironkova def. M.Minella/V.Schaul 6-4 6-3

Sesil beat No. 2 seed Angelika Bachmann 7-5 6-4, hopefully she will have some easier matches, she will play Tina Schiechtl (AUT) (WTA Rank 247). If Sesil wins this tournament she would be top 400 in the WTA ranking (she'll still have to play another tournament to appear on the rankings).

Sesil won Stacia Fonseca in three sets 3-6 6-0 6-3 and qualifies for the main draw at La Quinta, where she will have to face Angelika Bachmann (GER) (WTA Rank 159).

Good luck Sesil!

SOFIA, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Bulgaria's tennis federation has threatened to fine Sesil Karatantcheva for refusing to play in a Fed Cup zonal event in Budapest this week.

Captain Dora Rangelova picked Karatantcheva for matches in Hungary but the 18-year-old said she wanted to be left out to concentrate on getting points for her world ranking.

Karatantcheva has just returned to the court after serving a two-year doping ban, winning an ITF tournament in Arizona last week.

"Sesil is under contract with the federation and now she will pay a penalty for breaking it," Bulgarian tennis federation general secretary Georgi Donchev told reporters.

"By refusing to play in the Fed Cup it's now unthinkable for her to take her place at the Olympics in Beijing."

Karatantcheva, who reached the quarter-finals of the French Open in 2005 aged 15, beating Venus Williams along the way, said her focus was her ranking.

"I love my country but people should understand me," said Karatantcheva.

"My return to tennis turned out to be much more difficult than I expected. I need to get points from three tournaments now to get back in the ranking. I just cannot afford to miss such an opportunity."(Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7261391,00.html

Rain wiped out the opening round of qualifying at the Charlie M. Desert tournament and pushed first-round matches to today, Sesil will play the opening match on Stadium Court at 10 a.m., she will face American Thien-Trang Nguyen.

Today Sesil will be facing Thien-Trang Nguyen (USA) (WTA Rank 1054). The highest ranked player in her section of the draw is Frederica Piedade (POR) (WTA Rank 300), so hopefully Sesil will qualify for the main draw at the $25000 Charlie M Desert Classic Women's Tennis Tournament at La Quinta, CA, USA.

Sesil beat Angela Haynes 6-2 4-6 6-4 and won the tournament in Surprise, Arizona. A tough match against a good player, with several serve breaks in the final set, but Sesil finally was able to hold her serve with an ace on her third match point. Sesil looked a bit tired, she had have played too many matches to win this title. Congratulation Sesil!

Apparently Sesil won't play Fed Cup, instead she will play for a qualifying wild card in $25k La Quinta, California (28 Jan-03 Feb) and then she will play $75k in Midland, Michigan (4-10 Feb).

Sesil defeated No 2 seed Viktoria Kutuzova 7-6 6-0, in the final Sesil will play No 8 seed Angela Haynes (USA) (WTA Rank 222). The match will be played after the doubles final between Carly Gullickson (USA) Shenay Perry (USA) vs. Maria-Fernanda Alves (BRA)/Bettina Jozami (ARG)

Aide Sesil!

Sesil won Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4 6-4 and advances to semi-finals, where she will face Viktoria Kutuzova (UKR) (WTA Rank 178); Anastasia Pivovarova (RUS) (WTA Rank 234) and Angela Haynes (USA) (WTA Rank 222) will play in the other semi-final. Sesil and Lai lost their semi-final match 6-4 6-3 against Carly Gullickson and Shenay Perry... not bad effort and a good preparation for Fed Cup (begins January 28).

Sesil advances to singles quarter-finals with a 6-0 6-2 win over Robin Stephenson, where she will meet Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) (WTA Rank 229). Sesil also reaches doubles semi-finals with 6-4 6-4 victory in over Kondratieva and Lefevre. Karatantcheva and Lai will play Carly Gullickson and Shenay Perry for a place in the finals.

First victory and first ¿4? ranking points earned. She beated No 5 seed Sunitha Rao in three sets, 2-6 6-3 6-2. Sesil will play Robin Stephenson (USA) (WTA Rank 449), later she will also play her quarter-final doubles match against Maria Kondratieva and Sophie Lefevre.

Sesil defeated Kristína Kucová 7-5 6-1. Her first match in (singles) main draw will be against Sunitha Rao (India) (WTA Rank 194). Sesil and Lai defeated Canadians Heidi El Tabakh and Valerie Tetreault 4-6 6-4 [10-8] and advance to QF, where Maria Kondratieva and Sophie Lefevre are waiting... to be sesilated xD (Sesil already defeated Kondratieva 6-0 6-1 last monday).

Sesil beat No 1 seed 6-1 6-0. Her next opponent in Q-R16 will be Kristína Kucová (SVK) (WTA Rank 585). Sesil will also play doubles at Surprise, teaming with the Malaysian Shareen-Rena Lai (who Sesil defeated last week in the pre-qualifying tournament), they will play against Valerie Tetreault and Heidi El Tabakh.

Kristína Kucová

Sesil defeated Lingman 6-3 6-3. In second round she'll play against No 1 seed Maria Kondratieva (WTA rank 264).
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/Playerbio.asp?PlayerID=110497

Sesil won that pre-qualy tournament (and a QWC for Surprise tournament):
QF (Sat 5): S. Lai - 6-1 6-1
SF (Sun 6): P. Bartelt - 6-3 6-3
F (Sun 6): G. Zsiros - 6-4 6-1

http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/Draws/EventDraw.aspx?T=67449&E=1

Congratulations Sesil!
Next: Surprise qualies (13-14 Jan). Main draw begins 15 Jan.

USTA (United States Tennis Association) didn't let Tampa Bay organizers to give a WC to Sesil, looks like they are trying to make Sesil's return a bit more harder. She'll have to play a pre-qualifying tournament (5-6 Jan) in Arizona, the winner of that tournament will get a QWC for a $25K tournament to be played (14-20 Jan) in Surprise, Arizona, USA.

Tampa Bay will be the first tournament Sesil will play after serving a two-year ban for doping. Organizers wanted Sesil in the draw... who wouldn't? :) ...and decided to give her a wild card for the qualifying draw. So she'll have to win four matches to qualify for the main draw, but that's good news because it will give her some match practice (she surely needs) before hitting the main draw. I hope she (at least) makes it to the semifinals of this tournament.

Qualifying will take place Jan. 6-7 (entry list)

Welcome back and good luck Sesil! ;)

Now 18, Karatantcheva, who has no ranking and says she is starting from "zero zero zero point zero," isn't sure yet where she will resume her career, though most likely it will be in Europe or the USA. It could depend on whether a tournament grants her a wild card. Either way, she's champing at the bit to get back into competition.

"I mean, c'mon, I've been out for two years," she said. "I've been waiting for this one for so long. I'm going to play even a $5,000 (event) if I have to."

Despite her ban, Karatantcheva has been busily preparing to return. The teenager has been training at a sports facility outside Sofia in Pravets, where she has been hitting mostly with men, including several members of her country's Davis Cup team.

She has been living on her own for about a year, she said, and recently signed a deal with a management company in Germany, where she will train the next two months.

"I know it's hard to believe but I've actually been practicing more than when I was playing professionally," she said. "I can easily say I'm in much better shape than I used to be. Besides, now I'm 18. I've grown up. I've developed."

There have been other changes since Karatantcheva was last seen on tour as a brash 15-year-old, who famously announced she would "kick (Maria Sharapova's) ass" before they played at Indian Wells in 2004 (Sharapova won in three sets).

For one, she's mellowed.

"I'm not sorry for anything I said just because if I said something that means I really felt it," she said with a chuckle. "The only difference is that this time when I want to say something I'm not going to go and say it, I'm actually going to try to count to 10 and then say it and hopefully not make such a big noise about it."

She's also grown a couple of inches to about 5-10. And she's sporting a new tattoo of a fairy on her back.

She says it's been tough to be away from competition and that she missed the tour but she also said it helped her mature and deal with her early success.

"I immediately got a lot of fame and attention at a very early age," she said. "At one point my head was flying to the sky. I think I needed a bit of a rest to get myself together and work on my game."

Karatantcheva says none of her peers on the women's tour had contacted her since she was banned. She holds no bitterness and takes it with a grain of salt.

"When something like this happens to a player the other players are not the first people who are going to call you on the phone," she said. " After all, this is an individual sport."

She's most proud she refused to let go of her dreams.

"I'm very proud of myself that in these two years I didn't stop for a second," she said. "I was even more concentrated on what I was doing. That was the biggest lesson, to keep going and never giving up."

She isn't sure how fast she can climb the rankings again, but she's hopeful that she can get back to her top-40 ranking, or higher. Her new tattoo is a symbol of that.

"A lot of people ask me, 'What does it mean?' " she said. "I think fairies do miracles. So I'm just hoping that I will do a miracle by coming back on court and doing what I want to do and becoming the best."

(Source: USA TODAY)

Bulgaria's young tennis wonder Sesil Karatantcheva announced she is making huge plans for the beginning of next year when her two-year playing ban expires.

"All I want is to be healthy, the rest is up to me," Karatantcheva told the sports site gong.bg as she turned eighteen on August 8.

"Finally I am a grown up woman! I have been waiting this for so long! Now I will get my driving license!"

The tennis hopeful boasted she is sporting a huge new tattoo, needled into her back.

(Source: Novinite.com: Sofia News Agency)

http://www.tas-cas.org/en/medias/media4.htm:
Lausanne, 3 July 2006 - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeal filed by the Bulgarian tennis player Sesil Karatancheva against the decision of the Anti-Doping Tribunal of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) of 11 January 2006.

From http://www.tas-cas.org/en/pdf/Karatancheva.pdf:
75. Accordingly we consider that the period of ineligibility should start as at the date when we would, but for the holiday period, have issued our decision. We decide pursuant to Article M.8.3(b) that the period of ineligibility shall start on 1 January 2006. The two year period is therefore the calendar years 2006 and 2007. The ban will expire at midnight on 31 December 2007.
76. We conclude by noting that the player is, fortunately for her, very young and talented. She is easily young enough and talented enough to recover from the blow to her career occasioned by this case. We would hope and expect that she will keep her skills honed during her period of ineligibility and will learn from this experience the lessons necessary to ensure that she does not in future fail to comply with the anti-doping rules applicable in her sport. In particular we hope that both she and her advisers will do their utmost to ensure that she takes every precaution to avoid ingesting, inadvertently or otherwise, not just prohibited substances as such, but also dietary supplements that could be contaminated with a prohibited substance.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to come out with a decision within a week on the appeal of Sesil Karatantcheva of her doping verdict.

Sesil's father and coach Radoslav Karatantchev told Topsport daily her defence team is hopeful the final decision will be up by June 10.

On January 11 the young starlet of Bulgarian tennis was banned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for two years from tennis contests after last year she twice tested positive in banned steroid nandrolone.

Sesil Karatantcheva who trained in the world famous Bollettieri Academy contends she tested positive because she was pregnant at the time and had been taking food supplements.

The ruling of the Court of Arbitration for Sport will be final and not subject to further appeal.

(Source: Sofia News Agency)

Radoslav Karatantchev, the father and coach of Bulgarian tennis player Sesil Karatantcheva, is optimistic that her two-year drugs ban will be overturned on Friday.

The 16-year-old was banned in January after testing positive for steroids and appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland which is expected to announce its decision on Friday.

"Sesil has a logical explanation for the availability of norandrosterone in her system and we hope that they will understand us," Radoslav Karatantchev told a news conference on Wednesday. "This is sadism from a medical point of view.

"It's well known they seldom change their minds but we believe justice will win," added the former Bulgaria rowing champion.

Karatantcheva is only the second women's player to be banned for drug-taking after an independent anti-doping tribunal ruled that samples given by her at the French Open last May and out of competition in Tokyo in July contained the banned steroid nandrolone.

Karatantcheva decided to appeal, claiming that the presence of the banned substance was down to her being pregnant and the regular absorption of food supplements.

French sports daily L'Equipe reported in December that a pregnancy test carried out by a French laboratory on the player's urine sample was negative.

Karatantcheva climbed into the top 40 at the end of 2005 and reached the quarter-finals of the French Open.

"We worked really hard in the last months," added her father. "Six experts including two lawyers and two of the top Bulgarian doctors of medicine will join us in Lausanne and I'm sure they will defend her in the best possible way."

"They believe Sesil," he said. "I can assure you that they've been working unpaid during the whole time."

Despite his optimism about the CAS decision, Karatantchev said it would not have a damaging effect on his daughter's career.

"She is still very young and we don't have to worry if the appeal is rejected. In two years she'll be 18 and she will have the opportunity to select the tournaments by herself."

SOFIA, May 3 (Reuters)

Bulgarian teenager Sesil Karatantcheva has appealed against a two-year ban for using performance-enhancing drugs.

The verdict was announced on 11 January after the 16-year-old twice tested positive for banned steroid nandrolone.

"The player requests the annulment of the decision challenged," said a Court of Arbitration for Sport statement.

Karatantcheva has claimed that the high levels of nandrolone in her system were due to a pregnancy, which later ended in miscarriage.

"She puts forward that the presence of norandrosterone is due mainly to her pregnancy condition and to the regular absorption of food supplements," confirmed Cas.

Cas usually delivers its decisions within four months from the filing of the appeal.

(Source: BBC Sport)

"I'm going to appeal against the decision of the ITF at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland," she told a news conference on Thursday, the day after the International Tennis Federation suspension was handed down.

Her father and coach said the grounds for any appeal would concern pregnancy although he did not directly address whether his daughter had been pregnant at the time of the test.

"It is a very unpleasant situation but I will not give up," said the 16-year-old, only the second women's player to be banned for drug-taking.

"Even if the court in Lausanne does not lift the ban I will accept it as a positive event. In two years time I will be 18 and I will be back even stronger.

"I will have plenty of time to improve my game and I do not feel it's the end of the world."

An independent anti-doping tribunal ruled samples given by Karatantcheva at the French Open last May and out of competition in Tokyo in July contained the banned steroid nandrolone.

French sports daily L'Equipe had quoted the player as blaming the high level of nandrolone in her system on a pregnancy that later ended in miscarriage.

A pregnancy test carried out by a French laboratory on the player's urine sample was negative, L'Equipe said last month.

"We introduced the whole medical documentation concerning the pregnancy to the tribunal in London," said Radoslav Karatantchev, the father and coach of Sesil, when asked about the L'Equipe report.

"It is really complicated case but we think we are right.

"We do not feel guilty. We will do our best to prove that we are innocent," said Radoslav.

The player's lawyer Darina Zinovieva said: "We will use the medical documentation in the appeal at the court in Lausanne and before that we do not want to reveal any details.

"We have strong arguments and in my opinion we have a pretty good chance in Lausanne."

Karatantcheva, ranked in the top 40 at the end of 2005, reached the quarter-finals at last year's French Open.

Source

Pics of Sesil during today's pressconference in Sofia
Source

French Open quarterfinalist Sesil Karatantcheva was banned for two years after twice testing positive for the steroid nandrolone.

The 16-year-old Bulgarian failed one drug test after losing at Roland Garros on May 31, then failed an out-of-competition test in Tokyo on July 5, the International Tennis Federation said Wednesday. Both tests were treated as a first offense by an ITF tribunal that met Dec. 14-15 in London.

The ban took effect Jan. 1, and the ITF said she has three weeks to appeal.

Karatantcheva, who is in Bulgaria, did not comment. She and her father, also her coach, were expected to speak at a news conference Thursday. The Bulgarian Tennis Federation also declined comment.

Karatantcheva beat Venus Williams in the third round at the French Open and lost to Russia's Elena Likhovtseva in the quarters. She was the seventh youngest French Open quarterfinalist in the Open era. Her results at Roland Garros will be nullified and she will forfeit prize money and ranking points won since that tournament.

The ITF said its tribunal "rejected the player's defenses but determined that the two offenses would be treated as one single first offense for sanctioning purposes."

Source

Georgi Parvanov send some warm words to Sesil, who found place in Top 10 Bulgarian Athletes of 2005.

"I do hope that this media fuss with our young tennis starlet is soon over," Bulgarian President said.

Sesil appeared shining and glamorous at the official ceremony dedicated to the annual awarding of Bulgaria's best performing sportsmen over the elapsing year.

A place at Top 10 of Bulgarian sports in 2005 have been granted to sumo champion Kotooshu, sprinter Ivet Lalova, swimmer Peter Stoytchev, boxer Alexey Shaidulin, tennis player Sesil Karatantcheva, rowing duo Rumiana Neykova and Miglena Markova, and wrestler Serafim Burzakov.

"I am innocent and I have never talked to judges in London," Sesil Karatantcheva told local Gong radio asked to comment French press reports she had produced a positive doping test.

Sesil expressed her shock and disappointment with "the false reports of the French". She suggested the news of having proven positive in banned steroid neandrolone was a kind of interpretation by the French L'Equipe. "The Frenchmen have never liked me," she added.

She also denied that she had talked to an ITF judge-panel in London last week to give explanation.

"We have no information at this time regarding a positive antidoping test for Sesil Karatantcheva," said the Bulgarian Federation in a press release.

"The Federation gives it's support to Sesil, as her excellent performances in the biggest tournaments in the world have brought much joy to aspiring players in Bulgaria. We sincerely hope that this news in the French press will not be confirmed".

The French sports newspaper L'Equipe report Sesil Karatantcheva failed a doping test following her loss at the French Open.

According to L'Equipe, Sesil tested positive for nandrolone after her 3-set loss to Russia's Elena Likhovtesa in the May 31 quarterfinals.

L'Equipe also reported that Karatantcheva appeared last week before a panel of three judges appointed by the International Tennis Federation. The newspaper said she told the panel she was pregnant at the time of the test, but later suffered a miscarriage.

"I am shocked," Karatantcheva told the agency. "I have not appeared before judges of the international federation."

Bulgaria's Tennis Federation said it was unaware of the case and had not heard from either the ITF or the World Anti-Doping Agency.

"We do hope that the report by the French paper will prove untrue," the Bulgarian federation said in a statement.

Kvete Peschke (CZE) reached the quarter-finals crushing Sesil Karatantcheva 6- 1 6-0.

Peschke has dropped just three games in winning her first two matches, but will have a tougher matchup in the quarterfinals with 4th-seeded Elena Dementieva (RUS).

The Russian, seeded ninth, lost 7-5 6-3 to Karatantcheva, who will play on Thursday in the 2nd round of Advanta Championships in Philadelphia (USA) with the winner of the match between Jill Craybas (USA) and Kveta Peschke (CZE). Zvonareva replaced Patty Schnyder (SUI) who withdrew from the tournament because of injury.

Sesil reached this week her best position ever (36) in the WTA Ranking.

Sesil beated Yvonne Meusburger 7-6 6-3 in the first round of the Linz Open. Karatantcheva failed to serve out the first set at 5-3 and then looked in danger of losing it when the persistent Meusburger broke for a 6-5 lead, but Karatantcheva responded by breaking back to love, and after controlling the tiebreak, got on top in the second set.

Amelie Mauresmo was forced to withdraw from the Generali Ladies Linz due to a left adductor strain. As a result of the withdrawal, the following changes had been made to the singles draw:
- Tatiana Golovin (FRA), who was going to play with Sesil in 1st round, was promoted to the No.9 seeding position and moved to Mauresmo's position at the top of the draw.
- Golovin's original place in the draw was filled by lucky loser Yvonne Meusburger (AUT).

Now Sesil will play with Golovin, who received a BYE in first round.

...and has been replaced in the draw by Sesil Karatantcheva. Sesil received a bye into the second round where she will face Flavia Pennetta, the other Lucky Looser, who defeated Kveta Peschke (1-6 6-1 6-4) in the first round.

Pierce said:
"I've a problem with my right quadriceps, it is similar to the problem I had during the summer."
"I had a great tournament in Moscow last week but physically I was pushed to the limit, and now I am paying a price for that."

Karatantcheva won her first round match (6-1 6-4) of the qualifications at Zurich Open in Swizterland, against Martina Muller (GER). Sesil also won 7-6(3) 6-3 against Sandra Kleinova (CZE) in 2nd round. But today she lost against Ai Sugiyama (JAP), so Sesil won't be in the main draw.

Sesil Karatantcheva will play next week at Linz, Austria.

After being granted a WC into the Kremlin Cup, Sesil have won her place in the main draw of the tournament, defeating María Emilia Salerni (6-3 6-3), Alisa Kleybanova (1-6 6-1 6-3), and Lisa Raymond (4-6 6-2 6-1).

Tomorrow she will play with Jelena Jankovic (SCG) in first round.

Amelie Mauresmo thrashed Sesil Karatantcheva 6-0 6-1 in just 50 minutes to book her place in the third round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows. The third seed played beautifully controlled tennis but also was helped by her 16-year-old opponent's 29 unforced errors.

The third-youngest player in the draw, Karatantcheva admitted she was overwhelmed by the size and spectacle of the setting.

Unfortunately, her awe showed. She whacked a forehand into the net to get broken in the first game, went down two breaks when Mauresmo walloped a forehand pass she lunged for but couldn't handle. The first set took 19 minutes, and though Karatantcheva showed more spirit and calmness in the second set and waved to the crowd when they cheered her victory in the third game, her highlights were fleeting.

Mauresmo brushed off her serve (Karatantcheva won just 12 of her 31 first serves), outrallied her constantly, hammered her with her sturdy, well-angled topspinning backhands.

"I felt really good on the court out there today," the 26-year-old Frenchwoman said. "I took that match very serious. She helped me a lot by making a lot of unforced errors. But I would like to think she couldn't find any solutions to the way I was playing tonight."I just took care of what I have to do."

"She's obviously No. 3 in the world for something," Karatantcheva said. "I guess I have a long way to go."

Mauresmo now faces the 31st seed Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany, a 3-6 6-3 6-4 winner over France's Virginie Razzano.

Sesil saved two match points in beating Meghann Shaughnessy 2-6 7-5 7-5, in a two hour, 23-minute first-round match. In second round Sesil will face Mauresmo, who mauled Italian Roberta Vinci 6-3 6-2 in first round.

Nadia Petrova (RUS) defeated Sesil Karatantcheva 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the third round.

The 16-year-old Karatantcheva played a strong first set but had a tough time with the Russian's powerful serve later in the match. Petrova, the No. 6 seed, had a first-round bye.

"In the beginning it was difficult," Petrova said. "I haven't been playing well.

"I was kind of trying out my game, was not focused really well. After I lost that set, I pulled myself together. I started to play more consistent, went for my shots, start to be more aggressive."

Sesil Karatantcheva defeated Jill Craybas (6-2 2-6 6-3) in a 1:33 hours match and managed to get in the second round at the $1.3 million Rogers Cup.

Sixth-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova will be Sesil's next opponent.

The experienced Ai Sugiyama (JPN) defeated Sesil (6-1, 6-2) in the quarterfinals of the Acura Classic. Sugiyama was more focused and made less errors, "I think I concentrated better than she did," said the winner, who will play against Akiko Morigami (JPN) in the semifinals.

Karatantcheva breezed past Mashona Washington, 6-1 6-2, to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Washington was the last American left in the singles main draw.

Sesil saved 16 break points during the 67 minute match. Mashona hurt her chances as she hit 9 double faults and dropped the final 5 games.

Sesil will face Ai Sugiyama (JPN), who defeated 2nd-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, in 2 hours 22 minutes.

Ariaki Coliseum, Tokio

In Saturday's matches, Sesil Karatantcheva was beaten by the experienced Akiko Morigami 2-6, 7-6, 6-0. The defeat extracted a burst of tears from Sesil, who was tempered by Magdalena Maleeva, captain of Bulgarian team. Maggie responded defeating Aiko Nakamura 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

On Sunday Morigami defeated Maleeva 7-6, 6-3 and Nakamura posted a 6-4, 7-6 win over Karatantcheva. Rika Fujimura and Akiko Morigami completed the day with a 6-1, 6-2 doubles win over Maria Penkova and Tszvetana Pironkova.

Before playoff

Maleeva - "I'm very surprised that Sugiyama and Asagoe are not in the team. If anything, I think this is good for us, but I still think Japan has a strong team"

Minoru Ueda - "We must take singles matches at any cost. Otherwise, we cannot beat them"

Sesil - "I'd like to enjoy my time and I'm happy to be in such a great team. I hope I can do good"

Sesil - (Saying that hard court gives the Japanese team an advantage) "As a professional, we shouldn't have trouble getting adapted to it, so we have to deal with it. But I like it a lot, I feel great on it"

Sesil Karatantcheva moves from 52 to 48 position in the WTA Tour rankings, which is her highest position ever. No changes at Top 3.

Magdalena Maleeva - 37th
Tszetana Pironkova - 127th