The Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem is a women's professional tennis tournament held in Fes, Morocco. This WTA Tour event is classified as an International tournament and is played on outdoor clay courts. It is the only WTA tournament held in Africa.
Past Winners 2009 Anabel Medina Garrigues 2008 Gisela Dulko 2007 Milagros Sequera 2006 Meghann Shaughnessy 2005 Nuria Llagostera Vives 2004 Émilie Loit 2003 Grande 2002 Patricia Wartusch 2001 Zsófia Gubacsi Doubles 2009 Alisa Kleybanova Ekaterina Makarova 2008 Sorana Cîrstea Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2007 Vania King Sania Mirza 2006 Yan Zi Zheng Jie 2005 Émilie Loit Barbora Strýcová 2004 Marion Bartoli Émilie Loit 2003 María Emilia Salerni Gisela Dulko 2002 Patricia Wartusch Petra Mandula 2001 Åsa Svensson Lubomira Bacheva
Benesova through Iveta Benesova was the first seeded player to progress from the first round of the Grand Prix de Sar La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Fes, Morocco. Czech Republic's Benesova, the seventh seed and world number 67, claimed a comfortable 6-0 6-4 win over Australia's Olivia Rogowska to go through to round two of the US dollars 220,000 clay court event.
Keothavong secures second-round spot Anne Keothavong recovered from being whitewashed in the second set to defeat France's Julie Coin in the first round of the Grand Prix De Sar La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Morocco. Coin is ranked in the top 80 and it was the Frenchwoman who got the early break in Fes but Keothavong reeled off five games in a row to take the first set. The momentum changed rapidly at the start of the second set, which Coin raced through without dropping a game, and she looked poised for victory when she opened up a 4-2 lead in the decider. But Keothavong was not finished and she stopped the rot with four games in a row to triumph 6-3 0-6 6-4. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gzp4dvGDa6UtD0xT8HWlJozoGBJg
Halep into last four Romanian teenager Simona Halep stunned second seed Patty Schnyder in straight sets today to advance to the semi-finals of the WTA Grand Prix De SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Fes. Halep, an 18-year-old qualifier from Constanta, saw off her experienced Swiss opponent 6-2 7-6 (7/3) in the day's fourth quarter-final to secure a last-four date with Renata Voracova.
Keothavong crashes out Anne Keothavong failed to make the semi-finals at the Grand Prix de SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Morocco after a straight-sets defeat by Alize Cornet. The Frenchwoman, who has been ranked as high as 11th in the world but is currently down at 84, began the better and opened up a 4-1 lead over the British number three. Keothavong fought back, winning four games in a row to serve for the opening set but she could not take her chance and Cornet capitalised. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jRTeQK-ZkYmE4zJS3egieG9GKT9Q
Benesova sets up Halep clash in Fes Seventh seed Iveta Benesova struggled past Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 and reached the final of the 2010 Grand Prix De Sar La Princesse Lalla Meryem, a WTA International event being played in the picturesque Fes. Benesova made a good start to the match but due to a momentary lapse in concentration, gave away the second set to Cornet, who levelled the match at one set a piece. Both players gallantly held their serves in the decider before Benesova struck gold in the form of a decisive break and completed the three set marathon win. Benesova faces first time finalist and Romanian Qualifier Simona Halep, who registered a confident 7-5, 6-4 win over Czech Renata Voracova in exactly 90 minutes of play.
Iveta Avenges, Wins Fès Three weeks ago in Marbella, Benesova lost first round to Halep, who was playing her first main draw match on the Tour. It was a low point for Benesova, who had been ranked in the world's Top 30 as recently as last year; it was her ninth loss in 11 matches on the season at the time, as well. Ranked No.67 and the No.7 seed in Fès, and coming off her first quarterfinal of the year in Barcelona, Benesova was sharp all week, losing an average of five games per match through the semifinals, making the final after a 63 46 75 win over Alizé Cornet, in which Cornet served for the match in the decider. Meanwhile, Halep, who won two matches in qualifying too, was cruising through her half of the draw, not losing a set and only being pushed to a tie-break once, in her 62 76(3) upset of No.2 seed Patty Schnyder in the quarters. http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/news/20100501/iveta-avenges-wins-fes_2256076_2040959
Benesova clams Fes title Iveta Benesova saw off surprise package Simona Halep in straight sets in the Grand Prix De SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem final in Fes to win the second WTA Tour title of her career. The Czech star broke serve six times on her way to a 6-4 6-2 triumph for her first singles trophy on the main tour since 2004.
