Internationaux de Strasbourg
Category: International
Surface: Clay / Outdoors
Draw: 32M/32Q/16D
Prize Money: $220,000
Tournament Director: Denis Naegelen
http://www.internationaux-strasbourg.fr/enTournament Info
Many WTA players choose to get their last bit of pre-Roland Garros clay court work in at the Internationaux de Strasbourg. Commonly referred to as IS, the tournament has been played the week before the start of the French Open since its inception in 1987.
Silvia Farina Elia, who was victorious from 2001 to 2003, and Anabel Medina Garrigues are tied for the most titles in IS history with three each. Other past champions include superstars such as Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, Steffi Graf, Jana Novotna and Maria Sharapova.
The one and only French winner was Aravane Rezai in 2009. "It's incredible. I'm so happy to win my first title in France," she said. "I've been working hard for so many years for this and it's hard to put into words what I feel. I want to come back here every year; I love this tournament.
IS moved from HautePierre to the Tennis Club of Strasbourg - in front of the European Parliament and convenient to downtown - in 2011. The event prides itself on being eco-friendly, adhering to a variety of green initiatives that among other benefits, have decreased CO2 emissions.
Past finals
Singles
Year / Champion / Runner-up / Score
1987 Carling Bassett Sandra Cecchini 6-3, 6-4
1988 Sandra Cecchini Judith Pölzl Wiesner 6-3, 6-0
1989 Jana Novotná Patricia Tarabini 6-1, 6-2
1990 Mercedes Paz Ann Grossman 6-2, 6-3
1991 Radka Zrubáková Rachel McQuillan 7-6, 7-6
1992 Judith Pölzl Wiesner Naoko Sawamatsu 6-1, 6-3
1993 Naoko Sawamatsu Judith Pölzl Wiesner 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
1994 Mary Joe Fernandez Gabriela Sabatini 2-6, 6-4, 6-0
1995 Lindsay Davenport Kimiko Date 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
1996 Lindsay Davenport Barbara Paulus 6-3, 7-6
1997 Steffi Graf Mirjana Lučić 6-2, 7-5
1998 Irina Spîrlea Julie Halard-Decugis 7-6(5), 6-3
1999 Jennifer Capriati Elena Likhovtseva 6-1, 6-3
2000 Silvija Talaja Rita Kuti-Kis 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
2001 Silvia Farina Elia Anke Huber 7-5, 0-6, 6-4
2002 Silvia Farina Elia Jelena Dokić 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
2003 Silvia Farina Elia Karolina Šprem 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
2004 Claudine Schaul Lindsay Davenport 2-6, 6-0, 6-3
2005 Anabel Medina Garrigues Marta Domachowska 6-4, 6-3
2006 Nicole Vaidišová Peng Shuai 7-6(7), 6-3
2007 Anabel Medina Garrigues Amélie Mauresmo 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
2008 Anabel Medina Garrigues Katarina Srebotnik 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-0
2009 Aravane Rezaď Lucie Hradecká 7–6(2), 6–1
2010 Maria Sharapova Kristina Barrois 7–5, 6–1
2011 Andrea Petkovic Marion Bartoli 6–4, 1–0 ret.
