Memory Lane May 1, 2020

Madrid Memories 2009: Safina's dominance, Mauresmo's swansong

Look back on the story of the 2009 Mutua Madrid Open, the inaugural edition of the tournament, including a last hurrah from Amélie Mauresmo, a breakthrough for Caroline Wozniacki and a dominant title run to underline brand new World No.1 Dinara Safina's status.

A notable qualifier for the 2009 Mutua Madrid Open was Aravane Rezai, whose second-round showing presaged a career-best clay season for the Frenchwoman including a first title in Strasbourg and a fourth-round run at Roland Garros. — 01 /16

A notable qualifier for the 2009 Mutua Madrid Open was Aravane Rezai, whose second-round showing presaged a career-best clay season for the Frenchwoman including a first title in Strasbourg and a fourth-round run at Roland Garros.

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The first round saw No.2 seed Serena Williams retire with a knee injury while trailing Francesca Schiavone 4-6, a result which extended the American's losing streak to four following opening-round exits in Marbella and Rome. — 02 /16

The first round saw No.2 seed Serena Williams retire with a knee injury while trailing Francesca Schiavone 4-6, a result which extended the American's losing streak to four following opening-round exits in Marbella and Rome.

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Li Na was a 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 victor over home favorite Carla Suárez Navarro in an all-unseeded first-round clash between future Top 10 players. — 03 /16

Li Na was a 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 victor over home favorite Carla Suárez Navarro in an all-unseeded first-round clash between future Top 10 players.

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Samantha Stosur's 7-6(4), 6-1 first-round upset of No.10 seed Agnieszka Radwanska foreshadowed a breakthrough clay season for the Australian, who would reach her maiden Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros three weeks later. — 04 /16

Samantha Stosur's 7-6(4), 6-1 first-round upset of No.10 seed Agnieszka Radwanska foreshadowed a breakthrough clay season for the Australian, who would reach her maiden Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros three weeks later.

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Rising 19-year-old Alisa Kleybanova scored her second Top 5 scalp of 2009 with an epic 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 upset of No.5 seed Venus Williams in the second round. — 05 /16

Rising 19-year-old Alisa Kleybanova scored her second Top 5 scalp of 2009 with an epic 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 upset of No.5 seed Venus Williams in the second round.

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Dinara Safina had hit World No.1 for the first time the previous month, and the Russian top seed - fresh off the Rome title - extended her winning streak to six with a 6-3, 7-6(2) second-round defeat of Li Na. — 06 /16

Dinara Safina had hit World No.1 for the first time the previous month, and the Russian top seed - fresh off the Rome title - extended her winning streak to six with a 6-3, 7-6(2) second-round defeat of Li Na.

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Amélie Mauresmo would retire at the end of 2009, but the unseeded former World No.1 scored the last Top 5 win of her career with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 upset of No.3 seed Elena Dementieva in the third round. — 07 /16

Amélie Mauresmo would retire at the end of 2009, but the unseeded former World No.1 scored the last Top 5 win of her career with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 upset of No.3 seed Elena Dementieva in the third round.

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Agnes Szavay had already beaten Flavia Pennetta and Aravane Rezai, and the 20-year-old upset No.7 seed Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals - the Hungarian's sixth career Top 10 win. — 08 /16

Agnes Szavay had already beaten Flavia Pennetta and Aravane Rezai, and the 20-year-old upset No.7 seed Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals - the Hungarian's sixth career Top 10 win.

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The unseeded Patty Schnyder put together another of her trademark brilliant giant-killing runs, upsetting No.8 seed Nadia Petrova 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-6(5) in the third round and No.4 seed Jelena Jankovic 7-6(6), 6-3 in the quarterfinals. — 09 /16

The unseeded Patty Schnyder put together another of her trademark brilliant giant-killing runs, upsetting No.8 seed Nadia Petrova 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-6(5) in the third round and No.4 seed Jelena Jankovic 7-6(6), 6-3 in the quarterfinals.

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No.9 seed Caroline Wozniacki had served notice of her strong form in early rounds: the Dane did not concede more than four games in any of her first four matches, dismissing qualifier Vera Dushevina 6-0, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. — 10 /16

No.9 seed Caroline Wozniacki had served notice of her strong form in early rounds: the Dane did not concede more than four games in any of her first four matches, dismissing qualifier Vera Dushevina 6-0, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

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For the second round running Amélie Mauresmo came from a set down, eliminating Agnes Szavay 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals - in what would be the seventh-last tournament of the Frenchwoman's career. — 11 /16

For the second round running Amélie Mauresmo came from a set down, eliminating Agnes Szavay 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals - in what would be the seventh-last tournament of the Frenchwoman's career.

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Victories over Lucie Safarova, Alona Bondarenko and Patty Schnyder extended Dinara Safina's winning streak to nine, putting the Russian into her third straight final (following Stuttgart and Rome) and fifth of the 2009 season. — 12 /16

Victories over Lucie Safarova, Alona Bondarenko and Patty Schnyder extended Dinara Safina's winning streak to nine, putting the Russian into her third straight final (following Stuttgart and Rome) and fifth of the 2009 season.

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Caroline Wozniacki, who beat Amélie Mauresmo 7-6(1), 6-3 in the semifinals, would also reach her third clay final of the season following Amelia Island and Charleston - and it would be the 19-year-old's first at Premier Mandatory level. — 13 /16

Caroline Wozniacki, who beat Amélie Mauresmo 7-6(1), 6-3 in the semifinals, would also reach her third clay final of the season following Amelia Island and Charleston - and it would be the 19-year-old's first at Premier Mandatory level.

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Dinara Safina continued to sweep through the 2009 clay season, adding the Madrid trophy to her Rome title with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Caroline Wozniacki in the final - the only time the pair ever faced off. — 14 /16

Dinara Safina continued to sweep through the 2009 clay season, adding the Madrid trophy to her Rome title with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Caroline Wozniacki in the final - the only time the pair ever faced off.

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It was Dinara Safina's 11th career title, and the 23-year-old would follow it by reaching her third Grand Slam final at Roland Garros - but she would only lift one more trophy in a career prematurely ended by injury. — 15 /16

It was Dinara Safina's 11th career title, and the 23-year-old would follow it by reaching her third Grand Slam final at Roland Garros - but she would only lift one more trophy in a career prematurely ended by injury.

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For the moment, though, Safina - pictured with men's champion Roger Federer - could bask in form that was often untouchable, at the absolute peak of her career. — 16 /16

For the moment, though, Safina - pictured with men's champion Roger Federer - could bask in form that was often untouchable, at the absolute peak of her career.

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