By Dustin Dow
Enquirer staff writer

MASON - Depending on her viewpoint, Germany's Marlene Weingartner either is fortunate to be here this week or has been incredibly mistreated by the German National Olympic Committee.

Marlene Weingartner returns the ball to Emmanuelle Gagliardi during Monday's action. (Enquirer photo/SARAH CONARD)

IF YOU GO

Today's schedule Center Court 11 a.m.: Yuliana Fedak vs. Denisa Chladkova; Stephanie Foretz vs. Amy Frazier; Mara Santangelo vs. Severine Beltrame; Amanda Augustus-Julie Ditty vs. Jennifer Hopkins-Mashona Washington 7 p.m.: Lilia Osterloh vs. Adriana Serra Zanetti; Jill Craybas vs. Shuai Peng Grandstand Court 11 a.m.: Leanne Baker-Francesca Lubiani vs. Elena Tatarkova-Meilen Tu; Rita Grande-Flavia Pennetta vs. Antoella Serra Zanetti-Andrea Vanc; Selima Sfar vs. Camille Pin Not before 4 p.m.: Marion Bartoli-Severine Beltrame vs. Alina Jidkova-Bryanne Stewart Don't miss American Amy Frazier, who is making her return to Cincinnati after playing in the 1988 Pringles Light Classic. She plays Stephanie Foretz in the second match on Center Court. Directions • I-71 North to exit 24, left onto Western Row, right into tournament entrance. • I-71 North/South to exit 25, west onto Route 741, left onto Courseview Drive. •  I-75 North to exit 22, right onto Tylersville, left into entrance. • I-75 South to exit 29, left on West Route 63, right onto South Route 741, continue on Kings Mill, right onto Courseview. Monday's results Main draw first round Singles Marion Bartoli (4) def. Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-3; Marlene Weingartner (8) def. Emmanuelle Gagliardi 6-3, 3-6, 6-2; Rita Grande def. Virginie Razzano 6-1, 6-2; Mashona Washington def. Marissa Irvin 6-2, 6-4. Qualifier second round Singles Severine Beltrame def. Andreea Vanc 6-3, 7-5; Adriana Serra Zanetti def. Kelly McCain 6-0, 3-6, 6-2; Shuai Peng def. Stephanie Foretz 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; Yuliana Fedak def. Antonella Serra Zanetti 6-2, 7-6(7), Doubles Leanne Baker-Francesca Lubiani def. Selima Sfar-Aneta Soukup 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Jennifer Russell-Mara Santangelo def. Kara Molony-Hussey-Lyndsey Molony 6-0, 6-0. Monday's highlight Mashona Washington continued her hot summer play with a dominating win against Marissa Irvin in which Washington defeated Irvin for the second straight time. TV information None today; the Tennis Channel will air matches Friday-Sunday. Tickets Sessions (loge/terrace prices in parentheses): Today-Wednesday, 11 a.m., 7 p.m. ($22/$12); Thursday, 4 p.m. ($24/$15); Friday, 4 p.m. ($26/$18); Saturday, 3 p.m. ($28/$20); Sunday, 1 p.m. ($32/$22). Ticket hotline: 513-651-0303 (www.cincytennis.com) .

Either way, it has been a stress-laden two weeks for the eighth-seeded Weingartner, who won her first-round match Monday in the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open.

She is playing here because she was denied a spot on the German Olympic team despite meeting the WTA Tour standards to play in the Olympics.

The GNOC had its own qualifications, however, which Weingartner did not achieve.

When the Olympics entry deadline came and went Aug. 7 without Weingartner and another unlucky German, Anca Barna, on the roster, Weingartner, 24, was devastated by the reality that she wouldn't get to play in Athens.

"I'm not watching," Weingartner said of the Olympic tennis competition, which is being played concurrently with the W&S Open. "I watch the other sports, but it's just a little bit difficult for me to watch the tennis."

If only Weingartner's misfortune stopped there. Amazingly, it got worse.

Weingartner owns a home in Florida, where she trains while she's touring in the United States. The house is inland from Tampa, which happened to be in the path of Hurricane Charley late last week. She thought she was safe until the hurricane change direction right toward her house on Friday.

"I got my stuff together and went to the shelter," Weingartner said. "It was the worst time of my life. For four hours, we were praying. All these people, and we didn't know what was going to happen. I was sick, and I had to throw up."

The hurricane altered its course and missed Weingartner's house, but her ordeal didn't get any easier at the emergency shelter.

"After it passed us and went east, there was no more danger and they put on the Olympic opening ceremony," Weingartner said. "I was like, OK. I'm going to pack up and go back home and get ready for Cincinnati."

She arrived here Sunday, a day later than she originally planned. Emmanuelle Gagliardi pushed her to three sets Monday before Weingartner won 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

"I'm very proud of myself, that I got myself together," said Weingartner, who was just happy to be playing tennis - even if wasn't in the Olympics. "I can appreciate everything now. We should enjoy life. Enjoy every day. You never know what's going to happen."

After four days of not practicing and the anguish of missing out on representing Germany in Athens, competing in the W&S Open is almost therapeutic for Weingartner.

"I need to play here," Weingartner said. "Players tend to get nervous sometimes on the court. After you go through this (past two weeks), you don't feel any more fear, really."

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E-mail ddow@enquirer.com