"Today I wasn't playing my best tennis far from that. That's the kind of day that happens, and you need to accept it and to move forward. I tried to stay positive. I wasn't maybe fresh enough to win this match, I don't know. She has been more solid than me, and that's it... She was serving great. A lot of first serves. That's been probably the biggest difference between us today.
"I am pretty tired after winning the French Open and Eastbourne but it's been a good few weeks and even here, I had a very good time. It's been very positive and I'll be back and get my chance another time."
. They had met in the final of this year's Australian Open, when Justine retired from the match due to severe stomach pains which were caused by anti-inflammatory medication she was taking for a shoulder problem. In their most recent match, a semifinal at the German Open in Berlin, Justine defeated Amelie 6-1, 6-2.
Amelie has now won 23 WTA Tour singles titles, and is 2-1 in Grand Slam tourney finals (she lost the 1999 Aussie Open final to Martina Hingis). Justine has won 27 WTA Tour singles titles, and is 5-3 in Grand Slam singles finals. One of her earlier losses was her retirement from this year's Aussie Open, the other was in the first Grand Slam final of Justine's career, the
, when then 19-year-old Justine was defeated by Venus Williams, 6-1, 3-6, 6-0. Winning Wimbledon would have completed a "career slam" for Justine, who won the French title in 2003, 2005, and 2006, the US Open in 2003, and the Australian Open in 2004. Now she will have to wait for another year.
WTA SCOREBOARD: The Championships at Wimbledon
Attendees of the Branson(Virgin everything)-sponsored WTA player party at Kensington Roof Gardens on Thursday, June 22, included top row: tennis fan Claudia Schiffer, and supermodels Maria Sharapova, Nicole Vaidisova, Elena Vesnina, and Tatiana Golovin; bottom row: supermodels Vilmarie Castellvi & Sunitha Rao, Venus Williams, and Mashona Washington, and tennis fan Kate Middleton
On Sunday, June 25, at Wimbledon, 2005 champ Venus Williams met the press, while top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo and 2004 champ Maria Sharapova were up to some backhanded business-- and 2006 French Open champ Justine Henin-Hardenne waited for Hal to open the pod bay door so she could practice, too
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Wimbledon, 1st Round Mon-Wed Jun 26-28 noon
loser's prize: £7,860 = US $14,589; points: 2
Monday: washout
No matches were completed at the AELTC on Monday,
but some fans stayed dry, on the outside, anyway...
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Tuesday: Steffi Graf
Fraulein Forehand, retired seven-time Wimbledon
champion, watched some old ATP guy play
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#1 s1 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #190 q Ivana Abramovic CRO 6-0, 6-0 Wed
Amelie and Ivana driving forehands
Amelie said: "It's one of the greatest matches that I've played here... It's maybe tough to judge a little bit after just one match... And also not to spend too much time on the court is another satisfaction for me." interview
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#2 s2 Kim Clijsters BEL d #47 Vera Zvonareva RUS 7-5, 6-3 Mon-rain-Tue
Monday: Kim and Vera watching their forehands fly; Tuesday: Kim flying after a forehand
Kim said: "[Vera is] a good player. I think because of injuries, I think she's dropped back to where she is. I knew that I had to play a good match, and I had to be ready for it to play and to to play well and to win today. That was very important.
"I think playing her last week in Eastbourne, those three games we played there [before Vera retired due to injury], it was very hard to tell how good she was playing because she wasn't really moving well. I think today and yesterday she was she surprised me a lot I think with the way she was moving. She defended really well. I think in a short time she'll be back to where she used to be." interview
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#3 s3 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #99 Meng Yuan CHN 6-0, 6-1 ppd-Tue
Justine reaching for a forehand, and Meng about to swat one
#4 s4 Maria Sharapova RUS d #40 Anna Smashnova ISR 6-2, 6-0 Wed
Maria twisting a serve, Anna's forehand, Maria following her backhand as she charges netward, and after match point
Maria said: "From the beginning of the match, I kind of broke [Anna]. That was kind of the whole set of that match. You know, I took advantage of the first balls. I knew that she's not the best grass court player. I just had to go for my shots, hit them, try to come in, put some pressure on her, because she'll run out there all day." interview
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#7 s5 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #82 q Romina Oprandi ITA 6-3, 6-2 ppd-Tue
 Svetlana about to slice a backhand
#8 s7 Elena Dementieva RUS d #38 Sania Mirza IND 7-6(5), 7-5 Wed
Elena and Sania delivering forehands
#10 s8 Patty Schnyder SUI d #98 Antonella Serra Zanetti ITA 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 ppd-Tue
Patty's lefty backhand, and Antonella's (who defeated Patty in the 1st round in 2005) right-handed variety
#11 s9 Anastasia Myskina RUS d #223 Cara Black ZIM 6-0, 6-4 Wed
Anastasia's forehand, Cara handling a high backhand, and Anastasia reaching for a low one
#12 s6 Venus Williams USA d #102 Bethanie Mattek USA 6-1, 6-0 Wed
Venus about to drive a backhand, and Bethanie chasing down a forehand
Venus said: "I felt good out there. [Bethanie] was a worthy opponent. It seemed like I had all the right answers when she came up with some very good shots, too. That helped." interview
Bethanie said: "It was kind of hard to do anything. [Venus] was playing really well. Every time I'd get up a couple points in the game, she'd come up with some great shots. So it was just hard to get a rhythm. I wasn't able to quite show my game today...
"She likes to go for it. You know, she came up with some good serves when she needed to. She hit the lines, hit a couple aces. Every time she got a little off pace ball, she'd go for a winner. So pretty aggressive game...
"It was definitely a good experience. I hadn't played out there before. I really enjoy playing out there. I wish I could have stayed out there a little longer, but... Next year." interview
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#13 s10 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #46 Klara Koukalova CZE 7-5, 7-5 ppd-Tue
Nicole about to slice a backhand
*#302 wc Melanie South GBR d #14 s11 Francesca Schiavone ITA 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Wed
Melanie's forehand, Francesca's backhand, and Melanie after match point
Melanie said: "Of course you are [nervous]. It's like my first singles round. I'm playing someone who is like 14 in the world. I'm going to be nervous. But also at the same time I had nothing to lose. Like no one's ever expecting me to win. I just went out there and enjoyed it." interview
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#15 s12 Martina Hingis SUI d #103 Olga Savchuk UKR 6-2, 6-2 Mon-rain-Tue
Martina slicing a serve on Tuesday, and after match point
Martina hit some excellent drop shots on Tuesday. Martina said: "I had to do something, especially on grass. You have to try to have a lot of variety in your shots because somehow you always look for the ball. If you don't give the opponent the same shot twice, it definitely helps because the bounces and everything is just already so hard to get ready for, to control the ball. That's just to mix it up and so the opponent doesn't know what you're doing."
The match was played on Court # 2, known as "The Graveyard of Champions," because many upsets have occured their (e.g., Jill Craybas d Serena Williams in 2005). Martina said: "I love that court... I have no bad experiences on that. I don't like Court 1, but I do like No. 2. They can have me play there all the time. I don't care... It's small, intimate. Great atmosphere. Like yesterday, when I walked on the court, you really feel the fans. They're very close to you. I like that court. I never lost on that court." interview
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*#83 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL d #16 s13 Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 ppd-Tue
#17 s14 Dinara Safina RUS d #45 Jill Craybas USA 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 Wed
Dinara driving a forehand, and Jill about to
#18 s15 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #58 Maria-Elena Camerin ITA 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 Mon-rain-Tue
Monday: Daniela figuring, Maria-Elena backhanding; Tuesday: Daniela swatting a forehand on the move
#19 s16 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #120 Sandra Kloesel GER 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 Wed
 Flavia's backhand
*#110 Shinobu Asagoe JPN d #20 s17 Maria Kirilenko RUS 6-2, 7-6(1) ppd-Tue
Maria following her backhand, Shinobu launching one on the run, and after match point
#21 s18 Ai Sugiyama JPN d #505 wc Naomi Cavaday GBR 6-4, 7-5 Mon-rain-Tue
 Ai's backhand drive
#22 s19 Ana Ivanovic SCG d #119 Emmanuelle Gagliardi SUI 7-5, 7-6(4) Wed
Ana firing a forehand, and Emmanuelle about to swat one
#23 s20 Shahar Peer ISR d #78 Yuliana Fedak UKR 6-2, 6-1 Wed
Yuliana about to connect with a backhand, Shahar just after contact
#24 s21 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #60 Martina Sucha SVK 6-4, 6-1 ppd-Tue
*#42 Sybille Bammer AUT d #25 s22 Nathalie Dechy FRA 7-5, 7-5 Wed
#26 s23 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #126 Su-Wei Hsieh TPE 6-3, 6-2 Wed
#27 s24 Marion Bartoli FRA d #97 Camille Pin FRA 6-0, 6-2 ppd-Tue
#28 s25 Elena Likhovtseva RUS d #84 Stephanie Foretz FRA 6-0, 6-2 Wed
#29 s26 Jelena Jankovic SCG d #43 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP 6-3, 6-4 Wed
#30 s27 Na Li CHN d #89 Virginie Razzano FRA 6-2, 6-0 ppd-Tue
 Na's backhand
*#123 Eva Birnerova CZE d #31 s28 Sofia Arvidsson SWE 6-2, 6-4 Mon-rain-Tue
#32 s29 Tatiana Golovin FRA d #94 Mariana Diaz-Oliva ARG 3-6, 6-2, 9-7 Wed
Switch hitter Tatiana (brunette this fortnight, frequently blonde--but always RH, 2H-BH), about to wallop a forehand, and Mariana belting a backhand
This was only Tatiana's second WTA match since she tore ankle ligaments during her semifinal against Maria Sharapova at the NASDAQ-100 at Key Biscayne in March.
In addition to switching between blonde and brunette, Tatiana has been rotating her racquets recently. She started out on the Tour swinging a Volkl bat, and did so through January of this year. But in Paris in February, Tatiana began chopping with a Wilson nVision. During her injury layoff she switched again, and now wields the same Wilson wacket Venus Williams formerly used, the nCode n4 (Venus is now swinging a new Wilson bat not yet for sale, reported called the W5 Divine Iris).
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#33 s30 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #80 Zi Yan CHN 6-3, 6-2 ppd-Tue
#34 s31 Gisela Dulko ARG d #62 Emma Laine FIN 7-6(11), 6-1 Mon-rain-Tue
*#79 Amy Frazier USA d #35 s32 Mara Santangelo ITA 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Wed
*#163 q Tamarine Tanasugarn THA d #36 Catalina Castano COL 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-2 ppd-Tue
 Tammy's backhand
#37 Jie Zheng CHN d #48 Iveta Benesova CZE 7-5, 6-2 Mon-rain-Tue
#41 Shuai Peng CHN d #67 Eleni Daniilidou GRE 6-4, 6-4 Wed
Eleni scooping her 1-handed backhand drive, and Shuai cringing her 2-hander
#44 Kveta Peschke CZE d #117 Kristina Brandi PUR 6-3, 6-0 ppd-Tue
*#106 Anastassia Rodionova RUS d #49 Emilie Loit FRA 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 Wed
#50 Samantha Stosur AUS d #55 Michaella Krajicek NED 7-5, 6-3 Wed
Samantha ready to slice a backhand, and Michaella driving one
*#129 q Severine Bremond FRA d #51 Anastasiya Yakimova BLR 7-5, 6-3 ppd-Tue
*#76 Ashley Harkleroad USA d #52 Jelena Kostanic CRO 6-3, 6-3 Wed
#53 Laura Granville USA d #71 Maret Ani EST 6-1, 7-6(3) Wed
#54 Jamea Jackson USA d #130 q Kirsten Flipkens BEL 4-6, 4-6, 6-1 Mon-rain-Tue
 Jamea after winning a point
Jamea said: "[In the 2nd set] I got a lot more aggressive. [Kirsten] plays a game that's great on grass. She's got a great slice. It was staying really low. She was really changing up the paces with her forehand, she was looping some, really hitting some pretty hard.
"I just had to get back into the match and play my own game. I think in the first I kind of let her control the match and what she was doing.
"We had some really tough games in there, especially with her serve, she's got a great serve that I was able to pull out. I think that's what made the difference. I think it was a lot closer than the score made it look." interview
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*#81 Ekaterina Bychkova RUS d #56 Aiko Nakamura JPN 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 ppd-Tue
*#73 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #57 Alona Bondarenko UKR 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 Wed
*#121 Mashona Washington USA d #59 Julia Schruff GER 6-3, 6-4 Wed
 Mashona ready to drive a backhand
#61 Elena Vesnina RUS d #75 Maria Antonia Sanchez Lorenzo ESP 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 ppd-Tue
#63 Tathiana Garbin ITA d #235 wc Katie O'Brien GBR 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 ppd-Tue
Tathiana slicing a backhand, and Katie ready to drive one
#64 Karolina Sprem CRO d #143 wc Anne Keothavong GBR 6-0, 6-2 ppd-Tue
*#74 Martina Muller GER d #65 Kaia Kanepi EST 6-4, 6-4 Wed
*#249 wc Sarah Borwell GBR d #66 Marta Domachowska POL 6-3, 6(3)-7, 6-4 Wed
Sarah said: "[Late in the 2nd set] I think I realized I was playing a Grand Slam, probably the greatest Grand Slam of the year. Unfortunately, I hit three double faults and probably not the most graceful double faults at that. I'm just glad I realized in the tiebreak she was getting a bit nervous as well..." interview
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*#69 Akiko Morigami JPN d #68 Vera Dushevina RUS 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 Mon-rain-Tue
Monday: Vera's forehand, and Akiko's backhand; Tuesday: after match point
Akiko said: "I didn't feel too well in the first set, and then it was definitely good rain [delay] for me... I was nervous a little bit because of Wimbledon... it's always tough to play in the first round. But I found a way to win today, so I'm very happy that I won." interview
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#72 Shenay Perry USA d #155 q Kristina Barrois GER 7-5, 5-7, 8-6 Wed
#77 Melinda Czink HUN d #93 Laura Pous Tio ESP 6-3, 6-1 Wed
#85 Lisa Raymond USA d #153 q Yaroslava Shvedova RUS 3-5 retired Wed
*#136 q Nicole Pratt AUS d #86 Jarmila Gajdosova SVK 6-2 6-3 Wed
*#92 Virginia Ruano Pascual ESP d #87 Hana Sromova CZE 6-4, 6-3 ppd-Tue
#88 Vania King USA d #90 LL Julia Vakulenko UKR 5-4 retired Wed
*#195 q Clarisa Fernandez ARG d #91 Conchita Martinez Granados ESP 6-2, 4-6, 4-3 retired Wed
*#111 Kateryna Bondarenko UKR d #95 Ivana Lisjak CRO 6-4, 7-5 ppd-Tue
#96 Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR d #109 Lilia Osterloh USA 6-4, 3-3 retired Mon-rain-Tue
#100 Tiantian Sun CHN d #112 Nathalie Vierin ITA 6-3, 6-4 Wed
*#214 wc Agnieszka Radwanska POL d #101 Victoria Azarenka BLR 7-5, 6-4 ppd-Tue
 Agnieszka's backhand
#105 q Meilen Tu USA d #116 q Vassilissa Bardina RUS 6-, 6-0 ppd-Tue
*#259 wc Alicia Molik AUS d #178 q Yung-Jan Chan TPE 7-5, 6-1 ppd-Tue
Alicia's 1-handed backhand drive, and Yung-Jan's two-hander
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Wimbledon, 2nd Round Weds-Thu Jun 28-29 noon
loser's prize: £12,840 = US $23,832; points: 32
#1 s1 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #50 Samantha Stosur AUS 6-4, 6-2 Thu
 Amelie's flying forehand
Amelie said: "I think a pretty good match. A typical grass court match, against Stosur. She likes to come in as well. That made it a little bit different from all the other matches I have to play usually. So was quite interesting. I felt I served and returned pretty well today. I took the opportunity I had right at the beginning of the match, and then took another couple of chances in the second set. So I'm very satisfied about this match." interview
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#2 s2 Kim Clijsters BEL d #96 Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR walkover-- illness Wed
#3 s3 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #81 Ekaterina Bychkova RUS 6-1, 6-2 Wed
Justine's forehand (which she prefers over her backhand, which some folks, e.g. John McEnroe, think is the best in the game), and Ekaterina knowing there isn't much she can do
#4 s4 Maria Sharapova RUS d #76 Ashley Harkleroad USA 6-2, 6-2 Thu
Maria and Ashley launching forehands, and Maria after match point
Maria said: "I thought I was playing pretty solidly. [Ashley is] a pretty good hitter. I played her in Australia. I had a pretty tough second set. She's definitely playing a lot better than when we were in Juniors. We've played a few times already, so I knew her game quite well. I thought I did a lot of things well, and came in at the right time." interview
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#7 s5 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #44 Kveta Peschke CZE 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 Wed
Svetlana reaching for a backhand, and Kveta driving one more uprightly
#8 s7 Elena Dementieva RUS d #73 Meghann Shaughnessy USA 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 Thu
 Elena following her backhand
*#129 q Severine Bremond FRA d #10 s8 P Schnyder SUI 6-4, 1-6, 4-5 Wed-dark-Thu
Backhands: Patty's 2H-LH, Severine's 1H-RH
#11 s9 Anastasia Myskina RUS d #74 Martina Muller 6-2, 6-1 Thu
 Anastasia stalking the elusive forehand
Anastasia has been feeling more relaxed, in part because her mother, who was very ill in 2005, is healthy again, and traveling with her on the Tour.
In a BBC interview, Anastasia said: "Clay is definitely not my best surface. Yes, I won the French Open, but I still prefer to play fast courts like hard courts or grass. I feel more confident. I like the fast games and short rallies.
"I'm trying to be more aggressive and I think it's working. It's everything - controlling the point, coming to the net, returning well and so on.
"I'm thinking more positive and my mum is with me - everybody healthy. She understands me really well and we have fun together. She's also cooking for me which is definitely much better than room service at the hotel." BBC story
Bolstered by her mom's home cooking, 'Nastia won 77% of her 1st serve points, won 57% of her receiving points, and scored on 11 of 14 trips to the net (Martina: 45%, 33%, and 4 of 12). match stats
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#12 s6 Venus Williams USA d #85 Lisa Raymond USA 6(4)-7, 7-5, 6-2 Thu
Lisa lifting a forehand, and Venus chasing one down
Lisa served for the match when leading 5-3 in the 2nd set, but Venus broke her. Lisa said: "The tennis gods caught up with me a bit today... I put myself in a perfect position to win that match and just don't get it done. I didn't get one first serve in in that game... I had been serving so well... You're about to serve for the match against the defending champion and you start rushing. I did, and it cost me. I didn't serve well that game, and you can't give Venus second serves." interview
Venus said: "I was only down one break, and I was serving very well. I just happened to play some bad shots to get broken. I was just thinking 'All I have to do is break once and it's going to be very tough for [Lisa] to break me again.' Once I got that break, I felt very confident serving at 4-5." interview
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#13 s10 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #111 Kateryna Bondarenko UKR 6-1, 6-1 Wed
Nicole firing a forehand, and Kateryna launching a backhand
#15 s12 Martina Hingis SUI d #63 Tathiana Garbin ITA 6-1, 6-2 Wed
Tathina swatting a forehand, Martina's forehand, and after match point
#17 s14 Dinara Safina RUS d #121 Mashona Washington USA 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 Thu
#18 s15 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #54 Jamea Jackson USA 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 ppd-Thu
Daniela's backhand, and after match point
#19 s16 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #53 Laura Granville USA 6-2, 6-1 Thu
Flavia twisting a serve, and Laura chasing a forehand
#21 s18 Ai Sugiyama JPN d #69 Akiko Morigami JPN 6-2, 7-5 Wed
Akiko and Ai belting backhands
Ai said: "I didn't have a feeling of my forehand in the first round, and I was struggling a bit. And also I didn't know Cavaday at all. It was kind of tough to find out the way I should play. But I fixed my forehand after the first round, and I was pretty confident... I was really comfortable on the court today." interview
Akiko said: "Sugiyama played pretty well, I think, because she was really aggressive. I wanted to play my game, but she didn't let me. She just beat me today. I mean, I have to give a lot of credit... I felt so much pressure because she was hitting the ball inside the baseline, then I had to back it up a lot, which I didn't want to do. I wanted to take the ball early. I wanted to be inside the baseline. But she didn't let me do that. So I have to give a lot of credit. She played pretty well." interview
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#22 s19 Ana Ivanovic SCG d #249 wc Sarah Borwell GBR 6-1, 6-2 Thu
Sarah said: "I never played anyone of that standard before. Never seen the ball come at me that hard before, so was a bit difficult.
"I basically learnt that to get to the next level I'm going to have to practice with people who are either ranked similar to me, or at that [higher] level. I think she probably obviously sees that standard day in, day out, and I don't. I think that was the difference. I could play points and do odd points where I played well, but I'm not capable of playing point in, point out at that standard just yet, because I'm just not used to it." interview
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*#41 Shuai Peng CHN d #23 s20 Shahar Peer ISR 6-4, 7-6(5) Thu
#24 s21 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #259 wc Alicia Molik AUS 6-2, 6-1 ppd-Thu
Alicia's forehand, and Katarina's backhand
#26 s23 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #195 q Clarisa Fernandez ARG 6(7)-7, 7-5, 11-9 Thu
Anabel about to swat a backhand, and lefty Clarisa sending one on its way
*#64 Karolina Sprem CRO d #27 s24 Marion Bartoli FRA 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 Wed
#28 s25 Elena Likhovtseva RUS d #100 Tiantian Sun CHN 6-3, 6-3 Thu
#29 s26 Jelena Jankovic SCG d #88 Vania King USA 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 Thu
#30 s27 Na Li CHN d #105 q Meilen Tu USA 6-2, 6-4 Wed
 Na's forehand
*#136 q Nicole Pratt AUS d #32 s29 Tatiana Golovin FRA 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 Thu
#33 s30 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #61 Elena Vesnina RUS 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 Wed
#34 s31 Gisela Dulko ARG d #92 Virginia Ruano Pascual ESP 7-5, 6-4 Wed
#37 Jie Zheng CHN d #123 Eva Birnerova CZE 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-3 Wed
#42 Sybille Bammer AUT d #106 Anastassia Rodionova RUS 6-4, 6-4 Thu
#72 Shenay Perry USA d #302 wc Melanie South GBR 7-6(5), 6-2 Thu
Melanie said: "I went out there again looking to enjoy it. Ended up with a set point, which I just missed. I replayed that over in my mind about 500 times now. So I'm pretty disappointed about that.
"Then [Ana] just kind of took it on... I was trying to go for too much. That really led it to an easier second set for her." interview
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*#79 Amy Frazier USA d #77 Melinda Czink HUN 6-2, 6-3 Thu
*#214 wc Agnieszka Radwanska POL d #83 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL 7-5, 7-6(5) Wed-dark-Thu
*#163 q T Tanasugarn THA d #110 S Asagoe JPN 6-3 7-5 Wed-dark-Thu
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Wimbledon, 3rd Round Fri-Sat Jun 30-Jul 1 noon
loser's prize: £21,210 = US $39,368; points: 56
#1 s1 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #136 q Nicole Pratt AUS 6-1, 6-2 Sat
Amelie's forehand & backhand, the only pic of Nicole posted before "press time," modeling Wimbledon towelware, and Amelie after match point
Amelie said: "The last match was against a big serve player. Then today was a little bit different. [Nicole] was using the slice a little bit more so that makes it sometimes tough to find the right balance. I think the next one is going to be a big test...
I played [Ana Ivanovic] a few times already. She's one of the newcomers on the tour. She hits the ball pretty hard on both sides, serves very well also. I haven't seen how she plays here on grass. I'm sure she uses a lot of power also. So, yeah, expecting a tough one." interview
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#2 s2 Kim Clijsters BEL d #37 Jie Zheng CHN 6-3, 6-2 Fri
Kim and Jie serving, Kim's backhand, and after match point
Kim said: "I felt I played a good match. You know, [Jie is] a tough player. I played against her once in Hong Kong before Sydney, in an exhibition. There, it was a close match. She's a good kind of like a counter puncher. She likes to play fast rallies, and likes to stand on top of the baseline and just dictate the points. And it was important for me to keep moving her side to side and not letting her play her game. I think I did that really well today. I served well and I think I played a good match." interview
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#3 s3 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #33 s30 Anna Chakvetadze RUS 6-2, 6-3 Fri
Justine driving a forehand, Anna hanging tough, and Justine after the match
Justine said: "I just go match after match... I just try to do my job the best I can. I enjoy my game a lot right now, so it's great. I'm happy to be on the court healthy.
"I'm in the fourth round here, so that's a good step. But next match is going to be my next goal, and that's it. I don't want to look too far. It's a bit disappointed for you guys [reporters] when I say that, but that's the way I feel right now. That's the way I have to think in the next few days." interview
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#4 s4 Maria Sharapova RUS d #79 Amy Frazier USA 6-3, 6-2 Sat
Maria serving, Amy's forehand drive, Maria firing one, and Maria after match point
33-year-old Amy Frazier has now played in 70 Grand Slam tourneys, dating back to the 1987 US Open, during which she reached the 3rd round twenty-two times, the 4th round eight times, and the quarterfinals twice. Her career prize money is $3,386,319.
Maria said: "[Amy is] a pretty solid grass court player with her game, her serve is pretty flat, she takes the first ball, likes to hit her shots. I feel like I got a pretty good workout out there. I had to work for the match. I definitely feel confident going into the fourth round." interview
Maria sprained an ankle while practicing in April, and sat out the entire clay court season until the French Open, during which it was still hurting. Maria said: "My ankle's doing a lot better. It's not restricting me when I move out there. So I feel a lot better on my movement. I feel like I'm starting new. When points get a little bit long, I feel like I'm more in control, whereas on clay I felt a little bit out of it, wasn't quite moving well certainly because of the tape on my ankle. Without the tape, I feel a lot looser and freer."
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*#30 s27 Na Li CHN d #7 s5 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 Fri
Na's forehand, Svetlana's backhand, Na about to swat one, and after match point
#8 s7 Elena Dementieva RUS d #28 s25 Elena Likhovtseva RUS 7-5, 6-3 Sat
Elena D's forehand, and following her backhand; no photos could be found of Elena L-- who is still alive in doubles, partnered with Anastasia Myskina, and mixed, with Daniel Nestor
#11 s9 Anastasia Myskina RUS d #26 s23 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 6-3, 6-4 Sat
Anastasia serving, and driving a forehand, Anabel's backhand, and Anastasia waiting to wallop one
*#29 s26 Jelena Jankovic SCG d #12 s6 Venus Williams USA 7-6(8), 4-6, 6-4 Sat
Jelena serving, Venus following a backhand, Jelena's backhand, and after match point "Ohmygosh"
The match was played on Court 2, the "Graveyard of Champions," where Venus' sister Serena Williams was defeated by then # 83 Jill Craybas last year, 6-3, 7-6(5), and where Pete Sampras lost to 145th-ranked George Bastl in the 2nd round in 2002.
A top-20 player last year, Jelena was 1-10 this year before the Italian Open. Then she started winning again. Jelena said: "It all started in Rome. That was my second match that I won of the year. I was studying a lot... I wasn't concentrating so much on tennis. And I lost a little bit of confidence... [Now] I'm really enjoying the tennis, more concentrating. But I also, besides from tennis, want to have an education and continue with my school with the university [in Belgrade]...
"[Venus and I] played in Rome. That was kind of a turning point. I played quarterfinals out of nowhere, and I didn't win a match before that. I was up against Venus set and 4-3, 40-15, in Rome. I kind of served two first serves and played I risked too much. It cost me the match.
"I'm so excited that I won this match... At the end, I was just so nervous. I think I felt like the racquet was 30 pounds [laughter]. It was just such a strange feeling. But I just thought, I was telling myself just to hang in there and hopefully I will pull it out...
"The match point, she served like 115 miles serve and 112 or something, was so hard for me. And my racquet, I was shaking there." interview
Venus said: "[Jelena] just played well.... I wasn't able to play my best... I was having problems with my left wrist. It made it very, very, tough." interview
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#13 s10 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #64 Karolina Sprem CRO 7-5, 7-5 Fri
Nicole's forehand, Karolina's backhand, Nicole reaching for a backhand, and after match point
*#21 s18 Ai Sugiyama JPN d #15 s12 Martina Hingis SUI 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 Fri
Martina inquiring as to whether the chair umpire would consider it possible that she might be mistaken, Martina's backhand, Ai's backhand, and Ai levitating after match point
Ai won with her chief weapon: her powerful backhand. The statistics show little fault in Martina's game. She hit 33 winners with 22 unforced errors, (Ai: 28 and 22). Martina also scored on 20 of 24 trips to the net, and converted 4 of 7 break point opportunities, while totaling 90 points in the match to Ai's 87. But Ai converted every break point she had against Martina: 5 of 5. match stats
Martina was up a break at 3-0 in the 3rd set, but Ai won the next three games.
Ai said: "I didn't serve well at the beginning of the third set, so I lost my rhythm at the beginning, and [Martina] was always attacking my second serve, of course. But it seems like she was also tired. Then it was pretty humid, yeah, hot and humid...
"We had long rallies, and she was shaking her legs. And so maybe I got a chance if I can still hang in there. Tried to get back the ball back into the court as much as I can, and then it turned around. So it was good...
"My backhand was going really well, especially up the line." interview
Martina said: "[In the 3rd set] I think it was a really long game to go up 2-love. Then 3-love, it was still very draining, those games. At 3-love, I kind of made this weird step, so I started feeling my thigh. But there's no excuse.
"[Ai] didn't miss. She played a great match. She's probably harder to play on this surface than anything else because she's very fast. She likes those flat balls. [I] tried to be even faster, but not today...
"She doesn't really have a weakness. She has a very solid game from the baseline, then her backhand down the line was deadly today..." interview
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*#22 s19 Ana Ivanovic SCG d #17 s14 Dinara Safina RUS 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 Sat
Dinara and Ana launching backhands, and Ana after match point
Ana said: "Very difficult match. From the beginning I know [that Dinara is] a great player. I knew it's would be a very hard match. And also conditions today were a little bit tough.
"I'm really pleased. I used opportunities I had in the second set. I think she played really well from the beginning and served well. In the first set I still had some opportunities... towards the end of the second, just got better. I felt better in the court, more confidence. And really pleased I took the opportunities." interview
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#18 s15 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #24 s21 Katarina Srebotnik SLO 6-4, 7-6(2) Fri
Daniela slicing a serve with extra hair, Katarina's backhand, Daniela's finely-formed forehand, and after match point
About her 4th round opponent, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Daniela said: "She's a great champion. I have a lot of respect for the way she plays. So it's going to be an exciting match for me, and I can't wait to be out there again...
"With a player like that, it doesn't really matter what surface you play her on, because she's one of the toughest players at the moment to beat. But I definitely feel like grass suits my game as well, and I feel like probably if I could pick a surface, it would be grass to play her on." interview
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#19 s16 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #41 Shuai Peng CHN 6-2, 6-3 Sat
Flavia dispatching a backhand drop shot, Shuai after falling and hurting her knee, Shuai's backhand drive, and Flavia listening to the applause after match point
*#129 q Severine Bremond FRA d #34 s31 Gisela Dulko ARG 7-6(6) 5-7 7-5 Fri
Gisela's backhand, Severine about to slice one, and after match point
*#72 Shenay Perry USA d #42 Sybille Bammer AUT 7-5 6-3 Sat
Sybille's backhand, and Shenay's forehand
*#214 wc Agnieszka Radwanska POL d #163 q Tamarine Tanasugarn THA 6-3, 6-2 Fri
Agnieszka's backhand, Tammy having her injured thigh strapped, Tammy after losing a point, and Agnieszka after match point
Former Wimbledon champs Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Steffi Graf, Margaret Smith Court, and Maria Bueno were presented with glass bowls on Saturday-- all five of these ladies, plus Chris Evert, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and Virginia Wade, can be seen in action at Wimbledon in tennis.quickfound.net's free Wimbledon Wallpaper
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Wimbledon, 4th Round, Mon Jul 3 noon
loser's prize: £38,970 = US $72,332; points: 90
#1 s1 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #22 s19 Ana Ivanovic SCG 6-3, 6-4
Ana's running forehand, Amelie's backhand, Ana's backhand, and Amelie after match point
Amelie said: "[Ana is] hitting the ball very well, incredibly hard. I really wanted to make sure that I was good on my service games, of course, but also giving her some trouble on her service games, which I was able to do, especially a little bit more in that second set." interview
About her quarterfinal opponent, Anastasia Myskina, whom Amelie defeated in the 2005 QFs, Amelie said: "[Anastasia] seemed to be playing pretty well on grass, being in the final the week before last in Eastbourne, and playing some pretty good tennis here. Maybe it's going to be a little bit of a different match than I played against her last year.
"Last year I think she was a bit down in her career after winning the French Open the year before. She had some trouble staying at the highest level. She seems to be coming back pretty strong.
"I really have to be focusing hard, like I did today. Even though it's going to be very different, I mean, Ivanovic likes to play one, two, three shots maximum. It seems like we're going to have longer rallies with Anastasia. I'm ready for it. I know her very well. She knows me, obviously, very well also. So I'm expecting a tough one."
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#2 s2 Kim Clijsters BEL d #214 wc Agnieszka Radwanska POL 6-2, 6-2
Kim charging a drop shot, Agnieszka not hitting the ball with the frame, although it looks that way, Kim driving a backhand, and after winning a point
Kim said: "[Agnieszka is] a different type of player I think than you usually get to play. She's not the type of player who is going to really dictate the points. She hits very low shots. She moves well. She moves really well. I think the better of a shot you hit, the tougher the ball comes back. I think she's one of those types of players. She missed some easy shots where I just brought the ball back. If I hit some good shots, she came up with some good shots as well. Just a little bit different out there. Just tougher to get a rhythm, I think. Yeah, overall, I'm happy with the way I did." interview
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#3 s3 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL v #18 s15 Daniela Hantuchova SVK 6-3, 6-1
Daniela's forehand, Justine chasing one, Justine's flying backhand, and after winning a point
Justine has won the US and Australian Opens, and at Roland Garros three times, but has not yet won the title at Wimbledon. Justine said: "I just have to go match after match. That's what I'm doing in the last few days. I'm not going to change my mind about that. Tomorrow, it's another match, a quarterfinal. I'm very happy with this result now here in Wimbledon 'cause I didn't play well last year and couldn't be here two years ago. Being in the quarters, it's very good. I don't want to stop here, for sure. But let's go step by step and we will see." interview
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#4 s4 Maria Sharapova RUS d #19 s16 Flavia Pennetta ITA 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3
Maria after slicing a serve, Flavia's backhand, Maria reaching for one, and after winning a point
Maria said: "[Flavia] played extremely well... I can never underestimate my opponent. Going into the fourth round, I haven't played her in a while, but I did have a tough match against here a few years ago. I knew that it wasn't going to be easy. She's beaten some top players. She's had experience. It was just up to me to do my job.
"I had my opportunities in the second set. I had a point for 3-all in the second. I let that go. Then I had other opportunities that I didn't take. I was missing a lot of approach shots. She was giving me a lot of those short, low balls. I was missing a lot of those. I think in the third set I finally hit a few... she played a very solid game." interview
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#8 s7 Elena Dementieva RUS d #72 Shenay Perry USA 6-2, 6-0
Elena following her backhand, Shenay picking up a low one, Elena after one-handing a runner, and after match point
Shenay said: "I've never been in that situation before and I was pretty nervous... I would have liked to have served a lot better. [Elena] played really well very, very well. She's very experienced and obviously a top player. I would have liked to have served a lot better and probably hit my forehand a lot better than I did." interview
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#11 s9 Anastasia Myskina RUS d #29 s26 Jelena Jankovic SCG 6-4, 7-6(5)
Anastasia's forehand, Jelena's backhand, Anastasia checking to see if that Sharapova girl has been using her towel again, and after match point
Anastasia had the match in hand when she broke Jelena to go ahead 5-4 in the 2nd set, but Jelena broke back. Anastasia broke Jelena's serve again--and Jelena broke Anastasia's again, to force the tiebreaker.
Anastasia said: "[Jelena] can play. She can play really well. But she's like up and down all the time... I had to [keep focused the] whole match... I put a little bit of pressure on myself that I have to finish the match [in two sets]. She was more relaxed." interview
About her quarterfinal opponent, Amelie Mauresmo, whom she lost to in last year's Wimbledon QFs, Anastasia said: "[Amelie] will come to the net, for sure. But I just have to play my best... Consistent and aggressive and serve well and return well. So basically everything.
"I'm sure Amélie will take me more seriously, because last year was a drama Wimbledon for me. I was [almost] losing every match. Well, surprisingly, I was in the quarterfinal. But here it's a little bit different... Maybe she also not going to be that relaxed. She maybe going to be tight in some points. We will see."
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*#30 s27 Na Li CHN d #13 s10 Nicole Vaidisova CZE 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
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