Serena finished with 25 winners (including the 12 aces) and 12 unforced errors; Venus hit 14 winners, with 18 errors (including the DFs).
Venus held only 2 break points against Serena during the match, and could not convert either; Serena converted 2 of the 5 break points she held against Venus.
"I didn't expect to come out with the win today. I felt like I had nothing to lose... I felt like all I had to do is go out there and do my best, just stay even, because she's such a good player.
"When I won that first set, I was like, 'Wow, this is great. No matter what, I'm a set away.' So I was just trying to relax."
"I tried my best today. [Serena] played so well, really lifted her game. You know, I had an error here and there. You know, today I couldn't make errors."
. The last time they met had been in March on a Plexipave hardcourt in the semifinals at Key Biscayne, when 5-time Miami champion Serena defeated 3-time Miami champ Venus 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. But Venus won their two prior matches, including their previous meeting on a chlorophyll court, in the 2008 Wimbledon final, when Venus defeated Serena, 7-5, 6-4.
title in January, but had not won a title since. Serena has a 32-7 match record in 2009.
is now 41-23 in WTA singles finals; she won the Dubai and Acapulco titles earlier this year. Venus has a 27-7 match record for the season.
the champion's prize has been increased by 13.3%, and the qualifying 1st round loser's money by 3.1%, but, because the pound has fallen so far against the dollar, the prizes in US currency are all lower than in 2008.
WTA SCOREBOARD: The Championships at Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, London, England
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tourney time: = GMT +1 hours
= US EDT +5 hours
= US PDT +8 hours
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London News - England News - UK News
The Championships at Wimbledon have 32 seeds, with no 1st-round byes. There are 12 qualifiers and 8 wild cards in the main draw. Qualifying finals are on Thursday. Early round play begins at noon local time, QFs & SFs at 1pm, and the Final at 2pm on Saturday.
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All England Lawn Tennis Club address: London SW19, England, UK
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2009: On Wednesday, June 17, in London, 2004 Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova paid a visit to the London College of Fashion... On Thursday, June 18, Vera Zvonareva, 2000, '01, '05 '07 & 08 champ Venus Williams, '02 & '03 champ Serena Williams, British #1 Anne Keothavong, Ana Ivanovic, and Elena Dementieva posed for a group pic at the Branson/Virgin-sponsored WTA player party... row 2: Serena & Venus, Anne, Vera, Elena and Ana were also photographed less formally... row 3: On Saturday and Sunday, June 20 & 21, players practicing at Wimbledon included 2000, '01, '05, '07 & '08 champion Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova (waiting for Ahmad to get open downfield), Serena Willams, and Ana Ivanovic...
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Wimbledon, 1st Round Mon-Tue Jun 22-23 noon
loser's prize: £10,750 = US $17,672; points: 5
#1 s1 Dinara Safina RUS d #70 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP 7-5, 6-3 Tue
Lourdes launching a high forehand, and Dinara volleying a backhand
Dinara said: "I think I had to take much more my opportunities, because [Lourdes] always gave a chance. But I was not stepping in enough, and also I had so many easy volleys that I had to kill them and I just played them. She played them a little bit too soft.
"I think she also played some great tennis. She was mixing it up well. I think she did play some great match today." postmatch interview
Asked about an ongoing knee problem, Dinara said: "I have a tendonitis on my knee. It's been bothering me already since April, since clay court season. On some tournaments, I'm playing just on Voltaren, because like it's so painful to go on the knee on the serve. And it been okay... French Open was perfect. The whole tournament I played fine.
"Started last week already in Holland because of grass. It's softer, so I have to push more. It's been bothering me. I started to take again Voltaren. Today I had to take one more than during the match because at one moment I just could not go down anymore on my knee it was so painful. But I had a treatment here, a physio... It's nothing that's killing me."
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#2 s2 Serena Williams USA d #155 q Neuza Silva POR 6-1, 7-5 Mon
Neuza volleying a backhand, Serena driving one, and after match point
About the 2nd set, Serena said: "I definitely think [Neuza] increased her game, but also I think my concentration wasn't—although I wanted it to be, on some key points—it wasn't where it should have been. And it's just a point here or there that can make or break a match." postmatch interview
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#3 s3 Venus Williams USA d #98 Stefanie Voegele SUI 6-3, 6-2 Tue
Stefanie driving a forehand, Venus following a backhand, and after match point
Defending champion Venus said: "It was pretty straightforward. I really enjoyed being out there. You know, it's a special moment when you walk back as defending champion on that court, throw those balls up for that first point. It's a really great feeling." postmatch interview
Stefanie said: "I was just happy that I could play on Centre [Court]. I tried to play aggressive, play my game, but my serve wasn't good enough against [Venus]... It was sometimes a close game... My serve was not good enough for her return... From the baseline it was even. I tried to play aggressive. For me the big difference was the serve...
"I was hoping to get an easier draw, but it was also a good experience. It's my first Wimbledon main draw and I got to play on the Centre at the biggest tennis event of the year, first time on Centre Court." postmatch interview
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#4 s4 Elena Dementieva RUS d #68 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS 6-4, 6-1 Mon
Elena about to swat a forehand
#5 s5 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #713 sr73 Akiko Morigami JPN 6-3, 7-6(1) Tue
Akiko's 2-handed forehand, and Svetlana's backhand drive
#6 s6 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #92 Julia Goerges GER 6-4, 7-6(0) Tue
Jelena driving a forehand, and Julia following a backhand
Jelena said: "I thought that [Julia] played quite well. She was serving well and hitting the ball quite hard. And especially on grass, it gives you a hard time. But I managed especially in the important moments to stay tough and to close the match out. I was down 5-2 or 5-3 in the second, and I managed to raise a level up and come back and close the match out 7-0 in the tiebreaker, which was very important for me." postmatch interview
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#7 s7 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #188 wc Georgie Stoop GBR 7-6(0), 4-6, 6-4 Mon-dark-Tue
Vera about to slice a backhand
Georgie said: "That was a great experience for me today. I fought as hard as I possibly could, and I thought I gave a really good performance. Obviously I'm a bit disappointed because obviously I would love to have won." postmatch interview
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#8 s8 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #96 Severine Bremond FRA 6-2, retired—right ankle injury Mon
Vika consoling injured Severine
#9 s9 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #139 wc Kimiko Date Krumm JPN 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 Tue
Kimiko and Caroline driving forehands
38-year-old former WTA #3 Kimiko, who was the highest-ranked Japanese player of all time, retired from WTA play in 1996—then returned last year after her German racing driver husband encouraged her to do so.
2009 Eastbourne champion Caroline said: "I knew kind of what to expect from [Kimiko], and I knew that she's been doing good on grass before. The game is just different from what I am used to. She was playing really flat, and I really had to get under the ball a lot. She took advantage of that when I was playing short and came to the net and was playing well...
"It was difficult for me to do anything about it because she was really playing so flat. So the only thing I could do was just put it up, so it's very effective. I know why she did well on grass before for sure." postmatch interview
Kimiko said: "Today my tactics is—she have big weapon is hitting from here to here, so I try to use a lot of the slice and then I must to go net, chip and charge, and so don't hit little bit higher. Always how much [Caroline] can hit lower, and then I think I had the chance. And then until second set, beginning of second set, I think it's perfect for me.
"And then I felt little bit tired. And then the third set start little bit cramp. Then I couldn't move anymore. Then not enough deep or low, so I had a little bit problem. But until the beginning of the second set, it was perfect." postmatch interview
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#10 s10 Nadia Petrova RUS d #82 Anastasiya Yakimova BLR 6-1, 6-1 Mon
Anastasiya preparing to lightly tap a backhand, and Nadia reaching for one
#11 s11 Agnieszka Radwanska POL d #44 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez ESP 7-5, 6-1 Tue
#12 s12 Marion Bartoli FRA d #109 Yung-Jan Chan TPE 6-0, 6-0 Mon
#13 s13 Ana Ivanovic SRB d #57 Lucie Hradecka CZE 5-7, 6-2, 8-6 Tue
Lucie reaching for a backhand, and Ana ready to slice one
#14 s14 Dominika Cibulkova SVK d #64 Julie Coin FRA 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 Mon
Dominika about to swat a backhand
#15 s15 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #103 Nuria Llagostera Vives ESP 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 Tue
Flavia driving a forehand
#16 s16 Jie Zheng CHN d #69 Kristina Barrois GER 7-6(2), 7-6(4) Mon
#17 s17 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #54 Melinda Czink HUN 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 Tue
Melinda driving a forehand, and Amelie volleying a backhand
#18 s18 Samantha Stosur AUS d #56 Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA 6-4, 6(6)-7, 6-2 Tue
Samantha driving a forehand, and Bethanie following a backhand
#19 s19 Na Li CHN d #89 Galina Voskoboeva KAZ 7-6(5), 6-0 Tue
#20 s20 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #112 Marta Domachowska POL 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Tue
*#40 Ai Sugiyama JPN d #21 s21 Patty Schnyder SUI 6-4, 6-4 Mon
Ai reaching for a backhand
33-year-old Ai won her 38th WTA doubles title on Saturday at Eastbourne (partnered with Akgul Amanmuradova, who won her 1st title), but Ai has been struggling in singles this year.
Ai said: "I'm really happy, especially I haven't won for a long time in singles, and playing against Patty in the first round is tough. But she doesn't like the grass court. So I was thinking it's going to be a tough one, but if I can play my game, I think I had a chance. It was really a good way to get through...
"I like the grass, especially with my game. I like fast court, and I like the fast rhythm. So I always enjoy being here and playing here." postmatch interview
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*#52 Vera Dushevina RUS d #22 s22 Alize Cornet FRA 3-6 6-0 6-4 Mon-dark-Tue
*#50 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #23 s23 Aleksandra Wozniak CAN 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 Mon
Aleksandra following a backhand, and Francesca about to swat one
*#34 Carla Suarez Navarro ESP d #24 s25 Kaia Kanepi EST 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 Tue
#25 s26 Virginie Razzano FRA d #62 Tamira Paszek AUT 6-0, 3-1 retired Mon
Virginie following a forehand
#26 s27 Alisa Kleybanova RUS d #151 q Sesil Karatantcheva KAZ 6-2, 7-5 Mon
#27 s28 Sorana Cirstea ROU d #97 Edina Gallovits ROU 7-5, 6-1 Mon
*#124 q Melanie Oudin USA d #28 s29 Sybille Bammer AUT 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 Tue
*#115 Kirsten Flipkens BEL d #29 s30 Agnes Szavay HUN 7-5, 6-4 Tue
#30 s31 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS d #154 Petra Cetkovska CZE 6-2, 6-2 Mon
*#43 Sabine Lisicki GER d #31 s32 Anna Chakvetadze RUS 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 Tue
*#105 wc Elena Baltacha GBR d #32 Alona Bondarenko UKR 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Tue
Elena is the only British player to reach the 2nd round at Wimbledon this year. Elena said: "I know they had tough draws, you know, including myself. And it was a shame that all of them were going out in three sets pretty much. I know that a couple of them had opportunities. But it's tough... We're all fighting to get up there. It was difficult. Everyone performed well and just lost out.
"So I knew I was the last one going on, the last hope. I was really chuffed that I managed to pull it out of the bag." postmatch interview
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#33 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #484 wc Laura Robson GBR 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 Mon
15-year-old 2008 Wimbledon juniors champ Laura fielding a forehand on the run, Daniela driving a backhand, and Laura congratulating Daniela after match point
After winning the 1st set, Laura led by a break in the 2nd.
Laura said: "I thought I played really, really good for a good part of the match, and then in the end just a couple things let me down a bit... When I was the break up in the second, I just got really nervous. I made a couple more mistakes than I should have. But [Daniela] started playing more balls in the court and getting more returns in." postmatch interview
Daniela said: "[Laura has] got talent. She seems like a very nice girl. It's important now that she has the right people around her... definitely she's got potential. And it's important she just keeps working on the right things and goes the right direction.
"Because she's left-handed it makes it a bit tougher, but her serve is very good. She was hitting couple of aces a game, and also she was very smart how she was using it. So I think the serve was working very well for her...
"It didn't feel very good being a set down, and a couple games down, and getting kicked by a girl 11 years younger than me, so I just tried to make sure that whatever happens, I win this match somehow." postmatch interview
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#35 Iveta Benesova CZE d #108 wc Katie O'Brien GBR 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 Tue
#36 Shuai Peng CHN d #106 wc Alexa Glatch USA 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 Tue
#37 Gisela Dulko ARG d #119 Stephanie Foretz FRA 6-3, 7-5 Mon
#38 Elena Vesnina RUS d #72 Yanina Wickmayer BEL 6-1, 6-1 Mon
#41 Sara Errani ITA d #104 Stephanie Dubois CAN 7-5, 6-2 Tue
*#53 Roberta Vinci ITA d #42 Magdalena Rybarikova SVK 6-3, 6-2 Mon
#45 Aravane Rezai FRA d #65 Ayumi Morita JPN 6-2, 6-2 Mon
#46 Ekaterina Makarova RUS d #86 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova CZE 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 Tue
*#205 q Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP d #47 Tamarine Tanasugarn THA 6-4, 6-4 Mon
*#66 Jarmila Groth SVK/AUS d #48 Lucie Safarova CZE 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 Mon
*#81 Patricia Mayr AUT d #49 Anne Keothavong GBR 7-5, 6-2 Tue
Anne about to connect with a backhand, and Patricia driving one
Anne said: "I felt like I was on the way to kind of winning that first set and doing what I had to do, and then it all just kind of seemed to just kind of fall apart. [Patricia] hung in there well and the errors crept in in my game. It just wasn't very good...
"It's been a disappointing grass court season for me. I just feel today when it got tight I got tentative. In that second set I didn't really push her or anything. I was just pushing the ball. And it's just kind of what happens." postmatch interview
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*#78 Sania Mirza IND d #51 Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 Mon
#55 Shahar Peer ISR d #94 Maria Elena Camerin ITA 6-2, 7-6(3) Mon
Shahar driving a backhand
#58 Maria Kirilenko RUS d #60 Petra Kvitova CZE 6-4, 6-4 Tue
#59 s24 Maria Sharapova RUS d #80 q Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR 7-5, 6-4 Mon
Maria serving, Viktoriya driving a backhand, Maria fielding a drop shot, and after match point
Maria trailed by two breaks of serve early in the match. Maria said: "I played against a really solid opponent, who went for many shots... I knew [Viktoriya] already had three good matches in qualifying... Her game suits the grass pretty well. She can definitely be a really dangerous opponent.
"But I was only down a couple breaks, and I knew that the set wasn't over. I got it back, and then just hung in there in the second." postmatch interview
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*#76 Yaroslava Shvedova KAZ d #61 Monica Niculescu ROU 6-1, 6-0 Tue
#63 Tathiana Garbin ITA d #116 q Alberta Brianti ITA 6-4, 6-3 Tue
*#100 Rossana de los Rios PAR d #67 Nicole Vaidisova CZE 6-4, 6(5)-7, 6-4 Tue
Rossana and Nicole driving backhands
#71 Urszula Radwanska POL d #93 Masa Zec Peskiric SLO 6-3, 6-3 Mon
#73 Ioana Raluca Olaru ROU d #77 Nathalie Dechy FRA 1-6, 7-6(0), 6-2 Mon
#74 Kateryna Bondarenko UKR d #126 q Anastasija Sevastova LAT 6-3, 7-6(5) Tue
*#101 q Tatjana Malek GER d #75 Jelena Dokic AUS 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 Tue
Jelena said: "I felt like I played okay in the first set, and then kind of wasn't feeling great at the beginning of the second. And that's where things just started going downhill. Just couldn't get myself together and couldn't get my game together. So, all in all, pretty disappointed." postmatch interview
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#79 Pauline Parmentier FRA d #131 Akgul Amanmuradova UZB 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 Tue
*#127 Vania King USA d #83 Mariya Koryttseva UKR 6-4, 6-2 Tue
#84 Olga Govortsova BLR d #184 sr73 Tatiana Perebiynis UKR 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Tue
*#90 Jill Craybas USA d #85 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL 6-4, 7-5 Mon
#87 Mathilde Johansson FRA d #130 wc Melanie South GBR 7-5, 7-6(5) Mon
#91 wc Michelle Larcher de Brito POR d #123 q Klara Zakopalova CZE 6-2, 7-5 Mon
Klara and Michelle driving forehand and backhand
Michelle said: "It got quite close in the second set. I had a couple of bad service games, but I just had to keep focused and keep playing. I managed to pull through it with two sets, which is quite unusual sometimes, because I do tend to get to three sets quite a lot." postmatch interview
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*#191 q Regina Kulikova RUS d #95 Karolina Sprem CRO 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 Mon
#110 Timea Bacsinszky SUI d #163 q Vesna Manasieva RUS 6-1, 4-6, 8-6 Mon
Timea and Vesna driving forehand and backhand
#150 LL Kristina Kucova SVK d #222 q Aiko Nakamura JPN 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 Tue
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Wimbledon, 2nd Round Wed-Thu Jun 24-25 noon
loser's prize: £17,750 = US $29,179; points: 100
#1 s1 Dinara Safina RUS d #100 Rossana de los Rios PAR 6-3, 7-5 Thu
Rossana driving a forehand, and Dinara following one
Dinara said: "I think second set I had to do a little bit more, after winning especially the first set. But, well, sometimes it goes like this." postmatch interview
About her 3rd round opponent, Kirsten Flipkens, Dinara said: "We are good friends. I think she's a good person and a nice girl. Sometimes also it happens you have to play somebody who your friend against. But that's the sport...
"She's a great player. She has a great hands. She has a great potential. I mean, unlucky she was injured for a while. That's why she could not play. But for me she's very talented girl."
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#2 s2 Serena Williams USA d #66 Jarmila Groth SVK/AUS 6-2, 6-1 Wed
Jarmila and Serena driving forehand and backhand
Serena said: "Today I thought I played really well. I knew [Jarmila] was gonna be tough, so I was like, 'Okay, I have to be ready for the match...'
"For me there's always room for improvement. I still think I could have returned better, came to the net a little bit more. That's exciting to think that I can do better." postmatch interview
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#3 s3 Venus Williams USA d #74 Kateryna Bondarenko UKR 6-3, 6-2 Thu
Kateryna and Venus driving forehands
Venus said: "[Kateryna] put a lot of balls back in play so we had some longer rallies. Always felt like I needed to be the aggressive one and really take control of the point. So that's really how I want to play throughout the championships. A good match for me." postmatch interview
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#4 s4 Elena Dementieva RUS d #45 Aravane Rezai FRA 6-1, 6-3 Wed
Aravane following a forehand, and Elena telling one where to go
#5 s5 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #79 Pauline Parmentier FRA 6-1, 6-3 Thu
Svetlana and Pauline driving forehand and backhand
2009 French Open champion Svetlana said: "I think I played great today. I was happy with my performance, and pretty excited to be out there. I think I played that way right from the start. And I think I didn't expect [Pauline] to play so well. Still, I won 6-1, 6-3, and it was not an easy match." postmatch interview
About her 3rd round opponent, Sabine Lisicki, Svetlana said: "She's tough. She's very tough. She plays the ball very flat and very quick. I practiced with her, and she's a little bit unpredictable for me, but she's very tough to play. I never played her in a match. She's upcoming player. I think she won Charleston this year, and she's very dangerous."
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#6 s6 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #35 Iveta Benesova CZE 6-2, 6-4 Thu
Jelena driving a forehand, and after match point
#7 s7 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #87 Mathilde Johansson FRA 6-1, 6-3 Wed
Mathilde following a forehand, and Vera, who tore right ankle ligaments in April at Charleston, running one down
#8 s8 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #73 Ioana Raluca Olaru ROU 6-0, 6-0 Wed
Victoria following a flying forehand
#9 s9 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #58 Maria Kirilenko RUS 6-0, 6-4 Thu
Maria following a forehand, Caroline driving one, and after match point
Caroline said: "It felt good. I won both of my matches [singles and doubles], so it felt good. It's been a busy day, but it's been a good day...
"I've always felt good on grass. That's always been one of my favorite surfaces. I enjoy coming back here every year. So far, so good." postmatch interview
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#10 s10 Nadia Petrova RUS d #55 Shahar Peer ISR 6-3, 6-2 Wed
#11 s11 Agnieszka Radwanska POL d #36 Shuai Peng CHN 6-2, 6(6)-7, 9-7 Thu
Shuai and Agnieszka driving backhands
#12 s12 Marion Bartoli FRA d #110 Timea Bacsinszky SUI 7-5, 6-1 Wed
Marion and Timea following a backhands
#13 s13 Ana Ivanovic SRB d #41 Sara Errani ITA 7-5, 6-1 Thu
Ana watching her serve fly Saraward, Sara ready to lightly tap a backhand, and Ana about to slice one
#14 s14 Dominika Cibulkova SVK d #71 Urszula Radwanska POL 6-2, 6-4 Wed
Dominika volleying a backhand, and Urszula driving one
#15 s15 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #127 Vania King USA 6-2, 6-2 Thu
Flavia and Vania driving forehands
*#33 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #16 s16 Jie Zheng CHN 6-3, 7-5 Wed
Jie twisting a serve, and Daniela watching her cannonball fly
#17 s17 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #150 LL Kristina Kucova SVK 6-3, 6-3 Thu
#18 s18 Samantha Stosur AUS d #101 q Tatjana Malek GER 4-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 Thu
Samantha following a forehand, and Tatjana about to connect with a backhand
#19 s19 Na Li CHN d #84 Olga Govortsova BLR 6-4, 6-2 Thu
#20 s20 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #63 Tathiana Garbin ITA 7-6(5), 6-3 Thu
#25 s26 Virginie Razzano FRA d #90 Jill Craybas USA 6-3, 6-0 Wed
Virginie driving a forehand
*#191 q Regina Kulikova RUS d #26 s27 Alisa Kleybanova RUS 0-6, 6-4, 6-1 Wed
#27 s28 Sorana Cirstea ROU d #78 Sania Mirza IND 6-4, 6-4 Wed
Sania about to swat a backhand, and Sorana following one
Sania said: "4 and 4 is always a tough score to lose. It was very close. Even the last game, I had my chances. I just think that if I look back, the only thing I can see that I maybe should have done more was be more aggressive because [Sorana] was kind of being the aggressive one.
"It was tough conditions, also, because it was pretty windy out there, and it was not easy to kind of be aggressive, as well. But she was able to do that more than I was, I guess. Especially from one side when we were with the wind, sometimes it would just fly out of your racquet." postmatch interview
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*#53 Roberta Vinci ITA d #30 s31 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS 6-4, 7-6(6) Wed
#34 Carla Suarez Navarro ESP d #46 Ekaterina Makarova RUS 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 Thu
#37 Gisela Dulko ARG d #59 s24 Maria Sharapova RUS 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 Wed
Gisela serving to Maria, Maria and Gisela driving forehands, Maria sbout to connect with another forehand, Gisela driving a high backhand, Maria congratulating Gisela after match point, and Gisela thanking the crowd
Gisela had already scored victories over Jelena Jankovic and Victoria Azarenka earlier this year, but Maria had easily defeated Gisela in straight sets in both their previous encounters. Serving for the match at 5-4 in the 3rd, Gisela held two match points at 40-15, but Maria brought it back to deuce. It appeared that Maria might break Gisela and put the set back on serve, but Gisela won on her 5th match point.
Gisela said: "I was very nervous in the end. The last game was forever for me. It was very important to finish in that moment. Because at 5-All, third set and with [Maria's] serve again, it was everything starting again, and I didn't want that to happen. So I was very relieved after that game...
"She's coming back from big injury... Of course is better to play with her now than in the past or maybe in the future. You know, it was a good moment. She's very tough opponent, especially here on grass. Her ball is coming really fast, and she hit very, very big groundstrokes...
"Is the [best] win of my career because it was first time on Centre Court. And for me to play here on Wimbledon, I think it's the best tournament with more tradition. It's great to play on Centre Court. And to beat Maria, a great player, and past champion, as well." postmatch interview
Maria was playing in her 3rd tourney after a 9½ month layoff due to a torn right shoulder rotator cuff tendon (she did play one doubles match during that time, at Indian Wells). She incurred the injury in March, 2008, and the tear appeared in scans taken in April, but was not noticed until a specialist saw the scans at the end of July. Maria returned to play at Warsaw in May, 2009, and has said that, although she needs time to regain her form, her shoulder is fully recovered.
Maria said: "I'm not gonna take anything away from how [Gisela] played. She tactically played really smart. For a set and a half she had a lot of variety in her game, she chipped add lot of balls back, but I started getting onto that. My bigger shots didn't allow her to do that anymore.
"But I do feel like I took a little bit off the ball [midway through the third set] and wasn't going for as much. I just didn't do it in that match. I don't know why." postmatch interview
In 2008, after Maria (playing with a not-yet-diagnosed torn right shoulder tendon) lost to Alla Kudryavtseva, Alla made fun of Maria's stylish attire. Asked "What do you think of Maria's fashion generally?" Gisela said: "I think it's very pretty."
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#38 Elena Vesnina RUS d #52 Vera Dushevina RUS 6-3, 6-4 Wed
#40 Ai Sugiyama JPN d #205 q Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP 7-6(5), 6-3 Wed
Arantxa driving a backhand, and Ai following one
Ai said: "[In the 1st set Arantxa] was playing really good, especially her service game. I think I won four points of that. But I think the key was my service game, and it was always deuce, deuce, deuce and long game, but I just started to hold my service and somehow tried to get my rhythm.
"In the tiebreaker it was really one point here and there... I was down 5-3, so I just tried to hang in there, and she played really good on the first set. That's all I could do, but somehow I got through, so it was good...
"[In the 2nd set] I got used to her serves, but also lost my rhythm a little bit, and I made some double faults here and there. It was not easy to hold my serve, but it's also quite windy, and it was not only one side, and it was kind of a gusty wind, so it was not easy to serve." postmatch interview
About playing her frequent doubles partner, Daniela Hantuchova, in the 3rd round, Ai said: "It's good to be third round playing against each other, not the first round. We are very close friends, but on the court we can be very professional, so it's no problem for both of us."
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#43 Sabine Lisicki GER d #81 Patricia Mayr AUT 6-2, 6-4 Thu
#50 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #91 wc Michelle Larcher de Brito POR 7-6(2) 7-6(4) Wed
*#124 q Melanie Oudin USA d #76 Yaroslava Shvedova KAZ 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 Thu
*#115 Kirsten Flipkens BEL d #105 wc Elena Baltacha GBR 7-5, 6-1 Thu
Elena said: "I started well. I broke [Kirsten] very early on. For some reason today, I just could not keep it going. She made it a little bit difficult for me with the slice and just the different variety that she was doing today. And she served very big. I've played her twice before. She's never played like that against me.
"But I knew it was gonna be one of these tricky matches, because it was very winnable. It was a great opportunity for me. I knew I had to perform well, because obviously she'd beat a seed and she was playing well and she was moving up in the rankings. So I knew it was going to be a tough match.
"And do you know, that's kind of the thing about tennis, that you can have such a good preparation, great three, four weeks of great results, great performances, and then you have that one day where it's not quite there.
"And really that's what happened after 3-1. I didn't particularly serve too good, where she was serving well. And then I just started missing more and just couldn't quite just sustain the quality today." postmatch interview
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Wimbledon, 3rd Round Fri-Sat Jun 26-27 noon
loser's prize: £29,250 = US $48,084; points: 160
#1 s1 Dinara Safina RUS d #115 Kirsten Flipkens BEL 7-5, 6-1 Sat
Kirsten firing a forehand on the run, and Dinara's backhand drive
Dinara said: "I think I played pretty good match. A little bit I got tight in the first set because it was a little bit close. Like [Kirsten] had set point in the first set. But once I had set behind, I think I played much better in the second set." postmatch interview
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#2 s2 Serena Williams USA d #53 Roberta Vinci ITA 6-3, 6-4 Fri
Roberta serving, Serena driving a backhand, and Roberta congratulating Serena after match point
Serena said: "I don't think I played great today at all. But I'm just glad to have gotten through it and go on to the next match." postmatch interview
Serena leads her 4th round opponent, Daniela Hantuchova, 6-1 in career matches. Serena said: "[Daniela is] such a smooth player and she takes her time on the court. I have to make sure I don't rush myself because she is playing well and I think she's moving well. So I'm gonna have to really bring a tough game."
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#3 s3 Venus Williams USA d #34 Carla Suarez Navarro ESP 6-0, 6-4 Sat
Venus driving a forehand, Carla about to swat one, and Venus driving a backhand
Carla had defeated Venus in the 2nd round of this year's Australian Open, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Venus said: "In Australia, I had a lot of opportunities, but didn't take advantage of them. Today I realized that it wasn't the same match, and I was determined to really run away with it.
"In the end it got closer. But I love to have the opportunity to serve matches out, so I was pretty glad for that break." postmatch interview
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#4 s4 Elena Dementieva RUS d #191 q Regina Kulikova RUS 6-1, 6-2 Fri
Elena and Regina driving forehand and backhand, and Elena after match point
Elena, the 2004 French Open and US Open finalist, a semifinalist at Wimbledon last year, and this year's champ at Auckland and Sydney, lost in the 3rd round at Roland Garros three weeks ago. Elena said: "I took some time off after French Open and was working on my fitness and I was more focused on the footwork and just the core build exercise. I just started to practice a couple days before Eastbourne and came there early to get used to the surface. It's really worked for me."
Regina was playing in her first Grand Slam main draw. Elena said: "I think Regina is a very good player. She was very impressive through the whole week. She beat some good players through the qualifier, and I think just today maybe I was too aggressive for her, just didn't really give her a chance to play her game. I think she has a powerful serve, she has a good baseline game, and I think she has a good future." postmatch interview - WTA: Getting to Know Regina Kulikova
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*#43 Sabine Lisicki GER d #5 s5 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 6-2, 7-5 Sat
Sabine driving a backhand, Svetlana's running forehand, Sabine getting a little elevation on a forehand, and after match point
About closing out the match, Sabine said: "I served at 5-3, I think, having new balls, so I didn't play that game well. But I just kept fighting. I missed some opportunities at 5-4, but I managed to serve well at 5-All to go up to 6-5 and just fought to finish up the match...
"I just kept telling myself, 'You have nothing to lose; just go for your shots.' That's what I did in the end. It turned out to be good." postmatch interview
Svetlana said: "I felt like I was standing, I was not moving anything. [Sabine's] game is not—you cannot adjust. You cannot have long rallies, so you've got to be quick and at maximum level all the time, and I haven't done so today. That's why I lost." postmatch interview
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*#124 q Melanie Oudin USA d #6 s6 Jelena Jankovic SRB 6(8)-7, 7-5, 6-2 Sat
Melanie hosting a tennis clinic at Wimbledon on Friday, Jelena & Melanie driving forehand & backhand, and Melanie after match point
Jelena was feeling ill during the match. Jelena said: "Conditions were quite tough. It was very warm out there. But that was not my problem... It's as well some woman problems. It's not easy being a woman sometimes...
"I felt okay, and then all of a sudden I won that first set. I felt I was like a ghost, white in the face. Really, I didn't know where I was.
"The physio came out and she asked me, 'Do you know what is your name?' I just saw blurry. I didn't know. It was really strange feeling. I was scared and I started to cry in this kind of situation.
"But what can I do? These kind of things happen. Didn't have enough energy to hit the shots, to go after the shots, to do the right things. But I did the best that I could. And what can I do?" postmatch interview
About the first set, Melanie said: "I was so close. I had so many set points. So I was a little bit angry that I didn't win them because I had so many chances. [Jelena] played good points and I went for too much on them.
"And then her first set point, she won it. But the thing was, I knew I was right there. I was right there with her every single point, so I knew I could do it if I just kept trying and kept fighting." postmatch interview
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*#25 s26 Virginie Razzano FRA d #7 s7 Vera Zvonareva RUS walkover—right ankle injury Fri
2009 Indian Wells champion Vera tore right ankle ligaments at Charleston in April—while playing Virginie Razzano in a third round match. Vera did not play again until Eastbourne, where she lost in 3 sets to Amelie Mauresmo in the 1st round. Vera reinjured the ankle at Wimbledon on Thursday while playing in the 1st round of doubles, partnered with Lisa Raymond.
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#8 s8 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #27 s28 Sorana Cirstea ROU 7-6(2), 6-3 Fri
Victoria serving, Sorana and Victoria driving forehand and backhand, and Vika after match point
#9 s9 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #20 s20 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 6-2, 6-2 Sat
Anabel and Caroline driving backhands
#10 s10 Nadia Petrova RUS d #37 Gisela Dulko ARG 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Fri
Gisela reaching for a backhand, Nadia driving one, and Gisela congratulating Nadia after match point
#11 s11 Agnieszka Radwanska POL d #19 s19 Na Li CHN 6-4, 7-5 Sat
Na driving a forehand, and Agnieszka about to swat one
Agnieszka said: "[Na is a] very good player, so I didn't expect it's going to be easy. So I knew that it's going to be tough match, especially against Chinese is always very difficult. So I'm very happy I finished in two sets...
"[The Chinese players are] all very good. You know, it's always very tough to play against them. They're so consistent, and, you know, you have to play hundred percent to win the match." postmatch interview
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*#50 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #12 s12 Marion Bartoli FRA 7-6(5), 6-0 Fri
Francesca and Marion driving forehand and backhand
Francesca, a London resident, turned 29 on Tuesday. Francesca said: "I'm very happy. It's the first time that I arrive in the fourth round at Wimbledon. So I'm enjoying, from the first point that I played in the first round until now. So this is the best present for me that I can receive." postmatch interview
Marion said: "It's kind of disappointing, but [Francesca] played really well today. I didn't have my chances. Sometimes you just have to exit and your opponent can be better than you...
The first set I was leading 5-3, but she was really putting a lot of pressure. She was missing almost absolutely no balls. I thought I was playing against a wall; the ball keeps coming back, keeps coming back, and it was really hard to make one winner." postmatch interview
About playing Virginie Razzano in the 4th round, Francesca said: "Virginie is a great player in this surface. We are 50/50. I can't say something more for her or for me. She's playing very good, very good from the start of the year. So I will fight and try to do my best."
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#13 s13 Ana Ivanovic SRB d #18 s18 Samantha Stosur AUS 7-5, 6-2 Sat
Ana and Samantha driving forehands, Ana driving a backhand, and after winning a point
Ana said: "It was pretty good. I played really well... I think my tactics and my game plan prevailed over my emotions. That's something I'm really happy about. I stick with my plan and I just kept playing the best I can every point." postmatch interview
About playing 5-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in the 4th round, Ana said: "I'm very excited. She plays really well here, and last two years here she's the champion. Two years ago I played her in the semifinal here, so I can take a lot from that match.
"But I felt like every match I was playing better and better. So I'm really happy to take that challenge and to play against some top player like her. She's very dangerous opponent, but I think I have a great chance, and I feel very comfortable going in that match. I'm so excited to have opportunity for that challenge."
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*#38 Elena Vesnina RUS d #14 s14 Dominika Cibulkova SVK 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 Fri
Dominika and Elena driving forehands, and Elena after winning a point
*#17 s17 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #15 s15 Flavia Pennetta ITA 7-5, 6-3 Sat
Amelie and Flavia driving forehand and backhand
Amelie said: "It was tight. It was still a tight match. We've seen the first set was—nobody wanted to let it go. Struggling a little bit on the serve time sometimes, but still holding, even though I had a few breakpoints against me. And [Flavia] was on her side—except at 2-1, I think—otherwise she was keeping her serve pretty well. But it was a good fight. It was not going to three sets, but definitely a tough one and a close one." postmatch interview
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#33 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #40 Ai Sugiyama JPN 6-4, 6-3 Fri
Ai driving a forehand, Daniela about to swat a backhand, and Ai congratulating Daniela after match point
Daniela said: "It's never a nice feeling having to play Sugi because she's one of my best friends. We've got such a great history together. She's a great person. So winning or losing I knew always it was going to be a strange feeling for me. So I just tried to take it as another tennis match, and not to think that she was on the other side...
"She's a great player, especially on grass. I knew that going into the match. And I knew I had to be really focused and play very well tactically, which I did. At the beginning I felt like maybe I was giving her too much rhythm, and I just tried to maybe step a little bit back and try different things, move her around the court and change it up, because when you hit it to her, she's one of the best hitters on the tour. So I knew it was important to do different things during the match." postmatch interview
It is Ai's 17th Wimbledon. Ai has played in every Wimbledon main draw since 1993, and in every Grand Slam singles main draw since Wimbledon in 1994. She has played in 62 Grand Slam tourney singles main draws in her career. She is still alive in the mixed doubles, and in the ladies' doubles with her partner Daniela Hantuchova.
Ai said: "I started really good. I was hitting the ball deep and could sort of make [Daniela] run at the beginning. But she changed the pace at the middle of the first set, and I couldn't really adjust. I lost my rhythm... Then also second set I tried to catch up, but she was always ahead. It was closer than the score was, but I couldn't get the game...
"I think she was doing really good what she has to do. She was going for the line, down the line earlier than I did. She was making me run the first couple of shots, and then I had to run side to side at the beginning. She was the one who was dominating from the shots. It's not that easy for me to make her run from the end of that first set." postmatch interview
About playing Serena Williams in the 4th round, Daniela said: "I haven't really seen her this year. But, obviously, playing her quite some time before, I know exactly what to expect. She's a great competitor and great player. So it's going to be obviously a tough match. But I've been playing well, so we'll see."
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Wimbledon, 4th Round, Mon Jun 29 noon
loser's prize: £53,250 = US $87,538; points: 280
#1 s1 Dinara Safina RUS d #17 s17 Amelie Mauresmo FRA 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Dinara serving with the new roof deployed, Amelie driving a forehand, and Dinara's forehand volley
It did not rain during the first week of the tourney, very unusual at Wimbledon. But on 4th round Monday it rained, and play during this match was stopped for 30 minutes while the new roof over Centre Court was closed for the first time ever during a match at The Championships.
Amelie said: "It makes the conditions a little bit different. It does. I would say the ball is flying a little bit more. That's how I felt. And we both kind of took a little time to adjust. Then was okay.
"But I would say it's flying more. And then visually when the ball is in the air and when you have the overhead or stuff, it's very bright. It's really bright.
"But, no, it's good. It's a plus, definitely, for the tournament to be able to play. Of course, we haven't seen really bad days so far in the tournament. But I remember a few editions of Wimbledon when we would really have needed a roof. So it's a good thing." postmatch interview
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#2 s2 Serena Williams USA d #33 Daniela Hantuchova SVK 6-3, 6-1
Serena serving, Daniela reaching for a forehand, Serena driving a backhand, and after match point
Serena said: "I was definitely out there not to stay out too long and do just the best I could do, whether it was win or lose...
"I've been solid. I definitely have been solid and playing consistent. Obviously there's always room for improvement in my game. Definitely felt like I could have served a little better today. You know, just going with that." postmatch interview
Daniela said: "It was tough. The ball was coming obviously very, very fast back to my side, and I thought [Serena] played an unbelievable match. She was serving huge and returning unbelievable.
"Out of all the matches I've played against her, I think this was one of her best performances... If she keeps playing like she did today, I think she's got a very, very good chance [to win the tournament]. Again, she just showed how good she is on grass especially." postmatch interview
About playing Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals, Serena said: "[Victoria is] obviously a good player and she's really young. She has nothing to lose. This is Wimbledon. You know, I feel the same way. It will be a really good match."
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#3 s3 Venus Williams USA d #13 s13 Ana Ivanovic SRB 6-1, 0-1 retired—left thigh adductor injury
Ana and Venus driving forehands, and Venus consoling Ana after injury forced her to retire from the match
Ana's injury occurred while she was serving in the first game of the second set.
Ana said: "I didn't feel anything up until that point. Over past few days I felt muscle tightness, but that was normal after playing so much on the grass. Just when I was serving 30-40 down in that first game, and after my first serve when I landed I just felt a sharp pain on my inner thigh and I couldn't step on my leg ever since...
"I think if I would have managed to break the first game I think the first set would look a lot different. Even though the score was not indicating that, I thought was pretty close.
"But [Venus] wasn't making many mistakes. And I tried to hang in there, because it's hard to play like that full match. But obviously she's great player. She was serving really well. It would have been tough match. Maybe the second set wouldn't be much different. But still I felt like I should have at least had a chance to try." postmatch interview
Venus said: "I think [Ana] was in a lot of pain. You know me, I'm one of those players I just only pay attention to what's going on on my side of the net. But today I felt really sad for her actually. She was really upset. This is Wimbledon. It's the last place you want to have an injury that you can't overcome. So I'm wishing her a lot of luck in her recovery." postmatch interview
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#4 s4 Elena Dementieva RUS d #38 Elena Vesnina RUS 6-1, 6-3
Elena D driving a forehand, Elena V about to connect with a backhand, Elena D driving one, and Elena Dementieva after match point
Elena Dementieva said: "I expected a tough match because we were playing at the beginning of the year in New Zealand and it was a tough match in the final. So I think she really improved a lot since last year. I was expecting a tough match. But maybe she was a little bit tired from playing against Cibulkova. It was a very close match, three sets. I'm sure she didn't play her best today." postmatch interview
About playing Francesca Schiavone in the quarterfinals, Elena said: "I think it will be tough match. [Francesca] has a good grass court game, she has a good slice, she has some tricky shots with her forehand, and she's aggressive with her serve."
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#8 s8 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #10 s10 Nadia Petrova RUS 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3
Victoria following a flying forehand, Nadia and Vika driving backhands, and Victoria after match point
Victoria said: "It feels very good. It's my second quarterfinals in a row, and I hope I can go a little bit further...
"It was kind of weird because we had so many breaks [of serve], and I wasn't really serving very well today. But I'm glad I played very good on the return. So that kept me coming back, moving a little bit forward.
"But the match was really close. Second set [Nadia] stepped it up a lot with her game. I went a little bit back. But third set I was fighting a lot, and from 3-2 I just played really good. I stepped up to a whole new level, and I think I played very good." postmatch interview
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*#43 Sabine Lisicki GER d #9 s9 Caroline Wozniacki DEN 6-4, 6-4
Sabine running down a backhand, Caroline driving one, Sabine driving another, and after match point
Sabine said: "I've been surprised how far I got and how well I started to play. But I think the key was the very first match where I was actually two points away of losing the match and I turn it around. After that I really started to playing better and better and to believe that I can do good.
"Today I actually went out there and I felt pretty good. Also yesterday and this morning hitting the ball very solid. I think it was a good match...
"Today I didn't get broken once. I was down love-40, and I still got back and I won that game. So I think it's very important to have a good serve. I can really rely on my serve...
"I knew it's going to be a tough match because [Caroline] won Eastbourne, so she proved that she can play on grass. So I was expecting a very tough match. I went out to there to fight and I was very focused. But I think we will have good matches in the future, as well." postmatch interview
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#11 s11 Agnieszka Radwanska POL d #124 q Melanie Oudin USA 6-4, 7-5
Agnieszka driving a forehand, and Melanie and Agnieszka driving backhands
Agnieszka said: "It's always difficult to play someone who you don't know... I'm very happy that I won in two sets. It was two tough and tight sets, so it's good that I made it in two sets... [Melanie] beat pretty good players before, and she played six good matches here...
"I expect a little bit different tennis from her. But I find out after the few games what should I do to win the match, and it was okay." postmatch interview
Melanie said: "Today I gave everything I had, and [Agnieszka] played a really good match today. She played very smart. She made me run as much as she possibly could.
"And her dropshots were really good. She's a very smart player. I like the way she plays. Very crafty. Has a lot of different shots. Plays very good defense. My hat's off to her. Pretty good match." postmatch interview
About playing Venus Williams in the quarterfinals, Agnieszka said: "If [Venus is] playing good tennis and she have a good day, it's very tough to play against her. Especially the serves, you know, she's hitting hard."
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*#50 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #25 s26 Virginie Razzano FRA 6-2, 7-6(1)
Francesca serving, Virginie driving a backhand, Francesca volleying one, and Virginie congratulating Francesca after match point
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Wimbledon, QFs, Tue Jun 30 1pm
loser's prize: £106,250 = US $174,664; points: 500
#1 s1 Dinara Safina RUS v #43 Sabine Lisicki GER 6(5)-7, 6-4, 6-1
Dinara driving a forehand, Sabine and Dinara driving backhands, and Sabine congratulating Dinara after match point
Dinara said: "It was a little bit disappointing because yesterday was a good match, and today again I had a very slow start, like I'm playing half of my tennis until I'm down, and then I start to play better... I don't start from the beginning the way I was ending yesterday match. Like I was hitting the ball, again today I starting again slow start. I let [Sabine] play, instead of from the first point starting to dictate myself." postmatch interview
Sabine said: "I had a great tournament. I think nobody expected it to happen, including myself. Of course, I'm sad that I lost today. But I gave it all that I had today and I fought hard. [Dinara] was more experienced today than me, and she was in the second week of a Grand Slam already, so she knew how to deal with it." postmatch interview
About playing Venus Williams in the semifinals, Dinara said: "Definitely this is [Venus's] best surface. She loves playing here in Wimbledon. I just want to go out there. I have nothing to lose. Go out there, play the way I can play. I played her in Rome and I beat her in Rome. So I know what she's doing. I know her weapons. I have my weapons. So I just want to go out there, play my best, and let's see."
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#2 s2 Serena Williams USA d #8 s8 Victoria Azarenka BLR 6-2, 6-3
Serena's service toss, Vika and Serena driving backhands, and Serena after match point
Victoria led Serena by a break at 3-2 in the 2nd set. Serena said: "I just thought I had been serving not so well to begin the second set, and I thought I had it coming. I thought, 'I just have to pick up my level of play and just relax and enjoy this wonderful moment...'
"I really wanted to do well today. I didn't do well the last time we played. I was not feeling great. I felt like I really wanted to show up today." postmatch interview
Victoria said: "[Serena] was striking the ball so hard and so good. She didn't give me many opportunities. She really showed the unbeatable Serena today... [On grass Serena's] serve I think is more efficient. It's harder to return. The groundstrokes are also faster on the grass. The game she played today, if she would play on hard courts or on any other surface, it would be pretty good. It was just her day, and she played amazing tennis." postmatch interview
About playing Elena Dementieva in the semifinals, Serena said: "I've played her a lot the past 12 months, so I definitely know Elena's game. She gets a lot of balls back, and she's a power player. It will be a really good matchup to me. She's playing really well on the grass. She hasn't been stretched too much in any of her matches either, so she's kind of like going undercover, you know, and bam!"
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#3 s3 Venus Williams USA d #11 s11 Agnieszka Radwanska POL 6-1, 6-2
Venus serving, Agnieszka launching a forehand as she charges netward, Venus firing one on the fly, and after match point
Agnieszka said: "[Venus] was playing very good from the beginning. Actually, first set I couldn't do anything. In the second set I had couple of chances, but I didn't use...
"It's very hard to play if she has a very good day. If she's playing good everything is in, so it's just so hard to do anything on the court. I was trying, but I'm saying she was playing very good on the grass. If she will play like this, she will make it one more time this tournament." postmatch interview
Venus said: "[Agnieszka] did start to play like a little different in the second set. I would have liked to have moved forward a little bit more, but the ball was staying quite low. So I just adjusted to whatever, whatever was coming back at me. I think it was really smart for her to try to change the strategy, because that's what you have to do when the first things aren't working." postmatch interview
About the semifinals, Venus said: "If I play Safina, [I'll do] more of the same stuff I've been doing. That's all can I predict... Just very aggressive. There's more room for error than maybe before, but just very aggressive. I do have strategy. Maybe it doesn't look like it, but I do. I think that's my secret weapon, that it doesn't look like I'm thinking, but I am."
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#4 s4 Elena Dementieva RUS d #50 Francesca Schiavone ITA 6-2, 6-2
Elena serving, Francesca and Elena driving forehands, and Elena after match point
Elena said: "I'm sure [Francesca] was nervous. She was playing quarterfinal for the first time in her career. I'm sure she was very excited about her chances. For me, playing in the semifinal last year was a great experience, and it's really helping me during this week. So I was, I think, more calm on the court today. I was focused on my game. Didn't think about anything else. This is really worked." postmatch interview
Francesca said: "I think I should play some more important matches in Centre Court or Court No. 1... For [Elena] is normal. She play many times quarterfinal. She play many times in a big stadium. She took the chance. She took the breakpoint directly, and I didn't take. She won and I lose. That's the game. Just breakpoint, breakpoint again, I didn't take the chance, breakpoint again. I had like, if I remember, seven or eight breakpoints. She had some, and she took directly straight." postmatch interview
About playing Serena Williams in the semifinals, Elena said: "Against Serena, it's going to be tough if I'm not going to be able to put my first serve in, because she's going to play relaxed and take advantage of the short ball. She's trying to be aggressive on every point. So for me, the key for the match will be to play deep enough and trying to put my first serve in, make sure that she's not going into the shots from the beginning."
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Wimbledon, SFs, Thu Jul 2 1pm
loser's prize: £212,500 = US $349,328; points: 900
*#3 s3 Venus Williams USA d #1 s1 Dinara Safina RUS 6-1, 6-0
Venus twisting a serve Dinaraward, Dinara and Venus driving backhands, and Venus after match point
The match was over in 51 minutes. Venus won 54 points to Dinara's 20 while striking 16 winners (including 5 aces) with only 1 unforced error. Yes, that's not a typo; Venus hit only one error (Dinara: 6 winners, 16 errors). match stats
Venus said: "This is my eighth final. It's a dream come true to be here again and to have the opportunity to hold the plate up. Dinara is so talented and she's played so consistently in the last year. I went out there and was able to stay focused. I have so much experience on that court, it helps a lot...
"I was really pleased with my form. Of course, playing against the No. 1 player in the world, it's exciting to play so well... I think the score just showed my level of play. I was just dictating on every point. And I think when [Dinara] had some opportunities to make some plays it was hard because there was a lot of pressure on her... she wanted to make the best shot that she could, and sometimes that's too hard." BBC story - postmatch interview
Dinara said: "I think [Venus is] just too good on grass. It's not my favorite surface and it's her favorite surface, so she just honestly be too good today... It's definitely disappointing, finishing the match less than one hour and winning only one game... Out of three surfaces we playing, this is not my favorite one. And still reaching the semifinal, so hopefully I can change a little bit my mind and change my mentality on grass and to come with a different expectation next year." postmatch interview
About playing her sister Serena in the final, Venus said: "Just playing Serena Williams, the immense respect. Even if she's not playing her best, just that fight she has, you're facing that. So there's so much to face when you play her. It's definitely a lot to get your mind around. So for me I'll be focusing on getting past the player and the fight in the final."
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#2 s2 Serena Williams USA d #4 s4 Elena Dementieva RUS 6(4)-7, 7-5, 8-6
Serena firing a cannonball, Elena & Serena driving forehand & backhand, and Elena congratulating Serena after match point
Although Serena scored only 5 more points than Elena in the 2 hour, 49 minute match (121 to 116), she hit 45 winners to Elena's 27, with only 28 unforced errors to Elena's 26. A whopping 20 of Serena's winners were aces (Elena: 3 aces), while 5 of her errors were double faults (Elena: 8 DFs). match stats
Serena said: "Elena played so well, and we gave the crowd a wonderful match. It was really, really tough... I definitely owe this win to my serve. I lost serve a couple times. But when it was key and it was time for me to hold serve, I was able to hold serve. I always had a nice couple aces that was really able to clinch on very key points...
"I've never seen [Elena] serve so well in my life. I think her second serves were in the upper nineties, sometimes hundreds (Elena averaged 92mph on 2nd serve, Serena 93mph). To keep that up consistently for three sets is not very easy. I just think that she definitely played her best, personal best tennis today." AP story - postmatch interview
Elena, while leading 5-4 in the 3rd set, held a match point on Serena's serve but failed to convert it.
Elena said: "I think it was a very close match, and I think we both were playing very well today. It was a good fight. Actually, I feel very satisfied the way I was playing today. The only regret I have, maybe I should take a little bit more risk on match point, should go down the line. But overall it was a good match." postmatch interview - BBC: Wimbledon day ten as it happened
Serena now leads Elena 6-3 in career matches. Elena's three wins came in their last five meetings. But Serena also won their previous match, on a Plexipave hardcourt in the semifinals of this year's Australian Open, 6-3, 6-4.
Serena said: "I feel like going into this final I have nothing to lose. I feel like obviously [Venus is] playing the best tennis at this tournament. Start with that, and then just keep positive and go with it. So I think that if I can do that, then it will be good."
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Wimbledon, Final, Sat Jul 4 2pm
loser's prize: £425,000 = US $698,657; points: 1400
winner's prize: £850,000 = US $1,397,314; points: 2000
#2 s2 Serena Williams USA d #3 s3 Venus Williams USA 7-6(3), 6-2
Venus serving, Serena driving a backhand, Venus launching one on the run, Serena serving to Venus, Venus and Serena driving forehand and backhand, and Serena after match point
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Wimbledon, Doubles Final, Sat Jul 4
losers' prize: £115,000 = US $189,048
winners' prize: £230,000 = US $378,097
s4 Serena Williams & Venus Williams d s3 Samantha Stosur & Rennae Stubbs 7-6(4), 6-4
Wimbledon, Mixed Doubles Final, Sun Jul 5
losers' prize: £46,000 = US $75,619
winners' prize: £92,000 = US $151,239
s9 Anna-Lena Groenefeld & Mark Knowles d s1 Cara Black & Leander Paes 7-5, 6-3
Wimbledon, Girls' Singles Final, Sat Jul 4
wta#406 s4 Noppawan Lertcheewakarn THA d wta#322 s1 Kristina Mladenovic FRA 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
Noppawan holding the hardware
Wimbledon, Girls' Doubles Final, Sun Jul 5
*Noppawan Lertcheewakarn THA & Sally Peers AUS d s2 Kristina Mladenovic FRA & Silvia Njiric CRO 6-1, 6-1
Wimbledon, Invitation (over 35) Doubles Final, Sun Jul 5
losers' prize: £14,000 = US $23,014
winners' prize: £17,000 = US $27,946
Martina Navratilova & Helena Sukova d Ilana Kloss & Rosalyn Nideffer 6-3, 6-2
Wimbledon, Qualifying Finals at Roehampton, Thu Jun 18 11am
Q1st loser's prize: £1,675 = US $2,754; 2 points
Q2nd loser's prize: £3,350 = US $5,507; 15 points
Qfinal loser's prize: £6,700 = US $11,014; 25 points
#80 Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR d #156 Shenay Perry USA 6-0, 6-2
#101 Tatjana Malek GER d #194 Madison Brengle USA 6-0, 6-3
#116 Alberta Brianti ITA d #207 Zuzana Ondraskova CZE 6-4, 6-4
#123 Klara Zakopalova CZE d #167 Mervana Jugic-Salkic BIH 6-2, 6-1
#124 Melanie Oudin USA d #150 Kristina Kucova SVK 6-3, 6-0
#126 Anastasija Sevastova LAT d #165 Darya Kustova BLR 6-0, 6-1
*#155 Neuza Silva POR d #137 Julia Schruff GER 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
#151 Sesil Karatantcheva KAZ d #210 Abigail Spears USA 6-3, 7-5
#163 Vesna Manasieva RUS d #286 Naomi Cavaday GBR 7-5 6-2
#191 Regina Kulikova RUS d #198 Olivia Rogowska AUS 6-1, 6-1
*#205 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP d #202 Greta Arn HUN 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3
*#222 Aiko Nakamura JPN d #214 Lindsay Lee-Waters USA 6-3, 6-3
Wimbledon, Withdrawals/Non-entries
#39 Katarina Srebotnik SLO left achilles, right shoulder?
#144 Marina Erakovic NZL left hip injury
#410 sr84Laura Granville USA
#NR sr61 Meghann Shaughnessy USA left knee
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. At Wimbledon in 2007, players on these courts will be allowed three incorrect challenge-video replays in each set, after which they can no longer challenge calls in that set. The
both utilize the Hawkeye instant replay system on show courts, and allow players to challenge calls and request replays until they lose two challenges in each set. Roland Garros does not yet have any form of instant replay gear installed for
call challenges--of course, on clay courts, ball marks are generally used to judge questionable calls.
, officials announced. Construction will begin after
in July, 2006. The 2007
will be played with no roof at all (the current partial roof removed), a new fixed partial roof will be in place in 2008, and the retractable roof completed in 2009. The roof will take 10 minutes to deploy, so Centre Court rain delays of up to 30 minutes will still be possible, but the roof is being installed to assure TV networks of almost continuous coverage, even if it rains. The arena's capacity will also be increased from 13,800 to 15,000.
The article on equal pay for women in pro tennis, the Slims Tour, and the formation of the WTA, formerly reproduced here, is permanently archived on the
Link to many postmatch interview & match highlight videos of WTA players at the
: the current top 20 Women's Tennis rankings with player photos, links, and bio info.
).