==================
OPEN GAZ DE FRANCE
(Paris, France; indoor hard (Greenset), WTA Tier II)
==================

ANNA CHAKVETADZE [8]:
1r + Olga Poutchkova, 6-2 6-0
2r + Anabel Medina Garrigues, 4-6 6-4 6-4
qf - AMÉLIE MAURESMO [2], 6-7 (5/7) 5-7

After being stuck at #13 in the rankings since 23rd October 2006,
Anna moves up to a career-high #12 this week! :-)

------
Photos
------

On court:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=chakvetadze
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=280396&page=6 (and p.5)
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=284300&page=4 (pp.4-5)
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/3/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=1127
Search Getty Images for "chakvetadze"

Anna's left calf is strapped in what I presume is her second-round
match, and certainly in her quarter-final.

Off court:
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/photogallery/?Event=paris
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2xhapz (www.opengazdefrance.com)

It's nice to see Anna be the subject of such a photoshoot! A little
too much makeup for my liking, but the cuteness is certainly there.

------
Videos
------

First-round highlights ("Résumé du 7 février"):
Second-round highlights ("Résumé du 8 février");
Quarter-final highlights ("Résumé du 9 février"):
http://www.opengazdefrance.com/multimedia/videos.html

The quarter-final video contains two separate points from Anna's
match against Mauresmo. Firstly, Anna wins the point of the day
(a crosscourt forehand pass-winner from an unlikely position);
secondly, there's the match-point.

-----------
First round (Wednesday 7th February)
-----------

+ ANNA CHAKVETADZE [8] d. Olga Poutchkova, 6-2 6-0

Anna won the last 10 games of the match, which she completed after
just 52 minutes.

Olga won only 40% of the points on her own serve.

Anna has now beaten Olga three times in a row, but the previous two
times were much tougher (7-6 3-6 6-1 at Guangzhou 2006, 7-6 7-5 at
Hobart 2007 - Anna went on to win both those tournaments).

www.wtatour.com:
>>>
Chakvetadze blew past fellow 19-year-old Russian Olga Poutchkova,
6-2 6-0, in just 52 minutes. She held her serve with ease and broke
her compatriot in five of her seven service-games, eventually
clinching her 20th win in her last 22 matches.
<<<

PA SportsTicker:
>>>
Anna Chakvetadze clearly has carried some momentum from her brilliant
performance in the Australian Open.

The eighth-seeded Chakvetadze cruised to a 6-2 6-0 victory over
Russian countrywoman Olga Poutchkova on Wednesday in the first round
of the Open Gaz de France.

The world's 13th-ranked player, Chakvetadze made a spirited run at
Melbourne two weeks ago, advancing to the quarter-finals before
losing a battle with top seed Maria Sharapova.

Playing for the first time since her match with Sharapova, the 19-
year-old Chakvetadze had little trouble with Poutchkova, firing three
aces and converting five break-points to improve to 10-1 this season.
<<<

Anna quotes
-----------

"My opponent did not play very well today. I guess she had troubles
with the surface here, which she had not had the opportunity to
practise on yet. At times, she was almost not there, but I know that
is not her usual level, because I have had much tougher matches
against her in the past.

"I lost my first matches here two years in a row, so I am definitely
not going to complain after this win!

"If I reach the quarter-finals, I will have to face a French player
[Mauresmo was due to play Nathalie Dechy in the second round], and I
know the fans will not be cheering for me - far from it! But that is
sport, and I am the one helped by the fans when I play in Moscow. I
will try to remain focused, and [not] to pay too much attention to
how spectators cheer for my opponent."

Anna's diary updated:
http://www.theannachakvetadze.com/

------------
Second round (Thursday 8th February)
------------

+ ANNA CHAKVETADZE [8] d. Anabel Medina Garrigues, 4-6 6-4 6-4

When I first checked the live scoreboard, Anna was serving for the
third set at 5-2 (30/40). For a while there, I feared
that "Chokevetadze" would rear her pretty head again! ;-)

Anna is now 5-0 head-to-head against Medina Garrigues, but their
previous four matches were much easier for Anna (most recently
6-1 6-4 in the Guangzhou 2006 final).

Reuters:
>>>
Medina converted one of her two break-points to edge the
first set, but Chakvetadze's efficient groundstrokes eventually
saw the Russian through after two hours and nine minutes.
<<<

PA SportsTicker:
>>>
The world's 13th-ranked player, Chakvetadze converted a pair of
breaks in the second set, and two more in the third set, to improve
to 11-1 this season.
<<<

Wintermute <http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=10004383>:
>>>
Looks like Anna lost her concentration a bit when serving for the
match at 5-2 and she played a few careless shots but AMG was also
trying to be aggressive.

Good to see Anna finishing off some approach shots using drive
volleys with apparent ease, something she seemed unable to do against
Sharapova in Melbourne.
<<<

Anna's chat-session
-------------------

[I have inserted my own comments in square brackets.]

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2xhapz (www.opengazdefrance.com):
>>>
Here are the highlights of Thursday afternoon's chat-session with
Anna Chakvetadze.

Tom: People often compare you to Martina Hingis because of your game-
analysis, what do you think about this comparison?
ANNA: Martina is an incredible player, but I don't like being
compared to others. Each player is unique. We all have different
personalities and styles.
[Anna = Hingis + good serve + flairsome power!]

titi: What are your goals this season?
ANNA: To make it in the top 10, then we'll see...

henry: Who is your best friend on the WTA Tour?
ANNA: I get along well with all Russian players, but my best friend
is probably Elena Vesnina, my former doubles-partner.

Olivier: Given the number of excellent Russian players, maybe
throughout your career you won't have the opportunity to make it to
the Olympic Games or the Fed Cup... Don't you feel like taking on
Norwegian or Bahamian citizenship?
ANNA: It's true that several of us have the opportunity to play in
Russian teams. For the Fed Cup, you have to keep in mind that the
coach decides. As for the Olympics, I still have enough time to
improve my ranking.

anna: Who is the player you dread most on the circuit?
ANNA: Nobody. The top 10 players are obviously very hard to play, but
I'm not scared.

mymycoucou: Even if you play against a Frenchwoman, either Amélie or
Nathalie, I hope that you will have a good match and that the public
won't be too much against you, because you're a sweet player.
ANNA: Thanks, it's true that it's going to be very difficult for me
in these conditions, but I also think it will be a very interesting
game.

vic: Who were your idols when you were younger?
ANNA: Mary Pierce.
[So that's where she gets that hairstyle from!]

rafa: Apart from Federer, whom do you enjoy watching on the men's
circuit?
ANNA: I really like to watch Marat Safin, but only when he wins
because, when he looses, he gets angry and sometimes it's not pretty
to watch...

Tennis: Why do so many Russians play so well at the moment? Do you
have a secret?
ANNA: Of course we have a secret, but I won't tell you! <laughs>
[It's all in the mental attitude. They are hardened by their tough
childhoods in Russia.]

jearmy: If you have to pick a tournament, which one would you like to
win?
ANNA: One of the Grand Slams, any one...

Coach: If you could steal a shot from your opponents, whose serve
would you take? Whose forehand? Whose backhand? Whose volley?
ANNA: I'd like to take Roddick's serve, González's forehand... As
well as Federer's backhand and mental. Then I'd be world number 1,
easy! No one could beat me! <laughs>
[I would never have inducted Anna into my Eternal Fanship if she
didn't have a two-handed backhand - that's an absolute requirement
for me.]

go anna: How do you deal with the stress before a crucial match?
ANNA: I listen to music, I isolate myself, I think about my game-plan
and the way I have to play.

momo: What is your favourite city in the world?
ANNA: My native town, Moscow.

MariaKirilenko: Anna, do you have a boyfriend?
ANNA: No I don't, but if you would like to introduce me to someone...
No problem! <laughs>
[Now I rue being too shy to talk to her at Birmingham and Eastbourne
even more! ;-)]

Tony K: What are your hobbies?
ANNA: Unfortunately I don't have much time for a hobby. I know it
sounds boring, but really, it's not...
[Good grief! There's dedication.]

Lator: According to you, who is the sexiest player?
ANNA: Errr... Fernando González!
[He's with Gisela Dulko. Actually, González is now my favourite
player in men's tennis, though I don't appreciate him on as many
levels as Anna does!]

paulo: Apart from tennis, who are your favourite athletes, or who is
your favourite team?
ANNA: I love football, especially Chelsea and Milan AC. I also like
wrestling, because a lot of my friends practise this sport.
[So much for Anna having no hobbies. Of course, it's traditional to
wrestle naked. In custard.]

Dudu: Who is your favourite actor?
ANNA: I have no favourite actress, but among the actors, it's Johnny
Depp.

bob: What kind of music do you like?
ANNA: Depends on my mood, but when I go out I like R&B better...
Before a match I like to listen to Prodigy to wake up!!!
<<<

Medina Garrigues quotes
-----------------------

{before the match}

"With Chakvetadze we know each other well; we've played against each
other four times, and I've always lost. She's a strong player. We'll
see what happens tomorrow, but I am already really happy to have won
a match because indoor is not my favourite surface. It gives me
confidence for tomorrow."

-------------
Quarter-final (Friday 9th February)
-------------

- ANNA CHAKVETADZE [8] lt. AMÉLIE MAURESMO [2], 6-7 (5/7) 5-7

Well, at least it was close this time! :-o

www.wtatour.com:
>>>
Mauresmo battled for two hours to get past No.8 seed Anna
Chakvetadze, 7-6(5) 7-5.

It was a struggle from start to finish; Mauresmo broke for a 5-3
first set lead, but watched as the in-form teenager, who had won 20
of 22 matches going in, broke back and took that set to a tiebreak.

The players were also neck-and-neck in the second set, with the
Frenchwoman finally securing a break in the penultimate game before
serving it out.

She is now 2-0 lifetime against the Russian.
<<<

Julien Pretot (Reuters):
>>>
The Russian world number 13, who won the Hobart tournament last
month, saved two set-points on her serve before breaking back to stay
in contention and force Mauresmo into a tiebreak that the Wimbledon
champion won 7/5 after 67 minutes.

Both players held serve until the 11th game of the second set, when
Mauresmo decisively broke her opponent to serve for the match as
Chakvetadze burst into tears.

Mauresmo wrapped up the victory on her fourth match-point after
battling for just over two hours when Chakvetadze sent a backhand
wide.
<<<

I saw Anna burst into tears myself at Eastbourne 2006 (she was crying
as she came out to serve at 2-5 in the third set against Vera
Zvonarëva, and burst into tears when she lost that game and the
match).

http://preview.tinyurl.com/29ubc8 (www.opengazdefrance.com):
>>>
Pressured, Amélie Mauresmo ended up defeating Anna Chakvetadze after
a very close match 7-6 7-5 that lasted 2h01m.

Anna Chakvetadze showed wonderful resilience to Amélie Mauresmo, who
was forced to resort to her greater experience to join Lucie
Šafá&#345;ová, Justine Henin and Nadia Petrova in the semi-finals.

Brave, outstanding in her returns and always keeping her eyes on the
ball, the young Russian aged 19 gave the n°1 French player a rough
time. Mauresmo knew that she had to be extremely wary of this player
on the rise already ranked n°13 in the world. Defeated with the
honours, Chakvetadze, who was in tears at the end of the match,
defended her ranking with bravado, and can certainly leave with the
feeling of a job well done after threatening the former n°1 world
player.

Under the eyes of George Govan and Aravane Rezaď who came to cheer
for her, Amélie was warmly greeted by the Paris public when she
entered on the court around 19:33. She started the match tense. She
certainly won her serves, but with difficulty and without any
brilliance. Yet the French broke first at 3-2 thanks to a forehand
winner.

With her big lifts [topspin] and decisive attacks, Mauresmo dug the
gap 5-2. Three set-points then logically came to reinforce her
superiority (0/40, Chakvetadze serving). But the Muscovite came back
with surprising power. Mauresmo missed a fourth opportunity before
being caught up 5-5 by the audacious Russian who took advantage of
her faults and wood shots[?].

The outcome was revealed after a close tiebreak which reflected the
set. Chakvetadze was the first to break free, thanks to the
Frenchwoman's faults and by winning her serve (4/2). At that point,
the Russian made youthful mistakes, first missing an easy forehand
and then an ordinary backhand (4/4). In the meantime, Mauresmo
reinforced her game. At 5/5 the Russian continued on her 'suicidal'
run by making a terrible double fault. But in the same stride,
Mauresmo seized her chance and made a backhand dropshot volley (7/5).

The second set was similar, but without the breaks. Chakvetadze kept
giving Mauresmo a hard time. Just like in the first set, the Russian
gave way by making another double fault at the most crucial moment of
the match, when she had to save two set-points at 5-5.

On Mauresmo's serve, the Russian brushed away the threat once. After
missing her first three match-points, the French easily won the
fourth one, and jumped in the air as she finished the match.
<<<

Anna quotes
-----------

{before the match}

"It is going to be hard for me, in front of the French crowd. But I
do not fear anyone, and I think it is going to be great tennis."


Mauresmo quotes
---------------

{before the match}

"It will be an interesting match against Chakvetadze. She is a
dangerous player, and knows how to mix the game well; not only can
she hit the ball very hard, but she can also slice and do different
things. She had a great season last year, and has started very well
so far this year. I just need to focus on the things that I did well
today, like my serve.

"Tomorrow my quarter-final match will probably be tough. Chakvetadze
has been playing since the beginning of the year. She has a very
interesting game, and does many things with the ball. She is capable
to hit powerful shots from the baseline, to rush up to the net, and
to do slices. She's a dangerous player."

[Interesting analysis. I've only seen Anna hit sliced backhands when
stretched, and only come to the net for easy putaways, but her slice
does keep low enough to be an effective approach-shot if she wants to
add this dimension to her game.]


{after the match}

"I'm happy to have got through these two matches - especially today's
against a solid opponent. It was good to be pushed to the end of both
sets, and now I just need to recover for tomorrow.

"I feel mostly satisfied with how I dealt well with those two
matches, especially the one I played today against an opponent that
played a very strong game.

"I just could not afford to relax and stop focusing, because lowering
my attention, even for a minute, could have been very dangerous. She
really pushed me far on both sets, so I'm glad I ended up passing the
test. Now, I'll have to make sure I recover physically.

"She does not let anything go. I wish I had pushed harder when I was
leading 5-2 in the first set.

"It has been a great test, physically and mentally."

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/chakv/ (+2 external links)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Anna_Chakvetadze/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeldani/