=================
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS (Wimbledon, England; grass; Grand Slam)
================= http://www.wimbledon.org/
Contents
--------

1. Photos
2. Fourth-round TV-report: Vaidišová v Chakvetadze

---------
1. Photos
---------

Anna Chakvetadze (4r):
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=chakvetadze
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/players/wta310623.html

Search Getty Images for "chakvetadze"

Many players (Anna in Monday 30th June):
http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/gallery?pg=1&cap=1

--------------------------------------------------
2. Fourth-round TV-report: Vaidišová v Chakvetadze (Monday 30th June)
--------------------------------------------------

Nice winner, nice loser:
+ NICOLE VAIDIŠOVÁ [18,EF] d. ANNA CHAKVETADZE [8,EF],
4-6 7-6 (7/0) 6-3

A mouthwatering match between the two most talented and attractive
players left in the tournament, but unfortunately the BBC didn't give
it the same priority as did the order-of-play committee: it was only
available on Freeview from Nicole serving 2-3 in the second set, so I
was left desperately wanting more of Anna at the end.

The match was serve-dominated, as befits the best server in women's
tennis (Nicole) and the girl with the best one-two punch (Anna).
There were only two breaks in the entire match, the first occurring
when Anna broke Nicole to take the first set 6-4.

When BBCi started showing the match, both girls were very calm (at
least, Anna was very calm for Anna!). Anna had made just 11 unforced
errors to Nicole's 16.

Nicole had two nonconsecutive break-points at 4-4* in the second set,
and another at 5-5* (40/30*). Her failure to convert them meant that
she had to serve to stay in the match at *4-5 and *5-6, but she did
so to 15 and love, respectively.

But Anna suffered a sudden emotional breakdown in the tiebreak, which
Nicole won 7/0. Anna yelled "aargh" after netting a forehand on the
first point, and looked close to tears after an unsuccessful Hawk-Eye
challenge put her *0/3 down. Anna doubled over in frustration after
hitting a forehand wide for *0/4, and Nicole completed her perfect
tiebreak with a crosscourt forehand return-winner and two aces out
wide.

Although I blame Anna's emotions for losing this match, I must admit
that I love watching her (even more) when she gets emotional. Her
reactions to losing points are unique and ultracute. In this match,
she was doubling over in frustration, waggling her finger, stumbling
backwards in an exaggerated fashion when a deep ball forced her into
error, sinking to her knees, and sort of rolling along the baseline
like her feet were wheels when stretched wide by a serve down the
middle. Perhaps she should consider a second career as an actress!

Anna had a break-point in the first game of the third set, and with
breaks coming at a premium in this match, it might well have made the
difference. But Nicole saved it with an ace, and broke in the next
game as a still-emotional Anna double-faulted (and stumbled backwards
in yet another cute reaction).

They both played well at the same time after that break, and although
it would prove decisive, it didn't seem inevitable at the time, given
Nicole's history of choking and her recent fragile confidence.

The heart of the third set seemed to be a game of seven deuces on
Anna's serve at 0-3, in which she saved four break-points, but held
with three excellent points at the end: sealed with a pinpoint
crosscourt backhand winner.

That game was not on the critical path as it turned out, though; it
merely served to prolong the match and raise the quality to new
heights: Nicole's service-game at 3-1 also went to deuce, and was
full of winners from both girls.

Games continued to go with serve, and Anna's service-game at 2-5
contained a crosscourt backhand winner for her, and brilliant
crosscourt forehand winner just inside the baseline from Nicole.

Nicole had her first match-point at *5-3 (40/30), but sprayed a wild
forehand about ten feet long.

Nicole had all the luck with netcords in this match - particularly in
the third set. Whenever a ball from Nicole hit the netcord, it
dropped dead for a winner, or at least gave her the initiative.
When a ball from Anna hit the netcord at 3-5* (40/40), it fell back
on her side to give Nicole her second match-point.

And it was all over when Anna netted a backhand return, and walked
off court in tears. I felt so sorry to see her go, and sorry that the
match was over - I just wanted it to go on and on, like the Ancic v
Verdasco 13-11 fifth set later in the day (I'm glad it didn't,
though, with the winner having to play her quarter-final the very
next day).

Don't get me wrong: I love Nicole, and I'm delighted that she has
reversed her slump so impressively this Wimbledon. I'm just sad that
this match had to result in a fourth-round loser, because I wanted
both of them to reach the quarter-finals so much... and for the BBC
finally to recognise Anna as the star that she is.

I mean, they actually billed this match as "Nicole Vaidišová first on
Court One" - even though Anna was the 8th seed - and while the
commentators called Nicole a mixture of "Vaidišová" and "Nicole",
Anna is still always "Chakvetadze" to them. On the rare occasions
when the BBC televises Anna at all, that is.

Dan Walker's summary of the match in the BBC's _Today at Wimbledon_
made me laugh: "Nicole Vaidišová had to deal with the mixed emotions
of Anna Chakvetadze on Court One today. The eighth seed's tennis
isn't bad, but her paddies are even more impressive, and once the
Russian had finally finished her audition for Strop-Idol, her
opponent went on to win in three. The Force is strong with Darth
Vaidišová [incorrectly pronounced to sound like 'Vader' with two
extra syllables inserted]."

I'll post my full TV-report at a later date.

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/chakv/