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

1. Daniela's French Open withdrawal
2. Interview of 4th June
3. First-round draw
4. Daniela Hantuchová preview
5. Order of play for Tuesday

-----------------------------------
1. Daniela's French Open withdrawal
-----------------------------------

Daniela pulled out of the French Open with a stress-fracture in her
right heel. I'm really worried about this, because it was a stress-
fracture that ended Monica Seles's career. Here are the latest two
entries (at the time) on Daniela's website:

Daniela: "I hope to play at Roland-Garros"
http://www.dhantuchova.com/news.php?id=580
Wednesday 21st May
>>>
"Coming off of Miami and then a match in Amelia Island, all my
doctors were shocked that I was able to play through at both events.
As you all know, with much disappointment I had to pull from Fed Cup
and three Tour events. It has been a very frustrating time to tell
you the truth. So here we are... the foot is continuing to be
problematic. It was a very bad injury. I had an MRI early last week
which confirmed the foot needed more time to heal. Right now I am
trying to stay hopeful for Paris. I miss the game so much and Roland
Garros is wonderful. And what's not to love about Paris!

"If I am able to play, I realise that I will not be prepared as I
would like typically moving into a Grand Slam. All I can do is play
my best, considering the circumstances, and expect to have a positive
experience regardless of the outcome."
<<<

Daniela withdraws from the French Open
http://www.dhantuchova.com/news.php?id=581
Thursday 22nd May
>>>
"A near-heartbreaking day for me... After final consult with my team,
I am sad to announce that I will be missing my first Roland Garros as
a professional athlete. Every player's dream is to compete in the
Grand Slams, and I so much wanted to make Paris happen.

"But I know I have to be patient, as recovery from this type of
injury takes time. Hopefully I will be strong and healthy to practise
and play in full speed soon. I wish everyone all the best, lots of
good tennis, and much love to all the fans!"
<<<

It was the first Grand Slam that Daniela missed for eight years,
having played 31 in a row from Wimbledon 2000 qualifying to her first
Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open 2008.

At least it was a quantum of solace that Magdaléna Rybáriková
qualified for the main draw! :-)

------------------------
2. Interview of 4th June
------------------------

This is an exclusive interview for Daniela's official website, before
she pulled out of 's-Hertogenbosch.

Daniela: "I can't wait to be back!"
http://www.dhantuchova.com/news.php?id=582
>>>
Q: Daniela, how do you feel physically and mentally after one month
without playing tournaments?

DANIELA: On the fitness-front, I have been doing a lot of pool and
low-impact work, but it's hard not be able to run. Treadmill-training
is best for endurance and speed, and it's like a mental outlet for
me. Of course I'm trying to stay positive, but I greatly miss the
game. I haven't really picked up a racquet since early April, so it's
been frustrating to say the least. At this point, yoga is a big
factor in keeping me sane! :-)

Q. What did you do during Roland-Garros tournament?

DANIELA: One very nice thing was that I was able to celebrate my big
brother's 30th birthday at home with him, our family and closest
friends. Other than being in and out of medical facilities for tests,
check-ups, treatments, etc., I am reading and spending lots of time
at home while I have a break now. I also spent some time in Barcelona
with my coach.

Q: When and where will you do your comeback?

DANIELA: I have my hopes set on playing Rosmalen: always a nice warm-
up for Wimbledon. Helps to get a few matches in before a Grand Slam.
I can't wait to be back doing what I love most: tennis!
<<<

-------------------
3. First-round draw
-------------------
3.1 Top quarter: Nicole Vaidišová and Anna Chakvetadze
------------------------------------------------------

* ANA IVANOVIC [1,DF] won
* Nathalie Dechy won
* Elena Baltacha [WC] won
* Zheng,Jie [WC] won

* Tamira Paszek v FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE [20], 3-6 *4-4
* Anabel Medina Garrigues won
* Magdaléna Rybáriková [Q,DF] v Monica Niculescu [S], 6-1 3-6 *4-2
* ÁGNES SZÁVAY [15] won

* Casey Dell'Acqua won
* Pauline Parmentier won
* Samantha Stosur [WC] won
* NICOLE VAIDIŠOVÁ [18,EF] won

* Evgeniya Rodina won
* Elena Vesnina won
* Edina Gallovits won
* ANNA CHAKVETADZE [8,EF] won


3.2 Second quarter
------------------

* SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [4] won
* Kateryna Bondarenko won
* Barbora Záhlavová Strýcová [Q] won
* ALYONA BONDARENKO [28] won

* Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova won
* Li,Na won
* Marta Domachowska won
* AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA [14] won

* MARION BARTOLI [11,DF,S] won
* Tatiana Perebiynis won
* Bethanie Mattek won
* Vera Dushevina won

* AMÉLIE MAURESMO [29] won
* Virginia Ruano Pascual won
* Urszula Radwanska [WC] won
* SERENA WILLIAMS [6] won


3.3 Third quarter: Maria Sharapova and Lucie Šafárová
-----------------------------------------------------

* Maria Elena Camerin v ELENA DEMENTIEVA [5] (forza Maria Elena!)
* Timea Bacsinszky v Julie Ditty (hopp Timea!)
* Gisela Dulko [DF] v Aravane Rezaď (my loyalty is to Gisela)
* Renata Vorácová v LINDSAY DAVENPORT [25]

* SHAHAR PE'ER [24] v Katie O'Brien [WC] (my loyalty is to Shahar)
* Lucie Šafárová [EF] v Emilie Loit (POJDME LUCIE!!)
* Hsieh,Su-Wei [S] v Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro (jia you Su-Wei!)
* Chan,Yung-Jan v DINARA SAFINA [9]

* Tsvetana Pironkova [DF] v VICTORIA AZARENKA [16] (aide Tsvetana!)
* Ekaterina Bychkova v Sorana Cîrstea (davai Ekaterina!)
* Maret Ani v Mara Santangelo (go Maret!)
* Olga Govortsova v NADIA PETROVA [21] (davai Olga!)

* SYBILLE BAMMER [26] v Sofia Arvidsson
* Peng,Shuai [S] v Viktoriya Kutuzova [Q] (my Reason says Shuai, but
my Passion says Viktoriya)
* Ekaterina Makarova v Alla Kudryavtseva
* MARIA SHARAPOVA [3,EF] v Stéphanie Foretz [Q] (DAVAI MARIA!!)


3.4 Bottom quarter: Daniela Hantuchová and Vera Zvonarëva
---------------------------------------------------------

* VENUS WILLIAMS [7] v Naomi Cavaday [WC]
* Anne Keothavong v Vania King
* Martina Müller v María José Martínez Sánchez [Q]
* SANIA MIRZA [32,DF] v Catalina Castańo (go Sania!)

* FLAVIA PENNETTA [22,DF] v Julia Vakulenko (my loyalty is to Flavia)
* Yanina Wickmayer v Ai Sugiyama (komaan Yanina!)
* Alisa Kleybanova v Tzipora Obziler
* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [10,EF] v Sara Errani (PODME DANIELA!!)

* VERA ZVONARËVA [13,EF] v Aiko Nakamura [S] (DAVAI VERA!!)
* Petra Cetkovská v Tamarine Tanasugarn (pojdme Petra!)
* Michaëlla Krajícek [DF] v Marina Erakovic (my loyalty is to
Michaëlla)
* Julia Görges v KATARINA SREBOTNIK [23] (my Reason says Kata, but my
Passion says Julia)

* CAROLINE WOZNIACKI [31] v Eva Hrdinová [Q] (my Reason says
Caroline, but my Passion says Eva)
* Aleksandra Wozniak v Mariya Koryttseva
* Galina Voskoboeva v Carla Suárez Navarro [WC]
* Olga Savchuk v JELENA JANKOVIC [2] (davai Olga!)

-----------------------------
4. Daniela Hantuchová preview
-----------------------------

This year started so greatly for Daniela with her first Grand Slam
semi-final at the Australian Open, but she has been sidelined with a
stress-fracture in her right foot since her opening-round loss at
Amelia Island. I doubt she would be playing this next week if it
wasn't Wimbledon - and she could still pull out before her first-
round match on Tuesday.

So I'm previewing Daniela's Wimbledon-campaign with very low
expectations - although Nick Bollettieri thinks she could reach the
second week if healthy.

Nick Bollettieri: "Hantuchová hasn't played since Amelia Island due
to injuries, which is never a good thing heading into a Grand Slam.
Back in 2002, she reached the quarter-finals here, and the last two
years, she has been to the fourth round. If she is feeling healthy, I
give her a good shot at reaching the second week; if not, she will
have a rough time."
<http://nickstennispicks.com/>


4.1 First round
---------------

Daniela has never played Sara Errani before. If it wasn't for
Daniela's injury, I'd be very optimistic: Errani has never played in
the main draw of Wimbledon before, having lost in the first round of
qualifying in her only attempt: 2006.

Errani is 16:16 in 2008 so far. She pushed Lindsay Davenport to
6-2 3-6 7-5 in the first round of the Australian Open, beat Maria
Kirilenko at Miami, and thrashed Ágnes Szávay 6-0 6-3 at Rome.

Following a first-round loss at the French Open, Errani has prepared
for Wimbledon by playing the claycourt WTA-tournament at Barcelona,
losing to Nuria Llagostera Vives in the quarter-finals. She then
switched to grass at 's-Hertogenbosch, beating Anne Keothavong
7-6 6-2, and losing 6-3 7-5 to Elena Dementieva.

So it all depends on how Daniela's right foot will be on Tuesday -
although frankly, against Errani on grass, Daniela would stand a
fighting chance by hopping around the court on her left leg!


4.2 Second round
----------------

I'm going to assume Alisa Kleybanova will come through here, because
she was much more impressive at Eastbourne than Tzipora Obziler.

Kleybanova is a big girl with huge power on her groundstrokes, and
sometimes she grunts just like Maria Sharapova, whilst remaining
quiet the majority of the time. But she lacks soft hands and ball-
control, making plenty of errors, and even winners that seem to fly
off her racket by luck!

Kleybanova has an impressive 32:13 record for 2008 so far, reaching
the quarter-finals of Antwerp as a qualifier, and beating an out-of-
sorts Nicole Vaidišová 6-4 6-0 at Miami.

Kleybanova beat Olga Govortsova 6-0 6-0 at Berlin, and won five
matches to reach the quarter-finals of Eastbourne, where she found
Marion Bartoli too hot to handle (6-3 6-3), although she did look
impressive towards the end of the first set and at the beginning of
the second (I saw the match on BBCi).

After what I saw at Eastbourne, I'd be pretty worried about Daniela
playing Kleybanova if Daniela were healthy, let alone playing her
first tournament back after a lengthy lay-off from an injury that may
not yet have healed. Daniela would have to find something resembling
her best form pretty quickly to come through this one.

----------------------------
5. Order of play for Tuesday
----------------------------

Court 6 (start 12:00 BST = 11:00 GMT)
MS 1r: Wayne Odesnik v JARKKO NIEMINEN [24]
WS 1r: Michaëlla Krajícek [DF] v Marina Erakovic
MS 1r: NICOLAS ALMAGRO [19] v Marcel Granollers-Pujol
WS 1r: DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [10,EF] v Sara Errani

Full order of play:
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/schedule/

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