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AEGON CLASSIC (Edgbaston, Birmingham, England; grass; WTA International)
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Contents
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1. Photos
2. Final eyewitness report: Hantuchová v Lisicki

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1. Photos (Monday 13th June 2011)
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Permission to copy my Birmingham photos is granted provided that:
(a) no money is exchanged;
(b) they are labelled as "Copyright Andrew Broad 2011".
Please let me know if you do use them on another website.

Since I don't have time to upload hundreds of photos a day individually, I have
uploaded each batch of photos as a large zip-file (approximately as many
megabytes as photos).

Monday's photos are in two volumes.


Monday Part 1 (Photos 001 to 196)
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http://www.divshare.com/download/16490735-1ca

Daniela Hantuchová (136 photos)
Sabine Lisicki (95)

Part 1 features the final, and stops just before the presentation ceremony.

Photo 041 is a funny one: Daniela's hood flew up, completely covering her face!


Monday Part 2 (Photos 197 to 261)
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http://www.divshare.com/download/16490805-831

Daniela Hantuchová (13 photos)
Sabine Lisicki (55)

Part 2 features both players at the presentation ceremony (Photos 197–211),
Sabine posing with the trophy (Photos 212–235), and Sabine signing autographs
just outside Centre Court (Photos 236–257).

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2. Final eyewitness report: Lisicki v Hantuchová (Monday 13th June 2011)
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+ Sabine Lisicki [DF] d. DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [4,EF], 6-3 6-2

It rained all day on Sunday, so the final was rescheduled for 11:00 BST on
Monday.

It was a disappointing match, as Daniela was hampered by a right-shoulder injury
for which she took a medical time-out at 0:1 2-3*, and revealed in her
runner's-up speech that it had been bothering her all week. She never really got
going against Sabine, who was the strongest player in the tournament.

Sabine served like a Williams sister, with eight aces (all in the first set) and
numerous easy service-games. She also showed tremendous groundstrokes –
particularly her returns of serve – and mixed it up with plenty of dropshots. On
this form, she would be a major threat to anyone at Wimbledon (where she upset
Li,Nŕ in the second round, became the 13th member of my Eternal Fanship, and
went on to reach her first Major semi-final).

Sabine was coming back from a terrible left-ankle injury suffered at Indian
Wells 2010, which saw her ranking drop from a career-high of #22 to #218 as of
Indian Wells 2011. This victory moved her back up from #100 to #62 (she would
finish 2011 at #15), but in reality, she was playing like a top-eight player on
grass, even though she has to wear big, ugly braces on both ankles.

With Sabine serving first, the first three games went comfortably with serve,
then Daniela recovered from 0:0 *1-2 0/30 to 40/30, only to be broken anyway as
she netted a dropshot, double-faulted, and succumbed to one of Sabine's
trademark dropshots.

Daniela went 0:0 *1-4 0/30 down, but recovered with a pinpoint off-forehand
winner, a beautiful crosscourt backhand punch-volley winner, and an ace out
wide: 2-4*.

Sabine led 0:0 *4-2 40/0, but Daniela pegged her back to Deuce, reached
break-point with a crosscourt forehand return-winner, but couldn't press home
her advantage: Sabine held for 5-2*.

Daniela hit a crosscourt forehand winner as she held to 15 for 0:0 3-5*, but
Sabine served out the first set to love with two forehand winners down the line,
and an ace out wide at set-point: 6-3.

Daniela trailed 0:1 *0-0 0/40, but recovered with two crosscourt forehand
winners, a good spreading rally and some good first serves: 1-0*. Sabine went
off the boil and was taken to Deuce, but Daniela couldn't take advantage.

And so it came to pass (a crosscourt backhand pass to be precise) that Daniela
found herself down 0:1 *2-2 0/40. She saved those three break-points by good
serving, but Sabine broke anyway with a crosscourt backhand return-winner: *3-2.

After the aforementioned medical time-out at 0:1 2-3*, Daniela offered little
resistance as Sabine held to love and broke to 15, finishing both games with
crosscourt forehand winners: *5-2. Sabine served out the match to love with
three dropshot-winners – the third being a dead netcord at championship-point.
Sabine won the last eight points of the tournament, and 14 of the last 15.

Sabine was very emotional in victory, falling to her knees to kiss the court,
and celebrating with her amazing smile. She was shaking in her champion's
speech, and crying as she recalled how tough it had been to come back from the
ankle-injury.

When Sabine won Charleston 2009 (beating Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki)
and reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon 2009 (beating Svetlana Kuznetsova
and Wozniacki again), I thought that her potential was sky-high: to be world #1,
a Major champion, possibly even the next member of my Eternal Fanship.

Her ankle-injury set her back so far that I thought she had lost the potential
to be any of those things, but on the evidence of Birmingham 2011, she's not
only back; she's better than before.


First set
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LISICKI *_*@*_*_* 6
HANTUCH _*___*_*_ 3

The match was first on Centre Court, and suffered a further delay as there was a
long queue for buying tickets. Daniela won the toss and elected to receive, and
the match finally started at 11:33 BST.

Lisicki serving 0-0: First serve down the middle forced Daniela to hit a
backhand lob-return wide. 15/0. Ace #1: first serve down the middle. 30/0. First
serve out wide, deep in the corner, forced Daniela to net a forehand return.
40/0 (GP #1). Ace #2: first serve out wide. Held.

Hantuchová serving 0-1: Daniela hit an off-backhand wide. 0/15. Second serve:
forehand return long. 15/15. Daniela hit a crosscourt forehand winner back
behind Sabine. 30/15. First serve: Sabine netted a forehand return. 40/15 (GP
#1). First serve out wide + forehand drop-volley winner just over the net. Held.

Lisicki serving 1-1: Daniela forced a short ball, but hit an off-forehand wide.
15/0. Ace #3: first serve down the middle. Sabine said "komm jetzt". 30/0. Ace
#4: first serve out wide. 40/0 (GP #1). First serve: Daniela hit a deep forehand
return just inside the baseline, forcing Sabine to hit a crosscourt forehand
wide. 40/15 (GP #2). Sabine hit a crosscourt forehand just inside the sideline,
forcing Daniela to hit a forehand long. Held.

Hantuchová serving 1-2: Daniela forced a short ball, only to hit a backhand
long. 0/15. Daniela hit a crosscourt forehand just wide. 0/30. Second serve:
forehand return long. 15/30. Second serve out wide: backhand return long. 30/30.
Sabine ran down a dropshot, but hit a crosscourt forehand pass wide. 40/30 (GP
#1). Daniela netted a backhand dropshot on the third stroke. Deuce #1. Double
fault #1 (second serve just long). Ad Lisicki (BP #1). Second serve... Sabine,
on the fourth stroke, hit a backhand dropshot-winner down the line. Broken.

Lisicki serving 3-1: Daniela opened up the court to hit a crosscourt forehand
winner. 0/15. Daniela ran down a dropshot, but sprayed a crosscourt forehand
wide. 15/15. Ace #5: first serve out wide. Sabine said "c'mon". 30/15. Double
fault #1 (second serve into the net). 30/30. Second serve: forehand return just
long. Sabine said "c'mon". 40/30 (GP #1). Sabine dominated the rally and hit a
down-the-line forehand winner. Held.

Hantuchová serving 1-4: Daniela netted a forehand. 0/15. Second serve... on the
third stroke, Daniela hit a backhand long. 0/30. Daniela forced a short ball,
and hit a pinpoint off-forehand winner just inside the sideline. 15/30. Second
serve... Sabine hit a crosscourt backhand wide on the fourth stroke. 30/30.
Daniela went to the net behind a down-the-line backhand, and hit a beautiful
crosscourt backhand punch-volley winner. 40/30 (GP #1). Ace #1: first serve out
wide, on the centre-line and just inside the service-line. Held.

Lisicki serving 4-2: Ace #6: first serve out wide. Sabine said "c'mon". 15/0.
First serve: Daniela netted a backhand return. 30/0. Second serve out wide +
crosscourt backhand winner. 40/0 (GP #1). Sabine netted a backhand on the fourth
stroke. 40/15 (GP #2). Double fault #2 (second serve into the net). 40/30 (GP
#3). Daniela's down-the-line backhand return induced Sabine to net a forehand.
Deuce #1. Second serve: Daniela hit a crosscourt forehand return-winner. Ad
Hantuchová (BP #1). Sabine's deep crosscourt backhand forced Daniela to hit a
crosscourt backhand wide and just long. Deuce #2. Daniela hit a crosscourt
backhand wide on the fourth stroke. Ad Lisicki (GP #4). Ace #7: first serve out
wide, on the sideline. Sabine shouted "c'mon". Held.

Sabine replaced her racket.

Hantuchová serving 2-5 (new balls): Second serve: forehand return long. 15/0.
Forehand return just long. 30/0. Second serve... Daniela, on the third stroke,
hit a crosscourt forehand winner back behind Sabine. 40/0 (GP #1). Daniela
netted a forehand on the third stroke. 40/15 (GP #2). Sabine earthed a forehand
dropshot, and emitted a cute little high-pitched yell. Held.

Lisicki serving 5-3: Sabine, on the third stroke, hit a down-the-line forehand
winner. 15/0. Sabine hit a low-bouncing forehand winner down the line. 30/0.
First serve: forehand return long. 40/0 (SP #1 for Lisicki). Ace #8: first serve
out wide. Lisicki won the first set 6-3 at 12:08 BST (35m).

Daniela got her coach Matej Lipták to come onto court and talk to her at the
set-break.


Second set
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LISICKI _*_*@*@* 6
HANTUCH *_*_____ 2

Hantuchová serving 0-0: Double fault #3 (second serve clipped the netcord and
fell long). 0/15. Second serve: Sabine hit a down-the-line backhand
return-winner, and said "c'mon". 0/30. Second serve: Sabine's deep off-backhand
return forced Daniela to earth a forehand. 0/40 (BP #1). First serve +
crosscourt forehand winner. 15/40 (BP #2). Service-winner. 30/40 (BP #3). Second
serve... Daniela played a good spreading rally, and hit a deep forehand just
inside the baseline, forcing Sabine to hit a forehand long. Deuce #1. Daniela
hit a crosscourt forehand winner that clipped the baseline with a puff of
titanium pigment. Ad Hantuchová (GP #1). First serve: forehand return long.
Held.

Lisicki serving 0-1: Daniela's off-backhand return forced Sabine to hit a
crosscourt forehand wide. 0/15. Second serve: backhand return long. 15/15.
Sabine hit a forehand long. 15/30. Daniela hit a crosscourt backhand wide on the
fourth stroke. 30/30. Daniela hit an off-backhand wide. 40/30 (GP #1). Double
fault #3 (second serve just long). Deuce #1. First serve out wide + off-backhand
winner back behind Daniela + "c'mon". Ad Lisicki (GP #2). Off-forehand return
wide. Held.

Hantuchová serving 1-1: Sabine netted a forehand return. 15/0. Second serve:
Sabine netted a backhand return. 30/0. Sabine hit a down-the-line forehand
winner, and said "c'mon". 30/15. First serve out wide: crosscourt backhand
return wide. 40/15 (GP #1). First serve out wide: down-the-line forehand return
wide. Held.

Lisicki serving 1-2: Second serve: down-the-line forehand return wide. 15/0.
Sabine hit a crosscourt forehand dropshot-winner from the baseline – it was
`telegraphed', but Daniela didn't read it. 30/0. First serve: Daniela hit a
makeable forehand return long. 40/0 (GP #1). First serve... Daniela hit a high
forehand volley-winner in a diagonal direction – I can't remember which. 40/15
(GP #2). Daniela opened up the court with a crosscourt forehand, but hit an
off-forehand wide. Held.

Hantuchová serving 2-2: Daniela hit a forehand long on the third (or possibly
fifth) stroke. 0/15. Second serve... Daniela hit a forehand long on the third
stroke. 0/30. Daniela went to the net, but Sabine hit a crosscourt backhand
pass-winner, pumped her fist and said "c'mon". 0/40 (BP #1). First serve out
wide forced Sabine to earth a backhand return. 15/40 (BP #2). First serve +
crosscourt forehand deep into the corner forced Sabine to earth a forehand.
30/40 (BP #3). Second serve down the middle forced Sabine to stretch wide and
net a forehand return. Deuce #1. Daniela netted a forehand on the third stroke.
Ad Lisicki (BP #4). Second serve: Sabine hit a crosscourt backhand
return-winner, and said "c'mon". Broken.

Daniela took a medical time-out for her right shoulder, while Sabine got her
coach – her father Dr Richard Lisicki – to come onto court and talk to her at
the changeover. Sabine then hit some practice-serves while she was waiting for
Daniela. The break in play was from 12:33 to 12:41 BST (7m).

Lisicki serving 3-2: Daniela netted a backhand. 15/0. First serve forced Daniela
to hit a crosscourt forehand return wide. 30/0. Second serve: crosscourt
forehand return wide. 40/0 (GP #1). Second serve out wide forced a short
crosscourt backhand return, which Sabine dispatched with a crosscourt forehand
winner. Sabine said "komm jetzt". Held.

Hantuchová serving 2-4: First serve out wide: Sabine netted a makeable forehand
return. 15/0. Sabine hit a crosscourt forehand deep into the corner, forcing
Daniela to hit a forehand long. 15/15. Daniela ran down a dropshot, only to hit
an off-forehand wide. 15/30. Daniela netted a forehand on the third stroke.
15/40 (BP #1). Second serve... Sabine hit a crosscourt forehand winner back
behind Daniela. Broken.

Lisicki serving 5-2 (new balls): First serve out wide + crosscourt forehand
dropshot-winner. 15/0. Second serve... Sabine hit a deep crosscourt forehand +
forehand dropshot-winner. 30/0. First serve out wide: Daniela chopped a
crosscourt forehand return wide. 40/0 (MP #1 for Lisicki). Sabine's forehand
clipped the netcord and dropped dead for a winner. Lisicki won 6-3 6-2 at 12:47
BST (second set 39m, match 1h14m).


Presentation ceremony
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Daniela's speech: "Sabine had a great week, and played well today. She has a
great serve. We had a wonderful time. It's great to be back. Obviously always
tough, the adrenalin going. It's [her right shoulder] been bothering me all
week, but hopefully, with treatment, it will get better."

Sabine's speech: "I wouldn't say it was easy. Daniela is a very tough
opponent... good and healthy for Wimbledon. I'm shaking, actually. I never
thought I'd be standing here today. Coming back from the injury was so, so tough
[crying]. I want to thank the sponsors. It's been a great week. I thank my team
for supporting me through such a tough time on crutches. You know I don't like
alcohol."

--
Dr. Andrew Broad