=================
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS (Wimbledon, England; grass; Grand Slam)
================= http://championships.wimbledon.org/
Women's Singles: Third-round TV-report: Morigami v V.Williams
(Monday 2nd July 2007)
-------------------------------------------------------------

- Akiko Morigami [S] lt. VENUS WILLIAMS [23], 2-6 6-3 5-7

Akiko led *5-3 in the third - serving for the match with new balls -
against the eventual champion!!

Play resumed at 12:14 BST on Court 2, with Williams leading 6-2 1-4*.


Second set
----------
MORIGAMI _*@*@*__@ 6
WILLIAMS *_____*@_ 3

Akiko serving 4-1: Forehand return long. 15/0. Williams sprayed a
backhand wide. 30/0. Williams opened up the court for a forehand
winner down the line, but hit it tamely into the net. 40/0. Akiko
crosscourt backhand winner behind Williams.

Williams serving 1-5: Double fault (second serve wide). 0/15.
Williams netted a backhand on the third stroke. Virginia Wade: "Just
hasn't got the timing at all." 0/30. Double fault (horrendous second
serve into the net). 0/40 (3 SPs). Akiko netted a forehand, giving
Williams her first point of the day! 15/40 (SP #2). Akiko netted
another forehand. 30/40 (SP #3). Big first serve + backhand winner
down the line. 40/40. Double fault (second serve into the net).
Ad Akiko (SP #4). Williams forehand winner down the line. Deuce #2.
Ace down the middle. Ad Williams. Akiko came to the net and hit a
crosscourt forehand volley-winner that caught the outside edge of the
sideline! Deuce #3. Double fault (second serve into the net).
Ad Akiko (SP #5). Akiko hit a forehand halfway up the net. Deuce #4.
Williams forehand netcord wide. Ad Akiko (SP #6). Williams came to
the net, inducing Akiko to net a forehand pass. Deuce #5.
Akiko crosscourt backhand volley winner wide by a whisker.
Ad Williams. Akiko netted a forehand.

Virginia Wade: "Sometimes a game like that can play someone like
Venus in."

Akiko serving 5-2: Serve + dropshot-winner. 15/0. Double fault
(second serve long). 15/15. Akiko's forehand hit the netcord and fell
back on her side. 15/30. Double fault (second serve just long).
15/40 (2 BPs). Akiko forehand long.

Williams serving 3-5: She sprayed a wild forehand very long. 0/15.
Double fault (second serve into the net). 0/30. Akiko forehand just
wide. 15/30. Double fault (second serve long). 15/40 (SP #7). Akiko
forehand just long. 30/40 (SP #8). Service-winner: forehand return
just wide. 40/40. Double fault (second serve long). Ad Akiko (SP #9).
Williams came to the net, rushing Akiko into hitting a forehand long
by a whisker - it would have been a winner if it had just caught the
baseline! Deuce #2. Double fault (second serve into the net).
Ad Akiko (SP #10). Akiko hit a fabulous backhand return down the
line, right in the corner, forcing Williams to spray a forehand wide.
Akiko won the second set 6-3 at 12:31.

Akiko's struggles to close out that set mean that Williams has the
momentum going into the third. But this match has now replaced Henin
v Schnyder on BBC2, with Akiko threatening a "huge upset" against the
23rd seed! :lol:


Third set
---------
MORIGAMI * * * *@____ 5
WILLIAMS _* * *__@*@* 7

Akiko serving 0-0: Williams netted a backhand. 15/0. Williams
forehand just wide. Akiko came to the net, forcing Williams to net a
forehand. 30/15. Williams netted a backhand. 40/15. Serve + forehand
winner down the line.

Williams serving 0-1: Akiko forehand long. 15/0. Williams forehand
very long & very wide. 15/15. Williams came to the net, but Akiko
from way behind the baseline hit a short-angled crosscourt forehand
pass-winner! 15/30. Service-winner out wide. 30/30. Williams came to
the net, but Akiko cracked a brilliant crosscourt pass-winner! 30/40
(BP). Akiko netted a sliced backhand. 40/40. Williams's pace and
depth forced Akiko to hit a forehand long & wide. Ad Williams.
Akiko forehand wide.

Akiko serving 1-1: Akiko crosscourt forehand winner. 15/0. Akiko came
to the net, forcing Williams to net a forehand. 30/0. Akiko
crosscourt backhand winner into the corner. 40/0. Akiko took the
initiative but sprayed a wild forehand wide. 40/15. Williams backhand
return-winner down Akiko's backhand-line. 40/30. Williams netted a
forehand, and Akiko said "c'mon".

No signs of folding from Morigami! ;-)

Williams serving 1-2: Akiko netted a backhand return. 15/0. Akiko
forehand just long. 30/0. Williams netcord crosscourt backhand pass-
winner. 40/0. Williams netted a backhand volley off a testing pass
from Akiko. 40/15. Williams backhand long. 40/30. Service-winner.

Akiko serving 2-2: Akiko netted a forehand. 0/15. Double fault
(second serve long). 0/30. Double fault (second serve into the net).
0/40 (3 BPs). Akiko forehand winner down the line, on the sideline.
15/40. Williams backhand just long. 30/40. Akiko saved the third with
a crosscourt backhand just inside the sideline, forcing Williams to
net a forehand. 40/40. Akiko netted a tame backhand.
Ad Williams (BP #4). Akiko crosscourt forehand winner just inside the
sideline. Deuce #2. Williams backhand long. Ad Akiko. Serve + off-
backhand winner. Akiko said "c'mon".

Williams serving 2-3: Williams hit a high backhand volley long, off a
testing lob from Akiko. 0/15. Williams netted a backhand. 0/30.
Another error from Williams. 0/40 (3 BPs). Williams came in behind a
crosscourt forehand onto the sideline, forcing Akiko to earth a
forehand lob. 15/40. Akiko netted a tight-looking forehand. 30/40.
Virtual ace down the middle. 40/40. Service-winner out wide.
Ad Williams. Service-winner: Akiko forehand wide.

Akiko serving 3-3: Service-winner out wide caught the outside edge of
the sideline. 15/0. Serve + backhand down the line forced Williams
forehand long. 30/0. Williams dropshot + backhand smash-winner.
30/15. Akiko's depth forced Williams way behind the baseline to hit a
backhand long. 40/15. Double fault (second serve into the net).
40/30. Williams sprayed a forehand very long.

Williams serving 3-4: Williams off-backhand winner just inside the
sideline. 15/0. Akiko hit an early, penetrating forehand return down
Williams's forehand-line, forcing her to net a forehand. 15/15.
Williams netted a forehand off a short ball. 15/30. Akiko forehand
dead-netcord winner. She apologised with a wave. 15/40 (2 BPs).
Service-winner. 30/40. Double fault (second serve long).

Akiko serving for the match at 5-3 (new balls): Akiko sprayed a wild
forehand very long. 0/15. Akiko went for a forehand but hit it into
the net. 0/30. Akiko sliced backhand just wide after an intriguing
rally with her previous shot on the baseline. 0/40 (3 BPs). Williams
broke with a fearsome backhand winner down the line, on the baseline.

Williams serving 4-5: Ace out wide, on the sideline. 15/0. Williams
opened up the court but netted a forehand. 15/15. Service-winner out
wide. 30/15. Body-jamming service-winner. 40/15. Service-winner out
wide, right in the corner.

Akiko serving 5-5: Crosscourt forehand return-winner onto the
sideline. 0/15. Akiko came in behind a deep crosscourt forehand,
forcing Williams to net a forehand. 15/15. Williams netted a
backhand. 30/15. Williams netted a backhand with a huge grunt after
an intriguing rally which Akiko dominated early. 40/15. Akiko had to
stretch low & wide for a backhand half-volley, which clipped the
netcord and fell back on her side. 40/30. Akiko netted a forehand.
40/40. Akiko netted a forehand. Ad Williams (BP). Deep, body-jamming
service-winner on the second serve! Deuce #2. Akiko came in behind a
forehand down the line, but Williams forced a weak volley and hit a
forehand pass-winner down the line. Ad Williams (BP #2). Akiko went
for a crosscourt forehand, but it was just wide.

Williams serving 6-5: Akiko forehand just wide on the fourth stroke.
15/0. A few drops of rain. Deep backhand return forced Williams to
net a backhand. 15/15. Off a short return from Akiko, Williams mishit
a forehand onto the court behind! 15/30. Raining more heavily.
Akiko's backhand down the line forced Williams to hit a running
forehand wide. 15/40 (2 BPs). Service-winner down the middle.
All other courts have been suspended. 30/40. Serve + backhand winner
down the line. 40/40. Deep service-winner out wide.
Ad Williams (MP #1). With very visible rain falling, Akiko netted a
forehand return. Williams won 6-2 3-6 7-5.


Articles
--------

Venus battles back again [Teletext 496]
>>>
Venus Williams came back from the brink of defeat for the second time
in three matches to seal a fourth-round match against Maria Sharapova.

The three-time champion resumed her match against Akiko Morigami a
set up, but the Japanese player levelled, then broke to serve for the
match.

But Williams hit back in trademark style, winning four games in a row
to sneak through 6-2 3-6 7-5.
<<<

Venus draws on experience to fight another round
By Sonia Oxley (Reuters)
>>>
Three-times former champion Venus Williams survived a hair-raising
third-round match against Akiko Morigami of Japan on Monday, and she
said experience had helped her find the will to win 6-2 3-6 7-5.

Morigami was serving for the match in the third set when Williams
found an extra gear and took control of the match to set up a fourth-
round encounter with world number two Maria Sharapova.

"Definitely one of my strong points is I'm a tough competitor and a
huge fighter," Williams told a news conference.

"In my experience, I just always feel like it should go my way. So I
guess experience helps."

The American former world number one, seeded 23 here, had seemed to
be cruising when she eased to a convincing first-set lead in the
match which started on Saturday.

But a double break by the Japanese player gave her a 4-1 lead before
the weather intervened and halted play until Monday.

Williams kept herself in the second set by saving six set-points in
the seventh game and then breaking in the next. But Morigami
unleashed some accurate shots down the line finally to snatch the set.

Seemingly intent on making it difficult for herself, Williams dropped
serve in the eighth game of the third, allowing Morigami to serve for
the match. But the American's resilience kicked in and she broke back.

In the end Morigami handed Williams the match when she put a return
into the net.

"Winning this kind of match helps me going on in the tournament,"
said Williams.

She will need as much help as she can get in the next round against
Sharapova, who has yet to drop a set.

The clash is a replay of the 2005 Wimbledon semi-final, which
Williams won on her way to the title.

Williams has not had an easy ride at this year's tournament, and had
to claw her way back from a set down in her first-round match after
her powerful serve and elegant groundstrokes deserted her.

She made 14 double faults and 42 unforced errors in the match against
Morigami, but said she had played better than in her first-round
match.

"I felt like in this match I was making some errors but my game
wasn't off," she said.
<<<

Williams isn't 'court' out
By Ian Laybourn, Special to PA SportsTicker
>>>
While the top seeds avoid it like the plague, Venus Williams admits
she enjoys dealing with death on the "graveyard of champions".

The 27-year-old three-time Wimbledon champion defied the curse of
Court Two for the second time in seven days to set up a fourth-round
showdown with Maria Sharapova.

Williams, who lost to a little-known Jelena Jankovic on Court Two
last year, had to come from behind there in her first-round match
against Russia's Alla Kudryavtseva, and was on the brink on Monday
before securing a 6-2 3-6 7-5 victory over a battling Akiko Morigami.

"I like Court Two," Williams said. "Court Two is where I've had a lot
of great times, so it's okay.

"It's definitely invigorating to win a match like that. Winning this
kind of match is invaluable in this tournament."

The Japanese world No. 71 built on a 4-1 lead from Saturday by
winning the second set to level the match when play resumed an hour
after the scheduled start on Monday morning.

Morigami then appeared to fold when she served for the match at 5-3,
but Williams made no mistake when her chance came, despite a steady
drizzle which turned into a mini-downpour seconds after she clinched
victory.

Williams was quick to defend her less experienced opponent, who had
never been past the third round in six successive appearances at
Wimbledon.

"I don't think she choked," she said. "I don't think she gave it
away. She played really well but I was able to play a little better.

"She played tough and didn't give me too many points. I had to go out
there and take it, because I knew she was going to go for it."

Rain had come to Williams' aid on Saturday afternoon when she found
herself a double break down after winning the first set.

Morigami produced a love service-game on Monday's resumption to make
it four games in a row, and appeared ready to make up for lost time.

Williams, the champion here in 2000, 2001 and 2005, lost her grip on
the match after encountering all sorts of problems with her serve on
Saturday, and she came up with four double faults in her opening
service-game on Monday.

Down 0/40, Williams saved six set-points before finally holding, and
then broke her Japanese opponent to get the score back to 3-5.

However, Williams' woes continued in the next game in which she came
up with four more double faults and, although she saved three more
set-points, Morigami broke for a third time to take the set 6-3 and
level the match.

Both players battled to come from 0/40 down on their own serve as the
deciding set went with serve until the eighth game, when a lucky
netcord gave Morigami a break-point, and Williams followed it with a
14th double fault of the match.

Serving for the match amid rising tension at 5-3, the Japanese girl
was broken to love, and she dropped her serve again to trail 5-6.

To add to the drama, rain began to fall as Williams served for the
match, but play was allowed to continue, and the American came from
15/40 down to clinch victory after two hours and five minutes.

Williams will need to lift her game is she is to repeat her 2005 semi-
final win over Sharapova after producing 42 errors against Morigami,
but insists there are no dramas over her serve, despite coming up
with 14 double faults.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with it," she said. "If
anything, I think it helped me a lot in this match. There were times
when I was down 0/40 or down some break-points where my big first
serves brought it back to deuce.

"So for me, I always see my serve as an asset. In life and in tennis,
there are going to be some mistakes. But it's all about how you look
at it. For me, I feel like my serve is just fine, so I'm okay."
<<<

More quotes from Williams
-------------------------

"She played really well. She hit some nice passing-shots, played
aggressive. She didn't give me too many points - I had to go out
there and take it."

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/selesians.html