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

1. Fourth-round TV-report: Bartoli v Jankovic
2. Women's Doubles

---------------------------------------------
1. Fourth-round TV-report: Bartoli v Jankovic (Tuesday 3rd July 2007)
---------------------------------------------

+ MARION BARTOLI [18,S] d. JELENA JANKOVIC [3], 3-6 7-5 6-3

This was sweet revenge for Marion's 1-6 1-6 thrashing by Jankovic in
the fourth round of the French Open, as Jankovic's heavy schedule
finally caught up with her, and they had to contend with four rain-
delays.

Virginia Wade said Marion was better on grass than on clay, because
her balls skid through low (because she hits them very flat). She was
also coming to the net more often than Jankovic.


First set
---------
BARTOLI __*__@ @_ 3
JANKOVI @* *@ @ @ 6

I watched highlights on BBC2 during a rain-delay:

Jankovic serving 5-2: 30/40 (break-point). Marion hit an error-
forcing forehand smash (Jankovic backhand just wide).

Marion serving 3-5: Marion brought Jankovic to her knees with a short-
angled crosscourt backhand winner on the sideline. 15/0. Marion
crosscourt backhand just wide. 15/15. Double fault #2 (second serve
into the net). 15/30. A long rally ended with Marion mishitting a
backhand wide of the tramlines. 15/40 (2 SPs). Jankovic sprayed a
backhand wide. 30/40 (SP #2). Jankovic sprayed a down-the-line
forehand wide. Simon Reed said she was a bit greedy there. 40/40.
Marion netted a backhand. Ad Jankovic. Marion backhand long. Jankovic
won the first set 6-3.


Second set
----------
BARTOLI _*@* *@___@* 7
JANKOVI *___*__@*@__ 5

Jankovic serving 0-0: Marion forehand just long. 15/0. Jankovic
backhand dropshot-winner from behind the baseline. 30/0. Jankovic
sprayed a backhand wide on the third stroke. 30/15. Marion opened up
the court beautifully and hit a crosscourt forehand drive-volley
winner. 30/30. A good deep backhand return down the line forced
Jankovic to net a backhand. 30/40 (BP). Jankovic hit a deep forehand
onto the baseline, forcing Marion to net a backhand. 40/40. Jankovic
backhand dropshot-winner. Ad Jankovic. Marion came to the net and hit
a two-handed forehand volley-winner. Deuce #2. Jankovic netted a
backhand. Simon Reed: "She's under pressure every time that second
serve goes in." Ad Marion (BP #2). Marion forehand return just long.
Deuce #3. Marion hit a deep, skidding backhand return just inside the
baseline, forcing Jankovic to miss a backhand. Ad Marion (BP #3).
Serve + crosscourt forehand virtual winner. Deuce #4. Marion netted a
forehand return. Ad Jankovic. She held with a off-backhand winner
into the corner.

Simon Reed: "She's looking the more confident player, Bartoli. She's
just not able to transmit that into winning games."

Marion is limping a bit.

Marion serving 0-1: Marion forehand drop-volley winner. 15/0.
Jankovic backhand wide off a deep ball from Marion. 30/0. Jankovic
backhand dropshot virtual winner. 30/15. Jankovic backhand dropshot-
winner. 30/30. Service-winner out wide. 40/30. Marion ran down a
dropshot and hit a beautiful crosscourt forehand dropshot-winner so
short!

Jankovic is blinking like there's something in her left eye.

Jankovic serving 1-1: Marion netted a backhand. 15/0. Jankovic played
a spreading rally, forcing Marion to hit a forehand pass just long.
30/0. Jankovic sprayed a forehand wide off a deep ball from Marion.
30/15. Marion netted a backhand. 40/15. Jankovic netted a forehand.
40/30. Double fault (second serve long). 40/40. Marion crosscourt
forehand drive-volley winner. Ad Marion (BP). Marion forced a short
ball and hit a crosscourt backhand winner to get the first break of
the second set.

Jankovic asked for the trainer to help her get the foreign body out
of her eye. Virginia Wade suggested that it could be mascara. But
Jankovic said she thought it was a hair from either a towel or a ball.

Marion sat in her chair, shaking, but Simon Reed said it should be a
welcome respite for her because she was "gulping in air".

Virginia Wade: "Marion's hitting the ball so flat that all Jankovic
can do is react."

Marion serving 2-1: Jankovic sprayed a forehand long after a longish
rally. 15/0. Jankovic went for a forehand down the line, but put it
wide. 30/0. Marion netted a forehand. 30/15. Marion backhand long.
30/30. Marion backhand just wide. But she challenged it, and Hawkeye
showed that it clipped the outside edge of the sideline. Replay:
Jankovic forehand winner down the line. 30/40 (BP). Marion played a
good spreading rally, until Jankovic's crosscourt forehand forced her
to run for a forehand and hit it long.

Virginia Wade said it was awkward to play Selesians on grass, because
they hit the ball so early and flat.

Jankovic is still blinking like her eye is bothering her.

Jankovic serving 1-3: Marion netted a return. 15/0. Marion netted a
backhand. 30/0. Ace down the middle. Jankovic holding her right
thigh. 40/0. Marion backhand dropshot-winner. 40/15. Jankovic netted
a sliced backhand into the net. 40/30. Marion hit a cracking
crosscourt forehand winner! 40/40. Jankovic hit a short-angled
crosscourt backhand off a crosscourt backhand on the sideline from
Marion. Ad Jankovic. Jankovic backhand long. Deuce #2. Marion hit a
forehand return onto the baseline, forcing Jankovic to net a
backhand. Ad Marion (BP). Jankovic sprayed a backhand wide.

Simon Reed: "Jankovic is good defensively, and Bartoli isn't."

Virginia Wade said Monica Seles was both these girls' idol: Marion as
a Selesian, and Jankovic as a Serb.

Marion serving 3-2: Jankovic netted a forehand. 15/0. Marion hit a
crosscourt forehand just inside the sideline, forcing Jankovic to
stretch wide and net a forehand. 30/0. Marion netted a backhand.
30/15. Serve + forehand winner down Jankovic's forehand-line - she
did well to run around her backhand when the ball was jamming into
her body. 40/15. Jankovic netted a forehand return.

Jankovic likes to play quickly, with little time between points,
whereas Marion is very deliberate.

Jankovic serving 2-4: Jankovic netted a backhand on the third stroke.
0/15. Marion hit a crosscourt backhand return just inside the
sideline, forcing Jankovic to net a backhand. 0/30. Jankovic on the
third stroke hit a backhand winner down the line behind Marion.
15/30. Ace #4, out wide. 30/30. Marion showed brilliant anticipation,
and hit an error-forcing backhand down the line, just inside the
baseline! 30/40 (BP). Marion broke with a brilliant backhand dropshot-
winner.

Marion serving 5-2 (new balls): Marion forehand just long. 0/15.
Jankovic forehand long by a whisker. 15/15. Jankovic off-forehand
winner onto the sideline. 15/30. Marion hit an error-forcing
crosscourt forehand just inside the sideline - "brilliant change of
direction" [Virginia Wade]. 30/30. Marion played a good spreading
rally but netted a forehand. 30/40 (BP). Marion netted a backhand
after a well-played point by Jankovic.

Marion looks bothered by her thigh, and is stretching and moving
uneasily between points.

Jankovic serving 3-5: Jankovic crosscourt backhand winner onto the
sideline. 15/0. Jankovic forehand just long. 15/15. Double fault
(second serve wide - Jankovic used up a challenge). 15/30. Jankovic
short-angled off-backhand winner. 30/30. Jankovic, running backwards
for a decent lob, hit a forehand smash virtual winner. 40/30.
Marion's forehand clipped the netcord and fell wide.

Marion serving 5-4: Just a few spots of rain. Marion crosscourt
backhand just long. 0/15. Marion hit a deep, skidding, error-forcing
crosscourt forehand onto the baseline. 15/15. Marion ran down a
dropshot, hit a backhand down the line, and Jankovic mishit a
forehand into the net. Marion looked exhausted after that rally.
30/15. Marion played a good spreading rally, but Jankovic had a dead-
netcord backhand winner. 30/30. Marion netted a backhand. 30/40 (BP).
Marion sprayed a forehand just long.

Jankovic serving 5-5: Marion hit a crosscourt backhand dropshot-
winner that just crept over the net. 0/15. Standing well inside the
baseline to receive, Marion induced a double fault (second serve just
long). 0/30. Jankovic backhand long. 0/40 (3 BPs). Play was suspended
for rain.

On the resumption, Marion sprayed an off-forehand return wide. 15/40.
Marion played an excellent spreading rally with great pace and depth,
culminating with a crosscourt backhand winner just inside the
sideline.

More spots of rain.

Marion serving 6-5: Jankovic netted a backhand. 15/0. Marion hit a
mighty crosscourt backhand deep into the corner, followed by an
equally mighty crosscourt forehand deep into the other corner! 30/0.
Jankovic hit a crosscourt backhand winner off a short, low shot from
Marion. 30/15. Marion opened up the court and hit a backhand drop-
volley that induced Jankovic to net a running backhand.
40/15 (2 SPs). Marion's hit an off-backhand onto the sideline,
forcing Jankovic to net a forehand.

What an excellent game to serve out the second set!


Third set
---------
BARTOLI @__* *@*@ 3
JANKOVI _@* *____ 6

Jankovic serving 3-3: Marion cracked a forehand return-winner down
the line. 0/15. Marion netted a backhand return. 15/15. Jankovic
sprayed a backhand wide. 15/30. Jankovic went for a forehand winner
down the line, but put it wide. 15/40 (2 BPs). Jankovic sprayed a
forehand very long to give Marion the break.

Marion serving 4-3: Marion played a good spreading rally, but
Jankovic won it with a forehand dropshot-winner from just inside the
baseline. 0/15. Marion netted a backhand after a longish rally. 0/30.
Marion netted a backhand. 0/40 (3 BPs). Jankovic forehand just long.
15/40. Marion got away with a short approach as Jankovic hit a
crosscourt backhand pass just wide. Marion lurched, clutching her
hip - an injury? 30/40. Jankovic's forehand clipped the netcord and
fell back on her side. Marion gulped in air again. 40/40. Jankovic
went for an off-backhand winner onto the sideline; it was called
wide, but Jankovic risked her last challenge to show that it caught
the outside edge of the sideline by about 1%! Ad Jankovic (BP #4).
Jankovic netted a backhand and shouted in frustration. Deuce #2.
Marion forced Jankovic to hit a backhand lob wide. Ad Marion. Marion
netted a forehand after a gruelling rally. Deuce #3. Jankovic netted
a forehand. Ad Marion. She hit a forehand lob-winner over Jankovic's
head and onto the baseline!

Jankovic serving 3-5: 0/15. Marion dropshot + backhand lob over
Jankovic's backhand-shoulder forced her to net a backhand volley.
0/30. Jankovic forehand just wide. She used up her last challenge.
Jankovic ran down a dropshot and hit a forehand just wide. Marion won
3-6 7-5 6-3 at 16:38, and sat sobbing with her head in a towel -
overcome by the emotion of reaching her first Grand-Slam quarter-
final.

Martina Navrátilová blamed Jankovic's defeat on her heavy schedule:
French Open semi-finalist, Birmingham-champion and runner-up at
's-Hertogenbosch. Boris Becker as good as said that she was being
advised by people who only cared about money.


Articles
--------

Jankovic suffers surprise defeat [CEEFAX 490->495]
>>>
France's Marion Bartoli caused a major Wimbledon upset by defeating
third seed Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round.

Not many had the Court One match down for an upset, but 18th seed
Bartoli held her nerve to win 3-6 7-5 6-3.

Jankovic has been the form player of 2007 but faltered in the final
set, dropping serve three times.

Ana Ivanovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova won, while Venus Williams and
Maria Sharapova managed just three points before the day's fifth rain
break.
<<<

PA SportsTicker
>>>
In another major stunner, No. 18 Marion Bartoli of France knocked off
third-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, 3-6 7-5 6-3.

Bartoli has quickly emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the
tournament. Prior to her unexpected run, she had advanced past the
second round just once in four previous tries here.

"I think at the end, I was a little stronger physically than her,"
Bartoli said. "She looked a little tired."

But now Bartoli has reached a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first
time in her career after outlasting Jankovic, who advanced to the
semi-finals at the French Open last month.

Ranked 19th in the world, Bartoli will face an even bigger surprise
in the quarters when she meets No. 31 Michaëlla Krajícek of the
Netherlands.
<<<

Bartoli knocks out Jankovic in stop-start match
By Sonia Oxley (Reuters)
>>>
LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) - Third seed Jelena Jankovic followed
champion Amélie Mauresmo out of Wimbledon on Tuesday when Marion
Bartoli profited from some sloppy strokes to dismiss her 3-6 7-5 6-3
in a match interrupted four times by rain.

The Serb has been one of the most consistent players this year, and
last month reached the French Open semi-finals, but against the
French 18th seed she seemed to lack conviction at the net, and
repeatedly struggled to hold serve.

She said the fact it had taken nearly six hours to complete the match
had been the main reason for her downfall. "The rain completely put
me off," Jankovic told a news-conference.

"At the end of the day, it's not tennis that decides these sorts of
games - it's the person who can stay strong mentally and physically."

Bartoli said her opponent had looked tired towards the end.

"I think at the end, I was a little stronger physically than her,"
the Frenchwoman said.

"She didn't really know what tactic to use against me at the end is
what I felt. She was playing just the ball."

The 22-year-old said reaching her first Grand-Slam quarter-final had
not come as a shock.

"It's not a big surprise for me. I'm a top 20 player - I'm not 200 in
the world," the world number 19 said.

She faces 31st seed Michaëlla Krajícek of the Netherlands in the next
round, and said she knew little about her.

Jankovic broke four times in the first set, but dropped serve twice,
and her service-game problems continued into the second when the
French 18th seed broke in the third, fifth and seventh.

Bartoli served for the second set three times, eventually getting the
better of her opponent with a crosscourt backhand that Jankovic could
only hit into the net.

The Frenchwoman's groundstrokes seemed to gain power in the third
set, while Jankovic missed some easy smashes and had trouble finding
her range.

The upset was finally complete when Jankovic sent a forehand wide.
<<<

Jankovic blames rain for Wimbledon exit
By Sonia Oxley (Reuters)
>>>
Third seed Jelena Jankovic blamed four rain-interruptions for the
fluffed shots and dropped serves that sealed her fourth-round exit
from Wimbledon on Tuesday. The 22-year-old Serb produced a series of
errors to allow 18th seed Marion Bartoli of France to beat her
3-6 7-5 6-3 in a stop-start match that spanned nearly six hours.

"The rain completely put me off," Jankovic told a news-conference.

"I was not the same player as I am normally. If I play like this, my
ranking is the same as the other girl's - it's not the number three
player in the world. It's 20, or 30 or 50.

"At the end of the day, it's not tennis that decides these sorts of
games - it's the person who can stay strong mentally and physically."

She said she noticed Bartoli had returned from each rain-break
rejuvenated, while she herself felt worse and worse: unable to get
into her rhythm or move around the court properly because she felt
stiff.

"Every rain-break, she came back better and better because she can
rest. She's this kind of player who practises 10 hours a day... she's
only into tennis and I'm not - I just do my job for a few hours, and
then I go," said the French Open semi-finalist.

"Each time when I came back, I felt bad: I didn't do my strokes; my
tactics were completely wrong."

This year's championships have been hit hard by downpours, and
Jankovic said this type of disruption played into the hands of the
outsiders looking for an upset.

"There is no reason for me to lose this match, but in these
circumstances anything can happen," she said.

"I think it suits the lower-ranked players: they have more of a
chance to play with you. I think if we could have played a match
without breaks, I could have won in maybe two sets, also maybe in the
third set as well."

Jankovic had to call the trainer on during the second set when she
had a problem with her eye that she said stopped her seeing the ball.

"There were so many things that were not going my way," she said.

"But I'm not a machine, I'm going to have a bad day."
<<<

Stuart Condie, AP Sports Writer
>>>
Jelena Jankovic thinks she was upset by the bad weather as much as
her opponent at Wimbledon.

The third-seeded Jankovic lost to No. 18 Marion Bartoli of France
3-6 7-5 6-3, and said the four rain-delays in the match dented her
concentration so badly she was missing even routine shots.

"There is no reason for me to lose this match," Jankovic said. "But
in these circumstances, anything can happen. It suits the lower-
ranked players. Without breaks, I think I could have won in two sets."

Jankovic also struggled when, after being broken in the third game of
the second set, she called for a trainer because something was
irritating her left eye.

The Serb continued to play after the trainer failed to find anything,
and broke back to 2-2. During a rain-delay, Jankovic found the speck -
which she thought was a fiber from a towel - and removed it.

"So many things were against me," she said.
<<<

Jelena Jankovic: "So many breaks. It's not the best thing, and you're
not going to see the best tennis, because players are mentally
drained."


Marion's BBC interview
----------------------

"It's very huge, specially to play Jelena at this stage in a Grand
Slam. This has been waiting so long. Finally I go through, and I'm so
happy.

"I lost to her very easily at the French Open, but here I was giving
to her a bit more troubles. I just look at the ball, try to hit as
clean as possible, and use angles to make her move.

"I played very good in the grass-court season, at Birmingham."

[Re. Michaëlla Krajícek]
"Because she beat Chakvetadze, her ranking means nothing. I'll just
look at it as a normal match."

[Re. her pre-serve ritual and energy-bounces]
"It's really important to me, because my serve has been a weakness,
because I'm not very tall. I need to be really focusing before I toss
the ball. To get some energy into my legs, so I can hit the ball as
high as possible."

--------------------------------
2. Women's Doubles: Second round (Tuesday 3rd July 2007)
--------------------------------

+ (Peng,Shuai [S]/Yan,Zi [S]) d. Eleni Daniilidou/Jasmin Wöhr, 6-0 6-3

--
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