==========================
BEIJING 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES (Beijing, China; hard (Decoturf II))
========================== http://www.itftennis.com/olympics/
Contents
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1. Photos
2. Women's Singles: First-round results
3. Women's Singles: Second-round results
4. First-round scoreboard-report: Zvonarëva v Yan
5. Second-round TV-report: Cornet v Peng
6. Women's Doubles: Bronze-medal match

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1. Photo
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Peng,Shuai:
http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/tennis/n214528746.shtml

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2. Women's Singles: First-round results
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+ Peng,Shuai [S] d. Carla Suárez Navarro, 7-5 7-6 (7/2)
+ Ayumi Morita [WC,S] d. Marina Erakovic, 5-7 7-6 (9/7) 6-4
- Yan,Zi [S] lt. VERA ZVONARËVA [9,EF], 2-6 0-6

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3. Women's Singles: Second-round results
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- Peng,Shuai [S] lt. ALIZÉ CORNET [15], 2-6 2-6
- Ayumi Morita [WC,S] lt. Li,Na, 2-6 5-7

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4. First-round scoreboard-report: Zvonarëva v Yan (Monday 11th August)
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+ VERA ZVONARËVA [9,EF] d. Yan,Zi [S], 6-2 6-0

An easy win for Vera: Yan's backhand wasn't working, so Vera put
pressure on that side, and Yan made 42 unforced errors.

The match started on Court 1 at 10:43 China-time. I followed live
scores at:
http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/Schedule/TE.shtml (Live Result
gives live scores, while Match Statistics tells you the sequence of
games and who was serving - the wrong way round)


First set
---------
ZVO * *@*@ @ 6
YAN _*____@_ 2

First blood to Vera, then a double break as Yan struggled with high
bounces <ASP0315 at
http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=352898&page=6>.

Vera couldn't serve it out at *5-1, but broke to win the first set 6-2
at 11:14 (31 minutes).


Second set
----------
ZVO *@*@*@ 6
YAN ______ 0

Yan was broken from 0-1 (40/15), and her backhand was killing herself
according to adrygf
<http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=352898&page=7>.

Vera won 6-2 6-0 at 11:45 (second set 32 minutes, match 1h03m).

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5. Second-round TV-report: Cornet v Peng (Tuesday 12th August)
----------------------------------------

+ ALIZÉ CORNET [15] d. Peng,Shuai [S], 6-2 6-2

Not the greatest match in my eternal video-collection (at least until
that horrible white mould I've read about sets in), with both girls
nervous and making a lot of errors. The BBC commentators certainly
didn't like it, but for me it was a delightful combination of cuteness
and Selesianity, so when I'm at the Pearly Gates, this will be on my
video-tape.

Cornet made a very impressive start, playing more aggressively than
I've seen her play before. But she got nervous at 5-0*, and her weak
second serve doesn't bode well for her third-round match against
Serena Williams.


First set
---------
CORN *@*@*__@ 6
PENG _____*@_ 2

The match started on Centre Court at 10:41 China-time, and I saw it
all on BBCi.

Cornet serving 0-0: Peng forehand just long. 15/0. Cornet hit a
pinpoint backhand winner down the line: on the sideline. 30/0.
Ace down the middle. 40/0. Cornet hit an easy forehand winner.

So far, this looks like a more aggressive Cornet than I'm used to seeing!

Peng serving 0-1: Peng netted a forehand on the third stroke. There
was a big roar from the crowd. 0/15. Peng's depth forced Cornet to net
a forehand. Huge cheer. 15/15. In the first extended rally, Peng hit a
forehand just long. 15/30. Peng went for a backhand down the line, but
it was wild and wide. 15/40. Cornet opened up the court beautifully
and hit a crosscourt backhand winner.

Cornet serving 2-0: Short-angled ace out wide. 15/0. Peng blasted a
nervous backhand return into the net. 30/0. Peng hit a hard, early
forehand return whose depth and pace forced Cornet into error. 30/15.
Peng came to the net, but Cornet hit a dipping crosscourt forehand at
her feet, forcing her into error. 40/15. Peng hit a deep, aggressive,
error-forcing crosscourt forehand. 40/30. Cornet hit a defensive
backhand lob just long. 40/40. Service-winner out wide. Ad Cornet. She
forced Peng to hit a forehand long.

Peng is very aggressive when she's allowed to be, but Cornet moves
much better than Peng, is very aggressive herself today, and is
threatening to run away with this even 6-0 6-0 at the moment. :-o

Peng serving 0-3: Peng lined up a pinpoint backhand winner down the
line. 15/0. Peng netted a forehand. 15/15. Peng went for a
short-angled crosscourt backhand dropshot, but it was just wide.
15/30. Peng opened up the court with a crosscourt backhand, hit a
backhand winner down the line, on the baseline... it was called long,
but she challenged it, and Hawk-Eye showed that it clipped less than
1% of the baseline!! A big smile from Cornet. 30/30. Peng forehand
long. 30/40. Double fault (second serve clipped the netcord and fell
wide).

David Garrido: "Very tight out there. Very tight, and that second
serve leaves a lot to be desired."

Cornet serving 4-0: Peng pounced on a shaky second serve with a deep,
error-forcing crosscourt forehand return just inside the baseline.
15/0. A deep, early forehand return forced Cornet on her heels into
error. 30/0. Body-jamming serve out wide - sloppy footwork from Peng.
15/30. Peng came to the net and hit a nice forehand volley-winner down
the line. 15/40 (BP #1). First serve out wide: crosscourt forehand
return just wide. 30/40 (BP #2). A long rally ended with Cornet
hitting a deep, low-bouncing backhand down the line, forcing Peng to
earth a forehand. 40/40. Peng blasted a forehand long.
Ad Cornet. Peng netted a forehand off another awkward, low-bouncing
ball from Cornet.

A break-point not taken, and we're still on for a bagel or two...

The crowd are making a lot of noise during points - in China, they're
not used to watching tennis, so they don't get the etiquette that's
expected of spectators around the world.

Peng serving 0-5: Peng came to the net and hit a forehand smash
netcord-winner!! Cornet smiled again. 15/0. Cornet pounced on a short
return and hit a forehand winner down the line onto the baseline - so
fluid movement up to that. 15/15. Cornet forehand just long. 30/15.
Deep serve out wide + crosscourt forehand forced Cornet to hit a
crosscourt forehand wide. 40/15. Peng came to the net, but blasted a
nervous forehand very long. 40/30. Cornet's deep return rocked Peng
back on her heels, forcing her to net a forehand. 40/40. Peng forced a
short return and hit a forehand smash-winner off the bounce.
Ad Peng. Cornet's deep crosscourt backhand return forced Peng into
error. Deuce #2. Second serve: Cornet forehand return long. Ad Peng. A
deep return induced Peng to blast a short-angled crosscourt backhand
wide. Deuce #3. Cornet forehand return long. Ad Peng.
She got away with a short second serve as Cornet on the fourth stroke
bunted a backhand long.

A huge roar from the crowd as Peng gets on the board despite
squandering four game-points.

Cornet serving 5-1: Peng missed a return off a weak second serve.
15/0. Another weak second serve allowed Peng to hit a deep,
aggressive, error-forcing forehand return down the line. 15/15. Double
fault (second serve into the net). 15/30. Cornet backhand long. 15/40
(BP #1). Peng came to the net, but her volley sat up, and Cornet ran
it down to hit a crosscourt forehand pass-winner into the corner: just
inside the sideline - the point of the match so far. 30/40 (BP #2).
Service-winner. 40/40. Second serve: Peng netted a forehand return. Ad
Cornet (SP #1). Double fault (second serve into the net). Deuce #2. A
deep forehand return forced Cornet to net a forehand. Ad Peng (BP #3).
A lovely, flairsome baseline-rally ended unfortunately with Peng
hitting a backhand long. Deuce #3.
First serve: Peng slapped a forehand return into the net.
Ad Cornet (SP #2). She netted a backhand, and screamed in frustration.
Deuce #4. Cornet on the third stroke hit a forehand long. Ad Peng (BP
#4). Peng blasted a forehand into the net.
Deuce #5. Peng came to the net, but poked an off-forehand long.
Ad Cornet (SP #3). Cornet backhand down the line just wide. Deuce #6.
Peng forehand just long. Ad Cornet (SP #4). Double fault (second serve
just long). Deuce #7. Peng's depth induced Cornet to hit a forehand
just wide. Ad Peng (BP #5). Peng hit an off-forehand winner just
inside the sideline - the first winner of that long game, and she
breaks back!

A very nervous game from Cornet (and from Peng). Now she's got the
baggage of four missed set-points, she's letting the crowd get to her
I think, and that second serve is the one glaring weakness in her game.

Peng serving 2-5: Peng on the third stroke hit a backhand wide. 0/15.
Double fault (second serve clipped the netcord and fell wide). 0/30.
Peng pounced on a short, mishit ball to hit a crosscourt backhand
winner. 15/30. Peng showed some good defence in a long rally, but
Cornet hit an off-forehand winner just inside the sideline.
15/40 (SP #5). Cornet forehand just long. 30/40 (SP #6).
Cornet blasted a forehand return into the net. 40/40. Ace down the
middle. Ad Peng. Cornet forehand netcord-winner - much as Peng tried
to run it down. Deuce #2. Peng backhand just long. Ad Cornet (SP #7).
Peng forehand long.
Cornet won the first set 6-2 at 11:27 (46 minutes).

David Garrido: "Cornet doesn't have that killer-instinct. Can't finish
her off."

It will be interesting to see if Peng can keep it this close in the
second set, now that Cornet has got nervous and lost the great
momentum she got from her excellent start to this match.


Second set
----------
CORN *@* * *@ 6
PENG ___* *__ 2

Cornet serving 0-0: Peng forehand long. 15/0. Cornet forehand
smash-winner. 30/0. Ace down the middle. 40/0. Peng punished a short
second serve with a deep backhand return just inside the baseline,
forcing Cornet to bunt a defensive forehand lob into the tramlines.
40/15. Peng forehand winner down the line. 40/30. Peng off-backhand
wide - you need great footwork for that shot, and Peng didn't show it
there.

Peng serving 0-1: Peng netted a backhand off a deep groundstroke from
Cornet. 0/15. Cornet netted a forehand return. 15/15. Peng's depth
forced Cornet way behind the baseline to slice a backhand into the
net. 30/15. Cornet forehand winner down Peng's forehand-sideline.
30/30. Peng came to the net and hit a backhand half-volley
dropshot-winner of lovely touch. 40/30. Short second serve: Cornet
blasted a backhand return-winner down the line. 40/40. Cornet punished
a short second serve with a deep forehand return just inside the
baseline, forcing Peng to backstep and bunt a backhand lob wide. Ad
Cornet (BP). Peng attempted a half-volley forehand dropshot from the
baseline, but netted it.

Cornet serving 2-0: First serve out wide forced Peng into the
tramlines to net a crosscourt forehand return. 15/0. Cornet forehand
just long. 15/15. A wide crosscourt forehand return forced Cornetto
hit a forehand wide. 15/30. Peng netted a forehand. 30/30.
Body-jamming serve forced Peng to hit a forehand return long. 40/30.
Peng blasted a backhand return into the net.

Peng serving 0-3: Cornet netted a forehand. 15/0. Service-winner down
the middle. 30/0. Cornet forehand just long. 40/0. Cornet came to the
net and hit a nice off-backhand drop-volley winner. 40/15. Peng
backhand long. 40/30. Peng nailed a down-the-line backhand winner
behind Cornet.

Cornet serving 3-1: Peng pounced on a short ball to hit an
off-backhand just inside the sideline - much better than her previous
attempt at an off-backhand. 0/15. Peng forehand return long. 15/15.
And again. 30/15. Peng backhand return long. 40/15. Cornet almost hit
an ace down the middle onto the centre-line, but it was just wide.
Second serve: Peng netted a forehand return.

Really cheap return-errors from Peng in that game.

Peng serving 1-4: Peng pounced on a short return to hit an easy
crosscourt backhand winner. 15/0. Forehand return just long. 30/0.
Serve out wide - just inside the sideline - forced Cornet to hit a
crosscourt forehand return wide. 40/0. Cornet netted a forehand return.

Cornet serving 4-2: Peng hit a crosscourt forehand return just wide,
and wiped her eyes. David Garrido: "Peng beginning to feel the
strain." 15/0. Second serve: Peng missed another return. 30/0.
Cornet's depth forced Peng to hit a forehand long. 40/0.
Service-winner out wide, and the first fist-pump I've noticed from Cornet.

Peng serving 2-5: Double fault (second serve into the net). 0/15. Peng
hit a crosscourt forehand smash-winner off a short, high-bouncing ball
from Cornet. 15/15. Short second serve: Cornet forehand return-winner
down the line. 15/30. Peng went for a short-angled crosscourt
backhand, but it was just wide. 15/40 (MP #1). Double fault (both
serves just long).
Cornet won 6-2 6-2 at 11:55 (second set 28m, match 1h14m).

Cornet showed off her lovely smile again. She was talking to someone
at the side of the court just after the match - coach?

--------------------------------------
6. Women's Doubles: Bronze-medal match (Sunday 17th August)
--------------------------------------

+ (YAN,ZI [S]/ZHENG,JIE)[8]
d. (ALYONA BONDARENKO/KATERYNA BONDARENKO)[6], 6-2 6-2

--
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