It has been a very good year for Vera so far, with finals at Hobart, Doha and Charleston, and winning the Tier IV title at Prague. She reached the fourth round of the French Open convincingly, before losing a rollercoaster-match to Elena Dementieva.
But Vera's start to the grass-court season gives serious cause for concern. After pulling out of Birmingham (where she won the title in 2006) with a cold, she lost 6-3 6-3 to qualifier Ekaterina Makarova in her opening match at Eastbourne. I was there in the stadium, and it was quite the worst Vera-performance I've ever seen.
Although Makarova, who had played six prior matches on grass this year, played very well - frequently finding the sidelines with sharp, left-handed groundstrokes - Vera was spraying errors left, right and centre, and not showing her usual amazing retrieval-abilities either.
Vera will be making her first appearance at Wimbledon since winning the Mixed Doubles title in such spectacular fashion in 2006, having missed the 2007 Championships through a four-month lay-off with a wrist-injury.
Vera has never played Aiko Nakamura before, but it should be a nice, gentle 'welcome back' to Wimbledon for Vera after her Makarova-nightmare at Eastbourne.
Nakamura is a Selesian player (two hands both sides). She has a 17:18 record for the year so far, after snapping an 8-match losing-streak from September 2007 to February 2008. She hasn't really done anything noteworthy this year; her best result was probably beating #41 Tathiana Garbin - the first of three wins to qualify for Dubai.
After a first-round loss at the French Open, Nakamura began her grass-court season nice and early, starting with a 6-3 7-5 loss to Rika Fujiwara at ITF Surbiton. She then had two wins at Birmingham: Tzipora Obziler 7-5 6-3 and Sorana Cīrstea 6-4 4-6 6-4. She then lost 2-6 6-4 6-4 to British wild card Melanie South in the third round, and 6-4 6-1 to Nathalie Dechy in the first qualifying-round for Eastbourne.
Nakamura has just two second-round appearances to show for four attempts at Wimbledon - including last year, when she was thrashed 6-1 6-2 by Martina Hingis.
+ VERA ZVONARĖVA [13,EF] d. Aiko Nakamura [S], 6-1 6-7 (3/7) 6-1
Vera made short work of the first set, but struggled through the second, for which Aiko served at 5-3. Vera fought back to 5-5*, but wasted a 0/30 opening in that game, and lost the last six points of the set after leading 3/1* in the tiebreak.
But Vera breezed through the third set with a no-nonsense approach to complete an emotional victory on her return to Wimbledon after missing last year's Championships with a serious wrist-injury.
ZVONARĖV *@*@ @* 6 NAKAMURA @ 1
The match started much later than I expected, as they inserted the resumption of Paszek v Schiavone before this match on Court 3. I'm grateful to Tamira Paszek for extending Schiavone to 10-8 in the third (having resumed at 3-6 4-4), because it meant I didn't have to follow live scores of Vera's match at the same time as watching Maria Sharapova's match on TV!
So the match was third on Court 3; it started at 17:02 BST, and I followed live scores at www.wimbledon.org.
Vera serving 0-0: 30/15. 40/30. Held.
Aiko serving 0-1: 15/0. 15/40. 30/40. Broken.
Vera serving 2-0: 15/15. 15/30. 40/30. 40/40. Ad Vera. Held.
A dicy last game for Vera, but she pulls clear in this first set.
Aiko serving 0-3: 0/40. Broken.
Okay, try not to lose 6-0 6-0.
Vera serving 4-0: 15/30. 15/40. Broken.
Good for Aiko, but I don't like that Vera lost her serve - that's like a personal affront.
Aiko serving 1-4: 0/15. 15/15. 15/40. Broken.
Vera serving 5-1: 0/15. 15/15. 40/15 (SP #1). Vera won the first set 6-1 at 17:24 (22 minutes).
Looks like a great start for Vera - where was that form when I watched her at Eastbourne last week?
ZVONARĖV @* * @* * 6(3) NAKAMURA *@ * *@ * T 7(7)
Aiko serving 0-0: 30/0 to 30/30. 40/30. Held.
Aiko's first hold of the match.
Vera serving 0-1: 15/0. 15/15. 15/30... broken.
And the first time Vera's been in any real trouble.
Aiko serving 2-0: 30/0. 30/15. 40/30. 40/40. Ad Aiko. Deuce #2. Ad Aiko. Deuce #3. Ad Vera (BP). Broken.
Vera had to fight hard to avoid a *0-3 deficit!
Vera serving 1-2: 0/15. 30/15... held.
Aiko serving 2-2: 15/0. 30/15... held.
The scoreboard keeps freezing at 30/15!
Vera serving 2-3: 30/0. 30/15. 40/15. Held.
Aiko serving 3-3: 15/15. 40/15 to 40/40. Ad Aiko. Held.
Well pegged back, but now the pressure's on Vera; she doesn't want to see Aiko serving for the second set at 5-3.
Vera serving 3-4: 15/30. 30/40. Broken.
Aiko serving 5-3: 15/0. 15/15. 30/15. 30/30. 30/40. Broken.
Vera serving 4-5: 40/0. Held.
Good fightback from Vera. I don't fancy a third set, with the risk of losing Vera in the first round.
Aiko serving 5-5: 0/30 to 40/30. 40/40. Ad Aiko. Held.
If Vera goes on to lose this, that's the game she will look back on - really let Aiko off the hook from 0/30.
Vera serving 5-6: 15/0... held.
6-6 tiebreak (all scores Zvonarėva/Nakamura): 0/0*. *1/0. *1/1. 2/1*. 3/1*. *3/2. *3/3. 3/4*. 3/5*. *3/6 (SP #1). Aiko won the second set 7-6 (7/3) at 18:17 (second set 53m, match so far 1h15m).
ZVONARĖV *@* *@* 6 NAKAMURA * 1
Vera serving 0-0: 15/0. 15/15. 30/15... held.
Aiko serving 0-1: 0/40. 15/40.
Vera serving 2-0: 15/0. 30/30. 30/40. 40/40. Ad Vera. Held.
Aiko serving 0-3: 15/0. 15/15. 30/15. 30/40. 40/40. Ad Aiko. Deuce #2. Ad Aiko. Held.
Vera serving 3-1: 0/15. 15/30. 40/30. 40/40. Ad Vera. Held.
Aiko serving 1-4: 15/15. 15/30. 30/30. I saw this point in a BBCi court-circular: a big serve forced a defensive lob-return, which Aiko dispatched with a high forehand drive-volley winner down the line. 40/30. Aiko tried to serve & volley, but netted a high forehand drive-volley. 40/40. Ad Vera (BP). Broken.
Vera serving 5-1: 40/0 (MP #1). 40/15 (MP #2). Vera won 6-1 6-7 (3/7) 6-1 at 18:50 (third set 33m, match 1h48m).
I saw the last point on BBC 2: Vera hit a shallow forehand down the line; Aiko hit a penetrating backhand down the line, forcing a short, weak forehand from Vera, but Aiko hit an off-forehand wide & just long. Vera clenched her left fist: there was a plaster on her thumb. Her face looked quite emotional: almost a little teary!
Vera had a W:UE ratio of 20:21, while Aiko's was 23:35 (including 13:19 for the second set) - a rather disappointing number of winners for a three-setter, especially from Vera.
Vera served 5 aces and 3 double faults, Aiko 5 double faults and no aces. Vera served much faster than Aiko: fastest 111-103 mph, average first serve 106-98 mph, average second serve 93-89 mph.
Vera got 59% of her first serves in, winning 71% of the points when she did so, and 47% on second serve. Surprisingly, there wasn't a big dip in these percentages for the second set: in fact her second-serve winning-percentage was at its best then!
The corresponding percentages for Aiko were considerably worse: 56%, 52% and 40% (including a woeful 47%, 14% and 25% for the first set, while these percentages were much more respectable for the second set and even the third).
Vera broke 7 times from 11 BPs, while Aiko broke 3 times from 5 BPs. Vera won the first set by 3 breaks to 1 and the third by 2 breaks to 0, while the second set featured 2 breaks apiece.
Vera won 9 of 12 points at the net (including all 7 in the first two sets), Aiko 7 of 8.
In points, Vera won 104-79 (first set 27-13, second set 42-42, third set 35-24).
A very tough test awaits Vera here, as Tamarine Tanasugarn (whom Vera has never played) won 's-Hertogenbosch on Saturday, beating Dinara Safina 7-5 6-3 in the final. And she has a proven track-record at Wimbledon, reaching the fourth round six times in seven years (1998-2004).
Tanasugarn has an impressive 30:11 record for 2008 so far, although this does include several qualifying-matches and ITF-tournaments. She beat Amélie Mauresmo at Doha, won ITF Gifu, and thrashed Tamira Paszek 6-1 6-0 at Birmingham.
Vera will have to be playing much better than she did at Eastbourne to come through this one.
- VERA ZVONARĖVA [13,EF] lt. Tamarine Tanasugarn, 6-7 (10/12) 6-4 3-6
This was first on BBCi, to my surprise - the BBC finally put the "vera" back in "coverage" for the first time since the Australian Open 2007!
Vera played much, much better than she did at Eastbourne, and looked delectable too. She showed the flairsome power that persuaded me to induct her into my Eternal Fanship, and some of her amazing lateral-retrieval abilities.
But Tanasugarn, who won 's-Hertogenbosch last week, showed why she is so effective on grass: while not having Vera's power, she takes the ball very early and hits it very flat, robbing her opponent of time. Vera was on the back foot so often, especially early in the match, when she went 1-4* down.
Vera showed her tremendous fighting spirit to fight back from 1-4* and *3-5 to 6-5*, as she found the groove on her groundstrokes, started thinking more clearly, and got into Tanasugarn's head with her retrieving.
Vera had four set-points in the tiebreak, but Tanasugarn converted her own third set-point to take it 12/10.
Vera looked rattled as she fell *0-3 down in the second, but she managed to channel her anger into her shots, levelled up at 3-3*, and broke for *4-3 after a long game of four deuces and four break-points.
Tanasugarn took a medical time-out to get her right thigh strapped; the break helped Vera to calm down, and she played even better to take the second set 6-4.
Going into the third set, I thought Vera would have the edge because of Tanasugarn's injury and the fact that the 31-year-old isn't as fit as she used to be, but Tanasugarn just went for her shots and made them, and a single break against Vera in the second game proved decisive.
ZVONARĖVA * @* *@* 6(10) TANASUGAR @* *@ * *T 7(12)
The match was first on Court 18, and started at 12:12 BST.
Simon Reed said Vera was the favourite to go through, "but after everything Tanasugarn has done in the last few weeks, it's an intriguing match."
Vera serving 0-0: Vera hit a pinpoint backhand winner down the line: on the sideline. 15/0. Vera crosscourt backhand + backhand winner down the line. Simon Reed: "Zvonarėva has got to keep Tanasugarn on the move." 30/0. Tanasugarn dead netcord-winner. 30/15. Serve + crosscourt backhand winner just inside the sideline. 40/15. Vera ran down a dropshot and hit a crosscourt backhand dropshot just wide. 40/30. Vera netted a backhand. 40/40. Tanasugarn blasted a forehand return wide. Ad Vera. A long spreading rally ended with Tanasugarn hitting a crosscourt forehand winner. Deuce #2. Double fault (big second serve out wide just wide). Ad Tanasugarn (BP). She broke Vera with a big off-forehand return virtual winner.
A very high quality of tennis right from the start. Three winners from Vera already, but Tanasugarn uses Vera's power against her with short backswings. Tanasugarn stands inside the baseline, taking the ball early and robbing her opponent of time. She hits the ball flatter than almost anyone.
Tanasugarn serving 1-0: Vera sprayed a crosscourt forehand wide. 15/0. Vera, on the back foot, hit a down-the-line forehand wide. 30/0. Tanasugarn crosscourt backhand wide. 30/15. Tanasugarn forced a short ball and hit an error-forcing crosscourt forehand. 40/15. A good deep serve on the service-line forced Vera to net a backhand return.
Vera's been very unlucky with the draw here. She's playing much better than she did at Eastbourne, but unfortunately Tanasugarn is playing even better so far - unseeded my a***!
Vera serving 0-2: Service-winner. 15/0. Tanasugarn netted a backhand return. 30/0. Serve out wide + crosscourt forehand back behind Tanasugarn + forehand winner down the line. 40/0. Vera came to the net behind a sliced backhand with sidespin, and hit a lovely backhand drive-volley winner down the line, back behind Tanasugarn.
Tanasugarn serving 2-1: Vera, pulled wide, netted a sliced backhand. 15/0. Tanasugarn hit a huge crosscourt forehand winner into the corner. 15/15. Double fault (first-serve ace just wide; second serve long). 15/30. Double fault (into the net x 2). 15/40 (BP #1). Tanasugarn netted a backhand. 30/40 (BP #2). Vera netted a cheap backhand. 40/40. Vera sprayed a wild backhand wide off a deep ball from Tanasugarn. Ad Tanasugarn. Vera netted a forehand, and slammed the ball down in temper.
Very disappointing that Vera didn't break in that game, because the momentum was definitely shifting.
Tracy Austin: "Zvonarėva's getting stuck into the point - starting to dictate."
Vera serving 1-3: Tanasugarn neutered Vera's early initiative with a deep defensive lob, took the initiative herself... a deep sliced backhand from Vera landed on the baseline, pushing Tanasugarn back on her heels, but with a high-pitched yelp, she hit a short off-forehand that died away on Vera, forcing her to earth a backhand. Tanasugarn smiled and Tracy Austin laughed. 0/15. Vera hit a down-the-line forehand onto the baseline + pinpoint crosscourt forehand onto the sideline, forcing Tanasugarn to hit a forehand just wide. 15/15. Vera ran down a dropshot and hit a down-the-line backhand just wide. 15/30. Vera forehand down the line very long. 15/40. Vera sprayed a wild backhand very long - not even landing in my TV-screen - to go down a double break.
Tracy Austin: "Zvonarėva doesn't seem to be on-balance a lot. She seems to be backing up, leaning left, leaning right. She's just a little bit awkward."
Simon Reed: "She does seem late on the ball quite a bit."
Tracy Austin: "Very late, on that back foot. And she needs to somehow, if she can - the ball's scooting through; Tanasugarn's shots have quite good pace and depth - she needs to get ready a little bit sooner, possibly shorten her backswing and kind of stay down with the ball - hold her ground."
Tanasugarn serving 4-1: Vera hit an error-forcing crosscourt forehand on the fourth stroke. 0/15. Vera hit down-the-line backhand just wide, and looked upset about the call. 15/15. Tanasugarn backhand long. 15/30. Vera's crosscourt forehand forced Tanasugarn to net a forehand. 15/40. Service-winner. 30/40. Vera played a good, long rally, her crosscourt backhand forcing Tanasugarn to net a backhand, giving Vera one of the breaks back.
Tracy Austin: "Zvonarėva made Tanasugarn do a lot more roadwork in that game. Zvonarėva is clearer with her thoughts now."
Vera serving 2-4: Vera hit a scorching crosscourt forehand winner. 15/0. Serve out wide + crosscourt forehand winner. 30/0. Vera crosscourt forehand + backhand winner down the line. 40/0. Vera netted a backhand. 40/15. Service-winner out wide.
Vera finally achieves the momentum, but there's still the matter of being a break down...
Tanasugarn serving 4-3 (new balls): Serve out wide + crosscourt backhand virtual winner. 15/0. Service-winner down the middle, curling away from Vera with slice. 30/0. Vera ran down a dropshot and pushed a forehand winner down the open line. 30/15. Vera down-the-line forehand just wide. 40/15. Vera hit a brilliant acute-angled crosscourt forehand return onto the sideline, forcing Tanasugarn to net a forehand. 40/30. Vera lofted a forehand long off a shorter ball from Tanasugarn.
Vera serving 3-5: Tanasugarn backhand just long. 15/0. Serve out wide + crosscourt forehand winner just inside the sideline. 30/0. Vera painted the sideline with an off-forehand winner off a short return. 40/0. Tanasugarn forehand down the line wide.
Simon Reed: "It's taken Zvonarėva a while to get to grips with this match - she was under the cosh, on the back foot for so much of it - but now she's beginning to dictate."
Tracy Austin: "She's starting to find her rhythm a little bit better now. She has the bigger serve without a doubt, the bigger groundstrokes, the bigger swing as well. And that little backswing [of Tanasugarn] was causing her trouble at the beginning of this match, because the balls were coming so deep and hard and penetrating, she really was not feeling like she had a lot of time for that big backswing. She's starting to adjust."
Vera has adjusted nicely to this match now, overpowering Tanasugarn with her serve and groundstrokes. But she has two major problems: (a) Tanasugarn has shorter, more economical swings than she does, which are better for grass, and (b) Tanasugarn is about to serve for the first set.
Tanasugarn serving 5-4: Tanasugarn hit a sweet backhand winner down the line on the third stroke. 15/0. Vera showed great lateral retrieval in a long baseline-rally, with a couple of chopped forehands when driven wide, and Tanasugarn netted a forehand. 15/15. Tanasugarn netted a backhand. 15/30. Double fault #3 (second serve into the net). 15/40. Tanasugarn forced a short, weak ball, and had all the time in the world to hit an off-forehand smash-winner into the open court. 30/40. Double fault #2 (second serve long).
YES!! I think Vera really got into Tanasugarn's head with that long rally at 15/0, and definitely has the momentum now.
Tracy Austin: "She has much bigger weapons, Zvonarėva. She just was not finding the right balance - she was on her back foot [for the] first few games."
Vera serving 5-5: Vera forehand winner down the line. 15/0. Service-winner out wide. 30/0. Tanasugarn blasted a crosscourt forehand wide. 40/0. Tanasugarn forced a floater from Vera, and hit an off-forehand drive-volley winner. 40/15. Tanasugarn forehand long.
Tanasugarn serving 5-6: Vera netted an off-backhand return. 15/0. Vera opened up the court with a crosscourt forehand, but netted a down-the-line forehand. 30/0. Tanasugarn forehand long. 30/15. Tanasugarn crosscourt forehand winner. 40/15. Vera dumped a weak forehand return into the bottom of the net.
6-6 tiebreak (all scores Zvonarėva/Tanasugarn):
{*0/0} Vera served out wide, but blasted a down-the-line forehand wide.
{0/1*} Vera netted a cheap backhand return.
{0/2*} Tanasugarn netted a backhand off a deep ball from Vera, giving her the mini-break back.
{*1/2} Vera sprayed a crosscourt backhand wide off a deep ball from Tanasugarn, reinstating the mini-break.
{*1/3} Vera hit an ace down the middle: just inside the centre-line.
{2/3*} Vera crosscourt backhand + pinpoint backhand winner down the line, just inside the sideline.
{3/3*} A long baseline-rally, with a couple of brilliant defensive lobs from Vera, ended with her hitting a pinpoint forehand winner down the line: on the sideline. "Wow," said Tracy Austin.
{*4/3} Amazing rally: Tanasugarn spanked a forehand onto the baseline, forcing Vera with a sharp, high-pitched yelp to hit a short, weak backhand; Tanasugarn came to the net behind a down-the-line backhand, forcing Vera to hoist a skyscraper-lob; Tanasugarn hit a short forehand smash down the middle, and Vera's crosscourt forehand forced Tanasugarn to run into the tramlines and net a forehand. Tanasugarn threw her racket.
{*5/3} Tanasugarn crosscourt forehand + crosscourt backhand winner - both just inside the sidelines.
{5/4*} Tanasugarn hit a wild forehand very long.
{6/4*: Vera SP #1} Tanasugarn forced a short lob from Vera, and hit a forehand smash-winner down the line.
{*6/5: Vera SP #2} Vera backhand long, after "tigerish" defence from Tanasugarn.
{*6/6} Tanasugarn blasted a crosscourt forehand wide, and muttered about the wind.
{7/6*: Vera SP #3} Tanasugarn played a well-controlled rally with an off-forehand into the corner, forcing Vera to hit a backhand lob long.
{7/7*} Vera sprayed a backhand return long.
{*7/8: Tanasugarn SP #1} Tanasugarn sprayed a forehand wide off a down-the-line backhand from Vera.
{*8/8} Vera hit a big serve onto the service-line + crosscourt backhand winner just inside the sideline.
{9/8*: Vera SP #4} Vera netted a sliced backhand off a deep ball in the corner from Tanasugarn.
{9/9*} Vera sprayed a forehand long & wide.
{*9/10: Tanasugarn SP #2} Vera caught her toss, and then, with a loud grunt, hit an ace out wide.
{*10/10} More grunting from Vera in a long baseline-rally: she hit a backhand wide.
{10/11*: Tanasugarn SP #3} Vera netted a backhand. Tanasugarn won the first set 7-6 (12/10) at 13:13 (1h01m).
ZVONARĖVA *@*@* * 6 TANASUGAR *@* * 4
Tanasugarn serving 0-0: Vera's thunderous crosscourt forehand forced Tanasugarn to hit a forehand wide. 0/15. Vera slipped over and hit a crosscourt backhand wide. 15/15. Vera crosscourt forehand return wide. 30/15. Vera hit a brilliant forehand winner down the line, just inside the sideline. 30/30. Vera forehand return just long. 40/30. Tanasugarn forehand long. 40/40. Tanasugarn netted an off-backhand off a deep ball from Vera. Ad Vera (BP). Tanasugarn spread Vera, her crosscourt forehand forcing Vera to hit a forehand very long. Deuce #2. Tanasugarn ran down a dropshot and hit a crosscourt backhand dropshot-winner. Ad Tanasugarn. Vera blasted a crosscourt backhand wide, and threw her racket.
Vera looked rattled in the middle of that game, and very angry as she dumped her racket by her chair at the change of ends. But not as much emotion as Anna Chakvetadze showed after squandering break-point in the first game of her second set yesterday after winning the first set!
Vera serving 0-1: Vera came to the net, but Tanasugarn pounced on a floater with a forehand smash-pass winner. 0/15. Tanasugarn dead netcord-winner. 0/30. Vera netted a forehand. 0/40. Vera netted a forehand - "no thought, just anger" - and twirled around looking very frustrated.
Tanasugarn serving 2-0: Vera crosscourt backhand wide off a deep ball on the back of the baseline from Tanasugarn. 15/0. Double fault #5 (second serve into the net). 15/15. Vera netted a forehand return and sank to her haunches. 30/15. Double fault #2 (second serve clipped the netcord and fell back on her side). 30/30. Vera netted a forehand return off a clever serve out wide, just inside the sideline. 40/30. Vera netted a forehand.
Tanasugarn nearly let Vera back into the match there with two double faults, but Vera's frustrations continue. She needs to calm down, according to Tracy Austin...
Vera serving 0-3: Vera channelled her anger into a forehand winner down the line. 15/0. Ace down the middle. 30/0. Vera came to the net and hit a forehand smash-winner. 40/0. Tanasugarn netted a forehand off a deep ball from Vera.
...but maybe Vera shouldn't calm down, if she can channel her anger into a game like that!
Tanasugarn serving 3-1: Vera blasted a crosscourt forehand return wide. 15/0. Tanasugarn slipped over as Vera hit an off-forehand return-winner. 15/15. Vera crosscourt forehand netcord return-winner. 15/30. Tanasugarn crosscourt forehand just wide. 15/40. Tanasugarn hit a crosscourt forehand onto the line, but it was called wide. "No, no," said Tanasugarn, as Vera broke back.
Vera serving 2-3: Vera crosscourt forehand + forehand winner down the line. 15/0. Vera blasted an easy down-the-line forehand wide as she failed to turn defence into attack. 15/15. Vera came to the net, but her approach was too weak, and Tanasugarn hit a crosscourt backhand pass at her feet, forcing her to earth a backhand. 15/30. Vera hit a pinpoint backhand winner down the line, and Tanasugarn screamed. 30/30. Vera ran down a dropshot and hit a sharp crosscourt backhand winner. 40/30. Tanasugarn blasted a crosscourt forehand wide.
Tanasugarn serving 3-3: Tanasugarn pounced on a short ball with a crosscourt backhand virtual winner. 15/0. Tanasugarn netted a forehand. 15/15. Vera crosscourt forehand winner. 15/30. Vera off-forehand return wide. 30/30. Tanasugarn's forehand clipped the netcord and fell back on her side. 30/40 (BP #1). Vera slipped over in the middle of the baseline as Tanasugarn hit a wrong-footing off-forehand winner. 40/40. Vera down-the-line forehand into the tramlines. Ad Tanasugarn. She ran down a dropshot but netted a forehand - it was a terrific sidespin-dropshot from Vera. Deuce #2. Tanasugarn hit a penetrating off-forehand, forcing Vera to bunt back a very short, one-handed backhand; Tanasugarn hit a delicate off-forehand dropshot onto the sideline; Vera ran it down and made an unbelievable get to hit a backhand lob-winner over Tanasugarn's outstretched racket!! Tracy Austin: "Unbelievable get from Zvonarėva!" Simon Reed: "What an athlete! She had to lift it up almost vertically!" Ad Vera (BP #2). Vera down-the-line backhand into the tramlines. Deuce #3. Vera forehand just long. Ad Tanasugarn. She netted a forehand. Deuce #4. Vera came to the net, and got away with leaving a huge gap as Tanasugarn hit a forehand pass long. Ad Vera (BP #3). Vera crosscourt forehand just wide. Deuce #5. Tanasugarn netted a backhand. Ad Vera (BP #4). Tanasugarn netted a backhand to gift-wrap Vera's long-awaited break.
Simon Reed: "I saw a couple of Tanasugarn's matches at 's-Hertogenbosch, but they weren't as intense as this. She's not as fit as she was."
The trainer came on for Tanasugarn, who lay on her back while the trainer flexed her right knee, then lay on her front while the trainer massaged the back of her right thigh - possibly an injury sustained by her fall at *3-1 (15/0), which she hasn't won a game since. Then Tanasugarn stood up while the trainer sprayed and strapped her right thigh.
Vera serving 4-3: Ace down the middle. 15/0. Tanasugarn came to the net, forcing Vera to hit a down-the-line forehand pass wide. 15/15. Tanasugarn forehand long. 30/15. Service-winner out wide - "easy power" [Simon Reed]. 40/15. Vera spread Tanasugarn with a crosscourt backhand just inside the sideline + backhand dropshot down the line; a groaning Tanasugarn ran outside the tramlines after hitting a short, weak forehand; Vera ran it down and bunted a one-handed backhand winner into the wide-open court.
Vera seems a lot calmer after all that time with her head in her towel during Tanasugarn's MTO.
Tanasugarn serving 3-5: Double fault (second serve long). 0/15. Vera hit a backhand winner down the line, and Tanasugarn slipped again in the middle of the baseline - this time with a painful "ah". 0/30. Vera crosscourt forehand wide. 15/30. Tanasugarn forced a floater from Vera, who almost retrieved her forehand smash with a forehand skyscraper-lob just wide. 30/30. Tanasugarn spread Vera, forcing her to net a one-handed backhand. 40/30. Service-winner out wide (100mph).
Vera serving 5-4: Tanasugarn netted a forehand return. 15/0. Service-winner out wide, and another painful groan from Tanasugarn. 30/0. Tanasugarn netted a backhand. 40/0 (SP #1). Tanasugarn ran down a dropshot with Vera at the net, and hit a forehand pass-winner down the line. 40/15 (SP #2). Ace #5: down the middle, just inside the service-line. Vera won the second set 6-4 at 14:08 (second set 55m, match so far 1h56m).
Tanasugarn took a bathroom-break, much to the commentators' annoyance, but my own bladder was grateful to her for that! ;-) Vera used the time to deruck her socks.
ZVONARĖVA * * * 3 TANASUGAR *@* * * * 6
Tanasugarn serving 0-0: Tanasugarn sprayed a crosscourt forehand wide. 0/15. Tanasugarn off-forehand smash-winner. 15/15. Tanasugarn ran down a dropshot but hit a forehand long - the sidespin made the difference for Vera. 15/30. Serve + off-backhand winner onto the sideline off an awkward low-bouncing return. 30/30. Tanasugarn on the third stroke hit a searing forehand down the line, forcing Vera to lunge and bunt a backhand wide of the tramlines. 40/30. Serve out wide + pinpoint backhand winner down the line: on the sideline.
A bit disappointing that Vera didn't get the break there, now that she has the momentum and had 15/30. But I like her chances in this final set, with Tanasugarn's fitness being suspect.
Vera serving 0-1: Great rally: Vera spread Tanasugarn with a crosscourt forehand + crosscourt backhand onto the sideline, forcing Tanasugarn outside the tramlines to hit a short backhand; Vera came to the net behind a mishit backhand that sat up nicely for Tanasugarn to run it down and hit a forehand; Vera hit a crosscourt backhand drop-volley, but Tanasugarn retrieved it with a flick of a one-handed backhand crosscourt, and as Tanasugarn moved to cover Vera's backhand pass down the line, Vera put it wide. Tanasugarn lay down on the court for a few seconds. Tracy Austin: "Gosh, that was awesome: the last four shots, they were just digging up from the grass." 0/15. Vera sprayed a wild backhand very long. 0/30. Tanasugarn forehand long. 15/30. Tanasugarn hit an error-forcing backhand down the line. 15/40. Tanasugarn ran down a dropshot and hit a crosscourt forehand winner.
Now I don't like the look of this. Tanasugarn's suddenly looking much more dynamic.
Tanasugarn serving 2-0 (new balls): Vera smiled, but netted an off-backhand return off a body-jamming 80mph serve. 15/0. Serve + crosscourt forehand winner on the sideline. 30/0. Tanasugarn went for a backhand winner down the line, but it was just wide. 30/15. Body-jamming serve forced Vera to net a backhand return that would also have been wide. 40/15. Vera netted a backhand.
It's now pouring with rain outside my living-room, but no rain-delays so far this Wimbledon.
Vera serving 0-3: Tanasugarn off-backhand winner on the fourth stroke. 0/15. Vera hit a short sliced backhand with vicious sidespin: Tanasugarn's forehand clipped the netcord and fell back on her side. 15/15. Tanasugarn blasted a crosscourt forehand would-be winner just wide. 30/15. Vera hit a down-the-line forehand into the tramlines off a deep return. 30/30. Vera scared me with a crosscourt backhand onto the baseline, but it was in and forced Tanasugarn to bunt a backhand half-volley wide. 40/30. Tanasugarn hit a crosscourt forehand long, and pointed down the line where she should have hit it.
A precarious lead for Tanasugarn - she has reached it by going for broke in this set, knowing that her fitness is limited.
Tanasugarn serving 1-3: Vera backhand long. 15/0. Tanasugarn went for a backhand winner down the line, but it was just wide. "No, no, no," said Tanasugarn, shaking her head, pointing, and walking towards the umpire. 15/15. Tanasugarn netted a forehand after slipping over and getting up again. 15/30. Vera down-the-line backhand into the tramlines. 30/30. Tanasugarn backhand winner down the line: on the baseline. Vera hit her head with her racket three times. 40/30. A meaty rally culminated in an exchange of dropshots, and Tanasugarn leaving the court wide open for Vera's forehand pass-winner down the line. 40/40. Vera down-the-line forehand into the tramlines. Ad Tanasugarn. A deep down-the-line backhand onto the baseline forced Vera to hit a crosscourt forehand wide. She threw her racket and looked petulant on her way to the changeover.
Vera still shows so many negative emotions, but no tears any more.
It's now quite windy.
Vera serving 1-4: Vera's sliced forehand smash from the baseline forced Tanasugarn to hit a forehand long. Tanasugarn reacted with a smile and a cute little squeal. 15/0. Service-winner out wide: backhand return just long. 30/0. Serve out wide + crosscourt backhand virtual winner. 40/0. A great rally culminated with Vera coming to the net behind a deep sliced forehand onto the baseline; Tanasugarn hit a backhand lob; Vera, running backwards, hit a super off-forehand smash-winner.
Brilliant game by Vera. She could still turn this match around.
Tanasugarn serving 4-2: A meaty rally ended with a Tanasugarn crosscourt forehand winner onto the sideline. 15/0. After a long rally with excellent retrieving from Vera, Tanasugarn netted a crazy forehand dropshot from the baseline. 15/15. Tanasugarn forced a floater from Vera, and hit a forehand smash-winner. 30/15. Tanasugarn's off-forehand forced Vera to hit a one-handed backhand wide. Vera screamed and looked very upset, muttering and waving her hands. 40/15. Tanasugarn sprayed a wild forehand very long, and muttered. 40/30. Vera down-the-line backhand long.
Vera serving 2-5: Tanasugarn netted an off-backhand. 15/0. Vera came to the net, but Tanasugarn hit a crosscourt forehand pass-winner, accompanied by a loud scream. 15/15. Vera forehand just long. She whacked a ball in anger, and narrowly missed out on a double-kill combo as it almost hit both Tanasugarn and the centre-line judge behind Tanasugarn. 15/30. Vera came to the net, a deep backhand approach forcing Tanasugarn to net a forehand. Tracy Austin: "Good footwork: lots of little steps to get ready for that last backhand. You can actually hear them on the grass: that's when you know she's really moving her feet." 30/30. Vera pounced on a short ball with a crosscourt forehand winner onto the junction of sideline and baseline! 40/30. Vera dictated the point with great placement: a down-the-line forehand right in the corner + deep backhand down the other line, forcing Tanasugarn to net a forehand.
Tanasugarn serving 5-3: First serve: backhand return just long. 15/0. Tanasugarn netted a backhand. 15/15. Tanasugarn dumped a backhand into the net. 15/30. Vera backhand just long. 30/30. Vera crosscourt forehand wide. 40/30 (MP #1). Tanasugarn forehand very long. 40/40. Tanasugarn forced Vera to hit a defensive backhand lob long. Ad Tanasugarn (MP #2). Tanasugarn backhand just long. Deuce #2. Tanasugarn's pinpoint down-the-line backhand forced Vera to hit a forehand lob wide. Ad Tanasugarn (MP #3). Vera forehand just long. Tanasugarn won 7-6 (10/8) 4-6 6-3 at 14:53 (third set 45m, match 2h41m).
Vera had a W:UE ratio of 37:26, which was much better than Tanasugarn's 25:31! Vera won the first set despite a superior W:UE ratio of 18:12 to Tanasugarn's 9:11, but Vera was weak in the third set with 4:5 to Tanasugarn's 10:11.
Vera served 5 aces and one double fault, Tanasugarn 7 double faults (4 in the first set, 3 in the second) and no aces.
Vera got 72% of first serves in, winning 66% of the points when she did so (including an impressive 82% for the second set), and 56% on second serve. In the third set, her first-serve percentages dipped to 62% (both in and won).
All three of the corresponding percentages for Tanasugarn were inferior: 66%, 65% and 47%. But they were at their highest in the third set: 77%, 70% and 50%.
The big difference was in the BP conversion-rate. They broke 4 times each, but Vera would be very disappointed that she only converted 4 of 11, while Tanasugarn converted a perfect 4 of 4. It does prey on a player's mind when so many opportunities go begging.
Vera won the second set by 2 breaks to 1, but didn't have any BPs in the third set, which Tanasugarn won by a single break in the second game.
Vera served much faster than Tanasugarn: fastest 112-104 mph, average first serve 105-88 mph, average second serve 87-75 mph. Tanasugarn's service-speeds were slow even for a woman.
Vera won 13 of 19 points at the net, Tanasugarn 11 of 17 (there was a significant increase in net-play by both players from the first set to the second). There was no serve & volley from either player.
In points, it was Vera who won: 108-106 (first set 46-45, second set 37-30, third set 25-31).
Tanasugarn topples Zvonarėva
Written by Ian Baker (www.wimbledon.org)
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The evergreen Tamarine Tanasugarn shocked 13th seed Vera Zvonarėva to progress to the third round. Tanasugarn, in the form of her life, won the marathon-match 7-6 (12/10) 4-6 6-3, despite a hamstring-injury picked up during the second set.
The Thai's win was her ninth consecutive on grass, in a run that included winning the Ordina Open in Holland last week. Tanasugarn was a finalist in the Wimbledon Girls' Singles tournament in 1995, and has been a consistent performer at the All-England Club ever since, reaching the fourth round six times.
She started the game well, breaking Zvonarėva's powerful serve in the first game of the match. She broke again to take a 4-1 first-set lead, thanks to some excellent forehand winners. But the Russian - a winner in the ladies' doubles in 2006 with Nathalie Dechy* - hit back to force the set into a tiebreak. The tiebreak went one way and then the other as both players played tremendous tennis. Tanasugarn eventually took it 12/10.
The Thai started the second set just as she did the first. The world No.60 went 3-0 up, but once again, Zvonarėva hit back. After levelling the set at 3-3, Zvonarėva broke again in a lengthy seventh game. The second set saw a drop in quality as both players struggled with their games - not helped by the heat and the gruelling nature of the match. Tanasugarn called for the trainer for treatment on a hamstring-injury, but was able to continue with heavy strapping.
Zvonarėva closed out the set 6-4, but once again, Tanasugarn came roaring back, taking a 3-0 lead at the start of the final set. The game became tenser, but the experienced 31-year-old Tanasugarn kept her composure better than her opponent - eight years her junior - to win the match in just over two and a half hours.
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* Vera won the Wimbledon 2006 Mixed Doubles with Andy Ram, and the US Open 2006 Women's Doubles with Dechy.
Matches of the tournament
Sunday 6th July 2008
Written by AELTC staff for www.wimbledon.org
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Ian Baker: Tamarine Tanasugarn d. Vera Zvonarėva 7-6 (10/8) 4-6 6-3
Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn always seems to be an unsung hero at the Championships. But she got the credit she deserved this year with an amazing run to the quarter-finals. Tanasugarn was in the form of her life at SW19, after winning the Ordina Open in Holland a week before the Championships.
The evergreen 31-year-old took on up-and-coming Russian Vera Zvonarėva in round two, in a fine game of tennis. Tanasugarn took the first set 10/8 on a tie-break, but looked dead and buried following treatment on a hamstring-injury after Zvonarėva had taken the second set. But Tanasugarn recovered to win the third set and knock out the No.13 seed in 2½ hours of top-quality entertainment.
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