Vaidisova ends Mauresmo's reign
LONDON: Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova proved she has grit as well as glamor when she sent defending champion Amelie Mauresmo spinning out of Wimbledon yesterday.
Vaidisova won their rain-interrupted fourth round clash 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 6-1 to reach her first All England Club quarter-final to follow runs to the semi-finals in the Australian Open and last eight at the French Open this year.
As the 18-year-old was celebrating a major Centre Court shock, former US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova was cruising past Austrian 16-year-old Tamira Paszek 6-3, 6-2.
Vaidisova, whose blonde good looks have opened up a host of lucrative off-court avenues, will take on either Serbian sixth seed Ana Ivanovic or Russian 11th seed Nadia Petrova for a semifinal spot.
That match was one of three remaining fourth round matches yet to be completed yesterday, the traditional women's quarterfinals day, on another rain-sodden afternoon at the championships.
Serbian third seed Jelena Jankovic was in a final set decider against France's Marion Bartoli as was Ivanovic who was serving for the match at 5-4 in the final set against Petrova when rain caused a fourth suspension of the day.
Venus Williams, the three-time champion, was scheduled to face 2004 winner, and second seed, Maria Sharapova later yesterday with the winner of that tie to face Kuznetsova for a semifinal place.
Kuznetsova, who has reached a third Wimbledon quarter-final, says she is playing the best grasscourt tennis of her career and does not fear either Williams or Sharapova.
"They've been number ones and they both won Wimbledon," said the Russian.
"They play very good on grass. But I beat Maria a few years ago on grass court.
"I would never say I don't have chances. I have lots of chances, but I still have to perform well and play good game.
"I'm happy with my performance because I started playing not so good in my first match and now I'm playing better than ever I played in this tournament.
"I've always enjoyed the game on grass and now I am loving it."
If the women's fourth round was completed on Tuesday, then the quarterfinals will take place today with top seed Justine Henin taking on Serena Williams.
Dutch 31st seed Michaella Krajicek, who has reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, will play either Jankovic or Bartoli.
But heavy rain returned to plague Wimbledon for the fifth day out of seven yesterday as bookmakers slashed the odds on the 2007 tournament being forced into a third week.
Meanwhile, British bookmakers were cutting odds on the tournament being stretched into a third week.
Ladbrokes were offering just 2/1 that the Grand Slam rolls on into next week.
David Williams of Ladbrokes said: "We're praying that the rain stops pouring. Not only will it breathe some life back into the betting but also because we stand to lose a fortune on a delayed finish.
"We're watching the weather forecasts just as much as we're watching the tennis. It's beginning to look grim for us."
More rain was expected later yesterday as well as Wednesday although forecasters say that there should be bright sunshine from Thursday to Sunday.
AFP
(China Daily 07/04/2007 page24)
