Harrod's Chamionship

Tournament Schedule:

Monday: Off

Tuesday: Off

Wednesday: Singles R16

Thursday: Doubles First Round

Friday: Singles Quarter-Finals

Saturday: Singles Semi-Finals; Doubles Semi-Finals (if necessary)

Sunday: Singles Final; Doubles Final

Jelena Dokic (YUG) vs. Daja Bedanova (CZE)

First Set, Bedanova to Serve:
0-1 Bedanova
0-2 Bedanova
0-3 Bedanova
1-3 Bedanova
2-3 Bedanova
3-3
4-3 Dokic
4-4
4-5 Bedanova
Game and First Set: Daja Bedanova

Daja Bedanova (CZE) leads Jelena Dokic (YUG) 6-4

Second Set, Bedanova to Serve:
0-1 Bedanova
0-2 Bedanova
1-2 Bedanova
2-2
3-2 Dokic
4-2 Dokic
5-2 Dokic
Game and Second Set: Jelena Dokic

Daja Bedanova (CZE) tied with Jelena Dokic (YUG) 6-4; 2-6

Third and Final Set, Bedanova to Serve:
1-0 Dokic
2-0 Dokic
3-0 Dokic
3-1 Dokic
4-1 Dokic
4-2 Dokic
4-3 Dokic
4-4
4-5 Bedanova
Game, Set, and Match: Daja Bedanova

Daja Bedanova (CZE) def. Jelena Dokic (YUG) 6-4; 2-6; 6-4

Daja played like 90% of all other newcomers. She tried to mix up her play, but seemed very afraid to go after her shots and use power. Thus she would try to go for winners, but she didn't hit very hard, and retreated at her very first mistake back into the all day retrieving mode. Jelena, being a relative veteran on the tour, should have known this, and just dominated play with her big serve and groundstrokes, but instead the Yugoslavian hit incredible winners for several games each set, then merely tapped balls back in play waiting for Daja to miss. Jelena's variety game has gone down the tubes, and must be improved immediately. As does her power game. She needs to learn that when she decides to try and overpower an opponent (as she did in the third set), she can't hold back at all (like she did), or else she gives newcomers like Bedanova the opportunity to get comfortable with their power, play one or two good aggressive games, and walk away the victor (as happened). Had Jelena gone after her shots without holding back, there is no question in my mind that she would have won.

Alicia Molik (AUS) vs. Maria Sharapova (RUS)

First Set, Molik to Serve:
1-0 Molik
2-0 Molik
3-0 Molik
3-1 Molik
3-2 Molik
3-3
3-4 Sharapova
3-5 Sharapova
Game and First Set: Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova (RUS) leads Alicia Molik (AUS) 6-3

Second Set, Sharapova to Serve:
1-0 Molik
2-0 Molik
3-0 Molik
3-1 Molik
3-2 Molik
3-3
3-4 Sharapova
3-5 Sharapova
Game and First Set: Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova (RUS) def. Alicia Molik (AUS) 6-3; 6-3

It was clear that Alicia was planning on hitting side to side with depth and penetration--moving Sharapova around til the Russian made a mistake or gave Molik a short ball to work with. The Australian wasn't being particularly aggressive, and wasn't looking to hit winners, but was taking enough calculated risks to stay in a point and prevent Maria from attacking. Unfortunately, Sharapova was hitting too damn hard for Alicia's strategy to work. Maria was controlling the point from the beginning, and was rising to Alicia's challenge to hit winners on the run corner to corner. True, she got off to rather slow starts in each set, but once she found her range, she was lethal.

Venus Williams (USA) vs. Ashley Harkleroad (USA)

First Set, Williams to Serve:
1-0 Williams
2-0 Williams
3-0 Williams
4-0 Williams
5-0 Williams
Game and First Set: Venus Williams

Venus Williams (USA) leads Ashley Harkleroad (USA) 6-0

Second Set, Williams to Serve:
1-0 Williams
2-0 Williams
3-0 Williams
4-0 Williams
5-0 Williams
Game, Set, and Match: Venus Williams

Venus Williams (USA) def. Ashley Harkleroad (USA) 6-0; 6-0

Venus is getting really hot. She fixed all the quirks that were in her game from last week, and got really aggressive really fast. She was consistently serving in or near the 120s (average speed through the match: 116MPH, fastest: 126MPH), she was blasting her returns, and following every shot into the net. In the first set, Ashley didn't even make a move to do anything, and was just playing straight defense all set long. In the second, she tried to be aggressive, and served a little bigger, but she was no match against the grass loving Williams. Venus needs to be careful though. Her game should work well at this level (just to be sure she should do her homework before her matches), but at Wimbledon, she won't be able to get away with just hitting all power all the time. She will have to do more scouting, and really cook up a gameplan if she wants to threaten for the title.

Vera Zvonareva (RUS) vs. Chanda Rubin (THA)

First Set, Zvonareva to Serve:
0-1 Rubin
0-2 Rubin
1-2 Rubin
1-3 Rubin
2-3 Rubin
3-3 (CT)
4-3 Zvonareva
4-4
5-4 Zvonareva
Game and First Set: Vera Zvonareva

Vera Zvonareva (RUS) leads Chanda Rubin (THA) 6-4

Second Set, Zvonareva to Serve:
0-1 Rubin
0-2 Rubin
0-3 Rubin
0-4 Rubin
1-4 Rubin
2-4 Rubin
2-5 Rubin
3-5 Rubin (CT)
4-5 Rubin
5-5
6-5 Zvonareva
Game, Set, and Match: Vera Zvonareva

Vera Zvonareva (RUS) def. Chanda Rubin (THA) 6-4; 7-5

A very solid performance from Vera. She is a world class retriever, and is very fast and solid off every wing, but she also showed that she can bang a few winners here and there to throw her opponent off guard. That really helped because though she played a variety, crafy game in the first, Rubin went all out on the offensive in the second, and Vera was right there to seize her opportunity and play a very good power game to start the beginning of the end (hint to Vera: when you go all out on your strokes, put a few more points in that game to make it even more potent ).

Karolina Sprem (CRO) vs. Natasha Zvereva

First Set, Zvereva to Serve:
0-1 Zvereva
0-2 Zvereva
0-3 Zvereva
0-4 Zvereva
0-5 Zvereva
Game and First Set: Natasha Zvereva

Natasha Zvereva (RUS) leads Karolina Sprem (CRO) 6-0

Second Set, Zvereva to Serve:
0-1 Zvereva
1-1
2-1 Sprem
2-2
2-3 Zvereva
3-3
4-3 Sprem
4-4
4-5 Zvereva
Game, Set, and Match: Natasha Zvereva

Natasha Zvereva (RUS) def. Karolina Sprem (CRO) 6-0; 6-4

And Sprem's struggles since her Barcelona breakthrough continue. She has really gotten too defensive. Wheras on the clay she took a few more risks and displayed some power, on the grass, where such play would be even more rewarded, she has pulled back and now seems content to just retrieve balls all day long. Zvereva was totally aggressive, and just dominated play from the getgo.

Lindsay Davenport (USA) vs. Steffi Graf (GER)

First Set, Graf to Serve:
0-1 Graf
0-2 Graf
1-2 Graf
2-2
3-2 Davenport
3-3
3-4 Graf (CT)
4-4
5-4 Davenport
Game and First Set: Lindsay Davenport

Lindsay Davenport (USA) leads Steffi Graf (GER) 6-4

Second Set, Graf to Serve:
0-1 Graf
0-2 Graf
1-2 Graf
2-2
3-2 Davenport
3-3
4-3 Davenport
4-4
5-4 Davenport
Game and First Set: Lindsay Davenport

Lindsay Davenport (USA) def. Steffi Graf (GER) 6-4; 6-4

Both players were very powerful, and hit many winners, but Lindsay was more aggressive than the German, and didn't have nearly as much meaningless margin for error. She didn't hold back at all.

Meghan Shaughnessy (USA) vs. Anastasia Myskina (RUS)

First Set, Shaughnessy to Serve:
0-1 Myskina
0-2 Myskina (CT)
1-2 Myskina
2-2
3-2 Shaughnessy (CT)
3-3
3-4 Myskina
4-4 (CT)
5-4 Shaughnessy
Game and First Set: Meghan Shaughnessy

Meghan Shaughnessy (USA) leads Anastasia Myskina (RUS) 6-4

First Set, Shaughnessy to Serve:
0-1 Myskina
0-2 Myskina (CT)
1-2 Myskina
2-2
3-2 Shaughnessy (CT)
3-3
3-4 Myskina
4-4 (CT)
5-4 Shaughnessy
Game, Set, and Match: Meghan Shaughnessy

Meghan Shaughnessy (USA) def. Anastasia Myskina (RUS) 6-4; 6-4

WOW! With Jelena AND Natsya out, this draw has suddenly become a mega MEGA opportunity for a very low ranked player to win a title. Natsya just had a brain freeze, and came out trying to mix up her plays and disrupt Meghan's rhythm even though all scouting reports pointed towards a very very defensive, speedy player that took 0 risks and just grinded things out until her opponent made errors. That is exactly how the American played today, and she frustrated Natsya into going after too fancy a shot.

Daja Bedanova (CZE) vs. Maria Sharapova (RUS)

First Set, Sharapova to Serve:
1-0 Bedanova
2-0 Bedanova
3-0 Bedanova
4-0 Bedanova
4-1 Bedanova
4-2 Bedanova
4-3 Bedanova
4-4
4-5 Sharapova
5-5
6-5 Bedanova
Game and First Set: Daja Bedanova

Daja Bedanova (CZE) leads Maria Sharapova (RUS) 7-5

Second Set, Sharapova to Serve:
1-0 Bedanova
2-0 Bedanova
3-0 Bedanova
4-0 Bedanova
4-1 Bedanova
4-2 Bedanova
4-3 Bedanova
4-4
4-5 Sharapova
5-5
6-5 Bedanova
Game, Set, and Match: Daja Bedanova

Daja Bedanova (CZE) def. Maria Sharapova (RUS) 7-5; 7-5

Neither player did any sort of scouting, or came up with a specific strategy to play this match. Maria just kept hitting away, and Daja kept on mixing her strategy. It was the Chech's consistency and ability to frustrate Maria and capitalize on her many UFEs that won her the match. She still isn't aggressive enough in her power games, and probably wouldn't bother power playres that are comfortable on grass, but Sharapova was inconsistent enough to give Daja the chance that she needed to win.

Venus Williams (USA) vs. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)

First Set, Williams to Serve:
1-0 Williams
2-0 Williams
3-0 Williams
4-0 Williams
4-1 Williams
4-2 Williams
4-3 Williams
4-4
4-5 Zvonareva
Game and First Set: Vera Zvonareva

Vera Zvonareva (RUS) leads Venus Williams (USA) 6-4

Second Set, Williams to Serve:
0-1 Zvonareva (CT)
0-2 Zvonareva
1-2 Zvonareva
2-2
3-2 Williams
3-3
3-4 Zvonareva
3-5 Zvonareva
Game, Set, and Match: Vera Zvonareva

Vera Zvonareva (RUS) def. Venus Williams (USA) 6-4; 6-3

Venus kept at her one-dimensional power game, and Vera knew that if she mixed it up and stayed with Venus for the first couple of games, the American would eventually self destruct with errors and Vera would clinch the victory. This happened perfectly for the Russian. Her slices and moonballs confused Venus, and made the American hit a few extra tough shots in each rally. The errors eventually paid off, as Zvonareva has the shot of her life to win her first career title.

Natasha Zvereva (BLR) vs. Anna Smashnova

First Set, Zvereva to Serve:
0-1 Smashnova
1-1
2-1 Zvereva
3-1 Zvereva
3-2 Zvereva
4-2 Zvereva
5-2 Zvereva
5-3 Zvereva
5-4 Zvereva
5-5
5-6 Smashnova
Game and First Set: Anna Smashnova

Anna Smashnova (ISR) leads Natasha Zvereva (BLR) 7-5

Second Set, Zvereva to Serve:
1-0 Zvereva
1-1
1-2 Smashnova
1-3 Smashnova
2-3 Smashnova
2-4 Smashnova
2-5 Smashnova
Game, Set, and Match: Anna Smashnova

Anna Smashnova (ISR) def. Natasha Zvereva (BLR) 7-5; 6-2

Natasha went for broke on her shots, but Anna anticipated this from her scouting reports. To counter this, she ran down alot of balls, and made sure Zvereva didn't see the same shot twice in a row. She'd slice the ball, carve out a dropshot, hit a moonball here, and a sharp angle there, then blast the ball to the corner out of the blue. Natasha couldn't keep up, and got so frustrated she began over-hitting, thus giving the Israeli the UFEs she wanted.

Lindsay Davenport (USA) vs. Meghan Shaughnessy (USA)

First Set, Shaughnessy to Serve:
0-1 Shaughnessy
1-1
2-1 Davenport
3-1 Davenport
3-2 Davenport
3-3
3-4 Shaughnessy
4-4
5-4 Davenport
5-5
5-6 Shaughnessy
Game and First Set: Meghan Shaughnessy

Meghan Shaughnessy (USA) leads Lindsay Davenport (USA) 7-5

Second Set, Shaughnessy to Serve:
0-1 Shaughenssy
1-1
2-1 Davenport
3-1 Davenport
3-2 Davenport
4-2 Davenport
4-3 Davenport
5-3 Davenport
5-4 Davenport
5-5
5-6 Shaughnessy
Game, Set, and Match: Meghan Shaughnessy

Meghan Shaughnessy (USA) def.Lindsay Davenport (USA) 7-5; 7-5

Lindsay had the right idea (she was aggressive and went all out on her strokes), but she just didn't have enough power games (only 5) to really win a match. Meghan gets every ball back, and gives you no freebies. You really have to hit winners against her, and go for broke.

Daja Bedanova (CZE) vs. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)

First Set, Zvonareva to Serve:
1-0 Bedanova
2-0 Bedanova
3-0 Bedanova
4-0 Bedanova
4-1 Bedanova
4-2 Bedanova
4-3 Bedanova
5-3 Bedanova
5-4 Bedanova
5-5 (CT)
5-6 Zvonareva
Game and First Set: Vera Zvonareva

Vera Zvonareva (RUS) leads Daja Bedanova (CZE) 7-5

Second Set, Zvonareva to Serve:
0-1 Zvonareva
0-2 Zvonareva
1-2 Zvonareva
2-2
3-2 Bedanova
3-3
4-3 Bedanova
5-3 Bedanova
5-4 Bedanova
Game and Second Set: Daja Bedanova

Vera Zvonareva (RUS) tied with Daja Bedanova (CZE) 7-5; 4-6

Third and Final Set, Zvonareva to Serve:
1-0 Bedanova
2-0 Bedanova
2-1 Bedanova
2-2
3-2 Bedanova
4-2 Bedanova
5-2 Bedanova
5-3 Bedanova
5-4 Bedanova
Game, Set, and Match: Daja Bedanova

Daja Bedanova (CZE) def. Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 5-7; 6-4; 6-4

In the first set, Vera got off to a slow start, but then stormed back with a string of high quality, aggressive games, and finished off the set. In the second and third sets, she really mixed up her play and showed alot of variety. Daja played this way throughout the set (though once again I recommed that she gets more pop when she goes for her shots). The difference was that Vera produced more power, but Daja made less errors, and could run down more balls.

Anna Smashnova vs. Meghan Shaughnessy (USA)

First Set, Smashnova to Serve:
1-0 Smashnova
2-0 Smashnova
3-0 Smashnova
3-1 Smashnova
3-2 Smashnova
3-3
4-3 Smashnova
5-3 Smashnova
Game and First Set: Anna Smashnova

Anna Smashnova leads Meghan Shaughnessy (USA) 6-3

Second Set, Shaughnessy to Serve:
0-1 Shaughnessy
1-1
2-1 Smashnova
2-2
3-2 Smashnova
4-2 Smashnova
4-3 Smashnova
5-3 Smashnova
Game, Set, and Match: Anna Smashnova

Anna Smashnova def. Meghan Shaughnessy (USA) 6-3; 6-3

Meghan tried to run down every ball and merely loop it back with no purpose. Anna hit the ball side to side until Meghan gave her a short ball to hit for a safe winner. Anna now has a great chance to win her first career title against the newcomer Chech Bedanova...

Daja Bedanova (CZE) vs. Anna Smashnova (ISR)

First Set, Bedanova to Serve:
1-0 Bedanova
2-0 Bedanova
2-1 Bedanova
3-1 Bedanova
3-2 Bedanova
4-2 Bedanova
5-2 Bedanova
5-3 Bedanova (CT)
5-4 Bedanova
Game and First Set: Daja Bedanova

Daja Bedanova (CZE) leads Anna Smashnova (ISR) 6-4

Second Set, Bedanova to Serve:
0-1 Smashnova
0-2 Smashnova
1-2 Smashnova
2-2
2-3 Smashnova
3-3
4-3 Bedanova
5-3 Bedanova
5-4 Bedanova
5-5
5-6 Smashnova
6-6

TIEBREAK--Bedanova to Serve:
1-0 Bedanova
1-1
1-2 Smashnova
1-3
2-3
2-4
2-5
3-5
4-5
5-5
6-5 (Matchpoint: Bedanova)
6-6
7-6 (Matchpoint #2: Bedanova)
7-7
7-8 (Setpoint: Smashnova)
8-8
8-9 (Setpoint #2: Smashnova)
Game and Second Set: Anna Smashnova

Daja Bedanova (CZE) tie with Anna Smashnova (ISR) 6-4; 6-7(8)

Third and Final Set, Smashnova to Serve:
1-0 Smashnova
2-0 Smashnova
3-0 Smashnova
3-1 Smashnova
3-2 Smashnova
3-3
4-3 Smashnova
5-3 Smashnova
Game, Set, Match, and Championship: Anna Smashnova

Anna Smashnova (ISR) def. Daja Bedanova (CZE) 4-6; 7-6(8); 6-3

A very unclean match from Anna, but she hung in there, and was eventually able to pull through for her first tournament title of her career. Daja continued to mix things up. She served and volleyed a few times, but she never really got comfortable with being the aggressor, and always looked the most comfortable retrieving balls. She clearly isn't as fast as some other players (as she devotes some of her energy into being a bit aggressive), but she still looked most comfortable playing that style. Anna hit the ball side to side, and really tested Daja's retrieving capabilities. She was eventually able to capitalize on enough short balls to save the matchpoints and win the third set.