The Hindu : Sport : Vaidisova stuns Mauresmo, makes quarterfinals

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Wednesday, Jul 04, 2007
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Vaidisova stuns Mauresmo, makes quarterfinals

Nirmal Shekar

Serena Williams battles past Daniela Hantuchova; Sania-Peer in pre-quarterfinals

— PHOTO: AFP

TOUGH CUSTOMER: Nicole Vaidisova’s greatest asset is her strength of mind, which she put to optimum use against Amelie Mauresmo.

London: You’d think this is a young woman who’d be stumped for choice. A 6ft 1in stately blonde armed with a serve that sends shivers down an opponent’s spine and a smile that can light up the dankest of days on the Centre Court, claiming temporary ownership to every pair of eyes, Nicole Vaidisova might, you’d think, have more than one career option.

But the 18-year old Czech is likely to politely refuse even if she got a can’t-say-no-to offer from Donatella Versace to follow the long line of super-rich supermodels from her country to the catwalks; for, Vaidisova would much rather follow in the giant footsteps of Martina Navratilova, Hana Mandlikova and Jana Novotna.

Famous conquest

What is more, if Vaidisova uses Tuesday’s famous conquest — she beat the defending champion Amelie Mauresmo 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-1 in the fourth round of the 121st Wimbledon championships — as a springboard and makes her way to the top, she can surely give Maria Sharapova a run for her endorsement millions.

On yet another frustrating day when umbrellas went up as often as the ball from a serving player’s hand, Vaidisova beat the third spell of rains by a few seconds as she quelled the fourth seed’s mid-match fightback and then raced to the finish.

A semifinalist at the French Open last year and at the Australian Open earlier this year — she was beaten by the eventual champion Serena Williams in a close match — Vaidisova will be playing in her first ever Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Mauresmo was strangely subdued in the final set after losing serve in the second game. By then, of course, the juices were flowing in her younger opponent and Vaidisova was simply irresistible as she found a second break and then nervelessly served out the match.

Uninhibited strokeplay

It was a match that featured some of the most uninhibited shotmaking witnessed in women’s championship so far this fortnight. When she is on song, Mauresmo is an aesthete’s delight. Although she appeared drained of energy in the decider, the Frenchwoman was still wonderfully competitive for two sets.

Vaidisova’s greatest asset — as was Sharapova’s when she was in her teens — is her strength of mind.

This is a young woman who doesn’t let her opponent’s status or accomplishments get to her.

Mauresmo hit 13 aces in the match but it was Vaidisova’s serve that was far more effective. And, from the back of the court, the Czech teenager swung at everything with tremendous power and an admirable mastery of angles.

“I am not thinking of winning the title. I am just looking forward to my next match,” said Vaidisova.

A little later, on the No.1 court, Marion Bartoli of France staged a commendable comeback to beat the third seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Dramatic victory

Late on Monday evening, amidst the ever-present threat of further rain, Serena Williams made light of an injury scare to beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-2 with a performance that the former champion described as one of the “gutsiest” of her career.

When Serena lay crumpled on the turf behind the baseline late in the second set fighting off pain and tears after being hit by muscle spasm in her left calf, few might have anticipated the happy ending for the seventh seed.

But a long rain delay midway in the second set tiebreak helped the Australian Open champion to attend to her injury and she came back suitably reinvigorated and hungry as ever.

“I was definitely saved by the rain,” said Serena. “I thought about not finishing today. But only briefly.” Coming back on court in her tracksuit bottoms to keep her calf muscles warm, Serena lost the second set tiebreak but was right on top in the third.

There was a bit of drama too as Serena and the chair umpire Kader Nouni had a running argument about the player’s request for a bathroom break.

Obviously, Serena did not know the rules, for such a request can be made only at the end of an opponent’s service game. Was she resorting to gamesmanship? It is hard to say. But a player as experienced as Serena would be expected to know the rules.

It is never easy to play an injured opponent, not the least one who’s had the opportunity to take a break and come back refreshed. But Serena’s amiable Slovakian opponent did her best.

‘Nothing wrong’

“I don’t think there was anything wrong with her in the third set,” said Hantuchova. “I don’t think there can be too much wrong when you serve at 120mph.”

Sania Mirza and her Israeli partner, Shahar Peer, beat Agnes Szavay of Hungary and Vladimira Uhlirova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3 to make the round of 16 in the women’s doubles competition.

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