Sharapova, Venus On Saturday at Wimbledon
Posted on July 1, 2006LONDON, UK -- Some scintillating match-ups highlight Saturday action at Wimbledon, as the top half of the draw contests the third round. Eight more players will etch their names into the round of 16 line-up, the first eight being determined Friday.
(1) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) vs. (Q) Nicole Pratt (AUS) -- Mauresmo leads 4-1
Mauresmo has looked sharp so far, posting a double bagel in her opener and moving past Australia's Samantha Stosur in straight sets in the second round. Although she leads their head-to-head 4-1, the Frenchwoman may have a tough time in beating Pratt, however. The Australian veteran has won five grass court matches in a row, three in qualifying and two in the main draw, including a victory over No.29 seed Tatiana Golovin in the second round. Additionally, in the pair's only meeting on grass, Pratt pushed Mauresmo to three sets here in 2001, falling 76(6) 46 64.
(4) Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Amy Frazier (USA) -- Sharapova leads 3-0
If history is anything to go by, Sharapova could have her work cut out for her as she faces Frazier. Although Sharapova owns a lopsided head-to-head, their last meeting, on these very lawns, was everything but. Facing each other in the fourth round two years ago, the American held a 4-2 first set lead and served for the second set at 5-4 before falling, 64 75, to the eventual champion. Frazier has also revived her season at Wimbledon, snapping a seven-match losing streak with a pair of early round wins, including an upset over No.32 seed Mara Santangelo.
(6) Venus Williams (USA) vs. (26) Jelena Jankovic (SCG) -- Williams leads 2-0
After surviving a nail-biting second round with Lisa Raymond, Williams is on the verge of reaching Wimbledon's second week for the eighth time. But standing in her way will be Jankovic, who after a disastrous beginning to 2006 has turned her year around in recent weeks. After compiling a 10-match losing streak, the young Serb has won 13 of her last 18 matches, including two here. She also gave the defending champion trouble in their last meeting, winning the first set and playing close in the second before wilting under the Italian heat and dropping the match, 57 64 61.
(7) Elena Dementieva (RUS) vs. (25) Elena Likhovtseva (RUS) -- Dementieva leads 3-2
Having previously gone deep into the second week at both Roland Garros and the US Open, Dementieva looks to finally go deep into the Wimbledon fortnight this year. But after tight early round victories over Sania Mirza and Meghann Shaughnessy, an upset could be brewing as she faces veteran compatriot Likhovtseva. Likhovtseva has been very solid so far in the 2006 grass court season, reaching quarterfinals at both Birmingham and Eastbourne, and has dropped a total of only eight games in her first two wins here. She is also 1-0 versus Dementieva in Grand Slams, winning at Roland Garros last year. As if that weren't enough, she has tasted victory over the Top 10 at this event before, ousting Kim Clijsters in the 2002 second round.
Also looking to grab a spot in the last 16 will be No.9 seed Anastasia Myskina, who plays No.23 seed Anabel Medina Garrigues for the first time; No.14 seed Dinara Safina, who takes on No.19 seed Ana Ivanovic in a match featuring two of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's biggest hitters; No.16 seed Flavia Pennetta, who faces China's Peng Shuai; and American hopeful Shenay Perry, who faces Austria's Sybille Bammer.
-- WTA
(1) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) vs. (Q) Nicole Pratt (AUS) -- Mauresmo leads 4-1
Mauresmo has looked sharp so far, posting a double bagel in her opener and moving past Australia's Samantha Stosur in straight sets in the second round. Although she leads their head-to-head 4-1, the Frenchwoman may have a tough time in beating Pratt, however. The Australian veteran has won five grass court matches in a row, three in qualifying and two in the main draw, including a victory over No.29 seed Tatiana Golovin in the second round. Additionally, in the pair's only meeting on grass, Pratt pushed Mauresmo to three sets here in 2001, falling 76(6) 46 64.
(4) Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Amy Frazier (USA) -- Sharapova leads 3-0
If history is anything to go by, Sharapova could have her work cut out for her as she faces Frazier. Although Sharapova owns a lopsided head-to-head, their last meeting, on these very lawns, was everything but. Facing each other in the fourth round two years ago, the American held a 4-2 first set lead and served for the second set at 5-4 before falling, 64 75, to the eventual champion. Frazier has also revived her season at Wimbledon, snapping a seven-match losing streak with a pair of early round wins, including an upset over No.32 seed Mara Santangelo.
(6) Venus Williams (USA) vs. (26) Jelena Jankovic (SCG) -- Williams leads 2-0
After surviving a nail-biting second round with Lisa Raymond, Williams is on the verge of reaching Wimbledon's second week for the eighth time. But standing in her way will be Jankovic, who after a disastrous beginning to 2006 has turned her year around in recent weeks. After compiling a 10-match losing streak, the young Serb has won 13 of her last 18 matches, including two here. She also gave the defending champion trouble in their last meeting, winning the first set and playing close in the second before wilting under the Italian heat and dropping the match, 57 64 61.
(7) Elena Dementieva (RUS) vs. (25) Elena Likhovtseva (RUS) -- Dementieva leads 3-2
Having previously gone deep into the second week at both Roland Garros and the US Open, Dementieva looks to finally go deep into the Wimbledon fortnight this year. But after tight early round victories over Sania Mirza and Meghann Shaughnessy, an upset could be brewing as she faces veteran compatriot Likhovtseva. Likhovtseva has been very solid so far in the 2006 grass court season, reaching quarterfinals at both Birmingham and Eastbourne, and has dropped a total of only eight games in her first two wins here. She is also 1-0 versus Dementieva in Grand Slams, winning at Roland Garros last year. As if that weren't enough, she has tasted victory over the Top 10 at this event before, ousting Kim Clijsters in the 2002 second round.
Also looking to grab a spot in the last 16 will be No.9 seed Anastasia Myskina, who plays No.23 seed Anabel Medina Garrigues for the first time; No.14 seed Dinara Safina, who takes on No.19 seed Ana Ivanovic in a match featuring two of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's biggest hitters; No.16 seed Flavia Pennetta, who faces China's Peng Shuai; and American hopeful Shenay Perry, who faces Austria's Sybille Bammer.
-- WTA