Anna Chakvetadze ended her two-match winning streak by losing to Tamarine Tanasugarn in the quarterfinals of the PTT Pattaya Open. Yes, winning back-to-back matches is news when we’re talking about Chakvetadze, once ranked No.5 now No.74,  as she had been failing to achieve that since August 2009.

The Russian had defeated Jill Craybas 6-1 3-6 6-3 in the first round of the PTT Pattaya Open, then Anastasia Rodionova 6-4 6-1 in the second round, before falling to home favorite Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-1 6-4 in the last eight.

Chakvetadze’s losses this season, prior to this latest one, include: first-round exit at Auckland, final round of qualifying at Hobart, and first-round defeat at the Australian Open. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

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The 22-year-old Russian said:

The doctors gave me this boot that I have to use for the next three or four weeks. I must admit having them on is like weird and funny. I feel like I’m a pirate.

Chakvetadze may play the October 19 – 25 Kremlin Cup in her home Moscow. (source: Women Who Serve, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

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Not only is Jankovic still in the mud, and she lost in the first round of a tournament, but she lost to Anna Chakvetadze, who herself said "I am pleased with every win right now because it's very important to me to get back my confidence."

Jankovic has started losing in the very beginnings of tournaments, and plus, to insecure players. Chakvetadze had last defeated a Top 10 opponent when she beat Marion Bartoli at the Paris Indoor event.

Jankovic’s excuse for the defeat was the change of surface: "It was obviously my first match on grass." However, the 24-year-old also mentioned her worrying lack of motivation: "I'll play Wimbledon and then we'll see. At least I can take a few weeks off then. I wish I could take a break now. I need to get to where I want to play tennis again."

It could make Jankovic any better that second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova lost to Aleksandra Wozniak in straight sets 6-0 6-3, just days after lifting the French Open trophy, while fourth seed Vera Zvonareva fell to Amelie Mauresmo 6-3 1-6 6-3, in the opening round as well. (via M&G, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

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Victoria Azarenka, Dominika Cibulkova, Alona Bondarenko and Anna Chakvetadze appear in this month’s French edition of FHM, an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.

The French Open will soon reach its full swing, which is the best timing for the photos to come out. However, two of these four tennis players are already out of the tournament. Chakvetadze and Bondarenko went out in the first round. Actually, Cibulkova defeated Bondarenko in that match, and the Slovakian, just like Azarenka, is still in, awaiting her third-round match.

The FHM bikini photos of the ladies are accompanied by their interviews.

Remember, Ana Ivanovic was on the cover of FHM last year? (via WTA Hotties)

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Dokic fought hard, despite having a right foot injury, and claimed the momentous victory over the world No.18 Chakvetadze on her third match point.

The last time Dokic played on Rod Laver Arena was eight years ago. Estranged from her father Damir, in Dokic’s player’s box sat only boyfriend Tim Bikic and her new coach Borna Bikic. After the emotional win, Dokic bowed to the crowd and to her boyfriend.

The Serbian-born Australian, who was once the fourth ranked player in the world, will play 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki in the third round.

Women's Tennis Blog has been following Dokic's comeback closely, so browse through our Jelena Dokic category to read how she has been reviving her tennis career.

Some other notable day 3 results we haven’t already mentioned:

Top seed Jelena Jankovic battled past Kirsten Flipkens 6-4 7-5, seventh seed Vera Zvonareva demolished Edina Gallovits 6-0 6-0, while seed No.19 Daniela Hantuchova beat Mathilde Johansson in three sets.

Chakvetadze was the only seed that lost on the third day, so No.9 seed Agnieszka Radwanska remained the highest fallen seed at the Australian Open so far. (via The Sydney Morning Herald, photo: Getty Images)

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The world No.18 Chakvetadze was up in the third set, but Carla Suarez Navarro eventually beat her 7-6(5) 1-6 7-5 in the first round. Suarez Navarro became better known at Roland Garros last May when she reached the quarterfinals as a qualifier. Her win over Chakvetadze is her best career victory.

Chakvetadze was playing her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event of the season. In 2008, the Russian lost six of her last eight matches and fell from the Top 10 to where she is now.

Other seeds sent packing were No.5 seed Agnes Szavay, who was defeated by Anne Keothavong 6-3 7-5, and No.6 seed Aleksandra Wozniak, who saved seven match points in the second set but eventually lost to Polish qualifier Urszula Radwanska 3-6 7-6(3) 7-5. (source: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, photo: annachakvetadze.com)

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Chakvetadze played well in the first set, but the Russian couldn't maintain her form in the second.

Williams will play Zvonareva and Dulko faces Chakvetadze on Saturday, before a final doubles match.

Just for the record: Don’t forget that Williams crushed world No.1 Jelena Jankovic on Thursday. And by the way, Team Europe captain Jankovic, paired with Michelle Larcher de Brito, lost to Zheng Jie and Sania Mirza 6-1 6-1 in doubles on Friday. Also, Mirza upset Hungary's Agnes Szavay 6-3 6-4, so Team Asia-Pacific beat Team Europe 2-0. (source: ESPN, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

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In 2007, however, the Russian won four singles titles and finished the year ranked sixth in the world, while now she’s 18th. Still, Chakvetadze is staying strong, looking forward to the new tennis season.

I know 2008 has been a tough year for me, tennis wise. But I just have to learn from it and look forward to a better 2009. I also know for a fact that all athletes, including myself, goes through tough times in there career. Loosing is tough but it’s not the end of the world. You win some, you lose some. As I’ve said "Looking forward to a fresher and better 2009 season : )."

In Chakvetadze’s latest diary entry you can also read in detail about her new look, how she has bangs for the first time in years and what were the reactions of people.

Hopefully with this new fresher look comes with a new fierce attitude and confidence. I already started training again. I tell you it’s not easy. My body is aching and I feel very tired. But it’s all good. No pain, No gain. I pray that my luck will come sooner than I expected.

(photo: annachakvetadze.com)

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Russian WTA players received well-deserved awards from their home country. Dinara Safina, Elena Demetieva, Anna Chakvetadze, Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova were present at the event.

Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva were not present. Of course, why mention Maria Sharapova, we know she was in New York City at Vogue party.

The 2004 Roland Garros champion Anastasia Myskina was also part of the event.

(via Tennis Forum)

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Second seed Chakvetadze finally scored victory, defeating world No.83 Mathilde Johansson 64 76(4) in the first round of the Luxembourg event.

Since losing in the final of New Haven in August, the 12th-ranked Chakvetadze has had a string of early losses, four times in the first round (US Open, Tokyo, Moscow and Zürich) and once in the second round (Beijing).

Chakvetadze will next face either 14-year-old British prodigy Laura Robson or Iveta Benesova against whom she scored the before-mentioned first-round win in Beijing. (via WTA Tour, photo: chakvetadze-anna.com)

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