Maria Sharapova outclassed Anna Chakvetadze in an all-Russian match in the first round of Wimbledon, 6-2 6-1. The 52nd-ranked Chakvetadze broke Sharapova’s serve only once, in the beginning of the second set, and Sharapova won all the following games.
Besides Venus and Serena Williams, Sharapova is the only WTA player in the draw who has won Wimbledon. The former world No.1 Russian followed her 2004 Wimbledon triumph with two semifinal showings, but has since failed to go past the fourth round. This year she is one of the favorites for the title, if not the biggest favorite (which our poll results are currently demonstrating as well), especially because of her recent form shown in Rome and Paris.
And talking about solid wins and Grand Slam champions, Ana Ivanovic had a great performance against Melanie Oudin, defeating the American 6-0 6-1 in just 48 minutes, without even facing a break point. It was favorable for Ivanovic that she was so fast, because the match could have been interrupted by darkness. Also, Ivanovic’s confident win is a good consolation for her country of Serbia, which today lost Jelena Jankovic in the first round to Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 5-7 6-4 6-3 and Bojana Jovanovski to Simona Halep 6-1 6-2.
You may be interested in my observations of Anna Chakvetadze at the Netherlands tournament last week. She told another player that she had an inner ear problem, but was OK. Based on what she looked liked and played like, I disagree that she is OK. She looked terrible and Anna is a beautiful person. There is something terribly wrong. Her body is wasted and her mind is somewhere else. I hope someone sees that she gets proper medical care.
maria’s dress looks better on tennis warehouse than on her body! It seems the same as her horrible and unfashionable roland garros dress! Well, this is more beautiful for sure! Ana’s dress make her look thinner 🙂
Althought i’m very happy for their wins, and also for caroline and serena’s ! Was very emotional to saw her crying after wininning today’s match! She is a really big champion! And that’s because everyone adores her 🙂
When the draw came out, I thought poor Ana Chak, she’s isn’t even going to defend her R2 points from last Wimby where Serena was thisclose to double bagelling her. At least Maria was a bit more generous to her homegirl. Sharapova has a good draw and should at least reach the QFs (unless Safarova or Peng get lucky)…[Note to self: under no circumstance bet as much as 1cent on Stosur to win any slam].
Ivanovic is in a tough quarter with Radwanska and Li Na/Lisicki looming. Too bad for JJ, looks like she’ll miss the cut for the YEC.
Good to see Ana did not repeat the run from Roland Garros. The last Serbian standing and so early in a tournament. Well, JJ was never a huge favourite to win on grass anyway, but I am a bit surprised that Jovanovski went so early as well.
Glad for the girls, Maria- expected, Ana- I hope she’ll continue like this. I agree with JohnnyB, what happened to that girl (Anna), she was in top5, and now…:/ I feel bad for JJ, she didn’t play bad, just grass isn’t her surface and Martinez was just better. But at least after Wimby she has basically no points to defend. Ana looked very pretty, and I like these little orange details, it reminds me of Stella McCartney a little bit. Masha dress is pretty, but nothing special, I like the top, but I’d take off that one extra layer she has on skirt.
JohnnyB, thanks for sharing that info. Anna has more problems than just her ear, unfortunately. She was a force before that incident with robbers.
Amazing win today for Venus Williams and great match as well, but I don’t thing she is going any further in 2011 Wimbledon Championships