Anna falls to Krajicek

June 29, 2007

Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek became the first player in either singles draw to take out one of the top 10 seeds when she beat Russia's number eight seed Anna Chakvetadze in an intense baseline battle which lasted for nearly three hours and featured two tense tie-breaks.

It was the 20-year-old Russian, the world number seven, who came out firing at the start, winning a series of break points and then converting to take an early 3-1 lead.

But then Krajicek, the 31st seed, started finding her angles and the players settled into a groove, with the match dominated by long baseline rallies mixed up with a few deft volleys. Chakvetadze, leading 5-4, had the chance to serve for theng set but hit a double fault followed by a wayward shot, which gave her opponent the chance to level at 5-5.

The long-threatened rain finally fell, forcing the players off with Krajicek leading 6-5 and, on their return two hours later, Chakvetadze quickly forced a particularly tense tie-break, which featured some scintillating rallies, but was sealed 10-8 by Krajicek.

The second set was equally gripping. The revitalised Krajicek shone with confidence as she smashed down three aces in a row on herng service game and at times she challenged the Russian's serve, but the match continued to be closely contended and went with serve.

The lack of any breakthrough prompted both players to show their frustration at time. The Dutchwoman threw her racquet to the ground in anger at her unforced errors and the Russian questioned a number of line calls.

The set ended with another tie-break, which looked a mirror image of the first with long cross court rallies but this time the Russian held her nerve, clinching it 7-5 to level the match.

Krajicek took theng game of the third set before the rain came down. Fortunately it was only a quick shower and play resumed half an hour later, when Chakvetadze was immediately broken.

There were further break point chances for both players but Krajicek ran away with the third set and rounded off a memorable victory 7-6 (10-8), 6-7 (7-5), 6-2 in two hours 49 minutes.

Wimbledon results

"I'd like to take Roddick's serve, Gonzales's forehand… As well as Federer's backhand and mental. Then I'd be world number 1, easy! No one could beat me."

Anna Chakvetadze