Home » Sports » Women's Tennis » Preparing for a Grand Slam Triumph - Page 13

Preparing for a Grand Slam Triumph - Page 13

© Michael Cecilio

Patty SCHNYDER vs Lisa RAYMOND
Head-to-Head Series: SCHNYDER leads 3-0
Things don't look too good from the outset for Lisa Raymond. Patty Schnyder has a very healthy record over her, and this spells trouble for Raymond as she is a player who often lacks the self-belief and self-confidence which can help her win big matches. Knowing she has never beaten Schnyder before will not help matters. One thing that can help Raymond's cause is the knowledge that Schnyder has not been playing her best as of late. However, one would expect Schnyder to be confident entering this encounter against Lisa Raymond.
Predicted Result: SCHNYDER in THREE SETS
Actual Result: SCHNYDER in THREE SETS

15-Amelie MAURESMO vs Mariaan DE SWARDT
Head-to-Head Series: FIRST MEETING
An encounter between two of the biggest servers on tour, both girls can certainly give the yellow fuzzy ball a good whack, regularly acing serves clocked between 110 and 115 mph. Mariaan de Swardt has a career scalp over former world #1 Steffi Graf and played some outstanding tennis to stretch the German phenomenon again to three sets at Wimbledon this year. Amelie Mauresmo, in her short professional career, also has obtained scalps over #1 players, taking out Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis in consecutive tournaments this year while both were ranked #1 at the time. Despite the fact Amelie has been playing sporadically on the tour and has not got a lot of confidence in her game, I have already pencilled the French girl in as a quarter finalist. There is no one on tour who can hit the ball as hard as she does with as much topspin as she places on the ball.
Predicted Result: MAURESMO in TWO SETS
Actual Result: MAURESMO in THREE SETS

Anke HUBER vs Anne KREMER
Head-to-Head Series: FIRST MEETING
This should be an interesting battle between two players who like to dominate and be aggressive from the baseline. Huber played a tough three set first round match against the very dangerous Silvija Talaja and should have gained a lot of confidence from that win, especially in the way she swung the momentum over to her side just when she looked down and out. Kremer can't be underestimated, though. She beat world #4 Monica Seles this year at Eastbourne on grass. Huber, however, has a little more firepower and experience than Kremer, and provided that the errors don't go out of control, it really is Huber's match to win or lose.

The copyright of the article Preparing for a Grand Slam Triumph - Page 13 in Women's Tennis is owned by Michael Cecilio. Permission to republish Preparing for a Grand Slam Triumph - Page 13 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.