Home arrow News arrow Sport arrow Austria’s Bammer Eases Past American Shaughnessy
Austria’s Bammer Eases Past American Shaughnessy PDF Print E-mail
User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 
Written by Vincent Pisano   
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Sybille BammerIn a match that could make tennis fans glad that the women play best-of-three sets instead of best-of-five, Austria’s Sybille Bammer defeated Meghann Shaughnessy in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, in their second-round match. Despite flashes of aggressive play by Shaughnessy, which disappeared as quickly as they arrived, both players seemed content to play country-club tennis and hit ball after ball up the middle and wait for an unforced error. One could count the number of winners that were not off serve on one hand. It was a good strategy for Bammer, as Shaughnessy committed 36 unforced errors in two sets, and it quickly became unforced error evermore. Many expected more from Bammer, who has had a strong two years on the tour and is seeded 19th at the US Open, after reaching the fourth round at the French Open.

The third game of the match set the tone for the day. Despite serving well, Shaughnessy lost her serve after being up 40-15. A missed volley, an unforced error – after which Meghann complained to the skeptical umpire that the ball was defective – and a bad approach cost her the game and ultimately the set. While walking off the court, Shaughnessy made her most aggressive move of the day, slamming a ball toward a linesman and earning a ball-abuse warning. It was a warning heeded by both players thereafter, as neither could be accused of abusing the ball, even when it was in play.

Shaughnessy’s best effort of the match came with Bammer serving at 4-3. The American attacked the net repeatedly and volleyed well. It was a strategy you would expect more of from a player with a doubles ranking of 18. Despite earning three break points, all three were won by Bammer, taking advantage of her strong lefthanded serves to the ad court.

After serving out the set, Sybille earned her first break in the seventh game of the second set. Shaughnessy helped her out with a mis-hit at love, an unforced error at 30-15, another at 30-30 and one more for the game. After that, Meghann seemed to be in a hurry to get home and prepare for her doubles matches.

Bammer, Austria’s top-ranked woman, could be in for big things going forward in this Open. After years of playing and failing in qualifiers, she began her breakthrough in 2006. While her biggest achievement of 2007 has been becoming the first mother to win a WTA singles title in 17 years, in which she saved three match points and proved her toughness, she also has had wins over Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Tatiana Golovin, Daniela Hantuchova and Svetlana Kuznetsova. To move on, however, she will need to abandon the style played today.


Vince Pisano is the 2007 USOpen.org Reporter for the Day auction winner.
These two played at the Pilot Pen earlier this month, a match Bammer won, 6-4, 6-2.
-     Despite a 6-2, 6-2 lifetime tour record, Bammer’s record this year is 38-19.
-     Meghann is playing in her 10th US Open, her best result having been reaching the quarterfinals in doubles in 2002.
-     Sybille has a six-year-old daughter named Tina, who does not know the author’s six-year-old daughter named Lynden nor his 10-year-old named Caleigh.
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/match_reports/2007-08-29/200708291188421536640.html
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 29 August 2007 )
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]
Advertisement

Foundation Georgia

www.foundationgeorgia.com