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Patty
Schnyder was outlasted by Russia's Vera Zvonareva 6-2 4-6
6-4 in a classic claycourt match that featured multiple
baseline drop shots, moon balls and lengthy rallies.
Youth prevailed as the 18-year-old Zvonareva won her first
match at this event by knocking last year's finalist from
Switzerland.
The damp conditions left the balls heavy, which may have
been one explanation for the 14 service breaks and long
rallies.
"I didn't really like the conditions (unseasonable cold
damp weather) at all," Schnyder said. "The ball was heavy.
I love hot weather and the ball bouncing well."
Schnyder, 24 and ranked No. 13, also admitted to
first-match nerves. Her run through the FCC last year
remains one of the highlights of her career, even though
she lost to Majoli in the finals. Schnyder knocked off
three top 10 players -- then No. 1 Capriati, Serena and
Amelie Mauresmo -- as well as Pierce, becoming only the
second player in three years to beat Capriati and Serena
in the same tournament. The first was Venus Williams.
"I will always remember those matches," said Schnyder, who
was ranked No. 8 in 1999. "I don't know how many times you
beat a No. 1 player, or how many times you can beat Serena
Williams. That was great tennis, and nobody can take that
from me."
But Schnyder's FCC run this year lasted just two hours and
26 minutes against the 33rd-ranked Zvonareva, one of the
new Russian brigade on tour. Schnyder fought off four
match points at the end, but a loose forehand set up a
fifth match point for Zvonareva, and one final Schnyder
error -- No. 52 of the match -- gave Zvonareva the win.
"I really played pretty okay," Schnyder said. "I think it
was one of the best first-round matches you could have.
Normally, if you started a tournament with a performance
like that, you could build on it and be okay." |
Singles
1R
Bye
2R
lost Vera Zvonareva 2-6 6-4 4-6
Doubles with Schett
1R lost Myskina/Selyutina
4-6 2-6
Photos
Charleston
2003 gallery
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