Sharapova has easy win over Chakvetadze in Wimbledon opener

No. 5 seed, Maria Sharapova of Russia, easily defeated her compatriot, No. 52 ranked Anna Chakvetadze in the opening round at Wimbledon, 6-2, 6-1.

Sharapova is beginning to show her old form and looking fully healthy again after being forced off the tour for 10 months with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

Sharapova, with her signature loud shrieking, took apart her compatriot in the opening set with a pair of service breaks while facing hardly any threat to her own serve. In the 2nd set, Sharapova was far less effective on her own serve, with Chakvetadze having four break points. She converted on only one of them, and her own weak delivery was punished by Sharapova, who broke serve four times to make sure of her place in round two.

Chakvetadze faints in match against Wozniacki

Ana Chakvetadze of Russia crumpled to the court during her match against World No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark at the 2011 WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, UAE.

Chakvetadze had dropped the first set to Wozniacki but led 5-3 in the second when she suddenly collapsed. She was out before she hit the ground. She lay motionless for an instant before doctors and trainers attended to her, propped her up and checked her vital signs.

The 23-year-old rested for a few minutes before returning to play one point. She wisely retired before the next point, giving the win to Wozniacki 6-1, 3-5.

Sharapova suffers 4th round loss to Petkovic

Former No. 1, Maria Sharapova, was sent packing in the 4th round at the 2011 Australian Open by No. 30 seed, #33 Andrea Petkovic of Germany.

Petkovic won the match in a surprisingly easy fashion in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. This is the first time the 23-year-old Petkovic has reached the Quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament, and is the lowest ranked player remaining in the draw.

Petkovic had reached the fourth round when Venus Williams pulled out injured after just seven points, but looked right at home against a much more experienced Sharapova.

Sharapova easily into round 3 at Wimbledon

Maria Sharapova of Russia, former World No. 1 and 2004 Wimbledon champion, has easily gained the 3rd round at Wimbledon 2010.

Maria seems to be on cruise control, downing countrywoman, Anastasia Pivovarova 6-1, 6-0, and Raluca Olaru of Romania, 6-1, 6-4.

At this point, Maria seems to have come back quite well from last year’s shoulder injury. She will face Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova of the Czech Republic in round three. Her quarter of the draw sets up a potential match against current World No. 1 Serena Williams of the USA in round four.

Happy Birthday Anna Chakvetadze

Russian tennis cutie pie, Anna Chakvetadze, turns 22 today. She was born March 5, 1987 in Moscow, Russia where she still resides.

Chakvetadze is pictured here during her win over No. 130 ranked Zi Yan of China, 6-1 6-2, which helped lead Russia over China in the first round of the 2009 Fed Cup.

Chakvetadze is currently ranked No. 24 on the WTA Tour. Her career-high singles ranking has been No. 5 on September 10, 2007. That was the year she did her best in the Grand Slams, reaching the Quarterfinals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and the Semifinals of the US Open. She has never won a Grand Slam.

Chakvetadze out in 2nd round

Russian tennis cutie pie, Anna Chakvetadze, is out of the WTA Fortis Championships held Oct. 20-26, 2008 in Luxembourg. She was defeated by No. 42 ranked Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-4.

Anna Chakvetadze, ranked No. 12, won a close first round match against No. 83 ranked Mathilde Johansson of Sweden, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). But she never really got into the match in her 2nd round.

Chakvetadze has won only two matches in her last six tournaments. Time to turn it around!

Chakvetadze goes down in 1st round

It was a tough day for 12th ranked Russian tennis cutie pie, Anna Chakvetadze as she lost in the first round of the 2008 WTA Zurich Open being played in Zurich, Switzerland Oct. 13-19.

Chakvetadze, the 7th seed in the tournament, started off strong against 66th ranked Monica Niculescu of Romania. However, after winning the 1st set 6-3, Chakvetadze could only manage five games in the last two sets, losing them 3-6, 2-6.

Chakvetadze goes down in 2nd round

Russian tennis cutie pie, Anna Chakvetadze, lost in the second round of the 2008 WTA Tour China Open being played in Beijing, China Sept 22-28. Her tennis didn’t look as good in her match as she does in this photo, where she seems to be saying, “How dare you beat me! Anyone else want to try?”

Chakvetadze, seeded 8th in the tournament, won her first match against 42nd ranked Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 7-5. Then she lost in the next round in straight sets to 20th ranked unseeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia.3-6, 2-6.

Anna Chakvetadze upset in 1st round of 2008 U.S. Open

Russian tennis cutie pie, Anna Chakvetadze, returns a shot here to Ekaterina Makarova, also of Russia, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. Makarova won the match 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Anna Chakvetadze was seeded 10th in the tournament and seemed to be coasting to victory while winning the opening set 6-1. But then she wilted under the pressure of solid groundstrokes from Makarova and became one of the upset statistics.

What a disappointing finish for Anna after reaching the Semifinals here last year. Her only previous opening round defeat was at Wimbledon in 2005.

Anna Chakvetadze loses in final of 2008 Pilot Pen

Tennis cutie pie, Anna Chakvetadze, of Russia is shown here in her Quarterfinal match of the 2008 WTA Tour Pilot Pen tennis tournament at New Haven, Connecticut, USA. She made a good run, losing out in the Final match against Caroline Wozniacki.

Anna Chakvetadze was the # 1 seed in the tournament. She had a 1st round bye, then defeated 44th ranked Casey Dellacqua of Australia 6-4, 6-4 in the 2nd round to move to the Quarterfinals. In the Quarterfinals she faced Romanian, Sorana-Mihaela Cirstea, winning in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.