"Wow, Wow, Wow!"

Tamarine has the wow factor
Monday, 30 June 2008
Written by Paul Kiernan

Picture the scene: It is your twelfth visit to SW19, and you’ve reached the fourth round seven times, but still haven’t joined the coveted last eight club. And then you walk onto Court 18, beat No.2 seed Jelena Jankovic in straight sets, and set up a quarter-final match with the defending champion, Venus Williams.

Well, that is exactly what Tamarine Tanasugarn did and when the 31-year-old was asked how she felt, only three words sprung to mind: “Wow, wow, wow”.

With Game, set, match, Miss Tanasugarn echoing around Court 18, the overjoyed underdog sank to her knees, tears of joy rolling down her cheeks. But it could have been a very different story as the world number 60 almost retired a few years ago.

“I was struggling… I dropped my rank to maybe below 140, 130 and I had injuries. It’s not easy to come back right away. I had a tough time, I was thinking to stop,” she recalled during her post-match press conference. But a successful Wimbledon back in 2006 kept her motivated: “I had to play qualifying so I just started playing for fun. Suddenly I just qualified and I was back in the third round.”

Tanasugarn couldn’t hide her delight at making the quarters, and not even the mention of a certain defending champion in the next round could wipe the broad smile of her face.

“I've played her so many times and she kicked my butt. I’m just happy to be in the quarter-finals. No pressure at all to me.”

To be precise, the contented Thai has met Venus six times and lost every time. But, as the saying goes, there is nothing more dangerous than someone who has nothing to lose. “I just go out there to have fun and do my best. I’m happy the way I am right now. If I win against her, then wow, wow, wow; great feelings. But I just go out there and do my best and play great tennis.”

As carefree as all this sounded, the modest woman from Thailand failed to mention the extraordinary few weeks she has enjoyed. Today was, in fact, Tanasugarn’s eleventh straight win on grass, after she doubled the singles Tour titles in her trophy cabinet by winning the Ordina Open in Holland just before the Championships began.

So, if the constancy and the punchy forehands continue to fly, then Venus could be brought back down to earth with a bang.

More from Wimbledon.org

Jankovic toppled by Tanasugarn
Monday, 30 June 2008
Written by Barry Newcombe

Second seed Jelena Jankovic was given a short, sharp shock as she was knocked out in the fourth round by unseeded Wimbledon veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand.

With so many seeds falling by the wayside in the first week, Jankovic went on to court knowing that she would rarely have a better chance to break her Grand Slam title duck and in the process move to the top of the world rankings.

But those dreams were dashed by a woman who, despite being ranked just 60 in the world, has become a permanent fixture in Wimbledon's fourth round. Tanasugarn has reached this stage seven times in 11 years, but never before had she progressed any further.

For Jankovic, defeat was short - just 75 minutes - and painful. Two days ago she had struggled through her Centre Court match against the Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki in three sets and had extensive treatment on her left knee. Today, on the crowded cockpit of Court 18, the Serbian came to the court with her knee strapped and she needed more treatment in the latter stages of the match.

But her injury did not seem to hamper her early on and it was only in the sixth game that she started to come under pressure.

Trailing 3-2, Jankovic saved two break points before Tanasugarn's counter-attack gave her a 4-2 lead when the Serb missed a forehand.

Tanasugarn kept the lead to run out the set in 36 minutes. As her forehand winner ended the set Jankovic slipped over behind the baseline.

Jankovic slipped further, too, on the scoreboard when she lost serve at the start of the second set and she called the trainer to the court at the first opportunity two games later for attention to her knee. A second trainer attended to Tanasugarn at the same time, treating a back injury.
But medical interventions over, the rhythm of the match remained unchanged. Jankovic dropped serve to fall 4-1 behind and broke Tanasugarn for the only time in the next game.

But an awesome forehand which landed right on the junction of the baseline and tramlines gave the Thai another break and the chance to serve for the match. She did so successfully and was in tears as she celebrated reaching her first quarter-final after trying every year since her debut in 1998.

Breaking News from Bangkok

Actually the news is from Wimbledon, but the newspaper is from Bangkok! (^_^)

Tamarine Reaches Grand Slam Quarterfinal

Tamarine Tanasugarn pinned a new chapter in the Thai history by becoming the first Thai to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final after she stunned world No 2 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-3 6-2 in the Wimbledon fourth round on Monday. The Nation (English language newspaper in Thailand)

Fan Comments at Wimbledon.org

7 for 12!!!! Tammy into the Round of 16 Again ^_^

Tammy is very good at scaring me. I should be used to it by now, but I could feel my heart pounding in my chest last night as I watched her play against Marina Erakovic of New Zealand, who was actually born in Croatia. Erakovic has a very good serve, often acing Tammy with serves going at over 110 mph! Luckily for Tammy, Marina also served a lot of double faults, especially during important games in the final set.

This is Tammy's 12th senior Wimbledon (she was Junior Wimbledon Runner-up in 1995) and her 7th appearance in the Round of 16.

Thai fights back to beat Erakovic
Saturday, 28 June 2008 Written by Helen Gilbert

Tamarine Tanasugarn’s continued her winning streak on grass with a three-set victory over New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic in glorious sunshine, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

The 31-year-old, who has reached the fourth round of Wimbledon for the seventh time in her career, captured her first grass court title at s’-Hertogenbosch earlier this year and there seems to be no stopping her.

Admittedly, the win was by no means easy – both women pounded balls from the back of the court and hit the lines so much it was a wonder there was any chalk left by the end of the contest.

After trading breaks in the opening set, it was the Thai who raced to a 4-1 lead. But 20-year-old Erakovic upped her game a gear, serving well and clawing back the next five games to steal the set 6-4 in front of a full Court 11.

It was perhaps not surprising. Like Tanasugarn, Erakovic has had an impressive run on grass this year – winning her first singles title at Surbiton a few weeks ago and a WTA tour doubles trophy at s’-Hertogenbosch. In fact, she has won an astonishing 37 matches on the green stuff, and lost only five on the surface.

But her older opponent was undeterred, standing her ground at the back of the court and occasionally venturing into the net. The combination worked and she scraped the second 6-4 to level the match.

Powerful but precision hitting continued in the third but it was the experienced Tanasugarn who stole the match in a whisker over two hours thanks to a lower unforced error count – 14 compared with Erakovic’s 29.

Way to Go, Tammy!!!!!!! ^_^

Tanasugarn topples Zvonareva
Thursday, 26 June 2008

Written by Ian Baker at wimbledon.org

A thunderous backhand from Tamarine Tanasugarn as she piles on the pressure against Vera Zvonareva on day 4 of the championships

Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn battling against the 13th seed Vera Zvonareva for a place in the third round.

The evergreen Tamarine Tanasugarn shocked 13th seed Vera Zvonareva to progress to the third round. Tanasugarn, in the form of her life, won the marathon match 7-6 (12-10), 4-6, 6-3, despite a hamstring injury picked up during the second set.

The Thai’s win was her ninth consecutive on grass, in a run that included winning the Ordina Open in Holland last week. Tanasugarn was a finalist in the Wimbledon Junior tournament in 1995 and has been a consistent performer at the All England Club ever since, reaching the fourth round six times.

She started the game well, breaking Zvonareva’s powerful serve in the first game of the match. She broke again to take a 4-1 first set lead, thanks to some excellent forehand winners. But the Russian, a winner in the ladies’ doubles in 2006 with Nathalie Dechy, hit back to force the set into a tie-break. The tie-break went one way and then the other as both players played tremendous tennis. Tanasugarn eventually took it 12-10.

The Thai started the second set just as she did the first. The world No. 60 went 3-0 up but once again Zvonareva hit back. After levelling the set at 3-3, Zvonareva broke again in a lengthy seventh game. The second set saw a drop in quality as both players struggled with their game, not helped by the heat and the gruelling nature of the match. Tanasugarn called for the trainer for treatment on a hamstring injury but was able to continue with heavy strapping.

Zvonareva closed out the set 6-4 but once again Tanasugarn came roaring back, taking a 3-0 lead at the start of the final set. The game became tenser but the experienced 31-year-old Tanasugarn kept her composure better than her opponent, eight years her junior, to win the match in just over two and a half hours.

---

June 22, 2008

Tennis Roundup

Tanasugarn Wins Title on Grass

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The qualifier Tamarine Tanasugarn defeated third-seeded Dinara Safina, 7-5, 6-3, to win her first grass-court title, the Ordina Open on Saturday in Den Bosch, the Netherlands.

Playing with a bandaged thigh, Tanasugarn, of Thailand, clinched the victory with a powerful forehand winner.

Safina, the 2006 runner-up in Den Bosch and a semifinalist last year, said Tanasugarn was the better player.

“She has a lot of experience and she played well today,” said Safina, who was a finalist at the French Open this month.

Later, top-seeded David Ferrer became the first Spaniard to win the Ordina title, defeating Marc Gicquel, 6-4, 6-2.

Bonny's Photos

My friend Bonny is from the Netherlands. She lives two hours away from Rosmalen, the city where Tammy won the tennis tournament. Bonny is a great friend because she went to watch Tammy play there many times!!!!!! Thank you for being a good cheerleader and photographer, Bonny!
Tammy getting her champion's trophy at the Ordina Open on Saturday.


I love seeing her winning smile! v (^o^) v

Tammy gave her bouquet to Bonny as a thank you gift. Here is Bonny's dog, Coco! Coco is from Los Angeles, like me! ^_~


Tammy's doubles partner Andrea is very kind and Tammy's good friend. Andrea told Tammy not to play doubles, even though they were in the semifinals. She was worried about Tammy's arm injury. Last summer, they were teammates on the Springfield Lasers, the World Team Tennis runners up. Tammy was last season's Most Valuable Player.

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Last month, the Vice President of Cornell University visited Kyoto with his wife. They were kind enough to bring me some pancake mix and maple syrup as a gift. Saturday night one of my friends came to stay. We found some English muffins at Daiei, which gave me the idea to try to make my own version of Egg McMuffins for breakfast on Sunday.














I also made pancakes with a special topping--cooked apples in butter, cinnamon and sugar. I got a little too busy talking and the bottom of the apples turned into caramel, but it was very delicious!!!!!

I don't have an egg ring to make poached eggs with, but I used a metal ladle and a pot of boiling water--surprisingly, it worked!!!!!!! I made scrambled eggs for my egg muffin sandwich.

What do you think? Better than McDonald's? Please stop by Cafe Kobe Rose sometime and try for yourself!!!!!! (^-^)v

Congratulations, Tammy!!!!! You're the 2008 Ordina Open Champion!!!!!!!!!

© Vincent Basler
Tanasugarn Beats Safina for Second Career Title

's-HERTOGENBOSCH, The Netherlands - Going into the final of the Ordina Open, the stars certainly seemed lined up for Dinara Safina to win. She had won 15 of her last 16 matches, spent less than half the time on the court than her opponent during the week and won their only previous meeting handily. But on the day that prophecy was emphatically proven false, as Tamarine Tanasugarn beat her in straight sets to capture the key Wimbledon warm-up title.

As a qualifier facing the No.3 seed, Tanasugarn already seemed to be coming from behind. And when Safina snagged the first break of the match in the ninth game for a chance to serve the first set out at 5-4, things didn't look great for the Thai. But she broke right back and won 10 of the last 12 points of the set to take it, 7-5. The second set remained largely on serve, but Tanasugarn got the critical break in the seventh game and after surviving a lengthy 16-point service game - in which Safina had five points to get the set back on serve - David finally overcame Goliath, 75 63.

"Maybe it was more difficult for Dinara, as she was seeded and playing really well lately, and I was coming out of the qualies; that could have put some pressure on her today," Tanasugarn said. "After she had the chance to serve out the first set I think her level fell a bit, and once I got to the second set I felt great, and that I could really win this match."

Tanasugarn had arguably the best week of career, coming away with her second and biggest Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title at the Tier III event. She notched straight set wins over both Bondarenko sisters (new Birmingham champion Kateryna in the first round and No.8 seed Alona in the semifinals) and three set wins over Ashley Harkleroad, Krajicek and Safina. She was even almost down and out against Harkleroad in the second round, rallying from 5-3 down in the third to win, 46 64 75.

Tanasugarn was definitely not intimidated by Safina's No.9 ranking. After all she had four Top 10 wins to her name going into the final and two of those came in the minute grass court season in 2001, over Nathalie Tauziat and Amélie Mauresmo. This surface also fuels the Thai veteran's best attribute - her flat, compact groundstokes - and she has capitalized on that in the past, reaching one of her other six career finals at Birmingham in 2000 (falling to Lisa Raymond) and making the fourth round of Wimbledon an impressive six times (in fact, her love for grass is no more evident than in her Grand Slam record: 23-11 at Wimbledon, 28-32 at the other three majors combined).

After barely batting .500 to start the season (she was 11-10 coming out of Charleston), Safina has now won 15 of her last 17 matches, winning her first Tier I singles title on the red clay of Berlin, reaching her first Grand Slam singles final at Roland Garros (falling to Ana Ivanovic in the final) and now reaching another final at 's-Hertogenbosch. She is now 0-2 lifetime in grass court finals, having finished runner-up right here at 's-Hertogenbosch two years ago (finishing runner-up to Michaella Krajicek).

"I just have to forget my match today because I played some pretty good matches earlier this week and today was just not my day," Safina said. "I want to give lots of credit to Tamarine, I think she played a solid match - but I want to forget this match as soon as I can. I'm leaving for London today, I'll have today and tomorrow off and then Wimbledon starts. So I will have to get ready for that as soon as I can."

Safina was one of three Top 10 Russians in the field this week. She took out one of the other ones, No.1 seed Elena Dementieva, herself in the semifinals; No.2 seed Anna Chakvetadze, who was the defending champion, lost to Alona Bondarenko in the quarterfinals.

La Belle Cour's New Summer Drinks and My Cooking Hobby

Last Saturday, Kawakami-san and I decided to try out the new sweet potato smoothie. The La Belle Cour staff told us that we were the first employees to try it, but actually after reading Memoppi comments, it looks like Mr. Fukuju was the first one to try it on Friday, June 13.

It was surprisingly tasty, and even though I had a bad cold, I could taste the sweet potato.

The next day we went back again so that Mannen-san could try it, but I decided to try the banana chocolate smoothie and Kawakami-san had the peach smoothie. They are all very refreshing and delicious!






I have also been cooking different things at home. The other day I went to Kaldi Coffee Farm in Motomachi and found some bottled Thai basil and chili sauce. It is very convenient for making spicy fried rice. I made pork fried rice with a fried egg on top for extra protein. It was very spicy!!!!!!















At Daiei a while ago, I found giant black beans. I didn't know what to do with them, but last Saturday afternoon I suddenly decided to try to make my favorite Thai dessert--black beans with sticky rice in coconut milk. It took a long time to make because I had to soak the beans before boiling them. I also had to soak the sticky rice before steaming it. I think the rice was a bit too hard.

I took some with me to La Mer on Monday and let people try it. "It tastes like ohagi," said Yoshimura-san. Everyone was surprised at the size of the black beans.

YAAAAAAY, Tammy!!!!!!!!

Tammy turns it on

daily xpress
Published on June 21, 2008

Thai ace drubs Bondarenko to inch closer to second WTA title

Tamarine Tanasugarn underlined her good form by storming into the final of the US$175,000 Ordina Open in Den Bosch following an upset 6-2 6-4 victory over Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko.

Throughout the 75-minute contest, the veteran dominated her opponent with her ground strokes and serve, firing seven aces.

This is her second final on grass after the heart-breaking defeat to American Lisa Raymond in Birmingham eight years ago. Seven straight wins in the Dutch city have highlighted her skills on the surface which have helped her reach the Wimbledon 4th round on six occasions.

"I love grass. It suits my game,'' said the 31-year-old, in her first final since the 2006 Bangkok Open.

Tamarine cruised through the opening set in just 33 minutes and quickly strode to a

3-0 lead in the second before the Ukrainian fought back. The eighth-seed Bondarenko fought off two match points in the ninth game to break Tammy but failed to hold her own serve in the following game.

"I started well, hit well and served well. In the second set she made me hit more balls. I hung in there and went for my shots,'' said the qualifier who wore an orange cap to please the Dutch crowd.

In a career which began in 1994, she has appeared in seven WTA finals with her only title coming five years ago in Hyderabad.

She will face eighth-seed Dinara Safina, the Roland Garros runner-up, who beat Russian compatriot Elena Dementieva 6-3 6-2.

Go, Tammy, Go!!!!!!!

Tammy won her quarterfinal match in the Netherlands last night! It was her second comeback match in a row, as she lost the first set in both matches.

Here is the article from the Sony Ericsson Women's Tennis Tour website:

Newsroom June 19, 2008

New Champion Guaranteed at 's-Hertogenbosch

's-HERTOGENBOSCH, The Netherlands - Experience prevailed over youth in the first two matches on quarterfinals day at the $175,000 Ordina Open on Thursday, with top seed Elena Dementieva and Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn making the semis.

In the bottom half of the draw, local interest ended with the exit of Michaella Krajicek at the hands of Tanasugarn, 36 63 64, after two hours, nine minutes. Krajicek, who defeated Safina in the 2006 final here to thrill her home crowd, started strongly but Tanasugarn's grass court experience - she has reached the fourth round at Wimbledon no less than six times - won out in the end.

"I was happy with the way I played today but it could have gone either way," Tanasugarn said. "I had good luck with my game early in the third set. That helped a lot because Michaella started playing unbelievably well in the third set after 4-1. In the end I was just trying to play good tennis, play smart and go for the right shots at the right time."

The last player to reach the semifinals was No.8 seed Alona Bondarenko, who surprised No.2 seed and defending champion Anna Chakvetadze, 62 36 62.

Bondarenko and Tanasugarn will play each other for the first time to take on one of the Top 10 Russians from the top half of the draw.

"My sister played her first match; I am familiar with her game so that will help," Bondarenko added. "I just have to concentrate on my game."

With Krajicek and Chakvetadze being sent to the sidelines and Klara Zakopalova falling in the first round earlier in the week, there is guaranteed a new champion at the Ordina Open.

Bangkok Post

Tammy edges past Harkleroad in thriller

DEN BOSCH : Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn pulled off a thrilling three-set victory over American Ashley Harkleroad in the second round of the WTA Ordina Open in Den Bosch, Holland yesterday.

The Thai star lost the first set but eventually came through with a hard-fought 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over the talented American.

In the final set Tamarine rallied from 3-1 down to take the set and the match.

In the first round Tamarine had defeated last week's DFS champion Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine.

Red-hot Tammy shows her class

The Nation

Daily Xpress
Published on June 18, 2008

Tamarine Tanasugarn caused one of the biggest upsets at the US$175,000 Ordina Open in Hertogenbosch yesterday when she beat Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine in just 74 minutes.

The Thai qualifier displayed her skills on grass to spoil the run of her 45th-ranked opponent, who lifted the Birmingham title on Sunday, with a 6-3 6-3 win.

Tamarine, who climbs to No 85 this week, will play American Ashley Harkleroad, who beat fourth seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy, in round two.

Double whammy

On Monday, Tamarine and Andreea Ehritt-Vanc of Romania won their doubles first-round match, beating Germans Nadine Hassinger and Anne Priska Schaefer 6-1 6-3.

The Nation

Payback time for Tammy

Daily Xpress
Published on June 17, 2008

Tamarine Tanasugarn exacted sweet revenge on former Wimbledon semi-finalist Mirjana Lucic of Croatia to qualify for the main draw of the US$175,000 Ordina Open in 's-Hertogenbosch.

A few hours after her first-round win over Stephanie Dubois of Canada, Tamarine was cruising to a set and a 4-0 lead before the 1999 semi-finalist at All England fought back to force the third set. She eventually won 6-3 4-6 6-4.

The Thai had lost to the Croat, then a rising star, in the round of 16 at Wimbledon nine years ago.

Tamarine will have her hands full in the main draw as she is pitted against in-form Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko.

It's Grass Court Season!

Tammy loves playing on the grass courts of England. This week she is in Surbiton.

$50,000 Surbiton 2008

Women's Singles - Main Draw (Knock-out)Women's Singles - Qualifying Draw (Knock-out)Women's Doubles - Main Draw (Knock-out)Women's Doubles - Qualifying Draw (Knock-out)

1st Round

Rika FUJIWARA (JPN) defeated Aiko NAKAMURA (JPN) (1) 6-3 7-5
Abigail SPEARS (USA) defeated Jarmila GAJDOSOVA (SVK) 6-1 6-3
Melanie SOUTH (GBR) defeated Naomi BROADY (GBR) 3-6 6-1 6-3
Regina KULIKOVA (RUS) defeated Meng YUAN (CHN) (7) 6-3 4-6 6-3
Anne KEOTHAVONG (GBR) (4) defeated Amanda ELLIOTT (GBR) 4-6 6-2 6-0
Ahsha ROLLE (USA) defeated Margit RUUTEL (EST) 7-5 6-1
Carly GULLICKSON (USA) defeated Brenda SCHULTZ-MCCARTHY (NED) 6-4 7-5
Katie O'BRIEN (GBR) (8) defeated Vania KING (USA) 3-6 6-1 6-3
Monique ADAMCZAK (AUS) defeated Julie DITTY (USA) (6) 6-7(5) 7-5 6-3
Georgie STOOP (GBR) defeated Anna FITZPATRICK (GBR) 7-5 7-6(6)
Melinda CZINK (HUN) defeated Chanelle SCHEEPERS (RSA) 6-1 6-3
Marina ERAKOVIC (NZL) (3) defeated Naomi CAVADAY (GBR) 6-4 6-3
Yanina WICKMAYER (BEL) (5) defeated Olga PUCHKOVA (RUS) 6-1 6-1
Betina JOZAMI (ARG) defeated Varvara LEPCHENKO (USA) 6-4 6-4
Elena BALTACHA (GBR) defeated Andreja KLEPAC (SLO) 4-6 6-1 6-1
Tamarine TANASUGARN (THA) (2) defeated Roberta VINCI (ITA) 6-4 6-1

2nd Round

Rika FUJIWARA (JPN) Vs Abigail SPEARS (USA)
Melanie SOUTH (GBR) Vs Regina KULIKOVA (RUS)
Anne KEOTHAVONG (GBR) (4) Vs Ahsha ROLLE (USA)
Carly GULLICKSON (USA) Vs Katie O'BRIEN (GBR) (8)
Monique ADAMCZAK (AUS) Vs Georgie STOOP (GBR)
Melinda CZINK (HUN) Vs Marina ERAKOVIC (NZL) (3)
Yanina WICKMAYER (BEL) (5) Vs Betina JOZAMI (ARG)
Elena BALTACHA (GBR) Vs Tamarine TANASUGARN (THA) (2)

Go, Tammy, go! (^_^)