Australia’s No 1 Pratt defeated by Dechy at Toby’s

The 23 years-old Dechy took the second set 7-5 after Pratt, who is 29 years old, easily won the first set 2-6. Pratt who left a disappointed crowd behind, after she also lost the third set 6-3, showed a different kind of game than usual. The 300 spectators in the stands, including 20 Pratt family members, saw the player from Queensland talking to herself in what Pratt later explained as showing her ‘tennis emotions’.

After the two players left the court and the scoreboard on 6-2, 5-7, 3-6 with Nathalie Dechy as the winner, Nicole Pratt said that she was changing her game. Being more aggressive and taking the chances as they come. In taking the chances also being prepared to make more unforced errors. She believes she has to play her new kind of game in order to beat top 10 players. Pratt: “That’s what I’m working towards. I’m totally committed to making that happen.”

Pratt still wants to play tournaments for the next two or three years and trying to get into the top 10. She said she is also trying ‘to take a crack at’ winning a place in the Olympic team, as she revealed her future plans. 

Nathalie Dechy will have to play Barbara Schett of Austria in the quarterfinals. Dechy is eager to take this opportunity to beat Schett for the first time. Schett, who is the No. 8 seed, won her match against her 21-year-old Croatian opponent Jelena Kostanic. The 26-year-old Schett, who started her twelfth year on the tour, took the victory 6-2 6-4.

In the second set Kostanic didn’t take the chance to take advantage of Schett’s balls going wide. Some of the Croatian’s left forehand groundstrokes looked dangerous for Schett but she could stand the attack by going for Kostanic’ weaker backhand.

Schett said she was troubled with being jet-lagged but she seemed satisfied with her game. “My footwork was terrible and my legs were really heavy but when I get over it I’m going to move much better and play more aggressively and make less mistakes” she said.

Meghann Shaughnessy also won her match for a place with the last eight. The American, who will be needing treatment due to a twisted ankle during the match, defeated the Russian Lina Krasnoroutskaya 6-3 7-6 (8). She expected that she would be ready for the quarterfinals when she has to face the No. 1 seed the Swiss Patty Schnyder. Photo courtesy of Bill Mitchell at http://www.igs.net/%7Ebmitchell/Tennis/tennis.htm