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Fitzpatrick Plays Well on
Wimbledon Debut
 Anna
Fitzpatrick put in a creditable
performance on her debut at
Wimbledon on Thursday.
The Monte Carlo Tennis Academy
junior member joined forces with
Emily Webley-Smith and went down
6-1, 6-4 in the first round of the
Ladies' Doubles to the seasoned-duo
Nakamura and Tanasugarn of Japan.
The British pair started well,
forcing two break points in the
opening game, but when they failed
to convert either of opportunity,
the momentum of the set switched.
The second set was a different
story. After retrieving an early
break of serve, Fitzpatrick and
Webley-Smith repeatedly pushed their
higher-ranked opponents to the
limit.
At 8.45pm, In cold, windy
conditions, with dusk falling, they
led 4-3. At the changeover, it began
to rain.
Umpire Mohammed Lahyani considered
suspending play, but decided against
it.
Fitzpatrick and Webley-Smith
couldn't break through, and their
Japanese opponents levelled at
4-all.
The British pair had points to lead
5-4, with Fitzpatrick producing some
inspired tennis when break points
down, but their oppoinents finally
broke through on their fourth break
point.
Fitzpatrick and Webley Smith even
had 15-40 on their opponents' serve
at 4-5, but couldn't capitalise.
Fitzpatrick will now enter the
junior competition which starts this
weekend, and MCTA Head Coach David
Sammel is confident that the doubles
experience will have benefitted her.
"It was a respectable performance
for her first time at Wimbledon, but
disappointing at the same time
because the match started to become
winnable." he said.
"Having been out on these courts
with the crowd around will help her
to know what to expect for the
singles in the juniors. She should
now be able to go out there without
any excess nerves. 'Wimbledon-itis'
should be out of her system now."
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