Testud has sting in her tail.
June 29th
Ian Valentine
Sandrine Testud, the number 15 seed, came back from a set down against Japanese Doubles World No. 1 Ai Sugiyama to win 6-7 (7-5) 6-2 6-2 on Court 3. Testud was assisted by her range of groundstrokes, and a wasp, to overcome a very able and nimble opponent.
Testud had only dropped five games in getting to the 3rd Round, but it was Sugiyama, runner-up in the Ladies' Doubles last year with Julie Halard-Decugis of France before going on to win the US Open title, who won the first set, as Testud struggled to maintain any fluency. Sugiyama took advantage, using her superior speed to advance to the net and close off Testud's groundstrokes.
In the tie-break, during which the 29-year-old Frenchwoman had double-faulted following an inopportune gust of wind, Sugiyama again raced up to the net and put away a convincing volley to secure the first set.
However, in her past two matches the Japanese, who will be 26 next month, has been taken to three sets, and Testud, who was once ranked seven in the world, began to get her game together. With a more powerful serve and deep searching groundstrokes, Sugiyama was kept at the back of the court, which played into Testud's hands.
As Testud raised her game, so Sugiyama's dropped and the match was soon levelled, one set all.
The crucial moment in the third set, however, had nothing to do with the tennis. During the break, as Sugiyama sat waiting to serve 2-3 down, she was stung by a wasp on her left shoulder. After 10 minutes of medical attention, Sugiyama returned to action, but her momentum was lost. Within 15 minutes Testud was in the 4th Round.
