Chakvetadze Knocks Out Williams in Night Thriller

American Venus Williams will not win a fourth career Acura Classic title.

The former three-time Acura Classic champion was stunned by third-seeded Anna Chakvetadze of Russia in a night quarterfinal match, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3), 6-2, in 2 hours and 32 minutes.

With her victory, Chakvetadze extends her personal win streak to 13 matches as she arrived at the Acura Classic after having won tournaments in Cincinnati and Stanford.

In an intense first set, Chakvetadze jumped out to a 5-2 lead, but Williams, who was seeded 10th, came back strong to win the next three games to tie the set at 5-5.

Williams dropped her serve when she double faulted on break point and gave the Russian a 6-5 lead. Chakvetadze served for the set but committed three double faults to send the set to a tiebreak.

Williams took a 4-0 lead in the tiebreak and held off Chakvetadze’s rally. At 6-5, the American won the set when Chakvetadze hit a high backhand volley wide.

In the second set, Williams used an early break to take a 3-1 lead. She increased her lead to 5-3 and served for the match at 5-4. Williams gained a match point at 40-30, but double faults and ended up losing her serve.

At 5-5, both players held serve to send the second set into a tiebreak. Chakvetadze evened the match as she dominated the tiebreaker. The Russian was leading 6-3 when Williams netted an easy forehand volley to end the set.

The third set was all Chakvetadze as the Russian took advantage of Williams’ unforced errors to build a 5-1 lead.  After Williams held to stay in the match, Chakvetadze serve out the match at love as she blasted two service winners at 30-0.

Both players had three aces and eight doubles faults.

• Chakvetadze advances to a semifinal against Maria Sharapova.
• Chakvetadze is ranked sixth in the world.
• Chakvetadze is now 49-11 in 2007.
• Chakvetadze is making her third career Acura Classic appearance. She reached the quarterfinals in 2005 and 2006.
• Chakvetadze has represented Russia in Fed Cup play.
• Williams is ranked 16 in the world.
• Williams 2007 match record is now 33-7.
• Williams is now 2-1 in career head-to-head meetings with Chakvetadze.
• Williams was making her eighth career Acura Class appearance. She won the title here in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

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