Wimbledon - Getting high on grass

Tamira PaszekThe big-hitting Austrian’s game seems to blossom around Wimbledon every year. Paszek, who won a WTA title at the age of 16 but has struggled to realise her full potential since due to a number of injuries, has reached two Grand Slam quarter-finals and both have come on the grass courts of SW 19. In 2011, she reached the quarters as the World no. 80, but then went only 11-8 for the rest of the year.

In 2012, Paszek was 2-13 until she reached Eastbourne, where she went on to win the title and then followed it up with another quarter-final at Wimbledon. From there, she went 7-10 for the rest of the season. This season, Paszek has gone 2-13 once again, including a first round loss at Birmingham to Alison Riske, the third time that the two have played on grass, and the third time that Riske has won. 29th ranked Paszek’s defence in Eastbourne begins on Monday against former World no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, who she beat in the first round at Wimbledon last year. Speaking about her fondness for grass, 22 year old Paszek says, “It is funny because I grew up on clay, but as soon as I am on grass for two days it feels natural. Grass does seem to get the best out of me, that is what everyone says anyway, as I got to the final of the Girls’ Singles Championships at Wimbledon as well.”