Betfair Official Blog

Czech teen ends Mauresmo's reign

New teen queen Nicole Vaidisova ended Amelie Mauresmo's reign as Wimbledon champion 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-1 in another rain-affected round four clash.

The match ended in a damp squib as only a half-empty Centre Court endured three rain breaks to witness the Czech teenager's victory - almost four hours after the morning start.

Vaidisova fought back from 5-3 down in the first set, saving two set points before edging the tie-break 8-6.
Mauresmo got the only break in the second set to keep her title defence alive, but the 18-year-old regrouped and ran out an easy 6-1 winner in the final set.

Vaidisova will play Ana Ivanovic or Nadia Petrova in the quarter-finals, with Ivanovic serving for the match when the rain returned yet again to interrupt play on all courts at the All England Club.

Mauresmo's exit saw Betfair's 'Women's Championships - New Winner' market moving in the direction of Yes - now available at 1.35, with No now trading at 3.1.

With former champions Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova to meet in the fourth round, there will now be only two players with the experience of winning the title among the quarter-finalists.

However, the Big Three v The Field market continues to steadily squeeze the odds on one of top seed Justine Henin, Serena Williams or Sharapova securing the title (1.3) over one of the current crop of emerging players left in the tournament (3.7).