Linda Harvey-Wild`s giant-killing run at the Eastbourne women`s grass court tournament ended Saturday in the final, when fellow American Lori McNeil beat her 6-4, 6-4.
Unseeded Harvey-Wild, a 21-year-old from Hawthorn Woods, romped through the tournament, knocking out defending champion Martina Navratilova in the first round. It was the nine-time Wimbledon champion`s first defeat by a player outside the world`s top 50 since 1981.
But Harvey-Wild, ranked No. 64, was asked to play two matches in a day after her semifinal against Rosilyn Fairbank-Nideffer was washed out Friday night. Although it was a straight-set 6-1, 6-3 victory, Harvey-Wild was obviously suffering in the final.
A fall in the third game didn`t help either-aggravating an injury to her heavily strapped left knee, damaged last year at Wimbledon. At the next changeover she took a three-minute injury break to receive on-court treatment. ”My knee started hurting a little and I was glad to get it treated. I was a little scared about it,” Harvey-Wild said. ”The wind seemed to affect me more than her. She coped with it very well.”
For the 28-year-old McNeil, the victory was the perfect leadup for Wimbledon, starting Monday. ”It`s a great feeling,” she said. ”It has given me a lot of confidence for next week.”
