Miscellany

The Wall Street Journal takes a look at match-fixing, and--specifically--an approach that was made to Ekaterina Bychkova. Almost a year ago, Akiko Morigami clearly said she was approached and asked to throw a match, and then, a few days later, insisted her comments had been "misunderstood." The speed with which the sports media abandoned the Morigami story was right up there in the Jankovic court movement realm.

Robert Radwanski is at it again, this time insisting that the organizers of the Warsaw Open did not treat his daughter fairly.

Vera Zvonareva has been named UNESCO's latest Gender Equality Ambassador.

Jelena Dokic has won one main draw match since the Australian Open. Some people--you know who they are--have mocked her for experiencing sports fatigue syndrome, but that is a nasty state of affairs that depletes just about every part of one's body.

Australian Olivia Rogowska has been added to the French Open wild card list.

Morigami withdraws from Wimbledon

Akiko Morigama, citing a knee injury, has withdrawn from Wimbledon. She has been replaced in the draw by Renato Voracova.

Morigami changes her story

Akiko Morigami now says she never meant to imply that she was asked to throw a match. She says her comments were "misunderstood." Right.

Morigami asked to throw match

Akiko Morigami of Japan says that a national team coach asked her to throw a match in order to help Aiko Nakamura qualify for Japan's Olympic team.

"That a coach would say that to me before a match was a shock," Morigama commented.

No Sharapova, but Szavay out anyway

Agnes Szavay was to have played Maria Sharapova in the first round of the Barclay's Dubai Tennis Championships, but Sharapova withdrew, leaving Szavay to face lucky loser Akiko Morigami. Morigami has defeated Szavay, 6-1, 6-4.

Schnyder out of Cincinnati

2005 Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open champion Patty Schnyder was eliminated from competition this evening when Akiko Morigami defeated her, 6-3, 6-1 in their quarterfinal match. The Monica Seles-style player from Japan is a dangerous floater wherever she goes (she almost took Venus Williams out of Wimbledon), and this evening, she was able to take advantage of Schnyder's service problems.

Next for Schnyder is the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, where she was the finalist last year. She had a great run, taking out Tatiana Golovin in the semifinals, but falling to Kim Clijsters in the final. Schnyder should have several Tier I and II titles by now, but instead, she has often wound up a finalist. Oh, how very frustrating it is to be a Patty Schnyder fan...