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Myskina is latest victim of champions' graveyard
Anastasia Myskina joined the likes of Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi on Friday by becoming the latest big name to be beaten on Court Two.
French Open winner Anastasia Myskina joined the likes of Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi on Friday by becoming the latest big name to be beaten on Wimbledon's Court Two — the infamous Graveyard of the Champions.
The 22-year-old Russian, who lost her third round clash 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to American veteran Amy Frazier, claimed she knew nothing of the tight little court's grisly reputation as a slayer of title dreams.
"I didn't know," said the second seed. "I don't like the court at all. I almost lost my second round match there on Thursday.
"But it's not really the court, it's what you do on the court when you are playing. It wasn't good today."
Her defeat brought back memories of seven-time champion Pete Sampras's disappointing exit in 2002 when he was relegated to Court Two and was beaten 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4 by the 145th-ranked Swiss George Bastl.
The defeat was so painful that Sampras never returned to the All England Club.
"When I heard I was to play on Court Two I wasn't happy about it," said the 13-time Grand Slam winner who was more used to the exclusive surrounds of Centre Court rather than the hoi polloi of the outside courts.
"Having won this thing a few times I didn't figure they would put me out there.
"It's a different atmosphere. It is a very small court and not as comfortable. I have seen some upsets out there and it happened to me, unfortunately."
Three years earlier, Dutchman Richard Krajicek, the 1996 men's champion, was defeated by Swiss qualifier Lorenzo Manta in the third round losing 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 4-6, 6-4.
Krajicek should have expected the worse.
In 1996, Agassi, the 1992 winner, was also sent packing by lowly compatriot Ken Flach, another qualifier, in the first round, 2-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6).
Jimmy Connors, the 1974 and 1983 winner also fell to the curse in 1983 when he was defeated by South African grasscourt specialist Kevin Curren in the fourth round.
However, the Americans didn't have a monopoly on the misery.
Australia's Pat Cash, the 1987 champion, was sent out to the Court Two wilderness in 1991 where he found Frenchman Thierry Champion waiting to supply the knockout punch in the second round courtesy of a 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 4-6, 6-1, 12-10 victory.
Virginia Wade, the 1977 women's champion, was defeated by Swedish qualifier Carina Karlsson in the third round in 1984 losing 6-2, 4-6, 11-9 while, in 1973, top seed Ilie Nastase was knocked out by Alexander Mayer in the fourth round, 6-4, 8-6, 6-8, 6-4.
