A Party Without Americans

With the loss of Mary Joe Fernandez in the fourth round on Tuesday came this sobering statistic: For first time since 1913, no American woman has advanced to the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

A motivated, confident Jana Novotna is a dangerous opponent, as Fernandez learned. So, too, are nearsighted linesmen. Fernandez, seeded 11th, was on the receiving end of several questionable calls in her match against third-seeded Novotna, who won, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.

Top-seeded Martina Hingis defeated Sabine Applemans, 6-1, 6-3. Fourth-seeded Iva Majoli defeated 12th-seeded Irina Spirlea, 6-7 (8-10), 6-1, 9-7. Eighth-seeded Arantxa Sanchez Vicario defeated ninth-seeded Mary Pierce, 6-1, 6-3, Pierce reporting that she had arm problems stemming from a pinched nerve in her neck.

Sanchez Vicario is trying to turn around a dismal season. Her victory over Pierce is her first over a top-10 player this year. Since last summer’s Olympic Games, Sanchez Vicario has gone 1-10 against players in the top 10.

Fernandez was uncharacteristically angry about the calls, the last an overrule as she was serving at 5-6 in the third set. Fernandez wouldn’t say the line calls had cost her the match, but no one could remember the mild-mannered Floridian angrier.

“I got a little frustrated out there,” she said, “playing a big match and every point is a big point. Jana doesn’t give you anything. I felt I got a few bad calls, and it’s frustrating when you’re competing very hard and fighting for every point and you get a bad call.”

Novotna was booed by the Court 1 crowd after the match.

“When I saw the draw for the first time, I looked at it and said, ‘Well, this is the only player I wouldn’t like to play, and that’s Mary Joe,’ ” Novotna said. “She always has a very good game plan. She’s very experienced and tough to beat. Today I was in the match and then I was out of the match.

“I don’t think you can imagine how happy I am. I felt like I already won Wimbledon, because I know that this was going to be a really tough match.”