Pratt rules out teen ‘choker’
Pratt rules out teen ‘choker’ 
From Darren Walton in New York
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007
NICOLE Pratt insists boom young Russian Anna Chakvetadze is too mentally fragile to win the US Open, after losing 6-3 6-4 to her in the second round today (AEST).
Chakvetadze arrived at Flushing Meadows as one of the hottest players on tour, having scorched her way to four titles in 2007 - including two on American hard courts in the past five weeks - and risen to a career-high No.6 in the world.
The 20-year-old also reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and French Open this season, falling on both occasions to her celebrated countrywoman and two-time major champion Maria Sharapova.
Under the Grand Slam spotlight for the first time at Melbourne Park in January, Chakvetadze suffered a mini meltdown in her 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 loss to Sharapova, and Pratt today maintained the highly-rated youngster isstill not ready to break through on the sport’s biggest stage.
“No, not at the moment. She’s not,” said the veteran Australian after unsettling Chakvetadze today.
“There’s too many weakness there that people can take advantage of. She’s got potential but she’s still got a lot of work to do.”
Pratt sensed Chakvetadze was close to folding when facing break points serving at 3-4 in the second set.
“I had a couple of balls to go 5-3 up in the second set and I felt like the momentum had shifted,” she said.
“I felt like if I could get to a third set, I knew that emotionally she’s susceptible. So I thought ‘if I could get to a third set, I like my chances’.
“But unfortunately it didn’t happen.”
Chakvetadze’s compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 Open champion, also doubts whether the No.6 seed has the nerve to win the tournament.
“I think everything is possible. I think the draw is pretty open. But the thing is, what’s her best result in a Grand Slam?,” said Kuznetsova when asked if she thinks Chakvetadze is ready to make a major impact here.
“The question is if she can handle the pressure. (That’s) the question is for every player, I think.”
AAP