TENNIS: French Open Quarter Finals
Jun. 5th, 2014 07:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllTo my surprise, I saw some live tennis last night, thanks to the weather delaying the start of play, I think. I switched the TV on at the end of the third set of Murray’s match against Monfils. Based on the scoreline, I was optimistic, but soon the play backed up the commentators’ pessimistic noises (Courier seemed tired) and Monfils played some unplayable tennis, while Murray’s first serve wouldn’t go in and he made some mistakes and, for him, played one-note tennis. As the fourth set neared an end, I realised that they were going to make them play on, something that seemed to have escaped Murray.
But all due respect to him for putting his difference of opinion with the referee and frustration to one side in the first two games of the last set, and playing like I hadn’t seen him play all evening. And Monfils then collapsed (in a way Murray hadn’t when Monfils was the one coming up with all the answers). It was very kind of him as Nadal was already through.
Murray needs to serve better on Friday. And do other things. I still sort of expect Nadal and Djokovic to meet in the final, but I can hope for another outcome – Gulbis’s scoreline against Berdych was impressive, even if Djokovic is another level up.
As for the women, Sharapova fought her way back again, because she’s a champion. The others are unknown quantities at this level, even the highly seeded Halep. We’ll see who makes it.
But all due respect to him for putting his difference of opinion with the referee and frustration to one side in the first two games of the last set, and playing like I hadn’t seen him play all evening. And Monfils then collapsed (in a way Murray hadn’t when Monfils was the one coming up with all the answers). It was very kind of him as Nadal was already through.
Murray needs to serve better on Friday. And do other things. I still sort of expect Nadal and Djokovic to meet in the final, but I can hope for another outcome – Gulbis’s scoreline against Berdych was impressive, even if Djokovic is another level up.
As for the women, Sharapova fought her way back again, because she’s a champion. The others are unknown quantities at this level, even the highly seeded Halep. We’ll see who makes it.
