TENNIS: Wimbledon - end of week 1
Jul. 3rd, 2016 10:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllOn Wednesday* and Thursday I was unable to watch more than a few minutes here and catch a few headlines there. This was only enough to grasp that rain and the conditions were a problem and that several seeds had fallen, chief of which was Mugurza.
On Friday afternoon, I was able to enjoy the Williams vs. McHale match, and what a comptetitive, fascinating one it was, with the younger American breaking and then taking the first set, although not as decisively as she could have. An out-of-sorts, stressed and frustrated Williams came back, but so did McHale, although she seemed to be playing above her comfort zone, with a weaker all-round serve and, ultimately, less to give in the biggest moments. A scare for Serena.
Federer and Venus came through, and I was really chuffed that Del Potro beat Wawrinka, as injury has blighted what could have been a top-flight career. The carry over story was that Djokovic was two sets down to big server Querry (who has won Queen’s), but if anyone could win the next three sets, it would be Djokovic, wouldn’t it? Like Williams, he’d find a way...
On Saturday, there was a bit more rain and the fact that they would be using the middle Sunday to catch up – with both second and third round matches being played, it was necessary.
I picked Wimbledon up properly just after the Murray match had started, and he seemed to have it under control as he was the superior player, especially on his serve, than his opponent. He was up a break in the second when the news that Djokovic was out (in four!) flashed up on the screen – I’d been half following it, so I think I saw the final point about five times yesterday. Was that responsible for the lull that led to 0-40? Millman was a pro throughout and especially at the end of the second set.
5-5 became epic, a game that lasted as long as some sets at Wimbledon, with some amazing points, and, as these things do, it increased in importance every time an advantage got pegged back to deuce. Murray’s stubbornness and skill were superior, and from then on in, he seemed determined not to let Millman have long, draining rallies. Lendl seems to be bringing that something extra to the already good game that Murray has been playing this year.
It was also nice that Courier and Petchey were reuninted for commentating duties. It seems someone at the Beeb has been watching the ITV coverage of the French!
Meanwhile Tim Henman seemed to believe that Sam Query was playing the match of his life.
It really is a shocker that Djokovic is out at this point in proceedings.
As for the women, Halep came through when I wasn’t watching, Radwanska (although I don’t think she has the weapons), Keys (still unfinished and inconsistent) and Cibulkova (in form enough to stop Bouchard’s return). But Kvitova was out.
INTRIGUING.
As for middle Sunday, I actually dozed a bit during Isner and Tsonga’s fifth set, until it got exciting and loud. Tsonga seemed the better player to me, although Isner had the advantage of serving first and having been through the marathon match that the commentators couldn’t help referring to.
I then chose to half-watch Vessily beat Sousa over his compatriot Berdych’s match against Zverev. There was a lot of talk of the next generation, as Vessily had beaten Thiem, the first to break through...
Serena returned to normal bulldozing practice.
* Football !?!?
C'mon Cymru! I've watched more football - two whole matches and the rest - this summer than I had previously done in my life. I only understand the goal in the net bit, really, although apparently the game is about 'creating space' and what I learned from playing netball and hockey does not apply. I still think rugby is a more interesting sport, but I'm really proud of the team. The singing, obviously, gives me goosebumps.
On Friday afternoon, I was able to enjoy the Williams vs. McHale match, and what a comptetitive, fascinating one it was, with the younger American breaking and then taking the first set, although not as decisively as she could have. An out-of-sorts, stressed and frustrated Williams came back, but so did McHale, although she seemed to be playing above her comfort zone, with a weaker all-round serve and, ultimately, less to give in the biggest moments. A scare for Serena.
Federer and Venus came through, and I was really chuffed that Del Potro beat Wawrinka, as injury has blighted what could have been a top-flight career. The carry over story was that Djokovic was two sets down to big server Querry (who has won Queen’s), but if anyone could win the next three sets, it would be Djokovic, wouldn’t it? Like Williams, he’d find a way...
On Saturday, there was a bit more rain and the fact that they would be using the middle Sunday to catch up – with both second and third round matches being played, it was necessary.
I picked Wimbledon up properly just after the Murray match had started, and he seemed to have it under control as he was the superior player, especially on his serve, than his opponent. He was up a break in the second when the news that Djokovic was out (in four!) flashed up on the screen – I’d been half following it, so I think I saw the final point about five times yesterday. Was that responsible for the lull that led to 0-40? Millman was a pro throughout and especially at the end of the second set.
5-5 became epic, a game that lasted as long as some sets at Wimbledon, with some amazing points, and, as these things do, it increased in importance every time an advantage got pegged back to deuce. Murray’s stubbornness and skill were superior, and from then on in, he seemed determined not to let Millman have long, draining rallies. Lendl seems to be bringing that something extra to the already good game that Murray has been playing this year.
It was also nice that Courier and Petchey were reuninted for commentating duties. It seems someone at the Beeb has been watching the ITV coverage of the French!
Meanwhile Tim Henman seemed to believe that Sam Query was playing the match of his life.
It really is a shocker that Djokovic is out at this point in proceedings.
As for the women, Halep came through when I wasn’t watching, Radwanska (although I don’t think she has the weapons), Keys (still unfinished and inconsistent) and Cibulkova (in form enough to stop Bouchard’s return). But Kvitova was out.
INTRIGUING.
As for middle Sunday, I actually dozed a bit during Isner and Tsonga’s fifth set, until it got exciting and loud. Tsonga seemed the better player to me, although Isner had the advantage of serving first and having been through the marathon match that the commentators couldn’t help referring to.
I then chose to half-watch Vessily beat Sousa over his compatriot Berdych’s match against Zverev. There was a lot of talk of the next generation, as Vessily had beaten Thiem, the first to break through...
Serena returned to normal bulldozing practice.
* Football !?!?
C'mon Cymru! I've watched more football - two whole matches and the rest - this summer than I had previously done in my life. I only understand the goal in the net bit, really, although apparently the game is about 'creating space' and what I learned from playing netball and hockey does not apply. I still think rugby is a more interesting sport, but I'm really proud of the team. The singing, obviously, gives me goosebumps.
