TENNIS: Most of Wimbledon week 1
Jul. 7th, 2018 08:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllI didn’t see any further tennis from Eastbourne.
But this is what I saw of Wimbledon
Day 1
I came home to see the big-name match of Dimitrov versus Wawrinka, although the latter is on a comeback from injury and lost early to Murray in Eastbourne, while Dimitrov lost to (rather than 'was beaten by') Djokovic. But you’d have expected that combination of names to meet in the latter stages of a slam more than a couple of years ago.
It was the fourth set, and I only slowly grasped how much disappointment Dimitrov must be playing with, but you could see his mistakes all too clearly. There were a lot of break points saved by both players, but flashes of Wawrinka at his best, and he won.
I tried to care about Bedene versus Norrie, but ended up with it on in the background while I did other things. Experience in match play told. Also ‘Norrie’ sounds like ‘Murray’ if you’re half-attending.
Claire Balding, presenting, was not on the ball. (Pun not intended.)
Serena battled the wind, a resistant opponent and her own expectations. Federer got through with ease – suggesting that tiredness contributed to his loss at Halle? – as did Cilic, who deserves to be ‘in the conversation’. In Wozniacki, one slam champion went through, but in Stephens, another did not.
I think I’m slightly more invested in the other halves of the draw.
Day 2
I had a choice between Djokovic winning and Ostapenko against a Plucky Young Brit, and chose the latter. Although Ostapenko won the first set, Dunne had settled in more and I liked her attitude. It became clear that it was down to Ostapenko, would she play an unreturnable winner or a wild, wild error? But Dunne kept up her end, and broke Ostapenko when she should have been serving for the match. There were a few too many crucial points that Dunne could have won that she didn’t, but it was mainly about the former French Open champion. Still, she’d better get more of a hold of her game or hope she hits more winners.
I watched the first half of the round-up show. Of the women’s seeds that fell, I’m most sad about Kvitova, who was in the conversation. Nadal and Djokovic came through easily. For all the hoo-hah about the (seeded) British no. 1s, let’s see if they get past the third round, shall we?
Day 3
Because there was rain, I had a choice between former British no. 1s opining or Pliskova vs. Azarenka, and even though I knew the result, I chose the latter. It’s amazing that this will be the first time Pliskova is through to the third round here, given her serve.
Saw a bit of Cilic thrashing Pella, then there was more rain, and they put on Radwanska vs Safarova, which was entertaining (and might have been a fourth round or quarter final encounter another year). I drifted away when Safarova was only a game away, although Radwanska staved off defeat for longer than that.
Then I watched the highlights programme – too much football for me, Federer won with ease and style again, Serena played better, Wozniacki lost (how early did she lose in the French again?), they tried to big up Keys and I remembered how Stephens had dismantled her in the French, although Stephens is also out, and I tried to work out who the 20 possible women winners were. I still want to see if some of these so-called contenders get through the third.
Just because you can show us footage of someone juggling two balls and a tennis racket doesn’t mean you should, Beeb.
Day 4 – I followed the start of play via results online and was quite shocked that Cilic went out.
Day 5 – I saw Williams vs Mladenovic after the slip that arrested the latter’s successful lead, and Williams seemed in control. Federer seemed to be in even more control (I wasn’t attending closely), but it is striking that most of the ladies’ top seeds have gone. It’s also amusing given all the discussions about giving Serena a seeding.
Today is about whether Halep and Kerber can make it through. I intend to pay closer attention to the play today.
But this is what I saw of Wimbledon
Day 1
I came home to see the big-name match of Dimitrov versus Wawrinka, although the latter is on a comeback from injury and lost early to Murray in Eastbourne, while Dimitrov lost to (rather than 'was beaten by') Djokovic. But you’d have expected that combination of names to meet in the latter stages of a slam more than a couple of years ago.
It was the fourth set, and I only slowly grasped how much disappointment Dimitrov must be playing with, but you could see his mistakes all too clearly. There were a lot of break points saved by both players, but flashes of Wawrinka at his best, and he won.
I tried to care about Bedene versus Norrie, but ended up with it on in the background while I did other things. Experience in match play told. Also ‘Norrie’ sounds like ‘Murray’ if you’re half-attending.
Claire Balding, presenting, was not on the ball. (Pun not intended.)
Serena battled the wind, a resistant opponent and her own expectations. Federer got through with ease – suggesting that tiredness contributed to his loss at Halle? – as did Cilic, who deserves to be ‘in the conversation’. In Wozniacki, one slam champion went through, but in Stephens, another did not.
I think I’m slightly more invested in the other halves of the draw.
Day 2
I had a choice between Djokovic winning and Ostapenko against a Plucky Young Brit, and chose the latter. Although Ostapenko won the first set, Dunne had settled in more and I liked her attitude. It became clear that it was down to Ostapenko, would she play an unreturnable winner or a wild, wild error? But Dunne kept up her end, and broke Ostapenko when she should have been serving for the match. There were a few too many crucial points that Dunne could have won that she didn’t, but it was mainly about the former French Open champion. Still, she’d better get more of a hold of her game or hope she hits more winners.
I watched the first half of the round-up show. Of the women’s seeds that fell, I’m most sad about Kvitova, who was in the conversation. Nadal and Djokovic came through easily. For all the hoo-hah about the (seeded) British no. 1s, let’s see if they get past the third round, shall we?
Day 3
Because there was rain, I had a choice between former British no. 1s opining or Pliskova vs. Azarenka, and even though I knew the result, I chose the latter. It’s amazing that this will be the first time Pliskova is through to the third round here, given her serve.
Saw a bit of Cilic thrashing Pella, then there was more rain, and they put on Radwanska vs Safarova, which was entertaining (and might have been a fourth round or quarter final encounter another year). I drifted away when Safarova was only a game away, although Radwanska staved off defeat for longer than that.
Then I watched the highlights programme – too much football for me, Federer won with ease and style again, Serena played better, Wozniacki lost (how early did she lose in the French again?), they tried to big up Keys and I remembered how Stephens had dismantled her in the French, although Stephens is also out, and I tried to work out who the 20 possible women winners were. I still want to see if some of these so-called contenders get through the third.
Just because you can show us footage of someone juggling two balls and a tennis racket doesn’t mean you should, Beeb.
Day 4 – I followed the start of play via results online and was quite shocked that Cilic went out.
Day 5 – I saw Williams vs Mladenovic after the slip that arrested the latter’s successful lead, and Williams seemed in control. Federer seemed to be in even more control (I wasn’t attending closely), but it is striking that most of the ladies’ top seeds have gone. It’s also amusing given all the discussions about giving Serena a seeding.
Today is about whether Halep and Kerber can make it through. I intend to pay closer attention to the play today.
