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US OPEN: How super was non-super Saturday?
Sep. 2nd, 2007 02:59 pmBefore I get to the tennis and before I forget, too, I read this review in The Guardian about Singled Out: How Two Million Women Survived Without Men After the First World War by Virginia Nicholson. It sounds like an interesting book about a group of people I hadn't thought much about, though, obviously, they populated (as those Oxbridge graduates who became mistresses unto retirement) and created a lot of girls own stories.
Anyhow, tennis. Much better far from Eurosport. This is partly because players I have some investment in were playing, but I think the quality was higher. The commentator seemed to believe so, and even salting their hyperbole, there was A Major Upset and tension.
First, watching Sharapova losing the first set, go on the aggressive and, almost bully the second set from Radwanska. But then the serve broke down - and in general, I've always sensed Sharapova's vulnerability as a player, even though she has been consistently near the top, there are others with more talent or raw power - as the momentum shifted. Roddick vs. Johanssen wasn't all that of a match, but I like Roddick (especially in interviews) and Johanssen flubbed the part where he had to keep his own serve, and got dispatched for it.
The Federer vs. Isner match was intriguing as they showed him winning against Montfils in the Washington semi-final, reeling off the wins he'd managed to get there. With his extreme height they were trying to make it out to be a fairy story where the giant was the hero, but as Federer was in imperious form, that was shown to be fiction and the giant was, well, not slain, but taught a lesson. Still, what an occasion to play the world no. 1 in your home slam for someone starting out on their career? As Jo Durie noted - and got slapped down for it by her male colleague, who had been rhapsodising about pretty Maria Sharapova's pretty, pretty dress earlier - Isner looked far more boyish than 2. Federer's outfit was, I would like to point out, very flattering, and his tennis was seriously impressive, as was his deconstruction of his opponent's game.
Anyhow, tennis. Much better far from Eurosport. This is partly because players I have some investment in were playing, but I think the quality was higher. The commentator seemed to believe so, and even salting their hyperbole, there was A Major Upset and tension.
First, watching Sharapova losing the first set, go on the aggressive and, almost bully the second set from Radwanska. But then the serve broke down - and in general, I've always sensed Sharapova's vulnerability as a player, even though she has been consistently near the top, there are others with more talent or raw power - as the momentum shifted. Roddick vs. Johanssen wasn't all that of a match, but I like Roddick (especially in interviews) and Johanssen flubbed the part where he had to keep his own serve, and got dispatched for it.
The Federer vs. Isner match was intriguing as they showed him winning against Montfils in the Washington semi-final, reeling off the wins he'd managed to get there. With his extreme height they were trying to make it out to be a fairy story where the giant was the hero, but as Federer was in imperious form, that was shown to be fiction and the giant was, well, not slain, but taught a lesson. Still, what an occasion to play the world no. 1 in your home slam for someone starting out on their career? As Jo Durie noted - and got slapped down for it by her male colleague, who had been rhapsodising about pretty Maria Sharapova's pretty, pretty dress earlier - Isner looked far more boyish than 2. Federer's outfit was, I would like to point out, very flattering, and his tennis was seriously impressive, as was his deconstruction of his opponent's game.
