TENNIS: Wimbledon 2024 - fourth round
Jul. 9th, 2024 08:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllThe start of week 2, where, whatever their ranking, players face opponents who are playing well.
Fourth round
Day seven – I watched the Carlos Alcaraz vs. Ugo Humbert match, the latter being a lefty, and I have to note that he, like Norrie and Draper, was moving his serving position around a lot. The roof was closed on Centre Court (such an advantage to play on a show court!) and early on it became clear why with the rain hammering down, and by hammering I mean making a racket on the roof.
As for the tennis, my concerns about Alcaraz’s slow starts were assuaged. He broke, better yet, consolidated and broke again to win the first set. But his top 20 opponent wasn’t discouraged, hitting winners when he had the chance and coming in and doing well there. Humbert played better in the second set, and arguably was the better player, but Alcaraz had the advantage of serving first, and on set point, Humbert stupidly forgot that Alcaraz is the best mover on the tour (having recovered from a slip already in the point) and didn’t do enough with a put-away. Alcaraz reached it, hit it back in and Humbert’s last shot went out, gifting Alcaraz the set.
But to his absolute credit, Humbert’s attitude was excellent and not only did he stick with it, his level raised again. His returning stats were amazing, he was taking more points inside the baseline, and he broke Alcaraz, and again (though I think Alcaraz’s focus was gone at this point), but then again to win the third set handily. At the start of the fourth set, it was a question of who could hold their serve as they exchanged breaks. A few games later, Alcaraz had a bit of a strop, because Humbert’s returning was ridiculous. And then he started serving like a champion. From that point on, his level was noticeably higher, and Humbert didn’t have many chances. Alcaraz was through after another tough match, and Humbert saw that he can play the kind of tennis that could get him into the top 10.
I dipped in and out of the Emma Raducanu vs. Lulu Sun match, having been given an intimation it would last three sets. I think qualifier Sun was technically higher ranked that Raducanu coming in, she’s very much at the start of her career and a leftie. She started better, and was up 3-0 before Raducanu had settled and most of the crowd had returned. Big serve, ready to come in, and as the match went on, it was obvious her forehand was a weapon. Raducanu got some games on the board, but Sun won the first set easily.
The second set was more competitive. Both women faced break points, although Sun won more of her games more easily. Raducanu had the advantage of serving first and, at 6-5, used it to tease a few errors out of Sun and draw level in terms of sets. She went off, and then two shots into the third set, she fell. I fastforwarded through it but I think the physio looked at the ankle she’d fallen on and her back, which Raducanu had been massaging in the previous set. Play resumed, but Sun broke and Raducancu could not break back. A double break meant that Sun was serving for the match, which she managed, taking her into the quarter-final. She looked like the better player for most of the match, and will surely be racing up the rankings. Raducanu has equalled her best performance at Wimbledon, so that’s good, and did fight back to get a deciding set, which is also good. I hope she’s physically okay and takes the positives (after all, if she equals her best performance at the next slam…) FWIW, she was well within her rights to pull out of doubles with Murray and prioritise her health and the singles.
Madison Keys retired injured after fighting back to try to serve for the match against Jasmine Paolini, who has totally brought her French Open form to the grass, despite never having managed to before. As Navarro beat Gauff, Paolini is the highest seed left in this half of the women’s draw. Ah, women’s tennis! Meanwhile, Sinner beat Shelton in three sets.
Day eight – I mostly chose women’s tennis, starting with Rybakina against Kalinsaya, who is new to me as a player (though I then realised that boyfriend Sinner was repaying her in kind by sitting in the player’s box.) She’d done well in a grass tournament already this year and, having won the toss, put Rybakina in to serve. Rybakina had not got her range, and Kalinsaya got an early lead, but Rybakina’s serves started working, and after one sit down, she’d settled down, was dialled in and was looking like the higher seed. I noticed Kalinsaya shaking her wrist, but by the time she’d got the trainer on, Rybakina was on runs that I think she’d have got on anyway and had more than made up the deficit. She won the first set and was up 3-0 when Kalinsaya retired. In fairness, she hadn’t been hitting many of her shots as hard as she had at the start, but, well, only she knows how much pain she was in or how much damage she was doing by continuing. It had been a flat match as both women are the self-contained sort. But Rybakina is still looking good.
It was clear that Zverev vs Frits, next on Centre Court, would be all about the big serves, so I switched to Court no. 1, where de Minaur beat Fils in four sets. It looked as though he’d done something to his ankle on the winning point, and he had a muted celebration to getting to the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time.
Next up were Jelena Ostapenko and Yulia Putintseva, both firecrackers, so I was expecting entertainment, and although it turned out to be almost as one-sided as Rybakina vs Kalinsaya, it was. The male general sports commentator was trying to point out that Ostapenko had steamrolled through her previous matches, but we didn’t quite realise it until she’d steamrolled through this and was up 4-0. Quite the reminder that it’s usually on her racquet in her matches, and when she’s on, she’s formidable. Putntseva finally got a game on the scoreboard, but it took a while for the first five-stroke rally. Points were over very quickly and Ostapenko was up one set. There were a few more exchanges of serve in the second set, where Putintseva was visibly frustrated, but apart from sheer power, Ostapenko was hitting deep and then hitting lines. She rarely looked comfortable coming in, but it was testament to how one-sided it was that Putintseva tried an underarm serve (it went into the net) sending Martina Navratilova and Anne Keothavong off into giggles.
Winning with a slice (!), Ostapenko thundered into the quarter finals, and I stayed to watch Danielle Collins vs Barbora Krejikova, which nobody could call. It felt close at the start of the first set, although it became evident that Krejikova (multiple doubles champion and French Open champion) was winning her service games far more easily than Collins (having announced she’s retiring after this year, having an excellent year). Collins staved off about 10 break points in the first set, until she couldn’t, and Krejikova won 7-5.
How would they react after such a close set? Well, Krejikova’s serve wasn’t under any pressure, while Collins’s continued to be. She’d been stretching out her back and then called a trainer. She continued playing two points on her serve, although her movement was clearly hampered. She came back on court taped up, but Krejikova kept doing what she’d been doing. Collins started hitting with a bit more force and was moving okay to make Krejikova have to serve it out, and for the first time the generally cool Czech player (the last one standing this year) faltered. But she regrouped and broke Collins to win the match and get through to the quarter-finals here for the first time in singles, and thus completing a full ‘last eight’ foursome. I know the women’s game is in flux, but I did just watch the three remaining grand slam champions get through. Kreijikova and Ostapenko will offer some contrasts.
I think I saw a glimpse of Fritz going an on-court interview, which suggests he won. I switched over to watch the tail end of Djokovic vs Rune, where it looked as if young Rune just didn’t have a clue how to beat the old master. (As I expected, if I’m honest.) A few slips, but Djokovic’s movement seemed fine. Some controversy over whether the Danish supporters were booing him (what Djokovic thought) or supporting Rune a certain way. Whatever it was, Djokovic was using it as grist to his mill, and Kyrigos can talk up his fellow Aussie as much as he likes, and a healthy de Minaur will offer something different to what Rune did, but I think Djokovic will take him too.
Fourth round
Day seven – I watched the Carlos Alcaraz vs. Ugo Humbert match, the latter being a lefty, and I have to note that he, like Norrie and Draper, was moving his serving position around a lot. The roof was closed on Centre Court (such an advantage to play on a show court!) and early on it became clear why with the rain hammering down, and by hammering I mean making a racket on the roof.
As for the tennis, my concerns about Alcaraz’s slow starts were assuaged. He broke, better yet, consolidated and broke again to win the first set. But his top 20 opponent wasn’t discouraged, hitting winners when he had the chance and coming in and doing well there. Humbert played better in the second set, and arguably was the better player, but Alcaraz had the advantage of serving first, and on set point, Humbert stupidly forgot that Alcaraz is the best mover on the tour (having recovered from a slip already in the point) and didn’t do enough with a put-away. Alcaraz reached it, hit it back in and Humbert’s last shot went out, gifting Alcaraz the set.
But to his absolute credit, Humbert’s attitude was excellent and not only did he stick with it, his level raised again. His returning stats were amazing, he was taking more points inside the baseline, and he broke Alcaraz, and again (though I think Alcaraz’s focus was gone at this point), but then again to win the third set handily. At the start of the fourth set, it was a question of who could hold their serve as they exchanged breaks. A few games later, Alcaraz had a bit of a strop, because Humbert’s returning was ridiculous. And then he started serving like a champion. From that point on, his level was noticeably higher, and Humbert didn’t have many chances. Alcaraz was through after another tough match, and Humbert saw that he can play the kind of tennis that could get him into the top 10.
I dipped in and out of the Emma Raducanu vs. Lulu Sun match, having been given an intimation it would last three sets. I think qualifier Sun was technically higher ranked that Raducanu coming in, she’s very much at the start of her career and a leftie. She started better, and was up 3-0 before Raducanu had settled and most of the crowd had returned. Big serve, ready to come in, and as the match went on, it was obvious her forehand was a weapon. Raducanu got some games on the board, but Sun won the first set easily.
The second set was more competitive. Both women faced break points, although Sun won more of her games more easily. Raducanu had the advantage of serving first and, at 6-5, used it to tease a few errors out of Sun and draw level in terms of sets. She went off, and then two shots into the third set, she fell. I fastforwarded through it but I think the physio looked at the ankle she’d fallen on and her back, which Raducanu had been massaging in the previous set. Play resumed, but Sun broke and Raducancu could not break back. A double break meant that Sun was serving for the match, which she managed, taking her into the quarter-final. She looked like the better player for most of the match, and will surely be racing up the rankings. Raducanu has equalled her best performance at Wimbledon, so that’s good, and did fight back to get a deciding set, which is also good. I hope she’s physically okay and takes the positives (after all, if she equals her best performance at the next slam…) FWIW, she was well within her rights to pull out of doubles with Murray and prioritise her health and the singles.
Madison Keys retired injured after fighting back to try to serve for the match against Jasmine Paolini, who has totally brought her French Open form to the grass, despite never having managed to before. As Navarro beat Gauff, Paolini is the highest seed left in this half of the women’s draw. Ah, women’s tennis! Meanwhile, Sinner beat Shelton in three sets.
Day eight – I mostly chose women’s tennis, starting with Rybakina against Kalinsaya, who is new to me as a player (though I then realised that boyfriend Sinner was repaying her in kind by sitting in the player’s box.) She’d done well in a grass tournament already this year and, having won the toss, put Rybakina in to serve. Rybakina had not got her range, and Kalinsaya got an early lead, but Rybakina’s serves started working, and after one sit down, she’d settled down, was dialled in and was looking like the higher seed. I noticed Kalinsaya shaking her wrist, but by the time she’d got the trainer on, Rybakina was on runs that I think she’d have got on anyway and had more than made up the deficit. She won the first set and was up 3-0 when Kalinsaya retired. In fairness, she hadn’t been hitting many of her shots as hard as she had at the start, but, well, only she knows how much pain she was in or how much damage she was doing by continuing. It had been a flat match as both women are the self-contained sort. But Rybakina is still looking good.
It was clear that Zverev vs Frits, next on Centre Court, would be all about the big serves, so I switched to Court no. 1, where de Minaur beat Fils in four sets. It looked as though he’d done something to his ankle on the winning point, and he had a muted celebration to getting to the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time.
Next up were Jelena Ostapenko and Yulia Putintseva, both firecrackers, so I was expecting entertainment, and although it turned out to be almost as one-sided as Rybakina vs Kalinsaya, it was. The male general sports commentator was trying to point out that Ostapenko had steamrolled through her previous matches, but we didn’t quite realise it until she’d steamrolled through this and was up 4-0. Quite the reminder that it’s usually on her racquet in her matches, and when she’s on, she’s formidable. Putntseva finally got a game on the scoreboard, but it took a while for the first five-stroke rally. Points were over very quickly and Ostapenko was up one set. There were a few more exchanges of serve in the second set, where Putintseva was visibly frustrated, but apart from sheer power, Ostapenko was hitting deep and then hitting lines. She rarely looked comfortable coming in, but it was testament to how one-sided it was that Putintseva tried an underarm serve (it went into the net) sending Martina Navratilova and Anne Keothavong off into giggles.
Winning with a slice (!), Ostapenko thundered into the quarter finals, and I stayed to watch Danielle Collins vs Barbora Krejikova, which nobody could call. It felt close at the start of the first set, although it became evident that Krejikova (multiple doubles champion and French Open champion) was winning her service games far more easily than Collins (having announced she’s retiring after this year, having an excellent year). Collins staved off about 10 break points in the first set, until she couldn’t, and Krejikova won 7-5.
How would they react after such a close set? Well, Krejikova’s serve wasn’t under any pressure, while Collins’s continued to be. She’d been stretching out her back and then called a trainer. She continued playing two points on her serve, although her movement was clearly hampered. She came back on court taped up, but Krejikova kept doing what she’d been doing. Collins started hitting with a bit more force and was moving okay to make Krejikova have to serve it out, and for the first time the generally cool Czech player (the last one standing this year) faltered. But she regrouped and broke Collins to win the match and get through to the quarter-finals here for the first time in singles, and thus completing a full ‘last eight’ foursome. I know the women’s game is in flux, but I did just watch the three remaining grand slam champions get through. Kreijikova and Ostapenko will offer some contrasts.
I think I saw a glimpse of Fritz going an on-court interview, which suggests he won. I switched over to watch the tail end of Djokovic vs Rune, where it looked as if young Rune just didn’t have a clue how to beat the old master. (As I expected, if I’m honest.) A few slips, but Djokovic’s movement seemed fine. Some controversy over whether the Danish supporters were booing him (what Djokovic thought) or supporting Rune a certain way. Whatever it was, Djokovic was using it as grist to his mill, and Kyrigos can talk up his fellow Aussie as much as he likes, and a healthy de Minaur will offer something different to what Rune did, but I think Djokovic will take him too.
