![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllA bit odd for it to be the quarter finals when the top four seeds were only playing for the second time. Madison Keys vs. Diana Shnaider opened proceedings, and Shnaider’s longer time on the grass court helped as the lefty disrupter broke the ball striker’s rhythm. Shnaider won the first set, but Keys’s level increased and her power told, as Shnaider’s level dropped. Shnaider had some medical attention, but the point is that Keys won in three, with the final two sets looking relatively easy.
Next up, Elena Rybakina vs. Tatjiana Maria, aged 37, the mother of two. What impressed me was learning that Maria had got her highest ranking last year. A qualifier here, she’d broken a nine-match losing streak to get to this match, (the last one had been on grass) and as the first set went on, she got the match played on her terms, with the ball being played between ankle and knee, most uncomfortably for her tall opponent. Rybakina was increasingly flummoxed, as Maria got her into awkward positions. Keothavong was a bit scathing about Rybakina going too big when controlled patience might have got her somewhere. It also helped Maria that she was serving fabulously.
Having won the first set, she was up in the second, with Rybakina never quite getting enough momentum (perhaps if she’d met Maria a round later, she’d have had more confidence in her grass court game?) However, her champion’s mentality allowed her to break back and force the second set into a tiebreak, but Maria stuck to her play and won through to a semi final. I don’t think Keys, a big hitter herself, will be too pleased to be playing Maria, she’s got to hope that all this tennis will be in Maria’s late thirties body.
The blockbuster match was between local favourite Emma Raducanu and actual top 5 player Zheng Qinwen. It was their first meeting, and it soon became clear that Raducanu was facing stiffer opposition. Her games were going to break points, and she soon gave way, getting broken a second time. She needed a medical timeout, for her back, I think (I admit I didn’t watch every point of every match.) There was also drama over Zheng changing shoes after slipping a couple of times and losing her dampener, in front of a hostile British crowd.
But the start of the second set featured Raducanu revived, Zheng uncertain (and a bit of tension between the players, one felt.) Raducanu was up two breaks, the crowd believed, but Zheng broke back and played her way back in. She equalised to change the dynamics of the end of the second set, and though Raducanu saved three or four match points, she lost in two sets. Well, she’s seen where she’s at on grass against a top 5 player who isn’t experienced on the surface. Her return is a strength, and I don’t think she should be too disheartened, but she’s still not quite up there.
To close, Emma Navarro vs. Amanda Anisimova, a study in contrasts when it came to their play. Anisimova had a 3-0 record on the higher ranked American, and had the extra match to get her footing on the grass on her. You soon saw that with her power, it was on her racquet, and at 3-3 there was a very lengthy game on Navarro’s serve. When Anisimova broke eventually, it felt like the set was gone.
I should say that set was repeatedly interrupted by pigeons.
The second set was more of the same, apart from a minor blip from Anisimova, who soon recovered. There was a bit of rowdiness from the clubhouse and only about a ninth of the crowd from the last match had stayed. They were fighting against the dimming of the light and some rain to finish, but Anisimova has too much power for Navarro, especially on grass. We’ll see whether she or Zheng prevails.
I didn’t have time to post that on Saturday morning, and saw the semis on catch-up. First Keys vs. Maria, and Keys knew what was coming. Her tactic seemed to be to try to come forward as much as she could, and when she wasn’t doing a cut-off volley, to hit straight at Maria. But Maria was continuing to serve well, which meant she dictated the points on the serve, and the longer the rally went on, the more likely she was to get an error. Keys was frustrated, her rhythm was off, and though it wasn’t as bad as it had been with Rybakina – it was only the one break in the first set, she couldn’t quite find a way back or through. The second set was tighter, but it was still Maria who won, delighted to reach her second final on grass.
Next up, in a very different match, where the wind seemed to be a bit more of a factor, Anisimova vs Zheng. They had recent history, where Anisimova had led the first set and Zheng had come back and won in three. Anisimova had had more time on grass in her career and in this tournament. It was about big hitting, and Anisimova broke in the first game, backed it up and seemed to have got her timing. A more error strewn Zheng got broken again.
The second set seemed like it was going to carry on where it had started, but there was a stretch where neither of them seemed capable of winning their service games. Worse, Anisimova seemed to be talking herself into losing her serve, while Zheng fed off her negative energy and played tighter tennis. Was history repeating itself? (The crowd were more pro Zheng by this point, because she was the underdog and they wanted more tennis.)
I admit I fast forwarded through a lot of the third set, but Anisimova seemed to have steadied herself and was playing better by the end. If it weren’t for that mental wobble, I would say her play marks her as one to watch at Wimbledon, Zheng still hasn’t figured out how to play on grass (and if she likes things just so, grass is going to frustrate her more than any surface.)
Having said that, will Anisimova be able to dictate the play against Maria who has just beaten two ball strikers who have more experience on grass than Anisimova? Does she have the patience required? The fact that it’s a final will probably impact both women – can Maria continue to serve as well?
It's not the final the Beeb wanted – I suppose that would have been Raducanu against Keys, or the one with the players seeded to meet, but both no.1 and 2 seeds got beaten at the semi stage. Still, Anisimova has the talent to become a slam winner and Maria has a good story – 37 year old mum of two qualifier.
We got a glimpse of the men’s draw – some good first round matches. Telling that Draper, who beat Alcaraz last year, is now seeded 2. Paul, defending champion, and Musetti, last year’s finalist, pulled out, presumably because they’re still dealing with their French Open industries.
Next up, Elena Rybakina vs. Tatjiana Maria, aged 37, the mother of two. What impressed me was learning that Maria had got her highest ranking last year. A qualifier here, she’d broken a nine-match losing streak to get to this match, (the last one had been on grass) and as the first set went on, she got the match played on her terms, with the ball being played between ankle and knee, most uncomfortably for her tall opponent. Rybakina was increasingly flummoxed, as Maria got her into awkward positions. Keothavong was a bit scathing about Rybakina going too big when controlled patience might have got her somewhere. It also helped Maria that she was serving fabulously.
Having won the first set, she was up in the second, with Rybakina never quite getting enough momentum (perhaps if she’d met Maria a round later, she’d have had more confidence in her grass court game?) However, her champion’s mentality allowed her to break back and force the second set into a tiebreak, but Maria stuck to her play and won through to a semi final. I don’t think Keys, a big hitter herself, will be too pleased to be playing Maria, she’s got to hope that all this tennis will be in Maria’s late thirties body.
The blockbuster match was between local favourite Emma Raducanu and actual top 5 player Zheng Qinwen. It was their first meeting, and it soon became clear that Raducanu was facing stiffer opposition. Her games were going to break points, and she soon gave way, getting broken a second time. She needed a medical timeout, for her back, I think (I admit I didn’t watch every point of every match.) There was also drama over Zheng changing shoes after slipping a couple of times and losing her dampener, in front of a hostile British crowd.
But the start of the second set featured Raducanu revived, Zheng uncertain (and a bit of tension between the players, one felt.) Raducanu was up two breaks, the crowd believed, but Zheng broke back and played her way back in. She equalised to change the dynamics of the end of the second set, and though Raducanu saved three or four match points, she lost in two sets. Well, she’s seen where she’s at on grass against a top 5 player who isn’t experienced on the surface. Her return is a strength, and I don’t think she should be too disheartened, but she’s still not quite up there.
To close, Emma Navarro vs. Amanda Anisimova, a study in contrasts when it came to their play. Anisimova had a 3-0 record on the higher ranked American, and had the extra match to get her footing on the grass on her. You soon saw that with her power, it was on her racquet, and at 3-3 there was a very lengthy game on Navarro’s serve. When Anisimova broke eventually, it felt like the set was gone.
I should say that set was repeatedly interrupted by pigeons.
The second set was more of the same, apart from a minor blip from Anisimova, who soon recovered. There was a bit of rowdiness from the clubhouse and only about a ninth of the crowd from the last match had stayed. They were fighting against the dimming of the light and some rain to finish, but Anisimova has too much power for Navarro, especially on grass. We’ll see whether she or Zheng prevails.
I didn’t have time to post that on Saturday morning, and saw the semis on catch-up. First Keys vs. Maria, and Keys knew what was coming. Her tactic seemed to be to try to come forward as much as she could, and when she wasn’t doing a cut-off volley, to hit straight at Maria. But Maria was continuing to serve well, which meant she dictated the points on the serve, and the longer the rally went on, the more likely she was to get an error. Keys was frustrated, her rhythm was off, and though it wasn’t as bad as it had been with Rybakina – it was only the one break in the first set, she couldn’t quite find a way back or through. The second set was tighter, but it was still Maria who won, delighted to reach her second final on grass.
Next up, in a very different match, where the wind seemed to be a bit more of a factor, Anisimova vs Zheng. They had recent history, where Anisimova had led the first set and Zheng had come back and won in three. Anisimova had had more time on grass in her career and in this tournament. It was about big hitting, and Anisimova broke in the first game, backed it up and seemed to have got her timing. A more error strewn Zheng got broken again.
The second set seemed like it was going to carry on where it had started, but there was a stretch where neither of them seemed capable of winning their service games. Worse, Anisimova seemed to be talking herself into losing her serve, while Zheng fed off her negative energy and played tighter tennis. Was history repeating itself? (The crowd were more pro Zheng by this point, because she was the underdog and they wanted more tennis.)
I admit I fast forwarded through a lot of the third set, but Anisimova seemed to have steadied herself and was playing better by the end. If it weren’t for that mental wobble, I would say her play marks her as one to watch at Wimbledon, Zheng still hasn’t figured out how to play on grass (and if she likes things just so, grass is going to frustrate her more than any surface.)
Having said that, will Anisimova be able to dictate the play against Maria who has just beaten two ball strikers who have more experience on grass than Anisimova? Does she have the patience required? The fact that it’s a final will probably impact both women – can Maria continue to serve as well?
It's not the final the Beeb wanted – I suppose that would have been Raducanu against Keys, or the one with the players seeded to meet, but both no.1 and 2 seeds got beaten at the semi stage. Still, Anisimova has the talent to become a slam winner and Maria has a good story – 37 year old mum of two qualifier.
We got a glimpse of the men’s draw – some good first round matches. Telling that Draper, who beat Alcaraz last year, is now seeded 2. Paul, defending champion, and Musetti, last year’s finalist, pulled out, presumably because they’re still dealing with their French Open industries.
