feather_ghyll

I meant to write after yesterday's matches and before today's final, but was a bit wiped out. I came home to see the talking up of the semi final, which had been my cunning plan all along although I was a little surprised, because in the last score I'd had, Berdych and Djokovic were going into the tie-break, which I later learned was long and decisive. In one way, a surprise result, in another not. Berdych's game is on the up; it had been a while since Djokovic had made the semis in a slam.

Anyway, although a part of me had wanted that to be a five setter, what I'd really wanted was to see Murray and Nadal. I'd been hoping for a classic and because I like both (I don't share people's issues with Murray) I wanted the best man to win. They were playing good tennis from the off, but Maurray didn't take the half chances he got and Nadal outplayed him on the big points. There was comparative Nadal frailty in the second set, when I thought Murray could still make a match of it, but Nadal won his games and, well, the second set tie-break was again decisive. I only saw Murray getting a set off Nadal after the break at the start of the third, and as I wanted whoever won this match to win the Championship, I was a little relieved that Nadal broke back, put on the pressure and closed it out. Murray is a good enough player to win a slam (yes, the fact that he hasn't won the crucial points is the problem and there was one type of shot the commentators highlighted as a weakness, and yes, he only only had to beat Nadal, i.e. not Federer too), but Nadal reminded us of why he won the French, why he's number 1 in the world, and that he was undefeated at Wimbledon.

He should win tomorrow, although I don't know how much Berdych's power will hurt him - isn't he the Soderling type that Nadal has found awkward (though not in the last two matches?)

ANYway, last night I really sort of noticed Vera Zvonoreva's coach/hitting partner who is an old friend and ex-model apparently. And very, very easy on the eyes. I hoped Zvonareva had a chance, hoped she'd be able to play well, but Serena was excellent as she has been throughout the tournament. She si unquestionably the best woman out there (one keeps hoping for the Belgians, although Henin's injury is a big shame, but it feels that not even Venus could challenge her; still Sharapova is coming back, there were new faces doing well at Wimbledon and there was Stosur on form at the French at least). The Beeb more or less acknowledged this by talking about her competition as King, Navratilova and Evrett.

I had the men's doubles on with the sound turned off because I really couldn't bring myself to care, but did watch the ladies' doubles, because I wanted a consolation prize for Zvonoreva, who has come across as very likeable. And there would be (and were) cutaways to Sergey Demekhine. It was close in the first set, with the momentum changing sides as rapidly as the ball in some rat-a-tat rallies, but the American and Ex-Russian won the tie-break and Zvonoreva had the not unexpected melt-down. The tallest player (can you tell I don't remember her name) was fabulous at intercepting at the net and at times it was two against one, as Zvonoreva checked out, in some ways, for most of the second set.

Looking forward to tomorrow; likely to be a bit lost on Monday.