feather_ghyll (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
feather_ghyll) wrote2010-07-08 08:03 am
feather_ghyll) wrote2010-07-08 08:03 am
WIMBLEDON: Remember that?
Men's finals and the tournament
I avoided the bereft feeling of there being no tennis to watch after coming home on Monday by reading about the tennis. I did watch the finals - not a classic, not even as good a match as Murray vs. Nadal had been (conditions? nervers?), but I was happy with the result. Again, Nadal seemed to raise his game when it was needed, exerted pressure and won on the big points. Certainly a deserved champion, underlining his superiority on clay wasn't just about the surface favouring him and looking threatening for the rest of the year (and the future, as observers have noted, taking into account his achievements so far, and his continued hunger, if his body can take it). Berdych couldn't bring what he'd brought to win against Federer and Djokovic (although both seem diminished, even though I believe Djokovic is at an all-time ranking high). Like Murray and Zvonareva, Berdych should build on having been grand slam finalist, although Djokovic and Del Potro's wins may give them an edge in that 'chasing pack' that people keep talking about.
Again, it wasn't the final we expected, Federer and Nadal seemed to so likely before the start of play (as it had in the first week of the French, I daresay), but then Federer and Djokovic showed weakness in their first matches. Now, Nadal came through five setters too (serving out of your mind is the way to push him, guys!), while Murray and Soderling - who he'd both eventually face - seemed to ease through. and there was Roddick, seemingly doing fine, until he forgot to bring his aggression to Court 2, meaning that Lu will join Falla, Hasse and Petschner as the new 'names' in men's tennis, echoing the women's. Berdych (sort of like Zvonareva) is in that weird position of having been an unknown to people who didn't know tennis, but known as a talent to those who did know tennis. (Really, my belonging to that camp is only down to having followed the French, whereas for most Brits, Wimbledon is the only grand slam that matters, even though all four have their challenges beyond the winning of seven matches).
So, Nadal is deserved champion and world number 1 after a dominant performance that wasn't his best, but didn't need to be. Berych (and Murray and Soderling and Lu) has nothing to be ashamed of, but everything to build on. The US Open (after the hard-court season) could be very exciting. And it would be nice if Isner and Mahut recovered enough to be contenders.
I avoided the bereft feeling of there being no tennis to watch after coming home on Monday by reading about the tennis. I did watch the finals - not a classic, not even as good a match as Murray vs. Nadal had been (conditions? nervers?), but I was happy with the result. Again, Nadal seemed to raise his game when it was needed, exerted pressure and won on the big points. Certainly a deserved champion, underlining his superiority on clay wasn't just about the surface favouring him and looking threatening for the rest of the year (and the future, as observers have noted, taking into account his achievements so far, and his continued hunger, if his body can take it). Berdych couldn't bring what he'd brought to win against Federer and Djokovic (although both seem diminished, even though I believe Djokovic is at an all-time ranking high). Like Murray and Zvonareva, Berdych should build on having been grand slam finalist, although Djokovic and Del Potro's wins may give them an edge in that 'chasing pack' that people keep talking about.
Again, it wasn't the final we expected, Federer and Nadal seemed to so likely before the start of play (as it had in the first week of the French, I daresay), but then Federer and Djokovic showed weakness in their first matches. Now, Nadal came through five setters too (serving out of your mind is the way to push him, guys!), while Murray and Soderling - who he'd both eventually face - seemed to ease through. and there was Roddick, seemingly doing fine, until he forgot to bring his aggression to Court 2, meaning that Lu will join Falla, Hasse and Petschner as the new 'names' in men's tennis, echoing the women's. Berdych (sort of like Zvonareva) is in that weird position of having been an unknown to people who didn't know tennis, but known as a talent to those who did know tennis. (Really, my belonging to that camp is only down to having followed the French, whereas for most Brits, Wimbledon is the only grand slam that matters, even though all four have their challenges beyond the winning of seven matches).
So, Nadal is deserved champion and world number 1 after a dominant performance that wasn't his best, but didn't need to be. Berych (and Murray and Soderling and Lu) has nothing to be ashamed of, but everything to build on. The US Open (after the hard-court season) could be very exciting. And it would be nice if Isner and Mahut recovered enough to be contenders.
no subject
Really missing Wimbledon!
no subject
Henin is top class and I've been hoping she'd get right back in there, and it's disappointing that her injury will take her out until after the US Opeb.