TENNIS: Deux jours
May. 30th, 2011 08:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllDimanche – Of course the third seeded woman ‘crashed out’ (when I said the women’s side was crazy before this grand slam started, I had no idea how right I’d be). I watched most of the Djokovic/Gasquet game, where, after a few break points on his serve, Djokovic stepped up and contained the talented French player. Gasquet didn’t play badly, but Djokovic is doing remarkable, historical stuff that used to be Federer and Nadal and past greats’ territory. (I want to see Federer play to get a feel for how they might match up in this tournament). I saw a bit of Bartoli 'banging to the beat of her own drum' as the commentators said.
Lundi I had to think hard to remeber who I first saw, there's been that much tennis - I have been doing other stuff while watching too. I was supporting Kvitova, but Li Na played the more contained game. I then had a tense time watching Nadal play - Lubijic should have put up a better resistance. It really was uncomfortable and sad to see Nadal without his Tiggerish bounce and gusto for most of the match. His accuracy and timing was gone (his serve stood up and so did his net game). I haven't seen him play since the Australian Open and he really played like The Number One in Name Alone. Although he improved, Soderling has to be, well, looking forward to their next encounter on that form.
It was hard to get into the last set of Ferrer and Montfils. I was half-dozing even though it was very exciting for the crowd, the standard of play and Ferrer's fitness were impressive, but I was floating in and out. I like Azarenka and didn't know much about the other player, so I was glad to see her get through in a hurry - I hope she makes it through to meet Sharapova in the semis. I would also point out that Schiavone and Kusnetsova have won the French before.
Murray...when he was trailing five love in the first, well, I was convinced the final would involve Soderling against the winner of Djokovic vs. Federer (who ought to be the first, unless if the walkover throws him out of his rhythm). Then Murray stamped his authority over the match, except when it came to a crucial break point. He could have won the second too. He didn't, so I stopped watching for most of the third, found that he'd regained his mind (as that, not the ankle, was the problem) and could win the fourth as easily as he'd promised in the turnaround in the fourth. On that form, Soderling (or Nadal if he finds his confidence, timing and length somewhere in Paris) may not be in the final after all.
I have a good chance of watching Federer play tomorrow, which is nice. I want to see how he's playing for myself.
Lundi I had to think hard to remeber who I first saw, there's been that much tennis - I have been doing other stuff while watching too. I was supporting Kvitova, but Li Na played the more contained game. I then had a tense time watching Nadal play - Lubijic should have put up a better resistance. It really was uncomfortable and sad to see Nadal without his Tiggerish bounce and gusto for most of the match. His accuracy and timing was gone (his serve stood up and so did his net game). I haven't seen him play since the Australian Open and he really played like The Number One in Name Alone. Although he improved, Soderling has to be, well, looking forward to their next encounter on that form.
It was hard to get into the last set of Ferrer and Montfils. I was half-dozing even though it was very exciting for the crowd, the standard of play and Ferrer's fitness were impressive, but I was floating in and out. I like Azarenka and didn't know much about the other player, so I was glad to see her get through in a hurry - I hope she makes it through to meet Sharapova in the semis. I would also point out that Schiavone and Kusnetsova have won the French before.
Murray...when he was trailing five love in the first, well, I was convinced the final would involve Soderling against the winner of Djokovic vs. Federer (who ought to be the first, unless if the walkover throws him out of his rhythm). Then Murray stamped his authority over the match, except when it came to a crucial break point. He could have won the second too. He didn't, so I stopped watching for most of the third, found that he'd regained his mind (as that, not the ankle, was the problem) and could win the fourth as easily as he'd promised in the turnaround in the fourth. On that form, Soderling (or Nadal if he finds his confidence, timing and length somewhere in Paris) may not be in the final after all.
I have a good chance of watching Federer play tomorrow, which is nice. I want to see how he's playing for myself.
