TENNIS: Wimbledon Ladies Quarter Finals
Jun. 29th, 2011 07:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllI kept an eye on the scores and the weather forecast earlier in the afternoon, but as I'd been resigned to catching some doubles and the highlights show, it was a delight to come home and see the business end of the third set of the third quarter final and know that the fourth was to come. When the camera panned over the grounds after Kvytova had held off Pironkova’s cool determination, it did look like more rain was coming, and even if it didn’t, that bad light would never let them finish on Court No. 1. As a TV viewer, and not a ticket holder, I thought that, to get it done and dusted tonight and be fair to the players, they should have started the fourth QF on Centre Courts. Anyway, Azarenka had her way thanks to the rain. Then I got to see my first significant chunk of doubles, with lots of zippiness at the net and Brits winning.
I don't think it will be long before they add a roof to Court No. 1 too.
Azarenka just had too much for her opponent from the second they stepped on Centre court. What I liked was her attack, she was willing to come in and close off a point (even if she didn’t attempt a traditional volley). She won loads of points on her serve by serving big enough to open things up and then following it up with a hard first strike. Granted, she wobbled at the end of the first, but got back in there - overall, you couldn't fault her intensity - and pulled off a shot from around the post.
I’m quite happy with the line-up for the semis. All blonde(ish), by the bye. Sharapova was devastating today and is the favourite with her experience, but Lisicki has charmed everyone (if she and Kvytova do make it through, it’ll be all about a Graf and Navratliova rematch by proxy, whether that’s fair or not. That is the least likely scenario, you’d think, but this is the women’s game. Who knows?) Kvytova has been building up to this and could surpass last year's performance, but Azarenka may want revenge for last year, she’s also had a good run and is the better mover. I will probably end up choosing favourites as they play, but I’m glad for all four of them. Wimbledon and the media might prefer for Sharapova to win, but it's nice to see three young'uns come through.
Fathers coaching daughters was a recurring theme (perhaps because Bartoli made her father leave in the previous match) but what no-one talks about, because they take it for granted, is how many male coaches there are on the women’s tour. I’ve only seen a handful of women coaches. Surely the talents of ex-players with the requisite skills are being wasted badly here.
I don't think it will be long before they add a roof to Court No. 1 too.
Azarenka just had too much for her opponent from the second they stepped on Centre court. What I liked was her attack, she was willing to come in and close off a point (even if she didn’t attempt a traditional volley). She won loads of points on her serve by serving big enough to open things up and then following it up with a hard first strike. Granted, she wobbled at the end of the first, but got back in there - overall, you couldn't fault her intensity - and pulled off a shot from around the post.
I’m quite happy with the line-up for the semis. All blonde(ish), by the bye. Sharapova was devastating today and is the favourite with her experience, but Lisicki has charmed everyone (if she and Kvytova do make it through, it’ll be all about a Graf and Navratliova rematch by proxy, whether that’s fair or not. That is the least likely scenario, you’d think, but this is the women’s game. Who knows?) Kvytova has been building up to this and could surpass last year's performance, but Azarenka may want revenge for last year, she’s also had a good run and is the better mover. I will probably end up choosing favourites as they play, but I’m glad for all four of them. Wimbledon and the media might prefer for Sharapova to win, but it's nice to see three young'uns come through.
Fathers coaching daughters was a recurring theme (perhaps because Bartoli made her father leave in the previous match) but what no-one talks about, because they take it for granted, is how many male coaches there are on the women’s tour. I’ve only seen a handful of women coaches. Surely the talents of ex-players with the requisite skills are being wasted badly here.
