TENNIS: Wimbledon (last three days)
Jul. 4th, 2011 07:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllI only saw the very end of the Murray and Nadal semi-final match live, and, frankly, I wanted Nadal to win with minimum fuss by that point. Murray can take heart from the first set, but that missed shot in the second set really felt like a turning point.
Saturday was another matter. I watched oodles of tennis, starting with Broady’s first set (when the news came through that he’d lost the second, I cracked an insensitive joke about being a Plucky Brit who could win the first set, but no more). There was a bit of the women’s build up. Again, Kvitova was charming in her interview, making supporting her all the easier, although what I was really hoping for was a close match. This sprang from me not knowing whether Kvitova could produce her best and whether she’d be nervous. I knew that Sharapova had mental fortitude and wouldn't have been surprised if she'd taken advantage of Kvitova choking.
But I was oohing and ahhing over Kvitova’s shots as she outplayed Sharapova, crucially outpacing her. There was no plan B for Sharapova to go to in the middle of the second set. The only question mark was over whether Kvitova could continue her calm and form.
She did.
Well done her. There were some excellent shots there, in terms of depth and how hard she hit the ball. She used the slice, she came inside the baseline and attacked. It was really good tennis, and her unassuming reaction was very endearing.
I saw some of the men’s doubles, but chose to eat in a civilised fashion over watching the Bryan brothers win in the third set. I also watched Lisicki and Stosur lose form as the more experienced doubles pair (whom I would have supported in principle had it not been for wanting Lisicki to get some gold at the end of this rainbow.)
I didn’t see the men’s final live. I had heard that Djokovic was leading Nadal by 2 sets to 1, but that Nadal had won that set from two sets down. I came home and saw that third set on repeat. But then there was the disconcerting sight of watching errors come of Nadal's racquet. Disconcerting barely covers it - with my head, I can admit that it's only right that the world number one in form for the start of this year should win the final that confirmed his position, but in my heart I was really and truly supporting Rafa. Obviously Djokovic played well, and his movement was sublime - well, both of their movement, as they routinely returned shots that would have gone past most players.
And now there is no tennis on the telly (at least next year there'll be the Olympics, with the intriguing fact that the players will be returning to the club's grounds, so how will their form at the grand slam tournament affect them?)
Saturday was another matter. I watched oodles of tennis, starting with Broady’s first set (when the news came through that he’d lost the second, I cracked an insensitive joke about being a Plucky Brit who could win the first set, but no more). There was a bit of the women’s build up. Again, Kvitova was charming in her interview, making supporting her all the easier, although what I was really hoping for was a close match. This sprang from me not knowing whether Kvitova could produce her best and whether she’d be nervous. I knew that Sharapova had mental fortitude and wouldn't have been surprised if she'd taken advantage of Kvitova choking.
But I was oohing and ahhing over Kvitova’s shots as she outplayed Sharapova, crucially outpacing her. There was no plan B for Sharapova to go to in the middle of the second set. The only question mark was over whether Kvitova could continue her calm and form.
She did.
Well done her. There were some excellent shots there, in terms of depth and how hard she hit the ball. She used the slice, she came inside the baseline and attacked. It was really good tennis, and her unassuming reaction was very endearing.
I saw some of the men’s doubles, but chose to eat in a civilised fashion over watching the Bryan brothers win in the third set. I also watched Lisicki and Stosur lose form as the more experienced doubles pair (whom I would have supported in principle had it not been for wanting Lisicki to get some gold at the end of this rainbow.)
I didn’t see the men’s final live. I had heard that Djokovic was leading Nadal by 2 sets to 1, but that Nadal had won that set from two sets down. I came home and saw that third set on repeat. But then there was the disconcerting sight of watching errors come of Nadal's racquet. Disconcerting barely covers it - with my head, I can admit that it's only right that the world number one in form for the start of this year should win the final that confirmed his position, but in my heart I was really and truly supporting Rafa. Obviously Djokovic played well, and his movement was sublime - well, both of their movement, as they routinely returned shots that would have gone past most players.
And now there is no tennis on the telly (at least next year there'll be the Olympics, with the intriguing fact that the players will be returning to the club's grounds, so how will their form at the grand slam tournament affect them?)
