TENNIS: the end-of-year whatemecallit
Nov. 26th, 2011 05:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllIs it called the final Masters? Anyway, I watched the first semi-final on television this afternoon, which I'd been looking forward to after a week of just seeing results. Of course Federer won - as expected, although I was willing to support Ferrer, but he didn't - couldn't make good in that crucial game when Federer's footwork for his backhand was apparently off. And then Ferrer collapsed and Federer did what come naturally.
Federer has to be the favourite, of course. In fact, I believe that he was coming into the tournament, which is as much a test of fitness and endurance as anything. There's a whiff of the last man standing about it, although I'm sure that the competitive charge of laying the best over the year comes into it. But it's a very different vibe to a grand slam. Some good ground-stroke exchanges and fun stuff at the net in that match. As ever, Andrew Castle felt he had to explain everything to the casual tennis viewer, although I'm not as in the know as all that - I was left wondering what had happened to Soderling this year.
Federer has to be the favourite, of course. In fact, I believe that he was coming into the tournament, which is as much a test of fitness and endurance as anything. There's a whiff of the last man standing about it, although I'm sure that the competitive charge of laying the best over the year comes into it. But it's a very different vibe to a grand slam. Some good ground-stroke exchanges and fun stuff at the net in that match. As ever, Andrew Castle felt he had to explain everything to the casual tennis viewer, although I'm not as in the know as all that - I was left wondering what had happened to Soderling this year.
