TENNIS: Olympics
Aug. 2nd, 2012 07:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllAmidst the gymnastics and the swimming, I saw more tennis last night! I started watching the Murray match just as he turned it around by breaking Baghdatis and taking the second set by the scruff of its neck. Impressive hitting. Baghdatis played really well in the third set, because Murray wanted another double break and for it to be done and dusted. Among some of the stupid things Andrew Castle said, he did point out that the men's three setters were more explosive than the five setters we're used to at Wimbledon.
Speaking of being used to things at Wimbledon, it is still weird and unsettling to see the pink hoardings, the logos (although I like the circles on the net), and the players wearing colours.
I feel underinformed - I only found out yesterday why no-one was talking about Nadal. Awful that injury didn't give him an opportunity to defend his Olympic gold, but that means Murray should be expecting a medal (I think he should have been on this service anyway). Of course, I am in no way discounting Federer, Djokovic or even Tsonga (on his day) or someone being inspired by playing for their country. I would suggest that Murray would help himself by starting more quickly, especially as it's best of three.
I understand that the men's final is best of five. Is the match for the bronze too? And what about the women's? I keep thinking of other Olympic sports that should be mixed (eg you could have eight people in a swimming medley. Ahem.)
The next tennis match involved Wozniacki and Hantchukova. Apparently the former is improving her serve and her game. I'm still discounting her. Good for her if she is inspired by playing for her country and gets a medal, but I can't say I find her exciting (whereas Dinara Safina, with whom she shared having been world number 1 without winning a slam, was nothing if not exciting to watch.) So, at that point, I returned to the gymnastics.
Speaking of being used to things at Wimbledon, it is still weird and unsettling to see the pink hoardings, the logos (although I like the circles on the net), and the players wearing colours.
I feel underinformed - I only found out yesterday why no-one was talking about Nadal. Awful that injury didn't give him an opportunity to defend his Olympic gold, but that means Murray should be expecting a medal (I think he should have been on this service anyway). Of course, I am in no way discounting Federer, Djokovic or even Tsonga (on his day) or someone being inspired by playing for their country. I would suggest that Murray would help himself by starting more quickly, especially as it's best of three.
I understand that the men's final is best of five. Is the match for the bronze too? And what about the women's? I keep thinking of other Olympic sports that should be mixed (eg you could have eight people in a swimming medley. Ahem.)
The next tennis match involved Wozniacki and Hantchukova. Apparently the former is improving her serve and her game. I'm still discounting her. Good for her if she is inspired by playing for her country and gets a medal, but I can't say I find her exciting (whereas Dinara Safina, with whom she shared having been world number 1 without winning a slam, was nothing if not exciting to watch.) So, at that point, I returned to the gymnastics.
