TENNIS: Wimbledon R4 and QFs
Jul. 4th, 2013 08:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllI didn’t see much live tennis from Monday to last night, although I came home twice to see Andy Murray win.
THE shock of the fourth round was that that Serena Williams had lost to Lisicki. I was surprised, because I didn’t think anyone would be able to touch Serena, although I think calling a loss to a top 30 player who is better than that on grass the most shocking thing to happen at Wimbledon is a bit of hyperbole. Even though I’d seen Lisicki play well, with a good attitude to go with her undoubted weapons, I hadn’t given her much of a chance.
Before Tracey Austin said it on Today at Wimbledon, I did think it was good that Robson was ‘gutted’ at her loss. She should be. It was a winnable chance, although Kanepi has grass-court pedigree and experience. But Robson has gained some experience here.
Then we saw a set of Djokovic not being anywhere near as good as he was on Saturday – which would have been difficult – but not needing to be as Haas failed to settle. The Beeb got bored of the latter swearing in German and switched to the far more intriguing Tomic vs. Berdych, which reiterated what we’d seen on Saturday - that Tomic needs to return better and if not learn how to play the big shots, how to play the big points better. But he frustrated Berdych until the higher-ranked player worked out how to get over it.
Women’s QFs:
Did anyone see that women’s semi-final line-up coming? I mean, as far as I can tell, although the order of play committee or whatever it’s called, may have influenced my perceptions, the favourite is the lowest seeded player: Lisicki. There will definitely be a new champion as Kvitova is out (she was obviously sick, but hey, Flipkins clearly went and took it), although we have three players who know the business end of Wimbledon as seniors.
Men’s QFs:
I only saw a point and a game of live tennis. Yes, I came home to Murray on break point at five games all, two sets all, so I probably come at it from a different perspective. ‘Brave’ and ‘excellent’ says Andrew Castle, the British crowd is relieved at the result and has probably warmed to Murray because of the rollercoaster to get there. While I agree that winning after being two sets down is better than losing (obviously), losing two sets?
I knew who’d won all the other QFs when watching Today at Wimbledon, but not the manner. Apparently everyone else came through in three sets.
Will Del Potro really be able to put away his injury to give Djokovic, who has been immense – and not dropped a set – a match? He did, after all, beat him at Wimbledon and can, on his day, beat the best. Will being on Centre Court in his first grand slam semi against a hostile crowd stop Janewicz, who has become the young gun to make a breakthrough (although Tomic gave a good account of himself, and after seeing Berdych’s errors, I wish he’d won through, because he might have frustrated Djokovic more) from hitting so freely and powerfully? Murray may be able to do a little more on the return.
I don't expect to see much more live tennis for the rest of the week either, sadly.
THE shock of the fourth round was that that Serena Williams had lost to Lisicki. I was surprised, because I didn’t think anyone would be able to touch Serena, although I think calling a loss to a top 30 player who is better than that on grass the most shocking thing to happen at Wimbledon is a bit of hyperbole. Even though I’d seen Lisicki play well, with a good attitude to go with her undoubted weapons, I hadn’t given her much of a chance.
Before Tracey Austin said it on Today at Wimbledon, I did think it was good that Robson was ‘gutted’ at her loss. She should be. It was a winnable chance, although Kanepi has grass-court pedigree and experience. But Robson has gained some experience here.
Then we saw a set of Djokovic not being anywhere near as good as he was on Saturday – which would have been difficult – but not needing to be as Haas failed to settle. The Beeb got bored of the latter swearing in German and switched to the far more intriguing Tomic vs. Berdych, which reiterated what we’d seen on Saturday - that Tomic needs to return better and if not learn how to play the big shots, how to play the big points better. But he frustrated Berdych until the higher-ranked player worked out how to get over it.
Women’s QFs:
Did anyone see that women’s semi-final line-up coming? I mean, as far as I can tell, although the order of play committee or whatever it’s called, may have influenced my perceptions, the favourite is the lowest seeded player: Lisicki. There will definitely be a new champion as Kvitova is out (she was obviously sick, but hey, Flipkins clearly went and took it), although we have three players who know the business end of Wimbledon as seniors.
Men’s QFs:
I only saw a point and a game of live tennis. Yes, I came home to Murray on break point at five games all, two sets all, so I probably come at it from a different perspective. ‘Brave’ and ‘excellent’ says Andrew Castle, the British crowd is relieved at the result and has probably warmed to Murray because of the rollercoaster to get there. While I agree that winning after being two sets down is better than losing (obviously), losing two sets?
I knew who’d won all the other QFs when watching Today at Wimbledon, but not the manner. Apparently everyone else came through in three sets.
Will Del Potro really be able to put away his injury to give Djokovic, who has been immense – and not dropped a set – a match? He did, after all, beat him at Wimbledon and can, on his day, beat the best. Will being on Centre Court in his first grand slam semi against a hostile crowd stop Janewicz, who has become the young gun to make a breakthrough (although Tomic gave a good account of himself, and after seeing Berdych’s errors, I wish he’d won through, because he might have frustrated Djokovic more) from hitting so freely and powerfully? Murray may be able to do a little more on the return.
I don't expect to see much more live tennis for the rest of the week either, sadly.
