Jul 2, 2007

Wimbledon Day Seven Revisited

Today was all about the Williams sisters. Leave it to baby sis Serena to upstage Venus after Venus had to come back from a break down and 3-5 in the third set to beat Akiko Morigami 7-5 in the third. I suggested that there might be some drama in Serena’s match with Hantuchova, but I didn’t expect a miniseries.

Serena WIlliams' Drama Unfolds

Serena appeared to be on her way to a comfortable win, blowing Hantuchova off the court in a 6-2 first set. For whatever reason, Serena took her foot off the gas in the second set and allowed Hantuchova to get a foothold, enough of one to go up 4-1, then 5-2. Serena climbed back to 4-5 with a hold and a break, but had a talk with the trainer on the changeover.

Hantuchova too Kind to Serena

She held serve easily with gifts from Hantuchova who was having a hard time getting a ball into the court. Hantuchova even bounced a serve on her own side of the court at 15-0 and did pretty much the same on her second serve. After a good play by Hantuchova, Serena went down with spasms in her left calf. She lay writhing and crying on the court, and the trainer and doctor attended to her for quite some time.

Tennis Gods on Serena's Side

She had to continue eventually, hobbling around the court, and got into a tiebreak. She was down 0-4 in the tiebreak and not looking like she had a prayer, but the tennis gods (and Hantuchova, apparently) were on her side. She got a let-cord winner for 1-4, an unforced forehand error gift for 2-4, and then the rain came. Serena returned from the rain delay and finished out the set practically on one leg. Hantuchova won the first five points to close out the set.

Serena to Meet Justine Henin

If you were watching, you have got to be thinking it’s over. Serena’s not even moving for shots. Before you know it, Serena’s down 0-1, 0-30. But she held, and won the set 6-2. Any other player would probably have retired. Serena moves on to meet Justine Henin. Chances are she’ll have to go for broke on every point and if she’s on, Justine is toast. If not, then Serena’s yesterday’s news. Regardless of tomorrow’s outcome, they’ll be talking about that match in every major event that Serena plays for the rest of her career.

Nadal with Drama of His Own

The only drama on the men’s side was another “to be continued” saga. Rafael Nadal had a two-sets-to-none lead on Robin Soderling, but allowed Soderling back in the match. They were in the third-set tiebreak, tied at 7-7, when the rain came. They came back out and Soderling took control immediately. The Serena drama took center stage on TV, and when they got back to Nadal’s match, it was 2-0 in the fifth. What! The fifth! But they are at Wimbledon, so the rain came again and now Rafa has to stew for yet another night, and he’s still not out of the 3rd round.

Baghdatis and Nalbandian a Dud

The absence of drama with Baghdatis and Nalbandian was a surprise, and Tamira Paszek continues to make a believer of me with the predicted upset of Dementieva. Frenchman Monfils is down 2 ½ sets so it looks like only three Frenchmen will make the fourth round, and it will be Bjorkman and Berdych as expected.

Maybe tomorrow we’ll get lucky and see the third round of both the men’s and women’s draws completed.