The Spaniards, Oh My
Oh politics, you have distracted me from my first love--Tennis! We have so much wonderful, delightful tennis. It is the US Open--the culmination of the tennis season--the hard court. The first disappointment was that Serena injured her foot and had to pull out. The second disappointment was that Berdych, who has been playing amazing all summer, lost in the first round--heart break. And then there was Baghdatis, who has lost weight and been a dynamo all summer--out in the first round. Mardy Fish, who has also been having a great summer, lasted until the round of 16, but then he met up with Djokovic and losing weight and being fit was no match for the skills of Djokovic. Roddick's loss in the second round was more difficult to accept and explain. I've never liked Tipsarevic--sure he's a very good player, but to beat Roddick? I'm nervous that Roddick just doesn't have deep enough skills to be great again. Isner made it to the third round, but again, I just didn't expect him to be able to beat Youzhny. The match went four sets, with one tie break to Isner, but Youzhny has the experience. Querrey did pretty well and I knew that Wawrinka was good, but his match with Querrey was so close and Wawrinka really took Murray out--that was surprising.
Still on the men's side, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised and amazed at Monfils--what a dynamic player. He was a bit sketchy now and then, but so much energy and pizazz. Again, no match for the skills and experience of Djokovic, but he made it to the quarter finals--very impressive for Monfils. A few years ago, I thought he was almost finished. Now he seems like someone to continue to watch.
Federer, what can I say--he hasn't dropped a set. Soderling threw everything and the kitchen sink at Fed, and Roger made it look effortless to beat him. The style and grace that he plays with are not matched by any player I've ever seen play, ever. I don't know why I usually do not root for him. It must be his little frown and the fact that it just looks so easy for him. But I can't deny, he is an amazing player and though I'd really rather give the title to Nadal, I have to say that Roger is the best of all times.
And then there are the Spaniards! Oh MY! The Ferrer and Verdasco match was like something I've never seen before. I knew that I loved Nadal and that I particularly enjoyed the power and speed of his game, but I'd never seen two Spaniards play each other. Usually when I watch a match, I pick a side. I do have illogical favorites and I pick a side. BUT with every point in the Ferrer/Verdasco match I kept changing sides. They were both so magnificent. I was thrilled that Verdasco won and I was so sad that Ferrer lost--I would have been so thrilled if Ferrer had won and so very sad if Verdasco had lost. I can't ever remember watching a game in which I wanted them each to win so much. It was totally amazing. And then the Nadal/Lopez match--of course, I wanted Nadal, because my enemy is anyone playing Nadal, but Lopez was also a very dynamic player (outmatched like crazy, but very good). Next up for Nadal--Verdasco! Nadal should win. He is the better player. And Verdasco is coming off a very difficult five set match, but this game is going to be so fun to watch--An all Spanish quarter of the draw--talk about fireworks!
This year, I think Nadal has an excellent chance to finally win this thing, but Djokovic will either have to beat Federer (not totally impossible--not likely, but not impossible) or really make him work hard, because Roger is also playing very, very well and Nadal will need all the good luck we can muster to be able to pull it off. If Verdasco or Youzhny or incredibly Wawrinka beat Nadal before he has a chance at Roger, then I'm just going to cry. Nadal has made it through the rounds really well. It would be heartbreaking if he stumbled so close to the finish line.
On the Women's side, well, kind of quiet. Cibulkova came out of nowhere to get to the quarter finals. She is very short and full of power--a lot of fun to watch. My new favorite player is Caroline Wozniacki. Sharapova was playing quite impressively until she came to Caroline who just had more game. Caroline is the number one seed with Serena out and she had a very nice complete game. She doesn't crack under pressure and she has that understated grace that I see in Federrer--she really makes it look easy.
I was sorry to see Stosur take out Dementieva. Elena just cannot catch a break--she had match points, plural, but Sam never gave up for a second and she gritted her teeth and was just more tenacious than Elena in the end. The match ended after 1 a.m. in the morning in New York. Absolutely grueling. Then Stosur went up against Clijsters and I really thought that she might have the game to beat Kim, but in the end Kim's experience and overall game won the match. Stosur put up a great fight though.
Of course, I really like Venus and Kim Clijsters. They've been there before and had a pretty easy time through to the quarterfinals--each surviving a challenge (Venus met Schiavone--I do not like that woman--I have no idea why she rubs me the wrong way) and getting through to the Semi's. It is too bad that they meet in the semi's and not in the final.
Nothing but really great tennis for the next few days and then we're done until January. That's so long. But for tonight NADAL v. Verdasco--Oh my!
Still on the men's side, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised and amazed at Monfils--what a dynamic player. He was a bit sketchy now and then, but so much energy and pizazz. Again, no match for the skills and experience of Djokovic, but he made it to the quarter finals--very impressive for Monfils. A few years ago, I thought he was almost finished. Now he seems like someone to continue to watch.
Federer, what can I say--he hasn't dropped a set. Soderling threw everything and the kitchen sink at Fed, and Roger made it look effortless to beat him. The style and grace that he plays with are not matched by any player I've ever seen play, ever. I don't know why I usually do not root for him. It must be his little frown and the fact that it just looks so easy for him. But I can't deny, he is an amazing player and though I'd really rather give the title to Nadal, I have to say that Roger is the best of all times.
And then there are the Spaniards! Oh MY! The Ferrer and Verdasco match was like something I've never seen before. I knew that I loved Nadal and that I particularly enjoyed the power and speed of his game, but I'd never seen two Spaniards play each other. Usually when I watch a match, I pick a side. I do have illogical favorites and I pick a side. BUT with every point in the Ferrer/Verdasco match I kept changing sides. They were both so magnificent. I was thrilled that Verdasco won and I was so sad that Ferrer lost--I would have been so thrilled if Ferrer had won and so very sad if Verdasco had lost. I can't ever remember watching a game in which I wanted them each to win so much. It was totally amazing. And then the Nadal/Lopez match--of course, I wanted Nadal, because my enemy is anyone playing Nadal, but Lopez was also a very dynamic player (outmatched like crazy, but very good). Next up for Nadal--Verdasco! Nadal should win. He is the better player. And Verdasco is coming off a very difficult five set match, but this game is going to be so fun to watch--An all Spanish quarter of the draw--talk about fireworks!
This year, I think Nadal has an excellent chance to finally win this thing, but Djokovic will either have to beat Federer (not totally impossible--not likely, but not impossible) or really make him work hard, because Roger is also playing very, very well and Nadal will need all the good luck we can muster to be able to pull it off. If Verdasco or Youzhny or incredibly Wawrinka beat Nadal before he has a chance at Roger, then I'm just going to cry. Nadal has made it through the rounds really well. It would be heartbreaking if he stumbled so close to the finish line.
On the Women's side, well, kind of quiet. Cibulkova came out of nowhere to get to the quarter finals. She is very short and full of power--a lot of fun to watch. My new favorite player is Caroline Wozniacki. Sharapova was playing quite impressively until she came to Caroline who just had more game. Caroline is the number one seed with Serena out and she had a very nice complete game. She doesn't crack under pressure and she has that understated grace that I see in Federrer--she really makes it look easy.
I was sorry to see Stosur take out Dementieva. Elena just cannot catch a break--she had match points, plural, but Sam never gave up for a second and she gritted her teeth and was just more tenacious than Elena in the end. The match ended after 1 a.m. in the morning in New York. Absolutely grueling. Then Stosur went up against Clijsters and I really thought that she might have the game to beat Kim, but in the end Kim's experience and overall game won the match. Stosur put up a great fight though.
Of course, I really like Venus and Kim Clijsters. They've been there before and had a pretty easy time through to the quarterfinals--each surviving a challenge (Venus met Schiavone--I do not like that woman--I have no idea why she rubs me the wrong way) and getting through to the Semi's. It is too bad that they meet in the semi's and not in the final.
Nothing but really great tennis for the next few days and then we're done until January. That's so long. But for tonight NADAL v. Verdasco--Oh my!
posted by KathrynVH @ 12:17 PM
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