The Greatest Day in Tennis

Everyone plays (unless it rains).  Well it did rain, but not before we got most of the Women's matches played.  Azaranka was the last woman's match against Ivanovic--no problem under the roof.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Here's a pop quiz:  What is Middle Sunday? (MS for short)?  What is a Golden Set?  Serena had no idea what it was.  What is the roof?  (That's a trick question, because of course a roof is a roof).  Who's getting a bald spot?  (or who else--I only really noticed one guy's hair because I was noticing the other guy's hair grew out).  Answers will be in the comments--so all you get are personal honorary bragging rights.

So today was the greatest day in tennis, because at Wimbledon, the first monday of the second week, everyone in the round of 16 plays a match.  It is kind of tough on some of them, because one side of the draw also plays tomorrow, while the other side of the draw gets a break, but that's how the ball bounces. 

Today I had plans of waking at 4 a.m. so that I wouldn't miss any of the action.  However, when I turned off my alarm for the sixth time (hurring so that they couldn't give me the breaking tennis news before I had a chance to play it on the dvr) it was 8 before I got up.  I don't even get up that late to go to work--talk about choking under pressure, but I digress.

I had to stop the dvr so that I could check out the eight screens that direct tv gives me.  There were lots of great matches going on, but I decided that Serena was the most important match and went back to the dvr, foregoing eight screens of live tennis.  It was a bold, agressive move that paid off for me, since Serena's match was all the more exciting since I did not know who won and the rain stopped all of the other matches.  Score!

Serena looked to have the match well contained in the first set, hardly breaking a sweat.  The second set, she got, well, it really looked like she actually got nervous and Shvedova won the second set.  Serena worked hard to keep it close in the third set.  There were some long games that Shvedova did not convert and Serena held on to her serve.  Finally, she got a break on Shvendova and took the final set.  It should have been easy for the future gold metalist.  It was not.

Over to Kvitova versus Schiavone.  I don't like Schiavone--I don't know why.  She's scrappy and fast, but she grunts really ugly (so does Sharapova and I don't hold it against her--so this dislike is a mystery).  Kvitova on the other hand has a really engaging smile.  She is a very good player and somewhat consistant--very rare in the women's game these days.  I also think that she is Azarenka's twin.  Everytime I see Kvitova, I think it is Azarenka and vise versa.  When I turned on the Azarenka match, I immediatly thought, why is Kvitova playing again today.  So silly, but I digress.  I didn't get to see the end of Kvitova's match, but I was glad she won.  She is going to be a very tough challenge for Serena--Pam, Mary Jo and I are all looking forward to it.  (Pam Schriver and Mary Jo Fernandez are the commentators that I like).

So Lisikci looks pretty solid and Sharapova lost in the 4th round.  She's been playing so well, Maria, it was bound to catch up to her.  And this is a repeat match up of last years semi finals, in which Maria beat her.  That looks like Lisikci's best result in her career, that semi final, so that is a bad break for Maria to get her on a day she's playing so well.  She's made the fourth round at the Australian and US Open, and I predict that Kerber will hand her a quarter round exit next. 

Kerber wiped the floor with Kimmy Clijsters.  I was very worried that Kim would not take a single game in that second set.  I didn't get to see Paszek play, but hopefully I will catch her next match with Azarenka--should be a good match.  If Serena survives Kvitova, she'll play her twin Azarenka and if she survives the number two in the world, then Serena is sure to win the whole thing, because the other side of the draw is wide open.  I don't think any of the four on that side has gone to a finals--maybe Radwanska.  Shouldn't be any problem for Serena, Victoria or Petra--whoever comes out of the bottem half of the draw.  Too bad Maria or Kim couldn't get past this round.

On the men's side, I almost don't care.  My Nadal is out.  One of the commentators said that it is too much to go from clay to grass in only two weeks and whoever makes the finals, has the least amount of time to make the adjustment.  I'm familiar with the concept no excuses, but it's a nice warm blanket on a chilly night.

Well it was nice to see Youzhny get through to the fourth round.  It has been a long time coming and he's a very good player who never wins.  (Kind of like James Blake).  Federer got though Malisse (no surprise), but he needed an injury time out for which he apoligized.  That is a surprise.  I don't think he will have a problem against Youzhney, but if he retires and Youzhney gets through, that will be a big boost for Djokovic who can easily handle his next round and Youzhney.  Federer is the only real challenge on the top of the draw.  The bottem half of the draw was delayed for rain.  I'm so glad.  I would have taken the whole day off work to see Del Potro v. Ferrer.  And Fish is up a set on Tsonga--how awesome would it be for Fish to get though to the next round.  Cilic could use the rain break, but I'm not sure it will be enough to help him against Murray.  And I am very much looking forward to seeing Baker v. Kohlschreber.  Kohl is ranked much higher, but Baker is surprising everyone, so I am looking forward to seeing them play.  The men's matches that are shaping up look really, really interesting.  I'm am hopeful that I will get to see it all bright and early tomorrow morning 4 a.m., no excuses.