The first day of week 2 at Wimbledon is normally seen as one of the most exciting days of the Championships are today was no different as there were some fantastic matches on all the courts from the men's and women's draw.
Men: The most anticipated match of round of last 16 really did live up to its billing as there was an classic match on centre court between Nadal and Del Potro. The first set set the standard for the match as both men were hitting monster forehands and backhand winners. Del Potro was hitting the ball very hard and flat and wasnt afraid to take on Nadal on baseline rallies but Nadal looked equally determined. Both men had saved one break each in the first set and were able to hold there serve right to the tie-break. Nadal had an fall during that first set and needed an injury time out before he started the tie break to get an ankle strapped up as there felt some pain. The tie break was just as exciting as the rest of the set with the some clever serves some big serves some great rallies and there really was nothing to pick between of them at the change of sides. These 2 were giving there all as Nadal held his serve after winning an massive rally which Del Potro eventually netted after an 22 hit rally. The end of the first set was an anti-climax as Del Potro double faulted the first set away. It was an shame because the first set standard was really high but he knew he had to keep that level up to live with Nadal and these things can happen.
It was important for Del Potro to come out early and really try and take command of the shots. He knew his plan A was working and all he had to do was to play it an tiny bit better which he did in the second. He was holding serves with some serves but also some nice touches and was really get stuck into the Nadal serve. He could sense that he could break the Nadal serve and was getting closer and closer each game. His first serve percentage was up there at the high 70s but so was Nadal and that was keeping Nadal in the games and then in the 8th game was the score at 4-3 to Del Potro he finally broke the Nadal serve with Nadal hitting long an backhand to get the break and then able to serve out easily to make it 1 set all.
The Third set was just as tight as the first 2 with the same high quality with the same volume with the crowds loving every minute of the match. With the match at 2-2 Del Potro had an terrible slip which injured his hip that was forced him out or Rome when he was about to face Nadal there. He had to go off court for treatment but fortunately the doctor did the job. The match was not hindered because of it as when he came back the standard was top notch as both men were playing every shot in the book as both were playing there best tennis. The set of tennis had to be decided on another tie-break and this tie break also followed the pattern of the match. Both men traded early mini-breaks and at the change over was 3-3 but then Del Potro made one unforced error to go down one mini break and then Nadal produced an super passing shot to get another and was suddenly serving for it at 6-4 which he did with an un-returnable serve to take the tie break 7-4.
Even though the former US Open champion was 2 sets to 1 down against the defending champion he was still able to entertain an full centre court with some inspired tennis. In Nadal's first 2 service he was able to go up 0-15 in one and 0-30 in another which Nadal was able to avert the danger with some of his best tennis and the crustal break happened in the 5th game where Nadal broke Del Potro to 30. Hoping Del Potro would slowly fall apart that never happened as he came out fighting in the next game going up 0-30 again. But an ace and 3 well constructed points averted the danger Del Potro kept putting the pressure on Nadal holding his serve kept asking the question to Nadal as he went up again 0-15 but in the final game Nadal made sure there was no more danger as Nadal did an hold to love to win an epic match just going below 4 hours 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 7-6, (7-4) 6-4. Del Potro is certainly on his way back to his best and will be an danger in the US open and the hard court season and should be back to his best and up there in the world rankings by this time next year.
Nadal will be joined by the British Number 1 as he came through his match against Gasquet. An potentially tough 4th round opponent as they play 5 set epics in the last 2 meeting in Gram Slams Murray and Gasquet played an very entertaining first set. As the temperature outside was 32 degrees and on court was 40 degrees they pushed each other and asked questions on who would hold there nerve. Even though both men got into each other serves there was only 2 break point chances one for Gasquet in the first Murray service game and one for Murray in the 5th game but were able to survive with both backhand winners. Both of these men's strength is the back hand side and they were both hitting winners at will. So eventually the set went down to an tie-break where Murray was able to step up better as he dominated the rallies and was taking the ball on much better than his opponent he won the tie break 7-3.
Gasquet rattled and Murray buoyant from winning the first set Murray was getting into Gasquet serve each game while serving himself even better getting a lot of first serves in and getting many free points. Each service game Murray had an chance to break but the last moments seemed to just miss that extra buzz to get that break but the pressure did blow over in the end as Murray was able to make the big break going up 5-3 by hitting to passing shots which thrilled the crowd and then Murray was able to serve it out to take an 2 sets to love lead. The third set Murray then took control. Gasquet only just held onto his first 2 serves while Murray was holding his own easily. But the telling break happened in the 5th game where Murray hit 2 giant forehands to get the break. He was able to convert that break and was able to go on another charge for another break to get that insurance and played some crowd pleasing shots to get there to go up 5-2. That insurance break was nearly needed as Murray played one of his few poor games going 0-30 down and 30-40 only Gasquet 3rd break chance in the whole match and one of them was in Murray's first game but some dominating rallies and 2 big serves rapped up the victory 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-2.
Those 2 men were joined by the other 2 players in the top 4 in the world rankings Federer came through an battling match against the experienced Mikhail Youzhny. Youzhny won the first set on an tie break 7-5 but Federer stormed back in the second taking it 6-3. He was racing through the 3rd going 5-0 up with an break to win it 6-0 but Youzhny put up an good fight back getting up break and being 30-30 but Federer was able to hold on and take the 3rd 6-3. Federer then broke in the 4th straight away as he looked to rap things up quickly Youzhny fought on and had an chance to break back straight away being 0-40 down and having advantage but could break back. Youzhny tried hard but was unable to break through and was broken in the final service game losing to former champion 6-7 (7-5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Earlier on court 1 Djokovic had an much easier passage through against the French man Llodra. The talented French man was over powered and looked an bit out of his place as Djokovic extends his incredible run where he has won 47 and only losing 1 match (French Open Semi-Final to Federer) as he only made an incredible 6 unforced errors as he won 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Djokovic next round opponent will be the unseeded qualifier from Australia Bernard Tomic. The man who beat Soderling in the last round backed it up with an very impressive straight sets win against the talented Belgium Malisse winning 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. Feliciano Lopez was another winner but he had to work hard as he was taken to the limit against Polish qualifier Lukasz Kubot. He was 2 sets to love down but came back brilliantly winning 3-6, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (9-7), 7-5, 7-5 and will face Murray next round. American interest still remains as Mardy Fish knocked out last year's finalist in straight sets. He really showed why Grass is his favourite surface making the quarter final again and being last year's queen finalist 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 6-4 and has the small matter of facing Nadal next match. The other 4th round also caused another shock as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat tough competitor David Ferrer in an impressive showing in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) and he will take on Federer in the next round.
Women's- The big story from the Women's side came from the two sister both getting dumped in the 4th round. The defending champion Serena Williams got outplayed first match on court one as the 2007 finalist and Eastborne winning of last week beat her in straight sets. The first set Bartoli dominated hitting clean winners from both the back hand and forehand side. She plays double handed as she was taken around the court as Serena had no reply. Her serve was constantly under pressure and was unable to get into the Bartoli serve as she was hitting deep balls which were landing in. She won it 6-3.
The second set was much more competitive. They both started to find there lengths and some of the tennis was breath-taking at times. Bartoli was doing very well to hold up her end as she stayed strong in the Serena fight back. By staying strong her reward came as she broke the Serena serve to go up 6-5. It looked all over for the defending champion as she went down 40-15 but they dont call her an tigress for nothing and her champion instincts took over as she got it back to deuce and won an long game to force it to an tie-break. Every time Bartoli tried to step ahead Serena would fight back and and it was 3-3 at the change of end and that quickly became 4-4 and 5-5 and 6-6 but then Bartoli held her serve and then finally was able to get the killing touch as she won 6-3, 7-6 (8-6). It was up to older sister Venus to get the honour backs in the Williams hand.
But last years semi-finalist and winner the person who beat Venus last year had other ideas. It went by serve for the first few games as Pironkova was 3-2 up when she started to take control. She was placing the ball beautifully. She knew she didnt have the same power as Venus but she knew she had the touch and the placement and she used play superbly as she was able to break the American serve not once but twice and she was ice cool serving herself able to hold even though Venus threw everything at her. She won 6-2. The second set was an bit more competitive as Venus came out fighting despite going down an early break coming back from 3-2 down to break back to 3-1 to break to make it 3-2. But Pironkova played another clever game to restore that 2 game lead and then held her serve to go within an game of the match. Even though Venus did hold Pironkova was able to get an second victory over Venus at Wimbledon winning 6-2, 6-3. This victory was more incredible as Pironkova only won 4 matches in the whole year before getting to Wimbledon and now she has matches that achievement in this Slam as both William Sisters go crashing out.
The shocks kept on coming as the world number 1 Wozniacki went out to an thrilling match. The match seemed to go with form as Wozniacki raced through the first set 6-1 but Cibulkova did fight back by hitting some big winners from both sides of the court from both the forehand and backhand side. Even though it was an spirited set Cibulkova still could not get an break through and had to win an tie-break. But Wozniacki cracked when the match got tight and Cibulkova sensed this and really went for her shots and stole the second set 7-5 on tie-break. It was an nervy third set as both women started to make mistakes. They traded 2 early breaks but Cibulkova going down 1 early break and then letting another break slip away. The games went on but still nothing between them as they battled to win each game Wozniacki was the first to crack at 5-5 making an couple of unforced errors and an couple of Cibulkova many big winners. This time the difference was Cibulkova was able to hold onto her serve and take her biggest victory winning as she won 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.
There were also win for the favourite to win the Venus Rose Dish Sharapova beating China's Shuai Peng. An close first set where both women were going big Sharapova was able to get the break at the end of the first set taking in 6-4. She then took control and broke the Peng serve an couple more times as she eased to the quarter final winning 6-4, 6-2. There were commanding victories for Azarenka and Kvitova. They both won there matches in under an hour as Azarenka the 4th seed trashed Petrova 6-2, 6-2 and the 8th seed Kvitova was even more impressive beating Wickmayer 6-0, 6-2. The dream also lives on for the come back girl from Germany Lisicki as she battled past Cetkovska. She won an tight first set 7-6 (7-3), and really took control in the second playing some wonderful shots winning 7-6 (7-3), 6-1. The only other unseeded women of the Championships is Paszek who came through her 4th round tie against another unseeded women called Pervak winning 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
The Quarter Final Line Up Mens
Nadal vs Fish
Murray vs Lopez
Tsonga vs Federer
Tomic vs Djokovic
Women's
Cibulkova vs Sharapova
Lisicki vs Bartoli
Paszek vs Azarenka
Kvitova vs Pironkova
Women's quarter Final matches will be played on Tuesday and Men's Quarter Final's on Wednesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment