Tag Archives: Nadal
Definitive Moments
Wimbledon, Semifinals (1) Nadal d. (4) Murray (2) Djokovic d. (12) Tsonga I do not generally subscribe the idea of a single definitive turning point in tennis matches, and am slow to discuss any encounter in such terms. Fundamentally, the … Continue reading
Filed under Grand Slams
The More Things Stay The Same
Wimbledon, Semifinals The Final Four The Earth having made its way around the Sun precisely once since the Wimbledon semifinals were last contested, we may safely declare that a year has passed. And yet, in both senses, it seems we’ve … Continue reading
Filed under Grand Slams
Found Very Out
The central narrative of Wimbledon 2011 has thus far followed those players who aren’t of the top four, yet have progressed to the final eight. That the top four are there as well no longer merits a chapter apparently, although … Continue reading
Filed under Grand Slams
The Rule of Pairs
Kohlschreiber d. Hewitt, 7/6 6/3 Tsonga d. Nadal, 6/7 6/4 6/1 Roddick d. Verdasco, 6/2 6/2 The best day’s line up since yesterday provided some better play, and an uneasy sense of things happening in pairs: both defending champions went … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour
Dominance Blooming
French Open, Final (1) Nadal d. (3) Federer, 7/5 7/6 5/7 6/1 It was not until 5/1 in the fourth set, with the return of the sun and a second break in hand, that the dour knot marring Rafael Nadal’s … Continue reading
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Yet Again . . .
The semifinalists for Roland Garros 2011 have been decided, and for a wonder the Big Four constitute the final four. The lazy inclination is to add a knowing ‘yet again’, but in fact it only seems that way. It occurs … Continue reading
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Vexing Questions
I ended the week vexed by two questions, the first newly-minted and the second near-eternal: What is wrong with Rafael Nadal? Is Liszt’s E-flat Piano Concerto worse than a root canal? Pleasantly, or unpleasantly, the latter question has at last … Continue reading
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Thud
French Open, Day Five Six qualifiers have progressed to the third round of Roland Garros: Antonio Veic, Leonardo Mayer, Lukas Rosol, Steve Darcis, Alejandro Falla and Lukasz Kubot. I’d like to say this is the first time, but honestly I … Continue reading
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An Awfully Nice Curse
Roland Garros, Day Three (Q) Kubot d. (11) Almagro, 3/6 2/6 7/6 7/6 6/4 Of all the practical jokes recently inflicted on Nicolas Almagro, two in particular were humdingers, and it’s a nice question which of them has proved funnier. … Continue reading
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Running On Vapour
Rome Masters 1000, Final Djokovic d. Nadal, 6/4 6/4 Along with everyone else, I correctly predicted that today’s Rome final would not be an epic, but again like everyone else, I was mistaken as to why. The widespread expectation was … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour