Thursday, June 30, 2022

W.4- And One to Gr-oh On?


Oh, Petra. There you go again?




Since she first grabbed the attention of the greater tennis audience, Petra Kvitova has always looked forward to the grass season. From the start, she's been especially linked to Wimbledon and the All-England Club. Eleven years ago (!!), she left people in awe -- jaws, quite literally, dropped -- with her play on the lawns of SW19. She won two titles in four years, in 2011 and '14, and over the following seasons she's continued to be a force on grass. But that hasn't necessarily been the case at Wimbledon.

In the eight years since her last title run, quite a lot has happened to Kvitova. For one, she's lucky to have survived -- both as a tennis player and otherwise -- a shocking home invasion incident which nearly (at the least) cost her her career. She's continued to be one of the most beloved players on tour and, at times, one of the most dangerous. But while she's never reached #1 (though she came OH SO CLOSE on SO MANY occasions), the most stunning development of her career over this same stretch has been that she hasn't reached the QF at Wimbledon since she last *won* it. In her six appearances coming into this year's tournament, she's actually only reached the *second week* once (in 2019) and fell twice in the 1st Round.

As this Wimbledon drew near, Kvitova found her season somewhat backed into a corner. She came into Eastbourne week having lost five of her last six (including an opening round defeat in Birmingham at the hands of Beatriz Haddad Maia, who was trying on the outfit of "the new Petra of grass courts" with what would be back-to-back titles... as it turned out, it wasn't a good fit), after having had promising QF results in Dubai and Miami earlier this season.

Eastbourne, which Kvitova hadn't won since the same year she last won Wimbledon, proved to be the site of her "reaffirmation" of the grass court player she's always been. Precisely when she needed it most, The Game was back. En route to the title, Kvitova dropped just one set (to Brit Katie Boulter in the 3rd Rd., which she responded to by bageling Boulter a set later), avenged her loss to Haddad in the semis and then thrashed Alona Ostapenko in the final to claim her first grass court crown in four years.

As Wimbledon was set to begin at the start of the week -- save for the forced exclusion of a large handful of players, the most *regular* feeling Wimbledon since the last pre-pandemic event held at SW19 three years ago -- Kvitova was sporting a familiar smile, and just as familiarly seeing it reflected back at her in the shiny surface of a big trophy she'd just earned the right to raise. Though recent history seemed to dissuade one from the thought, the possibility of Kvitova and Wimbledon rekindling their romance of old was back on the table.

Against Jasmine Paolini in the 1st Round at the AELTC, Kvitova dropped the 1st set to the Italian before finding more sound footing on the lawns. Once she did, she put Paolini away 4 & 2 to set up her 2nd Round outing today.

The way things started in her match against Ana Bogdan on Thursday, #25-seeded Kvitova was looking to be drawing favorable comparisons to her Wimbledon title-winning self. She led the Romanian 6-1/5-1. She was two points from a blistering victory on Bogdan's serve, then twice served for the win, holding a MP at 5-4.

But, then... oh, Petra.

Suddenly, the Czech found herself *down* on serve at 6-5 and *saving* two SP. She got things to a tie-break, though, and won it 7-5 to avoid becoming "P3tra" on this day and risking ending up on her back on the side of the court like the gigantic bug I found just outside my door this morning. *It* didn't look like it was going to make it, but Petra finally did.

Kvitova has now won seven straight matches on grass. It's her longest streak on the surface since, well, you know.



At 32, and with her being just 10-12 away from the grass courts in '22, one never knows just how much longer we'll have Petra around. She seems happy off court, and it's best that we make sure we enjoy her in the time we still have her (however long it may be... the current Crush of Czechs coming up behind her surely won't spend more than a tiny percentage of their entire careers on a WTA tour that includes her regular presence). And this is the time of the year when the Petra "lovefest" has the most potential to reach its fullest bloom.

A third major win, if it should ever come for Kvitova, would be a major career statistical marker. Especially without having ever reached #1, being a *three*-time slam champion would elevate her to a rarified level reached only by three players confined to her playing era (Kerber, Osaka and Barty, as the Williamses and Sharapova all won their first slams at least seven full years before Petra's maiden crown and really belong to the *previous* generation).

Kvitova very nearly was able to add a third to her career total at a *second* major in the final in Melbourne in 2019, but now Wimbledon -- maybe *this* Wimbledon, in fact -- might offer the optimal (only realistic?) scenario for her to take her best shot at #3.

Only six women have tripled up on titles at SW19 in the Open era (King, Navratilova, Evert, Graf, Williams and Williams... not bad company to keep for all time, eh?), and Kvitova's legacy there would only be further mixed with the ivy-covered walls if she were to add her name to that short list

But aside from all that... it'd just be *fun* to see her do it again, right?





=DAY 4 NOTES=
...as for the other veteran Czech who took the stage today. Well, #6 Karolina Pliskova probably should have sensed from the start that it wasn't going to be her day. I mean, literally, from the start.



Pliskova, 30, remains one of three players to have been ranked #1 but who never won a major title in her career. She's the only one of the trio -- with Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic -- to still be active, and hasn't given up the ghost of removing her name from the list. Just a year ago, she reached the Wimbledon final as she fully collected herself in the middle of the season after a slow start under new coach Sascha Bajin. After breaking a bone in her arm during a training accident this offseason, Pliskova has again had to weather this time a *late* starting season and *then* another period of adjustment to play once she did return. In recent weeks, she's started to more closely remsemble herself, especially finding the bright light in the pre-Wimbledon grass court stretch which saw her serve sometimes take on a dominance it hasn't since the "Ace Queen" years.

One person who she wasn't able to bomb off the court before the start of SW19, though, was Katie Boulter. The 25-year old Brit, finally nearly fully caught up from the lost progress that came with her back injury of a few seasons ago, posted consecutive QF runs in Nottingham and Birmingham during which she recorded wins over Alison Riske (Berlin finalist, and still alive at this Wimbledon), Caroline Garcia (Bad Homburg champ, and ditto) and, yes, Pliskova. The latter, in fact, marked first career Top 10 victory.

As the two met again a week later, it was once more a case of "Katie Boulter the Door!" (Sorry, that was little too Brad Gilbert-esque, I think.) But still...



The #118-ranked wild card carried over her momentum from the previous match vs. Pliskova to Centre Court today, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the opening set. But Pliskova pushed her way back and took the 1st at 6-3. Boulter was at it again in the 2nd, leading 4-2, only to yet again see the Czech level the set and force things to a TB. Again, Boulter took the lead at 4-0, while Pliskova closed to 4-3. The Brit closed on a good stretch, though, winning the breaker 7-4 to set up a deciding 3rd set.

Once there, both women minded their serve, getting through the first eight games without facing a BP. Finally, at 4-4, Boulter got the first chance at 15/40 on Pliskova's serve. The Czech fired an ace (#13 of the day) on the first BP, but a deep Boulter return of a *second* serve bounced too far away from the stretching Pliskova for her to get it back, securing the break and allowing the Brit to serve for her maiden slam 3rd Round. On MP, Boulter's volley winner took the 3-6/7-6(4)/6-4 victory, setting off another cascade of British celebratory cheers as, after so many years of relative futility (save for an occasional shocking mini-run) one of their own has now reached this stage at a third straight Wimbledon, and for the fourth time in five tournaments at SW19.



Those other three times, the British 3rd Rounder in question wasn't finished. Jo Konta reached the SF in 2017 and the QF two years later. Last year, Emma Raducanu played into the Round of 16.

Afterward, Boulter revealed a personal loss to which she was dedicating her big win today.



And another British slam story continues, where it will next run head-first into a French one.

...Harmony Tan won't be playing doubles with Tamara Korpatsch, but the Pastry *will* by playing a 3rd Round match in singles after eliminating #32 Sara Sorribes Tormo in straight sets today, ending the match with a tweener and passing shot combination on MP.



With Boulter up next, might Tan return to Centre Court?

...elsewhere, '21 quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic defeated the last remaining qualifier in the competition, Catherine Harrison, leaving the Last Qualifier Standing a five-way tie with none reaching the 3rd Round. Maybe as something of a "reaction" to Emma Raducanu winning the U.S. Open as a qualifier last summer, the Tennis Gods have seen fit to have qualifiers go 0-13 in 2nd Round matches in majors in 2022.



Zheng Qinwen has followed up her Roland Garros Round of 16 run by (at least) reaching the 3rd Round at SW19, taking out Greet Minnen today. Speaking of Minnen, her 1st Round opponent from yesterday took to social media to address her exit.



Time to rally 'round the Garbi.

...another Belgian, #24 Elise Mertens teetered on the edge of oblivion late on Wednesday, as Panna Udvardy served at 6-3/6-5 and held two MP at 40/15. Mertens won a pair of back-to-back baseline rallies, though, getting the break and then winning a TB to extend the match to a 3rd set which was to be finished today.

Mertens opened the set on Thursday with a break, but the Hungarian got things back to even and was serving at 4-4 a short time later. In game #9, Mertens had nine BP chances (one saved via a net cord) but Udvardy held for 5-4. Rather than turn the tables on the Belgian in the closing moments, though, Udvardy didn't win another game. Two games later, Mertens got the break she'd just missed out on and had the chance to serve for the match -- and her 18th straight slam 3rd Round -- at 6-5.

At 15/15 in game #12, Udvardy had Mertens at the net, but rather than lob over her and make the Waffle chase down the ball she *twice* tried to power through the world WD #1. Both times Mertens expertly volleyed the shots back and took a 30/15 lead. Udvardy won the next point, but rather than be at BP it was only 30/30. Mertens held her first MP a point later, some 13 hours after she'd faced down two. Udvardy saved it with an overhead put-away, but then sprayed a backhand on Mertens' second MP two points later as the Belgian won 3-6/7-6(5)/7-5.

...in the other match from Day 3 to be finished today, Heather Watson found herself still playing against Wang Qiang after having failed to serve out the match at 7-5/5-3 at the close of play on Wednesday. The two returned today, with Wang serving down 4-5.

From love/30 down, Watson saved two GP and ultimately put the match away with a break of serve by converting on her third MP, becoming the first of the British woman through to the 3rd Round at this slam. It's Watson's first 3rd Round result at a major since the '17 Wimbledon.

Boulter and Watson remained the only Brits to reach the Final 32 when Harriet Dart fell to #8 Jessie Pegula, who rallied from a set down to win in three to reach the 3rd Round for the seventh time in the last nine majors. She was a quarterfinalist this year in both Melbourne and Paris.

...meanwhile, Bianca Andreescu is now out of this Wimbledon, while #17 Elena Rybakina has followed up her Round of 16 at SW19 last year with a return to the 3rd Round. But the Canadian just about had "that look" in her eye today, as she (almost) stormed back from seeing the Kazakh serve for the match at 5-4 in the 2nd set, breaking and eventually forcing a TB. Rybakina ultimately won it 7-4, with Andreescu throwing in a crucial DF, to avoid a 3rd set, and she might have been very fortunate to do so.

Andreescu is not quite *there* yet, but she's getting really close, and her "sweet spot" of summer hard courts will finally arrive soon after spending a few months prepping (and staying healthy -- whew!) on clay and grass. She could be at the start of something really good again. Crossing fingers.

At the same time, this Wimbledon marks something of *season* comeback for Rybakina, as after opening '22 by reaching the Adelaide final (she lost to some Aussie named Ashleigh) she's reached just one QF (at Indian Wells) since, throwing in an early-season thigh injury and Covid positive status (in February) into a mix that also saw her go just 1-2 on grass coming into this Wimbledon

Rybakina has now reached at least the 3rd Round at five of the last six majors.

...the scrutiny of Iga Swiatek's every game played continued on Day 4, as the #1 seed actually dropped a set against lucky loser Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove, whose deep and flat shots served to create some errors off the racket of the late-swinging Pole. Kerkhove's 6-4 2nd set win ended Swiatek's current set-winning streak at eleven. But Iga kept pushing early in the 3rd, finally getting a break of serve to lead 3-1 and maintaining her edge the rest of the way en route to a 6-4/4-6/6-3 victory, her 37th straight.

Swiatek wasn't perfect today, and the lost set barely would have registered if not for, you know, the streak. But it goes to show that, with the right opponent on the other side of the net, she might just be bested by the end of the fortnight. As it is, she's now won 59 of 62 sets.



...over the years, Kirsten Flipkens has had some of her greatest career moments at Wimbledon. In 2003, she was the junior champ.



She reached the 3rd Round at a major for the first time there (2009), too, as well as her only slam singles semifinal (in 2013, defeating Petra Kvitova in the QF in one of the two seasons between her '11 and '14 title runs). It was in *that* year that Flipkens, eventual champ Marion Bartoli, runner-up Sabine Lisicki and Aga Radwanska (a finalist a year later, but with the famous post-loss, "look-away handshake" with the German in this case) emerged from the decimated draw to form an unexpected final four.



Today at the All-England Club, the Belgian played the final singles match of her career, falling to #16 Simona Halep in straight sets, but having the chance to take *both* before forcing the former champ to stage comebacks in the 1st and 2nd sets to extend her Wimbledon winning streak to nine.



Flipkens led 5-2 in the 1st, but Halep took the set 7-5. In the 2nd, a 4-1 Flipkens lead turned into a 6-4 win for the Romanian. Afterward, though the 36-year old will continue to play doubles on tour, it was all about saying goodbye to "Flipper."



...with the first two rounds complete, Ons Jabeur and Paula Badosa have allowed the fewest total games (8), with Ajla Tomljanovic and Jule Niemeier close behind with nine.

...Roehampton, the last pre-Wimbledon grass court junior tune-up event is down to a final two. Top-seeded Bannerette Liv Hovde will face Danish #9-seed Johanne Christine Svendsen. Hovde, a girls' AO semifinalist and RG quarterfinalist in '22, defeated Nottingham J1 champ Taylah Preston in the 3rd Round. #6-ranked Hovde, 16, is 26-4 in junior play this season, while #25 Svendsen, 18, is 16-7.

Most of the top juniors aren't playing at Wimbledon, as Hovde is the top seed. World #3 Sofia Costoulas (who retired from a $25K match today) has pulled out of the competition, leaving just three of the girls' Top 10 in the SW19 field, and 8 of the Top 20.

Czech Crushers Nikola Bartunkova (#3), Tereza Valentova (#12) and Linda Klimovicova (#16) are seeded.







*GIRLS' SEEDS*
1. Liv Hovde, USA (#6)
2. Celine Naef, SUI (#7)
3. Nikola Bartunkova, CZE (#9)
4. Nikola Daubnerova, SVK (#12)
5. Victoria Mboko, CAN (#17)
6. Taylah Preston, AUS (#18)
7. Luca Udvardy, HUN (#19)
8. Qavia Lopez, USA (#20)
9. Luciana Moyano, ARG (#22)
10. Annabelle Xu, CAN (#23)
11. Johanne Christine Svendsen, DEN (#25)
12. Tereza Valentova, CZE (#26)
13. Kayla Cross, CAN (#28)
14. Lucija Ciric Bagaric, CRO (#29)
15. Lucia Peyre, ARG (#30)
16. Linda Klimovicova, CZE (#31)






...KORPATSCHGATE ALMOST ADDED ANOTHER CHAPTER, until there was some clarification... ON DAY 4:




...I WAS WONDERING IF THIS WOULD BE BACK... ON DAY 4:

JJ & Aga (as advertised)!





...MEANWHILE... ON DAY 4:




...ISN'T IS ALWAYS?... ON DAY 4:




...COCO (THIS TIME VERY) CRISP... ON DAY 4:




...Hmmm... ON DAY 4:

Sorry, folks. Park's closed. The moose out front shoulda told you.



Sorry Mr. Smith. I had to.


















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*WIMBLEDON 3rd Rd. - PLAYERS BY NATION"*
4 - FRA (Cornet, Garcia, Parry, Tan*)
4 - USA (Anisimova, Gauff, Pegula, Riske-A.)
3 - CZE (Bouzkova*, Krejcikova, Kvitova)
3 - GER (Kerber, Maria, Niemeier*)
2 - CHN (Sh.Zhang, Q.Zheng)
2 - GBR (Boulter*, Watson)
2 - POL (Frech*, Swiatek)
2 - ROU (Begu, Halep)
1 - AUS (Tomljanovic)
1 - BEL (Mertens)
1 - CRO (Martic)
1 - ESP (Badosa)
1 - GRE (Sakkari)
1 - KAZ (Rybakina)
1 - LAT (Ostapenko)
1 - SLO (Juvan)
1 - TUN (Jabeur)
1 - UKR (Tsurenko)
--
* - first career slam 3r

*RECENT WIMBLEDON "LAST QUALIFIER STANDING"*
=2015=
Olga Govortsova, BLR (4th Rd.)
=2016=
Julia Boserup, USA
Jana Cepelova, SVK
Marina Erakovic, NZL (all 3rd Rd.)
=2017=
Petra Martic, CRO (4th Rd.)
=2018=
Evgeniya Rodina, RUS (4th Rd.)
=2019=
Coco Cauff, USA (4th Rd.)
=2021=
Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, COL (3rd Rd.)
=2022=
Maja Chwalinska/POL
Catherine Harrison/USA
Mai Hontama/JPN
Katarzyna Kawa/POL
Yanina Wickmayer/BEL (all 2nd Rd.)

*RECENT WIMBLEDON "EARLY-ROUND TOP PLAYER" WINNERS*
2015 Petra Kvitova, CZE [3rd]
2016 Simona Halep, ROU [QF]
2017 Johanna Konta, GBR [SF]
2018 Simona Halep, ROU [3rd]
2019 Ash Barty, AUS [4th]
2021 Angelique Kerber, GER [SF]
2022 Simona Halep, ROU

*ALL-TIME WTA WINNING STREAKS*
74 - Martina Navratilova (1984)
66 - Steffi Graf (1989-90)
58 - Martina Navratilova (1986-87)
57 - Margaret Court (1972-73)
55 - Chris Evert (1974)
54 - Martina Navratilova (1983-84)
46 - Steffi Graf (1988)
45 - Steffi Graf (1987)
41 - Chris Evert (1975-76)
41 - Martina Navratilova (1982)
37 - IGA SWIATEK (2022)
37 - Martina Hingis (1997)
37 - Martina Navratilova (1978)
36 - Martina Navratilova (1983)
36 - Chris Evert (1976)
36 - Monica Seles (1990)
35 - Venus Williams (2000)
34 - Serena Williams (2013)
33 - Chris Evert (1982)
33 - Chris Evert (1981)
33 - Chris Evert (1975)
32 - Justine Henin (2007-08)
32 - Steffi Graf (1995)
32 - Steffi Graf (1994)

*WIMBLEDON GIRLS CHAMPS, w/ ROEHAMPTON JR. RESULT*
1996 Amelie Mauresmo (W = Roehampton)
1997 Cara Black (QF)
1998 Katarina Srebotnik (DNP)
1999 Iroda Tulyaganova (3rd Rd.)
2000 Maria-Emilia Salerni (2nd Rd.)
2001 Angelique Widjaja (QF)
2002 Vera Dushevina (W)
2003 Kirsten Flipkens (RU)
2004 Kateryna Bondarenko (QF)
2005 Aga Radwanska (DNP)
2006 Caroline Wozniacki (DNP)
2007 Ula Radwanska (DNP)
2008 Laura Robson (RU)
2009 Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (SF)
2010 Kristyna Pliskova (W)
2011 Ash Barty (2nd Rd.)
2012 Genie Bouchard (W)
2013 Belinda Bencic (W)
2014 Alona Ostapenko (W)
2015 Sofya Zhuk (3rd Rd.)
2016 Anastasia Potapova (W)
2017 Claire Liu (W)
2018 Iga Swiatek (DNP)
2019 Daria Snigur (W)
2021 Ane Mintegi del Olmo (3rd Rd.)

*WIMBLEDON INVITATION DOUBLES WINNERS*
2007 Jana Novotna & Helena Sukova
2008 Jana Novotna & Kathy Rinaldi
2009 Martina Navratilova & Helena Sukova
2010 Martina Navratilova & Jana Novotna
2011 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2012 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2013 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2014 Jana Novotna & Barbara Schett
2015 Magdalena Maleeva & Rennae Stubbs
2016 Martina Navratilova & Selima Sfar
2017 Cara Black & Martina Navratilova
2018 Kim Clijsters & Rennae Stubbs
2019 Cara Black & Martina Navratilova
2020-21 DNP
[most wins]
5...Martina Navratilova
4...Jana Novotna
3...Lindsay Davenport
3...Martina Hingis
2...Cara Black
2...Rennae Stubbs
2...Helena Sukova
1...Kim Clijsters
1...Magdalena Maleeva
1...Kathy Rinaldi
1...Barbara Schett
1...Selima Sfar







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So, reading between the lines, according to the Supremes, every potential baby on earth should be born into a world where, if they're lucky to survive past age 10 without getting shot to death, they'll have to deal with living in a world so environmentally scary that the ones who do live might wish they hadn't? Umm, okaaaay.


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Let me guess. The vote will be 6-3, and it won't be in the direction that favors democracy.


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The Squirrel has announced his intention to leave the Rodent-12 Conference for the powerful Small Mammal-10 Conference no later than 2024.


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Storm Outlook Map... or, you know, the new college football conference geographical re-alignment chart...










TOP QUALIFIER: Maja Chwalinska/POL
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #16 Simona Halep/ROU
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1 - Jaimee Fourlis/AUS def. Dea Herdzelas/BIH 5-7/7-6(4)/6-4 (trailed 7-5/5-3, saved 2 MP)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - Harmony Tan/FRA def. (WC) Serena Williams/USA 7-5/1-6/7-6(7) (Williams for match at 5-4 in 3rd, up 4-0 in TB; first match in a year for SW; Tan Wimb. debut
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #28 Alison Riske/USA (def. Y.In-Albon/SUI)
FIRST SEED OUT: #31 Kaia Kanepi/EST (1st Rd.-Diane Parry/FRA)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Maja Chwalinska/POL, Elisabetta Cocciaretto/ITA, Dalma Galfi/HUN, Catherine Harrison/USA, Mai Hontama/JPN, Katarzyna Kawa/POL, Jule Niemeier/GER, Panna Udvardy/HUN
UPSET QUEENS: France
REVELATION LADIES: Poland
NATION OF POOR SOULS: AUS (1-5 1st; DC Barty retired in March)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Maja Chwalinska/POL, Catherine Harrison/USA, Mai Hontama/JPN, Katarzyna Kawa/POL, Yanina Wickmayer/BEL (all 2nd Rd.) (LL 2r: Kerkhove/NED)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Katie Boulter/GBR (in 3r)
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: Elisabetta Cocciaretto/ITA, Kirsten Flipkens/BEL, Yanina Wickmayer/BEL(Q) (all to 2r)
LAST BRIT STANDING: In 3r: Boulter, Watson
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Nominee: Tan
IT "??": xx
COMEBACK PLAYER: Nominees: Garcia, Kvitova
CRASH & BURN: #23 Beatriz Haddad Maia/BRA (1st Rd./Juvan; had won 2 grass titles); #9 Garbine Muguruza/ESP (1st Rd./Minnen; love 2nd lost when back; worst three-slam stretch of career
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON: Nominees: Tan (1r: S.Williams for match at 5-4, up 4-0 in TB); #24 Mertens (2r: Udvardy 2 MP in 2nd set, Mertens wins set, takes 3rd set a day later)
DOUBLES STAR: xx
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Cornet, Swarmettes, Germans
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREES: Nominee: Halep
---

RAD REMEMBRANCE DAY malevolent activity notes...
=June 26 official=

no play

=Day 3 observed=

Rain delays the start of play. Once play begins, three Top 10 women's seeds fall: #2 Anett Kontaveit, a former Wimbledon champion (a crying) #9 Garbine Muguruza, the great British hope in #10-seeded U.S. Open champ Emma Raducanu and two additional seeds (#26 Sorana Cirstea and #29 Anhelina Kalinina). Another (#24 Elise Mertens) saves 2 MP and escapes the guillotine (for now). In the men's, #3 seed and RG finalist (Casper Ruud) loses, along with former men's (Andy Murray) and boys' (#15 Reilly Opelka) champions. Another seed (#31 Sebastian Baez) also exits. Meanwhile, a young Pole (Maja Chwalinska) slips and falls in the backcourt in a fashion very reminscent of the sort of spills that occurred on that fateful June 26 back in 2013. After Chwalinska fell, she never won another game in the match from 6-3/1-0 up.






All for Day 4. More tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 7:47 PM 

5 Comments:

Blogger Diane said...

Those Judy Garland videos are fantastic!

Thu Jun 30, 07:58:00 PM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

OT- Never forget that it was former WTA CEO Larry Scott, that made a swing at getting Texas and Oklahoma. A decade later, the SEC dominates.

The Big 10 will have 16 teams.

Katie Boulter the door? Bad, but funnier since Pliskova went the wrong way.

Ms. Opportunity could be the Tan/Boulter winner, or from the 8th section- Watson/Juvan or Tsurenko/Niemeier.

Juvan needs to take advantage of her softer draw. Went up 3-0 vs Galfi, then went down 4-5, 0-40.

Swiatek was off before she fell. Best thing to say is that she continues on, as half the seeds did not.

Pattinama Kerkhova played a similar match at BJK Cup vs Sorribes Tormo. Played well, but let opportunities slip.

Speaking of falls, Osorio was healthy enough to play doubles.

Stat of the Day- 3- Grass titles for Julie Halard Decugis.

Not Testud. Not Mauresmo. Not Dechy. Not Pierce.

Halard's grass proficiency is overlooked because of Wimbledon. Even having reached the doubles final there in 2000, it was her worst slam in singles and doubles.

Winner of Eastbourne, Birmingham and Rosmalen, she was a triple threat that won on all surfaces, with 5 titles on hard, 3 clay and even one indoor carpet.

From an era when players hit the tour at a younger age, she reached her first singles final at 17. She retired at the peak of her career at 30.

Did I embellish that to make her sound better? No, in 2000, Halard-Decugis reached 12 of her 25 career doubles finals, becoming #1 in the process and winning the US Open.

Thu Jun 30, 09:28:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

D-
Since it wasn't actually in the movie, I don't think I'd ever seen that one. At least I don't remember it.


C-
Hard to see the Pac-whatever surviving losing USC/UCLA if it happens. The Big 10 and Big 12 would probably split what's left of the Pac. Then the SEC takes Clemson from the ACC and, well, here we go again. :/

Ha! I didn't even make that door connection. The Gilbert-ness of it all clouded my mind, I think. ;)

Yeah, the Art of Winning Slams always starts with winning when you're not playing all that great (see Serena along the path to who knows how many of her majors).

Fri Jul 01, 12:34:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

D-
Also, apparently "Mr.Monotony" (1948) ultimately inspired "Get Happy" from Summer Stock (1950), and you can certainly see the similarities.

Fri Jul 01, 01:07:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Diane said...

I'd never seen that video, either, and yes--the link between it and "Get Happy" is evident.

Fri Jul 01, 05:11:00 PM EDT  

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