Day 7 Review
Sunday was another great day at the Open. Five setters. Great comebacks. Friends playing friends. The Open is definitely taking shape.
Hewitt had just enough to get past Dent.
First on Arthur Ashe Stadium was Lleyton Hewitt facing a more dedicated Taylor Dent. This match went the distance with Hewitt pulling it out in the fifth set 7-5. Staying focused throughout the match, Dent was patient and took advantage of his opportunities. Dent's game is at the net. He tried to keep Hewitt deep and when a short ball came, he's slice a ball to Hewitt's backhand and rushed the net. Hewitt stayed patient and hit brilliant passing shots and wonderful topspin lobs. Dent had his chances, but in the end it was Hewitt moving on to the round of 16.
The battle between Serena and Venus turned out to be much less than a battle. USA commentator Tracy Austin hit the nail on the head when she said 'Each one knows exactly what the other is going to do and to overcome that they just hit the ball harder than they would normally do.' Venus was victorious, 7-6, 6-2, being more consistent and moving much better than little sister Serena. Plus, being out of shape doesn't help Serena. In defense of the sister's, John McEnroe said 'I played my brother, Patrick, three times winning them all and hated every minute of it. I couldn't enjoy beating my brother.'
Venus was cool as a cucumber today vs lil sis Serena.
Three other round of 16 matches on the women's side were played today with only one of the higher seeds getting tested. No. 1 Maria Sharapova destroyed Sania Mirza, 6-2, 6-1. No. 7 Nadia Petrova beat 16-year-old Czech Nicole Vaidisova, 7-6(4), 7-5. I have never seen a crybaby like this Vaidisova. She had chances to win the first set, lost it and chuckedher racket at her chair. Once sitting, she threw her water bottle, then her gatorade bottle. Okay, it happens. We lose our temper. What really upset me was after she lost the second set and the match, she picked up a ball and hit it into the crowd. I don't mean she just hit it, she nailed it as hard as she could towards the people in the first couple rows. Grow up already. You win some, you lose some.
No. 4 seed Kim Clijsters of Belgium completely dismantled Maria Vento-Kabchi of Venezuela, 6-1, 6-0. McEnroe made a funny comment saying the 'last three games of the Srichaphan/Sanguinetti match lasted longer than the entire Clijsters match.' That match I will discuss right about now.
The match of the day was Italian Davide Sanguinetti versus Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand. This match was amazing going to 7-6 in the fifth set. Sanguinetti is a completely push (he doesn't miss) and Srichaphan goes all out for everything. At deuce at 5-5 in the fifth set, neither player was giving an inch. Each player just kept hitting backhands to each other. Over thirty shots were played. Paradorn missed a backhand down the line and fell over jokingly on his stomach. He just laid there for two minutes.
Sanquinetti was waiting for Srichaphan to play the next point with a big smile on his face. Srichaphan looked at him with a smile and sarcastically screamed out 'COME ON, LETS GO!!' Best moment of the tournament. Over four hours into the match and both players were having a laugh. Sanguinetti eventually pulled it out 6-3, 4-6, 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 7-6(5). Fantastic match and to see these two hug at the end of the match was great. It was said earlier today 'You don't have to hate your opponent to want to win.' That says it all.
The cramping Sanguinetti couldn't sit down on change-overs in the fifth set.
No. 1 Roger Federer is getting everybody's best shot. Olivier Rochus, a boyhood friend of Federer, gave him all he could handle. Federer pulled it out 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-2. The score doesn't reflect how close this match was. Rochus had a set point in the second set and the first set was decided by one break of serve. These two a great friends having one the Wimbledon junior doubles tournament together years ago.
Day 8, Labor Day, Preview (Schedule of Play)
Four women's matches are left in the round of 16 to complete the quarterfinals. No. 7 Henin-Hardenne faces hardhitting Mary Pierce, the No. 12 seed from France. No 3 seed Amelie Mauresmo, also of France, plays No. 19 Elena Likhovtseva. American No. 2 Lindsay Davenport plays No. 15 Nathalie Dechy. Swiss Miss Patty Schnyder plays Elena Dementieva. For all of those young players out there who need to be reminded how important a second serve is, watch Dementieva. She has the worst second serve in all of tennis and double faulted 19 times in her last round.
Fourth round matches on the Men's side are set. Monday's matches are: American James Blake, fresh off his thumping of Rafael Nadal, takes on Tommy Robredo of Spain. Andre Agassi, the highest seeded player left in the bottom half of the draw plays Xavier Malisse. Argentinian Guillermo Coria plays Nicolas Massu. The night match Monday is the best fourth round match. Robby Ginepri plays the 18-year-old from France, Richard Gasquet. This match might not be pretty, but it sure will be entertaining. Both Ginepri and Gasquet will hit out and show emotion on the court. Especially Gasquet. Prediction: If things don't go well for him, he'll break a racquet.
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