Waiting For The Finals

[poliphilo]

The phone rang the moment after Andy Roddick celebrated his Wimbledon semi-finals win by falling on his knees and showing us his cute butt.  It was Ruth. "I'm so cross!" she said.

A lot of British people will have been feeling that way.  We've been sold Murray as our first finalist in over 70 years and- like Henman before him- he's fallen at the penultimate fence. I'm afraid he looked a bit lost out there. Roddick had a game plan- which featured the un-Roddicklike strategy of coming to the net and volleying- and Murray didn't have whatever it takes to switch his game to match him.  Murray's a fine player, with some elegant moves- his cross court passes are a thing of beauty and wonder- but is he a great champion? Not this year he ain't.

Roddick was terrific. That serve of his is a killer. Can he take Federer? On this form, perhaps.

The women's side of the tournament has been disappointing. All those cute little East European girls who are supposedly the best in the world got swept off court  by the river in spate that is the Williams sisters. There's got to be something screwy about a ratings system that gives the number one slot to a player who has never won a major. The Williamses should be at one and two- and the only reason they're not is that they don't bother to show up for all the itsy-bitsy little tournaments.  And why should they?  They've got lives outside tennis- and nothing left to prove. I don't know which of them will win this afternoon. My head says Serena and my heart says Venus. We'll see.

Comments

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

Andy hired his 'new' coach because he wanted a slam. Andy Roddick, that is. First thing he was told is "lose 15 pounds, NOW" and it gained him a few steps. He's doing well. Perhaps, just perhaps, he is hungry enough to beat Roger Federer (that nice young man in the white coat!) I'd sure like to see it.

As for Mr. Murray, I think he still has some years before he will be a Wimbledon Champion. But you're right, sometimes his elegant shots are breathtaking.

The Williams women are my heroes. Like you said, they don't bother to show up for those itsy bitsy little tournaments. I would like to, one day soon, watch Serena Williams mop the court with Ms. Sharapova.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Roddick was a revelation. I hadn't expected him to play like that and- more to the point- nor had Murray.

My fear for Murray is that by the time he moves out the shadow of Federer, Nadal and Roddick there'll be a whole new generation of young players snapping at his heels. A player's life at the top isn't very long. Murray is 22- and hasn't won a major yet. If he doesn't step up a gear very soon he could run out of time.

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

Roddick's execution was amazing. He's more focused than he's ever been. Murray does have the talent to win a Grand Slam, though it remains to see if he can handle the pressure at Wimbledon.

My heart and head say Venus. The elder sister has more of a power game and she's been serving well. Either way, they're going to win another doubles championship...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Roddick was terrific. On the form he showed against Murray I think he could beat Federer. Murray will probably pick up a major sooner or later- but not necessarily Wimbledon.