The Pre-quarter final rounds threw up some interesting observations.No 10. Caroline Wozniacki (and former No. 1) was playing Svetlana Kuznetsova who is ranked No. 75. I have always loved Kuznetsova's game but I degrees.
I had the following questions:
1. Where are all the Russian ladies?
2. Can a person play the backhand as well or even better than the forehand?
3. Why was Caro ever World No. 1?
4. Why do we frequently see Yo- Yo sets in women's tennis?
The answer are- I don't know, I have never seen it before, I don't know and I really don't know.
Where are the Russian ladies? Russia and countries that were a part of the defunct Soviet Republic like Belarus, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Latvia, Uzbekistan, produce tennis players like Pakistan churns out fast fearsome fast bowlers. Of course what's common for these two are like both burn like comets, brilliant in their transience, produce smashing tennis and fade away. Actually the tennis players don't fade away as much as hover on the edge of brilliance and in top 50. Take the case of Dinara Safina, former world No. 1, temperamental, brilliant player of mediocre player (depending on her mood swings) never won a grand slam and has now retired from the professional tennis. Anna Kournikova, Vera Zvonareva, Anna Chakvertadze, Daniela Hantuchova, Bondarenko and Svetlana Kuznetsova...which brings us to the present and her 4th round match against Wozniacki and to the second question.
Svetlana's backhand finds the sweet corner spots and the way she hits it like a forehand in the sense that the same smoothness of action, the beautiful footwork and the natural sequence of actions that culminates in the double handed shot are a treat to savour. Opponents better watch out for that one. She has won two grand slams and has been relegated to no. 80 and now No. 75 in world rankings due to knee injuries. Hope she continues her run at the Open. Kuznetsova next meet No. 1 seeded Azarenka. It will be an interesting match for sure.
Meanwhile Djokovic survived a massive scare at the hands of the Stanislas Wawrinka (the man with the superb single fisted backhand) in a gruelling five hour- five setter. I think it was Wawrika's unforced errors that finally 'gifted' the match to Serbian. It was shattering to watch that ripper of a backhand finding the net. Djokovic exulted by taking his t-shirt off and baring his slender upper body. Another interesting observation- Novak always gives the opponent his dues. After his match with Stepanek, he gave him a hug instead of hand-shake. Today, he not only warmly hugged Wawrinka but also patted his cheek and hugged again. I think it makes the opponent feel better. I admire that in the Nole.
Now on to the QuarterFinals!
I had the following questions:
1. Where are all the Russian ladies?
2. Can a person play the backhand as well or even better than the forehand?
3. Why was Caro ever World No. 1?
4. Why do we frequently see Yo- Yo sets in women's tennis?
The answer are- I don't know, I have never seen it before, I don't know and I really don't know.
Where are the Russian ladies? Russia and countries that were a part of the defunct Soviet Republic like Belarus, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Latvia, Uzbekistan, produce tennis players like Pakistan churns out fast fearsome fast bowlers. Of course what's common for these two are like both burn like comets, brilliant in their transience, produce smashing tennis and fade away. Actually the tennis players don't fade away as much as hover on the edge of brilliance and in top 50. Take the case of Dinara Safina, former world No. 1, temperamental, brilliant player of mediocre player (depending on her mood swings) never won a grand slam and has now retired from the professional tennis. Anna Kournikova, Vera Zvonareva, Anna Chakvertadze, Daniela Hantuchova, Bondarenko and Svetlana Kuznetsova...which brings us to the present and her 4th round match against Wozniacki and to the second question.
Svetlana's backhand finds the sweet corner spots and the way she hits it like a forehand in the sense that the same smoothness of action, the beautiful footwork and the natural sequence of actions that culminates in the double handed shot are a treat to savour. Opponents better watch out for that one. She has won two grand slams and has been relegated to no. 80 and now No. 75 in world rankings due to knee injuries. Hope she continues her run at the Open. Kuznetsova next meet No. 1 seeded Azarenka. It will be an interesting match for sure.
Meanwhile Djokovic survived a massive scare at the hands of the Stanislas Wawrinka (the man with the superb single fisted backhand) in a gruelling five hour- five setter. I think it was Wawrika's unforced errors that finally 'gifted' the match to Serbian. It was shattering to watch that ripper of a backhand finding the net. Djokovic exulted by taking his t-shirt off and baring his slender upper body. Another interesting observation- Novak always gives the opponent his dues. After his match with Stepanek, he gave him a hug instead of hand-shake. Today, he not only warmly hugged Wawrinka but also patted his cheek and hugged again. I think it makes the opponent feel better. I admire that in the Nole.
Now on to the QuarterFinals!
