Lessons after Round 4

Women’s Draw- We know now that Serena is definitely meeting Sharapova in the quarterfinals of the year’s first grand slam.   I feel this will set the tone for the following year.  Though Sharapova’s nowhere near even a one arm distance from Serena, it might be a regular feature for this year that they meet from quarterfinals onwards on the condition that Maria stays fit in body and fine in mind.  Then there is Azarenka- she is sporting a very strong mind and a healed body that shows in her matches so far.  The real test then is meeting a resurgent Sharapova or/ and Serena to see how far she has really come.

Then there are two new comets, only time will tell if they will evolve into stars- Johanna Konta and Madison Keys.  Keys scored a big win over Ana Ivanovic and Konta sent back Venus Williams in the first round itself.  Back to the 4^th round match between Barbara Strycova and Victoria Azarenka.  Vika leads by a set and four games to three in the second.  But Strycova has found her ferocity and rhythm.  She is hitting harder, chasing every ball and giving it back as good as she gets.  However it might be too late unless we have a giant upset on her hands and she wins the next seven games on the trot and then the next 6 to win this match.  I have said time and again that relentlessness is the only way to go against a player who has better odds of winning.  Every ball, every shot, every court corner have to be hit, chased and explored.  You have to play like you are possessed and wear them down.  It is a game of mental arm wrestling.  If you cannot bend then you have to just hold it there without no clench and no tremor. And remember it ain’t over till it’s over. So we will see if Strycova manages to stay in the set or at 4-5 with Vika serving or give up.  It is 40-15 matchpoint for Vika. And Game, set and Match for Vika.  She does the dab and on to the next round.  Strycova curls her fingers into a heart appreciating the support of all her fans. Oh and incidentally Eva Asderaki Moore was was the chair Umpire for this match.  I hope she will be in the chair for the most important women's quarterfinal round between Maria and Serena.  She might not be though considering Serena has a bit of a history with Asderaki (twice) whom she called a hater. 

Lately, reviewing women’s matches is like reluctantly critiquing a bad Hindi movie, you gotta do it as its your job but where’s the fun.  They are mostly fighting the demons within-specially Serena, Maria and Victoria.  Serena reigns supreme in this category.  On her off day, she can lose 0-6, 1-6 and please reverse the scores when things are normal.

In comparison, men talk about styles, nutrition, training, coaching method.  Men’s matches are more exciting.  Everyone gets something new to the court- youth, different skill sets, diverse personalities, backstories and most importantly the Game.  Consistency is a problem as this last decade and a half has shown that has given us just two new faces (that are now decidedly old) Murray and Djokovic.  Potro shone albeit briefly by winning the 2008 US Open crown but even that story will be 10 years old in two years! Wawrinka is in a different league all together and by himself.  I am betting that he will win a couple more slams.  He occupies a different planet, a different cosmos. See how people constantly see only Nadal, Federer, Murray and Djokovic as the Fab four? There is now Wawrinka in their mind space.  But he is the only real and present threat.  He is completely fearless and I am not going to say a word about his game. Not afraid to come to net, content to hammer from the baseline, no fear of playing close to the lines and a serve that gives no indication if it’s the first or second.  In spite of this this, he loses to Federer in crunch matches. His game is decidedly superior but your game cannot fight a mind that still sees your opponent as the better player.  I wish Wawrinka get out of the Federer shadow that gets skinnier by the day. 

So the fab four now displaces Nadal with Wawrinka. Unless he makes drastic changes to his game or his body he will find it hard to match his own achievements.