Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came back from dead. Philipp Petzschner found it again that being two sets up means he would lose the match. Nadal, of course, had done it before. But Tsonga had the harrowing experience for the first time. He came back to win 4-6 2-6 6-2 6-3 6-4. Philipp Petzschner was left wondering what he should do the next time round. His next opponent is Andreas Seppi who has 1-0 record against him. Seppi himself has lived twice; he was dead two sets down today before prevailing in five.
Robin Soderling defeated Potito Starace 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of Australian Open 2011 and confirmed that he is in great form. With more control over his shots, it would be for the opponent to defeat him. He will not defeat himself. His movements and foot work are much better than before. Although his game still revolves around the power in his shots, he can hit more shots in a rally before hitting a winner or committing an unforced errors. Innovativeness and acute angles are still not his fortress, but it is enough if he continues his winning game into the next round against Gilles Muller.
Ernests Gulbis has fallen to the experience of Benjamin Becker. A floater, dangerous for many, has been sunk. Expectations regenerated after his good showing in last 1-2 years are likely to take a big hit. He will be consigned to the fame of a dangerous floater than a winner. Perhaps he is yet to inculcate the rigorous work ethic required for a consistent performance. It could as well be that we see a ‘Soderling’ a few years down the line.
David Nalbandian - Lleyton Hewitt blockbuster lived upto its expectation, except that it was no happy ending this time for the home crowd. Nalbandian scraped through in five, 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 9-7. Nalbandian could not serve out the match and Hewitt could not convert the two match points that came his way. It was a reversal of fortune from the 2005 Australian Open.
No comments:
Post a Comment