Let us not begin today's blog with sour things. Let us instead begin with happy news - congratulations to Dominik Hrbaty and his girlfriend, now fiancee, on their engagement! Apparently he proposed right after he and Dominika Cibulkova won the Hopman Cup, which is really cute. So big congratulations!
*
Right, more sour things. I have discovered the source of Radek Stepanek's power, to which Fernando Verdasco fell victim yesterday, joining a first-set-winning-but-match-losing club with Robin Soderling and Richard Gasquet. It is his shirt. Has anyone ever seen tennis wear more ugly or more mesmerising? I don't know why he thought it would be a good idea to wear a shirt made out of a picnic blanket, but it seems to have worked for him - all three of these players have become hypnotised by it. Or perhaps the horror of it just overcame them. Who can tell?
*
Shirt aside, the match between Verdasco and Stepanek was really a good one, especially the third set, when Stepanek got two breaks up and then Verdasco pulled one and nearly both back. There was some absolutely insane shotmaking from both players (I still blame the shirt) and it was just really good fun to watch. Tennis matches can be good that way, when you aren't especially invested in them (though I was, anyone can tell, pulling for Nando!) You can really appreciate the tennis in and of itself.
*
That said, I hope Stepanek's sudden run of good form doesn't translate to him being this year's surprise finalist. I don't think I would like that. Le's leave it at Brisvegas.
*
And how about Mr Marin Cilic, winning his second title - though it was a struggle against Somdev Devvarman, the wildcard playing out of his skin. But nice one, Marin, flying the Star flag!
*
*
Today's Results
*
Brisbane International (Brisbane)
*
Radek Stepanek def. Fernando Verdasco, 3-6 6-3 6-4
*
*
Chennai Open (Chennai)
*
*
Marin Cilic def. Somdev Devvarman, 6-4 7-6 (7-3)
*
*
Medibank International (Sydney)
*
Serena Williams def. Samantha Stosur, 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 7-5
Svetlana Kuznetsova def. Peng Shuai, 3-6 6-1 6-3
Agnieszka Radwanska def. Sybille Bammer, 6-4 6-3
*
*
Moorilla Hobart International (Hobart)
*
*
Tsvetana Pironkova def. Patty Schnyder, 6-2 6-4
Alona Bondarenko def. Monica Niculescu, 6-4 2-6 6-2
Iveta Benesova def. Tamarine Tanasugarn, 7-5 7-5
Petra Kvitova def. Sally Peers, 6-0 6-0
Magdalena Rybarikova def. Kateryna Bondarenko, 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1
Posts
2 comments:
There have been a few monstrosities over the years but nothing IMO comes close to this absolute horror of a shirt Hrbaty chose to wear a few years back...
I remember that shirt. Hrbaty was beating Hewitt at the US Open, I think, and Hewitt came back and won the match, and when asked where he found the motivation, he said that he couldn't bear losing to a guy in a shirt like that.
Post a Comment