World Tennis Magazine

Unique Tennis Perspectives

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Querrey Shows his Grit in Loss to Wawrinka

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By Ritesh Gupta

Sometimes whatever you may do on the court on a given day, it seems that your perseverance is just not going to pay off. Sam Querrey seemed to have one such day in the office at the US Open as the American lost a pulsating five-setter to Stanislas Wawrinka in the fourth round.

The fact that Querrey came quite close to advancing to the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career is definitely going to hurt him.

Querrey, who lost 6-7 (9-11), 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-4, 4-6 in a battle that lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes, played the catching game for the major part of the match. There also came a stage when the American, going with the flow, could have gained upper hand in the decisive set. To his credit, Wawrinka hung on to save three break points at 1-1 at that stage.

Despite being brilliant and quite erratic at the same time, Wawrinka chose to attack the net at crucial stages. His ploy to pressurise Querrey by rushing to the net paid rich dividends, especially in the 10th game of the final set, as Wawrinka closed out the match with a backhand volley. In doing so, he also etched his name history books with this victory.

Wawrinka not only reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal but he also ensured that two Swiss players advanced to the last eight of any Grand Slam for the first time in the Open Era.

But all this happened amidst what almost became like a battle of attrition. The way players moved around the court and kept the ball in play at the fag end was quite a stark contrast to the way they came firing on all cylinders in the first set. From decisive service games to losing them at some of the most critical junctures, from cracking winners with aplomb to coming up with almost what could be described as timid display, both Querrey and Wawrinka could not hold on to the momentum to nudge ahead decisively.

When a match between two big-hitters turns out to be an unpredictable one, it can have its own charm provided their ability to smash the ball comes to the fore. This was definitely the case in the first set, which Wawrinka won by converting his fourth set point.

Post this, the contest turned out to be a capricious one just because both committed errors to squander an advantageous position time and again.

Wawrinka failed to convert four set points while serving at 5-4 in the second set before losing it in the tie-breaker. Similarly, Querrey broke his opponent early in the next set for a 3-1 lead but he, too, failed to capitalised on it and lost his serve twice to trail by a set at the stage.

In the fourth set, Querrey showed signs of not letting it slip away. The fact he trailed lot more than Wawrinka throughout and still managed to push it to the decider speaks about Querrey’s tenacity.

VENUS SHOWS CHAMPION’S GRIT IN DEFINING MOMENTS

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By Ritesh Gupta

Sometimes how hard an underdog may try, the favourite just knows how to find a way out.

The fourth-round clash between the five-times Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and Australian Jarmila Groth aptly showed how the ones will illustrious track record just need a fraction of uncertainty from their opponents to really get the desired result.

Groth’s fourth-round 6-4, 7-6 (5) loss at Wimbledon would definitely hurt her a lot.

She dealt quite a few crushing blows in the form of her blistering groundstrokes, something which Williams isn’t used to.

Venus Williams
Venus Williams

Groth had her chances but she failed to grab them, a story which so often only ends in such a fashion just because the underdog fails to replicate the superlative performance at the critical juncture.

Groth didn’t face even a single break point in the entire first set until the 10th game. Serving at 4-5 to stay in the set, Groth lost her way.

She overcome such disappointment soon and managed to break Venus early in the second set. Groth produced some stunning winners. She not only matched Venus from the baseline but she also successfully forced the pace.

The Australian led 5-4 and 6-5 but was unsuccessful on both the occasions in serving out the set.

As proved time and again, after being pushed to the brink, the players of Venus’ stature just do enough to claw their way back. At 5-4, Venus came up with a service return, which looked like a statement in itself. Thereafter, the two were engaged in short rallies, the kind of ones in which Groth was having an upper hand. But this time Venus showed great defensive skills and it was Groth who committed errors in the end.

It looked as if Groth saw it slipping from her grasp. She was unlucky too. At 5-5, the 23-year old stuck what looked like a winner. Venus chose to challenge the decision. The ball met the baseline but missed the sideline by a margin, not more than the width of a hair! The crowd also felt for Groth as she survived two game points, both shaped by aces from Venus, in the same game. More drama was in store as Groth did break Venus’ serve but the set eventually went into the tie-breaker.

Williams led 4-0, only to see her lead drift away. Groth made it 4-4 and 5-5 but came up with a double fault to handover Williams her first match point. The 30-year old American wrapped up the match as Groth missed a half-court forehand sitter.

After being so close, it all came to few defining moments. And Venus scripted all of them to nudge ahead.

It is important to note that despite being challenged and severely tested during the one-hour 37-minute gruelling encounter against Groth, Williams still hasn’t lost a set so far at the All England Club this year. The rest of the field definitely needs to be wary of Williams, her form and her love for this trophy.

Williams next plays Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova for a place in the last four.

HENIN HITS GROOVE AHEAD OF FOURTH-ROUND CLASH WITH CLIJSTERS

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By Ritesh Gupta

There are times when famed players raise their game to a certain level which results in a feeling of contentment for them. Even after being at the top when you prove something to yourself, it definitely means a lot. Also, when you know your opponent is not a mere pushover, it makes such effort all the more creditable.

Justin Henin conjured up one such display at Wimbledon Friday. The fact that the Belgian played on the Centre Court, it made her 6-1, 6-4 made her third-round victory over Russian Nadia Petrova all the more special.

For one who only returned to the competitive tennis earlier this year, Henin surely is hungry for success.

Her post-match smile summed it up all. Immediately after her third-round win, Henin mentioned that this is the best she has played since her return.

The Henin-Petrova match lasted for 68 minutes. But the first 30 minutes almost completed Petrova’s misery.

The way the first set shaped up, it was clear that Henin was in no mood to let her opponent settle down. She bamboozled Petrova with her swift movement and fluent strokes. So much so that the depth and the pace of Henin’s groundstrokes made Petrova retrieve a lot of balls in an awkward fashion. Henin also negated Petrova’s service games with ease and that only mounted the pressure point after point, game after game.

After being broken thrice in the first set, Petrova lost her control. Her frustration became quite apparent. Not happy with the situation, she slammed her racquet on her foot and on the ground.

At times such antics may not lift one’s spirit, but they can definitely break your opponent’s tempo.

Perhaps that was the case with Henin. She lost her serve early in the second set, owing to a couple of loose strokes. Petrova, though not serving the way she is known for, varied her pace and improved her first serve percentage for a brief period to make a match of it.

But Henin soon broke back after Petrova failed to stave off fourth break point in the sixth game. A couple of games later, the Russian’s resistance came to an end.

Henin’s victory showed she was on top her game and quite focused. She knows she can’t afford to let the advantage or rhythm go, especially the way she squandered 5-2 lead in the second set in her second-round match against German Kristina Barrois before recovering to win in straight sets.

The timing of Henin striking form couldn’t have been better. She next faces Kim Clijsters for a place in the last eight, definitely the biggest match in the ladies’ singles so far.

Importantly, Clijsters isn’t spending too much time on court. She was equally ruthless in her 6-3, 6-3 win over Maria Kirilenko of Russia.

JUSTINE HENIN’S BACKHAND – A TREAT TO WATCH

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By Ritesh Gupta

When its on full song, Justine Henin’s backhand is surely one of the most captivating sights in the sport.

Any connoisseur would rank the Belgian’s single-handed backhand as probably one of the best strokes in the history of women’s tennis. And for fans, its just pure delight to see the way Henin executes the same time and again.

Tennis is being increasingly dominated by those who are gifted with the right blend of strong physique and talent. So much so that at times facing the likes of Williams sisters looks like a daunting task. But as seen over the years, if Henin is in form, nothing can stop her. What she lacks in height (Henin is 5ft. 6 inches tall), Henin makes up for the same with her groundstrokes.

Talking of Henin’s backhand again, its just not a weapon which forces the pace or results in winners. Its equally strong in defence and too consistent to frustrate the opponents.

A case in point was the way Henin clawed her way in the final set against Maria Sharapova at the French Open Sunday. The Russian, who is trying to find her way back to the top, attacked Henin relentlessly when the game resumed after being suspended due to darkness at one set each on Saturday. Sharapova took an early lead in the final set but Henin just didn’t give up.

One point aptly summarised Henin’s determination. It came in the eight game of the final set. Serving at 3-4, Sharapova produced a barrage of aggressive strokes. In one of the rallies, it looked as if Henin’s backhand would wilt under pressure. Even as Sharapova’s assaults and even her shrieks touched their peak, it just failed to crack Henin’s backhand. Henin not only broke that service game but she wrapped up the match in style to complete her 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory.

Henin next faces Samantha Stosur of Australia for a place in the quarterfinal stage. If she goes all the way, Henin would be pocketing her fifth French Open title.

Recently, when Henin was interviewed, she felt excited as well as nervous going into the tournament.

Irrespective of how Henin feels, everyone out in the field knows the Belgian is a dangerous opponent.  Especially considering that this year Henin has made a comeback and her hunger for more is getting stronger and stronger.

YOU CAN’T TAKE VICTORY AWAY FROM SERENA WILLIAMS

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By Ritesh Gupta

Experiencing both the highs and the lows, going from top gear to literally dragging herself on court, this is something which Serena Williams is used to, especially when she is performing at some of the world’s biggest tournaments.

Williams’ 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 third-round victory over Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at the French Open once again brought to the fore an intriguing facet of the 12-time Grand Slam tournament winner.

Other than Pavlyuchenkova’s counter attack, Williams’discomfort, too, stood out. Expressing a little bit of pain, hand on her waist to accentuate the same, measured steps in between points…this is something which has been observed in the past, and today was no different.

Overall, the match was a roller-coaster ride.

Williams, who won this title in 2002, started with a bang, reeling off six games in a row, to bag the first set 6-1. Pavlyuchenkova, who paid dearly for her meek second serve, could barely bear the onslaught.

The rallies remained short, but surprisingly, the beneficiary wasn’t Williams, but rather her 18-year old opponent.

Pavlyuchenkova looked confident and the same reflected on court as she blasted winners. The pace could have unsettled anyone. She pushed Williams on the backfoot, made her stretch and dictated points as the match progressed. Not surprisingly, the turnaround was complete when Pavlyuchenkova restored parity with a 6-1 win.

For Williams, who was treated for her discomfort towards the end of the second set, a vital breakthrough came when she broke her opponent for 3-1 lead. This was not before Williams herself saved three break points in the previous game. Thereafter, the world number one was back to her winning ways.

Its never easy to play in pain and face a resurgent opponent. Winning is not about blasting winners, there is lot more to it. And no one knows this better than Williams in the women’s game today.

For Pavlyuchenkova, she has the power and the attitude to make it big. But she needs to learn about sustaining the tempo. That casual walk from Williams, which she took from the baseline to the net after her victory, depicts how to overcome hurdles in this competitive world.