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Five times the fun Serena-Clijsters showdown still looms for womenPosted: Wednesday June 04, 2003 3:35 PM
Wednesday's play at Roland Garros was highlighted by two exciting quarterfinal matches in the men's draw. SI.com talked to Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim about those battles and the looking women's semifinals. SI.com: What was it like Wednesday watching the pair of thrilling five-setters on the men's side? Jon Wertheim: You wish you could make a highlight tape of Wednesday's matches and give it to people who make the ill-informed claim that men's tennis is "boring" or "just a serving contest." These matches really captured tennis at its best. The first match was a case study in momentum: Tommy Robredo won the first two sets easily. Then Albert Costa changed tactics, moved inside the baseline, hit out a bit more and it really threw Robredo. Costa ended up winning in five sets, his fourth fifth-setter of the tournament. That match lasted 3 hours and 28 minutes. The following match lasted 3:29. Juan Carlos Ferrero and Fernando Gonzalez exchanged tracer fire from the baseline for five sets. Gonzalez hit some unbelievable shots, we're talking the kind of shots that brought on standing ovations and had Ferrero shaking his head in a sort of resigned awe. But in the end, Ferrero was steadier, if unspectacular, and he never gave back a break he got early in the fifth. He finally closed it out on his sixth match point. Afterward, the players hugged at the net and the crowd -- a capacity crowd that more than got its money's worth with 10 sets of tennis -- was on its feet. The Andy Roddick-Younes El Aynaoui quarterfinal in Australia still stands as the match of the year, but this was really sensational, wonderful, entertaining stuff. SI.com: How do you see Thursday's women's semifinals? Wertheim: I could see the Serena Williams-Justine Henin-Hardenne match playing out a lot like Serena's romp over AmŽlie Mauresmo Tuesday. Henin-Hardenne, like Mauresmo, has been known to get a bit jangly nerved on big occasions, and this is definitely a big occasion. The crowd will undoubtedly be on the Belgian's side, but this doesn't seem to matter much to the defending champ. We learned that Tuesday. What we also learned is that Serena is all business, and while Henin-Hardenne won their last match, in Charleston, there is a big difference between playing a final on a lazy spring Sunday in South Carolina and playing in a Grand Slam semi. SI.com: What about Kim Clijsters vs. Nadia Petrova. Is an upset a possibility? Wertheim: Not really. Petrova is a fine player who is a lot better than her ranking indicates. She was injured and lost her injury-protected ranking, so the fact that she entered the tournament outside the top 50 is deceptive. That said, Clijsters is a more complete player, a harder ballstriker and she knows the draw gods smiled on her. She has a real opportunity to win her first Grand Slam, and I still she'll take care of business Thursday and give us the anticipated final between the top two seeds. SI.com: Switching gears to off-the-court news: Roddick announced a couple of days ago that he was switching coaches. What do you make of that? Anything else going on behind the scenes? Wertheim: Well, we've heard some murmurs about Roddick parting with Tarik Benhabiles and retaining Brad Gilbert. Roddick was very loyal to Benhabiles and, as recently as last week, bristled at the suggestion that it was time for a change. But if you look at his results, it's clear his game has stagnated a bit. Gilbert, of course, is a tactician who will help with decision-making. But Gilbert can be a pretty intense guy, and whether this is a good fit as far as personalities, I guess we'll find out. I'm not sure this qualifies as "news," but the alphabet-soup organizations and the tours, the ATP especially, have been locked in mortal combat in various Parisian conference rooms this week. The breakaway players' organization, the IMTA, which has announced which players have pledged support, has accepted an invitation to meet with organizers of the Grand Slam events. The ATP sent out a release in response, questioning the legitimacy and motives of the ITF, etc., etc. But fortunately, tennis carried the day. Two terrific matches , beautiful conditions, drama, pathos, strategy, athleticism, good sportsmanship. Really, just a glorious day for the sport. Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim is in Paris covering the French Open for the magazine and will file regular reports from Roland Garros. Click here to send a question or comment to his Tennis Mailbag. |
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