Global Chick Checks In From Wimbledon Top Seed Dropped Like Flies – Williams, Ivanovic, Radwanska, Sharapova

Written by: Global Chick on 1st July 2014

Global Chick Checks In From Wimbledon Top Seed Dropped Like Flies - Williams, Ivanovic, Radwanska, Sharapova |

For days the focus has been on the big names of the women’s draw dropping like flies (not that the rain has brought any of those out recently). Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Agnieszka Radwanska – more on that later.

The biggest shock came late in the day, as Aussie teenager Nick Kyrgios put out the World No. 1 and second seed Rafael Nadal in a four-set battle, where youth and exuberance put paid to experience, and perhaps just a little lack of confidence.

Kyrgios has impressed many with his work ethic and his attitude – even Richard Gasquet praised that aspect after blowing a two set lead over him on twitter, only for Kyrgios to pay him a complement straight back.

Nadal has been shaky to say the least so far, dropping the first set in all three of his matches. But that’s OK – this was the second week of a Slam and it is a whole new ball game.

The first set was always going to be competitive as he pushed the two-time Wimbledon champion to a tie-break. As set-points started to whittle away, perhaos that foregone conclusion of a Nadal comeback was imminent but Kyrgios held tight to edge the first set.

Remarkably he stayed right with Nadal toe-to-toe in the second set, until the World No. 1 edged him right at the end of the set to level the match.

There was a concern that maybe this was the point at which he would dip, because surely he could not keep that level up, but remarkably his nerves stayed intact, and he delighted the crowds with the most cheekiest of hot-dog trick shots, and pulled ahead two sets to one.

We could not even say that Nadal played badly – it was just Kyrgios kept up the pressure, as he got the early break and shot out to a 4-1 lead, eventually closing out the match with audacious ace to deliver the biggest upset of the tournament so far – 7-6(5) 5-7 7-6(5) 6-3.

Now about that women’s draw and being made to wait an extra day to play thanks for ever more rain, Maria Sharapova was the first of this year’s French Open champions to leave the tournament. Without Serena, this was a perfect chance for her to reclaim the title on the ten year anniversary of her breakthrough win, but Angelique Kerber had other ideas.

Sharapova had not dropped a set all tournament but Kerber is consistent as clock-work and that is what makes her such a great danger.

Kerber started the brighter in the final set, building up a 3-0 lead, but Sharapova is nothing if not tenacious, breaking as Kerber served for the match the first time.

She fought off five match points just to stay in the match in the next game but it was lucky match point number seven got the German as she headed into another Grand Slam semi-final 7-6(4) 4-6 6-4.

Talking in her post-match interview to the BBC, Kerber said: “It was such a tough match. We were playing on a really high level, and it was so close – every single set was so close. I’m just happy I won the match – Maria is a great player and plays so well on grass, so this is really just unbelievable.

“When I had the three match points at 0-40 I was just trying to focus on myself, play my game and stay aggressive. In the end it worked, and I’m happy I won this battle and am in the quarterfinals now.

“I enjoyed playing on Centre Court. I think the fans enjoyed it too. It was an amazing atmosphere.”

Sharapova had been more than comfortable with the mantle of favourite coming into the tournament: “It happens. That’s the game. Just because you come in as a favorite, doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to hold the trophy. That’s why we play this sport. You start from the first round. As many people anticipate certain matches, people going through, the favorites – at the end of the day those are just words. We as players have to go out and play. And that’s the way some of the results have turned out.”

More quarter-final action on offer tomorrow as the schedule finally untangles itself after rain o’clock here in London

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10sBalls_com says:

July 1, 2014 at 1:36 pm

Global Chick Checks In From #Wimbledon Top Seed Dropped Like Flies – @serenawilliams , @AnaIvanovic , @MariaSharapova http://t.co/XN1PAxOYiz