Thursday, June 18, 2009

French vs. French, Woz vs. Woz

Commentators, and perhaps others, who do not follow Agnieszka Radwanska sometimes believe she is somewhat out of sorts on the court when she is not. Her Evert-like affect is merely one of calm and concentration (Evert herself was torn to shreds by the media--especially the British media--for her affect). Today, however, in Eastbourne, she really was out of sorts, muttering and frustrated, and unable to get her first serve in. Her opponent, Virginie Razzano an aggressive player under any circumstance, took full advantage of the defending champion's vulnerability. Razzano stood on the baseline to receive most of Radwanska's serves, and took the ball as fast as she could.

The Frenchwoman had trouble closing--she needed four match points--but she has not really displayed any of her characteristic mental weakness lately. Perhaps she has gotten some help, or perhaps she has worked through the issue on her own. At any rate, she was the victor, with a score of 7-6, 7-5.

Also winning today in Eastbourne was Marion Bartoli, who defeated Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-1, 6-4. No surprise--grass is not Medina Garrigues' surface to about the same degree as it is Bartoli's.

Caroline Wozniacki had little trouble defeating Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-2, and Aleksandra Wozniak defeated Vera Dushevine 6-1, 6-0 in just 45 minutes.

Razzano and Bartoli will play each other in the semifinals, and Wozniacki and Wozniak will compete. Bartoli is 2-1 against Razzano, and they have never before played each other on grass. Wozniacki is 2-0 against Wozniak, and one of those matches was in the second round of Wimbledon last year.

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