When Petra Kvitova won Wimbledon in 2011, she hit 222 winners. In this year's tournament, she has already hit 156 winners. Today, she defeated countrywoman Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1, 7-5. Zahlavova played a clean match--only ten unforced errors--but was overcome by a Kvitova who wasn't always steady, but was good enough to win.
This has been a great tournament for Zahlavova Strycova, and the goings-on in today's quarterfinal were often very pleasing to the eye; each player is so good on grass. To some of us, Kvitova's "bark" is very pleasing to the ear, but that's a matter of personal taste.
Next for the 2011 champion is a countrywoman who has not historically demonstrated Zahlavova Strycova's grass court skills, but who has plenty of skills of her own. Lucie Safarova (who, like Kvitova, is also left-handed) pretty much ran over Ekaterina Makarova today. Kvitova leads Safarova 5-0 head-to-head. Earlier this year, she beat Safarova 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 on grass at Eastbourne. Petra won't have any room to mess around when she confronts Safarova.
There are still two quarterfinals to be played. Eugenie Bouchard, trying for her third consecutive semifinal at a major, will play Angelique Kerber. The mojo is with Bouchard for the simple reason that Kerber has to be exhausted after today's epic match against Maria Sharapova. Everything is backed up because of all the rain--and because--in a city where it rains constantly this time of year--Wimbledon has no play on the middle Sunday. Kerber is probably doing ice baths and massage and a six-course meal and a plea to the tennis gods for more rain, since her match isn't scheduled to take place on Centre Court.
In the other quarterfinal, last year's runner-up, Sabine Lisicki, will face Simona Halep. This match will be played at Lisicki's favorite of all places, Wimbledon Centre Court. It's okay to anticipate drama, by the way.
Ha! The funny thing is that Kvitova's bark used to sound like it came from one of those small dogs named "Boo-Boo" (or something) that people carry around in their arms. Today it sort of sounded like it was coming from a very hungry Rottweiler named "Cujo" who'd been left out all night in the rain. It was a little scary at times. :)
ReplyDeleteBoo-Boo, as in "their itsy bitsy doggies and their teeny weeny tees." I'll go with Cujo, if it's all the same. Petra the junkyard dog!
ReplyDeleteLetting off steam. Those who scheduled the matches-sexism again? They made sure the one side of the men's draw stayed together so the same amount of rest would be had. But with the women, Bouchard got to play earlier and now has a day of rest over Kerber. It would be okay if Kerber and Bouchard had the same amount of rest and Kerber had a tough match. But this way it is unfair because it was scheduled.
ReplyDelete156 winners in five matches is impressive, considering that in 2011, most of her matches were three-set matches (except the amazing display in hte Wickmayer match and the final) and this year, only one has been a three-setter. Petra's 174 in Dubai were impressive for five matches, but this is a major.
ReplyDeleteI like Petra's exclamation point after the point is over. It sounds more like a yelp or short shriek to me. I like the emphasis and it does not hinder the opponent, unlike what Maria, Victoria, Venus, Serena and Michelle do.
The line of reasoning is probably that the men have to play five sets and therefore get more consideration in scheduling. No need to pull that thread right now--we know where it leads :)
ReplyDeleteEquality under the law and the rules are the only equalities that matter, just as the only diversity that matters is intellectual diversity (it goes unmentioned today).
ReplyDeleteSo, here, it is clear that we do not have equality under the rules, and the women are given short shrift. There is no excuse for this. If the men can be scheduled fairly, then so can the women. The women's scheduling is patently unfair. End of story.
Petra's yelp sounds like someone stepped on her tail. It's only at the end of a point so is really not distracting unlike Sharapova's shriek which sounds like she is being stabbed in the chest repeatedly with an ice pick.
ReplyDeleteAll these canine images :)
ReplyDelete