G'onya Venus.....

gracious in defeat as well as in victory......loved the way she handled her post match interview.....such class! Have to feel for the loser, she's also been through a lot and probably lucky to be alive after what she went through against a knife wielding attacker.
A few trip wires ahead for Venus but who knows, those old legs still have some life in them.

That was the best woman side match of the tournament so far. They really were hitting the ball. Kivitova had the edge, holding her serve more easily in the third set. But Venus played superbly in the breaker and Kivitova made the mistake of relying on Williams' errors that never came. Watching Venus play tonight one wonders how much her career was diminished by Serena's success, almost as if she didn't want to intrude.

 There seems to be a huge chasm between Serena and the rest of womens tennis, no-one seems to be stepping up to the plate to dominate the game after she retires.....gone are the days when we enjoyed the tight rivalry between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. That's not forgetting the great champions who followed in their footsteps..Graf, Davenport  etc the list just goes on.

For me the woman's tennis scene over the last 8 or so years has been very boring. Mostly due to Serena's dominance. If she was playing, it was nearly a foregone conclusion that she would win. I don't think that is good for the sport. It is the total opposite in the men's draw. Over the last 10 years Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Murray have at different times been the kingpin in tennis. But in any given tournament during that period, any of the four was a likely winner. There were no foregone conclusions. The four way rivalry has revived my interest in tennis, because, as much as I like him, When Federer was so dominant early in his career, after Pete Sampras before him, I had started to lose interest in the game. 

 
She doesn't have the arrogance of her fat sister. That's what I've always enjoyed of her.

I see Venus lost. Still a great effort for her to be that competitive at 37. Holding big thumbs for Anderson now. It'll really be something if he can make the final. 

 
Goooooooooo Rafaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

I trust wee cc will find it in him to support Anderson against his opponents!. How about a little patriotism wee cc!Very pleased to see that Garbine Muguruza will go to number 1 in the world rankings. One of course hopes Del Potro will crunch the arrogant  Nadal in the semi final. He needs taking down a few pegs. 
GOOOOOOOO Del PO. 
How amazing it would be if it was Anderson who won this! Probably leave wee cc in tears if he beats the pompous Nadal. Ha hahahaahhahahahaha

 Personally I wouldn't be surprised if Serena is a doper. Look at these pictures from 2002. What did Serna do to have arm far bigger than Nadal. Highly suspicious!!

 
Yes of course, Beandip ... but it ends if he faces Rafa in the final ... Sorry. As far as I know he's become an American citizen. He's about as South African as Mozart is.

And yes again Beandip, I will not be pleased to see a tennis genius like the humble Nadal lose to a slapgat wannabe like Anderson.

Right now Rafa has to first beat Del Potro ... who as you know is a very difficult opponent when fit.

I'm confident that Rafa will contest the final ... and as ever be humble to the end but very determined.


 

Another great match between Venus and Stephens....certainly a great third set. Venus hitting flat hard shots to the corners and Stephens running them down....she won that match with her legs. It has the potential to be a very high quality final between two players who are the possible future of the woman's game.