Big upsets headline the afternoon session of the quarterfinals!
In the day's first match, #8 Tasmanian Devil upsets the #1 seed, Bugs Bunny, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Taz was dominant in the first set on clay with a tremendous serving performance, while Bugs evened the match with equally superb play on grass in the second. In the third set, both players exchanged routine holds through the first seven games. Then, serving at 3-4, Taz upped his game and extracted several forehand errors from Bugs to seal the break, before serving out the match in the next game.
But Taz's upset was soon overshadowed by the match of the tournament thus far, as #5 Smurfette took out the #4 seed and tennis legend Woody Woodpecker, 7-6(8), 6-7(1), 6-4. Woody's shaky performance in the first round carried over to this match, needing to save three break points in his first three service games. Nevertheless, the first set was decided by a remarkable tiebreak, with both players exchanging one mini-break after another until Smurfette finally captured the set on the 18th point of the tiebreak, a breathtaking point that would end up being the longest rally of the match (34 shots). In the second set on grass, Woody's favorite surface, Centre Court was stunned when Smurfette broke at 4-2 and served for the match at 5-4. But Woody fought hard to earn a love-40 opening with scintillating all-court play. Smurfette saved two break points, but not the third, to draw the match even at 5-5. The second set would then be decided by another tiebreak. This time, on his best surface, Woody left nothing to chance and won the second set tiebreak 7-1. The crowd was delirious and roared their approval with thunderous applause. Unfortunately, there was not enough gas in the tank for a third set, as Woody was broken quickly and was unable to offer a reply.
The two matches leave the top half of the draw decimated and wide open, as Taz and Smurfette will square off in the semifinals tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment