Well that was boring. What fun is tennis when everyone you expect to win ACTUALLY wins?
Roger, Nole, and Rafa all went through with ease. Rafa disposed of an exhausted Lleyton Hewitt, who had been up past midnight finishing a marathon doubles match that ended 18-16 in the third. Thankfully, Rafa's form was much better today. Maybe he got a call from Ana telling him not to worry and that her hand was ok.
As for "upsets", my boy Paul Henri Mattieu (so cute!!!) ousted Kolya and Juergen Melzer knocked out weary Stan The Man Wawrinka. Too bad for Stan. The heat and humidity got to him. In other bad news, Janko had to withdraw with an ankle injury against Olivier Rochus. Poor Janko. He needed a wheelchair to get to his presser:
As for the ladies, the Sisters Williams, JJ, Dinara, and Lena D. all went through with ease. The big news was Agi Radwanska getting ousted by Frannie Schiavone. Tough loss for A-Rad. I she going through a bit of slump? She got dusted by Caro last week in the semis of the Nordic Light Open. That being said, Schiavone was a tough match-up. She always has that little extra something when she plays for her country.
As for other "upsets", SKI BOOTS IN DA HOUSE!!! Caro dismissed Dani H. 1 and 3 and Mama Bammer ditched Peppermint Patty, 4 and 4. Seriously, who is going to come out of that top quarter? I have to put my money on Bepa, but since everyone else I've picked has lost so far I fear I may have just jinxed the crying Russian.
Finally, in the only match I actually watched from start to finish, Zheng Jie had to dig down and fight hard to come back and beat Lloggostera Vives, 67 61 64. That first set was a tough one and Zheng looked absolutely wiped out. She was leaning against the back wall, doubling over for air, etc. But she kept fighting and as it turned out, it was Vives who had nothing left in the tank. Mondo Kudos (yes, that's an official term) to Zheng, who I find myself rooting for more each and every day.
