The match of the day was the only one where a seed survived. But even then it wasn't easy. Momo had to use all her experience and guile to beat the original headcasey Serb, Jelena Dokic, 76(9) 76(5). Initially it looked like Momo was going to get hit off the court. Dokic (or "Snot Rocket" from now on because of the sound she makes when she hits the ball) was playing first strike, ball bashing tennis from the get go, crushing crosscourt and down the line winners from both sides. In fact, she looked like a 16 yo Baby Koala out there. But then Momo figured her out and started making her hit shot after shot and invariably she'd hit a UFE. On top of that, Snot Rocket's serve absolutely left her at times allowing Momo to easily break her time after time.
In the end, Momo's experience and nerve won her this match. But if you watched it, you kinda thought Snot Rocket deserved the win. All that said I do not want her in the draw with my favorite players (and had she won she would have played Julie @#$%ing Coin for the right to potentially play Baby K in the third round). The weapons are still there and I definitely see her scoring a big upset sometime this year.
But other than Momo, all the other seeds fell during the day session. SuperGirl, Airon Woman, and Tranny all went down with little fanfare. In fact, Dani got bageled in the third. Here's hoping this is just rust and not a signal of things to come in 2009.
Here are your scores:
Sara Errani (ITA) d. (4) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 67(1) 64 60
(5) Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) d. (WC) Jelena Dokic (AUS) 76(9) 76(5)
Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. (8) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 75 62
Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. (9) Ai Sugiyama (JPN) 62 63
Tathiana Garbin (ITA) d. Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 62 63
(Q) Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. (Q) Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 06 63 61
(Q) Sesil Karatantcheva (BUL) d. Iveta Benesova (CZE) 16 64 62
(LL) Julie Coin (FRA) d. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 75 67(5) 76(3)
