Unless you count that heart muscle.
I haven't watched the match yet, but from what I can gather, more than any other match she's played, this was a statement match for Boots. Everyone can say they're a fighter, but only a few players have a fighter's resume, i.e., singular matches that fans can point to as pure gut out matches. And I'm not even talking about come from behind victories. That's different. I'm talking about matches won on pure guts.
Welcome to Caroline Wozniacki's coming out party.
After bageling Bepa in the first and then blowing a 5-2 lead and two match points in the second to lose it, Boots was up 3-1 in the third when her leg began to cramp on her. She would get treatment and then the drama would begin.
Serving for the match at 5-4, Boots' leg seized violently (think Serena, Wimby, Dani) and she fell to the court writing in pain. But since she already used up her MTOs she couldn't be treated. As a distantly empathetic Lynn Welch looked on, Boots screamed and cried, trying to deal with the pain. And yes, her parents were freaking their shit.
She would eventually get up (after receiving a time violation, I believe) and drop the next point. It looked like she would retire then and there. But she somehow gathered herself and reeled off the next three points to seal the match. She was bawling and could barely limp to the net.
No idea if she'll be ready for her match against JJ tomorrow but she hasn't clinched a semifinal spot yet so it's an important match for her. Regardless, her performance this week is going to win her a lot of matches in the future. Two gutsy performances that showed the world that she doesn't give up and she can play through pain. Good for the kid.
Really amazing stuff. I can't wait to watch it.
Oh, yeah, and there was blood.
