AUUUUUUUUUGH. You're awesome, but AUUUUUUUUUUUUGH.
Hmmm...how to sum up this match? Kimiko was up 2-0 in the first set but Dinara was able to win it 64. When Kimiko served for the second set, Dinara broke her to force a tiebreak. Which she lost. 7-0. The third set was tight early on before Kimiko went on an absolute tear, painting lines, firing aces, and basically breaking Dinara's spirit. There would be no crying out to the heavens, cracking of racquets, or screaming into hands.
There was, however, when appropriate, a hell of a lot of vamosing. Which was pretty funny and thoroughly confusing to the crowd.
Call it zen, call it resigned. From perspective it was more uncertainty than anything else. Uncertainty about her game and uncertainty regarding how to do with Kimiko's game. Dinara's serve was pretty atrocious. But apart from that, this was a good quality tennis match. Extremely entertaining rallies and fight from both players. Mucho credit to Kimiko, obvs. She didn't wilt and she brought the fight to Dinara.
But don't worry about our little Coconut. She seemed ok after the match:
"It was my first match back from injury, so I am pretty positive and will keep working hard and try to improve day by day. My back feels fine and that is the most important thing for me and I will continue working hard."
Honestly, between all the positive third-party reports (from Elena and Ana) about Dinara's current state of mental health and that quote, I think Dinara fans should be on the positive tip.
Onwards to San Diego, where her cardboard twin awaits.
Video clips of the match after the jump.
Like I said on Twitter. I want to make Kimiko's "Come on!" my email notification tone. It's so cute.
