Let me just say that the Burswood Dome was crazy hot today. I used to always wonder why people were fanning themselves like mad when I watched this tournament on TV. I wonder no more. The only thing I can compare it to is a super humid and hot night match at the US Open. You know that heat and humidity that is just plain inescapable, compounded by absolutely zero air circulation? Yeah, it's like that. You're breathing but you don't feel like you're taking in any air.
So if you're 16 years old and feeling under the weather (who didn't notice Laura hacking and snot-wiping throughout the match) and you're playing a crafty Slam-winning veteran, it's a pretty tough ask. As would be the theme for the day, Laura definitely had a chance. Fran gifted her a break in the first and Robbie had a chance to serve it out. She couldn't close it out, though, and Fran played some pretty ridiculous Fran-like tennis when it counted.
Bad luck to Robbie for getting ill, but I enjoyed what I saw. The forehand was cracking and she looked quicker than when I saw her last in New York. So woot.
As for Andy, he was feeling the conditions as well, sucking air for most of his match with Potito. He eventually took it in straights but it wasn't the most dominating performance. Not that it's entirely his fault. I thought Mr. Potito Head played really well in that first set.
And so on to doubles. Team Tan/NotTan had no business winning that first set but they somehow hung in there to force a tiebreak, which they completely dominated behind some clutch hitting from Robbie and some aggressive volleying from Andy. On to the second, and the Brits found themselves up a break. But, as was the trend for the day, they couldn't consolidate and let the Italians back in it. From there Italy was able to win the second in a tiebreak and then dominate in the match tie-break.
Unless something really flukey happens to Team Pasta, Moose is going to have to play Hopman Cup again next year to get Laura those diamonds. I just don't see Italy losing to the USA or France.
BUT, that's the glory of Hopman Cup. We'll still get to see these two crankypants team up two more times. Works for me.
This is why these two need to always play doubles together. Robbie can make Andy crack a smile. That's, like, a miracle. In fact, they should make a movie about it and call it Miracle.
I am a genius.
