Do you like winners? ZOMG I LIKE WINNERS TOO! Let's get married!
Petra, Petra, Petra. Your hossyness over the course of Wimbledon could not be denied. Sure, we all knew you had talent, but it wasn't until I sat courtside as you dismantled Wicky, *actually* forcing her to break out in a "Well if you're going to play like that I got nothing" smile, that I truly believed. Your game is like nothing else out there.
How great was it to see the overwhelmingly positive reaction to Petra's win? This seemed like a signal of things to come, and while everyone was waiting for Vika and Woz to be the ones to break through for Generation Next, it was Petra, the relative unknown (I mean that from a casual fan perspective) who absolutely demolished the field and signaled a new kind of game that felt unique and exciting. Let's face it, it felt a hell of a lot like DelPo's run at the USO in 2009. The woman puts her head down and grinds, she's charming in a refreshingly understated way, and what she lacks in shyness she makes up for in one of the biggest games currently on tour. Heck, given current form it is THE biggest game on tour. She can hit winners from any position, she's greatly improved on her movement, and HOLY SHIT SHE DOESN'T MIND COMING TO THE NET.
WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS AND CAN I HAVE MORE PLEASE.
It was a great tournament for the oft-forgotten members of Generation New (yeah, I'm trying out different names). Not only did Petra break through but Sabine. OH SABINE! There has not been a day that has gone by since you crippling injuries that I didn't wonder what the tennis landscape would have looked like with you in the mix. Another kid with an impossibly big game, her run to the semis was inspired. That win over Nails and how she took care of business in her matches after that was such a great show of class from a kid who constantly looked like she was just happy to be playing tennis again. That kind of joy is, unfortunately, rare and it was refreshing. Unfortunately she played her one bad match when it really mattered, getting dismantled by Masha in the semis. But from a personal perspective, it was so fun to follow her through the grass court season, first in Birmingham and then at SW19.
I can't wait to see if these two can carry their momentum through to the US hard court season. They're two likeable women with games that are fantastically fun to watch.
Bring it on, kids.
(Pics: Getty)
