Your Cup of Tea, Day 5
****WIMBLEDON—Well, well, are we all recovered yet? What can you say about last night? Events like the upset of Rafael Nadal by Lukas Rosol are a little bit like the lottery. That Rosol would find that game, and that mentality, and that combination of ambient circumstances yesterday, a perfectly ordinary day in all other respects, is something nobody would have dared predict (just as nobody would predict a winning lottery number). It's also something that's no less "possible," if that's the right word, than that combination of numbers in a winning ticket.
The schedule today is a little soft, with many matches that probably will have more "entertainment" value than lasting significance for this event. Viktor Troicki vs. Juan Monaco and Nicolas Almagro vs. Richard Gasquet are intriguing, especially because of the unique challenges of grass. One of the great questions at Wimbledon every year is, which of the dyed-in-the-Dri-Fit clay-courters will find the inspiration to make a little run, perhaps into the second week? I'm liking Monaco in that derby, because Almagro's big cuts, and the stable plaform they require, are not as easy to pull off on grass.
Neither Novak Djokovic nor Roger Federer is apt to experience a Rosol moment today, although Radek Stepanek's comfort up at the net and willigness to attack could surprise the no. 1 seed. Having watched Benneteau whomp on Michael Russell the other day, I saw nothing that makes me think he's anything but cannon fodder for the Mighty Fed. Benneteau is 30, and too big as well as too slow. That's a deadly combination (in Fed's favor).
The highlight women's matches are a little more intriguing once you get by the main show court schedule. Top-seeded Maria Sharapova and No. 3 Agnieska Radwanska ought to come through without having to get out of cruise control, against, respectively, Sue-Wei Hsieh and Heather Watson. The good stuff is likely to develop on the secondary show courts, where Angelique Kerber, seeded eighth and bursting with confidence, may have a little too much power and southpaw juju for Christina McHale (No. 28) to handle. As well as McHale moves, her German opponent is no slouch in her sneakers either. Sloane Stephens, McHale's friend and Fed Cup teammate, could give Sabine Lisicki plenty to worry about if the German's serve isn't at its best.
Right now, it's looking like we might be in a rain delay, permanent or intermittent, until at least 1 pm, which is about the time I need to dial in to my own match of the day, a now three-set clash between Sam Querrey and Milos Raonic. The men split sets yesterday and are deadlocked at 3-all in the third. Given the role played by the serve for each man in this, I'm thinking it could be a quick ride to the conclusion.
WTA upset of the day: Kim Clijsters over Vera Zvonareva (No. 12). Has anyone disappeared from contention as quickly and quietly as Zvonareva, the No. 2-ranked player not so long ago? Always emotionally vulnerable and given to teary bouts of self-pity, she'll probably say she's unworthy of beating part-timer Clijsters.
ATP upset of the day: Xavier Malisse over Fernando Verdasco (No. 17). Everyone knows that Malisse is a dangerous shotmaker who, if he catches an emotional wave, can do a lot of damage on grass. Verdasco has been to the fourth round here a number of times, which is an excellent effort for a man of clay. But he hasn't gotten to the third round since 2009.
Enjoy the tennis!