Petra Kvitova followed in the footsteps of Martina Navratilova, Jana Novotna and Jaroslav Drobny, to win her first Wimbledon singles title. The tall and fetching left-hander had too many shots for Maria Sharapova, the 2004 Champion, playing in her second final.
Kvitova was ice cool as she held serve to love with an ace, before sinking to her knees in celebration. Kvitova is one of the new breed of tall, athletic and supremely fit young women who are taking over from the Williams sisters, Kim Clijsters and Sharapova herself. With her swinging left handed serve that is so effective on grass, Kvitova should be looking to add to her collection of Wimbledon trophies.
Earlier, when Jo Wilfried Tsonga failed to serve out the first set in his semi final against Novak Djokovic, the writing was pretty much on the wall. Djokovic won 13 of the next 18 games to go a break up in the third set. Djokovic was solid in defence, which is probably the best in the game. There were practically no unforced errors and everything Tsonga tried was sent back with interest. Tsonga is an all-or-nothing player. When plan A does not work, he has no alternative. For a few games, the match flickered to life as Tsonga broke back to force and then win the third set in a tie break. There were two points in which both players ended up on their backs, but eventually it was Tsonga who was counted out in the fourth set.
Tsonga was all praise for Djokovic, saying that he could have beaten any other player on the day except Djokovic, who he thought was the best player in the world at the moment. By reaching the final, Djokovic took over the world number one ranking from Rafael Nadal. Having lost just one match in the first six months, few will argue that he is a deserving number one. For Djokovic, this was the most important day of his career as he stated in an interview later. To become world number one and reach the final could only be surpassed by winning the title. He credited the improvement in his serve for his success this year.
Murray and Nadal walked out in the presence of royals as Prince Andrew had arrived to cheer Murray on in his quest to become the first British player to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. Murray has made a strong come back since his disappointing Australian Open final loss to Djokovic. He is playing closer to the baseline and attacking with his forehand at every opportunity. Along with his rock solid baseline game, this tactic pressured Nadal into uncharacteristic unforced errors in the first set with Murray taking it 7-5. Early in the second set, Murray missed an easy forehand, giving Nadal two break points. Raffa seized the opportunity emphatically taking the second set and going up a break in the third. Nadal made a total of three unforced errors in the three sets that he won, an incredible statistic. He had 37 winners as he stepped on to the baseline and drove Murray back. Andy Murray may have reached the limit of his potential. He serves well, has good ground strokes but is a below average volleyer. He can serve and he can volley a bit, but he cannot serve and volley. So how does he beat a Nadal or a Djokovic who can do everything he can, but better? Apart from a few aces and service and forehand winners there is nothing he can do to hurt Nadal and Djokovic, two players who are still improving. These two put their opponents under relentless pressure from the start.
The final on Sunday promises to be a titanic clash between two of the best baseliners in the game. Djokovic has lost just one match in the past seven months and has defeated Nadal four straight times. On paper, that should make him an odds on favourite, but Nadal is not about to give his title easily and is in awesome form. The key match up will be Nadal’s cross court forehand and Djokovic’s backhand. Djokovic has, to date, one that match up, something that Roger Federer’s backhand has failed to do. It remains to be seen how the two match up on Sunday. The one who plays better on the big points will take the title.
In the shadow of the giant Center Court, on court 14, Esther Vergeer was playing a women’s doubles match. With 37 Grand Slam singles titles to her credit and unbeaten since 2001, Esther should have been the most famous tennis player of all time, except for the fact that she plays in a wheel chair.
The way the girls wheel around the court, chasing down balls, one gets caught up in the competitiveness of the occasion and tends to forget that these competitors are unable to walk. The rules they play under are the same except that they have the option to allow the ball to bounce twice before hitting it. With the men’s semi finalists going hammer and tongs next door, in center court, these women are a sobering reminder of human frailty as well as the indomitable spirit with which these athletes compete despite their handicaps.
