On the men’s side, the big Day 7 stories at Roland Garros were Novak’s upset and Roger’s chest hair (oh, and Andy Roddick’s first ever foray into the Rd. of 16!)
On the women’s side it was all drama, drama, drama! Great for fans, not so great for Serena Williams:
“I’m like one of those girls on a reality show that has all the drama, and everyone in the house hates them because no matter what they do, like, drama follows them. I don’t want to be that girl.” Serena said after beating Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in three sets today in the third round (quote via AP).
The drama involved a crap call that went against Williams when the umpire failed to see that her shot had hit her opponent’s arm, instead of her racquet. When the ball went over the net and the game went to Martinez Sanchez, Serena was understandably upset (replay showed that the ball definitely smacked Martinez Sanchez’s arm before it hit her racquet.)
“She better not come to the net again.” Serena said ominously, though she didn’t act on her threat.
Here’s the replay and Serena’s post match accusations:
God hath no fury like a Williams scorned! I wonder if this injustice will be enough to drive Serena into the final?
What is the bigger surprise, that 4th seed Elena Dementieva went out in the third round to Samantha Stosur today or that she doesn’t think Nadal is going to win Roland Garros? Here’s her quote (via Yahoo!Sports, via Risha):
“Well, he actually looks a little bit tired to me. He doesn’t look like he’s fresh enough. I think it’s going to be tough challenge for him to win this time, actually.”
No. 10 seed Caroline Wozniacki was also upset in straight sets by her good friend Sorana Cirstea. This couldn’t have helped Wozniacki’s cause:
Sad face: Carla Suarez Navarro lost the final set of her held-over third round match against Victoria Azarenka today. Reportedly Vika was booed off the court, but I have no idea why – perhaps like me, the French are just crazy for lil’ Carla?
Fashion faux pas? Virginie Razzano beat Tathiana Garbin today in a tough straight set match. But her opponent was the least of her worries. After the match, she described her harrowing on-court encounter with the WTA patch police:
It was somebody from the WTA (that came out on court). I had a patch, you know, on my polo shirt, and it was not positioned correctly. The problem was this woman wanted me to change my shirt. It was 3‑0. We had started the match, so I was a bit pissed off.
I said, I can’t change my polo shirt, because all my T‑shirts are patched exactly the same. It’s sewn on the T‑shirt. She wanted to use a pair of scissors to remove it. I said, ‘You’re going to ruin all my T‑shirts.’ I had my three white T‑shirts in my bag, and they were all with the same logo at the same place. It was sewn this morning.
It’s my mistake, I know. I knew I couldn’t place it exactly here. It had to be placed on the side, on the shoulder, almost. She said, ‘Well, you have to use another T‑shirt, otherwise you might be fined.’ I said, ‘Please try and find me a T‑shirt,because I said I have no other T‑shirt. Either it’s bare chested or naked or this way, and never mind the fine.’
You know what she said? Well, she went away. It was 3‑0 and I had something else to think about, I can tell you. I was thinking about the match. I didn’t want to bother about this. I didn’t want to get angry about this. I appreciate this woman. She’s kind. I was well into the match. I was playing okay.
The only thing I wanted was to be on my own, and this is when I was up 5‑0, and I was still, you know, how can I say, thinking about this. It was at the back of my mind. I said, ‘Never mind the fine. I’ll have the fine. I’ll play. I’ll play.’ It was not easy, you know.
Awesome promotional strategy, WTA!
Staying under the radar: Jelena Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Agnieszka Radwanska and Aleksandra Wozniak all made it through the draw without too much hubbub.
The Round of 16s are set: Safina vs. Rezai, Azarenka vs. Ivanovic, Szavay vs. Cibulkova, Sharapaova vs. Li, Jankovic vs. Cirstea, Razzano vs. Stosur, Kuznetsova vs. Radwanska, and Wozniak vs. Williams.
Especially looking forward to Vika vs. Ana and Maria vs. Na. And of course I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for a final battle between Serena and Safina!
Wozniacki hurt her backy: photo by JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/Getty Images via Daylife
Serena is (momentarily) speechless: photo by PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images via Yahoo!Sports.
Tags: azarenka, Carla Suarez Navarro, Dementieva, French Open, Martinez Sanchez, Nadal, Razzano, Roland Garros, Serena, tennis, Wozniacki, WTA
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that call was indeed crap! the umpire didn’t even ask sanchez whether she was hit on skin…lame-0.
love the drama quote. poor serena. imagine a reality tv celebrity tennis camp! i would watch that!
Cannot believe the Cheater had the gall to walk away silent from that!
I wasn’t sure at first – but having seen that clip, yes that was a pretty crap call. COntroversy sure follows her around especially at the French.
Though she’s was vindicated here just like she was in 2003 against Justine. Sorry to bring that up, but the parallels are just too clear.
Another thing, Vika was booed off court coz she spent the best part of the match (over both days) doing what she usually does with her on court histrionics. Plenty of ammo to that notorious French crowd. But she also engaged with the crowd a couple of times when they called out separately, making things even more difficult for herself.
When the match was over she didn’t wave to the crowd (unsurprisingly), and actually booed them back!!
Normally I’d take a dim view of this – and I’m as you well know, not a great fan of hers – but on this occasion I actually loved it! The French crowd are sometimes like one of those impatient drivers behind who blow up the minute the light turns green.
I know she fanned the flames but on this occasion found myself supporting her – go Vika!
Thanks Top Spin for the explanation. I heard Vika was testing their patience yesterday, so I guess today was no different. It’s so amazing to me how much the French crowd gets into the matches. It’s like they’re the third player affecting things on court. Between her and Larcher de Brito we’re in for lots more drama after the Williams sisters retire.
I really feel like the Williams sisters get so much crap from all sides. I guess it’s the price of dominating and playing at a whole other level. They do invite some of it with their post-match comments, but I’ve never seen them engage in gamesmanship on the court (unless you count shrieking which is a gray area) Anyway, this is a subject for another blog post.
I think that one of the reasons the W sisters get so much crap is because, together, they are a fortress on the court and off. People know they take crap from no one, so folks push them, knowing their reactions will be tough, and they will rise to the on-court and media challenge every time.
Maria Jose should have done the right thing, but that crap call didn’t make that much difference to the match and probably fired Serena up. As you put it so well, “Hell hath no fury like a Williams sister scorned.” Be very afraid.
All that said, may I confess to liking Martinez Sanchez’s game, if not her sportsmanship?
I loved the Tennis Party. Next time I’ll bring the cafe et croissants.
I agree about Martinez Sanchez’s game! Really nice to see a server and volleyer test someone like SErena. Hope to see more of her (and maybe she’s learned her lesson!)
See you at the next party!
Well, Rere does bring some of it on herself. The threat on mic about “She better not come to the net again,” can be forgiven in the heat of the moment.
But this, as reported in the Sunday NY Times: “I’m going to get you in the locker room for that; you don’t know me,” is inexcusable. If I were Oracene, I’d make my daughter stand in the corner. Not cool, and not how a champion acts.
I don’t think it’s “inexcusable.” It wasn’t classy, but these are jocks – trash talk happens. I’m sure worse happens on the NBA court all the time. Obviously, Serena wasn’t going to do anything, for real.
Bottom line – Martinez Sanchez cheated big time. On a game point. And it’s not only personal glory on the line – it’s tens of thousands of dollars.
I’ve watched Serena get burned enough times with bad line calls and rude behavior (hello, Justine Henin!) – I’d like her opponents to show her more respect.
Yes, it’s not “champion” behavior – but it’s life, and things get messy.
Here’s where I totally agree:
“I’ve watched Serena get burned enough times with bad line calls and rude behavior (hello, Justine Henin!) – I’d like her opponents to show her more respect.”
And I’ll bring up the r word too.
But locker room trash talk and physical threats,to me, are beyond the pale. Look to Gottfried or Alice, not Lebron or Shaq or Sidney Crosby.