I missed the Roddick vs. Hewitt thiller! Why? Because NBC’s “protected” tape-delayed coverage messes up everything here in the Western time zone, and it makes hunting for tennis on t.v. akin to wandering the Sahara without a map. NBC’s live streaming option may be too little, too late, but it beats drinking my own pee. Click here to check it out.
Okay, moving on to the wrap.
Andy Roddick summed it up best on Twitter: “124 home….. 4 left”
And he’s one of those four remaining after beating Lleyton Hewitt today in the aforementioned classic. You know it was an exciting match when you see this:
(That’s Hewitt’s coach, Tony “Dozy” Roche cheering in the stands.)
Roddick will be the underdog in his semi against Andy Murray, who beat Juan Carlos Ferrero in three straight-forward sets (though JCF was up a break in the second.)
P-Andy-monium is my new favorite expression for the whirlwind of excitement, expectation and exhortation that’s swirling around the Scot right now. The Scottish Daily reported that people began queuing up on Monday morning to score a ticket for today’s semi final – that was 17 hours before Murray beat Stan Wawrinka in the Round of 16. Over 12 million people tuned into the BBC to watch that match at home. The Scot’s even being credited for reviving Britain’s failing economy – or at least helping his country-folk forget about it.
Here’s a summary:
If, like the freaky butcher in the video, you are among the few who’d prefer the “other Andy” to get to the final, you’ll like today’s ominous quote from Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Q. Do you think you might have lost to the eventual winner?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Of course, he’s playing very well. He’s moving well in this court. He’s serving very well. So of course he has a lot of chances to win. But he has two matches left. He will suffer, for sure.
I like Andy Roddick’s strategy: “I’m just going to pretend when they say “C’Mon Andy” that they mean me.”
Federer Fans will love this quote from Ivo Karlovic, who lost to Roger today in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, 7-6:
Q. Can you explain what Roger does differently than other players with your serve? Does he hit it back sooner, or is it clear to you why he can handle it a little bit better than others?
IVO KARLOVIC: Oh, it is only because he is better than everybody else. That’s it.
Roger broke Dr. Ivo’s serve twice in their quarterfinal match – the first time(s) the Croatian’s been broken all tournament. But an alert Fedophile never rests easy – here are a couple press conference quotes that set us on edge:
ROGER FEDERER: We’re just gonna try to, you know, push through this weekend, you know, and then after that (Mirka) can completely relax, even though she is already. There’s still obviously the pressure with all the big matches, and especially towards the final weekend.
Doesn’t Roger realize that using the word “pushing” when his wife is ready to pop sends BabyFed Watch into the red zone? Even more nerve-wracking was Roger’s talk of five set matches and Tommy Haas:
ROGER FEDERER: It’s fun, you know, playing the biggest matches. Especially I like playing best‑of‑five‑set matches. And maybe this is where, you know, I’m best at, you know, because everything comes out. Not only your mental strengths, but physical, tactical skills. Tactical skills, you know there needs a lot happening, you know, that I lose a match over best‑of‑five sets, you know.
No, it’s not fun, Roger! (Please excuse me while I wipe off my sweaty palms. . .I think I have mild PTSD from the French Open.)
Tommy Haas will have another chance to push Roger to the limit on Friday, when the two meet in the semifinals. He took out a hang dog Novak Djokovic in four nervy sets – continuing his win streak on grass and his cunning evasion of the Tennis Gods’ caprices.
TOMMY HAAS: Yeah, well, I mean, basically I think if you just look through the past, I don’t know, maybe 13, 14 years of me playing Wimbledon, you know, there’s a lot of bad luck involved.
Even the matches that I have lost in the third round to maybe get a little further, you know, I’ve lost a lot of tight ones. I always felt like deep down Wimbledon will maybe still have something left for me. It better come up soon, because I’m not getting any younger.
And the Tennis Gods aren’t getting any kinder, either. At this point I don’t know if they’re waiting to take him out with a wasp sting when he’s, say, 5-0 up in the fifth set against Federer,
or if Tommy’s endured such a flood of bad luck that it’s finally overflowed into the good karma bucket. We will see.
Novak Djokovic isn’t suffering from bad luck as much as bad attitude. The No. 4 seed was just becoming the talked-about “guy who nobody’s talking about” at Wimbledon, easing into the quarterfinals losing only one set. And now everyone will be talking about him – because of today’s lackluster loss to Haas.
“Today was a real disaster.” Novak said after the match, blaming nerves and pressure.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I just think that the difference, you know, is a little unpatience (sic) in that important moments. I think I get nervous a little bit more than I used to. And I guess that’s probably pressure that I feel. But I shouldn’t.
Sports psychologists all over Serbia are plumping the sofa cushions and putting out the Nole Bars and Aqua Novak in anticipation of a new client. Maybe some Orbit gum, too.
Tags: Djokovic, Federer, Fererro, haas, Hewitt, Karlovic, Murray, Roddick, tennis, Wimbledon, Wimbledon quarterfinals
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Just a great wrap up. Thanks.
The Tale of Two Andys:
I really want Roddick to pull it out. The guy’s had the worst epochal break, and he still tries to improve, pull things out of his patoot with skill and work. (And he seems smart and funny.)Muz will have many, many ops ahead of him, improving as he is.
I’m still trying to figure out why Nole looked so hang dog.
Rog: What can you say?
Yeah, I feel the same way! But then I’d be conflicted when he (hopefully) faced Roger in the finals.
Part of me feels that Andy R. “deserves” a Wimbledon – we’ll see if he proves me right.
I’m really rooting for A-Rod. He’ll have to play a little smarter and a lot sharper against Murray to win, but I think he can do it. That match against Hewitt was wonderful, even though I had to watch it on a blurry feed on my computer monitor.
Why does mainstream coverage of tennis keep getting worse and worse? And why does ESPN insist on showing their commentators or going to commercials in the middle of play?
I know! We tennis fans are sooo screwed! It’s not fair.
the only fear i have for FEDEX is . . he hasnt been streched much . . i mean its always good when you dont lose a set all through the tournament ( i know he’s lost one TIE BREAKER ) . . it kinda tells what a form you are in . . but i am not too sure with the kind of matches he has played . . is he really ready for either of the the ANDY’s . .
as far as HAAS is concerned . . i am pretty sure its gonna be a very tough match . . but i still see FEDERER prevailng in 4 !
C’mon Roger
Hi sunny! I know what you mean, but I think Roger’s been stretched enough in his career – right now he needs confidence and that sheen of invincibility more than he needs five set tests like he had at the French.
Last year’s Wimbledon final was test enough! And he almost passed. . .
I think the worst part is that he hasn’t beaten Andy Murray recently. If he could have pulled through at Indian Wells with a victory that would make me feel better!
i _hear_ you about the horror of NBC west coast destruction of my reason for living. and for the three percent of the tournament i feel i have gotten to watch, either time warner cable or NBC continues to ruin my life with bad reception so that all the players look like scary monsters. sigh. at least fed is looking superb.
The networks show us tennis fans no respect! Can you imagine how football and basketball fans would react being treated that way?
perhaps riots in the streets if they were treated in this way, i imagine?
anyways, i want to write (probably futilely) a letter or letters expressing my discontent, but to who??? NBC? ESPN? The ATP?
any ideas??
Hi Ramona! I actually did a new blog post all about it that includes links and various options(thanks for the inspiration!)
I think the priority is 1. Wimbledon (the club sells the broadcasting rights) 2. NBC sports 3. venting via a poll 4. Carrie, a commenter, recommends contacting sponsors as well (like Traveler’s Insurance) and letting them know that there is a problem.
I’m not sayin’ Roddick deserves a Wimbledon title, but the man deserves a final. Yeah, if he makes the final I’ll be conflicted.
Really great match today from Roddick and Hewitt!
I’m so happy for Andy, as his hard work with Stefanki has really paid off. And Haas beating Nole was a surprise to me.
Also 21 straight GS semis from Fed. No one will touch that record ,go FED!!
Why do they play the german anthem in this video, hehe?
The music is by Haydn.
Maybe a Tommy Haas fan with a sense of humor worked on the video
Are you rooting for Tommy, Loreley? And is he a big story in Germany right now or are people pretty indifferent? Is Lisicki a big star yet?
i’m nervous about fed’s match. haas has all the confidence and knows that he has the skills to potentially win. he’s going to go for broke. i’m suffering from PTSD too
i really hope that roddick makes it to the final. whenever fed and roddick play there’s always great tennis
espn2 showed the roddick hewitt match and replays of the federer and murray matches
Hi Hannah! Yeah, the way Haas played Djokovic really impressed me – all that crisp serve and volley against a good returner. But Roger’s going to be on high alert given their last match at the French and he’s been looking good too (broke Karlovic 2 times in one match!!!)
That said, I’m nervous, too!
You must live on the East Coast – here on the West Coast we didn’t get Hewitt/Roddick because in our timezone it overlapped with NBC’s taped coverage. Sigh. . .
I’m ALWAYS nervous about Fed’s matches.
Andy Roddick deserves a Wimbledon FINAL. That’s as far as I’m prepared to concede. LOL, I might die if he beats Federer in the Wimbledon final. That’s not the kinda fairy tale I can handle.
Of course, if Roddick/Murray beats HAAS in the Wimbledon final, there will be BLOOD. *deranged tennis fan*
So worried about Mirka and the baby right now. Hold it in Mirka, HOLD IT IN!
Hehehehe! Dootsiez, you made me laugh. Mirka, are you listening to Dootsiez? She knows what’s up. . .
Anyway, you know how I feel about Roger so the fact that I really want him to win is a given. But due to jinxy superstitions/self-preservation, I like to imagine that the other guys have a chance to win and try to think of one or two good things about this happening:
1. Roddick – he’s been to the final a couple times, he tries really hard in general and especially against Roger, he’s American and a win would be “good for the game” in the U.S. Plus, everyone will stop with the One Slam Wonder stuff.
2.Andy Murray. . .okay, this is pretty obvious. Fred Perry, 70 something years, riots on the streets of London, a street named after him in Dunblane etc. etc.
3. Tommy Haas – old guy with crappy luck and a chip on his shoulder finally gets it together and wins a Major – with a one handed backhand.
Phew! Thanks for indulging that exercise. Hope it didn’t freak you out. Now I’m going to stand over my cauldron, add some eyes of newt and conjure up Roger’s 15th slam!
I’m with Federer.
But if Haas beats Federer, I want him to win the trophy. Or I go and kick his ass, hehe. Actually it would be nice to see Tommy with the trophy. But I don’t see this happen. Federer is in perfect form.
Joseph Haydn worked an lived in England for a while. They like his music there. But I guess the person who choose the piece for the video doesn’t know that it is the music of the german anthem. There is plenty of british music which would fit better.
Ground report from me : I was at Centre Court and saw how Roger cracked Dr Ivo’s serve. It was truly remarkable some of the returns he made and once any rally starts, it is all Roger. The crowd sensed the inevitable even when Dr Ivo got to the tiebreak – and needless to say, HUGE relief for me when Roger made that forehand at match point!!!!!
As for the JCF/Murray match – there are actually supporters for JCF in the crowd (myself included) believe it or not! OK i got some stares from the old ladies sitting around me but heck, this is a sporting event!
and now…. I see that I am not the only one freaking out about Fed/Haas. Though one thing I am pretty certain is Roger is so much more confident now c.f. Paris, he shouldn’t be sleeping for 2.5 sets like he did in Roland Garros.
And if i manage to get in tomorrow to see the semis, you will be sure i will be shouting COME ON A-ROD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks LLKR!
That first break Roger scored against Karlovic was stunning! Still remember that knifed backhand return up the line – gorgeous.
I like the thought of you, one of the (very) few JCF fans, getting the evil eye from a couple little old ladies! You are brave. You’d be booed out of Dodger Stadium for that.
I really hope you get into the semifinals. Of course, if you say “Come on, Andy!” it’s not like you’ll stand out. A-ROD is braver.
Thanks as always for the updates.
Haas will be a top story if he plays the final.
Lisicki isn’t a star at all. Maybe if she wins Wimbledon on day. Germans are spoiled. Boris and Steffi are still the heros.
I miss those two on the court! Steffi looked pretty dang good against Clijsters at that Wimbeldon exo – I think she could win a few tournaments, still!