The second Friday at Wimbledon is without a doubt one of the best days on the tennis calendar every year. This year was no different, although unfortunately the great Federer wasn’t around to participate in the festivities. Roger’s absence was perhaps the only dark spot on what otherwise was an amazing day of tennis. Oh yeah, and we were lucky enough to have Centre Court tickets.
First up was the number two seed and once-beaten on the year Novak Djokovic versus the flamboyant Frenchman who dispatched Federer in the quarterfinals Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. This was a very entertaining match from start to finish. Tsonga came out blazing, carrying over his momentum from Wednesday when he stormed back from two sets down to physically dominate Federer in the final three sets of a five set victory. Tsonga is an interesting player because he has an intriguing mix of brute power, and at times, deft touch around the net, despite what appears to be a lumbering running style. His feel was on full display against Federer, as I don’t recall him missing a single drop volley in the quarters. Friday was a different story, Tsonga came back to earth a bit (he played way over his head in the previous match). But, it very much looked like more of the same early.
Tsonga claimed an early break that left the crowd murmuring. “Can the Frenchman do it again…murmur…murmur…does he have what it takes?” However, serving for the first set at 5-4, Tsonga faltered and Djokovice seized control. From that point until late in the third, it was all Djokovvic in a big way. Tsonga clearly lost steam physically and his serve and net play became much more erratic. Djokovic was solid if unspectacular. Both players put on a great show…with several points ending with both players prone on the grass after final shot dives. The crowd ate it up. Nothing excites a Wimbledon crowd more than diving…except perhaps net cords during the point and long rallies…both of which the crowd loves for their pure shock value and comedy, respectively (apparently).
With Djokovic seemingly on cruise control, up a break and two sets late in the third, Tsonga mustered some energy from somewhere and Djokovice suffered a terrible mental lapse. Tsonga broke back and later broke back again at 5-6, after surrendering his serve at 5-5, in the best exchange of the match. Tsonga went on to stave off a match point and steal the third set tiebreaker 11-9.
Alas, Tsonga was spent from the comeback effort and Djokovic restored order with a commanding fourth set triumph to secure the match. Djokovic’s team celebrated with the classic group circle bouncy hug thing (a weird group, the Djokovics). And the best news of all was that the undercard match was over and the main event could begin.
The second semifinal was an absolute epic, on paper. Rafael Nadal, the world number one, without a doubt top five player of all time, and a true class act, versus Andy Murray, the world number four, local favorite (kind of, he’s Scottish), and overall jerk. Of course the British crowd was strongly in Murray’s corner, if somewhat begrudgingly…they want a homegrown Wimbledon champion so much they’re willing to adopt a Scot and a true brat.
Just like in the first match, the underdog, Murray in this case, came out strong and Nadal was flat. Murray claimed the first set 7-5, breaking Nadal in the last game and sending the Centre Court crowd into a virtual frenzy.
But alas, the celebration was to be short lived. In a performance that the former British hero and true class act, Tim Henman, could appreciate, Murray’s level dropped precipitously at the beginning of the second set. Murray inexplicably gifted an early break to Nadal with a missed sitter forehand and a missed overhead. Nadal capitalized, doing enough to storm through the second set 6-2.
Level at one set all, the match hung in the balance at the beginning of the third. Once again, Murray was left wanting. Nadal finally stepped up his game in a big way, dominating the Scot with punishing forehands and precise passing shots as Murray continued to struggle. Murray’s serve began to fall apart in the third, likely due to his disjointed motion that is difficult to maintain when fatigue sets in. Nadal stormed through the third 6-2 and kicked into high gear with yet another early break in the fourth.
By this point, there was little Murray could do. Nadal was too tough and too relentless. Despite a late surge by Murray in the fourth, Nadal was strong enough to hold on and secured the victory with a 6-4 win. Throughout the fourth set, you could feel the crowd’s mood shifting from support for the Brit to mild annoyance. They really want a British champion badly, but they don’t like Murray that much…he was falling out of their good graces.
And just like that it was over. Definitely one of the top three sporting events I’ve attended in person.
Look for a victory for Nadal in tomorrow’s final in four sets. He’ll be too solid and mentally tough for Djokovic.
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