Thunderous Thursday Wreaks Havoc

Mal Taam/MALTphoto Blake finally got over on Fed. FROM THE BEIJING OLYMPICS - To say the Olympic tennis event has finally come of age this year would be a little harsh. It would imply that it hadn’t been a fully-fledged Olympic sport in 2004 or 2000, when tennis had a good Games. But without question this week’s championships in Beijing have been the most successful tennis event since the sport returned to the Olympic fold 20 years ago.

Much of it has to do with the appeal of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Months before their epic Wimbledon final, all seats for the Centre Court at the Olympic Green tennis centre had been sold, and the pre-Olympic press conferences for both men were so packed with journalists and camera crews that safety was almost a risk. Nadal arrived at Beijing airport on the same day as Michael Phelps, and the buzz around the Wimbledon champion meant Phelps slipped in largely unnoticed.

As the Olympic community e-newsletter ‘Around the Rings’ reported, “Bocog [Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games] may be struggling to attract visitors to other venues on the Olympic Green, but tennis fans are flocking to the north precinct of the site. Swiss ace Roger Federer and his Spanish rival Rafael Nadal are big draws.”

Tennis’s golden event seemed all set to have the dream final, Roger v. Rafa. It also seemed set to have a medal rostrum that would reflect Monday’s new ranking order of Nadal at 1, Federer at 2 and Djokovic at 3. In addition, the Williams sisters seemed to be heading for another final. But then thunderous Thursday struck.

Thursday is named after Thor, the god of thunder, and after a hazy but pleasant start to the day, thunder hit the Chinese capital in mid-afternoon, just an hour before quarter-finals day at the tennis was due to start. The rain lashed down for four hours, delaying the start of play for three-and-a-hours hours – and it completely destroyed some of the biggest names in tennis.

First to go – and most dramatic – was Federer. In his third round match against Tomas Berdych he had looked back to something close to his best. True, his forehand was still breaking down more than it should have, but he moved well and looked sharp at the crucial moments. So there seemed little threat to Federer from James Blake, the man he had beaten eight times in eight matches. And yet the result will record Blake as the winner 6-4, 7-6(2).

To Blake’s credit, he won the match as much as Federer lost it. You don’t lose to one guy eight times and not try something different, and what he tried was to belt his forehand for all he was worth. It worked, but only because Federer was uncharacteristically tentative on the big points. Blake’s minibreak to go 2-1 up in the tiebreak came when Federer had won the point, but was too safe with the winning volley into the open court, and Blake ran it down for a winner.

When asked what the problem was with losing so many matches he would normally win, Federer put it down to “a lack of practice.” He elaborated that he hasn’t been able to practice properly since February, and perhaps shouldn’t have gone to Toronto and Cincinnati, but that he needed match play. He was his usual dignified self in congratulating Blake, but he admitted that he was losing more matches than he should, and talks of “saving my season” at the US Open and the Tennis Masters Cup.

There is a growing body of tennis opinion that suspects he is in denial over something. Lack of match practice may be part of it, but he is not the lethal Federer of the last five years when it comes to the crucial points in a set, and that is costing him. The Swiss media suspect there may be a deeper malaise, though none is too sure what it might be. Suspicions abound about the state of his personal life and his continuing refusal to appoint a permanent coach, but until the player himself recognizes there is a problem, solutions are unlikely to be forthcoming.

Ron Cioffi/TRVenus can't get her game going on hardcourts.Williamses Flame Out
Half an hour after Federer’s demise, the event lost Serena Williams. She had wobbled in the third round against Alize Cornet, but looked too strong for Elena Dementieva, especially after taking the first set. But Dementieva is a doughty character, especially when competing for Russia, and despite her losing three games from 5-0 up in the decider, her nerve held for a 3-6 6-4 6-3 victory which guaranteed Russia at least one medal given that Russian Vera Zvonareva, whom she’ll face in the semis, had beaten Sybille Bammer 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Dinara Safina and Jelena’s Jankovic’s quarter was held over to Friday because of rain.

By the time Serena lost on Court 1, Venus Williams was leading China’s Li Na 4-1 first set. An hour and a half later, she too had crashed, beaten 7-5, 7-5 by China’s leading woman player. Venus had the decency to acknowledge that Li had played ‘the match of her life and there wasn’t much I could do about it – she really played better than the best she can play.’

That leaves just the doubles for Federer and the Williamses to get gold. The women’s doubles is hopelessly behind schedule, which means the sisters will have to win four matches in three days to pick up any metal. Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka have a good chance of a doubles medal, but slated to play the Bryan twins in the semifinals, they may have to be content with bronze.
Blake will face Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, who defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 6-4, 6-4. Nadal crushed Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-0, 6-4 and will go up against Djokovic, who edged past Frenchman Gael Monfils 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

© TennisReporters.net 2008