Youthful exuberance versus experience. I got to admit I never thought this match could be anything but a respectful entertaining match. It's a pity it didn't end that way, I love both of these guys. Holger Rune is a Danish young player who for me is the second best player from Scandinavia after Casper Ruud. He has mighty big serve as a weapon , Stan always patient in rallies just itching to show off that backhand. Wawrinka was on the brink of putting away the Dane is straight sets. Check out 5-4 Wawrinka second set 30-40. With the ball bouncing high on the kicker, Stan showed nerves seemingly undecided as to the type of shot to make. At the end he just netted the shot. Now with the game on the knife edge in the third set, Rune showed calmness in high pressure situations like at 4-4 (15-30). The down the line winner wasn't easy has he didn't have much of a court to aim at, the wrist action to get the top spin was the key.
What I love about tennis is that human errors from line judges and umpires can be corrected promptly without much fuss or adjudication. Even so it can be very distressing to the one aggrieved. Check out 6-5 deuce. Here Rune was playing with fire really aiming deep towards the baseline, one shot was called wide but the umpire came to Rune's rescue(good eyes from the lady by the way), the ball just in. This is where I don't get it, Rune was deemed to have challenged the call even though the umpire had quickly shouted correction. Rules need to change. Third set breaker now. Rune came up with the goods to win it but Wawrinka showed he isn't a two time Grand Slam winner for nothing. Watch 3-1 Rune, seeing Rune gamble to his left after the serve, Stan expertly finding the angle. Now you might be wondering why Stan had a long chat with Rune at the net. Stan wasn't happy with some of Rune's antics like excessive celebration of the Wawrinka errors like at 5-2 in the breaker. Stan called Rune a bay on court(kind of funny given that Stan was once called that too by Fed's wife).I personally think Stan had it against Rune from the beginning as the Dane's reputation is that of abrasive behavior on social and court(at one time shouting homophobic slurs at a challenger). He is only 19 so I am certain he will grow out of it but that reputation is very difficult to shake and as Ruud said about him, "inexcusable"(yes Casper Ruud isn't a fan too).
No comments:
Post a Comment