AO Day Five: The Belgians
Posted by gauloises1 on January 22, 2010
Well, two out of three isn’t bad.
The shock of the day came courtesy of Nadia Petrova, who bundled Kim Clijsters unceremoniously out of the tournament, 60 61. Yes. Kim got one game.
What a bizarre, listless, error-strewn performance from Clijsters. Even she didn’t know how to explain it. Hats off to Nadia, though. I have never seen her play so aggressively and so cleanly. Kim may have been off her game, but Nadia didn’t give her even half a chance to get into it.
All is not lost, though, as Justine Henin scraped through in three sets over Alisa Kleybanova, and Yanina Wickmayer did the same against Sara Errani – despite being troubled with a back injury.
Uh-oh.
Justine and Wicky will face off in the next round. Now that could be fun. Both have a lot to prove and have been looking pretty determined so far in 2010. Expect fireworks.
Mlle. Marseillaise (a.k.a Joan) said
I started watching Justine’s match when I got home and she was a set and a break down. I very nearly shit myself. I know chlamydia is a good player but Justine I think should have won more easily. My reward for my horror and ultimate relief is having two of my faves face off in the next round…fun.
Off topic, anyone hear more details about Safin’s love child?
jb (go smiley fed) said
I guess I still don’t understand why its SUCH a shock kimmie went out. Its not like she’s been back for ages. And in each of her matches, she’s had total walkabouts, where she can’t get out of her own way. Its just that previously, she’s been able to recover. But Nadia was playing so well, and so quickly, she just never had time go get her act together.
She’ll be fine, and be back firing at the next tourney I think.
gauloises1 said
I think for me it was the way she played rather than the fact she lost. She just looked so out of it and so … never in it. It was bizarre.
But you make very good points, jb. Perspective is a good thing 🙂
AmyLu said
I figured it was expecting too much of Kim to win this major, after the USO (and completely agree on the walkabout front), but I have to admit I was shocked it was Petrova who knocked her out and knocked her out so convincingly. Not that I don’t think Petrova has the game to do it, I’m just used to her not playing to her capabilities against a top opponent and not capitalizing upon the chances she has to win. As sad as I am that Kim lost (she was on the very short list of who I wanted to win on the women’s side), I am really happy for Nadia. I’ve always had a soft spot for her.
lauren said
I’ve never seen a player look so utterly perplexed in interview before. And while that may be a good way to blank the existence of this horrible result, it also does nothing to further her understanding of why it happened. Which is a shame, as I am such a staunch fan and hoped she would go far here.
At least it was a good day for Nadia, who is a delightful person but such an underachiever in the game.