Topaz
Legend
This match was un-freaking-believable!!!
Started off pretty normal, everyone holding serve. Then, at 3 all, with thunder in the background, Blake finds an opening and has two break points. Safin saves the first. Safin serving 30-40, and the rain comes down.
This is typical DC weather, especially with how humid it has been. Storms just blow right through though, so after about a half hour to 45 minutes, they start clearing off the court. They've got all their crews out, they've got blowers out, they're cleaning the lines with towels, and just as they put out the chairs for the players...it starts raining AGAIN! Not a thunderstorm this time, but about a 10-15 minute additional delay. A good time for the bathroom and some food! It finally stopped again, they turned the blowers on, and dried off the court one more time.
Blake and Safin come back out and warm up. At this point I'm thinking Blake has an advantage coming out right into a breakpoint. If Safin isn't immediately on, Blake gets the break. And he did. And then he was broken right back. Argh!!! Eventually, everybody gets back on serve and we're in the first set tiebreak. Blake was up initally, but Safin came charging back and took it.
Ok, I'm still not worried, I'm thinking Blake will definitely pull out the second set. And after a shirt change, he had a hot streak. But once again, here comes Safin. You could almost see him get close to exploding at times, but he really held himself together mentally. Honestly, I was expecting him to fall apart after winning that first set.
The second set tiebreak was *unbelievable*. Safin had multiple matchpoints. Double faults to give one away. Gives a few more away. Safin is up 6-5, Blake hits a deep ball and approaches the net. Safin *fired* a passing shot that clips the top of the net....and bounces right past a surprised Blake, and lands...in.
Yes, Safin's match winning shot was a lucky net cord.
I have pics that I will post in my "Legg Mason Day 6" post, probably in the morning.
Blake has nothing to be ashamed of, he played very well. He goes for his shots, that is his game. Safin was in form, though, and just had the edge when it mattered. I would love to see Safin go all the way now.
Started off pretty normal, everyone holding serve. Then, at 3 all, with thunder in the background, Blake finds an opening and has two break points. Safin saves the first. Safin serving 30-40, and the rain comes down.
This is typical DC weather, especially with how humid it has been. Storms just blow right through though, so after about a half hour to 45 minutes, they start clearing off the court. They've got all their crews out, they've got blowers out, they're cleaning the lines with towels, and just as they put out the chairs for the players...it starts raining AGAIN! Not a thunderstorm this time, but about a 10-15 minute additional delay. A good time for the bathroom and some food! It finally stopped again, they turned the blowers on, and dried off the court one more time.
Blake and Safin come back out and warm up. At this point I'm thinking Blake has an advantage coming out right into a breakpoint. If Safin isn't immediately on, Blake gets the break. And he did. And then he was broken right back. Argh!!! Eventually, everybody gets back on serve and we're in the first set tiebreak. Blake was up initally, but Safin came charging back and took it.
Ok, I'm still not worried, I'm thinking Blake will definitely pull out the second set. And after a shirt change, he had a hot streak. But once again, here comes Safin. You could almost see him get close to exploding at times, but he really held himself together mentally. Honestly, I was expecting him to fall apart after winning that first set.
The second set tiebreak was *unbelievable*. Safin had multiple matchpoints. Double faults to give one away. Gives a few more away. Safin is up 6-5, Blake hits a deep ball and approaches the net. Safin *fired* a passing shot that clips the top of the net....and bounces right past a surprised Blake, and lands...in.
Yes, Safin's match winning shot was a lucky net cord.
I have pics that I will post in my "Legg Mason Day 6" post, probably in the morning.
Blake has nothing to be ashamed of, he played very well. He goes for his shots, that is his game. Safin was in form, though, and just had the edge when it mattered. I would love to see Safin go all the way now.
Cincy doesn't start for another 2 weeks.
