Topaz
Legend
Only three matches to watch today...men's doubles final, men's singles final, and woman's singles final (pro-circuit tour).
First up, Doubles!
I was afraid this was going to be a blow-out by the brothers, especially after they took the first set easily. Everything stayed on serve until the very end of the second set, when Ullyett/Hanley broke to win the set. It was so nice to see two *doubles* teams play each other instead of a doubles team that is really two singles players getting extra practice. I mean, there's nothing wrong with that, but the doubles specialists are the ones who *really* play doubles!
I was hoping for a third set match tie-break, and I got one. The Brothers were fired up, though, and used that momentum to just plow through the tie-break and to take the match and title. During their speech they mentioned that they've been getting wild cards at Legg Mason since they were 18, and that it was where they started their career. Nice little bit of trivia, and it makes the win extra special.
My friend and I, along with about 6000 other people, all decided to eat lunch at the same time! Yikes! By the time we grabbed a bite to eat and relaxed in the shade a bit, it was men's singles time.
I was pulling for Clement, my friend for Murray, so it was real interesting sitting next to each other during the match!
As you may have watched on TV, the first set was very competitive between these two. Murray got the early break, but by the end of the set they had each broken twice, and went into a tiebreak. This has seriously been the tournament of tiebreaks. Clement squeaked it out, and I know now that Murray was looking at his hand, but I didn't notice it at all throughout this set.
Clement started off the second set with a break, and this is when I really saw a change in Murray. He was acting very dejected and frustrated in between shots. And this is what gets me...he had no reason to be. Yes, he lost the first set, but it wasn't a blowout. Instead of using what he learned in the first set to adjust a bit (and a bit is really all that would have been needed) he seemed to mentally throw in the towel. Even though I wanted Clement to win, I wanted to see some great tennis from both players. The patient Andy of the semi-finals seemed to disappear today.
I do think he is tremendously talented, and you can tell watching him that there is just something different about him. Clement beat him with his experience, determination, and maturity today. He deserved the win, without a doubt, and how nice to see the same player win the sportsmanship award and the tournament.
There was a third match, the women's final of the pro-circuit tour. It was T. Obziler (I can't remember how to spell her first name) of Israel taking on Camille Pin of France. Obziler is 33, and in *fabulous* shape. I watched the end of her semi and was impressed with how she was constructing her points. This was my first opportunity to watch Pin. I didn't stay for the whole match, because the idea of being home before midnight for the first time in a week, and cooking and eating dinner was too much to pass up. But, Pin was up a break when I left, and I took some pics that I'm sure the gentlemen will appreciate.
Pics coming soon, I'm uploading them as I type this.
First up, Doubles!
I was afraid this was going to be a blow-out by the brothers, especially after they took the first set easily. Everything stayed on serve until the very end of the second set, when Ullyett/Hanley broke to win the set. It was so nice to see two *doubles* teams play each other instead of a doubles team that is really two singles players getting extra practice. I mean, there's nothing wrong with that, but the doubles specialists are the ones who *really* play doubles!
I was hoping for a third set match tie-break, and I got one. The Brothers were fired up, though, and used that momentum to just plow through the tie-break and to take the match and title. During their speech they mentioned that they've been getting wild cards at Legg Mason since they were 18, and that it was where they started their career. Nice little bit of trivia, and it makes the win extra special.
My friend and I, along with about 6000 other people, all decided to eat lunch at the same time! Yikes! By the time we grabbed a bite to eat and relaxed in the shade a bit, it was men's singles time.
I was pulling for Clement, my friend for Murray, so it was real interesting sitting next to each other during the match!
As you may have watched on TV, the first set was very competitive between these two. Murray got the early break, but by the end of the set they had each broken twice, and went into a tiebreak. This has seriously been the tournament of tiebreaks. Clement squeaked it out, and I know now that Murray was looking at his hand, but I didn't notice it at all throughout this set.
Clement started off the second set with a break, and this is when I really saw a change in Murray. He was acting very dejected and frustrated in between shots. And this is what gets me...he had no reason to be. Yes, he lost the first set, but it wasn't a blowout. Instead of using what he learned in the first set to adjust a bit (and a bit is really all that would have been needed) he seemed to mentally throw in the towel. Even though I wanted Clement to win, I wanted to see some great tennis from both players. The patient Andy of the semi-finals seemed to disappear today.
I do think he is tremendously talented, and you can tell watching him that there is just something different about him. Clement beat him with his experience, determination, and maturity today. He deserved the win, without a doubt, and how nice to see the same player win the sportsmanship award and the tournament.
There was a third match, the women's final of the pro-circuit tour. It was T. Obziler (I can't remember how to spell her first name) of Israel taking on Camille Pin of France. Obziler is 33, and in *fabulous* shape. I watched the end of her semi and was impressed with how she was constructing her points. This was my first opportunity to watch Pin. I didn't stay for the whole match, because the idea of being home before midnight for the first time in a week, and cooking and eating dinner was too much to pass up. But, Pin was up a break when I left, and I took some pics that I'm sure the gentlemen will appreciate.
Pics coming soon, I'm uploading them as I type this.
