I'd be hard-pressed to describe this man as a "loser" ...
Had a pretty great weekend after a few rough months. Work is going through a major reorg and we all had to reapply for new versions of our existing jobs. [Sigh.] Although management insisted it wasn't a ploy for mass layoffs, no one could really relax until the dust settled -- which it finally did by week's end when most of us found out what our new roles would be moving forward. I'm thrilled with what they offered me, so I could finally unwind -- and what better timing than during the French Open fortnight and my birthday week?! (Added bonus: Damian informed me he was taking me to Martha's Vineyard for the big 5-1 on Friday!)
Can't complain too much about what's happened so far. Novak Djokovic is finally back in a major quarterfinal after two long years. (Hard to believe that two years ago he was on the brink of winning his fourth major in a row, something neither Roger Federer nor Rafael Nadal have yet to do.)
Next up for Nole is Marco Cecchinato of Italy, who upset David Goffin in round of 16.
I wouldn't have minded if Karen Khachanov -- who topped Luca Pouille earlier in the week -- had beaten Alexander Zverev. But having Sascha finally reach a major quarterfinal was a step in the right direction. (He's No. 3 in the world, after all.) And that his quarterfinal opponent is fellow Next Gen twunk Dominic Thiem bodes well for the future of the game. (Naturally I'm thrilled Thiem is into Week 2 yet again.)
And speaking of the future, Kyle Edmund seemed on course to have another solid Grand Slam run, until he came up short against Fabio Fognini, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. (Maybe THIS is his true calling.)
Odds-on favorite Rafael Nadal has been cruising along, of course.
Here's hoping Maximilian Marterer can distract him with his matinee idol looks when they meet in the round of 16.
I guess my biggest disappointment on the women's side was that Petra Kvitova -- who has been having a great year -- fell in the third round to Anett Kontaveit. The Baltic babe also dismissed Venus Williams in the first round, before losing to Sloane Stephens in the round of 16. (Happy about Sloane, of course.) Also pleased that Madison Keys, Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza and (why not?) Caroline Wozniacki are still around, giving the women's game some much-needed stability. The Maria Sharapova-Serena Williams fourth round will be interesting. At 19-2 -- with Williams winning the last 18(!) -- it's not much of rivalry. But with both players on the comeback trail, for very different reasons, perhaps it's the Russian nut's only chance.
Read my friend Beth's article about Alexander Zverev's ultra-light Richard Mille RM 67-02 watch HERE.
No comments:
Post a Comment