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Roland Garros 2009
Are the walls of Williamsworld slowly crumbling?
Article published on the 2009-05-27 Latest update 2009-06-05 14:42 TU
Serena Williams celebrates after winning her match against Klara Zakopalova
(Credit: Reuters)
The Williams sisters must have had a laugh when they saw the draw. Serena would start her campaign for a second Roland Garros singles title against the Czech 27-year-old Klara Zakopalova. Additionally, Serena and her big sister, Venus, would play the Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradeck in the opening round of the doubles.
The Williams sisters must have had a laugh when they saw the draw.
Serena would start her campaign for a second Roland Garros singles title against the Czech 27-year-old Klara Zakopalova.
Additionally, Serena and her big sister, Venus, would play the Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradeck in the opening round of the doubles. And if all went well in Williamsworld,Venus’s second round opponent would potentially be yet another Czech - Lucie Safarova.
As things stood at the dawn of the fourth day of this year’s tournament it’s Czech Republic 0 Williams Inc 1. The doubles match will resume later on Wednesday after it was suspended in Tuesday's twilight with the Czechs about to serve trailing 3-4 in the final set.
Earlier, young Williams was put through her paces. Serena seemed to be sailing along in her singles match against Zakopalova. She had five match points on her opponent’s serve during the second set. But those went begging. Serena then served for the match at 5-4 only to lose the game. The Czech went on to win the tie break seven points to five.
This was a shock in the making.
Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic during the match
(Credit: Reuters)
Like other cogently written blogs, this Roland Garros blog is, if nothing, philosophical, self-congratulatory and above all self -referential. A winning smile, I recall myself, therefore I am wonderful. So when Zakopalova went a break up in the decider, the crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen cheered her uproariously.
Serena seemed to be moving ever more ponderously. But the American took her time, didn’t appear to panic, got the break back and nudged her way ahead much to the chagrin of the spectators. The thrill only increased as Zakopalova saved three match points when she served at 2-5 down.
She held her serve and then broke Williams again as the second seed tried to wrap things up. But within minutes of potentially scaring the former champion, she’d folded. And Serena was through 6-4 in the decider after two hours and 25 minutes.
On this kind of showing, Serena’s going to have to do better to add the 2009 laurels to her crown of 2002. Two and a half hours against the world number 100? But it was a windy day and the gusts were whipping up the clay. Of course from up high in the press benches you’re not at ground level; you can’t feel what they feel. You can only imagine.
And as the abyss begins to yawn… what kind of apocalyptic phrases can be wheeled out for a defeat? Shock seems to envelop the fall. There’s a necessary element of schadenfreude involved in some of the best sports journalism. Often it’s tempered with endearing empathy.
Perhaps throw in a slice of jealousy and admiration and you’ve more or less got it. When the men’s fourth seed Novak Djokovic alluded to the difficult conditions on Tuesday I have to admit I didn’t envy the big guns.
Fancy being reduced or even handsomely diminished in front of thousands by lesser sparks. The top dogs usually cope. But when they don’t, it’s true it’s a shock. But it’s also great sport.
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