Wimbledon 2010: How the seeds fare on Day Five?
Wimbledon 2010 is one week old now and it could be claimed with a high level of authority that the quality of tennis displayed on grass has been great. With many records broken, top seeds clearing the litmus test and with royalty visiting the All England Club – almost each day has been a delight for the tennis fans across the globe. The weather has been kind to the players and organizers with the sun shining brightly over the most revered tennis tournament in the world. The same condition prevailed on day five when the tennis aces came out to play.
For the first time in almost a week, defending champion Roger Federer played like his old self. He regained the composure that he had visibly lost during his first two encounters. Federer was back on his known territory, where he had defeated many greats of the game at centre court. It proved to be a lucky court for him yet again as he breezed past thirty-two-year old Frenchman Arnaud Clement. For the first time in the tournament, Federer proceeded to round four in three sets.
It was a routine victory for Federer, who beat Clement with a score of 6-2, 6-4 and 6-2. The spark in the champion was back and the struggle had taught him a lesson. Federer steadied the ship as he whipped the first set in twenty-eight minutes. The rest of the match was pretty much status quo and according to the book. With Federer now comfortably in the fourth round, the defending champion will face Austria’s Jurgen Melzer.
Perhaps one of the most sought after match on day five was the face off against yet another Frenchman, Gael Monfils against Australian hope Leyton Hewitt. Spectators were watching a very animated Hewitt on Centre court, who pumped his fists at every major point he won. It was deemed to be a scintillating match. However, Monfils erratic performance was a cause of sheer disappointment. Hewitt attacked the Frenchman from the outset, knowing Monfils had beaten him twice before in their three encounters. For most of the first two sets, Hewitt held his serves on love. He broke Monfils in the seventh game of the first set and took it 6-3. The next set was pretty much the same with Hewitt attacking Monfils on every point. As the set progressed, Monfils took the set to a tiebreak. Both players had chances to take the second set, but in the end Hewitt prevailed. Monfils started to look sluggish in the third set and Hewitt took full advantage of the opening. He won the set 6-4 and with it made his seventh straight entry into the fourth round at Wimbledon.
A very tired John Isner, who had created history at Wimbledon, had lost all steam after playing the longest match in tennis history. He fell to Dutchman Theimo De Bakker in three straight sets with a score of 6-0, 6-3 and 6-2. The American, who had smashed 112 aces in his last game, could not even manage one during the match. He may have lost the match, but he exits Wimbledon as a hero.
Novak Djokovic continued his form and showed Spain’s Albert Montanes the door in three straight sets. He lost just nine games during his third round encounter. Andy Roddick, who has his eyes set on the Wimbledon trophy blitzed past Phillip Kohlschreiber albeit in four sets. At the end of the match, the score line was 7-5, 6-7,6-3 and 6-3. Mikhail Youhzny was another casualty of the men’s draw as he fell to Paul Henri Matheiu 6-4, 2-6, 2-6, 6-3 and 6-4.
With the women’s results out, it seems as a thrilling fourth round encounter between Belgian comeback queens Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin is in the offing. Both won their third round matches with ease. Clijsters went past Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-3 and Justine Henin beat Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-4. Venus Williams edged closer to her sixth Wimbledon title with an easy win over Alisa Kleybanova 6-3, 6-3. As the second week of the tournament beckons, the intensity of the matches is sure to increase. With the perfect English summer, Wimbledon 2010 has been a treat to watch.
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