Serena Stuffs Sharapova in Stanford Blowout; Gulbis Stuns Del Potro in LA

Verdasco is in the final (I think) in Switzerland, and Cilic is presently ahead in his semi versus Fognini. Dolgo and JCF will follow.

I am kind of rooting for Gulbis to win L.A. now. It would be a shocker and might motivate him to do more – “might” being the operative word. : /

July 30th, 2011 at 12:23 pm

Yay Cilic! First tournament final since February. Sad that Fognini melted down a bit, but he does that from time to time. It was very high-level stuff for a few games in the second set though.

July 30th, 2011 at 1:12 pm

Is Cilic defending Umag? He always does well there, seems to me.

July 30th, 2011 at 1:27 pm

Cilic isn’t defending champ, this is the first time a Croatian man has made the final in over two decades.

He’s entered Umag only three times before and never made it past the second round, but the last time he played there was in ’07.

Hope he can go all the way.

July 30th, 2011 at 1:58 pm

Yeah, thanks steve-o. Just saw that at ATP.

There is a highlight reel of Gulbis/Delpo at ATP’s site. It looks like Gulbis was on song, absorbing Delpo’s power and actually playing patiently, like on the match point he won. So much raw talent there – wow. If he gets it together …. if ….

Sean, on the other thread you said you think that Maria “will want to have kids sooner than later”. I am curious why you think that? I mean, both she and her fiancee are serious about their sporting careers, and they are both very young. They could play another 5 years and still have kids at a relatively youthful age. Did Maria say something in the press or are you going on a hunch. I think she wants to win.

About Maria vs. Serena – Maria correctly assessed that she was “late” and that’s true. I think Serena probably would’ve won either way, but if Maria had got her game going sooner, then it might’ve been a much closer match. Maria can break Serena, and not a lot of people can. She just needs to hold, and to do that, she can’t rely on her serve. She has to rely on her groundstrokes, like Nole had to do when his serve was in the trunk. As Maria said, though, she couldn’t get her “timing” right. Maybe if she was firing from the back court, she could’ve kept the match within reach, maybe even forcing a third set? Dari mentioned that Maria looked nervous; that could surely throw off her timing. And Serena is definitely Maria kryptonite (as is her wobbly serve) so no doubt that was on Maria’s mind.

July 30th, 2011 at 2:07 pm

Bouncing youth vs. elegant experience: Dolgo and Juan Carlos are about to start in the other Umag semi.

July 30th, 2011 at 2:15 pm

Jane,

You obviously weren’t listening to Darren Cahill on Gulbis last night. The problem with Gulbis is not motivation, but the fact he’s been sick repeatedly this year, making people think he doesn’t care. He really, really does care. As lame excuses go, that one’s near the top of the list. Adidas has to give Cahill a better script to read from in the future.

I guess Gulbis has been sick for his last eight Grand Slam matches, too, when he won a grand total of one set. For a guy with his talent, that’s one of the most incredible stats in tennis history.

July 30th, 2011 at 2:18 pm

There’s ABSOLUTELY NO Rivarly between Serena and Sharapova, it’s overhyped, Sharapova’s always had her behind whooped only for that breakthru @ Wimby & and @ the WTA Championships when Rena was injured. scoreline might get tight next meeting but or boy!, I don’t expect this beating to end any time soon.

July 30th, 2011 at 2:28 pm

funches, I could follow scores only as there was no streaming and I don’t get Tennis Channel nor espn3 so I missed the “narrative.” All I am saying is that if he wins a few it may spark something. Winning tends to beget winning – not always obviously. But Gulbis has so much talent it is difficult for me not to hope that something will get him to turn it on and dig deep more regularly. Maybe hoisting a trophy would do that? I said last night and I still think it – He wanted to prove himself versus Delpo, his most successful peer. And he did. The question is will he want to do the same versus Bogo, Fish or Harrison? Can he crash the American party in L.A??

July 30th, 2011 at 2:39 pm

The sickness reason applies for the five(?) consecutive first round losses this year, but in general he has not performed up to expectations/talent. Health, maybe this new coach and improved work ethic ( gulbis himself says he does not love to practice) could go a long way for him. LA title won’t hurt either. I like the Americans to tcb at the us tourneys but gulbis really needs this boost. Would this only be title #2?

July 30th, 2011 at 3:04 pm

Dolgo’s taken the first set versus JCF. Might be Dolgo versus Cilic final…

July 30th, 2011 at 3:58 pm

Dolgopolov is on fire, but that could change at any time.

They called Ferrero the “Mosquito”. I think that nickname belongs to Dolgopolov now.

July 30th, 2011 at 4:25 pm

As I thought, Dolgopolov’s level dropped just a bit and Ferrero smelled it and piled on the pressure.

Dolgopolov has no B game. Only an A+ game and an F game, nothing in between.

July 30th, 2011 at 4:30 pm

Sharapova naturally puts a good spin on her performance, but in reality, she has to be worried. That contrived little smile she gave at the net, prior to stalking off, told the story much better than the usual postmatch reconstructions. The “smile” was for PR, what ensued in the privacy of her own apartment is left for the imagination.

Everybody knows that Williams is better than Sharapova in every department of the game, so for Sharapova to have any shot at beating Williams, the American has to be a little bit off.

How was Serena today (or last night; I’ve only just seen the match)? Well, definitely better than at Wimbledon, but by no means in vintage form – except for the return of serve, which was exceptional. Her serve was still better than anybody else’s, but inconsistent by her own standards.

Meanwhile, whilst Sharapova was hitting lights out – connecting well sometimes – Serena was by and large playing a containing game. Apart from the return, there was little of the ferocious hitting we expect (that largely came from Sharapova)- Serena had taken her opponent’s measure. She did enough to consistently draw the error. You don’t think of Serena as being the wily old veteran, but to some degree that’s how she came across in this match.

The worrying thing for Sharapova is that she has had a good season, and is on a good run. Williams, on the other hand, is building up – gradually by her standards, quickly by anyone elses’ – and one assumes that by the time of US Open she is going to be in prime form. A frightening prospect, certainly for Sharapova but maybe all the women.

I do, however, look forward to a Kvitova-Williams match up. That could be explosive – rather than the sort of stuttering affair that Serena/Sharapova matches invariably turn out to be.

July 30th, 2011 at 4:32 pm

It will be Cilic vs. Dolgopolov for the title in Umag. That is really an impossible match to pick; both players are extremely talented and have a lot of firepower, but are inconsistent mentally. It could either be a beautiful match of high-quality tennis or a comedy of errors.

I would have to say that if Dolgopolov is playing as well as he did today, he’ll probably win, being faster and more mobile.

July 30th, 2011 at 4:47 pm

Agree steve-o.

July 30th, 2011 at 4:49 pm

Fish is trouncing Harrison so far. Looks like it really is his tournament to lose.

July 30th, 2011 at 5:29 pm

Fish feeds Harrison a bagel.

July 30th, 2011 at 5:37 pm

At least Harrison bounced back from the first set washout.

July 30th, 2011 at 6:36 pm

still rooting for Mardy. Harrison has a nasty temper. Nice racket smash there.

July 30th, 2011 at 6:38 pm

Getting down to the wire with Harrison serving first. Third set tiebreak looming?

July 30th, 2011 at 7:07 pm

good for Mardy. Now I hope Gulbis wins. Would be a nice final if Gulbis plays well.

July 30th, 2011 at 8:08 pm

Fish is really doing well to back up the summer he had last year. He was the last US man standing in Paris and London. Now, Atlanta and a final at worst in LA.

July 30th, 2011 at 8:50 pm

Late in his career, Fish developed a new forehand. His forehand 5 years ago was horrible. Good for him.

I like most things about him, except the girly socks.

July 30th, 2011 at 10:02 pm

Serena picking up where she left off last night so far. First set blowout. Maybe lisicki will find a little game in the second.

July 30th, 2011 at 10:42 pm

Serena is beating up on Lisicki now. : / I hope someone in the WTA can stand up and at least go toe to toe with her. We know Kim can and has. Maybe Kvitova too?

July 30th, 2011 at 10:49 pm

Another total blowout by Serena.

July 30th, 2011 at 11:25 pm

If she keeps playing like this the rest better watch out. She is just much better than everyone else. And she seems so calm.

July 30th, 2011 at 11:32 pm

Gulbis will kill Fish in the final.

Actually, I don’t really believe that, but I like his chances to win. Should be a very close match.

July 31st, 2011 at 2:06 am

Gulbis wis

July 31st, 2011 at 9:40 am

Oops, WINS!

July 31st, 2011 at 9:41 am

Expected result. Maria needed another wake-up call one being defeat to Kvitova.

July 31st, 2011 at 10:48 am

my picks for todays final
Serena in 3.
Fish in 2.

My hopes
Serena in 2 60 60 (dont like Bartoli)
Fish v. Gublis, torn like them both, just a nice 3 setter with a third set tb.

July 31st, 2011 at 11:15 am

“gulbis wins” was a pick for today’s match, not an exclamation about last night’s win, btw ;)
i think serena is on a mission, i will take her in two, getting back at bartoli for wimbledon .
like you said, kimberly, she seems RELAXED, but oh so focused.
add that to low errors, good movement and clutch serving- best in the biz right now.

July 31st, 2011 at 11:37 am

funches says: “Gulbis will kill Fish in the final.”

lol…

*********
go bartloli! allez!

*********

serena in 2
fish in 2

July 31st, 2011 at 1:09 pm

Go Gulbis Go!! Please win!

Between Cilic & Dolgo I am torn. Never has Umag had a Croation champ though, so that would make it extra special for Cilic.

Not really a fan of either Bartolli or Serena, so whichever one wins, meh. I hope Kvitova can carry her form from Wimbledon to the USO.

July 31st, 2011 at 1:24 pm

Hello, Ms. Idaho!

July 31st, 2011 at 1:26 pm

hello dari from the potato stater :D

umag will be a repeat of the practice match i watched at IW…maybe!

i don’t care who wins, uh too much. yeah right.

go dolgo!!

July 31st, 2011 at 1:33 pm

i must be the only bartoli fan on this forum.

July 31st, 2011 at 1:48 pm

i like that crazy, sweaty pony-tailed bartoli.
i just like serena more

July 31st, 2011 at 2:41 pm

Is it crazy to become a Fish fan right now? I don’t normally have to cheer for the American but for some reason it feels good right now. Go Serena and Mardy!!

August 2nd, 2011 at 12:07 pm