Day 3 of the Australian Open is enough to make me run to check www.zitremedy.org; the tension and the stress (in a good way) today’s matches brought is enough to make any tennis fan develop all kinds of body rash.
Earlier in the day, Kim Clijsters had to work hard to win, Rafa Nadal didn’t have to break much sweat, Sharapova remains the only one of the top 15 women’s seed who is out of the tournament, Roddick and Murray are through.
The big games had to wait for the night, however. Almost simultaneously, James Blake vs Juan Martin del Potro and Justine Henin versus Elena Dementieva created matches worthy of Grand Slam finals. del Potro (in five sets) and Henin won (in two). Later that night, Australian teenager Bernard Tomic broke the hearts of his compatriots when he lost the five-set marathon, albeit playing brilliantly, to the up-and-comer Marin Cilic, who many believe is a real dark horse in the men’s draw.
What really got my attention is Henin vs Dementieva. I’ve been rooting for Elena Dementieva since she lost to Serena Williams last Wimbledon. She has always been known as a talented player who maybe isn’t a champion enough to win the big tournaments and I really wanted her to win, especially seeing her nervous mother, the only supporter she has in her box, really gutted with the way things are turning out. Dementieva has improved her game and her fitness so much, and it just is a pity that she hasn’t won any Grand Slam title. Well, the answer is demonstrated in empathic fashion by Henin. Playing in her 2nd tournament since retiring just over a year ago, Justine Henin, despite being rusty is some parts of her game, shows what being a champion really means. And she coupled the mental toughness with some brilliant shot-making that is not too common with the current breed of women’s tennis players. That is to say, I am happy that Justine won, but I am equally sad that Elena lost. Now Justine should go all the way and win this whole effin’ thing.