Agnieszka Radwanska and Lukasz Kubot still in!
So two Polish players are into the second week of Wimbledon, putting some sugar into the sour beginning of the Championship. We had the first round exits, some surprising, some expected. Marta Domachowska lost three set match to Anabel Medina Garrigues, which evolved in typical fashion for Marta, 63 36 46. From what I understand, she played worst and worst as match progressed. Marta is now officially way beyond 100 WTA player, I wonder what next for her, back to ITF tournaments?
The really stinging upset was done by Eastbourne champions Fyrstenberg/Matkowski, they lost in the first round to Eric Butorac/Scott Lipsky of USA in straight sets, 63 63 63. Having the opportunity of the five sets match to make things right they just blew it completely. So much, that Fyrstenberg was suppose to play Ula Rad in mixed doubles, but he just went back home leaving poor girl so disappointed. Bad sport, boys, you continue to make those strange performances, and this is really annoying, it is hard to support you!
There was women doubles team Jans/Rosolska and they did, what expected, they lost in the second round to Huber/Black 75 62. Good effort, but not much to celebrate.
What we can celebrate is Lukasz Kubot/Oliver Marach in the last 16 in doubles, winning their first and second round match without much problem. They are facing Victor Troicki/Christopher Kas in the first match on court 7 on Monday.
The last, sad, but not unexpected, Radwanska's sister lost to Petrova/Mattek-Sands in first round of doubles 64 76, playing tiebreaker 75.
And that takes us to the good part of events. The reason Aga did not have any more left in her for that doubles match. Aga is in the fourth round, and she played the week from hell to get there.
In the first round she fought the tight first set with Sanchez winning it 75, and then completed the match with 61 in the second. But it wasn't nice match to watch, considering Agnieszka behaviour on the court. Fans are taken aback by her glum, serious, sometimes arrogant looks and comments throughout the course of the match. She just doesn't smile any more, and shows so much frustration whenever things are not going her way, that it is just painful to watch sometimes. Focusing and keeping emotions in check, and being moody, and unpleasant is another thing. I know, it is frustrating for her, that she is not doing as well, as last year, and expectations are so much higher. I just wish she would relax a little bit, she is doing fine, and I believe it's going to be a good year in perspective, but I guess it's not easy to be in her skin, with everything going on around.
Saying all of this, I hope that after this week things are going to be different. Aga went through two very difficult matches, she played Shuai Peng in the second round and that was a horror three hours match. It was played on Thursday, Aga was doing quite well for the set and half, when things started to unfold. Peng started to attack and Aga just stopped playing. She lost that set in the tiebreak 68, even thou she had match points when she was leading in the 8 game.
The last set was the seesaw, with both players fighting for every point, lots of deuces and lost chances to break, all the way to couple match points not taken. The final score: 62 67 97.
So after that horror of a match, Aga had some rest and she had to play doubles with her sister. The match was close, certainly in the second set, but there was no more fuel in Aga after such a difficult day.
For Ula Radwanska, it was the end of Wimbledon, since she lost in the second round to Dominika Cibulkova. Ula won her first round match easily (with Masa Zec Peskiric) 63 63, but she wasn't able to find solutions to Dominika running to every ball like a hound. 62 64 was the score. Ula played not as consistent as in the first match, more nerves and less effectiveness in her game plan. Somehow disappointing, since this is her second Wimbledon and second round was the minimum for her.
So she showed some promise, but did not use all her chances!
So came the Saturday and Aga faced the second in her China Wall, Na Li. Na Li was afraid of Aga, and Aga was afraid of Na Li. Funny, and it showed on the court. First game Li was broken, than she broke right back, but eventually Aga broke again to take the set 64. She started well in the second and it looked easy until 53, when Aga waisted 2 match points. And then again, like in the horror match number 1 with Peng, Aga's game started folding, her strokes shorten, and timid Aga lost next game. The tenth game was just this fight for life, Na attacking and making UE, giving Aga easy points and taking away the game points with punishing forehands. She finally broke Aga to even out 55 and when all seems to be heading to horror match number 2, suddenly Na fell apart and was broken easily to give Aga 65 lead. The last game was a little tense, but Aga kept her nerves under control this time and she took the match 64 75.
So Aga is going to play this surprising opponent, American, 17 year old qualifier Melanie Oudin (124 WTA), who took out Jelena Jankovic (barely standing from all her ailments and heat of the day on the court) for the QF. Aga chances? She is the favorite, Americans are creating this frenzy about the next big player from their soil, I somehow have my doubts, but we will see how it will unfold. The good thing is Aga is having this big weight of her back. She survived and defended almost all her points. She is not falling out of top 20, chances are, she may still be 15 after this. Maybe she will come to this match playing more relaxed and we all have more pleasant time watching her!
The other Polish players, those foreign Polish are creating lots of buzz on the courts. Along with Aga in the last 16 are Karolina Wozniacki (defeated Kimiko Date Krum in the thriller 57 63 61, took out Maria Kirilenko-after taking first her Stella McCartney contract-60 64 (ouch!), and taking care of Anabel Medina Garrigues 62 62). Karo is facing Monday another Polish-German Sabine Lisicki. Sabine won with Anna Chakvetadze 64 76 62, then defeated Patricia Mayr 62 64. Then she faced woman, who is afraid of playing Polish, no matter where they are coming from, even if she is fresh from the oven Roland Garros champion, Kuzy. Kuzy lost 62 75, so she could celebrate her birthday shopping in London until she drops!
Aleksandra Wozniak, Eastbourne semifinalist did not have a good showing, maybe because she faced Francesca Schavione, who went all the way to the last 16.Ola lost 64 46 46. She also played doubles with Sabine and they lost in the second round to Williams sisters.
Also Karolina played doubles with Cirstea Sorana, and they were also eliminated in the second round by Mariya Koryttseva/Tatiana Poutchek.
Marcin Matkowski is still playing mixed doubles with Lisa Raymond, they are in the third round tomorrow.
We also have the girls junior on the court, Magda Linette is facing number 3 seed Ana Bogdan of Romania.
So the Super Monday on Wimbledon could be eventful for Polish tennis, let's see, where it takes us!
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