Post by TennisHack on Feb 23, 2007 22:51:57 GMT -5
The third and last match we attended was scheduled to start 45 mins later. Apparently the stadium court crowd rushed the Grandstand, which only has 1 set of bleachers. They had to send extra security and ushers to that court because it was disrupting play!
(QF) Andy Murray vs Stefan Koubek was going to be a match of cheese vs cheese. Who would prevail? The chair umpire was another familiar face, Steve Ullrich:
Unfortunately, it appears Koubek chose the wrong game plan today. His coach settled into a corner of the court, so every time Stefan was down on my end, they had a little chat. Julian Knowle came in for a little bit, too, at the end of the first set.
Koubek was having a lot of issues with his serve. Instead of being aggressive and moving forward into the court, he was busy trying to out-finesse Murray with all kinds of spins and slices. In addition to his serve, his forehand was also kicking up, and Murray quickly got a 3-0 lead, breaking thanks to 4 straight UEs. They held serve and Murray took the first set 6-3.
Koubek didn't hit any hard shots in a row in a rally, and acted like going to the net was dangerous for his health. Murray scurried around and hit his impossible shots and frustrated Koubek even more.
Koubek was broken at 1-1, and again at 1-3 and Murray really ran away with the second set. Koubek actually had break-back points in the previous serve game of Murray's, but instead lost his chances, and then his own serve.
There were no crazy antics, instead simple resignation. He did save a match point, and held for 2-5 before Murray closed it out 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour.
But Koubek really had the wrong game plan to start with; in the second set they were hitting so softly they sounded like they were playing a WTA match! Too much slice and spin, not enough pure power or good angles. In short, Murray's cheese beat Koubek's cheese formidably.
The consolation? An early evening for us (we ate at Fish's favorite place, Houston's), and Koubek's shirt didn't look quite so garish in the better light.
(QF) Andy Murray vs Stefan Koubek was going to be a match of cheese vs cheese. Who would prevail? The chair umpire was another familiar face, Steve Ullrich:
Unfortunately, it appears Koubek chose the wrong game plan today. His coach settled into a corner of the court, so every time Stefan was down on my end, they had a little chat. Julian Knowle came in for a little bit, too, at the end of the first set.
Koubek was having a lot of issues with his serve. Instead of being aggressive and moving forward into the court, he was busy trying to out-finesse Murray with all kinds of spins and slices. In addition to his serve, his forehand was also kicking up, and Murray quickly got a 3-0 lead, breaking thanks to 4 straight UEs. They held serve and Murray took the first set 6-3.
Koubek didn't hit any hard shots in a row in a rally, and acted like going to the net was dangerous for his health. Murray scurried around and hit his impossible shots and frustrated Koubek even more.
Koubek was broken at 1-1, and again at 1-3 and Murray really ran away with the second set. Koubek actually had break-back points in the previous serve game of Murray's, but instead lost his chances, and then his own serve.
There were no crazy antics, instead simple resignation. He did save a match point, and held for 2-5 before Murray closed it out 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour.
But Koubek really had the wrong game plan to start with; in the second set they were hitting so softly they sounded like they were playing a WTA match! Too much slice and spin, not enough pure power or good angles. In short, Murray's cheese beat Koubek's cheese formidably.
The consolation? An early evening for us (we ate at Fish's favorite place, Houston's), and Koubek's shirt didn't look quite so garish in the better light.
After all, how many times will I ever get to see him in my life, much less get close enough to talk to him?
