Hewitt diving volley:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExYnhdcF4Rc]
Standing ovation:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x7DNIFGR_A]
“The crowd and everything, it was fantastic. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I’ve always loved the tradition of the game. I’ve never hidden that. That’s something that I love being around. For me, it’s the home of tennis. I don’t get the same feeling walking into any other grounds in the world.”
On Monday, Wimbledon was the home of five-setters. Nine other matches–bring the total to 10–went the distance. Winners included Kei Nishikori, Alexander Zverev, Denis Kudla, Kenny De Schepper, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Fernando Verdasco, Steve Johnson, Bernard Tomic, and Liam Broady.
Like Nieminen-Hewitt, three others went past 6-6 in the fifth. Zverev beat Teymuraz Gabashvili 9-7, Verdasco edged Martin Klizan 13-11, and Herbert got the best of Hyeon Chung 10-8.
Three men recovered from two sets to love deficits. Kudla stunned Pablo Cuevas, De Schepper overcame John-Patrick Smith, and Broady treated the British crowd to a defeat of Matosevic.
Briefs
* Goffin already improves on 2014 result, projected to climb to career-high 13th.
* Isner cruises, can make a return trip to the top 16 with one more win.
* Monaco trounces F. Mayer, gives himself a shot at top 30.
* Verdasco survives Klizan in five, likely back in top 40.
* Johnson also advances in five, expected to surge into top 50.
* Baghdatis bounces young, needs one more victory for chance at top 50.
* Ilhan upsets Janowicz, should move into top 80.
* Millman destroys Robredo, will likely reach top 100.
Day one would have been a great day to have a ticket for…lots of great 5 set action. I wish I’d been there, and my good friend, “Richard from California”, was there!
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.