THAT’S NO STRETCH: As the ever-languid Roger Federer prepped for his quarterfinal matchup with Nikolay Davydenko, Pam Shriver quipped, “Watching him warm up is like doing yoga. I feel relaxed already.”
WHO SAYS 13’S AN UNLUCKY NUMBER?: After dropping the first set in just 34 minutes, Federer reeled off 13 straight games and eventually overcame Davydenko 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 7-5. Said Fed, “Winning that many games in a row against a player that’s been on fire like this, it’s a great sign.”
ALIVE IN FIVE: In a rematch of the ’08 AO final, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga turned the tables and upset No. 3 Novak Djokovic 7-6(8), 6-7(5), 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 — the Frenchman’s second straight five-set victory.
SAY IT AIN’T SO: Serena and Venus Williams will not play the Feb. 6-7 Fed Cup quarterfinal against France, opting instead for the Super Bowl and their role as part owners of the Miami Dolphins…Venus was two points from winning the second set in her 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 loss to Li Na…Serena hadn’t been broken once in her run to the quarters (she was a perfect 31 for 31), then was broken three times in her first four service games against Victoria Azarenka.
MARY PIERCE WITH A LOUD SHRIEK, AN ENGLISH NAME, A FAB BACKHAND AND A BELARUSIAN HERITAGE: Victoria Azarenka.
SOUND CHECK: Noting the ever-expanding volume of Serena’s grunts, Patrick McEnroe quipped, “Squeaking, plenty of chatting and lots of grunting. I think she’s picked up her grunting to match Azarenka’s.”…Pam Shriver said that Azarenka’s “grunt extends until Serena hits.”
WHAT’S THE (NET) RUSH?: Noting Davydenko’s frequent trips to the net against Federer, Brad Gilbert asserted, “A year ago, six months ago, he was only coming in to shake hands.”
JUST WONDERING: Is Djokovic one of the most delicate elite players of all time (he clutched his stomach in pain in the fourth set against J.W. Tsonga and has thrice retired at Slams with various ailments)?…What kind of affect will Rafa Nadal‘s tendinitis have on the ATP Tour?…Has there ever been a better comeback artist than Serena?…Has there ever been a Slam with more intense momentum swings?
IS IT JUST US OR IS ROGER FEDERER (WITH HIS INCREASINGLY DEEP LINES) LOOKING OLDER THESE DAYS?: You would, too, if you had infant twins.
A COMEBACK FOR THE AGES: Serena said her improbable comeback against Azarenka ranks up there with the biggest wins of her career.
THE NUMBERS
110: Combined unforced errors in the Venus Williams vs. Li Na quarterfinal.
23: Record streak of semifinal appearances for Federer at the Slams.
3: Occasions on which Venus and Serena have lost in the same round at a Slam — the ’04 French Open quarters, ’08 Aussie Open quarters and the third round of the ’08 French Open.
12: Months since Nadal’s last Slam title.
QUOTEBOOK
“Best day of my whole life.” — Li Na after dispatching Venus in three up-and-down sets to reach her first-ever Slam semi
“Never ever count out Serena when it counts.” — Patrick McEnroe
“He’s a knockout puncher at a buck 54.” — Brad Gilbert on Davydenko
“It’s going to be a trunk slammer if you don’t get it together pretty fast.” — Gilbert after Davydenko snatched the first set from Federer 6-2 in just 34 minutes
“It’s just so hard to play not to lose.” — Martina Navratilova, with Serena trailing Azarenka 6-4, 4-0
“It was horrible watching Venus going down.” — Serena
