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Australian Open, Day 8: My Favorite Things
By Chris Oddo Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
Join us each day throughout the Australian Open as we reflect on the moments that made the day special in Melbourne…
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1. No Quit in Hewitt
It would have been easy for Lleyton Hewitt to pack it in last night, down two sets and trailing 3-0 in the third against the world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. Actually, what am I saying? It would have been impossible. Why? Because that is not how Hewitt operates. Long known as one of the best fighters on the ATP tour, Hewitt doesn't know the meaning of the word quit. That was obvious last night, as he gathered every ounce of energy in his 30-year-old body and pushed Djokovic like no other player has pushed him in Melbourne.
Already lavished with praise this week by the likes of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Hewitt continued to awaken the imagination of the Aussie faithful as he battled toe-to-toe with Djokovic in the third, eventually closing the set out after a marathon game that was essentially a microcosm of Hewitt's career: hardcore, feisty, rebellious, and ultimately, in spite of the final result on the scoreboard, a spiritual victory for Hewitt.
2. Tsonga's Proper Handshake
On day 7, Czech Tomas Berdych showed fans what an improper post-match handshake looks like, and fans in Melbourne responded with a proper amount of anger. On day 8, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga brought us full circle when he sincerely congratulated Kei Nishikori after losing a heartbreaker to him on Hisense. Full credit to Kei Nishikori for knocking off Tsonga in a spirited five-setter and for becoming the first Japanese man to make the Australian Open quarterfinals since 1932, but for me the high point of the match was watching Tsonga's ability to put his disappointment aside so that he could properly honor his opponent for the victory. It was one of those classic Tsonga moments where he proves that to him, tennis isn't only about winning or losing; it's about respect, dignity, and emotion. Tsonga's selfless display of sportsmanship is one of those things that will never make it into the papers or be singled out on a highlight reel, but for fans who watch tennis because they view it as a sport of dignity and class as well as a test of athleticism and fitness, Tsonga and Nishikori's post-match handshake was the perfect antidote for Berdych's baby antics of the previous day.
3. The Power of Petra Kvitova
The more that Petra Kvitova understands the parameters of her jaw-dropping power game, the more she seems to be able to impose herself on her opponents. Ana Ivanovic, no stranger to hitting big herself, was basically blown off the court by the No. 2 seed yesterday, and even when Kvitova's accuracy went astray for patches, she was able to recalibrate her strokes before things spiraled out of control. "In years past or even last year, she would lose those matches or lose her concentration," said Martina Navratilova, of Kvitova's propensity for going off the tracks. "But now she gets it back together. She's tough. I'm glad I'm not on the other side of the net."
Kvitova's newfound ability to squeeze more consistency out of her game will make her even harder to beat. With her rare combination of left-handed power serving, versatile and deadly groundstrokes off both wings, and now poise, Kvitova promises to be a fixture in the final weeks of Grand Slams for many years to come.
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