Battler Li fought back from a set down, a seeming body transplant (with a 12-year old once-a-year recreational player, so woeful was the hitting) and some 57 unforced errors to overcome a lumbering Williams to take it 2-6, 7-6, 7-5. This is a huge deal for Chinese tennis, with two women ("pocket rocket" Jie Zheng) into the semi's of a slam for the first time. Go China.
So that's the positive- the symbolic result. The actual match? Do.Not.Get.Me.Started
Suffice to say, this was no match- in prospect or reality- to compare to any of the men's 1/4 duals. Like vintage turkey tennis, it limped, wheezed and spluttered itself across the finish line, by which time, it really did not matter who won. The tiring pattern of continual breaks of serve (each others) and umpteenth errors gave the match an unnaturally long feel with only splatters of tennis fitting of a 1/4. We had so many 2nd serves I began to assume some new rule had banned the use of a first.
A little like 'Nam, or Iraq for modern reference, it was a relief to just get the hell out of there.
Higher hopes for the Serena Williams- Victoria Azarenka match. Already we're off to a bright start: Vika broke Serena's serve, up 1-0 and currently at deuce.
(c) WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images
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