Woe is the women

In the women's game there have been so many breaks of serve, often four or five times in a set, one after another, it's maddening. It seems like all you need to do in the women's game is hold serve while in the men's game holding is a given and the game is premised on trying to gain the break. It seems impossible to imagine that a women who looks obviously out of shape and is fighting a visible cold, that has barely played any high level competitive tennis over the last eighteen months can enter a grand slam tournament and reach the finals. Is simply surviving the best the women's game can manage? What happened to the will to win? Clijsters and Hingis appear buddy-buddy in the tunnel just moments before the match and Clijsters sprays sixty-five errors - we feel obliged to give full credit to Serena Williams, what she lacks in conditioning she more than makes up for with her will to win.

Until more women learn to harness their talent, the women's game will not, and cannot, measure up to the men's.

Speaking of the men, and harnessing talent, Fernando Gonzalez continues to impress us. Picked by our assorted office courtwatchers as an early favourite, it seems like Gonzo's partnership with new coach Larry Stefanki is a match made in heaven. Stefanki has taken other players, such as Kafelnikov and more recently Tim Henman, to the heights of their careers. Gonzalez has always been a creative and intriguing player, but under Stefanki his energy has been focused, giving him the power of Andy Roddick and the anticipatory shot-making nearing the realm of Rodger Federer. Suitably dispatching Nadal yesterday, Fernando makes his first foray into the semi-finals of a Grand Slam and it remains to be seen whether he can withstand the pressure and stress that comes travelling this deep into a tournament.

We hope to see him in the final.

We also hope to see another match worthy of the highlight reel emerging from yet another Federer-Roddick clash. Typically the young American gets put through his paces but Roddick's recent exhibition win over Federer will have some supporters suspecting the return of Andy's mojo, but we have our doubts. Nevertheless, this one should be good.

Battles in the Blistering Sun

Upsests abounded this weekend, with the "young guns" making good on last year's promise. From Monfils, Gonzalez, Djokovic, and Andy Murray. With Safin out, and Camerin finally retired from the doubles court, Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez is now the player we most hope see pitted against Roger Federer. Perhaps the unpredictable Chilean will find some of the form that won him the bronze medal in Athens.

With so much tennis under the bridge it seems best to start with the lead off broadcast match of Serena Williams and Shahara Peer. Granted Williams is lacking in fitness, but Peer's relentless assault in the first set caught many off guard, including Williams, who used the occassion to curse loudly using language that would cause even Marat Safin and Andy Roddick to blush. Regardless, Peer's physical play forced the question of Serena's conditioning, exposing her lack of movement and highlighting the dominance of Williams' serve and forehand.

Earlier in the day Andy Murrary demonstrated that he had the talent to go toe-to-toe with Rafael Nadal, with many arguing that the young Brit allowed Rafa to escape with the win, failing to follow-up on numerous break point opportunities.

Despite a surprisinglylarge build it, the challenge of Djokovic failed to materialize against Federer on an otherwise busy day of upsets. Amelie Mauresmo could not solve Safarova, while Mardy Fish continued his improbable run, by bouncing David Ferrer .