Due to some previous commitments, I couldn’t see any of the day’s matches.
Although I thought maybe Petzschner might give Nadal trouble because he gave Federer trouble in Queen’s, I didn’t think he’d take two sets off Nadal. The last two sets resemble the Haase match, i.e., it seems Nadal figured out what to do and then it wasn’t close. Still, two five setters in a row. Has to make Soderling feel good should they meet. Final score: 6-4, 4-6, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3. Word is Nadal has a sore arm and a sore thigh. Nadal was apparently arguing over whether his uncle was coaching him.
Sam Querrey just beat Xavier Malisse at Queen’s and probably didn’t expect to be pushed to five sets, but maybe channeling doubles partner, John Isner, he went to extra games in the fifth. However, unlike Isner, Querrey was able to win before games got into double digits. Final score: 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 9-7.
David Ferrer looked to be cruising over Jeremy Chardy, but he came back to win two sets after going down two sets to love. Final score: 7-5, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 7-5.
Three Frenchman did win, however. The ever-surprising Paul-Henri Mathieu followed up his upset of Mikhail Youzhny with a defeat of Thiemo de Bakker: 7-6(5), 7-6(6), 6-7(8), 6-4. Julien Benneteau ended the magic ride of Fabio Fognini in four sets: 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had the easiest match over Tobias Kamke: 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(1).
Andy Murray dispatched of one more Frenchman, Gilles Simon, in straight sets: 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Robin Soderling continues to plow through his opponents, this time, Thomaz Bellucci: 6-4, 6-2, 7-5.
So no real upsets today. The only surprise are players like Nadal being pushed to 5 sets, as well, as Mathieu, a player that hasn’t been playing well for some time, getting his act together to beat a solid opponent.
Sunday, all players rest. All men play their fourth round match on Monday.
