Wormiest: The 2009 SAP Open champion, Radek Stepanek, donned a San Jose Sharks jersey after winning the title. Then he did “The Worm” and suggested his signature move could be re-named the “Shark Dive.”
Fishiest: Runner-up Mardy Fish proved to be a lesser actor following a similar script to Andy Roddick’s semifinal loss to Stepanek. The 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 final was a paler imitation of the fiercely competitive 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 semifinal.
Fishiest: Runner-up Mardy Fish proved to be a lesser actor following a similar script to Andy Roddick’s semifinal loss to Stepanek. The 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 final was a paler imitation of the fiercely competitive 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 semifinal.
Insightful:
- James Blake’s understanding of how his opponent must feel, post-match. “I’m sure Mardy [Fish] doesn’t feel the same kind of satisfaction getting a win today, but it’s more so than getting a walkover, or being up 6-3 and getting a retirement. It feels like it cheapens the other guy’s victory a little bit, and I don’t feel like I need to do that. The only reason I would do that is if something was going to get a lot worse, if there’s a chance I could tear a muscle somewhere. So if I wasn’t going to hurt it any more,
Notable:
- James Blake’s balance on the run. His speed allows him to chase down a lot of balls, but his balance is what allows him to wallop the ball—even when he’s scrambling.
- Sam Querrey’s height. It doesn’t look so scary when he’s on the court, but try standing next to him as even 6’1” people look straight at his Adam’s apple.
- Andy Roddick really IS chasing down balls he would not have reached last year. And much of the time he can do something with them. Exhibit A? His running backhand cross-court passing shot winner to close out Tommy Haas 7-5, 6-4.
