Tennis Chatter

Right now I have a preview of Tennis Channel and we all know what that means. 24/7 coverage of the French Open. Yesterday I watched Serena Williams comeback from a first set loss to Tsvetana Pironkova to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. I saw her break down Pironkova. I heard the grunts, the footfalls, the ball smacks. If only I had smell o vision than I’d really be there.

At this moment Tennis Channel is covering Venus Williams’ first round match against Alize Cornet. Venus won the first set 6-4 and is serving to go up 3-2 in the second. Cornet has battled in this game and has taken it to deuce. Williams has the Advantage and… wins the game. See? Live blog coverage is really cool. Being able to break down matches as they happen.

Cornet’s first serve in the 6th game took 30 seconds for Williams to break. Love-15. Williams is working her backhand out. Love-30. Williams digs deep and hits a huge forehand crosscourt. Love-40. Williams finishes things quickly as she wins the game. 4-2. Williams serves and tries to approach the net, but Cornet hits past her into the backcourt. Love-15 Cornet. Williams again to the net and kills the ball. 15-15. Williams big serve traps Cornet into a bad return. 30-15. Williams’ forehand is really cooking with a great shot down the baseline. 40-15. Cornet cannot return the blistering serve as Venus holds. 5-2.

Cornet trying to hold her serve and stay in the match. Cornet wins her first serve. 15-love. She double faults. 15-15. Williams returns into the net. 30-15. Willams shanks the ball wide. 40-15. Cornet is just wide on her volley. 40-30. Cornet survives and holds her serve. 5-3.

Williams serves for the match. Williams wins long rally after first serve. 15-love. Williams spikes the ball at the net. 30-love. First serve long, Cornet’s return is long. 40-love, match point. Jittery fist serve, Cornet again long on the return and Williams wins in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. She moves into the second round before the rain poured down in Roland Garros.

She will face either Wozniak or Harkleroad in the next round. In her draw is Jelena Jankovic, which if they meet up will be an awesome match.

Well that’s all for today. Federer plays later on today and that’ll be fun to watch his first round match. Check back here for more on the ongoing clay battles.