AO Round of 16-Set 5

Like most tennis fans over the age of 40 and residing in the Eastern/Central time zones, I was pleased to awaken and discover live tennis on from Melbourne. Stan Wawrinka and Nole Djokovic were deadlocked at 1-1 in the final set when I got the coffee made and the TV set tuned.

So for the better part of the next two hours these two battled battled back and forth until the final point, the best point of the fifth set, ended with a Djokovic BH cross court pass that left Stanislaus stretched out on the ground and gave Nole a 12-10 win.

The beauty of this is that this was totally unexpected. Wawrinka has brilliant shotmaking ability including an excellent one-handed BH, but has always come up short on the big stages in either fitness, or late match toughness. And Djokovic is #1 in the world, and seemingly never has a bad day, especially in Grand Slam events.

Not today.

I have not yet seen the replay of the first four sets, however the fifth set gave plenty of indicators of what had occurred earlier.

Here's what I saw:
1) Djokovic was a bit off his feed, due in part to Wawrinka's play. His FH and his return were abysmal. At least by his standards.
2) Wawrinka had a great day. Darrin Cahill, the best commentator in the game, opined that this was by far the best he had seen him play.
3) Wawrinka had an excellent game plan. As in other matches, I have noticed that the players not named Djokovic, Federer, Murray, Nadal and Ferrer, have realized they are not out "grinding" those five( and a couple other wannabes) so they have adjusted their tactics. Now playing closer and inside the baseline whenever possible, and taking "risks". Even playing the net!
4) Wawrinka was noticeably fitter. Maybe down 10-15 pounds?
5) Both players were very cognizant of the score and length of the match from the 7th game of the final set onward. Wawrinka dealt with leg cramp issues, Djokovic was visibly a step slower and laboring with breathing. Which I don't recall seeing in the past three years. As such, there were many "easy" holds of serve when they opted to let games "go" after losing the first two points.
6) Great clutch serving and shot-making by both.
7) As the set went on and on, I felt that first serve % would be key. If both players could keep making first serves they would hold easy. (Points won on 1st serves 71/68%). If either missed a first, the receiver had a 50-50 chance(final stats 55/52% points won on 2nd serve) In the 22nd game Wawrinka missed a few 1st serves and the odds shifted towards the best receiver in the game.
8) Wawrinka had tears in his eyes at the end, and so did I. I felt for him, He just played in all likelihood the best tennis match of his life, against a top player in tennis history, and yet the tennis gods still "smiled" upon Djokovic. Tennis isn't fair, but regardless of the result "hat's off" to both players for an epic performance.

Couple other quick AO observations:

1) The first week belonged to the Women. Far more competitive matches, and when they weren't competitive, sheer brilliance by the winner.
2) Until Friday night(Saturday in Melbourne) the Men's draw was drab. No other word for it.
3) Andy Murray has the easiest path thru the 16's and 8's.
4) Chris Fowler(ESPN) should stick to college football. He's paired with two of the top three analysts in Men's Tennis(Cahill & BradGilbert) and he won't let them analyze, choosing to do so himself.
5) Berdych has been playing lights out. Let's see if he can do so in the quarters for a change.
6) Top 4 Women's seeds seem on a collision course. Jamie Hampton made Vika appear mortal and vulnerable, Serena looks unbeatable, Maria is on a roll, and Radwanska is Martina Hingis re-created.