US OPEN 07 - New York Groove - 網球

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US OPEN 07 - New York Groove
30/08/2007:

Justine rocked and rolled her way into the 3rd round today by defeating
Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova 6-4 6-0. The Belgian tennis queen started
slowly as Pironkova played a rapid gun fire styled tennis. Things changed
midway in the first set, and from then it was electric Henin with 9 straight
games won by Justine. The world's greatest 1-handed backhand will play on
Friday against 19 year old Ekaterina Makarova in the 3rd round.


"I was probably born to do that - tennis. I've learned a lot of things with
my career about me, what I want, the person I want to become. It really
helped me to grow up very quickly too, because I gave 200 percent all the
time for that. It's 20 years I played tennis. A lot of sacrifices. But the
best thing is just the emotions that it gave me and the emotions I could give
to people I love and to my fans. Very, very emotional, yeah. Very lucky to do
that." - Justine on Tennis


PhotoTsvetana Pironkova is a talented 19 year old Bulgarian player that came
into notoriety at the Australian Open 2006 in her debut at a major taking out
Venus Williams in the 1st round. The big forehand and power baseline rallies
are reminiscent of Elena Dementieva. The Bulgarian seems to be one of those
unusual players that do better against the elites at big tournaments than WTA
tour regulars. Pironkova dropped her gauntlet at Louis Armstrong Stadium to
the Belgian with whipped attacking forehands, backhands, slices and defensive
lobs. But at 3-4 and Pironkova leading the set Justine reached an epiphany on
court, and became highly invigorated. Gone were the missed returns, the shots
hitting outside the lines, and the rigid body language for JH.

A different New York grooved Justine ran off with the match turbo charged
leaving even the hyper aggressive all or nothing styled Pironkova looking off
her mark. Justine won the first set 6-4, and then she played even sharper. It
was flying 1-handed backhands, over head smashes, forehands, and aces for the
Belgian tennis icon in the second set. Henin rocked Louis Armstrong Stadium
in 68 minutes to win the match 6-4 6-0.


Final score: 6-4 6-0 in 68 minutes

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