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Wimbledon War: Serena Survives Furious Giorgi Onslaught
26 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Scoop
By Scoop Malinowski
Camila Giorgi played probably the best set of her life today to snatch the first from Queen Serena in today’s Wimbledon quarterfinal 63. But as expected, Serena Williams answered the warning call with her typical response.
Serena is a master at raising her intensity level and she did it again today to perfection. How Serena can elevate and generate that extra level of intensity is arguably one of the greatest weapons in tennis history. One can only imagine the number of matches Serena’s intensity has won for her in her life.
In the second set Serena slow walked around the court with her head slightly bowed, like a raging bull ready to rampage a cocky matador to sudden destruction.
Instead of snorting like a four-legged beast, Serena seethed quietly, and only vented a newer, high pitched type of grunt which somehow seemed to help her hit the ball that fraction harder and with more velocity. At 2-1 Serena, Giorgi had 30-15 on her serve and had Serena flailing around the baseline but made a faulty decision to blast away on a short ball, which exceeded the baseline. It was the time for a drop shot, as Serena was off balance and in disarray from the baseline. From 30-all, Serena broke for 3-1 and never faltered again. It was the turning point.
Even if Giorgi hit the drop shot winner in that situation, Serena may have still raised her overwhelming intensity to even another level of fury and desperation.
Giorgi did not have another intensity level after the first set and that was the difference though she played excellent in all three sets. But that’s not enough to beat Serena. Giorgi’s mistake was she played each set at the same intensity level. Was she afraid to offend or threaten Serena with an extroverted display of supreme confidence? Or is Giorgi too feminine and introverted to behave in such a manner?
How to generate and manufacture that extra level of emotional adrenaline and intensity that only about 1% of the tennis world truly knows and understands can be the difference maker in a close tennis match.
If Tomas Berdych and Giorgi had that capability they would each have won 5-10 majors apiece with their explosive games. if Hewitt, Nadal and Serena didn’t have their signature, defining emotional adrenaline intensity, I surmise they would each be Slam-less.
That Serena was able to maximize her performance today against such a formidable challenger playing the best tennis of her career, will bode well for her for the next four days.
After the stunning default in Paris to Sharapova, it’s clear now Serena is back at maximum strength both physically and mentally.
Kerber is the only player left who have shown she has that emotional adrenaline reserve that can overcome Serena’s. Ostapenko and Goerges have not yet exhibited they have the crucially important difference maker – the optimum level of emotional adrenaline intensity.
Beast mode · Giorgi · Serena · Wimbledon
26 comments
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Michael in UK · July 10, 2018 at 4:21 pm
Thanks Scoop, I enjoyed this piece, there is plenty of terrific drama in the women’s side at this Wimbledon.
On the men’s side, interesting to see that none of the next gen or other younger players have made it to the quarter finals. The old guard bossing it still.
Joe Blow · July 10, 2018 at 7:06 pm
1-1 in the second set, SW serving 15-30, Giorgi had a sitter mid court bh, hit it long..momentum SW..always playing from behind after that
Michael in UK · July 10, 2018 at 7:13 pm
Up late watching wimbledon highlights on BBC, hugely impressed with Daria Kasatkina shots and attitude, despite losing to Angie Kerber. The women’s game looks bright with Kasatkina, Ostapenko, and Osaka out there.
Scoop Malinowski · July 10, 2018 at 9:14 pm
Thanks Michael, I agree, Kerber, Ostapenko, Serena and Goerges is a superb final four. Can’t ask for much better than that though seeing Hsieh in the FF would have been extra nice. Rafa, Fed and Djokovic and Delpo look hungrier than ever. Which is so special.
Scoop Malinowski · July 10, 2018 at 9:19 pm
Joe that miss ruined her match, she never got back on track after that. Serena seized that opening and capitalized.
Dan Markowitz · July 11, 2018 at 7:10 am
Scoop,
You can’t conflate Camilia Giorgi with Thomas Berdych. The latter is a slam finalist and consistent Top 10 player over the last decade, the former is a flash in the pan, beguiling, beautiful, graceful, controversial player who has mostly been a 30-60th ranked player. It’s a great tournament for Giorgi to reach the quarters and take a set off Serena.
Also, Julia Geoges is not a slam semifinalist caliber. I’m sorry she isn’t. The fact that she’s in a slam semis is an indication that the women’s game today is not strong. As is the fact that Serena at almost 37 and after having a baby last year, is the big favorite.
Scoop Malinowski · July 11, 2018 at 8:53 am
Dan, Bouchard is a top ten player who is underachieving, with the right attitude and work ethic and focus on the job at hand and not extra curricular activities, Bouchard would be a perennial top ten player. Goerges is fully deserving of being in the semis and she’s earned her spot. Players improve, players refine their games and approaches to matches, Goerges has shown steady improvement this year and this win affirms it. Evert said she has a new physio who is her boyfriend, maybe he’s been a difference maker.
Dan Markowitz · July 11, 2018 at 9:03 am
I give Georges credit. She beat Bertens who’d beaten two Top 10 players on the way to quarters. But what slam do you ever remember where 9 out of the top 10 seeded players didn’t reach the quarters?
catherine · July 11, 2018 at 9:07 am
Scoop – that physio guy has been around for a while, part of what I call Julia’s Gang of Two, and if he’s her boyfriend as well then that probably explains her improvement over the last year 🙂
I agree Julia deserves to be in the semis. She didn’t bribe her way there. And you can only beat whoever’s in front of you.
Dan Markowitz · July 11, 2018 at 3:08 pm
Are giants ruining the game on the men’s side? If DelPo and Beats Nadal, 3 of the 4 semifinalists will be 6-5 and up or 6-6 if Izzie wins. It’s crazy and we shorter young Americans, Kozlov, Rubin and Paul not even getting a foothold in Top 100.
Hartt · July 11, 2018 at 4:42 pm
The match between Isner and Anderson will feature 2 giants – Isner is 6’10” and Anderson is 6’8″. It has to be the tallest Wimby SF ever.
catherine · July 12, 2018 at 2:38 am
Semis today:
A friend of mine who’s an ex-journalist, used to write for our mag, made a couple of comments – she predicts Ostapenko/Williams final based on what she saw of Angie and Julia. Re Kerber (v Kasatkina): ‘ she was playing well but as if everything was difficult’, and Julia ‘ may not be able to play all that handsy stuff against Serena’s power’. Julia’s also too respectful of Serena. Nice, but won’t get you into a W’don final.
Angie also needed 7 match points to finish off Daria so unless she shifts into aggressive gear straight away Penko will be all over her in cannon mode.
Fisette was opening his mouth again and the last time he did that was in Stuttgart and we know what happened there.
I’d like Angie to win but this Wimbledon has Serena Williams stamped right through it.
catherine · July 12, 2018 at 9:19 am
Angie in the final – my reverse jinxed worked 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · July 12, 2018 at 9:23 am
That’s a good point Catherine, I see Georges deferring to Serena, she needs to be meaner and feistier to overcome Serena. She does not have that in her, she is too passive, too feminine, too nice to take out Serena. I wouldn’t mind being proven wrong on this. Serena is a heavy favorite to blast through Georges in a rampage performance.
catherine · July 12, 2018 at 9:25 am
Now all Angie has to do is master the use of the adjective ‘well’ – as in ‘I played well’.
She says : ‘ 2017 is over.’
catherine · July 12, 2018 at 9:29 am
Scoop – yes, I think we’ll both be right on this one. And also, even if Serena were playing on one leg there’s no way Julia would want to play Angie in the final. They’ve been friends since childhood.
catherine · July 12, 2018 at 9:42 am
Scoop – you’re right. Both these semis will be anti-climaxes but all that means is that the best players won.
And I imagine Penko learned a lot from this match. I don’t think we’ll lose her to ballroom dancing yet.
Hartt · July 12, 2018 at 9:56 am
I thought Angie’s consistency and good defense would trump Ostapenko’s power and that proved to be the case.
Am looking forward to the final – really want a Serena vs Angie final, and will be shocked it that does not happen.
Hartt · July 12, 2018 at 11:27 am
Catherine, I got “A Backhanded Gift” from the library, and am looking forward to reading it, especially now that Wimby is starting to wind down.
Hartt · July 12, 2018 at 11:30 am
Wow, they just showed the end of the doubles match where Bryan/Sock won vs Inglot/Skugor, with Jack hitting the winning shot. Sock may be doing poorly in singles, but he still is getting good results in doubles.
catherine · July 12, 2018 at 11:38 am
Harrt – you got your wish for the final. But a good tournament for Julia reaching her first GS sf at 29.
Be interested to know if you like that book. I haven’t read it. Do you read true crime ? I have to admit I do, but only if it’s good, not trash stuff.
Looks like Sock will be around for a while longer here as doubles specialist 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · July 12, 2018 at 1:25 pm
Hartt, what a match point that was, Mike Bryan hitting that diving scoop up lob, then Jack finishing with a smash and forehand winner down the middle. They both were euphoric and hugged like they won their first major. What a moment. Best match point I ever saw. This was a career changing POINT.
catherine · July 13, 2018 at 3:18 am
PS to the sf – I had a look at some highlights (thankyou China)of Kerber v Penko which focussed on Penko’s winners and it seems to me if she’d cut down those UFEs then Angie would have lost that match.
Serena won’t be piling up the UFEs and her serve will be superior so I think Angie may struggle. On the other hand Serena is older and a bit slower. I just hope it’s a lively match.
I’m impressed with Penko – she’s got the rashness of youth but that should settle down.
catherine · July 13, 2018 at 6:32 am
I also caught Williams v Georges – Julia has a far better serve than Angie and moves fluently around the court, getting herself into good positions. Serena also was moving well, great advance on her earlier matches.
Serena won because she’s clearly a notch up as a player and has tons of experience at this level (and on the Centre Court) but the match wasn’t a walkover.
So unless Angie ups her game considerably, holds her nerve and is much more aggressive I can see this one being over quickly.
(I noted great gratitude on the part of viewers that someone broke the W’don copyright !)
Hartt · July 13, 2018 at 8:00 am
Catherine, I enjoy murder mysteries, but haven’t got into true crime.
With Ostapenko, I wonder if she will learn to play with more margin when appropriate. The players who love to go for their shots seem to hate to change that, although I imagine coach after coach try to get them to play with more margin.
catherine · July 14, 2018 at 12:30 pm
She did it. She did it. She did it 🙂