McHale was in a battle with Elena Svitolina of Ukraine on Grandstand. Christina was up a set and break with a 40-15 lead but blew it. McHale lost the second then totally changed her clothes, red skirt, white long sleeve top, white vispr gone, third set she looked like a different player after coming out of the bathroom break wearing orange skirt, orange sleeveless top and no visor but one of those Mark Sanchez hair holders. McHale raised her game and it went all the way to 5-5 in the third. Pam Shriver came over midway in the third with a wrap, she sat two rows in front of me. She almost dropped her ESPN mike but one of the tech guys caught it. Svitolina is a fighter, she came back in qualies last year from like 16 05 down to beat De Brito.
McHale hung tough though and got the win. She missed some forehands and short balls which could have ended it earlier but she still finished it. This one was huge for McHale who came over and hugged her sister Lauren and some other family members after the handshake. Last year McHale lost on this court to Kiki Bertens in a third set tiebreaker which was a devastating loss. It sent McHale into a year long struggle.
But it appears McHale is regaining confidence. Her movement is still just okay but she is competing very well and hanging in there. She made some nice serves and shots to save BPs.
Saw Bollettieri on the grounds, he said again he really enjoyed my Rios book and added that his new book “It Ain’t Easy” is coming out next spring, Courier and Agassi contribute to it. Nick said Victoria Duval stayed at his academy for four years.
Spoke With Krystof Kyrgios about his brother Nick’s match with Ferrer in first round. They were happy with how they competed, a close set, good effort. Nick beat Stepanek at the French Open in first round in straight sets. He added that Step tried some antics to rattle the 18 year old, even a shoulder bump in third set. But the kid didn’t crack.
Overheard some people talking about Hewitt’s match last night vs. Baker where they said Hewitt was berating his box for lack of energy, yelling ‘Don’t just sit there, do something.”
Updates to follow…
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