I went home very early yesterday to watch the Australian Open quarterfinals between Henin and Sharapova. My log-out time was 5:31PM. I was fortunate to immediately get a cab by 5:34PM. I arrived home in time to catch the second game (the match started around 4:30PM, Philippine Time).
I finished watching the match … and the things that happened? I don’t want to write about.
Henin lost. The 32-winning streak was broken.
Sharapova won. Besides being sad by the result, one thing that irked me more was the beheading/cut-throat gesture that Sharapova’s coach made. It was captured on TV.
As usual, Henin was still well-mannered on her post-game interview. I bow to her and admire her even more. Maybe she needs this defeat to make her raise her level the next time around. It’s easier to improve if you have someone pushing you and keeping you on your toes.
Anyway, I must admit I lost sleep over Henin’s defeat. 
For the post-game nterview: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2008-01-22/200801221201001030224.html
Related articles on that ‘throat-slitting’ gesture (GRRRRR…):
2. http://sport.iafrica.com/news/819140.htm
3. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-tennis24jan24,1,4661102.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
January 23, 2008 at 9:45 am |
Pareho tayo! I lost the energy to watch any other matches after that. My “manok” is now out of the Open…
As for Sharapova’s coach (was that Yuri who made the gesture?), I think a lot of people are having issues with the people around her. Even her former coach, Robert Lansdorp, left them because he couldn’t handle the “scene” being created by her handlers. I can only hope they do not destroy her in the long run.
January 24, 2008 at 6:20 am |
Hi Yaelski!
Thanks for the comment. Yes, it was Yuri making the gesture.
Anyway, let us forget about the incident and look forward to Justine’s better performance in the future. I hope her knees get well also. Somewhere you will read that she must have been protecting her knees that was the reason for all the center-court balls.
Allez Justine!
February 12, 2008 at 1:00 pm |
[...] mystic828 wrote an interesting post today on On Justine Losing at Australian Open QFHere’s a quick excerptI went home very early yesterday to watch the Australian Open quarterfinals between Henin and Sharapova. My log-out time is 5:31PM. I was fortunate to immediately get a cab and by 5:34PM. I arrived home in time to catch the second set. … [...]
February 19, 2008 at 11:34 am |
Henin reacts to Yuri Sharapova’s throat-slashing gesture at the Australian Open, made after Sharapova’s win over Henin in the quarterfinals: “I was really annoyed and I telephoned Larry Scott to ask his opinion. He told me that he found the gesture unacceptable.
“You shouldn’t have to see this type of thing in a tennis stadium. It takes away from the image of women’s tennis and can open the door for all types of problems.
“I didn’t take the gesture personally but it shocked me for tennis.”