Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Nice Going, Shachar

Here's how the NYT reported the tennis game

Hingis, making her first appearance at Roland Garros since 2001, had to employ much of her tactical acumen to defeat the 19-year-old Israeli Shahar Peer. The two had split sets on Sunday before darkness stopped their match.

Back on Court 1, they took turns playing matador early. The first game, with Peer serving, went to five deuces and lasted 14 minutes. And though Hingis won, Peer returned the favor in the next game, hitting aggressive returns and covering the baseline beautifully while Hingis toyed with drop shots that did not quite work.

But at 2-2, Peer seemed to press, making three unforced errors and losing serve at love. Meanwhile, Hingis cut down on her errors and began hitting midcourt swing volleys and following them to the net. She was soon up, 5-2, and though Peer broke back to 5-3, she could not sustain her momentum. Hingis was back in the quarterfinals of the only Grand Slam tournament she has not won, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

"Martina, she's really changing the rhythm the whole time," Peer said. "She's coming to the net. She has good feeling, good hands. I think for the next time, I will know better how to play."

Hingis, not one to freely hand out compliments, said, "We're going to see a lot more from her."

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