Always a bridesmaid

June 3rd, 2010 • demented, francesca schiavone

The ladies semifinals proved to be quite a bore: a somehow dramatic bore. Like women’s tennis, for all the wrong reasons.

A couple of hours before the semis, I had woken in a cheery mood (yay no classes, yay clay, etc). Part of me, the long time Dementieva fan, was hoping Lena would overcome her apparent injuries and recent lackluster tennis to clinch her first Slam final in 6 years. And then, like in a Lifetime movie, against all odds, she would defeat the favourite in the final to finally take her first major.

No, that wasn’t what happened. Why do you ask?

Things looked stellar for Lena in the beginning. She wasn’t playng her best tennis (like she hasn’t in a while) but neither was Franny. She managed to get a break in the first set at 4-3. But, in a Lena-like fashion, gave the break back right away with a double fault. Still, she looked in control. She was saving break points with aces. She was attacking with her forehand. She was going to take this!!!!, I could feel it.

Set went to tiebreak. And there came Lena getting a minibreak and 2-0 lead. Also gave that away, and there went the set.

In the changeover, we see Franny sitting on her chair, clearly focused. She is one set away of being the first Italian lady in a Slam final in the Open Era. And, boy, does she want it. And then we see Lena stopping in front of her chair, Franny stands and they shake hands.

On the replay, we can see Franny’s face (brilliant stuff, by the way). She is as confused by this as we are. In the presser, she admitted her thoughts at the moment were: ‘Why are you here? Do you need something?’ Are you congratulating me on my tiebreak win? Well, that’s nice. No, what you mean retire? She retired??? What? Me??? In the final?? What?? :D :D :D *goes off to make out with clay court*

Lena later stated on her press conference that she tore her calf muscle on the second round. She said she considered retiring in that marathon against Wozniak in the third round — the match that ended with Lena kneeling on the court, her face between her hands.

Lena is now pulling out of Eastbourne. The injury should take two to four months to heal. Wimbledon is in doubt, just like her streak of 46 consecutive slam appearances.

Tennis: Because toying with your emotions is just that fun.

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