London Round Robin Review

by Craig Hickman

The title of this post is really a misnomer for I don't actually have a review of the round-robin matches to share. Too many of the encounters were straight-set snooze fests featuring uninspired tennis and an abundance of ennui. That's why I'm happy to know that the ATP and the ITF are conspiring to shorten the season by two weeks. I think it's two weeks. I'm sure one of our readers knows better.

The best match London has had to offer prior to the semifinals was Rafael Nadal's defeat of Andy Roddick after trailing a set and a break. Fans of Rafa will likely say he started reading Roddick's serve after being a break down in the second set and wore Roddick out from the baseline. Fans of Roddick will likely say he started disbelieving he could actually defeat a reigning world No. 1 shortly after being up a break in the second set and lost his way.

Now, we'll have Roger Federer wipe up the floor with Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, presumably with lots of crowd encouragement, try to exert his hard court prowess over Rafa in the semis.

It's looking like another Nadalerer final, the first to be contested at season's end if I recall correctly.

Either you're excited or you're blasé.