French Friday
Last year it was Amelie Mauresmo’s year at Wimbledon, but on Friday it was all about the French players, Marion Bartoli and Richard Gasquet. France actually had the most men in the singles and tied with the United States for the most players in the singles draws. Nonetheless, few would have expected Marion Bartoli to reach the finals, but she held her nerve and outplayed Justine Henin in the third set. As with most “double-double”
players, i.e. those who hit with two hands off both sides, Bartoli can blast the ball from the baseline as she showed by controlling the rallies and running Henin all over and then throwing in a soft drop shot. As she packed her bags to leave Centre Court after her semifinal victory, Bartoli, a first-time Wimbledon finalist, put her player badge around her neck… in case the security guards needed to check it! Richard Gasquet also played brilliantly to win his first match after coming back from two sets to love down to defeat Andy Roddick and reach the semifinals. Gasquet hit his shots in the last three sets as if he (finally) believed he should win. Nobody has ever doubted Gasquet’s talent and the next day or two will tell us whether he has finally found that belief himself.
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