Novak Djokovic

Last night we watched the number 2 tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic, beat Michael Berrer to advance in the China Open. And earlier in the day we watched Jo-Wilfried Tsonga win his match against Denis Istomin.

It was a pretty exciting afternoon -- though not if you are only six or nine years old. After a couple hours the tennis got a little boring; and I suppose popcorn can only entertain for so long.

(If you are into tennis or would like to see how we age, see my post about An Na & Li Na from last year :-).)

I did record Djokovic's match point though, which I thought was pretty cool. Reuters, here it is:

Match point! Djokovic is in red; Berrer in white. Note that the Dutch don't waste any time in packing their bags and leaving. :-) We thought the match would have been settled in two quick sets, not three. The final score was 6/1, 6/7, 6/2 for Djokovic.


Here are some more pictures from a fun afternoon:



First Tsonga (blue) against Istomin (white).



Then red against red: Djokovic and Berrer.

The pop corn bag is more interesting than watching Djokovic.

A captivated fan.

So close to the trophy... yet such a long way to go!

A glimpse around the tennis area. It's commercial bonanza.

"Hello Simon"

The Dutch audience section.

Good night moon, good night tennis balls. I certainly hope someone was telling Berrer and Istomin a bed time story ;-(

An Na & Li Na

Last Sunday, I watched as China's tennis star Li Na loses her match against Monica Niculescu and is forced to leave the China Open.

It was a sad moment for tennis in China. Li Na had only recently won the French Open and was placed 5th in the world rankings. She had been much celebrated as the first Chinese and the first Asian to "reach the summit of the Grand Slam" and all spectators (including myself) had very high hopes for her performance in her very own China.

It was a quick game, and after a 6-4 and 6-0 loss in sets, Li Na was ousted from the China Open. I was a bit sad, but the boys were happy to get up and walk around the stadium again. No real hardship for them.

On the photo above you can see Li Na and me in better days, at the beginning of the match. (Use your magnifying glass to spot Li Na on the far side of the field in pink skirt and white top.)

Tennis practice outside at the China Open in Beijing. I am sure these guys are famous, but I have no idea who they are.

Future star in the China Open? At least he got a free tennis ball out of the event.

Two Li Na fans discussing tactics.

Thomas and a friend enjoy the many other activities on the grounds of the China Open.

In het nederlands: Afgelopen zondag was ik erbij toen China's nationale tennistrots dramatisch ten onder ging voor eigen publiek bij de China Open in Beijing. Het was treurig om te zien en wat een leuke wedstrijd had kunnen zijn veranderde in een afslachting van Li Na door Monica Niculescu. Ik las in dit NOS artikel dat ze haar excuses aan me heeft aangeboden...