Day 1 - Favourite Men's Player

ROBIN SODERLING

Many people's least favourite becomes my biggest favourite. I have discovered tennis very late, unfortunately. The first match I have ever seen was the 2009 Roland Garros final between Robin Soderling and Roger Federer. To be honest, in that very first match, hearing the commentators praising Federer and mentioning all his incredible results, I started to admire him and I supported him. I have always liked to watch Robin's matches, but I don't know exactly when he has become my biggest favourite. All I know is that slowly, but surely, he grew in my top higher than Federer, Nadal, even Djokovic.

In fewer words, he is a strong player, a great fighter and he seems a very nice person. Yes, I mean it! His interviews are so sweet and adorable and he always manages to put a smile on my face. Now, I support him in everything (even in his small matches against Nadal). :) I wish him lots of luck in the rest of the year and I'm hoping for a French Open title, after those two beautiful finals! ;)

30 Days of Tennis Challenge

You have probably read some of these on blogs already. I have and I found the idea really interesting, so here I am. I read this for the first time at Let, Second Serve. It's a great blog, so go read it as well!

30 Days of Tennis Challenge

1. Favourite men’s player
2. Favourite women’s player
3. Favourite doubles team
4. Least favourite men’s player
5. Least favourite women’s player
6. Your most memorable match
7. First player you became a fan of
8. Earliest tennis memory
9. Favourite retired men’s player
10. Favourite retired women’s player
11. A player that no one would expect you to love
12. A player that you aren’t a fan of but you respect
13. Favourite Grand Slam tournament
14. Favourite Non Grand Slam tournament
15. Most attractive women’s player
16. Most attractive men’s player
17. Favourite women’s tennis outfit
18. Favourite men’s tennis outfit
19. Which men’s and women’s player was world no. 1 on the day you were born
20. Favourite men’s slam champion
21. Favourite women’s slam champion
22. Favourite umpire
23. Favourite mixed doubles team
24. Favourite tennis couple
25. Favourite tennis wag
26. A match that makes you happy
27. A match that makes you sad
28. The Grand Slam you would most like to go to
29. What’s your favourite tennis surface
30. Post your fave tennis related gif or picture

Two Romanians, two Grand Slam champions out

Even though Victor Hanescu, Irina Begu and Sorana Cirstea lost, I can say it's been a nice start for the Romanians at US Open. Why am I saying that? Well, mostly because this year's female Grand Slam champions, other than Kim (who unfortunately is injured and unable to defend her title), have been sent home in the first round by two unexpected Romanian girls.

First of all, right in the first day of the prestigious tournament held at Flushing Meadows, Alexandra Dulgheru was the one to cause the surprise of the tournament. She defeated none other than Petra Kvitova, the 2011 Wimbledon champion. Helped by a strong mental, a killer determination and Kvitova's huge number of unforced errors, Alex was able to close the match after only two sets, 7-6, 6-3. Her next opponent will be countrywoman Monica Niculescu, who beat Patricia Mayr to qualify in the second round.

The other big surprise, maybe even bigger than the first one, despite the rankings, was the lovely nineteen year-old Simona Halep defeating 2011 French Open champion, Na Li. She's from my hometown! :) (I had to mention it.) This was a huge surprise for me, as the Chinese seemed in a great shape lately. When I made my US Open predictions, I had to choose between her and another player for the women's title. Now I'm glad I chose the other player... However, I am impressed by Simona's constant results this year. She has made a second-round appearance or better at every Grand Slam tournament, a quarterfinal in Auckland and a final in Fes. She started to win matches over Top 20 players and Grand Slam champions, as Svetlana Kuznetsova at the beginning of the month, at Toronto, and now, of course, Top 10 player Na Li. For her performance here, Simona Halep was named 'Player of the Day' on the official US Open site.

“It's not easy to play against one Grand Slam champ because it's very top level,” Halep said. “I had emotion. I was nervous before the match. But I wanted just to enjoy the match, to feel the ball good, and to play my best. And it was good.”

Simona's next opponent will be Carla Suarez Navarro from Spain. Hai, fetele! :)

S vs. S

And guess who won. The Romanian, young and more unexperienced Simona Halep. In front of none other than two-times Grand Slam winner Sveta Kuznetsova! This is the most important victory in Simona's career until now.

Halep was down a set and a break. Knowing she had nothing to lose, she kept calm and won four consecutive games. The second set's score, 6-4. The decisive set started with three consecutive breaks, the Romanian being the first one able to win on her serve. At 5-3 in Simona's favour, Svetlana served to stay in the match, but the Romanian finished it with a break.

Simona will face in the second round Lucie Safarova, who won yesterday against Polona Hercog.

XoXo. Gossip Girl.

...in the tennis world! Gossips fly as Caroline Wozniacki was spotted in a bar with golfer Rory McIlroy. Mardy and Feli seem interested. :)