World Tennis Challenge - It's On For Young & Old

WTC – Daily Update: Wednesday 11 January

Wednesday 11 January 2012 1 Comment »

Results

Match One: Tommy Haas (America) lost to Michael Llodra (Europe) 7/5, 7/6 (11 – 9)

Match Two: Alexandr Dolgopolov (Australasia) lost to Stanislas Wawrinka (Int’l) 7/6 (7 – 5), 6/4

Match One: John McEnroe (America) beat Henri Leconte (Europe) 8/7 (7-4)

Match Two: Pat Rafter (Australasia) lost to Brad Gilbert (Int’l) 8/7 (7-5)

Match One: Haas/McEnroe (America) beat Llodra/Leconte (Europe) 6/2

Match Two: Dolgopolov/Rafter (Australasia) beat Wawrinka/Bahrami (Int’l) 7/6 (7-5)

Match Format Information

1st Match: Two current players compete in a best of two sets singles, with a super tiebreak for the third set if required.

2nd Match: Two past players compete in a pro-set. First to 8 games, tiebreak at 7 games all.

3rd Match: Doubles match between the two pairs (current and past player) in a one set doubles shootout with a super tiebreak if required. There will be no-advantage scoring in the doubles.

Daily Update

Brad Gilbert will sleep well tonight, his late evening eclipse of Pat Rafter giving the Californian just his second win in 17 years.

Coaxed out of retirement by WTC director Darren Cahill, Gilbert’s expectations will not have been high but when he eventually flies home he’ll probably feel he could do so without an aeroplane.

Second match on court, the Gilbert and Rafter epic was initially an also ran to the edgy encounter next door.

Henri Leconte, fleet of foot and fired up and, stormed into a six games to two lead against John McEnroe, the New Yorker somewhat leaden and seemingly stunned by Leconte’s ground assault of whipped cross courts winners from both sides and resolutely accurate serve.

It was tight, it was edgy, the mood rarely playful but Mac hit back, gradually and unstopping. Soon it was six apiece, shortly after the tie break and then the coup de grace, the red shirted, if not still red haired, grand slammer the victor. Serious business and all the better for it too.

If Pat Rafter and Brad Gilbert next door were watching, they took no notice. Gilbert, smothered in the same all black as 24 hours before had the perpetual look of a benign uncle who just won the lottery. For the second time.

He served, he smiled. He returned, he smiled, and when he hit a winner he smiled even more.

And in case you somehow missed it, you could hear his smiles and bemusement at home too, a TV mic along running the back of Brad’s neck and into the home of those not at Memorial Drive tonight.

Pat meanwhile, was smiling as well. Six two up and coasting he perhaps tuned out as Brad was tuning everyone in. A blistering display of strong serving and not messing up, took the Californian to the tie-break and also to the win, seven points to five.

As he walked to the net, Brad put his hand against his forehead in mock disbelief with perhaps not too much of the mock. Wonderful to see, well done Brad.

He didn’t make it to the doubles though, his International team going down to Australasia while America took out Europe easily six games to two.

The earlier matches had been first rate too in an arena growing seemingly hotter as the day grew long, the sun throwing its rays across the current players a t the eastern end as the night’s action began shortly after 6.30pm. It was, in short, a fine Adelaide night.

Alexandr Dolgopolov and Stan Wawrinka nabbed the shady side of the arena, Michael Llodra and Tommy Haas battling it out in full glare. The quality though was outstanding, hard serving and hard hitting from both men par for the course.

Two tight sets ended with the yellow jersey to the Parisian, 11/9 in the deciding tie break.

Haas will soar higher, and soon, in the rankings with displays like this, Llodra calling upon his double leanings to volley and angle with aplomb. Melbourne next week will be glad to call matches of this ilk its own.

Back in the shade, Wawrinka saw off the Dog, again in two close sets that kept pace and time with the happenings next door.

Results, draws and the latest photos and videos

For images from the event click here(Credit: Chris & Jacinta Oaten)

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World Tennis Challenge 2012, presented by Events South Australia, will take place at the Memorial Drive, Adelaide from 10 to 12 January 2012.

For further information please contact:

Sue Hill, Foster Hill PR & Marketing
T: +61 8 8231 3555
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