day 5

Warm sunny weather today. Ho hum. I manage to get a Court 1 ticket for Djokovic and FAA matches later. First match for Phil, Lucy and me is Paire vs Vesely on Court 18. Too many errors in the first; taken by Vesely 7-5. 
Set two goes the full distance and Paire takes it 7-6(5).
The third goes to Paire 6-3. They have many good points but are clearly below the level of Nadal and Kyrgios. 
The fourth goes on serve to 6-6 and Paire takes the tiebreaker and the match. 

Lucy and I now go to Court 1 where Phil is enjoying the start of the third set between Hsieh and Pliskova. Hsieh has a two-handed forehand and sometimes switches to one-handed. Pliskova quickly puts Hsieh down 1-3, 15-40 in the third, but Hsieh holds. It’s not enough as Pliskova wins 6-4. In the final game Hsieh runs for a shot to the backhand side, steps over the tarp attempting to reach the shot, and high-fives a woman in the front row. I like her for that. 

Next up is Djokovic vs Hubert Hurkacz, who is only 22. I watched him at Indian Wells and he has all the tools to climb the rankings in coming years. They hold serve to 5-5 and Hurkacz is broken on a 20-stroke rally. 7-5 to Novak.
At 1-1, 15-30 Hurkacz wins a great rally and the audience gives full approval. At 3-3, 30-30 Hurkacz wins a 21-stroke rally. After four deuces Hurkacz holds. Good stuff here. At 5-6 deuce Hurkacz gets to set point on a diving tumbling volley. We’re getting our money’s worth as they reach a tiebreaker. Novak wins a 16-stroke rally for an opening break point; Hurkacz wins an amazing 26-point rally to return the favor and the audience is on its feet in appreciation. They trade mini breaks and reach 3-3. Another trade of mini breaks and we reach 4-4. At 5-5 Novak loses the next two. We’re level and the audience is joyful.
Novak goes up 2-0 in the third and coasts for 6-1. Order has been restored.
Hurkacz finds himself in real trouble in the fourth, 1-3, 15-40 but avoids a second break. Novak serves and holds at 5-4 for the end of a very entertaining match.

Next up is the Canadian sensation, Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Ugo Humbert, who just turned 21 last month. They hold serve until Ugo breaks for 4-3 but Felix shows VERY good form and is a pure joy to witness. Beautiful footwork. First set goes 6-4 to Ugo.
Felix wins the first three games and gets to 5-3 but is broken for 4-5. Meanwhile, on Centre, Hercog goes down 1-4 in the third to Coco Gauff but corrects to 4-4. High drama on the grounds. Ugo regroups and breaks Felix twice to reach 6-5 and holds for 7-5.

Felix goes down 15-40 in the opening game of the third and loses his service. Meanwhile, Coco beats Hercog on Centre 7-5 in the third. I’m very happy for her showing this year.
Felix struggles to hold serve at 3-5 and is finally broken for the match. 

A great day of tennis today finishing at 8:50.

Sent from my iPhone