Gimlestob seems to be quite friendly with a few brits and is now teaming up with henman for the doubles. Given the american's recent form i think he and henman have a decent shot at this, though they do face tough opponents in the russians.
Late night in DC and Henman is on court....4-4 in the first set but Tim & Justin are doing a much better job of holding serve....only given up two points on their serve so far, but have not earned a break point yet....
Note, in humid conditions although cooler it does not cool down as dramatically as dry heat, and so Tim will be sweating out there!
I don't have the order of play for Thur yet, but hopefully he will not have an early match....hopefully he will play into the night when it is cooler.
5-4 now, H/G held to love....hopefully they will break now....
The first set goes to a tie break.....all set long H/G have only given up three points on their serve and already have a mini break so I think this is curtains....but I am wrong....
3-3 so far....
Why can't I be right sometimes?
3-4 H/G down right now, but on serve....if they win their two points I think they have it....right now they are winning 27% of their receiving points compared to just 13% for the Russians.
But alas, they are playing a poor tie break....now 4-5 mini break down....
5-5
set-point Russians, but it is on serve.....
6-6....wow getting into a late night doubles match....
Yes....set point G/H.....7-6.....but still on serve....
7-7.....
Second serve.....8-7.....set point to the Russians again....
SAVED 8-8
Wake up lads....we have a match.....lol
9-8 G/H......rats.....9-9....Have I said 'wow" yet? lol
First serve fault......set point Russians......9-10....come on Tim.....
10-10......marathon....save some for singles Tim....lol
Set point H/G but as you know on the Russians' serve.....11-11
12-11 Russians....
Saved it.... 12-12
13-12 G/H....come on now win this....lol
Nope.....13-13....think this match matters to Tim? This is huge
13-14.....set point Russians
Rats....the Russians take the first set.....marathon tie break ends in heart break......
4-3 Russians now in the second set, on serve.....the Russians just held to love....H/G have to continue holding as one break will surely be enough in this set.
There has not been a single break point in this match....so you can understand the long tie break
The Dmitry curse strikes again ! Hopefully this isn't a bad omen ahead of their possible quarter-final clash.
Hopefully this match will have helped Tim shake off some more of the ring-rust, I think losing it could be a blessing in disguise though. If he'd won he'd have had to play two matches today in the draining heat and at nearly 32 Tim needs to conserve his energy for the singles.
I really thought they would win that tie break and win the match....funny....until the Russians got their first set point I thought G/H would win the set....strange match....just wish I could have seen it live.
