If world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka has done it, and I, world No. nothing, have done it, we've all done it: You hit a bad shot to give your opponent a chance to get back in a match you thought was under control. After playing so well, you don't know how it happened, or why. There's only one thing left to say: Mishit.
With two of those letters removed, of course.
At the rec level, you might get a scolding look from a player on a nearby court for saying such things. In the pros, you might get fined. But Azarenka would likely consider any financial penalty a cost of doing business, as she went on to win the next three points, and eventually the match, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The exact situation Vika found herself in was serving and up 1-0 in the third set, but down 30-40, after having just broken Li Na for the third time in her last five service games. The momentum was with Azarenka, and the match was arguably for the taking. She steadied the ship with a barrage of deep balls, enough to trouble Li and induce errors. That pattern held in the next game, with Li serving down 2-0. The French Open champ had hit just six forehand errors in the first two sets, but hit that many in the first three games of the third. One of those came on break point, giving Azarenka a 3-0 lead.
If the National Hockey League's Eastern Conference Semifinal between the Washington Capitals (boo) and the New York Rangers (go) has taught me anything, it's that it helps to be desperate—an often helpful emotion that can't be fabricated. After losing nine of the previous 12 games, Li was most certainly desperate. So it wasn't a huge surprise when she fought back to 4-3 down, taking advanatge of some loose Azarenka play. When Azarenka then faced the prospect of losing her double-break lead—twice, on break points—it was the top seed who had the look of desperation.
This time, instead of cursing, Azarenka repeatedly smacked her racquet against the court. Admit it, you've been there, too. And many times, such an outburst works in your favor. It did for Azarenka, who saved both break points, one with a go-for-broke forehand down the line after an extended rally. With the hold, and subsequent break, Azarenka took the match and booked a semifinal with either Varvara Lepchenko or, most likely, fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska—a player who hasn't minced words with Vika before.
