During the third set of today's Wimbledon quarterfinal match between Angelique Kerber and Sabine Lisicki, ESPN commentators couldn't say enough about Kerber's bad attitude and how that attitude made it difficult for anyone to support her. Personally, I don't care what a player's attitude is, but in this case, I felt a bit defensive on Kerber's behalf: The third set in Eastbourne was flashing before her like a ugly spectral monster, reminding her of how easy it is to blow a big lead.Kerber won the first set 6-3 in a fairly easy manner. Lisicki worked her way into form in the next set, however, despite being down 0-3. At 4-5 on Lisicki's serve, Kerber had two match points. Lisicki saved them, then saved a third match point in the eventual tiebreak. Then she won that tiebreak.The third set was about as tense as it gets. It opened with an exchange of breaks, then there were two more breaks. Suddenly, after another break, Lisicki was serving for the match at 5-3. Kerber would say later that she sometimes hadn't known what to do in the final set. Athletes provide us with excitement and entertainment, but they also serve as teachers. Kerber didn't really know exactly what to do with Lisicki's serving, but she knew how to hang in--and maybe wait for a sign, or something that would get her out of trouble.

read more: Kerber beats a countrywoman and a ghost