Draper shot a final round of seven-under-par 65 to finish with a four-round total of 20-under-par 268 and one shot clear of Andrew Bonhomme and Aaron Townsend.
Draper, 32, is among a rare group of sportsmen to succeed in two professional sports.
He won the Wimbledon junior doubles title before taking up tennis professionally in 1993.
He reached a career high of 42 in singles, but retired from tennis in 2005, shortly after winning the Australian Open mixed doubles title, to pursue a new career as a professional golfer.
Draper made a brief return to tennis when he agreed to coach Lleyton Hewitt at last month's Australian Open but turned down the chance of a longer term coaching job to continue with his own golfing career.
― === temporary username === (Mark C), Sunday, 11 February 2007 11:42 (6 years ago) Permalink
(Hingis won one too, but I'm not sure how much hilarity we're ever going to get out of her)
― === temporary username === (Mark C), Sunday, 11 February 2007 12:19 (6 years ago) Permalink
This was a good idea that never took off! Thus, revive.
Offseason now, so gossip rubbish instead: Dumped by Hingis, Radek Stepanek is apparently marrying Nicole Vaidisova!
cake!
― anatol_merklich, Saturday, 22 December 2007 20:45 (5 years ago) Permalink
i love the fact that one of the 10 ugliest sportsmen i've seen in the past 3 years is so unbelievably fortunate in matters of the heart, gives us all hope innit
― Just got offed, Saturday, 22 December 2007 20:47 (5 years ago) Permalink
I like to think he's a real nice dude, but of course I've no idea.
Microscandal dept: Starace (best tennis name beside Smashnova) & Bracciali are suspended for a short while for betting insignificant amounts on matches not their own.
― anatol_merklich, Saturday, 22 December 2007 20:55 (5 years ago) Permalink
Mardy Fish a strong candidate for best name IMO
― Just got offed, Saturday, 22 December 2007 20:58 (5 years ago) Permalink
Fed vs Sampras at MSG, 3/10/08
― gabbneb, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 06:48 (5 years ago) Permalink
1st titles of 2008, for reference:
WTA Gold Coast: LI Na d. Victoria AZARENKA 4-6 6-3 6-4 WTA Auckland: Lindsay DAVENPORT d. Aravane REZAÏ 6-2 6-2
ATP Doha: Andy MURRAY d. Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4 4-6 6-2 ATP Adelaide: Michaël LLODRA d. Jarkko NIEMINEN 6-3 6-4 ATP Chennai: Mikhail YOUZHNY d. Rafael NADAL 6-0 6-1
― anatol_merklich, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 16:06 (5 years ago) Permalink
go davenport!!
― Surmounter, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 16:42 (5 years ago) Permalink
Week 2/2008, with all eyes on the AO anyway:
WTA Sydney: Justine HENIN d. Svetlana KUZNETSOVA 4-6 6-2 6-4 WTA Hobart: Eleni DANIILIDOU walk-over vs Vera ZVONAREVA
ATP Sydney: Dmitry TURSUNOV d. Chris GUCCIONE 7-6(3) 7-6(4) ATP Auckland: Philipp KOHLSCHREIBER d. Juan Carlos FERRERO 7-6(4) 7-5
― anatol_merklich, Monday, 14 January 2008 07:40 (5 years ago) Permalink
Watching Sharapova vs Obziler in the Israel-Russia Fed Cup tie now, and wow is the crowd noisy! Rapturous cheering on every serve fault by Maria, tauntingly SCREAMING along with her on every shot etc. Umpire totally unable to silence them haha!
― anatol_merklich, Saturday, 2 February 2008 12:50 (5 years ago) Permalink
fuck what channel? we need to sign up for the tennis channle, i can't be missing stuff like this
― Surmounter, Sunday, 3 February 2008 02:45 (5 years ago) Permalink
I just go to myp2p.eu and check whether anything is available ("Live Sports" tab -> "Tennis" button). Note: playing stuff may in general entail installing various Chinese tv apps (sopcast, tvants, uusee...). That particular tie, however, is on some Israeli sports station showing through Windows Media Player or I guess any other .wmv-showing app.
― anatol_merklich, Sunday, 3 February 2008 10:09 (5 years ago) Permalink
How useful it is if you're not using Windows I've no idea. Also, quality unsurprisingly varies wildly; this Israeli broadcast is pretty decent.
Pe'er was double-breadsticked by the Shazbot right now, making it 2-1 to Russia. Elsewhere, France vs China will be decided by the doubles.
― anatol_merklich, Sunday, 3 February 2008 10:28 (5 years ago) Permalink
Murray knocks out Federer in the first round of the Dubai tournament.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7274636.stm
nice one you unpatriotic little shit.
― Upt0eleven, Monday, 3 March 2008 17:15 (5 years ago) Permalink
he was wearing a saltire cap when he was playing, which doesn't seem desperately unpatriotic to me.
― ailsa, Monday, 3 March 2008 22:01 (5 years ago) Permalink
Federer was too busy not thinking about yesterday
― Matt, Monday, 3 March 2008 22:05 (5 years ago) Permalink
i was only referring to his disinclination to play davis cup. and i was kidding about that anyway - i care no more about it than he does.
still, 'unpatriotic' was probably a poor choice of word. well done young man!
― Upt0eleven, Monday, 3 March 2008 22:35 (5 years ago) Permalink
It was more the "little shit" that you coupled it with, to be fair.
Anyway, yes, two out of three won against Federer now.
― ailsa, Monday, 3 March 2008 22:37 (5 years ago) Permalink
God knows why he'd want to play the Davis Cup. Who else is going to be on the team? I wouldn't want to be winning matches and carrying a team full of useless people in a tournament that has long since lost its cachet and relevance except in the eyes of really, really old tennis commentators.
― edwardo, Monday, 3 March 2008 22:38 (5 years ago) Permalink
x-post take umbrage wherever you like it was all meant in jest, apart from the congratulatory bit. internet does not do deadpan.
But I genuinely like Murray. I also agree with the above post. I can't be arsed to even watch Davis Cup so I can't blame him if he's rather not play in it.
― Upt0eleven, Monday, 3 March 2008 22:45 (5 years ago) Permalink
Andy Murray wins something
― Herman G. Neuname, Sunday, 3 August 2008 21:42 (4 years ago) Permalink
He has won about 4-5 career titles before...but yes, its his biggest win
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 3 August 2008 21:45 (4 years ago) Permalink
this is his third title of 2008 alone. by far the biggest though! wish i could've seen it, sounds like a fantastic match, and it's good to see him encroaching on THE TRIVALRY even if i do like nole more (lol the way fed's playing, nadal/djokovic/murray is the real trivalry).
on the WTA, dinara safina has won two big titles in a row! she is the only woman out there who is stepping up to fill the void at the top. jankovic is going to be world no 1 next week, that is embarrassing. the WTA is probably in the worst shape i've ever witnessed.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 August 2008 22:08 (4 years ago) Permalink
also i didn't know this thread existed!
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 August 2008 22:09 (4 years ago) Permalink
Oh I know he's won stuff before but not a big tourney. It was a good match. He looks so much fitter and stronger than he was a year or 2 ago.
― Herman G. Neuname, Sunday, 3 August 2008 23:53 (4 years ago) Permalink
Nadal will be #1 on 18/8. Can't quite believe Fed's slump post-SW19; loss to Simon, near-loss to Ginepri, loss to Karlovic. Thought he might have at least made a fight of the #1 ranking (his form was fine for 18 of 19 matches in Paris, Halle and London); I had this romantic notion of the baton being passed as Fed beat Nadal at Flushing Meadow (Nadal's points surge taking him past the repeating champ despite the loss). Fed will be lucky to get out of the sixteens in NYC. Does Beijing have any ranking points?
― Michael Jones, Monday, 4 August 2008 00:04 (4 years ago) Permalink
yeah, it does. i think a few less than a masters event for the dudes, a few more than a tier ii for the chicas.
GOD that feels ridiculous looking at it! thinking about how much the olympics mean to, like, track&fielders and rowers and the like, and in tennis it's like...a TIER II.
anyway in other news, THIS is the 15-year-old saviour of the WTA who in the past month has taken sets from both serena and sweta, michelle larcher de brito: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kxaLo1riGo&feature=related
she makes sharapova sound like a trappist. seriously i can't believe she hasn't been asked to stop that bullshit yet, or like MURDERED ON COURT by a deafened opponent. that's not a grunt, that's a scream with a sustain pedal on. i'm not sure i'm going to be able to actually watch any of her matches.
oh and in other news silliams has pissed on her phone at the beach: http://serenawilliams.com/home/ sometimes you just long for the days before celebrities discovered how to work the internet themselves :(
(also note "enuf boring stuff" LIKE TENNIS)
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 20:19 (4 years ago) Permalink
you know, i used to watch all the nonslams cuz my stepdad taped them. then i didn't speak to him anymore. i wish i knew when they were on -- i think i'm gonna have to get on top of that!
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 20:20 (4 years ago) Permalink
they're on every week! televised or not is another qn
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 20:22 (4 years ago) Permalink
exactly, that's the thing.
― Surmounter, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 20:23 (4 years ago) Permalink
Blake was asked about the partisan crowd before today's final and reminded everyone he's half English :)
BBC giving it "Blake is just happy to be here" bollocks - dude isn't here to make the numbers up. I think I'll be pro-Blake today, as he does things like this
― SB "A Good Story" (onimo), Sunday, 14 June 2009 13:17 (4 years ago) Permalink
Well done Andy!
― ailsa, Sunday, 14 June 2009 15:02 (4 years ago) Permalink
Bit of a dull game lit up by a few stunning forehands. Shoddy line calls all day, none of which helped Blake. Well done to Murray on being the first Brit in yonks to win Queen's, which I'm sure won't lead to even more Wimbledon hype.
― SB "A Good Story" (onimo), Sunday, 14 June 2009 15:08 (4 years ago) Permalink
I predict Murray will cave under the pressure and be out by round 3.
― ailsa, Sunday, 14 June 2009 15:09 (4 years ago) Permalink
he doesn't seem to be the sort to cave under pressure. but a friendly first-week draw would certainly be nice...
didn't watch the Queen's, but watched the Edgbaston SFs (Li d. Sharapova and Rybarikova d. Mirza) and a bit of the final today - Magdalena Rybarikova is a real discovery, such a classic grass-court game! Slices and volleys and good serving! she looks weirdly like Samantha Morton, too. i remember seeing a photo of her from her junior days when she lost some random final - she was posing w/the trophy and seriously looked like she was about to go bowling for columbine. so it was lucky for Edgbaston that she won today!
Haas beat Djokovic in the Halle final this week too.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 14 June 2009 15:25 (4 years ago) Permalink
in other news, larcher de screamo gets a wildcard to wimbledon. FUN.
― Roz, Sunday, 14 June 2009 15:56 (4 years ago) Permalink
The weird transatlantification of Murray's pan loaf accent has meant I can't actually hear what he's saying - it's just a series of droning noises that makes my ears stop working.
― SB "A Good Story" (onimo), Sunday, 14 June 2009 16:04 (4 years ago) Permalink
pan loaf accent
is that how you talk with your mouth full of bread?
― Beth Parker, Sunday, 14 June 2009 16:17 (4 years ago) Permalink
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_loaf
It was once more expensive and regarded as more fashionable than the then more common plain loaf. Hence, to speak with a pan loafy voice is to speak in a posh or affected manner.
― SB "A Good Story" (onimo), Sunday, 14 June 2009 16:19 (4 years ago) Permalink
How on earth does Murray speak with an affected accent?! He just mumbles.
I found that picture of Rybarikova looking like she's ready to go bowling for Columbine after losing the Wimbledon juniors final!
Fortunately today was more to her liking.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 14 June 2009 16:41 (4 years ago) Permalink
!!! interesting result for sure. fed dropped out?
― Lamp, Sunday, 14 June 2009 17:22 (4 years ago) Permalink
yeah...Djokovic was lucky to be in the final at all, he had to come back from 5-7, 2-5 down and save 5 match points against Florent Serra (!) in the 2nd round.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 14 June 2009 17:26 (4 years ago) Permalink
waht
French tennis player banned for betting found dead
Natural causes apparently.
RIP Mathieu
― anatol_merklich, Wednesday, 8 July 2009 15:55 (3 years ago) Permalink
Fuckin' hell. (Though my initial shock was because I thought you meant Paul-Henri Mathieu...)
― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 8 July 2009 16:00 (3 years ago) Permalink
Oh right, sorry! To avoid confusion to others: it's Mathieu Montcourt.
― anatol_merklich, Wednesday, 8 July 2009 16:08 (3 years ago) Permalink
The Lex's favourite choker, Richard Gasquet avoids getting suspended after testing positive for coke.
The full findings are here (pdf): pretty lol-worthy just for the kissing descriptions and finding out that he was allegedly "contaminated" at a Bob Sinclar event.
― Roz, Wednesday, 15 July 2009 20:32 (3 years ago) Permalink
hingis should've found a french waiter of her own to blame. or maybe just one of the 9494439 atp players she'd slept with.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 15 July 2009 20:42 (3 years ago) Permalink
her ban ends in january right? think she'll come back?
― Roz, Wednesday, 15 July 2009 21:03 (3 years ago) Permalink
wtf federer?! 5-2 up in the final set, somehow fails to serve it out twice and then DFs on match point in the tie-break to give Tsonga the win.
all credit to Jo-W for stepping it up right at the end, but still... that was some breakdown.
― Roz, Friday, 14 August 2009 21:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
5-1 up in the third! :o
at the same time I was watching Flavia Pennetta try to choke away her match - she beat Venus in the last round, and winning this would mean a top 10 debut. 6 match points came and went, double faults on at least two of them, but her opponent was Hantuchova so it was OK in the end.
btw, Serena's post-Wimbledon record = QF loss in Stanford to Stosur and 3R loss in Cincinnati to Bammer, who now owns a 2-0 record over her. The Real Number 1!
am endeavouring to pretend the horrific Clijsters comeback isn't happening. never liked her.
best recent press conference = Marat defending baby sis by telling the press to "go fuck themselves" <3
― lex pretend, Friday, 14 August 2009 21:32 (3 years ago) Permalink
obv didn't see the Fed match but am guessing that J-W just started going even more for broke than usual when down 1-5, and everything began going in.
― lex pretend, Friday, 14 August 2009 21:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
yep and suddenly firing aces as well when he hadn't been able to get a good first serve in since like the end of the first set. meanwhile fed's serve just went to pieces after that.
also yay dinara fighting back a break in both sets to beat kimmy. would've hated it if she lost this one.
― Roz, Friday, 14 August 2009 21:39 (3 years ago) Permalink
this whole presser was fucking classic.
Q. Now that you stopped, what about coaching her?
MARAT SAFIN: Oh, you want me to hang myself? (laughter.)
― Roz, Friday, 14 August 2009 21:41 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=58340
<3 <3 <3
― lex pretend, Friday, 14 August 2009 21:43 (3 years ago) Permalink
Wow, Pennetta will be Italy's FIRST EVER top 10 woman! Both Schiavone and, before her, Farina Elia peaked at 11.
― lex pretend, Friday, 14 August 2009 21:45 (3 years ago) Permalink
Meanwhile, Andy Murray becomes the first man not named Roger or Rafa to hold a spot in the top two since forever. More importantly, Del Potro beat Roddick.
― Michael Jones, Sunday, 16 August 2009 09:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
i am enjoying Del Pony's hardcourt domination of Roddick v much.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 16 August 2009 09:47 (3 years ago) Permalink
Does it mean Del P gets his #5 ranking back? I know he lost a bunch of points in the second half of July. In fact, I'm happy to support Juan Martin today if it makes the difference... ;)
― Michael Jones, Sunday, 16 August 2009 09:55 (3 years ago) Permalink
yeah, if he wins today he'll be back at no 5.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 16 August 2009 10:03 (3 years ago) Permalink
How is Nadal doing post-injury? Lost an edge, or is it too early to tell?
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 16 August 2009 10:23 (3 years ago) Permalink
he's only played two or three proper matches so yeah still rusty/cautious but he seems to be getting better everyday.
gonna be a great USO - with Murray at number 2, it's likely that Nadal will end up on the same half of the draw as Fed which is just weird to think abt. they've both been at the top for *ages*.
― Roz, Sunday, 16 August 2009 11:06 (3 years ago) Permalink
henin to unretire
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 18:09 (3 years ago) Permalink
can only be a good thing
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Tuesday, 22 September 2009 19:03 (3 years ago) Permalink
i have no problem with these comebacks, but geez, i wish these "i am gonna quit tennis"-people just announce a sabbatical instead.
also, on another forum i heard a theory that Henin will have a much more difficult time getting back in top shape, since "she's no athlete" and only got to number 1 after years and years and years of hard work.
otoh Clijsters had a kid.
― Ludo, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 19:09 (3 years ago) Permalink
"Subconsciously, it might have had an impact," Henin said of Clijster's successful comeback. "But it certainly was not the most important reason."
loooool keep telling yourself that, honey
― Roz, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 19:39 (3 years ago) Permalink
Whatever the reasons this is good news.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 19:41 (3 years ago) Permalink
Justine <3
This is only a good thing if we WIN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN. And everything else. And get that Wimbledon title. And overtake Serena's Slam total.
I love the idea that she's only doing it to bully St. Kim again :D
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 19:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
exactly... like she'd ever let kim be the number one belgian. :P
― Roz, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 19:53 (3 years ago) Permalink
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 19:57 (3 years ago) Permalink
Wonderful news. Unless it's a total failure and she runs out of wildcards after a few months.
― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 20:51 (3 years ago) Permalink
This is so hilarious! Welcome back, Justine!
― sturdy, ultra-light, under-the-pants moneybelt (HI DERE), Tuesday, 22 September 2009 20:52 (3 years ago) Permalink
women's tennis is so fucked.
― mizzell, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 21:09 (3 years ago) Permalink
3/1 To win 2010 French Open
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 23 September 2009 10:46 (3 years ago) Permalink
Need to point out that 38-yr-old Kimiko Date-Krumm - she will be 39 next month - has just reached the Seoul final, beating Kleybanova, Hantuchova (lol Hantuchova) and Kirilenko in consecutive three-setters! So happy for her. From the bits and pieces I've seen of her this year, her old-school flat strokes are still a joy to watch and she's still a superior athlete to many of the girls half her age. She'll play Groenefeld or Medina Garrigues in the final - surely either are winnable matches.
And the WTA used "age ain't nothing but a number" as the headline for their story :D
― lex pretend, Saturday, 26 September 2009 09:39 (3 years ago) Permalink
― lex pretend, Saturday, 26 September 2009 09:53 (3 years ago) Permalink
Not to take anything away from Kimiko's win srsly!, but surely first the Kim Slam and then this should be a bit embarrassing for the current wta generation...?
― anatol_merklich, Sunday, 27 September 2009 20:41 (3 years ago) Permalink
right and both sveta and safina have been knocked out in the second round of tokyo. sigh.
also these pictures of sugiyama's retirement ceremony is ;_;. poor Daniela!
― Roz, Monday, 28 September 2009 15:31 (3 years ago) Permalink
so i guess I should mention that I'm currently working at the media centre at the Malaysian Open. Have gossip abt some of the players to share but for professional reasons, can't divulge until the after the tourney. XD I will say though that Magnus Norman is one hot coach and Tomas Berdych is a very very nice guy.
― Roz, Thursday, 1 October 2009 16:12 (3 years ago) Permalink
oh snap
― a misunderstanding of Hip-Hop and contracts (HI DERE), Thursday, 1 October 2009 16:14 (3 years ago) Permalink
whoa can't wait for the gossip! jealous of you roz. pretty great QF line-up for an inaugural tournament - Davydenko/Monfils, Soderling/Berdych, Youzhny/Gonzalez, Gasquet/Verdasco. hope the winner of the first one takes it all.
oh yeah, for sure, but the current WTA has been digging itself new lows for a couple of years now so someone cool may as well benefit. but you would never guess from looking at her that Mrs. Krumm is 39. would argue that Clijsters winning the USO was worse; Seoul is a small event and journeywomen be journeywomen, but Clijsters showed up the "elite" of the game.
btw the top six seeds all lost their opening matches in Tokyo :o
― lex pretend, Thursday, 1 October 2009 16:19 (3 years ago) Permalink
hope the winner of the first one takes it all.
oh totally - both those guys are rad esp Kolya who is all kinds of awesome. seems like he's just having a ball here. But i suspect that General Sod will probably win this - he's only played one match so far but even during practice, dude is on fire. Indoor hard courts suit him.
and yeah Tokyo is a clusterfuck but at least Jankovic is still there. She's been steadily regaining her form (I think the USO loss was forgivable given her personal circumstances at the time) so I really fucking hope she pulls it together.
― Roz, Thursday, 1 October 2009 16:41 (3 years ago) Permalink
pffft JJ! Retiring in a final at 5-2 without even waiting until Sharapova finished the first set. Awful fucking behaviour.
The Sod is inexplicably the most popular player here - there were like 300 people at his signing session. Someone in his entourage quipped afterwards "He's not even this popular in Sweden".
― Roz, Saturday, 3 October 2009 16:32 (3 years ago) Permalink
was just laughing about how Tokyo somehow got a marquee final out of that mess...and then, 5-2 ret. Oh dear. Bah, this means Li Na won't be making the top 15 just yet!
Impressive week from KING KOLYA, beating fresh-off-a-title Monfils and on-fire Soderling, the final vs Verdasco should be good. As should the Troicki/Simon Bangkok final!
― lex pretend, Saturday, 3 October 2009 18:20 (3 years ago) Permalink
A couple of notables from Luxembourg WTA event:
1. Some new 14-year old called Yulia Putintseva gets wildcard to the qualies, takes out Stefanie Voegele and Claudine Schaul, though loses 36 46 to Kirsten Flipkens in the final qual round.
2. 1st round match between (1) Wozniacki and (LL) Kremer: WozDEN is up 75 30, has a chat with fathercoach Piotr. He allegedly says "hey, retire at 05, u won't play tomorrow anyway, let them have some joy" or similar WITH LIVE TV MIC NEARBY, sending in-play bettors into whorls of confusion -- and acrimony when it happens. K def W 57 05 R. What are WTA rules for this, I wonder?
― anatol_merklich, Wednesday, 21 October 2009 04:52 (3 years ago) Permalink
loooooooool
i managed to catch a little bit of rafa/davydenko (!?) @ shanghai - didnt seem like a v. good match tbh altho it was a surprising result
― h3len k. (Lamp), Wednesday, 21 October 2009 04:56 (3 years ago) Permalink
WozDen's getting away with it with the whole "St. Caroline was SO NICE to let the hometown girl go through when she knew she couldn't play the 2nd round" angle. Also, Luxembourg, no one cares any more. Completely ridiculous anyway.
KING KOLYA played amazingly in Shanghai - his SF against Djokovic was a great match and I wasn't surprised he beat Rafa after that. He was on fire.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 21 October 2009 09:51 (3 years ago) Permalink
wait what, what was the reason for Wozniacki retiring?
I haven't managed to see any tennis since the US Open. Oh god no, I mean since the GB Davis Cup tie. I neeeeeed it.
― FC Tom Tomsk Club (Merdeyeux), Wednesday, 21 October 2009 10:00 (3 years ago) Permalink
"strained hamstring" or something? It wasn't like she was unable to play on - she just tweaked something which presumably would have meant that she'd give a w/o in the 2nd round, to save herself for Doha next week. She's played an insane schedule recently - Beijing, Tokyo, Osaka, Luxembourg, Doha in consecutive weeks?!
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 21 October 2009 10:06 (3 years ago) Permalink
Has Del Potro won a match since the US Open? Kolya nudges Roddick out of the way in the rankings and Murray is now down at #4.
― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 21 October 2009 10:09 (3 years ago) Permalink
No matches won! But he has been the subject of two kiss-and-tells by ARG models he contacted on Facebook though. Go Del Pony.
Safina finally lost the No 1 spot with consecutive losses to girls ranked 140 and 226. Silliams celebrated regaining it with a third-set TB loss to NADEZHDA PETROVA, how is that even possible? Venus lost two consecutive early-rounders to Pavlyuchenkova. Bepa 3's latest choke was a monumental one - from 6-3, 5-1 up over CAKE.
~America's sweetheart~ Melanie Oudin has failed to get out of qualies since the USO :/
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 21 October 2009 10:14 (3 years ago) Permalink
Anyone tempted to see the end of year event in November? No idea what the tickets cost, just excited that its taking place in London.
― xyzzzz__, Wednesday, 21 October 2009 10:22 (3 years ago) Permalink
Caroline Wozniacki is insane - she's played more matches and tournaments than anyone else this year and totally setting herself for a major injury in the future if she doesn't learn to cut back on her schedule.
No talk about my favourite wasted potential Ernests Gulbis getting busted for hiring hookers in Sweden yet? The news came out a couple of days ago although no one was actually named, but Joachim Johansson blurted out on his blog that it was indeed Ernie... loool nice work Pim Pim
― Roz, Thursday, 22 October 2009 06:19 (3 years ago) Permalink
lol Pim Pim, what a dummy.
Gulbis should not need to pay for sex tbh.
For some reason I didn't take on board that the YEC being in London means that it will BE IN LONDON AND I CAN GO TO IT - think it's largely sold out now though :(
― lex pretend, Thursday, 22 October 2009 09:46 (3 years ago) Permalink
Really? Aargh, I have been sleeping
― xyzzzz__, Thursday, 22 October 2009 09:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
prostitution isn't legal in Sweden? that seems weird.
― mizzell, Thursday, 22 October 2009 16:06 (3 years ago) Permalink
interestingg...In 1999, Sweden became the first country to make it illegal to pay for sex, but not to be a prostitute (the client commits a crime, but not the prostitute).
― mizzell, Thursday, 22 October 2009 16:11 (3 years ago) Permalink
i'm just amused that it was Gulbis - the guy is never going to get rid of his spoiled rich kid tag. he's the Chuck Bass of tennis.
― Roz, Thursday, 22 October 2009 16:36 (3 years ago) Permalink
But he has been the subject of two kiss-and-tells by ARG models he contacted on Facebook though
pics or it didnt happen
irl lolz @ non-slam tennis l8ly
― m.coleman (Lamp), Thursday, 22 October 2009 20:46 (3 years ago) Permalink
lol what are the Williams sisters wearing here
― the blackest thing ever seen (HI DERE), Tuesday, 27 October 2009 16:50 (3 years ago) Permalink
bitches ftw
Jankovic: "I basically gave her everything. I beat myself. That was really unfortunately the case. My game was completely off."Azarenka: "I'm glad she gave me the match and she was not in the mood. It worked out pretty well for me."
zing!
― Roz, Tuesday, 27 October 2009 18:53 (3 years ago) Permalink
i'm so glad someone finally used that response! I love JJ and hate Azarenka but Jelena walked into that one rather.
Surprised that everyone (except Serena) looks basically acceptable in the promo photo, given most of their track records. Spent a while trying to figure out if Venus pulls off her look, it's a bit aprony, but I think she does. Dinara's not great but could be and has been much worse. Everyone else plays it safe and together look boring, but on their own pretty good, especially Sweta of all people. Serena, jumpsuit, god, when she retires the attention-seeking is going to reach unprecedented heights, isn't it?
Apparently in Agassi's imminent autobiog, he admits to using crystal meth in '97!!!
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 28 October 2009 00:29 (3 years ago) Permalink
between that and maria sharapova snarking on both her AND azarenka a couple of weeks ago, jelena jankovic is officially the wta's new favourite punching bag.
the entire agassi story goes something like "i was on meth for a while, failed a drug test, made up a lie which the ATP bought, felt really bad about it and never did it again. ps richard gasquet ain't got nothing on me." ok i made that last part up but that's the gist of it.
tennis is so badass this year.
― Roz, Wednesday, 28 October 2009 06:17 (3 years ago) Permalink
LOLOLOLOLOLOL @ WTA!
Just tuned into Azarenka vs Wozniacki at 5-5 in the third, Azarenka having lost a 5-3 lead. First thing I hear, her horrible dying goose screech. And then amazing comedy as she gets TWO CONSECUTIVE CODE VIOLATIONS - ball abuse first and then on the next point she MURDERED her racquet and got a point penalty which handed Wozniacki that game. At the changeover she went completely insane and started banging the already-mangled racquet everywhere just to make sure it was totally dead, and then Wozniacki served out in about two seconds, fin.
Women's tennis may be the pits this year quality-wise, but comedy-wise it outstrips pretty much everything ever.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 28 October 2009 17:15 (3 years ago) Permalink
!!! seriously... i thought that match would never fucking end. Azarenka was pathetic and hilarious.
and I am all of a sudden a Wozniacki fan and why not? In obvious pain, her serve falling apart and moon-balling all over the place but the girl just won't switch off, she's so dialed in on every point. And if she drives other players mad that way, more power to her. Also i love her hair.
― Roz, Wednesday, 28 October 2009 17:26 (3 years ago) Permalink
oh shit that sounds amazing
― ADVANCED CHORD CHANGES (HI DERE), Wednesday, 28 October 2009 17:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
um wtf happened to dinara? wasn't planning on watching it but i was looking at the scores and she retired after two games?
― Roz, Wednesday, 28 October 2009 17:50 (3 years ago) Permalink
My only prediction before the tournament was that both alternates would be used. One down!
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 28 October 2009 17:53 (3 years ago) Permalink
her back or something? sigh fitting end to her season i suppose. this tourney could use some bepa battiness anyway.
― Roz, Wednesday, 28 October 2009 17:59 (3 years ago) Permalink
@TennisReporters Among other people I don't want to be today is Antonio, Azarenka's coach, after she goes Myskina on him in the locker room6 minutes ago from web
i'm so glad my favourite player's name has now entered the lexicon and been immortalised like this <3
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 28 October 2009 18:18 (3 years ago) Permalink
woah so Safina withdrew because of a fracturing disc in her spine???? yikes, I kind of feel bad for making fun of her inability to win now
― ADVANCED CHORD CHANGES (HI DERE), Thursday, 29 October 2009 13:31 (3 years ago) Permalink
winced when i saw that yesterday but she said it wouldn't require surgery? don't know whether this is the same as/similar to the chronic back injuries which forced Kournikova and Golovin into retirement, hope not. i tend to take what tennis players say with a pinch of salt when it comes to their injuries, but Safina's not one of those who constantly claims to be on her deathbed before bravely rising from it to beat scrubs 0 and 1 without a hint of pain (Clijsters, Wozniacki).
― lex pretend, Thursday, 29 October 2009 14:04 (3 years ago) Permalink
caught a repeat of what happened earlier and it was kind of painful to watch, she was sobbing so hard. you're right though, safina hardly ever uses her injuries as excuses and as far as i can remember has never retired from a match regardless of how badly she's playing so it must be pretty bad if she really felt she couldn't play on. :/
― Roz, Thursday, 29 October 2009 15:15 (3 years ago) Permalink
Today's insanity: Bepa starts the match with an extended meltdown, going down 0-6, 2-5 and at one point having to play with tissues still shoved in her nose. But she has clawed her way back in to take the second set on a TB, saving two match points along the way - one with a Hawkeye overrule!
― lex pretend, Thursday, 29 October 2009 15:54 (3 years ago) Permalink
lol what? I stopped watching after she got broken in the second. -_-
― Roz, Thursday, 29 October 2009 15:58 (3 years ago) Permalink
god this match is so boring
― Roz, Thursday, 29 October 2009 16:18 (3 years ago) Permalink
Absurd. Caroline either cramping or her hamstring was really paining her, she collapsed on the ground serving at *5-4, 30-30 in the third and played the rest of the match with tears streaming down her face and pretty much hobbled. Of course, Bepa still managed to fuck up! HOW DO YOU EVEN LOSE THAT GAME BEPA OMG. Absurd.
― lex pretend, Thursday, 29 October 2009 17:10 (3 years ago) Permalink
apparently everything happens when i'm not watching. that match was so unbearably awful though.
― Roz, Thursday, 29 October 2009 17:18 (3 years ago) Permalink
oh yeah, hideous quality. Wozniacki with her usual midpaced nothing shots, and Bepa just refusing to go for anything, rally continues in this vein until someone hits a stupid error five miles out. when a match is like that I only tune in at the end of sets...
― lex pretend, Thursday, 29 October 2009 17:59 (3 years ago) Permalink
i know i wanted some bepa battiness but that was too much.
i'm back to hating on Caro btw. it always throws me when she whales a forehand and it falls like three feet inside the baseline.
― Roz, Thursday, 29 October 2009 18:21 (3 years ago) Permalink
Her FH is truly the stuff of nightmares. So weak.
Azarenka losing it!
― lex pretend, Thursday, 29 October 2009 18:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
good call now that Bepa's pulled out of Doha citing ankle injury which means A-Rad will playing Azarenka. Caro looked pretty terrible at the end of that last match, what happens if she pulls out too? I haven't watched one of these in years so i've no idea what the rules are at this point.
― Roz, Friday, 30 October 2009 03:21 (3 years ago) Permalink
Utterly non-topical, just a bit of wtf trivia I came across...
i) go here, and change the years in the boxes to, say, 1992 and 2001;
ii) shrug at Mr Guilfoil's unremarkable results, not unlike thousands of other players who tried and failed;
iii) then click the "Biography" tab and marvel. Can anyone just show up or something?
― anatol_merklich, Monday, 2 November 2009 18:34 (3 years ago) Permalink
I'm thinking that he was kind of abusing the notion of 'futures' there.
― FC Tom Tomsk Club (Merdeyeux), Tuesday, 3 November 2009 11:03 (3 years ago) Permalink
There was I being embarrassed at losing a club match to a white-haired 59-y-o when I was a teenager, and there's aspiring pro Brian Wright, dropping four games to a 77-y-o...
Gotta be wrong, surely?!
― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 3 November 2009 11:15 (3 years ago) Permalink
i dunno, these bottom-rung tournaments attract a huge variety of people trying their luck or just entering on a lark - as far as i know, you pay your fee and if there's space in the qualifying draw, you get in. 50-year-old dewonder davis has been playing US satellites for a decade. sometimes she's even won a couple of games!
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 3 November 2009 11:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
and a lot of the younger "aspiring pros" are complete shit - look up the record of one brie whitehead, for example - so if that guilfoil dude was in good shape, even at 77, played an old-skool s&v game, it doesn't surprise me at all that someone who may not be more than a club hacker would lose games to him.
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 3 November 2009 11:26 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://billg.usptapro.com/default.aspx/MenuItemID/351/MenuGroup/ProHome06.htm
yeah I can believe that he could offer a little embarrassment to some 17-year-old chump.
― FC Tom Tomsk Club (Merdeyeux), Tuesday, 3 November 2009 12:11 (3 years ago) Permalink
yeah all these smaller tournaments have pretty huge qualifying draws so it's not actually that difficult to get in and play a couple of matches if you can pay the entry fee. but that's pretty amazing regardless - that site says he was a world-ranked table tennis player as well.
here's victoria azarenka and caro wozniacki bringing some cute self-deprecating snark to the WTA about one minute in:
Can't stand either of them on a tennis court but no lie, I think they're both pretty fabulous. They're basically my anti-JJ, who i think is kind of a horrible person but who's great to watch when she's playing well.
― Roz, Wednesday, 4 November 2009 09:06 (3 years ago) Permalink
Malisse and Wickmayer banned for a year for not filling in two whereabouts and missing one doping test (Malisse) and not filling in three whereabouts (Wickmayer).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8345711.stm
― StanM, Friday, 6 November 2009 09:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
I kind of want to rename this thread "Who is James Blake losing to this week?" ;_;
― The Dance at the Crossroads (HI DERE), Friday, 6 November 2009 14:15 (3 years ago) Permalink
there's an up-and-coming dubstep producer called James Blake, lol.
the Wickmayer suspension is so fucked...she didn't even miss any tests. Surely she'll win her appeal though - when this case first came up, her argument that her password for the computer system to log her whereabouts failed (and then she wasn't at home to pick up the new one because hello, tennis players are always on tour) was backed up by IT records and the prosecutor recommended a warning, not a suspension. So this decision has to be down to jobsworthiness or politics. And looks particularly bad in the context of Gasquet and Agassi this year.
It was the Belgian doping authorities who nearly fucked Kuznetsova's career up a few years ago due to their idiocy, wasn't it? Hmmmm.
― lex pretend, Friday, 6 November 2009 14:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
So there's a sort of 2nd-division round-robin event this week in Bali for all the WTA tournament winners who didn't qualify for Doha? Who knew? Is this the first time they've done this? Bit like the old Ladies' Plate event at Wimbledon (won by Sue Barker one year), for first-round losers (well, not very much like that then).
― Michael Jones, Friday, 6 November 2009 14:59 (3 years ago) Permalink
Even worse than that - it's the International event winners only, ie the former Tier III/Tier IV minnie-mouse tournaments traditionally won by nonentity journeywomen. It's not a terrible field, and I like all four SFists a lot (Bartoli, Martinez Sanchez, Date-Krumm, Rezai) but honestly there was no demand for any sort of round-robin event featuring the likes of Medina Garrigues and Czink, no justification for the huge points on offer (600 for the winner!!!) and just no point at all.
Plus having clear and specific qualification criteria is no good if you're going to have arbitrary WCs as well. The WTA is such a poorly-run organisation.
― lex pretend, Friday, 6 November 2009 15:26 (3 years ago) Permalink
You may as well bring back for-TV invitational exhibition events with diamond-studded gold rackets as prizes (remember that Antwerp event Lendl always used to win?).
― Michael Jones, Friday, 6 November 2009 15:29 (3 years ago) Permalink
Not to mention that the biggest advantage of a four-groups-of-three RR system is that it can avoid any dead rubbers - and yet the WTA STILL manages to fuck this up with poor scheduling.
xp haha that was a WTA event for a while this decade - the diamond racket went to anyone who could win the tournament 3 times in five years, Mauresmo ended up winning it...
― lex pretend, Friday, 6 November 2009 15:30 (3 years ago) Permalink
Lendl did the 3-in-5-years thing between '81 and '85 (the '85 final vs McEnroe was live on ITV, bizarrely - I can still remember the score: 1-6 7-6 6-2 6-2) and last I heard Ivan's blingy racket was in some bank vault somewhere.
― Michael Jones, Friday, 6 November 2009 15:36 (3 years ago) Permalink
Venus won it twice and for a while it was about the only tour event that she'd be 100% cast-iron guaranteed to show up at.
― lex pretend, Friday, 6 November 2009 15:39 (3 years ago) Permalink
There was talk of bringing that diamond thing back in Antwerp now that local crowd and sponsor pullers Kim and Justine will be playing again but I don't know the latest news about this.
― StanM, Friday, 6 November 2009 16:21 (3 years ago) Permalink
I hope Marat goes out in a blaze of racket smashing glory later today although i would love to see him go on a run to the semi's or final before losing to Nadal or Fed. His final match ought to be against one of those guys.
― same dog, different leg action (Mr Raif), Wednesday, 11 November 2009 11:15 (3 years ago) Permalink
go out in style, marat.
video of him winning the USO in 2000...he was so beautiful then.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 11 November 2009 11:22 (3 years ago) Permalink
Marat a break down in the final set, looks like the end of the line
― same dog, different leg action (Mr Raif), Wednesday, 11 November 2009 13:39 (3 years ago) Permalink
a really sad way for my favorite player to go out, if that's the case. His run at wimbledon a couple years ago was great though
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 11 November 2009 13:46 (3 years ago) Permalink
It's all over :(
― same dog, different leg action (Mr Raif), Wednesday, 11 November 2009 14:00 (3 years ago) Permalink
:( :( :(
I've been out mountain climbing for the past week or so and was hoping to get back in time to catch Maratski's last match (against JMDP of all people - there's a nice symmetry there, two twenty year olds who toppled undeniable greats at the USO) and wouldn't you know it... just six hours late. :(
goodbye you crazy beautiful bastard.
― Roz, Wednesday, 11 November 2009 19:16 (3 years ago) Permalink
i missed it too, too much work :(
good to see he scrubbed up well for his farewell. would say "great career" except it was more about wasted talent, but at least he was ridiculously beautiful...except as often as not he wasted that too, with strange facial hair and such. loved him anyway.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 11 November 2009 19:29 (3 years ago) Permalink
yeah and the worst thing about it is that he had started looking really fantastic again over the past few months - not just looks-wise but even playing like he cares again. just wanting to make us miss him more, i suppose. gahhh.
― Roz, Wednesday, 11 November 2009 19:57 (3 years ago) Permalink
― Michael Jones, Friday, November 6, 2009 4:29 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark
December 9th, Antwerp: Kim Clijsters vs. Venus Williams.
http://www.thomascookdiamondgames.be/
― StanM, Saturday, 14 November 2009 19:36 (3 years ago) Permalink
Um, I don't think Yanina's 4 court cases against that 1 year ban will be over by then:
Schedule Thomas Cook Diamond Games7pm: Yanina Wickmayer - Patty Schnyder8.30pm: Music show (Milk Inc)9.30pm: Kim Clijsters - Venus Williams
― StanM, Saturday, 14 November 2009 19:40 (3 years ago) Permalink
exos aren't proper "competition", she'll be allowed to play unless the organiser disinvites her. she'd be wise to - they're paid hefty sums to play these and it looks like she won't have an income next year...
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 November 2009 19:47 (3 years ago) Permalink
According to the local press here she isn't allowed to play at exhibition matches.
― StanM, Saturday, 14 November 2009 19:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
They (Wickmayer and Malisse) have assembled a team of 7 lawyers, one of them Melchior Wathelet, the former minister of justice and top judge at the European Court of Justice, to appeal against the decision in four different courts.
― StanM, Saturday, 14 November 2009 19:54 (3 years ago) Permalink
really looking forward to reading agassi's memoir after that NYT piece
― k3vin k., Saturday, 14 November 2009 20:17 (3 years ago) Permalink
REALLY
Draw for the World Tour Finals (the WTFs) is out.
Group A: Federer, Murray, Del Potro, VerdascoGroup B: Nadal, Djokovic, Davydenko, Soderling (replacing Roddick who's injured)
Extra incentive to watch this year, as apparently not a single player's year-end ranking is safe. well except maybe Roger's, but Rafa can still finish no. 1 if Roger somehow loses badly in all 3 RR matches and Rafa goes on to win the title without dropping a single match (unlikely?). Fed-Murray/Murray-Delpo/Delpo-Fed matches should all be totally fun anyway, unless Delpo withdraws with that abdominal strain he got last week.
More interested in the real rivalry of '09, which is Nadal vs Djokovic - including the WTFs, they'll have played each other 7 times this year (and 21 in total, one more than the total number of Fed-Rafa career meetings! lol Fedal rivalry fail). Nadal won the first four of the year, Nole the last two. Djoko's also on a roll after winning Basel and Paris in the past two weeks, beating both Fed and Nadal on the way; and could well go to no. 2 if he wins the whole thing and Rafa loses at least two of his RR matches. OR Djokovic could fail miserably while Murray wins the whole thing and takes over no. 3. And so on and so forth.
also note that Rafa has lost to all three players in his half in their most recent meetings so i'm hoping he gets at least one revenge win there.
but tbh, given every player's current form, it's just as likely nothing will change at all - it's just fun to think that one or two matches could make the difference as no one in the top 9 really has a significant lead over their closest competitors. WTFs indeed.
― Roz, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 17:56 (3 years ago) Permalink
Well, bless my missus - she's only gone and got me a ticket for the Wednesday evening session as an anniversary present. (It's our 11th and her gift for our 1st was for the Blackrock Masters at the RAH - McEnroe, Leconte, Bahrami, etc). I have a horrible feeling I'm going to get the Bryan twins plus Davydenko-Soderling, but what the hell*. I lived in Greenwich for 18 months and never even went to the Dome, so this is a first.
(* - groups were drawn today so I assume the schedule follows tomorrow?)
― Michael Jones, Thursday, 19 November 2009 00:45 (3 years ago) Permalink
that's really sweet of your wife. congrats on the anniversary! :)
schedules for sunday and monday are out and yeah looks like group B will be playing wednesday, but if you're lucky you might get djoko-sod, kolya-nadal, or djoko-nadal rather than sod-kolya.
― Roz, Thursday, 19 November 2009 17:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
Click play.
The Bryan Brothers Band feat Novak Djokovic & Andy Murray - Autograph
I... have no words.
(can we start a tennis lols thread?)
― Roz, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 14:19 (3 years ago) Permalink
I was right about the Bryans and half-right about the singles - it's Nadal-Kolya, which suits me fine.
― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 16:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
Nadal/Kolya should be amazing, lucky you Mike. Predicting a Kolya win. I haven't had the time to even pay attention to this tournament let alone watch it yet, was going to get a ticket for today but am sooooo snowed under :(
I don't have the strength for Andy Murray rapping just now :/
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 16:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
haven't missed much lex - despite all the three set matches, it hasn't really been that fun except for Kolya-Nole yesterday and the last set of Delpo-Verdasco today. It must suck to be a Verdasco fan though. The guy can play fabulous tennis but when it comes to closing out tight matches, he always goes away in the last two minutes or so. it's so depressing.
you can save Muzz rap for after his match with Fed (trying to decide whose loss would be funnier - Fed's been trash-talking Murray in interviews lately, but Murray losing to Fed in London would be just... lol.)
― Roz, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 17:17 (3 years ago) Permalink
Murray currently alternating between dominating and double-faulting. Federer again with the weird errors. When they work up a good rally it is absolutely beautiful.
― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 21:45 (3 years ago) Permalink
Roger's forehand is all over the place. First set stats - 1 winner, 12 unforced errors. ;_;
― Roz, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 21:55 (3 years ago) Permalink
lol never mind one set later, it's 19 winners to 11 UFEs.
Amazing rallies in this match btw.
― Roz, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 22:26 (3 years ago) Permalink
Federer really starting to motor, up 3-1 in the 5th and...the BBC3 feed drops out. I mean, c'mon...it's not exactly being broadcast from the other side of the world.
― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 22:44 (3 years ago) Permalink
Wow, this is pretty poor.
― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 22:48 (3 years ago) Permalink
Oh hello.
― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 22:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
How insanely jealous am I that Michael is witnessing this amazing match live right now? Holy shit Kolya and Rafa...
― Roz, Wednesday, 25 November 2009 22:46 (3 years ago) Permalink
Great win for Kolya, expected him to win anyway. Those were some ridiculous rallies at the end of the set there.
― Roz, Wednesday, 25 November 2009 22:48 (3 years ago) Permalink
― nearly 50 in vagina years (onimo), Thursday, 26 November 2009 01:45 (3 years ago) Permalink
That was truly a great experience - what a venue. I was on the second row of the highest tier and had a fantastic view. The scale of the Dome is absurd - outside the arena but within the complex there's a cinema, restaurants, bars - and a funfair with a bloody rollercoaster.
Bryan/Bryan vs. Paes/Dlouhy - the twins just do everything right, don't they? Like robots in baseball caps. Dlouhy was all over the shop - sublime touch and then flubbed putaways, great pickups and dismal mistimes off 80mph second serves. 6-3 6-4 to the Yanks.
Nadal was getting crushed for the first half-hour - I don't think he won a single point off his second serve until well into the second set. The manner of his comeback though - saving five break-points at the beginning of the 2nd, eventually dropping serve, then roaring back to lead 5-4 - really got everyone involved. I doubt they've had a better atmos at the O2 this week. And the tie-breaker was sublime. Shame we didn't see a 3rd set but we may well have been into night bus territory by that point.
I didn't risk taking the DSLR (it would probably have been confiscated), so borrowed a friend's zoomy compact:
― Michael Jones, Thursday, 26 November 2009 02:15 (3 years ago) Permalink
Awesome.
― Roz, Thursday, 26 November 2009 13:38 (3 years ago) Permalink
Verdasco missed an easy volley a couple of games back and proceeded to hang himself over the net, then he got two or three net-courts in the tie break that he went on to win. Shouldn't the net have been measured/tensioned/whatever-it-is-they-do after he draped himself over it? Would a man putting his entire weight on the net be enough to loosen it up enough to turn faults into lets?
― nearly 50 in vagina years (onimo), Thursday, 26 November 2009 16:36 (3 years ago) Permalink
yeah they usually do correct the net - I thought it was weird they didn't.
BTW this match is fucking hilarity. Not sure how Murray managed to win the first set serving at 47% but he did. And then the same thing happened with Verdasco in the second and yet he still somehow managed to save like 10 break pts, and then Muzz goes ahead and DFs on set pt in the TB to bring the match to one set all.
It's like neither can decide who wants to play worse at the moment.
― Roz, Thursday, 26 November 2009 16:44 (3 years ago) Permalink
Ugh Verdasco is such a beautiful failure. Just once I'd like to see him gut out a deciding set TB.
― Roz, Thursday, 26 November 2009 17:56 (3 years ago) Permalink
Only a three-set win for Del Potro would leave the Scot's place in doubt, at which point it would come down to the percentage of games won by Murray, Federer and Del Potro.
So Federer and Del Potro can now work out the perfect scoreline between them to put Murray out? Nice :)
― nearly 50 in vagina years (onimo), Thursday, 26 November 2009 19:34 (3 years ago) Permalink
Get the calculators out, chaps - Fed has levelled.
― Michael Jones, Thursday, 26 November 2009 22:29 (3 years ago) Permalink
Murray: 44-43Del Potro (currently): 39-40Federer: 41-34
Federer is definitely through, even losing this set 0-6. Murray goes through with a Federer victory or any tight Delpy win (6-4, 7-5, 7-6). Delpy wins this set 6-3 or better and Murray is out.
― Michael Jones, Thursday, 26 November 2009 22:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
Fed had three break-points there to send Murray through. I think Andy M will trash his Holiday Inn suite if Fed drops serve here.
― Michael Jones, Thursday, 26 November 2009 22:57 (3 years ago) Permalink
0-40. The mini-bar is shakin'...
― Michael Jones, Thursday, 26 November 2009 22:59 (3 years ago) Permalink
Delpy serving for it, 30-0.
― Michael Jones, Thursday, 26 November 2009 23:02 (3 years ago) Permalink
So Federer and Del Potro can now work out the perfect scoreline between them to put Murray out? Nice :)― nearly 50 in vagina years (onimo), Thursday, 26 November 2009 19:34 Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
― nearly 50 in vagina years (onimo), Thursday, 26 November 2009 19:34 Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
see Germany vs Austria FIFA WC 1982
― nearly 50 in vagina years (onimo), Thursday, 26 November 2009 23:04 (3 years ago) Permalink
You reckon? Del Potro put a 112mph 2nd serve on the back-edge of the line to save break-point at 3-4. Sorry, no way.
― Michael Jones, Thursday, 26 November 2009 23:06 (3 years ago) Permalink
This tournament lives up to its acronym. Couldn't tell you how I much I was laughing when Fed double faulted to set up the BPs in that last game.
― Roz, Thursday, 26 November 2009 23:09 (3 years ago) Permalink
how much*
― Roz, Thursday, 26 November 2009 23:10 (3 years ago) Permalink
Murray's brother Jamie was an interested spectator at the O2 Arena
evidently.
I really have nothing to add, except 'lol'.
― FC Tom Tomsk Club (Merdeyeux), Friday, 27 November 2009 00:14 (3 years ago) Permalink
from the ATP twitter: Federer's games won/lost were 44-40, with Del Potro 45-43 and Murray 44-43. What a nailbiter!
Dayum. Conspiracy theorists can say whatever but with the numbers this close, I really doubt that they would've managed to work it out beforehand. It all came down to Fed winning that second set in the end.
JMDP was really, really lucky there. Or Murray was really, really unlucky.
― Roz, Friday, 27 November 2009 00:16 (3 years ago) Permalink
can't believe i'm only watching this for the first time - year-end champs in my own damn home town and probably the tournament i've followed least closely in the whole year. this week has been mental. didn't even know who'd qualified for the SF until today. pissed off that i seem to have missed a ton of great tennis, and insanely jealous of mike getting to go!
anyway, roger's in full on fed-error mode here. go king kolya!
― lex pretend, Saturday, 28 November 2009 14:52 (3 years ago) Permalink
Roger's been doing that in the first set in every match so far, before recovering beautifully in the second. He's doing it again now. :/
― Roz, Saturday, 28 November 2009 15:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
oh damn it Kolya.
― Roz, Saturday, 28 November 2009 15:45 (3 years ago) Permalink
This is great stuff now!
― Michael Jones, Saturday, 28 November 2009 16:15 (3 years ago) Permalink
whoo. kolya played so well to come back from 0-30 when serving at *4-5 in the third, after some outrageous genius from fed...
― lex pretend, Saturday, 28 November 2009 16:16 (3 years ago) Permalink
KOLYA BREAKS!
― lex pretend, Saturday, 28 November 2009 16:19 (3 years ago) Permalink
come on Kolya don't fuck this up now!
― Roz, Saturday, 28 November 2009 16:21 (3 years ago) Permalink
30-0 to 30-40... :/
― lex pretend, Saturday, 28 November 2009 16:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
FOREHAND! deuce!
WOOO!
― Roz, Saturday, 28 November 2009 16:26 (3 years ago) Permalink
:D
first win over fed for kolya, i believe.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 28 November 2009 16:27 (3 years ago) Permalink
Kolya's H2H vs Federer now: 1-12. :D
― Roz, Saturday, 28 November 2009 16:27 (3 years ago) Permalink
Magnificent last set. Fed looks devastated.
I wonder if Kolya will quote Vitas G in his post-match interview? "NO ONE beats Nikolay Davydenko thirteen times in a row!"
― Michael Jones, Saturday, 28 November 2009 16:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
only got to watch the final set but pony boy was fabulous there coming back from a break down and going on to play a superb TB.
More bad news for Murray, if Delpo goes on to win the title, he'll take over Muzz's spot at no. 4.
― Roz, Saturday, 28 November 2009 23:38 (3 years ago) Permalink
Mauresmo retired
I wish you well, you awesome burly headcase
― Huckabee Jesus lifeline (HI DERE), Thursday, 3 December 2009 14:47 (3 years ago) Permalink
:( I loved her, even though it was goddamn painful to watch her most of the time.
Enjoy that cellar full of red wine Momo!
― Roz, Thursday, 3 December 2009 15:26 (3 years ago) Permalink
memories of mauresmo:
so, justine's back! and drew petrova in her first match back - nadezhda obviously wasn't going to let her 94843948th chance to prove her uselessness pass, and accordingly fell in straight sets.
also, i'm not a fan of either wozniacki or azarenka, but their twitter banter to each other is pretty charming.
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 5 January 2010 09:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
i love this pic of nadia drawing justine's name during the draw ceremony. "Oh fuck me."
didn't she draw sharapova on her first match back as well? fact: tennis gods hate nadia petrova. to her credit though, her match against justine wasn't bad at all, she just choked at the end as she always does. about 300% better quality than the ivanovic-dokic match before anyway.
twitter is basically making me love all of the players I hate. :/ I should stop reading them.
― Roz, Tuesday, 5 January 2010 12:27 (3 years ago) Permalink
watching justine play for the first time in 2 years!! god i've missed that backhand. she's just taken the first set over sesil karatantcheva, stream at http://www.freedocast.com/forms/PopOut.aspx?sc=5320427231E3213D109B
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 6 January 2010 09:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
elsewhere, 39-year-old kimiko date-krumm has moved into the auckland QF w/victories over chakvetadze and razzano...
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 6 January 2010 09:51 (3 years ago) Permalink
Lex the Henin match is live on British Eurosport if you have it.
― () |\| | |\/| () (onimo), Wednesday, 6 January 2010 09:54 (3 years ago) Permalink
i don't any more :(
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 6 January 2010 10:03 (3 years ago) Permalink
this stream is pretty good though
well, that was fun! watched from 4-4 in the first set; when closing out the first set and coming back from 0-2 to 4-2 in the second, justine was ON SERIOUS FIYAH and it was gorgeous to watch. i think she's playing a lot more aggressively than she used to - lots of net rushes, esp off sesil's weak-ass second serve. some amazing down-the-line winners. from 4-2 to the end was a bit, uh, scrappier - some nasty shanked shots and she totally fucked up serving for the match. but i am very positive about this comeback now!
karatantcheva's ability to stay with henin in rallies was impressive - good anticipation, good pace and depth, but she often made a hash of more aggressive moves - though given henin's defensive skills you can't blame her. she fell apart towards the end and her serve was pretty woeful, though.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 6 January 2010 10:44 (3 years ago) Permalink
in other news, what the fuck is wrong with new zealand? http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/asb-classic-disrupted-protesters-3324955
the israeli govt is criticised around the world, which is fine, but at no other tournament has this meant personal harassment (for the second year running!) of a tennis player. those protestors need punches in the face. i'm not a fan of shahar peer and her ugly defensive game by any means, but i reaaally hope she wins the whole tournament now.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 6 January 2010 10:46 (3 years ago) Permalink
that whole bullshit makes me so angry - she's had to put up with so much crap just because she happens to be israeli. it's ridiculous. she's a 21yo female tennis player playing in an international tournament where she's not even representing her country or competing in support of her govt's policies. she's a professional athlete trying to do her job - what's so hard to get about that?
btw, joining kimiko date-krumm in the ancient stakes: Younes El Aynaoui, at 38, has just become the second-oldest male player to win a tour match since Connors in 1995.
― Roz, Wednesday, 6 January 2010 12:15 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=4800546
I am only posting this now-out-f-date story because OMG BLAKE WON A MTCH
― ah ah oh ooh ooh oh ah ah ah ah ah oh ah ah aha ooh (HI DERE), Wednesday, 6 January 2010 17:06 (3 years ago) Permalink
Could be a Clijsters vs Henin final in Brisbane - first one for 4 or 5 years?
― () |\| | |\/| () (onimo), Wednesday, 6 January 2010 18:00 (3 years ago) Permalink
pretty solid bet imo - sadly i don't think henin's solid or tuned-up enough to beat clijsters just yet though :(
she will doubtless avenge herself on one or more big stages this year though :)
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Wednesday, 6 January 2010 18:20 (3 years ago) Permalink
kim clijsters d. lucie safarova 6-1, 0-6, 6-4.
lol wta i have missed you
― Roz, Thursday, 7 January 2010 12:00 (3 years ago) Permalink
oh lucie :(
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 7 January 2010 12:13 (3 years ago) Permalink
soooooooo happy to be seeing Justine on TV again! And in my home town to boot, shame I don't live there anymore. I'm gonna pop into the Medibank International in Sydney next week and do some stalking and such though!
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Thursday, 7 January 2010 13:45 (3 years ago) Permalink
My favourite loser and Latvian #1, Ernests Gulbis took a set off Fed today. I'd just like to note that this is a significant achievement in his young career.
also hilarious match. I lol'd way too hard at the hawkeye challenges alone.
Roger in Fed-error mode + gulbis' eternal headcasey-ness = comical tennis.
― Roz, Thursday, 7 January 2010 19:29 (3 years ago) Permalink
Blake lost but at least it was to someone with a modicum of talent
― ah ah oh ooh ooh oh ah ah ah ah ah oh ah ah aha ooh (HI DERE), Thursday, 7 January 2010 19:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
4 out of 6 Sports Illustrated experts pick Blake as their "On his Last Legs" for 2010.
Of course, one of those "experts" also picked the guy who's never gotten past the second round of Wimbledon to *win* it this year so make of that what you will.
― Roz, Thursday, 7 January 2010 19:48 (3 years ago) Permalink
those predictions are a bit "throw a name at the wall, don't wait around to see if it sticks". one dude picks serena to win 3 slams and safina to win the other...yet also picks henin as player of the year? what? also, picking vaidisova, who fell out of the top 150 last summer, as "on her last legs" strikes me as more than slightly behind the times
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 7 January 2010 19:55 (3 years ago) Permalink
and picking roddick as breakthrough player seems to indicate a failure to understand the concept of "breakthrough player"
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 7 January 2010 19:57 (3 years ago) Permalink
It's somewhat encouraging that Blake took a set off of Monfils, but then I remember that it's Monfils, who sometimes decides that the best strategy for his game is to hit balls as far out as he can possibly get them in a baffling attempt to confuse his opponents into bouts of incapacitated laughter.
― ah ah oh ooh ooh oh ah ah ah ah ah oh ah ah aha ooh (HI DERE), Thursday, 7 January 2010 19:57 (3 years ago) Permalink
xpost I know right? jon weirtheim's picks are prob the only reliable ones, but then he is SI's resident tennis expert. SL Price used to do okay coverage but these days, he's just way too in love with those guys who came up with Fed - Safin, Roddick, Hewitt et al. The rest are just crazy talk.
― Roz, Thursday, 7 January 2010 20:03 (3 years ago) Permalink
okay that was massively funny reading
"breakthrough" clearly means something different to me than it does to some of these guys
― ah ah oh ooh ooh oh ah ah ah ah ah oh ah ah aha ooh (HI DERE), Thursday, 7 January 2010 20:05 (3 years ago) Permalink
monfils is a funny one. he can never seem to decide between dumb ball-bashing and passive pushing, either. it's so frustrating that he STILL stands 5 million miles behind the baseline so often - whenever he comes in a bit more he's so good. i think he'd rather coast along and be the crowd-pleasing, entertaining sort than push himself to be a real elite player.
i'm so annoyed i'm going to have to do these myself, even though some of the questions are dumb and making any predictions in the first week of the year is a fool's game
How many Slams will Federer win? - oneWhich Andy will win a major? - murrayShould the U.S. Open add a roof? - yes, but it should probably sort out its dumb-ass final week schedule firstPlayer of the Year - nadalBreakthrough Player - cilicOn His Last Legs - ferreroMost Curious About - nishikoriYear-End Top Five - nadal, murray, djokovic, federer, davydenkoAustralian Open - murrayRoland Garros - nadalWimbledon - federerUS Open - djokovic
Will Serena be suspended in 2010? - wtf, noWill Henin crack the Top 5? - duh, yesHigher year-end ranking: Melanie Oudin or Ana Ivanovic? - lol, ivanovic, but neither will be impressivePlayer of the Year - heninBreakthrough Player - lisickiOn Her Last Legs - schnyderMost Curious About - jankovicYear-End Top Five - henin, clijsters, serena, azarenka, jankovicAustralian Open - serenaRoland Garros - heninWimbledon - heninUS Open - serena
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 7 January 2010 20:11 (3 years ago) Permalink
Most Curious About - nishikori
OTM!
― ah ah oh ooh ooh oh ah ah ah ah ah oh ah ah aha ooh (HI DERE), Thursday, 7 January 2010 20:12 (3 years ago) Permalink
actually in the women's i'm most curious about robson - she had some really poor senior results last year! ditto larcher de brito, but i'd rather not think about her.
nishikori had such bad luck with injuries in 09 and fell out of the top 200 - would love to see if he can work his way back and get back on track.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 7 January 2010 20:19 (3 years ago) Permalink
glad to see i'm not the only one who was doing that in my head. agree with most of your picks except my top 5 ATP were: Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray, Delpo; Murray to win the AO, Rafa to win RG and Wimby, Fed/Nole to win USO.
Top 5 WTA: Clijsters, Henin, Serena, Jankovic, Sveta
Slams: Clijsters, Henin, Henin, Serena
Laura Robson's been losing her matches at the Hopman Cup but she looks like she's gonna grow into a very good player. Huge if unreliable serve, good groundstrokes, good head.
― Roz, Thursday, 7 January 2010 20:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
sorry good head sounded wrong lol. i just mean that she seems to be pretty mentally tough.
― Roz, Thursday, 7 January 2010 20:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
i kind of think del potro will have a bit of a sophomore slump - most male players who win slams that young do - maybe not a drastic one, but i think a few wtf losses are in his future this year. a fair few post-USO kiss-and-tells have been emerging out of argentina, too. (jealous!)
robson seems to play way better on the main tour, but some of her challenger losses last year...
xp haha
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 7 January 2010 20:29 (3 years ago) Permalink
dish! i haven't heard anything except that he's been announcing that he's single and looking to anyone who'd listen. I think he thinks a Slam winner should have a permanent WAG, aw.
also i just noticed your username and loooooooool nice one.
― Roz, Thursday, 7 January 2010 20:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
kudos, first to get it!
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 7 January 2010 20:40 (3 years ago) Permalink
here, lex pretend: ليخ فريتينض
it's not quite accurate though because there aren't any real equivalents to "e" and "x" in the arabic alphabet so it's more like "likh pritind". :)
― Roz, Thursday, 7 January 2010 20:50 (3 years ago) Permalink
amazing. will save for future use...
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 7 January 2010 20:56 (3 years ago) Permalink
lynx?
US Open - djokovic
i dont have a lot of faith in his game tbh in fact i can see this being a discouraging year for him
― Lamp, Friday, 8 January 2010 02:44 (3 years ago) Permalink
― Roz, Friday, 8 January 2010 06:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
awwwww
― spiny doughboy (baaderonixx), Friday, 8 January 2010 08:39 (3 years ago) Permalink
it's funny that wozniacki was the one who gave in eventually. obviously.
saw the first set of henin/ivanovic last night before falling asleep - justine made ana look like a joke. after a while, ana just joined in with that. all i could think while watching was, how the fuck did you ever win a slam and get to no 1. (ah that's right, because justine "retired"!)
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 8 January 2010 09:45 (3 years ago) Permalink
KOLYA! ruining my dreams of a Fedal final. Oh well, Rafa would've crushed Fed anyway, this is a much better matchup.
But in troubling news, the commies suggested that Fed may have tweaked his wrist, which wouldn't surprise me at all given how hard Gulbis was hitting to him yesterday. And he really did look uncomfortable today. As in, worse than usual Fed-error mode. I just hope he'll be okay once the AO starts.
― Roz, Friday, 8 January 2010 16:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
king kolya! :)
idk i know i predicted federer to win wimbledon this year but it wouldn't surprise me if he went slamless. i mean...he kind of backed into RG and wimbledon last year! a month before RG he looked washed up! and now he's got the 15...
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 8 January 2010 19:57 (3 years ago) Permalink
it wouldn't surprise me either honestly. I'm more curious to see if this is the year his ridiculous semi-finals streak gets broken!
― Roz, Friday, 8 January 2010 20:05 (3 years ago) Permalink
unless he gets ambushed by someone random, or injury, i don't think so...even murray and djokovic, who beat him regularly in tour events, haven't learnt to do it in slams yet, apart from djokovic once. (that said i think this is the year they learn.) those two + nadal + del potro and davydenko are the only five players i can even imagine beating him in a slam - like even give a chance, not even favour - and he wouldn't ever meet 3 of them before the SF, so...
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 8 January 2010 20:13 (3 years ago) Permalink
I still have this ridiculous idea/hope that Fed can do a calendar year Grand Slam; this is the last year he could possibly do it, I think (he was only a few points away last year, to be fair). Nadal is back at something like his best then? Because in London a few weeks ago he played like a decent top-20 scrapper, out of his depth.
― Michael Jones, Friday, 8 January 2010 20:23 (3 years ago) Permalink
hahaha yeah - hearing lex and roz talking like fed is vulnerable im like... COLON LEFT BRACKET
Oh well, Rafa would've crushed Fed anyway, this is a much better matchup.
this is what i get for sleeping the eoy tournaments! last time i saw footage of nadal he was still very tentative and nowhere near his 08 level.
― Lamp, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:32 (3 years ago) Permalink
yeah i dunno guys, Haas came so close to beating Fed at RG last year, and Soderling nearly pushed him to a fifth set at the USO QFs, and this was with Fed playing better than he has been in the past week and throughout the indoor season. i feel like an upset could def happen if he ran into someone with a habit of suddenly getting on fire, like a tsonga or a gonzo in say, the fourth round or the QFs.
but of course, the tough part is that anyone who wants to beat Fed probably needs to do it in straights because you just know the longer a match goes on, the higher the odds favour Fed.
re Nadal: yep playing much better. should've really beaten troicki 6-1 6-1 today - got a little ahead of himself serving out the match but it was still very much a one-sided affair. he's remembered how to play on hard court and i think the davis cup win at the end of last year did wonders for his confidence.
― Roz, Friday, 8 January 2010 21:51 (3 years ago) Permalink
Is Laura Robson is getting more out of the Hopman Cup experience than Andy Murray? Murray supposedly skipped a defence in Doha to get three guaranteed matches in Perth but he's won them all so easily it's barely been a workout. Robson's lost hers, as expected, but it'll be a while before she plays people of this calibre again. They've won all their mixed and they're in the final!
― Michael Jones, Friday, 8 January 2010 22:54 (3 years ago) Permalink
It'll prob be useful for her when she plays the AO qualies next. she beat MJMS today while Andy lost his singles match in three against Robredo, and now Andy's continuing to be useless while Robson's outhitting Robredo from the baseline! I think I love her.
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 07:40 (3 years ago) Permalink
Kim vs Justine is on. Hurrah. First impression after five games is that Clijsters is playing a bit better but is chucking in a few errors that is making the games go closer than they need to and robbed her of a break.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 09:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
Oh Justine, double faults.. less good.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 09:36 (3 years ago) Permalink
oh dear down a set and two breaks.
looking up at Carlos. just like old times...
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 10:14 (3 years ago) Permalink
Now zero breaks. What a terrible run of games from Clijsters. As if she's forgotten the ball needs to land inside the lines.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 10:23 (3 years ago) Permalink
looooool 4-1 up to lose it 4-6. Epic choking Kim.
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 10:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
Lololol, that was practically a 0-6 set with a brief introduction on it.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 10:37 (3 years ago) Permalink
Women's tennis, eh.
like nothing's changed. :')
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 10:40 (3 years ago) Permalink
terrible officiating in this match - why hasn't brisbane splashed out some dough for hawkeye yet?
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 10:55 (3 years ago) Permalink
Yeah, definitely. Even the commentators are pointing it out (correctly). Shame, as the game has just re-sprung into life. as a result!
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:00 (3 years ago) Permalink
the momentum swings in this match is ridiculous - clijsters wins her first game out of 8 and suddenly she's broken back and leveled up.
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:02 (3 years ago) Permalink
Zomg wtf, Clijsters was just hiting the ball so ridiculously hard and then flubbed the smash on the tape.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:07 (3 years ago) Permalink
And that was to go down a (presumably decisive) break.
or not...
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:10 (3 years ago) Permalink
Wow. This is ridiculous now. Henin is probably wishing she hadn't stood so close to the net there.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:11 (3 years ago) Permalink
WOMEN'S. TENNIS.
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:12 (3 years ago) Permalink
It's a small tournament, something like $200k total prize money. Presumably Hawkeye would have wiped that out.
― () |\| | |\/| () (onimo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:12 (3 years ago) Permalink
Two match points saved! Maybe I've watched too much men's tennis which is filled with players who take an eternity to serve the bloody ball, but I think Kim's charging through the points a little quickly.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:15 (3 years ago) Permalink
5-5! I need to find a stream of this...
― Michael Jones, Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:16 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://www.atdhe.net/7635/watch-wta-brisbane
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:17 (3 years ago) Permalink
You've just missed a love service game from Henin which included Clijsters doing the splits as she often does.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:18 (3 years ago) Permalink
xposts things like hawkeye are what sponsors are for. I worked at the even smaller tournament in KL and we had hawkeye. it's the tournament director's job to secure enough funding for the best tourney possible.
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:19 (3 years ago) Permalink
Four backhand errors that game. Atypical for Justine. And this is a tie-break.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:22 (3 years ago) Permalink
Mini-break to Kim. But not over yet, there's a little part of me that kind of expects one of them to reveal that they're actually Elena Dementieva wearing a mask.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
Gah, can't get any feeds to work. Looks like this is all over... 2nd-serve ace for 5-1 for KC?
― Michael Jones, Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
Not yet. But probably. 5-3 now.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:29 (3 years ago) Permalink
6-3.
6-4...
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:30 (3 years ago) Permalink
looked in
― () |\| | |\/| () (onimo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:31 (3 years ago) Permalink
Oh drama! Clijsters thought she'd won but her ball which was very close got called out at the last minute. Very very close.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:31 (3 years ago) Permalink
zomg wtf drop shot!
6-6!
― Michael Jones, Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:32 (3 years ago) Permalink
And a good one too but Henin hit an awesome angle there.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:32 (3 years ago) Permalink
Oh dear, a double fault from Justine - she's been hitting those on all the wrong points.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
wow
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:34 (3 years ago) Permalink
Wow, that was kinda epic. I mean it was junk from 4-1 in the second set, but then back to life and it's a shame that some of the dodgiest calling came during some of the best play. I loved the look of Kim's game when she was just smacking the shit out of the ball.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:34 (3 years ago) Permalink
Ah, that's that. Well, I didn't see any of it but I suspect we'll get a few all-Belgian finals this year.
― Michael Jones, Saturday, 9 January 2010 11:34 (3 years ago) Permalink
that was an enjoyable match! apart from, like, the ending. kim's epic choke was hilarious after she completely dominated the first half of the match, some of justine's play in the third set was exhilarating but not her inability to execute when trying to close it out. her closing has been rather unimpressive this week actually, hopefully that's something she'll get back into the swing of. those double faults ughhh.
v likely serena/justine match as early as the second round next week! if justine gets past martinez sanchez...
eh, winning doha didn't do murray much good when it came to the AO last year - may as well try switching his preparation up, with less pressure but still guaranteed multiple matches.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Saturday, 9 January 2010 12:01 (3 years ago) Permalink
so Rafa would've just crushed anyone then. has just bageled Kolya. O_O
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 16:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
ok scratch that - pretend that first set didn't exist and this was basically the best men's match i've seen since... Kolya-Djokovic in Shanghai? Just beautiful angles and shotmaking.
And KOLYA! Amazing comeback. *in awe*
Two tournaments in a row now where he's beaten both Nadal and Fed on the way to the title.
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 18:37 (3 years ago) Permalink
how did u guyz watch this stuff - is it broadcast in the uk?
― Lamp, Saturday, 9 January 2010 20:10 (3 years ago) Permalink
it's broadcast here in malaysia, but you can always try atdhe.net, livescorehunter.com or fromsport.com - these places usually have loads of live streams.
― Roz, Saturday, 9 January 2010 20:27 (3 years ago) Permalink
Pretty bleak day in Sydney and I was too pov to get tickets to centre court (well, I could have but I didn't really care who was on, my friend I went with IS broke..) so just got a ground pass. Gasquet v POTITO STARACE was good fun! Starace was hitting some gorgeous backhand passing shorts but Gasquet served really well and looked really calm - whereas Starace was a veritable "La Linea" by comparison (and with white lines on a blue court, kind of looked like it too) yelling out oaths left right and centre, especially because he blew the second set tie-break and he knew it.
Then saw Benneteau vs Leonardo Mayer, a new name to me, and one I don't know that we'll be hearing again. Terrible match, really, Mayer has a crap serve and no real weapons at all and Benneteau charged out to a big lead, surrendered a break but was in control for most of the first set, then had two lapses - going down a break, then getting it back in fine style, then playing an iffy tie-breaker to lose before realising that he's not completely rubbish and bagelled in the last set.
Then some fun doubles, tho less so because Aspeli, one of the players, was clearly being carried by Paul Hanley, his partner whereas Huss and Ball were a much better and slightly more even team - Huss hit some sweet angles with the volleys and overall this was great fun to watch, though not as fun as last year, and srsly the no-deuce thing is totally shit.
The umpire in the Mayer/Benneteau match was great, though I can't explain why, it was just the way he said the scores, he was really getting into it... like 00-15 was like "Whoa, you're gonna break serve", such was the enthusiasm.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Thursday, 14 January 2010 07:38 (3 years ago) Permalink
In honour of the vanquished:
http://www.furanes.net/images/potito.jpg
And Gasquet, teasing me with his ass:
http://www.furanes.net/images/gasquet.jpg
(cropped to hide the fact that my action shots were shit)
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Thursday, 14 January 2010 10:48 (3 years ago) Permalink
shame that mayer's no good - he's had some interesting results over the past year.
silliams/caravane sounded like a good match! have high hopes that caravane may be coming into her own this year. she's not the fastest player, but her ballstriking ability is fearsome.
i also find it hilarious that 39-year-old mrs. krumm managed to beat petrova and take azarenka to a 7-5 final set.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 14 January 2010 11:00 (3 years ago) Permalink
Diva vs Silliams is on now. Diva is UP A BREAK! Let's get excited and pretend that a) such things are significant in women's tennsi, and b) Diva is someone else entirely.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Friday, 15 January 2010 09:41 (3 years ago) Permalink
oh dementieva, peaking before the slam as usual. let's enjoy this now as she's prob going to lose to Henin in the second round of AO (draw out this morning).
― Roz, Friday, 15 January 2010 09:45 (3 years ago) Permalink
Diva won the first set! Not on her own serve obv.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Friday, 15 January 2010 10:08 (3 years ago) Permalink
Diva's serving fine, btw, and just hit a lovely ace!
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Friday, 15 January 2010 10:22 (3 years ago) Permalink
Also hyper-partisan TV commentators need to stop making excuses for Silliams already. 6-3 3-0.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Friday, 15 January 2010 10:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
I mean OK, Serena's playing shit, but still, nobody puts asterisks on Serena's wins when she gets it because some scrub or Russian chokes against her, it's unfair that people keep doing the converse.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Friday, 15 January 2010 10:26 (3 years ago) Permalink
reprise of last year coming up, then?
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 15 January 2010 10:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
ok lol @ those two "smashes" from serena. she just wasn't even trying to put them away.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 15 January 2010 10:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
Seems so. Serena IS sore and not moving well but she's also hitting badly, so, meh.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Friday, 15 January 2010 10:36 (3 years ago) Permalink
serena couldn't have given less of a shit about that. sad!
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 15 January 2010 10:46 (3 years ago) Permalink
Shame she's due to play Justine so early. Lovely backhands this game.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Friday, 15 January 2010 10:48 (3 years ago) Permalink
GRR COMMENTATORS mentioning Silliams' high unforced error rate. "Well, really, they're forced errors because she has a knee injury so she was trying to end the points more quickly, so went for her shots more." = THIS IS STILL AN UNFORCED ERROR.
― i left my hat in tokyo (edwardo), Friday, 15 January 2010 10:50 (3 years ago) Permalink
took a look at the men's draw for indian wells & im kinda pysched. henin looked good as well
― super hot old dudes (Lamp), Thursday, 11 March 2010 20:52 (3 years ago) Permalink
charity exo Hit for Haiti on now w/ Henin, Davenport, Graf and Navratilova, dudes - Fed, Sampras, Nadal and Agassi - coming on later. should be fun.
― Roz, Saturday, 13 March 2010 03:53 (3 years ago) Permalink
(btw Henin... Dulko?!)
― Roz, Saturday, 13 March 2010 04:39 (3 years ago) Permalink
My CPU, fed many results, suggests we should possibly keep an eye on Claudia Giovine of Italy.
If Google translates correctly, it appears she is the cousin of Flava Flav Pennetta btw.
― anatol_merklich, Sunday, 14 March 2010 12:39 (3 years ago) Permalink
helloo Mario Ancic. got mono, went to law school, got mono again, got hot(ter).
― Roz, Monday, 15 March 2010 22:34 (3 years ago) Permalink
lol @ djokovic. lol @ this tournament so far really!
hope lex watched ag rad beat the girl who beat henin 6-1 6-0
― no chapo (Lamp), Tuesday, 16 March 2010 05:31 (3 years ago) Permalink
i haven't seen any of this tournament, the results have been hilarious though. clijsters going up 4-0 in the deciding TB vs kleybanova, then losing 7 straight points? sweta losing her opener, then tweeting "fuck the haters" and "only god can jurge [sic] me"? ivanovic losing her opener and falling out of the top 50? li somehow losing to elena fricking baltacha?!
and the sampras/agassi rivalry extending to "who's the biggest douche", too - loved how roger and rafa just stood there looking completely baffled at these two old men acting out.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Tuesday, 16 March 2010 14:57 (3 years ago) Permalink
i guess agassi won the biggest-douche competition, sampras unsurprisingly missing a humour trick by failing to make a roids joke
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Tuesday, 16 March 2010 14:58 (3 years ago) Permalink
ha see, I think Sampras won the biggest douche competition (as he did when they were still active pros OH SNAP) by failing to have a sense of humor
― smoking cigarette shades? it doesn't even make any sense. (HI DERE), Tuesday, 16 March 2010 14:59 (3 years ago) Permalink
yeah when he couldn't think of anything to say or do except aim a serve at andre like some neanderthal, that was so typical. but he could've made a meth/roids joke and didn't! open goal missed.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Tuesday, 16 March 2010 15:02 (3 years ago) Permalink
also loved fed going "PLEASE SAY SOMETHING RAFA"
That was fairly uncomfortable viewing. Agassi doing the roast/variety-show banter and Pete completely not getting it. Sampras probably thought of a drugs joke and figured that would've sent the whole shebang well over the line into unpleasantness. Bit like seeing Joe Bugner or someone have the piss ripped out of them by some club comic in the '70s and getting a mock uppercut in response.
― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 16 March 2010 15:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
it was sooo awkward. i watched the whole thing and the mood completely changed after that happened.
sveta's twitter is a lol-goldmine btw - love her so much.
and nicole vaidisova has just announced she's retiring. at age 20. to marry Radek "the sex" Stepanek. :/
― Roz, Tuesday, 16 March 2010 16:51 (3 years ago) Permalink
oh nicole. :/ indeed. also dudes like 35 or smthn?
lex if its around parts of the sharapova/zheng match were really good! other parts were... less so.
― no chapo (Lamp), Tuesday, 16 March 2010 18:48 (3 years ago) Permalink
nicole :/
though tbh this makes no concrete difference to anything at all really, she may as well have been retired for the past year. and you just know she'll do a comeback in two years, after the divorce, and it'll probably go much the same way as dokic's and lucic's (1% results that hark back to her glory days, 99% first round losses). i really think i'm going to put some £££ on that.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Tuesday, 16 March 2010 19:52 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=5001478
^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^
I don't dislike Federer at all but this is making me super happy.
― smoking cigarette shades? it doesn't even make any sense. (HI DERE), Wednesday, 17 March 2010 14:07 (3 years ago) Permalink
boo. I liked the dude a lot once but then i was unfortunate enough to have met him while working at the KL tourney last year and, without getting into details, the guy was basically a douuuccchheee.
Not a surprising result though, he's been slowly climbing back into form and Fed's been shanking forehands all week.
― Roz, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 14:20 (3 years ago) Permalink
Watching some of that Aga/Nada vs. Fed/Sam joke match right now. Nice to do spmething like this every once in a while
Nadal has a semifinal game today right?
― CaptainLorax, Saturday, 20 March 2010 18:46 (3 years ago) Permalink
sad to hear baghdatis's genial persona doesn't hold up IRL.
yeah it's nadal/ljubicic and roddick/soderling today.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Saturday, 20 March 2010 18:53 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://www.tennis.com/spotlight/2010_03_25_sony_ericsson/index.aspx?photo=01
lol at many of these
― ALLAH! *rolls on floor* (HI DERE), Friday, 26 March 2010 17:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
not that often I have something nice to say about Andy Roddick but I'm liking him today. His comments on Wayne Odesnik, who was caught smuggling HGH into Australia:
Q. Sorry to be a rally killer, but I wanted to hear your comments and thoughts on Wayne Odesnik.ANDY RODDICK: If he pled guilty, which it looks like he did, there's nothing worse than that. I'm normally the one to give people the benefit of the doubt.If that's the case, what we read today, that's just plain cheating and they should throw him out of tennis. There's just no room for it. I don't... I was shocked. I was surprised. You know, we don't need stories like that. You know, I know that's the minority. If that's the case, I have zero sympathy.
Q. Your feelings are just as strong even though it was a possession and not a positive test?ANDY RODDICK: If you have a possession, you know you're not supposed to have it. You're not supposed to be anywhere near it. You're not supposed to know about it. You're not supposed to smuggle it into a country. If you have I mean, if you caught your sons or daughters and they possessed some type of drug, they're guilty of probably using, as well, correct? You know, I don't see the difference. If you have it and it's not enough to you either have it to sell it or you have it to take it. So either way, it's not the play. It's no good. Q. How well did you know him?ANDY RODDICK: I know Wayne a little bit. I mean, I wouldn't say we're friends. He used to train in Austin sometimes. You know, I don't think we ever really did much together. But it's just normally when this has happened in tennis it's been someone that is like I don't really know at all. To have it be one of our guys and for us to lose a guy in the top 100, it makes me a little angry, you know. I don't you know, I don't want that stigma attached to our country and to our players, so it really pisses me off. Q. That's the thing, the average person sees this in the paper tomorrow and they think...ANDY RODDICK: That's what makes me angry. We have the most in your articles that you will write, I hope that they're at least researched to the point where we have the most stringent drug testing policies in sports. We're up there with the Olympics. We can't take Sudafed because something will come up. We have to be accountable for where we are I have to send in my forms next week to tell people where I'm gonna be for the next month every single day. If my wife and I want to drive for a day trip somewhere, I have to call in and say, We're going here, here, and here and provide an address. So I hope with the articles that they will at least acknowledge that. The ATP and the powers that be in tennis have done every single thing possible, you know, with the exception of assigning a person to follow each person around 24 hours a day and sleep with the person, to mitigate these problems, you know.
Q. So you do not think there is a problem in the sport?ANDY RODDICK: I don't see how there can be. I mean, unless everybody's packing vials of stuff in their bags and smuggling it into countries, which I don't God, I have a hard time believing that, you know. You know, I think HGH is the one in every sport where I hope they come up with a test and I hope they start just slamming guys. I hope when they do come up with a test for it they don't tell anybody and they just implement it and start picking people off.
Q. There actually is a test, Andy, but it's not used in tennis.ANDY RODDICK: Well, the sooner the better. I think they should use it everywhere. You know, I just hope that I wouldn't be surprised if there is a test out there that we're gonna be the first to come fly with it. I hope we do. I hope this will move it. There's no room for it. We don't need it. We don't need that stigma. I take a lot of pride in what we have to do on a daily basis and how responsible we have to be for, one lack of a better word for one jackass to ruin it for the rest of us.
― Roz, Saturday, 27 March 2010 14:06 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=5047894
<3 Cake:
Now 19-1 this year, Venus is bidding for her third consecutive title after winning at Dubai and Acapulco in February. She's dominating while Serena has been sidelined with a left knee injury since winning the Australian Open two months ago.The knee must be better, judging from the shoes she wore while watching the semifinal from the front row."She looked really amazing," Bartoli said. "I said to her, 'It's not fair you're dressing up so nicely. I'm going to watch more what you're wearing than the ball.' ... She had a red dress and some really, really, really high-heel shoes, maybe something like 14 inches."I think she can manage to walk pretty well. I think from wearing those kind of shoes, you don't feel that much pain in your knees."
The knee must be better, judging from the shoes she wore while watching the semifinal from the front row.
"She looked really amazing," Bartoli said. "I said to her, 'It's not fair you're dressing up so nicely. I'm going to watch more what you're wearing than the ball.' ... She had a red dress and some really, really, really high-heel shoes, maybe something like 14 inches.
"I think she can manage to walk pretty well. I think from wearing those kind of shoes, you don't feel that much pain in your knees."
― STAY ALIVE USING EQUIPMENT (HI DERE), Friday, 2 April 2010 13:37 (3 years ago) Permalink
sweta's twitter has become a goldmine of legendarily baffling stuff http://twitter.com/SvetlanaK27
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Wednesday, 14 April 2010 13:14 (3 years ago) Permalink
I hAve bold by made by givory!nice one))) 8:15 PM Apr 10th via Twitter for BlackBerry®
All expencive cars I have so many,ppl will thik I m spoiled 6:32 PM Apr 10th via Twitter for BlackBerry®
I m in love with carsssss!i have a big garage!so anyone wants to give me some feel more then welcome!)))) 4:33 PM Apr 10th via web
i got stoped for speeding((((( i was racing a litle bit)))) by the way -i won!))))) 8:35 PM Apr 7th via web
Happy Eastern to everyone! 4:12 AM Apr 4th via web
if u see me with a bruce on my forehead a size of my head!who is following me would know from where i got it !heheheh 12:29 AM Mar 21st via web
i want to fly to cosmos ...what do u think??? 5:34 AM Mar 14th via web
# i m russian so what> 4:35 AM Mar 14th via web
guys i dont drink just for info! 4:22 AM Mar 14th via web
all u are the best best off all!god is the jurge! 4:21 AM Mar 14th via web
gusy u r geate ll who are not haters! before i didnt understand who was haers but now im~! 4:20 AM Mar 14th via web
only god is our jurge! thia is my tatoo and its true guys,no one can jurge no one so relaxxxxxx 2:06 AM Mar 14th via web
i love all kind of music,from rapers i love snoop,50 and T.I those guys are the best for me!i like rihana as well ,mary J.Blige,ne-yo,pitbul3:10 AM Mar 8th via mobile web
what on earth does she think parentheses do grammatically?!
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Wednesday, 14 April 2010 13:19 (3 years ago) Permalink
i love all kind of music,from rapers
o rly
― don't you steal my Sunstein (HI DERE), Wednesday, 14 April 2010 22:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
my favourite tennis player gets her biggest cheer of an astoundingly pathetic final performance:
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Monday, 19 April 2010 08:04 (3 years ago) Permalink
love the court-side sofas!
― i would just like to point out that i have been antimony on this thread (onimo), Monday, 19 April 2010 10:41 (3 years ago) Permalink
Hey ILX tennis fans...so I have a decent passing knowledge of the tennis stars of the day, but I'm trying to set up a little kids TV film for Wimbledon this year and given the likelihood that obvious choices don't come through for me, I wondered if any of you had any suggestions about top players that are weird/funny/chatty/interesting in a way that appeals to kids?
Basically if there's two venn diagrams and one is SUCCESSFUL AND TALENTED and the other is FUNNY AND GOOD HUMOURED we'd want someone in the intersection!
Any thoughts?
― Ronan, Friday, 30 April 2010 10:10 (3 years ago) Permalink
serena williams, definitely. she pretty much comes across as an overgrown toddler 50% of the time anyway. andy roddick ditto.novak djokovic was nicknamed the djoker for a reason, though he seems to have toned it down of late.jelena jankovic does her eurotrash-lady-gaga thing pretty well.nikolay davydenko and svetlana kuznetsova both come across as super-dour on court but have reputations as being two of the funniest characters around off court.kim clijsters and caroline wozniacki will both do the i'm-so-nice-my-favourite-hobby-is-visiting-sick-children-in-hospital thing if that's what you're after.i get the impression gael monfils would be super-fun in a setting like this, also francesca schiavone.flavia pennetta is terrific fun though this mostly seems to centre around her regaling audiences with tales of shagging atp players in the physio room, locker room, anywhere and everywhere on a tournament site, so maybe not totally child-friendly.all of those are current top 20 players. dmitry tursunov is ALWAYS good for a laugh though he's fallen out of the top 100, so i'm not sure how available he'd be (he's a former top 20 player though) -
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 30 April 2010 10:23 (3 years ago) Permalink
oh and i'm pretty sure roger & rafa would be tremendously professional, if not funny, but their sheer level of success and legendary status would appeal to any child.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 30 April 2010 10:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
yeah we defo would love someone like roger/rafa but chances of them doing it fairly slim...
either way the plus side of this is I get paid to go to wimbledon for a few days this year! :)
― Ronan, Friday, 30 April 2010 10:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Tuesday, March 16, 2010 3:02 PM (1 month ago) Bookmark
He should have brought up Streisand IMO.
― Matt Armstrong, Friday, 30 April 2010 10:34 (3 years ago) Permalink
jealz! u know where to come if u need a freelancer innit.
laura robson might be a good choice actually, she seems to be quite funny and game for a laugh.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 30 April 2010 10:36 (3 years ago) Permalink
on the mens side lex is right djokovic is the obv choice but monfils is goofy/lol in an appealing way. and roddick is kind of a douche but hes got a good (if sarcastic) sense of humor & can be really funny.
i also think mikhail youzhny is hilarious but im not sure this is a widely shared opinion
― midcentury Modern (Lamp), Friday, 30 April 2010 14:22 (3 years ago) Permalink
I hate him but the kids would like Roddick, doubly so if they've never watched a tennis match amirite?
You know, I'm a Stosur skeptic. But her match against Na Li was downright brilliant. Maybe she deserves to rise up to #9. Barely a mistake in sight. Not sure what Li's claycourt credentials are but I guess those flat strokes are more hard-court weapons.
Henin vs Ivanovic is terrible.
― try sleeping with a broken hat (edwardo), Friday, 30 April 2010 17:13 (3 years ago) Permalink
Apparently Stosur's Charleston performance was really, really outstandingly brilliant. idk, who'd have ever thought a couple of years ago that the woman would magically learn how to hit groundstrokes rather than framing them 5 miles out all the time?
Only saw the last few games of Henin vs Jankovic - was impressed by how disciplined and calm JJ is being. Could be her first win over Justine in 10 tries.
SimO_Ona of the formerly-gigantic breasts has reached her first WTA final in Morocco, btw.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 30 April 2010 17:22 (3 years ago) Permalink
(last few games of the first set, that is. my stream seems to have cut out now.)
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 30 April 2010 17:23 (3 years ago) Permalink
Shit, that was a typo. No idea how I came to type Jankovic as Ivanovic, the person facing Justine was actually playing like a non-retard!
― try sleeping with a broken hat (edwardo), Friday, 30 April 2010 18:06 (3 years ago) Permalink
Well, she still is playing well. Henin isn't serving very well.
― try sleeping with a broken hat (edwardo), Friday, 30 April 2010 18:08 (3 years ago) Permalink
That is to say, she's not gtting the first ones in in good spots. But she is actually placing some fine second ones.
― try sleeping with a broken hat (edwardo), Friday, 30 April 2010 18:09 (3 years ago) Permalink
yeah i kinda love her. her latest tweet:
Probably shouldn't have watched the new M.I.A video whilst eating breakfast.
― Roz, Friday, 30 April 2010 18:12 (3 years ago) Permalink
Lex, find another stream! Henin has been hitting some seriously savage angled shots, especially (oddly?) on her forehand, and is intermixing that with flubbing basic mid-court shots. But she's won the second set.
― try sleeping with a broken hat (edwardo), Friday, 30 April 2010 18:27 (3 years ago) Permalink
well obviously it was Jankovic who blinked first in the TB. sigh. she will never beat Justine. this is a great match though, high quality and tense. both playing pretty well I think.
randomly, Andrea Petkovic's twitter is really good - like, entertaining and witty in a dry, sarcastic way, not in the point-and-laugh way of Sweta and Silliams.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 30 April 2010 18:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
that said, i wouldn't be remotely surprised if jankovic now lost this set to love. that double fault to give up the opening game? brr.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 30 April 2010 18:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
and then blowing a 40-0 lead on justine's serve! well DONE jj.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 30 April 2010 18:41 (3 years ago) Permalink
zomg! She didn't blow that 0-40.
― try sleeping with a broken hat (edwardo), Friday, 30 April 2010 18:45 (3 years ago) Permalink
that volley, though :O
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 30 April 2010 18:52 (3 years ago) Permalink
it was basically an epic flail
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 30 April 2010 18:53 (3 years ago) Permalink
Okay, Jelena, wait for her to actually be ready before you serve, you'll lose quickly enough now.
― try sleeping with a broken hat (edwardo), Friday, 30 April 2010 19:04 (3 years ago) Permalink
well, that wasn't a quintessential Women's Tennis scoreline at all. still, a really good match i thought, apart from the last couple of games when jelena just crumbled.
also, she will never beat justine, ever.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 30 April 2010 19:06 (3 years ago) Permalink
also, scant consolation for JJ, but i thought she had the right gameplan - being aggressive, moving the ball around the court, perfect mix of defense and offense. justine was just too good on the big points and played the match (as opposed to points or games) better.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 30 April 2010 19:08 (3 years ago) Permalink
We have laura robson booked already! Also want to do something about umpires since none of us have a clue about these shadowy figures we thought it'd be good to explain them to the kids. Think we had roddick before I worked there and it was really good..I've heard.
― I see what this is (Local Garda), Saturday, 1 May 2010 00:41 (3 years ago) Permalink
GET KADER NOUNI!!!
he's great - loved when he umpired victoria azarenka's meltdown in doha last year and when she went mental after her second code violation (smashing her racquet on the chair, the ground, everywhere) he was just looking down at her with this "wtf is this crazy wench doing, smh" expression on his face.
eva asderaki is cool too.
also, anne keothavong's brother james is an ump as well...
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Saturday, 1 May 2010 06:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
also, they're retired now, but i hear that both marat safin and anna kournikova will be playing the senior tournament at wimbledon this year (now how's that to make you feel old), and they're both terrific in these kid-friendly events
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Saturday, 1 May 2010 06:37 (3 years ago) Permalink
Whoa all amazing info...thanks lex. If I can wrangle any passes I'll let you know tho it's a military op I think, we had to apply two weeks ago.
― I see what this is (Local Garda), Saturday, 1 May 2010 09:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
J-Ho thrashes Peer to get through to final. SHe'll play... um who knows? Lapuschenkova had a 4-1 lead and then promptly fell apart to 5-5. She looks very pale but has a good backhand!
― try sleeping with a broken hat (edwardo), Saturday, 1 May 2010 17:22 (3 years ago) Permalink
from what i saw yesterday, Lapushchenkova is kind of amazing - route-one MUST-HIT-WINNER-NOW ballbashing. i dread to think how many unforced errors she must usually hit given her career results though.
Nadal d. Gulbis was a great match! Hitting ~50 winners vs Nadal on clay = amazing. But Nadal just can't be hit through in the end.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Saturday, 1 May 2010 17:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
it definitely confirms what's been apparent for a few months though - this is the year when Gulbis stops being an idiot underachiever. he's steppin' up.
He needs a lot of prizemoney to pay for hookers. Unless his parents pay for those.
― try sleeping with a broken hat (edwardo), Saturday, 1 May 2010 17:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
Lapushchenkova's service motion = fussy, shoulder-ruining looking thing. Not quite Sharapova-esque, but... that kind of worry.
― try sleeping with a broken hat (edwardo), Saturday, 1 May 2010 17:43 (3 years ago) Permalink
getting more ambitious now as basically our first bid was for ana ivanovic and her agent emailed back instantly like "yeah this sounds good, certainly."
love sports that aren't football and how nice they all are at giving you access...
― Ronan, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 14:02 (3 years ago) Permalink
lol poor Dinara
― it means "EMOTIONAL"! (HI DERE), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 18:08 (3 years ago) Permalink
ivanovic's default mode is "i am so exciting to be here and i am so exciting to do charity work for children!!! :D " - lol i completely forgot about her now she's fallen out of the top 50. weirdly she signed a career-long deal with adidas a few months ago despite her two-year slump, so it figures that her team are all about the off-court marketing opportunities.
lol dinara. dulgheru's not a bad clay-courter though. but if the back is as bad as dinara's implied...eek.
most lol result of the week - Schnyder d. Dulko 6-7 6-2 7-6. Batty Patty led 5-0 in the third set, with match points I think. Choked, Dulko won six games in a row, served for the match, led 6-5 40-0. CHOKED and Batty won in the TB.
and today so-called "up and comer" Polona Hercog lost to Peer from 6-2, 5-1, 40-30 up.
Women's tennis!
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 18:14 (3 years ago) Permalink
Lol Ivanovic has won two matches in a row.
― try sleeping with a broken hat (edwardo), Thursday, 6 May 2010 01:16 (3 years ago) Permalink
YAY NADAL
― CaptainLorax, Monday, 17 May 2010 04:18 (3 years ago) Permalink
Sounded like a good match judging from the to-and-fro and the stats (very high 1st-serve %age from both); couldn't find a working stream and didn't fancy signing up at bet365 to watch theirs, so just relied on score updates.
Fed's clearly on an upswing though, after his sloppy results since Melbourne, whereas Nadal is back somewhere near his 2008 level.
― Michael Jones, Monday, 17 May 2010 08:26 (3 years ago) Permalink
What a rubbish tennis town Birmingham is. Feels like every AEGON tournament there has rained away. Tomorrow Sharapova will finish her FIRST match, and the tournament started sunday.
Haven't been able to watch mutch of Queens, but I did watch some Halle. That's a sweet grass court tennis stadium.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 9 June 2010 16:37 (3 years ago) Permalink
lol @ Queens; the top six seeds are gone
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=5275429
love the end of this article
― rugged and unrelenting (even brutal) (HI DERE), Friday, 11 June 2010 20:03 (3 years ago) Permalink
Li Na vs Sharapova in tomorrow's Eastbourne final, the two top seeds. Could be a good match.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 12 June 2010 21:07 (3 years ago) Permalink
Chewitt beat Fed in three sets at Halle! Blimey.
Sad to see Mardy Fish lose at Queens, I saw him play some absolutely lovely shots when I went on Monday.
― katstevens, Sunday, 13 June 2010 17:52 (3 years ago) Permalink
For some reason the losses to people like Chewitt bother me far more than losses to randoms do, re: Fed.
Li absolutely hammered Sharapova in the Edgbaston final. Totally clinical, and she only lost seven points in the second set. She served brilliantly. Anyone else notice Mirjana Lucic reach the 3rd round there? She's back in the top 200 and will play Wimbledon qualies...can't believe her amazing SF run was ELEVEN YEARS AGO.
The first set of the 1R match between Safina and Rybarikova in 's-Hertogenbosch was possibly THE WORST tennis I have seen all year, which says something. Safina obviously lost in the end to take her losing streak to 5.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Monday, 14 June 2010 09:53 (3 years ago) Permalink
Yes, could not believe Halle final result! It's one thing losing to people who've never beaten you before (in a dozen attempts, see: Kolya, Sod), it's another losing to people who surely never expected to beat you again. What is this, 2002?
(I've been away this weekend - I'll watch Halle highlights now to see if it really happened).
― Michael Jones, Monday, 14 June 2010 16:20 (3 years ago) Permalink
Hewitt won it on a net-cord (though Fed's break in the first set was earned the same way). Horrible shadow on the court at the Gerry Weber.
― Michael Jones, Monday, 14 June 2010 16:31 (3 years ago) Permalink
Dementieva will miss Wimbledon after appearing in 46 straight slams. Which is a pretty damn amazing stat considering how hard she works on the regular tour.
― Roz, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 16:09 (3 years ago) Permalink
FML @ Wimbledon draw
― abcfsk, Friday, 18 June 2010 12:11 (3 years ago) Permalink
First time in 133-year history of the tournament: no English men in the singles draw. There are two Scots.
LTA, rather than chuck about wildcards this year, placed a cutoff at #250 (and banished Bogdanovic - eight straight 1st-round losses at Wimb but ranked 160-odd - to the qualies) and no one made it (James Ward failed to defend his Sarasota Challenger title in May and dipped into the 300s). All the Brits failed in qualifying, Bogdan losing 24-22 final set in the 2nd round. Kinda funny but will it achieve anything?
― Michael Jones, Friday, 18 June 2010 14:54 (3 years ago) Permalink
so Nicole Vaidisova and the fugliest man in tennis finally got hitched:
aw Steps actually looks vaguely human there.
― Roz, Monday, 19 July 2010 15:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
For some reason I can't envision Vaidisova as anything but deeply unhappy under the iron rule thumb of Radek. That's purely based on... aura.
Anyway, is Ivanovic BACK ?
― abcfsk, Friday, 13 August 2010 19:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
The Cincinatti organizers have got to be happy with Clijsters, Ivanovic and Sharapova in the semis.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 August 2010 09:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
Stayed up last night watching Berdych-Federer as far as Fed missing a few break-points at 4-4 in the 2nd (having coasted the first). "I'll bet he loses this now," I thought as I went to bed. He nearly did too - Berd led 5-2 in the decider but Fed won the breaker. World top four in the Toronto semis.
― Michael Jones, Saturday, 14 August 2010 10:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
Fuck me, Ivanovic gets her game back and then injures her foot three game into the semi against Clijsters. Brutal fate.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 August 2010 17:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol Murray
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 August 2010 20:59 (2 years ago) Permalink
man, two amazing thrillers in a row for fed. About the best non-slam tennis I can remember that was on US TV.
― Matt Armstrong, Sunday, 15 August 2010 02:39 (2 years ago) Permalink
in the last 10 years at least.
― Matt Armstrong, Sunday, 15 August 2010 02:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
Federer never used to keep me up until 2:40am. He really should've finished that in two sets. Really have no idea how today's final will go.
― Michael Jones, Sunday, 15 August 2010 08:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
aaaaaaaand it's 3-0 with two Murray breaks. Very noble of Federer to run out his career by making things interesting like this.
― Antoine Bugleboy (Merdeyeux), Sunday, 15 August 2010 18:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
what on earth is this yelling.
― Antoine Bugleboy (Merdeyeux), Sunday, 15 August 2010 18:05 (2 years ago) Permalink
oops I forgot about this during the rain delay. Uh, well done Andrew.
― Antoine Bugleboy (Merdeyeux), Sunday, 15 August 2010 23:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
nice piece on date-krumm here - http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Ageless+Date+Krumm+finding+ways/3410520/story.html
found this quite interesting -
“I enjoy being on Tour. In the first career, I couldn’t enjoy it,” she said Tuesday. “I don’t speak so much English, don’t like Western food, don’t like hotels, so I always had stress.”
This generation of tennis players can’t imagine all that tournament downtime without texting, iPads, and Twitter. But back in those days, the Internet was just an infant, and cellphones were nonexistent. It was a huge challenge for Date-Krumm to handle the isolation.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
Serena is out of the US Open. Everything can happen... again.
― abcfsk, Friday, 20 August 2010 20:31 (2 years ago) Permalink
^^based on current rankings, this means the top seed at the Open will be... Caroline Wozniacki. ;_;
― Roz, Friday, 20 August 2010 21:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
OMG Wozniacki as top seed in a Slam. Actual lulz.
Serena and Justine out, Venus injured, Jankovic and Demented in dreadful form, Clijsters hit about 50 UEs and picked up an injury just now while losing to Bepa again...this has the potential to be even nutsier than RG.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Friday, 20 August 2010 21:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
Wozniacki vs Sharapova rnd of 16. Let's knock the dane out.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 26 August 2010 16:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
(WC) Kimiko Date Krumm (JPN) d. (12) Maria Sharapova (RUS) 75 36 63
A day before her 40th birthday! BEST RESULT OF THE YEAR, ilu Mrs. Krumm. Really hope highlights get on youtube soon, didn't get to see a point of it.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Monday, 27 September 2010 08:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
So much for the argument that '90s players couldn't cope w/today's power game, btw. Steffi could return next year and win the Australian Open, seriously. Hell, we should probably expect comebacks from Huber, Majoli, Schett, Rubin, Spirlea, Testud and Tauziat at this rate. Just to get the Slams which eluded them first time round.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Monday, 27 September 2010 08:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
Majoli won a slam though!
I always felt so bad for Anke Huber, such a great big hitter but always falling short of glory. Most of those players you mentioned could totally win a slam nowadays (in peak form), considering how lousy the WTA is, barring Serena (and I guess Clijsters at the US Open).
So happy for Kimiko, she was always my #2 fave in the mid-90s.
― trippin lookin at my portfolio (billy), Monday, 27 September 2010 19:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
omg if Chanda Rubin came back I would do backflips
― Monkeys? Um, no. (HI DERE), Monday, 27 September 2010 19:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
also I saw that result and was like "lol I bet the only person on Earth happier than me right now is Lex"
― Monkeys? Um, no. (HI DERE), Monday, 27 September 2010 19:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. Kaia Kanepi (EST) 75 46 75
man this was such an awesome match
― groovemaaan, Thursday, 30 September 2010 10:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
Caroline Wozniacki is your new Women's Tennis No 1, everyone! RIP WTA.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 7 October 2010 13:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
more like RIP Caroline Wozniacki; it seems like that ranking has been a complete curse for everyone except Serena in the past few years
― I got yr comedy modding right here (HI DERE), Thursday, 7 October 2010 13:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
Also, Venus is calling a presser this afternoon, and the Italian press is speculating that she'll announce her retirement, which...seems unlikely, given that just one or two days ago she released a statement saying she was looking forward to the 2011 season. But what on earth is the presser for, then? She's already announced she's ending her year.
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 7 October 2010 13:35 (2 years ago) Permalink
looool seriously I quite like Caro shameless flirt that she is but looooollllll
re venus: Possibly announcing her retirement after 2011? Making a final go-round ala Safin... I don't know why any player would do that though - surely they know they're going to get the same questions over and over and over again for a whole year.
― Roz, Thursday, 7 October 2010 14:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
Wozniacki is a nice girl and obviously because she is a raging Pollack I can't hate her. But the idea that she would even get five games off an in-form Serena is surely highly amusing.
― two hats in 3/4 time (edwardo), Thursday, 7 October 2010 22:02 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh hello:
― Mark C, Wednesday, 13 October 2010 13:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
If that didn't work, http://twitpic.com/2x8aa2
― Mark C, Wednesday, 13 October 2010 13:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
exciting week this week. kimiko date-krumm broke her own record as the oldest woman to beat a top 10 player - stosur joined the wall of shame this time - but fell to tamarine tanasugarn in the final. oldest wta final ever, apparently. i <3 tammy so it's ok.
and murray pretty much thrashed the field in shanghai, ending with a brilliant 3 and 2 dismantling of federer. do it in a slam now, this is old news.
on a side note, the crowds in shanghai were so enthusiastic and excited - such a contrast to wta events where no one bothers to show (including the players). i've said it before, but imagine how good the wta could be now if the williamses and belgians had comported themselves like the big four on the men's side instead of being pampered divas who deign to show up to 6 events per year and blow off the tour at every opportunity they get. this year's ATP YEC will be super-exciting, even with all the players knackered from a long season. this year's WTA YEC is going to be a fucking embarrassment (again). if clijsters doesn't show - and she hasn't since the us open - the only slam winner in the field will be schiavone. who i hope wins it all.
― lex lex lex lex lex on the track BOW (lex pretend), Sunday, 17 October 2010 10:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
no one could beat Murray if he played like this at a hardcourt slam. This is getting ridiculous-- fucking win one.
― Matt Armstrong, Sunday, 17 October 2010 18:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
Winning 7 five-setters is a huge jump from winning this week - he seems to be over his youthful stamina issues but his mentality is questionable & although he has a great head to head against the top two his record over five sets isn't so good. He doesn't seem to be able to maintain that high standard over longer matches and tournaments.
That said, I still think he has it in him to win one and is maybe most likely to be the next new winner of a hard court slam.
― underrated football teams I have owned (onimo), Sunday, 17 October 2010 19:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
WTF... My love Vera beat Jankovic 6-3 6-0 in the year-end ch's? I'm going to start watching this dried out tournament if Vera is in top form. Meeting Azarenka next. I hear Jelena tanked it like a polaroid picture in the 2nd set though.
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 26 October 2010 15:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
that match was dreadful. women's tennis is so, so bad now. just cancel this farce of a tournament.
― lex lex lex lex lex on the track BOW (lex pretend), Tuesday, 26 October 2010 16:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
the schiavone-stosur match is pretty good
― groovemaaan, Tuesday, 26 October 2010 18:03 (2 years ago) Permalink
This Azarenka -- Zvona thing has been prettty good.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 27 October 2010 16:00 (2 years ago) Permalink
I mean, yes Zvona V chokes in finals now, but she's stopped choking otherwise! Some shoddy serving now and then, though.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 27 October 2010 16:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
Dementieva just RETIRED! I thought she'd stick around in pursuit of that elusive Slam forever. Have a nice life, you amazing headcase.
― lex lex lex lex lex on the track BOW (lex pretend), Friday, 29 October 2010 15:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
Her finest moment? Maybe killing Capriati's dreams yet again in the USO '04 SF despite That Serve:
I remember one of those serves being measured at 38mph.
― lex lex lex lex lex on the track BOW (lex pretend), Friday, 29 October 2010 16:03 (2 years ago) Permalink
nooo! :( :(
Happy I got to meet her once though - she was really sweet and gorgeous in person.
― Roz, Friday, 29 October 2010 16:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
aw
― lol tea partiers and their fat fingers (HI DERE), Friday, 29 October 2010 16:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
aw, Demented's finest moment. I love her reaction to actually winning something big for once, it's like she can't quite believe it's happened:
― lex lex lex lex lex on the track BOW (lex pretend), Saturday, 30 October 2010 09:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
ATP finals on the BBC, woo! Murray desperately needs a haircut.
― katstevens, Sunday, 21 November 2010 15:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
so did anyone see the nadal-murray match last night? easily match of the year for me in terms of crazy shot-making and drama. (Rafa breaks Andy. No wait, Andy breaks back! No wait... Holy fucking forehand! etc.)
murray lost that one narrowly but for once, it was a loss he could be proud of. wish he would play like that in big matches more often.
― Roz, Sunday, 28 November 2010 13:00 (2 years ago) Permalink
yeah so glad i watched that - i attended on mon (djokovic/berdych) but this week have been soooo busy i haven't caught much tennis. that match was crazy good though.
i didn't particularly prefer either player but it was much more important for murray - winning the YEC could well have been a v important foundation for him to actually go ahead and win a slam for once. it's been a crucial step for lots of players who underwhelmed at slams.
― lex lex lex lex lex on the track BOW (lex pretend), Sunday, 28 November 2010 15:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
oh yeah and i'm not all that impressed with the tournament - maybe i'm just spoiled by how cheap the wimbledon ground passes are, but it strikes me that £17 (or less, as in previous years) for a wide array of matches and players, and being able to get right up close to the court, is better value than £34 to sit in the nosebleeds (not even the very cheapest seats!) and take your chances on 1x doubles and 1x singles (in our case, both were ok but hardly worth it). i mean maybe people really are suckers for the very biggest names but when you can see top 20 players on outside courts, as well as future elite players on the way up...
― lex lex lex lex lex on the track BOW (lex pretend), Sunday, 28 November 2010 15:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
pretty uncompromising from roger there.
― Antoine Bugleboy (Merdeyeux), Sunday, 28 November 2010 19:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
he was pretty much on it throughout - really aggressive play. rafa played well in the second but just looked exhausted in the third, roger can thank murray for that. good match!
― lex lex lex lex lex on the track BOW (lex pretend), Sunday, 28 November 2010 19:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
Good stuff! I think there was a break point for Nadal in the third where I third Roger would throw away the lead, but after that it was all business. Loved the delayed reaction at the end --- a match point should always have a twist!
― abcfsk, Sunday, 28 November 2010 19:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
where I thought*
― abcfsk, Sunday, 28 November 2010 19:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
I'm proud happy that Roger won. Sets the tone for next year
(another year which I will be rooting Nadal)
― ZOUNDS! (CaptainLorax), Thursday, 2 December 2010 00:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
holy shit:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-1208-dwyre-20101208,0,1757631.column
Sampras has been robbed of the majority of trophies, medals, plaques, crystal and rings that are a testament to a career that brought a then-record 14 major titles and status as one of the greatest ever to play the game. Three weeks ago, he found out that the dozens of boxes containing those symbols of his career had been stolen.
"I have 13 of my 14 Grand Slam trophies," he said. "Some are at home and some up at NikeTown [in Portland]. My first Australian Open trophy is gone, and so is everything else."
Seven Wimbledon and five U.S. Open trophies, and one Australian Open trophy, remain.
"Everything else" includes trophies for winning 64 tour tournaments, and finalist hardware from 24 others. It includes what he was presented for winning five season-ending ATP World Tour titles, for being on two Davis Cup winners, and for taking 11 ATP Masters event titles. It includes an Olympic ring, seven ESPYs and six trophies awarded to the player who was No. 1 in the year-end rankings. Sampras, now 39, was that from 1993 to '98.
much as I want to feel sorry for him, what kind of idiot puts all of his trophies in a public storage facility in West LA? And on top of everything, waits *three weeks* before issuing a public notice? I mean, dude.
― Roz, Thursday, 9 December 2010 09:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
Nishikori teaming up with Brad Gilbert... let's hope he can make Kei more consistent on court.
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 21 December 2010 20:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
right so Lukas Lacko has always been one of those dudes with plenty of talent but with no consistency at all, but I've never seen him play this well before, especially with Rafa not even playing that badly. Lost first set narrowly in a TB, before proceeding to bagel the current number one player in the world. When was the last time Nadal was bageled?
Unsurprisingly, Rafa immediately breaks in the first game of the third - I've no doubt he'll pull out the win (duh he's Rafa) but it's pretty nice seeing someone come out of nowhere bringing some game to him.
― Roz, Wednesday, 5 January 2011 18:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
Ranked 484 three weeks ago and now he's back in the top 100 at 89. Dude's such a champ.
― Roz, Monday, 28 February 2011 11:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
:)
watched it last night - Pony looked as if he'd hit the wall of fatigue before the first set was over (no wonder, given how much he's played without being match tough of late), but he just kept holding it together - had a few issues with putaway shots but in general his power and clutch serving was so impressive. Tipsy was...yeah. Let's just say "women's tennis" and leave it at that.
What with Djokovic looking probably as dominant against Fed as he ever has and BEPA completely dismantling Wozniacki, last week was a good one in tennis, I feel.
― lex pretend, Monday, 28 February 2011 11:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
Bepa 3 :D
Only her second Tier II-or-over title, can you believe it. (Actually...yes, you can, very well.)
― lex pretend, Monday, 28 February 2011 11:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
xpost yeah - didn't see the Pony match, but Fed looked utterly flummoxed in that final against Nole.
and Bepa was pretty awesome against Woz, who didn't even play too badly I thought - that match was the first time I felt she was trying to do something other than just get the ball in.
― Roz, Monday, 28 February 2011 17:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
I wanted to see Schiavone/Dokic, appaz poor Fran got injured and was near-immobile in set 3? And it was still only 6-4! Still, god for Jelena's double-faultwinner count.
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Tuesday, 1 March 2011 05:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
YIKES @ the Serena news - seriously scary. I don't know enough about pulmonary embolisms or hematomas to really know what's ahead, but from what I've read she could be out for another year? It'd really suck if the sport lost Serena and Justine for good at the same time.
― lex pretend, Thursday, 3 March 2011 15:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
(also Roz, are you at the women's KL event this week? whenever I've tuned into the livestream there appears to be pretty much no one in the crowd)
An old boss of mine had pretty much this exact thing happen to him a few years ago (he was... 35?) and it knocked him out of commission for about a year. It was seriously scary; he almost died.
― goth barbershop quartet (DJP), Thursday, 3 March 2011 15:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
it's really scary to think that this all stems from just stepping on broken glass, and despite what I assume has been the best possible medical treatment. I wonder if the restaurant settled with Serena financially already? cuz if she's so minded, she could take them to the cleaners for loss of earnings.
― lex pretend, Thursday, 3 March 2011 15:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
I don't know if this is a general physical indicator, but the big thing they were terrifying my former boss/bandmate with was the possibility that this was an indicator of some variant of cancer.
Basically with him, he had tweaked his leg on a ski trip and gotten a clot in a major artery in his leg, which slowly built up over a period of several months to encompass THE ENTIRE ARTERY.
― goth barbershop quartet (DJP), Thursday, 3 March 2011 15:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
lex, I was there for the Bartoli-Camerin and Safina-Han matches on Tuesday, both of which were awful.
Cake is leaner and taller than she looks on TV, her serve unfortunately still isn't prettier. Safina-Han started off with four breaks in a row before Dinara got a handle over her groundstrokes. Han did not hold serve once the entire match. :/
Working the rest of this week, but I should be there over the weekend. Crowds are pathetic because the whole tourney is horribly disorganised - they only landed BMW as a main sponsor in November, which left them with just two months to promote the event in a country where tennis isn't a big deal AT ALL. especially not women's tennis. The venue isn't the most accessible either - Bukit Kiara is basically an ultra-posh country club. It's sad that the crowd turnout is still so low, even though entry was free for the first three days (and is still free for BMW owners/white card members).
re Serena: definitely scary. I'm not sure if stepping on broken glass alone would've caused it - she's a tennis player who spends long hours on airplanes and has been bed-ridden lately, both of which increase the risks for a pulmonary embolism. Risks also increase if she's on the pill, which i wouldn't be surprised if she was.
The thought of her leaving the game is really scary and highly possible - even if she recovered enough to play in the next few months, I doubt her doctors would allow her to travel long distances for tournaments very often after this.
― Roz, Thursday, 3 March 2011 18:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol Dima: http://twitter.com/TursunovTales/status/45782199257141251
― lex pretend, Thursday, 10 March 2011 15:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
geez Murray.
― Roz, Sunday, 13 March 2011 09:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
was just thinking of bumping for that. shameful. can't think of a worse loss in his career!
― lex pretend, Sunday, 13 March 2011 09:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
didn't see the match but guessing he still hasn't gotten out of whatever funk he's been in since the AO final. srsly thought my screen was broken when I read Donald Young (Q) def. Andy Murray (4) 7-6, 6-3. Donald Young!
anyway, go Delpo.
― Roz, Sunday, 13 March 2011 10:02 (2 years ago) Permalink
I saw Delpo beat Ljubicic last night! It was a good match, had no idea Ljubicic could still play well like that (in patches only though). Also had forgotten he was the defending champ, lol.
I also see that Sweta failed to win a set off a girl who isn't in the top 100 #rmde
― lex pretend, Sunday, 13 March 2011 10:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
wait waht (re: Murray/Young)
deep belly lols
― ancient, but very sexy (DJP), Sunday, 13 March 2011 12:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
also: Li Na won her first 11 matches of the year.
And has now lost her next four.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 13 March 2011 15:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
Brad Gilbert, getting to the heart of what's important:
@bgtennisnation Can we get an Amen? Djoker in all Black...I believe! Best outfit since he's been with Sergio Tachini by far. Beat down in proper gear. about 11 hours ago
― ancient, but very sexy (DJP), Monday, 14 March 2011 14:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
I don't know if anyone was online to see this as it happened but...Isner's completely awful attempts to flirt with Woz last night: http://cowbell.typepad.com/forty_deuce/2011/03/isniacki-still-going-at-it-like-two-neutered-puppies.html
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 15 March 2011 20:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
he's been at it for what, months, and still no mobile phone number to get this stuff 'offline'? ai ai ai
― Ludo, Tuesday, 15 March 2011 20:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
i love how Djokovic is all like "ok i'm taking over" and IMMEDIATELY gets invited over
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 15 March 2011 20:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
Haha yeah Caro is all "omg thank god you're here" when Nole shows up.
Isner's so adorably clueless. There was also his equally fail-tastic attempt with PETKORAZZI who was -clearly- just messing with him:
http://cowbell.typepad.com/forty_deuce/2011/02/iskorazzi.html
― Roz, Tuesday, 15 March 2011 21:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
omg actually cringing. of all the songs to try to use! oh god that moment when someone who's into you and knows you ~like music~ and are just so clueless about what you like...been there petkorazzi, been there. she's awesome.
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 15 March 2011 22:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
isner trying to mack on PETKORAZZI is just the most unfair sight, really, like from the very start you could tell he was being fucked with
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 15 March 2011 22:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
so much gold. loooool mumford and sons.
― Roz, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 17:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
obviously the australian and the brit have the worst taste!
the Ivanovic/Cake match I just watched for some reason was a horror show btw. Don't think I've seen many more pathetic things on a tennis court than Ivanovic whining to her coach about she didn't know whaaaat to dooooooo. Cake looked like she was on the verge of vomiting, Ivanovic looked like she was on the verge of crying, and both played accordingly.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 23:13 (2 years ago) Permalink
also Ana's constant AJDEEEEEEEs are still ringing in my head and may even have displaced "friday"
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 23:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
Kind of like how Ana insists she's having 'fun fun fun' after every bad loss.
She had it right when she said she dominated the rallies and still lost, though.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 23:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
ehhh, Cake was pretty proactive in the first set, in the second set she reduced her strategy to "hit everything to Ivanovic's BH all the time, regardless of anything else" - think she could've won it a lot easier if she'd deviated from that a bit but hey it worked. in any case, Ivanovic does tend to control rallies against most opponents, it's just that she controls them into the net or 5 feet long.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 16 March 2011 23:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
Peng vs Sharapova is really good.. As in both athletes playing well!
― abcfsk, Thursday, 17 March 2011 22:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
Now it's just one of them.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 17 March 2011 22:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
man, I really didn't think I'd ever find myself rooting for Sharapova again, but she's playing Wozniacki
― ancient, but very sexy (DJP), Friday, 18 March 2011 18:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
I'd be interested to see it just for the stylistic match-up but I've no idea who I'd root for/who I dislike less. I didn't see their USO match but remember thinking, going in, that it'd be an easy win for Sharapova. Whoops.
Gasquet is so pathetic. Missed points for a 3-0 lead in the first set...promptly lost six games in a row. Got his 3-0 lead in the second set...promptly lost five games in a row.
― lex pretend, Friday, 18 March 2011 19:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol, never change Gasquet
is it just me or are there a lot of parallels between the US and French players in terms of ability/choke factor
― ancient, but very sexy (DJP), Friday, 18 March 2011 20:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
also I can't say 100% why both Sharapova and Wozniacki irritate me so much, but they really, really do
― ancient, but very sexy (DJP), Friday, 18 March 2011 20:19 (2 years ago) Permalink
it's pretty basic for me - I find Wozniacki's game pretty dull (and her personality seems like St Kim of Niceness redux), I find Sharapova's shrieking intolerable (and the corporate Nikebot hype surrounding her is annoying too). I guess I'd have supported Woz because when I woke up to the result I laughed out loud for about 10 minutes. 1 and 2!
haha maybe Blake, I don't think even the Russian headcases can compete with the lack of fortitude and/or mental weakness demonstrated by Gasquet/Mauresmo/Mathieu/Pierce.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 19 March 2011 09:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
Hey, Gasquet took out Roddick, which is basically Job Done in this event.
― Michael Jones, Saturday, 19 March 2011 10:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
Mauresmo and Pierce actually won slams in the end
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 19 March 2011 11:02 (2 years ago) Permalink
I guess I'd have supported Woz because when I woke up to the result I laughed out loud for about 10 minutes. 1 and 2!
as did I but I imagine I might have the done the exact same thing if the results were reversed.
Never want Woz to win *anything* though I find her pretty likeable, I guess? her personality/Twitter/flirtations with ATP-ers can be unintentionally hilarious in a way Shaz-bot's ice queen routine never is.
― Roz, Saturday, 19 March 2011 15:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
So Fedz is just an out-in-the-semis guy now, huh.
― eurohouse autozone tune (rip van wanko), Sunday, 20 March 2011 16:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
Never want Woz to win *anything* though I find her pretty likeable, I guess?
This is extremely OTM. I think she's great everywhere except for her actual tennis game, which is probably better than "competent" but just isn't compelling to watch/follow, not like the entire generation that proceeded her or Ivanovic/Jankovic before they fell apart.
― ancient, but very sexy (DJP), Sunday, 20 March 2011 19:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
ummmm guys this Nadal/Djokovic match is kind of incredible. Both hitting total God shots.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 20 March 2011 21:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
^^wish I had watched that - alas, sleep was too important. yay for djokovic though, dude is now 19-0 in matches for the year. o_0
jmdp well on his way to being seeded by RG/Wimby too, if his good form continues. :) seriously did not think he'd back in the top 50 this quickly (he's at 51 now but likely to move up further in the next few weeks).
meh Caro. I so wish I liked her tennis given how she now seems to be the only person on the entire women's tour who really does handle pressure well (lacklustre results at slams - or indeed, most of her losses - tend to be due to her getting outplayed rather than her choking).
― Roz, Monday, 21 March 2011 13:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
OK what the fuck. I shit you not: St Kim has only gone and pulled out of tournaments in Tokyo and Beijing because of her radiation fears...SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE.
If she's serious, she's a fucking moron, this is offensively stupid. If - as is more likely - she's frantically seizing any old excuse to get out of playing a couple of events in the autumn, and is willing to make herself look like a shit-for-brains idiot to do so...that's just incredibly sad w/r/t the state of women's tennis.
I wonder if it ever occurs to airheads like Serena and Kim, who sadly happen to be the only true elite players left, that without the Tour, women's tennis is nothing more than a sideshow to men's tennis at the Slams only. Wish they'd get out of the sport already if they hate playing it so much.
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 22 March 2011 23:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
okay thank you Sony Ericsson for alerting me to the fact that there is an American tennis player named... JACK SOCK
― 'lol u stuck with me now watch this ass expand, joeks on u' (DJP), Thursday, 24 March 2011 20:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
Hah @ Petkorazzi getting Ivanovic in on her antics for their doubles matches.
― abcfsk, Friday, 25 March 2011 08:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
Hey look, Na Li lost again. How shocking.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Friday, 25 March 2011 13:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
i'm abt to go to bed but for those playing at home, Andy Murray is currently down 4-0 to Alex Bogomolov Jr - not to be confused with upcoming Ukrainian Alex Dolgopolov Jr who's currently ranked 23 and could feasibly take a couple of games off the world number 5. Nope Andy Murray is down 4-0 who turned pro in 2002 but has never been higher than 97 in the world. -_-
― Roz, Friday, 25 March 2011 18:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
*down 4-0 to someone
bah, i need to go to sleep. i will be prepared to laugh/cry in the morning if Muzza actually loses to Bogie.
― Roz, Friday, 25 March 2011 18:59 (2 years ago) Permalink
lolololololololol Murray
― lex pretend, Friday, 25 March 2011 19:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
Hey look, Murray got broken at 5-6 to lose this match. Nice US hardcourt series for Murray.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Friday, 25 March 2011 20:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
safina up 4-1 against bepa
kinda lol but...
― groovemaaan, Friday, 25 March 2011 20:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
looooool so Murray managed to outdo last week's Worst Loss Ever already. And how did Wawrinka manage to lose to Granollers, with a bagel set along the way to boot?
― lex pretend, Saturday, 26 March 2011 08:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
Roddick's straight set loss to #62 Cuevas isn't quite as bad, but it's still pretty bad.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 26 March 2011 20:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
I haven't been keeping up with anything. Is Nadal physically healthy now?
― cold hands of monkeys on my heart (CaptainLorax), Saturday, 26 March 2011 20:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
^^he's just fine, lorax. form's been a bit off lately, but only when compared to djokovic who's completely slaying the competition.
speaking of...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=r1SafhJE_5o
lmao basically andy murray shouldn't be anywhere playing tennis right now, let alone playing alongside the guy who's arguably at the peak of his talents.
― Roz, Sunday, 27 March 2011 15:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
Love getting Martinez Sanchez in a tv match.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 27 March 2011 19:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
MaJo is doing her usual silly and cool trick shots mixed with endless unforced errors, but Clijsters is helping her along by playing truly shoddy tennis.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 27 March 2011 19:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
clijsters always has the ugliest dresses
― groovemaaan, Sunday, 27 March 2011 20:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
OMG Ivanorazzi with the schoolgirl BFF antics every doubles match. Is this the WTA?
― abcfsk, Sunday, 27 March 2011 21:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
During the changeover after this point, Ana went to wallet and gave Petko some cash. Want to know why? Well, this is what Petko told me afterwards: She actually gave me $10 but I had to give her change. So [the rules are] if you serve an ace on an important point, $5. If you serve a service winner on an important point, $2, return winner, $2. And this, where she gave me $2, was she said "OK, I'm going to serve a first serve and if you cross and put the volley away I'll give you $2." And she just had $10 so she gave it to me and I said I would give her the change later. Then, after that amazing most epic point ever, she said "OK. You can keep the change." We said that probably we would be the #1 and #2 in the world if the prize money was visible on the net post. So that's our way of motivating.[...]Convincing was hard work because last week in Indian Wells, I think, in the tiebreaker, I felt like she hit one or two double faults and didn't hit the returns quite as she's used to. Because I told her before the breaker, I thought it would be motivation but obviously it was some kind of scaring her. I told her "Ana we do the Petko dance if we win!" and I thought like, she's gonna go like "Yeah! Now I'm going to run even more!" but she went, like "Yeah. I'm going to serve two doubles and not put the return in." So I think she was scared back then. But now we practiced and now she's more comfortable. But she said before the match points she said she was getting so nervous because now we were winning it and she would have to do the Petko dance.
She actually gave me $10 but I had to give her change. So [the rules are] if you serve an ace on an important point, $5. If you serve a service winner on an important point, $2, return winner, $2. And this, where she gave me $2, was she said "OK, I'm going to serve a first serve and if you cross and put the volley away I'll give you $2." And she just had $10 so she gave it to me and I said I would give her the change later. Then, after that amazing most epic point ever, she said "OK. You can keep the change." We said that probably we would be the #1 and #2 in the world if the prize money was visible on the net post. So that's our way of motivating.
[...]
Convincing was hard work because last week in Indian Wells, I think, in the tiebreaker, I felt like she hit one or two double faults and didn't hit the returns quite as she's used to. Because I told her before the breaker, I thought it would be motivation but obviously it was some kind of scaring her. I told her "Ana we do the Petko dance if we win!" and I thought like, she's gonna go like "Yeah! Now I'm going to run even more!" but she went, like "Yeah. I'm going to serve two doubles and not put the return in." So I think she was scared back then. But now we practiced and now she's more comfortable. But she said before the match points she said she was getting so nervous because now we were winning it and she would have to do the Petko dance.
http://cowbell.typepad.com/forty_deuce/2011/03/losers-pants-winners-dance.html
― abcfsk, Sunday, 27 March 2011 21:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
And finally: The 4th round is looking amazing for the women.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 27 March 2011 21:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
those two are so adorable, love it! xp
― Roz, Monday, 28 March 2011 02:19 (2 years ago) Permalink
it was nice watching Delpo rip Toaderling a new one last night :)
― lex pretend, Monday, 28 March 2011 09:49 (2 years ago) Permalink
^^real no. 4 imo
― Roz, Monday, 28 March 2011 11:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
Has Murray won a single set since the Australian Open semi?
― death, taxes and (onimo), Monday, 28 March 2011 11:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
negative.
― Roz, Monday, 28 March 2011 11:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
That's quite a run for someone who went into the Australian ranked #4.
― death, taxes and (onimo), Monday, 28 March 2011 12:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
Petko - C Woz is pretty entertaining.
― abcfsk, Monday, 28 March 2011 17:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
I wish I could watch this
― 'lol u stuck with me now watch this ass expand, joeks on u' (DJP), Monday, 28 March 2011 18:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
Petkorazzi should be up like 5-0 now...her shots are so unstable though, she's powerful but when her strokes break down you just wince.
Wozniacki is as she always is, except making lots of random errors, ie there's not much left. And yet she'll probably win.
― lex pretend, Monday, 28 March 2011 18:54 (2 years ago) Permalink
actually I wish I'd seen Woz beat Hantuchova in the last round, apparently Daniela blew a ton of set points then double faulted on MP. Obviously.
― lex pretend, Monday, 28 March 2011 18:58 (2 years ago) Permalink
haha
― 'lol u stuck with me now watch this ass expand, joeks on u' (DJP), Monday, 28 March 2011 18:59 (2 years ago) Permalink
PetKo can't throw away this lead surely
― abcfsk, Monday, 28 March 2011 19:05 (2 years ago) Permalink
I really really hope not
please please please win, for all of us
― 'lol u stuck with me now watch this ass expand, joeks on u' (DJP), Monday, 28 March 2011 19:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
Petkorazzi :D
― lex pretend, Monday, 28 March 2011 19:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
she is seriously one of my favorites on the tour right now
― 'lol u stuck with me now watch this ass expand, joeks on u' (DJP), Monday, 28 March 2011 19:13 (2 years ago) Permalink
easily wins the #1 wkiw award in the whole tennis world
― lex pretend, Monday, 28 March 2011 19:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
Says Pet-V, "Most of the players think they can overpower Caroline, but it's the wrong approach".
She's also trending on twitter.. nice for 'just' a non-slam mid-tournament match.
― abcfsk, Monday, 28 March 2011 19:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
A-Rad just won the point of the year so far - involved returning multiple Schiavo smashes, the last for a FH pass winner. On fire.
― lex pretend, Monday, 28 March 2011 22:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
just woke up and saw the results. woo, petko dance!
― Roz, Tuesday, 29 March 2011 00:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
more of Petko on Wozniacki:
"Most of the players think they can overpower Caroline. I think that's the wrong approach, because that's where she's most comfortable, when she can run and bring the most balls back. Then once you lose your concentration for once on your shot, she goes for it. Some like to say that she's pushing, but it's not like the balls are slow and not short, you know. They are quite deep, so you cannot really attack them.
What I try to do is mix it up and to make her play, and then when I had the short ball to go for it. Because if you try to hit every single shot with full power, full power, she just gets more comfortable, more comfortable, and eventually you're gonna miss. She's not gonna miss the last one.
smart girl.
― Roz, Tuesday, 29 March 2011 04:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
although I'm, you know, my biggest fan, I'm also my biggest critic, as well
lol Maria, the important part here is not that you're your biggest critic, but your biggest fan!
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 29 March 2011 11:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
What is Petkovic doing today? So awkward.. and Jankovic has turned on the error-machine in the 2nd set. Suddenly got a strong urge to see the winner of this match routed in the next round.
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 29 March 2011 21:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
holy hell, Fish beat Del Potro????
― 'lol u stuck with me now watch this ass expand, joeks on u' (DJP), Tuesday, 29 March 2011 21:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
They moved Ana/Clijsters to court 2, and of course that match turns out to be a cracker while we're left watching a hopelessly drawn-out error-fest on TV.
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 29 March 2011 22:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
WTF, Del Potro?
Huge lol: Ivanovic led 5-1, 40-0 in the last set. But guess who won!
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 29 March 2011 23:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
zomg Petkovic won
this is turning into my favorite tournament since Goran won Wimbledon
― 'lol u stuck with me now watch this ass expand, joeks on u' (DJP), Tuesday, 29 March 2011 23:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
Clijsters goes through all these scrappy wins but will probably win the title anyway = she is the new Serena, probably. LOL Ivanovic. Thank goodness the tournament's website puts up highlight reels so could see a bit of Petko!
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 March 2011 00:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
Was literally INFURIATED watching live scores last night and seeing Clijsters sneak through. Going by reports Ana didn't choke massively, though, and played fairly well in the tie-break etc.. still you can't do that stuff, Ana Ana Ana Ana Ana. Don't let Clijsters win this.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 10:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
Aga looked so dangerous against Schiavone... still pulling for Bepa to win.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 17:05 (2 years ago) Permalink
A-Rad is in some crazy super mode on the defense.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 17:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
ladies and gentlemen, your new American men's #1:
GO MINNESOTA
― whelping at his sandpapery best (DJP), Wednesday, 30 March 2011 21:21 (2 years ago) Permalink
Surprising.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 22:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
ugh can people please stop losing to Fish
― lex pretend, Thursday, 31 March 2011 08:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
Just curious - who is your favourite current US male player, Lex?
I dislike Fish less than I dislike Querrey, Isner, Roddick, but I like Blake more. Always good to see Roddick dethroned as top American. There was that good spell 2-3 years ago when Blake was ranked ahead of him. Used to derive similar tiny comfort from Stich > Becker periods.
― Michael Jones, Thursday, 31 March 2011 11:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
i'm enjoying sharapova making two consecutive semis. i'll be extraordinarily pissed off if she loses to petkovic again ugh
― uberweiss, Thursday, 31 March 2011 11:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=6274798
can I just say this is really terrible, and LOL
― whelping at his sandpapery best (DJP), Thursday, 31 March 2011 14:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
Damnit I hate windy matches.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 31 March 2011 17:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
watching sharapova in the wind is always fun
― uberweiss, Thursday, 31 March 2011 17:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
and i meant that sarcastically, as in she's awful in the wind
not as in i like it when the wind blows her dress up
but what the hell, that too
― uberweiss, Thursday, 31 March 2011 17:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
We've got a third set... god help us all.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 31 March 2011 18:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
PLEASE KEEP THIS UP FOR FOUR MORE GAMES
― uberweiss, Thursday, 31 March 2011 18:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
"Masha’s fans are always somewhere in between a heart attack and an orgasm." <- signed
― abcfsk, Thursday, 31 March 2011 18:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
3-6 6-0 6-0 would be quite a nice revenge for australian open...
― uberweiss, Thursday, 31 March 2011 18:59 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh yes yes yes.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 31 March 2011 19:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
okay lol
― whelping at his sandpapery best (DJP), Thursday, 31 March 2011 19:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
oooh a miami final is nice. even though maria has had a piss easy draw
― uberweiss, Thursday, 31 March 2011 21:59 (2 years ago) Permalink
Q: She thought you would be tired in the third after the long match you had the previous night. Didn't seem to be that way.
Sharapova: Because I didn't do the dance after. I wasn't tired.
that's cold, maria.
― Roz, Friday, 1 April 2011 02:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
I guess Ginepri? never particularly minded him. I think the two things I react most negatively to in a player are a big serve and media over-hype, and most US male players have one or both of those.
What a horrendous women's final. WTF happened to Bepa?
― lex pretend, Friday, 1 April 2011 08:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
If Maria lets Vika win >;[
― abcfsk, Friday, 1 April 2011 08:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
They've played some thrilling matches before, though.
― abcfsk, Friday, 1 April 2011 10:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
nightmares of shrieking and unforced errors
― lex pretend, Friday, 1 April 2011 10:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
Complaining about grunting is SO 2001. Unfortunately that's what all the preview articles will be about now.
― abcfsk, Friday, 1 April 2011 10:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
Complaining about grunting is SO 2001
lol what does this even mean? why 2001? people complained about it - with good reason - in the early 90s with Seles. and then when Sharapova emerged in 2002-03. then again with the Larcher de Brito hideousness. it's got to the stage where I refuse to watch certain players unless the match is likely to be good enough to mitigate the screeching. (Sharapova and Azarenka cancel each other out.)
― lex pretend, Friday, 1 April 2011 11:01 (2 years ago) Permalink
I don't see why shrieking is even a problem! I like it.
― abcfsk, Friday, 1 April 2011 11:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
it's so grating and i can't take screechers remotely seriously.
― lex pretend, Friday, 1 April 2011 11:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
They're the serious-est of the bunch!
― abcfsk, Friday, 1 April 2011 11:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
it's just the most intolerable, hideous sound.
― lex pretend, Friday, 1 April 2011 11:21 (2 years ago) Permalink
Btw that's the best dress Maria's worn in ages. Exactly the look she should be going for.
― abcfsk, Friday, 1 April 2011 12:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
the likes of petkovic and schiavone's grunting is much more offensive to me than the sharapova variety
the conditions are humid so if the match is in the day (unlike vika's last 2 matches) azarenka's poor fitness should seal the deal for sharapova! a miami championship would be so nice and out of the blue
― uberweiss, Friday, 1 April 2011 14:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
The Petkovic grunt sounds like a lineswoman's "OUT!".
― abcfsk, Friday, 1 April 2011 17:39 (2 years ago) Permalink
here's that radwanska/schiavone point i gasped about earlier in the week!
― lex pretend, Friday, 1 April 2011 17:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
all 3 of schiavone's forehand overheads were really lazy. i mean how do you not smash that first overhead up into the stands
― uberweiss, Friday, 1 April 2011 17:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
the first overhead was pretty good, after that radwanska's lobs were too high and deep for schiavone to put away effectively
― lex pretend, Friday, 1 April 2011 18:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
she was practically on top of the net for that first smash. really no excuse for it not to have been walloped into the crowd. don't see how radwanska's last lob was particularly high or deep either
― uberweiss, Friday, 1 April 2011 18:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
For a second there I envisioned Fish winning this match.
― abcfsk, Friday, 1 April 2011 18:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
nadal seems to have recovered from his arm injury nicely
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 00:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
brutal stuff.. I'm getting annoyed just thinking about being federer and hitting those crazy wide shots with nadal running them all down
― abcfsk, Saturday, 2 April 2011 00:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
I stayed in to watch Fed/Nadal and then fell asleep at 11pm lol. Not that I'm sad to have missed it, seeing the result, or that this result wasn't predictable. People are saying that Fed's finally in decline - I kinda disagree, I think he hasn't been the "same Federer" since 2008, when Djokovic and Murray started beating him on the regular. (by "same Federer" I mean that he can still go into God mode at times, but not reliably or as often.) And his 2009 "resurgence" was really more due to Djokovic and Murray regressing a bit, and Rafa's absence, than Federer actually recapturing his old level. Now Rafa's healthy and Djokovic is back on track, Fed's back to where he was in 2008.
He probably still has at least another Slam left in him - either he'll have a last hurrah in God mode, or 2009's circumstances will happen again. But it's not so much in his hands any more.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 09:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
this is fucking ridiculous
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 16:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
Why am I watching this match. It's like an endurance test. Will these insane wenches SHUT THE FUCK UP.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 16:54 (2 years ago) Permalink
It's not very good, either.
the first game was good
there's gonna be a lot of breaks in this match. both are way better returners than servers. i expect maria to come through in 3 sets once she properly finds her range
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 16:58 (2 years ago) Permalink
Well it's good if you take away the double faults.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:00 (2 years ago) Permalink
and the errors making me flinch on every point
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:02 (2 years ago) Permalink
lololololololol what was that, Vika
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
why can't maria just pin azarenka back with some deep, high groundstrokes and then whack away a short ball? not that hard! it's hard to just bludgeon azarenka away
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
AWESOME dropshot, maria
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
did it even reach the net?
the weak drive volley straight back at Azarenka that preceded it was a bit special too
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
yeah it reached the net after bouncing a few times first
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
Another set like that please. Let this be over swiftly.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
vika has so much more margin for error on her shots :[ stop being a brainless ballbasher maria ugh. if she keeps it close in this set azarenka will surely choke as she always does
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
I'm not sure I've ever seen a serve bounced into the net in pro tennis until now
― LISTEN SHITBIRD (rip van wanko), Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
Memories of Kournikova!
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
looooooooooooooooooool
i've seen hantuchova and venus do it. and probably a few others. it's not really that rare, sometimes you just whiff it
but for gods sake what was that forehand. whole court open. fuck this
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
DF to concede her eighth game in a row. LOL.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
you see that's the kind of point maria should play more often. high percentage deep, high balls until azarenka gives a weak response.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
RTeally, Azarenka's not even playing that well.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
this is almost as good as last year's final
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
Wonder if Maria will manage to get more games off Vika than Bepa did the other day.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
ahahahahaha
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol, two dead net cords in a row for Azarenka to finally win that game after Sharapova was 40-0 up
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:49 (2 years ago) Permalink
being demolished two tournaments in a row by the youngsters can't be good for sharapova's confidence :[
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 17:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
maria's as big a fighter as she always was but everything about her game is too unreliable these days. super pissed.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 2 April 2011 18:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
weird that Azarenka went three sets in her first three matches (against...Hradecka, Cibulkova, Pavlyuchenkova). Then pretty much steamrolled her last three supposedly elite opponents.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 18:31 (2 years ago) Permalink
Out on town to kill myself with alcohol.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 2 April 2011 18:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
It really does piss me off that she has chances in that 2nd set. What a waste.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 2 April 2011 18:58 (2 years ago) Permalink
totally know that feeling, sometimes you'd rather your player just lost swiftly 1 and 0 rather than getting your hopes up by fighting back only to lose shittily anyway
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 19:00 (2 years ago) Permalink
Yeah, and of course you become highly skilled at ignoring the other player's chances and the only memory left is wasted game points. Tennis is too cruel :|
― abcfsk, Saturday, 2 April 2011 19:03 (2 years ago) Permalink
Azarenka's 4-0 lead was a bit deceptive, three of those games had gone to deuce. And then a few just went Sharapova's way. Vika's level of play certainly wasn't super-dominant at any stage, I guess she deserves credit for not panicking when the scoreline got closer. In general it was a horrible match and I genuinely have a headache now.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 2 April 2011 19:05 (2 years ago) Permalink
Djokovic hitting some tired-looking shots at the start of this...some great points amongst them tough.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 17:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
Rafa so lucky to get away with that set. Got to 5-1* without playing that well, then seemed to try to match Djokovic's low level for a while and only just crawled over the line at *5-4.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 18:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
fuck i only just got in. has it been good?
i'm rooting for nole because winning streaks are cool
― uberweiss, Sunday, 3 April 2011 19:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
it was bad earlier but it's good now! Nole playing well now, Rafa...serving well, at least. Djokovic may have cause to regret a couple of half-chances for a more emphatic lead.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 19:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
beautiful wrong-footer from Djokovic.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 19:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
Djokovic fails to take advantage of ANOTHER 0-30 lead on Rafa's serve
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 19:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
i'd love it if my stream wasn't shite
― uberweiss, Sunday, 3 April 2011 19:49 (2 years ago) Permalink
99% positive nadal will win :[
― uberweiss, Sunday, 3 April 2011 19:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
ha, i'm leaning the other way
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 19:58 (2 years ago) Permalink
and have done ever since Djokovic stopped looking fatigued towards the end of the first set
though he does seem unable to take ANY of the many chances Rafa's presented to him
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:01 (2 years ago) Permalink
have you got sky or are you watching it on a stream. if so is yours any good because mine is not
― uberweiss, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
stream from http://www.livescorehunter.com/Livescores/Livescore-Tennis.html
it was good right up until 5-5, wtf
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
suspect it's my internet connection going inexplicably shitty rather than the stream though
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
thanks! yeah this one http://www.livescorehunter.com/index.php?option=com_lsh&view=lsh&event_id=43856&tid=57334&channel=0&tmpl=component&layout=popup&Itemid=286 is good
uhoh 30-30
― uberweiss, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
tiebreak!!!
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:19 (2 years ago) Permalink
first four points all against serve...
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
all 5 haha
― uberweiss, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
can't believe this turned into such a great match after that awful first set
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
i dont want such a one-sided tiebreak
― uberweiss, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
whoa at that FH winner for 6-2!
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
i hate djokovic's parents so much
good match from the little i saw of it
― uberweiss, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:31 (2 years ago) Permalink
great match, great result, and the rapidity with which both of them had their shirts off after the match ending can only be applauded.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:35 (2 years ago) Permalink
haha every WTA player i follow on twitter has gotten on Djokovic's dick with a swiftness
― lex pretend, Sunday, 3 April 2011 20:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
WTF and ugh, how is Mardy Fish on the brink of the top 10? BEGONE. Nice to see Roddick drop to 14 with the clay season about to start though! Scope for him to be a 12-16 seed at Wimbledon and maybe draw Rafa/Rog in the 4th round!
Ivanovic reacted to her epic choke by pulling out of this week's Marbella tournament. Honestly, what a wimp. Can always be relied upon to run away every time she has a setback.
― lex pretend, Monday, 4 April 2011 09:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
Damnit, girl.
― abcfsk, Monday, 4 April 2011 10:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
Ah, the start of a season - excited about seeing boring names playing just because it's on clay.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 7 April 2011 17:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
All the drop shots and long rallies seem very exciting now. I'll be sick of it when the FO is done, though.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 7 April 2011 17:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
this woz match was really hilarious
― groovemaaan, Thursday, 7 April 2011 19:37 (2 years ago) Permalink
loving this even though it's corny as fuck:
― Roz, Saturday, 9 April 2011 01:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
Today, Sweta lost to one Irina-Camelia Begu, the World No 137 who had never won any WTA match prior to this week. Point and laugh.
Watching Wozniacki/Jankovic. Last three points of first set: netted Jankovic drive volley; Jankovic FH shank that's yet to bounce; Jankovic smash straight into the bottom of the net. Yeah I know. And Wozniacki's horrible top makes her look radioactive.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 9 April 2011 18:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
Don't tell Clijsters, she'll have to flee America.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 9 April 2011 18:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
Words can't describe how much I despise Wozniacki and Jankovic. Hate Caro slightly less though, so I suppose I'm, er, happy. Congrats to her on another tournament win.I really like Peng so hope she makes the final.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 9 April 2011 19:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
Peng and Vesnina are doing a decent job on the clay.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 9 April 2011 19:59 (2 years ago) Permalink
Peng has put up such good results this year but I worry about burning out a bit, she's played a hell of a lot.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 9 April 2011 20:44 (2 years ago) Permalink
Fight Peng! Let's not go and lose to friggin Vesnina now.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 9 April 2011 21:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
Lame.
Absolutely no chance I'll be watching a Wozniacki vs Vesnina final. Yuck.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 9 April 2011 21:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
This was a better match.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 9 April 2011 21:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
Clijsters "sprained her ankle" "dancing at a wedding" and has seized the not-at-all-predictable opportunity to pull out of RG FIVE WEEKS in advance. Not even trying with the excuses any more. God, she is the worst.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 10 April 2011 18:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
Fed just lost in straight sets to Jurgen Melzer at Monte Carlo
― fat fat fat fat Usher (DJP), Friday, 15 April 2011 13:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
I saw the last few games, Melzer was playing well but Fed was doing pretty much nothing. Not sure he's any more "done" than he was in '08 but this time it might actually show in a Slamless year...
― lex pretend, Friday, 15 April 2011 14:49 (2 years ago) Permalink
haven't watched any tennis in weeks, and the first thing I see is Petkorazzi losing the first set 4-6 to Woz after being up 4-1. -_-'
― Roz, Thursday, 21 April 2011 18:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
There was a shocking result from the women's match this week, Na Li won a match! (And then lost her next match in straight sets to Sabine Lisicki, but still!)
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Friday, 22 April 2011 21:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oudin won a match, too! And then got a walkover, then a third set bagel from Brianti. Believe!
Rezai managed to lose to the #497-ranked Moroccan wildcard in Fes, lol. Big ups Nadia Lalami for becoming the first Moroccan woman in a WTA QF, though.
The SRB/SVK Fed Cup tie last week was hilarious, so much drama in that. Jankovic was initially benched (I think she was ill)...but that just set it up perfectly for her to ride in as the heroine to save the day after Ivanovic retired. Hantuchova lost both her singles rubbers in front of her home crowd, and then also lost the deciding doubles...from 6-2, 5-1, 30-0 up. And then apparently Ivanovic was nowhere to be seen when the Serbs celebrated when they'd won.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 23 April 2011 07:54 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh yeah, and the Groths divorced. Back to Jarmila Gajdosova already.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 23 April 2011 08:02 (2 years ago) Permalink
And! Last night Donald Young tweeted: Fuck USTA!! Their full of shit! They have screwed me for the last time! #enoughsaid
Then apologised for the language but not the content. Then deleted his Twitter account. Wonder what went on there.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 23 April 2011 08:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
J Görg owning Stosur at home in Stuttgart. Finished off the first set with some great points, set point with a drop.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 23 April 2011 12:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
Not sure exactly what happened with Young but he's always had a very contentious relationship with the USTA because they've been begging him for years to get a real tennis coach instead of using his dad.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Saturday, 23 April 2011 12:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
OMG Görges owning Wozniacki so far.. first set was tight, though, no breaks, but now it's 3-0. And Wozzy just got owned trying to moonball her way back into the match.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 24 April 2011 15:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
Julia could have won that first set a lot easier, she kept getting overexcited and bashing putaway shots 5 miles over the baseline whenever she got an open court. Playing görgesly right now though! Woz is terrible today even by her standards. Errors even when she tries to moonball.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 24 April 2011 15:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
sadface, I am singing in an Easter service and can't watch the owning
― I just like… I just have to say… (Starts crying) (DJP), Sunday, 24 April 2011 15:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
The owning completed with a service winner!
A couple of months ago, Goerges was losing to Han and Medina Garrigues on clay.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 24 April 2011 15:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles
― I just like… I just have to say… (Starts crying) (DJP), Sunday, 24 April 2011 16:00 (2 years ago) Permalink
She's still been pretty mentally strong in front of her home crowd. Don't think anyone would like to meet her at Roland G now. If Woz is going to win a Slam I don't see it being on clay for a long time, even though she's dominated the season to a certain extent. It's just so damn easy to run down her forehand on this surface.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 24 April 2011 16:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
agree, it's a misconception that clay favours passive players. You need the ability to finish a point more than ever on a slow surface.
plus I think a player's aptitude for clay is based less on their game and more on their upbringing (and thus familiarity with it). eg Hewitt, a defender who was always better on grass than clay. Wozniacki was raised on fast indoor hard courts in Denmark and she doesn't move or slide like a clay expert at all. It's her worst surface, I think. (Though she can still win RG because who else is there.)
― lex pretend, Sunday, 24 April 2011 16:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
Always nice to come home to see Wozniacki's lost.
― uberweiss, Monday, 25 April 2011 00:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
FYI, story behind the Young tweet: http://blog.timesunion.com/tennis/donald-youngs-not-so-nice-words-about-the-usta/5777/
Apparently, the USTA denied his request for a French Open wildcard after he missed the ratings cutoff by a week.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Monday, 25 April 2011 12:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
Sooooo who else is just tuning in for the GRUDGE MATCH in Estoril between Verdasco and Raonic? When Raonic and his big serve beat Verdasco twice in a row earlier this year, Verdasco said Raonic didn't play "real" tennis, and he couldn't wait to play him on clay. Well...NOW HE CAN! And let us see who is right.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 30 April 2011 17:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
Gorgeous Goerges does it again. d. Wozniacki 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. :)
― Roz, Thursday, 5 May 2011 12:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
So so great
I like this new thing of totally gorgeous, fun German female tennis players who take turns beating up on Woz
― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Thursday, 5 May 2011 12:35 (2 years ago) Permalink
That started with Lisicki trashing her in the Charleston '09 final, lest we forget! Such a shame about Lisicki's injuries since. Woz is even more powerless on red clay, if that's possible.
Midget Cibulkova taking down Sharapova yesterday was v pleasing too.
Really quite excited about the Rafa/Delpo match later today.
― lex pretend, Thursday, 5 May 2011 13:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
Yeah, it sucks that that's a second round match! Delpo's comeback from injury has been fantastic.
― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Thursday, 5 May 2011 13:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
Ranked out of the top 450 in Feb, and already in Slam seeding range! (though - hidden danger is that if he's not in the top 24 by seeding time, he's guaranteed to get one of the top 8 seeds in the 3rd round. Danger for them, I mean, I love blockbuster early rounds.)
It was nice to see Davydenko win the Munich title last week too, he might not be a Delpo but it would've been sad if his injuries had finished him off as a threat.
― lex pretend, Thursday, 5 May 2011 13:21 (2 years ago) Permalink
Davydenko. :)
I wish I could stay up ronight to watch Rafa/Delpo but I have an early morning assignment tmr. :( Rooting for JMDP of course, even though I think Nadal will win.
― Roz, Thursday, 5 May 2011 13:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
er, tonight*
...and Delpo w/d with a hip injury :(
― lex pretend, Thursday, 5 May 2011 14:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
oh boo. I was wondering if that might happen - he injured it in the Youzhny match but I thought he was fine given how he pretty much dismantled Cilic yesterday.
― Roz, Thursday, 5 May 2011 14:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
boo
― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Thursday, 5 May 2011 14:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
Djokovic is now 30-0 for the year. O_O
― Roz, Saturday, 7 May 2011 00:44 (2 years ago) Permalink
So who's watching Federer take a set off Nadal on clay?
― abcfsk, Saturday, 7 May 2011 15:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
I only just remembered this match was happening. Guess it's business as usual for Nadal now :[
― uberweiss, Saturday, 7 May 2011 16:05 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh that break point... Ugh whatever Fed.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 7 May 2011 16:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
*closes the stream*
― uberweiss, Saturday, 7 May 2011 16:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
Second set was tough to watch.. so much closer than the scoreline suggested, but Fed is pretty crappy at playing big points this day or closing out tight games.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 7 May 2011 16:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
these days*
― abcfsk, Saturday, 7 May 2011 16:39 (2 years ago) Permalink
Fed was so bloody shit on his 2 break points in the third set.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 7 May 2011 16:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
fuck yeahhhhh kvitova
― uberweiss, Sunday, 8 May 2011 14:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
is there anywhere streaming Kvitova/Azarenka?
Rooting strongly for the former!
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Sunday, 8 May 2011 14:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
http://www.fromsportcom.com/v-2/4/188/v-258957.html is the best stream i've found and it's not very good. lag central.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 8 May 2011 14:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
I've managed to watch a few points on it. I love how Kvitova looks so hungry and steely and yelps and looks focused.
But it's stopped working :(
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Sunday, 8 May 2011 14:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
http://www.fromsportcom.com/v-2/4/188/v-258957.html
― uberweiss, Sunday, 8 May 2011 15:01 (2 years ago) Permalink
works for me?
Working again, fantastic.
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Sunday, 8 May 2011 15:03 (2 years ago) Permalink
This has happened before. Through several matches she's looked like she'll just devour anyone in her path until she.. doesn't anymore. I don't think she's a huge power player - in her zone and with the right opponents she hits with great length, and stays aggressive, but I'd like to see her average ball speed compared to some of the biggest players. Being outhit today.
When I first saw her, on clay, I fell in love with her tennis. She made the softest, most controlled drop shots I'd seen on the WTA tour. That finesse is something I've rarely seen in her game since, and many brainless tournaments / a sketchy attitude turned me away. But she had something there, and it wasn't ball-bashing.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 8 May 2011 15:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
Kvitova is amazing. Maybe the most overwhelming firepower and aggression outside of the Williamses. I've noticed her finesse too - at Wimbledon last year it was noticeable that despite her bash-winner-now strategy from the baseline, every time she went to net she'd hit the softest touch volley rather than the expected bashing drive volley.
Why does my internet connection seem to get dodgier the bigger the match I'm trying to watch? Why why why why whyyyyyyyyyy
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 17:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
As for Azarenka, I...honestly don't get it. Even when I'm watching I don't see how or why she can dominate. There's just nothing special about her game. Even Woz's mad defensive skills leap out more.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 17:21 (2 years ago) Permalink
dayum rafa... i never know who to root for when these guys play each other.
― Roz, Sunday, 8 May 2011 17:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
I'm rooting for Nole! And if he lets a *4-0 lead go in this set...aargh
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 17:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
for me it's more like, which should be broken first: ridiculous continuous streak or ridiculous clay streak?
― Roz, Sunday, 8 May 2011 17:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
fucking intense game but still wtf nole
― Roz, Sunday, 8 May 2011 17:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
really, it's probably better for Nole if the streak is broken before RG. Wow, how many set points did he waste there? I didn't see the start of the match but Rafa looking so much stronger atm
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 17:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol what a way to end that set!
― Roz, Sunday, 8 May 2011 17:54 (2 years ago) Permalink
Nole wasted 3 set points, but the net cord was on his side eventually.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Sunday, 8 May 2011 17:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
Wow, after all that drama Nole gets the set by breaking Rafa to love, featuring two net cords? LOL
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 17:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
ridiculous tweener alert
― Roz, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:00 (2 years ago) Permalink
a tweener. lob. winner. ridiculous.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:03 (2 years ago) Permalink
this is a pretty good New Great Rivalry now that Fed's declined, huh
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:05 (2 years ago) Permalink
that rally was ~intense~
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
this has always been the better rivalry compared to Fedal imo.
― Roz, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
anyone got a decent stream?
― groovemaaan, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:19 (2 years ago) Permalink
fucking fucking livestream what are you doing to me
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:19 (2 years ago) Permalink
Nah, too many of their matches have been everlasting top spin fests without much excitement. xp
― abcfsk, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:19 (2 years ago) Permalink
I have no idea whether it's the stream that's shit or my internet connection
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
This arabian one works smoothly for me now http://www.fromsportcom.com/v-2/6/2/v-260296.html
― abcfsk, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
If you don't like topspin fests you probably won't like many Rafa matches
brilliant, thanks. wow the commentator is maybe the most annoying man in the world tho
xp
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
livestream is awful today - i was going to watch this in bed but gave up finding a working stream. am watching this on telly in the living room now.
these rallies are insane.
― Roz, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
...and now I think all the streams have packed up. being a tennis fan sucks sometimes.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
Same stream still works as before, although I had to refresh it once.
Isn't this rivalry entering the phase Fed/Rafa did when people started realizing they expected Rafa to win the next duel? Meaning Rafa's dominance is OVER. If Djoker wins today.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:37 (2 years ago) Permalink
bah i have to go to bed now, gotta be up again in five hours. :( damn time zones.
― Roz, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
The way Djokovic has constantly managed to push Rafa back with his returns has been really key to this match
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 18:59 (2 years ago) Permalink
Three match points...juuuuust misses a BH DTL on the first
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 19:01 (2 years ago) Permalink
wowowowowowowowow
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 19:03 (2 years ago) Permalink
and there it is! bravo.
― Roz, Sunday, 8 May 2011 19:03 (2 years ago) Permalink
Nice rally to finish up! When was the last time Rafa lost a match on clay?
― katstevens, Sunday, 8 May 2011 19:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
Robin Soderling, Roland Garros '09.
― Roz, Sunday, 8 May 2011 19:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
amazing
― groovemaaan, Sunday, 8 May 2011 19:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
Not since the RG defeat in '09...indeed here are all of Rafa's defeats on clay since 2005:
Buenos Aires QF, 2005 - l. Gaudio 6-0, 0-6, 1-6Valencia QF 2005 - l. Andreev 5-7, 2-6Hamburg F 2007 - l. Federer 6-2, 2-6, 0-6Rome 2R 2008 - l. Ferrero 5-7, 1-6Madrid F 2009 - l. Federer 4-6, 4-6Roland Garros 4R 2009 - l. Soderling 2-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-7Madrid F 2011 - l. Djokovic 5-7, 4-6
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 19:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
that '09 final in Madrid i felt he lost only because he had played that four-hour heartbreaker against yep, Djokovic in the semis.
― Roz, Sunday, 8 May 2011 19:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
Rome next week should be interesting just to see how much energy Rafa and Nole put into it...gotta be careful about the old peaking too early thing.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 8 May 2011 19:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
i don't like nole but i'm a sucker for cool streaks so i kind of don't want him to ever lose
― uberweiss, Sunday, 8 May 2011 20:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
So who holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak the start of a calendar year? I'm guessing McEnroe in 1984 must be up there - undefeated until the final of Roland Garros (two sets up vs Lendl). If you count the '83 Masters (played at Madison Sq Garden in Jan '84), World Team Cup and Davis Cup, he was 42-0 through June 8 that year. He was murderising ppl Nole-style too - e.g., winning a 32-draw indoor event in Brussels for the loss of 17 games.
Not sure Rafa or Fed have ever had a streak in the 30s? Must go and look...
― Michael Jones, Sunday, 8 May 2011 21:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
Ok, Fed had a 41-match streak from Aug '06 to Mar '07 (I know we're all a little down on Roger now - "the guy who loses semifinals" - but it only takes a glance on his stats to make the jaw drop; I mean, SIX 20+ winning streaks...). Nadal's best sequence was 32 in 2008.
― Michael Jones, Sunday, 8 May 2011 21:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
There are now no American men or women in the top 10, for the first time in history. And there seem to be very few prospects with top 10 potential out there too. Good job USTA.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Monday, 9 May 2011 13:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
Another week, another match where Kuznetsova loses to a nobody in an epic. I still begrudge her for beating Serena at the French in 2009 so yay.
― uberweiss, Monday, 9 May 2011 14:21 (2 years ago) Permalink
The GREAT ARN a nobody? She beat Sharapova earlier this year too!
I do fear that this Swetaslump is terminal, though. But nobody should be begrudged for beating Silliams.
There are now no American men or women in the top 10, for the first time in history. And there seem to be very few prospects with top 10 potential out there too.
I don't know, Ryan Harrison looks like he'll be pretty good. Christina McHale and Sloane Stephens don't really scream "future top 10" but they're doing better than most other girls their age - if you think the WTA is bad now, the paucity of any special juniors coming through is going to make it even worse in a few years' time...
― lex pretend, Monday, 9 May 2011 14:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol Oudin and Dushevina have beaten Sharapova as well.
― uberweiss, Monday, 9 May 2011 14:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh yeah and Kudryavtseva
― uberweiss, Monday, 9 May 2011 14:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
We've also seen the late bloomers from Germany this season, so there's still hope that 18-year olds of today become top players in a few years. /optimist
― abcfsk, Monday, 9 May 2011 14:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
re US players: Yeah there's Harrison and that's about it. I actually like his game but suspect i'm going to tire of him soon enough if his Roddick-esque on-court mantrums continue. Am already tiring of the bad behaviour from other junior pros like Dimitrov.
as for the women, as lex said, most of the fairly decent juniors don't really scream top 10 yet - this includes the likes of laura robson, heather watson and the pliskovas. Gavrilova, the current junior number two and last year's US Open girls' champion, seems okay. Kept waiting for Pavlyu-whateva to do something special but so far, ehhhh.
― Roz, Monday, 9 May 2011 14:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
What does the winner of Madrid do next you ask? Play a 100K tournament of course!
― uberweiss, Monday, 9 May 2011 20:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
Ivanovic - Petrova 6-0 3-0 ret, although I don't think that factored in on the first set. Petrova didn't mention any troubles talking to her coach. Great serving by Ana.
Why are the tennis gods so cruel. Why can't someone who plays such an attractive, clean tennis, and has the pop star qualities that help promote the sport, be stable? Why is it always the evil Wozniackis? Would anyone complain about the WTA if she dominated right now? I want to kill myself just thinking about her match against Clijsters. I need to invent malicious tennis gods to blame or else I could never forgive Ana for gifting Clijsters that.
KILL CARO IN THE THIRD ROUND KILL KILL
― abcfsk, Monday, 9 May 2011 20:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
Ivanovic is as irksome as Woz tbh, and her ultra-basic bashing game not that much more attractive
― lex pretend, Monday, 9 May 2011 20:37 (2 years ago) Permalink
I like Goerges and love Petkorazzi but I don't think they're late bloomers of Slam winning calibre - they'll hang around the top 20, maybe top 10, hopefully consistently, but that's it really. And a lot of the juniors coming through look like they'll be able to attain that. It's just that none of them screams "future Slam winner", let alone dominant Serena/Justine type figure.
It actually seems like anyone who comes close to phenom-style results regresses before they even get anywhere - Larcher de Brito, even Oudin. All going backwards already. Pavlyuchenkova is the top teenager in the world by a huge amount and nothing about her game leaps out. Of the 1992 girls, McHale and Watson are both retrievers...that's not a dominating style.
What is interesting is that the last wave of phenoms who broke through - Vaidisova, Karatantcheva, Golovin, Paszek - all had their careers completely fail for unrelated reasons. That must be unprecedented - based on their results as 16-year-olds and their raw talent, you could legitimately have expected them to be at the top right now.
― lex pretend, Monday, 9 May 2011 20:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh no you didn't! The slice was a constant weapon today, as in so many victories.
― abcfsk, Monday, 9 May 2011 20:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
Well it's not like she has a particularly good drive backhand.
― lex pretend, Monday, 9 May 2011 20:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
Good volleys, good hands.
― abcfsk, Monday, 9 May 2011 21:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
By the rock-bottom standards of today's Tour, maybe. She's hardly a Novotna.
― lex pretend, Monday, 9 May 2011 21:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
Schiavone looking pretty dangerous again.
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 10 May 2011 13:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
Hey go figure: Nadal just lost the first set of his match to Paolo Lorenzi (29 years old, career ATP match record of 5-18).
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Wednesday, 11 May 2011 12:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
Ah well, after a surprisingly tough 2nd set, Nadal 6-0s set 3 to take the match. Still, good show Paolo.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Wednesday, 11 May 2011 14:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
ohhhh 7-6 4-4 30-0 and lorenzi misses an easy volley :[ wouldve been the funniest result ever
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 14:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
I do hate Wickmayer.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 16:58 (2 years ago) Permalink
haha she is pretty awful. I support this result though, because Ivanovic is such a golden weekly source of comedy. What lead will she choke away this week!
Jankovic lost to Safarova last week. This week, only loses three games to her. wut.
Verdasco is having a really poor year, down to 17 in the rankings already...
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 20:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
After the first set I was just about ready to gloat in the general direction of your hatorade, but then Ana had to do her thing again. I fear her coach is going to be the sixth on the chopping block.
At least Wozniacki-Wick is one less match to watch.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 21:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
You guys I just bought tix to the ATP finals in November :) Hurray for forward planning (and boo to Queens ballot failure)
― katstevens, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 21:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
i went last year, they're super-expensive - worth doing it obv but i think it's a bit too much of a lottery for me, certainly given how cheap and easy wimbledon is. (i'll be doing my usual thing of going in the first week.)
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 21:19 (2 years ago) Permalink
Are you guaranteed to get in to outside courts by just showing up for Wimbledon?
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 21:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
If you're prepared to queue for a few hours, then yes. If I had more flexible working hours I'd totally queue up for Wimbledon again.
― katstevens, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 21:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
i've always started queueing at 8.30ish and that's been more than fine for ground passes
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 21:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
Tried the ticket lottery once, with all its complicated rules, to no success. Having to fly across the sea it would be a shame if I ended up at the entrance, locked out, but that sounds nice. Perhaps next year.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 22:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
ivanovic is always so terrified on the court nowadays. i wonder if she likes tennis
i've been to wimbledon every year for the past few years. seeing serena and venus aka my two all time favourite people play doubles was amazing. best tennis experience ever though was QUEENS FINAL 2008 NADAL DEF DJOKOVIC.
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 22:35 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh and Safina is out of the French Open.
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 22:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
I went to Wimbledon lots 1987-2003 but not since - lots of different experiences; queueing from 8am and not getting in until 5pm, queueing after work at 6pm and getting in immediately, going in the evening, seeing queues around the car park and giving up, scoring tickets for court #2, scoring resales for Centre, getting in and watching the entire day get washed out, etc, etc.
Never forget your first experience of pro tennis up close though - for me, it was Andres Gomez on an outside court. Just beautiful.
― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 22:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
My first experience was also an outside court during Wimbledon 1987. Perhaps we were watching Gomez together, me the pubescent geek and you the older, cooler kid with the scary accent.
― Mark C, Thursday, 12 May 2011 09:05 (2 years ago) Permalink
yeah - mine was Lindsay Davenport d. Maria Vento-Kabchi (or Maria Alejandra Vento as she was known then) in three sets on Court 2. Davenport was the #2 seed but I had an inkling Vento could stretch her, having reached the last 16 the year before.
Vento's career wasn't as consistent as I thought it would be - especially once she married, the Kabchi of her name was some rich lawyer iirc - but a few years ago in its twilight she had a weird resurgence and made the last 16 of the USO and made the top 30. She had a nice game! Flat, hard hitting like Tanasugarn - not the usual topspinny retrieving you expect of Latin American players.
― lex pretend, Thursday, 12 May 2011 09:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
Perhaps we were watching Gomez together, me the pubescent geek and you the older, cooler kid with the scary accent.
I was never cool, Mark. Especially not at 18.
― Michael Jones, Thursday, 12 May 2011 09:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
Such amazing tennis from Sharppavaova right now. Down 0-2 against Peer, who has not really let off after that, she plays relentless tennis, but Masha found answers and we've had some pretty crazy duels. Now 5-2 after double ace. Consistency, give me consistency after this PLEASE.
(and it's 6-2)
― abcfsk, Thursday, 12 May 2011 16:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
no intention of watching this but Schiavone/Hantuchova was great fun earlier. Such a nice surprise to tune into a women's match with a huge crowd real atmosphere - commentators said it was the biggest WTA audience since the AO. The match was another hilarious Hantuchova special - serving at *5-5, 30-0...double fault, then just total collapse, including two of the most pathetic dropshots I've ever seen (seriously Dementievaesque). Very happy for Fran to pull it out in front of her home crowd! She is genuinely the WTA's shining beacon right now, I looooove her.
― lex pretend, Thursday, 12 May 2011 16:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
Absolutely night and day to see the wta audience in Rome vs Madrid, where no one gave a shit. Helps with Schiavone vs no Spaniards, of course.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 12 May 2011 16:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
How can you take Schiavone seriously when she grunts so much, lex??
― abcfsk, Thursday, 12 May 2011 16:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
despite the Schiavone audience, I don't think combined events is a very good idea on the WTA's part. Though when has the WTA ever had a good idea (I actually mean that, it's such a terribly-run organisation).
Schiavone's deeper grunt means it's not quite so piercing or annoying to hear.
― lex pretend, Thursday, 12 May 2011 16:35 (2 years ago) Permalink
federer/gasquet getting interesting
― rrrrap critic Komsomol (Lamp), Thursday, 12 May 2011 16:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
Well that was the best she's played since 2008. Azarenka next, oh god.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 12 May 2011 16:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
Azarenka next, oh god.
*mutes life*
― lex pretend, Thursday, 12 May 2011 16:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
0 DFs from sharapova omfg
― uberweiss, Thursday, 12 May 2011 16:54 (2 years ago) Permalink
I will murder someone if I read another preview with that angle.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 12 May 2011 16:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
if you do it during the match it'll be the perfect disguise for the screams of your victim
― lex pretend, Thursday, 12 May 2011 17:01 (2 years ago) Permalink
Pffft.
Play more creatively, please, Roger.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 12 May 2011 17:13 (2 years ago) Permalink
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
man there was that one point Gasquet played in that third set tiebreak that was just like WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW
glad to see Richard the mental case not freak out
― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Thursday, 12 May 2011 17:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
who the fuck loses two tiebreaks to gasquet
― uberweiss, Thursday, 12 May 2011 21:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
lololololololol
When I less informed more obnoxious, I used to think the French Open only counted if you won it twice owing to rub people who only won it once. In the spirit of that, coming good just before it and then winning it two years in a row would be so great for Schiavone, and for women's tennis in general. Doubly hope she ends up in Wozniacki's half and carves her up on clay like she would have on the plexi if she hadn't been clagged in January...
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Thursday, 12 May 2011 23:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
uhhh schiavone's been in horrible form all year. beating hantuchova 7-5 in the 3rd on red clay of all things isn't really a great indicator for the french.
― uberweiss, Friday, 13 May 2011 00:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
Didn't say it was likely, saying it's what I hope against all rational evidence for :(
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Friday, 13 May 2011 02:03 (2 years ago) Permalink
haha srsly
wonder if roger has mortality issues over turning 30 or something...
― funperson (Lamp), Friday, 13 May 2011 02:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
Did love this comment on a Yahoo news item though.
"When the third set gets going all you have to do against Hantuchova is stand upright and stick your racquet out."
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Friday, 13 May 2011 02:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol otm - the minute it got to 5-5 I knew she'd lose.
uhhh schiavone's been in horrible form all year.
what makes RG so potentially nutsy is that so has everyone else. you could make a case for Azarenka and then you remember she's never been past the QF of any Slam and can't stay healthy. you could make a case for Woz and then remember that any B-rate basher on a good day can take her out.
w/r/t the abomination on my live stream right now, does anyone remember when Jelena Jankovic was actually a good player, and one who was so fantastic and dynamic to watch? because she is so fucking bad at the moment and doesn't seem to care.
― lex pretend, Friday, 13 May 2011 14:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
the fh-to-fh rallies are complete nightmares. These players suck.
― lex pretend, Friday, 13 May 2011 14:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
Couldn't make myself watch that match.. hopefully the big crowd at centre court will get a good match now, though.
― abcfsk, Friday, 13 May 2011 14:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
I used to love Jankovic and always delude myself that of all the failed placeholder #1s, she's the most likely to come back strong (based mostly on her stellar record against the Williamses). but apart from a few times when her native solidity carried her through a draw falling apart, she's sucked for over two years now. I should really give up on her.
― lex pretend, Friday, 13 May 2011 14:37 (2 years ago) Permalink
i'm glad the french open is going to be such a catastrophic mess this year (even moreso than usual). i have exams and no distractions! yay! last year when serena lost to stosur (ughhhhhhh even the thought of it still makes me shudder) i couldn't revise for days :/
― uberweiss, Friday, 13 May 2011 14:58 (2 years ago) Permalink
Last year's FO final was pretty good, though.
― abcfsk, Friday, 13 May 2011 15:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
Yeah the way Fran played the winning TB <3 <3 <3
One of the best women's Slam finals of recent times.
― lex pretend, Friday, 13 May 2011 15:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
that's saying a lot!
fave women's slam final in the last 5 years is defo 2008 US <3
― uberweiss, Friday, 13 May 2011 17:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol it's not saying very much at all! the last decade hasn't been kind to women's tennis finals.
RG '01, Capriati d. ClijstersAO '02, Capriati d. HingisWim '05, V.Williams d. DavenportWim '06, Mauresmo d. HeninAO '10, S.Williams d. HeninRG '10, Schiavone d. StosurAO '11, Clijsters d. Li
^^only ones in the past decade I'd stretch to calling "good" finals (never saw that Serena/Jelena one). Always makes me sad that Henin never won a great final, her great matches always seemed to come in the QF/SF and her finals were mostly one-sided.
― lex pretend, Friday, 13 May 2011 17:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
2006 US Open was good!
― abcfsk, Friday, 13 May 2011 17:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
haha I knew you'd come in with that, I never saw it though (I often end up missing USO finals). terrible final result obv ;)
― lex pretend, Friday, 13 May 2011 17:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
yknow i was being sarcastic right?
you missed a classic with the 2008 US! serena was down 3-5 0-40 in the 2nd set
and the AO 03 final was great
― uberweiss, Friday, 13 May 2011 17:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
haha i should've got that. don't remind me of Jelena's three set points ;_;
In other news, Azarenka has now retired TEN times since the start of 2010. Third of the year already.
― lex pretend, Friday, 13 May 2011 19:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
Azarenka:
FootFault_: RT @Ataraxis00: Oh whoa.. they showed the replay. She most certainly did call her a "f*cking b*tch." Drama!!
― abcfsk, Friday, 13 May 2011 19:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
First set was pretty tight. It was after that we got Azarenka's quote.
― abcfsk, Friday, 13 May 2011 19:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
lulz, accurate but like Azarenka can talk
― lex pretend, Friday, 13 May 2011 19:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
Li Na take it all!! The only acceptable winner left.
― lex pretend, Friday, 13 May 2011 19:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
Well they haven't exactly seemed like friends before, I recall "is her last name Jankovic?"
This match was pretty good before that (Azarenka got it stretching for a crazy forehand from Masha)-- so much better than their recent meetings. Felt like it could've gone to three high-energy sets.
― abcfsk, Friday, 13 May 2011 19:37 (2 years ago) Permalink
Omg I missed Murray - Fayer 1-6 6-1 6-1
― abcfsk, Friday, 13 May 2011 19:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
love azarenka just for giving us a bit of drama. a tour full of wannabe saints is so boring
― uberweiss, Friday, 13 May 2011 20:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
don't remind me of Jelena's three set points ;_;
actually she had four. she doublefaulted on the fourth one :]
― uberweiss, Friday, 13 May 2011 20:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
Very sad and tough day for me. Very hard to retire like this. Said some things to myself on the match that I'm not proud of. But it was just Being mad at myself. Will never refer anything to my opponent. I play with respect to every single player. I apologise if there was a Misunderstanding of that situation. Thank u for the support and so many spectators. The atmosphere was great
― abcfsk, Friday, 13 May 2011 20:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
Which seems a bit odd, after winning the set. But you know
― abcfsk, Friday, 13 May 2011 20:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol @ Azarenka, lol @ Twitter, lol @ the tennis journalists now whitewashing what is really a very minor drama by buying into that non-explanation
― lex pretend, Friday, 13 May 2011 20:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
Nole is playing really very well, btw, but you knew that already. Soderling actually looked like he had him on the ropes at 3-3 in the third when he got a couple of break points and was slamming winners everywhere, but he juuuust missed the relevant points and Nole juuuuust got the lines and since then, one-way traffic.
― lex pretend, Friday, 13 May 2011 20:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
first slam without a williams sister for 8 years :/
― uberweiss, Friday, 13 May 2011 23:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
So it seems Sam Stosur will take this tournament and go into the French as a contender again.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 May 2011 11:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
Ugh
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 May 2011 11:54 (2 years ago) Permalink
Lest we forget she's spent the clay season before this losing to, like, Vesnina and Pavlyuchenkova though.
I think Sharapova will beat Wozniacki, for all the cow-on-ice jokes she's not as hapless on clay as people think, and for all her defensive style, Wozniacki's much more vulnerable on it than people think. I don't really know who'd win a Sharapova/Stosur final.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 May 2011 11:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
Hope so, but Woz still has the ability to make opponents suck more than usual on any surface. Maria leads Stosur 7-0 in h2h, but they've never played on clay.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 May 2011 12:01 (2 years ago) Permalink
Why are you serving to her backhand why are you serving to her backhand why are you serving to her backhand.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
This match is so frustrating. I can't believe I'm supporting Maria? I can't believe it's this close, ugh, Woz is SO BAD
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:35 (2 years ago) Permalink
Like, Woz doesn't even HIT THE BALL CLEANLY, she just hacks it back hacks it back hacks it back and makes Maria fall over, which admittedly I laughed out loud in real life at, but Woz's forehand is actually an abomination so WHY DOESN'T MARIA HIT TO IT MORE
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:37 (2 years ago) Permalink
Maria did her best to choke the first set, flunking volleys and yeah, giving Woz backhand opportunities. Someone get her the memo.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
Was that siren was the ambulance coming for the corpse of women's tennis?
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
I really do think Piotr has some sort of dark magic spell going on, though, inflicting unforced errors on the opponent. Caro's poison to any match, anyway.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
Sharapova may still be dominating the rallies but this match is now being played exactly how Woz wants it - multiple deuces, grinding rallies, she's managed to turn it into a fitness marathon. And guess who wins those.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
Talking of Piotr can I just bitch about on-court coaching? Why is this still going on? No real top player countenances it. No commentator or journalist approves. Every fan mocks it. I refuse to believe platitudes muttered in Czech have brought any casual fan around to the sport. It certainly hasn't raised the quality of the game. And it's embarrassing watching Our World No 1 get shouted at by daddy on every changeover. Whyyyyyyy is it still a thing.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
Also are Woz's moonballs magnetised to the baseline or what.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
Hurts the reputation of the women's game in a real way. "Makes the match more entertaining" according to Caro.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
how could any match involving wozniacki possibly be made more entertaining
― uberweiss, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
it's pretty entertaining when someone just goes ham on her and kills her in 45 minutes, like Kvitova or Li
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
What about that thing vs Zvonareva with the hysterics.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
i saw kvitova vs wozniacki wimbledon live and yeah that was the best thing i've ever seen
― uberweiss, Saturday, 14 May 2011 16:01 (2 years ago) Permalink
YES MOTHER FFF COME ON NOW
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 May 2011 16:03 (2 years ago) Permalink
Sharapova at the finishing line. Why do I feel so much more confident about her crossing it than I would if this was Demented or Bepa.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 May 2011 16:03 (2 years ago) Permalink
easily my favourite result of the year
maria looked so happy afterwards! she's gonna get so much confidence from this. WHAT A LAST GAME. such a fun match
― uberweiss, Saturday, 14 May 2011 16:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh god yes. Nice enthusiasm afterwards, and lol @ her fiance's sweaty palms throughout the match. For all my complaints 36/27 is pretty good w/ue.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 May 2011 16:08 (2 years ago) Permalink
Haha, never thought I'd see Maria so exultant about beating someone who's never won a Slam.
Here endeth my brief support of Sharapova, though tbh Stosur is gross as well, so...just as well I'm missing the final tomorrow.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 May 2011 16:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
There's really no reason why Sharapova shouldn't smash Sam to pieces tomorrow.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 14 May 2011 16:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
I also don't think it's silly to say that clay has now been Maria's best surface since '08.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 14 May 2011 16:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
Stosur's serve and FH? I mean I hate her but they're pretty massive weapons, unlike anything Woz possesses. And both seemed to be actually working against Li.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 May 2011 16:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
Well there IS a reason, or question mark, since they've never played on Sam's best surface! Hopefully Masha can keep her confidence.
Oh and yeah, we can all unite against Woz, at the very least.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 14 May 2011 16:13 (2 years ago) Permalink
Sam sucks against tall big hitters where her service weapon is nullified a bit. Venus smashed her in Madrid last year. Maria should do the same!
― uberweiss, Saturday, 14 May 2011 16:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
Also every time Azarenka's retired this year, her opponent's gone on to win the tournament. Can't argue with that
― uberweiss, Saturday, 14 May 2011 16:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
Ooh, these "strong is beautiful" pictures are a bit of a mixed bag aren't they:http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=434565
Best ones are Zvonareva, Li, Kvitova, Radwanska, Kuznetsova. Worst one is obviously Stosur or Bartoli.
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Sunday, 15 May 2011 00:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh wait, the Safarova, Pennetta and Dulko ones are pretty fierce too.
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Sunday, 15 May 2011 00:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
2 double faults whilst serving for the match. Nice, Murray.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 15 May 2011 01:02 (2 years ago) Permalink
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 10:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
Rezai is the best I think. She has an amazing face <3
Azarenka and Petkovic didn't really come out of it well either - wtf is with the make-up? - but the most baffling ones are the ones like Lisicki where half their face is hidden. Overall a bit of a damp squib despite the decent concept. I don't think the WTA's marketing has ever been even decent though, always so cheesecake.
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 11:00 (2 years ago) Permalink
I'd like a Vujacic close-up during that stumble.
^ Same dude who did those slo-mo videos for New York Times. At least we've seen worse from the WTA.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 11:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
hate rain
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 12:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol at Stosur, she really cannot ever hope to beat Sharapova surely even on clay.
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
12 points to 1 already. Can't see why this won't be about 6-1 6-1.
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
Do you have a stable stream or are you watching on tv? All of them seem choppy.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
Choppy stream :(
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
Stosur on the scoreboard.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
One break back. Not quite time to pull out our thread's catchphrase YET BUT MAYBE.
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
WTF did not realise this was on. Got here in time for the set point. What was the set like??
― uberweiss, Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
"not the most naturally talented.. or even natural athleticism.. but her will to win" <- ES commentators speaking about Sharapova.
Time to retire this particular line? She's not hitting those long and hard shots off her fighting spirit. I mean, it once had some basis of truth, with her movement and whatnot, but it's become the biggest cliche at this point. You don't win matches just because you want to, and besides, she's lost several matches she should've won because of confidence issues.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:44 (2 years ago) Permalink
Sharapova stormed into the lead. Stosur got ONE point in the first three GAMES. But then things calmed down, Stosur even broke Masha once and got a few points in a row. Then the set was over.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:45 (2 years ago) Permalink
Stosur's weapons just don't work here. Her kick serve that would flummox someone her own height just seems to end up right in Sharapova's hitting zone, and coming straight back to her backhand which isn't any good. If anything, Stosur is better positioned off the Sharapova serve than off her own. She must have been so upset she wasn't facing Wozniacki.
Don't get too bullish on Sharapova winning RG on the score.
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh actually the idea of Sharapova winning RG is best kept as far off my mind as possible, lest I get illusions that lead to inevitable crushing disappointment. Anyway, Clijsters is looking at coming back there and will probably slime herself to another trophy.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
Gotta love Stosur's BH
― uberweiss, Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
Sharapova does!
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
These linespeople fucking suck
― uberweiss, Sunday, 15 May 2011 16:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
Great game to get through! C'mon Maria I'm supposed to be going out at 6
― uberweiss, Sunday, 15 May 2011 16:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
Seems really unnecessary to let Stosur win any of her serve games.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 16:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
Thankfully Stosur's being nice and giving us some of her trademark shank shots 20 metres out.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 15 May 2011 16:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
YES YES A THOUSAND TIMES YES
― uberweiss, Sunday, 15 May 2011 16:37 (2 years ago) Permalink
That's the bloody way to do it! 2nd set more spotty than it needed to be, you could see the nerves - this is the first tier 1 tournament victory for her in 20 months. Almost doesn't feel real tbh.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 16:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
Beating Wozniacki and Stosur back to back with forehand winners <3 More than anything she seems much more mentally strong than a few months ago
― uberweiss, Sunday, 15 May 2011 16:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 16:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
― uberweiss, Sunday, 15 May 2011 16:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
That image doesn't work.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
smh I remember when no one on ilx tennis threads was a Sharapova fan.
in Nadal/Djokovic news, BLOODY LIVE STREAMS what is wrong with them
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
dark ages
This stream works smoothly atm http://www.fromsportcom.com/v-2/4/188/v-258956.html
Why do their points always have to be so long.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
of course a Sharapova fan wouldn't be able to appreciate long, compelling rallies, ie the essence of the sport
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
(and thanks)
Started chopping as soon as I said that.
Well I do! but they could agree on skipping the introductory ten 'five meters above the net' top spin exchanges before getting to it. Starting to get good now, though.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
it's classic clay tennis, I love seeing the ebb and flow of rallies around a neutral position
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
Alos, Petra Kvitova lost in her hometown Challenger that she played instead of Rome - to the renowned claycourter RYBARIKOVA wtffffffff
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:39 (2 years ago) Permalink
Sure, but I guess I don't think some of these guys' long long long clay court matches have been among the best. But then I really disliked Nadal before he started adding weapons to his game, and generally like him now.
(Ah, Kvitova. Now she and Wozniacki will inexplicably play in Brussels the week before RG)
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
I've always liked long-rallying counterpunchers and finesse players rather than caveman hit-winner-now big servers and bashers. Says a lot about Woz that even she is beyond the pale (though I always hated the pure retrievers like Coetzer and Smashnova too). Zvereva, Myskina, Henin are pretty much my ideal female players.
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
fucking hell some of Djokovic's shots...that volley...the ANGLE of that fh!!!
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
I don't like pure bashers, believe it or not, and I'm only happy with Marias play when she doesn't hit at random. She hasn't this week, except when the nerves have gone to her head - she's been patient, created opportunities for the pure winners. There's a beauty in finding the angles, the lines, the surgically precise depth, and the game would be so boring if the counterpunchers didn't have heavy hitters whose balls they could impressively run down.
I mean, Sharapova - Henin was a great match-up. Clean, ruthless attacks vs the slices, the speedy backhand. That three-setter in the year-end chship which Henin ended up winning was a classic. And Henin's most entertaining match was against power-Capriati, US Open '03.
The only type of players I'll always hate are the Isners and the pushers.
Nadal needs to just go for it without being down a break.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 18:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
I think I could like Maria's game - I love Kvitova - but the corporate hype immediately after she won Wimbledon + the shrieking = no no no no.
Amazing x-court BH winner and Nole takes the set despite failing to serve out. Astonishingly high quality.
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 18:15 (2 years ago) Permalink
It really is amazing how quickly he's gained dominance over Nadal.
Oh hey Nadal did a cow on ice.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 18:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
Rafa's turn to be a cow on ice!
hahaaaaa xp
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 18:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
Rafa loses a 40-0 lead on his serve to get broken!
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 18:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
Bounce that ball one more time why don't you.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol
― that whore of your grandfather's (rip van wanko), Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
These streams are gonna drive me to murder one day, maybe today
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
They always seem to stutter only just when a point starts.
Djoker so close now.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
AARGH YOU FUCKER WORK BEFORE I SMASH YOU UP
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
That's itttt. Four finals in a row.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
4 and 4 o_O
― that whore of your grandfather's (rip van wanko), Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
holy shit that was fucking amazing
― Roz, Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:30 (2 years ago) Permalink
i don't think anyone could have expected Djokovic not to lose a set to Nadal across two clay finals this year, even given the streak.
so impressive - what i saw of the second set wasn't as whoa tennis-wise, but in terms of a) being unafraid to take the streak, and the pressure, into Paris, and b) surely knowing he had to get it done in two, because there were some tired-looking errors creeping in - so impressive from Nole.
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
the last game and point were super dramatic - holy shit, Djokovic has three championship pts! omg he flubs one! deuce! phwoar BH. wtf net cord. wtf net cord again, oh yay Nole!
― Roz, Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
fucking live streams, saw none of that
am sure they get extra choppy on match points
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
:(
there's always the highlights reel?
― Roz, Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
yeah, i have seen pretty much every Rafa/Nole match start to end this year so overall i'm doing okay. if it hadn't been for the rain delaying it, i might well have missed this entirely.
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:53 (2 years ago) Permalink
don't get why Nadal keeps trying to hit to Djokovic's BH though - i mean obvs it works when playing Fed but Nole's CC BH is just vicious.
― Roz, Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
this is ridicccccccc
i am salivating for a nadal-djokovic french final. best of 5. omg.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 15 May 2011 20:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
So nervous about the French Open draw right now.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 May 2011 20:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
Lol @ reading Wozniacki's dinner plan tweets with every man and women on the tour, and then:
Sharapova, who took a long period off the circuit following surgery two years ago, said she kept to herself on the circuit."It is tough to have really good friends on the tour," she said. "I find it difficult to be having dinner with someone one night and then having to play them two days later because it is at the end of the day an individual sport and we are all very competitive...."I don't hang around in the locker room - it's my least favourite place in the world.
"It is tough to have really good friends on the tour," she said. "I find it difficult to be having dinner with someone one night and then having to play them two days later because it is at the end of the day an individual sport and we are all very competitive....
"I don't hang around in the locker room - it's my least favourite place in the world.
― abcfsk, Monday, 16 May 2011 11:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
fuck. clijsters is confirmed to be playing the french :[ go awayyyy
― uberweiss, Monday, 16 May 2011 12:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
It would be worse than anything if Clijsters won. Would much rather see Wozniacki take the trophy. Hopefully the clay tears her down.
― abcfsk, Monday, 16 May 2011 13:01 (2 years ago) Permalink
I still <3 Kim and I hope she wins but I doubt she will. Obv a Schiavone repeat would be much more fun but that's not happening either. It will be "one of those" tournaments where people will look at the draw and work out that certain match-ups are more favourable for certain players, and then everyone will be wrong and it'll be won by Kuznetsova* or someone.
( * obv not actually Kuznetsova)
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Monday, 16 May 2011 14:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
I just want something completely nutsy to happen. The GREAT ARN SLAM is upon us!
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Monday, 16 May 2011 14:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
or like...Dulgheru
lol Shahar Pe'er just lost to Casey Dellacqua. LOLOLOL how is she ranked so high anyway!
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Monday, 16 May 2011 14:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
ALSO. Patty Schnyder just lost. This isn't particularly noteworthy, and arguably she could have retired some time ago, but now seems about right, given that the woman she lost to is called ALISON VAN UYTVANCK.
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Wednesday, 18 May 2011 01:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
Similarly - JJ, how can you lose against Sofia Arvidsson?
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 18 May 2011 15:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
Ayumi Morita def Casey Dellacqua 1-6, 6-0, 7-5
I love scorelines like this
― I HAVE ISSUES (DJP), Wednesday, 18 May 2011 15:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
Because JJ is shit ;_;
I watched a bit of Alison van Uytvanck's loss to Wickmayer today and seriously, remember the name. I don't think I've seen anyone play quite like her - and her game is super-effective. Pretty much controlling things until she served for the first set - at *6-5 30-0 she tried to be a touch too cute and then lost, like 10 straight points, fin. But we'll be hearing of her again sooner rather than later. It's been ages since I've been this impressed with a junior player.
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Wednesday, 18 May 2011 15:19 (2 years ago) Permalink
Also she is a ginger!
I love scorelines like that too. I know someone who refers to them as scoreLiNas, on account of a certain player who often wins/loses by them.
remember the name
Hard not to!
Yeah I haven't seen any of her matches, but people were talking after the Schnyder win. Let's hope she's the real deal.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 18 May 2011 15:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
Keep playing tough matches on clay the week before Roland Garros, Caro.
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 18 May 2011 19:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
Hope she makes the final.
Not if she's only getting ONE GAME off Bepa. Still, well done Bepa.
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Thursday, 19 May 2011 13:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
After Bepa had to go to three sets against some nobody yesterday.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 19 May 2011 13:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
wozniacki might have the easiest draw to the quarterfinals ever.
Clijsters/Sharapova QF :/
Mens title is wide open now that Roddick's withdrawn.
― uberweiss, Friday, 20 May 2011 11:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
Crazy qf/sfs lined up. At first, sucks that Maria gets Clijsters and Vika in her half, but Vika has Cibulkova and Kvitova in her quarter so at least some baddies will be gone.
Federer and Nadal's got it pretty tough.
― abcfsk, Friday, 20 May 2011 11:39 (2 years ago) Permalink
Don't people always say that and then Nadal makes mince-meat even of the tough people?
(I say this without even having looked at the draw and gone "Oh anyone even remotely hard in Wozniacki's section will lose to a nobody" first)
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Friday, 20 May 2011 11:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
Also, this <3 ! I wish tennis were more widely followed as this is excelsior-worthy.
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Friday, 20 May 2011 11:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
start a new thread for roland garros someone, i don't have time right now
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Friday, 20 May 2011 12:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
It would have taken about 10 seconds longer out of your busy life than posting that did.
― the goon is in the gutter (onimo), Friday, 20 May 2011 12:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
thanks for the snark but when i start a slam thread i like to do draw commentary and such as well, which takes rather longer than 10 seconds
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Friday, 20 May 2011 12:49 (2 years ago) Permalink
Someone snark at lex for me, I don't have time right now
― the goon is in the gutter (onimo), Friday, 20 May 2011 13:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
Okay, I am going to force myself through a SHITTY STREAM for you Francesca, so beat Wozniacki!
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Friday, 20 May 2011 14:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
So much amazing net play from Schiavone and so many loose points between them :(
― I don't wanna be with nobody but boobs. Oh no. (edwardo), Friday, 20 May 2011 15:19 (2 years ago) Permalink
Women's qualies placed. Predix from 4R!
Wozniacki d. BeguGoerges d. StosurZvonareva d. PavlyuchenkovaSchiavone d. Mattek-SandsKvitova d. LiAzarenka d. WatsonSharapova d. RadwanskaClijsters d. Hradecka
Wozniacki d. GoergesSchiavone d. ZvonarevaKvitova d. AzarenkaSharapova d. Clijsters
Wozniacki d. SchiavoneKvitova d. Sharapova
Kvitova d. Wozniacki
That actually looks too NORMAL to happen. Christ, I have no idea whatsoever.
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Friday, 20 May 2011 15:39 (2 years ago) Permalink
fuck, wrong thread
― that's my hair no horses up there (lex pretend), Friday, 20 May 2011 15:40 (2 years ago) Permalink
http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/blog/busted_racquet/post/Serena-8217-s-back-Williams-confirms-tennis-re;_ylt=AsFjd16Gh7d7EcOTNgkdi7w4v7YF?urn=ten-wp1389
I could cry. I truly could.
― uberweiss, Tuesday, 7 June 2011 10:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
YOU GUYS MIRJANA LUCIC BEAT A TOP THIRTY PLAYER.
Even if it was just Roberta Vinci.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Wednesday, 8 June 2011 03:05 (2 years ago) Permalink
For some reason I'm surprised that was - by far - the biggest win of her comeback!
Nice to see Wozniacki shooting her minimal Wimbledon chances in the foot by playing an indoor hard court tournament this week.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Wednesday, 8 June 2011 07:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
I don't think I can take the arguments over the Williamses' Wimbledon seedings again. Every year this happens. Every yeeeeaaaaaar. And still no one seems to read the rules.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Wednesday, 8 June 2011 07:21 (2 years ago) Permalink
(What are the rules?)
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 8 June 2011 09:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
Man, I'm enjoying watching Mona Barthel. She can volley, she's got variety, she can flatten the ball out and go for a killstrike. She's good. Her game looks perfect for grass. She should be in Birmingham.
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 8 June 2011 10:17 (2 years ago) Permalink
- If you're out for six months you get protected rankings for tournament entry but NOT seeding (ie even if Serena's ranking dies after Wimbledon she'll still be able to enter tournaments without a wildcard, but she won't be seeded in them until her actual ranking merits it)- Seeding in non-Slams goes by ranking (both Venus and Serena will be unseeded next week at Eastbourne)- Seeding in non-Wimbledon Slams goes by ranking- Seeding at Wimbledon occasionally deviates from rankings (but not as a matter of course). They employ a grass-court formula for the men but not the women. The official rule is that only the top 32 players can be seeded, but they can move those 32 around as they see fit. (A rule they broke for Sharapova in 2009, which I am still pissed off about.)
Presently Serena is 25 and Venus 32. Serena will definitely be seeded, almost certainly bumped up to the top 24, probably into the top 16, maybe into the top 8. Venus...could be overtaken by Errani and/or Safarova this week, and no one ahead of her looks likely to pull out, which would make things interesting. Would Wimbledon break its own rule again to seed her? Even though it backfired when they did it for Sharapova? Of course if she stays at 32 it won't matter.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Wednesday, 8 June 2011 10:21 (2 years ago) Permalink
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2011-bethanie-mattek-sands-blog.htm
Very few times have players gotten in each other's faces on the court in a match, but the doubles match between Rennae Stubbs/Casey Dellacqua and Liezel Huber/Lisa Raymond got a little heated, mostly due to the fact that Liezel and Rennae aren't the best of friends. In the middle of the match, Rennae told Leizel what she really thought of her, got a warning from the umpire and ended up getting fined $2,000. I personally get along with both players and think the whole thing is hilarious but what's even better is Rennae set up a locker room fund for other players who appreciated what she said to contribute to the fine.
My respect for Rennae Stubbs just skyrocketed.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Friday, 10 June 2011 10:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
Although, NB: Rennae Stubbs is 40 years old.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Friday, 10 June 2011 10:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
kind of enjoying this nauseatingly low and dynamic camera angle the BBC are using for Ward - Querrey. Also Ward has seemed decent whenever I've seen him, top 100ish certainly, why's he seemingly so bad the rest of the time?
― Antoine Bugleboy (Merdeyeux), Friday, 10 June 2011 13:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
Kleybanova withdraws from Wimbledon and Venus is guaranteed a seeding.
Eastbourne draw tomorrow! Venus and Serena will be unseeded floaters. Should be good.
― uberweiss, Friday, 10 June 2011 13:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
Huber's almost 35!
― low-rent black gangster nicknamed Bootsy (DJP), Friday, 10 June 2011 13:56 (2 years ago) Permalink
I saw the second set of Ward/Queer Eye yesterday. Ward has a big serve and Queer Eye seemed really off apart from his own big serve, which probably explains his above-average performance on grass.
Lucic/Ivanovic earlier may have been the worst pro tennis match I've ever seen, really disgusting stuff. Lucic is 29 goddamn years old and has no idea how to control her power at all, and cannot sustain any rally beyond two shots. Ivanovic did her best to sink to Lucic's level for a while but it was impossible to match really.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Friday, 10 June 2011 14:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
lisicki in the semifinals makes me really happy
― groovemaaan, Friday, 10 June 2011 17:57 (2 years ago) Permalink
And Barthel :D
― uberweiss, Friday, 10 June 2011 18:49 (2 years ago) Permalink
Haha Serena drew Venus-slayer Pironkova. As good a 1st round as I could have hoped for!
― uberweiss, Saturday, 11 June 2011 11:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol this draw is insane. vika-peng and venus-petko in the first round as well
― groovemaaan, Saturday, 11 June 2011 17:49 (2 years ago) Permalink
bepa-serena in the 2nd round!
― groovemaaan, Saturday, 11 June 2011 17:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
Eastbourne draw got me HYPED. Funny that the most overranked player drew the most underranked! So weird to look at it and think, Ekaterina Makarova is the defending champion (and it wasn't like it was a weak draw last year). Azarenka/Peng and Bepa/Watson 1Rs!
Nice to see Murray thrashing Roddick so comprehensively.
All-Philipp final in Halle should be good.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Sunday, 12 June 2011 07:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
Definitely pulling for Lisicki to win Edgbaston today too - bit sad she put out Peng in the SF though, Peng is really really overdue a first title.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Sunday, 12 June 2011 07:29 (2 years ago) Permalink
Loved that thrashing of Murray's -- hate when Roddick makes a joke out of it, tho'.
The way Tsonga put out that plucky British player who will surely go back down the rankings again is what I forgotten Brit Tennis was -- the hopeless cheering and weary acceptance. We'll miss Murray in a few years when its back to this.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 12 June 2011 09:01 (2 years ago) Permalink
It's been said before, but Petzschner is a very handsome man.
Kohlschreiber played the best point in that TB, sneaking into net on the Petzschner serve and putting it away on the third volley.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Sunday, 12 June 2011 12:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
Venus beats Petko in 3.
I know Venus has barely played for the last year but a loss to Andrea on grass still would have been unacceptable, so yay.
― uberweiss, Monday, 13 June 2011 15:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
that was pretty much exactly the kind of match Venus needed. gutted out a long match against an excellent player who hadn't lost her opening match all year.
Serena on the other hand...I guess this isn't entirely shocking given everything, and she'll doubtless improve, but it's like she's forgotten how to play tennis.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Tuesday, 14 June 2011 12:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
Avoided the bagel!
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Tuesday, 14 June 2011 12:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
(tbh I wouldn't be shocked if she ended up winning this match)
pironkova has won 4 matches this year
― groovemaaan, Tuesday, 14 June 2011 12:54 (2 years ago) Permalink
lol lex, or should I say THE AMAZING KRESKIN
― anarcho-misogynist puppies (DJP), Tuesday, 14 June 2011 16:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
haw I had to google kreskin
there were a couple of signs right at the end of the first set that Serena was beginning to land her shots (I mean just land them in court, not play amazingly well), and it was also evident that Pironkova was pretty terrible herself. basically as long as Serena could avoid falling away scoreline-wise like she did in the first set, she'd be fine. Positive match really. Slow reaction times probably the most glaring hole, so many times she'd just stand there and look confused as a Pironkova puffball drifted past her for a winner. Think the most positive thing, given her ailments, is that her stamina seemed fine over a pretty long match.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Tuesday, 14 June 2011 17:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
OMG elsewhere St Kim lost to OPRANDI :o :o
apparently Oprandi just hit a ton of dropshots (including three dropshot returns in one game) and the Saint responded in true Davenport style of just turning away immediately
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Tuesday, 14 June 2011 17:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
― anarcho-misogynist puppies (DJP), Tuesday, 14 June 2011 17:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
SERENA <<<<<<<<<<<3
Honestly I can barely contain myself. Pulmonary embolism just a few months ago and she toughs out her first match back. I am ecstatic. I had to record the match because I had an a level exam when the match was on! Ugh so inconsiderate.
Yelling at my tv screen how I've missed thee <3 Oh and her movement was good! Thank fuck! Serve was like a different stroke completely from the first set to the second and third.
Ugh at the crowd cheering the time code violation. She's been out for a year give her a break please.
And Clijsters lost you say? I LOVE LIFE.
― uberweiss, Tuesday, 14 June 2011 18:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh and lmfao @ Pironkova's forehand. I knew it was bad, but that stroke is Bacsinszky level awful.
― uberweiss, Tuesday, 14 June 2011 18:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
the ump overlooked the audible obscenity and racquet smashing earlier
I wonder in what manner Ivanovic will lose to Venus tomorrow? Choke or just straight-up thrashing.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Tuesday, 14 June 2011 18:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
It's not so much she looked over the racquet smashing... More that you can't give a violation if they play the next point with it.
― uberweiss, Tuesday, 14 June 2011 18:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
I wonder if whilst Serena's foot was still total shit she sat in a chair or something and just practiced volleys. They were on point.
― uberweiss, Tuesday, 14 June 2011 18:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
Serena 8, Venus 24. Like it matters. But, sensible enough, I suppose.
More pissed that they've bumped up Roddick to 8 ensuring he's insulated from the big four til a round later. God Roddick has been so lucky with this over the years. Strikes me as clear that he wouldn't have had such a good record in the first place if they never did this, but because he had a good record they have to keep doing this.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Wednesday, 15 June 2011 13:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
my 15th year of yelling that they shouldn't fuck with the rankings to seed players ever. can't believe people are actually complaining about how little they've been bumped, entitled babies!
Venus played AWESOME against Ivanovic. Serena's playing pretty well here but Bepa is a joke.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Wednesday, 15 June 2011 13:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
Venus was so good.
Surprised Serena got so close to beating Zvonareva! Was expecting something like 6-2 6-4 for Vera but Serena's hitting has improved dramatically since yesterday. Seems totally fatigued now though, ugh. Good effort against the world #3 either way.
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 15 June 2011 14:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
This match is taking soooooo loooooong.
Silliams is not playing badly, but she is being very careful, and it's still scratchy. Basically she's beatable (if you're half-decent) but you have to go out and do something for the win. Bepa did nothing on court until 3-5 in the second set - no changing direction, no aggression, no hitting hard - since then she's been SLIGHTLY better and it's been just enough.
Third set will depend on Serena's stamina, I guess.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Wednesday, 15 June 2011 14:13 (2 years ago) Permalink
Just be aggressive and move forward for a volley on every point, Serena. Win or lose.
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 15 June 2011 14:14 (2 years ago) Permalink
Kim Possible is out of Wimbledon. Venus win?
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 15 June 2011 14:32 (2 years ago) Permalink
Venus was more likely to win anyway.
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 15 June 2011 14:33 (2 years ago) Permalink
I really hope St Kim retires soon.
Can't predict anything til the draw comes out really.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Wednesday, 15 June 2011 14:41 (2 years ago) Permalink
Well, we can predict Bepa won't be defending her points. She's gone so shit in the past few months.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Wednesday, 15 June 2011 14:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
How many match points will Bepa waste before losing the match?
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 15 June 2011 15:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
i HATE Bepa
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Wednesday, 15 June 2011 15:13 (2 years ago) Permalink
Serena WTF
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 15 June 2011 15:18 (2 years ago) Permalink
Promising signs :) I'll forget the start and end of the 3rd set.
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 15 June 2011 15:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
Finally over. Bepa should hang her head in shame about most of that match though.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Wednesday, 15 June 2011 15:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
hey y'all HBO has a new documentary McEnroe and Borg: Fire and Ice
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2011/06/10/2011-06-10_in_mcenroe__borg_an_unbeatable_match.html
watched it this weekend, really great. some amazing footage of some of their classic matches and really goes into their kinda complex relationship....
both of them were really something in their day.
― the beta banned (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 15 June 2011 15:42 (2 years ago) Permalink
loool andy's mum.
andreapetkovic Andrea Petkovic
Sooo @judmoo,I met Deliciano today and he was wondering if you would be willing to coach us for our mixed doubles?Ur experience!What u say?15 hours ago
judmoo judy murray
So @andreapetkovic + @feliciano_lopez thanks 4 job offer but my advisers @andy_murray + @jamie_murray say I wud not b gd 4 ur street cred :(11 hours ago
― Roz, Thursday, 16 June 2011 09:48 (2 years ago) Permalink
a couple of weeks ago Judy Murray and Petkovic were talking at length about how fit "Deliciano" was, until Andy had to step in with a "GUYS THIS IS MAKING ME FEEL AWKWARD" tweet
Judy Murray would be a bit much to actually follow on Twitter, I feel
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:02 (2 years ago) Permalink
Q. Potentially if you and Serena have those seedings, you could play as early as round 3 if you both win early matches.
Journalists really need to learn how tennis draws work.
― uberweiss, Thursday, 16 June 2011 11:16 (2 years ago) Permalink
Eh judy's twitter is far more entertaining than either of her sons'. Wish I had thought of 'Deliciano' tbh.
― Roz, Thursday, 16 June 2011 11:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
ewwwwwwwwww Venus. Not having a loss to Hantuchova
― uberweiss, Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
Don't tell me Hantuchova's becoming mentally stable. Yuck.
― uberweiss, Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh my fuck. Hantuchova's fistpumps and constant looks to her camp are vile. Nothing I like more in a tennis player than being a mixture of Ivanovic and Henin.
― uberweiss, Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:13 (2 years ago) Permalink
Imagine Hantuchova winning Wimbledon.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:20 (2 years ago) Permalink
Yeah not gonna happen thankfully!
― uberweiss, Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:22 (2 years ago) Permalink
Venus' returns lol.
― uberweiss, Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:27 (2 years ago) Permalink
If only more players were like Henin ;_;
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:31 (2 years ago) Permalink
Personality-wise not tennis-wise.
― uberweiss, Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:38 (2 years ago) Permalink
I really liked Henin's personality too. Introspective, deep-feeling, intense.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:43 (2 years ago) Permalink
What about her acting?
― abcfsk, Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
you mean that TV thing she did in her retirement? yeah...I'm glad I never saw that.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
LOL I haven't been watching but I see Hantuchoka has coughed up her set and a break lead!
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:52 (2 years ago) Permalink
I preferred her acting during the Aussie Open 2006 final!
In other news, watching Hantuchokeva slowly start to unravel is among my favourite things in tennis. Keep that up please, Dani! This match is very reminiscent of their Miami 2010 match right now... Please get balls in court, Venus.
― uberweiss, Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
GORGEOUS DROPSHOT <3
― uberweiss, Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL @ that dropshot, what a way to lose a set
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:07 (2 years ago) Permalink
Seriously, the sight of Daniela Hantuchova trying to close out a big match will never disappoint for sheer entertainment and comedy
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:09 (2 years ago) Permalink
Fuck life. Venus get a ball in court for once in your existence :'(
― uberweiss, Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:44 (2 years ago) Permalink
I just don't want to see Daniela's smug smile.
She's prone to doing the Fed Finger Wag, yeah. http://lisaburrows.blog.com/files/2011/06/federer-finger-wag.jpg
― abcfsk, Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:55 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oh look Azarenka retiring. That's new.
― uberweiss, Thursday, 16 June 2011 19:51 (2 years ago) Permalink
I'll let somebody else post the Mattek-Sands outfit..
― abcfsk, Friday, 17 June 2011 05:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
Yeah, so this happened.
― the smoke cloud of pure hatred (lex pretend), Friday, 17 June 2011 08:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
Hingis just beat The Great American Hope Coco Vandeweghe 5-2 in WTT. So embarrassing.
― uberweiss, Thursday, 7 July 2011 20:09 (1 year ago) Permalink
Vandeweghe's managed to lose to Alexandra Stevenson TWICE this year, I'd say winning two games off Hingis is a step up tbh
LOL @ Wozniacki pulling a Vika and retiring while leading someone who just happened to be a hometown girl
― lex pretend, Thursday, 7 July 2011 20:11 (1 year ago) Permalink
And then Arvidsson saved 7 match points against Martinez Cheatez! All Swede semifinal with IvanovicSlayer.
― uberweiss, Thursday, 7 July 2011 21:55 (1 year ago) Permalink
Hingis beats Keothavong 5-2 lollll
Keothavong is such a total horrible bitch so her losses always fill me with happiness, especially losses against retired players who haven't played competitively in 4 years :D
― uberweiss, Sunday, 10 July 2011 19:07 (1 year ago) Permalink
Alisa Kleybanova has Stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma, which is a form of cancer. Yikes.
― lex pretend, Friday, 15 July 2011 17:13 (1 year ago) Permalink
oh that's awful
I had a singing acquaintance on the verge of an international singing breakthrough (Japanese mezzo-soprano, had completed the summer program at Tanglewood with the BSO and had been hired by the Symphony to sing with them in Boston) who was diagnosed with Stage 4 HL; she died within 6 weeks of the diagnosis. She was scary talented, too.
― Spotify, Spotify me (DJP), Friday, 15 July 2011 17:23 (1 year ago) Permalink
Eek. I'd read that there's a 90% survival rate, I guess that's the diff between Stage 2 and Stage 4? I don't really know anything about this.
Alisa just released a statement too (it's her b'day today) - http://www.wtatennis.com/news/20110715/alisas-message_2256076_2393558
― lex pretend, Friday, 15 July 2011 17:25 (1 year ago) Permalink
Yeah, the stages represent severity; 4 is the worst.
― Spotify, Spotify me (DJP), Friday, 15 July 2011 17:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
http://video.wtt.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=26900
live stream! Serena v Hingis soon-ish I think
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 20 July 2011 23:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
And Hingis won. This amazing Federer/Hingis olympic doubles idea is going to happen, isn't it?
― abcfsk, Thursday, 21 July 2011 06:16 (1 year ago) Permalink
haha.
I don't even consider WTT tennis, though. Only the American journalists seem to care about it.
― lex pretend, Thursday, 21 July 2011 08:14 (1 year ago) Permalink
but I do hope Federer/Hingis happens.
Lexington 50K R1: Chanel Simmonds d. Melanie Oudin 7-6 2-6 6-3
― uberweiss, Thursday, 21 July 2011 11:54 (1 year ago) Permalink
she lost in the first round of a 25K earlier this year :D
I'm honestly not sure how she's still top 100 (albeit only just). Hopefully that ceases soon.
― lex pretend, Thursday, 21 July 2011 12:06 (1 year ago) Permalink
aw Demented
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150373249091102&set=a.137404931101.134647.26081741101&type=1&theater
― Roz, Thursday, 21 July 2011 12:20 (1 year ago) Permalink
[insert "always the bridesmaid, finally the bride" joke here]
I loved seeing Alla K tweet photos of EVERYTHING on the day
― lex pretend, Thursday, 21 July 2011 12:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
had a good lol at what everyone was wearing.
btw, finally had a look at that Kvitova winners video upthread - I didn't see the Wickmayer match but that section of the vid was BOSS. and did it seem like there were more "BARK!"s in the Vika match? Prob to drown out the screeching coming from the other end.
― Roz, Thursday, 21 July 2011 12:44 (1 year ago) Permalink
sorry not upthread, the wimby thread lol. kept thinking it was this one - damn bookmarks.
― Roz, Thursday, 21 July 2011 12:49 (1 year ago) Permalink
FIRST MATCH IN USA IN TWO YEARS AND SERENA WINS 6-0 6-0 AGAINST THAT BITCH RODIONOVA.
Sorry but I only just heard and I'm rather excited. Awesome statement.
― uberweiss, Thursday, 28 July 2011 19:09 (1 year ago) Permalink
lol @ this
(Q) Marina Erakovic (NZL) d. (1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 46 75 62
― groovemaaan, Friday, 29 July 2011 06:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
Serena vs Maria, hmmmm
― abcfsk, Friday, 29 July 2011 07:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
Erakovic was good before she got injured, but that's still pretty funny anyway.
Perfect draw for Silliams, nothing but ~pretty girls~ that I'm happy to see her squash in that quarter. What time is she playing Maria tonight? Will watch if I'm around but won't stay up for it if I'm not. I hope she loses to A-Rad in the SF though (well, A-Rad will probably lose to Lisicki first but whatever).
Morita beating Ivanovic in straight sets was pretty special, especially the two consecutive DFs in the last game to give Morita match points :D
― lex pretend, Friday, 29 July 2011 07:33 (1 year ago) Permalink
How in the world is Ivanovic still ranked 17? It's that stupid Bali championship thing, isn't it?
― lex pretend, Friday, 29 July 2011 07:34 (1 year ago) Permalink
Struggled to squash Masha K, though. I'm sure the match tonight is too late for us Europeans.
― abcfsk, Friday, 29 July 2011 08:06 (1 year ago) Permalink
Not that I would've watched it live anyway.
― abcfsk, Friday, 29 July 2011 08:07 (1 year ago) Permalink
I love Erakovic! I was in New Zealand the other week and I was utterly shocked to see a tennis player in the sports pages in a tennis-indifferent country (even though it has a tournament). What was the last time, I wonder... Brett Steven?
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Friday, 29 July 2011 08:27 (1 year ago) Permalink
Maria-Serena at 20.00 Stanford time. I think that's 6am GMT? I will most certainly be watching it!!
Serena was awesome in the first set vs Kirilenko, then managed to squander about a million break points in the 2nd set and was just awful. Lost serve in the first game of set 3 and then remembered that Maria is completely harmless and won easily again.
― uberweiss, Friday, 29 July 2011 11:17 (1 year ago) Permalink
Nice point
― abcfsk, Friday, 29 July 2011 15:41 (1 year ago) Permalink
― uberweiss, Friday, 29 July 2011 18:19 (1 year ago) Permalink
Love it when Vika gets exposed as the underpowered counterpuncher that she is.
― uberweiss, Friday, 29 July 2011 18:35 (1 year ago) Permalink
GULBIS TIME!?!?!?!
― Matt Armstrong, Saturday, 30 July 2011 03:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
Stupid Gulbis, why do you have to seemingly play your one good game per six months against someone I like?
Wait, I'm just going off scores here, but is Serena up 5-0?
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Saturday, 30 July 2011 03:51 (1 year ago) Permalink
Oh, 1-6 0-1 now. Lololol.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Saturday, 30 July 2011 03:53 (1 year ago) Permalink
Sharapova/Silliams really isn't a rivalry at all, is it?
― lex pretend, Saturday, 30 July 2011 07:23 (1 year ago) Permalink
The funny thing is that the lower on her career arc Silliams is when they meet, the harder she stamps on Maria.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 30 July 2011 07:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
Love it so so so much.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 30 July 2011 07:45 (1 year ago) Permalink
According to my phone my alarm did go off but i turned it off. I must have been deliriously tired. PISSED OFF I MISSED IT UGH!
― uberweiss, Saturday, 30 July 2011 07:46 (1 year ago) Permalink
It was gorgeous/hilarious to watch.
― one big boob fulla bad stitches (billy), Saturday, 30 July 2011 16:32 (1 year ago) Permalink
It's on Eurosport in a minute :D
Love Maria though so it's really a shame she's been almost exclusively DIRE since AO 2008. Watched highlights of her match vs Henin today. So clean and so much control. Wonder if she will ever regain it. Her serve just won't allow it.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 30 July 2011 18:29 (1 year ago) Permalink
Lisicki is a fucking mess. I'm not used to Serena putting so much effort into these tournaments.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 31 July 2011 02:46 (1 year ago) Permalink
Sam Smith literally just said that Bartoli won't retire because she's not a quitter and she can't remember her ever retiring before.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 31 July 2011 20:18 (1 year ago) Permalink
I know! I was just about to post that! Hilarious. Cake's injury does seem to be real this time though.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 31 July 2011 20:21 (1 year ago) Permalink
I am almost indescribably happy. I can't. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
― uberweiss, Sunday, 31 July 2011 20:42 (1 year ago) Permalink
Oh yeah, she also beat Wimbledon QFist, SFist and finalist in reverse order in her last 3 matches.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 31 July 2011 21:01 (1 year ago) Permalink
gulbismentum!
― Matt Armstrong, Sunday, 31 July 2011 22:54 (1 year ago) Permalink
Gulbis is the lesser of 2 evils
― uberweiss, Sunday, 31 July 2011 23:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
I don't like Gulbis but it would be nice to see him fulfill his talent. We've had about as much fun laughing at him as we can.
― Matt Armstrong, Sunday, 31 July 2011 23:42 (1 year ago) Permalink
5-1 to 5-4 lol
― uberweiss, Sunday, 31 July 2011 23:58 (1 year ago) Permalink
oh ernie...
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 1 August 2011 00:02 (1 year ago) Permalink
that was some dropper
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 1 August 2011 00:04 (1 year ago) Permalink
by far the best result of his career, after losing 5 matches in a row.
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 1 August 2011 00:06 (1 year ago) Permalink
and there was a break point for 5-5. I was enjoying that choke. Fish is such a pusher in tight moments. Pathetic.
― uberweiss, Monday, 1 August 2011 00:16 (1 year ago) Permalink
so Bojana Jovanovski was travelling to this week's tournament in Carlsbad and somehow ended up in the wrong Carlsbad? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/14369086.stm
Given that she ended up here, I'm surprised it took her a phone call to realise she was in the wrong place
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 3 August 2011 08:23 (1 year ago) Permalink
also, there is an article on the WTA site about Kimiko Date-Krumm's 1R win that refers to the time she won this tournament 15 years ago, and it includes a link to the 1996 draw! Amazing. Venus played, and lost to Studenikova in the 1R - same year that Studenikova beat Seles at Wimbledon. Pam fucking Shriver was wildcarded in, and lost to Habsudova in the 1R. Habsudova! Memories, she really should have been more successful but I guess she was the first ever Slovak in the top 10? Zina Garrison and Rennae Stubbs playing singles!
Needless to say that draw actually looks way better than this year's draw.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 3 August 2011 08:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
D Young won a match. I am now nervously waiting for a horde of monkeys to fly out of my butt.
― CLUB PISCOPO (DJP), Wednesday, 3 August 2011 12:25 (1 year ago) Permalink
Hingis on the Woz. Bitch still has it: http://www.tennischannel.com/news/NewsDetails.aspx?newsid=9530
“I think I had more game than her,” Hingis told me at the Mercury Insurance Open in San Diego: "I don’t want to be cocky about this, but I think I had more [weapons]. She’s a great fighter but I out played [opponents] and I took the ball earlier and didn't give them as much time. If she wants to win a Grand Slam, she’s going to have to take charge more. She doesn't have one great weapon. You need that one little extra thing to overcome.”
When I mentioned to Hingis what an extraordinary amount of confidence she had when she came on tour, she immediately shot back that, "you need to win to have confidence.” While Wozniacki was a terrific junior, she was not Hingis, who was already beating solid pros when she wasjust 14.
“She does the best with what she’s got,” Hingis said of the Dane. “Everyone is saying she hasn’t won a Slam but maybe it’s a question of time. Lately she's struggled more because there are probably more players at the Grand Slams who are better than her.”
― lex pretend, Thursday, 4 August 2011 16:05 (1 year ago) Permalink
<3
Can't wait for this lame San Diego tournament to finish. Toronto!!
― uberweiss, Friday, 5 August 2011 09:41 (1 year ago) Permalink
Okay Young beat Baghdatis, apparently in straight sets
Did he suddenly remember how to play tennis
― CLUB PISCOPO (DJP), Saturday, 6 August 2011 01:00 (1 year ago) Permalink
Martina Hingis is the most perfect woman who ever lived. (Sorry Dan).
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Saturday, 6 August 2011 06:13 (1 year ago) Permalink
How many matches has Hantuchova lost after winning the first set to 0 or 1? 0-6 6-4 6-4 is such a Hantuchova scoreline, always welcome and hilarious to see.
Whose damn fool idea was it to schedule the women's and men's Canadian Opens AGAINST EACH OTHER in the same week? I just...that makes no sense. Why is this happening. Tennis must be one of the most poorly organised professional sports. It's completely fucking stupid and the kind of thing that shouldn't even be contemplated and yet here we are, it's actually happening next week.
Women's draw is stacked, anyway. Venus/Ivanovic 1R, lol. Winner gets injured Cibulkova...so a Wozniacki/Venus 3R is very likely. Serena gets either JaJa or Gorgeous in the 2R (wow, one of those will have to win a match) and then St Kim in the 3R. Kvitova really lucked out with her quarter, given the draw's strength, therefore an opening round loss to Unforced Errani is probably imminent.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 6 August 2011 06:58 (1 year ago) Permalink
How many matches has Hantuchova lost after winning the first set to 0 or 1?
Boredom demanded it:
Q2 Klagenfurt, 2000, l. Anca Barna 61 46 361R Miami 2001, l. Jana Nejedly 61 67 462R Gold Coast 2002, l. Justine Henin 61 06 36QF Berlin 2002, l. Anna Smashnova 61 26 362R Wimbledon 2003, l. Shinobu Asagoe 60 46 10122R Montreal 2004, l. Ai Sugiyama 61 46 463R Los Angeles 2005, l. Serena Williams 61 36 36SF Australian Open 2008, l. Ana Ivanovic 60 36 462R Paris 2009, l. Alize Cornet 61 46 26QF 's-Hertogenbosch 2009, l. Dinara Safina 61 46 36F Monterrey 2010, l. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 61 16 064R Miami 2010, l. Venus Williams 61 57 462R Wimbledon 2010, l. Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova 61 26 46QF Carlsbad 2011, l. Agnieszka Radwanska 61 46 46
― lex pretend, Saturday, 6 August 2011 10:49 (1 year ago) Permalink
Lol Hantuchokeva. The gift that keeps on giving.
All 4 of my faves are in different quarters of the Toronto draw (Venus/Kvitova/Sharapova/Serena) so that's good. I'm glad Serena has a challenging draw. It's all good practice for her right now. I'd prefer her to meet St Kim once before the US Open. And we all know JJ will turn into God Mode against her BFF.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 6 August 2011 12:40 (1 year ago) Permalink
Such awesome eurosport coverage for Toronto. I could cry.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 6 August 2011 12:48 (1 year ago) Permalink
What. the. actual. fuck. Ivanovic is ranked #18? Like, how? I literally thought she was in the bottom half of the top 100.
― uberweiss, Saturday, 6 August 2011 14:14 (1 year ago) Permalink
bloody Bali points innit. she'll still be top 20 even with last year's Cincy SF points coming off, and now with Venus pulling out even has a chance to add a few this week.
at least Oudin is well out of the top 100 at last.
was v happy with A-Rad titling last week, wish I'd seen a bit of her run but she was way overdue a trophy. by all accounts Bepa is still playing horrendously, I have no expectations any more (not that my expectations were anything other than severely limited in any case).
I think Serena is the obvious choice to come through her bit, and fairly easily. weird that she's the match-tough one, but JaJa's looked like she has a foot out of the game for a while and St Kim hasn't played in an age.
― lex pretend, Monday, 8 August 2011 13:04 (1 year ago) Permalink
OMG Kuznetsova losing a 3 setter to a nobody
― uberweiss, Monday, 8 August 2011 22:18 (1 year ago) Permalink
I for one am shellshocked.
― uberweiss, Monday, 8 August 2011 22:21 (1 year ago) Permalink
You mean a nO_Obody, surely.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Monday, 8 August 2011 23:15 (1 year ago) Permalink
Bartoli lost which is more of a shock.
Jelena Jankovic. To Julia Goerges. On hardcourts. Winning 4 games.
― uberweiss, Tuesday, 9 August 2011 00:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
*Jelena Jankovic lost.
People don't seem to harsh on Jankovic the way they did Safina, but really, it's she that is the worst player to ever be #1, surely.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 02:04 (1 year ago) Permalink
(I mean objectively she was more consistent for longer than Ivanovic, but Safina had more finals, Ivanovic won a slam and Wozniacki is mentally tougher and has loads of weeks at #1)
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 02:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
Jankovic doesn't seem to care any more. Her game has been a shadow of what it used to be since 2009 now, but almost every time I've seen her play this year she's so listless and just doesn't give a shit. Don't think she's winning matches against anyone any time soon.
I think Sweta's decline might be terminal too, usually in her vast stretches of moronic losses to nobodies there'd be a random huge result around the corner, I have no faith in that any more though.
CAKE was visibly injured in the Stanford final, maybe she isn't fully recovered yet? Also, Voskoboeva has made a really strong comeback this year, her results have been better than before her injury. Already beaten Kirilenko and A-Pav, gone from 528 to 135 in the rankings since the start of the year.
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 9 August 2011 07:08 (1 year ago) Permalink
ugh this story:
Elise Tamaela is a 27 year-old Dutch player on the ITF circuit. She was playing a challenger in Versmold when she was verbally and physically attacked by another player's (Karen Barbat (DEN)) father. She's now in the hospital and the dude has fled with his daughter, presumably trying to avoid the authorities.
Here's the account from Elise's brother:
As the brother of Elise I can confirm the story... Elise has been attacked by the father of Karen Barbat whule watching her game. He was calling her names from the start of the game (all kind of racist things I'm not willing to repeat). After a while Elise said something about it, he then knocked her out with a punch and elbows to here temple. She immediately lost consciousness for about five minutes... After a while she was taken to the police station to press charges, the father and daughter flee, police still looking for them. At the police station Elise started the vomit continiously, an ambulance was called to take here to the nearest hospital. She's still on a intravenous drip with painkillers and needs to stay in the hospital till at least tomorrow morning (having a concussion and a bruised face)...
My father and I drove to Halle (where Elise is in the hospital) and are now in a hotel, we hope we can take Elise back to The Netherlands tomorrow...
The father/trainer of Karen Barbat will probably never see a (professional) tennis court again, that man is a true risk to all people around him!
― Roz, Tuesday, 9 August 2011 07:12 (1 year ago) Permalink
ugh, wtf?
looking at the draw, Barbat was playing another Dutch player in qualies, not Tamaela, who's in the main draw, so I'm guessing Tamaela was attacked as she was supporting her compatriot?
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 9 August 2011 07:20 (1 year ago) Permalink
yep seems like it - Barbat was playing Tamaela's doubles partner I think. Utterly horrible.
I wish there was some way to get psycho parents off the tour or at least limit their participation - there seems to be too many of these kinds of stories lately. But it's simply impossible given how many parents double as the players' coaches/managers/agents etc.
― Roz, Tuesday, 9 August 2011 08:19 (1 year ago) Permalink
Why wasn't he ejected for yelling racial shit?
― CLUB PISCOPO (DJP), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 11:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
I'm guessing because it was just the qualifying event of a tiny tournament w/very few staff - I've been to the equivalent level of event in cardiff and they're just hosted in tiny tennis clubs, no ball boys and certainly no security.
There aren't really any spectators either, just the players and their coaches.
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 9 August 2011 12:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
I think we need a lol after that story:
http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/6847895/two-time-defending-champion-andy-murray-ousted-rogers-cup
― CLUB PISCOPO (DJP), Wednesday, 10 August 2011 00:06 (1 year ago) Permalink
Ugh Clijsters retired! I was so looking forward to the Serena rematch.
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 10 August 2011 01:14 (1 year ago) Permalink
Q. What happened tonight?JELENA JANKOVIC: Um,you know, it was my first match after, you know, the break, you know, since Wimbledon. So obviously, you know, I had a hard time, you know, playing my first match.You know, I need some time to get, you know, my rhythm and feel comfortable, you know, on the court playing matches again. So I made some, you know, bad errors and I made actually a lot of errors.I wasn't really feeling my game out there, and, you know, it was tough. I felt really rusty out there. So,you know, I tried, you know, the best that I could, but obviously I need, you know, some more time and hopefully more matches and I'll be better.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 10 August 2011 08:52 (1 year ago) Permalink
Clijsters out of Cincy. So if she plays the US it will be without any preparation, just like at the French and we know how well that worked out for her.
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 10 August 2011 17:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
that's good news
― groovemaaan, Wednesday, 10 August 2011 17:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
Meh I really wanted a Serena/Clijsters rematch on US hardcourts.
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 10 August 2011 18:12 (1 year ago) Permalink
Twitter says that Stosur just shanked a shot that hit Pennetta, playing on the next court over. I can't even.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 10 August 2011 19:10 (1 year ago) Permalink
hahaha
― CLUB PISCOPO (DJP), Wednesday, 10 August 2011 19:11 (1 year ago) Permalink
Twitter also says Woz is on her way out after a reportedly horrible match against Vinci.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 10 August 2011 19:35 (1 year ago) Permalink
Woz was up 5-1 in the second set
Words can't describe how happy that match made me. So ludicrously hilariously bad from the Woz. 3 DF's in a row at one point
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 10 August 2011 20:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
amazing win for dodig over nadal! I left at 3-0 in the third, figuring he'd run out of gas. Glad I recorded it.
― Matt Armstrong, Thursday, 11 August 2011 03:21 (1 year ago) Permalink
WTF at that loss! Especially with the leads Rafa had. Paves the way for a GROSS bottom half. Fish in the final again just as I was looking forward to his Cincy points dropping off. Why can I not be rid of Fish and Ivanovic from their unwarranted high rankings? Go awaaaaaaay.
LOL @ Wozniacki. Vinci never beats top players, ever! I do hope this is the start of everyone starting to beat Wozniacki.
― lex pretend, Thursday, 11 August 2011 07:52 (1 year ago) Permalink
Damn I am loving this tournament. Dodig!!! :D
― uberweiss, Thursday, 11 August 2011 12:34 (1 year ago) Permalink
Why can I not be rid of Fish and Ivanovic from their unwarranted high rankings?
oh come on, Fish at least won a title this year
― CLUB PISCOPO (DJP), Thursday, 11 August 2011 13:27 (1 year ago) Permalink
Kvitova Kvitova Kvitova... US hardcourts arent good for her it seems.
― uberweiss, Thursday, 11 August 2011 20:28 (1 year ago) Permalink
Voskoboeva 6-3 5-4 40-0
followed by 2 doublefaults and an error.
6-3 5-5 :)
― uberweiss, Thursday, 11 August 2011 20:49 (1 year ago) Permalink
Maria was nice enough to gift her the next 2 games after that monumental choke though. Champions should really not lose to some qualifier who just threw away 3 match points. UGHHHHHHHHH. I just don't know what Maria can do any more. Awful awful awful all the time.
― uberweiss, Thursday, 11 August 2011 21:03 (1 year ago) Permalink
Well look, Kvitova, if you're going to lose, it's nice that you chose to do it to Petkovic, whom I also <3.
Also, yay for A-Rad! Not working with that dickhead father of hers is working out for her.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Thursday, 11 August 2011 23:03 (1 year ago) Permalink
FUCK YEAH GALINA VOSKOBOEVA
― lex pretend, Friday, 12 August 2011 00:42 (1 year ago) Permalink
god it gives me so much LIFE when Sharapova and Clijsters and Ivanovic all lose within 48 hours of each other
go go go Zheng
― lex pretend, Friday, 12 August 2011 00:43 (1 year ago) Permalink
pity about Kvitova and Li though - this is why Wozniacki will be No 1 forever :(
― lex pretend, Friday, 12 August 2011 00:44 (1 year ago) Permalink
FUCK YEAH ZHENG JIE
she just won an epic point there - she was at net, couldn't put it away, Serena smashed an easy BH straight at her, you know how that normally ends
except Jie hit a reflex volley past Serena for a winner and Serena looked SO PISSED OFF
― lex pretend, Friday, 12 August 2011 00:56 (1 year ago) Permalink
Lol @ these girls playing amazing against Serena and losing to Craybas 2 weeks earlier.
― uberweiss, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:05 (1 year ago) Permalink
Shot of the tournament easily there. Forehand DTL pass from Serena. Ridic.
― uberweiss, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:09 (1 year ago) Permalink
Oh are you one of those who buys into Serena's whinging that everyone plays better against her out of spite?
― lex pretend, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:09 (1 year ago) Permalink
I thought Zheng's volley a couple of games before was better tbh, Zheng should have been more prepared for that to come back
― lex pretend, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:10 (1 year ago) Permalink
It completely sucks that I am at work and can't watch this. I'm hearing from, of all people, my mum, that Jie is hitting some ridiculously good returns.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Friday, 12 August 2011 01:13 (1 year ago) Permalink
Well they almost always do play better against her. Like, where are these returns when she's facing Misaki Doi in the 2nd round of Wimbledon qualifying?
― uberweiss, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:15 (1 year ago) Permalink
Is it some sort of rule that every time an underdog gets to a crucial point in the decider against Serena or Sharapova or some other insufferable top player, they serve a double fault?
― lex pretend, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:18 (1 year ago) Permalink
Well they almost always do play better against her.
Um, no they don't? Look at all the underdogs who play terribly against her and all the times Zheng plays amazingly against other players?
― lex pretend, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:19 (1 year ago) Permalink
I really hope I never see a Serena fan ever complain about an opponent celebrating off her DFs and errors, because she might be the worst on tour for it
― lex pretend, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:23 (1 year ago) Permalink
"All the times Zheng plays amazingly against other players"
Um, not often? IDK
Haven't noticed many underdogs playing terribly against her. Since her comeback (too lazy to look further back) there's been Rezai, Halep, Kirilenko and Zheng playing way above themselves with only Bondarenko and Lisicki playing terribly.
― uberweiss, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
LMAO @ how animated Serena is. Playing with so much passion even in non-GS events nowadays
― uberweiss, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:25 (1 year ago) Permalink
Great match. Why does Serena always cut in front of her opponents to shake hands with the umpire first? Some sort of superstition I guess but it's kinda disrespectful.
― uberweiss, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:27 (1 year ago) Permalink
Zheng's only made two Slam SFs, won three titles, won doubles Slams, reached the top 15. That's a lot of scope to play amazingly.
Haven't noticed many underdogs playing terribly against her
Are you actually serious lol. Most mentally weak WTA players shit themselves against any top player, not just Serena, and the match is won before they even start playing.
― lex pretend, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:27 (1 year ago) Permalink
Who are these underdogs who play so shit against her then (as in, even more shit than they usually play)? It was just a throwaway whiny comment in my bitchy state of my favourite being on the brink of defeat but seems to me there's a hint of truth in it. Zheng has shown next to nothing since since AO 2010 iirc where she lost against Henin (1 & 0 or something), including her match against Clijsters the other day, but got pumped for it today and played out of this world. Rezai did the same at Wimbledon I believe (only saw highlights).
― uberweiss, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
Rezai, Halep, Kirilenko and Zheng playing way above themselves with only Bondarenko and Lisicki playing terribly.
Rezai and Zheng didn't play above themselves, that's nonsense. Zheng is a great player when in form and healthy. Rezai is capable of running hot and cold against anyone, Serena didn't get a higher Rezai.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Friday, 12 August 2011 01:39 (1 year ago) Permalink
(I should clarify that though I didn't get to see this match, Zheng in the form I've seen her play sometimes would easily be able to take a set off non-peak Serena.)
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Friday, 12 August 2011 01:43 (1 year ago) Permalink
Well, Zheng played WAY above herself for what she has produced in the last year and a half.
I hope for Zheng that this kickstarts her return to top 30 because I enjoy her personality-driven tennis.
― uberweiss, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:43 (1 year ago) Permalink
Zheng's been on the comeback trail from injury herself. And if you look at the h2h, she ALWAYS plays tough against Serena. It's a great match-up, Zheng able to use use a lot of Serena's power against her and create some great angles, while also being quicker than most with both her feet and her hands to pull these shots off. So really she's an exceptional counterpuncher, and needs a strong opponent to play well. Seemingly why she has a lot of top 5 wins, but struggles against worse players. I think Serena realizes this too; she always has these kinds of matches against players she respects (Li, Kuznetsova, Azarenka).
Anyway, "disinterested" 08 Serena loses this match probably, but since her health scare she looks like she's on a mission. Great to see.
― one big boob fulla bad stitches (billy), Friday, 12 August 2011 01:47 (1 year ago) Permalink
Serena wasn't disinterested in 08, that was more 09/10.
08 she won Bangalore/Miami/Charleston in a row.
I'm sure Zheng got some nice pace from Kvitova/Pavlyuchenkova/Shvedova all of whom she played recently but she lost all of those easily.
― uberweiss, Friday, 12 August 2011 01:52 (1 year ago) Permalink
Azarenka's going to win this now, isn't she? Just, ugh.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Friday, 12 August 2011 02:40 (1 year ago) Permalink
Yeah Billy otm about Zheng's game really. Also, one of her biggest strengths is her ability to return and redirect fast serves - which obviously matches up well vs Serena, but is a kind of irrelevant weapon against most of the other women's wimpy serves (Zheng doesn't create her own pace as well). Am guessing this is why Azarenka gives Serena fits too.
Also Zheng's been on the comeback trail this year, it's been slim pickings but just making it through qualies and winning a round here was already a sign that her form is returning.
Look, Tsonga beat Federer again in Montréal. 6-1 in the third. I am not remotely surprised.
― lex pretend, Friday, 12 August 2011 10:01 (1 year ago) Permalink
"she just won an epic point there - she was at net, couldn't put it away, Serena smashed an easy BH straight at her, you know how that normally ends"
This is silly. Serena did not smash that BH at her at all.
― uberweiss, Friday, 12 August 2011 13:52 (1 year ago) Permalink
it was a mid-court slow ball that sat right up. i didn't mean "smash at her" as in, at her body or head, but just smash back...generally. i was drunk lol. it was incredibly impressive that Zheng even got her racquet on it.
anyway I have just shed a small tear at having missed the surely epic BH-to-BH exchanges in the Stosur/Vinci clash that's just ended. Mid-court slices due to an inability to drive the ball vs shanks and hacks that land two courts over.
― lex pretend, Friday, 12 August 2011 17:22 (1 year ago) Permalink
I was kind of hoping I would never hear from Stosur again.
― uberweiss, Friday, 12 August 2011 20:27 (1 year ago) Permalink
The first set was a bit like that, Vinci wasn't getting many serves in but was still winning all the points, then she failed to break Stosur at 0-40 (Stosur served a lol double at 0-30), then at 4-5 Stosur won the set and then promptly started cruising, no backhands really, just whomping big serves and forehand winners.
I still hope A-RAD beats her.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Saturday, 13 August 2011 03:23 (1 year ago) Permalink
A-Rad to win the US Open Series that everyone cares about!
Fucking Fish bullshitting another Masters run.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 13 August 2011 09:11 (1 year ago) Permalink
― lex pretend, Saturday, 13 August 2011 09:11 (27 minutes ago)
was it BS when he made the quarters at wimbledon? I guess it was BS in Miami when he beat Gasquet, Delpo and Ferrer in a row? You really need to quit harping on this; the dude is top 10 for a reason.
― Matt Armstrong, Saturday, 13 August 2011 09:44 (1 year ago) Permalink
yeah I really didn't think he had this kind of consistency in him, but he's been good for basically 12 months now.
― one big boob fulla bad stitches (billy), Saturday, 13 August 2011 15:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
yr girl A-Rad just lost to Stosbot, lex
― CLUB PISCOPO (DJP), Saturday, 13 August 2011 21:01 (1 year ago) Permalink
I thought we were done with Stosur being good
― one big boob fulla bad stitches (billy), Saturday, 13 August 2011 22:04 (1 year ago) Permalink
man this lisicki-peer match is hilarious
peer was up 5-0 in the second set, now it's 5-5
― groovemaaan, Monday, 15 August 2011 16:33 (1 year ago) Permalink
SERENA <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<3
Yes I am late but whatevz
Knew she would beat the nothingness that is Azarenka but a really solid display in the final. And her serving was finally properly on point again! Stosur was #2 on my hitlist after that Roland Garros last year... *wipes tear from eye* 2r rematch in Cincinatti lol
― uberweiss, Tuesday, 16 August 2011 18:38 (1 year ago) Permalink
Did anyone see Fed/Del Pony? I wanted to watch that but had to sleep and work and other things less good than tennis :(
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Wednesday, 17 August 2011 06:35 (1 year ago) Permalink
fed served very well and that was basically all she wrote. Delpo still hasn't regained his form fully; he doesn't dictate rallies consistently.
― Matt Armstrong, Wednesday, 17 August 2011 06:42 (1 year ago) Permalink
^^yeah pretty much. I didn't think Pony played too badly at all actually but there was no winning that when Fed's service games never lasted beyond two or three minutes each throughout the whole match.
― Roz, Wednesday, 17 August 2011 06:58 (1 year ago) Permalink
I was kinda surprised Fed won that (didn't see it either). Guess Pony has some way to go still.
Kim Kardashian's wedding is on Saturday. Does Serena stop trying before then? I hope she realises she still has time to beat Stosur. Then, lose to Li.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 August 2011 08:20 (1 year ago) Permalink
While the No.12-seeded Pavlyuchenkova was ousted, No.13 seed Jelena Jankovic had few problems - on the court at least. The champion here in 2009, Jankovic cruised past Iveta Benesova, 60 63, then told the media about her troubles from earlier in the day.
"Me, my coach, my mom and my sparring partner were on our way to the site, and all of a suddent she was supposed to turn on the highway and the car completely stopped. My mom was like, 'Oh this car is not working.' We were like, 'What do you mean it's not working?' Then we looked and there was zero gas. I was like, 'Oh my God, I have 20 minutes until my practice session!'
"Luckily the gas station was two minutes' walk. So me and my coach ran out to the gas station and bought that thing, that gallon you fill the car up with. We didn't really know how to open this nozzle thing because it never happened to us, but then he figured it out and it was okay. Then we got going.
"There were some players passing through and looking at us in the middle of the road, like, 'What is she doing up there?'
"A lot of people found out about this because they saw me in the middle of the road. I'm like, 'How do you know I got left without gas?' Why didn't you stop to drive me back!'"
LOL @ all the players seeing JaJa stranded at the side of the road and just driving on.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 August 2011 08:22 (1 year ago) Permalink
Ooh, apparently Roddick's 1R loss this week - complete with the now-customary tantrum that makes him look like even more of a pathetic baby - drops him out of the top 20, a decade to the week after he first entered it :D
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 August 2011 08:43 (1 year ago) Permalink
he must hate Mardy Fish so much right now
― DALEKS OF GOD (DJP), Wednesday, 17 August 2011 13:33 (1 year ago) Permalink
Wozniacki losing to McHale now
― groovemaaan, Wednesday, 17 August 2011 16:05 (1 year ago) Permalink
LOL/hurrah
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 August 2011 16:06 (1 year ago) Permalink
Lost. Seriously the only thing that gets me excited about tennis these days is seeing Woz fall.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 17 August 2011 17:23 (1 year ago) Permalink
Kim Kardashian's wedding is on Saturday. Does Serena stop trying before then?
w/d, lol
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 August 2011 17:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
"right" "toe" "injury"
wonder what kind of heels she'll be wearing at Kim K's wedding
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 August 2011 17:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
Woz meltdown is eternally hilarious
― DALEKS OF GOD (DJP), Wednesday, 17 August 2011 17:42 (1 year ago) Permalink
only just saw the results and am here to belatedly LOL. And idly wonder what John Isner thinks of Rory McIlroy.
― Roz, Wednesday, 17 August 2011 18:20 (1 year ago) Permalink
Pretty smart of Serena to withdraw, she needs to be fresh for the US Open. Six straight days of tennis, then a flight, then another day of tennis is just too much physically. I've done intense athletic activity for the past six days and totally need a day off tomorrow, but then again I'm not in Serena's shape.
Wtf kind of game does McHale even have to hurt Wozniacki?! She doesn't hit that big or is that crafty or w/e. What a terrible #1, hoping this is the beginning of her downfall (but then again, who's going to capitalize? Bepa? Yeesh)
― suckin em down like they name was jack daniels (billy), Wednesday, 17 August 2011 20:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
I think Kvitova and Li are both way ahead of Bepa in the race (though Kvitova appears to be in a post-Wimbledon slump and Li keeps drawing FUCKING STOSUR so I can't tell whether she's playing badly or not cuz it's just a horrible match-up for her, she cannot deal with Stosur's heavy topspin at all)
Most pissed off at how Serena's w/d benefits Stosur. She had time! For one more win! Then fuck off or tank or whatever! Ugh.
Azarenka w/d too, what the hell is wrong with her now.
Bogomolov d. Tsonga. I do not comprehend this result.
― lex pretend, Thursday, 18 August 2011 07:38 (1 year ago) Permalink
Kvitova, Li and Sharapova are 1000 ahead of Bepa. And in contention this week still (tho yes, Li will probably lose to Stosur again, Kvitova will probably repeat her loss and Sharapova will win the tournament.. gosh)
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Thursday, 18 August 2011 08:00 (1 year ago) Permalink
Bogo had a big ESPN.com puff piece earlier this week, maybe things are coming together for him like they came together for Fish?
― DALEKS OF GOD (DJP), Thursday, 18 August 2011 13:38 (1 year ago) Permalink
RIP Verdasco's hotness.
his tennis is looking pretty good though - this match with Nadal has been quite the slugfest. Still, watch him unravel if he blows this first set.
― Roz, Thursday, 18 August 2011 16:14 (1 year ago) Permalink
Nando's beard. What is that thing!
― lex pretend, Thursday, 18 August 2011 18:48 (1 year ago) Permalink
whoa this match is still on?
― mark (er) s (k3vin k.), Thursday, 18 August 2011 18:53 (1 year ago) Permalink
predicting a DF here on MP
― mark (er) s (k3vin k.), Thursday, 18 August 2011 18:54 (1 year ago) Permalink
niiice
how has the quality of play been in the third set, lex?
i only tuned in at 5-5 in the TB. it's been...women's tennis
― lex pretend, Thursday, 18 August 2011 18:55 (1 year ago) Permalink
kinda safinesque from a distance?
― mark (er) s (k3vin k.), Thursday, 18 August 2011 18:55 (1 year ago) Permalink
yeah what i watched earlier was pretty bad lol
― mark (er) s (k3vin k.), Thursday, 18 August 2011 18:56 (1 year ago) Permalink
can't believe how Nando keeps missing those FHs to give Rafa MP...and how Rafa can't take the MPs on his own serve
― lex pretend, Thursday, 18 August 2011 18:56 (1 year ago) Permalink
emphasis on "from a distance" whoa
― mark (er) s (k3vin k.), Thursday, 18 August 2011 18:57 (1 year ago) Permalink
finally putting Verdasco out of his misery
― lex pretend, Thursday, 18 August 2011 18:57 (1 year ago) Permalink
ooooooh snap that handshake was a bit Women's Tennis as well, Nando
― lex pretend, Thursday, 18 August 2011 18:58 (1 year ago) Permalink
verdasco has to be a top 5 men's tennis choker all-time. my god what a trainwreck.
Nadal played even worse than he did against Dodig.
― Matt Armstrong, Thursday, 18 August 2011 19:34 (1 year ago) Permalink
have I mentioned lately that I adore Petkovic? cuz I do
― Rob Based and DJ EZ God (DJP), Thursday, 18 August 2011 22:54 (1 year ago) Permalink
Petko is adorable yes.
Nadal '11 is looking a little Federer '08. Fell asleep after Verdasco blew the first set (horrible error followed by double fault after going up 5-3 in the TB, naturally) but jesus that result - he’s SUCH a failure. I think he's even worse than Gasquet who usually just gives up after the first break but the sheer number of times where Nando has played well enough to win only to go away in the last few points or so is just...
― Roz, Friday, 19 August 2011 04:14 (1 year ago) Permalink
Kim Possible is out of the USO..
― abcfsk, Friday, 19 August 2011 15:59 (1 year ago) Permalink
It'll make for a slightly more balanced draw than the hole left by her 2R (ret.) loss. idk, with how she couldn't make it through two matches without falling apart I didn't see her as a threat anyway. Only remote threat to Serena is Li, right? Kvitova seems to be playing hideously, Azza/Shazza are...definitely not threats to Silliams.
― lex pretend, Friday, 19 August 2011 16:04 (1 year ago) Permalink
well doesn't it depend on how her foot is hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha couldn't even get to submit with a straight face
― Rob Based and DJ EZ God (DJP), Friday, 19 August 2011 16:05 (1 year ago) Permalink
I hope she finds the strength to hobble through the Kardashian festivities ;_;
― lex pretend, Friday, 19 August 2011 16:07 (1 year ago) Permalink
You have to think that this might be the end of Kim though. (Clijsters not Kardashian.) She was grumping about having to - tiny violin - turn up to tournaments and play tennis even before she got 939484 injuries in a row over the summer that ruined 3/4 of the year's Slams for her. And she never seemed to particularly care about the Olympics so that's not a motivation like it would be for Venus to stick around.
― lex pretend, Friday, 19 August 2011 16:09 (1 year ago) Permalink
I'm kind of hoping Hantuchova keeps her shit together, I always wanted her to do better than she has (also I wanted her to eat)
yeah I'm guessing Kim is done
― Rob Based and DJ EZ God (DJP), Friday, 19 August 2011 16:10 (1 year ago) Permalink
Kim's comeback has been a success, in that her three slams have sort of retroactively given her good but overall pretty underachieving first career a lot of hindsight shine. She doesn't really need to play again and should retire for good.
Stosur was hilariously pathetic against Sharapova. Did she even win a rally, I don't know. And Maria kept her double-faults largely in check but it is a lot harder to double-fault when you only get 4-5 points per game. Though she did do two of them serving for the match!
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Friday, 19 August 2011 16:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
women's tennis par excellence, then :D
― lex pretend, Friday, 19 August 2011 16:25 (1 year ago) Permalink
that random year where Stosur magically learned how to hit groundstrokes will seem weirder and weirder in retrospect
― lex pretend, Friday, 19 August 2011 16:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
The entire match consisted of fast-paced forehands landing somewhere around the service line from Stosur, followed by Maria taking them nice and early, directing it to the backhand where it would eventually find its way into the net. Is there any other top 10 player for whom there is such an obvious game plan (bearing in mind that not everyone is capable of executing it due to physical reasons, i.e. height I guess)?
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Friday, 19 August 2011 16:29 (1 year ago) Permalink
isn't the gameplan for Woz "don't hit it directly to her"?
― Rob Based and DJ EZ God (DJP), Friday, 19 August 2011 16:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
yeah that's the reason Li does so badly against Stosur - she's powerful, but she doesn't have the height to take on the topspin. whereas it sits up right in Sharapova's hitting zone.
Sharapova heading inexorably towards year-end Slamless No 1, it looks like.
― lex pretend, Friday, 19 August 2011 16:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
Well done on probably ending up year-end #1, Sharapova! If that happens, it's probably in the bottom half of outcomes as far as the level of embarrassment for the WTA, so that's something.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Friday, 19 August 2011 16:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
x-post!
I was hoping Kim would play so that dumb US Open win streak of hers would end. :[
― uberweiss, Friday, 19 August 2011 16:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
I guess the gameplan for Sharapova (and Kvitova) is pretty simple too - make her run. But it's true that no one else in the top 10 has such a disparity between their strokes.
― lex pretend, Friday, 19 August 2011 16:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
Nadal and Federer out in pathetic fashion.
― abcfsk, Friday, 19 August 2011 21:19 (1 year ago) Permalink
djokovic lost a set!
― Matt Armstrong, Saturday, 20 August 2011 00:27 (1 year ago) Permalink
wow this is an amazing match
― Matt Armstrong, Saturday, 20 August 2011 00:39 (1 year ago) Permalink
somehow monfils learned how to volley before today's match
― Matt Armstrong, Saturday, 20 August 2011 00:40 (1 year ago) Permalink
If Monfils could play like this all the time I'd actually be a fan.
― suckin em down like they name was jack daniels (billy), Saturday, 20 August 2011 00:51 (1 year ago) Permalink
yeah I find myself rooting for him for the first time here
― Matt Armstrong, Saturday, 20 August 2011 00:52 (1 year ago) Permalink
nadal lost to FISH?
― mark (er) s (k3vin k.), Saturday, 20 August 2011 01:25 (1 year ago) Permalink
I agree. I'm all for this unexpected Nadal slump but christ he chooses FISH to capitulate against? Fuck you Nadal.
And fuck you too Fish.
― Fruit, Saturday, 20 August 2011 01:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
guys losing to Dodig in 3 is way worse than Fish in 2.
― Matt Armstrong, Saturday, 20 August 2011 02:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
yeah no kidding
― Rob Based and DJ EZ God (DJP), Saturday, 20 August 2011 02:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
I am worried about Peng! She w/d in Toronto, looked fine here but w/d again from a big, winnable QF. And she's still shown up in next week's Dallas draw :/
Rafa is definitely in a slump...he's just not played as well as usual this year, even when he's won tournaments (eg RG). Djokovic constantly attacking his BH with success seems to have made him lose confidence in that shot and he's not been as aggressive as he is at his best.
Ew ew ew @ the prospect of b2b MS finals for Fish.
Over in New Haven, there are two events going on - a competition to win a USO qualies WC, plus New Haven qualies. Respect to random lowly-ranked American Robin Anderson, who I'd never heard of before, who is playing both events simultaneously (and winning, so far!) - two matches a day I think.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 20 August 2011 07:45 (1 year ago) Permalink
Ewww Nadal even I didn't want you to lose to that.
The once not bad Vassilisa Bardina lost to something called Yasmin Schnack in the US Open National Playoffs :(
― uberweiss, Saturday, 20 August 2011 08:15 (1 year ago) Permalink
Oh god, Jankovic v Sharapova in the final. Someone gag me. Go Maria, I suppose.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Sunday, 21 August 2011 04:12 (1 year ago) Permalink
lol... I don't know if I want to watch that match but at least this should provide us with entertaining pressers afterwards.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 21 August 2011 06:38 (1 year ago) Permalink
Not that I ever liked her particularly, but by now, I have to say Jankovic is my second least favourite player in the top 20 (behind Azarenka).
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Sunday, 21 August 2011 07:01 (1 year ago) Permalink
Oh wait, Ivanovic is still in there isn't she. Third, then.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Sunday, 21 August 2011 07:02 (1 year ago) Permalink
She's still one of the top 20 players I most like, though she's become increasingly hard to support (not through active antipathy, more because...can one really be bothered to care about her results) and it's a long time since I would have called myself a fan of hers. I have no illusion that this will be any sort of ~revival~, just another of the random deep runs that'll keep her afloat in the rankings amidst the disinterested shit that comprises the remaining 75% of her tournaments. Have you noticed that those tend to come along whenever there's a threat that Ivanovic might overtake her in the rankings?
Boooooo Maria. I didn't expect Bepa to win a set though!
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 07:46 (1 year ago) Permalink
LOL @ Berdman, btw. Checked scoreboard and he was up 5-3 in the first. Then what seemed like 15 seconds, he'd lost it 5-7 and had retired.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 07:47 (1 year ago) Permalink
Maria SHARAPOVA (RUS) Versus Jelena JANKOVIC (SRB)Year Tournament Round Surface Winner Score2004 U.S. Open 64 Hard (O) M.SHARAPOVA 6-0 6-7(5) 6-12004 Beijing QF Hard (O) M.SHARAPOVA 5-2 RET2005 Birmingham FR Grass (O) M.SHARAPOVA 6-2 4-6 6-12007 Birmingham FR Grass (O) J.JANKOVIC 6-4 3-6 5-72008 Australian Open SF Hard (O) M.SHARAPOVA 6-3 6-12008 Rome SF Clay (O) J.JANKOVIC W/O2009 Tokyo FR Hard (O) M.SHARAPOVA 5-2 RETMaria SHARAPOVA (RUS) Leads Jelena JANKOVIC (SRB) : 5 to 1 *
So without retirements, Maria only leads 3-1, and they haven't played properly since Jan '08. A lot has changed since then! Mostly, Jankovic has gotten worse.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 07:52 (1 year ago) Permalink
The minute Ivanovic drops out of the top 20, I will be breaking out the bunting and champagne.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Sunday, 21 August 2011 08:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
I predict the WTA does everything possible to avoid that by wildcarding her into that Bali end-of-year championship-of-suck with its disgraceful amount of points, which she'll end up winning again over the likes of Medina Garrigues.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 08:42 (1 year ago) Permalink
Someone's got to get their gif capturing tool ready in case Jankovic takes a medical time out.
― abcfsk, Sunday, 21 August 2011 08:54 (1 year ago) Permalink
wasn't ivanovic out of the top 60 last august?
― groovemaaan, Sunday, 21 August 2011 13:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
Yeah she was. Those were happy days.
So the USO top 8 seeds will be Wozniacki, Zvonareva, Sharapova, Azarenka, Kvitova, Li, Schiavone and Bartoli.
Serena will be 28th seed...and will get one of them in the 3rd round! PLEASE let it be Woz! Or one of the shriekers. If Li gets another nightmare draw I will rampage.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 15:42 (1 year ago) Permalink
they've announced seeds already?
― suckin em down like they name was jack daniels (billy), Sunday, 21 August 2011 15:45 (1 year ago) Permalink
would love for Serena to knock out Maria on round 3
I bet it'll be Bepa.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Sunday, 21 August 2011 15:58 (1 year ago) Permalink
I assume they'll go by the rankings like every non-Wimbledon Slam does 99% of the time
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 16:08 (1 year ago) Permalink
Murray breaks then holds to open the final. Error error error from Nole.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 16:57 (1 year ago) Permalink
Everyone has to support Murray in gratitude for knocking out Fish.
― Fruit, Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:06 (1 year ago) Permalink
Four games in. Zero combined winners so far. Women'sMen's tennis!
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:07 (1 year ago) Permalink
Fucking live streams, good god when will technology just be UNPROBLEMATIC TO USE
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
what a fantastic point!
― k3vin k., Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:29 (1 year ago) Permalink
i don't mind jim courier but he is talking A LOT
― k3vin k., Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
Serena will be 28th seed...and will get one of them in the 3rd round! PLEASE let it be Woz!
assuming woz gets into the 3rd round
― groovemaaan, Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
Whoa, EPIC point there
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
fucking drop shot come on andy
― k3vin k., Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:32 (1 year ago) Permalink
indeed! this is why I hope for one of the shriekers instead. Now Silliams will be seeded, my dream of a Serena/Woz 1R has died ;_;
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:32 (1 year ago) Permalink
where are you(s) streaming from? my usual go-tos have been shit these past few weeks.
― Merdeyeux, Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:38 (1 year ago) Permalink
i'm trying out the ones on http://www.lshunter.tv/tennis-live-streaming-video.html but they keep fucking freezing, might stop trying
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:40 (1 year ago) Permalink
got a decent sopcast one there, thanks.
instant break from murray in the second set, djokovic looking like he can't be bothered.
― Merdeyeux, Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:54 (1 year ago) Permalink
I can't open the sopcast ones for some reason and the others are all shit :(
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:56 (1 year ago) Permalink
Betfair streams all the masters events live.
― Fruit, Sunday, 21 August 2011 17:57 (1 year ago) Permalink
Well there we go, a retirement anyway. We got that one point in the first set, I guess.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 18:02 (1 year ago) Permalink
Zvonareva is such an awful tennis player lol. Her and Azarenka can both go away forever.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 19:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
Hush about Bepa.
Took half a set for JaJa to start bitching :D
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 20:58 (1 year ago) Permalink
C'MON! Jankovic back from two breaks down to 4-4.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 21:08 (1 year ago) Permalink
lollllll, another Ma$ha DF to give JaJa the set.
So impressed - at 1-4, a double break down, Jankovic looked totally helpless. She was barely winning points. But she dug herself in, the Sharapova DFs began and five games later here we are :D
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 21:17 (1 year ago) Permalink
Sharapova hit some great shots in that game.
And still couldn't win it :D Seven games in a row for Jelena.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 21:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
Jankovic even coming to net now!
I don't want to be all hasty and use words like "revival", because I'm definitely not convinced of that, but this is the best I've seen Jankovic play - and the happiest I've seen her look on court - in, wow, YEARS
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 21:32 (1 year ago) Permalink
Handshake's gonna be fun in this.
:popcorn:
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:10 (1 year ago) Permalink
Best Jankovic has played in years was Rome vs Wickmayer and Venus 2010 I'm pretty sure.
I'm watching this on and off but the result is never in doubt. JJ will win.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:17 (1 year ago) Permalink
Seriously pleasantly surprised about the tiebreak outcome! :D
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
Well, she totally lost it from midway through that set.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
Still think JJ will wear Maria out physically and mentally in this third set :( Maria should've won the first set.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:33 (1 year ago) Permalink
Unless JJ keeps up these nice inexplicable and weird misses! Maybe her form of the last 2 years is coming back to her :D
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:34 (1 year ago) Permalink
LMAO @ Maria smashing her racket. She hates JJ so much.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
Yeah I'd forgotten the hate between these two!
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
jesus christ stop YELLING Maria. Intolerable woman.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:40 (1 year ago) Permalink
I am thoroughly enjoying this. It's kind of old school. If, like, 2006 counts as old school. Neither are at their absolute best like they were back then, but the drama is delicious and the quality is mostly great.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:40 (1 year ago) Permalink
Oi JJ's been shouting "come on" as well. She just can't yell as loud with her weird husky voice.
I'm enjoying it too, quality was really good through to the middle of the second set (apart from the Sharapova DFs, which have an entertainment value of their own). Since then it's been kinda bad but there's been enough Women's Tennis Drama to keep me amused.
Jankovic doesn't yell "come on" anywhere near as much as Sharapova, who is doing it on virtually every point she wins! Including the most innocuous Jankovic errors!
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:48 (1 year ago) Permalink
I guess JaJa being a huge drama queen every time she considers challenging might be pretty annoying though.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:49 (1 year ago) Permalink
Did you catch the hand incident and subsequent JJ vs umpire and Maria vs umpire exchanges straight after? Delicious.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:52 (1 year ago) Permalink
If I was Jankovic I'd be tempted to give Sharapova really slow, shitty second serves - Maria tries so extra hard to bash those and it usually results in an error.
xp yesssss
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:52 (1 year ago) Permalink
Maria's stare at JaJa after she dithered for what felt like a day over another challenge was quite hilarious, too.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 22:53 (1 year ago) Permalink
lolololololol at that game
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 23:00 (1 year ago) Permalink
lololololol at this match
from both of them
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 23:05 (1 year ago) Permalink
Loving the clashing of tennis styles. Plus they are two, you know, INTERESTING PERSONALITIES. There are so few of them now... *sobs quietly*
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 23:06 (1 year ago) Permalink
A HOLD!!!!!!! <3
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 23:10 (1 year ago) Permalink
These break point returns... I literally just... UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH DIE
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 23:17 (1 year ago) Permalink
Firmly into comedy territory now. What are some of these misses??
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 23:17 (1 year ago) Permalink
Is her last name Sharapova?
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 23:19 (1 year ago) Permalink
Has Jankovic served more DFs than Sharapova yet? Christ almighty.
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 23:19 (1 year ago) Permalink
Love how smug Maria looks :D
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 23:23 (1 year ago) Permalink
I watched that shitfest and they don't even give me a bitchy handshake for it? :(
― lex pretend, Sunday, 21 August 2011 23:23 (1 year ago) Permalink
After what was a truly horrific 11 months for me as a tennis fan after Wimbledon 2010 I have had Kvitova, Serena and Sharapova sweeping the last 5 biggest tournaments. Just the US Open now to top this all off for me plzzzzzzzzzzzz.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 23:28 (1 year ago) Permalink
Maria didn't even mention JJ in the speech I don't think lol.
― uberweiss, Sunday, 21 August 2011 23:34 (1 year ago) Permalink
Never noticed this before this godawful/amazing match, but Jelena Jankovic plays tennis like a crab would.
― suckin em down like they name was jack daniels (billy), Monday, 22 August 2011 03:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
..with the double faults! It's just a fact now that they'll never go away.
― abcfsk, Monday, 22 August 2011 06:12 (1 year ago) Permalink
Nooooooooooo, Mrs Krumm "fell in the bath and injured her arm" and is out for a month :((((((
The USO basically worthless now :(((((
― lex pretend, Monday, 22 August 2011 10:32 (1 year ago) Permalink
Damn. WTA accidents happen at home.
But Serena might still fall to some journeywoman in the early rounds. If not, it's a 6-2 6-3 final.
― abcfsk, Monday, 22 August 2011 10:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
Serena Williams def Anastasia Rodionova 6-0 6-0 Anastasia Rodionova def Polona Hercog 6-0 6-0 Polona Hercog def Nadia Petrova 7-5 7-5 Nadia Petrova def Ana Ivanovic 6-3 7-6 (4)
Within the last few weeks. Poor Ana
"But Serena might still fall to some journeywoman in the early rounds."
WTF why would you even suggest this? :(
― uberweiss, Monday, 22 August 2011 22:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
Q. With this title and your previous title in Rome and Wimbledon final, you're now No. 1 in the year in the rankings race. Talk about how your year is going. Obviously pretty well.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: You just answered your own question right there. Isn't that a journalist mistake?
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 24 August 2011 13:16 (1 year ago) Permalink
why is she so horrible always
― suckin em down like they name was jack daniels (billy), Wednesday, 24 August 2011 14:30 (1 year ago) Permalink
Laughable opinion.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 24 August 2011 15:07 (1 year ago) Permalink
journo should've come back and said "Okay so pretty good year but how does it feel to get smacked around by more talented players in the biggest occasions"
― suckin em down like they name was jack daniels (billy), Wednesday, 24 August 2011 15:45 (1 year ago) Permalink
hahaha rock on, Maria
― Rob Based and DJ EZ God (DJP), Wednesday, 24 August 2011 15:54 (1 year ago) Permalink
To be honest I'd have thought she'd be disappointed. And I'm kind of disappointed that she isn't.
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 24 August 2011 20:25 (1 year ago) Permalink
go get Slamless year-end No 1 Maria! I shall laugh.
we could well be on course for the entire year-end top 4 to be Slamless incidentally, I shall DEF laugh at that - all it'll take is a couple of cushy draws for Bepa and for Kvitova/Li to continue underwhelming
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 24 August 2011 23:08 (1 year ago) Permalink
Until the US Open thread gets underway in earnest:
SERENA IS IN AZARENKA'S EIGHTH! This is really the absolute best thing that could have happened.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Thursday, 25 August 2011 23:29 (1 year ago) Permalink
I'm watching Switzerland/Australia Davis Cup. Had the chance to go but because I'm going away for a month on Monday it ended up being logistically awful. Anyway, some observations:
1. It's quite easy to see how Wawrinka lost to Young at the US Open2. Yellow is not Bernard Tomic's colours3. Grass-court tennis not involving big servers can, points at a time, be such a joy (tho the standard isn't uniformly high, some really poor Vav forehands)4. Pat Rafter - even more smashable than during playing days tbqh (tho he is kinda annoying)
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Friday, 16 September 2011 03:12 (1 year ago) Permalink
lolololololololololol @ Wussquet. 3-6 0-6 1-6 against Rafa in Davis Cup. And we all know what Rafa was doing a few days ago.
― i asked for "HALF" a glass of wine, because i am TEMPERENT (lex pretend), Friday, 16 September 2011 12:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
1-6 4-6 1-6 for Simon against Bandy is not much better. Point and laugh at the entire nation of France.
― i asked for "HALF" a glass of wine, because i am TEMPERENT (lex pretend), Friday, 16 September 2011 20:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
Wait, what, "Bandy" is Ferrer? Man, have I been misreading these threads for years.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Saturday, 17 September 2011 07:46 (1 year ago) Permalink
no, "Bandy" means only Tired Lex. I AM SO TIRED THIS WEEK/FORTNIGHT/MONTH :(
― i asked for "HALF" a glass of wine, because i am TEMPERENT (lex pretend), Saturday, 17 September 2011 08:21 (1 year ago) Permalink
that's OK, I'll point and laugh at France for you, k?
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Saturday, 17 September 2011 17:00 (1 year ago) Permalink
http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/7007705/li-na-says-dip-form-related-mental-toughness
"All the active women tennis players have the same situation of ups and downs in the competitions, almost everyone," Li said Friday at a sponsorship event. "Because women cannot have the same mentality of men, who expect to win every competition."We are very easy to be satisfied after winning a championship and we like to leave some time for self-adjustment. So this season is coming to the end, and there is still some time, several months ahead of the next season. I will try my best to prepare well for the competitions of the next season."
"We are very easy to be satisfied after winning a championship and we like to leave some time for self-adjustment.
And this, in a nutshell, is why Clijsters and Serena were able to waltz back after long layoffs with dubious fitness and steamroll most the current women's elite. I hope Stosur doesn't buy into this nonsense.
― the tax avocado (DJP), Friday, 23 September 2011 14:04 (1 year ago) Permalink
Oh I think Stosur will work very hard and continue to be hungry. She'll put up a decent show at the YEC, where she's defending SF points, and is one of the players who can actually beat Wozniacki on hard courts at least.. but I'd say the chance of her following up with a strong showing at the AO is pretty slim.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Friday, 23 September 2011 14:13 (1 year ago) Permalink
kmt Na, try telling that to Steffi
I've seen so many male players over the years with that mindset too
― lex pretend, Friday, 23 September 2011 15:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
I was going to say that, but obviously Steffi, Serena, Martina I etc were actually man-mentality-having FREAKS of nature. Oh Na, go back to being amazing pls.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Saturday, 24 September 2011 07:05 (1 year ago) Permalink
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SERENA ILY xxxxxxxxxxxx
― uberweiss, Monday, 26 September 2011 19:43 (1 year ago) Permalink
Kaia Kanepi d. (1) Caroline Wozniacki 7-5 1-6 6-4
if maria keeps her shit together this nightmare could be over soon (woz at #1 that is)
― groovemaaan, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 10:49 (1 year ago) Permalink
also lol @ losing to kanepi
― groovemaaan, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 10:52 (1 year ago) Permalink
Kanepi is exactly the sort of player that Wozniacki WOULD lose to if the WTA weren't full of chokers - huge weapons off the ground and actually before injury was showing ability to measure those strokes and construct points, push opponents back rather than just going BANG BASH WINNER NOW (except actually hit massive unforced error instead)like frigging Gajdosova. Plus she looks quite slim.
That plus an Ivanovic loss is making my day so much better.
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 18:34 (1 year ago) Permalink
Oh and A-Rad beat Jankovic? SO MUCH LIFE!
― unskinny blap (edwardo), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 20:35 (1 year ago) Permalink
KAIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE that girl. I'll enjoy her hot streak whilst it lasts before she loses to some random loser every week again. Ugh I've been so out of touch since US Open. Is Tokyo being streamed? Is it on Eurosport? WTF is going on in the tennis world
― uberweiss, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 22:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
You missed Jeepers fucking Scheepers winning a WTA title last week.
Kvitova/Sharapova Wimbledon final rematch, Petra serving well so far...
― lex pretend, Thursday, 29 September 2011 08:22 (1 year ago)