The 2006 Australian Open (of tennis)

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It's that time again. I've been loving the lead-in tourneys when I've been able to watch them but nothing can compare to the slothfulness of a slam in the RIGHT time-zone.

Things I've already noticed:

1. Tamarine The Tennis Machine had to go through qualifying!
2. Lleyton Hewitt is in Federer's half. Again. This time, I think he'll lose to someone well before then.
3. Justine Henin-Hardenne's form hasn't been THAT good, but.. JHH! BACK! HOORAY! Playing Venus in the.. quarters? after demolishing "Aussie" Jelena (make up your mind, girlfriend) in round 2.
4. Jarkko Nieminen beat Sultry Brown Cow Eyes in Auckland! Amazing. Poor Sultry Brown Cow Eyes.
5. Occupying the Duke Spirit slot (i.e. the bottom) of the seedings - It's ILE-favourite Sania Mirza! Yes!

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 15 January 2006 19:46 (twenty years ago)

1. Tammy T's qualifying matches seem to be the first she's won anywhere in an age.
2. Chewitt lost to Kohlschreiber (lol) and Seppi (LOL) in the tune-ups. Maybe young Andy Murray can beat him in round two! It feels weird, actively supporting a British player.
3. JHH seems to have a habit of never seeming in particularly good form while still going on silly winning streaks. My pick to win! Meanwhile I'll be shocked if Dokic (who disappeared at the end of last year, got the Serbian FBI set on her trail by Mad Damir, reappeared in Australia and apparently is too broke to hire a full-time coach) gets past...whoever she has in round one.
4. Jark the Shark! Other tune-up winners: Lucie Safarova, Anabel Medina Garrigues, Michaella Krajicek (little sis of Big Richard).
5. I love Sania. Not just a tennis player but a socio-cultural force!

Venus v Justine and Serena v Maria...all in the FOURTH ROUND.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 15 January 2006 20:18 (twenty years ago)

Top chronology!

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 15 January 2006 21:25 (twenty years ago)

its on interactive 8.25 am tomorrow and everyday yay!!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 15 January 2006 22:50 (twenty years ago)

Checking in for 2006.

My read is you're spot-on re Hewitt. Nalbandian isn't in much better shape (esp around the digestive system area), and Saffles and Raffles are both missing in inaction this time (along with the Big AA, Forrest Gump and other lesser lights but still ILX favorites such as the Marakesh Express (Arazi) and Eunice Alan Hughie (phonetic representation of his real name, which I'm smart enough not to even try to spell)).

All of which makes a Federer victory even more of a no-brainer. Tommy Haas, on the comeback trail, might bite a couple of folk on the Tommy Haas before bowing out sometime early next week, and James 'Sexton' Blake now has a year back on the circuit and may be ready to make a big move.

Some crayon-crunchers are even daring to suggest the 'ladies' may be nearly as interesting and maybe on its good days less predictable than the gents. (Which of course is PCGM.) With Dokic, Hingis and JHH also returning to the fray, the 'comeback trail' might need a new lane or two, but only JHH is likely to still be in town come Thursday.

The number of possible men's champions is one. There are at least half a dozen more runners in the Ladies Stakes in 2006.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 16 January 2006 01:14 (twenty years ago)

as much as I love how these tennis threads spin off into nickname/in-joke-o-rama and hate to ruin it, I gotta ask: who is "Sultry Brown Cow Eyes"??

― chocolate orgone accumulator (haitch), Monday, 16 January 2006 02:13 (twenty years ago)

Unless I'm entirely mistaken, that'd be Mario Ancic.

First seed down - The Diva! Scuffed by Schruff in two!

The home nation is also currently 0 for 1, Casey Dellacqua providing the most minor of obstacles between Big Linz and her sandwiches. Aussie Jelena, however, is currently a break and 4-3 up on La Razz.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 16 January 2006 02:21 (twenty years ago)

That's BETTER, haitch. Sultry Brown Cow Eyes is Mario Ancic.

"Aussie" Jelena has played very uninspiringly, but, just to shock, took advantage of an error-riddled Razzano service game before serving a decent one herself and gone up a break. Dani with one I looks secure, Rob The Slop through, damn it and fuck, I was kept awake by a loud party last night and my eyes are drooping, and I wonder why I was relieved about being in the right time zone once a year...

x-posts,

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 16 January 2006 02:22 (twenty years ago)

JB's just lost in four to Previously Unheralded German Denis Gremelmayr.

On Court 18, St. Angel is serving to down Vac-U-Vin.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 16 January 2006 02:28 (twenty years ago)

And she has! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, after all those close-but-no-cigar-ings, Mara Santangelo has finally accounted for A Seeded Player! Deck the halls, etc.

Almost simultaneously, Aiiii has another first-round exit, this time at the hands of Conchita Martinez Granados, which is presumably like the Kwik-Save version of Conchita Martinez, given that they definitely appear to Not Be The Same Person.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 16 January 2006 02:33 (twenty years ago)

Getting the Bitching About THe Australian Media Coverage section underway, right, see, either Sandy or Fitzy just said there was "one" service break in the set between Razzano and Dokic. Um, yes, when you win a set 6-3 and serve first in the second THAT MEANS YOU BROKE TWICE. Count on your fingers, guys. I mean, Fred Stolle and his people are boring drones who go on and on about the importance of goign to the fucking net, but at least they don't make remedial errors like that.

Bandersnatch up a set on the high-lariously named (though I don't know why) Danai Udomchoke, and it's a good day to be a crabby Serbian or Montenegrin girl called Jelena, "Weird Jel" Jankovic pwning Craybas.

Martinez Granados is not the same as Martinez, indeed, even though gay marriage is A-OK in Spainland now. She's a no-mark veteran who's never advanced past round 1 in Melbourne.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 16 January 2006 02:40 (twenty years ago)

(er, that was a reference that "Martinez Granados" looks like a double barrelled name which would kind of rule The Eater out)

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 16 January 2006 02:41 (twenty years ago)

In other Aussie news, Duchess Sophie Ferguson is currently being crushed by the forces of inevitability on Show Court 2, i.e. she's playing Nadia Petrova, who will not be halted in her quest to fulfil her destiny of getting steamrollered by Sharapova in the quarter-finals.

Yer cult classic is Court 14, where Zippy Tzipi is coming back from losing the first set 6-1 to go 5-0 up in the second, Potito-style, presumably while Andrew Castle is tutting disapprovingly about a woman of her age wearing skirts that length. Or something.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 16 January 2006 02:51 (twenty years ago)

For a moment I saw the ref to 'JB' bowing out to Dennis someone and thought I'd dragged my own record for wild predictions going pear-shaped to under the one hour mark. Then I looked it up in the paper and realised the bloke Dennis had menaced was actually the white JB.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 16 January 2006 02:55 (twenty years ago)

nothing can compare to the slothfulness of a slam in the RIGHT time-zone.

i love it because i'm usually up 'til 3 or 4 a.m. U.S. Eastern time, so i can watch a lot of the matches live.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Monday, 16 January 2006 02:58 (twenty years ago)

....and it's bye-byes from Venus in the big shock of Day 1 (so far). Nalbandian narrowly escaped the same fate, and last time I checked Taylor Dent also is struggling.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 16 January 2006 07:16 (twenty years ago)

Dent gone, Rob the Slob Ginepri through, David Ferrer home against Florent Serra in what must have been a nightmare match for the commentators, it's also goodbye and thanks for coming Justin Gimelstob and Vince Spadea (or, as Australians call him, Bloody Shovela).

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 16 January 2006 07:25 (twenty years ago)

So OUR LLLLLLLLEYTON is complaining about the courts again? God, I hope he gets knocked out tomorrow.

I don't know how you can complain about the coverage when JIM COURIER is behind the mic.

― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Monday, 16 January 2006 07:36 (twenty years ago)

Jim Courier is the Keeper of the Brain Cell.

I'm still filthy that Stokes and his big-fish-small-pond mates blackballed John McEnroe for calling 7's prize import show a pile of crap two years ago.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 16 January 2006 07:56 (twenty years ago)

The Thai guy that played Nalbandian was great. That match went for at least an hour longer than either of them thought it would.

― Jelena go home, Monday, 16 January 2006 09:47 (twenty years ago)

Oh Maria, I know it was good for you honey. It was fantastic for me! I loved your powder blue baby doll "dress".

― sharapova, Monday, 16 January 2006 09:48 (twenty years ago)

Shouldn't that be The 2006 Australian Open (of tennis)?

Henman's a set up and a break down vs Tursunov.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 16 January 2006 10:01 (twenty years ago)

Hah, how do I shout for the moderator in this bitch?

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 16 January 2006 10:02 (twenty years ago)

http://ilx.wh3rd.net/newanswers.php?board=55

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 16 January 2006 10:06 (twenty years ago)

Chaps - what's the best website for following the Australian Open?

Is Maria Elena Camerin in it this year? Big up my homegirl!!

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 16 January 2006 10:55 (twenty years ago)

There's a live scoreboard on the official site http://www.australianopen.com and audio on Five Live (currently covering Henman who's just gone 2-1 down).

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 16 January 2006 11:03 (twenty years ago)

Thank you!

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 16 January 2006 11:05 (twenty years ago)

Gentleman Tim now 5-1 up in the 4th. Russia's answer to Concorde serving to stay in the set.

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 16 January 2006 11:31 (twenty years ago)

(God that was tenuous)

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 16 January 2006 11:31 (twenty years ago)

Tim manages to lose 5-7 from 5-1 and he's out.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 16 January 2006 11:57 (twenty years ago)

Tim(e) to retire?

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 16 January 2006 11:59 (twenty years ago)

He's not expected to win any more so I don't think this result will make his mind up. Maybe a swansong at Wimbledon, or maybe another two years on the circuit and £xM in the bank followed by a stint in the mixed doubles in a long drawn out journey to (further) obscurity.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 16 January 2006 12:09 (twenty years ago)

Hooray, I won't be eating that ottoman then.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 16 January 2006 12:11 (twenty years ago)

Hooray, we've had our thread renamed. I expect Mike and Lex will ban me from starting the 2007 one, and rightly so.

A-Dick, as if to annoy me, winning tediously easily.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 16 January 2006 12:35 (twenty years ago)

OMG VENUS :o

I can't even begin to pronounce her conqueror's name. Tszvetana Pironkova.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 16 January 2006 17:06 (twenty years ago)

The Henperson joins the stampede out the back door, also setting a personal worst for numbers of mentions in an ILX tennis thread.

Nicole Pratt is the latest Australian to kiss the dirt, walloped by Mary Pierce whose career I called over about two Aus Opens ago. Batty Patty Schneider safely through to Thursday, Funky Cold Medina-Guriguez and the Japanese all-star duo of Boom Crash Sugiyama and Akiko Mpaperfolding all Tullamarine-bound.

(Mike Jones, where are you?)

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 01:39 (twenty years ago)

And what's this? Luczak Swing beating the Minabird! Easily! Well, did you evah?

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 02:06 (twenty years ago)

And in bad news for fans of hunky French youths, Gasquet down a set to Daagen-Haas.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 02:09 (twenty years ago)

and Luczak does an Ilie-esque (oh, that's fun to say) jog around the court, because, gosh he actually won. Actually, he reminds me of a guy I went to school with who hated my guts and eventually developed an eating disorder, so I kind of am not fussed on him, but eh.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 02:20 (twenty years ago)

The Mesmeriser burnt by Sun in the first set, but blocks her out with an early break.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 02:39 (twenty years ago)

Winning just about makes Lucozade kinda unique among Australians right now.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 02:44 (twenty years ago)

Haas now two sets up on Gasquet.

Herrabbitty back level from two down v Oliver Marach of Austria. Donnidarko just kicking off v Hewitt's 2003 nemesis, Ivo Karlovic.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 02:51 (twenty years ago)

Nathan Healey a set up with a break point in the second against an Italian seeded player I've never heard of (always a worry) called Phil the Philanderer (or something like that).

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 02:56 (twenty years ago)

Nathan Healey annoys me. Strikes me as vain, though not as much as someone like Jan Michael Gambill.

Neither Sun nor Mesmo seem to be able to hold their serve.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 03:38 (twenty years ago)

Healey won on a forfeit, just like at the same stage last year. Either he's dead lucky or his breath really, really stinks.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 04:14 (twenty years ago)

And what's this? The Llonely Boy a break down against Vik's Vapo-Rub!

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 04:25 (twenty years ago)

Oh, he breaks back with a pretty fantastic lob to set up break point. Jim Courier is being glib in the commentary box.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 04:31 (twenty years ago)

Chela is making Murray look like week-old haggis, two sets and a break up.

Stose well-placed, one more hold and she's through, Hewitt a break down in set 2, Donniedarko looking down the barrel v Karlovic and soon he'll have time to reflect on the 'mad world'.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 05:23 (twenty years ago)

Really now, it's sometimes VERY difficult to like Hhuey Llewis, though I do my best, but never more so than when he plays ridiculously badly, so much so that he's about to lose the third set, after dropping the second. STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT, YOU NONG. I have an urge to reach into my TV and give him a right slap.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 06:09 (twenty years ago)

So, Andy Murray really is the new Tim Henman...

I think they need to do something about the on-court shadows in the Clijsters game.

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 08:28 (twenty years ago)

And as far the Probably Not Triumphant Return of Queen Martina (II), she is beating the shit out of an increasingly petulant looking Vinegar Tits, taking the first set 6-1. There appears to be a bit more kick on the backhand, but I'd know that forehand anywhere...

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 09:38 (twenty years ago)

And Tina Re-Turner II is through. And now, The Big Ouzo vs the Man With The Big Pants, Sebastian Grosjean. Over in three sets for Seb, I predict.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 10:23 (twenty years ago)

Cor, this thread is galloping away and I'm left hanging by my silks from the starting gate. Perhaps I should start my own Champions Tour threads - Stich and Forget dabbing it back and forth in the Algarve. More my pace. Nice.

Saw a few minutes of Murray this morning - he seemed utterly lethargic, which is not great seeing as it's the start of the season. He's in good company though - Windy, My Son took a glopping and he's not only a Bright New Hope, he's a Seeded Bright New Hope, which makes him a kind of Edberg circa '84. I expect L'Equipe are already comparing him to a damp onion.

Shame Zack Fleishman (who has surely just stepped out of the pages of a WW2 comic strip - the brash Yank upstart aiming to steal the gal away from our dear Tommy Atkins) couldn't complete his recovery against Dick Norman (a kind of tousle-haired Peter Crouch). ZF is 25 and has never ranked higher than 203, fact fans.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 13:37 (twenty years ago)

Hi Mike!

The Poo was dismal, as predicted. I never liked him, even when he was the apple of the Strayan Meeja's eye. And I reckon Rimi Rimi Lley will be gone very, very soon.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 13:39 (twenty years ago)

The Markipoo v Big John result was so remarkable that it was not remarked on at all in this morning's news.

Mike, at least you're quicker off the mark than Dan Perry, who with the high Williams wastage rate and the re-emergence of 'Martina F. Hingis', may not surface at all this time.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 01:19 (twenty years ago)

I also note my prediction of Donniedarko's demise was shown to be right down to my usual standard. At least i was smart enough (OK I know I can't fool you lot, lucky enough not to be within range of a keyboard) not to call Hewitt v Cough Drop Kid.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 01:23 (twenty years ago)

Nicole Pratt may or may not be living up to her name in canning her compatriots for their lack of fitness. As she has been in almost no danger of being mistaken for a lamp-post any time since about 1963, she is on dodgy ground indeed.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 01:27 (twenty years ago)

Things already afoot - Schruff got straightened out by Elena Vesnina, and Weird Jel's been straight-setted by Olga Savchuk. Who are these delightful people, and where can I meet more like them?

Oh, and Dave's just dunked Sprem.

Elsewhere, The Radical Stepladder is two sets down against Bagheera, and Fabrice is currently two sets up on Andy Pav. Slow down, M. Santoro, you might give yourself a hernia or something.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 01:43 (twenty years ago)

Shock of shocks, Fab breezes through in straight sets. Steps and Fat Bob both go the five-set route and lose, to Baggy and Previously Unheralded German Denis Gremelmayr respectively.

Mara Santangelo's through to the third round! 7-6 5-7 6-3 over Robotnik.

At the moment - multiple women's seeds in multiple tie-breaks. United Colors Of Benneteau and Guillermo "The Existentialist" Garcia-Lopez are at one set apiece, as are Bitchkova and Ms. Instamatic.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 03:56 (twenty years ago)

Hana Sromova, showing some pluck against Double-H, went down in a tie-break in the first set, broke J-Hen (courtesy of one of the worst drop shot attempts by Justine EVER), then fell over mid-point and lost her serve. SHe looks in a bit of discomfort.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 03:58 (twenty years ago)

Also, Maria Kirilenko's Stella McCartney-designed outfit is fucking hideous.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 04:40 (twenty years ago)

God, every Andy Roddick match is an exercise in utter dullness.

The only thing that can save this tournament is if OUR LLLLLLEYTON is knocked out in embarassing fashion this upcoming Round 2.

― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 05:10 (twenty years ago)

Rob the Slob is gone, hopefully in search of a decent shave. Roddick has a regulation, solid win over a gallant but eventually outclassed Wesley rattle the Rodgermeister. Some of his ventures netward were little short of embarrassing but at least he's making the attempt.

SBCE (see above) and Looby-Loo also safely through to Round 3.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 06:58 (twenty years ago)

The middle sentence above should read:

'Roddick has a regulation, solid win over a gallant but eventually outclassed Wesley Premenstrual, while convincing nobody that his game has improved enough to rattle the Rodgermeister.'

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 07:06 (twenty years ago)

i wish i could see some of this - apart from the venus upset the results are not such as to get the heart pounding that much.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 07:52 (twenty years ago)

saw a bit of Shara v Ashley Harkleroad (what a great name! right out of a George Eliot novel) this morning on BBCi. Shara's new outfit is not exactly flattering either, is it?

― zebedee (zebedee), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 12:48 (twenty years ago)

Italian Maria Elena Camerin fought her way back from a set down to defeat Ekaterina Bychkova 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2

COME ON MARIA ELENA!!

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 16:15 (twenty years ago)

Spunky up-and-comer Ivanovic dropped the first set to Sammy the Stoat, but appears in control of the second, though she has just given one of her two breaks back.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 01:20 (twenty years ago)

And Kev'n'Kim has taken the first set off Helen Demidenko.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 01:25 (twenty years ago)

And fuck me! Miss Muesli gets the SECOND break back off Ivanovic!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 01:27 (twenty years ago)

And there are lots of cute looking girlies wearing shirts that say "SAM" on them. Must've worked, as another seed bites the dust, Stosur coming from 1-5 down to win 7-5. That serve, so deep! Basically, after getting that lead, Ivanovic played all of two good points, to save two match points. Stosur had three, though.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 01:38 (twenty years ago)

Three women's seeds out inside the first two hours - as well as Anna In The Van, Our Sania's been felled by Prince Charming's sister, and Dulks was pretty much discombobulated by Aiko Nakamura 6-1 6-1. Pennetta and Vaidisova through with minimal complications, however.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 19 January 2006 01:47 (twenty years ago)

They just showed an interview with Mirza, and at the very least, she looked just adorable.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 01:51 (twenty years ago)

Sammy Sunglasses home in two, Luczak looks about to roll Rochus. Maybe this gig isn't turning out quite the total disaster for Oz tennis it was looking around sunset Monday.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 19 January 2006 02:32 (twenty years ago)

Not so fast, Fred. Rochus Superior is up a double-break in the fourth set breaker. It's gonna go to five.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 02:56 (twenty years ago)

Also: Davydenko blasted Kim out of the water pretty damn quickly after losing that set, and Play Mysky For Me is a set up.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 03:03 (twenty years ago)

Llucozade blasts Rochus aside in the fifth, and llooks and sounds more llike Lleyton with every post-match utterance.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 19 January 2006 03:44 (twenty years ago)

Papa Dokic: still crazy after all these years

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 19 January 2006 08:25 (twenty years ago)

What does it say that Damir Dokic's threat of dropping a nuclear bomb on Australia is the highlight of the Open so far?

― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Thursday, 19 January 2006 08:28 (twenty years ago)

Seeds collapsing all over - Safinette got gobbled by the Aphid, Bartoli got Vinci'd, MarSanLor trumps AnnLenGroen, and - possibly biggest surprise of all - Mary P is straight setted by Vetta Benesova. then again, all the men were through except for Rochus Superior and Verdy Kawasaki, because they are both wet. They may yet end up being joined for punishment laps round the playing field by JCF, who's been pushed out to a fifth set by Janko Tennis Raver.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 19 January 2006 08:32 (twenty years ago)

Hewitt's losing 4-6 4-6!

Pierce is out and the draw opens for Hingis!

Andy Murray lost at doubles.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 10:21 (twenty years ago)

HA HA PIERCE IS OUT! Her resurgence was the second most unpleasant tennis thing of last year behind Davenport still not retiring, I maintain that she's very very lucky to be back in the top 10. Hingis would have whupped her anyway (she'll play Benesova next having beaten poor Laine 1 and 1).

Oh Damir.

VAMOS JUAN IGNACIO! Chew the Chewitt!

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 19 January 2006 10:31 (twenty years ago)

Oh and Nastya is still intent on giving her fans coronaries, I notice. 7-6 0-6 6-3? What a ludicrous score.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 19 January 2006 10:33 (twenty years ago)

I heart Damir Dokic. Those ads he did for that car (was it a Kia?) in the wake of him complaining about the cost of food at slams were just brilliant.

Again, I am wanting to slap Lleyton, but not as much as the commentators who are all saying Chela looks tired JUST BECAUSE HE IS DOWN A BREAK. Would you let Hewitt serve for your life? No, you wouldn't because he is a FLAKE. I blame, predictably, everyone involved with That International Tournament That Will Not Be Named.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 10:54 (twenty years ago)

Whatever, Lleyton. I'd say fatherhood has made you tactically vacant, but you were kind of like that last year too. I can't understand why he can't hold his own damn serve, it's not THAT bad - he did better when it WAS the glaring weakness in his arsenal. Well done J-Ig, anyway, by leaps and bounds the better player.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 12:09 (twenty years ago)

Hingis beats the only female tennis player in Finland 6-1 6-1 and basically, looked like at least a top 15 player in the process.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:36 (twenty years ago)

HOORAY HOORAY HOOOOOOOOOORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

OUR LLLLLLLEYTON IS GONE AND THERE WAS MUCH CELEBRATING.

Especially from me.

― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:41 (twenty years ago)

hewitt and pierce out on same day = happy lex

now someone take down davenport and roddick and i'll be ecstatic.

(there are rumours that shaz is shagging roddick: how could she lower herself etc etc)

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:45 (twenty years ago)

(especially as there were rumours about her and ferrero last year: talk about lowering one's standards!)

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:45 (twenty years ago)

Shaz shagging Dik-Dik? SAY IT AIN'T SO MARIA, you are better. EVERYONE is better. The more Roddick puts on that cheeky "charm" offensive, the more I find it plastered and fake. I preferred his one-note arrogance, it was at least believable.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:58 (twenty years ago)

maria's kind of plastered and fake herself, but still!

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:59 (twenty years ago)

But she's not a tosspot!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:07 (twenty years ago)

But she IS up 5-0 against the Other Other Jelena, Kostanic. Could be a double bagel happening.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 20 January 2006 00:40 (twenty years ago)

No, just 6-0, 6-1.

Meanwhile, Dik Dik again winning easily. Ferrer, who I don't know enough about to nickname and his name is too similar to Ferrero to make any obvious ones, is obliterating Sultry Brown Cow Eyes.

And The World's Luckiest Ever Slam Winner, Gaston Gaudio is being fabulised by Santoro, down two sets and a break. Bye, Gaston!

Camerin being switched off by Petrova, broken double-quick right off the bat.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 20 January 2006 02:00 (twenty years ago)

And look, a Cypriot achieves something on the international stage without getting 12 points from Greece - Baghdatis wins in three over that unheralded German fella Denis Denis, with or without his eyes so blue, I can't tell.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 20 January 2006 02:05 (twenty years ago)

Markelby's homegirl Instamatic showing little flash, going down a set to the feisty Russian midget. But look! Gaudy-O gets a break back a gainst Fabricator.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 20 January 2006 02:26 (twenty years ago)

In Lex-infuriating news, Big Dave crushes the hideously-attired Kirilenko. Fab won over Gas in five, and wily veteran Laura Granville went down to the ever-delightful Ruano Pascal.

Gagliardi and Sprem are playing together in the doubles. Must... avoid.. horrible... joke...

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 20 January 2006 04:15 (twenty years ago)

And the exciting adventure of Virginie Razzano's Nice Glasses has come to an end. Firstly, because Virginie Razzano was not wearing Virginie Razzano's nice glasses at the end of the match, , and also, because said match was a whacking loss to the divine Double H.

Linz actually took 3 sets to get past Kirilenko, no such troubles for Sveta who blitzed St Angel.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 20 January 2006 06:21 (twenty years ago)

Dan Perry won't be coming by this thread unless Queen Rene raises her game, she is being thoroughly eaten alive by Hantuchova, who still looks as if she could do with eating SOMETHING, alive or not. Anyway, first set to the skinny one, 6-1.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 20 January 2006 09:50 (twenty years ago)

omg i knew serena was in shitty form but never did i think she could get breadsticked by hantuchova whom she pwns! still if she can contrive to lose to players like tiantian sun and jill craybas she's more than capable of losing to stickwoman.

btw, if serena loses this match (or indeed to maria if she wins it) she falls out of the top 30.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 20 January 2006 10:10 (twenty years ago)

also: big dave (male version) through in four impressive sets over in-form jarkk the sharkk. he is my pick to get beaten by fed in the final.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 20 January 2006 10:11 (twenty years ago)

i'm not following the scores v closely so i don't know who served when - but serena won three in a row to go from 1-2 to 4-2 in the second set, but daniela's pulled back to 3-4. eerily reminiscent of the wimbledon final against an opponent with a similar game (if a great deal less mental focus) (if serena gets this set i think she'll run away with it)

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 20 January 2006 10:25 (twenty years ago)

It's 5-5 back on serve now. Serena is not playing well, though.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 20 January 2006 10:33 (twenty years ago)

without having seen a point of this match i could have guessed that serena is playing possibly the second worst match of her life! (nothing will ever trump the shame of losing to jill craybas)

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 20 January 2006 10:37 (twenty years ago)

And breadsticked she was, Dani through 6-1 7-6. Also: Serena, green isn't your colour. It's unlucky, for starters, and it also makes you look like a tree.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 20 January 2006 10:51 (twenty years ago)

haha wow hantuchova tried to choke but serena was, i guess, still too crap to let her - daniela through 6-1 7-6

xp and haha!

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 20 January 2006 10:52 (twenty years ago)

Roddick, disappointingly, doesn't look in the sort of fragile state that saw him slump against Muller at Flushing, so we have to hope for Ljubicic to at least weaken him in the quarters before Bandy delivers the coup de grace in the semi. (I'm very carefully not mentioning his next opponent; it's the Joachim Johansson method of wish fulfilment).

I'd love Nalbo to win this, actually. I'm supporting Henin in the WS. I always do.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 20 January 2006 14:21 (twenty years ago)

And in the well-who'd-have-predicted-it column, Lllucozade a set up on the Pinball Wizard!

Poor ickle wee Michaella Krajicek looked completely buggered and retired due to heat exhaustion. Mesmo was going to crush her anyway :(

― edward o (edwardo), Saturday, 21 January 2006 03:44 (twenty years ago)

Made my yearly pilgrimage to the scene of the crime yesterday. It was stinking hot until the storm broke mid-late afternoon and most of the tennis I saw was not especially memorable, but here goes:

First up on Margaret Court arena was SBCE v 'Jose' Ferrer. The bloke whose name could easily be confused for at least three others on the circuit, gave the Anch such a lesson in dealing with the heat that I developed a theory that when it gets hot you back the olive Mediterranean over the comparatively pasty Mittel-Europ every time.

This lasted until about three games into the next 'match', which saw Sveta Kuznetsova raise very little sveta in dismembering St Angel despite being neither bred nor built for such conditions. Svetlana is shorter and more amply proportioned (and much more obviously a human being) than some of the motorised Barbie-dolls with whom she competes for Fed Cup action, but apart from the second-last and third-last games of the first set she obliterated her Italian opponent, who frequently turned her back on the ball in the last couple of games.

If Peter Lucozade got carpeted for throwing towels into the crowd, MstA should be asked about some towels that were being projected in the other direction.

Then Martina F. Hingis (are you there, Dan?) teamed up with an Indian called Mahesh Bhupathi (who himself looks an outstanding player) to beat 'Muhammad' Na Li and one Yeu-Tzoo Wang from Chinese Taipei, also in straight sets.

In between games I wandered over to the main lawn to watch the action beamed from Laver, of which there seemed to be little. A-Rod reduced the United Colors of Bennetteau to just two: black and blue. Then Citizen Smith somehow coughed up a set to Yet Another Russian. Santoro!toro!toro!'s win over Gasbag Gaudio completely passed my notice, but I saw the first five games of the second set of Madame des Quartre-Yeux (that's Razzano of course) v JHH while standing on the steps waiting to get into Voda, but made it in for the last, which went for about ten minutes as La Razz saved half-a dozen match points and producted ten times as much tennis as all the other losers I had seen so far, put together.

Then it was Nalbandian v Neimenen. For the first set Nailbags seemed to be doing his impression of 'Pong', who has been scrambling Roddick's brain in 2006's equivalent of that ad last year where Rodders reserved two seats for the trip home last year but thanks to Lleyt only needed one, but Got The Girl Instead...(but I digress. Pong has to be seen to be explained.). Nails was so far off the court that it was a good thing the lights were on or the other bloke might have been out of his visual range. He blew the first set and the first two games of the second in about 28 seconds, then made a couple of advances, found his range and before he had even regained the second-set service break it was over.

Nemo must feel he has been given the short shrift. The Swedes, SBCE, the Rodgermeister, even Roddick and Hewitt, even FFS Henners, have their names chanted around the world by armies of reasonably attractive, young fans. Alas, not Jarkk. His cheer squad consists of half-a-dozen middle-aged males who evoke Baltic vodka-pickled herring with every utterance. Like a mug, I found myself sitting dead in front of these blokes. Two sets was more than enough.

Saw the demise of the Last of the Williamses back home on the idiot box. Agree totally with Ed, in that Reen's color is not green. Last night's get-up made her look like a spearmint choc ice.

Of the players I saw yesterday, JHH and Nails look more likely than any. Roddick is trying more stuff but needs to be stretched more before I will be convinced. Hingis is bound to run out of steam soon.

But helping him will be the knowledge that there's actually no point in beating him a) because it put you direct in the path of the Federer juggernaut, and b) for the last three years the bloke that beat him went on to lose the final.

(Ed: I'm not going to mention anything about Ms K showing she's her brother's sister yet, because that would be harsh and uncalled-for. I just hope all the crayon-biters feel the same.)

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Saturday, 21 January 2006 03:52 (twenty years ago)

I had a soft spot for Richard. Also, um, what's a crayon biter?

― edward o (edwardo), Saturday, 21 January 2006 04:06 (twenty years ago)

Crayon-biter = journalist.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Saturday, 21 January 2006 04:08 (twenty years ago)

And it's Sammy the Stoat, with her T-shirt brigade in tow, singing the national anthem awfully, and.. not too loud, she really should beat Sybille Bammer (which given that she's Austrian, sounds a teeny bit like "Bummer", ho).

― edward o (edwardo), Saturday, 21 January 2006 08:39 (twenty years ago)

It has to be said that Bummer vs Stose is one of the worst games I've seen so far this tournament.

― edward o (edwardo), Saturday, 21 January 2006 09:31 (twenty years ago)

But win, Stosur did, and now she will get liquefied by Hingis. Not serving deep enough, Sam, to beat Martina, you really only just got through this one!

― edward o (edwardo), Saturday, 21 January 2006 10:56 (twenty years ago)

And, having realised that I'm the only one posting to this thread, I wonder if I'm also the only one reading it!

Federer looking teh invincible against Mirnyi, yes, he's only broken serve once, but he's not looked in trouble on his own, you suspect one break each set is all he'll need and that's seldom a problem for Rodge.

― edward o (edwardo), Saturday, 21 January 2006 12:02 (twenty years ago)

Yep, RF up two sets and 4-2 vs Miryni (LIVE on BBCi, folks) - the match has followed the same pattern throughout: Fedz kicks in a few well-placed deliveries and either Max stays back and makes an error or chips'n'charges and gets passed; then Max drills in a few serves at 15% faster than his opponent but gets practically no free points. Federer's casual backhand jab to the Miryni's shoelaces off the 215km/h centre-line serve is a regular feature. A handful of jaw-dropping winners too - the no-backswing lob, the flat line-drive backhand from behind him.

However, they all say Haas is in scary form. He'll have to be to take a set. Oh, blimey, underspun backhand pass...Max serving two points from defeat...

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 21 January 2006 12:57 (twenty years ago)

Some great Reporting Back from Fred N up there! Bhupati is indeed one of the best doubles players on the tour. Can someone tell me what's going on with doubles thesedays? The ATP brought in no-ad games and first-to-five sets last year, didn't they? Does this apply in the Slams? Have they done away with the experiment? Or are they just trying to do away with doubles? I, er, should just do some Googling, I guess...

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 21 January 2006 13:07 (twenty years ago)

Swygart will be dismayed to see that the Bryan twins are winning again, doing that obnoxious drunken frat-boy thing where they do a full-body high-five, I say this only because I can't think of what the real word is for it.

Particularly given that one of their opponents is the splendidly named Travis Parrott.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 01:26 (twenty years ago)

The Citizen unleashing a bit can of efficient, Lex-annoying whoop-ass over Sveta Kuzbaselinesova, as all of her balls are going over not just the net, but that whacky line at the back of the court. Big Dave a set and a break to the good and cruising.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 02:20 (twenty years ago)

6-2 6-4 to Big Linz, though she should have won a lot more easily than that. Foot problems, I think. She had 3-0, and then lost 4 straight games! You won't be getting past Justine playing like that.

Petrova through easily again. Could be a worry for the winner of Masha vs Stick. Commentators will probably say winning her first title has galvanized her or some shit like that.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 02:57 (twenty years ago)

Because the local radio coverage has been commandeered for emergency fire information (it's currently 42 celsius in Melb and there are bushfires in both the east and west of the state) I'm relying on you lot for information for the moment.

Stose didn't look particularly marvellous last night, the bits I saw, but Hingis has a crowded program and as I said upthread the lack of miles in her legs might tell sometime between now and ladies' final day.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 22 January 2006 03:15 (twenty years ago)

Stosur's playing hella large doubles though, Fred, and must be considered pretty likely to win the lay-deez anyway. Hingis is too accurate - Stosur's best chance of an upset is against an erratic big hitter with mental ish (viz her nearly toppling Schnyder on the Gold Coast last year, or her beating up-and-coming talent Ivanovic). Hingis ain't fragile. She's bloody clever, will make short work of her and then probably beat Kimba because that hip's trouble.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 03:21 (twenty years ago)

Man from Baghdad already in trouble on serve v Roddick.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 22 January 2006 03:24 (twenty years ago)

And now it's Dik-Dik playing Cyprus' Marcos Baghdatis, who's getting big love from Melbourne's massive Greek community, which includes a number of his relatives. Unfortunately, I've already used up my Eurovision joke, so I shall just ponder aloud how embarrassingly awful Roddick's backhand is, and how he's a twat, and how Baghdatis looks at least 10 years older than he is.

He got out of trouble, though.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 03:26 (twenty years ago)

Mind you, whoever does win Stose v Martina F. has a golden run home, with a barely-ambulent Clijsters next up (assuming she gets through her next date).

Man From Baghdad broken at first try.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 22 January 2006 03:28 (twenty years ago)

No he wasn't....the heat has fried my brain so bad I can't even read the scoreboard!

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 22 January 2006 03:30 (twenty years ago)

Clijsters should get through, Schiavone is entertaining and in good form, but nah, won't happen.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 03:33 (twenty years ago)

FUCKING ACE. MASSIVE GLEE. Baghdad causes strife for the greatest democracy on earth, Marcos breaks A-Hole!

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 03:43 (twenty years ago)

And there's the set 6-4 for the player on court who is not smug and irritating in the extreme. Hooray!

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 03:55 (twenty years ago)

Consarnit. Roddick gets an early break in the second.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 04:03 (twenty years ago)

Nails a set and a break up on Robredo, Roddick has broken first-up this time (I double-checked!).

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 22 January 2006 04:06 (twenty years ago)

Buggers might get that break back straight away....

EDIT: But then again he might not. Now it's AR's ad....

EDIT: But this time he blew it, back to deuce again...

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 22 January 2006 04:09 (twenty years ago)

Double break. Shitty shitty sticks.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 04:19 (twenty years ago)

haha nalbandian is killing him! I'm loving this. mostly because I made a huge bet on nalbandian. yay!

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Sunday, 22 January 2006 04:20 (twenty years ago)

After neing bageled in Set 2, Robredo makes what is either the start of a miracle comeback or his Last Great Act Of Defiance by breaking Nails at the start of Set 3.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 22 January 2006 04:36 (twenty years ago)

And just when I was all depressed as Roddick won the second set, Baghdatis wins the third 6-3! STOMP THE A-HOLE, MARCOS!

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 05:15 (twenty years ago)

Things returning to order in Bandy vs Red Rob, the silver chap two points from the third set.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 05:25 (twenty years ago)

That would be the fourth set, actually. And Nails is through 6-3 6-0 2-6 6-2. Now keep going Baggy.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 05:27 (twenty years ago)

SQUEE SQUEE SQUEE! Baghdatis breaks Roddick to love on a double-fault! It might be nearly over, assuming fate is not an evil bitch here.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 05:31 (twenty years ago)

Oh my GOD, Baghdatis just hit the most ridiculous cross-court forehand imaginable. He must be able to taste it.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 05:33 (twenty years ago)

And yes! RODDICK IS OUT! YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES. He doesn't look particularly as if he wants to be interviewed by Jim Courier, but he's kind of stuck. HERO.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 05:52 (twenty years ago)

I've said this before and I hope I get lots of opportunities to say it again, but waking up to an unexpected Roddick defeat is just the best way to start the day. I love my daughter and everything but punching page 497 on teletext and seeing Pandy's name on the right-hand side doesn't involve any soiled nappy unpleasantness, so she only ranks #2 at Slam time.

Ljubbly Jubbly two sets and a break up on ToJo, who is complaining about a line-call. Crowd sounded as if they were about to break into Spider Lovin' from The Mighty Boosh for a moment there. ToJo holds; be nice to see a contest here especially as I no longer require Ivan L to be fresh on Tuesday to blitz Roddick. Do whatchalike, bottom half dudes - The Git's gone.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 22 January 2006 12:23 (twenty years ago)

Lube Mobile vs ToJo was a hugely uninspiring game, even worse than Hantu-choka vs M-m-m-my-Sharapova, which was just dismal in every way.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 12:33 (twenty years ago)

That game ws just too one-sided to be interesting.

Just watched the highlights of the early morning delight - Bagdahtis has an excellent forehand.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 22 January 2006 12:45 (twenty years ago)

Tomorrow's line-up is bizarrely unsatisfying, though there will be a MASS UGLY-OFF, featuring Nikolay Davydenko's Ugly Face and Dominik Hrbarty's Ugly Shirt.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 13:02 (twenty years ago)

On BBCi its Hingis followed by Federer.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 22 January 2006 13:12 (twenty years ago)

That's in the evening REAL TIME. The morning is Vaidisova/Mauresmo, the Ugly Off, then Clijsters/Schiavone.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 13:28 (twenty years ago)

And in all the hubbub, no-one's noticed The Fabulous Flying Fabrice From France has managed to make his first ever Grand Slam QF. For SHAME, ILX.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 22 January 2006 14:48 (twenty years ago)

I noticed! But I forgot to say because I was being self-conscious and rubbish about the thread being largely on my shoulders.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 15:22 (twenty years ago)

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 22 January 2006 16:03 (twenty years ago)

the thread being largely on my shoulders

I r feel your pain. I looked at the one from last year - 729 posts, which kinda suggests large chunks of me making 25 consecutive posts concerning tie-breaks between, ooh, Virgine Razzano and Lisa Raymond.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 22 January 2006 18:44 (twenty years ago)

hahaha i love how everyone hates andy roddick. i've never talked to a tennis fan who likes him. GOOD!

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Sunday, 22 January 2006 19:38 (twenty years ago)

Hi guys! Sorry for not chiming in sooner but I don't have much to say beyond the following:

1. Venus and Serena: FOR FUCK'S SAKE TRY TRAINING FOR A MAJOR FOR A CHANGE GAWD.
2. LOL @ Roddick/Hewitt/Henman!
3. GO HAAS GO (Here's hoping for a Haas/Nalbandian final)
4. Absence makes the heart grow fonder becaue I have yet to start hating Hingis again! (I will totally hate her if she makes the semis, though.)
5. "SQUEE"?
6. Patty Schnyder, I am almost completely through with supporting your patchy ass. You'd best beat Myskina.

― Dan (More Later) Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 22 January 2006 19:46 (twenty years ago)

I thought that said LOL @ Rusedski for a moment, but he's not actually here, so, er, super-LOL. I guess.

Anyway, I'm all for the Stozzer (Stozmother?) tonight. Part of me would also like to see Schiavone shock Clidge, because I'm fed up with her never bloody doing anything of interest ever.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 22 January 2006 22:04 (twenty years ago)

Samantha Stosur has a lot of things going for her. For starters: she is, from Brisbane. She has taken the irritating media things she's been forced to do on the sideline with grace even though you can see on her face that she rather hates being photographed in an inflatable kiddie pool in the middle of one of the outside courts.

But her best chances of upsets come from erratic players and big hitters a bit off. Particularly those who aren't very good at the return of serve.

On the downside, she likes James Blunt.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 22 January 2006 22:20 (twenty years ago)

you can see on her face that she rather hates being photographed in an inflatable kiddie pool in the middle of one of the outside courts.

roffle. did the herald-scum make her do that??

― controversial buffalo stance (haitch), Monday, 23 January 2006 00:08 (twenty years ago)

I don't know who did it but it was on the teev.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 00:20 (twenty years ago)

I thought Vaidisova would put up a decent fight against the 'Ammer, but she's barely on the scoreboard. Looks like a rout. Oh, imagine an Amelie vs Martina match! Yes!

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 00:34 (twenty years ago)

Mesmo through without a sweat. Donald's son set and break up on Iggy, and Dominik-a-nik-a-nik and his backless shirt a break up on Helen Demidenko.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 01:58 (twenty years ago)

"LOL @ Rusedski"

Did we ever need a reason?

And Vlad has been duly impaled by the 'Ammer. Meanwhile, J-I 'The Expectorator' Chela is in trouble v Keifer.

I also found Looby-Loo v Tommy Joe Hanson insufficient to stay awake to last night, but that may have had more to do with the heat.

Speaking of which:

EMAIL
From: 'Fred' [email protected]
To: 'Andy' [email protected]

Subject: The heat-retention qualities of the color black

Ever wondered why blokes in England and Australia who play that ridiculous summer game called 'cricket' for six hours at a time wear white? The all-black look might look cool in Manhattan but you aint there now.

Actually you aint anywhere now.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 23 January 2006 02:06 (twenty years ago)

Keef through quick-smart. Tidy form, indeed. Maybe even two sets off Flawless Feddy?

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 02:42 (twenty years ago)

Diamond Dom is also looking very handy, 6-4 5-4 up and serving at Russian Dave.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 23 January 2006 02:44 (twenty years ago)

And that's 2 sets up for the Slovak. Winner of this gets the honour of being the Wedge's next pancake.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 23 January 2006 02:54 (twenty years ago)

Except Dencorub has got a set and a break in the fourth now.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 03:56 (twenty years ago)

Dominik Hrbarty in five set match NON SHOCKA. He is the new Todd Martin, with better eyebrows.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 04:15 (twenty years ago)

And that... shirt... thing.

Little Big Seb is already a set up on PHM, looking to make it two - 5-2 up in the second.

Elsewhere - doubles matches. And boys' matches, featuring a host of players for whom the official site has no information.

(the official site is quite dick this year. No direct sidebar link to the pop-up scoreboard, no overview of all games in progress on the pop-up scoreboard, and a masthead graphic that manages to completely ignore the existence of Roger Federer. yes.)

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 23 January 2006 04:32 (twenty years ago)

It shows last year's finalists, which is understandable, I suppose. They should have had a Federer-containing back-up. Big Dave closing out the fifth, up a break and not looking quite as ugly as normal with a hat on. He just has a really ugly skull.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 04:44 (twenty years ago)

And that's the end of plucky Dom's run of long matches, failing to convert any of the 3 break points he had on Davydenko's last service game. I wonder if his upper back and shoulders get burned wearing that monstrous shirt?

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 04:55 (twenty years ago)

Schiavone vs Clijsters is on, and it's a proper match with rallies and everything. AT LAST.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 05:28 (twenty years ago)

And who's this in the commentary booth? It's only the Only Heterosexual Woman In Australia (TM Lex), Alicia "Love Machine" Molik, being insightful, euphonious and generally adorable.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 05:30 (twenty years ago)

This tie-break between Kimba and Schiavone is seriously great.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 06:10 (twenty years ago)

Kim is totally my girl. She comes back from 1-4 in the "breaker" and wins it 7-5. Except for a few loose Schiavone shots to lose the mini-break, that was a bloody great set.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 06:14 (twenty years ago)

And it's a win for the White Lion, 7-6 6-4 in perhaps the best women's match so far. Also, Kim's cousin, a physiotherapist = kinda rowr.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 06:56 (twenty years ago)

Stoat vs Swiss Miss (which, fittingly, is a brand of hot chocolate, no?) is on, and Martina is looking the better, having gotten a break to lead 3-1. For a good doubles player, Stosur is not having much luck at the net.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 08:56 (twenty years ago)

My god, Martina is looking uber. She gets a second-set break with the most ridiculous running passing shot. She can beat Kim, no question.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 09:16 (twenty years ago)

And in the second, Stosur is saving her best play for her receiving games, breaking Hingis twice, but losing another serve between them. But there are some amazing rallies happening here.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 09:33 (twenty years ago)

Oh my god, if the networks replay this, look for the 15/00 point on the Stosur serve at 3-3 in the second set. FUCK. ME. That was good.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 09:34 (twenty years ago)

PointTracker makes it look that way, certainly. They can both run a bit, no?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 23 January 2006 09:37 (twenty years ago)

SAM, STOP GOING INTO THE NET ON NOT VERY GOOD APPROACH SHOTS, YOU WILL GET PASSED. It's Martina bloody Hingis, you're playing!

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 09:42 (twenty years ago)

And Hingis gets the first service hold in an age, goes up 5-3. LOBBING. God, she's a master at lobbing.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 09:43 (twenty years ago)

Fred Stolle reportedly rushing back from his Legends' Doubles match to dispense tactics at the Stozzberry via loudhailer...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 23 January 2006 09:45 (twenty years ago)

The highlights reel of this game is just going to be nuts.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 09:46 (twenty years ago)

Stosur breaks back AGAIN for 5-5. Good god, this is one of the best sets of tennis I've seen in an aeon.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 09:52 (twenty years ago)

And then AGAIN, Stosur drops her serve meekly, and AGAIN, Martina will try to serve it out.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 09:57 (twenty years ago)

...and Hingis breaks again. Blimey.
xp

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 23 January 2006 09:58 (twenty years ago)

Okay, this is now just getting completely insane. Hingis, 30-00 up, is flayed alive by Sam getting some serious game on her forehand at the net. TIE BREAK.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:00 (twenty years ago)

...and Hingis gets broken again. Blimey.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:00 (twenty years ago)

Mini break to Hingis. Mini break back. Can someone learn serving please?

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:01 (twenty years ago)

Mini break to Stosur. Mini break back.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:02 (twenty years ago)

Stosur won a point on serve in the tiebreak!

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:03 (twenty years ago)

5-2 to Miss Muesli in the breaker! Go Sammy!

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:05 (twenty years ago)

5-3 Stosur, only one point on serve so far. Can't see Hingis winning a 3rd set if she loses this.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:05 (twenty years ago)

6-5 Hingis, as she finally holds service points. Match point.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:07 (twenty years ago)

Right, my heart... just out of my chest the way Sam saved that MP.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:09 (twenty years ago)

Huge rally. 6-6!

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:09 (twenty years ago)

And another one saved! Oh, Samantha, if you only could play a better approach shot this set would be yours, but oh, you're doing everything else so, so, right.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:11 (twenty years ago)

8-7 Hingis, another match point... this is great.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:12 (twenty years ago)

Saved!

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:13 (twenty years ago)

9-8 Hingis, another match point...

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:14 (twenty years ago)

WHAT a set!

― controversial buffalo stance (haitch), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:15 (twenty years ago)

And that's it. The first set was a damp squib, but the second set, you will probably not see better all year, especially if you only look at Hingis' service games,.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:15 (twenty years ago)

Oh well. Brave effort from Stosur. If she won that breaker I think she'd have cruised the 3rd.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:15 (twenty years ago)

I don't quite agree - it should be mentioned that she only held her serve three times in the match. Without being able to hold her own serve, I think she'd have fallen. But very sad to have not seen a third set, anyway.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:24 (twenty years ago)

I think Hingis looks short of fitness and a 3rd set might have been a struggle after her efforts in the 2nd. How many times did she hold in that set? One or two was't it? I think she'd be hard pushed to hold at all the way it was going. All credit to her for getting through a tough match considering she has to be a bit ring rusty and this is the first time she's really been pushed.

Bloke on five live "and it's a break point to the Swiss wild carder" like she's some random obscure player who hasn't dominated world tennis for years.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:49 (twenty years ago)

Ah, sweet hypotheticals. What a bloody shame, in the end.

And it's Fedge vs Haas. Haas looking ripped and fit, Federer wearing hair under headband again, but hasn't got it as tight, so he doesn't look like a male Conchita Martinez anymore (nor a male Conchita Martinez Granados). But I'm buggerd so I'm off to bed.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 23 January 2006 10:51 (twenty years ago)

Would liked to have seen that Jurgen Hingsen match but I'd have been two hours late for work, rather than the Perrin-style 22min I usually allow myself.

Federer currently making a nonsense of the DANGER! FORMER WORLD #2 ON A HOT STREAK! signs we were flashing at him - up a set and 4-0 over Haas. Grosjean in glorious form, I see. Marvellous - if not Bandy, then him for a first GS. (In the case of TOP SEED KIDNAPPED; TOURNEY IN DISARRAY headlines).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 23 January 2006 11:30 (twenty years ago)

OK, what's going on in RF-TH? Federer is 6-4 6-0 up but has made more unforced errors than his opponent and has only got 54% of his first serves in (Haas: 74%). Stats just don't cut it sometimes, do they? (OK, nearly twice as many winners).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 23 January 2006 11:39 (twenty years ago)

That second set in the Hingis match was dramatic but garbage really - far too many unforced errors. Nice to see her back though.

Haas started slightly better in the first few games but Federer started playing a bit better and Haas lost his head. On serve in the 3rd.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 11:52 (twenty years ago)

Haas breaks and holds: 5-2 in the 3rd.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 12:05 (twenty years ago)

6-3 and 2-1 now.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 12:12 (twenty years ago)

Federer has to save a couple of break points at the start of set four. I think we have a bit of a contest here.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 23 January 2006 12:24 (twenty years ago)

Haas breaks!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 12:31 (twenty years ago)

That incl the point of the match: Haas trying to pass Fed at the net, with Fed blocking abt 5 attempts before geeting it right to go 15-30.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 12:32 (twenty years ago)

Fed just holds his next service game. Haas racket string broke during the crucial break point and Fed won the next two points. Might just be what he needed here.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 12:41 (twenty years ago)

Two sets all. Federer doesn't seem to be making much impact on the Haas serve at all.

So...Hewitt, Davis Cup 2003; Nalbandian, Masters Cup final 2005 - is this going to be the third major defeat for Rodge from two sets up?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 23 January 2006 12:59 (twenty years ago)

Into the fifth Fed is holding his own serve OK so I'd say he'll just pull this off...we'll see.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 13:09 (twenty years ago)

Haas ws 15-40 down but pulled two good serves, then a backhand winner and a smash to hold: 2-2.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 13:14 (twenty years ago)

3-2 Fed. Both pushing each other now, Haas got to 15-30 with a smashing backhand winner but not enough.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 13:18 (twenty years ago)

Haas broken. Pulled his 'winner' a cm out, has a go at the umpire. oh dear..

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 13:23 (twenty years ago)

4-2 Feddy! Back when the boss used to share this little half-office with us, we'd get to watch the Ashes thanks to the TV card in his laptop. Shame he moved next door.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 23 January 2006 13:23 (twenty years ago)

5-2. holds easy and quick.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 13:25 (twenty years ago)

Haas seems to be clinging on - is that two or three deuces in this game? He must see it slipping away; RF hasn't dropped a point off his first-serve in this set.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 23 January 2006 13:30 (twenty years ago)

Fed wins..6-2.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 13:31 (twenty years ago)

Haas should've held but he pulled a cpl of winners..you know the rest.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 13:31 (twenty years ago)

But anyway after winning that 2nd set he stepped off, Haas got a breather and suddenly played his best to take it into a fifth. Fed make a lot of unforced errors including about 4 smashes down the net! Fed only got back to where he was at by holding a cpl of games at the end of the fourth. Maybe if Haas ws serving first in the fifth it could've been v different.

Not that I watched it all but the first five games of the fifth set were prob the best 5-games of the tournament - you would've enjoyed it Michael.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 23 January 2006 13:37 (twenty years ago)

Ah, never mind. I'll be turning next weekend into a 48-hour espresso-fuelled packing marathon anyway, so I shouldn't miss either of the finals.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 23 January 2006 13:43 (twenty years ago)

4. Absence makes the heart grow fonder becaue I have yet to start hating Hingis again! (I will totally hate her if she makes the semis, though.)

i hated her back in 97-98 and started feeling sorry for her near the end of her first career, but now i actively love her and can't believe i ever hated her! what was i thinking! she's EXACTLY what i look for in a tennis player. it's so bizarre that a proper hingis/williams rivalry never materialised (only TWO hingis v williams slam finals EVER). i love the way that whereas the williamses (when they were good) would psyche out the opposition by basically pretending they didn't exist, hingis paid all too much attention to her prey - it's like she wanted to find the most effective way of humiliating them.

this er 'career-threatening' 'injury' that the clijsters camp keeps going on about - i think we have established that it isn't real, right?

i am still filled with glee about the dickhead's early exit.

i hope justine brutalises davenport!

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 23 January 2006 22:26 (twenty years ago)

Doesn't Hingis look different, somehow -- maybe bigger in the shoulders? Her dimensions seem changed. I loved the end of the Hingis-Stosur match, not only the tie-break but the four or five games before that. It seemed that Stosur hit the ball harder, but Hingis was more accurate, and also could change directions better. And so Martina suddenly seems like a great alternative to all the one-dimensional Russian power hitters, if she can keep it up. Except for maybe that second serve... I wonder if I'll root for her, like I did for Capriati, who I loved the second time around, and then, didn't

― donald nitchie, Tuesday, 24 January 2006 02:30 (twenty years ago)

this er 'career-threatening' 'injury' that the clijsters camp keeps going on about - i think we have established that it isn't real, right?

Put down the hatorade, Lex. It's not a career-threatening injury, but it's there. Her movement does seem to be impaired by her hip, and I think it will cost her when she plays Hingis.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 02:39 (twenty years ago)

I adore Hingis now too, I used to really dislike her. I love her naughty, triumphant teeth!

― estela (estela), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 02:55 (twenty years ago)

Best description ever. NAUGHTY TRIUMPHANT TEETH. I remember she used to have model aspirations. I always thought she was cute and did the giggly thing really well in post-match press confs (in stark contrast to her evil but intensely watchable Swiss-precision robot killing tennix machine in matches), but the teeth were an impediment to that, but I always thought her smile was awkward and fantastic at once.

Remember her tennis top that had one long arm and one short arm? "Good for nightclubs, to support the drinking arm" she once quipped on television. (Kind of like how Missy Elliott wore one long pant leg and one short in the "Work It" video).

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 03:47 (twenty years ago)

I had forgotten about that assymetrical horrorshow.

― estela (estela), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 04:30 (twenty years ago)

I love her tennis, Hingis that is, but she still strikes me as an uppity demanding princess who terrorises hotel staff if everything isn't just how she expects it to be.

― mentalist (mentalist), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 05:42 (twenty years ago)

Good god, Nalbanian absolutely MONSTERED Santoro. 7-5 6-0 6-0. Wish I could have watched it. Shaz at match point.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 06:26 (twenty years ago)

And I totally didn't realise that Gael Monfils was playing doubles with the superbly named Alize Cornet!

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 06:29 (twenty years ago)

Best named doubles team on the court may be Stephanie Boffa and Maya Gaverova, though.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 06:30 (twenty years ago)

Double H vs Dave is on. Linz is looking, um, a bit.. matronly in her pastel green outfit. (And y'all know I like her).

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 08:44 (twenty years ago)

Trade of early breaks, but Davenport gets one and it sticks. 3-1 to the mint-coloured one.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 09:01 (twenty years ago)

6-2. justine's not putting up much of a fight so far.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 09:19 (twenty years ago)

(also, linz has always looked matronly, hasn't she? i thought that was part of her charm.)

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 09:20 (twenty years ago)

A bit, but at the moment she looks extra-old.

Justin has an break in the second, eh.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 09:24 (twenty years ago)

Justine just hit this crazy good running backhand, she chased it all the way down the court, and just flicked it into the air, Davenport flubbed the smash and Justine won the point! Still lost her serve, but she already had two breaks, and should get a third to level the match here, I'm thinking.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 09:49 (twenty years ago)

One set all, harumph, not much of a match despite - or because - of the scoreline.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 09:57 (twenty years ago)

bravo justine! allez! tuez tuez tuez!

i think clijsters is just being a bit of an attention whore about the 'injury' - it hasn't stopped her doing her patented splits or indeed mashing all her opponents so far! and frankie schiavone agrees with me.

that asymmetric top...apart from looking awful it's just odd that she chose to wear it at the hottest tournament of the year!

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 10:03 (twenty years ago)

JUSTINE, RAISE YOUR STANDARDS. This game is a debacle.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 10:18 (twenty years ago)

But nonetheless, Justine is through 2-6 6-2 6-3. God that game was a chore. At the risk of sounding like a very drunk, very mardy version of The Lex, I have no interest in Ljubicic vs Baghdatis because they're both ugly.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 10:40 (twenty years ago)

YAY JUSTINE :D

I basically like everyone left in all the draws except Clijsters (and am kinda indifferent to Kiefer). This is a GREAT tournament.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 10:56 (twenty years ago)

Ljubicic is beating himself, it seems..

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 12:42 (twenty years ago)

re alize cornet, ed - her claim to fame is that she was the first player born in the 90s to get a world ranking. hopefully she will be in the top 100 soon and we can make up lots of ice cream related jokes about her.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 12:46 (twenty years ago)

Ljubicic breaks! Baghdatis showing nerves, hitting his first double fault, hands over this 3rd set.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 13:08 (twenty years ago)

Well, it's into the final set now. Baghdatis in serious ish trying to hold his own serve. I tells ya, if a gent from the southern bit of Europe can't win in Melbourne....

For old times sake I went and read the Roland Garros 2004 thread, the first one I ever looked at. I nearly died laughing.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 13:51 (twenty years ago)

Baghdatis just holds - took 4 sets but both are now showing good tennis at the same time.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 13:53 (twenty years ago)

Fuck me, Baghdatis breaks with like, the best passing shot ever since the last time I typed that.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 13:56 (twenty years ago)

all about holding his nerve now. if he doesn't break baghdatis will have to serve it out.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 14:10 (twenty years ago)

and he does just that to win 6-3 on the last.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 14:16 (twenty years ago)

"...hopefully she will be in the top 100 soon and we can make up lots of ice cream related jokes about her."

Not to mention a whole lot more jokes about blowing her own trumpet, her tennis being more brass than class, etc etc ad infinatum ad whatever comes after nauseum....

Buggers has to come back to earth soon. Citizen Smith was made to look old and slow by JHH and no, that snot-green get-up didn't help (was that color on special at Lincraft last week?) Nails still my best outsider for the blokes, JHH for the blokesses.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 02:05 (twenty years ago)

Normally, Kimba vs The 1997 Prom Queen would be on now, but Sophie vs Donald is now 6-5 in the third, though Kiefer might break here - 15/30.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 04:35 (twenty years ago)

Grosjean holds, after some struggle, including calling the referee when Kiefer threw his racket, claiming that that caused him to miss a shot. Not held, but he held anyway. 6-6. 4 hours 31!

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 04:45 (twenty years ago)

And Kiefer wins 8-6 after Seb a little too eager to the net, where he hadn't had a lot of luck towards the end.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 05:02 (twenty years ago)

Mesmer vs Fruitcake is on. And yes! Alicia Molik back in the commentary box. Marry me, Alicia!

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 05:38 (twenty years ago)

First set to Mezzo. Alicia says that Patty is one of the nicest girls on tour, and she's not quite so convincing in doing. Still!

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 05:56 (twenty years ago)

Cor, whitewash to Amelie in the end, 6-3 6-0. Patty was spraying that forehand everywhere, seemingly, except inside the actual court.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 06:21 (twenty years ago)

martina seems to have found her ceiling for the moment.

still, quarters the first time out is not bad.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 07:14 (twenty years ago)

(altho she just came back from love-40 to hold serve...but it's hard to imagine her digging out)

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 07:17 (twenty years ago)

Mais pompt de pompt de what's this then? Hinges swings right back and is now leading 5-2 in the second... could she?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 07:30 (twenty years ago)

she did!

i'll be damned. 3rd set coming up.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 07:35 (twenty years ago)

3-3...goddamn this is a good match

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 08:04 (twenty years ago)

and hingis out at 6-4. it was a real match though, more than i expected. and yay for clijsters. another all-belgian final?

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 08:16 (twenty years ago)

FURTHER INTRIGUE - Fedge and Russian Dave are at a set apiece, and Dave's leading 2-1 in the third - with serve, obv, but still...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 10:33 (twenty years ago)

omg the bbc site says fed came back from 0-6 in the third set tiebreak to take it on a davydenko double fault! heartbreaking for nikolay

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 11:26 (twenty years ago)

RF saved six set points in set three, squeaking home 9-7 in the breaker. I'm sensing a choke from DavyDarko and a swift conclusion to this...

xpost

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 11:27 (twenty years ago)

Don't think it was 0-6 in the t-b, Lex; I think the Beeb meant Fedz saved two set pts at 5-6 15/40, three more at 6-6 3/6 and another at 6-6 6/7 (the double fault). Not much in it in set four...

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 11:52 (twenty years ago)

ah, i misread; there was a pierce v likhovtseva match late last year in which discount booze DID blow a 6-0 third set tiebreak lead though!

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 12:04 (twenty years ago)

It's Roger 6-4 3-6 7-6 7-6.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 12:27 (twenty years ago)

Might have been Fed at his worst -- his serve pulling him through.

finegrs crossed for a fed-bandian five set 'classic' final.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 12:36 (twenty years ago)

How many more times can Rodge expect to squeak home? Shit I hope he embarrasses Nick 'Tosser' Keifer after the racquet-throwing incident.

In the ladies, if it's not JHH, it looks increasingly likely that it will be the dreaded Mauresmo. The Mess reminds me in many unfortunate ways of a minor irritating character from Prisoner Cell Block H (prob a tautology) called something-or-other Burke, who used to stomp around the screen, tried unconvincingly to play the heavy but only when the real heavies had their backs turned, and had her face set in a permanent scowl. Maybe if she does pull this one off and show some substance I will find her less irksome but in the meantime....

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 26 January 2006 01:23 (twenty years ago)

Nalbandian should win this semi, as he is far more consistent from the baseline (Ljubo was crap) and returns 6 times better than Ljubo (all Baghdatis service games were won to 15). Nalbandian is Nalbandian, he is 3rd best in the world after Fed and Rafa. Baghdatis making three huge shocks in a row would surprise me. But he's red hot at the moment. I like Nalbandian's chances more and personally I hope he wins since he's my favorite tennis player.

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 26 January 2006 03:25 (twenty years ago)

I distinctly remember that once, when Nalbandian had short hair he was kind of rowr, but it's kind of hard to see it now.

Double H vs Big Masha - and the Russian princess has just won the first set 6-4 after a bit of a loose game from HH. I think this will be a three setter though.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 03:29 (twenty years ago)

"do you think I'm sexy, edward?"

awww he's a river plate fan!

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 26 January 2006 03:38 (twenty years ago)

No, it was at one of the grand slams. I recall a red shirt.

The Best Legs in Belgium has got a break in the second!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 03:41 (twenty years ago)

Dear me, in the absence of The Lex, I have been a horny bugger on this thread, no? Watching Martina play Kim, I was like... hoo.. apart from the hair, Kim's coustin Tim Clijsters I fancy as a bit of rough.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 03:42 (twenty years ago)

Justine just hit a drop shot off a drop shot. ~~Marry me, Justine~~.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 03:45 (twenty years ago)

Another break to Justine in the second, except the last two times she's broken she's given it back tamely. So she's only up 2-1.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 03:49 (twenty years ago)

Man, I really hope Justin can turn this around. I do not like Sharapovas style of play. Her game is all about power and smartness isn't implemented in her game too much. Justin is normally superiour in terms of technical abilities and smartness. Hower, I do admire the conviction Maria puts in her game, especially when she's behind. She can be like a "madman" sometimes.

Sadly I'm not able to watch the game right now :(

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 26 January 2006 03:54 (twenty years ago)

There's lots to like about the Sharapova game. Like how she switched hands and hit an a-MAZING lob right into the back-left corner in the first set. And she IS very smart. But tactically, Justine's better, and I like her more, even if, at the moment, she looks like a Shakesperean male actor playing a woman.

OMG, just then, she hit another left-handed winner, doing a smash at the net, so GRACEFUL! I love her! But yeah, Justine more so.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 03:56 (twenty years ago)

Allez! Justin! 6-1 in the second.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 04:06 (twenty years ago)

3-2 in the third, MARATHON service game for Just Right, there, ending on a botched drop shot by Mazzy Shar.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 04:42 (twenty years ago)

Super tense set. At one point, Yuri Sharapov yelled out something in the middle of the point (commentator says "vamos", but I thought I also heard someone else yell "out") resulting in Justine getting narky. Then, Justine went up 5-2, couldn't serve it out, got broken, but broke Sharapova immediately to win the match. The final backhand down the line, just amazing.

Now, Kim, pwn!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 05:06 (twenty years ago)

The Clidge gets the first set on her fifth or maybe sixth set point when Ammer double-faults.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 06:33 (twenty years ago)

and mauresmo dominates the 2nd. interesting match. i wanna see another hh-clijsters final, but i also kind of think mauresmo would make it a better game...

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 26 January 2006 07:02 (twenty years ago)

If the Aus open wibsite is to be believed, Clijsters has retired, hurt, possibly, down 2-3 in the third.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 07:29 (twenty years ago)

yup, kim out on a twisted ankle. ouch. looked painful. so h-h vs. mauresmo.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 26 January 2006 07:31 (twenty years ago)

The Clidge

Dude, that makes me think of clit or something. Which is not a good thing if it's Clijsters. She's belgian but doesn't excite me enough. ;-)

I guess it's better she retired now, that'll make the finals more exciting.

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Thursday, 26 January 2006 09:09 (twenty years ago)

I am merely keeping up with a previous nickname for her. Blame.. um, I don't know who! Baggy vs Nalbuphine are on now, and every game is like, a massive tussle. On serve, though, 4-3.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 09:24 (twenty years ago)

Oh no worries. Me, I'd call her Flemish Peasant Girl. That's how she looks to me. ;-)

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Thursday, 26 January 2006 09:26 (twenty years ago)

I shall use it when the French Open thread comes around.

And Bandersnatch is now a break up on Baggy Trousers. But he lost the last break he had... hmm.. but yes, you'd expect that 5-3, this set is going to Argentina.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 09:28 (twenty years ago)

That lead is now a set and a break. Nalbandian is looking a tiny bit good.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 09:40 (twenty years ago)

But not now, because Baghdatis has a set of his own, and a break in the fourth to boot. Best believe this is going to five sets, tiring the winner out and allowing Fed to pwn them. Because Fed ain't losing to Keef, after that racquet-throwing incident, no.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 11:10 (twenty years ago)

ed, maz shaz is not tennis-smart at all! i remember when the williamses and davenport were criticised for being all power and no brain, and this was true to an extent (venus however seemed to be becoming a pretty good combination of power and strategy before her form died completely and she lost both), but then capriati took the no-brain part to a lower level altogether, and shaz is continuing that inglorious slide. the girl has awful touch and finesse - shots like that lob seem more luck than intention. although it has to be said that very few of the top women could be described as cerebral - hingis, henin-hardenne, myskina, sometimes mauresmo, schnyder...is schiavone a top player? she'll probably be in the top 10 soon, bizarrely.

(yes i am total tennis rockist!)

i'm really glad that the final will be between two of the most aesthetically pleasing games on the wta! and i don't mind who wins - i like h-h better and another grand slam would do great things for her legacy, but it'd be lovely for amelie to finally break through, she'd be so happy.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 26 January 2006 11:32 (twenty years ago)

a bandy dave vs fedge final would be fascinating if it happens - bandy was the man who broke fed's insane winning streak in finals, the last time they played, in the masters cup final...

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 26 January 2006 11:33 (twenty years ago)

I don't think it's fair to say she's not smart at all. She is nowhere near as vacant and dumb as Capriati. Though yes, JenFat lowered that bar so much you'd have to limbo under it.

Two sets all now.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 11:35 (twenty years ago)

I had high hopes for a fresh Bandy, thru in three, causing RF serious problems in the final but now I'm not sure he'll have much left in the tank (extra day off though). If Baghdatis pulls off this recovery I fear we may have one of those what-is-this-guy-doing-here GS finals - see Lewis, Scheuttler, Pioline, even Bandy back in the day.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 26 January 2006 11:41 (twenty years ago)

And well we might, after going down the early break, Marky Marcos (sans Funky Bunch), gets it back.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 11:49 (twenty years ago)

Okay, this is just getting silly now. Another pair of traded breaks. Someone hold serve, or you're going to be bloody tuckered.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:05 (twenty years ago)

How many times has Federer three-setted all the previous rounds (I know this isn't the case in this tournament) and come up against completely knackered opposition in the final?

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:06 (twenty years ago)

I shouldn't think he'll struggle that much against Kiefer, but your scenario has happened a few times, I can't quote though.

And now Baghdatis has the break to start off with. If Nails doesn't break him back here it's all over... most surprising finalist in a slam since.. well, ever?

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:08 (twenty years ago)

IBM scoreboard is insisting that Nalbo's had two breaks to Datum's one in this 5th set, which clearly can't be the case as it's 4-4. Oh, hang on, they've fixed it.

Now have boss's laptop in office...can't get WinTV to work...

Mark C: Well, Safin was far from fresh in Melbourne two years ago (epic wins over Roddick, Agassi et al), Roddick had tougher semis than Fed at Wimb in '04 and '05, but Hewitt got to the US final more easily than Roger in '04 and got stomped.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:10 (twenty years ago)

And get this. IT HAS JUST STARTED RAINING.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:11 (twenty years ago)

5-4 15-15, three points from a final. And it starts raining. Fortune is not smiling on Marcos.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:12 (twenty years ago)

Outsider stumbles to semi finals, is about to get thrashed, pulls himself back into contention, is on the verge of victory, then gets taken off for rain.

He's not secretly British, is he?

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:14 (twenty years ago)

How long does it take them to close the roof? 20min or so?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:15 (twenty years ago)

15 minutes, ish I think.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:16 (twenty years ago)

This looks like being the second time Bandy has lost a GS semi from two sets up (Roddick, US '03).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:16 (twenty years ago)

And they're out on court again.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:36 (twenty years ago)

Match point! EXCITEMENT.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:39 (twenty years ago)

Bloody deuce!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:40 (twenty years ago)

Except it should be game, set match Baghdatis because his forehand was IN IN IN, but called out. Replay confirms.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:40 (twenty years ago)

But an error from Bandy and then an ace and it is OVA OVA OVA. Marcos Baghdatis is probably now the most famous person from Cyprus ever, unless someone can advise otherwise.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:41 (twenty years ago)

baghdatis in the final wtf wtf - no matter how well he played, and from what you all say it seems he played very well, this was a MASSIVE missed opportunity for nalbandian to win his first slam (even given fed)

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 26 January 2006 12:58 (twenty years ago)

Bandy was totally on first two sets, and I think just put in too many singly loose games in the end. Concentration thing, I reckon. He was pretty good the whole way through, Baghdatis was just damn solid.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 13:00 (twenty years ago)

Marcos Baghdatis is probably now the most famous person from Cyprus ever

Asil Nadir? Aphrodite? George Michael's dad? Stelios 'easyJet' Haji-Ioannou?

― Hello Sunshine (Hello Sunshine), Thursday, 26 January 2006 13:10 (twenty years ago)

Stelios EasyJet bloke and Archbishop Makarios must still rank ahead of Baghdatis as famous Cypriots? I guess we're not counting George Michael or Cat Stevens?

xpost!

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 26 January 2006 13:11 (twenty years ago)

Don't knock on my hyperbole, chaps, you've been too AWOL from this thread, Jones.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 13:15 (twenty years ago)

Asil Nadir? This thread has reached rock-bottom.

(Sorry, Ed O; pressures of work and time zones...)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 26 January 2006 13:31 (twenty years ago)

Ah, forgiven, but at least can you help with some decent nicknames? I'm out of inspiration.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 26 January 2006 13:42 (twenty years ago)

Imelda, BombsOverBaghdatis, MB (hence Milton Bradley, Hasbro, NotMattel, etc, ad infinitum), CypriotGames, the Archbishop and so on.

Sutherland, Donaldson, LeeVan, NK Dons, NK Donaldson, Heifer, Heffer, Eric Heffer, etc.

I think we've established that there are no good nicknames for Roger Federer.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 26 January 2006 13:58 (twenty years ago)

Bagheera, obv.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 26 January 2006 17:00 (twenty years ago)

Because the TV in my ocmputer room is tiny and crap and the picture flickers when I have the fan on, I am watching the lay-deez doubles between Baxter/Stoat and Yan/Zheng in the main room.

Baxter/Stoat won six games in a row to win the first 6-2, and Zheng was shaking her arse from side to side in the manner of a deflated Zina Garrison Jackson. They've just clinched the second in a tie-breaker, this set being notable for the fact that both Stosur and Raymond seem to have forgotten how to volley.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 27 January 2006 05:54 (twenty years ago)

And it's the Chinese pair (actually Yan is the arse-waggler) who win, after Stosur nets two volleys in a row. She really, really has no business being part of a #1-seeded doubles pair (tho one suspects this is more down to Raymond's stature) until she learns about the net, and why volleys have to go over it, not into it.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 27 January 2006 06:32 (twenty years ago)

Fed wins first 6-3. On serve in the 2nd.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 27 January 2006 09:53 (twenty years ago)

Keifer served big to stay w/Fed in the 2nd and broke him to win 7-5. Then Fed suddenly 'switched on' to string a cpl og brilliant return winners, broke, going on to win 6-0 with some brilliant tennis as well as quite a few errors from kiefer - he couldn't quite recover from the shock of losing that first game but its what he's playing against.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 27 January 2006 11:00 (twenty years ago)

Oh wow Yan and Zheng won! I'm quite pleased about that, women's doubles has been dominated by some fairly boring characters recently - veteran Americans like Lisa Raymond with all the personality of a fern. Arse-wigglers are definitely preferable.

Predictions for the women's final? I will go out on a limb and say that Mauresmo won't choke - but unfortunately Henin-Hardenne is the superior player anyway. Head-to-head so far:

1999 US Open 128 Hard (O) A.MAURESMO 1-6 4-6
2003 Berlin SF Clay (O) J.HENIN-HARDENNE 7-6(6) 6-4
2003 WTA Tour Championships SF Hard (I) A.MAURESMO 6-7(2) 6-3 3-6
2004 Sydney FR Hard (O) J.HENIN-HARDENNE 6-4 6-4
2004 Amelia Island SF Clay (O) A.MAURESMO 7-6(4) 5-7 3-6
2004 Olympics-Athens FR Hard (O) J.HENIN-HARDENNE 6-3 6-3
2005 Canadian Open SF Hard (O) J.HENIN-HARDENNE 7-5 3-6 6-1

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 27 January 2006 11:03 (twenty years ago)

Fed 4-1 up in the 4th - shame given the way Keifer played in the 2nd.

Henin to win in 3 sets (I think she'll win easily in two but maybe a last chance for Mauresmo will bring out something special from her) bcz I don't think we'll see much of a final in the men's - Nalbandian just had to choke! Hope he recovers from this even if it takes a while.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 27 January 2006 11:29 (twenty years ago)

Fed through 6-2 in the 4th.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 27 January 2006 11:33 (twenty years ago)

Just caught the last point of the match. Rodge in four, conceded two games in last two sets.

Congrats Rodge on winning through to another final, and Nick on maintaining a zero-daylight reading between his recquet and his anatomy through four sets.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 27 January 2006 11:36 (twenty years ago)

Fedge actually made some surprisingly egregious errors. But he was damn good for the rest. Nothing spectacular by his standards, he pretty much did what he had to do and no more, no sweat (literally). Keifer krabby as you'd imagine.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 27 January 2006 11:47 (twenty years ago)

justine just retired! mauresmo wins by forfeit, two matches in a row. how weird. she must've had voodoo dolls or something.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Saturday, 28 January 2006 03:35 (twenty years ago)

aww JHH! :((

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 28 January 2006 03:43 (twenty years ago)

and amelie consoles her

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 28 January 2006 03:43 (twenty years ago)

That was bizarre...

Tucked up in bed, it occurred to me that I hadn't set the VCR, so I just set the bedside portable to go off after three hours thinking that I may well wake up in that time and see some of the action. I woke at 3:15am or so with Mauresmo 5-1 up...drifted off again and then woke to see JHH getting treatment...then there was something about a "blood virus" and I fell asleep. Woke up this morning not sure whether I'd witnessed Mauresmo win by default or whether I'd dreamt it.

(I did dream that I'd got a job in New York but it was in some isolated industrial park that might just have well have been on the outskirts of Harlow or Ebbsfleet for all its NYCness. Walking back to the subway station I passed some kids doing pretend martial arts fighting in cages. One of them was Markelby.)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 28 January 2006 14:56 (twenty years ago)

Well that's quite disturbing isn't it? No expressos for MJ :-)

I had no problems staying up (ok movie on, and then had a young Nick Cave screaming into my headphones for a while while watching the Go!team jumping around in my screen). But why oh why?! Glad Mauresmo won her slam but hopefully she'll win another one now, what with her SF and final opposition calling it early...anyone know whether that's ever happened before? I certainly can't remember a slam final not running to its completion.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 28 January 2006 20:08 (twenty years ago)

Only one that springs to mind: Edberg retiring injured at one-set all and a double-break down to Lendl, 1990 Aussie final. Edberg had some of his greatest moments in Australia but also some of his worst: he also did his back in at match-point whilst destroying Cash in the last 16 in '89 (had to default from his quarter-final vs Muster which, I think, was the only time the Austrian ever registered a "victory" against Edberg).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 01:25 (twenty years ago)

Well, Hingis has now got some silverware to show for her comeback, having just clinched the mixed doubles in straight sets alongside Mahesh Bhupathi.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 29 January 2006 06:25 (twenty years ago)

I've now escaped the broadbandless hinterland of the bedroom (it's not our wireless connection so it's not like we can complain to the neighbours to move their router) - not that I would've taken the laptop in there with a breakfasted-up Ava clambering about - and now I can watch and post!

Extraordinary stuff so far - Baghdatis up a set and very nearly a double-break, until Fedz steadied things. Hasbro could've wilted at 3-4 but hasn't and Roger's having to endure another tricky service game. Except not that tricky cos a wrong-footing crosscourt forehand has just put him 40-love. He misses a backhand down the line. He hits a service winner.

RF v MB 5-7 5-4*

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 10:13 (twenty years ago)

Huge hold from Federer for 6-5 from 0/30 and two deuces; Baggy is hitting bigger and bigger forehands - you almost expect him to blow himself out soon. Really high quality match now.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 10:24 (twenty years ago)

Poor Imelda - fails to hold from 40/0; some RadioFreq brillance but ultimately an overrule on set-point costs him (replay shows the overrule was correct). All square.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 10:30 (twenty years ago)

Baggy finally starting to miss but only because Feddy has gone all flawless off the ground. Having said that, MB has hit two astonishing passes in the this game as he attempts to retrieve a break. He fails to do so.

RF v MB 5-7 7-5 3-0*

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 10:40 (twenty years ago)

Now 5-0 - and yet they're still both playing superbly. Federer attacking the net more. Baggy serving to stay in the set and avoid the Swiss whitewash treatment (effective at 25deg).

A net-clipped backhand pass takes MB to 15/0; two backhand errors undo that.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 10:52 (twenty years ago)

Screaming forehand pass - kinda the FedEx signature shot - takes the #1 to double set-point...

Blocked backhand return kisses the sideline and that's 6-0.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 10:53 (twenty years ago)

Feddy holds after a deuce and a barrage of zingers and zousers from Baggy. RF goes 0/40 on the Cypriot serve and - OH NO - Baggy goes down clutching his calf. Oh, he's OK. Except he's not cos he streaked a forehand wide and has now lost 10 games in a row. Roger is a nice guy but it would give him immense professional satisfaction to double-bagel again in a GS slam, so don't expect any gifts here.

RF v MB 5-7 7-5 6-0 2-0 *30/30

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:04 (twenty years ago)

Well done BAGGY for making a game out of this.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:05 (twenty years ago)

Baggy calls for a trainer at 3-0. Hopefully he'll play through till the end..

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:06 (twenty years ago)

GS final, I meant.

3-0. Just unspeakably great retrieving from Federer now - the last point was ridiculous. Baggy getting treatment at the change of ends. Unfortunately, the guy can't help himself - he's spiking forehands into the corner but RF lurrves the angles and the pace. He needs a Plan B.

xpost

Hello, Julio! Baghdatis really hasn't done much wrong in this match, has he? His level now is only a notch or two below his tennis when within a point of 7-5 3-0. Glorious first point from RF AGAIN in the next game. Jeez.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:11 (twenty years ago)

Baggy saves a break point and holds! If he wins this match I will run naked through Nicosia.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:16 (twenty years ago)

Hey Michael! Agreed that he's performed really well - he did put Fed under a lot of pressure by attacking the 2nd serve and serving really big himself and overall really played a controlled and yet aggressive game. Got v close to being 2-0 up.
xp = its 40-40 on fed's serve.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:19 (twenty years ago)

ah well Fed holds...trainer on again.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:20 (twenty years ago)

Okay, this is just silly now. Baghdatis has had deuce on heaps of games, even on the Fed serve, but Fed just is unstoppable now.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:26 (twenty years ago)

Fed going for his drop shots can't do much running anymore - he misses it on 40-40 and baggy serves: 4-2.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:26 (twenty years ago)

Fed recovers from 40/15 down and has a break point to effectively seal it but Baggy toughs it out to 2-4 and NOW has 0/30 on the Swiss serve...

But misses a makeable backhand to pressure an attacking Rodge and it's 15/30...vicious forehand winner from yr top seed...30/30

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:28 (twenty years ago)

baggy has a break point Fed can't get a 1st serve in! xp

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:30 (twenty years ago)

Fed wins it ugly in the end w/good net coverage, then baggy pulls one out: 5-2

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:33 (twenty years ago)

Huge effort from Marco in that game but he got suckered into who-can-hit-the-hardest-forehand on the last point and Feddy is only a game away.

It's dawned on me who MB reminds of around the eyes - Marcelo Rios. Well, this is an infinitely superior effort in an Aussie final to the one Rios managed in '98. 0/30 - two points from the title.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:35 (twenty years ago)

Championship point.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:35 (twenty years ago)

Tired service game from Baggy brings Fed his 7th slam: 6-2 in the 4th.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:36 (twenty years ago)

Love and two in sets three and four of both the semi and the final. Cor!

Federer now level with...McEnroe (4US, 3Wimb), Wilander (3Fr, 3Aus, 1US), Newcombe (2Aus, 3Wimb, 2US), one behind Connors and Lendl.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:40 (twenty years ago)

And if Fed wins the french not only he'll complete the set but he'll be holding all 4 for a month till Wimbledon.

Anyway, another awesome thread etc etc - see you all at Roland Garros.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:49 (twenty years ago)

(I did dream that I'd got a job in New York but it was in some isolated industrial park that might just have well have been on the outskirts of Harlow or Ebbsfleet for all its NYCness. Walking back to the subway station I passed some kids doing pretend martial arts fighting in cages. One of them was Markelby.)

It can't have been me - I was in Baghdad (semi-on topic) last night while asleep. Oddly, it was a short walk from Walthamstow.

― Markelby (Mark C), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:53 (twenty years ago)

This was the most vulnerable Federer of the last 3 years and still he won another Grand Slam. That's why he is number 1 champion of his generation(perhaps the greatest ever even) and he will dominate world tennis for a long time. A natural born champion. Congratulations.

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Sunday, 29 January 2006 14:26 (twenty years ago)

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Sunday, 29 January 2006 14:28 (twenty years ago)

And so it goes. We got the last chapter we expected (roughly) but the plot was radically different from what the pundits were calling. Well done Rodge, and (choke on the humble pie) Ammers. Gold stars and holy pictures also to: Buggers, Tommy Haas, Martina F. Hingis, Sammy the Stoat, Peter Luszak, Nathan Healey, and, until the last day, JHH.

Those who did slightly less well over the journey include Lleyts (whose ranking new in the teens tells all), Rodders, Nick the Tosser, Henners and Markipoo (the latter two showing how it is imposssible to have expectations so low they can't be disappointed), the Williamses and the Whiz Kid Trio of Murray, Monfils and 'Blown' Gasquet.

Dickhead of the Fortnight: The goose who SMS'ed that Federer beating (rattle off his list of opponents over the fortnight) proved nothing. What the hell did he need to prove, and to whom?

See you at Wimbledon!

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 30 January 2006 02:39 (twenty years ago)

I love Roger Federer and I don't care who knows!!

― Andrew (enneff), Monday, 30 January 2006 02:47 (twenty years ago)

I am going to start wearing a green headband in the hope that I will scale his heights.

Roll call: who doesn't love Roger Federer even slightly?

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 30 January 2006 04:37 (twenty years ago)

i don't think i love him. i'm impressed by him, tho, and one thing that impresses me is that i think he doesn't care who loves him. i can't remember another tennis player who so completely gave off the sense that he's playing for himself and no one else. the closest analog i can think of is michael jordan, where it seemed like the only thing that could challenge him was the game; the other players or opponents were just an excuse to test himself.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Monday, 30 January 2006 04:46 (twenty years ago)

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