Introduce yourself

[kellygreen]

I have the same name at TWoP, though I was mostly a lurker. I pretty much only follow men's tennis. Womens' doesn't hold my interest as much for whatever reason.

Andre Agassi made me a tennis fan back in the late-80s. I'm about the same age as him and had a mad crush on him back in the day (don't laugh!). Over the years, the crush waned, but I still always loved & rooted for him.

My other big fave is Roger--ever since the day he beat Pete at Wimbledon. I had to know more about this guy! I kept watching for him and even though it took a couple more years to break through, I think he's done all right for himself, lol.

I have an irrational dislike of Nadal but have realized that I'm slowly warming up to the guy--a little bit.

I'm enjoying Djokovic so far.

I enjoyed watching Ferrer the other day against Nalby too. He does look like actor Roger Howarth!

I also like James Blake (though he wears me out sometimes and I wish he'd get a new coach).

Ironically, I despised Jim Courier as a player (well, he did beat Andre at the FO after all, lol), but I love him as a commentator. I equally love Darren Cahill. I used to love Cliffie (still do) and PMac as a team, but PMac can be tough to take at times. I really wish Enberg & Robinson would retire, lol.

[roseha]

Hi everyone, Roseha here, same name as on TWOP. I can't believe they deleted so many posts over there, what were they thinking? It's too bad because the tennis group on Usenet is awful.

Thanks for forming this group!

My favorite players...men...Federer (now) and to some degree Safin, I like to see them do well. But mainly Roger, the genius

In the past I was a big Edberg fan, just about his whole career.

Women...I like Venus and Hingis for their games. In the past I liked Goolagong and Hana Mandlikova for their styles.

[lt]

In the past I was a big Edberg fan, just about his whole career.

I wish I had been smart enough to appreciate the brilliance of Edberg when he was playing. I now love the serve and volleyers (all. . . one of them) and wish I could go back and revel in one of the masters.

[roseha]

wish I could go back and revel in one of the masters.

You know Tennis Channel should show some old Edberg matches, how about one of his Wimbledon finals with Becker (preferably one Stefan won:) - he won 2 of the 3). There's too much junk on TTC right now.

[pokey]

Hi Everyone! samizdat5 was my TWOP name; I had just recently gotten into the tennis boards and then the smackdown. Oh well.

I've been a fan of tennis since Wimbledon 92 although I'm not quite as fanatical as I once was. My all time favorite players are Steffi Graf, Gabriela Sabatini, Roger Federer and Stefan Edberg. I have a completely insane (possibly irrational) intense hatred of Conchita Martinez. No one currently has my wrath like she did.

I'm excited to have a place to talk tennis!

[amarathe]

Hi, I'm amarathe on TWoP as well. I think someone reported us for posting while the coverage was still on, and I freely admit that I was guilty of that. But really, when the coverage is all day and night, how are we supposed to only post when the show is over?

I started following tennis closely during '95. I still think that was one of the best years in tennis, because there were so many interesting players and stories to follow: Agassi and Sampras battling for #1, a resurgent Becker, ASV trying to hold off Graf, and of course Seles' big comeback from the stabbing.

[becca]

Hi all!

I was Castallack on the board but this is my actual name - why the hell not. I'm late to tennis, didn't get into it till the mid-90's when my company offered tickets to the Open as a perk and I went and fell in love.

I used to be more a women's tennis fan in the years before "Big Babe" tennis but once Hingis was gone (and let's face it, she's still gone) and finesse playing didn't seem to be so prevalent, I gravitated towards men's. I'm not sure if I could list all my favorite players but I'm a huge David Nalbandian fan. I dunno, I saw him play once in 2002 or so and he was so calm and unfazed in the face of everyone rooting for his opponent that he won me over for life. Those days are gone but I'm still with the guy, God help me.

[francienolan]

Becca, I've nursed a deep but powerful love for David for quite awhile

As a rule I'm not masochistic but rooting for him definitely qualifies as such

[apocalipstick]

I love Nalbandian too! He is a poor man's Marcelo Rios, but his press conferences make me giggle every time. Much more so than Andy's snark.

Finally Carlos, FINALLY.

[becca]

Thanks guys; I feel much more validated! I mean, I know his tennis isn't the prettiest but he's still quite the shotmaker.

He used to be so much more consistent but yeah, these days, I just wait for the five set grind and last minute mis-hit that leads to an early round defeat.

Re: his press conferences, he takes everything so literally - I never know whether it's his, uh, limited English or his personality. But it can be hysterical.

[grommet]

Hello all, same Grommet as on TWoP where I mostly lurked but enjoyed reading everyone else's posts.

I started watching tennis seriously when Agassi starting playing Lendl every year at the US Open, hoping he'd eventually beat that sour puss. I enjoyed Becker and Edberg during that time too, but never Sampras and Courier (whom I've grown to like quite a bit as a commentator, though he talks a bit too much).

Now I like Federer (as does my cat, who frequently sits in front of the TV and watches his matches), Nadal, Roddick, and anyone else who plays an exciting match, like Haas did yesterday.

No faves on the womens' side but I'm always hoping for a good match.

[keg411]

Same name as on TWoP.

My parents have been huge fans of tennis since before I was born and have gotten tickets to the US Open for as long as I can remember (my mom also got my dad a special package to Roland Garros about 10 years ago and he got to meet Tracy Austin).

The first match I remember watching was Becker/Lendl in some final (it may have been the US Open). For whatever reason I also remember irrationally disliking Lendl during the match (I was really really little). I've enjoyed watching ever since, though. Love the sport and wish it was more appreciated (though there have been some nice threads on the Yankees board on post on for the slams recently).

I have a tendency to gravitate towards American players, but I love plenty of the others (though I tend to dislike the Interchangeable Russian Girls).

Current Favorite Men: Andy Roddick, Marat Safin, James Blake, Tommy Haas, Carlos Moya (who I used to irrationally dislike), Gael Monfils (who's been sadly disappointing). I'm also starting to like Djokovic, but he's not quite a "favorite" yet.

Current Favorite Women: Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Shahar Peer, Martina Hingis (who I also used to despise and now I like a ton)

Past Favorite Men: Pete Sampras (all time favorite), Andre Agassi, Stefan Edberg (my mom was his biggest fan), Mark Phillippousis (see a serve-and-volley trend? Though he lost my "love" with that awful reality show -- what was I thinking as a child???)

Past Favorite Women: Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati, Kim Clijsters, Steffi Graf

Irrational Dislike: Roger Federer. My dad hates him and his girlfriend came across as a raging bitch when I worked the NASDAQ in Miami. I came out of the experience finding him much more attractive than he appears on TV (and I actually rooted for her here and there), but then she bitched when the match was over and ruined it forever and ever.

Plus, I want Pete to be the best goddmanit! I miss serve-and-volleyers .

[tigertail]

Hi, guys! I've got the same name as on TWoP, not that I posted much so don't feel bad for not recognizing me!

I was glad to find out someone had started a board to discuss tennis. I always enjoyed the TWoP tennis thread, because most of the other forums I found online were, how can I put this kindly - full of crazy people!! I found the TWoP discussion very sane by comparison and I liked that people could discuss different opinions without being disrespectful.

I've only been following tennis closely for about five years - I've always loved sports, but for some reason didn't start becoming involved in tennis until I was in college. I kick now myself for waiting so long to become a tennis player and fan!

I have positive feelings about most of the players these days. There isn't really anyone I dislike. Even though I sometimes get annoyed with some players, I just kind of end up thinking they're all pretty cool. I guess I respect the dedication and talent it takes for them to have all made it as far as they have, and that makes me want to like them and forgive their shortcomings.

I do have a soft spot for Andy Roddick. I can't help pulling for the guy. And of course Federer is just so beautiful and graceful that it's impossible not to be in awe. Somehow, though, I like him a little less now that he's all suave and fashionable and friends with Anna Wintour. I think I liked him more when it seemed like he was a little awkward everywhere but on the court.''

Anyway, great to be here!

[tikichick]

I'm TikiGirl from TWoP, but some bitch already had that name here (kidding!). I'm really happy to see all the TWoPers here. It was a great thread until the recent crackdown. In the past I wouldn't go to any boards because they were all so mean-spirited and unintelligent -- now I have a home, though, thanks to you all! It's fun to "watch" matches with you. My boyfriend likes tennis but prefers playing to watching, and I'm too awful to be on the court.

In no order, I love Federer, Youzhny, Safin on a good day; Henin, Mauresmo -- I'm sure I'm forgetting someone. Magic!Santoro! I love games with variety and intelligence.

[sexylibrarian]

Hi, I'm using the same TWOP name.

I've been a tennis fan since the late 70's (God I'm old) and was completely taken in at an impressionable age by John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.

All time favorite Men:

Patrick Rafter
Stefan Edberg
JMac
Wilander
Borg
Safin
Guga
Courier
Federer

Irrational hatred for:

Sampras
Agassi
Lendl
Connors

Favorite Women:
Seles
Hingis
Sabatini
Henin
Martina