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Post by tikigirl on Aug 31, 2009 7:55:29 GMT
Well, I have insomnia (and an upcoming writing contract with a major city's humane society, yay!), so I thought I'd start this thread...just a few hours to go!
I'm so excited, my teeth ache.
Who do I want to win? Feds and Dementieva. What other winners wouldn't bother me? Safina. Venus. Clijsters. And FABRICE SANTORO. Yeah, you read that right.
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Mpol
3rd Round
Posts: 444
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Post by Mpol on Aug 31, 2009 11:43:55 GMT
Congrats on the job Tiki! Major props. I am excited though it doesn't seem like there is much coverage down under this year. I looked over at Fox 3 and I haven't seen much as yet. I too want Feds to win. As for the women? Anyone but Serena. Her comments towards the players she lost to during the US summer have been the final straw.
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pokey
2nd Round
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Post by pokey on Aug 31, 2009 11:44:13 GMT
I'm so totally excited for this year; I'd like to see Roddick and Safina win; I wouldn't mind it if Federer, Murray, Del Potro, Dementieva, Sharapova or Venus won either (what? I'm easy to please). I have a half day at work today so I'm probably going to just sit and watch tennis for like 10 hours this afternoon! yay.
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Post by francienolan on Aug 31, 2009 12:16:14 GMT
There are so many french and russian men in the draw so it's not that surprising that quite a few country men are playing one another in the first round. But I do feel bad for Gonzo & Massu.
I'm really blah about the USO this year which is surprising. That will probably change as the week goes on and some basket case I like puts together a nice run...
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Post by mooncreek on Aug 31, 2009 12:33:19 GMT
For the men: Anyone other than Roger.
For the women: either Safina or Dementieva.
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Post by chestylarue on Aug 31, 2009 13:25:24 GMT
I am getting excited
One first round match in the "sucks they have to play each other so soon" is the Gasquet/Rafa match. In this weekend's L'Equipe- Gasquet said that Rafa was the player who supported him the most during his suspension by far and he will never forget it. The little conspiracy theorist in me thinks that the ITF is punishing Reeshard by having him play Rafa and they are punishing Rafa for being so vocal in his support of Reeshard by having him play Gasquet. I think that net exchange will be very sweet.
Also file under sucks that they have to play so early: Delpo verus Pico (why draw gods, why?) and JCF/Santoro.
As for who I want to win-
For the women. Elena or Dinara at the top of my list= with Elena at the very top. In the it will never happen but ohmygawd how awesome would it be category I think a Flavia or Vera win would be neat. Kim would be cool too. It may be nice to see JJ get it. If a WS were to win- I would want it to be Venus.
For the dudes- Rafa and Delpo are tied. I don't think there is any way Rafa can win but I would love to see it. I think Delpo has about a 5% chance- which is something. Then I would like to see either of the Andys win it. Then maybe Verdasco, Gonzo or Zonger. As one of the few who is rather "meh" about Marat- I would hate it if he went on a long streak as it would mean that Delpo went out early. That would be a huge buzz kill for me.
I feel like Roger and Serena have enough candy and kudos for now. I would like for some of the wealth to be shared. I was annoyed when during the USO preview on CBS they were stating it is practically a given that Fed and Serena would win. Way to make the tournament seem exciting. Nothing against those two but I wand some different names on the trophy.
I do think it will be Roger and Serena though. But a gal can dream for something different.
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Mpol
3rd Round
Posts: 444
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Post by Mpol on Aug 31, 2009 13:35:55 GMT
I really want Roger to win. I know he can't win them ALL but I really want him to add as many slams to his tally before he retires. I HATE HATE that whenever he looses a match now, it is OMG HE IS LOOSING HIS EDGE HE ISN'T AS GREAT AS HE USE TO BE (04-07.) And whenever he wins it is... he could have played better OR they expect it. The guy IS only human.
End rant.
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Post by chestylarue on Aug 31, 2009 13:50:38 GMT
Mpol- I understand how you feel. My favorite is said to be done at 23 years old! And sadly- at times I worry that may be the case. Also- I would not have minded seeing said fave rack up 10 FO titles in a row- although I know that for folks who are not big fans of him- that would have gotten old. But alas-that possibility is dead and buried. A little rant of my own: I respect the talent of a lot of the players now that it does irritate me when Roger loses it is all about him briefly losing his edge as in 2008 (and therefore the other player would not have won in regular circumstances) and when he wins he should have beaten the player worse because god knows Roger should kill one and all. Gosh forbid the other player actually have played well and not have an asterick attached to the win. Yes he is the GOAT yadda yadda but Rafa, Murray, Nole and the others who have beaten him are not exactly scrubs. If Roger does lose this year- I hope that respect is given to his opponent for their play and it is not said that Player A beat Roger because Roger is no longer as good (and player A would never had beaten Roger in his prime) or Roger has twins or Roger sneezed and would have won if he didn't sneeze or Roger is this that or the other. Let it be about the other player. (Conversely it also irritates me if people put astericks next to Roger's wins /Rafa's losses, etc.).
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Mpol
3rd Round
Posts: 444
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Post by Mpol on Aug 31, 2009 14:16:14 GMT
See that is another thing that annoys me. The opponent never gets the love, you are so right there chestylarue. As you said we know Roger is GOAT, has an AMAZING game, but gosh it isn't going to be on song 100% of the time. It isn't all doom and gloom either, as he has showed us with his wins this year.
And are you talking about Rafa? Being 23? I didn't like how others wrote him off after his knee injury. I doubt his career will last well into its 30's. His knees are suspect but I believe the guy can win a few more majors to say the least. His game is very physical but the guy started to play amazing tennis as soon as he hit the tour. Where as people like Roger or Samprass started to peak at around 21+. I believe the boy and his team need to start becoming very selective of HOW many tournaments he plays within a year. It is a shame someone so young has to consider this at such a young age but such is the way of tennis.
Back between 04-07, many questioned the William's dedication to tennis as they figured outside activities were distracting them. Honestly, that time with injury and them pursing other hobbies (as well as tennis, I don't believe they ever lost interest) has done them the world of good now. The girls are approaching their 30's. Serena is 27/28? Venus 29. With such physical games I would have said their careers would have been winding down now and yet we have both of them still winning majors, tournaments, being the best and ranked the best.
Just goes to show you how important it is to pace yourself in this field.
I find is so crazy though because my field, illustration/art people often don't become much good until they hit their 30's and peak in their 40-60's! To think being 30 is old in tennis is just out of this world.
Ahem now back on topic... I hate the time zone factor. It is great for when I want to watch night games but day games are very late here.
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Post by admin on Aug 31, 2009 14:17:48 GMT
Congrats on the job, Tiki! I completely forgot to start a thread yesterday & I've been at the World Bog Snorkelling Championships all day today so have been waterlogged. I'm sitting in a cafe, rather damp and am enjoying a coffee and cake to warm myself. Damp fingers can't type well on a touchscreen phone, bah.
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Post by chestylarue on Aug 31, 2009 14:25:41 GMT
Forgot to say woohoo to Tiki! Admin- sounds interesting. Mpol- I always figured with Rafa's style he would not last as long-which happens with the scramblers like Hewitt and Chang. He is trying to change his game style but one thing that is happening now is his timing is off on his ground strokes. I hope he can get two or three more grand slams but I don't have much more hope than that. He has had an interesting attitude lately in interviews- where he is saying more and more that he knows that tennis is not all there is to life, etc. He is also starting to be more aware of what is going on outside of the sport (for example- during his time off he said that he was reading a lot of news about the economy and politics- and that is not something he would have said during his layoff in late 2005/early 2006.) I just get the feeling that while he loves to play and compete-he is getting more and more prepared for the idea that his career may not be as long as others. BTW- what a neat field you are involved in.
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Mpol
3rd Round
Posts: 444
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Post by Mpol on Aug 31, 2009 14:30:53 GMT
And that saddens me. I didn't notice that about if court interests though... interesting. It would be nice for him to win a USO to complete the four.
I'm off to bed now guys. Annoyed that I can't stay up and watch much of the tennis. Enjoy it and talk soon.
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Post by prettyvacant on Aug 31, 2009 15:07:23 GMT
For the women, I also really want Dementieva or Safina to win. Venus winning would be awesome as well, but I don't think its going to happen.
I don't know that I have a favorite for the men. I want Rafa to win a US Open at some point, but there are half a dozen players or so who I would like to see win really. I might actually cheer against Roger this time (we'll see, I might not be able to).
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Post by vallegirl on Aug 31, 2009 15:11:55 GMT
Who do I want to win? Feds and Dementieva. What other winners wouldn't bother me? Safina. Venus. Clijsters. And FABRICE SANTORO. Yeah, you read that right. I'm with you on wanting Federer and Dementieva to win, but I wouldn't be disappointed with a Murray, Roddick, Venus or Safina win, either. And as for Rafa being done at 23, while that sounds awfully young, I think it's best to look at how many years he's already had at the top. If you think the average player begins to peak at 20 or 21, and has been at his peak game for five years, that would put Rafa, at 23, where most players are at 25 or 26, which is usually where the wear and tear of the tour becomes more evident. Of course he can come back to full strength and still be a force in the game and the #1 player. But five years at the top of the game is a long time, and now he's no longer on his upward trajectory. How he handles his first real bout of public doubt, and they've all had to overcome it, will show whether or not he's only in a temporary lull or on a downswing.
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Post by roseha on Aug 31, 2009 15:54:29 GMT
Congrats on the new job tiki! Mpol, I know how you feel about the time difference - I have felt that way ever since the AO went to those night finals which start at 3:30 am in New York! Oh for the good old days when the men's final began at 10 pm for us! But I am rooting for Roger also - and I feel the same way you do, so many will say he is finished if he loses, it's almost as though they *want* it to be true. I definitely felt that way last year after he lost the W final to Rafa. It's partly that I love his game and know there will not be another player like him. But it's also that I've kind of gotten invested I guess as a fan. I hope Rafa will be okay. I find it fascinating that he is reading the news and "looking around" as Arthur Ashe put it many years ago. For the women - I will be fine if Serena wins but I would prefer Venus especially after she was so gracious after Wimbledon. But I would really like to see either Safina or Dementieva win. Neither has won a slam obviously and it would be great for their careers.
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