|
|
Post by falafaclese on Jan 7, 2010 19:10:04 GMT
I saw Monfils/Blake this morning when i woke up, and Gael looked impressively sharp. For me, it was a good match, because both players were playing pretty well. Blake, while he had a couple of loose games which lead to his loss (nothing new), was fighting to the end and kept the moping to a minimum. I want him to improve on last year, and this definitely wasn't a bad loss. Monfils was serving pretty well, and looked very focused while I was watching, and I think he has the potential to have an even better year than he did last year. Also, he got a big tattoo of a pair of wings across his lower back.
I'm looking forward to Ivanovic/Henin tonight.
|
|
|
|
Post by tikigirl on Jan 7, 2010 23:34:36 GMT
Thanks for the clarification, everyone. I guess I was just feeling like a prematurely aged curmudgeon after the stress of the holidays.
I hope to catch Henin/Ana too (maybe atdhe.net?) ...although I may be in the minority, hoping Henin wins.
(edited for truly shitty spelling.)
|
|
|
|
Post by breezybee on Jan 8, 2010 2:57:44 GMT
Watched most of the Henin/Ivanovic match. Henin was impressive. She's pretty steely out there. Ana, not so much. I lost count of how many times she tossed and caught the ball when she was trying to serve. Same thing in her match yesterday. I feel bad for her because I struggle constantly with my ball toss and it doesn't seem to matter what I do the damn thing goes flying all over the place. It must be terribly frustrating for her.
I'm watching Belluci and Berdych right now. Good match so far. I hadn't noticed how pretty Belluci was before. I remember him as being a bit akward looking. Maybe he just grew in to his nose. I'll have to check out a few of his matches in the future.
|
|
lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
|
Post by lt on Jan 8, 2010 16:28:55 GMT
Last year after Wimbledon I said that I would be happy with Andy Roddick winning the Australian. I have to keep true to my word. And Roddick's tweets are helping--the picture of him in the teeny tiny Lacoste shirt? tweeting an article that talks about the koalas having sex behind him? Having Ray Rice on his fantasy football team? Until he does something Roddick-like on the court I'll root for him (well, after Verdasco of course).
eta: Oh, and being such a huge Cornhusker fan and wanting Suh to get the Heisman? Right there with him on the Suh thing and Nebraska is my third-favorite college football team.
|
|
|
|
Post by chestylarue on Jan 9, 2010 1:22:02 GMT
Happy 2010.
There have been whisperings that he had a nose job- but hey it looks good if so. In 2008 there were murmurings that he could be a player with a good future but he did not pick up as much momentum as expected. But he seems to be evening out a bit now so I hope he makes some strides this year- it was not a bad loss. And it would be nice to have a Brazilian doing well, from what I have seen Brazilian tennis fans can be a lot of fun and loud without going into the rudeness (throwing chairs, harrasing Cuevas) that sometimes the fans from say Chile can do.
Lots of interesting matches going on already! The Brisbane mens semis are intriguing (agree with you lt about Andy's tweets) and wow- already an all Belgian final for the women. I love Hopman and the Spaniards and the Brits are both adorable in the mixed so that will be fun. Too bad that no one here is showing the Doha final- Davy/Rafa could be good. Rafa is playing with more confidence he has in a while and Davy has had the better of him for a bit. Could be a good tussle.
|
|
|
|
Post by falafaclese on Jan 9, 2010 12:03:35 GMT
Possible spoiler
Did anyone see Henin/Clijsters? I happened to wake up and catch the 3rd set, and it was quite entertaining. Henin was very aggressive and got out to a 3-0 lead early; but then Clijsters was able to find some more depth on her shots, keep Justine back at the baseline, and fight her way back. Henin's attacking style has been quite effective this week, but she wasn't able to maintain it through the 3rd set, and Kim saved at least one match point that I saw to take it to a tiebreak and win it.
Next week, Justine could face Serena in the 2nd round in Sydney. I don't know how Serena's looking right now, but Justine's playing well enough to make it a very interesting match.
|
|
|
|
Post by vallegirl on Jan 9, 2010 18:02:28 GMT
Last year after Wimbledon I said that I would be happy with Andy Roddick winning the Australian. I have to keep true to my word. And Roddick's tweets are helping--the picture of him in the teeny tiny Lacoste shirt? tweeting an article that talks about the koalas having sex behind him? Having Ray Rice on his fantasy football team? Until he does something Roddick-like on the court I'll root for him (well, after Verdasco of course). I'm so glad I found out about his tweets because he is very funny. And I loved the photo of him in what looked like a women's Lacoste shirt. I'd seen the video of him and the horny koalas on Olbermann, but hadn't seen the tweet but I'm not surprised he was amused by it enough to link to it. He may be intense on the court but he's clearly self-aware enough and certainly self-deprecating enough to really enjoy taking the piss out of himself every now and then. I hope he has a great season, too. |
|
|
|
Post by breezybee on Jan 9, 2010 19:47:56 GMT
I've always liked Andy off court. On court, he bugs the crap out of me. I have softened towards him and hope he has a good season but the moment he starts whining and insulting an umpire my heart will harden.
Did anyone see the Davydenko/Nadal match this morning? Davydenko seems to have everyone's number these days. I hope he does well at the Australian Open.
ETA - Whoo Hoo to Spain winning the Hopman Cup. Those final matches did not go the way I expected them too but were very enjoyable. Also, a week of listening to Robredo be interview was hilarious. He seems to have a very random and off the wall sense of humour.
|
|
|
|
Post by falafaclese on Jan 9, 2010 21:20:20 GMT
Jusine just dropped out of Sydney with a minor leg injury, so no blockbuster 2nd rounder. Also, I've read some accounts of the Henin/Clijsters match as a whole, and it sounds like it wasn't high quality all the way through. Apparently it was an inconsistent performance by both players.
|
|
|
|
Post by breezybee on Jan 9, 2010 21:39:47 GMT
I've read the same thing. It sounds like Clijsters was dominating for a set and a half and then just fell apart. I don't think I'll bother searching for any video on youtube.
|
|
|
|
Post by tikigirl on Jan 11, 2010 5:39:01 GMT
Is it wrong that when Davydenko beats Federer and Nadal in a tournament like this, I think, "That would never happen in a grand slam"?
Also, I think I might finally be over my tennis burn-out, and baseball ain't happening for a few more months, and the most burning question I have about the NFL playoffs is whether Gisele cut Tom Brady's hair with a dull steak knife.
Bring on the Oz!
|
|
|
|
Post by seltzer4 on Jan 11, 2010 19:40:38 GMT
Kimko Date beat Nadia Petrova today.
Wow, that is so impressive by Date, considering she is 39 right now.
|
|
|
|
Post by breezybee on Jan 12, 2010 0:32:29 GMT
I'm sitting here doing some schoolwork but I have the Auckland tournament minimized on my computer screen with the sound up so that I can open it if something exciting happens. During the change-overs they are playing Lionel Richie's "Easy". How random and ill-fitting.
ETA - now they are playing Rod Stewart's "Sailing". Isn't that kind of a sad song and is it not possible to play something that is upbeat and possibly from this decade?
|
|
|
|
Post by falafaclese on Jan 12, 2010 16:44:17 GMT
It seems like these tournaments are incapable of choosing anything other than incongruous changeover music regardless of what country it's in. It always sounds weird or inappropriate.
I saw Serena and Safina last night. Both were in control of their matches (Safina after a really slow 0-5 start in the first set which I missed), but I think Serena looked the most commanding even in spite of Martinez' pretty spirited serve and volley assault at the beginning of the second set. Safina didn't appear to have any movement issues related to her back, but she looks super skinny. Safina/Dementieva tonight could either be an entertaining match or a wretched pile. We'll see.
Nalby dropped out of Auckland with a abdominal strain, and is now not definite for the Aussie. He can't catch a break that guy.
Also, after her loss to Agnes Szavay, Jelena Jankovic announced that she has a new service motion. So I suspect that will be the theme for this year's drama.
|
|
|
|
Post by francienolan on Jan 13, 2010 0:12:53 GMT
Also, after her loss to Agnes Szavay, Jelena Jankovic announced that she has a new service motion. So I suspect that will be the theme for this year's drama. Oh LAWDY... There was a pic of her w/ her coach at 40 deuce that didn't look like they were a match made in heaven. But then again I've been expecting that she was going to give him the old heave ho for some time now. I'm getting excited for Sunday,this time last year I got really sick and stayed that way for three weeks so AO 09 is sort of a blur. Can't wait to soak up all that good Aussie sun via the telly  |
|
