Tennis Talk 2010

[falafaclese]

I really wish I wasn't so disgusted by Djokovic and Tipsarevic, because then I could have enjoyed that final a little more. Even still, I could only watch that last match out of the corner of my eye. It was like trying to catch a glimpse of Medusa. And it sounds like it was a good thing that I didn't wake up early enough catch the Monfils/Djoker. I hate when Monfils plays badly, because it's all flailing limbs, and unnecessarily dramatic attempts at shots. The fact that it was against Djoker wouldn't have helped.

All that said, Serbia really played admirably on that last day. That was a lot of pressure to fight through, and you can't deny that, so bravo to them. Also, I like Troicki and Zimonjic as much as I dislike the other two, so I guess it evens out.

[lt]

Please oh please let someone tell me this is just a trick of the light and that Fer has not shaved the sides of his head and put the top part in some sort of mohawk/fade hybrid.

[breezybee]

I don't know what look they were trying for but I think they missed. Unless of course serial killer was the intended look.

[falafaclese]

I'm not sure what emotion that photo is supposed to evoke other than discomfort. I'm all for realism, but they could have dialed down the harsh lighting a little bit.

Martina N had to end her climb up Mt. Kilamanjaro because of pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs). That must be very disappointing for her. The mountain is approx. 19,000, and she had made it up almost 15,000 feet. The group was scheduled to reach the summit tomorrow. She must be devastated, but luckily it looks like recovery now that they have gotten her back down to low altitude should be pretty quick. I have been following her blog, and she said that on day three, bad weather had caused them to cancel "acclimatization walks" where they climb up high and then come back down to recover before heading into the last stretch of the climb.I don't know if that had something to do with it, but the walks were supposed to help them get used to the high altitude. I wonder if she'll try again since she was so close? Still, an impressive feat. A couple of times in her blog she said that it was tougher than she thought it would be.

Last night on Tennis Channel I watched the Sydney semifinal between Serena and Aravane Rezai. Rezai was two or three points from winning the match in the second set, and then Serena reeled off 5 straight games to take the set, and then she eventually won the match. When I see Serena all businesslike and fighting on the court like that, I really miss having her healthy and playing.

[acre]

Yeah I saw that about Martina, fala. Have to say, doesn't affect my admiration for her, at all - I read that she was very upset that "everyone would know she quit/didn't make it" (paraphrase) but I think she isn't giving herself enough credit. Well, at least my thinking is that everyone is still going to have the same, or better, opinion of her! Really now, Martina, you're a fucking rockstar and the whole world knows it. best to just accept it, heh.

The other tennis news is that Roddick will be playing Davis Cup this year - can only be good news for new coach Courier. Andy is clearly the best we've got in the US, no question, no competition. And really, he's earned every bit of all those top 10/YEC finishes. He's not among the greats, but he is among the very good - better than most. Huh, it's funny, I almost think of him and Courier as being same generation which I guess they're really not. But I did wonder if that influenced him to play, but then he said it would be odd to sit beside anyone but Patrick as coach, so I guess not.

And tennis-adjacent news: Sampras had many/most of his trophies stolen out of a warehouse. Well, he still has 13 out of 14 of his Grand Slam trophies, which I think of as the real history, but I can see how he would definitely regret many of the others, and all his YE markers, etc .... says he wanted to show them to his kids, which seems reasonable. I did wonder how important they were to him if they were in a warehouse to begin with, but it seems he has moved recently, so again, reasonable.

Ah, and as I said no TC for me (odd, I know, YEC, then nothing) - but of course I'd love to see Serena and many others really playing and healthy and truly in it. We could have a good women's tour if they were all there at once, giving their best, able to give their best.

[lt]

I had no idea about Pete's trophies. That truly sucks. Wonder what the market is for stolen tennis trophies?

I did wonder how important they were to him if they were in a warehouse to begin with

That was my first thought as well but while the titles are priceless, the trophies are, 9-times-out-of-ten, pretty damn ass ugly. Just dust catchers. And when you have as many as Pete. . . I can see getting them out of the living room. What was the one GS trophy that he had put in storage?

my thinking is that everyone is still going to have the same, or better, opinion of her!

I think she's the best. Well, as long as I'm not listening to her tennis commentary, but, boy oh boy, when am I going to learn to not read the comments on Yahoo? There are some small-minded idiots out there, that's for sure.

I don't know what to think about that Tennis Magazine Roger image. I haven't gotten my magazine yet so I have no clue what they were going for. Whatever it was? Photoshop fail. It can be added to the slideshow of really bad photoshopped images--you know, the one with models with three arms and the ones with no waist. They're hysterical.

And, hey! Denver airport has free WiFi! LOVING THIS!

[breezybee]

lt - I know there is Enlgish on that magazine cover but I think it's the Italian edition of Tennis Magazine. I don't know if the US version is using it or not.

Navratilova has always been my favourite female player. She is who I watched when I was a little girl. She was and is just an amazing woman.

[acre]

lt - Pete lost one of his Australian trophies, I believe he said it was the first he won, but not sure about that. And you're right, what would one do with all that stuff in the house, so very very many he has, and they really do have no other purpose or use.

[harry24]

Gah, that picture of Roger is creepy. That has Euro-ersazt artsy fartsy written all over it. It's funny that they messed with his hair and skin, because Roger's hair and skin are almost as gorgeous as his game.

[roseha]

I agree, it's almost like they were trying to make Roger look ugly and why would they? Puts a bad taste in my mouth after I watched the summary of the WTF that I recorded from TC today.

I don't think any less of Martina at all for giving up the climb. I think she did the correct thing. To be honest, I didn't think it was a great idea for anyone recovering from cancer to take on something so potentially dangerous. But it has nothing to do with her as a great player and champion.

[apocalipstick]

Hey all. I'm trying to temper the tennis addiction, so I've been away since USO. Okay, that's a lie. I've been reading periodically, but not nearly as often.

Anyway, I almost wet myself laughing at the picture of Roger. It should be in the lineup of photos "Pick the child molester." The direction must have been "Look angry and constipated." Then they ran the photo through an aging program. Hilarious. I'm pretty sure that wasn't what they intended though. Does any get the magazine? Anyone read the article?

As to the color choices for YEC, Tim Gunn would have been appalled. Lovely fabric choices, but hideous color story. Iman would have simply ordered one of her minions to rip those ugly Roger and Rafa outfits to shreds.

I do a lot for the holidays (Christmas in my case), so I'm not sure I'll be back posting before Oz.

Happy holidays and hope Hanukkah was lovely!

[lt]

Well, just as long as you (and everyone else) is back. . .

I've been thinking about tennis a bit this weekend (okay, fine, every weekend). Anyone else get a bit annoyed at the football pundits going on and on about how Favre's consecutive game record is "the most important streak in all sports"? Forgetting that I can think of two in baseball without even giving any thought to it, and (I'm sorry) 924 straight NHL games is a better streak anyway, how about the semi streak of Roger's in GS? We follow such a forgotten sport. . .

[falafaclese]

While I get how difficult it is to remain healthy and at the top of your game as an NFL quarterback, it's kind of a chauvinistic statement when you take into consideration that the vast majority of the planet couldn't give a damn about American football. My pro-tennis bias aside, I still think Fed's streak is more impressive.

ETA: I know very little about pro baseball, but didn't Cal Ripken have a similar streak? While I think that level of consistency is very impressive, and to be commended, I'm always more moved by wins and dominant play (eg. Graf's and Fed's slam wins records or Sampras' or Graf's weeks at number one records.)

[apocalipstick]

Don't get me started on my loathing of the announcer fellating (fellatio-ing?, sucking? blowing?) of Lord Favre of the All-Time Interception Record.

I have seen the photos of his willie and well, it is quite wee. He's done nothing this year but embarrass himself, his family, harm his team and get his coach fired. UGH.

Most NFL longevity records are held by kickers. Longevity records when not coupled with long-term success generally mean "didn't know when to quit." I want to stuff smelly socks in the mouths of Troy Aikman and Chip Carey. Not to mention my complete and utter loathing of Captain Obvious, Phil Simms. He once said "The one thing people don't realize about quarterbacks is that they need to know how to throw the ball." Seriously. He's the Ted Robinson of NFL announcers.

Okay, you got me started and I couldn't stop.

Back to tennis though. I DVRed Roland Garros Classics, the 2006 Roger/Rafa final. Roger kept making the same forehand error that lost him 2008 Wimbledon. Rafa, on the other hand, has dramatically improved his game. The serve, while consistently in play, did nothing to win points and his net play is amazing now in comparison to the clunky it was.

Roger was just as good 4 years ago as he is today. Rafa has simply improved. In fact, I don't think Roger has even lost a step, as some announcers suggest. I just think the rest of the field is catching up. Other than his decision making, the much discussed "stubbornness" of Roger, I don't think there's anything he could do to improve. He still has every shot.

I was able to knit almost an entire scarf while watching. Yay me. Now if they would only show a couple of the Rafa/Djokovic semis, I could finish. Watching Rafa spank Novak while studiously ignoring his histrionics amuses me every time. Yes, I'm petty.

[mooncreek]

So Tennis Channel had a poll regarding Favorite Male Player and they're airing the results this week (the ladies was last week and rather predictable: Henin, Wozniacki, Venus, Serena, Kim in order of airing). I turned it on Monday and Tuesday, scratching my head as I saw Fish was #5 and Monfils was #4. Then I look at the site. Explain to me how they decided there should be seven options: the top 5 (fine) and these two. I get that Monfils is popular but if you're going to have one American, you choose 30 Pounds No Socks over Roddick or Marathon Man Isner?