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Post by falafaclese on Dec 16, 2010 17:22:14 GMT
I've been following those countdowns too, moon, and I was wondering the same thing. Why would you go to Fish over Roddick? I even think Isner, and to a lesser extent, Querrey were more interesting to me than Fish. I guess Fish's performance in the Davis Cup put him over the top. That was a long tough match, so I can hardly begrudge him, but if we're talking long tough matches, we've got the granddaddy of them all with Isner, so I just don't know.
Has anyone been paying attention to the AO wildcard playoffs that are going on right now? over the past couple of days I've been hearing that Bernard "Sleepytime" Tomic dropped out claiming some sort of nonspecific illness, only to be seen engaging in a 2-hour-long practice the day before the playoffs were to start. The speculation is that he bailed on them because he expects that Tennis Australia will be giving him a provisional discretionary wildcard, and therefore didn't want to be bothered with the playoffs. There's been some huffing and puffing, by the tournament director, but I bet they still give him the wildcard.
This phenomenon where young up-and-comers start to believe their own hype before they've actually done anything seems to be the norm at the LTA and Tennis Australia (and I'll bet there's a lot of it in the USTA also, although they seem to have kept a lid on it publicly). I wonder when kids in the tennis superpower countries will start realizing that they're getting smoked by kids from tiny little countries where they actually still feel like they're willing to struggle to get to the top?
edited to correct my word choice.
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Post by mooncreek on Dec 16, 2010 19:28:01 GMT
Molik vs. Dokic in one of the semis of the Aussie wildcard playoff. I sincerely hope the loser (or both if the winner doesn't win the final) get awarded wild cards. See, Tomic, those are people who deserve the provisional wild card, not your sorry ass. If he'd shown up to the venue hobbling, I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.
Add to that the three players who were banned from the playoff for behavioral issues and it looks less likely there will be someone to even give that country hope once Hewitt retires.
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Post by falafaclese on Dec 16, 2010 20:11:22 GMT
For anyone who's interested, there is a live stream from the wildcard playoffs here. Friday's matches start at 10:00am Melbourne time, which is 4 hours from now. I'm assuming it's just a live stream of the day's matches, but I haven't actually used it before today, so I'm not sure. |
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lt
Semi Finals
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Post by lt on Dec 17, 2010 0:40:21 GMT
Wow, tennis Australia is really a soap opera, huh? I hope they don't give him a WC. I hope they stay strong and realize they are better off with the players they don't view as "superstars" in the Open as opposed to these entitled, bratty (emphasis on bratty) little jerks. Who knew Hewitt could look so good in comparison? Meanwhile, where did Rafter and the old-school Aussies come from? I know the system didn't exist for the likes of Laver and Emerson and such, but, boy, does Rafter look even more like a sweetie when you compare him to what's come after. And have any of the women been like this? I can't think of one. They all seem like decent sorts.
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Post by breezybee on Dec 17, 2010 4:01:51 GMT
Me too but I bet they will. Then he can complain again, when they put him on Rod Laver in the evening, that it's past his bed time. I see there is a fair bit of tv coverage for the Rafa/Roger exo match. So far I see nothing scheduled here. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Roger says he's practicing.  |
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Dec 20, 2010 17:03:52 GMT
Roger may be practicing, but Soderling is visiting the kiddies. Check out the adorable little blond kid next to him. But the reason I'm linking is for the kid a row up on the right-hand side. A lot of the kids have lollipops but on this kid it looks like a cigarette. It's hysterical. |
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Post by mooncreek on Dec 21, 2010 23:26:08 GMT
In the good news/bad news department, Brad Gilbert is back in coaching. His new client is Kei Nishikori. The bad news is that he's also staying as an ESPN analyst.
As far as Special Kei is concerned, this is a good move (especially since he's also got his full-time coach still on board)... for however long it takes before they get annoyed with hearing him.
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Post by apocalipstick on Dec 23, 2010 15:15:01 GMT
Interesting news, Carillo will no longer be working for ESPN. *insert inappropriate Carillo laugh* She asked out of the contract and they let her go. *said with uncalled for emphasis and surprise followed by inappropriate Carillo laugh*
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Dec 23, 2010 16:24:49 GMT
Sad that just a couple of years ago the Carillo news would have made me sad--now I'm just happy to see her go. I blame ESPN and their KEEP TALKING ALL THE TIME mantra (Monday Night Football is as much of a bear to get through as their tennis). She really took that direction to heart. But, ESPN still shows tennis and I'd rather see tennis and listen to too much blathering than not see enough tennis at all.
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Post by mooncreek on Dec 23, 2010 18:38:55 GMT
Jelena Dokic and Peter Luczak, despite losing their matches in the finals of the Australian wild card playoff, were awarded discretionary wildcards. I believe that means Tomic's "gamble" didn't pay off. *insert laughter*
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Post by falafaclese on Dec 24, 2010 4:02:41 GMT
Justice is always gratifying.
On the flip side of that, Wayne Odesnik is being allowed to return to the tour one year early. Evidently the second year of his ban has been suspended because he "has provided substantial assistance in uncovering other offenses." I guess that means he has named names. If this means other cheaters will be disciplined, that's a good thing, however, he's still a skunk. Even more so if the only reason he cooperated is because his ass was on the line.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Dec 24, 2010 13:30:01 GMT
Great. So he's a cheat and a sneak. Bet he's on Santa's naughty list. . . And he's going to get some reception on the tour, huh? I'm guessing the other players just love him.
And for those that celebrate the Christian holidays. . . . Merry Christmas! (I have 14 relatives coming today. 14! How are they all going to fit?)
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Post by falafaclese on Dec 24, 2010 17:23:27 GMT
Jelena Dokic and Peter Luczak, despite losing their matches in the finals of the Australian wild card playoff, were awarded discretionary wildcards. I believe that means Tomic's "gamble" didn't pay off. *insert laughter* Could Tomic still get a wildcard? I think there are 8 and France and USA each get one, so with Matosovic and Luczak getting one each, there are still four. I would assume that some other players have applied/will apply for the remaining four. I think Asia gets one too, right? So that leaves three. |
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Post by breezybee on Dec 24, 2010 20:52:18 GMT
Yes and I will be surprised if he doesn't. Last year 5 of the 8 wildcards went to Australians.
I know it's another week a way but I am so looking forward to the Hopman cup. I don't know why I enjoy it so much but I love it. It's just a lot of fun.
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Post by falafaclese on Dec 28, 2010 21:42:02 GMT
Tennis Australia just gave discretionary WC's to Alicia Molik and Matt Ebden who were both semifinalists at the WC playoffs. If my count is correct, that leaves 2 more men's discretionary WC's for the Aussie. I wonder why the didn't give a WC to each of the other losing semifinalists? Maybe they're coming, but why wouldn't they award them at the same time? Unless the fact that they are both losing semifinalists is just incidental.
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