|
|
Post by mooncreek on Oct 15, 2011 16:55:29 GMT
No, I've been as well. Sometimes I wonder if he has any clue he does this stuff - or is it like a blackout when he gets in the zone.
I kind of wish the tennis itself was like this more often. More play at net than you usually see this time of year. It seemed to start when Murray was rushing net quite a bit in the Tokyo final and other players have jumped on the bandwagon.
|
|
|
|
Post by falafaclese on Oct 16, 2011 14:08:21 GMT
I've been watching some, but I started a new job a couple of weeks ago, and that along with the time difference has made it hard to follow the Asian swing narrative this fall. I was able to catch the Murray/Nadal final a couple weeks ago, though, and was every impressed by Andy. It seemed like he had amped up the aggression, and it suited him. Not surprised that he has done well since then; I hope he keeps it up.
Venus has tweeted that she will be playing at the Aussie Open. That's pleasant surprise, as I thought we probably wouldn't be seeing her until Miami at the earliest. I knew she'd at least make an attempt to play since the Olympics has been a big goal for her for a while. I hope she'll be a factor in January.
|
|
|
|
Post by mooncreek on Oct 20, 2011 17:18:36 GMT
I cannot believe, given the numbers from a few weeks ago, that Bartoli still has a shot at making Istanbul - for all the good play Radwanska has done this fall, losing to Safarova was a rather bad choke (she needed that win to keep Bartoli out).
Must say that I have a lot less confidence in del Potro now than I did at the beginning of July. Losing to Blake - by losing serve at the end of both sets, no less - is a really shaky way to go and, unless he was nursing an injury, makes skipping the Asian swing look like a really bad decision.
Soderling's season is officially done - pulling out of Paris due to mono. This will effectively end his run in the Top 10 and land with del Potro as the really dangerous lurkers. It also shows just how amazing this Big Four thing (these two are the only ones to even break their - well, Murray's - hold for a week in the last four years!); none of them have been out with injuries for any more than a two month stretch.
|
|
|
|
Post by roseha on Oct 21, 2011 16:29:30 GMT
I'm wondering what's up with Roger. Anyone else think he may be trying out a new racquet or something?
|
|
|
|
Post by falafaclese on Oct 25, 2011 0:46:02 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by mooncreek on Oct 30, 2011 17:45:33 GMT
It's been nice to see the ladies getting such support from the crowd this week. That it's ending with Petra holding the trophy - and basically sealing the votes for Player of the Year - is icing.
|
|
|
|
Post by falafaclese on Oct 30, 2011 17:50:37 GMT
A very entertaining year end final between Vika and Petra. Did anyone else see it? From day one of this tournament it felt like it was going to be these two in the final. They have both been playing pretty well this fall. Vika, especially, seems to have found some solid confidence, which could carry into next year. Kvitova is always streaking, but she looks like she is on a good streak. She has now beaten Vika 4 times in a row, but it seems like the last three have been pretty tight, and the record is 4-2 over all. I would like to see this become a good rivalry.
|
|
|
|
Post by mooncreek on Oct 31, 2011 21:56:23 GMT
I do agree that it seemed from the first day that it'd be these two in the final and it's a potential rivalry that's easy enough to support. Vika was the best I've seen her in a high-pressure situation and seems to be maturing a bit (yes, I know what she did in the Bartoli match was disrespectful but a dead round robin match is a no-win situation) but Petra when she's on her game will not be denied.
|
|
lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
|
Post by lt on Nov 3, 2011 18:11:37 GMT
falafaclese, congrats on the new job. Hope you're liking it.
Between baseball, football and no TTC I just haven't been able to keep up on the end of the season at all. I leave for London in less than three weeks so I better get my enthusiasm back. Tsonga is helping though--I'm going to keep a close eye on his path to the finals because it's a pretty dire field at the bottom without him. I like Berdych and I expect him to qualify but I don't have high hopes for his chances amongst the pomp and circumstance of the O2. After that, Fish? Nico? Tipsy? Blah. Okay fine. YUCK! So Tsonga is my man. I just hope the attention-loving Jo Willy shows up in London (if he qualifies) because I see that guy having a grand ol' time.
(Meanwhile, I have absolutely no sense of direction and I get lost in London all the time. I get out of the tube stations and BAM! lost. So I bought a compass. And it arrived today. And I can't figure out how it works. *sigh* I'm hopeless.)
|
|
|
|
Post by mooncreek on Nov 3, 2011 19:10:21 GMT
Wow, has this week been lousy for those who haven't clinched a spot. Berdych lost (1R), Fish injured (1 game in), Tsonga lost (2R), Almagro lost (1R), Tipsy injured (1R). del Potro to play later today, the only one able to even jump to the 9th spot.
Nadal pulled out of Paris.
|
|
|
|
Post by roseha on Nov 4, 2011 15:08:54 GMT
lt, do you have a smart phone with a maps app? or can you download one? Maybe that would help you in London? Not sure because I haven't been there but just wondering. Have fun!
|
|
|
|
Post by falafaclese on Nov 5, 2011 13:14:59 GMT
Thanks lt, I'm totally stressed out, but things are going well so far. And yes, I am liking it, in spite of the stress.
If your phone is international, the Google Maps app is great, and if you have an Android, it may have come loaded with a "Navigation" app (the symbol is a blue arrow) which works in tandem with Google Maps. I swear by it. And with Maps, you can switch between driving, walking and public transport directions. Have fun, and give us reports back if you can!
|
|
|
|
Post by tikigirl on Nov 5, 2011 17:48:09 GMT
Hang in there, f'clese. I started my new job a couple months ago; the stress was high and the learning curve steep, but it's the best job I've ever had, and I actually look forward to going to work!
I did watch the women's final between Azarenka and Kvitova. Meh. Screaming during points or screaming after -- I wanted it all to go away. Also, does Kvitova look paunchy and out of shape or is it me? I've just gotten really tired of women's tennis. Too many screamers, too many headcases, too many fatties (not to be offensive, and by which I really mean too many athletes who look like they don't take their work seriously). I just wish a couple strong-minded, fighter types would take over so I don't have to look at Wozniacki, Kvitova, and Azarenka in the top three. Ugh.
|
|
lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
|
Post by lt on Nov 7, 2011 20:31:29 GMT
Darn. Just called Verizon and my phone isn't global--oh well, good suggestions roseha and falafaclese. That also means that I won't be writing angry missives during the matches along the lines of "Djokovic is all pissed at the crowd because of the little red lights on the cameras" (that cracked me up last year) and will have to wait until I'm back in the hotel with my internet (how will you all survive?). I did get a maps upgrade on my GPS for London but my garmin isn't new enough to get the "pedestrian enhanced" map so it might try to walk me straight onto the M4 or something. I think I'd best learn how to work the compass. . .
The other thing about this trip that is making me laugh is that I'm still walking with a cane (another surgery coming up in about six weeks) and I covered my cane with US Open car decals. I know I'm rather obviously American but I don't like advertising it so boldly. I'll have to go straight to Wimbledon and see what they have to cover some of them up. My other choice is to go buy a proper British cane and be all authentic.
|
|
|
|
Post by tikigirl on Nov 8, 2011 1:44:01 GMT
I will definitely miss your live posts, lt, and I'm surely not the only one!
|
|
