splat
1st Round
Posts: 50 
|
Post by splat on Jan 24, 2011 4:16:03 GMT
Odd conversation I caught part of with the online commentators for the Raonic-Ferrer match, describing how there haven't been many young slam winners recently (the example given was Becker many years ago), attributing it to young players not having enough physicality. I would think it has more to do with the same two people having won 24 of the last 28 slams...
(Also, it's not as if JMdP was old in 2009.)
|
|
|
|
Post by acre on Jan 24, 2011 4:29:44 GMT
Sure, I know she did ... and I am beginning (grudgingly) to give her a little respect. But in my world she should never have had the chance to make those finals cause better players would have swept her aside. But this isn't my world, and she does seem to have some game for real, and doesn't lose her damn mind all the time anymore. So there/here she is. Could be worse, at least I liked her interview sometime last week. Basically said - I'm a professional, it's my job to win matches, to try to win matches. Noone will say I don't want to be #1, I don't want to win a Slam. Of course I want that, and so I just try to win every match, that's my job.
Responding above to BREEZY, of course.
And really, yeah SPLAT - Rafa of course was fucking ancient when he won his first Slam. Somehow he manages to still hobble out there all these many years later when by rights he oughta be sitting in the old rocking chair, old old man that he is. Snort.
JMDP was not old, nor was Djok when he won in 08. Really, if you're gonna commentate it would be nice if you had some grasp of history, and dates, and reality.
|
|
|
|
Post by tikigirl on Jan 24, 2011 4:36:33 GMT
I heard the same comment, oops, about Kuznetsova and Schiavone having the same build. I wondered if I had somehow consumed one bottle, rather than one glass, of wine. Sure, they're both muscular and athletic, but beyond that -- not so much.
I confess that I am guilty of having made some ugly comments about, well, ugliness. Sometimes I have a bad day and say things that I shouldn't. I apologize, even if I haven't offended anyone. The bitch gets the better of me on occasion.
That said...FUCK YOU, SOD. I can't quit you.
I don't know what to say about the rest of today's results so far. I've had football company since 1 p.m., been cooking and cleaning and entertaining, and I still haven't had time to process the AO. FUCK YOU, FOOTBALL FRIENDS! Just so y'all know I haven't totally gone soft.
|
|
|
|
Post by chestylarue on Jan 24, 2011 4:46:01 GMT
And wasn't Rafa 19 when he got his first French ? Not ancient . But how could they forget Delpo(who was 20 when he won) and Nole? Poor and lazy commentary .
Murray looking scary good. I think he will beat Dolgo - who seemed very relaxed and smiley- in his interview but I hope it's a good match.
|
|
|
|
Post by harry24 on Jan 24, 2011 5:06:47 GMT
My recollection is that he was 18!
And how 'bout Dolly-Gop for a nickname?
And Raonic certainly seems to be deserving of high praise, but the Hyperbole Twins are getting on my nerves. I swear it's a particular weakness of straight guys that they fall in love so easily and so hard with a new hero.
|
|
|
|
Post by acre on Jan 24, 2011 5:16:53 GMT
Exactly CHESTY - JMDP and Novak were all of 20 when they won a Slam and Rafa was a goddamn teenager! Too bad no young guys can do it these days, isn't it? Cause 20 is old, so old, so very very old.
Yes, Becker was an exceptional case, I believe he was 17 when he won his first Wimbledon? That is a very rare thing, but he was always a big boy, a strapping lad, and his game was made for grass and a whole lot of things came together that made that all possible.
And Wilander at the French - again, his game then was made for that, and he had a tennis mind for the ages, mentally far above his years, and to a point most only wish they could ever get to.
And they are rarities, that is not the way things normally go, never has been. (No I didn't forget Chang, I just chose not to mention him, fluke IMO).
And to bring it back to today - is this upset day, a little bit? Raonic has the first set over Ferrer, not that I consider that in the least decisive in terms of ultimate outcome. But still, he's ahead.
|
|
|
|
Post by chestylarue on Jan 24, 2011 5:28:31 GMT
Harry- if I recall correctly rafa turned 19 on the day of the semis of the 2005 French Open so he started the tournament at 18 and ended it at 19.
Also early in the 2000s you had Safin and Hewitt - who were both pretty young when they won their first gran slams. Was Marat like 19 when he won the 2000 USO?
|
|
|
|
Post by roseha on Jan 24, 2011 5:32:28 GMT
Well he does look great, but since last night I've been dwelling on the fact that Stefan is approximately the same age that Barry McKay was when I started watching in 1980. And I'll tell you the truth, apocalipstick, I thought McKay was older than 75.
....I'm feeling old too acre.
Actually a little sorry for the Sod.
|
|
|
|
Post by chestylarue on Jan 24, 2011 6:08:35 GMT
For some reason I find Peng's goofy posture to be adorable.
|
|
lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
|
Post by lt on Jan 24, 2011 15:00:52 GMT
There was one (just one!) after she won. That's not enough for me. And chesty, I agree about the weight--her clothes were baggier yesterday than they were a week ago. Oh dear, Pam is going to have to go on and on now about how Vera will "have to get her clothes taken in." That cracked me up every time Pam talked about Sveta.
Hey, that's like Queen Elizabeth. Went up a tree a princess, came down the tree a queen. (My favorite of all historical anecdotes.)
eta: hmmmm, looks like the Aussie Open accommodating Schiavone's wish for the latest start possible is working in my favor. Stan/Roger is 2nd on Laver instead of 3rd. Good news for me.
|
|
|
|
Post by francienolan on Jan 24, 2011 15:29:22 GMT
LT "went up a princess came down a queen" is one of my fave history facts too! Though it also sounds like it could be RuPaul Drag Race Epi! The hyperbole during the Raonic match was insufferable at times and I really like what little I have seen of him. This is pretty much how Brad sounded after Gulbis' played Moya a couple of years back at USO and we see where that's gone. Dolgopolov's forehand is scary good. I'll concentrate on that and his sweet interviews. But will cheer if and when he gets a haircut  Peng really let an opportunity pass, I hope she can shake those missed match points off. And I also need more shots of Vera's coach! Are they involved? I would love to see Kvitova win but she's so streaky, who knows how she will play.
|
|
|
|
Post by breezybee on Jan 24, 2011 17:22:07 GMT
I'm reading reports that Verdasco's ankle is broken.
|
|
|
|
Post by mooncreek on Jan 24, 2011 18:32:05 GMT
If they wanted to make the argument regarding young Grand Slam winners, the ladies' side would have made more sense than the men's side.
As for Raonic, I'm just happy there's a big guy who actually looks comfortable playing at the net! Then again, he was part of the doubles team that beat the team of Nadal and Djokovic last summer so that's not a total shock. But, yeah, the commentary was driving me insane and I think it was only because he was the last one from North America.
|
|
lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
|
Post by lt on Jan 24, 2011 19:28:39 GMT
I heard a bone in his foot--which is worse? I have no idea having never broken anything but there's Serena with a broken bone in her foot and she's out for the better part of a year. Is a broken ankle easier to fix?
He made it worse continuing to play, didn't he? Jeff Tarango was right. . .
|
|
|
|
Post by apocalipstick on Jan 24, 2011 19:36:16 GMT
Jeff Tarango was right. . . Ew. Do you feel all dirty having set that?  But he was right. Verdasco was clearly ailing. Sorry acre, but I am totally cheering for Big Stan tonight. |
|
But he was right. Verdasco was clearly ailing.