Australian Open '11: Point by Point Coverage

[mooncreek]

fafaclese - watching Young/Cilic as well. It amazes me they came up in the ranks at the same time because Donald is still the fifteen-year-old brat and could really learn a lot about discipline from his opponent. Marin is in coast mode, which is a definite relief as he likes to make simple matches complicated.

[lt]

I'd forgotten that they didn't like each other.

I didn't know that--do they still not like each other or was that from when they were both on top of their game? No offense to the women, but if that is what ESPN is going to show I'm taking advantage of a rare early night. Oops, never mind, they're showing the Russell/Ebden match and I want to see that one. Stay awake, I will.

Donald is still the fifteen-year-old brat and could really learn a lot about discipline from his opponent.

PMac talks a lot about him in his book. Nothing we didn't already know but it is fascinating to see something in the men's game we normally only see in the women's game--over invested parents ruining their kid's chances.

[harry24]

they're showing the Russell/Ebden match

I was watching a little of that online, and it looked as though Ebden has a big serve, a big forehand and zero backhand. Maybe I just caught him in a bad patch.

Donald is still the fifteen-year-old brat and could really learn a lot about discipline from his opponent

Is it that Young acts like a brat on court or isn't disciplined in his prep?

[breezybee]

Oops, never mind, they're showing the Russell/Ebden match and I want to see that one. Stay awake, I will.

Yes, glad to see that. Ebden is fighting back. I'm hoping he wins because he's an Australian man that I actually like (unlike Hewitt and Tomic). Saw an interview with him last week and he's an absolute sweetheart. Cute too.

[lt]

. . . and we're off that match.

I know we're in Australia because Chris McKendry and Darren Cahill are using shot glasses to hold their papers down on the anchor desk. What does it mean that Chris has one and Darren has two?

Why is ESPN not showing that more competitive match? It had an American in it. . . Stosur is up 4-0 in the first set. Who cares that she's playing an American? And I have to listen to Pam and I just don't want to have to do that.

[splat]

I know they're almost certainly importing the feeds for ESPN3, but it's still funny that the online match from Laver and the live US coverage are using different camera cutaways, different graphics, different announcers, etc.

[breezybee]

Good Lord what is Jarko Neiminen wearing? It's lime green and white and chocolate brown with very odd brown and lime green shapes under his arm pits. It's like giant green amoebas growing out from under his pits.

[lt]

I haven't seen him yet but Cilic is also wearing a rather suspect orange-y color. Sherbet appears to be the thing Down Under this summer.

Yeah, I'm rooting for Ebden. I cannot not root for a guy with those sticking-out ears. Although Russell is a redhead with freckles--another favorite of mine.

[breezybee]

Ok I know this is off topic but I just read that Nicolas Lapentti announced his retirement today and I'm sad. I'm losing all of my old favourites. He was besties with Kuerten and I really miss Guga.

[apocalipstick]

All right. I read through five pages of posts to be caught up.

Somehow in reveling in the Patriots utter bed-crapping yesterday, I missed the start of AO. I KNEW it was on but just couldn't focus.

I haven't seen the Venus dress. Any linkage? Also, the Nole self-aggrandizing shirt. Is it at least fun?

I did catch Kim and Caro in all their hiddy pink. Iman says they are out of fashion.

My unreasonable loathing of Sam Stosur flourishes. What is wrong with her face? I think it's a complete lack of lips. She has Frank Burns/Larry Linville lips. And Summer Sanders shoulders. I can't focus on anything coming out of her mouth because there are no lips forming the words. She can't get off my screen fast enough.

Sherbet is the color theme, but I'm really feeling a whole 80s Spring Break in Daytona thing. I'm CERTAIN in high school I knew a guy with black parachute pants with green stripes down the side that he wore with a matching green shirt. Do you hear that Rubbish Hair Murray? Your outfit reminds me of parachute pants! That is not a good thing.

Sorry to see Kolya is out, but somehow it feels expected. He is streaky.

I am watching only on DirecTV channels and pretending the ESPN coverage doesn't exist. Yay me.

ETA: DirecTV shows Rog and Rafa pressers when there is a break between matches. The Rafa quotes look totally douchy in print, but all through the interview, he's fighting off Grand Slam questions. He eventually says something like "I think we should move on to other questions because I can't imagine this." Classic Rafa broken English and he was laughing.

Anyone read about the Shrieky New Zealand reporter stalker?

[tikigirl]

Nice to see Del Potro back. I'm lying. He's such a mope, I feel like he sucks all the energy out of my tennis-watching experience. And could he move any slower between points? Your average wheelchair-ridden granny shows more verve.

This is just not a very scintillating day so far.

[apocalipstick]

Okay. Saw the Venus dress. It's being compared to the flag of Argentina, but it's striking me as the new "bandage" look. (See, Project Runway April Johnston and Megan Fox last night at the Golden Globes.) I don't think tight horizontal stripes are flattering on anyone.

Speaking of horizontal stripes, Rafa is wearing a striped polo and a baseball hat talking to Fowler. Fowler is shocked that Rafa doesn't always fly first class. Rafa is giving him the "What's the big deal?" look. Rafa's sitting posture is annoying me. I want to push his shoulders back. Stop HUNCHING. Rafa is also telling Fowler that he (Rafa) isn't that famous and that he (Rafa again) is shy with strangers. After this past week of "I'm the greatest" NFL bragging, it's nice.

STOP HUNCHING RAFA. Okay. See, it's almost like I need a chat room, but I really need to go to bed. I have to work tomorrow. French of my balls!

ETA: I haven't watched Kim yet, but if it's all "OMG, she has a functioning UTERUS" I'm going to have to root against her. There are millions of women with functioning lady parts. A child is born every FOUR seconds. Birth is pretty damn common and doesn't make her a saint. Clearly, I'm extraordinarily cranky. I need put to bed.

[lt]

That outfit that Rafa was wearing to talk to Fowler. . . . I think he's off to scoop some ice cream later. I just adore that guy. And I don't think Fowler wanted to stop asking him questions because Rafa seemed willing to chat. Loved Fowler later talking to Darren about seeing Rafa sitting in row 29. Yeah, I can't see it either. But Rafa made it clear, he was talking about inter-European flights. Not crossing the ocean in economy.

Okay, I'm so dizzy with tiredness that typing is an issue and I do have work tomorrow. . . But one last thought for the evening. I like the bright yellow ball kid outfits. The Lendl-hats are a bit much but I'm glad they won't have to worry about burning their necks.

One last, last thought: I cannot believe ESPN has an "American Update" scoreline thing. That's beyond obnoxious. Stop fixating on the Americans ESPN--we like who we like no matter where they're from!

[roseha]

Stop fixating on the Americans ESPN--we like who we like no matter where they're from!

lt, I've been thinking that to all the American networks since oh, 1980.

Welcome back apocalipstick!

I have to work tomorrow too, but regardless I just can't stay up to 3:30 am to watch any match. (I even DVR the finals). I'm cranky about missing Kim/Dinara even though I feel really bad for Dinara getting this draw.

[lt]

I've been thinking that to all the American networks since oh, 1980.

Yeah, I keep hoping that if I say it enough it will get out there into the ether and some producer will pick up on it.

Speaking of putting thoughts into the ether: Andy, I have the same blotchy-pink complexion you do. There are more than a few colors it is wise to avoid. Red, yellow, etc. and. . . lime green.