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Post by falafaclese on May 30, 2012 1:37:51 GMT
I agree that Serena did seem uncharacteristically despondent during that changeover. I've never seen her like that.
Excuse my digging up ancient history, but I'm home watching the replay, and Lindsay made an interesting point. Razzano basically got a hindrance warning after that first mid-point yell before she lost the point the next time she did it. Serena, on the other hand did not get a warning before she lost a point for yelling mid-point during the U.S. Open final. Not that it made much of a difference here, Serena was already hanging on by the the balls of her ass when those calls came, and she actually started fighting back right after, but it does seem inconsistent.
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Post by falafaclese on May 30, 2012 1:52:37 GMT
I just saw the second "yell" that caused Razzano to actually lose a point, and whoever said that it was questionable whether it should have resulted in a call was right. It was a little nothing sound compared to the first one.
ETA: Okay, I just saw the third one. I had no idea there was a third one. Wow.
How nutty am I? Having an online conversation with myself here?
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Post by harry24 on May 30, 2012 2:01:13 GMT
I remember learning during the huge dust-up over the US Open hindrance call vs Serena that there were conflicting guidelines for the umpires on that particular call between what the WTA and the Open (possibly all four slams?) said. Naturally I have no recollection of what those distinctions actually were.
In today's case, I was just glad 1) an umpire was gutsy enough to make this call. Lord knows the women's game needs it; and 2) that it didn't end up throwing the offending player off her game.
I'm not Serena's biggest fan, but I found myself thinking that all the jolts she's faced -- the murder of her sister, her terrifying health scare, Venus' condition -- would be bound to shake someone on a very profound level. They're the kind of life experiences that shake all of us up, but they don't usually all happen to someone before the age of 30. Given the sort of absurd self-belief demanded from athletes on her stratospheric level, maybe the emotional fragility we saw from her today shouldn't have surprised us, even coming from Serena.
There's a reason golfer's develop the yips as they approach and pass the age of 40. Life's experiences make us all doubt a little bit.
I'll miss seeing her play this tournament.
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Post by falafaclese on May 30, 2012 2:46:51 GMT
Th BF and I were just arguing about that, harry. I was basically arguing what you just said, and he thinks there has to be something else going on (some more immediate distraction/problem) that we don't know about. Of course I think we (you and I) are right. I hope she figures out whatever it is, because whether you like her or not, when she's focused in the moment and playing well, it's something to watch.
Virginie's always been a tough player. To hold it together against a player of Serena's caliber when she's starting to chip away at your lead is quite impressive. Especially after fighting to and losing 7 match points, and dealing with cramps. That was a hell of a match.
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Post by apocalipstick on May 30, 2012 2:58:21 GMT
I don't mind the umpire making a hindrance call, I just think it should be consistent. The umpires shouldn't be different in how they call things. I also thought the call against Donald Young the other day was petty. I do think it was odd that it was the same umpire as Serena's USO debacle. No matter what or who or when, it should be consistent. Same with men and time delays. Also, I'm pretty sure time between points vary between Masters 1000 and Grand Slam events with the Masters providing more time. That should be consistent as well. The problem with time violations is that some times both players want a few extra seconds after a 32 shot point. Or an extra moment if they break a string, need to tie their shoes, or if it's just a really big point. If they are going to start strictly enforcing the rules, they need to announce it and then DO it. As to Serena, I'm torn between thinking she might just be having everything emotional hit her at once as she gets a little older and wondering if she got some particularly bad news recently. She and Venus are getting to the ages that if they want to have children, they really need to wind down their careers. I'm just all speculative and rambling. Ignore me  |
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Post by oopssorry on May 30, 2012 2:59:33 GMT
I cannot quite believe the Serena stunner. Though I'm happy for my new colleague (ha, lt!) -- I wondered if Serena's sudden sadness (it looked sudden in the short clip I saw) went even further back - to the Henin debacle. But then I told myself that it couldn't still be a possible wound. Or could it? And now you see how I pass most days in my active inner life. Though I am now going to refer to my professional doubts as the yips. Wonder if Serena will tell us anything. Her MO is to keep it under wraps for a good while and then share when she's over it, right? Bring on Roger. Going to bed early. |
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Post by apocalipstick on May 30, 2012 3:10:57 GMT
I agree that we won't know for a while what's going on with Serena, if ever. She and Vee do keep things under wraps. They tend to be very good at keeping the private things private. Odd, since Richard used to mouth off constantly.
I like the idea of calling my professional doubts "the yips."
I suspect I won't get to watch any live tennis tomorrow and will have to resort to checking scores on my phone. What the hell did I do before smartphones? Really? Waiting until I got home? Frantically searching for ESPN radio hoping they announce scores while I'm in my car? Horrors. I might as well have been chiseling briefs on a stone tablet.
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Post by skyz on May 30, 2012 12:40:21 GMT
I was shocked as well from Serena's loss. But she's played tight since her comeback at times and has admitted to nerves. I hate to hear that she was crying and hope whatever is bothering her resolves itself. This might be good for Serena actually. Let her relax a bit and maybe play Eastbourne before Wimbledon and go onto the grass season with a bit less pressure. I will say that I'm glad that Venus didn't play yesterday because I dread when they both lose on the same day within hours of each other.
And what the hell happened with Roger in the 3rd set? Did he have a walkabout? He's cruising now though.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on May 30, 2012 12:59:29 GMT
Speaking of. . . if you're on an Android and you've downloaded the French Open app and can't find Radio Roland Garros, it's down on the phone menu instead of on the app menu. I couldn't find it until this morning when I went to press "refresh" and was greeted with a "load radio" choice.
And speaking of Radio Roland Garros: they asked a really good quiz question this morning. For the last 28 Grand Slams there have been 4 total male winners. How many winners were there in the 28 Grand Slams before that? Don't google, and I listened through the answer so everybody guess. . .
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Post by apocalipstick on May 30, 2012 13:24:23 GMT
I can't listen where I am. Drat, but thanks. Rog lost a set? I bet he's annoyed.
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Post by skyz on May 30, 2012 13:30:59 GMT
I'd say 8, lt. Pete, Andre, Andy R, Kurten, Gaudio, Marat, Hewitt, and Goran. I think I'm missing someone. This is off the top of my head though. ETA okay I'll go with 12 and have no idea who they are. I know I'm missing people from the French for sure and Oz. Todd Martin never won the US Open did he? Pat Rafter did, right. JCF won the French.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on May 30, 2012 14:02:30 GMT
Verdasco's tape job on his knee looks like someone's drawn eyeglasses on him. Hmmm, adidas not doing so good with Fer's shoes. He's slipping all over the place.
Looking at him on my computer and with his cap on, Baker looks like Andy Murray. It's mostly because they do the same thing with their off arm when hitting a forehand but it's also the pasty skin with dark hair.
Oh, and I kind of love kid's day at the French. I don't think I'd like to be there to deal with them all but it's fun to hear those high little voices coming from the crowd.
skyz, keep adding. . .
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Post by mooncreek on May 30, 2012 16:53:58 GMT
psst, skyz - Roger. Figured I'd leave the rest to your memory.
Gilles Simon - escape artist extraordinare.
Rather surprised Bartoli is out, even though I know she hasn't been playing well lately.
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Post by falafaclese on May 30, 2012 17:13:24 GMT
Thomas Johansson is in there somewhere, isn't he?
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on May 30, 2012 17:30:17 GMT
I know it sucks about Venus right now (but losing to Aga is no crime) but I'm really excited about Mahut. Up two sets and a break right now. If he wins this match he'll have doubled his wins at Roland Garros with his two wins this year.
Sad that Baker's run is over but coming back from two sets down and pushing it to a fifth set is really impressive. I hope we keep seeing him for the rest of this year.
eta: oh, another thing about Mahut. When I was looking through the photos on rolandgarros.com I came across one of him and Isner during a kids-day type thing. I could not love more that those two have become such friends after their marathon. I wonder what John was thinking when Mahut was playing Roddick.
Hey! I just realized that Mahut is playing Klizan. I saw him play in Miami. I like him (not more than Mahut) but it's the calf tattoo that made me recognize him.
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