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Post by falafaclese on Oct 1, 2013 18:53:49 GMT
This requires a double post. David Nalbandian has announced his retirement.
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Post by breezybee on Oct 1, 2013 19:03:43 GMT
Good by Fat Dave. You and your Charlie Brown shirt will be sorely missed.
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Post by mooncreek on Oct 3, 2013 15:49:17 GMT
On the same day Nalbandian called it quits, Xavier Malisse played his last match in front of the Belgian crowd in a challenger (while he'd intended to retire at the Australian Open, his ranking will be too low to make the cut). Amusing that the semifinalists in what's likely the least-seen major semifinal ever (2002 Wimbledon) are gone at the same time.
I cannot think of two more frustrating players on tour than these two when in bad moods.
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Post by falafaclese on Oct 5, 2013 21:19:08 GMT
Just heard about Malisse. You are right, they could bot be spectacular headcases. They could also both be fun to watch though. Sorry to see them go.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Nov 2, 2013 0:31:07 GMT
Aww, where'd everybody go? I've been super-swamped with work and family issues but I've been taking peeks at who is qualifying for the WTF. So very glad I get to see Roger and Gasquet. Since Tsonga will be the alternate I'm hoping I'll get to see him practicing (and there are a couple of players I wouldn't cry if Jo replaced). Cannot believe I get to see Fer in doubles! And crossing fingers that Max and Horia keep winning in Paris to get that last spot.
I leave for London Wednesday morning and after the insanity of my past three months I cannot wait. Hope I don't sleep through the actual matches. . .
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Post by roseha on Nov 3, 2013 2:41:28 GMT
Hi lt,
Maybe some people are having the problem I just did - I had to re-register for the Proboards software, though I seem to be in now.
I'm glad London has worked out well for Roger and Richard and I hope you will get to see Jo also!
After not having cable tv for 6 months I caved so I should be able to watch or at least record the finals. Looking forward to some good matches and I hope you have a great time - take lots of photos (or is that an unnecessary request?)
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Post by harry24 on Nov 3, 2013 3:02:52 GMT
Have a great time, lt! I envy you, but I look forward to reading your always entertaining and insightful reports and enjoying your photography.
I've been away because The Real Harry (my 15-year-old miniature Schnauzer) has been very, very sick, and my energy and heart have been consumed with that.
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Post by roseha on Nov 3, 2013 3:07:20 GMT
So sorry to hear that harry24. It's tough being a pet parent at a time like this.
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Post by harry24 on Nov 3, 2013 12:52:51 GMT
Thanks, roseha!
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Post by falafaclese on Nov 3, 2013 17:45:22 GMT
Sorry to hear about Harry. Hope you're finding the time and energy to take care of yourself as well as him.
I have been keeping up with the Bercy tournament, but have not been watching much of the play, as I was right on top of the women's YEFs, and needed a moment. BTW, I found the women's tourney very entertaining, and really enjoyed the final.
I missed the Nadal/Ferrer semifinal in Paris, and had a disoriented moment when I first read that the final was Djokovic/Ferrer.
Have fun in London lt! Pics, pics pics! (if you can)
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Post by breezybee on Nov 4, 2013 19:32:15 GMT
I watched it Fala, and Ferrer just picked apart Nadal's game. I know indoor hard courts are Nadal's weakest surface but it was a bit disconcerting to watch. Ferrer had not looked that great leading up to the tournament and I was sort of expecting for him to make an early exit so it was nice to see him playing so well.
Have fun lt. Looking forward to the pictures!
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Post by mooncreek on Nov 4, 2013 23:35:59 GMT
The Ferrer/Nadal match was weird. If you were listening to the commentators, it sounded almost right for a Rafa match... except it was in reference to David. Rafa was at no point control of that match.
Pretty nice first day of action at WTF. I'm still having trouble picturing Verdasco as a doubles player in a non-Davis Cup situation but one thing he and Marrero can do is continually beat Granollers/Lopez (7-0 record!)
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Nov 7, 2013 10:50:33 GMT
harry, I'm sorry to hear about the (real) Harry. My 16-1/2 year old cat came with me on my month-long exodus of work/family stuff and she really kept me from getting too overwhelmed (although she's damn happy to be back at home and wasn't too pleased with me for turning around and disappearing).
Photos! Of course you'll get photos. . . . I go to both sessions today (yeah! Roger vs. Richard), tomorrow and Saturday and then Sunday's evening session. I don't have good seats for the weekend but I should get good photos today and tomorrow. Still not happy that Max and Horia lost the 8-spot in a super-tiebreak but very happy Fer and Marrero have managed to win both of their matches! Now I guess I hope they have them in the evening semi (I guess I should also hope they don't blow their third match tomorrow as well).
eta: just a brief in-between sessions note to say that I wish I could use the following power to actually help me with stuff: I walked into the O2 and randomly wondered if I would see Miranda Hart (star of the britcom "Miranda") since she is a huge tennis fan. Cue the start of the Roger/Richard match and who should walk in to sit in the "famous people" seats three rows in front of me? Miranda Hart. C'mon, that's just weird. I had never seen her there in previous years (although I knew from her autobiography that she had gone in the past).
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Nov 10, 2013 14:07:46 GMT
The first time I ever saw Fer was playing doubles with Feli (2003? 2004? I can't remember). Weirdly, he is not only in the finals of the tournament but he's been playing the best of all the 16 doubles players here! Marrero's bad back could prove tricky tomorrow though. I have tickets for tonight's semis but not this afternoon and at first I wasn't thrilled I was missing Fer and Roger but I think it would be too stressful to be there for this Roger/Rafa match. My hotel has a nice, big HD TV and Sky Sports (3) is showing the doubles as well as singles so I'm good today and I can just go and enjoy the Novak/Stan semi. Who wins this Roger/Rafa match will determine who I'm rooting for tonight--if Roger wins, I root for Stan and if Rafa wins I root for Nole (because he has a better chance of beating Rafa than Stan does). And there's Rafa, playing his usual "I need more time" games before coming out for the match. So tired of that. Good for Roger for going back into his room instead of standing there waiting. I uploaded some of the photos I've taken so far. (It's the first set--the 2013 Barclays ATP World Tour Final one.) They aren't great--the arena is so dark that I can't get good enough lighting. Nice and bright for the players, but the crowd is very dark. And I messed up--I wanted the ISO as low as possible and the photos looked bright enough on the camera's LCD screen but not so much when I uploaded them to my computer. Problem was that I went two days (and four sessions) with the too-low ISO. Oh well. eta: (finals day) Before this tournament I would have been shocked to see Verdasco and Marrero in the final--after watching them this week I was not surprised to see them in the final and watching them in this final I'm not at all shocked that they won. However, YAHOO!!!! Yeah for them! What Carlos Moya will do about Davis Cup will be very interesting--the commentators on Sky Sports have been talking about that a lot these past two days. Now, go Nole! |
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Post by falafaclese on Nov 13, 2013 14:06:33 GMT
Great pics lt! Thanks!
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