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Post by falafaclese on Jan 5, 2008 18:38:15 GMT
I saw the last set, and it was really tense. Very fun to watch. The last few games before the final tie-breaker seemed to go on forever. I was distracted during most of the rest of the match, so I didn't get a good sense of the play, but it seemed like they were both playing some good tennis.
It was a great week on the women's side. Between Lindsay, Venus, Serena, and Na Li, everyone that I wanted to win this week did. I heard about Venus' hamstring issue, but the impression that I got is that it didn't affect her movement too much. I was more concerned about hearing that she was experiencing some wrist pain earlier in the week. It didn't seem to affect her too much either, but with her history, it was more worrying.
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Post by lpatrice on Jan 6, 2008 3:52:20 GMT
Hingis banned for two years. It's moot, but good for the ITF anyway. This is what Martina was trying to head off by retiring, but she can't and shouldn't escape the consequences of testing positive. So even though she won't be playing anyway, the suspension is on the record. Eh. This whole thing is just bizarre to me. Something just doesn't seem right, I mean cocaine!!!! Just totally odd. Hingis says she has test that prove otherwise so I guess we'll see how it turns out.
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Post by chestylarue on Jan 6, 2008 13:24:18 GMT
Wow- Youzhny thrashed Rafa- 6-0, 6-1. Rafa had nothing left in the tank- but even if he had been 1010%- Misha was having one of those great days where he would have beat Rafa regardless. Nadal looked quite cheerful after such a humiliating loss- he was smiling and laughing. Misha looked adorable as always. Sigh...
I woke up so early for such a quick match- I am glad they are showing the doubles final- the singles final did not last long enough to make it worth getting up this early.
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Post by whyistherumgone on Jan 6, 2008 13:32:18 GMT
Eh, I don't think the match was humiliating. Paris final? Humiliating. Madrid (his own back yard, so to speak), completely humiliating.
This match? Rafa would have lost to just about anyone. His smiling and laughing afterwards were just confirmation that he knew that.
If Youzhny played the same way, he might have beat Rafa anyway. But there's no way of knowing that.
Youzhny has his first title of the season, and Rafa will, as always, again go into the Open with bupkis.
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Post by chestylarue on Jan 6, 2008 13:41:22 GMT
Eh, I don't think the match was humiliating. Paris final? Humiliating. Madrid (his own back yard, so to speak), completely humiliating. This match? Rafa would have lost to just about anyone. His smiling and laughing afterwards were just confirmation that he knew that. If Youzhny played the same way, he might have beat Rafa anyway. But there's no way of knowing that. Youzhny has his first title of the season, and Rafa will, as always, again go into the Open with bupkis. I still think Rafa maybe would have not liked the scoreline- but yes, he did seem to be very at ease with the loss afterwards- unlike Paris or Madrid. I still think thought that when Misha is playing at his utter best on hardcourt- his best is better than Rafa on this surface. I recall that Roger once said something to the effect that Youzhny is the player who beats most people in practice and alluded that his talent was way up there but not always seen in actual matches. When he is on, his game is wonderful- but he is rarely on for the whole course of a match, much less a tournament. But I do think that Nadal is taking a lot of positives from this tournament. I don't think he expected to win today after yesterday- so the tournament will get him in a better mental state before Aussie Open, despite the one-sided final. As a fan of his, the Paris and Madrid matches hurt (even though I like Nalby.) This final doesn't hurt- although I wish the scoreline had been more even. I wish Rafa was more consistant on hardcourt, but I think it will always be his weakest surface. He may get some good victories- and even title (though don't think a gs), but it will be his most uneven surface. I do wish, however, that Misha would give himself more credit for winning the tournament.
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Post by tikigirl on Jan 6, 2008 19:13:55 GMT
So where's Roger? Surely he's doing a warm-up before the AO?
I didn't see Nadal's match against Moya, but I wonder if it was at least as mentally exhausting as it was physically, since they are reportedly very good friends. Unfortunately I didn't see Nadal/Youzhny either (fat chance of me getting up at 5 a.m. to watch on my computer). I don't know what it is about Youzhny, but I just find him utterly barking-hot.
I'm so glad we've got tennis again!
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Post by falafaclese on Jan 6, 2008 22:26:56 GMT
Roger arrived in Melbourne a couple of days ago and has been practicing at Melbourne Park, as are a lot of the other players who aren't at the Sydney, Auckland, and Hobart Tournaments. I've been fishing around to see if anyone else has commented on the new surface just because I'm a dork like that, but I haven't seen anything.
Mauresmo and Li have pulled out of Sydney with a adducter strain and a knee injury respectively. Hopefully they will be ready for the Aussie. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, Jankovic has not pulled out of Sydney yet. I hope her promises to play a smarter schedule this year weren't just talk.
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Post by printwhoreatwork on Jan 7, 2008 4:47:40 GMT
I think it was Rochey who said that Youzhny beats the crap out of everyone in practice, Roger included. Then again, Roger doesn't play well during practice at all so I'm not too sure if that's an accurate gauge.
Still, 4 UE for Youzhny?! That's insane.
In tennis-related news, I played a bit yesterday and got thoroughly owned by someone with an 120+ mph serve. He was a guy so it's really not fair to compare his serves to those of most women but still, it was ridiculously hard to hit and I only ever got my racquet on the ball a few times. Guys who can deal with Karlovic and Roddick seem superhuman to me right now.
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Post by mooncreek on Jan 7, 2008 13:27:30 GMT
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Post by falafaclese on Jan 7, 2008 13:31:32 GMT
Maybe they'll bring James Blake in for the other spot since he's out of Sydney already.
ETA: TTC has announced their team of commentators for the Aussie. They will be using Martina and Bill Macatee as the primary commentators, and then will also use Leif Shiras, Gimelstob and Rennae Stubbs. I like Rennae and Martina, and Leif is pretty good, but I can't stand Gimelstob, and I don't have any feelings on way or the other about Macatee. I know a lot of people don't like Martina, but I do.
I wish they were using Chanda Rubin.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Jan 8, 2008 3:14:25 GMT
I'm pretty much all football right now but I did want to let anyone in the NYC area know: The Federer vs. Sampras tickets for MSG have gone on sale (ticketmaster). They are in a pre-sale for (I think) USTA members right now and the regular tickets go on sale at noon EST Thursday. The only available tickets for the pre-sale are the $75 ones and they look a little high (I took them anyway, I don't think the next range--$125--is much lower). The tickets go up to $1,000 per ticket and I'm just not going there.
The only other things I've really taken note of so far are: Max and Jamie Murray? Interesting. Max does like being a mentor (he's great with Azarenka) so maybe that's it. I guess we'll see.
My mom always liked watching tennis and golf because she could play those sports (not well) and therefore could really appreciate just how great these professionals were. (She watched football because she liked the tight pants and the hitting. Heh.)
eta: Oh! and just to tie football with tennis: Chris Fowler was super-sick while doing the Rose Bowl game last week. Poor thing. I hope he makes the long trek to Australia okay.
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Post by mooncreek on Jan 8, 2008 3:43:04 GMT
It doesn't seem that long ago that he was the top clay player in the world but 31-year-old Guga has officially announced this will be his last year. Hopefully, he'll stay healthy long enough to appear at the French Open.
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Post by prettyvacant on Jan 8, 2008 3:44:04 GMT
I'm so sad I'm in a place with no tennis channel right now. As a plus, I now have HD and am excited to watch tennis in HD after everyone's reports.
To take the level of discourse down a level back to gossip, here is a blind item from Crazy Days and Nights.
This stud male tennis player who has been linked with several female celebrities in some very high profile relationships over the past few years was spotted opening his hotel room door in the nude to this male reality star who does his very best to make sure that everyone thinks he is Mr. Heterosexual.
I would guess Roddick or Phillippoussis I guess. No idea on the male reality star.
ETA: Guga is my favorite player of all time. I feel so bad for him that he hasn't been able to play these past years.
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Post by chestylarue on Jan 8, 2008 3:57:21 GMT
I would guess Roddick or Phillippoussis I guess. No idea on the male reality star. Maybe it was Andy opening up the door for Mark- since he had that dating show. Hee! I will miss Guga as well- I just adored him when he was able to play and it stinks that his career was so hampered by injury. Speaking of an injury prone player- poor Ancic had to withdraw from Auckland because of an illness. This poor guy has the worst luck on the tour. Injury followed by illness followed by injury. I would like for TTc to use Rubin as well- I have like d what I have heard from her. For those in the US- ESPN 360 is saying they will have more than 400 extra hours of coverage of the AO consisting of six courts. It will be available through the internet if your service provider allows you to have ESPN 360. You can go on the website to see if your internet provider allows it.
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Post by printwhoreatwork on Jan 8, 2008 10:46:00 GMT
Can't be Roddick, he's just way too straight. However, tennis players have no qualms about walking around naked with other men so it could very well be him and the whole thing was blown out of proportion. Here's an interesting one: Rebecca Loos (aka the chick who fucked Beckham in Madrid) claims to have slept with 3 high-profile male tennis players during her tenure at sports agency SFX. Who'd she shag? Note that since she was based in Madrid and was well connected enough, it could've been anyone who was passing through for the MS. Link to SFX's client roster is here: www.sfxworldwide.com/clients.php
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