lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Mar 17, 2014 13:55:50 GMT
Pretty damn entertaining men's final yesterday. By the time it got to the third-set tiebreak I was okay with either guy winning so congrats to Djoker. So very happy to see Roger has gotten used to that racquet. Unless I see him practicing, I won't see him in Miami this week since I've only got one day of the 2nd Round (all seeds get byes the first round) and I won't be walking into the main stadium.
Something else brought home to me after watching the trophy ceremony--there is nothing I like about the Indian Wells tournament (hey look, the Williams sisters and I have something in common!). All that back-patting by the execs was super annoying (and boring to listen to). Get to the players! That place is just so old-school wealthy tennis. Loved the silence after that one exec said "we're the biggest tournament in the world" before he had to add "after the four slams." I guess their expansion has made them bigger than Miami but Miami feels more like a mini-slam than Indian Wells did to me. Granted, I only went to Indian Wells one year and I've been to Miami a bunch.
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Post by breezybee on Mar 17, 2014 21:13:17 GMT
Interesting assessment lt. One of my friends and I were thinking of going to Indian Wells next year. We went to Roger's Cup in Toronto in 2010 and had a blast. Now the reason we were thinking Indian Wells is that there is a condo there for us to use that is within walking distance of the event so we figured it would be cheaper and less of a hassle that Miami. Do you really think it's that unpleasant?
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Mar 17, 2014 21:59:12 GMT
breezy, do not let me turn you off! I know people who loved Indian Wells. And there will be a lot of fellow Canadians there with you! (big sun bird spot for the Canadians). I just didn't love that you couldn't get close to the court, even on the sidest of side courts, and that they made everything too easy for the fan--all the practice court times were listed and that area where they play on the grass is all fenced in (it looked like a petting zoo for humans). I prefer that "oh!" surprise of walking around and finding some great player randomly practicing. I like to earn it. Besides, I like my tennis international (not counting the Canadian fans) and Miami is much more diverse.
I would definitely recommend going though, why pass that up? And it is great tennis.
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Post by harry24 on Mar 18, 2014 0:25:51 GMT
Breezy, I've heard that Indian Wells really, really sucks, to say nothing of the giant insects, poisonous snakes in the toilets and putrid smell of the local foliage.
That said, is there any chance that condo might be available to your online tennis fan friends, those of us who could put up with the insects, snakes and stink? Because I'd happily take it off your hands next year. :-)
Agree that Fog-NEE-nee is the worst option. That really makes my teeth hurt. What's the correct pronunciation for Raonic? I've always thought it was ROW (rhymes with pow)-nitch.
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Post by breezybee on Mar 18, 2014 16:27:47 GMT
Harry, I need to put a big L on my forehead because I actually believed your first sentence for a second. I think we'll probably end up going if we can get the condo. I wish we had gone this year. The snow is chest deep in my back yard.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Mar 18, 2014 21:07:49 GMT
So, I'm in the elevator at the hotel with Jonathan Marray (and his girlfriend/wife?). There is an older couple from Tampa who don't recognize him and think he is there to watch the tennis and when he says he's British they say, "oh, you're here to root for Andy Murray." Heh. I didn't say a thing because, while I knew I recognized him, there was no way I was going to pull his name out of my hat. He figured I knew that he was a player so he gave me a bit of a nod and a smile when he told the couple, "nah, I don't root for him because he's a Scot." HEE! Now that I've got the name down I hope I see him again so I can wish him luck. Same hotel as last year and I do like this hotel because it is a player hotel but isn't a high-end player hotel so it's not the big guys who stay here. Off to the gym to see if anyone is working out--last year was Jarkko Nieminen but I couldn't remember his name when I say him either (and I would never interrupt someone working out anyway).
oh, and breezy, the best thing about landing in Florida was that there wasn't a trace of snow. Most of it has melted where I live but the drifts were so big from the snow plows that they haven't disappeared yet and are looking so very dingy.
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Post by harry24 on Mar 19, 2014 17:09:45 GMT
Well, then my work here is done.
Fun story, lt. I'm looking forward to your reports and pictures.
ETA: Whoa, Lendl and Murray have split!
And poor Delpo is out with lingering wrist woes (he withdrew today). I've really come to like him (despite his poor reputation with the ball kids), and it would be so sad if he's not able to fulfill his amazing potential because of these wrist issues.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Mar 20, 2014 2:14:23 GMT
I had no idea! I saw Andy practicing today (with Kohlshreiber) and I was wondering where Lendl was. Andy seemed a little. . . off. Not putting everything into the practice. Can't say the same about Roger. He was practicing with Nishikori and they were going full-out for about two hours. I've never seen Roger practice with another player but last year was the first time I'd been at the tournament while the seeded players didn't have matches (and Roger wasn't in Miami last year) so I have no idea if that was strange or not. I only watched one set of an actual match (Benneteau vs. a UK qualifier--Kyle Edmund) because I spent all my time at the various practice courts. I had wanted to see Ebden play but when I was walking in I saw Roger and that was that. I didn't watch, but Rafa was practicing with Ferrer. I did watch Gasquet practicing with Robredo (how great that I still get to see Tommy out there!). Speaking of Tommy, I watched Tommy Haas for a few minutes but he was just hitting with a coach and even his being shirtless only kept me there for a little while.
Guess who had one of the biggest crowds? Stan Wawrinka! How exciting is that? I didn't brave the crowds, I stuck with Richard and Tommy instead. I was going to skip Novak and Fognini because of the crush of people but it thinned out after about an hour so I went back. Gotta say, they were a fun duo to watch. I couldn't catch what common language they were speaking--I think it was Spanish, didn't sound like Italian--but they were chatting and laughing up a storm. I've always found Fognini a bit creepy but he has a gorgeous smile and, not a surprise, but Nole acknowledged the crowd a lot. Saw Kevin Anderson stretch and a few minutes of Raonic but I didn't recognize who either of them was hitting with.
I'm crossing my fingers that I'll see Max and Feli play their first round doubles match (my dream match up for like, forever) but I'm only going Thursday and Friday and tomorrow only has two men's doubles match (weird, that). One match is Fer/Marrero so I'm happy about that but that leaves a lot of matches and my chances of getting Max and Feli on the one remaining day is pretty slim.
Oh, and on my way out I saw Tsonga who was practicing while wearing a trucker hat and appears to have very little/no hair. Curious about that.
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Post by falafaclese on Mar 23, 2014 22:45:18 GMT
Interesting that Ivan was in the stands watching Andy Murray's match today. Their split seemed to be amicable based on all the articles, it's nice to see that.
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Post by harry24 on Mar 24, 2014 1:13:28 GMT
It's funny. I'm watching Sloane-Woz on the DVR and, even though I'm a big Sloane fan and decidedly not a Woz fan, I find myself rooting for Woz, just because she's now such "old news," and she's playing the new, shiny thing.
My friend ended up using her ticket for yesterday's day matches. She's all aglow having gotten to see Rafa, Roger and Maria (her favorites). She says Maria's screaming is less overwhelming in person. On TV, it seems to me that she's getting louder, longer and more blood-curdling every fucking day. It's ridiculous.
ETA: WTF is David Ferrer wearing?
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Post by breezybee on Mar 24, 2014 14:19:34 GMT
I know. My eyes still haven't recovered from watching his match against Seppi. I think his new tactic is to disorient his opponents with his shirt.
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Post by falafaclese on Apr 12, 2014 17:27:27 GMT
Anyone watching the U.S. Claycourt championships? I forgot how much i love watching Nico Almagro's game. Especially that backhand.
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Post by mooncreek on Apr 20, 2014 16:24:20 GMT
Even with Stan winning AO, any lingering talk of Big Four truly ended this week. Ferrer finally beating Nadal on clay after ten years as the appetizer to Wawrinka overcoming the mental block that is Roger Federer.
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Post by falafaclese on Apr 24, 2014 14:35:24 GMT
Jelena Rustic is pregnant. Congrats to her and Djoker!
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Apr 25, 2014 14:04:44 GMT
I just read that--so exciting for them. I hope his wrist heals well, I'd hate to see Delpo pt. 2.
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