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Post by tikigirl on Sept 4, 2014 0:46:48 GMT
Until she doesn't! Wow, that was a turnaround. Pennetta is sooooo frustrated.
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Post by falafaclese on Sept 4, 2014 1:50:47 GMT
Oof. She turned that around quick.
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Post by tikigirl on Sept 4, 2014 17:33:17 GMT
Lucky me, I have to work at home today, so I can see the second two men's quarters. While screwing around, um, taking a break from editing, I found an interesting article about men's vs women's serve speeds. Hope everyone is enjoying September. |
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Post by falafaclese on Sept 5, 2014 2:55:04 GMT
Lucky me, I have to work at home today, so I can see the second two men's quarters. While screwing around, um, taking a break from editing, I found an interesting article about men's vs women's serve speeds. I've been intrigued for a while by the fact that while the fastest men's serve is significantly faster than the fastest women's serve, on average, they are much much closer. In fact, the year that Serena and Venus played the Wimbles women's final and Roger and Rafa played the men's, I think the average serve speed for the women was higher, or at least comparable to the men. Seeing Monfils being this intense, mumbling to himself, and trying to will himself past the finish line is very odd. Usually it looks like recess out there with him. |
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Post by harry24 on Sept 5, 2014 3:21:50 GMT
Okay, sweating it out here in Sleepy Hollow, watching Fed playing tentatively and just not able to get it going against an inspired Monf. I really don't like how the McEnroes and Gilbert anticipate a set or a game being over because someone is ahead, and now they're anticipating Monf collapsing now that he lost the two match points and the fourth set. They may be right, but they're so f*&^-ing eager to anticipate it. It just bugs me, particularly from guys who once made their living competing.
I don't have the attention right now to check out that article on the serve speeds, but I look forward to it.
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Post by lizm on Sept 5, 2014 3:37:07 GMT
eta: ummmm, I just watched PMac interview Roger and he said Gael was playing "within himself." Either they've been spouting that line and it got into my consciousness or PMac is in my head. I'm not too happy with either choice. I totally scanned this as "Gael was playing with himself". Also, while I'm a bit sorry that the weather wasn't what you hoped, I'm more envious that you got to actually be there!  Gotta say, I didn't expect that comeback! |
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Post by roseha on Sept 5, 2014 6:05:32 GMT
I just saw maybe the last 20-30 minutes, mainly to be sure that Tivo didn't cut off the end of the match - oh the joys of working at night, but at least I was able to sneak a peek at the score on my Iphone. I'm glad I didn't know Roger was down two match points! While I'm thrilled he was able to come back (and I also remembered the last time he did something like this was the 2012 Wimbledon) I also wish the McEnroes would lay off the armchair psychoanalyzing. I'm sure Monfils was discouraged, but after over three hours of play, and currently without a coach to train with, it could have been a physical tiredness as well.
I will have to check the upcoming schedule, pretty sure I am at work during the Monday final as well.
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Post by breezybee on Sept 5, 2014 11:52:57 GMT
Quite honestly that's what it looked like to me. Monfils had no gas left in the tank. He was physically spent. The match was sort of like a car accident. I couldn't take my eyes off it. For the first two sets I watched Federer hit error after error, continually hit dropshots that were never successful and grow more and more frustrated because he couldn't find his grove. Then part way through the 4th set I watched Monfils start to lose energy and start to make mistakes which finally lead to what looked like resignation in the 5th set. Monfils was really amazing though during the first three sets. When he is on it is just incredible.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Sept 5, 2014 15:23:27 GMT
That was nerve wracking. I couldn't watch on regular speed--I had to pause it, do something else for a bit and come back to watch in +1 speed (slow enough to see the ball and the points, fast enough to not panic). I love Monfils but there was not one part of me who wanted him to win that match. For the first set I was at PT but my PT doctor turned on ESPN and moved my table to face the TV so I could watch while he beat up my shoulders. I love that the semis is Boris vs. Chang and Stefan vs. Goran. I wish the boxes were closer together so we could see the ex-players looking daggers at each other. For those not paying attention to the weather for the rest of the tournament: women's semis (today) very humid. men's semis (Saturday) very, very humid with thunderstorms in the afternoon. women's final (Sunday) weather finally breaking--beautiful day. men's final (Monday) gorgeous. So, yes, we've had two lousy weather weeks this entire summer and they were the US Open two weeks. Not fair.
lizm, I was on my work trip this summer and I was using a US Open ditty bag (purses? Bah!). People saw it and were saying they'd always wanted to go and I always say it's the easiest ticket in NY. For every single day session they sell tickets for 23,000 for Ashe, a few thousand for the reserved seating in Armstrong and multiple (multiple) thousands of general admission tickets. I didn't even buy my tickets until I went out to the box office (I don't want to pay the Ticketmaster fees) a week before the tournament started. Easy peasy. Heck, a friend of mine wanted to see the Djoker/Murray QF and bought the ticket the day before (that I wouldn't advise--I can always find something to watch and I much prefer the day and don't like the night crowd so I don't have to worry about a "hot" ticket). And Groupon had night match discounts! In the pre-Ashe years it was much harder because they only sold what could fit into Armstrong and a limited grounds admission and I think the perception of this being a hard ticket comes from those years. Of course I live here so I'm not paying for a hotel or food but if anyone is planning a New York trip make it during the Open and I can guarantee you'll get tickets (but the weather will suck).
eta: I was just watching some highlights of the match and it reminded me about Gael drinking soda in the middle of the match. I agree that he lost all his energy at the end and, because it was such a long match, we got to see the result of going for a sugar/caffeine rush a couple of hours earlier. He needs a coach, and one that he'll listen to, to show him why his choices need to be better if he wants to gut out matches like this.
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Post by lizm on Sept 5, 2014 15:59:24 GMT
Good to know lt - I'll make sure to plan any NYC visits accordingly!
Oh - I forgot to comment about this earlier, but during the Dimitrov/Monfils match they replayed (twice! in slow motion!) that adorable end-of-match kiss attempt between them. Commentators did their usual tittering but I didn't care, I liked seeing it again!
I think I remember Roddick (maybe) commenting years ago about how amateurs didn't know better than to drink soda during a match...
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Post by acre on Sept 5, 2014 22:15:45 GMT
Hey all - I've been quiet because I haven't been able to watch anything, didn't feel I had much to contribute. But I've been reading and appreciating. Missed you!
Oh my oh my oh my ... I think I'm just as happy I had to go to bed, else I would've been up half the night alternating between despair and elation! Then when Fed did finally won I would not have been able to tamely go to sleep, I would've been all wound up.
Well, all that is assuming I could have found a decent feed. A while back I mentioned I cut basically ALL my tv extras, I'm essentially at rabbit ears level - I get 'cable', I just don't get anything but major over the air channels, so no tennis for me. Thank goodness CBS will pick up coverage now. The only Fed match on CBS was rain delayed, and when continued CBS was out.
I have not lost all interest in tennis, but I was paying I don't know ... $50-60 a month just on TV, and last watched it during the Olys. So, anyone know a decent feed? I tried the official US Open site, and though the picture was mediocre/acceptable, the sound was ridiculous. Not just an echo of every-single-sound (ball strike, sneak squeak, and when the commentators got going it was like listening to them sing a round.) You know - row, row, row your boat then as they begin 'merrily down the stream', the next commentator has started 'row, row ...' and it's all simultaneous and crazy making and OMG no thank you! I know, mute button, but ....
Absolutely satisfied that Fed's this far. Obviously I want the final and the championship, but hey, Wimbledon final (SO close!!), US Open semis at least ... don't be writing him off folks! (Not anyone here, I know you don't.)
And how cool is it the Hingis made the final too? With Pennetta who's sure ain't too shabby herself, but still.
Happy for the next 4 days of CBS.
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Post by roseha on Sept 6, 2014 4:53:27 GMT
Welcome back acre, nice to have so many of us back for the Open!
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Post by falafaclese on Sept 6, 2014 12:59:56 GMT
Welcome back acre!
Watching Peng Shuai yesterday was harrowing. I was watching on my tablet with the sound down for most of that, so I didn't hear a lot of the commentators, but she really looked like she was in excruciating pain. I can't imagine what happened in the locker room that made her think she could try to tough it out, but while I admire her drive, it was scary-looking. I hope she's okay.
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Post by GrandSlamGuru on Sept 6, 2014 18:58:45 GMT
Kei is really making it a match against Nole. Very interesting!
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Post by roseha on Sept 6, 2014 19:29:58 GMT
Congratulations to "Special Kei"! (as I heard he is sometimes called a few years back).
It looks like it's starting to rain here in Manhattan. Hope it doesn't last long!
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