Tennis Talk 2015

[falafaclese]

Everyone's been so quiet lately, I hope everyone had a good off-season.

I love the first week. So much tennis all of a sudden. The only thing I hate is how it screws with my sleep. Or rather how my sleep screws with my tennis.

I was watching the Italian feed from the Hopman Cup during the US/Italy rubber, and I'm pretty sure I heard the commentator describe John Isner as "gigantico". I love tennis.

[tikigirl]

Hi, fala! I'm just glad the holidays are over -- I need a vacation from my vacation; it was just way too busy. Hopefully I'll have time for tennis again soon. Happy New Year to everyone, and best wishes!

[roseha]

Hi everyone and happy New Year!

I don't think I will be able to stay up for Australia this year either, but I have retired from my night shift proofreading job, so I hope I will be able to catch most of the great matches coming up this year. Best wishes!

[breezybee]

I've been watching one of my favourite tournaments of the year - The Hopman Cup - where Canada just missed going to the finals. Bouchard started the week pretty rocky but her form has really picked up. Pospisil looks to be playing well and if he doesn't get injured again I'm hope he can move well up the rankings. Serena has not looked to spectacular at this event but she would still be my first pick for the Australian Open.

I read that Del Potro withdrew from Brisbain due to his wrist. That's a shame. I realized the other day that Nadal and Del Potro have both been away for a long time and that I haven't missed watching Nadal at all but I've really missed watching Del Potro. Rafa's comeback isn't going to well so far. I'm not sure he's won a match yet.

[harry24]

Hi, everyone -- I've been enjoying the start to the new tennis season and am looking forward to the Oz Open. My women's faves at the moment are Kvitova and Keys, although I'm missing Li Na terribly. I'm eager to see what comes of that 64th of the Draw from Hell with Townsend, Stephens, Azarenka and Wozniacki. I'm rooting for the American girls, less for Stephens than for Townsend, whose game I really like.

As for the men, I just read that Delpo has withdrawn feeling that his wrist wasn't quite strong enough to hold up to a major. He sounded optimistic, though, at least in print. Sorry that one of my perennial faves, Jo Willy T, is out with the arm injury that hampered him in the Davis Cup final. It will be so interesting to see if Raonic can sustain the off-the-charts form he had in the Brisbane final, whether Nishikori and/or Dimitrov can make big moves, whether Stanimal can mount a great defense, and if Rafa can make a sudden improvement over his weak first few events. My money is on Rafa scraping through a match or two and then hitting his stride.

Anyone else plan on watching?

[tikigirl]

I'll watch as much as I can if only because I know you are, harry! Work is crazy busy right now, and I'm full time, and I'm really a baseball fan, but our forum has always increased my enjoyment of tennis ten-fold. Love you all!

[falafaclese]

I have been watching. I bought a Roku a few months ago, and the Watch ESPN channel on there is great. I didn't count exactly how many feed ther are, but it seemed like there were about 8-12 on different courts. If you have access to it either on Roku, Apple TV or your PC, i highly recommend it. Also, i have been seeing commercials for a Tennis Channel channel on Apple TV. The quality of the feeds on my Roku are very clos to the HD channels I get from my cable provider, so I would look into Roku or Apple TV (I don't know if Google Chromecast has similar coverage).

Fed looked really good yesterday, and i am looking forward to Sloane/Vika, although I won't be surprised if it's a disappointment after all the hype.

I can't believe Ivanovic crashed out in the first round considering how well she has been playing.

ETA:Okay, i just went back to check, and there are feeds from 13 different courts, plus some in Spanish, and some with no commentary at all. There are also repeats of a lot if not all of the matches played on each of the camera courts.

[harry24]

Has anyone been following Sloane closely this last year? What has thrown her so far off the rails? Is she still together with Sock?

Agree that Roger is looking wonderful. Unfortunately for him, Rafa looked back to his awesome self against Youzhny.

I hope one of the channels covers Woz-Taylor. Go Taylor!!!!

And, I don't think I've ever said this before, but Almagro looks kinda hot.

[tikigirl]

I used to have a wee crush on Almagro, harry, but nothing compared to my bizarre Youzhny lust. Damn him, he created a pressure-free match for Nadal, who did look good, as did Feds. Ivanovic just makes me sad anymore, although at least she is looking a bit healthier to my eye; there was a time when I thought she just looked tired, hungry, and depressed (not a weight-shaming comment).

I still can't get behind Woz, even though I'd still like to punch Rory McIlroy repeatedly. Here's hoping she's found a nice guy. (Also: hahahahaha!)

I still love Maria Sharapova in theory: her fighting spirit, her willingness to adapt, her healthy distance from her father (as I recall). But can she please not fucking SCREAM all the time?

I've been evaluating Serena Williams over the last few years, and I've really come to think that she has no equal in tennis history. She might not have the Grand Slam records, etc., but really -- has there been anyone else who, when on, was so completely, ridiculously dominant, and for so long?

Does anyone else get the feeling they're going to be woefully short on sleep and awfully unpleasant at work for the next two weeks?

[tikigirl]

Just trying to fulfill my own prophecy of sleeplessness...Venus looks pretty awesome, and not just her hair and dress. It would be really awesome if she could win one more major, though I don't know if that's wishful thinking.

I forget to say this earlier, but happy Martin Luther King Jr Day, everyone. I made a donation to the Blues Foundation to mark the day. Here's wishing for and working toward equality, peace, prosperity, and love for all.

[harry24]

Here's wishing for and working toward equality, peace, prosperity, and love for all.

Hear, hear!

I didn't know you had Forbidden-Almagro-Lust, Tiki! I think I remember the Youzhny-Crazed-Desire, though. What do you think of Almagro's looks this year? Does he look any different to you? He looks somewhat grown up to me.

J McEnroe partially answered my Sloane question, although I am usually highly suspect of his preparation and evidence-based knowledge. He said she has developed a reputation as a prima donna who doesn't train hard enough. He didn't mention Sock, though. Whatever the reason, I hope she gets it together and can fulfill her abilities. I didn't like the neon pink look on her. I think those colors only really look good on olive complexions.

And I could not agree more, tiki, about Sharapova. The screaming is appalling. And it dismays me that it seems to be growing more accepted. Or perhaps she's just driven countless hoards to the comfort of deafness.

[breezybee]

There is an awful lot pink and yellow going this Open. Is Nike trying to blind me?wft?

Does anyone else get the feeling they're going to be woefully short on sleep and awfully unpleasant at work for the next two weeks?

I woke up at 4:06 this morning because hubby had stolen all of the covers. After wrestling them back and snuggling down to go back to sleep I suddenly remembered there was tennis on. Got up to watch. Last year my eyes popped open early almost every day for two weeks.

Shrieky's screaming drives me nuts. Azarenka's is worse for me though. Especially the way she stops mid scream when her ball hits the net.

[falafaclese]

Venus does look good. Her good form over the last couple of weeks seems to be continuing. I hope she has found the balance she has been looking for.

As for Sloane, I have been hearing the commentators talking about her lack of motivation, and I think I may agree with them. She seems to be an uncommon athlete, but when I see her playing, she never seems lock in. She seems like she's out there relying on her natural talent, instincts and reaction. More often than not it works for her, but at some point it's not going to be enough. I feel like she's reached that point. She's going to have to either decide that she wants to focus, or continue to coast and end up an above-average pro but nothing more.

[breezybee]

I saw both the nail biters last night - Sharapova's and Nadal's (this morning actually). I was sure Sharapova would pull it out but I thought Nadal was going to lose. He doesn't have a great history when playing five sets against the underdog at a slam. I only saw the last 2 sets but I thought I heard the commentators say he had vomiting on the court?

Someone should tell Berdych that the dark patch on the back of his shorts makes him look like he has had an accident in his pants.

[harry24]

I thought I heard the commentators say he had vomiting on the court?

I didn't see the whole match, but I heard that he vomited while he was off the court. Christina McHale had the pleasure of vomiting on court.

It's great to see Venus playing so well again. However, her dress is terribly dowdy. It would be a great dress for almost any lady on social security. Seriously, it would be adorable.