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Post by amarathe on Sept 24, 2009 16:52:50 GMT
I can't see Henin beating a healthy Serena or Venus at Wimbledon. 2007 was Henin's best year, and it still took her three sets to beat an injured Serena at Wimbledon (and Serena couldn't even hit a backhand). Of course, upsets can always happen, and no doubt Henin was inspired by Federer winning the French finally. This article describes the longest women's match ever that featured a record breaking 643-shot rally. Seriously, one point lasted 29 minutes! I've seen shorter sets than that. |
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Post by acre on Sept 24, 2009 18:55:09 GMT
I find the Henin-Lendl comparisons interesting, too. Lendl was always a chilly and rather obsessive type during his playing days and I'd say I was at best meh about him. Didn't root for him, didn't hate him. I was surprised to find how warmly I felt toward him when he sat in at the broadcast booth for a while at the Open. I don't remember the specific match now, but I really enjoyed listening to him. Now looking back I'm (mildly) sorry that he never did win Wimb. He actually was a pretty good grass court player, he made the finals more than once, and addt'l semi's, plus won the warm-up tourny. It was always something to see him there relentlessly serve and volleying, at the net all the time: he went all-in in his quest to win it, but that's the kind of guy he was, no half-measures. I also can't help but compare him to others who won 3 of 4 - I mean he was a whole lot better on grass than say, Sampras, was on clay. But then again, I'm not willing to take away any of the victories others had over Lendl at W, either. Heh, it's easy to look back and think "gee maybe it woulda been nice if Lendl had done it", but reality is always tougher.
So that's my long winded digression into agreeing that there are some Henin/Lendl similarities. He was maybe more agressive against opponents than she was(?), for example drilling the ball right at the volleyer countless times. And he'd never give away a point, concede a bad call, anything like that - but I don't remember him quitting mid match, or being underhanded in any way. It could be rose-colored hindsight though, it's always easier for me to think well of people in retrospect, and the details get fuzzy.
Just overall I have to agree that focussing too much on any one event is counter-productive. It's the whole career that you work toward, and there's just no quantifying if 1 W is better than multiple French(Aus, Us). Lendl definitely made that calculation for himself, but looking back, never having gotten it - maybe he thinks damn I shoulda just grabbed 2-4 more at the French!
As to Sharapova and her serve: I wonder how much is the new motion and how much the lingering effects of the shoulder injury/surgery, or whether the issues can even be separated. I sure do wish she'd get it back together though! Quality tennis and quality competition matter more to me than likable players, per se.
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Post by falafaclese on Sept 25, 2009 18:09:27 GMT
Kimiko Date-Krumm beat Dani Hantuchova to reach the semifinals in Seoul. This after not having won a main-draw tour level match since her comeback. And she'll be 39 on Monday. She's making me feel really bad about myself.
Next week everyone in the top ten except Serena will be playing in Tokyo. Serena withdrew citing knee and toe injuries. Is it just me, or have there been a lot of really good women's draws this year?
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Post by mooncreek on Sept 25, 2009 22:09:24 GMT
I admit that Lendl's obsession with Wimbledon always cracks me up and I hope that part ends similarly for Justine. That said, she could probably add another French Open title - unless Dinara gets her head together by then.
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Post by roseha on Sept 26, 2009 2:43:56 GMT
I'd love it if Dinara could finally break her personal Slam jinx against Henin!
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Mpol
3rd Round
Posts: 444
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Post by Mpol on Sept 26, 2009 14:52:16 GMT
That would be cool. But that would mean Henin would have had to have beaten other top players to get there... not down with that. Heh.
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Post by mooncreek on Sept 26, 2009 19:51:35 GMT
Well, that is tough to say. We don't know how many tournaments Justine intends to play. If she doesn't do well at the Australian or has injuries, she could easily be ranked too low to be seeded come the French. Potentially, they could face each other early.
It would be funny, however, since it was Dinara beating Justine that led her to retirement in the first place.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Sept 27, 2009 15:56:11 GMT
And if Justine does what Kim is doing--taking advantage of not being in the Top 10 to play only the Slams and the most major of the other tournaments--she won't be ranked for a while. Being the "dangerous floater" would work to her advantage.
Everyone cover their ears because I'm about to yell:
CABLEVISION HAS ADDED THE TENNIS CHANNEL!!!!!!! I NOW HAVE THE TENNIS CHANNEL!
My life is complete. I'm leaving in a about a week for a three-week business trip so when my TiVo told me that TTC had been added I, briefly, thought about waiting until I got home before I paid for the additional service but I felt I needed to add it the second it was available. When I called, the CSR told me that he had gotten loads of calls complaining that the channel wasn't available during the US Open. But I guess TTC was the one that backed down since the original fight with Cablevision was that Cablevision wanted it on a tier that was going to cost more and TTC wanted it on regular digital. I had to upgrade to a sports package I don't want (I already get MLB Network and NFL Network still isn't available anyway) but I don't care. Because I NOW HAVE THE TENNIS CHANNEL!!!!
(I might add that MLB Network was smart--they looked at the mess the NFL Network got themselves into with the various cable networks and made all the major cable companies part owners in the channel so that the cable companies were obligated to put it on their regular digital tiers instead of making subscribers upgrade.)
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Post by roseha on Sept 27, 2009 18:03:17 GMT
Hey have fun with Tennis Channel lt! I don't watch it all the time but during the Slams and Davis Cup it's great to have.
I did have to pay extra for mine but the "sports tier" or whatever is only about $4 a month.
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Post by mooncreek on Sept 27, 2009 18:59:32 GMT
Screw Justine's comeback - here's a much cooler story:
Kimiko Date Krumm won the Korean Open, beating Kleybanova, Hantuchova, Kirilenko and Medina Garrigues along the way. That would make her the oldest to win a singles title since Billie Jean King in 1983.
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Post by seltzer4 on Sept 28, 2009 0:44:59 GMT
So sad Ai Sugiyama is retiring this week.
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Post by oopssorry on Sept 28, 2009 0:56:12 GMT
Yay, Kimiko! (Between the wins of the 39-yr-old and the new mom, my shame is complete and it's time to get my ass in gear!)
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Post by seltzer4 on Sept 28, 2009 6:18:13 GMT
Dinara Safina just lost to a player that is ranked 132.
Exciting that there is a good upcoming young taiwanese player (Kai-Chen).
But seriously Dinara Safina?! She needs to lose her #1 ranking now.
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Post by falafaclese on Sept 28, 2009 16:04:44 GMT
Dinara Safina just lost to a player that is ranked 132. Yeah, that's pretty inexcusable. She needs to pull herself together. She hasn't been all that impressive since the semifinal of RG IMO. I'm wondering if, now that she doesn't have a chance to win a major this year, she's lost motivation. Venus just lost to Pavlyuchenkova, and Sveta lost to Petkovic. Pennetta's out too. In total, 6 seeds are gone without winning a match, and that includes 3 top five players losing to qualifiers. Not good. ETA: Congrats on finally getting Tennis channel lt. I had to pay for a package I didn't really want either, and should have been annoyed about that, but I didn't even bat an eye. |
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Post by mooncreek on Sept 28, 2009 23:45:13 GMT
Sugiyama had to retire from her final match. That's a shame.
Seeing all the other upsets (and Serena injured/not caring), it's clear how Dinara is still number one and that's just sad.
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