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Post by falafaclese on Dec 12, 2009 3:43:11 GMT
I've been watching a 2003 US Open semifinal match between Justine and Jennifer Capriati on TTC. I didn't see it hen it happened and it's a pretty phenomenal match.
I really miss Capriati.
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Mpol
3rd Round
Posts: 444
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Post by Mpol on Dec 12, 2009 9:10:01 GMT
Caps was so mentally strong. I too miss that from the women's game. And in the span of a few years, teh top contenders have gone from real strong players (both physically and mentally) to a bunch of floundering head cases. Sharapova is constantly injured, Capriati all but finished, Seles is gone, Davenport is preggers again... Serena and Venus are still winning... well Serena is still winning though both are getting older as far as tennis goes... Henin, we don't know how good she will be playing again...
BLAH! I just hope 2010 is a lift for the women. I HOPE Kimmy can come back in this year and play like she did during the US Summer. She was very mentally tough actually... I've always thought a mentally touch Kim could really trump a lot of the field, and would have won more in her first career. I hope she can really capitolise this time around.
As for the women's slams, I'd LOVE for Venus to win in Australia or France. I know both surfaces are slow but I believe an inform Venus can really do well at any event against any opponent.
I'd love for Kim to take out the French.
I know this will be unpopular but if Henin takes out Wimbledon I won't be too miffed (unless she really pisses me off from here until then.) I hope she has grown up. I'd like to see her complete her career slam.
I'd love for one of the Serbs/Russians/Euro girls to win at the US Open. ONE of them has to grow up and show SOME sort of mental toughness. I wonder if Ana Ivana and her compatriot (forgot her name, the one that thinks she's hot but... yeah) will win another or their first major?!
Time will tell. I bet Serena comes to the majors and wins atleast two of them though.
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Post by vallegirl on Dec 12, 2009 23:18:28 GMT
However many valid points Serena may have had just got lost for me in her total The Passion of the Serena pity party. I know she wrote a bunch of words but all I heard was "Waaaah, waaah, it's so hard to be MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! And I'm always so good, pure and true. Waaah WAAAAAHH"
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Post by breezybee on Dec 13, 2009 1:29:02 GMT
I watched a bit of the exhibition match that was played today in San Juan between Nalbandian and Massu. Fat Dave looks amazingly sharp especially given how long it's been since he's played a match. He's moving well and doesn't appear to be carrying a belly.
Welcome back Fat Dave.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Dec 14, 2009 14:49:58 GMT
So did anyone else immediately think "Roger!" when they saw the "Dubai gets a surprise $10 billion infusion of cash--who gave the money?" headline? Tennis is over for 2009 but every once and a while I turn on the doubles rubber from the Davis Cup final (I didn't get to see it live and haven't sat down to watch the whole thing) and watch snippets to make me feel good. Some observations: -Feli and Fer share a towel. SHARE A TOWEL! Sweet. Gross, but sweet. -when Fer gets all worked up and starts talking/yelling a mile-a-minute Feli just stands there and nods. -the commentators never seem to realize that Feli and Fer play doubles on the tour together. They only talk about their DC play without referencing they are a partnership (in many, many ways I think). -The Czech Republic really should have played Dlouhy. I love Tomas and he had some good play but Dlouhy could have given a much better battle. I won't start in on how many times I've watched the trophy ceremony because, well, I'm sure you guys can figure that out anyway. (Although I cannot resist saying that the moment when Feli and Ferrer start squeezing each other's waist/shoulder and grinning at each other is my favorite moment.) eta: Looks like, at least for now, the Wickmayer and Malisse bans have been suspended. Here's hoping they are completely overturned. And, ouch, Dinara has pulled out of an Aussie warmup with that bad back of hers. Ugh. Not a good way to start the year. |
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Post by oopssorry on Dec 16, 2009 2:30:29 GMT
I don't think *I* have ever got over that Serena-Capriati match, so I think she's right to contextualize this last year in a series of events where she felt wronged. I think they're related. Though I get how people are done with the perceived whining.
And I couldn't stand Capriati, so I'm glad she's gone. But I do hope there's some new passion in the women's field soon. I hope the Dinara break gives her back some umph.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Dec 16, 2009 20:14:12 GMT
While there were only 142 total votes and everyone is concentrating on Tiger Woods for winning the AP Athlete of the Decade, Fed came in third (2nd is Lance Armstrong).
We'll be seeing a lot less of Dick Enberg this year (unless you are a Padres fan). He's taking an announcer job with the San Diego Padres (where he lives) and will be let out to do Wimbledon and (hopefully) some CBS US Open work. I don't know if he's going to do any ESPN work at all--I don't think so.
If you are a USTA member and want to buy US Open tickets you can buy them today. I don't know if they will have another pre-sale before the late Spring.
eta: hmmmm, we just got a notice from our travel department saying that Argentina has passed ruling that nationals of some countries (including US) must pay an entree fee to get into Argentina. If you are planning on seeing JMdP or Fat Dave play in their native land--be prepared to pay an extra $131 when you get there.
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Post by tikigirl on Dec 17, 2009 1:05:02 GMT
Any idea what was behind that Argentina ruling, lt? Not that I was planning on going, but I'm curious.
I think Serena likes to play the victim -- I also think Serena has been blatantly victimized a few too many times in her career. It's hard to decide how I feel about the whole thing (and I'm sure you all know that's unusual for me!).
In the annals of ICAM, why am I not surprised that you didn't like Capriati, oops? I couldn't stand her (insert standard disclaimers about feeling really badly for her re: her upbringing). Back when she played, she headlined my little repertoire of tennis player imitations. Cue flat, stomping feet, scowl, and jutting lower jaw. I could also do a mean Agassi (walk as if stick inserted up ass) and Kournikova (head down but lead with the boobs). I've since added Sharapova and Ivanovic. Nadal and Fed are too easy.
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Post by oopssorry on Dec 17, 2009 1:29:52 GMT
hahahahahaha.... that is hilarious, tiki. And Beaker thought he was so cutting-edge.... You should post video.  And what's ICAM? /brain melt Speaking of leading with boobs, where's admin? Those troll/porn threads are starting to hurt my eyes. :/ |
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Post by falafaclese on Dec 17, 2009 4:26:58 GMT
I think admin usually gets pulled away from us by RL round about his time of year. I'm sure she'll be back to clean house before too long.
What is it about Capriati that turns you guys off?
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Post by tikigirl on Dec 17, 2009 7:25:28 GMT
I think "ICAM" is "I couldn't agree more." Or that's what I got from TWoP anyway.
No video! I once had a webcam set up, and all I used it for was taking stupid pictures of myself wearing Josie-and-the-Pussycats cat ears. While sober. None of you need mental images even worse than that.
Capriati? She had a certain joylessness about her, IMO -- kind of like Sharapova. Like she really, really wanted to win, and really enjoyed winning, but didn't seem to be having any fun at all. That's just my impression of course. Also, and this isn't fair to her at all, but as an American, watching American tennis coverage, and Capriati being American, I always felt like she was being thrown in my face: "You MUST root for her! She's American!" I always tend to resent that sort of thing. Of course, that's my problem not hers, but it didn't help.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Dec 17, 2009 13:24:04 GMT
Tiki, I think Argentina just needs the money. Interestingly, when I googled it--looks like it is only at the Buenos Aires International Airport and once you pay the fee once you can return multiple times without paying for 10 years. Weird. I don't think that is going to help their bottom line.
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Post by falafaclese on Dec 17, 2009 14:32:46 GMT
Capriati? She had a certain joylessness about her, IMO -- kind of like Sharapova. Like she really, really wanted to win, and really enjoyed winning, but didn't seem to be having any fun at all. That's just my impression of course. Also, and this isn't fair to her at all, but as an American, watching American tennis coverage, and Capriati being American, I always felt like she was being thrown in my face: "You MUST root for her! She's American!" I always tend to resent that sort of thing. Of course, that's my problem not hers, but it didn't help. I get it. I was only following tennis sporadically a hat time so, like with Agassi, I missed some of the early stuff. I wonder if he Argentina thing is like a visa fee? Except you pay it when you get there instead of paying at the embassy here before you leave? P.S. Malisse's and Wickmayer's suspensions have been lifted while the appeals are pending, and have been cleared to play in the meantime. It also looks like WADA may be appealing Belgium's decision to lift the bans. It's all a mess. |
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Post by oopssorry on Dec 18, 2009 6:03:03 GMT
Ha. Laughing at my (exhausted)brain. I conflated ICAM with the context of the video and was totally trying to figure out some conflation of eye-cam with an acronym.... never mind. *back to sleep*
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Dec 18, 2009 14:33:27 GMT
falafaclese, Argentina is saying this is on top of what Visa fee they would charge, so it's just weird. And, putting Capriati and Malisse together--when they were dating I was at an X-Man match and quite a rustle went through the crowd when Jennifer showed up to watch. It was never Jennifer I didn't like--it was her family. Did not like her family. Always liked her though. eta: I picked this up from Forty Deuce. As happy as I am for Gasquet I'm happier that both WADA and the ITF got smacked. HA! My favorite line is: Hmm, doing their job with understanding? Take that WADA!
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