Tennis Notes: Rafa Opens School, Serena Drama Dodger

Yes.

June 4th, 2009 at 2:19 pm

Vamos Rafa!
I think I should move to India!
It will be great if in a few years students from “Nadal Tennis Academy” start competing.

June 4th, 2009 at 2:24 pm

I think it’s great that players like Nadal and Djokovic are trying to develop tennis in younger generations – with Nadal beginning this school and the Djoko’s bringing at least one new academy to Serbia as well as buying and organizing its first tournament. I know Agassi has a school in Vegas as well, but I believe it focuses on academics for the underprivileged and not tennis? In any case, the more good players on the back burner, the better for the game, no matter from where those players come. Many players have charitable foundations, which is great too. This is a conscientious bunch of players presently on the ATP tour.

June 4th, 2009 at 2:40 pm

If you just look at it simply, players like Agassi, Djokovic, Nadal, etc, have all gained so much from tennis. Money, joy, fame, stable lives… So why not spread the wealth? It is awesome though. Good on these guys.

June 4th, 2009 at 2:48 pm

Wow, Rafa opening tennis school in a third world country shows his generosity . Vamos !!!

June 4th, 2009 at 2:50 pm

Nadal school will help launch a wave of large Tennis Academies across India.
Sania Mirza (career high #27), in the past few years, has been able to promote tennis beyond the core community of sports fans in urban areas. The Nadal brand could take it much further, especially among the young children. This typically will ensure more corporate investments into Academies.

June 4th, 2009 at 3:35 pm

Serena: “I’m like one of those girls on a reality show that has all the drama, and everyone in the house hates them because no matter what they do, like, drama follows them. I don’t want to be that girl.”

Drama follows you? I don’t understand that at all

June 4th, 2009 at 3:42 pm

All the best to poor Ancic.

Kudos, Rafa!

Oh, Serena… What can one even say?

Hi Jane. Sorry about Novak’s early exit. You were my first thought at the end of that match. I’ve missed his presence in this tournament, too.

Hi Zola. Sorry about Nadal’s early exit. I can’t say you were my first thought at the end of that match, because as best I can recall my brain shut down for awhile and I’m really not sure what happened next.

Hi sensationalsafin, Kimmi, and any others that don’t care to presumptuously pigeonhole me or others into some derogatory stereotype.

June 4th, 2009 at 5:16 pm

“because as best I can recall my brain shut down for awhile and I’m really not sure what happened next.” LOL – I think mine shut down too Ra. What a shocker! I mean who’d’ve thunk Soderling of all chaps? Not moi. I’ve missed Djoko but am learning to live with his ups and downs and take em as they come. For me, he’s major fun to watch when he’s around and on form; hope to see some of that at Wimbledon. I’ll bet you’re happy though? Fed’s looked shaky at times, but he’s holding his own, hanging in there, and that’s all it takes.

June 4th, 2009 at 5:28 pm

Well, you know I have to put this in since you all are giving credit to Agassi, Rafa, etc.:

Roger Federer established the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003 to help disadvantaged people and to promote sports to youth. “I AM TOMORROW’S FUTURE”

This most confident statement by Nolonwabo Batini, a girl aged fifteen attending the Ndzondelelo High School in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, is the slogan of the Roger Federer Foundation (RFF). The RFF supports education, sports and leisure activities in places with little or no funding at all. The idea is to permit a maximum of children to make the slogan become reality in their lives and help them actively shape their future.

June 4th, 2009 at 5:29 pm

Does anyone know if ESPN TC or NBC will be showing the Soderling semi? I heard they are only showing the Fed one.

June 4th, 2009 at 5:32 pm

vared, NBC, I believe will only show ONE (Federer’s match live), but TC will show a replay of both of them later that day.

June 4th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

Hi Ra,
Good to see you posting again.
****
Sorry about Nadal’s early exit. I can’t say you were my first thought at the end of that match, because as best I can recall my brain shut down for awhile and I’m really not sure what happened next.
*****
Forgiven!

I know. It was a shock. But it had to happen one day. I didn’t expect him to go unbeaten in RG forver. But it is still sad. These guys have spoiled us ! But on the bright side he has some restbefore the grass tournaments.

June 4th, 2009 at 5:40 pm

FoT,

That’s true. I remember reading somewhere that his foundation sponsors thirty something childern in South Africa.

I think Andy Roddick has a charity foundation too. This is great for the sport.

June 4th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

Vared
check here:

http://tennis.com/tvschedule/tvschedule.aspx?id=67

I think NBC will show the Soderling semi.

June 4th, 2009 at 5:44 pm

jane,

I’m glad you’re learning to live with his ups and downs; not much choice in that, huh? Yeah, I sure wouldn’t have guessed Soderling would be the guy. And even though I had some suspicion that Nadal might lose unexpectedly at some point prior to the finals, I was in disbelief. I could probably have estimated that whatever part of my mind suspected an upset was the same part that maybe doesn’t fully appreciate the worth of sanity.

Yeah, I’m happy that Federer is still in it, but I’m also disappointed that he didn’t have the chance to face Djokovic in the semis or the chance (however slim it might have been) to redeem himself against Rafa for last year’s result.

My thoughts on the upcoming semi are on the respective thread.

June 4th, 2009 at 5:44 pm

zola,

thanks for the warm welcome. Yeah, it had to happen one day. And the thought of him well rested and warming up for the grass season is probably at least as intimidating to some as it is comforting to others. I’ve gotta say, though, outplayed here and there or not, it seems to me that something has been getting to his game for the past few months that I suspect isn’t entirely related to the actual playing of tennis. Or perhaps it is just that whatever adjustments he’s been trying to make in his style haven’t coherently ripened yet, and it only looks to me like it’s something else. Whatever the case may be, I hope he can work through it as he’s among the most inspiring athletes I’ve ever witnessed in any sport.

jANE,

I apologize for continuing to randomly capitalize your name.

June 4th, 2009 at 5:55 pm

Zola, according to that, NBC is only showing the Fed match. Wonder why? Since Soderling is scheduled first I guess only tennis channel is showing it.

June 4th, 2009 at 6:45 pm

vared,
Sorry, I don’t know why I thought tomorrow there will be only one semi!

NBC is crap! They monopolize the coverage and then show just one match. last weekend they showed all the matches with delay !

June 4th, 2009 at 6:55 pm

Me myself and I

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/interviews/2009-06-03/200906031244054918672.html

June 4th, 2009 at 7:22 pm

I for one think that Djokovic is at least as good as Kohlschreiber :)

June 4th, 2009 at 7:49 pm

vared – I see nothing wrong with that interview.

June 4th, 2009 at 8:51 pm

vared: Thanks for that link.

“ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, it’s also one of the reasonswhy I was nervous going into this match, because, you know, the whole storiesof, you know, Nadal losing, Murray losing, Djokovic losing, maybe opening upthe draw a little bit.

“Obviously they alsoplay with my mind, even though it doesn’t affect me yet. Now it does because I’m not playing Djokovicbut I’m playing Del Potro. But even thatwould have been an okay draw as well playing Novak. I’ve also had some good success against him.”

Djoko had better beware, Federer knows he’s playing with his mind!

June 4th, 2009 at 8:52 pm

“because as best I can recall my brain shut down for awhile and I’m really not sure what happened next.”

Ra, my brain was swinging that day too, still is when I see soderling. I still cannot understand what he smoked before coming to this match. Has he ever beaten nadal before this FO? The way this guy was hitting the ball, so hard and accurate, even returning with interest the cross court forehands from Nadal ! His movement was so good its unbelievable. Well, his miraculous run here is probably not over. Gonzalez can whack the FH so big but if he is not given the opportunity like Nadal, he might not be able to use it. Soderling is so unpredictable right now, no one knows what he is capable of doing tomorrow..

June 4th, 2009 at 8:57 pm

I don’t know what to think of Serena’s pressers anymore. I think she should avoid lengthy answers and just stick to yes and no. Andything else will bury her deeper.

June 4th, 2009 at 9:01 pm

Re Ancic – too bad to hear, I enjoyed watching his hardcourt and grass games

June 4th, 2009 at 9:28 pm

And re Philippoussis….what the?!?! I thought he was not only a tennis star but a reality tv star! How the heck did the well run dry?

June 4th, 2009 at 9:30 pm

Re Larcher de Brito, this whole shrieking nonsense has to stop being taught at the Bollettieri academy! You can learn to inhale and exhale without screaming – it is REALLY getting to be too much!

It’s annoying when you see shriekers that choose when to shriek, I consider it poor gamesmanship. I.e. sometimes a part time shrieker will shriek a soft touch volley or short groundstroke…NOT RIGHT

June 4th, 2009 at 9:33 pm

OMG! I missed that piece about Ancic. It is too bad. I hope he gets well soon.

—————
********
According to a study by Rod Cross of Sydney University, the average men’s service speed at the French Open increased 16 MPH in the eight years between 2001 and 2008, from 101 mph to 117 mph. In other words, give me a Babolat with Big Banger so I can toss it up and hit it as hard as I can. That’s an advance of the game?…
********

This is really funny. Do they need a university study to compare the ball speed at year 2001 and year 2008?

Poor aussie tax payers! oy oy oy….!
———
Larcher de Brito
=waterboarding ( or worse!)

I can’t watch her.

I wasn’t able to watch Seles. even Venus and Serena are loud but not that high pitched. Sharapova is the next level and now de Brito is pure torture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kxaLo1riGo&feature=related

June 4th, 2009 at 9:56 pm

I think Federer is the GOAT when it comes to how he handled his mono after hearing about poor Mario ;)

June 4th, 2009 at 10:01 pm

Shan,
or maybe Fed had a very rare type of mono!

June 4th, 2009 at 10:02 pm

oops, what happened?
Anyway, Ancic was away for about a year ( or two?) because I think physical activity while having mono can endanger the spleen. He came beck to a couple of tournaments on and off. Started to do better and is affected again. Poor thing!

I think what Fed had was probably not as aggressive as Ancic’s.

June 4th, 2009 at 10:05 pm

Fot
It’s all about him. Tooting horns,scooter screaming, adoration as he walks down the street–

I’m delighted to see to whatextent they are supporting me. You know,I feel like they’ve almost adopted me, you know. When I walk onthe streets or drive in the transportation or I go for dinner, everybody islike, This is your year. You’ve got todo it.

They’re screaming fromtheir scooters and out of the car. Theyeven get out at the red lights and want me to sign an autograph or take apicture.

I agreethat many times I had the match on my racquet, like against Murrayin Indian Wells, Djokovic in Miami, and soforth, and also in Rome.I enjoy it, to be honest. They’reall very happy to see me, you know. Ifelt this way now for a couple of years now, and in New York as well where I gotunbelievable, tremendous support. Ithink they really wanted to see me do well, you know, after maybe sort of arocky season last year.

I think they reallywanted me to win the US Open. I felt ita little bit in New York,to be honest.

It’s the “in a row” that seemsincredible to me. Twenty semifinals isincredible, but twenty semifinals in a row? It’s even more incredible, even to me.

June 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm

Serena, I love you the way you are.

June 4th, 2009 at 11:09 pm

Wait… Federer’s interview is about Federer?! The horror! And his response to being questioned about the French crowd’s interactions with him are about his experience of the French crowd? The nerve! (I could go on, but it’d be pretty tiresome.)

June 5th, 2009 at 3:34 am

HOw about the crowd is great I love this city, they like me, instead of trumpets blaring, traffic coming to a stop, people falling in the streets over me. :-)

June 5th, 2009 at 9:27 am