Favorites Roddick, Murray Win at Wimbledon; Wed. Schedule

Actually agree with Johnny Mac, love johnny BTW why don’t some of you guys like him, who gave him a B and said he needs to be more aggressive. That being said there’s more than one way to catch a rabbit.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:27 am

I like Johnny Mac too margot; I don’t always agree with him but I find him entertaining, and he clearly loves the sport of tennis. I enjoyed his game and even found his outbursts back in the day occasionally funny. Can you imagine if a player acted like that now? No way!

June 24th, 2009 at 1:34 am

Good start for A-Rod! I know it’s a big Pipe dream (and quite possibly a pipe loaded with illegal substances :)) at this point but i’m really hoping for a Rod v Fed final. I like the guy not just for his game but he has this brilliant sense of irony and humour. His interviews are a treat to read/ watch. Also respect the stand he took in Dubai.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:44 am

What Margot, Mr Perfect Manners? LOL ! ;) I like it.

June 24th, 2009 at 2:14 am

Roddick won’t make it deep unless he starts hitting much flatter and hitting through the ball. To leave weak topspin shots up for his opponents to crush just wastes his cannon of a right arm.

June 24th, 2009 at 2:58 am

Sharapova in trouble here, I don’t know how she can get out of this one. Dulko is really attacking.

June 24th, 2009 at 8:56 am

Women’s tennis stinks. They do not deserve equal money as the men. It is undeserved easy money for them. I believe people pay to see the men play and the women just ride on their coattails. It should be equal play for equal pay. Let the women play five set games to make it equal to the men. Then the whole world will see the truth about how crappy women’s tennis is.

June 24th, 2009 at 9:28 am

Exactly Polo exactly! The playing standard notwithstanding, why should they be given equal money as the male players?
It must be equal pay for equal work, that means women must play best of 5 set matches or lower prize money. Why injustice for men only?

June 24th, 2009 at 10:01 am

The best women players (e.g. Serena or Venus) on tour can hardly win even 1 out of 10 matches played against a guy ranked 100 on the ATP tour. Yet same prize money?!!! Hell !!!

June 24th, 2009 at 10:07 am

Djokovic wins in straight. And Tsonga gets a walkover..mmm whats up with that ?

June 24th, 2009 at 10:11 am

Good job Djoko but he will have a tough challenge in Fish next round. They’ve played twice and both times the matches were very tight.

I wonder why Tsonga walks over; do you know Kimmi? That could be good or bad. He could meet Karlovic next round so another match might’ve gotten him ready.

June 24th, 2009 at 10:26 am

Sharapova out in the 2nd round but not without a fight. Saving 4 match points on the way. She is no near the form she was before her injury. Oh well, she can come and fight again next year.

June 24th, 2009 at 10:27 am

That’s true. Sharapova’s game is not what it used to be. She’ll need some serious work to get back to that level. The reason she lasts as long as she does is his will to fight.

June 24th, 2009 at 10:31 am

If women played 5 set matches, it will be a LOL comedy. It will probably the most comical thing to watch. Although I have a suspicion that most of the games will end with a retirement.

June 24th, 2009 at 10:31 am

her will to fight – sorry for type.

June 24th, 2009 at 10:32 am

typo. durrr. must have coffee. :)

June 24th, 2009 at 10:32 am

I wish they would play all the women’s matches after all the men have already played for that day. Then I don’t heve to keep turning the TV on and off to find out if they are already showing the men. I am not a misogynist but, really, the quality of women’s tennis nowadays is so bad that watching it is a waste of time. Most of the women are out of shape, mental basket cases or annoying screamers.

June 24th, 2009 at 10:38 am

Don’t know why Bolleli pulled out, just saw results on wimbledon site. i think it would be best if Tsonga had played today, he has to fight so much on his 1st round but if he plays karlovic next maybe its not too bad, I think you don’t need too much rhythism to play him.

June 24th, 2009 at 10:43 am

Your rhythm point is true Kimmi. Well I hope Tsonga can win his next match.

I just read a report on Djoko and he thinks he’s got a 50/50 chance against Fish; I’d say that’s about right. Maybe even less given that he offered 10 break points today and a few doubles. He’ll have to play his best to beat Fish or Fish will have to have an off day. Murray was able to beat Fish in straights at Queen’s but he did so by taking incredible care of his own serve and capitalizing on his excellent return. I think it will be tougher for Djoko.

June 24th, 2009 at 10:51 am

“rhythism” should be ..rhythm

After moving JMDP to Nadal spot, I thought Djoko now should be able to reach the semi, but as you say it looks like he is not that confident here…but still I pick him to reach the qtr and then who knows who he will meet there… it might not be Haas after all.

Federer bags 1st set….now here is what we call “great rhythm”. Total conttol in that set. Go ROGER.

June 24th, 2009 at 11:08 am

Oops..instead of “qtrs” should say R16

June 24th, 2009 at 11:11 am

I’m looking forward to Querrey verses Cilic. I sure hope they show it; they should because were getting American coverage right now.

June 24th, 2009 at 11:31 am

Verdasco is in quite a battle – all three sets have gone to tiebreaks now. I wish I could be watching THAT match instead of this rout.

June 24th, 2009 at 11:35 am

I am enjoying a federer match but its true about Verdasco match. On the other thread there is a note that says

“Kristof Vliegan has beaten Fernando Verdasco at all three levels of pro tennis — futures, challengers and ATP…”

That explains why this match is a challenge to verdasco.

June 24th, 2009 at 11:47 am

Novak Djokovic after beating Simon Greul in straight sets to reach the third round:

“I don’t think it was easy. I made it more difficult for myself and made mistakes, which was the wrong thing to do as he was going for his shots. He put a lot of pressure on my serve and I was dropping service games in the third when I was up and this really shouldn’t happen.”

June 24th, 2009 at 11:57 am

Kimmi, of course you’re enjoying Fed’s match : ) He’s winning easily. G-Lopez can’t hold his own serve and doesn’t think on the court. He can hit some nice shots but he doesn’t set up points. So he’s not difficult to out-maneuver, esp for Fed.

June 24th, 2009 at 11:57 am

Djoko knows what he’s doing wrong, which is great, but can he fix it when he needs to? That is the question.

June 24th, 2009 at 11:59 am

How now is to have your fav winning easy…no pressure, just relax and enjoy the magic on the court.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:02 pm

I think someone said, Federer “will lose some sets,” but to me his losing sets is not imaginable thus far, not this year, not on grass, not when he has zero pressure. Can you or anyone volunteer naming the player(s) to whom Fed “will lose some sets.” Sadly, even if you can name, the limitation is just losing sets, not a match. It is just uncomfortable to see the fear and reluctance to boldly say, “This is my guy. He will takes SETS off Fed. He’ll challenge Fed. He will win.” This defeated mentality is rooted even in players’ minds who seem content to say: He’s too perfect, too good, king of grass. Instead of making hollow statements like “I have chances to win,” which also comes out awkwardly, they should be emulating him and trying to be as good as him. They should take Federer as source of inspiration, not discouragement and resignation.
I watched more than a couple of matches in the last 3 days, these day-dreamers looked nothing more than disgrace on grass: They were not moving right on grass; their shots were off the mark. I see Federer way ahead, by a huge margin. Unless something happens between now and the Final, it is not going to be a thriller final (Oh, Rafa, what did you do? Why did you injure your knees? Why, why, son? Why, now?)

June 24th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

should say …..How NICE is to have your fav winning easy…no pressure, just relax and enjoy the magic on the court.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

Yes, it is fun to watch Fed’s mesmerizing tennis. It could have been still better if we could see the same from his opponent. That would double the pleasure, both qualitatively and quantitatively.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

Tennis Freak, i am just enjoying the magic he can show us, I hope you are right that he is all the way to the final, Garcia_Lopez is not a player you can gage Federer perfomance with but I agree he has played very well today…..GO Roger.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

G-Lo played a better 4th set, but Fed was just too good for him today.

Kimmi, that’s so true – it is more relaxing when your fave is winning easily. And you can just enjoy him winning most of the points.

When watching a match from a neutral perspective (i.e., if you don’t care who wins really) then it’s much more exciting if the match is competitive, at least in my opinion. That’s why, being neutral in Fed’s and Verdasco’s match, I’d rather watch the tight one. Hope you can see my point.

———————

Tennisfreak, I think it was me who said Federer may/will lose some sets. And I think he still may do so too. It’s still too early in the tournament, and he hasn’t faced tough competition yet. If Federer had faced Kendrick or Chardy or even Benneteau in the first round, he MAY (?) have lost one set. It’s tough to say, though, as this is definitely his best surface.

I agree with you 100% though that the competition has to STEP UP and FIGHT him tooth and nail. None of this “I surrender” to the greatest stuff. And you know what? I think there are players who will do that. Two fellas named Andy come to mind. Perhaps Tsonga or Verdasco? I don’t know. Djoko would believe, I think, if he could play better on grass.

Anyhow, I am holding out hope that we will see some exciting matches as the tournament progresses! I would be a defeatist fan if I just gave up watching. And even though I get frustrated that the same guys win all the slams, and when dominance is utter, I know it’ll change. Time waits for no one.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:19 pm

I notice Delpo does not like Murray so he could be very motivated if they meet.
A comment from another board:
with his game against Clement. Says it was good but may not be good enough against great players like Roger and Djokovic, as he called them.
He thinks he has to improve his movement and can’t afford to miss easy shots.

His idol is Lleyton Hewitt and so the next round will be special, he added.

When Cahill mentioned that Brad Gilbert says that with a little improvement to his serve and net game he would be #1, he said it is his dream but he has long ways to go.

But he is working hard to keep improving. Seems to be a nice guy and
quite shy.

Andy Murray’s name didn’t come up in the studio interview.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:19 pm

Llodra retired with an injury. Haas goes thru to the third round. Here is what BBC site said..

“Ouch! Poor old Michael Llodra – he runs headlong into a ballgirl and – probably more painfully the umpire’s chair. He seems to have hurt himself quite badly too – don’t try that at home kids. He’s receiving treatment on Court Three, but looks in trouble.”

June 24th, 2009 at 12:20 pm

Djoko did say 50-50 against Fish. I think that’s a good bet. But he also said he doesn’t have the pressure others do.

The Brit commentator during the Djok match said that Djok is well liked on the circuit.

Oh and Brad Gilbert said that he sees an upset of Fish over Djok.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:23 pm

I saw that studio interview with JMDP vared and I was quite taken by him. I like him. He has the right attitude and I think he is REALLY hungry to win. He reminds me a little of Nadal.

I want to see Cilic v. Querrey – coming up next!! I don’t have a fave in this match, just looking forward to two young and talented players, who are more evenly matched. I want to see a competitive match.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:23 pm

in my 12:19 post it should read “G-Lo played a better 3rd set” obviously.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

Jane did he really say…great players like Fed and Djok and left out Murray?

June 24th, 2009 at 12:30 pm

Jane, here is a little info regarding Tsonga match. From BBC site, they have live commentary going on everyday, its great… I like to follow thru.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8114383.stm

“Bad news for people on Court Three, good news for French tennis – as if they needed it. Ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga gets a free passage through to the third round after opponent Simone Bolelli pulls out with a back injury. Shame, could have been a good one.”

June 24th, 2009 at 12:30 pm

vared, JMDP didn’t mention Murray, but he was talking “off the cuff” so I don’t think it was done intentionally. Plus remember that JMDP and Murray are maybe (?) more evenly matched; even though Murray leads their H2H, most of their matches have been tight. By contrast, so far JMDP has never beaten Federer or Djoko, so that could be why he sees it that way or said that.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:41 pm

Thanks for the update on Tsonga Kimmi; and now Haas is through with a retirement.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:44 pm

Delpo doesn’t like Murray because of Murray’s comeons and mummy Judy clapping and shouting his errors. They got in an argument on court over it. Delpo accused Murray….yeah it’s always you and your mother…or something like that. Then Murray complained to the umpire about Delpo talking about mummy. LOL

June 24th, 2009 at 12:49 pm

I saw that vared (there’s a youtube clio); I thought/ think they are over that spat though. But maybe there’s a bit more desire to win when they play each other. They go back to the juniors, where they competed as well. So they know each others’ games pretty well. They might have a good rivalry in the future, once JMDP really hits his stride. I think he’s still not quite there (i.e., that he can improve further), and he’s already number 5.

June 24th, 2009 at 12:59 pm

Djoko’s family are over-doing it and imo all this branding business puts too much pressure on Novak. Why not just let him be **a tennis player**!!?

It’s great that they brought the tennis tournament to Serbia, that they want to promote the sport, and that they are opening training academies to help do so; I have no issues with these initiatives. In fact, I commend them.

But opening restaurants, branding chocolate and water: that’s just too much! And I don’t think it can help a player’s mindset. It’s got to be very distracting for Djoko. I bugs me.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:09 pm

Sam took the 1st set. Here is very good opportunity for him. He needs to hang in there coz Cilic will come back fighting.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:09 pm

Sam’s playing nice tennis; his dad must be proud.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:10 pm

“his dad must be proud.” why his dad jane ? because I am sure Cilic dad will be proud too if Cilic wins.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:20 pm

Kimmi, didn’t you hear the announcers? When Sam informed his dad he’d won through to play Cilic this round, Sam’s dad booked at red-eye flight and flew to London to watch this match. So he’d obviously be proud/happy to see Sam playing so well. And so far Sam is the better player in this match. I like Cilic too but Sam’s the man so far.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:22 pm

Wow, Sam breaks in the second. He can win this.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:24 pm

OK, I missed that. I am watching tennis on BBC feed, but its great for sam. It looks like Cilic does not like Grass very much.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:30 pm

Cilic got the break back with the net cord going his way. Will be interesting to see if it gets more competitive now. Cilic makes too many errors imo. That’s always been one thing holding him back.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:32 pm

“Definitely his best surface.” Definitely, he was not practicing before he was born. Definitely, there was no grass court in the womb. Definitely, all players get equal practice time, less for those who reach the final at FO, and that has been the case in the last 4 years (5 if you include 2005 semi).

The anonymous bunch that you graciously name is not worthy of my time. For your info, two of them have never played Fed; JB has never been able to push Fed to a tie breaker, let alone winning a set, on all surfaces.

Tsonga: Not even on hard, supposedly his best surface, he has come close to taking a set off Fed.

Verdasco: Not even on hard and clay, he has taken a set off Federer.

Djoko: Grass is his least favorite, and he’s sloppy. “I believe” is not the same as “I have,” on grass.

Murray: His better H2H on hard did not materialize when it mattered most at USO last year (you can defend him by saying he played 4-sets match the day before with Rafa, and it was his 1st final, etc., but that is no excuse. It was a life-time opportunity, he may or may not get another, and he was not even close to winning a set. Hype has not been favorable to him, as the AO exit proved. Even at Queen’s final, because of the long historical gap, he showed some lapses while serving for the match, and he admitted. How would he handle the SW19 final, if he reaches there, when he faces the mighty Fed under the pressure of about 75 years’ Britain’s titleless history? He’d only become butt of ridicule in the Perry outfit, if he is not already).

Roddick: The only player to have reached SW19 finals twice and taken a set off Fed (2004) once, but he is the first dominant player to help Fed create the “aura” around him, to certain extent, by being repeatedly beaten, and Roddick, as the next top grass court player at the time and still is, instead of stepping up, spread his fear, maybe unknowingly, and it infected others. After 5 years, Roddick still surrenders to Fed, more so on grass.

How many years did it take Rafa, the ferocious, tenacious, fearless, and quite adept? Three, with the lopsided H2H on his side. First time 1 set, 2nd time 2 sets, and finally in the 3rd attempt, he matched Fed. I don’t have any basis to believe that any one is as good as Rafa to challenge Fed. Do you read the pin drop silence after Rafa’s withdrawal? Like Fed said, it has been and is in his racket to win Wimbledon.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:36 pm

I know about the branding… i feel for him too. But you figure, Fed and Nadal both come from very privileged backgrounds, Murray has all expenses paid courtesy of Roehampton. Djoks had a simple background. They had to claw for all they’ve achieved. No one helped them.
Sure, Brits tried to buy him but it’s great they said no. I recently saw what Brits offered Djokovic family to “defect.” Amazing. Murray sure has it made.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:37 pm

Who is commentating the Cilic match along with Gilbert? Anyone know?

June 24th, 2009 at 1:37 pm

Gilbert and PMac are commentating.

Love watching Cilic and Querrey now that they’re both whacking the ball. Sam’s serve is more powerful but Cilic is better at placing his serve. These two both play “go for it” tennis. Some nice rallies!

June 24th, 2009 at 1:43 pm

Bad mistake when Sam got broken, now he lost the set and might well change the outcome of the match.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:50 pm

Tennis Freak,

It’s sad for you that you feel this way and yet want to see competitive tennis. Unless, perhaps, you like Federer’s dominance, since after “the womb” that is?

I feel no need to be hopeless or dismissive. Murray has a shot at winning Wimbledon. And I believe Djoko and/or Roddick will fight if they make the opportunity to get there – not to mention others, like maybe Haas or Tsonga.

And as I said before “time waits for no one” and also history can be rewritten. Just because so-and-so hasn’t done it before doesn’t mean so-and-so can’t do it NOW. Now is where I am at, and that’s the only place to be. No reason to kowtow to history.

June 24th, 2009 at 1:54 pm

But I DO miss Rafa Nadal already; there is a gap without him. He is a ferocious competitor and I’ve always loved him for that – he does and did everything he possibly could to find solutions to win. And that’s why he is number 1 and deserves to hold that spot, even if he relinquishes it now.

June 24th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

I feel for Sam. I know some think “luck” is a bad word in tennis, but ever since Cilic got that “lucky” net-cord, which gave him the break back in the second set, the momentum of the match swung.

That said, Cilic has had to hold and win the tiebreak, and everything since, but that one net-cord may’ve cost Sam a two set lead, and it certainly affected his confidence.

It’s interesting the way momentum can swing like that. But definitely Cilic upped his level to maximize the opportunity and he deserves the two set lead. Sam has a tendency to go “off” like that.

June 24th, 2009 at 2:18 pm

I think if Murray meets fed in the final of a GS, he will take the match very different this time. It will not be the same as US 08, where he was very nervous – it being the first time to GS final. He now believe more and more he can win Fed on big stage, and that is what’s needed.

June 24th, 2009 at 2:19 pm

Almagro squeaks through; good for him. Soderling next, which will be tough for him. Fed should have no trouble with Kohls.

June 24th, 2009 at 2:20 pm

Kohls took out Djoko in FO, can he take out another seed in wimbledon ?

June 24th, 2009 at 2:43 pm

I don’t think so Kimmi. I think Fed has Khols’ number, so to speak. Besides, he had to fight pretty hard today just to get to Fed, so I don’t think he’s looking formidable.

BTW, I see Sam broke back in the 4th set and is trying to make a match of it, push it to a 5th set. I’d like to see a 5th!!

June 24th, 2009 at 2:51 pm

“BTW, I see Sam broke back in the 4th set and is trying to make a match of it, push it to a 5th set. I’d like to see a 5th!!”

yes, I saw that too. Good to see he has the fighting spirit in him. Tennis is a momentum game, if he hangs in there you never know what can happen. It will be nice for sam to win, he has struggled a lot since his injury in the beginning of clay season.

June 24th, 2009 at 2:58 pm

This Cilic v. Querrey match is the best of the day.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:01 pm

De Brito girl is playing schiavone on court 12. The BBC crew is joking about the noise coming from court 12. LOL LOL

June 24th, 2009 at 3:02 pm

I do not characterize the present scenario as Federer’s dominance, even though that is the case and remains so in the popular version. And I have no special liking or abhorrence to it, for that matter, but I am just trying to find a different way to view it.
Here is something I am struggling with: Why is this common experience? Or, is it really a common experience, or is it more like collectivized articulation of different experiences of the same, e.g. “Federer’s dominance”? Do sensory experiences have to submit to the same mental apparatus? How do I break through this deadlock of commonality, collective consciousness? I am struggling to process my experience of Fed’s game differently, by creating a different set of software, a different set of qualifiers and predicates. So I look confusing, deservedly freakish.

I am not criticizing those who do and I do not intend to look down up on them, but as way of differentiating my position, I prefer not to pull out the “I am a die hard Fed fan” card in an effort to sensitize, create a fortress, to hide my weakness, to feel the greatness, to imagine, like in a film experience, being the GOAT myself while reading and visualizing this historical narrative, to fend off other critical view points, or to avoid attacks from other fans. I am seeking a different way to experience the joy of watching Fed play and of conversing about him in an unconventional manner, beyond the prevailing master narrative.
The quiet waiting for time, waiting for history to take a different course when time expires seems to me, I could be wrong, to be submitting to status quo of defeatism.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

Yes.. Sam takes the match to decider, great job.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:15 pm

Tennis Freak,

Okay, maybe I should’ve said Fed’s dominance in slams. He’s no longer utterly dominant everywhere, like he was, but he’s in the slams – in the finals and/or winning most of them. So that’s dominant.

As to your second point, I suppose you’re talking about the media, the fans, I don’t know, in your characterization of a “collectivized articulation” of Fed’s favorite statue? I guess you’re trying to understand how to look at his pattern at slams in a new way, suggesting, perhaps, that this is what the other players also need to do also? Maybe I am misinterpreting you?

Maybe you see my position, cheering on my favorites, hoping for new slam winners, as submitting to “the status quo of defeatism” but I don’t. It’s arguable, on the other hand, that trying to “experience of the joy of watching Fed play” is very much a “master narrative”. That’s what most of his most ardent fans say.

Personally, I am taking joy in watching these two young guns – Querrey and Cilic – fight and take their match to a fifth set!!!

THIS is why I love watching tennis – tight, dramatic matches between closely matched opponents. I was waiting for this one all day, and it was worth it!!

June 24th, 2009 at 3:17 pm

typo: “Fed’s favorite statue” s/b “Fed’s favorite status” – his status as a favorite.

Tennis freak – I get your effort to “defamiliarize” the status quo, but I still think our hearts will often supercede our minds and efforts for new perspectives, and we will pull for our favorites if they are playing.

It is great to watch matches where you aren’t pulling for one player in particular precisely because you can view it without getting emotionally wrapped up in the match.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:23 pm

About Murray’s chances, one way to look it, he has less so than Rafa did in 2006. In ’06 Sw19 final, Rafa entered with a better H2H against Fed, 6-1 (2-0 at the Slam level, 2-1 on hard). If he makes it, Murray will enter the Final with 6-2 H2H (0-1 at the Slam). The 5-setter in Slams makes a huge, and it’s huge, difference, favoring Fed.
To repeat, Rafa was successful only in his 3rd attempt. There is no basis to assume Murray will be in better position to challenge Fed this year than Rafa was in 2006, in all departments except the home court advantage (and we saw, not long ago, what happened in Madrid, even when the crowd was 100% behind their gladiator, fittingly the Spaniard). And the truism “history is to be broken” has not shown any reliable symptoms to come out of its shell.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:25 pm

Wow, Querry with some nice plays in this game. Two doubles from Cilic doesn’t hurt also.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:26 pm

“It is great to watch matches where you aren’t pulling for one player in particular precisely because you can view it without getting emotionally wrapped up in the match.”

I agree, and I do enjoy watching these matches more.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:29 pm

Again Tennisfreak, you’re looking back at history.

This is similar to your discussion with MMT about Kendrick. You went with past history between Murray and Kendrick rather than considering their talents, their current form, the present situation. To me it makes sense to look at the past, but as I said before, what matters is NOW. Any given day.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:30 pm

btw, I don’t know what you guys are talking about with pmac and gilbert: I’m watching streaming at espn360 and it’s henman with another englishman I can’t recognize.

Henman’s great, knows not to overdo it. Could have called that he’d be a good broadcaster when he was still a player. Loving it.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:38 pm

Oh Noo.. Sam Sam sam but moment for a double fault. just like that Cilic wins. Good job cilic… was great match.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:48 pm

Ah too bad for Sam – he got nervous at the end there. Great match! Whoo-hoo. But Cilic deserved the “W” in the end, with just a couple of key passers and a little more experience.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:48 pm

Oh Noo.. Sam Sam sam BAD moment for a double fault. just like that Cilic wins. Good job cilic… was great match.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:49 pm

It’s so tough to see a loser in a match like that. Thank goodness for such a good match. We needed to see a good one!! My son was 100% behind Sam and is now bummed. He’s 8. LOL.

June 24th, 2009 at 3:51 pm

Tomorrow another good one too, JMDP and Hewitt Center court at 1pm. Hope it will live up to expectation.

Yes, too bad for Sam, he will be very sad I am sure after fighting back to 5th set….

June 24th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Oh yes Kimmi – I look forward to JMDP vs. Hewitt. Let’s hope it can match this match.

And Sam should try to take positives from that match. He showed he can hang with the number 11 and was within points from winning. He’s just got to become more consistent and he can be up there too. He’s got the game. He stays calm. He needs to be a little more hungry, I think, and he can break through.That’s what I’d like to see.

June 24th, 2009 at 4:00 pm

OK read all about the Shrieka’s match today.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24062009/58/wimbledon-women-dulko-stuns-sharapova.html

Now Azarenka wants respect for the grunters; she claims 75% of them grunt. As I said, it’s infectious and has now reached epidemic proportions. Lord help us all, especially moi, who can’t stand noise. OY VEY.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24062009/58/wimbledon-azarenka-wants-fan-respect-grunters.html

The girl has chutzpah galore! If she wins a slam she’ll probabaly set her own rules. LOL.

June 24th, 2009 at 4:03 pm

Oh Von, this is hilarious: “fans responded by imitating the noise during rallies.”

Azarenka had to have a dose of her own screeching and didn’t like it. LOL.

To be fair, and I’ve said this before, some of the men grunt quite a bit too, only I think because it’s lower, it is less affecting on the ears. However, if the men are allowed to grunt on each point, how do you deal with the women? Can they help it if their voices are higher pitched? It gets kind of slippery.

BTW, I see the equal pay for equal work debate between the sexes is back on, esp. after Hewitt speaking out on it. Interesting. I am of two minds on this: on the one hand, I apprecaite women’s tennis and would like to see equal pay, but on the other, there’s no doubt many of the women on tour at present could be fitter and work harder. So I am unsure what I think on that issue, Certainly they could play 5 sets finals!

June 24th, 2009 at 4:08 pm

Unfortunately I don’t think Grunting can be stopped, everyone seem to have a REASON why they do it and why they cannot stop. Sharapova was ridiculous today. Azarenka is right, almost every woman grunts and 70% could be just right.

June 24th, 2009 at 4:17 pm

Within the Fed indigenous community, the joy is a cultural code, that is shared in every carnival that puts his tennis in display in grandeur. If it were a master narrative, it would apply to non-members, interpellate aliens, e.g. like yourself, but it does not.
But that is not what I was trying say earlier. All I was trying to say is this: I have to figure out how to turn the carnival into carnivalesque and allow grotesque and burlesque to mingle with the majestic display, if its spirit is to remain true to the occasion. The cultural code has to be transformed within the community so that “a different way to experience the joy of watching Fed play” and discoursing about it can be achieved. If it succeeds, it will no longer be merely “joy”: It will transcend that experience. It is not just a matter of defamiliarizing, in which case I’d be simply substituting one set of metaphors with another, juxtaposing opposites, etc. (e.g. w.r.t. description of Fed’s smooth court movement, gliding / sailing into acrobatic into figure skating into rock dapping into hawk into shaman or jaguars, depending on the preference of the moment).

Just to clarify one more point at the end, I did not see your position as submitting to the status quo of defeatism. The quiet, inactive, waiting, idling away time (the Greatest will age, wither, and leave) verges on that, and it applies to players who are content with their mediocrity and wait quietly doing nothing about it; defeatism does not apply to spectators because they are not in a position to do anything about it except hope.

June 24th, 2009 at 5:02 pm

Tennis Freak, “Transcend”? How so? Even the carnivalesque is part of the master narrative – ask Stallybrass and White. Or look at how Lollapalooza became the marketed norm. The way to be outside is to really be outside, under the radar. I think the burlesque is covered by Fed’s outfit. Just kiddin, ha ha.

Thanks for clarifying the other point. You’re right; what, really, can a spectator do about the spectacle? I suppose you could do a “Jimmy Jump” but then you’d just be locked up. LOL.

June 24th, 2009 at 5:08 pm

If he makes it, Murray will enter the Final with 6-2 H2H (0-1 at the Slam). The 5-setter in Slams makes a huge, and it’s huge, difference, favoring Fed.
To repeat, Rafa was successful only in his 3rd attempt.
———————————-
T freak
I am not a fan of Fed or Murray but I gotta agree with you here.

Why would fans pick on Azarenka and not do the same thing to Venus or Serena? I wonder if fans are afraid of being accused of something if they do it to them. Maybe an IW backlash. Why don’t fans pick on Sharpie? Is she too elite?

I like this Azarenka in a way. She has a killer instinct. But I want Kuzzy to win or JJ.

June 24th, 2009 at 6:10 pm

Djoko: Grass is his least favorite, and he’s sloppy. “I believe” is not the same as “I have,” on grass.

T freak
Watch him carefully, and you can understand what he’s doing. The pressure is totally off him against fish. Novak is carefully playing each round as unspectacularly as possible, to make sure all the pressure and attention is on Federer and Murray. Clever guy.

June 24th, 2009 at 6:13 pm

Like I said, I see carnivalesque as a means to perforate the majesty with burlesque and grotesque. It could be within the command and control of the master narrative, if the carnival is weak and not allowed to turn into full fledged carnivalesque. I intend to reverse it: make the master narrative a part of carnivalesque, not the other way round.
I remember someone saying, “carnival is susceptible to co-optation or appropriation by the dominant”; another saying, only a “permissible rupture,” a design to sustain the power structure. I am not expressing unqualified exuberance about carnival; nor I take all carnivals to be of the same kind.
I will take good caution not to fall for co-optation, unlike Regis Debray, a Che revolutionary who fell for Mitterrand’s French Govt, and abandoned the mission. The “outside” cannot evolve into a protest movement as the subaltern cannot speak. There is simply no outside of the carnival except in mute; if you speak, even in opposition, the majesty being the reference point, you are already inside. Silence is too suffocating. Rupture from within is my present recourse. Good luck for the “outside”; stay outside the radar; “under the radar” could be sometimes excoriating.

June 24th, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Well likewise, good luck with the “rupture from within” mode Tennis Freak. Outside or inside, I think we somehow have something in common. I guess tennis. : )

vared, This could be what Djoko wants, a release of pressure. But I do think he’s aware that he’s not spectacular on the surface and therefore is not a “favorite” and must take one match at a time. In other words, I think the “less pressure” is a by-product of the reality that he is, in fact, “not a favorite” to win Wimbledon. He’s not in the top 3 faves, and maybe even lower than top 5 when you get down to present form and confidence. I still have hope that he might make the quarters.

June 24th, 2009 at 6:48 pm

“He’s not in the top 3 faves, and maybe even lower than top 5 when you get down to present form and confidence. I still have hope that he might make the quarters.”

Djokovic may wants a release of pressure but he is still a 3rd favorite by the bookies. They even had him higher than Roddick (he is 3rd after Federer and Murray). He can say he is not a favorite but unfortunately not a lot of people thinks that way. If he loses early, its going to be big news weather he likes it or not.

I think he needs to get used to the pressure by now, he is a top player. I would not be surprise if he reach the semi here, i think his draw has shaped up very well for him.

June 25th, 2009 at 12:37 am

Kimmi, you’re right that he should be or get used to the pressure by now, but I guess they all deal with it a little differently. Anyhow, whatever works. If it helps him to “think” this way, then there’s no harm done.

June 25th, 2009 at 12:57 am

Oh my God, none of my posts’re coming!

June 25th, 2009 at 10:27 am

Does this pic of Michael Llodra crashing into a ballgirl (taken from official ATP website) look a bit risque to anyone?

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh32/lostn/Llodra.jpg

I hope the ballgirl is okay.

Anyone know where I can see a video of this happening?

June 25th, 2009 at 9:32 pm