Federer Pulls from Dubai with Lung Infection; ATP Previews

Congrats to Llodra for the Marseille title. Cute picture of his little son coming to hug him on court at the ATP site. Also a nice picture of Cilic, Djoko and Murray at Dubai.

February 21st, 2010 at 12:36 pm

Llorda won doubles too. With Benneteau. Nice day for these guys.

February 21st, 2010 at 12:40 pm

Yeah jane, maybe Sam and Isner will do the same.

February 21st, 2010 at 12:54 pm

I thought when he went that Roger going to Ethiopia and mingling with crowds was a recipe for catching something. That’s where doing good works gets you.

I’m wondering if Davidenko can get his act together again and win Dubai or if he’s been too shaken by his meltdown at the AO.

February 22nd, 2010 at 2:28 am

I think all players, Eliza, will feel that any one of them can lift the trophy. Novak is going to have to prove his worth (love him), but he is going to have to work hard!

February 22nd, 2010 at 4:23 am

So, Murray is not thinking about winning this tournament, he says. Duro, maybe we will not see you in the final afterall

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“I’m not thinking about winning the tournament. If I get to the semi-finals it might be a bit different. I’ve not trained or practised much since Australia.

“I don’t know how I’m gonna shape up, how well I’m gonna play. I just want to try and play well.

“I took ten days off and didn’t train, didn’t go to the gym,” said the 22-year-old. “The body and mind were both a bit sore and tired after a long five weeks in Australia. I just relaxed.

“I still feel a little bit tired. I need to try and stay fresh,” he said before his first test against Russian qualifier Igor Kunitsyn.

February 22nd, 2010 at 9:54 am

Kimmi, let’s not assume Novak will be in the final either; he can’t even seem to serve out the first set of this first match – lordy, lordy. And, a huge sigh too…. : )

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:02 am

Okay: much better in the second set. Novak still looks a little iffy at the net, but at least he’s trying things now that he has a good lead, which is a good time to try them. I would still like to see more penetration on his groundstrokes though.

G-Lo has a nice one-handed backhand.

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:17 am

G-Lo is such a bad tennis player.

Djokovic showing some good stuff but he seems inconsistent. One point he plays the most amazing forehand and the next point he can barely muster up a mediocre one. Odd.

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:25 am

Yes, very much agree on the inconsistency Ben.

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:31 am

I’ve noticed a trend with Novak lately: when serving out sets and matches he gets tight. I think he knows his serve needs work, so that could be a mental thing. Dunno. But hope he fixes it as it makes for way too much nail-biting. Get. It. Done.

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:33 am

Unbelievable. Tank job.

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:38 am

Totally. How do you go from 5-0 to 6-4. Ugh. Ly.

Novak, get it together will ya?!!

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:47 am

Listening to Murray’s typically understated pre-tournament comments, I wondered afresh how anyone in their right mind can call him mouthy and arrogant.
I didn’t see the match, but his first win, against a qualifier, seems to have gone fairly well. At least he managed a decent first serve percentage!

February 22nd, 2010 at 2:00 pm

Colin: I saw the match and as I posted on another thread, he looked really unfit and unwell. That lack of practise really showed but as you said at least his serve was working well. Djko looked incredibly hot too, I wonder what the humidity was like there.

February 22nd, 2010 at 2:09 pm

margot, hi.

i saw the murray match too. he did not look himself at all. bending down after one of his opponent’s shots. presenter said he had his hand on his abs, and then talked about that “cycling shorts” issue, you would have heard that too? he was sweating profusely (i know very hot), but he didnt seem to be running around an awful lot, just happy to play from the baseline, and well back at that.

No, I agree. Murray was not 100%.

February 22nd, 2010 at 2:20 pm

I missed the Murray match as I had a dentist appointment, but from the scoreline it looks like he managed well. I hope he is okay. I guess if it’s super hot that’s explains some of it.

Meanwhile, I love, love, love the Canadian dance pair, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (their flamenco number sent shivers down my spine – I skated for 10 yrs so have a soft spot for it!), but what about the sad story of Joannie Rochette? How incredibly difficult for her to try to continue to compete after the loss of her mum. :’ (

All the best to her!

February 22nd, 2010 at 2:52 pm

Jane,looks like the Russians may come in two/three or four. Shabalin had three knee surgeries 2007, 2008 and 2009 and they haven’t got their practice in. They say he was limping at the Europeans just the other week. I’m a Russophile like Johnny Weir.

February 22nd, 2010 at 5:32 pm

sar, I think the Americans or Canadians will win gold. I like the Canadian pair best expressively and technically, but the Americans dance last night was fabulous too! The Russians may not make the podium; it’s tough to say. But they’ve dominated in the the past, so I am ready to see something different in skating. Also, like a lot of people, I wasn’t particularly keen on their outfits or their routine in the original dance. No doubt, though, that there have been many wonderful Russian skaters.

February 22nd, 2010 at 6:17 pm

jane, agree about the canadian figure skating pair. I enjoyed them too. There in a very good position for Gold, It will be great if they get it..fingers crossed. (kudos to you, you did figure skating for 10 years *thumbs up*)

Hmm, from comments here, sounds like both Djoko and Murray have not been sharp. Murray comments are not very positive at all..what is going on? He had a months off and still coming back without practice…at least Novak is more positive about this week, but that second set must have been nail biting for his fans..phew!

Lets hope with few more matches Murray will build his confidence little by little.

February 22nd, 2010 at 7:38 pm

There in a very good position for Gold…

s/b They are in a very good….

February 22nd, 2010 at 7:54 pm

There is some good news for me. Plushenko annouced he would go to World’s and face Lysacek there, if Lysacek decides to show up and he’s planning to skate at Sochi. The best skater of for me was Artur Dmitriev but I think Zhenya is going to end up being the GOAT. OK back to tennis.

As for Nole, I hope he can get to the quarters. Sheesh.

February 22nd, 2010 at 8:59 pm

sar – I like Plushenko’s confidence, and his quads, but I do think there is something to be said for paying closer attention to artistic expression. If he can just add more of that to his jump repertoire then he’ll be even better. Plus I didn’t think he landed his jumps super well, so silver seemed fair to me.

I liked the Russian pair who just skated to the music from “Requiem for a Dream”.

And ditto on Nole – sheesh!

February 22nd, 2010 at 9:40 pm

Yeah, he has four years to work on more artistic stuff and since quads are not needed anymore maybe he should just say forget it but he probably won’t. I mean, he sat on his butt for 3 1/2 years and came back, took the silver and missed by just over one point. Not bad. IF he can squeak out a bronze at Sochi he will be the only skater to win four medals in a row.

What is wrong with Nole? I didn’t see the match but it must not have been too good. I read he almost blew the second set but for a choke by Garcia Lopez.

February 22nd, 2010 at 10:43 pm

sar I didn’t think Khokhlova & Novitski were so great; some unique lifts, but overall didn’t love their costumes etc. I liked the Kerrs and the Frenchies, and also really enjoyed that earlier Russian couple I mentioned above – liked her fire red hair and I can see them being a force in 2014. I guess they’ve just broken into the top ten this year.

Re: Pleshenko – yes, all things considered, I’d say a silver is pretty darn good.

Very excited to watch the last few pairs!!! Go Canada!! : )

As for Nole – what can I say? He was up 5-0 in the 2nd set and seemed back on track after fighting to find form in the first set. And then G-Lo held and Nole was set to serve it out for 6-1, when he went utterly off the rails and began making error after error. I don’t know! I mentioned during the match that I have noticed lately when he is trying to serve out sets and matches he sometimes chokes. I can’t say why, but on purely a guess it might be because he doesn’t trust in his serve the way he used to and so he kind of panics and falls apart. I hope he can turn this pattern around. I have faith. This is early-goings so maybe he is just getting back on track.

February 22nd, 2010 at 10:55 pm

Jaaaaneee! WOOOT!!!

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:33 pm

Kiiiimmmmiiiii!! They are SO GOOD so incredibly graceful. I die watching them. Seriously. LOL. They are like the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of ice. The two top American teams are also excellent. I love the dance.

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:37 pm

Beautiful!!love them.. Love the costumes. Beautiful lines. Incredible. I think it is GOLD. It has to be..WOW!!

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:42 pm

sar – do you know why every Russian team is using the music from “Requiem for a Dream”? LOL.

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:46 pm

Well we’ve got another magic moment Kimmi. 5 golds at home is better than no golds ever at home, even if we aren’t owning the podium, lol. I think are neighbors, and the Germans, are doing that this time around.

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:52 pm

*are s/b our. Doh.

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:53 pm

definetly a magic moment. I got to follow this from the beginning, all the rounds. They were incredible. I know..I don’t think we will catch our neighbours…the germans are catching up though, i think it will be race for number 1 position between those two.

February 22nd, 2010 at 11:58 pm

Congrats to Canada for gold and people who like the US team. At least Max got the bronze for all his Rafa injuries, surgeries and appendectomy. The first Olypmics for all three.

Jane
Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT of France did Requiem but they did the whole thing. Max and Domnina used only half of that, the other half was Story of Veronique.

February 23rd, 2010 at 12:10 am

Ah, thanks for clarifying re: the music, sar – congrats to your favorite Russians. I like Max’s long hair a lot. He looks so cool. I wish they had their flag for the victory lap as it felt like something was missing. But anyhow THRILLED for Tessa and Scott.

Now, back to tennis – GO NOLE!

February 23rd, 2010 at 12:16 am

I wish they had their flag for the victory lap as it felt like something was missing.

I missed it. Wonder why they didn’t?

February 23rd, 2010 at 12:50 am

I dunno sar. The Canadians and I think the Americans got theirs it looked like from their coaches, but the Russians didn’t go over there to get theirs. But they still looked great in the victory lap. Especially Max’s hair. LOL.

February 23rd, 2010 at 12:57 am

Kimmi, if you can manage to see Tessa and Scott’s “Flamenco” inspired Original Dance, you’ll get an even stronger sense of why they won gold (I take it from your earlier message that you haven’t seen all the rounds). Also I am posting an article about them here for you. Tessa has had some serious problems, and had to have surgery, so they’ve overcome a lot. But it’s that “chemistry” thing they have (like Duro and I were talking about) that makes them so special, imo. BTW, it’s great having a fellow Canadian who is also a little obsessed with the Olympics. : P

Here’s the link to the article:

http://www.vancouversun.com/Canada+Virtue+Moir+gold+medal+performance+sweet+perfect/2599516/story.html

p.s. (sorry Tennis-X staffers for continually going off-topic).

February 23rd, 2010 at 1:14 am

jane, kimmi: The Beeb has shown the skating and your Tessa and Scott’s Flamenco was just wonderful! Congrats to them. I’ve loved a lot of the skating, is it the young American woman who looks so astonishing, like a Japanese flower? It’s been lovely.
kimmi: no second set with Andy was fine! It was the first where he looked as if he wanted to go back to bed! Igor wasn’t that bad either.

February 23rd, 2010 at 2:35 am

But Roger is going to visit players party, so perhaps will be more players with lung infection this week.

February 23rd, 2010 at 6:51 am

is it the young American woman who looks so astonishing, like a Japanese flower?

Her WIDE SET eyes look like a hammerhead shark or that creature from Avatar.

February 23rd, 2010 at 1:30 pm

jane, just saw your post. Thanks for link, it is a wonderful story. The sky is the limit for them.
I saw a bits of the “flamenco” dance, will look for it on youtube..just to watch it again.

Canada v Germany today..we need the win Big time. Fingers and toes crossed!

February 23rd, 2010 at 7:53 pm