Seed Exodus Continues in Dubai, Cilic Upset; Spaniards Rule in Acapulco

I think it’s ironic how Djokovic is always criticized for being physically unfit yet he’s the only top 10 player not dealing with any injuries. Sure he’s got mental problems but at least he has a chance to work them out on the court.

February 25th, 2010 at 9:48 am

LOL…Sean!

did i hear someone yell, “c’mon shark, get back in here!”

February 25th, 2010 at 9:52 am

How often do you get reccuring runs?

I think his AO moment was related to nerves more than anything else. Either way, the runs aren’t exactly an injury. I guess an illness, but not a serious one. Especially not one that’d come back 3 weeks later…

February 25th, 2010 at 10:07 am

nerves–> runs–> recurring runs

but….ajde nole! c’mon, man-up!

February 25th, 2010 at 10:25 am

uh boy, i don’t have a stream but livescore, appears ljub is already up a break in the 1st set.

Duro, are you watching?

February 25th, 2010 at 10:31 am

Todd Martin has completely screwed up Djokovic’s game.

February 25th, 2010 at 10:34 am

I actually think Agassi would be a better coach for Djokovic. Agassi played the ultimate baseline game that Djokovic is capable of. He needs to strive for that consistency, though.

February 25th, 2010 at 10:42 am

Maybe you’re right Ben. Maybe Martin is the wrong coach. This is bad.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:02 am

Hi Jane, are you watching?

score looks like nole is holding on. improvement in stats over 1st set.

ajde!

February 25th, 2010 at 11:06 am

What I want to know is this – what has happened to Novak’s serve? He’s at 51%, 3 doubles only 2 aces. His serve used to be something he could count on in clutch moments. Now, when he is trying to serve out sets and matches, his serve falls apart. WTF? Not only that but even his return game is sucking today. Sigh. Luckily I can’t watch more of this as I am going to catch some Olympic fever.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:08 am

contador, Novak went from 40-15 on his serve to facing break point. I have little faith in him to pull this out, unfortunately. UGLY!! I am a thoroughly disgruntled fan.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:10 am

sheesh. deuce again. if nole loses serve here…..ughhh

um, i know this is not the biggest news but, gulbis match starting now. he left memphis with an honest to god, bad knee. i don’t expect him to get by gabashvilli, let alone make the semi as he did in memphis.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:11 am

yes, i know Jane. my eyes are fixed on nole’s match and not going between gulbis and this one.

whew! nole held! ajde, already ajde!

stomach ache time.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:14 am

meant “now” as in eyes are on both matches- one in del ray and dubai

February 25th, 2010 at 11:15 am

not even a sniff at a break chance. my hope only a sliver.

ajde nole! he held his serve, at least; strong serving! a tiebreaker v ljub doesn’t sound appealing at all, ajde!

February 25th, 2010 at 11:21 am

If this goes to 3 sets, then I think Novak will win. If Luby wants to win the match, he needs to do it in straight sets. It is good to see one of the ‘old guards’ play well though but I don’t think Ljubicic can keep it up for 3 sets.

Having said that – Novak is NOT playing like the #2 player in the world right now. Maybe he feels pressure because people are saying if he doesn’t defend this title with what has happened in Dubai this year – he never will! lol!

February 25th, 2010 at 11:24 am

Having said all that stuff about Nole’s crappy play, I will also say that Ljub has been playing well, eliminating Tsonga, and now serving blitzes, second serve aces. He can be a tough competitor in best of 3s. Last year at IW he almost took out Murray and he’s had his share of tight 3-setters even with Fed. When his serve is on he’s tough.

Come on Novak – get the break and take the match.

I have a silver of hope now too contador. Trying to get ready to go out though…

February 25th, 2010 at 11:25 am

oh…if i only had a stream.

to the tune of,” if i only had a brain”…lelalelalelaaaa

yes! break chance and world #2 can get the second set!!!

2 set points. AJDE NOLE!!

February 25th, 2010 at 11:26 am

I’m watching it on Tennis Channel

February 25th, 2010 at 11:27 am

Ha! it is done.

now kick some arse nole, take the decider, ajde!

meanwhile ernie is up a break in the first over gaba

but each time gulbis and gaba have met, gaba wins it. not getting expectations too high Jane, nope.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:29 am

which one , you must mean Dubai match, FOT

still holding breath over nole match but gulbis is up 5-1 heheeee

no expectaions. no, no, only happy he wins a set, maybe.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:34 am

shooot! djoko blew 2 break chances. now duking it out at deuce.

AJDE AJDE, BREAK HIM NOLE!

February 25th, 2010 at 11:38 am

Less “thoroughly disgruntled” now. I hope Nole can consolidate that lead he just fought for!!

contador, I think that’s the right attitude to take with Ernie; just expect nothing and be happy when he does well. And if – IF – he ever starts to realize what we all know is his potential, then it’s time to start expecting things.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:41 am

he did it. he brolke the lube

please hold and win nole, please. it would be big!

February 25th, 2010 at 11:41 am

ha! i am waiting for duro to show up and exclaim, “In Nole We Trust!”

held held and Jane I ‘expect’ djoko to win.

ajde!

no, never any expectations on ernie, he is out there and one never knows, if it is to win or just go through motions or what.

in any case, we get 3 sets, if gaba means to beat gulbis again.

nole heard my pleas, Jane, obviously. 4-0 in decider. Yipeee or wooot!

February 25th, 2010 at 11:47 am

5 to zip. LOL!

you must be happy and breathing by now, Jane.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:50 am

Now’s he’s right where he was versus G-Lo the other day. All I can say is, if Ljub holds to make it 5-1, Novak better finish it and not get broken 2 times again.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:50 am

he will, he will!

but wondering if something went wrong with lube or nole simply came to life and played his A-game?

February 25th, 2010 at 11:52 am

These days contador, I only relax when the last ball is struck. Good job Novak!! He found some form. And he is still standing, unlike most of the seeds at this event. Winning ugly or pretty, I guess, doesn’t matter in the end hey? He won! Semis versus whom? Is it decided yet who he will play? Looks like Youz and Melzer will fight for a final spot on the other side.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:54 am

*happy chuckling* a bagel, finishes decider decidedly.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:55 am

contador – I think a combination – Nole went up (after breaking in 2nd set) and Ljub went down, especially after he lost his serve to begin the 3rd set; that was it.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:56 am

Wow. I’m gone for 30 minutes and from 3-3 in the second set, Djokovic wins 6-0 in the third. I’m pissed I missed it. Oh well, since Djokovic won I’ll be able to watch him tomorrow :)

February 25th, 2010 at 11:58 am

well i do know how you feel. i was not feeling too positive after that first set, watching with the same breath holding i do when federer plays.

but nole and fed are the top two.

nole can beat melzer, baggy, and whomever is left. if he wants this title. and he ‘should’….a win here and in indian wells? at least a final in either miami or indian wells. pulls him away from rafa and closer to fed, jane….you know.

February 25th, 2010 at 12:00 pm

sorry to ljubicic, i really like him, but he got his socks knocked off!!

gulbis only holding serve this 2nd set. does he not realize he can win in two? c’mon ernie!

February 25th, 2010 at 12:03 pm

A final in Miami would do nothing for Djokovic points-wise.

A final in IW would be good. A win in either would be great.

February 25th, 2010 at 12:08 pm

contador – oh a win here and at least a final in IW or Miami would be great. I’ll take it. : )

And yeah, I like Ljub too, but I really want Novak to defend his title – for once!

February 25th, 2010 at 12:09 pm

right again ben. let’s see the muzza won that miami. nole needs the final to break even there.

but, if winning here doesn’t ‘ injure’ or give him a niggle. ajde, nole! he’s young, fit, and completely able of defending this title and going on to reach finals or win in both indiam wells and miami.

add up the points!

ernie going to a tiebreaker in the second? is he bored? the knee injury? c’mon gulbis!

not one butterfly in my stomach, jane, i am completely cool.

February 25th, 2010 at 12:18 pm

oh dear god, gulbis has a match point. ughhhh

February 25th, 2010 at 12:24 pm

OH JOY! okay. i am satisfied for the day people!

NOLE wins GULBIS wins a second round. first time for him in 4 tries over gaba!

thank you gods of tennis!

February 25th, 2010 at 12:26 pm

jane, kimmi: In interview Andy said “I was trying some things out and it was a good learning experience for me.” Also, ” I have been asked for years to play more aggressive and when you play more aggressive (did this boy not learn about adverbs?!) you make more mistakes.” Did not see match so I don’t really know if he was indeed playing more aggressively.(!) Think madmax did, whadyathinkmm?
I now see Cilic has gone and Youznhy easily puts out Tipsy. What om earth is happening in Dubai? Come on Djko!

February 25th, 2010 at 1:03 pm

I didn’t think he was playing that aggressive. He just seemed lethargic.

February 25th, 2010 at 2:21 pm

Margot,

I didnt see anything different in Murray’s game at all.

What do you think?

I thought from the first round, he was lethargic and not match fit. I dont think he was trying out any new shots at all. I think he is trying to save face Margot. I dont blame him. He has had enough pressure from the media and I really think they need to get off his back – but they won’t.

He wasnt that aggressive, he still played a lot from the baseline. I think he just underestimated Tipsy. Tipsy was amazing. He was the one who was aggressive throughout the whole match and I think murray was taken off guard.
Dont get me wrong. I think Murray is one of the hardest working athletes out there, but he is letting his desperation get the better of him. He needs to relax more (mentally).

I also think that his head wasn’t in dubai, it was still partly in Australia, and right now, he is in limbo and needs to refocus, (after a few days) and plan on trying to get back to IW and Miami. I do think he will refocus, but I think Murray needs to take some pressure off himself.

And I agree with the adverbs Margot – (that was funny!).

February 25th, 2010 at 2:26 pm

madmax: thanx for that. I saw first match and I thought he looked very out of sorts.

February 25th, 2010 at 2:44 pm

Hi, people! Nole sucks, but wins! Contador, I’m glad for you, too. Jane, give Novak some good advice on his site. Yours are the cleverest there. All others (visitors) are or suck ups or immature in-love girls. Maxi, don’t wish for the shorter season, you might not see your Rog at all. Kimmi! Your guy is personally responsible for playing Novak only 7 times! He should look up to Nadal. Margot, stick to your fav. He’ll be back. Hack of a player. Devastating, you don’t answer my posts, so what to say… Maybe I should say something about Safin, your first love… All in all, Novak on the roll. Right…

February 25th, 2010 at 2:46 pm

Margot,
Tipsy was just hot yesterday. Murray was just OK. That was the difference.

Ljub played great tennis. Djokovic played like crap for 1 1/2 sets, then woke up. What is wrong with his serve? It stinks. Djok did say Ljub played like he was number 2.

Too bad he has to play Baggy, I like him.

February 25th, 2010 at 2:51 pm

Duro, what a crank you are. i am no suck-up. ask maxi.

admit i like federer in a suit, okay, i am human, certainly no “i-love girl”…..just because i cheer for gulbis and wish him to get inot top twenty? does not mean i am crushing on anybody. don’t get delusional!

so there!

what, i can’t even say ajde nole! without your permission?

February 25th, 2010 at 3:00 pm

meant to say “into” and not an “in-love girl”

grrrrrrrrrrrr, duro. my ire is up. party pooper.

February 25th, 2010 at 3:02 pm

conty, i might be wrong here, but I dont think duro was saying anything about you? Might I be wrong? He mentioned you in first line – said “Contador, I’m glad for you, too.” –

Duro, Contador has me laughing a lot of the time, along with skeezer, they are a duo, !!!! real comedic flair! She means business with gulbis, who just “might” be turning a shade in his tennis career – will see –

so duro! Be nice!

Margot, do you have the link to Murray’s interview – have tried to find the full interview, but not having much luck. thank you.

February 25th, 2010 at 4:11 pm

Congrats Jane on your boy’s win. He SHOULD win this title, but you never know what will happen until they play the match. I’m viewing this tournament with no worries at all since Roger isn’t playing.

In the other tournaments I’m pulling for Blake and Venus to win. But who knows… lol!

February 25th, 2010 at 4:52 pm

Fot, thanks – should indeed – but who knows? I am with you on Blake. Would love for him to win a title.

Duro – I will but have to run out again. I’ll try to be clever. ; )

sar – I feel the same, but Nole needs to defend a title more than Baggy needs to win this one – course I am biased. LOL. I was thinking the same thing: did someone put coffee on at 4-4 all in the second set and Novak smelled it and woke up!? ha ha.

February 25th, 2010 at 5:39 pm

Why watch tennis when you get a blow by blow of the matches up here? Great job gals/guys, I enjoyed it since I didn’t get a chance to watch it. Entertaining also :)

February 25th, 2010 at 5:57 pm

BTW Contador,

“contador Says:

he will, he will!

but wondering if something went wrong with lube or nole simply came to life and played his A-game?

February 25th, 2010 at 11:52 am”

Was Nole really playing with Lube and it made him play his “A” game? I think I am kinda glad I missed seeing that……….lol

February 25th, 2010 at 6:03 pm

I have to agree T-Martin has screwed up Novak’s game. That’s what I said a couple of days ago but without referencing Martin. There was a time Novak was unbeatable from the baseline. He had that aura of invincibility whenever he used to be able to turn the match into a base-line rally. For the past some months, that’s been gone. That was my conclusion after the match he lost to Tsonga at AO. He lost to Tsonga who played mostly baseline. Slice volley and net-rushing has taken life out of his strength area. His defense may have become stronger, but his offense is turning into mediocre. He might still win smaller tournaments, but big ones…Future will tell how far this change, the added app, will take him or derail his ambition?

February 25th, 2010 at 6:06 pm

Contador, what was it, dear? I wasn’t in any case talking about you. Where did you recognize yourself in my post I don’t know. You got me very confused. I only said that I was glad about you too, referring to your Latvian guy victory! I demand an apology or prepare yourself for a duel! 26th of February, dawn!

As far as Novak’s site is concerned, I’ll stick to what I’ve said. No matter how Nole played, superlatives all over. I have never noticed you there and I didn’t know you’re visiting it in a first place. So, I could have never talked about you in that sense. Is my English so bad? Contador, contador…

February 25th, 2010 at 6:32 pm

Maxi, I couldn’t possibly be nicer to contador. I like her and respect her. That’s all I’m gonna say for now. I’m very angry, and no more desire to participate. See you some times…

February 25th, 2010 at 6:42 pm

“Kimmi! Your guy is personally responsible for playing Novak only 7 times! He should look up to Nadal.”

Aaaaarg Duro, you suck! You love to put me down when I am really down..my man lost and am sad :(

I know he was not up to par in Dubai but I am still waiting for your guy, bring on IW and Miami (4-4 H2H coming anyone?). I know my turn will come soon…and I will make sure you know it. :-)

But congratulation are in order to your guy, i have to say those tough matches he is having are really good for his confidence. But do you know, anything less than a title wont cut it ..he is the highest seed by a mile left in this tournament.

February 25th, 2010 at 6:48 pm

margot: I did not see Murray v Tpsy match. Don’t know if Murray was playing aggressive but what I know, the match point was NOT aggressive at all. Tipsy decided to take it to him on that point and won it, easily…aaaarg! Anyways, I am not overly worried about murray in this tournament..I think (hope) he will come out well prepared in IW and Miami.

February 25th, 2010 at 7:01 pm

Youzhny on Tipsy:

“I knew he would be a little tired after last night’s tough match against Murray, so I just wanted to make him run a bit,” Youzhny said. “The plan seems to have worked.”

February 25th, 2010 at 7:44 pm

Just watched verdasco losing to monaco..Too many UE..sigh!

February 25th, 2010 at 8:25 pm

Kimmi – GOLD for our women’s hockey team. Woot!

February 25th, 2010 at 8:32 pm

jane..WOOT!! Great win, this was a tough one. Sad for the USA team, I see some of the girls with tears..but great for team canada..YAY!

February 25th, 2010 at 8:36 pm

just heard that Team Canada won 3 gold medals in a row at the olympics..I mean, this is what you call Olympic domination

February 25th, 2010 at 8:44 pm

Sad for the USA team

LOL I’m not.

February 25th, 2010 at 9:32 pm

I’m waiting to see the Japanese girl’s long program. She is supposedly skating to my fave by Rach, Bells of Moscow.

February 25th, 2010 at 9:34 pm

Day-by-day the competition in Tennis is getting tougher and tougher and it is quite amusing to the see the Federer-haters claming that he is playing in a weak era ? What bullshit.

February 25th, 2010 at 11:00 pm

What a story for Joannie ROCHETTE! with all that, She manage to get bronze medal.

And that Yu-Na Kim is just incredible!

February 26th, 2010 at 12:13 am

Duro, please accept my most humble, apologies.

i won’t say i love you, but i kinda do. not ‘love’ in any way other than as a tennis fan i ‘love’ to read you. i shoulda put a smiley face after “party pooper” i meant nothing but a nudge, you know. sorry.

and, it is simply my job to defend and protect the innocent “suck-ups and in-love girls” ha-ha-ha! maybe i recognize myself there on the later, or not. you sounded cranky, then i was cranky and that put a wrinkle in my humble tennis joy. no harm intended. my bad.

furthermore, i have never even joined the RF fan site, Duro. does that make me a freak? a ‘no count’ roger federer fan? no, i have not joined the novak djokovic fan site, i have no clue about a gulbis fan site, at all. i watch youtube for new interviews and comments on all 3 and more and sometimes make comment there. does that count? i read all tennis news my time allows, watch when possible, and love tennis. sure, most on this site are more experienced than me. but i have other info. trivial stuff, to most readers boring, so i don’t usually mention stuff. as in, edwardo swank and horacio z-ball , not anyone set to headline a marquee, but to me, i like to check out who has the guts and talent to move up the ranks, even try to follow challenger events and qualifying rounds for atp 250 series events.

got excited for ernests. he moved up 27 points. but i stay cool, he’s not one i’d say, “in gulbis i trust”

isn’t it good enough that i hold my breath till my pulse makes me feel a stroke coming on today, as i am pulling for novak djokovic to win? i watch him, know he can defend his title, move closer to King Federer and think realistically, ” novak should be the next #1 in tennis.”

trust me, on one point, please duro, i do not like “suck-ups.” i am zoey, ya know, on TT. i have been a bad, bad girl over there. not proud of myself for it. swore like a drunken sailor, not to be argumentative but just tired of the same old people stuck on one topic. that’s not me, duro. i have ‘reformed,’ let’s say. i prefer tx. posters. they still debate and argue here but it’s more in a civil and intelligent way. ( most the time)

sincerly, duro. you are a star here, if i may say so, and if i didn’t mean it, i certainly have no reason to “suck-up” to you or anyone. so, don’t leave. your love of nole is wonderful to read. i may approach fan-dom and tennis differently than you but that certainly does not mean i disrespect you; in fact it’s interesting.

is it dawn? is the duel still on? just let me know.

February 26th, 2010 at 12:58 am

Totally Kimmi. Wow – what courage! I thought the right 3 girls got the medals, in the right order, with combined scores from the short and long programs, although I did think the Japanese American girl who skated last deserved a higher score than she got for her long skate. I thought it would’ve been around 135 or so, not quite enough to take out Joannie, considering her much better short program, but definitely higher than 126. I thought the other Japanese skater, the one who finished 5th I think (?), was quite wonderful. She’s really young, but I bet she does great in the future. The US’s Flatt landed a lot of jumps but they were downgraded because she pre-rotated into them. So her score wasn’t surprising, though it might’ve been to someone who didn’t realize the technical flaws there. The Russian skater was good but not great. I actually thought the girl from Finland did fantastic. Too bad she didn’t do better in her short program.

February 26th, 2010 at 1:01 am

okay, and all know by now i drool, occasionally. “in-love” no, no that is different than droooling. maria sharapova is drool-worthy, not that i do over her, but i certainly see why.

the end

February 26th, 2010 at 1:05 am

I agree jane about that American girl who skated last, with my un-trained eyes I thought she skated very well too, not too many mistake, both her jumps and other parts of her program was excellent..her layback spin (?)..wow, I also thought she could get 135, even higher. Thats why it is always controversial with judging sports, some will always complain. Anyways congrats to the winners..the Korean girl performance was no question flawless. Thanks for clarifying the score of the other top American skater, did not understand what was down-graded but I am afraid I did not like her overall performance, thought was not SMOOTH!

Just checking some tennis in Acapulco..and what about JCF, he is in the semi final..unbelievable or what..he playing three week in a row..C’mon, he must be feeling tired by now, right?

February 26th, 2010 at 1:23 am

Kimmi – “thought was not SMOOTH!” – good eye! There are two things that aren’t so technical but are more aesthetic that always affect the way I see a skater’s performance: one is “grace” or “smoothness” and another is “energy”. Sometimes a skater’s skate is full or great jumps but their is no grace; the “artistic” elements are there but they seem rushed or something. Then there is the energy factor. Sometimes a skater can skate technically well, but her program can seem long, lacking “oomph”. Of course these things are hard to “score” but they are like the “intangibles” we talk about in tennis maybe. Also, totally agree that Yu-Na Kim is absolutely out of this world, and I loved that she skated to Gershwin because I love his style of music, the way he mixed jazz and classical, with even folk elements. His music was a nice complement to her skate. She’s very special for the sport.

February 26th, 2010 at 1:41 am

“Sometimes a skater can skate technically well, but her program can seem long, lacking “oomph”.”

Yap, I saw quite a few like this, they made me wanna go to sleep.

Thanks jane. Very interesting to read your take on this. It made me understand the sport which i love even more. Good nite.

February 26th, 2010 at 1:52 am

Kimmi, nice chatting with you. Night.

February 26th, 2010 at 2:01 am

Contador, dawn is gone. I overslept it, so I have to accept your apology. We are fine. No duel then… Cheers.

February 26th, 2010 at 2:08 am

wow, i really missed the best of the olympics, sounds like. i did watch yuna kim skate the short program like 2 nights ago? she got the highest marks and i thought she was the best. Though not much of a clue as to why.

jane you must figure skate. thanks for breaking it down for those of us who don’t.

skeezerweezer: the pathetic thing about what i was commenting was that i had no stream, i was not ‘watching’ lol…only staring at live score while at work. i was asking a sincere question, actually wondering the same: did nole kinda use lube for practice the first set and a half then suddenly decide it was time to put him away? or was there a real match going on?

the livescore stats changed so fast in the 2nd set. that’s why when i read Jane’s post doubting at 5 to zip in the decider, i said, “he wil, he will” . i knew djoko was in control by the score but if one is not actually watching them play, so much is lost in interpreting what’s happening.

work interferes with tennis ALL the time, skeezer. gulbis plays second in del ray, and i’ll be out on two appointments is all i have to say.
that’s it for me. no use waiting for Duro to wake up and find out if i am forgiven. to be continued…i might never again post on tennis-x. .woe is me, lol,

February 26th, 2010 at 2:35 am

okay duro, it’s 1 am my time but i had to know.

now, i asked you a question. am i a freak, a fake as a fan if i don’t join a fan site? i know it was long, i type fast, did you even read my post?

question above: in your opinion does one need to join the official fan club?

February 26th, 2010 at 2:58 am

so inerested am i in dubai that i woke myself back up at 5 am to listen, yes i get the sound but no picture.

youz had a tough fight in the 2md set but he got the job done. and did his ‘salute’ at the end. i like watching youz. marvelous footwork and hits the one hander beautifully and strong.

but i saw the temp tho it was i think when the match started early afternoon, it was in the 90’s F. luckily, it cools down nicely by 7 pm for the nole v baggy match.

AJDE!

oh and hey madmax- thanks, for the compliment @ 2/25, 4:11 pm. i don’t think i am any good as a comedian. sometimes i accidently do it.

we have known each other long enough for me to know you and vice versa. my “nudges” are mostly meant to lighten up some posters who take themselves far too seriously, which got me into trouble on TT. nudging is risky in the cyber world. it often does not translate well into how or one comes across, light-hearted can be interpreted as mean, i learned. even with the hyper-sensitives living next to my own time zone! no names need mentioned.

madmax, i don’t like it when i miss the matches i want to somehow follow today- no baggy v djoko, nor gulbis v leo.

February 26th, 2010 at 8:06 am

contador,

No need to explain, I knew u weren’t watching live I was just joking with ya, when u typed in “lube” my mind went in the gutter, so I had to write that, lol! Sometimes my humor gets a liitle wild , Must be a guy thing. When I play tennis with the guys during the week, after, we have some beers and talk, man u should hear sone of that stuff OMG. Go home laughing everytime, they hold nothing back in trash talking.

Take care …:-)

“to laugh and smile , tis a good thing”

February 26th, 2010 at 10:36 am

Speaking of dysfunctional, is anyone watching Djoko vs. Baggy? Neither one can hold his serve. 2 breaks each for 4 all in the first. Ugly.

February 26th, 2010 at 10:49 am

got it skeezer i knew your mind was in the gutter there but i was already treading on thin ice with duro.

you are no party pooper, nope, as the skeezerweezer, you can’t help yourself, lol… you have me laughing all the time

cheers.

Jane, i have sound and the livescore. but can’t pay close attention to match at the moment baggy and nole.

oh no…..ajde nole! baggy took the first set in a tie break. is it too hot as in temperature? should have cooled off by now in the desert

February 26th, 2010 at 11:21 am

contador, it has to do with Novak’s serve, imo, nothing to do with the temperature. That’s it. Hope he can rally but I have my doubts. Sigh and alas.

February 26th, 2010 at 11:27 am

I’m watching the match between Baghdatis and Djokovic. Nothing against Djokovic, but I’m pulling for Baggy simply because Djokovic is the one closer to Roger right now…so “Go Baggy” (sorry jane) lol! Nothing against your boy…I’m just pulling strategically.

February 26th, 2010 at 11:54 am

Exciting (read: never-wracking) match! Yay Novak! Just one more to an important goal. And kudos to Baggy for a valiant fight, like it has been each time these two have played. Tense. But Novak came through. Now can he get revenge on Youz???? We’ll see. He’ll need to begin better.

February 26th, 2010 at 1:05 pm

*never s/b “nerve” @ 1:05.

P.S. Fot, no worries. I fully understand “strategic” cheering. :)

February 26th, 2010 at 1:06 pm

Can someone tell me how the match played out? I overslept.

February 26th, 2010 at 1:11 pm

Ben, Novak and Baggy were slogging it out throughout the first set, neither one of them serving them particularly well – to put it kindly. Then the second and third sets were more competitive, but I am happy (and very relieved) to say that Djoko was the one who raised his game when he needed to. He hit some blistering forehands, the kind we know he is more than capable of. And he hit some fabulous drop shots to keep Baggy on the run and off balance in the third set. Basically Djoko got 1 break in each of the final two sets and he managed to hold onto his serve; Baggy still had chances, and one can see why and how he is climbing back up the rankings, but he was unable to capitalize on a few errors and bad serves from Djoko. But in the end, Djoko did serve better when he needed to, and that’s also very relieving for me to type.

Sorry, that’s as much as I can give you. : )

February 26th, 2010 at 1:26 pm

Thanks Jane. Nice to know it was a good match. I love Baghdatis but I want Djoker to get this title.

February 26th, 2010 at 2:01 pm

Wheee, Djko came through and must say, when that forehand is working, it’s just brilliant! Donja just love Baggy though, his smile alone is responsiblre for global warming!
Duro, sar, jane: thanx for your good wishes. Good to be among generous tennis fans. Am wondering, at the end of last year Djko was the man to beat. Admit I was very envious of him taking on new coach Tod Martin, cos I think Miles, Andy’s coach, is past his sell by date. However, I’ve read all your crits and I’m wondering if Americans are the best coaches for European players. Americans are so brim full of confidence whereas many European players seem full of angst, I’m thinking Andy, Djko, Youzhny, Safin without even thinking! Perhaps they need a different approach? Of course now someone is going to tell me Tod is Australian….oh well, same thing…!

February 26th, 2010 at 2:31 pm

Contador, you subtle, fragile being… Relax. I already told you I hadn’t been talking about you there. But, since you’re interested in my opinion on the subject, here you are: you are not a freak, nor a fake as a fan if you don’t join the fan site. Ok? I never said that one should join the fan site. On the contrary, I was criticizing those who do it in the manner I mentioned.

I accepted your apology, I found it as a misunderstanding. You were lovely at TT in my opinion. There’s something about you…

Afterall, you at least learned how to say “Ajde!” unlike Maxi who got D- from me for adje and adja all the time! Maxi, shame on you. Until you learn it properly, I’ll cheer c’muun for you Fed, The King Is Dead. A salute from cheeky Duro, the most misunderstood guy on the posters tour these days…

Join me, infidels! In Novak we trust!

February 26th, 2010 at 3:22 pm

contador – Ernie won – again! Congrats for his success.

February 26th, 2010 at 5:07 pm

hi, Jane.

February 26th, 2010 at 5:26 pm

Hi Duro – I wrote something at the site, did you see it? Anyhow, it didn’t work as his serve was still abysmal : ( But he used his “legs and fighting spirit” to make it through. He’d better do two things tomorrow: 1) get revenge for the last loss and 2) defend a title. Yes?

February 26th, 2010 at 5:36 pm

“The US’s Flatt landed a lot of jumps but they were downgraded because she pre-rotated into them.” jane

I’ve been watching figure skating for over 20 years and have never heard of *pre-rotation* into a jump — it’s not feasibly possible. The rotation is done when the skater is in the air with the rotation completed upon landing, thus, pre-rotation is not possible. Her jumps were triple flips, where Flatt’s toe on landing was shown to be in a wrong direction, and a bit under-rotated, which is a mistake a lot of skaters make upon landing. IMO, I think she was unfairly downgraded, but there’s so much politicking in figure skating that it’s totally understandble why. Miki Ando was also marked lower and could have won the bronze but, again, not politically correct for two Japanese women to be on the podium.

February 26th, 2010 at 6:08 pm

Oh, yes… As much yes as it can possibly be. They didn’t publish it yet, but I know it’s a clever thing and good advice, as usual. Novak plays like a grindstone… Point after point, persistently, stubbornly determined. Can you even imagine what would he do with that attitude and pugnacity if his serve was working? But, he’ll fix it eventually, and then, watch out everyone! The road is already tramped!

February 26th, 2010 at 6:14 pm

Jane, got it now. It wasn’t in the newest news, but in the previous one, talking about Ljubičić match. Exactly. About his game today and last two days I liked his fighting spirit and the almost same scenario of winning 3 times in a row! I hope he’ll have enough energy for tomorrow, cause Youzhny plays every ball and he’s unusually calm and confident. Still, Nole won’t get such a chance easily again, so he better knows what he’s doing.

February 26th, 2010 at 6:26 pm

Hi Von, they have recently changed the judging / scoring system in skating, as you probably know (I recall your being a fan). Anyhow, yes, pre-rotation is something the judges watch for. I just googled jumps and downgrading, and here is a link that explains how the judges can downgrade a triple to a double. The article cites 2 reasons. One is that the skater didn’t get in the full in-air revolutions required for a triple, and another is that the skater turns *on the ice* prior to lift off, which is called “pre-rotation”.

Here’s the link if you’re interested.

http://figureskating.about.com/od/olympiciceskatingevents/qt/downgradedjumps.htm

You must be very proud of your US athletes; they’ve had one heck of an Olympics.

February 26th, 2010 at 6:35 pm

jane:

The manner in which your post was worded seemed to cite pre-rotation in the air, as the cause for her downgrading, and it’s why I said I’ve never heard of that happening, as it’s not feasible to do so. There can’t be pre-rotation in the air, meaning they are already in the air and are rotating. It was her rotations and her landing not being clean, with the toe pointing in the wrong direction (triple toe flip) that caused the down-grading, which again, seemed to be nitpicking IMO. Flatt’s skating was a powerful program, but ….

I’m not going to get into the judging as there has always been some cheating by the judges previously, hence the big scandal a few years ago. Weir should have won bronze but not politically correct ….

February 26th, 2010 at 6:59 pm