Mikhail Youzhny became famous in 2008 after he showed a little more than his salutation to the crowds during the match with Nicolas Almagros in Miami. The Russian took his racket where no man or woman has taken it before.
His forehead. The rest is bloody history! ... Literally ...
Monday, November 9, 2009
Quote Of The Day
"I wanted to come here. I wanted to play for my country. Other people choose different things. Some people I guess didn’t want to play as badly as I did. But I think that the team that we had here really wanted to be here. You don’t want people here that don’t want to be here. Even if you lose, if you give it everything you have, then that’s the best you can do.”
~ U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin said after her 7-5, 6-2 loss to Flavia Pennetta.
Perhaps a little stab toward Serena and Venus Williams?
~ U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin said after her 7-5, 6-2 loss to Flavia Pennetta.
Perhaps a little stab toward Serena and Venus Williams?
Aces Are A Man's Best Friend
Russian and three-time former Paris Masters champion, Marat Safin, thought his retirement party was going to come early today when he came up against homeboy qualifier Thierry Ascione. It was a good start for Safin after winning the first set, but then he lost the second and the former no. 1 went down three match points in the final set.
Luckily, Safin used his magic weapon of mass destruction to save his life: aces. The Russian angry man threw in three aces in a row while trailing 4-5 and won the match later in the tiebreak.
Safin won 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3). He will next face US Open champ Juan Martin Del Potro, who is still recovering it seems.
Luckily, Safin used his magic weapon of mass destruction to save his life: aces. The Russian angry man threw in three aces in a row while trailing 4-5 and won the match later in the tiebreak.
Safin won 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3). He will next face US Open champ Juan Martin Del Potro, who is still recovering it seems.
WTA Tour 2010 Outlook
The WTA Tour suffered late in 2008 and this year, it was anything but glamorous for the women. With Justine Henin's comeback, Kim Clijsters playing more tournaments, and Maria Sharapova's shoulder going okay, 2010 looks like the good old time.
Top 10 storylines heading into next year:
1. How will Justine Henin's comeback be like?
2. Will Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic climb back?
3. Will the Williams Sisters maintain order at the top?
4. Will Kim Clijsters win a slam and play as well as she did at the US Open?
5. Will the Russian women seek psychological help with their tennis minds on the courts?
6. Will Melanie Oudin step it up?
7. Who will win, Maria Sharapova or her shoulder?
8. Who will have the most double faults, Venus, Sharapova, Ivanovic, or Dementieva?
9. Who will dominate on first serve percentage, Serena, Venus, Clijsters, or Henin's new serve?
10. Will one of the men on the ATP disguise himself as a woman to play on the WTA Tour for its short season versus the ATP Tour????
11. Will the last standing lesbian, Amelia Mauresmo, retire and leave the tennis game without a gay representation? (beside from all the closeted gays...)
While 2012 might be the end of the world, 2010 is the new beginning.
Top 10 storylines heading into next year:
1. How will Justine Henin's comeback be like?
2. Will Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic climb back?
3. Will the Williams Sisters maintain order at the top?
4. Will Kim Clijsters win a slam and play as well as she did at the US Open?
5. Will the Russian women seek psychological help with their tennis minds on the courts?
6. Will Melanie Oudin step it up?
7. Who will win, Maria Sharapova or her shoulder?
8. Who will have the most double faults, Venus, Sharapova, Ivanovic, or Dementieva?
9. Who will dominate on first serve percentage, Serena, Venus, Clijsters, or Henin's new serve?
10. Will one of the men on the ATP disguise himself as a woman to play on the WTA Tour for its short season versus the ATP Tour????
11. Will the last standing lesbian, Amelia Mauresmo, retire and leave the tennis game without a gay representation? (beside from all the closeted gays...)
While 2012 might be the end of the world, 2010 is the new beginning.
Video: Venus vs. Justine - 2007 US Open
This is still one of the best semifinal matches of the US Open ever. Love this match!
Carlos Rodriguez Has Nothing To Prove
Justine Henin has won it all under Carlos Rodriguez. Though she has yet to lift up the Wimbledon's title, Rodriguez has done all he has to do with his pupil.
With Henin's much excited comeback next year, Rodriguez will just hope for the best and won't feel intense pressure for Henin to do well at every tournament.
"It was a long discussion with Elke, for sure," said Rodriguez on his decision to come back as Henin's coach. "I take a risk. My wife and I know we take a risk because I have nothing to prove as a coach. But I want to continue to help Justine." That normal life was about to go abnormal again.
The 1% left of their partnership all comes down to Wimbledon until Henin officially calls it a career after the 2012. She will have three tries to win the elusive title so it should be something worth watching.
With Henin's much excited comeback next year, Rodriguez will just hope for the best and won't feel intense pressure for Henin to do well at every tournament.
"It was a long discussion with Elke, for sure," said Rodriguez on his decision to come back as Henin's coach. "I take a risk. My wife and I know we take a risk because I have nothing to prove as a coach. But I want to continue to help Justine." That normal life was about to go abnormal again.
The 1% left of their partnership all comes down to Wimbledon until Henin officially calls it a career after the 2012. She will have three tries to win the elusive title so it should be something worth watching.
USA Fed Cup Goes Fluffy
The USA Fed Cup team might have lost all their matches, but at least they tried to win. It would have been a major different had it been on hard court because Melanie Oudin would have done better.
Even on clay, Oudin did great against Flavia Pennetta. The 5-0 from the USA looks a little disheartening, but in the end, they played well enough considering it was on the red clay of Europe.
Serena and Venus Williams ran out of gas and deserted the USA, but they didn't help the team to get to the final, so I didn't mind them not playing. The team got into the final with Davenport, Williams, Seles, bla bla bla, so they should be proud.
Maybe next time it'll be on hard court!
Even on clay, Oudin did great against Flavia Pennetta. The 5-0 from the USA looks a little disheartening, but in the end, they played well enough considering it was on the red clay of Europe.
Serena and Venus Williams ran out of gas and deserted the USA, but they didn't help the team to get to the final, so I didn't mind them not playing. The team got into the final with Davenport, Williams, Seles, bla bla bla, so they should be proud.
Maybe next time it'll be on hard court!
More Dirty Laundries From Agassi
If you thought the wig and crystal meth are wacky wack wack...you better buy the book! Below are some stuff Associated Press has gotten its hands on with Andre Agassi's book.
— On Sampras: Agassi says Sampras “sounds more robotic than” a parrot. At his depths, Agassi thinks: “I envy Pete’s dullness. I wish I could emulate his spectacular lack of inspiration, and his peculiar lack of need for inspiration.” Agassi tells of betting coach Brad Gilbert about how much Sampras tipped a parking valet; they ask the valet, who says $1; Agassi’s conclusion: “We could not be more different, Pete and I.”
— On Chang: “He thanks God—credits God—for the win, which offends me. That God should take sides in a tennis match, that God should side against me, that God should be in Chang’s box, feels ludicrous and insulting. I beat Chang and savor every blasphemous stroke.” When Chang wins the 1989 French Open, Agassi thinks, “I feel sickened. How could Chang, of all people, have won a slam before me?”
— On other opponents: Agassi writes about holding grudges against Becker (who Agassi says blew kisses at Shields during a match), Jim Courier, Thomas Muster, Yevgeni Kafelnikov, Jeff Tarango (who Agassi says cheated during a match between them when Agassi was 8).
— On “tanking”: Agassi says he lost on purpose against Chang in the Australian Open semifinals one year so he wouldn’t have to face Becker in the final, writing: “It’s almost harder than winning. You have to lose in such a way that the crowd can’t tell.” He also says of sports writers: “They never get it right. When I tank, they say I’m not good enough; when I’m not good enough, they say I tank.”
— On his fake hair: Of the 1990 French Open final, Agassi writes, “Warming up before the match, I pray. Not for a win, but for my hairpiece to stay on.”
— On the 1999 French Open final, which he won to complete a career Grand Slam: “I’ve already obsessed about this tournament for the last ten years. I can’t bear the idea of obsessing about it for another eighty. … If I don’t win this thing right now, I’ll never be happy, truly happy, again.”
I have a feeling Michael Chang is not going to thank God for Agassi's existence! :-)
Click the link below to read the whole article from Howard Fendrich, AP Tennis Writer.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_ylt=AhoYhXs.GQtGCXVa7YiJEIM4v7YF?slug=ap-agassiinterview&prov=ap&type=lgns
— On Sampras: Agassi says Sampras “sounds more robotic than” a parrot. At his depths, Agassi thinks: “I envy Pete’s dullness. I wish I could emulate his spectacular lack of inspiration, and his peculiar lack of need for inspiration.” Agassi tells of betting coach Brad Gilbert about how much Sampras tipped a parking valet; they ask the valet, who says $1; Agassi’s conclusion: “We could not be more different, Pete and I.”
— On Chang: “He thanks God—credits God—for the win, which offends me. That God should take sides in a tennis match, that God should side against me, that God should be in Chang’s box, feels ludicrous and insulting. I beat Chang and savor every blasphemous stroke.” When Chang wins the 1989 French Open, Agassi thinks, “I feel sickened. How could Chang, of all people, have won a slam before me?”
— On other opponents: Agassi writes about holding grudges against Becker (who Agassi says blew kisses at Shields during a match), Jim Courier, Thomas Muster, Yevgeni Kafelnikov, Jeff Tarango (who Agassi says cheated during a match between them when Agassi was 8).
— On “tanking”: Agassi says he lost on purpose against Chang in the Australian Open semifinals one year so he wouldn’t have to face Becker in the final, writing: “It’s almost harder than winning. You have to lose in such a way that the crowd can’t tell.” He also says of sports writers: “They never get it right. When I tank, they say I’m not good enough; when I’m not good enough, they say I tank.”
— On his fake hair: Of the 1990 French Open final, Agassi writes, “Warming up before the match, I pray. Not for a win, but for my hairpiece to stay on.”
— On the 1999 French Open final, which he won to complete a career Grand Slam: “I’ve already obsessed about this tournament for the last ten years. I can’t bear the idea of obsessing about it for another eighty. … If I don’t win this thing right now, I’ll never be happy, truly happy, again.”
I have a feeling Michael Chang is not going to thank God for Agassi's existence! :-)
Click the link below to read the whole article from Howard Fendrich, AP Tennis Writer.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_ylt=AhoYhXs.GQtGCXVa7YiJEIM4v7YF?slug=ap-agassiinterview&prov=ap&type=lgns
ATP Tour: Is It Over Yet?
No, it's not over...not even barely over!
The men are probably pissed that they are still playing while the women are on vacation. While the women were done last week, not the week before with the Year End championship, the men are still playing this week in Paris before ending the season in two weeks.
So the men will literally play until December before they have a month off. This has to be the most maddening thing for the guys.
Before they could enjoy any vacation, they'll be back on the courts to compete for the events heading into the Aussie Open. Time to cut back on the schedule.
Players aren't playing anyway, so it wouldn't matter if you have all those tournaments and all the top players are pulling out.
The men are probably pissed that they are still playing while the women are on vacation. While the women were done last week, not the week before with the Year End championship, the men are still playing this week in Paris before ending the season in two weeks.
So the men will literally play until December before they have a month off. This has to be the most maddening thing for the guys.
Before they could enjoy any vacation, they'll be back on the courts to compete for the events heading into the Aussie Open. Time to cut back on the schedule.
Players aren't playing anyway, so it wouldn't matter if you have all those tournaments and all the top players are pulling out.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Djokovic No Longer Bagel Virgin
For someone as talented as Novak Djokovic, he has never defeated any player 6-0, 6-0. That changed today when he knocked off Jan Hernych at the Swiss Indoors.
Djokovic scored his first double bagels under 53 minutes to advance.
“To win against somebody double bagel, an opponent has to play really, really bad,” Djokovic said. “He didn’t put a lot of effort in.”
Hmm, I didn't watch the match to see, but I don't think Hernych will like what Djokovic said about effort.
“It’s funny at the end with the crowd wanting him to win a game. It’s easy to understand that,” Djokovic said added.
Djokovic scored his first double bagels under 53 minutes to advance.
“To win against somebody double bagel, an opponent has to play really, really bad,” Djokovic said. “He didn’t put a lot of effort in.”
Hmm, I didn't watch the match to see, but I don't think Hernych will like what Djokovic said about effort.
“It’s funny at the end with the crowd wanting him to win a game. It’s easy to understand that,” Djokovic said added.
Indian Wells Tickets On Sale!
Want to win free tickets to Indian Wells?
Well, grab your laptop or computer and log into the Web site for ATP Tour to find more information, or click the link below!
Next year will the be the 35th anniversary for the tournament and tickets went on sale yesterday for the event. They will be doing several promotions for this big occasion beside from giving away free tickets to some lucky fans.
“We are excited about the 35th anniversary of the BNP Paribas Open as it’s a great way to celebrate all of the rich history, champions, and terrific events we have had throughout the years here in the desert,” said Steve Simon, tournament director. “The 35th anniversary online and ticket promotions are a way to reward our patrons for their support of the event and hopefully bring in new fans. Upgrading our online ticket platform will make it simpler to execute these initiatives and continue to ensure that customers have a faster and easier way to get the seats they want.”
The BNP Paribas Open will be held from March 8-21, 2010.
Win 2 Free Tournament Tickets!
Well, grab your laptop or computer and log into the Web site for ATP Tour to find more information, or click the link below!
Next year will the be the 35th anniversary for the tournament and tickets went on sale yesterday for the event. They will be doing several promotions for this big occasion beside from giving away free tickets to some lucky fans.
“We are excited about the 35th anniversary of the BNP Paribas Open as it’s a great way to celebrate all of the rich history, champions, and terrific events we have had throughout the years here in the desert,” said Steve Simon, tournament director. “The 35th anniversary online and ticket promotions are a way to reward our patrons for their support of the event and hopefully bring in new fans. Upgrading our online ticket platform will make it simpler to execute these initiatives and continue to ensure that customers have a faster and easier way to get the seats they want.”
The BNP Paribas Open will be held from March 8-21, 2010.
Win 2 Free Tournament Tickets!
Safin and Grosjean Given Paris Wildcards
I have to admit I haven't seen Sabastien Grosjean play a match since that infamous match against Fernando Gonzalez I think at the tournament in Miami or Indian Wells or Aussie Open. It has been a while since I've seen Grosjean anywhere.
Both Grosjean and Marat Safin, former champions at the Paris Masters, were given wildcards into the tournament along with Michael Llodra this past Teusday. Grosjean won the tournament back in 2001 while Safin won it in 2004.
Both Grosjean and Marat Safin, former champions at the Paris Masters, were given wildcards into the tournament along with Michael Llodra this past Teusday. Grosjean won the tournament back in 2001 while Safin won it in 2004.
Federer's Advance Clay Planning
When Roger Federer adds a tournament to his play schedule then you know it's good news for one place but bad news for another. That's how the top players do it.
You can't expect them to play so many tournaments in a year. Next year, Federer will play the Estoril Open in May leading up to his defend of the French Open.
But doing so, he will be dropping the Japan Open in October from his schedule. The Swiss pulled out of this year Japan Open due to fatigue.
You can't expect them to play so many tournaments in a year. Next year, Federer will play the Estoril Open in May leading up to his defend of the French Open.
But doing so, he will be dropping the Japan Open in October from his schedule. The Swiss pulled out of this year Japan Open due to fatigue.
Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions
Samantha Stosur (2) def. Agnes Szavay (9) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
Yanina Wickmayer (3) def. Kimiko Date Krumm (12) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (6) def. Agnes Szavay (9) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
Shahar Peer (7) def. Magdalena Rybarikova (11) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
Yanina Wickmayer (3) def. Kimiko Date Krumm (12) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (6) def. Agnes Szavay (9) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
Shahar Peer (7) def. Magdalena Rybarikova (11) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
Valencia Open 500
Second Round
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez def. Gael Monfils (6) 6-2, 7-5
First Round
Andy Murray (1) def. Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3, 6-1
Mikhail Youzhny def. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (3) 6-7 (3-7), 6-0, 3-0 retired
Gilles Simon (5) def. Igor Kunitsyn 6-3, 6-2
Gael Monfils (6) def. Marcel Granollers 6-4, 6-2
Tommy Robredo (7) def. Christophe Rochus 6-0, 5-7, 6-3
David Ferrer (8) def. Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2
Leonardo Mayer def. Igor Andreev 6-3, 6-3
Pablo Cuevas def. Juan Carlos Ferrero 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
Juan Monaco def. Martin Vassallo Arguello 6-3, 6-2
Janko Tipsarevic def. Victor Hanescu 6-4, 6-3
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez def. Gael Monfils (6) 6-2, 7-5
First Round
Andy Murray (1) def. Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3, 6-1
Mikhail Youzhny def. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (3) 6-7 (3-7), 6-0, 3-0 retired
Gilles Simon (5) def. Igor Kunitsyn 6-3, 6-2
Gael Monfils (6) def. Marcel Granollers 6-4, 6-2
Tommy Robredo (7) def. Christophe Rochus 6-0, 5-7, 6-3
David Ferrer (8) def. Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2
Leonardo Mayer def. Igor Andreev 6-3, 6-3
Pablo Cuevas def. Juan Carlos Ferrero 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
Juan Monaco def. Martin Vassallo Arguello 6-3, 6-2
Janko Tipsarevic def. Victor Hanescu 6-4, 6-3
Davidoff Swiss Indoors Basel
Second Round
Roger Federer (1) def. Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-3
Radek Stepanek (5) def. Florent Serra 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-1)
First Round
John Isner def. Fernando Gonzalez (3) 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4
Marin Cilic (4) def. Philipp Petzschner 6-4, 6-4
Stanislas Wawrinka (6) def. Ivan Ljubicic 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4
Jeremy Chardy def. James Blake (7) 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (6-8), 6-4
Richard Gasquet def. Horacio Zeballos 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
Roger Federer (1) def. Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-3
Radek Stepanek (5) def. Florent Serra 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-1)
First Round
John Isner def. Fernando Gonzalez (3) 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4
Marin Cilic (4) def. Philipp Petzschner 6-4, 6-4
Stanislas Wawrinka (6) def. Ivan Ljubicic 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4
Jeremy Chardy def. James Blake (7) 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (6-8), 6-4
Richard Gasquet def. Horacio Zeballos 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
No More Rain Delay At the French Open?
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) is putting its foot down on Roland Garros. A project was agreed on earlier this year to get a roof down to stop rain delay matches and an architect was also selected in the process.
Now, the Paris City Council is saying maybe not yet on the project.
“It seems that the mayor’s entourage has become more hostile to our project—which was not the case when we launched it,” FFT director general Gilbert Ysern told reporters.
“Add to that the residents’ opposition and we are now forced to look for other options, including that of leaving the premises.”
The US Open has no plan to build a roof anytime soon either, so these two can be friends since Aussie and Wimby already got a roofy.
Now, the Paris City Council is saying maybe not yet on the project.
“It seems that the mayor’s entourage has become more hostile to our project—which was not the case when we launched it,” FFT director general Gilbert Ysern told reporters.
“Add to that the residents’ opposition and we are now forced to look for other options, including that of leaving the premises.”
The US Open has no plan to build a roof anytime soon either, so these two can be friends since Aussie and Wimby already got a roofy.
Haas Down With The Piggy Flu
Germany Tommy Haas had to pull out of this week tournament in Basel and the reason was he contracted the Swine Flu.
"I did a test because I suspected that I had swine flu. The test was positive," Haas told the Bild newspaper for their edition on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. "Of course, it was a shock for me." Haas told the paper he was already doing better.
Don't know how people get swine flu, but just remember to wash your hands and quarantine all your family members who are coughing! Not to mention your co-workers...lock them out of your office! :-D
"I did a test because I suspected that I had swine flu. The test was positive," Haas told the Bild newspaper for their edition on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. "Of course, it was a shock for me." Haas told the paper he was already doing better.
Don't know how people get swine flu, but just remember to wash your hands and quarantine all your family members who are coughing! Not to mention your co-workers...lock them out of your office! :-D
Monday, November 2, 2009
Stat Of The Day
Ivo Karlovic has 855 aces for the year.
It takes four points to win a game, which would make his 855 aces equal to approximately 213 games.
Counting all of these games in sets, and if we count it as a 6-0 sets, he would have won approximately 35 sets.
Translating 35 sets, if we say he won in straight sets (6-0), he would have won about 5 matches. That would be good enough for a Master Event title.
It takes four points to win a game, which would make his 855 aces equal to approximately 213 games.
Counting all of these games in sets, and if we count it as a 6-0 sets, he would have won approximately 35 sets.
Translating 35 sets, if we say he won in straight sets (6-0), he would have won about 5 matches. That would be good enough for a Master Event title.
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