Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Monday, June 06, 2011
Martina Hingis/Lindsay Davenport Roland Garros Doubles Legends
Arnold38 hingis.org
Women’s Legends Doubles:
Lindsay Davenport of the U.S. and Martina Hingis of Switzerland were dominant at Roland Garros, taking down defending champions Martina Navratilova of the U.S. and Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic with a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the final round.
If anyone knows where I can find video of any of the French Open doubles matches with Hingis please let me know in the comments.
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Roger Federer feeling the need for speed with Mercedes-Benz
A little treat for the eyes ;). More product placement with Rog :).
I can't decide what's more hot, the car, or the man. Roger is like a kid in a candy store driving this thing :D.
I can't decide what's more hot, the car, or the man. Roger is like a kid in a candy store driving this thing :D.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Friday, June 03, 2011
Roger Federer breaks Djokovic to secure a place in French Open final!
Roger Federer, the last man to beat Novak Djokovic, six months ago in London, did it again in Paris to stop the Serb's remarkable unbeaten run at 43 but, more significantly, he confounded pre-tournament predictions to reach Sunday's final of the French Open against Rafael Nadal.
Not many at Roland Garros, except dreamers and charlatans, would have predicted such a scenario two weeks ago – the Swiss was 18-1 then, Djokovic close to even money in most markets – nor the dramatic climax to the second semi-final.
Federer, the world No 3, will start a slight underdog against Nadal, who needs one more championship to match the six garnered by Bjorn Borg, and has lost only once here in 44 matches – but after such a stirring performance all things seem possible again. Nadal was back in his hotel, celebrating his 25th birthday and recovering from the exertions of an edgy, wind-marred three-sets victory over Andy Murray when Federer completed a 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 upset against his 24-year-old opponent in near darkness on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Djokovic was gracious in defeat but, visibly spent, announced he was withdrawing from Queen's next week to prepare for Wimbledon. His has been a whirlwind adventure and could well resume in London in three weeks' time.
The ancien régime, meanwhile, is restored. The two players who have held the summit of men's tennis since February 2004 have, for the time being at least, held off the Serbian charge. They will give Paris a match to cherish, no doubt, as they have in most of their 24 encounters.
"I would think it is the best match I played this year," Federer said. "I did really well, a top start when I was able to break. But I know he has always got something in his racket to break me as well. There was a lot of pressure on Novak but he handled it great. It was a pleasure playing against him. He can still achieve so much more this year."
Djokovic, who had the benefit of four days' rest after a walkover against the injured Italian Fabio Fognini, was the favourite to go through but struggled to contain Federer's serve and all-round court intelligence.
"After the first set I was going down a little bit," Djokovic said. "He was taking control of the match but I managed to come back, definitely not easy against Roger. I tried to moderate myself. I think I played well. He played really well in important moments. I congratulate him. We were part of a very good match but it feels bad losing.
"I was serving for the fourth set but he played a couple of good points and he deserved it. During the tournament you feel the energy. You need the daily routine. These were the best months of my life, an incredible period. It had to end some time. Unfortunately it came in a bad moment. What happened happened. I can't affect it any more. A couple of points decided it. This is sport. There is nothing to be sorry about. I have pulled out of Queens and will take a rest before Wimbledon."
As the light died over Roland Garros, the Swiss moved with the precision of his country's clocks. Djokovic, hitherto irresistible, was fighting off the nerves that often arrested his development in the past. The tumult that consumed the court was exhilarating as Federer saved two break points to go 6-5 up in the fourth, forcing Djokovic to serve to stay in the championship. The crowd were with Federer, who won here two years ago, the nerves were with Djokovic, old turmoil replacing recent certainties, as he stayed deep.
With a tie-break in prospect, Djokovic dinked the most delicious drop shot, confounding Federer, who was rooted to the baseline. The Serb hit a forehand wide for deuce and anxieties rose on both sides of the net. The strut returned and Djokovic killed the point with his deadly two-fisted backhand from centre court. Federer, subdued behind base line, hit deep and it was 6-6.
The assemblage could not ask for better theatre, what they could see of it in the gloaming. The narrative was thus reduced to a final handful of strokes: a drop shot put Federer 1-0 up; a belting forehand from deep made it 2-0 but he was helpless to reach Djokovic's forehand for 2-1.
The Serb made a miracle save and Federer hit just long for 2-2. Federer held his second serve for 3-2 but netted a backhand for 3-3. Djokovic, nerves rattling, netted – 4-3 Federer. The Swiss hit his 17th ace for 5-3, with another big serve giving him three match points at 6-3. Djokovic clipped the net, 6-4 (and they booed the net). Djokovic served his sixth ace for 6-5 – and Federer hit his 18th to win the match.
Now that is a finish. It was the match of the championship, perhaps the best of the year, and one that ended a great run while reigniting the career of a true great of the game.
guardian.co.uk
Now this is what I call a semi-final!. Full of superb shots, tension and one-upmanship. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire 3 and a half hours.
By far one of the best matches this year, not just for Federer but in general. Speaking of Federer could he have played better?.
The serve was on, the backhand was on, everything was clicking for him. It was like watching the Federer of old the one that fought with all his might in the 2008 Wimbledon final against Nadal, and the 2009 final against Roddick.
In this match I was once again reminded why I became a fan of his in the first place. It was artistry pure and simple.
Sunday will undoubtedly be his toughest test yet, but regardless of the result, today he once again proved he still has the heart of a champion (and he can still hang with the best of them).
That should shut the press up for a while, now they'll just continue to sing his praises. Which will be a nice change from the constant criticizing.
I'm ready, bring on Fedal!.
Not many at Roland Garros, except dreamers and charlatans, would have predicted such a scenario two weeks ago – the Swiss was 18-1 then, Djokovic close to even money in most markets – nor the dramatic climax to the second semi-final.
Federer, the world No 3, will start a slight underdog against Nadal, who needs one more championship to match the six garnered by Bjorn Borg, and has lost only once here in 44 matches – but after such a stirring performance all things seem possible again. Nadal was back in his hotel, celebrating his 25th birthday and recovering from the exertions of an edgy, wind-marred three-sets victory over Andy Murray when Federer completed a 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 upset against his 24-year-old opponent in near darkness on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Djokovic was gracious in defeat but, visibly spent, announced he was withdrawing from Queen's next week to prepare for Wimbledon. His has been a whirlwind adventure and could well resume in London in three weeks' time.
The ancien régime, meanwhile, is restored. The two players who have held the summit of men's tennis since February 2004 have, for the time being at least, held off the Serbian charge. They will give Paris a match to cherish, no doubt, as they have in most of their 24 encounters.
"I would think it is the best match I played this year," Federer said. "I did really well, a top start when I was able to break. But I know he has always got something in his racket to break me as well. There was a lot of pressure on Novak but he handled it great. It was a pleasure playing against him. He can still achieve so much more this year."
Djokovic, who had the benefit of four days' rest after a walkover against the injured Italian Fabio Fognini, was the favourite to go through but struggled to contain Federer's serve and all-round court intelligence.
"After the first set I was going down a little bit," Djokovic said. "He was taking control of the match but I managed to come back, definitely not easy against Roger. I tried to moderate myself. I think I played well. He played really well in important moments. I congratulate him. We were part of a very good match but it feels bad losing.
"I was serving for the fourth set but he played a couple of good points and he deserved it. During the tournament you feel the energy. You need the daily routine. These were the best months of my life, an incredible period. It had to end some time. Unfortunately it came in a bad moment. What happened happened. I can't affect it any more. A couple of points decided it. This is sport. There is nothing to be sorry about. I have pulled out of Queens and will take a rest before Wimbledon."
As the light died over Roland Garros, the Swiss moved with the precision of his country's clocks. Djokovic, hitherto irresistible, was fighting off the nerves that often arrested his development in the past. The tumult that consumed the court was exhilarating as Federer saved two break points to go 6-5 up in the fourth, forcing Djokovic to serve to stay in the championship. The crowd were with Federer, who won here two years ago, the nerves were with Djokovic, old turmoil replacing recent certainties, as he stayed deep.
With a tie-break in prospect, Djokovic dinked the most delicious drop shot, confounding Federer, who was rooted to the baseline. The Serb hit a forehand wide for deuce and anxieties rose on both sides of the net. The strut returned and Djokovic killed the point with his deadly two-fisted backhand from centre court. Federer, subdued behind base line, hit deep and it was 6-6.
The assemblage could not ask for better theatre, what they could see of it in the gloaming. The narrative was thus reduced to a final handful of strokes: a drop shot put Federer 1-0 up; a belting forehand from deep made it 2-0 but he was helpless to reach Djokovic's forehand for 2-1.
The Serb made a miracle save and Federer hit just long for 2-2. Federer held his second serve for 3-2 but netted a backhand for 3-3. Djokovic, nerves rattling, netted – 4-3 Federer. The Swiss hit his 17th ace for 5-3, with another big serve giving him three match points at 6-3. Djokovic clipped the net, 6-4 (and they booed the net). Djokovic served his sixth ace for 6-5 – and Federer hit his 18th to win the match.
Now that is a finish. It was the match of the championship, perhaps the best of the year, and one that ended a great run while reigniting the career of a true great of the game.
guardian.co.uk
Now this is what I call a semi-final!. Full of superb shots, tension and one-upmanship. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire 3 and a half hours.
By far one of the best matches this year, not just for Federer but in general. Speaking of Federer could he have played better?.
The serve was on, the backhand was on, everything was clicking for him. It was like watching the Federer of old the one that fought with all his might in the 2008 Wimbledon final against Nadal, and the 2009 final against Roddick.
In this match I was once again reminded why I became a fan of his in the first place. It was artistry pure and simple.
Sunday will undoubtedly be his toughest test yet, but regardless of the result, today he once again proved he still has the heart of a champion (and he can still hang with the best of them).
That should shut the press up for a while, now they'll just continue to sing his praises. Which will be a nice change from the constant criticizing.
I'm ready, bring on Fedal!.
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
ITWA responds to fan outcry....sort of
Dear tennis fans
We have received a great many letters from unhappy tennis fans who were upset when told by the official French Open website that it would no longer be posting the post-match interview transcripts on the website. Fans who questioned this new policy were informed that the International Tennis Writers’ Association had requested player transcripts not be posted on the website.
We have noted your disappointment at no longer being able to read the transcripts and can understand why fans would want that availability. Taking that into account, we felt we should offer you all an explanation as to why it is important to the international media that the transcripts are not posted, or at least delayed until a day later.
Firstly, our newspapers and media outlets are, like many other companies, feeling heavy financial burdens these days. Quite a number of organizations have already stopped sending their reporters to major sporting events around the world, a decision we are hoping others won’t follow. Nevertheless, we have great concern that the dwindling numbers of journalists sent on-site will continue.
Those media outlets that are still sending their journalists to events spend a great deal of money to do so. The reason they continue to send reporters is that their writers are guaranteed better access and information from reporting, interviewing, and writing on-site. In truth, the media interview room is the journalists’ workplace and, like at many organizations, no matter what the business, the workplace is not open to the general public.
We are trained professionals with the responsibility of asking the important and probing questions that elicit the interesting answers that tennis fans want answered. When our exclusivity is removed by posting transcripts it makes the expense of sending journalists to cover events appear questionable to those holding the purse strings.
We have already watched as many of our colleagues have been taken off what at one time were assignments that would never be questioned. One example: in the United States the South Florida community is a hotbed for tennis fans and tennis players. Two of their three major market papers stopped covering the Grand Slams about five years ago.
The third paper is planning on not staffing any Grand Slams this year and into the future. This is the type of unfortunate scenario we are seeing happen regularly to our colleagues around the world.
If fewer journalists show up at events, tournaments are likely to decide it is not worth spending money on the expensive transcription services done by court reporter companies.
Of even more concern, journalists could eventually stop covering tournaments if there is no filter on the release of information we as professional journalists are gathering. It would quickly become cost-ineffective to show up.
The bottom line: If journalists don’t go to tournaments, the issue of access to transcripts will become a non-issue. There will be no one asking the questions.
To those not on the inside of journalism today this might seem a far-fetched picture to present, but we can assure you that it is not. It could happen and sooner than anyone might think possible.
Hopefully, this letter will enable you to understand more clearly our position on the subject of posting player interview transcripts.
Kind regards,
The International Tennis Writers’ Association
The lovely LJology emailed back and got this response from Marco Keller, president of the ITWA:
That's all fine and dandy however I tend to agree pretty much 100% with the author from allineedisapicketfence blog.I agree with you, the 24 hour embargo would be the best solution for all involved parties and all tournaments. And that’s what we are basically aiming for and were in this case as well.I can’t really predict how the whole matter is going to end but be assured that we have the fans in mind too!.
And as for the 24-hour thing?.
I second that as well, and I'll believe that when I see it!.
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