Wimbledon 2004

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You know it's nearly here cos the temperature in London has dropped by 10C and the sky is the colour of concrete and ash. Ho hum.

But still...the qualies finished on time and - tousle my hair with a hand-pumped leafblower - a Brit made it through! Usually content to let his Paraguayan namesake take his place in the main draw, Jamie Delgado burst from the peloton to join Ramon in the Grand One-Two-Eight, with a win over the Roehampton #1 (United Colours of Benneteau). No such joy for our Spuddy hero from Paris - Starchy tutored in grasscourt Terpsichore by Tipsarevic.

In the ladies', Yulia, our favourite strobe-heavy pretzel parlour makes it through, to be joined by Masho(ro)na Washington who hopes to have the same knack for a SW19 upset her brother MaliVai had in '96.

Flawless Feddy mowed down every obstacle at Halle the week before last, taking his grasscourt run to 17 wins - a repeat tourney victory more impressive (but I would say that) than A-Rod's bangathon gambol of a Queen's defence (grrr, Grosjean really had him in that first set) - but clearly these boys are the ones to watch again. RF has a wildcard Brit - Bogdanovic - on day one, so at least the ex-Belgrader will get on the telly. His Last Picture Show, obv.

In the absence of the Belgians, we must look to the Russians to break up the traditional atmos-free family errorfest on the 2nd Saturday. Mysky's #2 but Sharapova just won at Edgbaston. Still have to fancy Serena now the brick dust has settled.

(Oh, and apologies if my jokey attempt to 'lock' the Roland Garros thread rubbed anyone up the wrong way. It started to head in an uncomfortable direction. And as much as some like of us to indulge in the nicknaming thing - often to the point of stomach ache and dental regret - I don't want it to put anyone off! It's Wimbledon, it's on the telly, y'all know what's happening, let's talk abaht it.)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 18 June 2004 07:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Hooray... in the honour of her being the highest ranked, if not seeded, player in the draw, here is a badly cut-and-pasted job of Lady Miss Kina.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~monmon77/ladymisskina.jpg

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 18 June 2004 07:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Serena looks to have a fairly simple draw, too. Whereas Myskina has likely matches with some countrywomen right at the beginning - look at the draw. Venus could have some difficulty, by the looks of it.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 18 June 2004 07:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Is it very difficult to get day tickets at the gate? I don't have to camp overnight, do I?

― Girolamo Savonarola, Friday, 18 June 2004 07:24 (twenty-two years ago)

No, you should get into the ground (outside courts) if you join the queue early morning (say 7:30-8am) - there are 6000 ground tickets available every day. If you want one of the 500 Centre or #1 court tickets available daily you should probably queue overnight (the stewards distribute a number of wristbands to queuers - equally distributed to each queue north and south of Gate 3 - equivalent to the number of showcourt seats left for that day). If you're one of the last to get a wristband you'll probably be offered a Court #2 seat. There's also unreserved seating for ground pass holders on courts #3, #13 and #18.

There's a second, cheaper ground admission (for ground capacity minus those who've left) around 5pm which in the past has various involved me started to queue at 4:45 and getting in easily or turning up at the same time to see people snaking all the way around the car park and giving up.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 18 June 2004 07:57 (twenty-two years ago)

A question for debate.

How soon will Agassi be eliminated?

― the junefox, Friday, 18 June 2004 08:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought Agassi was injured and would therefore miss Wimbledon?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 18 June 2004 08:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, sorry, PF - AA is out of this already.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 18 June 2004 08:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Serena looks to have a fairly simple draw, too.

Capriati in the quarters... and those matches are weird, they seem to be determined solely on the basis of who dominates the series at the time rather than normal factors like form and surface. And Capriati nearly had Serena last year...

I will be queueing for a ground pass on the first Tuesday... and on that day can be found somewhere in the vicinity of Tatiana Golovin, Igor Andreev and the Pimm's tent.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 18 June 2004 09:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Just checking in Mike, Lex and co..

How did the Big Ouzo get an 11 seed?

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 18 June 2004 09:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Serena vs Jennifer on grass? I do not like Capriati's chances one little bit.

Though if you want a draw from hell, your man Coria looks doomed. Rather horrible looking quarter he is in. It's a good time to be Andy Roddick.

Big Ouzo probably seeded due to a good result here blah blah blah, cf Rafter the year he lost to Ivanisevic but it isn't going to happen.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 18 June 2004 09:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Poup's ranked #19, so eight places isn't too generous of a surface-based boost to a former finalist, double quarter-finalist and Queen's champ. Henmang might be wondering quite why he and Bandy aren't ahead of G'mo but maybe the AELTC have got a bit wary of shuffling the top 32 around quite so conspicuously near the top of the pile.

I haven't really studied the draw - I might pick up a broadsheet paper and have a good, long ponder over reheated pasta tonight.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 18 June 2004 09:40 (twenty-two years ago)

The men's seeds are done by a secret grass court 'formula' which the seeding committee never tells anyone about and which is normally an excuse for bumping Henman up the list... which, oddly, they've not done this year. Venus and Serena's artifically high seeds are due not to that but to their official injury rankings which have surely expired by now but oh well.

The Nastya v Sharapova 4th-rounder will be key.

No of top 10 players Venus has beaten this year: 0
No of top 10 players Serena has beaten this year: 1 (Elena D and her serve)

The Aura of Invincibility is long gone, and the games of the rest of the players have caught up... the Williamses both have a lot to prove at this tournament.

(xpost!)

Also - dunno if anyone picked it up but yesterday's Wimbledon guide in the Grau was hilarious, even if it contained 137838228 inaccuracies.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 18 June 2004 09:43 (twenty-two years ago)

The Nastya v Sharapova 4th-rounder will be key.

yes, but look how many OTHER Russians stand between that. I have an awful feeling it's not going to happen. It's great that the Russians are pumping them out, but could the draw people not have lumped them all into the same half? (Some exaggeration here)

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 18 June 2004 09:44 (twenty-two years ago)

At least we're virtually guaranteed a Russian semi-finalist. Bovina and Kirilenko... I think Nastya and Big Masha can take them.

Stories from the qualifying: remember Alexandra Stevenson? Toothy American brat, illegitimate daughter of some American famous person, mother ranted on about 'predatory lesbians', fluked her way to the semi a couple of years ago, now ranked comfortably outside the top 100? This is what she's up to these days:

Failure to advance from the women's event proved too much for American Alexandra Stevenson, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals as a qualifier in 1999.

The 23-year-old stormed off court, kicking over two chairs and 'unintentionally' spraying water over the back of Eva Birnerova, her 7-6 7-6 conqueror.

Birnerova, the world number 116 from the Czech Republic, said: "She threw water at me and I will be reporting it to the referee."

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 18 June 2004 09:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Have you had a good long ponder, Michael?

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Friday, 18 June 2004 19:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Post-ponder:

Nothing much to add to the above, really. The one thing that really jumps out is the offensively easy draw Roddddick has landed himself - unless Taylor Dent has miraculously rediscovered his misplaced potential, there's no danger until the quarters and maybe not even there.

Predictions for the last eights:

Federer-Hewitt
Fish-Grosjean
Henman-Nalbandian
Schalken-Roddick

S Williams-Capriati
Raymond-Safina
Zvonareva-V Williams
Sugiyama-Sharapova

(I think Bandy and Baxter are the two most likely to vanish in the first 48hrs out of that lot. But I like living on the edge.)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 18 June 2004 19:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Sugiyama? Really?

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 June 2004 20:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think Ai's quarter is all that strong (not very mentally strong anyway) - she's got a Brit to start with (love and two, then - but probably a good workout with lengthy points in front of a racuous minor showcourt crowd) and I fancy her to edge Rubin (though you know I love Chanda, Dan) in r3. Then it could be the Woman Who Cannot Serve, if she makes it that far.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 18 June 2004 20:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Well yeah, at this point I think that a damp paper bag stands a good shot at ousting poor Chanda. (I haven't looked at the draws yet; I just couldn't conceive of a grasscourt draw that would be favorable to Sugiyama because, well, it's grass court.)

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 June 2004 21:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, it took Clijsters to beat her last year in r4 and then they made up and went off and won the doubles together, so she's decent enough on the fast stuff.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 18 June 2004 21:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Sugiyama's great on grass courts, but she's also in a bit of a slump at the moment - and the Brit in question is an excellent serve-volleyer who beat Jie Zheng last week and Magui Serna last year on grass. Anyway... if Ai plans on breaking out of the slump she's got a great draw to do it here, but I wouldn't be surprised if she loses to Jankovic in round two.

My predictions are boring... much the same as Mike for the men's (though I'm going with Safin over Hewitt), and I think all the top seeds will hold up for the women, Davenport's knee pending.

― The Lex (The Lex), Saturday, 19 June 2004 08:42 (twenty-two years ago)

A point for discussion.

How soon will Tim Mayotte be knocked out?

― the pinefox, Saturday, 19 June 2004 09:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Nalbandian in the quarters, certainly, though perhaps earlier. I have a feeling (based on NOTHING) that Jiri Novak might do something this year and he's in that quarter too.

― edward o (edwardo), Saturday, 19 June 2004 10:59 (twenty-two years ago)

And with impeccable timing... the BBC announces that Bandy may be forced to pull out.

Seriously - and unfortunately for me - I think the Henperson is now a virtual lock for the semis, and if any non-Federer is to take Roddick out he's got as good a chance as any... he has a very good record against Roddick. If Ancic (Bandy's first round opponent) ever decides he wants to play well for more than two matches in a row, he will be very very dangerous indeed... but he hasn't so far in his career, no reason for him to start now.

― The Lex (The Lex), Saturday, 19 June 2004 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

And Bandy IS out - what a blow. With the withdrawal of Agassi the salad has lost its dressing and now it's shy of any truly crunchy greens. May as well throw it in the bin.

I'll change the above to Henman-Haas (Tommy's got to be worth a run back into the big time.)

Weather for Monday: sunshine/showers; Tuesday: probably dry; Wednesday: fugly cold front moves in and it gets a bit fresh.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 19 June 2004 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Hasn't Ivanisevic announced this to be his final Wimbledon appearance?

I wish him well. Always liked him.

― Aaron A., Sunday, 20 June 2004 06:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I loved hearing the announcers try to pronounce his name back when he first arrived on the scene. I also loved seeing a bloc of Croatian homies in the crowd when he played.

Just read that Amanda Coetzer has retired. In her heyday, she was fantastic to watch. She was obviously past her best, but she was lovely.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 20 June 2004 06:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Thought retirement for Amanda mightn't have been far away after the Oz.

About 20 years ago Elton John sang a song about 'ice on fire'. I could never get a sighting of AC without thinking about that line. I'll miss her (although with that magic Sith Eff accent, surely a TV network will make sure we haven't heard the last of her). A wonderful player.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 20 June 2004 07:26 (twenty-one years ago)

She did great TV segment. She can mix drinks, and when she came to the Hopman Cup one year, the TV crew put her behind a bar. She was fantastic and looked to be having a great time. And yes, what an accent.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 20 June 2004 07:43 (twenty-one years ago)

'Weather for Monday: sunshine/showers; Tuesday: probably dry; Wednesday: fugly cold front moves in and it gets a bit fresh.'

watched the weather forecast earlier and it said that there will be showers on tuesday too.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 20 June 2004 10:10 (twenty-one years ago)

watched the weather forecast earlier and it said that there will be showers on tuesday too.

Boo! My housemate has worked out that her Centre Court tickets are likely to get her the Serena/Roddick/Henperson show too, and she's not best pleased.

Coetzer gave my favourites hell in the late 90s. I'll probably miss her a little more now she's actually gone.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 20 June 2004 10:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Coetzer was a favourite of mine too - she was a bit like her (ex-)compatriot Johan Kriek, a ferocious amount of racket skill in one highly concentrated package.

Goran is up against 31st seed Youzhny and will almost certainly lose - but a Centre court swansong is in order.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 20 June 2004 11:03 (twenty-one years ago)

And indeed it is - the Centre Court line-up tomorrow is heavenly: Fed, Goran and Nastya. Pity I'll be on a train for much of it.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 20 June 2004 12:36 (twenty-one years ago)

There was a special tennis edition of The Weakest Link on just now. Andy Roddick didn't know what letter of the alphabet had the same sound as the word for a female sheep... he answered 'baa', at which point I fell off the sofa laughing.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 20 June 2004 17:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, and there was a Seles question which made me fall off the sofa AGAIN: "What was Monica Seles famous for when hitting the ball: a) mooing or b) grunting?"

Elena Bovina should moo when she hits the ball. Actually, EVERYONE should moo when they hit the ball.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 20 June 2004 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

That Weakest Link was oddly compelling - they interspersed the tennis questions with "general knowledge for 8- to 10-year-olds" and Pat Cash continually looked bemused - between "This is too easy, it must be a trick" and struggling to decipher Robinson's Scouse-obliterated-by-RP "iccent". John Lloyd genuinely does seem a bit dim and Christine Truman was just making sure people knew the bewildered schtick she's been doing on the radio for 20 years is no schtick.

I'm glad Boris lost in the final.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 08:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm glad Boris lost in the final

mike's having this on his tombstone you know :)

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 21 June 2004 08:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Erk...is anyone else having difficulty reaching www.wimbledon.org? "504 Gateway Timeout" is harshing my buzz!

Lessee what BBCi has to offer then... (only FRA-SUI and Steve Claridge from 7:45pm I expect).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 09:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Right - I've got real-time scoreboard working (huzzah for internet at work, boo for actual work itself). We have one score, that being that G Weiner has beaten Davide Sanguinetti in four sets. Odd, cos I though Sango was playing Greg. Hmm.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 21 June 2004 10:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Martina's on! And she's got a break.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 21 June 2004 10:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Admittedly she is playing someone who all but the most die-hard aficionadi wouldn't even recognise as a perennial round one loser.

Trouble for the lovely Ai Yi Yi too.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 21 June 2004 10:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Right, we've got Sue Barker chatting to various people on BBC2 (which is fair enough up to a point, and that point is about five minutes' time when WE NEED TO SEE SOME LIVE TENNIS), and the option of Court #3 (Janes hammering Sugiyama - oops!), Court #17 (Parmar-Elseneer; hello? Who cares?) or the scoreboard with quarter picture thing on BBCi (freeview).

Whoo! We've got Martina N on BBC2 now.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 10:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Doh! Rain! I'm off to the recycler with all the spent bottles from the first week of Euro2004. Tell me if I miss anything amazing.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 10:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Martina raising merry hell at 5-0 in the first - and any bets for first seed to fall - Emmie Loit is looking like value.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 21 June 2004 10:31 (twenty-one years ago)

OT: Wimdledon "Franchise" FC have been officially renamed Milton Keynes Dons FC. [as agreed with football league]

long live the real: AFC Wimbledon

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Monday, 21 June 2004 10:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Amanda Janes disappointingly isn't wearing Mary Janes but is sporting an odd top with a small-of-back (medical name, anyone?) exposing void. I presume she's seen Goldfinger recently and wants to avoid asphyxiation.

The sound on the interactive channels is mysterious - off-mic chatter which is either just the commentary without someone plugging the right cable in or they are Beispiele paranormaler Tonbandstimmen.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 10:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I wouldn't count out Lefty Loit just yet, she's an interesting one. Erratic, sure, but difficult, and rain break will be a godsend to her.

One might be worried about Vera Zvonareva, particularly if young Samantha Stosur has taken time out from doing awful ads for muesli bars and gotten around to practising...

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 21 June 2004 10:59 (twenty-one years ago)

The BBCi channels when play is suspended are fascinating slices of outside broadcast verite - cameras pan inelegantly, the director bounces between them randomly; everyone in the OB van is clearly munching hurriedly on their take-out orders from Pret.

The covers are off, mind - that I can see.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:02 (twenty-one years ago)

The Llout nearly hands back a service break to 'Alka' Melzer (I couldn't even fake being less surprised) but recovers.

Stose so far doing OK against Vinegar T's from Prisoner Cell Block H.

The Rodge not getting at all bogged down by Bogdanovich - broke him in game 4.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:27 (twenty-one years ago)

particularly if young Samantha Stosur has taken time out from doing awful ads for muesli bars

!!! Seriously?!

M-Nav shaking that thang all over Castanets at 6-0 3-0 up; Brave Brit Bogdanovic battling against Federer but heavy defeat is inevitable; Janes still looking good vs Sugiyama. I am off to the hallowed turf myself now, whence I shall hopefully return with Reports and Gossip and without Flu Brought On By Excess Rain. Train in two hours' time, packing... not done yet. Eek.

Farewell all 'til Wednesday xxx

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:31 (twenty-one years ago)

See, Lex, in Australia, there's this awful ad for Uncle Toby's muesli bars or cereal or something. And the premise is that Ms Stosur is playing mixed doubles with Todd Reid, except THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COURT IS UNDERWATER, and they are playing against SWIMMERS WHO LEAP OUT OF THE WATER TO HIT THE BALL. After Stosur and Reid win the game, the umpire asks them to change ends and it's oh so funny.

Awful.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Ageless One nabs the first set of the tournament - 6-0 over Castano. In fact, she's on the brink of a double-bagel.

Jeez, I hit Ctrl-D instead of Ctrl-F on another thread and spent half an hour in pop-up and spyware hell. WTF?

Looking forward to Lex's On The Spot Coverage.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Boom Crash Sugiyama a set down. Bogdanovich forces Rodge to serve out the set. Grand-Ma-Tina is about to bagel Castano. Hewitt wins his first set.

Re Ed's ad: So far I've been lucky, and from the sounds of it l;ong may my luck hold.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:36 (twenty-one years ago)

It hasn't been on in a while, admittedly. It was blanketed during the Australian open, and I think whenever Seven has the tennis.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Mount Sugi has a break in the second. No double-bagel for Tina.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Martina blows the chance for 6060.

Al Martino (or something like that) and Santoro look headed for a first set tiebreaker.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Zvonareva survives a brief challenge from Miss Muesli, wins first set 6-4.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Theythinkitsallova - it is now. 6-0 6-1.

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Martina the first player through to round two. How about that? To face Dokic or - ha! - Dulko.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:46 (twenty-one years ago)

The Fabrication breaks Martin and takes first set. Likewise VT's over Stose.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:48 (twenty-one years ago)

'Martina the first player through to round two. How about that? To face Dokic or - ha! - Dulko'

At least 'Eminen' will be able to summarily deal with oild man Dokic if he's silly enough to turn up.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:51 (twenty-one years ago)

And Emilie Loo-wah is oo-waht. Boo hiss etc.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Loit did not loiter, and the first seed is Heathrow-bound.

Robbie Ginepri a set down v one Janko Tipsarevic, designated country is given as the Sydney Cricket Ground.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 21 June 2004 11:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Sugi gets reinforcements in on GI Janes, 5-2 up in the second. In other plucky Brit news, Keothavong is a set up on Pratt.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 21 June 2004 12:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Pratt hasn't won at Wimbledon since about 1952 so no great surprise there.

Sammy the Stoat 4-2 down in the second, hanging on for grim death v Vinegartits and badly in need of a fresh muesli bar. Nicolas Keifer a set and a break up on the unseeded Tommy Jo Hanssen.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 21 June 2004 12:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Paper Moon's volleys are tissue-thin, I'm afraid; he's frequently outrallying FedEx only to fluff in the forecourt - 3-6 3-6 0-2.

Llast yyear's Hhero, Ivo Karlomendoncaic squares his match with Paradigm at one set all. Amanda's knowledge of military hardware is keeping in the hunt vs AI.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 12:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Oz-watch: Pratt heading for Harrod's. Stosur was about to join her, but breaks back as VT's served for the match. Alka Melzer providing Lleyts with few headaches, and at 0-2 is looking thoroughly soluble.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 21 June 2004 12:22 (twenty-one years ago)

You're neglecting the hotdog with chilli sauce fest on court 6. And with good reason.

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 21 June 2004 12:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Check out the two left-overs from Shinnecock Hills on Court 17. Ernie currently a set up on Arnie.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 21 June 2004 12:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Time to catch some live action, thoughtfully provided at great expense to myself by Rupert the Merde's Foxtel.

Fed and Hewitt both look home.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 21 June 2004 12:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Fed IS home, if he's not already so, it's not live on Fox.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 21 June 2004 12:31 (twenty-one years ago)

The last few points on Centre were played in light rain, which seems to be provoking confusion across AELTC - covers are on some courts, are in the process of being removed from others, never went on some.

BBC just showed the last game of Goran-Pat 2001 complete with a cheap reverb effect on John Barrett and an omninous synth drone. I'd forgotten about the Rafter lob to save one m-p. Goran out there now - it continues to drizzle.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 12:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Paradox very much in the Fryingpan at the moment, seemingly about to go down 2 sets to 1, as well.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 21 June 2004 12:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Got the Fed score from the site just before I posted it. Must have forgotten to refresh.

Srichapan and Karlo went off about 5-10 mins ago on Merde TV.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 21 June 2004 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Wish I were watching this.

Wish I had time to read the thread too. Somehow I suspect it contains Quality.

― the junefox, Monday, 21 June 2004 12:51 (twenty-one years ago)

BBC interactive channels have the quality of a video installation about them now - static shots of covered courts, chatter skimming across the aim of the shotgun mics; they made a mess of covering court #3 so I wonder how quickly Suggs and Mandee can resume.

It's such a serene scene I'm going to listen to some Pan Sonic to complete the Hayward Gallery voibe.

Somehow I suspect it contains Quality.

It does now.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 12:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Goran holds serve in the first game, thanks to an ace-for-old-time's-sake and no thanks to a couple of slick lobs from Youzhny. He's either not accessorizing with Croat colours or being very discreet about it.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 13:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Bloody hell, it's as if Goran's been waiting three years to get back on this court so he could play properly again. Up 4-1 in the first set (and it should be 5-0) to the coruscating strains of Viemarimaailma, Kaytava and Ilmenemismuoto.

(I've never worked out how to do umlaut and accents in here - can someone tell me?)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 13:23 (twenty-one years ago)

A thumping forehand into the backhand corner and Ai's through: 3-6 6-2 6-3. That's Plucky Effort #1 then (Anne K doesn't count - she was expected to win).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 13:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Er, backhand corner if Janes had been a right-hander, which she isn't.

First set Goran 6-3.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

GO GO GADGET GORAN

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 21 June 2004 13:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Third rain interruption of the day - Goran leading 6-3 2-2, Karlovic up 2-1 in sets plus a break vs Srichiphan and, for poor old Arvind (new Brit #2, y'know), in the midst of a second consecutive tie-break when the heavens opened.

Back to mesmeric drift courtesy of BBCi's ambient telly.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 13:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Ch701 got a bit crazy just now - a live image of Court #1 with the tent up fast-cut with pans and zooms on a computer-mapped image of the same court (probably sourced from Hawk-Eye). The editing suite folks are getting very bored.

And the covers are off!

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

here you go Mike. just copy and paste as you need:

à á ä å ç è é ê ë ì î ï ñ ò ó ô ö ø ù ú û ü

― zebedee (zebedee), Monday, 21 June 2004 14:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Cor, thanks!

I meant to say Käytävä and Viemärimaailma above.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Ivo the Engine outsteams the Paradox 3 sets to 1, and with it the tounrament losers a player genuinely capable of beating the big guns.

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 21 June 2004 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, it's a shame when someone obviously capable of doing well here just can't settle in their opening match and gets unseated by a big hitter. Anyway, they're off again. Arvind - like you knew he would - came out to consolidate his 5-3 lead in the breaker after the rain delay and lost four points in a row and the set.

Weather's supposed to improve from Friday.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Goran takes the second set on the breaker - he may yet finish before the footy. There's sunshine and shadows on Centre for the first time today - we may be in for a bit of a spell as they used to say in the music halls.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 16:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Phenomenal retrieving from Goran in that last game - one clay-court slide to swipe back a forehand in particular - and he goes through 6-3 7-6 6-2. Next it's Delgado (Brit version) or Volandri and then maybe Hewitt. Who knows?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 16:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Smashed/Pissed a set and a break down to a Slovak

― zebedee (zebedee), Monday, 21 June 2004 16:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Much to coo over in the play of Coria and Myskina but they've each just blown a break advantage on the showcourts. Perfect summer evening now with play on every court. Only 22 of the 64 scheduled singles matches completed at 7pm - our lucky winners:

FedEx, InFallable, Suntory, Johan's #1 Son, Elsie's Sneer, KarnEvilNine, Goran, Chewitt, Vespertineman, Gin'n'Tonic, Hot Sauce, Kohoutek, Panini, Ageless, Oblata, Duckworth, Robotnik, Chlad Valley, Venus, Ash, AI, GotThaWrong.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 17:04 (twenty-one years ago)

GORAN!! Tears in my eyes.

― Aaron A., Monday, 21 June 2004 19:55 (twenty-one years ago)

srichapan Vs. karlovic in the first round. I love wimbledon.

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 21 June 2004 21:51 (twenty-one years ago)

19 of 32 men's matches completed, 22 of 32 women's - not bad considering how little tennis we'd seen by dinner time. Among the incompleteds: Moya-Patience rather ambitiously took to court in the near-dusk and packed it in at set-all around 9-ish; Coria couldn't shake off Moodie - they'll play their fifth set tomorrow after the Henmisery; Gambill two sets up on Miryni. Dulko finished off Dokic; somehow I doubt she'll take down Queen Mother Marti Navrat three and one like she did in Paris.

Who's this I spy in tomorrow's order of play? It's our baked buddy, Potito Starace! I guess this means James Blake is out, cos the lucky loser with crisp crumb coating has his slot in the draw vs Robredo.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 21 June 2004 22:15 (twenty-one years ago)

That's made my day, Mike!

My mum had a meeting a couple of weeks ago with film producer Ashok Armitraj. Sound familiar?

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 10:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I still want to know how the Mayotte-Gomes match-up works out.

― the junefox, Tuesday, 22 June 2004 10:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, I knew Vijay and Anand but not Ashok (Wimbledon junior runner-up, 1974, apparently). The story everyone tells about VJ of course, is that when Octopussy was showing in London just prior to The Championships in '83, a bunch of pros went to see it and at the scene where Roger Moore finds Amritraj's dead body, some final round loser from qualifying jumps up and shouts, "I'm in!" Hyuk-hyuk-hyuk.

Vijay famously had Borg on the rack in an early round at Wimbledon in '79 and led Connors by two sets in the '81 quarterfinals. I'd kill to have those matches on tape.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 10:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Clement must be hoping it gets inclement real soon - Johan's #2 Son has him two sets down; Safin just blew a chance to be similarly privileged vs Tursunov and has now dropped the 2nd set; the Henbot has jerked into action and is already a break down. Oops! For Fish, it's clear water, and Sargsian is chanting at Lopez, "It's all gone quiet over there."

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 11:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, for the other Lopez, the one for whom silence truly is golden, he's got some Brit chancer down on the noisefloor and he's getting granular on his ass.

Henman's a set down. I don't want to be selfish about this, but I only agreed to work late tonight cos I thought it would pour down. Where is English rain?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 11:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Jayzus -- do you think Henman could actually go out today?

― the bellefox, Tuesday, 22 June 2004 11:53 (twenty-one years ago)

there's a RULE that says England can't be good at football AND cricket AND tennis all at the same time

― zebedee (zebedee), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 11:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Chandra Levy's been murdered by Marion "John Wayne" Bartoli!

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 12:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I think it's about as likely as France going out of Euro2004 last night - in other words, he'll come good but it'll be iffy for a while. A break down in set two, I see. In other slightly bewildering news, Safin is now two sets to one down.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 12:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Meanwhile in the women's, Ver Diva is a set-all and 3-2 down in the thrid against Kleinova, and Serena's making it all look depressingly de rigeur against ZhengALeng.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 12:01 (twenty-one years ago)

A bit of a Hidalgo's Hideaway for Henman. Australian TV assumes we want to watch Mark Phillippoussis. They are sadly correct for most people, but not for me.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 12:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Other'n that, not much of note except that Mandula's gone and Hantuchova and Mooski haven't; manwise Marat's just gone two sets to one down against Tursentine and Jan Vacek's in danger of doing the same against the Only Living Boy In Chinese Taipei. Saulnier and Llodra are about as inseparable as you'd expect them to be. Male seeds are all still standing, Flicka and Fishy through no problems. However, Wayne Arthurs loses three consecutive tiebreaks and suffers ultimate Aussie humiliation of going out to a German with a really girly sounding name.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 12:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Sheila?

You'd think, working in the meeja, we'd have something better in the office than a B&W Panasonic portable with no remote and most of its facia missing (hence no one knows what any of the little knobs do). I've just spent 10 minutes tuning in BBC1 so we can have a little silent Henman in a side office; God help us if it switches to BBC2.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 12:18 (twenty-one years ago)

WOAH Demon TiVo is out!

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 12:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, Ellie finds someone else's serve to hate as Kleinova dumps her in three. Serena through easy, and Vent-O should be about to join her in a sec.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 12:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Did you see Kleinova weeping? Bless! She didn't smile for about a minute after her win, just sat with her head in her hands and her body racked with sobs. I want to hug her.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 12:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Henman is a jammy sod - he's awful off the ground, being outplayed at the net and if Ramirez hadn't choked and expected TH's fading return to drop wide at 6-4 up in the breaker (unprepared to play a stroke he shanked his backhand long), Timmeh would be two sets down now. But he's not: 4-6 7-6.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 12:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Meanwhile, Big Ouzo is bludgeoning the other Rochus Man to death, and boring everyone watching to a similar state.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 12:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Eek-a-mouse - Marat's gone in four!

Oh, and Llodra's sunk by The Nice One in three.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 12:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Come on Flava! Court 13 holds its breath!

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Nads Lampin' with Flava!

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 13:20 (twenty-one years ago)

(I went through the LTA website to discover who I should support, in case you're wondering. Flavia Pennetta is a winsome Roman lassie, while Maria Elena Camerin and Tathiana Garbin are Venetian dmasels and therefore my chosen tips)

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 13:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Potito Starace, The Name That's Too Humorous To Fuck Wit', is now on court 4.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 13:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Henman 2-1 up now?

― the bellefox, Tuesday, 22 June 2004 13:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Henman won 4-6 7-6 6-4 6-2 in a smudge over three hours. Money's worth, etc.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 14:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Looks like the promised rain has finally arrived - just as I set off home to watch the tennis. Coria looking good at 4-2 in the decider vs Moodie. Harray for Marray - level vs Beck and a break up in the third. Haas was making an aas of me for two sets but looks favourite to force a 5th vs Dupuis.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Whoops - turns out Taipei's got two men in the draw, but YT Wang is facing Roddick, so he's presumably not gonna be around that much longer. Two he-seeds aside from Saffie fall - Ljubicic is removed to ensure that Wayne Ferreira's annual marathon third-round exit goes ahead as scheduled, while Novak is straight-setted with slightly embarassing ease by Dr X.

In the women's, Britain is unbeaten for the day thus far - Elena "My Brother Used To Play For Millwall" Baltacha handily disposing of Marta Marrero, and Wigan lass Jane O'Donoghue emerges victorious from the Battle Of The Rejected Mills & Boon Pseudonyms against Lindsay Lee-Waters. As is becoming the fashion, Eleni Danniilidou's off home early (straight-setted by Maggie Serna), and supposed dark horse Svetlana Kuznetsova is dispatched in three by Racing Club de Razzano. Barry's fancy eventually submits to a licking from Rova, Sprem edges a bit closer to the egg, and Steph Cohen-Aloro gets robbed by Sherwood Foretz. I couldn't quite resist that one.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

"Whitey Wang"???

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

We could be looking at a washout here - I think the last one was the day in 1997 I went with my brother. Left the car at Crewe, caught the early train south and spent the day getting wet. The museum was free that day though.

I wonder what G'mo makes of all this North European dampness? Four sets on Monday, eight games and four points yesterday (he leads 5-3 30/30 in the 5th) after waiting three hours plus for Timmeh to finish* and probably sod all today.

(* - There is a rational explanation for the All-England Club scheduling things like this, i.e. a new match must be played to completion at the start of play before a suspended match can resume on the same court, but I can't think what it is. That rule is not in force today.)

Hey, is it brightening up?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 12:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Chandra Levy's been murdered by Marion "John Wayne" Bartoli!

Giggle. That was the first match I went to see... and my, Ms Rubin did not endear herself to the massed crowds out on Court 11 by being 'fashionably late' to the tune of 20 minutes - 20 minutes which saw the rather, ahem, emotional Maid Marion become progressively anguished. When she did stroll on court, all we got in the way of apology was a curt word to the umpire, who'd been looking rather panicky herself, and not a glance at the French girl. Rubin went up 5-0 in about two seconds... then Bartoli got over the distraction tactic, and KICKED ASS.

Assorted notes from my day at the tennis: Elena Bovina is the most awesome physical specimen ever - and the way she wears her collars turned up ROCKS; Marion Bartoli's rather individual training methods involve practising her serve with a rugby ball; Karol Beck is super-hot; Arnaud Clément threw a massive hissy fit towards the end of his match with Joachim Johansson; Marissa Irvin is the epitome of the petulant, spoilt rich bitch, and was getting blatant coaching from the side ("serve down the T!" - I'm surprised she didn't get warned).

Ick factor of the day was seeing Daniela Hantuchova accosted by a fat middle-aged man on her way back from her match demanding a kiss - she acquiesced, and was immediately swamped by every teenage boy in the vicinity; Mardy Fish used to be super-hot, but his hair is now long and disgusting; Albert Costa got aced by an 87mph FIRST serve from a British chancer who went 5-1 up by virtue of Costa being present on court in only the physical sense.

My housemate got the best birthday present ever when she wished Guillermo Coria 'good luck' in Spanish after a practice session, and he turned and gave her the CUTEST SMILE EVER and said 'gracias' - very good of him, given that minutes previously, we'd been openly and graphically lusting after him, only to find that the blinged-out woman in front of us was G-mo's wife; Serena Williams's dress is the worst fashion faux pas since Serena Williams's last dress (what is with that shoddy hemline? has she just taken a pair of scissors to it?).

Sadness of the day: the three players I'd gotten all excited about in the order of play were Tatiana Golovin, Lina Krasnoroutskaya and Igor Andreev; all were scheduled last and even now have not made it on to court - this especially hurts in Andreev's case, as I have heard a frustrating amount about his six pack and was hoping to see it in person. I did get to see Lina practise, though, and I reiterate: she is the most beautiful woman on tour, bar none.

Great matches of the day: Petrova v Pennetta, a classic case of a top player having to battle both a super-talented opponent and her own mental demons at the same time, and somewhat surprisingly beating both; Beck v Marray - Marray comes into net off anything and everything, but Beck was doing a superb job of countering the attack; Jankovic v Koukalova, your old-fashioned Master Blaster Power Player v Feisty Counterpuncher match; Morigami v Schnyder, far closer than the score suggests, and if Mpaperfolding hadn't been diddled on line calls on key points (set point to Batty Patty in the first set, break back point in the second set), things could have been a lot different - but the best thing about watching tennis in person is that you get to see the variety of spins which the players can employ. Morigami v Schnyder on TV would have looked like pat-ball, but in person every single shot was riveting... they're both such creative players.

Bad matches: Kuznetsova v Razzano (Sveta needs to learn about the net, and why it is a bad idea to hit groundstrokes into the bottom of it), Dementieva v Kleinova, for obvious reasons.

Evilness on the part of the Wimbledon organisers: minutes after the announcement that there was a 99.9% chance that play was done for the day at about 6.30pm, we left - only to find that they were still letting people buy used tickets without telling them about the forecast; the THREE POUNDS NINETY-FUCKING-FIVE for a glass of wine.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 15:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, it definitely sounds like I picked the wrong week to get a job.

Anyway - on the third day, the Lord Brought Down The Rains Upon The South-East (And Yea, also Unto The South-West 19). One bit news tho - Elena Bovina's awesome physicality is overcome by abdominal problems, giving Hantuchova a walkover into round three.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Great stuff, Lex.

Serena Williams's dress is the worst fashion faux pas since Serena Williams's last dress (what is with that shoddy hemline? has she just taken a pair of scissors to it?).

She's heard about the Pixies' reunion and got the wrong end of the stick. Wand. Whatever.

Four suns and a white cloud with peek-a-boo sun on the BBC 5-day forecast which sounds more like the weather at 35,000ft. Decision to grab some weekend overtime on Sunday may yet be premature. By my reckoning they're 77 singles matches behind schedule and anyone who suggests getting the doubles nets out of storage is just laughed at.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

(I'm having to mothball my "Potito Blight" headlines as the spunky Italian is playing high-risk double or quits deuceball with Tommy Robredo Out Of The Sopranos.)

Lex, that was great! You are one horny bugger, though.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 24 June 2004 09:31 (twenty-one years ago)

(He is, isn't he? But then again, where's our common cultural ground with tennis players? With pop star idols you could imagine getting drunk with them and talking about this writer or that architect; with sports stars perhaps lust is all).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 09:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd like to play a few sets of doubles with my swoonsome Latin twosome Maria Elena and Flava Flav, that's for sure.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 24 June 2004 09:41 (twenty-one years ago)

yo yo yo what time is it?

time for tennis Flav

― chris (chris), Thursday, 24 June 2004 09:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Also let's not forget the customarily skimpy attire of sportsmen. And women. Flava Flav is very pretty, incidentally.

G-mo through after taking the requred two points - very surreal, their warm-up took less time than the conclusion of the actual match. And British schoolgirl Katie O'Brien, having hotfooted it over to Wimbledon today after a Maths A-level this morning, battles bravely but goes down to Maria Sánchez Lorenzo 6-4 6-4.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Golly, caught napping by the early start, results are flooding in!

Coria finally nailed Moodie - did anyone see it? Was it just two points or did it go to deuce? Did Wesley even touch the ball?

Starchy roasts four, four and four. Dent bashes Delgado (Paraguay, GB, makes no diff), 15th seed Massu flopps to Popp, David Ferrer follows Jose and Miguel into the limelight, if not a double appearance on Columbo, and his near-namesakes in r2. Katie O'Brien fails to maintain the Brit surge and softly folds to a Meyer Sound loudspeaker.

xpost!

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Cor, Marray serving for it vs Beck. It's like the 1930s! Oh, hang on, Sjeng has just committed an Unsolved Childs Murder. Schu & Sod and van 'Down' Schep & PeskySolidO also in full-distance ding-dongs.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Coria's first point - Moodie forehand long; Coria's second point - numerous overrules, lets, second serves, then a Moodie forehand long. Good to see both of them seeing the funny side afterwards, though if you've grown up with a name like Wesley Moodie I expect a sense of humour is somewhat necessary.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Haas through 8-6 in the 5th! You beaauty! Marray fluffed it - back to 5-4.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Beck just saved a match point - I wish I could see this, it was a brilliant match the other day and as I've noted already, Beck is yummier than his alcoholic namesake. However, it's not even on a televised court - earlier, when mentioning it, I think they had to send someone over with a camcorder.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, court 5 - it's practically invisible. I thought, by law, British wildcards had to play on a minor showcourt with unreserved seating and a camera gantry in case of displays of videogenic pluck.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Is Marray the dee-da (ie person from Sheffield)?

― chris (chris), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Another two match points gone for Marray. I'm kind of torn, because I actually really like Marray's game and he's one of the few British men who doesn't piss me off... but I like Beck's game as well, and he's hotter. Horrendous misjudgement to put Childs and Hilton onTV courts over this.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I hope Jonesy's seen this, and that he'll bewearing a roger mask over the weekend

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/tennis/newsid_3819000/3819473.stm

― chris (chris), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Too right, Lex. What were they thinking? Performances at Queen's obviously indicated some grass-court craft (but so did Beck's).

6-6 and now Marray is 15/30 on his serve.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Performances at Queen's obviously indicated some grass-court craft (but so did Beck's).

Exacvtly! TWO good grass court players, BOTH in form, yet sucky players like Childs get show court time ahead of them.

I'm so printing out the Myskina mask! I find it incredibly exciting that my favourite player of five years is now a STAR and IN DEMAND.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Marray holds for 8-7! I'm waiting until lunch until opening that PDF - I can just about get away with this while I'm supposed to be subbing Shaun Of The Dead extras (it might be WWW research, y'know?) but not a bloody great drawing of Mysky on my screen.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I couldn't predict who will crack first - Beck's the more solid, all-round better player... but Marray's volleying is to die for, and he'll have to really fuck up to lose serve at this stage.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:57 (twenty-one years ago)

And Beck breaks for 9-8. Oh well, good effort, etc.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha cue Marray losing serve immediately after I typed that.

Rainer not rained out - he moves on 6-2 in the third over Robin Reliant.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 10:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I see SoSolid and Pingu are 6-6 in the 5th too (Schu shuk off Soldering 6-2) - don't these people realise there's a backlog on?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 11:01 (twenty-one years ago)

This Marrayge is over - Beck's no Loser as he takes the final set 10-8.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 24 June 2004 11:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Another of my top tips is haemorrhaging games - Safina down 0-6 0-1; Pesc and Shlepp are trying to outdo Marray-Beck at 8-8, Rusedski a set up, Roddick two sets and a break up.

People are having massages in our tennis telly room! I ask you!

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 11:12 (twenty-one years ago)

What the hell, Dinara Safina is 0-6 0-1 down to Arantxa Mk II (Parra Santonja remix).

Van Scheppingen schepping on, the least interesting round one match is now at 8-8 in the fifth... you can hear the organisers grinding their teeth from here.

(xposts!)

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 11:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh no... Safina retired 0-6 0-2 down and apparently walked off court in tears :( :(

Poor Dina.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 11:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, that's rotten. Rusedski's a break down in the second to a man with "salt and pepper coloured hair" (thanks, R5). Or perhaps they meant he gets Spinderella to dye his locks.

A-Rod through, perfunctorily, vs Wang. I'm right out of nicknames there.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 11:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Bromsgrove Hilton straight sets Costa, Pesky outgrinds Schep, and basically all the seeds are through apart from Massu. And Luis Horna, who was apparently installed as seed #33 after Bandy went out, though it hardly matters cos Ancic has done for him.

Only five women's matches done, and Milly Sequera straight setting La Conchita is the only result of any real note among them.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:09 (twenty-one years ago)

"Bromsgrove Hilton" is my favourite thing so far.

Greg's playing unexpectedly well - up two sets to one and a break over PastaInAColdBloodSauce; Mary Pierce is feeling the pressure from Ruano - whomped in the first set, steadier in the second.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Schia Pride serving to stay in at 5-3 down in the second against The Red Hot Genevan Love Machine. Her compatriot Farina-Elia (Guaranteed 9AM delivery) has just bludgeoned a Chinese girl.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I've decided I like 'whomped' and shall use it all cases of a 6-2 set in future. 7-5 is 'jostled' and 7-6 is 'frisked'. 6-0 is 'atomised'.

Others to follow.

Look aht! Todd Martin's in a five-setter!

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:18 (twenty-one years ago)

SHOCKA

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:19 (twenty-one years ago)

there was a moment in the second set, sanguinetti targeting the rusedski backhand (haha 'the rusedski backhand') like a haphazard knee and greg seemed to flip off like a mercury tilt switch, looked dangerous, but he looks comfortable, if old, now.

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I liked, what I thought was a phrase, the phrase 'moody forehand', above.

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:21 (twenty-one years ago)

And Greg's through. British men narrowly avoiding getting outnumbered by girls.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Meanwhile, Fabby and Mary are in serious ish.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:25 (twenty-one years ago)

And play is suspended on two courts... bugger. Back to work then.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:26 (twenty-one years ago)

21 aces, 40 other winners, GR through 7-5 4-6 6-2 6-2. That's actually pretty good. Like Goran, he was just waiting, taunting us with his crapness.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:27 (twenty-one years ago)

If the sky was any bluer over W1 you'd be loosening its clothing and giving it mouth-to-mouth (or it'd be sharing a bill with Bernard Manning and Joni Mitchell) - and yet, we have rain in SW19. Surely short-lived.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:37 (twenty-one years ago)

British men narrowly avoiding getting outnumbered by girls.

British men outnumbered by girls anyway - 4 ladies through, 3 menz.

I'm trying to work out why in this rain-delay tape the BBC commentators keep calling the Dickhead's opponent Jimmy Wong when everything else tells me his name is Yeu-Tzuoo Wang. I would also like to give them the message that I DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANDY RODDICK'S STUPID SERVICE SPEED/DIRECTION/GENERAL AMAZINGNESS, and can they please stop kissing his arse. Wow, when Federer thrashes him in the final it will be sweet indeed.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:58 (twenty-one years ago)

It'd be sweeter if he'd get knocked out earlier.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Mary P lasts but a thrice after the clouds clear - whomped and jostled out of the event.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Two seeds out in the blink of an eye, both straight sets - Zulu gets Kremed, Piercey's Pascuarised.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I loooove Vivi Ruano Pascual's smile!

Mauresmo v Kostanic was a rather lovely little vignette which pleased the aesthete in me greatly, and made up somewhat for the trauma of watching Roddick's distinctly unartistic brand of tennis earlier.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Just catching (live, I think) the closing stages of set 5 of Forrest Gump v Canas. Struck by how seriously ancient the Toddmeister is looking these days - now grey from ear to ear, he looks sort of like a taller, animated, less obviously sociopathic Andy Caddick.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Goran down a break. Ferrero Rocher having done to him what was probably suspected to happen in his condition, but somewhat sooner.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh wait, he looks like winning the second set.

Lleyton's on and I am clearly the only person on this thread who wants him to win.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

And Forrest Gump is through....9-7 over Canas. Schalken awaits.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:44 (twenty-one years ago)

After that scare in the second Frankie knuckles down to it and Goes To Hollywood (the second round). And, in ultra-irony shocker, rain does Sun no end of good, as she races from one set down to 5-0 up in the second on Garbin.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, and Nielsen blows Gasquet.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, are there pictures?

Horrible pun: Sun Shines After The Rain

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Meanwhile, Claudine Schaul is getting capped on by Crapriati. A bit of a shame, and not for the standard Down-with-JC reason. 'Clouds' won a fair few admirers in Oz by her brave effort against Molik. She is also one of the more graceful players on the scene just at the mo.

Ahead in the women's draw: A possible confrontation two rounds away between Grand-Martina and Vera 'Vinegar Tits' Zvoroneva. If Zorro carries on with any of her Oz-style antics, Martina the Mother-Figure should do what any mother would have two generations back, and summarily put her over her knee.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:57 (twenty-one years ago)

9th seed Payola (as she was known throughout her Oz venture) Suarez wins through to Rd 2, against the Woman Whose Name Most Belongs On 'Days Of Our Lives', Shenay Perry, who unsurprisingly is American.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Hewitt wins the first set, and Australian TV decide to take a break and show some spectators.

RATHER THAN SHOWING THE TIEBREAKER IN WHICH WE FIND OUT if Shinobu exacts her Revenge on Raymond and takes it to one set apiece.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Hewitt wins first set.

To my surprise, the most sartorially-challenged player in this gig obviously isn't the Llout, or even 'Rob the Slob' Ginepri, but the bloke staring across the net at Hewitt as we speak. Labadze literally looks like he had to fight his way through a very large hedge to get into the stadium.

Foxtel weren't showing Hewitt at all, but Koubek and Ferrero.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Everyone Except TV Schedulers loves Raymond, as Shinobu clearly used up her A-button Special Attack to no avail in the tiebraker.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Igor Andreev wreaks horrendous vengeance - JVL takes the first set 6-2, so Igor takes the next three for the loss of five games. He's a bit good.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:16 (twenty-one years ago)

shinobu 'ad a goe but it weren't good emough?

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Sun did indeed shine after the rain - indeed, she dropped just two more games in the match. Berri would be proud.

J-Hop and J-Fat maximise the number of American Jennifers in the second round; Mantilla combs over Pless 6-1 in the fourth.

A curse on the houses of Richard Gasquet and Kenneth Carlsen - their marathon match means that Lina K has only just started her first round and will be DISADVANTAGED for the rest of the tournament.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Just four more matches and the entire first round is done (and mucho r2 action underway) - Krasnoroutskaya-Nagyova look to be bringing up the rear, only four games in. As dry as this tomorrow and we can forget about People's Sunday (aka Gits Day Out).

I'm choked to be missing so much of this; nada on TV post-work yesterday or Tuesday and most of Monday's good spell overlapped Eng-Cro.

xpost

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I love Lina K! She looks just like a friend of mine! The further she progresses the more people have to type her name or pronounce it and that's great.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Watching Federer now: he's just taken 17 minutes to wrap up the first set v Falla of Columbia 6-1, and looked awesome in the process. As one of the commentators said, Falla isn't making a goose of himself, the few playable balls Rodge is giving him, he's playing well. But Federer is playing some amazing shots and combining 100% power with 100% cunning.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Apropos of nothing: Federer's sister is very good looking.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:34 (twenty-one years ago)

enjoy it while you can, rain is heading Wimbledon way methinks. Uxbridge is currently suffering a downpour of biblical proportions and it seems to be heading that way

― chris (chris), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Methinks Hewitt won't mind his Labadze Exercise being interrupted, and Fish, looking out-of-water at the moment would benefit.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:37 (twenty-one years ago)

x-post Ed:

Which is actually quite interesting when you consider what a non-oil-painting the Rodgemeister is.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:37 (twenty-one years ago)

That's why I pointed it out, Fred! Her: I would! Him: I wouldn't!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, for goodness sake, am I going to see any of this bloody event outside of the days I've taken off?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

And The News is that Hewi Llewis has lambasted Labaze to go 2 sets to love up...

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:47 (twenty-one years ago)

A shudder just went through the crowd when Fed went 15-30 down on serve at 3-2 in the second. It was the first time he had been behind on serve all match.

Llout has broken Labadze to go to 5-4 in the second but, as all Lleyton-watchers know, that means the hard part (holding next game) is just coming...

(x-post) but obv not this time.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:48 (twenty-one years ago)

lambasted Labadze rather. Goran levels at one apiece.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

actually Jonesy, it now looks like it's heading wembley/Kilburn way, so you might be ok. View over Heathrow etc = clear

― chris (chris), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Chewy Hewy's full of sugar is chewing Labadze out of his mind, getting a break in the third.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, sod it, I've made social plans so I won't be home until just before Eng-Por. Ginepri first player into round three?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 14:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Players into round three: Ginepri, Hantuchova, Chladkova.
Round one matches still to be completed: Lina K v Nags, Callens v Harkleroad, Schett v Serve'n'Over.

Labadze hit some amazing shots in the Chewitt match... he has a supersonic forehand. Also some stinkers though, especially a 119mph second serve, break point down at 4-4 in the second set, which landed approximately five miles out.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 15:09 (twenty-one years ago)

The man Goran is serving for the match now... and you'd trust him as much as anyone to serve out a match, right?

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Saw that second serve of Labadze's. It was certainly one of the more brainless bits of tennis I've seen lately.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh Goran.

― Tag (Tag), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Notice one of my favorite clay court hacks, Albert Costa, has just bade his usual mid-week-1 farewell to Wimbledon, the mystery of how the hell you're supposed to play tennis on that ridiculous green stuff still as deep as ever. His conqueror this time: that local towering presence in world tennis, Mark Hilton.

(What has Goran done?)

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Goran won. He stuck his tongue out, de-shirted and tossed a racket into a crowd. Yay Goran. What good value he is.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, crap, just as Karolina Sprem looked like she was going to wiggle and swim through the first set against the once-impregnable Elder Williams, she gave the break back when she failed to serve the set out. Five-all.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Venus is wearing something that may be a mangled nightie.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Yay. Pr0n saves two set points and forces a tiebreaker with Hulk A some good serving and quick movement.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh Karolina! Gal move your body! 7 games to 6!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 16:48 (twenty-one years ago)

"Slight opening for Sprem" 7-6, 3-1

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Could our magnificently named Croatian protagonist ever have CONCEIVED she would be on the verge of such a breakthrough; a BERTH in the third round? 4-1!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:05 (twenty-one years ago)

4-1. Go Sprem!

in other news, posh double-barreled brit girl is a break up in final set against Frazier Crane

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

And Myskina blew a big lead and might lose this set... come on sexy space alien, do it for Lex!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

gah. 5-4

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh dear, same as last set. Hopefully she'll reproduce the same result in this one. There are more bad jokes to crack.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)

myskina is so hot right now.

'sperm' jokes need not apply.

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Spunk 6-5 up on Chunk. Frazier's ultra-close to getting lost on the road to Webley...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Speak of the devil and she pulls it back to 5-5. Hmm.

In the men's, Dimitri The Marat-Slayer's having all his good bits edited out for the early evening by Station Officer Sargsian.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:31 (twenty-one years ago)

And he's just pulled it back to 5-5 too.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

And there's the money shot! Sprem through 7-6 7-6 over Venus!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:37 (twenty-one years ago)

what was the controversy in the tie-break?

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I think I've just...

(d'oh! xpost)

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I actually can't tell as I had the sound down while listening to Croatian pop music in honour of Karolina's homeland.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Princess levels at one set all.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah. The umpire miscalled the tiebreak score at 4-1. 4-2 he sed.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

well that's just bloody stupid umpiring.

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

And Maggie M has a routine win against Craybas.

Frazier 7-6 up in the third, needs to hold serve to squelch Webby.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:43 (twenty-one years ago)

nah more complicated than that. sprem plays first serve to the left court at 1-2, fault. umpire calls 2-2. sprem plays what she thinks is her second serve, umpire thinks is a new point, faults and umpire calls 2-3. williams now serves again (!) into the left court (that's three consecutive points, by the umpire's reckoning all in the left court) and wins the point, 4-2. when it should have been, um, 3-2 williams? : /

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

hmmm, Webley-Special and Crane going into overtime. Don't they know the footie's starting?

so i'll quickly note that Maleeva, M has just beaten the Crayfishseabas and i'm out (xxxxpost)

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

And out on the wild blue yonder of Court 15, Sargs and Tursie are gonna hammer it out until the evening sun goes down.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

(correction: she didn't fault on her 'second serve', williams won the point.)

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Unbelievable - Sprem served a fault at 1-2, Venus patted it back and Sprem swiped away a backhand for a 'winner' - the umpire called 2-2. Ignoring this, Sprem just got on with her second serve from the ad court - Venus hit a clean winner off it and the ump called 3-2 instead of 3-1. Mild confusion for a moment, but Venus then proceeded to serve from the deuce court instead of the ad court. They changed ends and Venus again served from the deuce court (what were they thinking?). Venus eventually lost the t-b 6-8 from 6-3 up.

Bizarre.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:46 (twenty-one years ago)

(England seem to have scored already. Huge roar as I was about to log off)

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Yup, Owen just scored.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:49 (twenty-one years ago)

And there goes poor old Webbers - all guts and no glory in the only women's 2nd rounder to have gone the distance thus far.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 17:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Incidentally, if anyone knows anyone who's watching "I'm Sargis, He's Dmitry" (17th Glorious Year Of Going With Serve) - what's it like?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't be arsed with the football. Bjork-Man has buttoned Yen-Hsun.

Oh, and Mardy Fish got dipped by Jo-Jo earlier on. Unaware if it was Cajun-style or no.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Navvy is out, Mysky up 5-4 in the final.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:16 (twenty-one years ago)

The Myskmistress was serving for it against Kapros - and she couldn't hold it. 5-4 up in the third.

Dulko does the double over Martina, but takes a wee bit longer this time round - 3-6 6-3 6-3.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Meanwhile - Sargsian and Tursunov get set for the 23rd game of the fifth set.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:18 (twenty-one years ago)

And Sargis takes it to lead 12-11...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Out on 17, Gilly Elseneer finally gets the wind up - having lost the first two sets against Ivo-9 6-4 6-4, he takes the third 6-3. Has the big man got the metaphorical legs as well as the actual ones?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Nastya survives her brief scare and breaks back to go through.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:22 (twenty-one years ago)

12-12.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:22 (twenty-one years ago)

If there is a record, have they broken it yet?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:23 (twenty-one years ago)

13-12. Over to you Dmitry.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:25 (twenty-one years ago)

20-18? that's in mens, I think.

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:26 (twenty-one years ago)

schalken and someone, last year (??).

― cozen (Cozen), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Right, they're 5 games short of Santoro-Clement. Let us see what we shall see. Except they'll get pulled off for bad light in a minute, won't they?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

It went to deuce - Tursunov with Advantage...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Back to deuce...

(Bartoli pistol-whips into the third)

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:32 (twenty-one years ago)

No, hang on, Tursunov's got it. 13-13.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Sargsian 15-40 down...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:34 (twenty-one years ago)

30-40

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Tursunov gets it! Hold serve now and it's over...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh no! Down 00-30!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)

0-40. Sargsian gets this then the record tilt is on.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:39 (twenty-one years ago)

30-40...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Terse Enough deuces... and it's tense enough.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Advantage Tursonov...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

IT!

ALL!

OVAAAAAAH!

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Tursonov takes it 15-13, thus presumably making it the second-longest GS match in history.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Elsewhere, Mighty Meg serves for it against Footballers' Vives as Ivo returns for it against Elsie.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Vives serving for 7-6 now, Ivo facing for 7-5.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Dinner calls me away as the ladies go 7-7, and Ivo and Gilles are in a tie-break.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 18:55 (twenty-one years ago)

It's really weird to have gone through all of this drama from my sofa... then to come back to an internet recap!

Goodness, Venus got diddled... and it threw the whole tiebreak out, both Vee and K-Lina knew that something was wrong but didn't quite know what (I think both said afterwards that they assumed they'd got the score wrong themselves), and their confusion showed in their play. It must be said that they'd never have been in that situation if K-Lina hadn't choked at 5-3 30-0, though. And apart from that, it was a great match.

Unlike Nastya v Kapros... Nastya needs to get on to the practise court post-haste and hit a million forehands until she can hit them into the court again.

When I said that Lina K was the most beautiful woman to play tennis bar none upthread... by 'bar none', I meant 'bar Gisela Dulko'.

Llagostera Vives leads 8-7
Elseneer has set point in a tiebreak

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 19:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Umpiring cock-ups like that happen more often than you'd think, though... the infamous incident just last month when Nalby lost it in the Roland Garros semis when the ump failed to call a change of ends... a match between Anne Kremer and Jennifer Hopkins a couple of years ago when the lines were painted wrong, make the service box three sq ft smaller than it should have been... a match at Roland Garros in 2002 when Elena Dementieva served two games in a row (unsurprisingly, she lost the match)...

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha.

Play suspended with Meg and Nuria at 8-8, and with Ivo and Gilles at 9-9 in the tiebreak. Talk about having to come out firing tomorrow for all concerned.

I think we can safely say that Wimbledon came alive today.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 19:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Maria Elena Garbin was knocked out today :(

My supporting-Italian-tennis-stars-after-the-footie-disaster plan is having mixed success - what are the odds that Silvia Paraphernalia will win her first grand slam title?

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 24 June 2004 21:59 (twenty-one years ago)

How can play be suspended at 9-9 in a tie-breaker? Was it raining? Surely not bad light?

Sprem-Williams was just the prelude to an exhilarating, exasperating evening.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 24 June 2004 22:04 (twenty-one years ago)

You've rather mixed up two Italians there, Maria Elena Camerin and Tathiana Garbin, both of whom got a bit squashed today.

Three Italians still in, though - Farina Elia, who might squeak into the later rounds, Frankie Schiavone, who probably won't, and Rita Grande, who's just generally A Bit Rub Really (and got through by beating another Italian, Mara Santangelo).

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 22:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, the women's draw is really rather tight at the moment, with a fair few ties that are 50-50 - certainly after today's results, tomorrow's SunKreme clash could really be one to keep an eye on, as could Steady Mike's Standby vs. Razzo The Rit. Sharapova-Hantuchova definitely ought to be an interesting battle, and with the winner likely to face Nastya, then coming up against one of Molik, Tanasugarn, Sugiyama or Bartoli the round after...

The fairly large drawback is that Serena's draw really isn't that hard - a match against Rova or Golovin could be interesting, but looking for people who might stop her in the top half of the draw... you can't see many. Maybe not any, in fact.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 24 June 2004 22:16 (twenty-one years ago)

William - the Fatriati-Serena match is pretty much 50-50. Those matches are odd in that Serena is the better player in nearly every respect, but always, always gets suckered into playing at J-Fat's level - and it's mental strength which ultimately determines the outcome, rather than surface or form. And J-Fat's got the edge mentally right now.

Agreed about the SunKreme match being key though... it wouldn't surprise me if the winner reached the quarters, though obviously Payola and Liquor lie in wait to tempt them from their path to glory.

Grandmartina's interview on the Wimbledon site is petrifying, especially for the budding journalist. "WHO ARE YOU?"

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 22:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh and haha I've only just realised what Mark's reference to the footie disaster is all about... it completely passed me by that England were playing today. I take it they lost, yes? Our house is a football-free zone.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 22:34 (twenty-one years ago)

b-but Markelby is Italian. (they also lost)

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 24 June 2004 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I had no idea they were playing. I didn't know there was a football tournament on until last week. Sorry.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 24 June 2004 22:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Normally finding Venus to be a graceless bore (at least Serena can produce genuine skillz when required), I am impressed with her humility after the Sprem loss.

"She played really well, she deserved to win.", she said.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 05:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Call me a moran but I give Goran a chance v. Hewitt. I'm waking up to Wimbledon (in 4 hours)

― Aaron A., Friday, 25 June 2004 06:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I reckon a head case like Gors may be exactly the type to worry a plodder like Hewitt quite badly. Like the executioner's face (a Dylan reference), Llout's lateral thinking instincts are always kept well hidden, whereas any thinking Goran ever does is lateral.

Goran can possibly afford to be even more off-the-air than is usually considered safe or normal by Goran standards tonight. Nobody punishes mistakes with quite the ruthless inefficiency, or should that be the reckless efficiency, of LH. (Er, my point is, he ain't super good at it, OK?).

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 07:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh I love Goran more than toast itself. I hope hope hope he llays out the Chewitt. Keep those socks pulled up!

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Friday, 25 June 2004 08:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Today at Wimbledon on the Venus-Sprem controversy annoyed me last night. Inverdale and McEnroe practically accused Sprem of cheating. "Oh Venus, she must have just lost track of the score, but Sprem KNEW!!!". Arseholes.

― zebedee (zebedee), Friday, 25 June 2004 09:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Well of course she knew. SHE IS FROM FOREIGN, therefore she is a cheater, is she not. Where's she from? Croatia? Where was THAT country fifteen years ago? It snuck up on a trusting, unassuming world, just like Sprem snuck up on the good, pure shining Venus.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 09:23 (twenty-one years ago)

They're underway - Alex Popp is racing away with it against Albert Montanes, no major shocks as yet unless you count Benny jetting the first against Ancic.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 25 June 2004 09:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Timbo down a break. Queen Serene up 5-0 as Foretz is lost in the woods. That said, she has had a couple of deuces in a couple of games

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 10:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Foretz goes a break up in the second.

Payo through no sweat against Callens.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 25 June 2004 10:53 (twenty-one years ago)

And Henman recovers from breaks twice to win the first 7-5.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 10:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Another eyetie sleeps with the (solid) fishes - Taylor dents the Italian's pride with a 3 set stroll.

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 25 June 2004 11:07 (twenty-one years ago)

This resumed tiebreak between Elsie and Karly is fascinating - Karlovic has missed a match point on his serve, Elseneer at least one set point on his serve... and it's 14-14...

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 25 June 2004 11:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Ernie and Ivo about to resume discussions over a possible 23 Envelope redesign of the premium bond on #18 after last night's puzzling suspension. All the men through are through in three - that backlog is more of a backtwig now. Ferreira is one of them, setting a new record this event of 55 consecutive Grand Slams played (beating Edberg by one) - hasn't missed one since the 1990 US Open (memo to tabloid journos - possible opportunity to recycle Rooney headlines here).

Thresher gettin' thrashed. Timotei two sets up. Cripes, 14-14 in that Watts-Russell/Elsie breaker.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 11:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Karlovic takes it 16-14, finally.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 25 June 2004 11:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Elsewhere: Serena nearly got lost in the Foretz, having been 2-4 down in the second set, but I've seen Foretz play and it's shocking that things even got to that state. More convinced than ever that Serena will be gone by the semis.

The other suspended epic ended 10-8 in the third to Nutmeg; my poor baby Guillermo lost to the German with the girly name; Rita Grande continues to fly the Italian flag proudly for Markelby.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 25 June 2004 11:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Quite aside from being vexed at all the play I'm missing (total amount of luxuriating in live BBCi wall-of-tennis since Monday = the last five minutes of Sprem-Venus) I'm actually a bit cheesed off at yr actual interactive coverage. Last night Myskina was a set down on court #2 as Venus battled away and what was on channels #701 and #702? An unconvincing END OF PLAY graphic and a replay of Bromsgrove Hilton's earlier match. Grrr.

Gosh, G'mo out to (Ralf &) Florian.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 11:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't have interactive... and god, yesterday the lack of it was driving me mad. Anyone who'd had half an eye on the tennis for the past couple of months would have known that Sprem v Venus was a potential upset, and any sensible TV scheduler would have gone over to it as soon as Goran was done, the point at which K-Lina went a break up in the first... but no, we went over to the start of M-Nav's match. Which, yes, turned out also to be good... but there's no doubt which was the bigger story. And it boggles the mind that with three stories brewing simultaneously (Venus, Nastya, Grandmartina), none were on the interactive channels.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 25 June 2004 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Sprem has certainly been a name to mention, and it's not as if she's been invisible up until this point - she's amassed a good collection of second-tier scalps this year.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:01 (twenty-one years ago)

In fairness, the END OF PLAY thing was probably just a placeholder before that stream reverted to the interactive channel for the England-Portugal match. But BBCi is kind of dodgy - witness the outrage of snooker fans in April when the climax to one match was, without explanation, pulled off air.

My tip Haas is, alaas, slipping behind against Malisse. Why didn't I think Xavier was able? Cap'n Verkerk may yet force Poussis to boldly go home - set all, but big Mart is holding with insulting ease in set three.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Aw, Australian TV has just shown Delta Goodrem. Didn't hear what she said but she looks lovely. RAISE YOUR STANDARDS, DELTA, YOU ARE TOO GOOD FOR MARK.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Hensticks looks set to wrap it all up any minute now. His old arch-nemesis Karol Beck looks set to gun down Tommy R, Igor has just saved his bacon against Ferdy Gonzalez, Greg's coming back to make a fight of the first set against Scuttler, Vince Spadea is actually Playing Quite Well...

But yer match of the day looks set to be Benneteau-Ancic - Full-on back and forth encounter, Benneteau just squared it at two sets all having taken the first 6-4, messed up a tie-break in the seond, and then got slaughtered 6-2 in the third. Ancic with an opportunity to get through, Bendy fights back for the 7-5 snatchage.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Franschi gets clobbered 6-1 in the first by Golovin.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Becky through, Pippo 2-1 up on Verkhorse, Mesmo drops 'opkins, Sjeng seriously out-grizzling Todders, Haas on the brink of getting Bernt...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Rudderski nicks the first on the t-b after squandering a 5-1 lead in same. Haas didn't take to the graas after all - out in four.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Switzergeddon on court 9 - Gagliardi and Schnyder tie-breaking, if Gag chokes it then she's out...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Golovin one game away from a massacre against Vonee...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, and Farina-Elia's through.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Frankie gets a Tatting 6-0 6-1.

And Myskie might follow her - 3-0 down in the first having been broken twice by Smokin' Amy...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Verkerk breaks! The crowd, some of whom are wearing silly orange hats, go wild!

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Poo breaks back, and if you're just watching the scoreline, you might assume it's exciting. It's not, really.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Vince Bloody Shovela (as plain speaking Australians would doubtless call him) is about to complete dis-matilling Felix. The Marrakesh Express (head of a very long orderly queue which has been lining up to beat up on the Big Ouzo in 2004) is similarly placed v David Ferrer (Dave, Rodge and JC Ferrero all in the same doubles game would be enough to send commentators, er, feral).

(STOP PRESS: the aforementioned B.O. has just been broken by Martin Verkerk, whose name I am frantically trying to find a way of mangling into K-Mart)

(STOP STOP PRESS: MP immediately broke back)

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:52 (twenty-one years ago)

MP takes up his seat in round three with a late swing.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:54 (twenty-one years ago)

And congratulations must be due to Mark on winning nearly as many matches since arriving in England as he previously had in the five months since running into Arazi (the Marakesh Express referred to above) on Australia Day.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Nastya no longer chasing Amy as she is now up 5-4.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 12:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Cappers a set up on unlikely-sounding local Elena Baltacha, Molik and Tanasugarn are away, still with serve at the mo.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

'Gaggles' Gagliardi a game away from ending Batty Patty's tournament.

The actively irritating Greg Rusedski holding firm against the passively boring Rainer Schuttler. Is there some obscure rule which can be invoked so both lose?

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Fred: Elena B is the daughter of former USSR international footballer Sergei and Olga, a hepathlete. In 1989 Sergei signed for Ipswich Town and a couple of years later moved north to play for St Johnstone. So she has this krazee Kiev-East Anglia-Perth accent. Her brother plays for St Mirren.

I like EB a lot - she's got a steel core.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Good Golly, Miss Molik downed by Ton-of-Sugar 6-2 in the first. Come on, Ali.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:25 (twenty-one years ago)

TAMARINE
IS SUCH A DREAM
A TENNIS MACHINE
KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Greg drops the second set 10-12 in the t-b. Not a good sign - best when he's ahead is 'ski. Pretty low error count in the Elena-Jen match, I wish I could see it.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Elena and St Mirren, eh? Hmmmm....

Molik a set down, Schuttler level at 1-1, Dulko and Vinegar Tits level 2-2 in first set.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm watching it, Michael, and it's actually quite good. Elena is doing her best, very plucky - and she just hit a great low backhand pass, so yay her.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

"Vinegar Tits"! This is my new name for everyone.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Miss Tits is beating the Graceful Gazelle easily at the moment.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:35 (twenty-one years ago)

And Molik has put her thang down, flipped and reversed the scoreline, zipping ahead 3-0. Why does she always do this to me?

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Bally goes out bombing - 6-3 6-4. 4 Brits made round 2, and they're all gone now. A shame, but a pretty encouraging shame.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Tits broke but immediately handed it back.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:41 (twenty-one years ago)

There will be better to come from Bally on that display.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Sjeng finally chops down the Great Redwood, Capri extinguishes Elena's fire and Smokin' Joe levels against Mysky.

Next up: Chewitt and Goran. I couldn't *be* more excited.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Out on 17, Bartoli is getting majorly outgunned by Aiiiii...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Next up: Chewitt and Goran. I couldn't *be* more excited.

Are you sure? I saw you watching the pens last night.

― the junefox, Friday, 25 June 2004 13:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually you're right. I think 'watching' is the key word here. The visiting masseur has buggered off so I'm sticking the telly on in the end office.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Ferrar and Arazi in a 4th set tiebreaker, in which Dave is making the early running.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Woo, the Cappy-Bally match was exciting. Rusedski v Schuttler (much, much) less so. Nastya, what in the name of god are you DOING to me?!

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Myski is frisky... FOR LOSING! Haw.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 June 2004 13:55 (twenty-one years ago)

The Marakesh Express clunks, but stays on the rails: 9-7 in 4th set tiebreaker. Next stop: some local lad called Tim something.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Meanwhile, two break points to the Llout in game 4....

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Lleyt's passing shots are working well, and I think he will break soon, if not this game. I'm excited about it anyway - great server plays great returner etc.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:04 (twenty-one years ago)

And on break point Number 6, Hewit goes 3-1 up.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Schu pulls a forehand long and Greg goes two sets to one up.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Nastya just saved three match points.

I'm sort of hyperventilating here.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Bepa and Tammy both through though!

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

OMG, Nastya saves another two!

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh dear.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:17 (twenty-one years ago)

"No my first name ain't baby, it's 'Out In The Third Round'." Goodbye, Ms Nastya!

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Watching Gors-Lleyts live now, first look at Hewitt for the week, is it me or has that dreaded serve actually found some long-needed grunt?

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Hewitt looked very sharp at Queen's and was outplaying Ddick in the semi until a flurry of groundstroke errors gifted Pandy a break. This might be mercifully quick for Goran.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Hewitt breaks again to take first set 6-2, then goes to 40-0 in first game of next set with what I swaear was a party trick he learned from Shane Warne: a forehand 'flipper' which pitched and died and skidded past Goran at ankle height. Both Goran's facial reaction and attempt to play it were very much in the mould of Darrryllll Cullinan.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Whatthefuckever, Nastya. How embarrassing.

This Schuttler v Rusedski thing is interminable and dreadful.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Goran starting to find his range on serve, although neither player's looking likely to be broken at this stage.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:45 (twenty-one years ago)

And Nerk's done it again! REFRESH SCORE BEFORE POSTING, STUPID!

Hewitt breaks Goran to go 5-3 and serves for set 2.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Which he gets without even facing a break point. And who's the big server here? The Little Guy wins 93% of points on first serve!

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I wonder if the second set will go to the breaker.

― the bellefox, Friday, 25 June 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

And with a nicely-disguised and beautifully executed passing shot, it's all over 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, and Goran and Lleyton have a nice exchange at the net (slash fiction writers, please don't) , and the crowd are clapping Goran and it's all gooey and lovely.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, that's disappointing.

― the junefox, Friday, 25 June 2004 15:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Bless Goran.

My housemate and I opened multiple bottles of wine to drown our sorrows following the early exits of Nastya and Guillermo - this made Goran's Final Farewell all the more sentimental, and now it's time for BABEWATCH with Shaz and Dani.

Goran - we salute you.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 25 June 2004 15:30 (twenty-one years ago)

How will Dani solve a problem like Maria? My guess is she won't and it'll be over in two.

Big Pants Seb thrashed The Himbo in three, hoorah.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 15:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd say the same, but bear in mind Dani beat Shaz in straight sets earlier this year, back when she was still only visible on court via thermal imaging.

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 25 June 2004 15:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I confess, I confess, I discussed the attractiveness in most shallow terms online with a friend last night... and I mentioned I used to think Daniela's countrywoman Karina Habsudova was cute and was told I was mental. Is my memory so hazy?

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 15:36 (twenty-one years ago)

The Goran farewell was rather moving; the big fella looking skywards for a few seconds as he walked back to his chair was a wee bit lump-in-the-throat. Then he pulled on a Croatian footy shirt and got booed! OK, good-natured, tongue-in-cheek booing (what would that sound like? "Urrrhh") but still. This country!

The good news for the anti-Roddick faction is that Dent looks in unusually good form and Schalken ain't too shabby either so far.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 25 June 2004 15:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Maria, you've got to see her. Spraying winners all over the shop and making very few errors.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 16:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Maria through 6-3 6-1. And a rather high quality match it was. Dani played decently, but Sharapova was awesome, particularly her backhand which was SAVAGE. 3-1 up she hit this really good one while dashing forward. Classy. She hit more winners, made fewer errors and she'll take Amy Frazier to the cleaners, one would thnk. You could see Hantuchova's nipples, so I suppose for some viewers she won in ONE category at least.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Tennis is shit. I'm never watching again. Until Federer's next game anyway.

― Tag (Tag), Friday, 25 June 2004 17:54 (twenty-one years ago)

You won't be watching much, Fab Five Feddy's matches aren't taking very long.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 25 June 2004 17:59 (twenty-one years ago)

thx ESPN for sticking with A-Rod, up 2 sets love and a break... zzz...

― Aaron A., Friday, 25 June 2004 19:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Princess Shaz was scary good today... she hit a LEFT-HANDED FOREHAND WINNER at one point. Her game is still so raw, and in the long term she's got to work on movement, but her desire to win just burns.

Less happily, the Hulkess and the Dickhead have both jumped on the "Sprem is a big fat cheat" bandwagon, which is quite something coming from the two most petulant, unsporting drama queens around.

I hope Tammy Tanasugarn can get to the quarter-finals this year! She must have been in the last 16 a hundred times already, and never progressed further - and facing Suggs, this must be her best chance yet...

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 25 June 2004 20:29 (twenty-one years ago)

It's going to rain all day again, isn't it?

Alan Mills' follow-up statement (I'm paraphrasing) - "Had a word with the ump, advised him not to let the door smack him on his smug backside on the way out." His patronising little smile when both Sprem and Venus looked semi-questioningly at him was enough to suggest they weren't going to get any further with a proper query.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 26 June 2004 10:55 (twenty-one years ago)

People's Sunday just announced!

― chris (chris), Saturday, 26 June 2004 13:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I was inspired enough to play tennis myself yesterday - through the rain, too. I lost 6-3 2-6 6-3... bloody double faults. I am Elena Dementieva.

Lots of exciting People's Sunday play today. Upset prediction: K-Lina to go down to Meg Hann in a flood of nervousness.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 09:22 (twenty-one years ago)

She's just squandered a 40-0 lead on serve but got out of it.

Meanwhile, this funny-looking chappy is playing doubles. Why is he playing with Keovathong when if he played with Stephanie Foretz, it would be hilarious?

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 27 June 2004 09:27 (twenty-one years ago)

First sets on the board: FedEx 6-3 over TommyT, JenCap 7-5 over Dishy, Antics 7-5 over Norah, Grande 6-4 over Rozzala, Crisis 6-1 over Krispy, NeverWayned 6-4 over Sandy, Xav 6-3 over Bibbe's Boy.

I understand BBC doesn't start its coverage till 1pm today (can't interrupt that God slot - (s)he's only make it rain again)? This is good - I'm still at work...

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 09:51 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm watching federer on BBCi digital btw.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 27 June 2004 10:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh Karolina takes the breaker 7 points to 5, capitalising on what must have been her eighth set point, though crucially, the first on her own serve.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 27 June 2004 10:04 (twenty-one years ago)

The latest Payola scandal is that the lass from Luxembourg took the luxury of a break and served out the second, 6-4. No such luck for Desenchantee Dechy, down 1-4 in the second to Fat.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 27 June 2004 10:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Dechy down the Crapper 6-4 6-1.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 27 June 2004 10:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Elsewhere, 2 set leads for Fedge, Mario and XavXav, with Vinnie close to joining them. Maggie M close to sinking IronChlad.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 27 June 2004 10:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Razzle levels against Rio. Wayne in danger of losing FM reception. Flicka and Ivo participating in what I presume is A Very Dull Match Indeed.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 27 June 2004 10:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Sprem though (again) 7-6 7-6 - the nerves might be questionable - she had a lot of chances on the Shaughnessy serve she couldn't convert - but the survival instinct is strong. Hooray for Sprem.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 27 June 2004 10:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Flicka and Ivo participating in what I presume is A Very Dull Match Indeed.

Assuredly not as dull as Pandy vs Teeth.

It's still grande for Markelby - Rita Grande to be specific, who out-razzes Ms Razz and moves into the last 16. Also, SuperMario just beat the Dominator and is now the resident Wimbledon eye candy after the sad departure of Beck earlier.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 11:17 (twenty-one years ago)

When Tie-Breakers Go Wrong: gut-wrenching stuff in Dent-Roddick, as Taylor finally gets a handle on the A-Rod serve during the second set, blocking, chipping and dinking his way, if not to a break point, then to within a sniff of one. In the t-b he opens a 6-3 lead and then blows it with a wrong-footing volley an inch wide; Ddick sneaks with a backhand line pass. Meanwhile, Arazi is coming over like Nastazi on Centre with groundies so fluid it's like playing a reservoir; two dipping passes force Henbot volley errors but Tory Boy edges his way back and snatches set one with, OK, all right, a really good lob.

Too Many Tie-Breakers Already: Bjorkman-Johansson and Lopez-Karlovic are playing nuttin' else this afternoon.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 12:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I stand corrected - Ivo eliminates sonic collagist F Lopez with a blast of full-scale digital skronk: 7-5 in the 4th. Next he plays the defending champ. Nah, can't happen again, can it?

Sjenga about to topple Enqvister in the parlour game battle - touch winning out over flexibility.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 12:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I stand corrected, part two - the Johansson clan have something to savour from today: 6-3 over Gudmundsdottirman in the 4th.

A-Rod continues his heartless surge - a 7-1 t-b to finish off Dent, who gave him as much trouble as I expected and, with a dash of fortune, might have extended him further. The bad news about bottom-half floater Schalken is a knee injury picked up vs Enqvist - obviously not bad enough to lose him the match, but will he be fit to face Spadea?

Are we really heading toward a Henman-Roddick semifinal (or, worse, a Philippoussis-Roddick semi)? Arazi has just lost 12 consecutive points and with it (I presume, I turned it over) the 2nd set from 4-2 up.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 12:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Goddamnit. Arazi was 4-2 30-0 up on his serve, then it all went to shit. I'm hoping Malisse or Ancic can save us from the dread... entire rest of the bottom half. Oh god, the only consolation is looking forward to Federer taking Henman or Roddick apart in the final.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

NOW it might be getting interesting - Gonzalez an absolute rock through a six-deuce game at 5-5 in the 3rd vs Poupsis (including a 125mph second serve ace) ultimately takes the t-b 7-4 with a jammy net cord. Ouzo's starting to puff a bit. Gonzalez's grunts have a pleading quality to them.

AND Arazi shows signs that he might not let *this* early break get away from him: Henmang to serve at 2-5 in the 3rd.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 12:58 (twenty-one years ago)

'Oh god, the only consolation is looking forward to Federer taking Henman or Roddick apart in the final.'

ah come on what's wrong with henman? Worse players than him have won slams before.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 27 June 2004 13:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Arazi takes the third 6-3 and goes a break up in set four.

Any compelling reason for scheduling a men's doubles ahead of Ruano Pascual-Farina Elia on court #13? Seems kinda disrespectful and bad planning too (rain heading in from the west, apparently). In fact, scheduling two men's matches on Centre ahead of Serena-Serna doesn't seem right either.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 13:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't dislike him so much as a player (though, for such a gifted net-player there's something extraordinarily graceless about him; this may be projection) but I find the relentless focus on him during the Championships to be almost unendurable. This year I'm conflicted cos he may be the least of three evils to emerge from the bottom half. As much as I'm enjoying the runaround Arazi's giving him, I don't see Hicham troubling the big hitters very much.

Anyway, Timmy's gonna squeak this - Arazi choked on a return with a chance to go a double-break up in the 4th and now Henno got the break back.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah I know what you mean plus not quite having the killer instinct (he prob should have beaten goran in that semi, and prob his best chance to win it has gone now) but we all know he's a one off and when he goes there will be no hope of anybody coming through. I kind of warmed more to him when he reached the semi-finals of the french.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 27 June 2004 13:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Gonzo blew it - a hideous overhead error at 5-6 30/15, followed by a netted forehand and an flashing Scud pass: MP thru 6-4 6-1 6-7 7-5.

To be joined any minute by Our National Henro - now up 5-2 against an increasingly dispirited HA.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 13:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Julio: yeah, I warmed to him at Roland Garros (the notion that Paul Annacone overheard the Spanish and South American players in the locker-room talking about how they couldn't deal with his brand of tennis amused me) and at other events too. His win in the Paris indoor last year was outstanding.

Anyway, the last 16 in the men's is complete:

Federer-Karlovic
Moya-Hewitt
Mayer-J Johansson
Grosjean-Ginepri
Henman-Philippoussis
Malisse-Ancic
Spadea-Schalken
Popp-Roddick

That's a handsome line-up, I think.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 13:46 (twenty-one years ago)

After Melbourne I suspect a big part of the Flip camp is pleased to have avoided another altercation with the Marakesh Express.

Is Jo Wack'im Johansson any relation to Thomas?

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 27 June 2004 13:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Hopefully the lovely Tamarine won't be too puffed for her next singles match- she's involved in an epic doubles match, going into the 24th game of the third set.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 27 June 2004 13:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Handsome it may be, but even more so if Rodge, Lleyts and Rob the Slob had been already eliminated.

Grosjean is just about the only real problem Fedz may encounter between now and next weekend. Which is unfortunately one more hassle than I can see for Sandshoe Face II.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Sunday, 27 June 2004 13:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Magui Serna more than holding her own vs Serena - in fact, she's making her look stultifyingly unimaginative such is the range of her spins. Coq-au-vin is wearing the skimpiest of shorts - a thick belt, really - and after a lousy start has got the measure of The Reflex.

I doubt the Johanssons are blood (the Svenssons weren't, were they?). Cor, that doubles match is 15-14 now. Serena breaks her single-E'd opponent: 5-3.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Prakusya/Tambourine hit and shaken by Vento-Kabchi/Widjaja 16-14 in the third.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Meanwhile, Farina-Elia is getting espressoed by a resurgent John Loves Ginny - first set goes to Spain 6-2.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Agreed on all counts. I find it easier to support the Henboy the further away from home he is - but I hate the blanket coverage of him at the expense of virtually everyone else during the Wimbledon fortnight; frequently he'll take up a good 45 minutes of an hour-long highlights programme, with 14 minutes then devoted to the actual contenders for the men's title and a cursory thirty seconds to Serena Williams's latest outfit. I root against him because the sooner he departs the tournament, the sooner he stops clogging up the TV schedule and the sooner I get to watch matches which might be fun.

As a junior, Coq-au-vin was known to take a pair of scissors to her skirts to make them even shorter than normal. She needs to get that barely-covered arse in gear anyway, she's 1-4 down in the second set!

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Williams, you need to put pictures of tennis players in this week's top 40 rundown!

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha phantom Freudian 's' on the end of your name. Apologies.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:37 (twenty-one years ago)

The winner faces Mauler Mauresmo, who crashed the Cerva 6-4 6-1 earlier on. The Last Italian Standing is indeed Rita G, who gets Meteorologicos Mid Paola next.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

'frequently he'll take up a good 45 minutes of an hour-long highlights programme, with 14 minutes then devoted to the actual contenders for the men's title'

He is a contender and he does often reach semi-finals, and I do think there is a demand to watch him at the expense of everybody else which is a bit sad but there you go.

Besides, there aren't any contenders this year because federer is so much better than anybody else, so why not focus on Tim?

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, pants. Serena "Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Sister" Williams has extinguished the promising but ultimately meagre resistance of Serna, up 4-0.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

But I don't want to just watch the contenders for the title, I want to watch players like Grosjean and Petrova who probably won't win, but can go very far and play breathtaking tennis, and I want to watch up-and-comers like Golovin and Ancic. Focusing so much on Henman (from what I've heard the US networks do the same with Roddick) simply gives off the impression that barely anyone else matters - and of course there's no demand to see other players, because the public is not given the opportunity to see them.

I really hate the flag-waving, face-painting contingent as well, who probably don't care about tennis for 50 weeks each year and who can only name two tennis players... ugh.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Make that five.

Gollygosh surrenders the second set a bit meekly to The Fearless Destroyer Of Patty Schnyder.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Blind patriotism is as ugly in sport as it is in politics. This is why I am stuck watching the fucking Phillippoussis match on TV that is SO SO OVER even though there are are live matches going on. They're even doing crosses to other courts with old results pretending they're just-in.

Because of course, nobody enjoys watching Virginia Ruano Pascual, do they.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:54 (twenty-one years ago)

LUDMILA CERVANOVA'S GRAND SLAM RECORD, 2004:

Australian Open: beat Dellacqua, lost to Mauresmo
Roland Garros: lost to Mauresmo
Wimbledon: beat Schett, beat Raymond, lost to... Mauresmo

If there is an anti-Mauresmo society to be started, I expect Serve-And-Over will have something to do with it.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:56 (twenty-one years ago)

And the Juniors offers much hope for the nicknamers of the future, featuring the delights of, among other, Coen van Keulen, Aljoscha Thron, Verdiana Verardi, Eugenia Grebeniuk, Guillermo Allcaide-Justell and Jana Juricova. Let us hope that none of them decide to get proper jobs.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Williams, you forgot Katerina Kramperova, which has to be the most ominous name ever for a tennis player.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 14:59 (twenty-one years ago)

gah phantom s again

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Back when I used to fill in a wallchart for Wimbledon, I was usually pretty happy to see Ruano-Pascual get eliminated early on.

Question of the day - whatever happened to Kimiko Date?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 27 June 2004 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

And I might break out the wallchart again - Silvia a break up at 4-3 in the second...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 27 June 2004 15:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Kimiko Date! She was awesome. She retired out of the blue at the end of her career-best year ('96?), at a point when everyone assumed a Slam was just around the corner... I think she got married a few years later and I presume is ensconced in domestic bliss to this day.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

(Trying to but I can't remember what the coverage was like before Tim as he's been a big fixture for the last 5-7 years but I don't think the BBC would ever pay attn to up and coming players on a highlights prog say, focus is always on the actual contenders. If there are ppl who only watch tim and nothing else its awful but still its not his fault)

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 27 June 2004 15:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Kimiko writes books now, I think. Has a pretty flash looking website too, in Japanese.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 27 June 2004 15:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, Kimiko - didn't she retire pretty much at her peak in '96 or so? Only bad light stopped her from beating Graf in the semis that year at Wimb, I'm sure of it.

(xpost!)

Serna-Serena was great stuff, the scoreline only so lopsided because SW plays the big points stupidly well. I remember an American player called Billy Martin - a world-class junior in the mid-70s but no great shakes as a pro - losing 6-0 6-1 to Borg in some indoor event in '79 or so; he'd reached deuce in every game but one, but BB nailed every crucial point.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 15:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I once lost a set 0-6, having reached game point in every game and having double faulted on at least two of them.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 15:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Heeeeeeeeeeere's SILVI! She takes the second 6-4!

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 27 June 2004 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Ouch! I once smashed a borrowed racket after dropping a 0-6 set.

D'oh - the rain has arrived. 'vin and 'adi 3-3 40/40 in the 3rd.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 15:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I ended up winning that match so it didn't matter (but only cos my opponent started trying to hit harder and harder... and mostly missed). I threw my racket yesterday, actually - it's been so long since I played and nothing was working at all.

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 27 June 2004 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

That 0-6 set was to a kid who'd barely taken a game off me before (this is semi-competitive in-the-park school tennis, aged 16, nothing organised); I must have hit the tape 15 times.

Immense rainstorms sweeping the southeast (despite the BBC digital text service insisting that it can't be happening) - it's not looking good for a resumption. Which means Mauresmo-Ruano/Farina and Serena-Gol/Gag can't be until Tuesday, which means that the top half ladies' qf can't be till Wednesday. They'll all cope, I guess.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 27 June 2004 16:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I got caught in those rainstorms, wandering through the gardens at Syon House in Brentford. We'd seen some of Gentleman Tim in the pub beforehand, which is really the only justification I have for posting on this thread at all.

― Markelby (Mark C), Sunday, 27 June 2004 19:54 (twenty-one years ago)

That's more justification than I have for most of my posts, so get stuck in. The GLW and I were driving through West Wickham and Hayes at the time of the deluge, me jumping out in the downpour to reposition a flapping L-plate. I offered to do it on the move, Jackie Chan-style (Three-Point Fury, HK, 1988), but Pam gets nervous.

It cleared up beautifully around 7:45 in SE London so I can only presume SW London got that clear spell even earlier; I guess the club have to be fair to all the players and let them go home at a sensible hour but, damn, Gol-Gag and Rua-Far could've finished last night.

PB was asking me last night about couples-as-mixed-doubles pairings (or even same-sex doubles, I guess). I was struggling to think of any. Did Robert Seguso and Carling Bassett pair up in the mixed? (CB-S is on court #18 today with Mandlikova vs Novotna/Jausovec in the 35+ Ladies' Doubs).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 06:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Couples in mixed doubles? The Clidge and the Llout got to the Wimbledon final a couple of years back as a one off, but I can't think of any others offhand. The ladies' doubles, however, is rife with real-life partners also being doubles partners... Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs used to be one, as did Petra Mandula and Patricia Wartusch, but those relationships and teams have sadly run their course.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 06:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Of course, Kkim and Lleytz - I forgot. Any, er, men's doubles teams, Lex? Perhaps taking precautions against G**glers.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 07:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Er... none openly! The women's pairings can be substantiated when people got to tournaments and see them Acting Like Couples (or when Conchita Martinez is involved in any way), and I doubt any of the men would do that. There are a few rumours as to which men are gay (and there must be some)... Araz1 and Gamb1ll are the ones I'd be least surprised about. 'Twil be an interesting Future Issue, certainly.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 07:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, Evert and Connors played the mixed together in '74 but scratched in round three to focus on their singles bids. I'm sure there were lots of examples back in the inter-war years of decent players getting their club-standard spouses into the mixed with them.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 07:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Did CEL ever team up with the L? Or did their marriage strart and end in between majors?

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 28 June 2004 08:19 (twenty-one years ago)

They were together from '79 to '84, I think - but JL had a pretty good partnership going with Wendy Turnbull (French '82, Wimb '83/'84 champs) and I doubt Chrissie had much time for four-handers by then. Perhaps she remembered what happened with JC.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 08:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Golovin two points from the last 16!

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 10:22 (twenty-one years ago)

AAARGH

The BBC seem to think that a desperately dull interview with Jimmy Connors is more worthy of TV time than ACTUAL LIVE TENNIS

GRRRRRR

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 10:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh well. Golovin through in double-quick time. Maybe she can beat Serena tomorrow!

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 10:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Sprem about to move into the Prem Lge - up a set and a break over Anton's Irina; Grosjean off to a flyer (6-2 vs Gordon's) and Far-I outlasted Ruano.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 11:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Here's the women's last 16, btw:

S Williams-Golovin
Petrova-Capriati
Mauresmo-Farina Elia
Suarez-Grande
*Davenport-Zvonareva
*Maleeva-Sprem
Tanasugarn-Sugiyama
*Sharapova-Frazier

(* - underway; Sprem not quite there yet)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 11:30 (twenty-one years ago)

She is now.

Tomorrow either Dave or Vinegat Tits will definitely have Karolina on their mind (a bit obv, sorry if it's already been done). LD has just served out the first set 6-4.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 28 June 2004 11:47 (twenty-one years ago)

And Vinegar Tits isn't about to be Screwed by Dave, she breaks and leads 3-0.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 11:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Just seen live action of Rob the Slob, two sets down, breaking Grosjean for the first time in the match. Big John's concerned expression is reminiscent of Inspector Clouseau.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 28 June 2004 12:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Ginners hands back his break, but gets another one and is now serving for the third set.

Dave also has broken back. Ginepri has three set points.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 28 June 2004 12:14 (twenty-one years ago)

...which he promptly blew, but now has a fourth....

(Refresh) which also went up in smoke. Number five coming up....

(Refresh) another chance heads for Cornwall. And Grosjean pounces and breaks back. 5-4 Ginepri.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 28 June 2004 12:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Meanwhile, Dave reels off five in a row. VT's now serving to stay in the game.... successfully. Dave has to serve it out.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 28 June 2004 12:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Which she does, bless her. One of Big Dave's first tournament wins was in my hometown so I've always liked her.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 12:29 (twenty-one years ago)

federer Vs. karlovic is the most delicious prospect thus far.

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Grosjean first man into the quarters - that third set looked a ding-dong - but it's 6-2 6-2 7-6 in just over two hours. I may yet get the final I wanted last yet as a semi. Sharapova through too.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Just caught the tail end of the Big John/Rob the Slob tiebreaker, then the Llout's second service game v Moya: Three aces, an equal number of double faults, about four deuces. In short, a typical Hewitt game of the type that has even his fans tearing out their hair.

Still on serve at the mo. Lleyt pushing the Jackal on serve at 3-2.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:05 (twenty-one years ago)

How angry is Lindsey Davenport (and Megan Shaughnessy) about the US Olympic team, BTW?

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:06 (twenty-one years ago)

you really have to beat federer, don't you?

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Hewitt breaks and wins set 6-4 and after the dramas of game 3 has settled down well.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Meanwhile Schalken can schalk up a break against Shovela and leads 3-1

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Hewitt up a set and a break; Rodge up a set; nothing to split Mayer and Joachim J; Schalken up a set vs Spadea.

Right - reward for being on the 07:01 this morning: I get to leave work now. Stay dry, SW19.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Second set: Hewitt has broken Moya.

But as neither of them is American, Merde TV is showing nothing of this match between two top 10 seeds so I'm relying on local Oz Ch 9's ad-stuffed cover and crap picture.

Lleyton now 5-2 up.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Gaaah, Carlos really blew his chances against Chewitt in the first set and appears to have faded somewhat. Bah. Princess Shaz also through over the Palest Woman In The World, albeit less convincingly than in the last round.

Sue Barker just pissed me off so much I switched the TV off in disgust, by effectively saying that we could switch over to BBC1 to watch the best player of our generation if we wanted, but obviously what we're all interested is the Henman match. NO.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Moya breaks early in the third. Incredibly, it seems Federer WON'T manage to break Ivo-9 in the second meaning he'll likely win it easily in a breaker.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Make that 6-2.

Moya breaks Hewitt's serve first game set 3 - first time lleyt's been broken for the tournament.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:51 (twenty-one years ago)

took a looooooooong lunch break today so was able to watch Golovin, followed by Sprem, followed by Sharapova coutesy BBCi. yum.

― zebedee (zebedee), Monday, 28 June 2004 13:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Autobahn through over Johansson, and Moya serving for the 3rd.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Just like perfection, needs no correction, Flawless Feddy though 6-4 7-6 7-6.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 14:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Hewitt-Moya is immense; break points galore in this 4th set - Chewy finally broke through to lead 4-2 but Jackal broke back. Potential to be the match of the tournament.

Malisse exits, with a back injury, while trailing Ancic 5-7 1-3.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I really really need to be working on job applications but Moya v Hewitt is gripping stuff. Match point missed for the Llout!

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

It's Hewitt in the 4th set breaker. Great stuff but not the epic I'd hoped for. Federer-Hewitt will be very interesting.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 15:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Schalken through also, A-Dick up a set. New favourite player name: girls' singles entrant M. Biglmaier. Wimbledon.org has no info. Boo.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 15:37 (twenty-one years ago)

But what about the world no. 518, Kaysie Smashey?

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 28 June 2004 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Henman in complete control in the first set - wins it 6-2 with Agassi-like returns and passes. The Ox yet to threaten.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Hewitt won the breaker!

― the bellefox, Monday, 28 June 2004 16:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I really fucking hate The Ox, but premature senility means I can't remember for the life of me why.

The WTA site is great. Did you know Anne Keovathong's sister is ranked no. 1163 or something? And Rita Skinny Grande With Extra Espresso Shot is outside the top 100?

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I really fucking hate The Ox, but premature senility means I can't remember for the life of me why.

He's boring to watch most of the time.. could that be why?

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I doubt it. Boredom would probably just make me empathise. I'm not crazy about Australian sportsmen as a whole - it was probably just a number of little things. Does he show bad sportsmanship, as a rule? Is he supposed to be a prick in real life? We all need our hate figures - perhaps he just caught me on a grumpy day.

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:21 (twenty-one years ago)

The WTA site is great. Did you know Anne Keovathong's sister is ranked no. 1163 or something? And Rita Skinny Grande With Extra Espresso Shot is outside the top 100?

Her Wimbledon run should put her back into the top 100!

The WTA site is fun, though the colour scheme is one of the more vile things on the internet. This site actually provides the results of every single match played by every single woman on the ranking list, which makes it excellent for distraction...

The Ox always seemed like a bit of a cliché of a wannabe playboy to me - the fast cars, the girls, zzzz. He's quite fugly as well. And I hate his game so much that he's pretty much the only pro player I'll ever refuse to watch.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Lex OTM. Although I don't think he's fugly. It's the sort of finesse-less game that is just bludgeoningly dull. It suffocates more than anything. He's not as awful as Roddick though.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:33 (twenty-one years ago)

No one is as awful as Roddick. No one, no one, no one. If a Henman-Roddick semi ensues, I'll join the patriotic rabble in a heartbeat.

I think I'd even support P**e S*****s (my former Most Loathed) over Roddick.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, I'd sooner eat the ottoman than have Roddick win here.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:38 (twenty-one years ago)

The speed with which Roddick has shot to the top of my hate list has surprised even me; I just generally have a big problem with explosive servers - if the action is smooth or economical it can be forgiven. Roddick's is hideous. I'm sure he's a nice fella and what have you and I do not want him to succeed at any Slam. (He's two sets up vs Popp, btw).

I see that the Petrova-Capriati & Suarez-Grande matches are tomorrow; making sure that no one in the top half gains an advantage from an extra day off going into the quarters. This makes sense but raises the prospect of both the men & womens' qf being on Wednesday. This would mean at least one MS and one WS on court 2. Mayer-Grosjean and Sugiyama-Sharapova seem the obvious candidates for showcourt demotion, but you could almost make a case* for Ox/Henbot-Ancic. There'd be pandemonium. When was the last time Thimble was on an outside court?

(* - in an ideal world where all concerned aren't slavishly Britcentric).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Henman gets a break on a truly appalling line call...

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:46 (twenty-one years ago)

The Umpire's A Homer - Oxy lets a floating Henbot return go at 5-5 30/40, it lands on the baseline but obviously wide: no call, no overrule. Thimble will serve for a two set lead.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:46 (twenty-one years ago)

come on tim!

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Even though he's not that bright, I hope Mark has enough sense not to go on about home-ground advantage with the linespeople.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Roddick is having difficulty shutting down the Popp - he's missed a few match point salready, and has been pulled back from 2-5 to 4-5 in the third set. Come on Popp!

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Aaargh - Popp broke Roddick twice in the third but, despite saving another three match points at 4-5 (one with Roddick going wide on the 24th stroke), his flaky forehand let him down. Pandy through 7-5 6-4 6-4.

Henna up two sets.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 16:56 (twenty-one years ago)

If all the ladies play their qf Wednesday then Mauresmo/Farina Elia v Suarez/Grande would be my guess for court 2 demotion.

But is that a given? Tuesday's showcourt programme looks pretty thin if all the AELTC is offering is four ladies 4th round matches and some doubles.

― zebedee (zebedee), Monday, 28 June 2004 17:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, but Tuesday would normally be the women's qf so it's the same amount of singles tennis. They can't put two WS qf on court 2, surely? That's favouring the men a bit much.

Henmang got away with another dodgy call - saves a set point at 4-5 30/40 then 'aces' at deuce. Not according to Hawk-eye.

MP: "That's your line, you saw it in?"
Ump (I wish I could do this in half-point font): "Er, yes."
MP: "So you saw chalk?"
Ump: "That's not what I said."

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Code violation, audible obscenity.

"I should give you a warning. You suck!"

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 17:37 (twenty-one years ago)

haha "fuck the cyclops!"

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 17:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Ho ho, that was a better MP-Ump exchange. Someone else can do that one. Audible obscenity a-go-go.

xpost

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

And the umpire, who should be forthright and confident, does not look it as he announces the tie break. The FIRST dodgy call wasn't even close but it was at least on the other side of the court. The second - no excuses.

(The third dodgy one was actually in, so obviously no overrule on that)

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, but Tuesday would normally be the women's qf so it's the same amount of singles tennis
I wouldn't like to be in Alan Mills' shoes when he tries selling that pup to the massed ranks of indignant corporate hospitality types and debenture holders ;)

― zebedee (zebedee), Monday, 28 June 2004 17:41 (twenty-one years ago)

A double fault for Tikki Tikki Timbo, Mark misses one set point on his own serve but gets a just-in return of serve to win it 7 to 3.

I'm glad, actually, even though he'll likely still lose, Mark is perhaps less likely to go into a strop and detract from the fact that really, for the first two sets he was outplayed.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

henman's first two sets of tennis were impeccable; he is quickly becoming the only tennis player I enjoy watching. I forget all the attendant nonsense when he steps on court, fist-pumping precluded, though that I don't mind, too much.

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 17:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmm...we haven't had a five-setter in r4 yet, have we? Ox takes the tee-bee 7-3.

I wouldn't like to be in Alan Mills' shoes when he tries selling that pup to the massed ranks of indignant corporate hospitality types and debenture holders

Yeah, there'll be a riot. "Tatiana Golovin? Rita Grande? I was promised Chris Evert arriving in a gold helicopter with the Berlin Philharmonic manning the lines."

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 17:51 (twenty-one years ago)

eastenders suspended, to follow the tennis at 9 o'clock.

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:00 (twenty-one years ago)

With BBCi you could watch this or you could watch Mansour Bahrami dicking about on court #13 in the elderly doubz with Feaver, Lloyd and whichever of the Mayers plays double-handed. Not even I'm contrary enough to switch over though.

Oz serving to stay alive: 2-5. Timothy excelling in this set.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:17 (twenty-one years ago)

come on thim, it's way past clocking off time for me

― zebedee (zebedee), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Ok, this is sort of fantastic now. MP saves two match points at 2-5 15/40 and then breaks TH for the first time in the match. 4-5.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

oh god. I'll go home anyway, I think.

― zebedee (zebedee), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:29 (twenty-one years ago)

5 points in the 4th set breaker... only ONE won by the server...

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:43 (twenty-one years ago)

aw c'mon he looks so happy!

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha that was kind of quite poor from both, though very dramatic and perversely enjoyable. The two double faults to open that last tiebreak made me chuckle.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:52 (twenty-one years ago)

You can't really beat that - second Monday, late evening sunshine, 3hr mens singles down to the wire. I couldn't help thinking of Sampras-Korda at the same stage in '97. PS untouchable for two sets then PK started to reel him in; I was torn because as much as I liked Korda (much more than I like the Ox) I could see him being torn apart by Becker in the quarters. Sense and Sampras prevailed (as he did 48hrs later too).

Federer-Henman final, as good as that, different result - please?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:52 (twenty-one years ago)

'poor'?

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:54 (twenty-one years ago)

The double faults! The finesse shots which never quite came off! The number of times the ball hit the top of the net and fell back on the same side with a kind of resigned plop! The number of times Philippoussis ran up to the net as if to volley, took a half-step back, then hit weak-ass shots AFTER the ball had bounced!

Top-notch for tension, but... if a Federer-Henman final is to ensure, the Henboy's level will have to go up by a lot.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

"ensue" not "ensure"

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I think, now, I believe, henman can beat federer; perhaps this is because I'm beginning to hate the snubnose 'natural', all control, no...

phillipousis didn't turn up in the first two sets, sure, 'clive', because he wasn't allowed to, impeccable. henman turned off a little, in the final two, it's something he'll have to manage.

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 18:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I didn't see the first two sets, only from midway through the third.

Henman actually has a very good record against Federer.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:01 (twenty-one years ago)

wasn't that a different federer though?

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:01 (twenty-one years ago)

when did he beat him at wimbledon? 2001? pre-federer serve & volley? now, they say, federer is the best volleyer in the world? what's his record like against him not at wimbledon?

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I most loved how Phillippoussis kept running up the net, standing in the (horizontal) middle looking like he didn't have a clue what he was doing.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:03 (twenty-one years ago)

sorry about all those question marks!

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

In fact, there's no reason why Henman shouldn't be at least the joint favourite with Federer and Roddick (see the head-to-heads below) - but he will have to up his level. He hasn't been at all convincing so far.

I'm thinking that Grosjean may be a darkhorse. He's playing very, very well indeed.

Henman vs Federer

1999 Basle QF Carpet (I) T.HENMAN 6-3 7-5
2000 Vienna SF Hard (I) T.HENMAN 2-6 7-6(4) 6-3
2001 Wimbledon QF Grass (O) T.HENMAN 7-5 7-6(6) 2-6 7-6(6)
2001 Basle FR Carpet (I) T.HENMAN 6-3 6-4 6-2
2002 Miami 16 Hard (O) R.FEDERER 2-6 RET
2003 Paris Open QF Carpet (I) T.HENMAN 7-6(5) 6-1
2004 Rotterdam QF Hard (I) T.HENMAN 6-3 7-6(9)
2004 Indian Wells FR Hard (O) R.FEDERER 3-6 3-6

Henman vs Roddick

2003 Washington SF Hard (O) T.HENMAN 1-6 6-3 7-6(1)
2003 U.S. Open 128 Hard (O) A.RODDICK 3-6 6-7(2) 3-6
2003 Paris Open SF Carpet (I) T.HENMAN 7-6(4) 7-6(7)
2004 Indian Wells QF Hard (O) T.HENMAN 6-7(6) 7-6(1) 6-3

(xposts everywhere)

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't want to seem to labour the point about the first two sets, and I've noted you didn't see them, but he did play tennis like I'm not sure I've seen him play before outside of the first set and a half against coria last month. it was almost, perceptibly flawless. I also don't want to exaggerate or come across as a raging, inarticulate fanboy (haha I mistyped that as 'fanbot' initially).

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

You're not, Cozen. He was exceptionally good for the first one and a half sets, and on that form could expect to dent or beat Roddick.

Towards the end of the second he was starting to concede a lot of points on serve and was very lucky to have escaped a tie breaker.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Grosjean might be in for a harder ride than you'd think against Mayer. Feller's not faced anything but quality thus far - Arthurs (dangerous on grass), Coria (no major pedigree on grass, but seeded 3 nonetheless), Ferreira (old, yes, but always rather tricky), and Joey Johansson (who accounted for Clement, Fish and Bjorkman this year). Best believe feller's gonna be more than a mild diversion.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:13 (twenty-one years ago)

(Last 8 for those who ain't noticed: Fedz vs. Lleytz, Big John vs. Das Florist, Timmers vs. Super Mario, Sjeng-A-Leng vs. A-Rod. I so want Sjeng to do a number on the Dickhead.)

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I really want to see Mayer play - I've no idea even WHAT he plays, but I've noticed him rise up the rankings this year.

You're not, Cozen. He was exceptionally good for the first one and a half sets, and on that form could expect to dent or beat Roddick.

Especially as Roddick himself has been far from perfect against opposition which is either mediocre at best and very inexperienced (Wang, Peya) or lesser versions of his own game (Dent, Popp). If Henman does raise his game - and I do think there's a strong probability of that in the latter stages - he has an excellent chance of beating Roddick (though there's no guarantee that Roddick gets past Schalken, actually).

(xpost!)

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:17 (twenty-one years ago)

'what' he plays = how he plays

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, that's a good point. Dent is Roddick Lite, and he should have been savaged by the second-best player in the world. Instead, he hasn't got any serious miles against someone as wily as Timmy.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

diet roddick.

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

richard branson : noel edmunds :: andy roddick : taylor dent?

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Also - we all writing Ancic off then?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Damn. Diet Roddick. Shame he's already out or that would be the best nickname ever.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Fear not, the US Open hasn't happened yet.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Instead, he hasn't got any serious miles against someone as wily as Timmy.

or even someone who can return ANY serves at all to decent effect.

(Ancic is the remaining eye candy and also Baby Goran, I am certainly not writing him off - but he can't seem to play well for more than three matches in a row for imploding)

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I think, now, I believe, henman can beat federer; perhaps this is because I'm beginning to hate the snubnose 'natural', all control, no...

I really want you to finish that sentence, Cozen, because I can't think what comes next (outside of something facetious or a resigned shrug).

Henman certainly has a great record against Federer; he could be a career-long bogeyman for Rodge or RF could just casually move ahead and away from him now (like Lendl against Connors - lost something like 11 of their first 14 meetings, then utterly dominated him as he improved all-round).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, did anyone see that match at Roland Garros a couple of years ago when Ancic took Agassi to five? Utterly dominated the sets he won, then faded spectacularly. That match is like his career in miniature. (xpost)

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

*desperately hunts for bearded player to dub 'Roddick In Furze'*

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually Ancic is rather cute - he looks inquisitive and sweet in this photo.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

http://ancic.free.fr/photos/ausopen0411.jpg

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:30 (twenty-one years ago)

For those who are interested in career records like those posted by Lex above, Fedz is 5-1 vs Ddick but 4-7 vs Hewitt. Pandy is 4-1 over Sjeng (who likes to call himself The Wall, according to R5). In fact, Schalky only won six games off Anita at the Aussie Open this year. Gulp.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 28 June 2004 19:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha - all that stuff above academic cos Millsy has done the right thing and scheduled the bottom-half WS qf *and* the top-half WS r4 today. So just top-half WS qf plus MS qf tomorrow.

Weather forecast good for today but terrible thereafter. Henman in a third Monday final? Entire nation pulls a sickie.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 05:22 (twenty-one years ago)

This site actually provides the results of every single match played by every single woman on the ranking list

Woah! Thanks Lex for showing me stat pr0n! Anyone know of anything similar (exhaustive + simple html) for the men's tournaments?

― OleM (OleM), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 07:22 (twenty-one years ago)

OleM: I generally use the ATP's own site (www.atptour.com) but I'm sure Lex knows of something better/less bandwidth-sapping. The ITF site (www.itftennis.com) used to have a comprehensive and simple results archive where you could peruse a player's record back to the start of Open tennis (though only GS and David Cup prior to about '77). This appears to have vanished in the site's redesign.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 07:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm still mourning the absence of Myskina, bah!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 10:44 (twenty-one years ago)

We open with the two plucky Italians, and they're doing rather well - Sylvie and Amelie 4-4, with serve - Rio serving out for the first set against Suarez...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 10:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Which she does 6-4, though not before having to save three break points.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 10:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Princess Far-I holding her own against Tony LeMesmer but AmTruck moves to double set-point...and nails it. 7-5.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 11:00 (twenty-one years ago)

... at more or less exactly the same time as St. Paola goes a break up in the second.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 11:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Sylvie girl proves not without her charms, but our amie Amelie quite able to resist her, taking a break buffer in the second.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 11:18 (twenty-one years ago)

..and Mauro takes her qf spot, five and three. Crisis looks like following her - nine games of ten since Thousand Tabs nicked the first in monged-up pharma-glee.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 11:38 (twenty-one years ago)

We will be having a Hulk/Fat match-up, it seems.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 12:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Godolphin didn't last long. Serena whomped and (?)bludgeoned her.

― zebedee (zebedee), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 12:31 (twenty-one years ago)

OK, Cap's there. I got 10 out of 16 QFists - same as last year; six of the men (Fish and Haas let me down in r2) and four of the women. My prize is three frames of snooker with Victor Pecci next August bank holiday at any Centerparcs facility. Dress code must be observed.

Yama and Pova on serve thus far.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 12:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Bludgeon is good. 6-3 = decked, 6-4 = scooped, 8-6 = nixed, 9-7 = stymied, 10-8 = abandoned in Netto without his/her parental guardian.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 12:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Ave jostled by Ai in the first. Big Dave having no such troubles with Sprem.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 13:03 (twenty-one years ago)

The way Sugiyama is blunting the Sharapova game - esp limiting her cross-courts and making her go for too much - is fascinating to watch. It's not out-and-out razzle-dazzle obviously, but its certainly not bad to watch.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 13:17 (twenty-one years ago)

last chance for Spr0n jokes...

― zebedee (zebedee), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 13:35 (twenty-one years ago)

No, the one I was going to make... I would never say it about Linsday because she is a Proper Class Act.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 13:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Pity Sprem's losing, she was a spunky little player

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 13:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Shari Vari proves she's really it and takes the second set against AI

― zebedee (zebedee), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 13:54 (twenty-one years ago)

sharapova's grunt when she starts to amp it up seems to act as a sort of sensory decoy, I was noticing it in myself just when watching - there's a lapse between connection and grunt so yr eyes, as pt. of your tennis player's hand-eye co-ordination instinct, go looking for the ball and are then quickly distracted, automatically, by yr ears' curiosity. it's very off-putting.

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 13:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Birruva epic developing 'tween AI and mArIa (7-5 5-7) - shame I can't watch it. Vertical hold has gone on the low-kwal portable and was annoying folks with its peripheral flickerin', so OFF it went.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 13:58 (twenty-one years ago)

If Sharapova can't convert break points off the Sugiyama serve - and she's had a LOT of them, she is going to run into some serious Davenport-shaped difficulties.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 14:00 (twenty-one years ago)

(this is assuming she wins which is quite an if at the mo)

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 14:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Jeez, you're not kidding: 2 of 15 b-p conversions for Sharap. Only 12 unforced errors from Ai in the match. One for the BBC2 highlights show, surely.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Hah! Just as we're discussing this, Sharapova scores 0-40 and converts on the first. Let's critique her game more and INSTANT IMPROVEMENT AND GRATIFICATION WILL BE UPON US! Go Maz!

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 14:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Another break for Schav. She's serving for it and looking The Goods.
Oh, there it goes. 6-1, last service game held to love.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyone know of anything similar (exhaustive + simple html) for the men's tournaments?

For men's tournament results I usually go to http://www.stevegtennis.com - not sure if they have as exhaustive records, but the revamped ITF site is actually very good for both men and women (http://www.itftennis.com/mens and http://www.itftennis.com/womens).

Booyakasha! vs Shaz was fun - Ai very nearly solved a problem like Maria in the first two sets, but Shaz just stepped it up in the last set and stopped making stupid errors. The match with Big Dave will be very, very interesting - their strengths and weaknesses are much the same (power-blasting and moving respectively). Maria needs to close out more games from 40-0 up.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 14:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, wow - the ITF site hasn't ditched the database after all ('activity' doesn't allow you to filter before bringing up the results though, so best to have a fast connection for players with long careers).

Sad to see Mikael Pernfors was playing Challengers in Bermuda and Birmingham in 1998.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 14:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Difficult to tell if it was Shari's strength or weakness, but for a while she simply turned into KILLING MACHINE, whereby everything she did seemed to carry the sole intent of crushing the irritating little thing on the other side of the net. And all the while that she was walloping it about, there was little Ai, scurrying around, her every action seeming to say "Ooh, good, but not quite right! Have another go!" Maria, being as she is deeply unfamiliar with the Roy Walker canon, just seemed to be getting thoroughly disheartened. Either she needs to become even more brutal or somewhat more light-hearted - she's stuck on being angsty at the moment, and it doesn't look like helping her. Some of the shots she was hitting were quite awe-inspiring, mind, enough to give anyone hell, but whether she can string it all together against Big Dave... dunno.

Question Of The Day - would Tatiana Golovin (pronounced Goll-oh-VAN, not Goll-oh-VEEN, trust me Virginia, I nearly managed to half-do a degree in French sort of once upon a time) have stood more of a chance had her costume afforded her anywhere to put her second service ball?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Either she needs to become even more brutal or somewhat more light-hearted

Less brutal, definitely... so many times she'd be on the verge of delivering the knockout blow in a rally, and I'd shout "not so close to the lines, not at full velocity"... and she'd send a missile burning into the turf inches long (partly because Sugiyama's so speedy that Sharapova felt she had to go for the lines). But she needs to know when to tone it down, when to be patient, when to go for accuracy rather than blistering pace... all that stuff like strategy and thought which will come with time. I was pleased to see that her volleying had improved out of sight, but her real weakness in the future will be her movement... of the tall, lanky girls on the WTA Tour, only Venus Williams and Elena Dementieva are what I'd call speedy.

(pronounced Goll-oh-VAN, not Goll-oh-VEEN, trust me Virginia, I nearly managed to half-do a degree in French sort of once upon a time)

Ah, but the thing is it's a Russian name, and if our Tatiana had stayed in Moscow her surname would be Golovina, and the Russian pronunciation is GOL-o-vin (like Safin). I have no idea whether it's been Gallicised or not though.

Early evening mixed doubles is one of my favourite bits of Wimbledon... I never plan to watch it, but I always find myself enjoying a light-hearted, no-pressure (and usually top-quality) match or two. Tonight, I had the pleasure of watching last year's finalists Andy Ram and Anastassia Rodionova (who's the spitting image of the lovely Lauren Laverne, incidentally, and who had her hair in BUNCHES!) and a shockingly good-humoured Rainer Schüttler and Barbara Schett. Despite the bunches, the RamRod team fell in three sets to the DoubleSch alliance.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh dear. The women's singles are a bit of a joke this morning. At least Payola is giving it a go in the 2nd set.

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 10:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Fatriati was singularly awful just now. I swear she got most of her points from Serena's double faults... result, Rena lipos Fat 6-1 6-1.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 10:58 (twenty-one years ago)

wow

― zebedee (zebedee), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 11:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Good grief, I have lunch up the road wiv da missus, expecting to miss maybe a set, and get home to see Henmunch and Antix warming up.

I did set the VCR. Do I not want to see it?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 11:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Cripes, Rossi rolls Esmo over in the second: 7-5. Meanwhile, on the other main court, Jarryd/Leconte have just beaten Fitzgerald/Masur in a very entertaining Over-35s MD.

Good stuff. I wonder what's on BBC1? Is Neighbours still going?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 11:22 (twenty-one years ago)

The 'Ammer (that's Mauresmo) hands her break back with three of the most ridiculous UFE's of the tournament.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 11:39 (twenty-one years ago)

But immediately re-breaks and at 5-1 Suarez is now almost definitely RS.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 11:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Crisis likes a bit of Drama and ran (Grandmaster Flash and) Melie (Mel) to the wire in that last game. But Resm' thru 6-0 5-7 6-1.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Tikki Tikki Timbo has fallen down a well, scooped by Mario.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Gentleman Tim about to lose the first set... ooh, back to 6-4 in the tie break... 6-5, but Ancic has two serves... and there we go. 7-5.

Is WBS working on the Glossary?

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:05 (twenty-one years ago)

YES! YES! COME ON SUPER MARIO!

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:06 (twenty-one years ago)

As Mike set the challenge of nicknaming all 256 players, WBS is either updating AWS or he'll very soon be calling for help.

Sandshoe Face II and 'Schockin' Schalken underway (there's another two for you Bill).

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I would like to apologise for WBS for late-bandwagon-jumping on to the nicknaming train, and doing it very badly. Sorry Swygart.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Interestingly, right now neither Merde TV nor 9 are showing Rodders/Schalken.

Rupert is feeding his vast worldwide Foxtel audience the less than enthralling Woodbridge doubles match (gee, your old homeland says thanks a bunch Rupes but I'd have gladly swapped it for seeing the odd game of Hewitt or Ouzo the other night), while 9 in on Henman/Ancic, and both are resolutely refusing to raise the idea that anything at all may be happening on Court 1.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Hoo baby. Come on Mario! Crush the Timthing with your sultry brown cow eyes! I love you Baby Goran.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Henman double-faults on break point. Anch 3-2.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:29 (twenty-one years ago)

And even before we've finished chuckling at the Henperson's break point effort, Ancic the Anxious hands it back with consecutive doubles from 30-30.

Of the four serves, maybe one would have landed within SW19 postal district.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Crap. I wish I was somewhere I could watch this.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:35 (twenty-one years ago)

"sultry brown cow eyes"!!!!

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:40 (twenty-one years ago)

But Ancic's sultry brown cow eyes have broken back.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow. I'm loving this commentary. I'm on the edge of my seat.

― mcd (mcd), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Rah! According to BBC Ancic has broken Timbo again. Yes indeed sultry brown cow eyes. It takes one to know one.

curses xpost

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

ANCIC HOLDS SHOCKAH!

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Sjenga and A-Hole are in a tie-breaker.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm holding my shockah too. Do I get a prize?

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, boiled monkey scrota. Mandy's-No-Moore gets the first, 7-6.

Reminded of SUCCESS in getting Maria to play better upthread merely by saying what she needed to do I shall try again ...
from MY KEYBOARD TO GOD'S EARS:

Andy Roddick needs to hit more balls into the lower part of the net.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Second set to Ancic. Holy guacamole.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Ancic serves out second set.

I'm seeing a resemblance between the Anch and Billy Joel. Should I change my medication?

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:51 (twenty-one years ago)

More t-b agony from Anita - he double-faulted on the first point, slipped over when playing a forehand at 0-2 but Sjengy dumped a backhand in the net and from there Dicky closed him down. Groan. All this after Schalken's wall-like demeanour really seemed to be getting at the #2.

Baby Goran is having a dream on Centre, but I fear for his chances against Pandy. If Schalk had chalked off the first next door I wouldn't care so much about Thamper's predicament.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 12:56 (twenty-one years ago)

And Super Mario breaks in set three. What I've loved the most in this match have been his sidespun passes - not since the days of Henri Leconte, etc. But, two sets and a break - it's been done before. TH might need some kind of weather interruption though.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh don't say that Mike. I'm filled with un-Wednesdaylike glee at the thought of the twat-hatters disconsolately shuffling out in about half an hour.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:08 (twenty-one years ago)

And the (yard taller) Piano Man breaks again.

The Henperson is no Stranger to this type of situation, but barring a big change in fortunes it could be Say Goodbye To Hollywood.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Ancic is just brilliant today - clambering all over the Henman serve like a kid in the park on, er, some swings. And yet Thimoffy continues to serve-volley every point - bzzzt, wrong.

Oh, if I could only believe Mario could do this on Friday.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Ancic 4-1 and serving. Tim's Wimbledon could be over very quickly.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:13 (twenty-one years ago)

5-1. I could have sworn I nearly saw the Henperson's facial expression threaten to change, such is the predicament he finds himself in.

Ancic's second serve seems nearly as deadly a weapon as his first.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh it's all happy happy joy joy chez Lex - that was a quite wonderful win, and one in the eye for the flag-wavers who now look quite disconsolate. Sue Barker looked as though she'd been interrupted mid-coitus afterwards.

Sultry Brown Cow Eyes is the best nickname yet!

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

And the weather's gone out in sympathy.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, goodbye Tim - let's face it, you weren't going to win it anyway. As Boris said, "Ancic didn't blink even one eye." That's called winking, BB.

Rain comes as Schalk and Rodd are in an immense multi-deuce battle on the Dutchman's serve at 5-5 in the 2nd. In a way Schalk spoiled Henbot's best chance of winning Wimbledon two years ago when he fluffed a 4-2 lead in the 5th against Hewitt in the quarters; I doubt he'd have beaten TH and nor would Bandy in the final.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Aw, I love Clidge's smile, she's just so unstoppably lovely. I hope the camera pans to her lots during this game.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 13:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Llout already in trouble, broken at the second attempt, 4-1 down.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Boo. Sjenga toppled in the second by Dik-Dik despite having had a set point on his own serve in the breaker.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Rodge wins set 1 in 23 minutes.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

The Rod-Scheng tiebreaker would have taken longer.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh for god's sake Lleyon, you can hit backhands down the line, you know.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:27 (twenty-one years ago)

And there's an F-bomb, and the covers are on.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Can we rename Super-Mario Super-Macchio? He isn't Joel, he's the Karate Kid!

― Ally C (Ally C), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm losing the will to live with these knife-edge tie-breakers that Roddick continually manages to win - this one was especially harrowing, 11-9. He then saved three break-points at the start of the third - one with a 127mph SECOND serve ace. The one consolation is that Schalk isn't the sort to cave in just he's lost two sets he could've won; he'll keep plugging away with those salt-flat groundies and stiff net sorties.

Federer up 6-1 1-1 in the match I *want* to watch but my masochistic streak keeps dragging me back to court #1.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:37 (twenty-one years ago)

The one consolation is that Schalk isn't the sort to cave in just he's lost two sets he could've won; he'll keep plugging away with those salt-flat groundies and stiff net sorties.

Especially now he has the rain break to gather his thoughts. I like watching the Sjengster, he goes about his business rather like an old-fashioned watchmaker - very neat and precise.

Federer played amazingly, but you all knew that anyway.

Was Sue Barker dressed all in black earlier, or has she changed outfit to commiserate with Chicken Legs?

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 14:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Play back on - Lley Lley holds after a struggle. Kimbo rests her chin on her hands and smiles a wry smile that makes her look like my cat. Aw, bless!

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 15:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Sjeng 5-2 down in the third - the watchmaker looks to be clocking off...

Seen bits and bobs today, managed to miss most of Henman-Ancic by way of having a bath (but oh, did I ever need one), saw all of Williams-Capriati though. Jesus, that was depressing/awe-inspiring/depressing and awe-inspiring in equal measure. Capriati just could not do shit with her backhand, though it's not like the rest of her game seemed up to much. Serena just steamrollered her, and has now lost about 5 games in two matches, isn't it? I'd like to think Amelie could do something. But she probably can't.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 15:50 (twenty-one years ago)

And Roddy through to face Raddy double-quick, pancaking the Dutchman6-3 in the third.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 15:53 (twenty-one years ago)

All over on court #1 - Roddick thru 7-6 7-6 6-3. He's going to love the target Ancic gives him at the net, isn't he? I found myself hoping he'd injure himself in that last game which is a rather dark notion of the sort I haven't entertained since the days of B****r.

Fedz misfiring rather a lot from the baseline - Hewitt definitely back in this.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Raining again: Feddy 6-1 5-5 Hewt. Grosjean-Mayer may not get on at this rate.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Et il pleut. Encore.

Federer has created, then pissed away, umpteen chances on Hewitt's service games in this set so far.

(xpost)

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

That's the second set. 7-1 in the tiebreaker to Chewy Hewy. He played it very well, forcing more errors in one breaker than Roger had seemingly played the rest of the match. There was also a top-class pass in there.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 17:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Hewitt rips through the t-b 7-1. I'm beginning to see why Federer has such a poor record against him. Meanwhile, Grosjean drops his serve early vs Mayer. Imagine it, Mayer-Hewitt & Ancic-Roddick semis. It's just not on, is it?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 17:06 (twenty-one years ago)

That second rain break has certainly been a boon for our nougat-and-almond-filled friend Llout, he should have just broken but he got screwed on a lineball line-call.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 17:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Fereder wins set 3 in double-quick time, 6-0. Now the aforementioned line call WAS a shocker but this is going to pieces on an unprecedented scale, as Rog isn't playing remotely as well as in the first and yet he gets an even better scoreline...

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 17:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Fedz looked in real disarray for the first 15 minutes after the resumption and then...*click*, he relocated the genius booster. 6-0.

Sanity is being restored on court #1 too though Mayer is compelling to watch, so unorthodox.

xpost (yep, Lleyt had outmanoeuvred Rodge on that point with the overrule and probably would've broken)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

That's a DEFINITELY, Michael, it was on a break point!

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

The first game of the third set... Fedz was still patchy, and Chewitt had his chances, but he didn't take them and as Mike said - click. I was going to rave about any one of a dozen genius points from FabFed in that set, but there were just too many to single one out.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

It's all over, Baby Hew. 6-4 to Fed in the fourth after a double-fault. Watching Federer dismantle Roddick will be so sweet, though not as sweet as if SBCE does it a round early...

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)

No, Edward, it's still 'probably' because the faulty line call (which the ump overruled and ordered a replay) wasn't on a winner - Fed sliced the ball back and Hewitt had a bit of work to do to finish it off. Anyway, academic now.

It seemed to be that 25? 27? 29? stroke rally in game three that really cemented Fed's recovery. Immediately prior to that he was having difficulty keeping the ball in court. And then the three aces and a near-ace to go 5-0. Tactically, Hewitt had a bit of a 'mare. Shame they didn't finish early enough to allow me to see Ronaldo's goal for Portugal.

Mayer has blown his chances rather like Arazi against Henman - finds himself two sets and 2-5 down to Grosjean when he could be ahead.

(Lost my WWW connection there for a bit - Grosjean thru 7-5 6-4 6-2. Now it's Navrat&Paes in a marathon MxD t-b with the Blacks).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 18:47 (twenty-one years ago)

ancic IS impossibly cute. but no chance against roddy, who impressed me against schengy. i dont LIKE roddy's game very much, but it would be good to see a fed-rod final.

― may, Wednesday, 30 June 2004 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I concede, Michael, some tiredness must be causing me to conflate that point with another one where the bodgy call was on an unplayable shot. Either way, the reports going up describing Hewitt as "spirited" in his attempts seem a little off the mark. Spirited players should probably try to get more than 40% of their serves in.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 30 June 2004 21:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, Hewitt only really hit top form in that second set t-b and he basically threw away his break in the 4th. A deciding set would've fascinating - Fedz hasn't played one at Wimb since that Sampras match three years ago.

For all the plaudits this qf has received, I don't think it matched Henman-Philp for drama or Moya-Hewitt for sustained quality.

The British press are characteristically hard on Tim today - "Whimperdon", "Dimbo", etc. Similar anticlimax to '97 when he edged the defending champ Krajicek in four tight sets and then offered only token resistance to unseeded and supposedly past-it Michael Stich in the quarters. Course then he was a blossoming 22-year-old talent...

Seems the notion 'play to your strengths' has been drilled into him so often in the last 12 months he daren't revert to a plan B vs Ancic - 100% serve'n'volley in all three sets. Ancic's win was a little bit reminiscent of Sampras' destruction of Stich in '92 - unfortunately Pete was so ultimately demoralised by never getting anywhere Goran's serve in the semi that, after splitting two tie-breaks, he completely folded. I fear the same will happen with Mario in the face of the Roddick barrage.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 09:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Last night was probably the final confirmation that those with the responsibility for finding Australia's next Rafter, let alone the next Newcombe, Rosewall or Hoad, need to keep looking....The Llout may scramble well and work hard, but his game's lack of an outstanding feature, combined with That Bloody Serve, will keep him a very safe arms length from Roddy and Rodge for all the days that remain of their careers.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:34 (twenty-one years ago)

What annoyed me most was the ever knowledgable commentary - when I turned it on - of Fred Stolle saying that what he needed to do was SERVE and VOLLEY more. This man is so obsessed with returning Australian tennis to its glory years of serve-and-volley domination that they want everyone to do it. Hewitt is sound - even good - at the net. But he's not showing any direction, so his newish coach doesn't know what to do and I can't imagine S&V is the answer. So it's easy to see why he's trying to bump up his serve, but the problem is and always has been the percentage he gets in rather than the actual speed.

And as above - DOWN THE LINE BACKHANDS. Hit them. Don't cross-court back to someone who can beat you on tricky angles any day of the week.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyway, forgetting the past, the future is now.

I say: Mauresmo to do quite well in the first set against Williams before folding quite spack-tacularly, and Sharapova to thwack Davenport in three, with the sets won by Maria being tight but Lindsay winning a lopsided one between them.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Well... in Chewitt's defence, he's already won as many Slams as Rafter did. However, I've long thought that the extent of his dominance was very misleading - if ever there was a 'transition' No 1 between one generation and the next, it was Hewitt. Now that Federer, Ferrero and Roddick have matured enough to step their own games up at the majors, Lil Lleyt will need a lot of luck to sneak another one out.

He might do better to focus on clay more... really, it's odd that he's had most of his success on the faster surfaces, as his counter-punching style is seemingly tailor-made for the slow red stuff. Logically, he should be as much of a factor at Wimbledon as Ferrero and Coria.

I think he might continue to push Roddick close, though... his lack of a huge serve won't hurt him as much against someone who returns as relatively poorly as the BodyShop Boy, while he's speedy enough to chase down every missile thrown his way.

(xposts - serve-volley?! Seriously?! Good lord that's just ignorant. You don't ask short-ass counter-punchers to serve-volley! Jesus.)

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, Lex, this is the level of intelligence of the former champions who now keep themselves in the public consciousness through the medium of commentary. Stolle, Newcombe, Roach etc also are heavily involved in Davis Cup, so I think their baneful influence may manifest itself there.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, and the women's semis will be entirely dependent on the mentality of the underdogs. Mesmo has infinitely more shotmaking ability than Rene, but all the inner steel of a baby rabbit trapped on a motorway in rush hour. Depends how she copes with Serena's first-strike tennis, too - when Williams Jr is drawn into a neutral rally she often looks second-best, but if you let her get control of the point from the outset with her big serves/returns, you = in path of steamroller.

As for Sharapova... the narrative says this is the Changing of the Guard, but the narrative doesn't take into account Shaz getting over-excited at crucial times. Good news for Masha: Big Dave's as slow as she is.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Seriously, serve-volleying is exactly what Hewitt should not be doing. He needs to play to his strengths more, which are annoying errors and games and sets out of opponents, not out-aggressing them. Hewitt is the archetypal Winning Ugly player.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:53 (twenty-one years ago)

'He might do better to focus on clay more... really, it's odd that he's had most of his success on the faster surfaces'

same with agassi wasn't it? he won wimbledon first, and the french last.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Stolle is another beneficiary (like Tony Greig) of The Great Warthog's legendary 'loyalty' to his mates, which never allows him to put them out to pasture no matter what level of total bloody awfulness they descend to.

I'm sure he also gets satisfaction from foisting these clowns on his captive audience, reminding us sport-heads we don't count for diddly squat in his main game, we're welcome to come along for the ride but if we don't anything about it he's quite happy to see us bugger off - if we dare.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:55 (twenty-one years ago)

err..last line should read 'if we don't LIKE anything about it'.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 10:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Can I just say I find the Bitching About The Aussie Media segments of these threads just about my own personal highlight? Great tragicomic stuff.

Hewitt - there was a moment, around about the time of his dismantling of Sampras at Flushing Meadow in '01 - when I didn't think he was just the new Jim Courier, but the next year or so confirmed that he was. In a sense he was fortunate that he matured a bit quicker than his contemporaries so he got his 18 months in the limelight. Eventually, he'll outstrip JC* in terms of Davis Cup heroics (on account of never slipping to #5 or #6 in his country) but possibly not GS titles. Shame - I've really warmed to the guy over the last couple of years.

(* - of course, there's another JC he's been compared to - the one from Belleville, IL rather than Nazareth - so there's always the chance he'll have an autumnal surge just as his betters burn themselves out or lose focus.)

I fancy Davenport today - she was superb against Sprem. But...it's raining after about two points.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 11:14 (twenty-one years ago)

The sheer awfulness of the commentary causes me to mute it and instead listen to pop from the same country as the player I want to win. I shall be listening to both Alizee albums in full, needless to say.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 11:24 (twenty-one years ago)

while we're bitching about commentators who should be put out to grass, what's happened to the BBC's former stalwarts Barrett and Threllfall?

apologies if one of them's had a stroke or something recently, but Barrett in particular is sounding even more of a doddery old buffer-lech than Maskell did in his final years

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 1 July 2004 11:27 (twenty-one years ago)

'Blink one eye'

'He's always had 20 horsepower more than Henman'

'Like an express train'

'He was 30 horsepower better than Henman'

'We have seen the future, and his name, is Mario Ancic'

'I like the way he took the defeat like a man'

― the beckfox, Thursday, 1 July 2004 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Big Dave up a double break; Shari is hitting some wonderful angles but Citizen Smith is snuffing out any chances with those crunching serves and Pova isn't helping herself with a few nervy doubles.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:04 (twenty-one years ago)

And there's the set. Hopefully this will last long enough to give me time to re-write the words to "I'm Fed Up" so that is about how boring Serena is.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:06 (twenty-one years ago)

First set to Big Dave 6-2. Her serving is excellent, but it's incredibly frustrating (and the story of women's tennis lately) when big matches like this just don't live up to the hype.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:07 (twenty-one years ago)

grrrrrrrrrr. after having to wait for the awful NRL "Footy Show" (for the benefits of non-Australians, a hideous show in which lots of comically overblokey ex-players and general dickweeds talk about Rugby League while often wearing dresses and needling each other about their masculinity, or, in the words of the great Tim Bowden, THUGBY League, the dominant code of you-hardly-even-use-your-foot-ball in New South Wales, Queensland and the ACT), and now they're showing Dave/Shap, but not live. Oh no. They're starting at the beginning, the twunts.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Weirdly, drizzle suspends play on Centre and #1 but not outside (MD continues on #3 on BBCi). Maria S avoids going a double break down in set two but she patently can't deal with the weight and depth of Linder's shots. I'll be surprised if this lasts more than another 20 mins upon resumption.

Barrett - I don't know, he seems the same as ever but he used up every insight he had in about 1982 so now he trots out the old cliches like a mediocre middle-aged teacher who's forgotten why they ever decided to teach GCSE Geography in the first place. Threlfall - still an odd presence on the mic as he can't contain his sub-vocal utterances (Kafelnikov-Henman in '96 - "What a muurghatch! Hurrghsshh.. [wheezy intake, cufflinks clang on desk]").

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Of the four remaining 'ladies' as Wimbledon so primly and properly and, yes, sanctimoniously calls them (while giving them the choice of Mrs or Miss as an honorific - I'll bet the ridiculously late decision to let 'Miss S. Graf' grace the scoreboard and program even after she became Mrs A. Agassi led to more than a few outraged, gin-soaked resignations amid apocolyptic warnings about PCGM....but I digress), Davenport is the only one I can both realistically see winning and cop the prospect of winning.

Shrapnel, maybe next year, not realistic final opposition for either winner of the other semi. Renes, oh no please not again, and I suspect I'll never be ready for Amalie the Ammerzon (who I've tried to warm to, honest, but just can't) to win a maje and attract the usual army of wannabee lookalikes. So go Linz.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Lindsay has been brilliant for so many years and has more than earned her status as a great for me, and probably for most other tennis buffs, but a win here this year would really cement her place in the parthenon for the casual player, so I'm glad to see her winning. Schav will have other chances... Dave has also put together a great year so far while being relatively low-profile, so this is all good.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Why are you calling Lindsay Davenport Big Dave, if you are?

I don't like the old BBC commentators much. And it's not often you hear me say *that*.

― the bellefox, Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:37 (twenty-one years ago)

the CASUAL VIEWER.. the CASUAL VIEWER...

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Everyone and their grandmother hating on Serena SHOCKER

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

For me LD has been 'Dave' ever since the Oz Open a few years ago when the local TV superimposed a mini-scoreboard into a corner of the screen. Every player's name was abbreviated to the first four letters.

(Fortunately Capriati didn't play that year.)

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

DP leaping gallantly to SW's defence MAJOR EARTH-TREMOR-CAUSING SHOCKER

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 12:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Sharap miles better this time - Lindsay's first serve %age dropping from its previously frightening 80+ - and so we're back on serve at 4-4.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:30 (twenty-one years ago)

'Hating on' = being grudgingly admiring of her skills while dearly wishing someone with a bit more variety in their game could be consistent enough to give her a contest and not really wanting to see the champion of 2002 and 2003 win yet again?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:38 (twenty-one years ago)

5-5

can edward o watch live now thanks to rain delay?

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Thing with the Williams sisters is that whichever one is doing the worse of the two is actually quite bearable. Venus was an interminable bore when she was winning everything and Serena seemed much more likeable. Now the tables have turned, it's Serena who is just irritating (viz. the Sprem Cheats incident) and Venus seems like the decent one who's able to take a step back and acknowledge her faults and genuinely compliment her conquerors.

Plus, Venus has the famous "She thinks she's the fucking Venus Williams" quote in her favour.

X-post: He can and is, and is enjoying it MUCHLY.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Proper battle is this - Shara holds from break point down for 6-5.

Bizarre weather day (every remaining day of the event is gonna be like this apparently) - in SE London I think we're getting Wimb conditions about 15 minutes after they do; lengthy thunderstorm here followed by brilliant sunshine.

When did Dan meet my grandmother? And which one?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:43 (twenty-one years ago)

How cool would it have been if that shot Sharapova hit had gone in? No matter, as Shara hits a deceptive-looking backhand into the Dave's right corner to snatch the breaker 7-5. We've got a match. And a damned fine one.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:52 (twenty-one years ago)

MS brilliant in the t-b, wins it 7-5 with a blistering backhand. Cor, I'm glad I was wrong about this. The dishes will have to wait.

xpost

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 13:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Shaznay breaks. Her backland... it is sizzling, people.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Backland... that's a Freudian slip.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

A break at the start of the decider for the teen queen of screem - multiple deuces but she's on fire. That second rain break may have done for Dave.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I've done a great job of jinxing LD. Since I declared my preference during the rain delay she's been gathering speed backwards, and now she's a break up the Khyber in the third 'n final and looking at a second at very close quarters.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Wolfie gutsed her way out of troub in that third game; I can't see every game going with serve in the remainder of this set.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:11 (twenty-one years ago)

If Tony Trabert calls Lindsay a "veteran" one more time, I am going to mail-bomb him. He is the worst commentator ever.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Dave holds on by the fingernails.

But she has to make a move on Shara's serve, pronto (if not sooner).

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Shara survives three deuces and a double fault and holds.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Flashing forehand return, 4-1, double break.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Holds to love with the help of yet another ace (where have they come from?): 5-1.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:22 (twenty-one years ago)

2-6 7-6 6-1. Astonishing - she's got the lot. Wimbledon champion 200n, where n greater than 3 and less than 7.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Crikey. Aw, bless her, the wee scamp.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Serene and Melee is likely going to be the last match in this thread, right? Hope it's fittingly good... though it probably won't be.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:30 (twenty-one years ago)

And goodbye that's all she wrote....6-2 7-6 6-1.

Does Shara have a chance in Hades on Saturday?

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:30 (twenty-one years ago)

(I've just noticed the ILX planned outage thing. Get all your tennis comments in now cos chatting about the men's semis/final or the women's final while they're actually taking place is not gonna happen. Shame.)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Ed, clocked that British Airways ad with the RPO, which rips the Qantas 'I Still Call Australia Home' off blind?

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Haven't seen it. I'm tuning out in the breaks - ADVERTISERS CANNOT BUY MY EYES FROM KERRY PACKER etc.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Hoo boy. That was quite something. She's got it, yeah baby she's got it. The girl with the golden game indeed.

No of Russians in women's Slam finals in 2004 so far = 3
No of Americans ditto ditto: 0

Allez Amélie, let's keep those numbers stable.

Re: Serena-hate - her tennis is boring, her much-vaiunted 'personality' is boring, the lack of sportsmanship which is endearing in a teenager is irritating in a proven champion, her fashion sense is the worst since mid-period Xtina (and she doesn't have the songs). I really like Venus - and have since the Spirlea Bump Incident - but Serena is just the bratty little sister.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Amelie has gold for every soul
Amelie was told to be my angel
Amelie has melted every stone
Loving Amelie, coming from heaven.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Locked in a cupboard and not allowed out until I express a preference, I suppose it has to be Serena but my enthusiasm does not move the needle one iota.

What a shame this match is the last before the ILX lights go out.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

And was that not a really crap line call right there? RAISE YOUR STANDARDS, LINESPEOPLE.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

We could continue deliberations on Channel 4. Advise register immediately (it takes a while).

http://community.channel4.com/6/ubb.x?a=frm&s=162603557&f=5796002921

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 14:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I've started a thread at Mandee's suggested alternative forum:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/323138

If it's still just me in there by the end of Mauresmo-Serena, I, er...give up.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

This is cracking stuff, btw - Amy breaks back for 5-5.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't it just? Mauresmo's touch at the net is fabulous.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:21 (twenty-one years ago)

That drop volley was astonishing - if only Dan Maskell was here to tell us how it reminded him of Manolo Santana.

If anyone does fancy that network54 forum, btw - I suggest using a tennis player's name as yr login, cos, er, I have (after being thwarted with several more sensible attempts) and it'll be funny, like.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I got my second-choice sign in name so didn't think to adopt the guise of a tennis player. If I had, it would have been someone small and crafty.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Dawn is coming down
Feeling empty, falling slowly
Never let me down
Oh, Amelie mine, help me to fly

Yes! GLEE! GLEE! GLEE! Amelie gets it!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Mon Dieu! Allez Amelie!

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Amelie takes the first t-b 7-4. Cripes.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:33 (twenty-one years ago)

'funny, like'

The match sounds good.

I am listening to 'Destroy The Heart' (Peel) again.

It sounds good.

― the bellefox, Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Though still falling to the occasional one down the T, Amelie is doing a superb job of returning Serena's serve. She's getting lots of chances and if she can just convert one early, this could be over quickly.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Mesmo breaks in the 2nd to lead 2-1. She's looking fabulous at this point, but, y'know, so was Davey and then it rained... And it is a bit gloomy out there.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Ammer has broken. Methinks Renes is cactus. Her tennis seems aimless at the mo.

Just had a whinge about a line call.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Rene battles (with broken racket - manages to avoid a code violation by playing on for a couple of points after chucking it) to hold for 2-3. It is drizzling but they're not coming off just yet.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 15:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Amelie's serving slower and choking on the forehand - the break has gone. It's 3-3.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Break-back: Revival or just 'dead cat bounce'?

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:02 (twenty-one years ago)

This is agonising - Mesmo has fallen apart, for whatever reason, and has now called for the trainer. Serena leads 4-3 in the 2nd.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

And AM is in injury trouble. Just disappeared down the tunnel with a trainer.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:05 (twenty-one years ago)

bah, this is horrible.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)

An exhibition has turned into a horror-show - Amelie blows 40/0 on her serve and a Serena mis-hit balloons onto the baseline to break. Only one winner now.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, but Mesmerising Mauresmo breaks back...

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Ooh, so twisty-turny... it's compelling in a much more disquieting way now.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Next two games are semi-comfortable holds - AM will serve at 5-6.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:23 (twenty-one years ago)

the crowd are so silent between points. they're like celebrants.

― cºzen (Cozen), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Disaster - AM gets a lousy call on a perfect length approach at 30/30(ump overrules and the point is replayed - SW wins it with a deft pass) and then hits the second worst second serve fault Centre Court has seen this year (Lleyt hit one almost out of the Borough Of Merton yesterday). 7-5 Serena. I fear a third set mauling for the ailing Mesmo.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:29 (twenty-one years ago)

It wasn't even on the outside of the line. The majority of that ball would have been inside the court.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:31 (twenty-one years ago)

how do? loses the second set.

― cºzen (Cozen), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha - this thread is full of "she's been broken, her career is OVER" comments, quickly and quietly retracted when said breakee goes on to win the next 12 games.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

That drop volley was astonishing - if only Dan Maskell was here to tell us how it reminded him of Manolo Santana.

I remember that one! So much backspin it bounced backwards. Seems an eternity ago now, unfortunately :(

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

(I really wish I could join in the live fun here but the TV is two rooms away and now I hear the sound of the crowd again)

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmm, I like to think I'm making my rash predictions and their subsequent retractions at precisely the same volume. I live to be surprised, Mark.

Anyway, AM to serve, 1-2 in the decider.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Nobody's over yet... Ammer saves break point with a big volley dangerously close to the line and two well-placed first serves, one an ace. I have taken Alizee off and put Singuila on in the hope that this will freshen Amelie.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Blimey, this is somethin' else. 4-3 to Serena. You can't believe these two are hitting the winners they are in the context of the howling losers.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:55 (twenty-one years ago)

what Lex said. I hope BBCi replays lengthy highlights of both semis tonight

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 1 July 2004 16:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Crikey - how many times is Mesmo going to deprived of probable winners by duff baseline calls at the near end? Immense hold by SW - ahead 5-4.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 17:04 (twenty-one years ago)

(I am basically awaiting the chance to be really smug now.)

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 1 July 2004 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

SMUGGERY IN FULL EFFECT BOOYAH!!!!!!!

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 1 July 2004 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Serena 6-7 7-5 6-4. Classic, obv.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Credit the linespeople, Dan. They should all be taken out and shot.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

X-post. It's a shame that's the first thing that came to my mind because it WAS a very entertaining game.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I will shoot them with kisses! (Kidding obv, no one likes to see a match won based on bad officiating.)

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 1 July 2004 17:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Either of those two semis could have been a final.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 1 July 2004 17:11 (twenty-one years ago)

and past form is that the final is always a damp squib by comparison when the semis are classix. What with Sharon being a "slow starter" and first slam final nerves, I fear it'll be over quickly...

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 1 July 2004 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I think that might be the best best-of-three match I've ever seen. Didn't SW says afterwards it was the highlight of her career? Rolling through Slams without dropping a set must be such a drag after a while.

What a way to end our ILX thread!

If I may be so bold (and repeat myself in a medium where such reiteration is redundant) - http://www.network54.com/Forum/323138 might be where we want to go next. (Next = from noon tomorrow anyway).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 1 July 2004 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah well, pauvre Amélie. Linespeople weren't that bad, but Mauresmo got nervy and let her back injury get to her... then Serena stepped up big time.

Is no one watching the MIXED DOUBLES?! One of the Bryan twins and Big Dave lead Discount Booze and Bhupathi, as far as I can tell through the haze of... well... discount booze. French, obv, to commiserate with Amlie.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 1 July 2004 18:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Ooh... that was quite the match, no? Big props to Mesmo - you get the feeling that could be something of a turning point in her career, somehow, cos when it really started to get heavy, she seemed to be... enjoying it. Just a little. But for a player who hasn't exactly been noted for her mental fortitude before, that was impressive. Perhaps her breakthrough might be coming...

Still, though Serena looked crushing when she REALLY needed to be. You'd have to fancy her to take it against BattleShar Galactica - they're both capable of being scarily good, but sErena's a bit more consistent at it.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 1 July 2004 18:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Right, I'm saving the thread NOW. If anyone has anything to go in the glossary from here on in, put it on the temporary thread on the temporary board. Thank you.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 1 July 2004 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

No worries WBS.

Following her defeat last night (Oz), Lindsay Davenport has indicated this will be her last year of tennis. She was a fine player, and a genuine personality in a media air-brushed age that needed them. She ran her own race without making an exhibition of herself and finished still near the top. Congratulations to her on a good, maybe even great, career.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 2 July 2004 02:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Hee hee, Sergei Bubka is playing in the boys' doubles!

― OleM (OleM), Friday, 2 July 2004 09:30 (twenty-one years ago)

He cannot be lobbed.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 2 July 2004 09:40 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

From Network 54:

Wimbledon 2004
July 1 2004 at 9:14 AM
Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors)

Just testing whether this is worth pursuing...

Author Reply
Mandee Wright (Login Wolfshirt)

Of COURSE it's worth pursuing, Michael!

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors)

Er, not if the other tennis foax from ILE don't hotfoot it over here on the double all speedy quick-like.

Fred Nerk

Seem to have found my way in.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors)

I suggest keeping Mesmo-Serena stuff over on ILX and keep this forum for tomorrow onwards. Whaddya think?

Fred Nerk

Rene 3-1 in tie breaker

Anonymous

Sounds good.

Markelby (Login Markelby)

Mandee is brillian

I've just rated Mandee's post as brilliant.

Hello everyone. This is odd. Hurray for little Maria! Boo for Serena. That is all.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors)

This is great! The more the merrier...

I'm not going to be posting too heavily in here until I have to; perhaps we can just all sign in as we arrive so we know we've got a little community goin' on like in THE OTHER PLACE.

lauren (Login warmlaunderette)

agreed.

she is brilliant.

Edward O (Login edwardok)

Boo. I'm going away for the weekend so may not be able to watch any tennis, so IN-DEPTH, BITCHY COMMENTS must be waiting upon my return. Please?

Anonymous (Login MrSwygart)

Not sure I'm liking these staggers (oh dear God the glossary is going to be a NIGHTMARE of Hugo Myatt proportions...)
.

Lex (Login anastasiamyskina) July 1 2004, 2:49 PM

It's just taken me half an hour to figure out how to work this forum. I'm not good with all this technology.

The BBC gave Amélie a bottle of vintage Bordeaux. Poor love looked distraught in the interview. Silver lining for Mauresmo supporters: the real winner today, more than Little Maria and Big Serena, was the WTA.

Go Maria, etc.

Edward O (Login ParadornSrichapan) July 1 2004, 3:07 PM

What chance does anyone give Sharapova?

Lex (Login anastasiamyskina) July 1 2004, 4:27 PM

If she plays like she did in her third set today, and Williams plays like she did in her third set today, Sharapova wins. Her poise and controlled aggression were breathtaking... and I mean, breathtaking as in the only other player whose shots have amazed me like that this fortnight is Federer.

I'm not sure if Princess Shaz can afford another slow start though. And she'll have to remember that where Lindsay is slow as molasses, Serena is one of the fastest players in the world.

Edward O (Login ParadornSrichapan) July 1 2004, 4:28 PM

Very good. Have your post rated a FIVE for that. Actually, I reckon the nerves will be a minimal factor.

Lex (Login anastasiamyskina) July 1 2004, 4:31 PM

You can score posts! Good lord.

Nerves... I don't think they'll be a factor. Experience, yes. I want to see the final NOW!

FabFed vs Big John already has me salivating at the prospect of all that yummy tennis. Sultry Brown Cow Eyes vs Cock doesn't so much.

Edward O (Login ParadornSrichapan) July 1 2004, 4:55 PM

hur hur hur replace "vs" with an apostrophe...

I really WANT to watch the semis but I have to be up agonisingly early in the morning and I can't afford to live nocturnally for the tennix for ever...

Lex (Login anastasiamyskina) July 1 2004, 5:11 PM

Call this payback for the Australian Open.

M-Nav's mixed doubles match got suspended overnight at 10-10 in the third!

I think this is a very special Wimbledon so far. I've just read tomorrow's columns, and the British press are head over heels in love with Sharapova.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 12:39 AM

Yes, the key is that Sharapova appears to fearless - she's mad for it. Serena has to show some weakness for her to profit though, MS seems to feed off that.

Do we see any way CowBoy can floor Dick? I guess Dent net-rushed against Pandy to moderately good effect and Mari is a better volleyer.

Very grey right now over south London but apparently the traditional mix of sun and showers is forecast for the afternoon.

Liz :x (Login wintryme) July 2 2004, 2:48 AM

Ack! I only just noticed that my faves are called (Princess) Maria and (SBCE) Mario: is there something off going on namewise?

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 5:08 AM

Lovely opening break to 15 by Rodge.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 5:24 AM

Grosjean fends off three break-points with surprisingly stinging serves and unsurprisingly delicate net-play. This is good stuff. RF serving at 3-2.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 5:27 AM

Rain! Sebby hit a coupla creamy winners to get back from 40/0 in game six at which point the weather stemmed his flow.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 6:05 AM

This is a whole sack of anti-fun. The sun came out, they knocked up, it started raining, they went away again.

80% chance of showers tomorrow, 30% Sunday.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 7:50 AM

Shall I just copy my last post? Cos it happened again - knocked up, started drizzling, dash for cover. 3-2 40/30 in case anyone's forgotten. It might be 3-2 40/30 forever.

Anonymous (Login anastasiamyskina) July 2 2004, 7:59 AM

The breaks in between the showers last just long enough for them to take the covers off, put the net up, get the players out and start the warm-up. Then it starts pissing down again. Boo. Surely they will put SBCE v Dickhead on another court now?

On the plus side we did get to see the new Rachel Stevens video!

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 9:12 AM

Strangely, I'm less enamored of that Rachel Stevens record now I've heard more than 15 seconds of it.

Yes - it's confirmed, Ancic-Roddick will now be on court #1. I don't want to get into omens but I fancied Mario's chances more on Centre (where he's never lost).

We're promised a 'bright evening' - just as long as they're both finished by tomorrow. Third Monday = huge dilemma for me.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 10:19 AM

First set Fedz 6-2. First three games of Anc-Rod go with serve; Mario does seem to be continuing with his policy of serve-volley at all costs. So, er, good luck with that.

Anonymous (no login) July 2 2004, 10:25 AM

I need to pick up my tennis racket more often.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 10:38 AM

(Who knows who that was?)

First break to Dick - Mario fends off a flurry of attempted passes at 30/40 before Pandy shovels one down the line. Groan. With serve in set two btwn RF and SG.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 10:44 AM

I don't I can watch any more of AR-MA; Roddick takes the first set, holding from 15/40 with - surprise - three hooj serves and a slappable crosscourt hoot. Fed a break up in set two.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 10:51 AM

Fed not exactly on top form but way too many errors from little Sebby - 6-2 6-3. Nav/Paes and the Blacks are back on court after bailing out at 9:10 last night - 11-10 to the older pair.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 11:16 AM

Some small consolation as Ancic narrowly avoids going a double-break down in set two - players who beat Henman in the quarters usually have a bad time of it in their semis (Martin blowing a 5-1 final set lead and who knows how many other chances to finish off Washington in '96, Stich edged out by Pioline in '97, Grosjean never in the hunt against The Ox last year) but the players who put them out get proper stuffed in the final. We can only hope.

RF 6-2 6-3 4-3* SG
MA 4-6 3-4* AR

Nav/Paes bite the dust 13-11 out on court #13.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 11:17 AM

And it's raining again. Jesus.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 2 2004, 11:28 AM

Another instalment in the Beeb's filler catalogue this afternoon during the longest of the interruptions - a McEnroe 'Legends of Wimbledon' thing seemingly dating (judging by Mac's chin-fluff) from the mid-90s. All well and good seeing that footage again but someone had prevailed upon John Barrett to record extra spurts of commentary - nowhere more intrusive and obvious that in the 1980 tie-breaker - "Oh, such anticipation!" - when JB's original sparse interjections were perfect. It was like M*A*S*H with the canned laughter. Bizarre.

The tent's up on #1 so that's probably good night.

Lex (Login anastasiamyskina) July 3 2004, 5:57 AM

Sterling work Mike in the absence of seemingly everybody. Rubbish weather again today, but FabFed squeaked the third set out in a tiebreak despite Seb serving for it. Meanwhile, SBCE took the second set (yay!) but at 4-5 down in the third, Dickhead asked for play to be suspended even though it wasn't raining 'because of moisture in the air' ('because I am getting my arse kicked and I need to talk to my coach'), and on resumption took that set (boo!). Then it rained again.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 3 2004, 6:06 AM

I've been in Internet Optimizer hell all morning, so no access to this site for me.

Yes, RODDICK IS A BLOODY CHEAT. Can we just say that? Play continued on every court but #1 during the 'rain delay' and meanwhile A-Rod got his A-Game back together with Brad 'Servant of the Devil' Gilbert. I've seen this happen so often before.

Ancic, though, is missing so many easy volleys it's excruciating to watch. Right now it feels like it's Pandy's destiny to win this tournament. Rodge was pretty flaky against Seb on the resumption and doesn't look like he settles after these interruptions nor is he coping with the wind. I'm worried.

Fred Nerk (no login) 6:18 AM

And the ladies are away....

Fred Nerk (no login) July 3 2004, 6:22 AM

With serve so far. Shara 2-1 up, fought back from 0-30 down to win last game.

Fred Nerk (no login) July 3 2004, 6:35 AM

Serena is two breaks down in first set. I think the technical term for this situation is 'arse deep in trouble'.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 3 2004, 6:37 AM

Bollocks. Ancic serves two doubles to go a break down in the 4th.

Fred Nerk (no login) July 3 2004, 6:42 AM

Shara having trouble serving out the set. Have the nerves kicked in at last? Serena has saved two set points but now faces a third...which Maria double faults.

Fred Nerk (no login) July 3 2004, 6:45 AM

And the 'Head is in the final. Anchovie saved two match points but not a third.

Fred Nerk (no login) July 3 2004, 6:46 AM

Meanwhile Shara finally wraps up the first set.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 3 2004, 6:48 AM

Roddick through 6-4 4-6 7-5 7-5. My nerves are in shreds and my wife is now a committed Andy-hater. Mario saved two m-ps brilliantly and always looked better from the back of the court but Brad G looked on with the smug grin of a man who knows his boy can uncork a 140mph delivery any time he wants (or at least, any time after a phantom 45min 'moisture' break during which I imagine there was some intensive tutoring).

I hope he is destroyed tomorrow.

Meanwhile - blimey! - first set 6-1 to Sharapova.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 3 2004, 7:01 AM

No sign of a Serena Surge yet - Maria trading angles like nobody's business and holds for 2-2 in the 2nd.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 3 2004, 7:08 AM

SW holds to love.

Elsewhere...the last remaining flicker of Martina's triple threat ends in the WD semis - with Raymond Baxter she's downed in two tight sets by AI and (not Anke) Huber. They'll meet The Hardest Working Woman In Tennis (Today) - Cara Black and Resistance-aiding, SS-appeasing cafe owner Rennae Stubbs.

Ouch, SW breaks - 4-2.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 3 2004, 7:15 AM

And Maria S breaks back!

Elsewhere #2...slightly confusing match of the day: MD semi on #2 which saw Knowle/Zimonjic oust Knowles/Nestor in 5 sets. Tony Knowles was the umpire. They'll meet - no surprises here - the ineffable Bjorkman and Woodbridge who vanned Arfurs & 'Anley off the premises in three close chaps.

MS holds for 4-4 with the help of an astonishing topspin lob.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 3 2004, 7:22 AM

Maria breaks for 5-4 on her fourth b-p after probably the best single game on Centre this year.

Wowser!

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 3 2004, 7:29 AM

Oh, my. I appear to have something in my eye.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 3 2004, 7:42 AM

Elsewhere #3...Hanley and Ai get their second spell on the grass later when they take on Woodbridge (similarly engaged earlier) and Molik in a XD semi; the line-up of the second XD semi is still to be decided because Mansour Bahrami has decided to deploy his latest trick - the ridiculously extended Over-45s doubles match (7-7 in the 3rd last I checked). The last XD qf is supposed to follow that - the pocket-dynamo that is Cara Black with bruv Wayney vs Sch-Sch, you know who.

W.B. Swygart (Login MrSwygart) July 3 2004, 7:42 AM

The Siberian Tigress delivers a mauling. The first set was incredible - Serena just not at the races at all, Shari shows the odd touch of nerves but pulls through - and then the second. Fuck me - 4-2 down, Serena in the ascendant, you think it's gonna be like Venus-Henin from a few years ago. Then Maria breaks back. Then holds serve - and then the ninth game, the game that wouldn't end, the endless trading of deuce and advantage, back and forth, back and forth, and finally Maria nailed 'er. Then the last game. Shari's serve hadn't been that wonderful throughout, she was double-faulting and second-serving plenty - but she held on. First Championship point she snatched at, you still wondered, and then... incredible. Serena wasn't at her best, but maybe Sharapova wasn't either. A rematch between the two... that'd really be something. But this was amazing nonetheless.

Lex (Login anastasiamyskina) July 3 2004, 7:55 AM

I don't quite believe what I've just seen. I know I love it, though. Good. God.

The way Maria stepped it up from 2-4 down... that 4-4 game... if you hadn't known in advance, you'd never have guessed that she was the 17-year-old ingénue.

edward o (no login) July 4 2004, 3:06 AM

Hooray! I actually got to see this even though the person I was staying with has no interest in tennis. The people I went out to dinner with last night were confusing Maria with Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi despite my correct them lots of times and on the long bus back to Canberra there was some kind of volleyball team who kept going on about the "hot Russian chick who won" but couldn't think of the name. "Anna Kournikova?" one of them proffered. "No, she won the doubles though." another said.

Pillocks, the lot of them. Masha was great, but you get the feeling she could have stepped it up another level if needed, as flashes of this were evident when down 2-4. But anyone who breaks the Rene serve as often is a force to be reckoned and when she was giving her speech she smiled in a quite geeky way that made me want to hug her more than usual.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 4 2004, 3:23 AM

The best climax to the women's singles I can remember; it wasn't close enough to be a classic final but the last four or five games were extraordinary.

I guess Cara B never got to play her mixed semi yesterday - instead she's got it today on court #2 directly after her WD final. In theory the XD final (the Woodmols are already there) should follow the battle between light and darkness on Centre.

So, the nerves start here. I'm trying to think of Queen's champions who reach a semi and a final in SW19 and never win it - Tony Roche is my best guess. So here's to A-Rod - future coach of Ivan Lendl.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 4 2004, 5:25 AM

Brit bias shining through even the interactive coverage this afternoon where the women's doubles final is being ignored in favour of showing Miles Kasiri (GBR, of whom I know nothing) in the boys' final. Oh, well, better get used to it if he's the Next Henman.

It's overcast but, at the moment, dry.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 4 2004, 6:18 AM

Roddick breaks first. Federer looking flat.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 4 2004, 6:27 AM

RF has 0/40 on the AR serve and a fourth b-p but takes none of his chances; holds after one deuce: 3-2. Then...rain.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 4 2004, 7:08 AM

They're back out but it's hard to see why they went off at all (if it was to break up Roddick's momentum then I'm all for it) - play continued elsewhere.

Bjorkman (more than ever looking like a young Max Von Sydow) and Woodbridge pegged back to 2-1 in the MD final (but a break up in the 4th), Cara and Stubbsy winning the WD, the Brit boy losing the junior final.

It's made no diff to Pandy - he's looking ferocious: holds to 15 and takes Fedz to another deuce game. 4-3.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 4 2004, 7:18 AM

First set Roddick 6-4.

Why never to trust head-to-heads early in players' careers: going into the '77 Wimb final Connors was 6-1 over Borg. Groan.

RF needs to pick himself up here.

Fred Nerk (no login) July 4 2004, 7:20 AM

Evil takes the first set over Good 6-4.

Never cease to be surprised by the 'Head's service action. Has he got a double-jointed shoulder?

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 4 2004, 7:27 AM

Roddick tosses in a couple of double faults and RF breaks to love; he still looks a bit flat to me but holds to lead 3-0.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 4 2004, 7:37 AM

A second break for Rodge but Pandy recovers it after the longest game of the match: 1-4.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 4 2004, 7:44 AM

This is horrible. RF drops serve again and it's 3-4.

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 4 2004, 7:54 AM

Four games held almost without incident: 5-6.

Michael Jones July 4 2004, 8:01 AM

They trade flukey net-cords before RF goes screaming down the line on break-point: second set Rodge 7-5.

Michael Jones July 4 2004, 8:10 AM

AR goes a break up in set three. What a bizarre match this is - no rhythm from RF for one thing.

Michael Jones July 4 2004, 8:14 AM

Fedz holds to love - the first time anyone has (the only other love game was RF's first break in set two). Roddick serving at 6-4 5-7 3-2.

Michael Jones July 4 2004, 8:18 AM

Rain again and RF had a great chance to get back on terms - netting a backhand at 0/30. AR leads 4-2 in the 3rd as they go off.

Michael Jones July 4 2004, 8:32 AM

Max and Sweeney won the men's doubles in four, btw... Big Dave and Big Bob are playing through the rain trying to finish their mixed semi with the All-Blacks.

As Pat Cash has just pointed out, Rodge just isn't serve-volleying this year. I don't think PC is automatically falling into the Oz nostalgia trap here - RF did net-charge throughout last year's tournament (to brilliant effect against Roddick in the semi). Perhaps Plan B will come into effect after this interruption. He has to do something.

Michael Jones July 4 2004, 9:32 AM

Roger likes the sun on his back, obv. - three games in a row on the resumption and an emphatic t-b 7-3. On serve in set four, RF to serve 1-2.

Michael Jones July 4 2004, 9:48 AM

Roddick has four b-ps (including 0/40) in game four and another two opportunities in game six, but it's Federer who breaks - to love. He'll serve at 4-3.

Fred Nerk July 4 2004, 9:52 AM

The Rodgermeister is surely in the box seat now. Sandshoe Face is starting to look very frustrated.

Yes Pat, Rodge did indeed serve and volley his way back into the match. Well observed. But I'm afraid you're still a boring, self-promoting, whining little turd.

Michael JonesJuly 4 2004, 9:53 AM

Both hold to fifteen. Federer will serve for the title.

Michael Jones July 4 2004, 9:57 AM

With an ace, I tell ya. With an ace.

Fred Nerk July 4 2004, 10:36 AM

Those two Rodge service games where he threw up a bag of break points but Andy wasn't able to take advantage, had to be the beginning of the end of the match.

A fantastic performance from Federer, had to be better than last year because he did it against a higher-ranked opponent.

Two questions with notice:

Is the 'Head a tad one-dimensional and devoid of a Plan B, a bit like Philippoussis, or is that just how Rodge makes all his beaten opponents look?

How far ahead of the pack have Feddick and Roderer put themselves? Can any of Henman, Hewitt, Grosjean, Safin and co ever mount a sustained challenge for #1 again, or have all those gentlemen found their level and done very well over several years just to maintain it?

Lex (Login anastasiamyskina) July 4 2004, 10:38 AM

To Pandy: BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

God, I spent most of the first three sets screaming abuse at Fedz for, variously, feeding the 'Head's forehand; playing nothing balls down the middle; misplacing his first serve; not volleying; not taking any of his gazillion chances on the Roddick serve; blowing a 4-0 lead in the second set. All's well that ends well though... I guess you can't extinguish real talent. Happiness has ensued.

Also, happiness on behalf of Todd Woodbridge (HOT) who has now got the record for most Wimbledon doubles titles won ever or something, this time with Gudmundsdottirman. No doubt the media will dig another record up to keep him from retirement.

Lex (Login anastasiamyskina) July 4 2004, 10:45 AM

"Is the 'Head a tad one-dimensional and devoid of a Plan B, a bit like Philippoussis, or is that just how Rodge makes all his beaten opponents look?"

Both... Our Rodge can make the most brilliant opponent look like an amateur hack, but at the same time Roddick really is the epitome of the ugly, brutish power-player. He's tactically vacant (he never cottoned on that Federer would serve to his backhand on every important point later in the match), possesses dubious volleys, doesn't really 'do'lobs or drop shots, and must have the least threatening backhand of any No 1 player ever.

"How far ahead of the pack have Feddick and Roderer put themselves? Can any of Henman, Hewitt, Grosjean, Safin and co ever mount a sustained challenge for #1 again, or have all those gentlemen found their level and done very well over several years just to maintain it?"

Of those... only Safin, but his temperament might dictate otherwise. When healthy, Ferrero should be in the mix as well. Any of those might sneak out a Slam win (er, Henbot apart)... but challenging for No 1 requires being able to threaten the FedRod axis everywhere, all year. I'm not convinced that Dickhead has set himself quite as far ahead from the chasing pack, though... a startling percentage of his match wins come in America, and he doesn't seem to have the requisite skills to sustain excellence elsewhere.

cozen July 4 2004, 11:06 AM

... all control, no...

-thing to inure him to me.

cozen July 4 2004, 11:10 AM

I thought roddick was charming and funny, post-match. his serving motion is almost mechanically beautiful.

roger federer reminds me of michael burns, you don't know him, he's my neighbour, so of course this insight means little to you.

Lex (Login anastasiamyskina) July 4 2004, 12:47 PM

Aaaand it's all over with the conclusion of the mixed doubles final.

WIMBLEDON ROLL OF HONOUR 2004

Men's singles: Roger Federer
Women's singles: Maria Sharapova
Men's doubles: Jonas Bjorkman and Todd Woodbridge
Women's doubles: Cara Black and Rennae Stubbs
Mixed doubles: Wayne Black and Cara Black
Boys' singles: Gael Monfils
Girls' singles: Katerina Bondarenko
Boys' doubles: Brendan Evans and Scott Oudsema
Girls' singles: Viktoria Azarenka and Volha Havartsova

Michael Jones July 4 2004, 2:29 PM

Cozen: I knew you wouldn't let me down (though following an ellipsis with a dash is dubious). If McEnroe can have a service action borne out of a back injury then why not one birthed from an angry swipe? Roddick's strokes are like concrete brutalist buildings. I expect I'll always loathe him. He is the new Becker for me. "Jeepers creepers" was nice tho'. He has a whole bunch of points to defend this summer; I imagine the USTA is already thinking of introducing a Challenge Round at Flushing Meadow to ease the strain of his US title defence.

Some karmic thing with the weather - Pandy escaped from a very sticky situation vs Ancic through a bogus player-power-induced 'rain' break but suffered when the drizzle really did arrive in the final. Roger was misfiring his way out of contention until the sun broke through. After the three-game sprint to 5-4 I never had any doubt. Lex is right to question Roddick's court nous but he was doing all the right things at the start. Fed has some inscrutable otherworldliness that I find endlessly attractive - Borg had the same quality.

The mixed final was a cracker - must better than the football.

cozen July 4 2004, 3:06 PM

haha mike, I think you have possibly nailed why I possibly like roddick (besides him being charming and me being contrary), I love concrete brutalist buildings.

cozen July 4 2004, 3:08 PM

see also: I like the way greece (and latterly italy) play football (and so am immeasurably happy.)

Lex (Login anastasiamyskina) July 5 2004, 1:33 AM

Fed has some inscrutable otherworldliness that I find endlessly attractive - Borg had the same quality.

He's like a Zen master on court. It's really amazing to watch. The only thing wrong with him is his hair, and even then it might be some sort of Samsonite power thing.

The mixed final was a cracker - must better than the football.

The Blacks saved an insane number of match point, weren't they 2-6 down in the second set tie break at one point?

Michael Jones (Login mikaelpernfors) July 5 2004, 9:13 AM

Cozen: I was reaching a bit with that analogy (hey, I like some brutalist architecture too).

All through the late 80s and early 90s I had this terrible fear of someone emerging in the men's game with the fastest serve (and a similarly bluntly violent baseline game) who would just blow people away with robotic power. Roddick isn't that player (far too animated, with far too many weaknesses) but he's close enough to my anti-ideal and successful enough in his own realm (North American hardcourts, grass) for me to want to see his rise arrested.

And contrary? Oh, yes - "Cze-Hol best game ever?"

Michael Jones July 6 2004, 4:42 AM

Lex: I came into the XD final at about 4-6 in the 2nd set t-b and, seeing as the Blacks ultimately saved six m-ps and won the breaker 10-8, I suspect they did trail by something like that margin. What's the record for an eventual GS champion - didn't Adriano Panatta save 11 m-ps en route to the French title in '76 or something? Possibly not all in one match and certainly not in the final.

Big movers in the entry rankings: Ancic (up from 63 to 27), Joachim Johansson (43 to 32), Malisse (51 to 36), Mayer (66 to 38) and - oops, the bigger they are, etc - The Ox plummets from 17 to 44. Good luck with the draw in the next year's worth of Slams, big fella.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 16 July 2004 13:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, Fred - I didn't think of doing that.

Those times are all PDT or somesuch, in case non-TWXers (and where were you?) are confused.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 16 July 2004 13:23 (twenty-one years ago)

You'll have to wait till next week for the glossary.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 16 July 2004 13:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Final finished 10am Sunday according to that clock, which would put it about 15 hours behind Oz and about 6 behind UK. But I'm only guessing.

Any time, WBS. Thanks for your trouble.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Friday, 16 July 2004 13:28 (twenty-one years ago)

can someone start a tour de france thread now ?

― -Bruno, Friday, 16 July 2004 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

That other site put nasty spyware on to my computer! Bah.

Updated rankings -

1. Henin-Hardenne
2. Clijsters
3. Mauresmo
4. Myskina
5. Davenport
6. Dementieva
7. Capriati
8. Sharapova
9. Kuznetsova
10. Sugiyama
11. Suárez
12. Petrova
13. Zvonareva
14. Williams, S
15. Williams, V
16. Schnyder
17. Smashnova-Pistolesi
18. Schiavone
19. Farina Elia
20. Sprem

1. Federer
2. Roddick
3. Coria
4. Moyà
5. Henman
6. Nalbandian
7. Ferrero
8. Schüttler
9. Hewitt
10. Agassi
11. Gaudio
12. Grosjean
13. Massú
14. Srichaphan
15. Safin
16. Chela
17. Pavel
18. Fish
19. Robredo
20. Hrbaty

Laydeez in the sunny climes of S California now, gents spreading themselves across LA, Stüttgart and somewhere called Amersfoort. If anyone's up for a general ATP/WTA thread I'd be happy to join in...

― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 16 July 2004 16:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Lex, I am, but I'd be basking in your knowledge more than commenting myself, I'm sure.

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 16 July 2004 16:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I liked some of the outcomes, of Wimbledon 2004.

― the bellefox, Saturday, 17 July 2004 12:53 (twenty-one years ago)

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