Damnit really wanted to watch Federer vs Tsonga tonight. They better not air it while I'm in class or at work.
Fed vs Tsonga is a QF match. They have 4 rd of 16 matches that have to get finished first. So not gonna see that one tonight. Although i keep hearing they'll try to play the womens QF's tonight for some reason.
Yep! Game on tonight for the women. What really sucks is that they are playing all four quarters at the same time (probably do that for the men as well), so if you had tickets for Ash expecting to see at least two matches yer SOL. sucks
Courier won 4 majors, which is why he is in a group ahead of Roddick. I would rank Roddick ahead of Chang if it was a top 10 list but in the same tier. Courier similarly to Roddick got to play in a weak time for tennis at the end of the careers of all those great players from the 80s and before Agassi/Sampras started dominating the tour. Courier took better advantage.
Nadal Cramps. (What really happened!) <iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/56o9WU4YTPc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Except, Courier is the same age as the greatest generation of American players, the Agassi/Sampras/Chang/Martin clan. But he dominated them in the first years, because he pretty much revolutionized tennis with the effectiveness of his inside-out forehand. Only once they caught up to/internalized his strategy, were the rest able to outplay him. He was the Fosbury of modern tennis; after everybody started flopping like him, he was no longer the best. Courier was my favorite player growing up. He didn't have the talent of some of the all-time greats (who he happened to grow up with at Bolleterri's Academy), but he was strategically superior, and he was always in better shape than his competition (except Chang, maybe). Watching him play, compensating/adjusting/inventing new angles to make up for his weak backhand, was like watching a wounded bird, fallen from the nest. Flapping around on the ground, trying to appear big/threatening, trying to distract from the reality that with only one wing it could never truly fly. Courier was the ----.
This is arguably the greatest era era in tennis history. You have the GOAT, maybe the 2nd GOAT and a guy who might having the greatest individual season ever. So there aren't any Americans that are good o well.
But there's a tremendous drop-off after those three, and for the better part of the last decade after the top two. Prior to Federer-Nadal, you had guys who are largely forgotten now, like a Muster or Kuerten who dominated clay, but couldn't play off it. For a parallel in women's tennis, I don't think anyone thinks that the Evert/Navratilova years, or the Graf/Seles reign, were the high points of the women's game. They were just great players who thrived in weak settings. The men's field after the top three today is all Washington Generals/Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.
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while we are waiting for the rain to let up, what do you guys think about equalling pay in the men and women field? I just don't get it. Isn't it supposed to be about market demand with that sort of money and merit rather than some social issue? That is like WNBA players saying they deserve NBA money. Sure the WTA is more popular in that regard, but they still don't bring in the cash and attention that the men's tour so the men should earn more in that regard. Than on top of that they don't have to play 5 setters in grand slams? What is the reasoning of that? They say women are built differently so not realistic, once again you can't point to women's basketball(who play 8 minutes less than the men's game), and tennis is alot about endurance, I don't see it as unreasonable. I think giving them equal pay when they don't bring in the same cash/market, and play less is more of a slap in the face of saying you guys are inferior naturally so well ust give you the same cash to do less. It almost has the opposite effect than what is intended. I do believe they can play 5 setters competitively and do well, I think its ashamed
Top comment: "If she wants to imitate Nadal I suggest Caroline to start by winning a Grand Slam instead of acting like a clown". :grin: The Nadal fans are crazy, this video has 2x dislikes than likes, not to count all the insults.
I knew Courier's prime years ended very early, but never realized how early. Always assumed he was a few years older than Pete and Andre. I did know once Pete began dominating tennis in 1993, that was the end of Courier's run. U.S. Men won at least one major from 1989 - 2003. None since.
Score for you and Kaleidosky. More Roddick douchiness today vs Ferrer. http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/roddick-ferrer-match-moved-to-court-13-2/ Key word in there being angrily. I believe Ferrer left the court as well as Andy but Ferrer didn't go after the ref like Roddick did. He really can't help himself can he? He tries to act like a good guy but then the prat in him comes out.
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yea he played pretty well in this match...i still cringe whenever he volleys and comes to net...i always see the opponent wide eyed for that passing shot :grin:
