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#1 OFFLINE: My
apologies for not posting a few Day Seven opinions
yesterday, but I unfortunately unable to get online.
Problem solved. |
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#2 COST & LOST: On
Day Seven the Jank laid an egg against Bartoli and not
only cost herself a chance to win her first grand slam,
but also lost me a bet. Although I stated in an earlier
entry I wouldn't be surprise if Zvonareva made the
final, the Jank's draw looked extremely favorable to me
so I went ahead and made a friendly wager. I bet she
would make the final, it had nothing to do with winning
the whole thing. |
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#3 THE BERDYCH LINE:
Come on! You were thinking the same thing I was thinking
on Day Seven when Berdych was painting every line and
overpowering Federer to build a 2 sets to love lead.
Could Tomas be prepared to cross the line? Prepared to
assume a place among the games many emerging stars?
Prepared to give the media more "Federer is
Falling" headlines and also some long forgotten
"Berdych is a contender" headlines? It looked that way
for 2 and half sets and the result may have been
different had he not blown a few easy volleys and
overheads. Here's what I got out of it. #1 Berdych found
his A game and it just happened to
appear vs. Federer and #2 Federer once again proved to
Mats Wilander that he has stones. Will
those stones be enough versus a Djokovic or Nadal should
they also bring their A Game? |
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#4 DON'T
CALL IT A COMEBACK: Forget calling it a
Cinderella story at this point. While I recognize the
weakness of the women's draw in Melbourne, Jelena Dokic
has a serious, I repeat, a serious chance to create one
of the most improbable grand slam stories of all time.
Next up: Dinara Safina in the QF. Considering Safina's
notorious slow starts which lead her opponents big
leads, this is completely winnable for Dokic. Jelena
hasn't been on the global radar for some quite some
time, but I'm not sure I call this a comeback. It's more
like a miracle. |
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#5 NIGHT SECURITY:
Once again Marcos Baghdatis is assigned the night watch
and told to turn off the lights when he leaves. For the
second consecutive year in Melbourne Marcos played well
into the early morning hours, this time til about
2:30am. Last year it was 4:30am vs. Hewitt. "It's a pain
in the ass", Marcos stated in the post match presser.
Having been to many tournaments as a member of the media
and had to wait until late matches wrap up, I'm assuming
the media wasn't all that thrilled either. Maybe at a
slam it is different. Let's hope Bags can stay healthy
and can cash in on one of these big matches in the
future. I can't help but think of his Hewitt match last
year. His Wimbledon matches with Nadal and Djokovic. His
US Open match vs. Agassi in 2006. He is the new Guga and
the game would greatly benefit from his consistent
presence.
Quick side note: Indianapolis 2007. It's pushing
midnight and the media room wished to wrap up. I, with
no print deadline, route for a 3rd set during the last
match of the evening. Can't member who was playing, but
I got my wish. I was playing devils advocate and
needless to say wasn't the most popular guy in the room.
It was all good fun. |
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DAY EIGHT
THOUGHTS |
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#1 I JOINED the TLC:
While we wait for the return of Tennis Live Radio in
2009, I created a Tennis Live Community profile so that
I may post a few opinions and and reply to some of
yours.
RadioHostTodd |
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#2 TLR PROPHECY on HOLD:
I beat everyone in the TLC to the punch after Verdasco
defeated Andy Murray on Day Eight. I can hear the Murray
doubters now...They are not sure he can win 7 best of 5
matches. I repeat as so many have in recent months, Yes
he can. Yes he win. Props to Fernando. As I stated in my
RadioHostTodd Match Point of Opinion entered
following the win, Fernando looks to have countered
Murray's strength training regime with one of his own.
As we know by know, he worked with Andre Agassi's former
trainer, Gil Reyes during the offseason and it has not
only added pop, but also some serious belief. Down to 2
to 1, he stormed to the finish. Look out, there's
another lefty in the draw. He's Spanish too. |
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#3 I TOLD YOU. "THEY'RE GET
YA": Eventhough she defeated Maria Jose
Martinez Sanchez, the one handed wonder that is Carla
Suarez Navarro continues to move forward. Oh yeah, did I
mention she plays with a one handed backhand? |
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#4 UNFORTUNATE:
Let's hope Azarenka is ok. She one her first title only
weeks ago and had a chance vs. Serena. Sometimes
Serena's actions/words off court in the press room can
be questioned, but on court she has always been standup
and it showed when Victoria fell ill and was forced to
retire. Azarenka has a massive backhand and will surely
be back, but we do remember what the Navratilova once
told us about potential.....and I am sure after a
tournament win in Brisbane and a 4th finish at the
season's first slam, she has plenty of dollars. |
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#5 THE FORGOTTEN:
Tsonga moved past Blake, but Simon also defeated Monfils
to advance. Simon may not be talked about as much, but
he is the #6 seed! Didn't he beat Nadal the last time
they played? The answer again, Yes He Did. Do I expect
it to happen at the AO, No I Don't. Also, Kuzy earned a
victory via retirement vs. Jie Zheng. I'm not sure I've
seen a shot of Svetlana this tournament. Serena leads
series 4-1. |
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#6 CARPE DIEM: "I
didn't expect for myself to be in the US Open final
because the goal for the year was to play well in Athens
[Olympics] and I was preparing all year for that and
thinking about the Olympic Games. After I lost in the
first round I was so disappointed, I was so down, that I
didn't want to play tennis anymore. This relief in the
US Open really helped me to be as strong as I am." That
was Dementieva yesterday discussing why she lacked the
confidence to win her first slam title at the US Open in
2004. Well last year was an Olympic year and the result
was much different. If she captures the AO title, she
will have won the Gold medal, won a slam and become the
#1 player in the world...all this in a 6 month window!
Surprising Stat: First time Dementieva past 4th round at
AO. |
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#7 BORG MOVED the AO?:
http://www.tennisnews.com/exclusive.php?pID=26987
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#8 ROD LAVER ARENA to COME
DOWN?:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24962796-3162,00.html
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