WIMBLEDON chat

[MotorTink]

Posted: 6/25/07 at 6:41pm

From what I remember there are quite a few tennis fans around here, so....here ya go.

I know DG & I are happy with today's results.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 6/25/07 at 6:43pm

I thought this was going to be about that movie.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 6/25/07 at 6:46pm

**giggles**

[chris d]

Posted: 6/25/07 at 7:53pm

I'm a big tennis fan as well. The Hingis match was a nail-biter. I just worship Federer.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 6/25/07 at 8:14pm

I'm so excited about WImbledon every year, but I missed today because I've been s busy.

[chris d]

Posted: 6/25/07 at 8:17pm

as usual, rain halted a lot of play. the match between Carlos Moya and Tim Henman was suspended... it's 5/5 in the fifth set!!

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 6/25/07 at 8:19pm

I'll have no access to internet or Tv for a few days coming now! AGH!

[Dancinqueen123]

Posted: 6/25/07 at 8:23pm

I love tennis! I'm no good at playing it myself, but I love watching it on TV! My whole family is kind of obsessed.

[chris d]

Posted: 6/25/07 at 8:50pm

I'm obsessed with tennis too, and have been since Wimbledon 1991 (the year Capriati beat Navratilova). but everyone I know hates it.
Updated On: 6/25/07 at 08:50 PM

[cturtle]

Posted: 6/26/07 at 12:28am

let's hope the american men did better today than at the french!!

Posted: 6/26/07 at 6:31am

I used to love Wimbledon and would plan my holidays around it. The last several years I've practically given up on it, the big hitters have ruined the game for me. What happened to all the personalities, most have the charm of robots...

[vbplayer]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 12:41pm

I'm watching...of course.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/27/07 at 12:46pm

Agree with what incognito said. For me, the power aspect of the game has ruined it as a spectator sport. Gone are the days of finesse players using spins and angles to work a point. God, I feel old...

[DG]

Posted: 6/30/07 at 11:46am

Things are on track for next week, weather permitting. It looks to be a very soggy few days, though.

And for the record, I think Federer alone disproves the 'no finesse' notion - and there are many who are masters of spin and angled placement.

[chris d]

Posted: 6/30/07 at 12:25pm

I agree, DG, and there are other players who have a fair amount of finesse, and they are the among the top players of the sport, such as Djokovic, Nalbandian, Gasquet, as well as Henin, Mauresmo, and Sharapova (well, maybe not the last one, he he).

[chris d]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 2:07pm

Poor Serena. It was painful to watch her writhing on Center Court like that.

[DG]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 2:41pm

Chris - according to the diarist on the Wimbledon site, early word is that Serena was just cramping. If that's the case, she should be fine - the rain delay will have saved her!

They're going to get pretty backed up from today and probably tomorrow - lots of tennis will be crammed in toward the end.

[chris d]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 2:50pm

it did save her! and they're back on court, tied up in the third set. (DRAMA!!)

[DG]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 3:18pm

She did it! Now she better do some SERIOUS stretching - Richard was watching her like a hawk!

[chris d]

Posted: 7/2/07 at 5:34pm

she is one lucky girl... frankly, I feel bad for Hantuchova for having to deal with all the Williams histrionics. Henin's gonna run her around like a chicken with its head cut off.

[vbplayer]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 2:50am

You think Serenas drama was real??? Why am I not convinced? It looked as staged as "Fiddler on the Roof" for heavens sake. I think she paniced(sp?) and used this ploy to psyche out Hantuchova. This was an empty win. And laughable for me.
They call her performance "courageous"............I call it a bunch of "bull****" from the Williams camp once again. Even Venus had a hard time hiding her smile during the "performance".

Faux Pas alert:

During Serenas press conference, she said (and I quote):

"He (her trainer) thought it might be more serious, but after a few 'scams'...uh scans."

Yeah right. This is to keep the Williams girls in the limelight.....at any cost as always.

[DG]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 3:07am

vb - that's a pretty serious allegation; although, admittedly not the first time the question has been raised concerning these young women. I have chosen to accept things at face value until anything is proven otherwise. I just have a sense from their dealings with the public that the type of activity you suppose is not within their repetoire.

Ultimately, at the moment, no one can know for sure. Which is why it saddens me a little to see such sure-fire accusations bandied about.

It's not like cramps are uncommon in tennis, especially at this level - and when you haven't a full schedule behind you (she IS still coming off of injury.)

Do I think it possible that she played it up? Obviously. But I'm not sure I'd go so far as to paint it as a complete 'act'. There is enough talent evident not to have to rely on such tricks.

Now, Justine on the other hand . . .

I won't go there - it gives me gas.

[vbplayer]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 3:44am

I never do this, but.........

Just my observation DG. There are too many discrepancies when the Williams girls play. No other players have so much drama during their match(s), and it gets tiresome. Blah, blah, blah...Venus did this and Serena did that. They live for the press and they play it to the max. I want to see tennis, not the Venus and Serena show. Every event they play can't just "be played". It always has to be "performed" to keep them in the limelight. For me, I'm tired of it. And if she is injured I stand corrected, but she should have conceded to make sure she was well for the next tournament. Why take the chance of a very serious injury and put her career in jeopardy?

...and the pants pissed me off after the rain delay. What was with that?

So who is your pick for the mens final?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 7:27am

Serena's injury was real. It was a left calf strain brought on by cramping, like they said. You could see her whole calf muscle tighten into a ball if you were looking. Anyway, she's my hero.

How about this Mauresmo/Vaidisova match? I really hope Vaidisova kicks her butt.

[chris d]

Posted: 7/3/07 at 8:45am

I think there was a small amount of gamesmanship on the part of the Williams camp, but of course her injury was real. If there's any player who would never be psyched out by such a thing, it's Justine Henin. So I think Justine is going to play as if Serena is 100%. I'm really pulling for Justine to win this year, and complete her career slam. She's no angel herself in terms of gamesmanship, but I just love her style of play. I hope Mauresmo somehow wins her match today and (by miracle) reaches the final, so we can see some truly gorgeous tennis like last year's final.