Roger - A swing and a miss.

[gabriel]

Jun 3, 2010 7:16:48 GMT -5 sadie said:

I was so happy with Sam's win over Serena.......like I have said......I really like Venus.....but just can not deal with Serena. In her interview afterwards she actually said if she had played better for 2 minutes it would have been a different outcome.......2 MINUTES!!! She never seems to give her opponents any credit for their work.

I'm hoping Stosur takes the whole thing!! She's been great.

I want the mens to come down to Nadal -Soderling. That would be awesome. Soderling just has to know he'll be playing a different Nadal than last year. Last year he was hurt.....his knees were so bad....he couldn't move. This year they are fine and his snarl is back........I think it will be a heck of a match.

Well, she's made the final! Great job.

Yeah. I'd like to see Nadal/Soderling as well. I just wish Nadal would stop playing with his balls (and I don't mean the tennis variety).

[gabriel]

www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/04/2918822.htm?site=sport§ion=all



Stosur primed to end French title drought
Posted June 4, 2010 18:00:00


Sam Stosur has declared herself ready to be elevated to Australian tennis royalty by emulating Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Margaret Court in capturing the French Open crown on Saturday.

The Queenslander is poised to break a 30-year drought by becoming the nation's first woman to win a major singles title since Goolagong Cawley at Wimbledon in 1980.

The 26-year-old was not even born when Goolagong Cawley lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish in London for a second time let alone when Court conquered Paris for the last time by an Australian in 1973.

The Gold Coaster says just being mentioned in the same breath as Roland Garros champions Goolagong Cawley and Court is an honour before her final against court-kissing Italian veteran Francesca Schiavone.

"It is very special, I have never watched them play but I have seen little clips of footage here and there," the world number seven said.

"Evonne was a Fed Cup captain when I was involved in the team when I was very young, she has been a great role model and our last great player pretty much.

"Evonne and Margaret, they are pretty big shoes to fill but if I can be that last player to have won a grand slam that would be unbelievable."

The planets have aligned for Stosur this week and she will never have a better chance of claiming a maiden major.

She is in the form of her life, having beaten three past and present world number ones in a row on the way to the final.

She has booted out four-time champion Justine Henin, 12-time major winner Serena Williams and then Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 6-2 in Thursday's semi-final.

"I've beaten all those, so why can't I win one more?" she said.

Seventeenth seed Schiavone has had an armchair ride to the title decider in comparison.

In the last three rounds, she has defeated 30th seed Maria Kirilenko, a sore and underdone world number three Caroline Wozniacki before fifth seed Elena Dementieva's semi-final retirement on Thursday because of a calf injury.

Stosur has a most promising record against Schiavone, having defeated her in straight sets in their past four encounters including twice on clay.

And the 29-year-old Italian, who has celebrated her past two wins by kissing the red dirt of centre court, has never been beyond the quarter-finals of a major.

Stosur believes that could only help her in debut major final.

"I could think no matter what I am feeling she's probably thinking it too," Stosur said.

"It is a different situation for both of us, who knows how we are going to feel?

"I am sure there are going to be some nerves out there and I'm ready for that."

If Stosur thought she was a late bloomer in the sport, the sight of Schiavone should be heartening for her.

She is three years her senior and the first Italian to reach a major singles final in the open era.

"I think everybody are different," she said.

"Could be late for you, could be good for you. I think it's my time now.

"Maybe before I wasn't ready."

For the past three decades, women's tennis in Australia has not been held in the highest esteem.

But Stosur plans to change that.

"I think (former world number eight) Alicia (Molik) before she got sick did a good job of keeping us on the map," she said.

"Now that I have been able to kind of take over from her, it is something I am proud of.

"If I can win here, then I think it would be fantastic for me and fantastic for Australian tennis as a whole and it would give a huge boost to women's tennis."

- AAP

[gabriel]

3 hours time and Stosur will be on centre court at Roland Garros and ready, I hope, to rock and roll. I have nothing against the Italian girl (I've never even heard of her) but I'm one eyed where this match is concerned.

Bring that title home to Australia, Sam.

[sadie]

Jun 4, 2010 0:54:45 GMT -5 @gabriel said:

Well, she's made the final! Great job.

Yeah. I'd like to see Nadal/Soderling as well. I just wish Nadal would stop playing with his balls (and I don't mean the tennis variety).

He doesn't play with those.....he picks at his butt crack.....he's very superstitious.....if you notice.....he won't cross over to his chair in front of the other player....his water bottles have to be set a certain way when he leaves to go play....he has to pull at the seat of his pants before his serve.....all superstitions......

[gabriel]

sadie, I think he'll get his hands on what he can.

The Italian has just won the 1st set.

She's not a better player than Stosur but h"m. It's not looking good. I'm starting to think Stosur might belong on the wall along other great Aussie chokers - Pat Rafter, Greg Norman.

[sadie]

Can't believe it......Schiavone...........watched it though.....she played like she would die if she didn't win.......by the end of it I was almost in tears with her.........it was really rather special. Felt bad for Stosur but good grief......you just couldn't help but be swept away by the passion Schiavone was showing.........

She's like a couple of weeks away from 30 yrs old.....which is almost ancient for tennis......thought it was funny when on the stand she turned to Sam and said you played really wonderful.....and you will have more chances to be here.

[sadie]

Game on.

[sadie]

MY MAN NADAL JUST KICKED SODERLING'S MOUTHY BUTT!!!!!!! THREE SETS!!!!!!!! Didn't drop one set the entire French Open!!!!

[gabriel]

I know, I know. 3 sets. Oh yeah. What do you mean your man? I'm prepared to share. His tennis, I mean.

So, what do you think of our man Nadal's chances at Wimbledon?

Stosur choked. No more, no less. I think that's it for her. The Italian, you won't hear of again. Ever. Stosur maybe played too many great matches in one week. I don't know. But she's done her dash. If she couldn't win on Sat night then she won't win. Ever. But that's the way it goes.

So, on to Wimbledon. Nadal v Federer in the final and Nadal wipes Fed's ar** all over the grass.

Oh yeah.

[sadie]

Oh yeah.....I'll share Nadal.....don't want him in any kinky way......just have loved to watch him play for quite awhile now! He's my tennis guy!!!!

Stosur.......I think she was played out. She had sooooo many intense games before.....and I don't quite think she had taken this game quite as seriously. Nobody expected Schiavone to even be there. But you have to give Schiavone credit.....she played not only with everything she had.....but her entire heart. It was quite something. I hadn't wanted her to win.....but by the end of it.....I was completely won over. And likely...she will never have another shot at it again.......I think Stosur will.......she'll learn from it and never take another person for granted again.

Come on Nadal and Wimbledon....and the U.S. Open......that's the one he wants next.....only not on his resume!!

[gabriel]

One of the Williams to take out Wimbledon, unless there's someone sneaky out there I should be paying more attention to.

[sadie]

Please let it be Venus.

[gabriel]

And it's for you sadie and only for you I'm posting.

edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/tennis/06/10/tennis.roddick.queens.nadal/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Roddick shocked by Sela at Queen'sJune 10, 2010 -- Updated 1806 GMT (0206 HKT)

World number seven Andy Roddick has been dumped out of the Aegon Championships at Queen's by Dudi Sela.

The American fourth seed was beaten 6-4 7-6 by the Israeli as his preparations for the forthcoming Wimbledon tournament took a dent.

Roddick has won four times at Queen's but suffered at the hands of Sela who took his opportunities.

The 14th seed secured an early break against the Roddick serve and then held onto his service games to seal the opening set.

Roddick saved two break points in the second set but Sela prospered in the tie break, winning it 10-8 to book his place in the quarterfinals.

After the match Roddick told the tournament's official Web site: "He outplayed me. He played a pretty perfect match."

Sela will now face Rainer Schuettler in the last eight after the German's opponent, Richard Gasquet, pulled out due to a back injury.

World number one Rafael Nadal dropped a set on his way to a rain-affected 7-6 4-6 6-4 victory over Uzbekistani Denis Istomin.

The Spaniard took a tight opening set on a tie break but lost the second set after Istomin broke early on. Nadal also called for the trainer for treatment.

Nadal was up a break at 5-3 and serving for the match but but Istomin managed to break back. Nadal returned the favour though, winning the next game to seal victory.

In Germany, Roger Federer breezed into the quarterfinal of Gerry Weber Open with a comfortable 6-1 6-2 victory over Alejandro Falla.

The world number two will now play Philipp Kohlschreiber, of Germany, in the last eight.


Go Nadal go. And he will.

[sadie]

Nadal got beat by Lopez this morning. Two sets. Think he was wiped out by that Istomin match. I'm ok with it....don't want him too tired for Wimbledon!!!!

[gabriel]

I knew Murray had gone but yeah, I think Nadal, as fit as he is, is probably stuffed after Paris. So, he loses one match. I'll still back him.

Federer is rolling along in Germany. I wonder if he cried after he lost to Soderling?

And yeah, if there's got to be a Williams champ then let it be Venus.