Oh, there is no way I could agree more--with both the sentiment and the players used as examples. I have loved Andre through every incarnation and boy, was he an ass at times.

And I, as my screen name attests, am a huge Giants fan so I'm a big fan of Belichick's. I like the thinking man in every sport. I just like to see the gears working. (Man, we're all turning into Brad Gilbert at this point.)

As for the Roddick vs. Federer fans: I think it goes all the way back to any (perceived) rivalry. I must admit, my dislike for Andy kinda led me into the Roger camp, but Roger's ability made me a full-fledged fan.

At this juncture, ESPN2 is planning on showing the taped final at 12 noon (eastern standard) on Sunday. They are debating as to whether they will show it live. Let's hope so.

Is there any player that you guys have felt was the most lovable (for lack of a better word)? I have always had a tremenodus affection for Gustavo Kuerten- I think Guga is one of the nicest players to have ever played the game (with Rafter , Corretja and Ashe up there too). I have always adored his laid back personality, and I love how he really seems to be an inportant force in his brother's life (his brother has CP). I love Guga- I wish he hadn't had all of these injuries the past few years. Love him!

I love Federer and (contrary, it seems, to most posting here) love Roddick as well - for very different reasons. Federer is an absolute joy to watch - my mouth hangs open at the shots he makes, and I just sit there and feel bad for his current opponent. He comes across as intelligent, thoughtful, and witty off-court as well.
Andy I like for very different reasons. I think that there is something about him both on and off court that is utterly charming (I know many don't agree). There is also an underdog quality to Andy while he is on court - you are never quite positive that he will win, you are always kind of on the edge of your seat. It's a rootability factor for me. He also comes across and quick-witted and hilarious in his interviews (not to mention that many different commentators - yes besides PMAC - mention how much fun he is to hang around off-court).
Maybe I have some weird tunnel-vision, but sometimes I think that people hate Roddick for his teenage antics - which he has really toned down over the years. I think his self-deprication in interviews even shows that he is aware of how ridiculous he was at times when he was a bit younger.
Love Marat too - that hottie.
Hmm. Maybe I need to start hating people... I'm starting to sound like the nicest guy ever - Alex Corretja.
Oh, I know. I'll hate Hewitt. That racist, obnoxious asshole.

I don't know. Right now, I really like Safin and don't actively dislike anyone else but that's probably because at the time that I really became a big tennis and Roddick fan, the only player that consistently stood out as a threat to Roddick was Federer. (Safin and Hewitt were still in their slumps) Should Safin start consistently whupping Andy's ass, I might start to dislike him but somehow doubt it would reach the level of dislike I have for Federer. And it's not just that Andy's my favorite, when Roddick and Agassi play against each other, I'm incredibly torn about who I'd like to win. Like I said before, the Federer hate is completely irrational.

Firstly, thanks for the quick response!

To answer your question, the player I loved the most was Stefan Edberg. It was almost obsessive how much I admired the guy. I would emulate his serve when I played with my older brother (Edberg never looked at his opponent when he served). Also had a soft spot for Pete Sampras and Goran Ivanisevic.

Oh, LT! It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. I'm glad you like the same tennis players as I do, but, as a huge Eagles fan, I don't think we'll agree very much about football. :)

Word to everyone who loves Roger's personality. I've always thought he's rather witty in interviews. And even though I'm straight, I can't stress enough how happy I am with his new hairdo.


Hmm. I heart Henman and Todd Martin. I like anybody who serves and volleys, but these guys are great players and seem to be even better people. I'll never forget Todd's night matches at the U.S. Open. Anyone who doesn't feel something for Tim doesn't have a heart.

Once again, I'm going to have to completely agree. Guga is the best and I wish his best years hadn't been spent injured because I don't know that he is going to ever get back to a top level. And Ashe, of course. What a gentleman--and surrounded by such asses in his later playing years. All the old, pre-Open guys (and gals) were kind of in it for the fun, and that was nice--but I'm glad it is now a professional sport. I'm going to think on this question some more, because there are quite a few self-centered, self-serving tennis players out there, aren't there? Guess that is what happens when it is all riding on your own shoulders. Was Rafter as nice off the court? I know Henman is a bit cold (with the press), but he's a good guy, right? My faves, starting with Becker, have always been a bit, well, full of personality. Speaking of which, I'm cracking up at the ball kids wearing the Lendl hat. Who knew that was going to make a reappearance?


Oh! I forgot about him! Yes! Didn't love him until after he and Becker stopped playing each other so much (see, I'm all about the love for one and the dislike for the other) but I learned to love that man.

And Todd Martin! You guys are reminding me of all the good guys. I was actually depressed to find out he was going into coaching because I want him in the booth so badly.

[OT] And Distant Sun, I grew up in South Jersey as a born and bred Giants fan so you can imagine how I feel about the Eagles--although I could tell you the funny story about my sister in 3rd grade setting up a fight for my dad to beat up another girl's dad and him turning out to be a defensive lineman for the Eagles. Ooops.

How could I forget Stefan. I looooooved him. I started watching him when I was around 8 or 9 and the love never, ever died. My mom loved him to. I remember that she was distressed when he got married because she didn't think that his wife looked like she was "good enough" for him (whatever ma!) He was so classy- it's no wonder that the annual tennis sportsmanship award is named after him. Yes- Stephan was very lovable.

Although not as "lovable" as Edberg per se, when I was young I was also really infatuated with Mats Wilander. Whew...he fueled many a day dream for me in school. And he still looks really, really good. I love how they interviewed him at the Agassi/Johansson match. He has such a sexy voice - something about it. Mmm-hmmm.

Wow, if I'd known everybody would be so decent about spoilerizing, I'd have logged on earlier. But I just finished watching Federer/Safin and wow wow wow! I really do love Federer but I think I was rooting for him mostly because I want the person best able to beat Hewitt to win. God, I hope Safin can do it. Or Roddick. I'm not picky.

LT, thanks for thinking of me. I'm devastated about Nalbandian but it was more the manner in which he lost. I found out the result that morning accidentally, so at least I was spared the agonizing finale. Yes, as we say in Yiddish, the man shvitzes like a chazir, but in terms of physical appearance, I think I just enjoy the fact that he has a big ass. I feel a sense of comraderie with that.

I never noticed Carillo not giving him props but that comment about him not being popular in the locker room is annoying. I do like his crotchety answers to stupid questions.

For the first time in my life I rooted for Serena! Jeez, Sharapova was petulant and annoying. And her father may have made Richard Williams look good.

I will be truly upset if the final isn't shown live. Come on.

That's me as well. I don't like Roddick's personality or his style of tennis. The fact that people like John McEnroe were already annointing him the next Sampras before he had even won a major didn't help the situation. I think Federer is absolutely amazing and I was so impressed with his sportmanship following his loss to Safin.

I've always been a fan of serve and volley tennis, consequently, my favorite all time players are Edberg and Rafter who were wonderfully gifted athletes and genuinely nice men.

At this point, I'm 100% behind Safin. I've liked him for quite a while and was sorely disappointed that he wasn't able to build on his US Open win in 2000. It's so nice to see him playing so well and showing a lot of physical and mental strenght.

Wow, y'all are proably gonna think I'm some kind of evil bastard, but I don't really like him. Most of that has to do with his hand signal cheater of a coach who is so annoying.

I don't hate Guga, I just don't love him. Therefore I don't quite get all the affection--especially from the commentators, even--bestowed on him. Hmph.

There is the late, great Arthur Ashe. I don't think anyone can match him (for those of us old enough to remember him in his heyday). More current? I dunno. Andre's become the most gracious champion over the years. I think he'll be remembered most fondly by posterity among the current players.

Yep, I'd nominate Guga as the most lovable. There are other guys that are great, but Guga is the definition of lovable. He's happy go lucky, he's funny, he's quirky, he's a surfer, he's a great guy. Lovable.

Rafter was nice and so was Edberg. But I would've call either of them lovable.



And yet you like Sharapova, with her creepy, loud and obnoxious cheater father (who thinks he can coach)? Hmm. Color me confused.

I think I've decided that there's no rhyme and reason for who we like and dislike, apparently. You guys are all over the place! :)



I think for Federer fans, it all started with the hype that Roddick received even before he proved himself. They also resented the fact that he (barely) finished 2003 as the number 1 player in the world, even though Federer ended the year establishing himself as the one to beat and owned Roddick head to head. And the whole "rivalry" thing. Roddick himself says it's not really a rivalry. Roddick is also in many ways, the antithesis of what Fed fans enjoy in Roger's game: the smoothness, the shotmaking, the ease. So, they don't like his game, they resent his hype, they don't like his antics on the court, they scoff at the "rivalry" and they resent the fact that he finished number one before Roger. That's what I've read, for the most part.



I think this whole thing about Roger being boring is more media manipulation to paint his opponent as the fiery, temperamental, entertaining one. Roger howls, he mutters to himself, he screams Come On, Nein, Allez, he does fist pumps, he threw a racket today... And he's one funny man. He's never "in your face" about it, he's a lot more subtle. I guess a lot of people just don't get him.

And ITA on the haircut. I disagree with whoever said that he's ugly. I actually find him handsome, even with the big nose.

Finally, LT, I see we feel the same way about Becker and Edberg! I usually go for the more quiet ones, but I was a wee thing when Becker won his first Wimbledon on my birthday and the karmic connection was instantaneous. I loved him for years and hated Agassi because of him. I even cheered against Pete because of Becker (the HORROR!). He was the one that made me a tennis fan for life. And I was never able to appreciate Edberg (that 1990 Wimbledon final was so painful- I cried!) unless Boris wasn't in the picture. But on those ocassions, I really liked him.

W-O-R-D! I just finished watching today's match and Roger showed a good bit of emotion on the court. He did during his US Open match against Agassi- he has in plenty of other matches as well. And I love his humor- it's very dry. I don't think he's boring at at.

Okay- I am going to sound like a sap. But I actually teared up today when watching the end of the semifinals. Both men palyed their heart out and during Safin's final match point Federer literaly went down fighting (he fell on the court). And you can tell the two have so much respect for each other. It was a shame someone had to lose. It was a wonderful, excellent match of uber-high quality and really reminded me again why I love this sport so much.



Me too. My heart turned in million fuzzies when he drew a heart on the clay after the second (or third) time he won Rolland Garros. I love his surfer attitude and I love that he does not take things too seriously. I love that he has a great reputation with the fellow players for being a genuinely nice guy. I love his happy smile.

I'm not a big fan of Guga either. He knocked Kafelnikov out of the French Open quarterfinals 3 times and won the title each time. Yevgeny could've won at least one more Slam!

Yeah, me too. I never liked Serena, but I loathe Sharapova even more. I hate her grounting and she's very annoying when she's in court. I just can't stand her. I'm glad she's out of the tourney. Heh, she was about to cry when the match ended, she left the court quickly.

I'm glad Safin beat Federer, it was about time. Safin should win the Open now and I think he will. If he could beat Federer, then he'll be able to beat Roddick or Hewitt. I just want Hewitt to lose, now even more after what he said to Nalbandian. That wasn't professional at all. He's as annoying as Sharapova is.

Oooohhh...I hadn't heard about this. What did he say?

This is for tennis coverage, not the general tennis sports scene. Please keep the discussion to TV coverage of tennis (and football coverage in the footballs threads, basketball coverage in the basketball threads, etc). Thanks.

ESPN International ususally shows all the matches that they can live. Then ESPN2 rebroadcasts.

I know that ESPN2 was debating about whether or not of showing the men's final live instead of just showing it taped on Sunday at noon eastern as they had planned. I wonder if they will show it know that Safin and Hewitt are playing in the final. I think they definately would have shown it live if it was Roddick in the final, and would have likely shown it live if the final had Federer. I hope do still consider showing the live final. I think it will be a fantastic match. (Go Marat!). I really, really hope they do show the final live. Come on ESPN2- show the match live instead of showing a repeat of day 9 of the winter X games, a repeat of the Senior Bowl, and some bass fishing shows! At least ESPN2 will be showing the women's final live no matter what.



ESPN2 has been showing some matches live (mostly the day matches) and has shown two evening matches (Agassi/Federer) and (Roddick/Hewitt) live. For example- they will be shoiwng the women's final live. If I recall correctly, you can tell if a match is live on ESPN2 because they have a "live" logo on one of the corners.

I live in the US with digital cable and I only get ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic. Is ESPN International something that is shown outside of the US? Do any of you in the US have it? That is something I would love to have if it is availabe in the US. Do any of you in the US have ESPN Latin America? I was wondering if that was ever available here.

I wonder if the commentators have heard the grief from the audience. With this Slam, more than ever before, I have heard PMac couch his criticism by outrighting stating his bias "it's hard for me to take off my Davis Cup Captain hat ..." or "my heart says Andre but my head says Roger Federer ..."

Anyone?

ot: I guess the more active we are, the more attention we get. To be expected when the board is consistently at the top of the Sports thread?

ETA: Chris Fowler just said they're going live with the men's final. 3:30 a.m. Set your alarms people.

Well I live outside of the U.S. and one of the ESPNs we have here is ESPN International. However, although they call themselves ESPNI, they're the same as ESPNLA because a lot of the shows (Sportscentre and Simplemente Futbol) are the same as ESPNLA.

I heard the "it's hard for me to take off my DC captain hat when talking about Andy" and I had to do a double take. Nooooooo. Really, Pat? We hadn't noticed. I don't know if it has anything to do with getting grief from their audience. Maybe it's just that he can't deny it anymore.



Oh man. I don't know if I could get up that early (4:30 where I am) and risk being tired all day long, plus horribly cranky if Hewitt wins. Hmmm. I have to think about it.

But I have to give kudos to ESPN (grudgingly), for deciding to show the match live. I had heard that they were going to show it live if Roddick and Federer were playing. But that's obviously not the case.

I'm not going to say who won for the sake of people watching this afternoon, but good for ESPN2 not only showing it live, but at 7am EST, they went and showed the entire last hour again. Granted, this was probably because they expected the match to go longer and told the Cold Pizza people to come in an hour late and they could (should) have shown some other match we hadn't seen yet--Navratilova and Max were playing a mixed doubles quarters last night--but I'm taking my crumbs where I can get them.

I had the same thought as Kiss My Grits regarding whether they would show the final considering the outcome but glad to see they are.

I live outside the US and I had the same confusion about ESPN and ESPN International. I have a channel that's just ESPN, but in the channel list of my digital cable provider, that channel is listed as "ESPN International". However, like someone said before, ESPN = ESPNI = ESPNLA. They're the same channel. That "Latin America" thing you mention is just a regional issue.

Yipee!! Thanks to ESPN for showing the match live! I live in the central time zone so it will start at 2:30. I will just stay up to watch it through. No playoff football or anything so I will just sleep late on Sunday.

Kudos to ESPN for showing this live! I will have to email their comments section and tell them thanks for changing their minds.

Thanks for the alert and thanks for those who explained what ESPN International is.

The men play in prime time in Australia and the women don't? That's interesting.

This is the first year tha the men have played the final in the evening. Maybe if it goes well they will move the women's to the evening as well.

Although not only do I prefer tennis during the day, but watching the men's final live at 9:30 on a Saturday would be a heck of a lot easier than 3:30 am.

Thanks for clearing this up. I did manage to wake up at 3:30am to watch the first set and a half but just couldn't keep my eyes open for more. When my alarm went off at 7:30 and I saw it was still on, I thought "Wow, long match." Now I get it.


Well at the US Open the women play the final in primetime and the men don't so it's only fair, I suppose.

In anticipation of tonight's women's final (wait, do they call it the "ladies' final" here too, like at Wimbledon?), I was pondering the issue one of you had earlier about Mary C. ragging on Serena's "decline."

Now, obviously I don't know what's in Carillo's head. That said, I can see someone who is basically a Serena fan being inclined to tell it like she sees it, given the amount of time Serena has chosen to spend on non-tennis interests while other players have caught up in the meantime. Carillo knows that the other players are living tennis, and that for them time spent away from tennis means trouble (except for those who need time away obviously). It did for Agassi early in his career.

Of course Serena had injuries/surgery and a devastating tragedy. But I can easily see a reasonable, sensitive observer (which I think Carillo is) taking that into account and still being critical of Serena. But I'll bet she really hopes Serena gets it back and thinks she can.

All guesses on my part of course.

That said, I'm rooting for Lindsay, who's been my favorite woman player for a while. Yeah, I'm a masochist.

Yay! ESPN has gone back to a legible scoreboard! That vertical thing they had in previous years, where the first 3 letters of each player's name was listed and then you had to read each set from left to right or up and down, and you couldn't tell who's serving...it was a headache.

ETA... I can't stand Cliff Drysdale's voice, with his constant slurring of words. I know he's South African, not English, but he still sounds like a drunk Brit to me.

And speaking of coverage, can we get some for Serena's ass. There must be some more fabric in all of Australia to house that prodigious rump of hers.

I'm so glad ESPN is showing the men's final live (they are, right?)

It's on at 2:30 early Sunday morn, so I'll be able to stay up and sleep in late the next day. Now, just do away with these terrible commentators and I'll be very happy. They're lucky the matches have been of such high quality and the crowd is so into it, otherwise I'd mute 'em. Go Serena!

I'd like some more coverage of Serena's ass, not on it. They should get a special ass-cam so we can enjoy it in all its splendor. That thing is just wonderful.

I don't know what to think of Carillo. I do think she likes Serena, but she came right out and said she didn't think there was anything wrong with her in the first set. We've all seen Serena play over the years -- if she can't run, there's something wrong with her. She didn't even try to get some balls in the first set. I think she was clearly bothered by something. Either she got better or she fought through it.

I'll say it again: Serena is all heart. Congratulations! 7 majors... she's gaining on poor Monica.

Davenport isn't one of my favorites, but I like her (and I enjoyed it when she used to pound Hingis). I really feel sorry for her, but I loved the way she hugged Serena at the end of the match and looked like it was really bothering her. That look might mean she's going to hang it up sooner than we think.

I love Cliff Drysdale's voice.

That...was...boring.

Firstly, congrats to Serena on winning the Aussie Open.



See, I have no problem with people expressing their opinions. If I had been Serena and was asked by Bud Collins if my game was in decline, I would've said the following:

"Let me see, I am in the semifinals of the Australian Open having defeated the No. 2 player in the world. I made the semifinals of the U.S. Open In September and was the runner-up at the WTA Championships. And you ask me if my game is in decline? Next question, please."

Wow. Go away for a quick trip, and look what happens in the thread!



This wasn't it specifically, but some of you were asking about my earlier comment on the public Mary-Serena situation. I thought the situation maybe a year and a half ago was that Mary had called out Serena during her commentary on some of her "antics" as far as playing and relating with the other players. Something to that extent? What I do remember is Serena referring in her press conferences to "unnamed commentators" making uncalled for comments that were beyond their realm of knowledge. I think it came up again at some point this year. Anyway, from what I heard after that - and the lack of anything much, really - it was never really resolved, but Serena felt that the comments made about her without the chance for her to defend them were wrong, and Mary seemed to just keep going. Though I thought she made a reference to it around Olympic time.

Mind you, as vague as that is, there is still a lot of room for error.

Anyway - my feeling is that Mary is still trying to prove a point. And I just feel that her tone is different and her intent somewhat off, so I want her not to do the matches. During Sharapova, I kept feeling as though she was using the match and her role as commentator to prove her point that the game is in decline. It seemed relentless - almost as though she were eager for her to lose, and going to capitalize on the moment.

Anyway, neither she nor Serena is asking for my opinion on this, so take this as you will - yes, Serena's game has slipped. It's obvious she's not in the form, both real and perceived by the other players, she was when she was rolling through slams. However, I think the active tense - saying the game is IN decline - connotes that it's only going to continue to drop in quality. So I think Serena seems to be arguing that. And I feel like Mary's constant arguments to prove her case are a bit much.

And now, after tonight, maybe they can both start over - with each other, I mean.

Anyway, just want to add the caveat that I really like the balance of Pmac's past fanboy commentating and Mary's more "objective" balanced commentary. Maybe that's why I've been frustrated with this situation - because with Serena I think she's gone the other way.

You have not met Tennis Sexism until you've met Australian Tennis Sexism!

It's such a pity that i come across this thread as the Aus Open is finishing.

I believe ALL people who do not reside in Australia on Sunday should thank their little souls.

Channel 7 - the network screening it over here, has called it "C'mon Lleyton, C'mon". Even though it doesn't start properly til 7.30pm, the 'lucky' people in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne will see an hour package of 'The 'Man' That Lleyton Has Become' - I'm expecting footage of his childbirth with his parents saying that he was destinated for greatness in the tennis world to appear.

I like most people, do have times of patriotism but I am praying, begging, hoping, wishing, wanting Marat to beat the living daylights out of Lleyton. Yes, I realise that my citizenship will be revoked by midnight but I do not care. Lleyton is a dickhead who is arrogant. However, I find his style to be irritating as hell. I've met and interacted with him 'before' Kim and 'during' Kim and only a tiny bit of 'after' Kim and the differences are mindboggling.

Heck, I hate Lleyton so much that I was cheering for an American to beat an Aussie! Hell, I was hoping anyone would beat him. Although I must admit that in the last few years, I've found Roddick more likable, in a press conference, when asked about the speed of the court which was a big thing that Lleyton had gone on about, he replied that "they have lines and a net. I like them". Which I found hilarious.

Is the Mary C that you talk about, the same one that was talked affectionately at TWOP during the Olympics who had snarky comments and was very entertaining?

Oh. Dear. God. That's just hilarious! And totally ridiculous, I might add. Please report on it so that we can have a good laugh!



He was better with her?

I'm with you on praying that Marat wins this.

Changing the subject, what the heck happened to Lindsay? One minute she was hitting the ball beautifully and playing extremely well, and the next minute she goes and poof!, disappears. What happened? That was a terrible match.

But good for Serena. I'm glad she's back winning majors, and hope she works on all of her technique and her footwork so she can get even better.

Now, if only Justine would come back...

Yes, I'm curious about this as well. Kim Clijsters doesn't seem like the type of woman who would have an arrogance-inducing effect on men, but what do I know.

Also, why did they break up?

Regarding Mary C. I think part of my problem with her snarking on Serena's "decline," Serena's faulty technique and Serena's general laziness is that she combines it with rhapsodizing about Davenport. Who hits clean perfect balls, and who is a great "all time" champion. Yet Davenport hasn't won a major in five years. Why isn't she in "decline" but Serena who got injured was in a grandslam final, US Open semi and WTA championships final, is in "decline." If Serena doesn't win a major every year it's a dissapointment? That just seems unfair to me.

I think the problem that Mary C has with Serena is like what some football fans have with Vick. Vick plays the QB position so different from what commentators envision a QB should look like (I don't mean this in racial terms, Culpepper, McNabb, these guys are "traditional" QBs. Also Rubin, very traditional player that Mary C loves). Serena is the same, she dresses outlandishly, her footworks all wierd and she shouldn't be winning matches with her technique, but she does. And I think it drives Mary C up the wall. She is the definition of a "hater."

Because he's got another girlfriend. The asshole. I hope Marat kicks his oy oy oy.

Umm not to go too off-topic since this is supposed to be about the coverage of tennis; however no one knows why Lleyton and Kim broke up, since both have maintained a respectable silence about it. Lleyton didn't get involved with Bec until two months after his break-up with Kim and about the exact same time she had moved on too. So one might say she could have been the one who cheated since she is after all the one who ended things. However, it could just be two people who went their separate ways rather than either one being the bad guy. Then again it's not a good day unless Lleyton isn't made to be a bad guy.

I didn't think that Mary was harping on Serena during the finals at all. And I watched the whole thing. I thought she was critical of Davenport for just going away in the match.

That's how I felt, because Davenport did give the match away however brilliantly Serena played. I think Mary C., rightly, simply loves Davenport's groundstrokes and is just disappointed that the mental muscle doesn't match the physical.

Well, Davenport's groudies are a thing of beauty. Mary kept ragging on all the times Lindsay has just disappeared or dropped her level of play in big matches after winning the first set, which is apparently quite often (!!!). Though bringing into the conversastion last year's US Open semis was a bit unfair, IMO, since she was injured and could not move well.

That's just what I have christened it. My Bible (TV Guide) tells me that it will be an hour long review of his career but I think I've named it something better.

But reporting on it to you would mean that I would have to suffer through watching it and having to listen to Johanna Griggs which is comparable to having to watching Katie Couric - trying to be bubbly and SO KEwl!!!11



I didn't get to see the match live but have seen highlights and it was really weird. For some reason, it bore a resemblence to the Hingis/Capriati match.

The thing that changed was that Davenport started making errors. Not to discredit Sanitary Napkin Wearing Williams but she didn't really win the match but rather Davenport lost it. I guess I could check stats but I wouldn't mind betting that the errors skyrocketing in the last two sets rather than the winners coming thick and fast for Williams.



Well you know how the media works in mysterious ways in the sense that some people can create an 'image' that isn't who they are but 'society' believes that they are a certain way and then there are the people who are exactly like their 'public' face.

Although Clijsters is quite nice. Her and Lleyton bare more than just a physical resemblence - both of them have Stage Parents. Seriously, her father, of course, not to the degree of Daddy Williams or Daddy Shaparova or Daddy Pierce but he is extremely fierce. They are a nice family, I'm not denying that, but the dad is very... determined.

I've heard various things from different people (I grew up around the tennis circuit here in Australia) about what caused the break-up. There wasnt any cheating between them, at least definitely not from Lleyton's side. It was more a clash of families and because both of them are SO incredibly clicky with the famiyl - that meant everything in the relationship.



I agree with some sentiments of Mary C that have been written here. I truly think that the Williams have brought a 'lazy' technique to the game. The way they hit their groundstrokes and their movement around the court is extremely lazy. I would even agree to a certain extent that Davenport has some of this laziness and 'don't care' factor on her too. My mum, whenever watching her, always comments "she's not even trying".



I agree with your last sentiment. I've already been told three times today and it's only 10.30am that I'm being "un-Australian" by supporting Safin.

Lleyton didn't get with his new girlfriend, Rebecca Cartwright until about the middle of Noveber/December some time. If anyone is interested, she's a soapie star over here on a show called Home And Away - check the Soap Opera board for the thread. She is an absolutely atricious actress that makes Meescha Barton look passable.

However, Kim does have a boyfriend too and has for about two months as well. He's won some model contest for some province/region over there - he was Mr. Somewhere.

There has been much talk about bringing the Hawkeye television technology into the tennis match - using it as 'truth' during the actual match. What are everyone's thoughts? Does it make it too television? Does it remove the 'realism' of it?

I think it's turning the match into too much of a television sport. It's interesting that a large amount of the whiners over here in Australia are people who only watch tennis for a month in January. I think it removes the 'luck' because sometimes calls go your way and sometimes they don't. It will make the game too fake and it will be too expensive to put all the technology on every single court of every single tournament.

I just wanted to add my two cents to the Roger vs. Andy debate.

I too like them both. They both have very different styles that I enjoy watching, and imo two great personalities. So I like them. IMO, Roddick is one of the few "Prodigys" who actually lives up to his potential (even if hes nowhere near as consistant as he could be), and Federer is just a joy to watch and clearly the best playing.

Plus I thought the finals at Wimbeldon were just excellent. Even though I agree the rivalry is pretty much nonexistent (Andy's right, he needs to start winning matches), they give each other their all and its amazing to watch imo.

Plus their both pretty, add that to Marat and the semifinals were just plain nice to watch (well...minus Lleyton).

And heres hoping Marat kicks Hewitt's ass. Because Hewitt's match with Roddick just disappointed me. I know hes better than that, he knows hes better than that...it was just a letdown.

And also I just dont like Hewitt. When I compare his attitude to any of the other players in the semi finals....ugh.

Well, I hope that this has the same effect on Lleyton that Dutch TV's "pregame" coverage of Martin Verkerk had on him during the '03 French Open final. I want him to get beat just as bad as Verkerk got beat.

Come visit the US and watch TV when Andy (or any other American) is doing well. UGH.


Interestingly, it won't be Hawkeye (ShotSpot). According to Tennis Magazine it will be a similar technology created in Canada. That technology has been tested by the player's association and looks like it will be ready for matches by the US Open Series in the summer. Hawkeye (ShotSpot) is going to the association sometime this spring (?) and then I guess the two will duke it out. Now the ATP, ITF and USTA have to decide whether they will use it, and how--for every point; unlimited challenges by the player; limited challenges by the player (a la football, with a loss of point, etc. for getting a challenge wrong) or replay from the chair umpire. Some players are for it (Roddick), some are not (Federer). Should make for an interesting Spring season. I expect the commentators to really pick up talking about it in the upcoming months.

As for Mary Carillo, I didn't see anything wrong in the way she commentated on Williams in last night's incredibly boring match. I think Mary is great. She was the first to be allowed to commentate on men's matches, with strong opposition from everyone--especially "good friend" John McEnroe, so I'm probaby (definitely) biased.