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Roland Garros 2009
- Thread starter uae
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Oh well nothing exceptional, but many many many wonderful girls like I only seen once before - the last time I visited Roland Garros.
But as the public did not have a favourite between Safina and Azarenka or Murray and Gonzalez, they were all quite polite actually.
I was the only one trying to put some life in the stands with my "Davai Safina !", my "Come on Andy" and my "Glory glory man united" sung with two young britons next to me.
Federer takes first set against Monfils, 8-6 in tie break.
Breaks in the first game of the second
Straight forward after the first, 6-2 then 6-3
I missed the Murray match, surprised he lost, he usually finds a way. Can't say I'm too disappointed mind you.
Federer played well and that's his 20th consecutive GS semi final now, some achievement. Looks like it'll be against Del Potro again.
Bet he didn't think he'd be playing for the chance to face Soderling or Gonzalez in the final!
Great record against all of them too...
5-0 vs Del Potro
9-0 vs Soderling
12-1 vs Gonzalez
Federer played well and that's his 20th consecutive GS semi final now, some achievement. Looks like it'll be against Del Potro again.
Bet he didn't think he'd be playing for the chance to face Soderling or Gonzalez in the final!
Great record against all of them too...
5-0 vs Del Potro
9-0 vs Soderling
12-1 vs Gonzalez
Womens Semi Final day today.
Safina vs Cibulkova on now. Safina's a beast!
Safina vs Cibulkova on now. Safina's a beast!
Cibulkova would get it
she would indeed.
is it just me or has the standard of talent in womens tennis gone up in the past few years. By talent i mean looks and not actual talent because frankly the womens game is guff.
I agree. Some very nice looking players out there these days.
Yup
Croft would get it.
Who?
Tim Henman has told Sky News Online that he agrees with Martina Navratilova's complaint that grunting is becoming a problem in tennis.
Martina Navratilova and Maria Sharapova
Navratilova says grunters like Sharapova (right) should be penalised
Navratilova, the winner of 18 grand slam singles titles, claims the din made by players in today's women's game is not only annoying, but also cheating.
She did not name individual players - but well-known grunters include Maria Sharapova, Serena and Venus Williams, and 16-year-old Michelle Larcher De Brito.
"I think there's definitely a few of them, more on the woman's side, who've taken it (grunting) way beyond what is reasonable," Henman told Sky.
Martina: It Is Annoying...And Unnecessary
The former British number one said that he understood how some players might grunt to improve their timing when striking the ball, but that it is not so much of a problem in the men's game.
"You look at it on the men's side, and I think the men are hitting the ball a lot harder than the women, and it's far less common," he said.
95 Tim Henman tennis wimbledon
Tim Henman in his playing days
"Of course there are guys grunting in the men's game but it's never been a problem. It seems like it's becoming an issue in the women's game. I think you want the action speaking for itself."
Navratilova believes the tennis grunts are "getting louder and lasting well into the opponent's strike zone".
"The grunting has reached an unacceptable level. It is cheating, pure and simple. It is time for something to be done," she told The Tennis Channel.
The grunting has reached an unacceptable level. It is cheating, pure and simple. It is time for something to be done.
Martina Navratilova
But Henman believes that there's little that can be done to stop it.
"I wish umpires could clamp down on it but it's very difficult to quantify," he said. "In cricket you have the light meter - are tennis umpires going to have Gruntometers on the court?"
Martina Navratilova and Maria Sharapova
Navratilova says grunters like Sharapova (right) should be penalised
Navratilova, the winner of 18 grand slam singles titles, claims the din made by players in today's women's game is not only annoying, but also cheating.
She did not name individual players - but well-known grunters include Maria Sharapova, Serena and Venus Williams, and 16-year-old Michelle Larcher De Brito.
"I think there's definitely a few of them, more on the woman's side, who've taken it (grunting) way beyond what is reasonable," Henman told Sky.
Martina: It Is Annoying...And Unnecessary
The former British number one said that he understood how some players might grunt to improve their timing when striking the ball, but that it is not so much of a problem in the men's game.
"You look at it on the men's side, and I think the men are hitting the ball a lot harder than the women, and it's far less common," he said.
95 Tim Henman tennis wimbledon
Tim Henman in his playing days
"Of course there are guys grunting in the men's game but it's never been a problem. It seems like it's becoming an issue in the women's game. I think you want the action speaking for itself."
Navratilova believes the tennis grunts are "getting louder and lasting well into the opponent's strike zone".
"The grunting has reached an unacceptable level. It is cheating, pure and simple. It is time for something to be done," she told The Tennis Channel.
The grunting has reached an unacceptable level. It is cheating, pure and simple. It is time for something to be done.
Martina Navratilova
But Henman believes that there's little that can be done to stop it.
"I wish umpires could clamp down on it but it's very difficult to quantify," he said. "In cricket you have the light meter - are tennis umpires going to have Gruntometers on the court?"
Henman told a story on air about going to watch two top ten female players practicing together prior to Wimbledon, and both were known for the heavy grunting on shots.
He said there wasn't a bit of noise coming from either of them, despite the fact they were playing flat out.
It's an affectation, and one that becomes an almighty pain in the arse if you're there in the crowd. How to get rid of it is another thing, as a lot of players may be so used to doing it...
He said there wasn't a bit of noise coming from either of them, despite the fact they were playing flat out.
It's an affectation, and one that becomes an almighty pain in the arse if you're there in the crowd. How to get rid of it is another thing, as a lot of players may be so used to doing it...
Will be a good day of tennis tomorrow.
Del Potro v Federer will be really close I think. Reckon the Swede will manage to get past Gonzales alright.
Del Potro v Federer will be really close I think. Reckon the Swede will manage to get past Gonzales alright.
I guess he means Anabelle Croft.
Gruntometers, excellent word.
MILF!
SHe's in her 40s but aye, she's looking good for it!
Come on Soderling 
Go Gonzalez!!
Soderling wins the first 6-3.
Gonazalez has a real fight on his hands here.
Gonazalez has a real fight on his hands here.
Where has Soderling come from? He's produced some stunning tennis over the last week.
Rafa's pulled out of queens, citing his bad knees.
"I have been having some problems in the past months with my knees, that's no secret, that did not allow me to compete always at 100%. I need to work with my team to recover well, work on my physical condition to be at my top form and get ready for the grass to play at Wimbledon. I hope I can be ready to compete by then."
His price has risen.
"I have been having some problems in the past months with my knees, that's no secret, that did not allow me to compete always at 100%. I need to work with my team to recover well, work on my physical condition to be at my top form and get ready for the grass to play at Wimbledon. I hope I can be ready to compete by then."
His price has risen.
I for one hope Rafa isn`t able to compete in Wimbledon. I`d love for Federer to do two Grand Slams in a row this summer and go to 15 in total.
I'd prefer to see Nadal play, but Federer win, if I'm honest.
I don't think he'd receive a great amount of credit if Nadal was absent, rightly or wrongly.
The nature of his game is so physically demanding. It begs the question how low can he stay at the very top of his game? He's what 23 now? And to have dodgy knees at this stage of his career. Could be really problematic down the line.
Gonzalez wins the third 7-5.
Is this the first sign of tightness from Soderling?
Is this the first sign of tightness from Soderling?
Wrongly I would say.
Injuries are a part of the game, and Federer has been good at avoiding them. That`s not only luck, but also a result of the way he plays in contrast to the way Rafa plays.
If Federer wins Roland Garros I expect a storm of people saying that he got an easy path and that the competition was gone. That would also be wrong, IMO.
The Norwegian in me wants Söderling out ASAP, but I must say he has impressed immensely this tournament. It also seems like he has the mental strength to stand up to Federer in an eventual final.
I`m rooting for Gonzales though.
I`m rooting for Gonzales though.
Gonzales barely manages to hold his serve in the first game. Soderling misses three break points.
2-2 Amazing comeback from Gonzalez !
Great match on here
Great match on here
Gonzalez wins the fourth, and Soderling is starting to look shaky.
Should be a good fifth.
Should be a good fifth.
Opportunity for a Gonzales break now.
Gonzalez breaks
And he breaks. Will be hard for Soderling now.
Soderling bottled it big time!
What a match !!!
Soldering just broke him superbly.
Nadal at 4/1 on Betfair to win Wimbledon.
Nadal at 4/1 on Betfair to win Wimbledon.