The Tennis Thread

[Strange Famous]

go Kimmie!

How long since an unranked player won a slam??

Its nice seeing the Williams sisters dont have things their own way now Kimmie is back. As for Serena losing her temper... well it isnt a great advert, but lets not go over the top... compared to some of the things I've seen from the likes of Marat Safin this was pretty tame.

[Jetée]

Tennis and temper tantrums go hand in hand; without them, it wouldn't be nearly as compelling.

Federer lost it abit in his final as well, but he had a right. No grown man should be told to be quiet (unless highly-inebriated). He also had a legimate claim, but it was quite surprising to hear the obscenities fly from "The Man".

To respond to Clijisters' win; it really is quite a scene that SportsIllustrated called it right even before the tournament even started. [Post #71]

[Jetée]

It's a bit late to talk about the (first) Wozniacki story, since it occurred (with much controversy thereafter) today, last week. (it involved language barriers, crying, and bitter sports books)

Though, if interest renews, especially after her incredible victory recently in Doha, despite what looked to be a debilitating and agonizing injury (leg cramps) that she suffered in-match. I wish I could have seen it live, instead of having to surmise what occurred by reading the box score and scanning through pictures.


But that's not the story now; this is:

Andre Agassi says he used crystal meth during playing days

Tennis legend Andre Agassi reveals in his forthcoming autobiography "Open" that he used crystal meth during his playing career, Paul Bogaards, a spokesman for the book's publisher, confirmed to the New York Daily News on Tuesday.

According to the Daily News, the eight-time Grand Slam champion admits using the illicit drug in 1997, the year he married Brooke Shields and went into a career slump that didn't end until 1999.

After pulling out of that slump, Agassi went on to win five Grand Slams and became only the fifth player to complete the career Slam. He has been heavily involved in charity work since retirement, opening his own charter school and championing educational reform throughout the country.

The information was first released this morning on the Twitter account of SI.com media analyst Richard Deitsch, but was subsequently removed:

"FYI: There's an off-the-charts book excerpt from Andre Agassi in the forthcoming SI: He admits to taking crystal meth during his career."

Both Sports Illustrated and People will run excerpts from the book, which will be released on Nov. 9.

Releasing this admission a week ahead of the book's release is an obvious ploy to generate interest and sell copies, and it's working. Almost all autobiographies are self-serving odes to one's own pursuit of greatness. They're rarely interesting. Agassi's could be different.

He's always been forthcoming with the press about his issues, whether it be his overbearing father, the therapy he underwent while his career was in shambles (the first time) or the true reason he cut his hair. The vulnerable, intense picture on the cover suggests more of the same is inside.


UPDATE:
The first excerpts have been released and, wow, are they explosive. Not only does Agassi admit to using crystal meth, but he describes how he evaded drug testers by lying about his useage.

In the first excerpt Agassi writes about taking the drug at home with an assistant known only as Slim:

"Slim is stressed too ... He says, You want to get high with me? On what? Gack. What the hell's gack? Crystal meth. Why do they call it gack? Because that's the sound you make when you're high ... Make you feel like Superman, dude.

"As if they're coming out of someone else's mouth, I hear these words: You know what? F*** it. Yeah. Let's get high.

"Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table. He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some. I ease back on the couch and consider the Rubicon I've just crossed.

"There is a moment of regret, followed by vast sadness. Then comes a tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps away every negative thought in my head. I've never felt so alive, so hopeful - and I've never felt such energy.

"I'm seized by a desperate desire to clean. I go tearing around my house, cleaning it from top to bottom. I dust the furniture. I scour the tub. I make the beds."

Later on, Agassi writes, he received a call from ATP doctors telling him he'd tested positive for meth.

"My name, my career, everything is now on the line. Whatever I've achieved, whatever I've worked for, might soon mean nothing. Days later I sit in a hard-backed chair, a legal pad in my lap, and write a letter to the ATP. It's filled with lies interwoven with bits of truth.

"I say Slim, whom I've since fired, is a known drug user, and that he often spikes his sodas with meth - which is true. Then I come to the central lie of the letter. I say that recently I drank accidentally from one of Slim's spiked sodas, unwittingly ingesting his drugs. I ask for understanding and leniency and hastily sign it: sincerely.

"I feel ashamed, of course. I promise myself that this lie is the end of it."

-- big thanks to Chris Chase, and Busted Racquet for the continued story and intrigue.

[Jetée]

The Australian Open starts this Sunday, so while the smaller satellite tounaments of the new year are coming to close, everything is gearing up for the first Grand Slam Tourney of 2010.

Thoughts, predictions, anticipation?

[Jetée]

'10 Players, 10 Questions'

--gallery provided by SI.com

[dlish]

for the first time in a long while, the tournament seems it's opened up to many different players than just Raffa and Federer.

I'm going to go away from the two favourites and say that Djokovic who's been playing well lately.

It could be any one of Davidenko, Murray, Djokovic, Sorderling though. the No.1 & 2 are no longer bulletproof

[Jetée]

For those that know me well enough, you may or may not know that I do not like to rehash ideas that are more eloquently stated (and more readily available) than my own usually, overlooked words are able to accomplish towards a grand audience.


So, for those in need of a pick-me-up to the already underway Aussie Open, I'll be providing a cliff-notes compendium of each day's action so far into the tourney (courtesy of my go-to Tennis blog, Busted Racquet):

Pre-Game: The top five storylines for the 2010 Australian Open - Busted Racquet - Tennis Blog - Yahoo! Sports


Day 1: Down Under Daily: Sharapova upset, big-hitting Karlovic advances - Busted Racquet - Tennis Blog - Yahoo! Sports


Day 2: Aussie Open Day 2: Top seeds advance, no Oudin magic this time - Busted Racquet - Tennis Blog - Yahoo! Sports


Day 3: Aussie Open Day 3: Henin, Del Potro win second round classics - Busted Racquet - Tennis Blog - Yahoo! Sports


Day 4: Aussie Open Day 4: Baghdatis storms back from two sets down - Busted Racquet - Tennis Blog - Yahoo! Sports

[Jetée]

Still: meant to post this last week, and then again this weekend, but I've been quite a bit occupied (as well as forgetful, indeed).

In case you missed the notice: The French Open is now currently underway.


above: Roger Federer, pumping "victory fists", during his first round match, against Peter Luczak. -- (Photo: Getty Images)



-- article above courtesy of Y! Sports columnist, Chris Chase, of the Busted Racquet Blog.

[Jetée]

Francesca Schiavone, the first Italian woman in the Open Era to claim a slam title, wins the French Open.

excerpt:
But the real story of the match was how Schiavone embraced the biggest moment of her career (one that is over a decade in the making) with a passionate, gutsy performance that moved many in the crowd — especially her Italian supporters — to tears of joy. It was a bravura performance by Schiavone, 29, who played the match of her life when it counted most.

[Strange Famous]

And to think they thought the reign of Rafa Nadal might be over...

[Strange Famous]

1 defeat in 6 years of playing Roland Garros.

This year on clay. 4 titles, no defeats, 2 dropped sets.

With no disrespect, at no point in the match did Soderling look like he could beat Nadal. He just gets back shots that no one else can... you have to take risks against him that just dont stack up.

In any other era, Nadal would be peerless. I guess it his misfortune and the games fortune, that his career coincides with the greatest player ever. But he has to be the undisputed king of clay.

Then again, in any other era Federer would have won 4 or 5 French Opens and be considered one of the greatest clay court players of all time as well as the greatest all round player.

[spindles]

Originally Posted by Jetée

[SIZE="3"]excerpt:
But the real story of the match was how Schiavone embraced the biggest moment of her career (one that is over a decade in the making) with a passionate, gutsy performance that moved many in the crowd — especially her Italian supporters — to tears of joy. It was a bravura performance by Schiavone, 29, who played the match of her life when it counted most.

History was being made here whoever won. You've gotta feel sorry for the Aussie (Stosur), who knocked out Henin, Serena and Jankavic, only to lose the final. She would've been the first Aussie woman to win a grand slam since Evonne Cawley(Goolagong) won Wimbledon in the 80's.

[Jetée]

Thanks for the history lessong SF and spindles (genuinely; and unlike most here, I don't utilize sarcasm).

I watched a majority of both the mens' and womens' finals over the weekend, and while the womens' match was more closely-contested affair, and I actually felt it should have gone to a third and deciding set, the better of the two won that day.

In watching the men's finals however, there was a point in which I thought Soderling could have gained an advantage over Nadal, and that was if he capitialized on his first break chance early in the first set, and gone up two games to love over Nadal. But after that, I'll agree: Nadal is just a maestro on clay. I don't know how I almost forgot how unbelievably punishing he can look against anyone on the red surface, it is unreal. And while only suffering one defeat on clay in the past half-decade seems impressive, the one thing that kept it interesting was that one defeat came at the hands and play of the very same Robin Soderling just a year ago (yeah, I know, Nadal was hobbled and subsequently had surgery after that loss, but a win's a win, and a loss is a loss).

Onto Wimbledon countdown now, I suppose.

[Jetée]

Just a reminder: I'm quite sure I was keen enough to glance a peek of the advertisements already being placed, so come this Monday at 11:00 AM, (London-Local) the tourney at Wimbledon officially begins.

Note:
For the Atlantic coast, though, I believe the televised portions of Wimbledon will begin promptly at 6:30 AM, on ESPN2 (and ESPN360.com).


Post-EDIT:
Ah. I've come to scrounge up this handy television schedule for the tournament, as it applies to audiences with ESPN as their sports provider.

Wimbledon TV Schedule -- Tennis FanHouse

[Jetée]

I thought I was entirely late to this discussion, but it turns out it never even happened to begin. How sad.



A wild first day at Wimbledon was also the longest day in the History of the tournament

...both for spectators, and the athletes alike... it was baited breath all the way through.


Day 2 results coming up in a little bit.

[dlish]

wow..stosur and schiavone both out on day one of wimbledon

if its stays like this its become another malavai washington vs richard krajicek wimbledon final for both sexes

[Strange Famous]

Not exactly... Krajicek (I am trusting you on the spelling) was always the kind of big serving machine that always had a chance at Wimbledon (same as Ivanisevic (sic?) who was a bigger character but also a v limited player). Washington was just a top 20 player who got to a final, he was never going to win one.

I think no one (including Schiavone) ever expected her to win or get close to another grand slam. Through a combination of luck, verve, willpower she achieved something that many players with a lot more god given talent never will. Fair play to her to her, and she deserves her title, but its no suprise she has nothing left at the next slam

_

Federer is looking vulnerable to me. Peerless when he is in the groove still, but too often out of it.

I saw the Nadal game when he came back from 2-1... he looks very good. The other guy threw everything at him, probably played the game of his life so far... and he gets to 2-1 and suddenly Nadal comes out with such ferocity in the 4th, completely demolishes him, and never takes his boot of his neck again... thats the difference between the world class players and the real greats. The likes of Andrew Murray can wobble under pressure. The likes of Federer and Nadal have that knack of finding another gear, and 98/100 times their opponent is helpless.

Sometimes playing Nadal really does look like someone playing a brick wall.

[Jetée]

I really don't know what to say about this, but just learning (and remembering now) that both Soderling and Murray are the only two men in the draw still thus far who have dropped only two sets or less in the entire tournament, do you think either of these men has a higher than -realistically-likely shot to claim Wimbledon's title this year? Stemming from yesterday, Murray has won in straight sets against all his competitors thus far, and only until yesterday, (when he and Ferrer took it to five sets) I believe Soderling had done the same, in cruising towards a win against all his comers.

On the opposite side of the scale, it has seemed as though both Federer and Nadal, between them, have had four particularly scary matches in which they faced and were teetering on the brink of elimination. Yet they are both still through to the quarters.

I'll get to more musings later, if others would like to indulge me.

[Jetée]

It has been a long run for Federer, but it seems that long journey is winding down; for the first time since 2002, Federer will not be playing in the Wimbledon Finals.

And then were four... (plus four more: )

Tomas Berdych advances, and will face off against (3) Novak Djokovic in the semis.
Andy Murray advances, and will face off against (2) Rafael Nadal in the semis.

- - -

Petra Kvitova advances, and will compete against (1) Serena Williams in the semis.
Tsvetana Pironkova advances, and will compete against (21) Vera Zvonareva in the semis.


personal commentary: who do you have, and who do you hope advances?
Who's playing the best at ths point in the tournament and would be remiss to not fight in the finals,
and who do you think unbelievable that they made it thus far, and could/should have gone a round earlier?
The galleries are a go, and I would like to hear from you.
My own take: I think Pironkova is really hot. Not really topical, I know, but I'd like to have that out there.

[dlish]

a nadal djokovic final would be ideal. anything else wouldnt have the same pull or interest to it.

would have loved to see a nadal-federer 2008 re-match.


any news on capriati after the headlines a few days ago? sounds tabloid-ish to me

[Fremen]

On behalf of my man Pistol Pete, take that, Federer!
How does it feel to get whooped by a younker like you did Sampras?
-----

Although I think Nadal will win, I'm pulling for Andy Murray.

[dlish]

Spoken like a true Aussie..

I'll barrack for anyone but an englishman

[Jetée]

Did they mention that Capriate business during the coverage at Wimbledon? I would think they might glance upon it for just a few uick seconds, but then again, I don't know... I like to keep personal things separate from the professional, to, ideally, seem professional.

Here's what I came up with after a quick 15-second search-and-retrieve:
Capriati's ex-boyfriend says his return to porn compounded her depression | Herald Sun

[dlish]

dripping with sheer and utter class.

im not sure about coverage mentioning capriati at all. the story was flooded on the front sheets in australia though. just wondered how big it was in north america.

[Jetée]

It will be a V. Zvonareva vs. S. Williams women's Wimbledon final on Saturday.

It was almost another "cinderella" reaching the finals to face (and possibly beat?) Serena at Wimbledon for the title, but it seems the young Pironkova gassed out after winning the first set, then losing the next two quite easily against Zvonareva.

[powerclown]

Go Rafael Spain!

[Jetée]

Serena wins.

Nadal wins.

Both world #1s win Wimbledon in straight sets.

[Strange Famous]

I wonder if the era of Federer is maybe not closing, but at least entering the period of decline. A 90% Federer will still win grand slams, and will still beat any player in the world on his day, but this is twice he has lost at Wimbledon, he is getting close to 30...

I really was cheering Murray on against Nadal in the semi, but Nadal never really looking like he would lose. At the second set tie break they were playing quite close (and Murry's counter punching style is hard for Nadal to play against) but in the key game Rafa just came out and played too good... and at 2-0 you just knew there was no way back.

Rafa was 2-1 down twice in these championships, but what marks him out is when he is under real pressure when even great players, even Federer get tight, Rafa attacks. I watched both the games he was 2-1 down in, and it was just awesome the way he came out in the 4th set of both games and just went beserk, really went for the jugular.

I still think, on any surface but clay, Federer can beat any man in the world when he is in the mood (and he can beat any man but Rafa on clay), even if he has lost a step... but maybe the days Federer is in the mood wont be every grand slam from now on

(the only player I think could get close to Roger and Rafa was Safin... if Safin was really fired up he could at least stay there against the great two, although he was rarely in the mood... of the current crop of great players, I cant see anyone winning a slam unless Roger and/or Rafa blow it)

[Jetée]

That's an interesting point you brought up there, Strange: while you thought that only Marat Safin, either now, or a few years ago, might have always been thought as 'a contender', to rival Federer (or Nadal) as a favorite in every Slam he may have entered, I never really payed much attention to him, until he beat Roger at the Australian some years ago, then I thought twice. He is very good, but I don't know if it's his injuries, or he's just lackadaiscal, or now too old and never really capitalized on the 'good years' he had in him, but I guess, it's hard to capture glory when you are entrenched in one of the more recent 'Golden Eras of Tennis', capitulated by the absolute dominance that one Roger Federer has had over the course of near a decade now.

On the other hand, though, before Rafael Nadal came into play, the only person who I saw as, really, the rival to Federer was Andy Roddick, both back in 2004, and up until last year's final at Wimbledon, it was still evident that Roddick is a true power player once capable of taking multiple Slams. I never saw him as a really agile mover on the court, and he's not above average in any part even near to the net, but what Roddick lacked in agility (at least that is what I perceived it to be) he made up in brutal service hits, and punishing forehands. I've never seen Roddick ever really blow anyone out of the water as other top-seeded competitors can do sometimes at ease, but he hangs in there, and has always been a great percentage player if ever faced with a tiebreaker set.

This year's US Open may be the most interesting one I've seen in several years, as I have no idea who can be considered the 'favorite', save for the most recent Slam champion, Rafael Nadal. Something about right now, though, has me wanting to see Soderling win it. He's really impressed me this year.

[Strange Famous]

Not sure Rafa's knee's can take the hard courts in NY

I think Andrew Murray has a good chance in this US Open.

[Jetée]

Currently watching the waning second set points of the Men's Final between Roger Federer and Andy Murrary in Toronto (is it the Rogers Cup? - no, Rogers Masters).

[dlish]

wow, murray beats federer and nadal in the same tournament.

neither looks as formidable as they once were a year or two ago.

[Jetée]

I meant to reply to this almost a week ago, but Murray went down just days later in the W&C Masters against Mardy Fish, and then Fish went onto face Federer in the finals, but he, too, lost, while Federer triumphed (not easily, though; he worked hard in the third set for that win).

But I agree: both Federer, Nadal, and to an extent Roddick as well, none of them look to be as dominating as each of them used to be, getting to Quarters-, Semi-Finals with ease.

This past weekend's Masters (ATP 500 event, I think it was) was only Roger's second title for this season, and that just seems very uncharacteristically-low.

We only have a week now to wait for the start of the US Open, so we'll see who triumphs and who loses in the weeks to come (my money, if I had any, would still go to Soderling to win it, just 'cause I like him).

[Jetée]

US Open is finally live (in a few hours).

Just like the NFL, I swear, the US Open scheduled start in the season always seems to be extended / delayed from when it begun just a year(s) ago. I get antsy.

Anticipations, stories, opinions, favorites you have for this Slam; would you wish to share?

[dlish]

this one's wide open.

For me, federer of course is a sentimental favourite. He'll have a tough time with Murray and Nadal still in the draw.

I heard Serena has ruled herself out due to injury. So Clijisters is my pick out of the women. is it me, or has she packed on the weight?? i always knew she was a big girl, but she doesnt resemble the majority of womens tennis players out there. She can smack a ball from here to belgium though, while others need to shout and grunt to get it over the net.

[Jetée]

Foolish me. I slept through all the early afternoon matches, and am only reminding myself now to watch the night schedule.

For those like me who have missed matches, or don't have TV in the workplace / round-the-clock coverage, ESPN3.com is known to show live streaming of virtually every game played live (via slight relay delay). They even archive some of the recently played matches (though I don't know exactly for how long). Give it a whirl.

[Jetée]

Most of what I've seen so far in the tournament has been routine, and quite fascinating.
I'm actually more drawn to the women's side of the tourney this year, and that hasn't been the case very often (not since 2004).

The Me'ns side, however, has had some relative surprises in the early rounds though; Roddick being ousted in the 2nd, and then the news that darkhorse Andy Murray lost shortly thereafter in the week.

I don't beleive there are any holdever games from Friday's play or the weekend, so this late afternoon / evening should feature entirely the opening Round of 16 play in both the Men's and Women's draw.

[dlish]

ive seen the rise and rise of sam stosur. she's been around for a little while. i remember the aussie press mentioning her all those years ago without much excitement, but she seems to have blossomed in the past 12 months. she's made the finals of the french and just became the first aussie in twenty something years to make the US Open quarters.

i think i putting my money on this little aussie. watch out for the forehand. i she falls to clijisters, clijisters will take it out.

[Jetée]

Oh man. Wow. Federer looked really dominant again tonight. I t was amazing at how fast he played the match against Soderling.
I've seen the drop-off with the Federer's game in the past several months, but he made tonight look routine. Unreal.


And with the way Djokovic has a penchant to draw himself into a corner and play harder than he should just to not lose the match,
I see Federer with an easy pass to yet another consecutive US Open Men's Final.

[Strange Famous]

I didnt think Rafa could win the US

This is now the Era of Nadal. Federer is still a great player who can win Grand Slams, but Nadal is number one now.

Its just amazing to think that probably the two greatest players in the history of the game are active at the same time.