Yea, well done Fed, and after a shanktastic 1st set too. The old man takes a while to get going these days. Truly gave that so-called "second serve" the treatment it deserves.

Now from Murray's presser, the money quote:

If you give someone (the) opportunity to dictate, not only on his own service games, but on yours, it’s very difficult to win,” said Murray, who had eight double-faults in the match. “I served so poorly that anyone would have looked good against me tonight.

O rly, Squaremouth? Geez, what an arrogant, deluded fuck.

1. I hate the O2 arena and the lighting - it looks like a giant morgue. Obnoxious blue coloring.

2. I never thought that my hatred for Andy Murray could get any greater, but it did yesterday. I don't think I've ever hated a tennis player with such a gut-deep loathing. I admit that it's not healthy.

3. I've never seen Feddy play as badly as he did in the first set against Verdasco. Literally, never. Maybe the Miami match of the racquet-smashing fame comes close, I'm not sure. He was moving like Myla was clinging to one of his ankles and Charlene to the other.

4. I promise myself that I won't give a shit about WTF. Honestly, I won't. Judging from yesterday's matches, it's all about who sucks the least at the moment. I'm so ready for the season to be over.

5. That being said, anyone but Murray, plskthxbai.

6. Congratulations, Fernando Verdasco, you're dumber than Berdych. You've borrowed a page from Nadal's book about pounding Feddy's pathetic bh, and you were implementing that plan successfully, so why did you abandon it at the lightest wiff of pressure, ffs? Dumb fuck.

7. It's okay, DelPo, you still have a slam and Murray doesn't. That being said, it's not okay to fold so pathetically in the decider, especially to that hateful twat.

8. I don't even want to talk about that Tacchini switch. So you've learned nothing from the Head switch, Nole? Well, fuck your goddamned greedy arse, you stupid bastard. I hope at least the shoes stay the same.

9. Max Mirnyi is not a relation of Monkey boy's school teacher. Woe.

10. Oh, and there was also Federbear. ( Howdy Federbear, long time no see! )

Our cat died today, at the age of 13. She had kidney stone disease for quite some time, had a surgery two years ago, and this morning she was finally put to sleep. R.I.P., kitty. You were very independent and particular, you could purr like no other, and we will remember you always.

God, the year two thousand and nine cannot end soon enough - what an utterly shitty, heartwrecking, miserable year it had been. 42 days to go.

2nd part of the Marat awesomeness is up: http://www.sports.ru/tennis/48148791.html. 2001-2006.

And Steve Tignor the Bandwagon Jumper picked Djoko to win WTF. Oh noes, we're surely doomed now.

Me like. I'd swapped Denko for DelPo, but can't have everything.

The top group is kinda straightforward - Fed and Murray to the semis, the only question is in which order. DelPo is 2-3 since USO (retired from matches twice), and the future of tennis is incapable of beating anyone of significance to save his hide. So Fed&Muzz it is.

The bottom group is more interesting: anyone is capable of beating anyone else there. Plus Sod did get drawn to meet Rafa, so yay! Dramatic possibilities galore! Nole looks like a solid favorite, but with his history of dramatic flameouts and not defending titles, well... let's not count our chickens yet. Kolya could beat Nole and Rafa, but has match-up problems with Sod. Rafa got beat by all 3 of his group mates in their last meetings (often badly) but has winning h2h over all of them save Kolya. The surface is reported to be really fast and low-bouncing, so additional problems for Nadal (and for DelPo too. And for Nole, who also likes 'em a little higher.). The only thing that looks guaranteed is a Nole win over Sod (5-0 h2h), if Nole's not comatose a-la '07. My bet? Nole and Denko to the semis in whatever order. Rafa getting a revenge win over Sod but no more.

Let's all watch now how all my predictions will get butchered to hell. And then laugh at me. And point fingers.

Now, I dunno where Forty Deuce got this, but it's simply brilliant:



Robin Bo Karl Söderling to replace Andy Roddick at WTF London (that "Bo Karl" just slays me).

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?????

Now to Nadal's group, please.

PS. The first part of my Marat epic is up on sports.ru: http://www.sports.ru/tennis/48148793.html

Roddick out, Soderling in: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article6918010.ece

Not unexpected, but still kind of a pity. Tsonga is the first alternate, waiting if DelPo pulls out.

'bout Nole's celebration (which some people already have their knickers in a twist about), I just imagine Feddy doing something like that: writing his name on the lens and yelling "Switzerland!!!" with bulging eyes. Makes me cackle, it does. )))

Nole, when I get a cardiac arrest (or lung cancer) I'm counting on you to pay for my medical bills. Just so you know. Still, grats boyo. 10-match winning streak!



If anyone's wondering why I'm not blogging about Bercy, I've been busy composing a ginormous piece on Marat which should be published shortly )))

Phew. What a clusterfuck.


Yeah Noley, exactly. Was it just a horrible day at the office, or are you simply exhausted? Bet the latter.

In all seriousness, I was prepared for him to take one for the team today - all for the noble purpose of not allowing the future of tennis into WTF, of course. My hopes lie with Jo now.

ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ JO-WI!