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

Wanted to write yesterday, but got fatally disconnected.

I'm actually in equal parts sad and relieved - the struggle is over. Did I cry? Yes, yes I admit I did, but not during the farewell, slightly after - kind of a delayed reaction I guess. Couldn't find a better way to go out, really - in a good, tight match, against a bright rising star, in a tournament that he's won 3 times. The previous day there was a horrible feeling that he was gonna end his carreer with a loss to Ascione, but thank you Marat for finding those aces, saving thoae matchpoints and living another day. This, yesterday, was perfect.



( ... )

I love you man, but stop embarrassing yourself. First, if at 30 y.o and after 13 years of pro life you're still getting fooled by that, than you're a tool who deserves no better. Second, I distinctly remember someone taking a mto at RG '04, just as Starace was about to serve for the match. And against Hewitt in the AO '05 final - to get leg massage, of all things? Now who might that have been? Errm... let me remember... you!Everybody does that, just,,, stfu for chrissakes.

On the other hand, was pretty interesting to know at last why he had a spit with Roddick at the Athenes Olympics - because of the schedule, it turned out. I was mildly disappointed tbh hoped for somehing more epic.

On the third hand, DelPo's fall season is really shaping up in the footsteps of Nole's '07 fall season, only with an injury on top of that. No wonder the stands were empty - why would fans go to a tournament if every top player who takes the court just fucking retires?

Nole started his match playing short to Fabio's forehand like a moron, but let's chalk it up for not knowing what the guy's up to. Then lifted up his return game, blasted Fabio's candy-ass. Fabio's really too pretty, almost indecently so.

Yeah.
 


Expected result, okay - still thanks Marat, for two great matches, and a lot of fine play in this one. You can't really beat Nadal without a forehand, can you? Noone can.

 

( Still a god though )
And he got a bottle as a parting gift.

In other news Nole beat the future of tennis for the 5th time in a row - not nearly as vomit-indusing as their USO encounter, but almost as strange, and played almost to the same tune: win the first set in a dogfight, go away in the 2nd, come back to win the match. Nole's showing more willingness to go dtl though which is kinda encouraging. Still way too many doublefaults though.

His Toadness next, he's playing some mean ball this week - loved the way he's absolutely shredded Boredo. Not a guarantee, this, despite 3-0 h2h.

( looking devastatingly handsome though )
Okay, not the best angle, but I like this picture.

As someone on MTF pointed out, Verdasco is the Blake of the new generation - handsome, massive forehand, tons of athleticism, all-or-nothing game, mental issues and tennis IQ and competitive spirit of an average grapefruit. The only difference is that 'Dasco's a lefty and two-handed on the bh side. Expect him to show up with shaved head and a headband any time now.

On the other hand, believe or not, that OTHER Beijing semifinal still gives me nightmares - that was tough to take, ladies and gents, tough to take and I don't care for a repeat any time soon. Ergo, Nadal must lose before the final. Ajde, Marin.

Looks like Ernie's trying to grow some scruff - probably in an attempt to look more manly. It ain't working, Ernie - you're still looking like you're fresh out of kindergarten. And doublefaulting on set-points will not win you matches against top10 opponents. Tsonga was there for the taking, jesus.

( I can't decide who's more adorable )Opinions?

 

I think you have to appoint two positions now: the #1, and the real #1. They could flip a coin as to who's gonna be which in the beginning of each weak. A lot of problems solved.

Think about that: Serena won the match that gave her the #1 ranking, and lost her next. Now, I don't mean to say that she lost to Petrova intentionally, or didn't give a crap - she usually doesn't let it to get into the 3rd set tiebreak, if she intends to tank (and it was a pretty good match, btw, Petrova's dress notwithstanding. Indeed, speed of some of those rallies surely beat anything that Youzhny-Simon had to offer), but it was kinda symbolic, wasn't it? Both of them want that #1 spot, and both lack that crucial something - whether it's talent and self-belief, or consistency.

( Now to the subject of Petrova's dress )

Also Marat got one back over Gonzo, after losing six in a row. And he played good - I kept waiting for thecustomary 2nd set drop-off, but it never came. Next Nadal, and the buck stops here (and i think, without verifying it on the atptennis, that they've only played once... which is really pretty bizarre). Nadal was really piss-poor for 2 matches in a row, but yeah... next match's Marat's last in Beijing.




( They seemed to have quite a time out there however. Gonzo was just arsing around sometimes )
ETA: as an offside note, and in case someone on my f-list didn't know that alseady: I really hate Gilles Simon. I mean really freaking hate him. Hate him, hate him, hate him, hate him. HATE.

Just so you know.

"I was standing two meters behind the baseline like a Spaniard and doing nothing. Now I'm playing more aggressive like I want." - Ernests Gulbis, after beating His Sexiness, on his level of play this season.

Atta boy! Please, don't lose to Monaco in the next round.

Roddick and DelPo, you both suck. I mean, with all the talk about A-Rod's amazing year, he should probably show something for it, beside a measly title in Memphis :eyeroll:. Losing to Kubot in the 1st rd is not the way to achieve that.

( on the other hand, his left arm freaks me out )
And fuck you muchly, DelPo - noone should loose to Roger freaking Vasselin - ever. 'Tis unseemly.

( Rafa Nadal loves bright colors. I think even Martians know that already )
They can probably see his shirts from all teh way up there. And are those... checkered shorts? Oy.

Did you know that Marat Safin was the first ever champion of China Open? He won the title in '04 over Youzhny - the beginning of his autumn run. At his last China Open, he's won a match so far (which is somewhat of a rarity these days, but still feels great).

( But he's still a god. )

Monkey boy's birhtday's coming tomorrow, and I'm making cake. I didn't have much time today for anything tennis-related, but I did watch the entirety of Tsonga-Monaco, which was, in my not so humble opinion, the best match of the touranment so far. Both played well; throughout the middle 2 sets Tsonga was simply on fire. I guess he's disproving the notion that he's nothing on clay: Monaco is the best undseeded player in the draw, cunning and tactically savvy, if underpowered. The way Tsonga was blasting him off the court in those two sets was awesome. And that on clay that was really slower thn mud today.

There was also a very touching exchange at the net.

( feel the manlove )  
And about yesterday:

"Well, as you can see, I didn't draw the heart, and I didn't lay down and I didn't cry and I didn't all those things ... it's not me.  (It's) a terrible way to finish with the French Open but anyway ... it's okay. It's not so sad. (It) doesn't get me emotional."

Marat, on his last match at Roland Garros
( and what a match it was... )

Why do you even bother?

Just retire ffs, and go spend your time on other pursuits that clearly interest you more than dragging your arse around the court. This is way past "embarassing" and into the "disgrace" zone.

Why do you resist, Mr. Anderson?

Too sleepy to do full match reports, so I think I'll go with bullet-points this time, as I remember them.

 

( men's singles, round 1 and a half ) 

Now, re: Murray
 

( the money quote )( the money quote ) 
Oh, I can just hear all the bitching and moaning by fans and haters alike. Keep it up Nole.

On an unrealted topick, what is Ivanovic wearing on the court this AO? A dyed potato sack? Yuck.

Eta: Pay no attention to the rabid lj cuts. Ugh.

 

Marat, whatever are we going to do without you?

Via greatgloomer

 

OMG. I was thinking he was sporting a shiner when I was watching a mixed doubles match on Sunday, but thought surely my eyes were deceiving me. Apparently not.

Edit: Fuck lj tags sideways. They're out to get me.

 

( money quotes )</div>