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Post by DBBN on Jun 19, 2006 19:17:15 GMT -5
/me does take out Bartoli...for dinner and a show
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 19, 2006 19:29:15 GMT -5
I hope you bring plenty of Kleenex!
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 19, 2006 19:33:29 GMT -5
Congratulations to the first Chinese Slam singles seed ever, Li Na.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 20, 2006 9:37:15 GMT -5
Congratulations to the first Chinese Slam singles seed ever, Li Na. She celebrates by losing 1-1, ret. to A.Bondarenko.
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Post by DBBN on Jun 20, 2006 17:55:28 GMT -5
She is the most-injury prone woman I've ever married.
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Post by GoDom on Jun 21, 2006 5:46:13 GMT -5
Goran sucks. Look at the rest of 2001 for him! I never denied this.
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Post by DevilishAttitude on Jun 23, 2006 6:38:53 GMT -5
THE DRAW
Amelie Mauresmo FRA (1) v. Ivana Abramovic CRO Michaela Krajicek NED v. Samantha Stosur AUS Jarmila Gajdosova SVK v. Nicole Pratt AUS Mariana Diaz-oliva ARG v. Tatiana Golovin FRA (29) Ana Ivanovic SCG (19) v. Emmanuelle Gagliardi SUI Marta Domachowska POL v. Sarah Borwell GBR Mashona Washington USA v. Julia Schruff GER Jill Craybas USA v. Dinara Safina RUS (14) Anastasia Myskina RUS (9) v. Cara Black ZIM Martina Muller GER v. Kaia Kanepi EST Clarisa Fernandez ARG v. Conchita Martinez Granados ESP Su-Wei Hsieh TPE v. Anabel Medina garrigues ESP (23) Jelena Jankovic SCG (26) v. Lourdes Dominguez-lino ESP Julia Vakulenko UKR v. Vania King USA Lisa Raymond USA v. Yaroslava Shvedova RUS Bethanie Mattek USA v. Venus Williams USA (6)
Maria Sharapova RUS (4) v. Anna Smashnova ISR Ashley Harkleroad USA v. Jelena Kostanic CRO Laura Pous-tio ESP v. Melinda Czink HUN Amy Frazier USA v. Mara Santangelo ITA (32) Shahar Peer ISR (20) v. Juliana Fedak UKR Eleni Daniilidou GRE v. Shuai Peng CHN Maret Ani EST v. Laura Granville USA Sandra Kloesel GER v. Flavia Pennetta ITA (16) Francesca Schiavone ITA (11) v. Melanie South GBR Shenay Perry USA v. Kristina Barrois GER Anastassia Rodionova RUS v. Emilie Loit FRA Sybille Bammer AUT v. Nathalie Dechy FRA (22) Elena Likhovtseva RUS (25) v. Stephanie Foretz FRA Tian-Tian Sun CHN v. Nathalie Vierin ITA Meghann Shaughnessy USA v. Alyona Bondarenko UKR Sania Mirza IND v. Elena Dementieva RUS (7)
Patty Schnyder SUI (8) v. Antonella Serra Zanetti ITA Anastasia Yakimova BLR v. Severine Bremond FRA Hana Sromova CZE v. Virginia Ruano Pascual ESP Emma Laine FIN v. Gisela Dulko ARG (31) Ai Sugiyama JPN (18) v. Naomi Cavaday GBR Vera Dushevina RUS v. Akiko Morigami JPN Tathiana Garbin ITA v. Katie O'Brien GBR Olga Savchuk UKR v. Martina Hingis SUI (12) Daniela Hantuchova SVK (15) v. Maria Elena Camerin ITA Kirsten Flipkens BEL v. Jamea Jackson USA Alicia Molik AUS v. Yung-Jan Chan TPE Martina Sucha SVK v. Katarina Srebotnik SLO (21) Anna Chakvetadze RUS (30) v. Zi Yan CHN Maria Sanchez lorenzo ESP v. Elena Vesnina RUS Aiko Nakamura JPN v. Ekaterina Bychkova RUS Meng Yuan CHN v. Justine Henin-hardenne BEL (3)
Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (5) v. Romina Oprandi ITA Kveta Peschke CZE v. Kristina Brandi PUR Meilen Tu USA v. Vassilissa Bardina RUS Virginie Razzano FRA v. Na Li CHN (27) Marion Bartoli FRA (24) v. Camille Pin FRA Karolina Sprem CRO v. Anne Keothavong GBR Ivana Lisjak CRO v. Katerina Bondarenko UKR Klara Koukalova CZE v. Nicole Vaidisova CZE (10) Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER (13) v. Tzvetana Pironkova BUL Agnieszka Radwanska POL v. Viktoria Azarenka BLR Catalina Castano COL v. Tamarine Tanasugarn THA Shinobu Asagoe JPN v. Maria Kirilenko RUS (17) Sofia Arvidsson SWE (28) v. Eva Birnerova CZE Jie Zheng CHN v. Iveta Benesova CZE Viktoria Kutuzova UKR v. Lilia Osterloh USA Vera Zvonareva RUS v. Kim Clijsters BEL (2)
;D
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Jun 23, 2006 6:59:40 GMT -5
That's pretty much the best draw Tina could have asked for.
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Post by DevilishAttitude on Jun 23, 2006 7:08:25 GMT -5
My Predictions for the seeds:
Amelie Mauresmo FRA (1) v. Ivana Abramovic CRO - This could really be a double bagel. Ivana is the weakest qualifer IMO, Amelie should crush her.
Vera Zvonareva RUS v. Kim Clijsters BEL (2) - Tough draw, but I think Kim will win in 2 tight sets
Meng Yuan CHN v. Justine Henin-hardenne BEL (3) - There will be no 1R loss this year for Justine, easy win.
Maria Sharapova RUS (4) v. Anna Smashnova ISR - If this was 2004 on clay, Anna would have a chance. But it's on grass in 2006 so Maria should win comfortably.
Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (5) v. Romina Oprandi ITA - I gonna predict an upset here. Romina nearly beat Sveta in Rome, and Sveta seems to be playing worse every match despite reaching FO final.
Bethanie Mattek USA v. Venus Williams USA (6) - Nice draw here for Venus. Should thrash Mattek.
Sania Mirza IND v. Elena Dementieva RUS (7) - In 2005, Sania would have a chance, but she's slumping now. Elena in a breakathon.
Patty Schnyder SUI (8) v. Antonella Serra Zanetti ITA - Patty lost to Antonella here last year, but Antonella is now looking the weakest Top 100 player, Patty to win.
Anastasia Myskina RUS (9) v. Cara Black ZIM - Anastasia should crush Black, who hasn't won a match since January and singles career is going even more downhill.
Klara Koukalova CZE v. Nicole Vaidisova CZE (10) - The battle of the highest ranked Czechs. Nicole should win in straights.
Francesca Schiavone ITA (11) v. Melanie South GBR - Francesca should easily beat the Brit wildcard.
Olga Savchuk UKR v. Martina Hingis SUI (12) - Martina should have no problems.
Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER (13) v. Tzvetana Pironkova BUL - Could get tight, but I think Anna Lena will come through.
Jill Craybas USA v. Dinara Safina RUS (14) - If this was last year, Jill would have a good chance, but Dinara is a better player now and should win.
Daniela Hantuchova SVK (15) v. Maria Elena Camerin ITA - Daniela got a kind 1st Round and should win.
Sandra Kloesel GER v. Flavia Pennetta ITA (16) - Flavia should ease past Sandra.
Shinobu Asagoe JPN v. Maria Kirilenko RUS (17) - Maria has already crushed Shinobu this year and will do so again.
Ai Sugiyama JPN (18) v. Naomi Cavaday GBR - Ai has gone back to slumping and Naomi appears to be the best Brit junior around. Naomi will use the crowd to win in 3 tough sets.
Ana Ivanovic SCG (19) v. Emmanuelle Gagliardi SUI - Ana should beat Emmanuelle is straights.
Shahar Peer ISR (20) v. Juliana Fedak UKR - Unless Shahar has a meltdown after her clay run, she should beat Yuliana.
Martina Sucha SVK v. Katarina Srebotnik SLO (21) - Katarina will win, but I think it'll be in 3 sets.
Sybille Bammer AUT v. Nathalie Dechy FRA (22) - If this was FO, Sybille would have a chance. It isn't so Nat will win.
Su-Wei Hsieh TPE v. Anabel Medina garrigues ESP (23) - Anabel hasn't been impressive this year and a Asian on grass usually works well. Su-Wei to win in 3.
Marion Bartoli FRA (24) v. Camille Pin FRA - Unless Marion retires again, she should win in 2.
Elena Likhovtseva RUS (25) v. Stephanie Foretz FRA - A month ago, Steph would have a chance, but Lena's improved on the grass so Elena will win.
Jelena Jankovic SCG (26) v. Lourdes Dominguez-lino ESP - Jelena should crush Lourdes who will be playing her 1st ever grass match.
Virginie Razzano FRA v. Na Li CHN (27) - Na retired this week, but should win in 3.
Sofia Arvidsson SWE (28) v. Eva Birnerova CZE - Sofia is in terrible form, but Eva isn't playing well either, so I think Sofia will win.
Mariana Diaz-oliva ARG v. Tatiana Golovin FRA (29) - Tati was reported that she would have to pull out, but she's here. Unless she retires, she should crush Diaz who appears to be nearing retirement.
Anna Chakvetadze RUS (30) v. Zi Yan CHN - Anna lost to Chinese player Li, I think she will lose to chinese player Yan.
Emma Laine FIN v. Gisela Dulko ARG (31) - Gisela has beaten Emma already this year, and will do so again.
Amy Frazier USA v. Mara Santangelo ITA (32) - The battle of the flat hitters, I gonna predict Amy will get her 1st win since February.
;D
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Jun 23, 2006 7:17:50 GMT -5
Ugh, and Penis has a ridiculously easy draw. That Mauresmo-Venus QF should be comedy.
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Post by DBBN on Jun 23, 2006 7:34:47 GMT -5
Only Sugiyama stands in the way of a third straight Slam QF for Tina
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 23, 2006 9:06:47 GMT -5
Great draw for Marti. ;D But she'll lose to the elf. Maria vs Venus, Justine vs Kim: Your semifinals. Venus wins. Again.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 23, 2006 16:36:45 GMT -5
Dechy to the QF? Perry to the QF? That section is very open. Daniilidou-Peng! Mauresmo has a tough draw to get as far as the QF, actually. Golovin is a threat, but Safina is the real threat. She may very well lose before Penis. I guess it would be too much to hope for Myskina to beat Venus again, huh? Srebotnik or Jamea to the 4r against Justine would be ideal. Happily, Castano drew the right opponent to clock her in the 1r. Well, it should be fun, but missing Lindsay, Mary and Nadia it's lighter than it should be.
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Post by shenaynay on Jun 23, 2006 16:56:28 GMT -5
Lisa, plz find a way to beat Pee.
Martina is in a very nice section. Should at the very least be another GS QF. And that gets her ever so close to the top 10.
Amelie's draw is about as tough as it could possibly be. Misa-Stosur in the 2r is no gimme. Tati in the 3rd, she can get hot on grass. Ana/Safina 4th, Penis QF. I'd be shocked if Amelie got the SF.
Maria's quarter is pathetic. She's been given the opportunity to "play her way into form".
Poor Bepa.
The bottom half looks fun.
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Post by DBBN on Jun 23, 2006 18:03:12 GMT -5
IF Amelie can get through her very tough opening rounds, she will beat Penis. She's just better. And Amelie always does fine in the Slams not in France. Amelie will come through there.
Perfect draw for Maria, again, le sigh. Dechy will be her QF victim.
Obvious Hingis-Henin matchup. Justine wins.
It would be nice to think Vera Z takes out Kim, but it'll be a whitewash. Sveta got no favors, but I think she has enough to get to Kim, but Kim will knock her out easily.
So semis...Amelie is playing much better than Maria, and Justine is playing much better than Kim. No guarantees, but I think we'll have an AO final rematch.
I really like Justine to complete her set here. I think it's going to happen.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 23, 2006 18:41:39 GMT -5
IF Amelie can get through her very tough opening rounds, she will beat Penis. She's just better. And Amelie always does fine in the Slams not in France. Amelie will come through there. Perfect draw for Maria, again, le sigh. Dechy will be her QF victim. Obvious Hingis-Henin matchup. Justine wins. It would be nice to think Vera Z takes out Kim, but it'll be a whitewash. Sveta got no favors, but I think she has enough to get to Kim, but Kim will knock her out easily. So semis...Amelie is playing much better than Maria, and Justine is playing much better than Kim. No guarantees, but I think we'll have an AO final rematch. I really like Justine to complete her set here. I think it's going to happen. I agree, except the bit about AM beating MS. Otherwise, yes, and JHH completes the set.
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Post by shenaynay on Jun 23, 2006 18:43:49 GMT -5
I don't know about Justine on grass. She's a much different player these days, compared to when she used to win matches on the surface. Beating Kim in Eastbourne is good, but I'm still unsure.
Penis wins the title.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Jun 23, 2006 19:17:56 GMT -5
Amelie's draw is about as tough as it could possibly be. Misa-Stosur in the 2r is no gimme. Tati in the 3rd, she can get hot on grass. Ana/Safina 4th, Penis QF. I'd be shocked if Amelie got the SF. I agree. Still, I think she'll reach the QF and then lose to Venus. Ana in 4R would be a real danger for her, but I don't think she'll get past Safina, who should then lose to Mauresmo. If Venus was to lose, it would only happen in early rounds, and those are a joke. Jankovic could give her trouble, but she's not beating her on grass. Plus, she got injured in Rosmalen. Maria's quarter is pathetic. She's been given the opportunity to "play her way into form". I don't know if the easy draw is really to her advantage here. She should definitely reach the semis, but then... All those previous semis will surely be haunting her. If she somehow gets into the final, she's winning it, no matter who the opponent will be.
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Post by shenaynay on Jun 23, 2006 21:15:17 GMT -5
With how Maria is playing of late, she should be happy with a SF appearance.
But, even with Maria playing great... it's been proven she needs many things to fall her way to get past the SF round against any respectable top players.
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Jun 23, 2006 21:20:06 GMT -5
The only way Penis is losing is if she loses in the first week. Barring a freak early loss, she's winning again. Maria's draw is just, wow... what a walk to the semis. She's not getting beyond that though, the way she's been playing lately. I think Justine wins the QF against Tina, but I don't think it will be an easy match. If Tina can get into net, everyone is in trouble.
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Post by shenaynay on Jun 23, 2006 21:30:38 GMT -5
I think Martina will struggle to get in an offensive position against many players, though... QF here would be very respectable.
I agree with your thoughts on Penis... if she can get to the 2nd week, she'll have the huge mental advantage, especially since there's nobody else in the top half playing with much confidence. And in a final against whoever, it's hard to see Pee losing there... sigh.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 23, 2006 22:43:36 GMT -5
If we are discounting Sharapova because of her poor current play, why is it that we are talking up Villiams's, I ask you?
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Post by DBBN on Jun 24, 2006 1:33:10 GMT -5
I guarantee: if Mauresmo plays V. Williams in the quarterfinals, Mauresmo wins, and easily.
This is the official return of Breakneck's Lock of the Week.
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Post by DBBN on Jun 24, 2006 1:35:27 GMT -5
And remember what Mauresmo did in Sydney this year, and what she did in Melbourne the very next tournament.
Yeastbourne means nothing. As Brad Gilbert said, "She didn't come to Australia to win SYDNEY."
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 24, 2006 9:47:00 GMT -5
This is Venus' title to lose. She's the favourite. To say this makes me happy would be to think that Martha Logan needs to be shipped off to Vermont.
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Post by DBBN on Jun 24, 2006 9:54:51 GMT -5
Okay, but the thing is...she WILL lose. To Mauresmo.
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Post by Wagasi on Jun 24, 2006 9:59:21 GMT -5
well Justine'll probably just wilt after spending so much time at eastbourne and that's fine with me really. It's sad that Bepa couldn't have been in Sharapova's quarter. As it is all my spoiler hopes in that half rest on Nastya (not even pretending that I can predict Amelie's performance).
also Mirza for the title!
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Post by shenaynay on Jun 24, 2006 10:24:23 GMT -5
Okay, but the thing is...she WILL lose. To Mauresmo. Why.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 24, 2006 10:33:41 GMT -5
Okay, but the thing is...she WILL lose. To Mauresmo. We can hope. And pray. Would lighting a candle at the Sacre Cour ala Martina Hingis at the 1999 RG do the job?
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 24, 2006 10:38:53 GMT -5
Okay, but the thing is...she WILL lose. To Mauresmo. Why. To Mauresmo? There's a case to be made for either side. Momo has won their past couple of matches (remember Antwerp 2005?) but Vee more or less owns Wimbledon. Besides, Momo has had crushing losses in the last two semis to Serena and Lindsay, similar styles of play to Venus. I'm hoping Momo can pull out the win, should she get that far, but it's looking awfully bleak right now. And fuck Eastbourne. That doesn't count for shit.
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