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Post by Pamela Shriver on Jan 20, 2008 1:00:15 GMT -5
Their emergence wasn't the issue. Great, it pushed everyone in the fitness department. But the issue was that in the 2000s, Lindsay was probably the only player who could consistently beat them, and she flaked out every time. And I think those two were starting to check out of the sport by the middle of the decade. Lindsay gave them that "resurgence" they both needed. Look at the rest of the sistahs results that year. You take away their respective slam titles, and they just sucked. Oh, and don't forget about "the new wave of tennis" that Lindsay happily ushered in back at Wimbledon 2004. For much of 2004 and 2005, Davenport was a significantly better player than she was when she was a reigning Slam champ, and part of that was definitely due to the influence of Venus and Serena. Oh, no question she was better in 2004/2005 than she was when she was winning slams. She was hitting the ball just as well, and she moved better and was in better shape. The only reason she didn't win four slams in that time period was because of her head.
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 1:01:07 GMT -5
He was up 30-0 in that game too.
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 1:07:59 GMT -5
Winner. Ace. Patented dumb Vaidisova return. Ace. 1-0. Hmmmmmmmmm.
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Post by DBBN on Jan 20, 2008 1:08:34 GMT -5
Misha breaks back for 5-5. Good stuff.
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Post by sasha on Jan 20, 2008 1:10:54 GMT -5
Misha survives. He better win this set or the MOSCOW WALL will be set and make everyone drowsy.
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 1:12:20 GMT -5
Saves a set point and breaks back! 5-5! Russians always suck and choke against each other. I'll never forget watching Youzhny-Davydenko Moscow '04 SF on the live feed. That was Misha's best indoor fall ever. And that was a big tournament for Nikolay foreshadowing 2005 and on. But Misha served for it, was playing a beautiful 3rd, aggressive, approached on match point, and Nikolay hit a passing shot that clipped the net but stayed in. Somehow. Then he won the match, and has never lost to Youzhny. Probably never will. Based on the scoreboard, these guys are playing long points. Holds for 6-5! Serena already has 4 aces in this match. That's 31 for the tournament. Holy shit, if she serves like that against Justine.
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 1:22:37 GMT -5
I finally broke into 360 again! Today the speed of the service is wonderful. So clear.
4-1 MISH.
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 1:24:33 GMT -5
Misha did the Kim splits for fun. He's smiling. That's a good sign. It shows he's less tense than usual. 5*-2
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 1:25:43 GMT -5
Wow! That first set is a huge upset.
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Post by sasha on Jan 20, 2008 1:26:01 GMT -5
That split was a little too impressive...
1st set Misha. Kolya's not hitting well, though. Poor depth so far.
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 1:30:44 GMT -5
What a point between Mish and Nik!
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 1:34:11 GMT -5
Misha is playing such a smart match so far. He's not giving Davydenko much pace, so he's not letting him get much rhythm. He keeps slicing the backhand to Nikolay's backhand, and Davydenko is so confused he's been trying to slice back but obviously not as effectively. Then Misha is striking when he sees an opening, like that forehand winner dtl for break point. Then a forehand error from Davy again and it's a break!
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 1:35:13 GMT -5
Wow, ESPN360 is so far behind live! Never mind my last post. Bad Misha letting that game go. Still waiting to see if Davydenko can get his usual groundies in groove.
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 1:42:22 GMT -5
If Janko had won last night, this could have been a Ferrero vs. Youzhny final for the title.
Sorry, that was my good mood talking. Won't let it happen again.
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 1:46:56 GMT -5
OMG Darren Cahill just said Davydenko and Youzhny play similar games. He said they do similar things on the court, but Davydenko does it better. Worst comment by him ever.
...Okay, he just said he was wrong and Youzhny has versatility and can mix it up. Thank god he has eyes.
I hate Chris Fowler. He basically says, "The Russians will be grinding it out for a while here, hahahahahaha, who cares, let's go back to RLA." And he always uses the term "grinding" so incorrectly and derogatively. He doesn't know what a grinder is. He just likes to subtly put down non-Americans he knows nothing about. Thankfully Cliffy D stepped in and said that Misha can flatten the ball out and hit lots of winners. But of course so can Nikolay.
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Post by Denise49IQ on Jan 20, 2008 1:59:36 GMT -5
Just left the Niki Silliams match after Silliams broke in the second. It's pretty much all over now. Nicole's return is AWFUL. Seriously. Did anyone see that drop shot she tried hitting in the first set when she lost serve? CLASSIC!
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Post by Denise49IQ on Jan 20, 2008 2:02:13 GMT -5
I say drop shot, but was not worthy of a drop shot. More like a shit sliced lob, or something. Niki's serve is still amazing though.
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Post by Grarliner on Jan 20, 2008 2:10:18 GMT -5
Dementieva losing 2 and 0 to Sharapova.
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Post by Grarliner on Jan 20, 2008 2:13:40 GMT -5
Vaidisova back on serve. Come on, baby, comeback!
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Post by Denise49IQ on Jan 20, 2008 2:13:52 GMT -5
OMG. 4-4.
Time to go back up and watch.
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Post by sasha on Jan 20, 2008 2:13:56 GMT -5
It would be awesome if Kolya would at least try not bending his back more than Medvedev and hitting pathetic topspin serves every single time. Why does he do that.
And it's not just Fowler. Even former players get caught in the thinking that aggressive tennis = winning tennis. Not that Kolya isn't aggressive... he hits lots of winners.
He sucks today, though.
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 2:15:58 GMT -5
these matches are draaaaaaaaama! love it.
misha 2 sets to none.
nicole fighting like a choking champ.
life is bliss!!!!!!
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 2:19:30 GMT -5
nicole is dumb!!!
The stats don't tell the story of this men's match. Youzhny may have more unforced errors than winners, but he is play so smart and well-balanced. He's calm right now. But if he gets close to the win, he won't stay calm. This is definitely his best match versus a Russian No. 1, so far.
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Post by Grarliner on Jan 20, 2008 2:20:01 GMT -5
No. Rebreak.
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Post by GoDom on Jan 20, 2008 2:20:53 GMT -5
Wow. Vaidisova's game is so so fugly. And she is so immobile and limited and ... just godawful.
She makes the worst errors. And give her a deep ball on her feet, she's totally clueless.
I intensely dislike her. If she ever wins a Slam I will post naked pics.
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Post by sasha on Jan 20, 2008 2:21:39 GMT -5
Hey, Nicole lost a tight match to a good player. How on earth did I see that coming. Kolya has to rely on Misha chokes now. I like Misha too, so this isn't too sad. But, he's taking out my 2 big boys.
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Post by Denise49IQ on Jan 20, 2008 2:21:59 GMT -5
OMG. 4-4. Time to go back up and watch. Turned the TV on at 4-4 ad Niki, she didn't win another point.
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 2:22:12 GMT -5
I love naked pics. I post them everywhere, just not here.
When Misha and Nikolay play, they have the potential to have break fiestas. But the serve is making a difference in this match because Misha is backing up his so well.
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Post by Grarliner on Jan 20, 2008 2:23:27 GMT -5
Match over. Oh well.
It's becoming clear that Justine's road to the title is Mariabot, Serena, Venus.
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Jan 20, 2008 2:24:17 GMT -5
ESPN2 not staying to show the Russians. They're leaving. Dicks.
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