|
Post by janie on Jul 14, 2005 20:35:46 GMT -5
Well just take a few bottles of Vittel water -- you will REALLY look like you're in the Challenger-know! Have a great time! I am very excited about your Brinyiville trip! A little too excited, in fact --- must go lie down with a cold washcloth on my forehead!
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Jul 14, 2005 20:39:47 GMT -5
Ha! I'll tell you the highlights tomorrow.
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Jul 15, 2005 8:02:51 GMT -5
I'm off to the Steel City.
|
|
|
Post by janie on Jul 15, 2005 8:47:20 GMT -5
Woohoo!! Have fun! Keep cool! No fisticuffs with the parents of your opponents' faves this time, please!
|
|
|
Post by janie on Jul 15, 2005 8:56:08 GMT -5
Oops! I had no idea that this Shulaeva person is a hoser! Well go her, then!
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Jul 15, 2005 16:45:54 GMT -5
I'm baaaack! Play started at 10:30. I arrived in Steeltown at about 10:00 -- scoped out the tennis club, then wolfed down a big breakfast so I wouldn't have to eat until dinner. One views the matches from the balcony of the tennis club. Admission was free. At least I think it was, I just walked in. From the balcony you can see all the matches that are going on, which is awesome. The down side is that you have to stand in order to see properly, which is tough on a geezer! The first matches on were Dabek-Breadmore, on the court closest to the balcony, and Argeri-Namigata on court 3. Needless to say I was focused on the latter match, won by Argeri, 6-3 4-6 6-3. Argeri is an interesting player to watch. She's a little smallish -- I'm guessing 5' 5" or 5" 6' -- and moves well, but she hits hard and flat -- not the loopy shots one would associate with Argentina (I think this is a stereotype that's becoming outdated). Facially she looks quite a bit like Mauresmo with black hair and a longer nose. She has a one-handed bh that can produce some splendid results, and can spank the forehand too. Pretty good serve too, given her height. Namigata is a taller woman -- maybe 5' 8" -- who has a killer two-hander. That's about it though -- shaky serve, elbowy forehand that's prone to break down, and was clearly moving less well on the clay than MJA. Argeri always looked the better player but she lost her focus in the second set -- this could be why the former top 20 junior has blown in the pros. Her shots seemed to lose zip and this allowed Junri to get her teeth into the match. The Japanese started to boom the backhands, and it was a split-setter, woohoo! Namigata got a 2-0 lead in the third but then Argeri woke up and nailed down the win impressively. Maria Jose has developed a cheering section this week of about 6 Argentines living in Hamilton, and they sat courtside to cheer her on. Meanwhile, Breadmore and Dabek were having a 3-hour-plus marathon that started in fairly comfortable morning conditions but ended in the hot and humid early afternoon. By the time Argeri wrapped up her win, Dabek-Breadmore were only at 2-1 in the third. The reason this match was slower was that there were a lot of long rallies, both girls not hesitating to go to the moonball. But in a way it was more interesting to watch because there was more tactical variety. Both women are fairly comfortable at the net, unlike Argeri and Namigata, who were playing hit-and-miss from the baseline. The key game of third set there was an interminable 3-2 game with Dabek serving and up a break. There must have been close to 10 deuces and Breadmore had her chances. But Dabek finally held, and won all the remaining games. I was congratulating myself because when the third set started I picked Dabek because a) she looked a lot fitter, and b) she had a much higher ranking. God, I'm good. Make the final, 6-3 2-6 6-2.
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Jul 15, 2005 17:07:39 GMT -5
The second matches saw Wozniak-Matic on court 1, and Shulaeva-Czafikova on court 3.
I didn't pay much attention to Shulaeva-Czafikova because every time I looked up, Czafikova was making an unforced error and Shulaeva (a Canadian born in Moldova) was doing an annoying grunt-scream that she does about a half-second after hitting the ball. Spare me. Shulaeva had a 6-1 5-1 lead, mainly, as far as I can see, because her opponent was blowing like the four winds. Then the Canadian stated to choke, Czafikova came back to 5-5, then realized she had a chance to force a third set, started to blow again,and Shulaeva won 6-1 7-5. I think Argeri will make quick work out of Ekaterina, who (give her credit) is having a nice week for an unranked pro and a 120-ranked junior.
In the Wozniak-Matic match it was all Wozniak, 6-4 6-3. This was a good test for Wozniak against a decent mid-level challenger player, and she passed with flying colours. Although it should be said that Matic was having shoulder problems, I don't think they were a factor.
I was trying to think of someone to compare Wozniak to, and the best I could do is Davenport. Aleksandra is not as tall, but heavy-set and hits a remarkably clean ball. She doesn't seem to be forcing her shots, but the ball jumps off her racquet and seems very heavy. She goes for the lines a lot and takes a lot of chances on her returns. She'll never be a gazelle, but she is not as bad a mover as I expected -- surprisingly light on her feet and she ran down the drop shots Matic tried.
I saw Wozniak on a good day, but she strikes me as the kind of player who, if you see her on a bad day, would make you wonder why she decided to play tennis for a living. But on the day, impressive stuff. Should be an interesting semi versus Dabek.
|
|
|
Post by janie on Jul 15, 2005 18:10:48 GMT -5
Woohoo!!! Great reporting!! Many many thanks. Too bad you didn't see anybody who looked ultra-promising, but of course that's the sad fate of most attendees at the 25s (yep, I remembered the inside lingo!). Still if Woz could GET FIT, maybe she could do sth non-hoserish, like reach the top 100! I will root for her dorénavant, because you mentioned Lindsay. (I won't be rooting for Dabek! ewww, moonballs!! )
|
|
|
Post by janie on Jul 15, 2005 18:40:20 GMT -5
btw, I am really surprised to learn that this event is on clay! What are clay courts doing in Brinyivlle? They should play this on hard courts to help the Canadian players get ready to use their Toronto wild cards ;D , and to get them ready for pre-pre-qualifying for the US Open!
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Jul 15, 2005 18:43:27 GMT -5
btw, I am really surprised to learn that this event is on clay! What are clay courts doing in Brinyivlle? They should play this on hard courts to help the Canadian players get ready to use their Toronto wild cards ;D , and to get them ready for pre-pre-qualifying for the US Open! Well, it's green clay (Har-Tru). Mont Tremblant was also on Har-Tru, but it was painted red, so you could say it was red clay. I think that's the only reason I get to see the likes of Argeri and Esperon, so I'm not complaining!
|
|
|
Post by janie on Jul 15, 2005 18:52:03 GMT -5
Ah, excellent point! thx for copying over to wtaworld, I was thinking of asking you if I could copy it to paste there, but decided not to bother. I hope it's appreciated there! Red-painted Har-Tru
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Jul 15, 2005 19:00:43 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Jul 15, 2005 19:03:56 GMT -5
I doubt that the usual twelve year olds will appreciate it, but maybe some lurkers will enjoy it.
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Jul 15, 2005 19:11:07 GMT -5
I should add that Eggy will be pissed because I dissed a player whose name ends in -va. ;D
|
|
|
Post by janie on Jul 15, 2005 19:22:38 GMT -5
Eggy is good-natured about that sort of thing. He once PM'd me a hilarious British article making fun of Kourni back in the day -- he liked her, but he saw this article & he knew I would enjoy it. Good old Eggy! I miss his Silent-Partnerdom.
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Jul 15, 2005 19:24:59 GMT -5
Eggy is good-natured about that sort of thing. He once PM'd me a hilarious British article making fun of Kourni back in the day -- he liked her, but he saw this article & he knew I would enjoy it. Good old Eggy! I miss his Silent-Partnerdom. I really think he was annoyed when I dissed Devidze. He thanked me for the "report".
|
|
|
Post by janie on Jul 15, 2005 19:33:39 GMT -5
That's funny because I posted there this week or last week that Salome was going nowhere and should retire! Nobody responded in any way. I took that as a good sign. btw, I can't figure out how to get rid of the flag by my name there! Now I've got an Abu Dhabi flag, because it was the first country on the list! I went to change sth in my profile there, and it insisted I name a country or I could not proceed, and then the flag comes automatically. I don't like having any flag -- it's an international sport, eh? (Maybe if I could have a CORNISH flag i wouldn't mind! They do have separatists in little Cornwall.)
|
|
|
Post by janie on Jul 15, 2005 19:35:58 GMT -5
Never mind!! I am happy with my new flag -- Vive Antarctica!
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Jul 15, 2005 19:42:16 GMT -5
Never mind!! I am happy with my new flag -- Vive Antarctica!
|
|
|
Post by janie on Jul 15, 2005 19:46:13 GMT -5
It's not widely known, but we're starting a new tennis training program in Antarctica -- I have such high hopes for the young penguins!
|
|
|
Post by janie on Jul 17, 2005 6:17:56 GMT -5
Argeri def shuleava is 6-4 6-7 6-0 Woz def Dabek!! 7-6 3-6 6-1 Cool final ... 2 cool finals in Challenger World today! Unbelievable!
|
|
|
Post by Brinyi on Jul 17, 2005 6:41:29 GMT -5
Argeri def shuleava is 6-4 6-7 6-0 Woz def Dabek!! 7-6 3-6 6-1 Cool final ... 2 cool finals in Challenger World today! Unbelievable! Thanks janie -- I suspect Dabek was a little fatigued after her quarterfinal marathon.
|
|
|
Post by janie on Jul 17, 2005 6:44:51 GMT -5
well then Tiffany is not cut out for the cutthroat world of Hidden World tennis. It all started going wrong when her parents' named her a bimbo name instead of an athletic name, like PAOLA or something.
|
|
|
Post by janie on Jul 17, 2005 16:59:54 GMT -5
Probable final: Dabek vs Dittman, golly gee ;D Oh you bitter cynic! How very wrong you were! HOMEGIRL WOZ WON!!! 62 61 Watch out tennis world, here comes Woz!
|
|