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Post by fatboy aphex on Dec 11, 2004 0:30:34 GMT -5
"Farm team" is a term used in baseball here. It's like the little club teams that feed into the pros. Well Soderling and Johansson are "established", but then there are players like Ryderstadt who had a breakthrough performance. How big could a single class of Swedish tennis players be? I wasn't sure you could translate it directly like that. I guess Swedish has ripped the term from English as usual these days. I want ten clay-court specialist Swedes in the top 100. Then I'll be content.
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Dec 11, 2004 0:43:40 GMT -5
I wasn't sure you could translate it directly like that. I guess Swedish has ripped the term from English as usual these days. I want ten clay-court specialist Swedes in the top 100. Then I'll be content. Hmm, like den gamledager i 80-tallet. Hva drivs Henke Sundström med?
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Dec 11, 2004 0:46:52 GMT -5
Det e kjempebra å "Mr Discipline" kommer til Melbourne igjen. Eigentli, e han den beste årsaken å titte ein kamp med Enqvist.
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 11, 2004 6:45:16 GMT -5
Team Saab!
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Post by fatboy aphex on Dec 12, 2004 1:00:13 GMT -5
Henrik Sundström är fastighetsmäklare i Monte-Carlo.
Det är synd att Larsson blir tränare för mig. Han var den bäste tennis-kommentatorn på svensk TV.
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Dec 12, 2004 1:09:25 GMT -5
Henrik Sundström är fastighetsmäklare i Monte-Carlo. Det är synd att Larsson blir tränare för mig. Han var den bäste tennis-kommentatorn på svensk TV. Tusen takk for opplysninga om Sundström, så selger han hus og leilighter til alle rike folk i Monaco. ;D Javisst, stinker det dritt å Magne blir trenere for Enqvist, men samtidigt tru eg Enqvist bare har to år på tenniscirkus og han kan komme tilbake jobben som den beste svenske-kommentator.
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Post by fatboy aphex on Dec 12, 2004 1:34:14 GMT -5
Japp, Sundström är t.o.m gift med en monegaska. Hoppas Larsson kommer tillbaka tidigare, två år med Kulti kommer att göra mig galen.
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Post by Patrik Sjöberg on Dec 12, 2004 1:48:17 GMT -5
Japp, Sundström är t.o.m gift med en monegaska. Hoppas Larsson kommer tillbaka tidigare, två år med Kulti kommer att göra mig galen. Ja, eg forstår to år med Kulti e utålelig. Henke var fra Lund for flyttje han til Monaco? Trudde eg det finnes inga innfødt monegaskar damer.
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Post by fatboy aphex on Dec 13, 2004 0:50:24 GMT -5
Ja, eg forstår to år med Kulti e utålelig. Henke var fra Lund for flyttje han til Monaco? Trudde eg det finnes inga innfødt monegaskar damer. Tydligen fanns det i varje fall en.
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 5, 2005 10:26:46 GMT -5
Jonas lost to Gimelstob, ew ew ew
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 5, 2005 11:14:42 GMT -5
Tompa vs Pim-Pim in the Adelaide quarterfinals. Kom an TOMPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 5, 2005 13:29:43 GMT -5
I see that Enqvist's new coach is... Magnus Larsson.
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Post by Lee on Jan 12, 2005 12:44:15 GMT -5
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Post by TennisHack on Jan 12, 2005 14:29:20 GMT -5
Mmm, Thomas is looking nice ;D Unfortunately, long hair seems to be back in vogue with the Swedes.
Thanks for the pics!
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Post by Francine on Jan 12, 2005 17:05:34 GMT -5
I like the long hair on Thomas
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 13, 2005 9:35:24 GMT -5
I like the long hair on Thomas I don't -- his trademark ears are less prominent!
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Post by Francine on Jan 13, 2005 10:14:32 GMT -5
I don't -- his trademark ears are less prominent! Ah, but you and I know they're still there; knowledge which distinguishes the true fans.
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 13, 2005 10:28:19 GMT -5
Ah, but you and I know they're still there; knowledge which distinguishes the true fans. Good point -- it'll be our little secret!
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Post by Francine on Jan 17, 2005 12:59:18 GMT -5
Yay Thomas! Although you made things quite complicated for yourself. Good luck against Calleri, now there's match I would like to see ;D
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Post by TennisHack on Jan 17, 2005 14:02:33 GMT -5
AO piccies! ;D Sweden's Joachim Johansson, 11th seed, plays a backhand return to Dutch Sjeng Schalken during their first round match at the season-opening grand slam Australian Open tennis championships at a court in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia Monday, Jan.17, 2005. Johannson won the match, 7-6, 6-2, 6-3. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) Swedish Joachim Johansson, reacts during his first round match against Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands during their first round match at the season-opening grand slam Australian Open tennis championships at a court in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia Monday, Jan.17, 2005. Johannsson won the match, 7-6, 6-2, 6-3. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) Swedish fans, with their faces painted in Sweden's colors, cheer their countryman Joachim Johansson, playing Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands during their first round match at the season-opening grand slam Australian Open tennis championships at a court in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia Monday, Jan.17, 2005. Johannsson won the match, 7-6, 6-2, 6-3. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
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Post by TennisHack on Jan 17, 2005 14:10:33 GMT -5
Swedish fans, with their painted faces in blue and yellow, cheer their countryman Thomas Johansson playing Australia's Peter Luczak during their first round match at the season-opening grand slam Australian Open tennis championships at a court in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia Monday, Jan.17, 2005. Johannson won the match, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0. (AP Photo/Tony Feder)
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Post by TennisHack on Jan 17, 2005 14:15:01 GMT -5
Sweden's Thomas Johansson plays a backhand return to Australia's Peter Luczak during their first round match at the season-opening grand slam Australian Open tennis championships at a court in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia Monday, Jan.17, 2005. Johannson won the match, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0. (AP Photo/Tony Feder) Sweden's Thomas Johansson bites the ball in frustration during his first round match against Australia's Peter Luczak at the season-opening grand slam Australian Open tennis championships at a court in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia Monday, Jan.17, 2005. Johannson won the match, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0. (AP Photo/Tony Feder) Thomas Johannsson of Sweden in action against Peter Luczak of Australia during day one of the Australian Open Grand Slam at Melbourne Park January 17, 2005 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Sean Garnsworthy/Getty Images)
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Post by TennisHack on Jan 17, 2005 14:23:23 GMT -5
Thomas Johansson of Sweden clenches his fist to celebrate winning an important point against Peter Luczak of Australia in their men's singles first round match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 17 January 2005. Johansson won 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0. AFP PHOTO/TORSTEN BLACKWOOD Thomas Johansson of Sweden signs autographs following his five-set victory over Peter Luczak of Australia in their men's singles first round match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 17 January 2005. Johansson won 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0. AFP PHOTO/TORSTEN BLACKWOOD
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Post by TennisHack on Jan 18, 2005 1:45:02 GMT -5
Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman returns a shot to British Greg Rusedski during his 2-6, 6-4, 6-0, 7-5 loss in his first round match at the Australian Open at a court in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia Tuesday, Jan.18, 2005. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman makes a forehand return during his first round match against Britain's Greg Rusedski at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
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Post by TennisHack on Jan 19, 2005 14:29:51 GMT -5
Thomas Johansson of Sweden hits a return against Agustin Calleri of Argentina in their men's singles second round match at the 2005 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 19 January 2005. Johansson won in five-sets 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. AFP PHOTO/TORSTEN BLACKWOOD Thomas Johansson of Sweden celebrates his five-set victory over Agustin Calleri of Argentina in their men's singles second round match at the 2005 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 19 January 2005. Johansson won 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. AFP PHOTO/TORSTEN BLACKWOOD Swedish fans cheer on Thomas Johansson of Sweden as he plays against Agustin Calleri of Argentina in their men's singles second round match at the 2005 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 19 January 2005. Johansson won in five-sets 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. AFP PHOTO/TORSTEN BLACKWOOD
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Post by TennisHack on Jan 21, 2005 13:19:09 GMT -5
Johansson Survives To Set Up Fourth Round Oz Open Match With AgassiBy Richard Pagliaro 01/21/2005 www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=12304&bannerregion=Joachim Johansson may hope his muscle memory suffers from amnesia when he steps on court to face Andre Agassi, a man who dispenses punishment as easily as a Pez dispenser delivers candy, when the pair play for the first time in the fourth round of the Australian Open. Seeking to reduce the stress on the strained hamstring he suffered in Sydney last week, Johansson rolled through the opening two rounds of the Australian Open without surrendering a set. On Friday, the 11th-seeded Swede survived a strenuous marathon match that tested his legs, serving shoulder and nerve. In the end, Johansson won one more point than Feliciano Lopez in gutting out a grueling 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 7-6, 13-11 victory in a match that lasted nearly four hours and ended at about 11 p.m. Melbourne time. The pair produced a total of 72 aces (Johansson hit 38 aces and Lopez lashed 34 aces) and 13 double faults. Johansson, who hit 99 winners compared to 76 for Lopez, won exactly one more point than his opponent (200 to 199) to advance to his third straight round of 16 in a major following his semifinal appearance at last September's U.S. Open. A match that featured wall-rattling serving turned on a double fault from Lopez, who saved four break points in the game, that gave Johansson a service break and a 12-11 lead in the decisive set that spanned 84 minutes. The 22-year-old Swede served out the match to secure his spot in the fourth round. Johansson, who upset Andy Roddick in a five-set quarterfinal conquest at the 2004 U.S. Open, plays with the fearlessness of youth empowered by one of the most devastating serves in the sport. In three tournament victories, he has dropped serve just three times. The man who grew up in Sodertalje, the same Swedish town where 11-time Grand Slam champion Bjorn Borg was raised, is fulfilling the prodigious potential he showed in soaring 101 ranking sports in one year — finishing the 2004 season ranked No. 12 after concluding 2003 ranked No. 113. A fan favorite in Melbourne — due to the fact he dates Jaslyn Hewitt, Lleyton Hewitt's sister and possess an explosive game — Johansson is widely regarded as the best Swedish threat to win a major since Thomas Johansson surprised Marat Safin to win the 2002 Australian Open. Swedish Davis Cup captain Mats Wilander has watched Johansson development and believes he is a capable Grand Slam contender, but must continue to mature as a match player first. "I don't think he's a candidate yet to win a Grand Slam, but he's a candidate to beat a Federer or a Hewitt, and he beat Roddick in the U.S. Open," Wilander told The Australian yesterday. "We are putting a bit of pressure on him but at the same time, he's responded to that in the last 12 months by coming out and totally changing his game. He's gone to 11 in the world in 12 months, so I suppose we're a little surprised he's there already. Now it remains to see what happens from here. He's been playing Davis Cup, and he's a great kid, so I think he can handle it." The question confronting Johansson is how will his body hold up after against Agassi after his demanding duel with Lopez. Agassi has the ability to turn baseline rallies into suicide drills for opponents whose legs and lungs are sapped by running repetitive sprints in pursuit of Agassi's deep drives. Court coverage is Johansson's weakness and the 34-year-old Agassi will undoubtedly make him move. Before the four-time Australian Open champion can get to Johansson's legs, he must first put his returns back in play against the six-foot-six Swede who has swatted 76 aces in three matches. Agassi enters this match knowing Johansson will play hard ball and focusing on a serve approaching him so fast it will look about as big as a BB at times. "I never like playing big servers. I like playing people that hit the ball very soft all the time," Agassi said. "I don't care if they're serving or playing a forehand or backhand, the softer the better as far as I'm concerned. You know, he's a guy, he throws the ball up, there's a few guys out there that, when they go for their shot, there's nothing you can do about it. You just hope that you can make them do it over and over again and do it in pressure situations and take your chances when you do get them." In addition to his experience, the biggest advantage Agassi carries into this match is his backhand. Johansson is most vulnerable on his one-handed backhand and Agassi owns the best two-handed backhand in the business. Look for Agassi to not only persistently pound away at Johansson's one-hander, but to also play his crosscourt forehand wide to stretch out the Swede before coming back with the sharp angled backhand crosscourt that will force Johansson to hit his backhand on the run. That shot sequence should enable Agassi to exploit two of Johansson's weaknesses — his backhand and his mobility and based on the fact the bigger man may be feeling fatigue from the four hours on court against Lopez, Agassi will be in no hurry to conclude the baseline rallies. Tennis can be a very cruel and sometimes arguably unfair sport. Publicly, Agassi says he will assess Johansson's strengths and weaknesses as the match progresses. Privately, he knows if he can get Johansson's big serve back — not a given — and avoid hitting short balls to his forehand, he should enjoy an edge from the backcourt. "He has one of the biggest serves and biggest forehands in the game. I mean, there's no question about that," Agassi said. "I don't have a good sense for his movement. I don't have a good sense for his backhand. I don't have a good sense for his volleys. I don't have a good sense if he likes the ball up high or he likes the ball low. I have to sort of assess from what I see and then be able to make adjustments. Hopefully I can give him a few things to worry about, too, and we can call it even." From Johansson's perspective, he will need to come up with another strong serving day. Hitting 38 aces and 99 winners he still barely squeaked by the 24th-seeded Lopez in a match with a combined 121 net approaches. Rallies should be longer in the fourth-round showdown, and Johansson's best chance against the ultra-consistent Agassi is to take his best shot on the first semi-short ball he gets. The Las Vegas native was once the ultimate baseline gambler who swung for the lines, but Agasi rarely beats himself these days and will carry the confidence that comes with a 47-4 career record in Australia onto the court. "I think Andre's best, top level was probably higher five or six years ago, but he doesn't really hit his lowest level too often now," Wilander told Tennis Week. "What Agassi does so well is he consistently plays closer to a higher level now, with fewer up and down days. He's worked to stay at that level and that gives him the chance to beat the best player in the world on any given day." Since the draw was released, a potential Agassi-Federer quarterfinal has been the most-highly anticipated match on the men's side. The top-seeded Swiss' fourth-round opponent, Marcos Baghdatis, and Agassi were the only men to take a set off Federer in his march to the U.S. Open title and now Federer and Agassi are one win away from renewing their rivalry again.
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Post by TennisHack on Jan 23, 2005 16:20:45 GMT -5
Thomas Johansson, of Sweden, 30th seed, makes a forehand to Dominik Hrbaty, of Slovakia, 20th seed, during their fourth round match at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005. Hrbaty won the match, 7-5, 6-3, 6-1. (AP Photo/Tony Feder) Thomas Johansson, of Sweden, 30th seed, makes a backhand to Dominik Hrbaty, of Slovakia, 20th seed, during their fourth round match at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005. Hrbaty won the match, 7-5, 6-3, 6-1. (AP Photo/Tony Feder) Thomas Johansson, of Sweden, 30th seed, leaves the court after his fourth round loss to Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, 20th seed, at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005. Hrbaty won the match, 7-5, 6-3, 6-1. (AP Photo/Tony Feder)
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Post by TennisHack on Feb 6, 2005 16:07:34 GMT -5
Sweden's Robin Soderling returns the ball to Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic during the Internazionali di Lombardia ATP Indoor tournament final , in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb 6, 2005. Soderling won 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5). (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Sweden's Robin Soderling holds the trophy after winning the Internazionali di Lombardia ATP Indoor tennis tournament final against Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005. Soderling won 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5). (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
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Post by Kiro on Feb 6, 2005 22:55:10 GMT -5
Robin Robin Robin! But...his haircut...
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Post by TennisHack on Feb 6, 2005 23:02:26 GMT -5
Agreed, Kiro. If ever there was a Swede who looked better with long hair...
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