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Day 14.
Jun 7, 2008 13:19:23 GMT -5
Post by corswandt on Jun 7, 2008 13:19:23 GMT -5
Disappointed that Dinara didn't win, but I don't think she has much to be ashamed of: the key really was Ana's defense. For someone who gets tagged as slow so much, she sure gets a lot of balls back. I was one of those who started the talk about BAG's awesome defense, but I noticed today that she ends up losing the overwhelming majority of those points in which she is seen scrambling from side to side. She only looks like a good mover in matches against puffballers such as Jankovic. The key was BAG's edge in raw baseline firepower, and the shakiness of Safina's serve. Also, the topspin on Safina's shots often made them bounce up right into BAG's hitting zone, and when that happens even her BH looks good; it's the low bouncing, flat shots that harm her. Overall I thought the match was OK too. From a casual fan today: "Man, what a SHIT final". Much the same stuff I heard after the AO final. Most of the casual fans don't seem to understand that the women's game has evolved. They don't like this extreme game, all big serves and even bigger ROS, and feel that if nearly all points are over in 3-4 shots then they must be playing awful.
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Day 14.
Jun 7, 2008 13:34:34 GMT -5
Post by corswandt on Jun 7, 2008 13:34:34 GMT -5
I think Ivanovic has enough game and a good enough serve that she can win more grand slam singles titles than Maria Sharapova. Bloody hell, let's hope not. Enough is enough, and this RG was enough punishment for 10 full seasons. Must be a good sport, love the game regardless of who's winning, yadda yadda yadda, but enough.
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Day 14.
Jun 7, 2008 20:09:23 GMT -5
Post by lexpretend on Jun 7, 2008 20:09:23 GMT -5
Disappointed that Dinara didn't win, but I don't think she has much to be ashamed of: the key really was Ana's defense. For someone who gets tagged as slow so much, she sure gets a lot of balls back. I was one of those who started the talk about BAG's awesome defense, but I noticed today that she ends up losing the overwhelming majority of those points in which she is seen scrambling from side to side. She only looks like a good mover in matches against puffballers such as Jankovic. The key was BAG's edge in raw baseline firepower, and the shakiness of Safina's serve. She defended well enough to instil sufficient doubts in Safina's mind. Safina was playing excellently for the most part, she wasn't being an error machine; her errors were almost all down to trying too hard to hit through Ivanovic's defense. As to firepower, I didn't think Safina was all that much behind Ivanovic, though Ivanovic's eagerness to end points quicker paid dividends for her.
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Day 14.
Jun 7, 2008 21:57:25 GMT -5
Post by sasha on Jun 7, 2008 21:57:25 GMT -5
The AO final was an awful match from Ana's end.
I don't think evolution is the right word.
Racket technology, and more so, string technology is allowing aggression with nearly every shot and the defensive/counterpunching style is dying. Along with net play.
Not just in the women's game, but everywhere, even with the geezers. Guys like Sampras and Courier hit their backhand far better than they ever did.
It's amplified in the women's game with the big, lumbering girls being able to blast away while not looking athletic. And obviously lacking incredible talents like the Big 3 in the men's game.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 8, 2008 3:50:46 GMT -5
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 8, 2008 3:53:51 GMT -5
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Day 14.
Jun 8, 2008 13:26:58 GMT -5
Post by sasha on Jun 8, 2008 13:26:58 GMT -5
Racket is also acceptable.
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Day 14.
Jun 8, 2008 14:18:40 GMT -5
Post by Traveling Man on Jun 8, 2008 14:18:40 GMT -5
Racket is also acceptable. Yes, but since we're approaching Wimbledon, it would be more appropriate to be more formal. After all, Mary Pierce did not refer to it as "snobbery" for nothing.
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Day 14.
Jun 8, 2008 14:37:50 GMT -5
Post by sasha on Jun 8, 2008 14:37:50 GMT -5
True.
And it's The Championships, Wimbledon.
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Day 14.
Jun 8, 2008 20:51:40 GMT -5
Post by Calico on Jun 8, 2008 20:51:40 GMT -5
I think Ivanovic has enough game and a good enough serve that she can win more grand slam singles titles than Maria Sharapova. Bloody hell, let's hope not. Enough is enough, and this RG was enough punishment for 10 full seasons. Must be a good sport, love the game regardless of who's winning, yadda yadda yadda, but enough.The way Ana Ivanovic has improved in the last year the sky is the limit fot her. She's gotten in better shape, moves better and has improved in all aspects of her game. And 20 year old female tennis players like Ana who are over 6 feet tall generally play their best tennis in their early to mid 20's. So get ready for Ivanovic to be a major factor in women's tennis the next few years. And unlike my favorite tennis player Maria Sharapova Ivanovic isn't injury prone and her serve doesn't crumble in big spots like Maria's has in the last year and a half. Besides the William sisters Maria now has to deal with Ivanovic and will have her hands full with her now that Ana has broken through and won a grand slam singles title and achieved the #1 ranking. Ivanovic has had a great last year and there's no telling how good she and her results will get. Ana's matches with Sharapova should be very interesting because Ivanovic can challenge Maria on and off the court.
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Day 14.
Jun 8, 2008 21:18:11 GMT -5
Post by sasha on Jun 8, 2008 21:18:11 GMT -5
Wall of text.
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Day 14.
Jun 8, 2008 21:26:12 GMT -5
Post by Calico on Jun 8, 2008 21:26:12 GMT -5
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Day 14.
Jun 9, 2008 10:15:00 GMT -5
Post by Traveling Man on Jun 9, 2008 10:15:00 GMT -5
True. And it's The Championships, Wimbledon. Oh my word. How could I have possibly not referred to them as "The Championships". Somewhere, John Garrett is tossing and turning.
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Day 14.
Jun 9, 2008 11:16:28 GMT -5
Post by corswandt on Jun 9, 2008 11:16:28 GMT -5
True. And it's The Championships, Wimbledon. Oh my word. How could I have possibly not referred to them as "The Championships". Somewhere, John Garrett is tossing and turning. I call it "the English Open", in retaliation for no Anglo stooping to say "Roland Garros".
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Day 14.
Jun 9, 2008 12:40:35 GMT -5
Post by Edna Krabappel on Jun 9, 2008 12:40:35 GMT -5
A friend of mine once asked me if it's called Wimbledon or Bimbledon. Seriously.
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Day 14.
Jun 10, 2008 8:06:42 GMT -5
Post by Traveling Man on Jun 10, 2008 8:06:42 GMT -5
Oh my word. How could I have possibly not referred to them as "The Championships". Somewhere, John Garrett is tossing and turning. I call it "the English Open", in retaliation for no Anglo stooping to say "Roland Garros". I like that. I might use it.
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Day 14.
Jun 10, 2008 8:23:33 GMT -5
Post by janie on Jun 10, 2008 8:23:33 GMT -5
And it's The Championships, Wimbledon. Oh my word. How could I have possibly not referred to them as "The Championships". Somewhere, John Garrett is tossing and turning. I think you mean John Barrett. Now you've REALLY got him fuming!
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Day 14.
Jun 10, 2008 8:25:42 GMT -5
Post by janie on Jun 10, 2008 8:25:42 GMT -5
A friend of mine once asked me if it's called Wimbledon or Bimbledon. Seriously. Ha! Here we get a lot of "Wimble ton". I love the "English Open" idea! I'm going to change the players list. That'll larn 'em!
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Day 14.
Jun 10, 2008 8:26:50 GMT -5
Post by janie on Jun 10, 2008 8:26:50 GMT -5
Oops! Already done by somebody else, and even better. ;D
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Day 14.
Jun 10, 2008 8:53:13 GMT -5
Post by Brinyi on Jun 10, 2008 8:53:13 GMT -5
Oops! Already done by somebody else, and even better. ;D
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Day 14.
Jun 10, 2008 12:12:53 GMT -5
Post by sasha on Jun 10, 2008 12:12:53 GMT -5
I will continue calling it "The Championships". Similar to golf's version they call "The Open Championship".
Snobby Brits.
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Day 14.
Jun 10, 2008 13:08:56 GMT -5
Post by Denise49IQ on Jun 10, 2008 13:08:56 GMT -5
A friend of mine once asked me if it's called Wimbledon or Bimbledon. Seriously. Ha! Here we get a lot of "Wimble ton". I love the "English Open" idea! I'm going to change the players list. That'll larn 'em! OMG WIMBLETON IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST! My Mum called it Wimbleton for like 4 years before I totally blew up one day. Ugh @ 'English' open.
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Day 14.
Jun 11, 2008 11:57:18 GMT -5
Post by Traveling Man on Jun 11, 2008 11:57:18 GMT -5
Oh my word. How could I have possibly not referred to them as "The Championships". Somewhere, John Garrett is tossing and turning. I think you mean John Barrett. Now you've REALLY got him fuming! Oh my goodness gracious me! I worship the ground John Barrett walks on. How could I spell his surname incorrectly? "Oh my word! So dangerous this young lady, when driven wide. Graf was nearly in the doubles alley when she struck that last forehand." - 1992 Wimbledon final.
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Day 14.
Jun 11, 2008 21:34:04 GMT -5
Post by Wagasi on Jun 11, 2008 21:34:04 GMT -5
My dad still calls it Wimblendon sometimes. It has a nice ring to it.
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