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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 2, 2011 9:07:12 GMT -5
Now for the only remaining hope left in the draw...CAKE!
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 2, 2011 9:07:59 GMT -5
OH NA NA, WHAT'S HER NAME
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 2, 2011 9:11:46 GMT -5
Who would have ever thought Li would make consecutive Slam finals, anyway? Really wonder how her career would have been had she not spent 2001-04 at university, during the years when most great players are stamping themselves on tour. And then having to take months at a time off for injuries pretty much every year until 2010.
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Post by janie on Jun 2, 2011 9:40:35 GMT -5
NA LI WON??! Wow!!!! Amazing! Now I can watch this afternoon's replay!
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Post by janie on Jun 2, 2011 9:45:02 GMT -5
So did TF explode after that match?
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 2, 2011 9:48:49 GMT -5
Database error. They considered it a shocking upset.
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Post by janie on Jun 2, 2011 9:49:13 GMT -5
So, ZERO breaks of serve yet in Franny-Cake? But this is supposed to be women's tennis! Maybe order will be restored in set 2.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 2, 2011 9:55:14 GMT -5
That is an astonishing win for Li. Now she has beaten Kvitova, Azarenka and Sharapova. She has effectively silenced the opposition. No more barking/screeching.
Could it be that the French Open champ could come from China?
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 2, 2011 9:59:12 GMT -5
What a way to break for Franny! Rolling inside out forehand that Bartoli could not chase. Marion had 40-15 that game.
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Post by Wagasi on Jun 2, 2011 10:23:11 GMT -5
Wilander is an awesome commentator
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 2, 2011 10:36:32 GMT -5
This is such a hideous match, much like the last one. Terrible conditions for the women today.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 2, 2011 10:39:21 GMT -5
I don't agree there. I think it's a fairly well-played match especially given the conditions. I've seen many worse French Open finals.
Something I thought odd is Schiavone's determination to play her backhand slice down the line. She made it once but missed it a few times. If there's any shot that's tough to play in the wind it's the slice down the line where your spin takes it out of the court.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 2, 2011 10:41:06 GMT -5
I'm enjoying this match. Some weird errors when they try to be too cute but there are loads of really creative, excellent points where the cuteness pays off. Gotta admire Cake for keeping it so close too.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 2, 2011 10:43:28 GMT -5
The match started off well given the considerations but now both girls are making errors. This isn't a slight on the women - the conditions are very difficult. But this second set especially, has been about errors - the winners are few and far between.
Bartoli's just all over the place.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 2, 2011 10:52:21 GMT -5
My dream final of Bartoli-Sharapova is just one round away! Which means it HAS to be a Schiavone-Li final which I'll be fine with so no complaints. I win. Li Na for the win, please.
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Post by janie on Jun 2, 2011 10:53:53 GMT -5
Awww, Fran! So happy to see her back in the final. What a great ending to the women's side of this tourney after all.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 2, 2011 10:54:24 GMT -5
FRAN FRAN FRAN OH NA NA Such a great final, both in terms of who I like and in terms of potential quality, given their contrasting games
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Post by janie on Jun 2, 2011 10:55:09 GMT -5
I don't agree there. I think it's a fairly well-played match especially given the conditions. I've seen many worse French Open finals. Yeah, I thought it was good.
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Post by Wagasi on Jun 2, 2011 11:01:19 GMT -5
My dream final of Bartoli-Sharapova is just one round away! Which means it HAS to be a Schiavone-Li final which I'll be fine with so no complaints. I win. Li Na for the win, please. Sorry for being contrary before, but this is my dream final
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Post by Wagasi on Jun 2, 2011 11:04:55 GMT -5
What's that song they play the Eurosport Fifa U19 advert? Anyone know?
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Post by janie on Jun 2, 2011 11:19:07 GMT -5
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Post by DBBN on Jun 2, 2011 11:20:58 GMT -5
Looks like some people have to go fluke themselves.
But, seriously, could anyone have expected this, even 4 weeks ago? Hell, even 10 days ago!
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 2, 2011 11:32:40 GMT -5
Schiavone does not surprise me one little bit. I knew she'd make a good fist of her defense and would not lose to anyone in the draw easily.
Li...I could have seen her having a credible run. QF, maybe. I definitely didn't expect the final! But it's not as WTF as Fran last year, or CAKE at Wim '07. She had a decent clay season and in retrospect, didn't peak too early.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 2, 2011 11:35:44 GMT -5
This is also the best possible "good for the game" outcome. People like to pretend that a Sharapova win would have been most needed by the Tour, because she's "established" (they mean "pretty", cuz no one makes these arguments about Sweta). But we have the unquestioned Beacon of the Tour over the past 12 months - the woman responsible for all the moments you'd show non-fans to win them over - and repeating a fairytale run is such an impressive thing to do, no matter what the circumstances. And Li, if she wins that's the Chinese - maybe entire Asian - market blown wide open.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 2, 2011 11:56:23 GMT -5
Remember last year when everyone was saluting Fran for taking advantage of "a chance that will never come again"?
We should probably keep some things in perspective, though. She hasn't beaten anyone terribly good yet. Jankovic at #10 was her highest-ranked victim and we all know that story. If you had told me she would beat Jankovic, Pav and Bartoli at say, Rome, I would have believed that. In fact, I think it would have been credible for her to do that two years ago too. But that's women's tennis right now - it's pretty random with so many good players at home. Schiavone is again taking advantage of the state of flux in women's tennis which is particularly acute in Paris.
I guess my point is that Li is better than anyone she has faced to date. Not merely higher ranked but better. You know Schiavone will do everything she can to defend but she may be defeated. I sense that she has the pressure this time in the final. Last year she did not. Also, unlike Pav and Bartoli, Li can run so it won't be as easy as blunting her power by moving her.
This will be fun.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 2, 2011 12:10:01 GMT -5
Li Na for the win, please. Sorry for being contrary before, but this is my dream final I'm glad atleast someone got a dream final. ;D This is also the best possible "good for the game" outcome. People like to pretend that a Sharapova win would have been most needed by the Tour, because she's "established" (they mean "pretty", cuz no one makes these arguments about Sweta). But we have the unquestioned Beacon of the Tour over the past 12 months - the woman responsible for all the moments you'd show non-fans to win them over - and repeating a fairytale run is such an impressive thing to do, no matter what the circumstances. And Li, if she wins that's the Chinese - maybe entire Asian - market blown wide open. Absolutely agreed. The Chinese market being as important as it is for SEWTA, a win for Li on Sunday would be huge. And much better for the game than Masha winning a Slam. Remember last year when everyone was saluting Fran for taking advantage of "a chance that will never come again"? We should probably keep some things in perspective, though. She hasn't beaten anyone terribly good yet. Jankovic at #10 was her highest-ranked victim and we all know that story. If you had told me she would beat Jankovic, Pav and Bartoli at say, Rome, I would have believed that. In fact, I think it would have been credible for her to do that two years ago too. But that's women's tennis right now - it's pretty random with so many good players at home. Schiavone is again taking advantage of the state of flux in women's tennis which is particularly acute in Paris. I guess my point is that Li is better than anyone she has faced to date. Not merely higher ranked but better. You know Schiavone will do everything she can to defend but she may be defeated. I sense that she has the pressure this time in the final. Last year she did not. Also, unlike Pav and Bartoli, Li can run so it won't be as easy as blunting her power by moving her. This will be fun. I was thinking who exactly are these good players? Everywhere I look I read about how "the good players" were missing. Well, who exactly? Serena and Venus are not factors at RG anymore and haven't been for years. Henin is retired so that's pointless. Kim and Woz lost early so they were there - just went out so clearly not THAT good. So who exactly are these good players - the good ones made it to the final. That last bit wasn't directed at you, but generally since at every Slam there's a chorus of "well, the good players aren't here". Anyhow, agreed with Fran's draw opening up but I don't think she'd have lost to anyone in her draw even if the seeds held up considering how form went and she changed once she arrived in Paris. And yes, Li won't let Fran have such an easy time. I'm hoping she can win China it's first Slam. Looking forward to a great final.
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Post by Old Hag on Jun 2, 2011 12:11:59 GMT -5
Looks like some people have to go fluke themselves. But, seriously, could anyone have expected this, even 4 weeks ago? Hell, even 10 days ago! I did, pretty much. I mean, I didn't think Lee Na would get past Ktitova, but otherwise, yeah.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 2, 2011 12:39:19 GMT -5
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Post by janie on Jun 2, 2011 12:49:22 GMT -5
I forgot what an awkward-looking player Maria is; I guess I don't watch her often. Or ever. ;D She's about as graceful and natural on the court as Roddick. Ugh, just heard my first COME ON!!! from her today. Not sure if I can stick out the whole match but I wanted to see what Li Na was doing out there. 2nd COME ON!!! in 2 minutes, ewww. I had actually forgotten that she does that!
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 3, 2011 8:03:42 GMT -5
Sorry for being contrary before, but this is my dream final I'm glad atleast someone got a dream final. ;D Absolutely agreed. The Chinese market being as important as it is for SEWTA, a win for Li on Sunday would be huge. And much better for the game than Masha winning a Slam. Remember last year when everyone was saluting Fran for taking advantage of "a chance that will never come again"? We should probably keep some things in perspective, though. She hasn't beaten anyone terribly good yet. Jankovic at #10 was her highest-ranked victim and we all know that story. If you had told me she would beat Jankovic, Pav and Bartoli at say, Rome, I would have believed that. In fact, I think it would have been credible for her to do that two years ago too. But that's women's tennis right now - it's pretty random with so many good players at home. Schiavone is again taking advantage of the state of flux in women's tennis which is particularly acute in Paris. I guess my point is that Li is better than anyone she has faced to date. Not merely higher ranked but better. You know Schiavone will do everything she can to defend but she may be defeated. I sense that she has the pressure this time in the final. Last year she did not. Also, unlike Pav and Bartoli, Li can run so it won't be as easy as blunting her power by moving her. This will be fun. I was thinking who exactly are these good players? Everywhere I look I read about how "the good players" were missing. Well, who exactly? Serena and Venus are not factors at RG anymore and haven't been for years. Henin is retired so that's pointless. Kim and Woz lost early so they were there - just went out so clearly not THAT good. So who exactly are these good players - the good ones made it to the final. That last bit wasn't directed at you, but generally since at every Slam there's a chorus of "well, the good players aren't here". Anyhow, agreed with Fran's draw opening up but I don't think she'd have lost to anyone in her draw even if the seeds held up considering how form went and she changed once she arrived in Paris. And yes, Li won't let Fran have such an easy time. I'm hoping she can win China it's first Slam. Looking forward to a great final. Well ... Venus has an excellent record against Fran, Serena came awfully close these last two years at the French, I think. If she'd beaten Kuznetsova/Stosur not much was in the way of her making the final at least. So I'd say she's still a factor. Fran didn't have to play Kim, Woz, Vera, Sam because they all lost before they could reach her. That's totally fair, I'm not arguing that. I just wonder what might have happened if they hadn't. If she goes out and runs circles around Li, I will be suitably impressed. I just mean to point out that although she's played very well her roughest opponent ranking-wise has been #10 Jankovic and the final will present a player of much greater capabilities.
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