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Post by DBBN on Jun 8, 2012 9:03:06 GMT -5
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 8, 2012 9:42:25 GMT -5
Also, I had never heard of UNI QLO before my trip to Malaysia last month. And now I see Nole is wearing clothes by them this tournament - when did all of this happen?
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Jun 8, 2012 9:54:20 GMT -5
UNI QLO? A bit of an unfortunate name. In Spanish, culo = ass.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 8, 2012 10:07:22 GMT -5
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Post by Lady on Jun 8, 2012 10:08:20 GMT -5
Also, I had never heard of UNI QLO before my trip to Malaysia last month. And now I see Nole is wearing clothes by them this tournament - when did all of this happen? During Rome, I think. There was a huuge hoopla that he ditched Sergio Taccini for this 50 m contract from Chinese company. I see now, that it's Japanese company (that we'll teach me trusting twitter for info)
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 8, 2012 10:08:28 GMT -5
Ha! I heard on the radio that Ikea just opened a superstore in Thailand, and the Swedish brand name used for a popular chair means something very foul in Thai.
Actually it's Uniqlo, but the problem is that the company's logo splits up the name and puts three letters on each line.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 8, 2012 10:08:30 GMT -5
From Jon Wertheim's Mailbag:
Funny, but with all the inconsistency and surprises, we have seeds 1, 2, 3, 6 in men's semis and seeds 2, 4, 6 and 21 in women's. At least visually doesn't look that different! I think the argument is always used to put women down: when Graf/Seles/Martinez-Sanchez would routinely fill the semifinal spots at every major, it was considered boring, whereas the men "had depth." The situation has reversed and what do we hear? Men's game is in "golden age," women are in chaos. Double standard anyone? -- Aleksei, Brussels I'm with you to a point. When Steffi Graf is running roughshod or when Graf and Seles are clearly the alpha and beta or when the Williams sisters are ruling roost, women's tennis -- at least in the eyes of some -- is "boring" and "predictable" and wanting for competition. Meanwhile men's tennis has exciting depth and parity. When Federer/Nadal/Djokovic are a loooong elevator ride up from the rest of the field, the men's game is riveting and we're in a golden effort. Meanwhile the wide-open women's field is "chaotic" and "predictably unpredictable" and "filled with chokers." I understand the frustration of some WTA fans and I think to some extent there IS a double standard.
Yet I think, ultimately, that's too simplistic. If we do a deeper dig -- and if we trust our eyes -- I think the current characterizations become more accurate. Watch the Big Three play it's clear that it's not as though the rest of the field is weak; rather, The Troika is exceptional. It wasn't as though Jo-Wilfried Tsonga choked the other day. Djokovic simply elevated his game, as champions do.
Compare that to the first semifinal today. Sam Stosur, the higher seed and defending U.S. Open champ, played a horrific third set against Sara Errani, a completely vacant mental performance. Tournament after tournament, we see the same scenario: the higher-ranked struggle in the big moments. When you see seeds disappear, committing scads of unforced errors, when you see players winning a Slam and then losing in round one, it's clearly less a function of depth than of shaky nerves.
Me? I rather enjoy these WTA battles, even if the tennis isn't always pretty, even if accomplished players lack self-belief and implode before our eyes. But you're not a de facto hypocrite or sexist if you prefer the men's game right now.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 8, 2012 10:11:18 GMT -5
Uniqlo is great - as someone short, it's often hard to find clothes that fit well, but you can always count on a Japanese shop to provide.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 8, 2012 10:14:36 GMT -5
When I shopped from Uniqlo, I had to buy a size larger than what I normally wear because my regular size was too fitted. But yes, the clothes are a good fit - and I love this pair of shorts I bought from there.
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Post by The Chloe on Jun 8, 2012 10:17:56 GMT -5
Uniqlo is wonderful. When I lived in Korea, it was one of the few places that had shirts big enough for my chest. I don't even have a big chest, so this would have been a very irritating search were it not for Uniqlo. It's also big in Japan, since that's where it's from, and they've got a few in Moscow. It's good for buying basics; sort of like Gap, but way cheaper and not trying quite so hard.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 8, 2012 10:18:32 GMT -5
Something that always elicits déjà vu in this match-up: neutral BH-to-BH rallies, Nole switches it up with his FH but Fed can anticipate and move so quickly and take the FH so early that Nole's aggression just comes back even faster and more angled.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 8, 2012 10:20:51 GMT -5
oof @ that Fed FH.
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Post by GoDom on Jun 8, 2012 10:30:35 GMT -5
The Italians just won the 2nd set. Roberta Vinci really plays the craziest reflex volleys. Brilliant.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 8, 2012 10:36:52 GMT -5
6-4 it is then.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 8, 2012 10:39:28 GMT -5
That set looked totally even and then suddenly a few Federror points later and it was Nole's.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 8, 2012 10:42:09 GMT -5
Well that was an incredible rally.
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Post by Lady on Jun 8, 2012 10:42:26 GMT -5
WOW @ that point!
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 8, 2012 10:44:06 GMT -5
This is a nice match. I think Roj is missing out on some good chances to sneak into the net.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 8, 2012 10:44:53 GMT -5
What a fun opening game to the second set!
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 8, 2012 10:45:26 GMT -5
The ES commentators just mentioned how Nole has never lost to Federer after winning the opening set.
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Post by Lady on Jun 8, 2012 10:46:43 GMT -5
It's a third C'mon from roger in the last 2 games
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 8, 2012 10:50:10 GMT -5
Two fantastic points from Roger, but what was with that lob..err, I mean dropshot?
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Post by Lady on Jun 8, 2012 10:51:43 GMT -5
Another loud C'mon from Roger and he gets a double break.
Novak lost last 2 games on his serve after being 40-15 and 30-0 up.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 8, 2012 10:52:00 GMT -5
It's shaping up to be a Djokovic win, 6-1 in the fifth. NBC said there were 10 people watching the women's doubles - not sure if that included Go Dom or not.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 8, 2012 11:05:25 GMT -5
I don't feel like Roger has this set yet. He is about to let Djokovic off the hook here at 4-2.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 8, 2012 11:06:41 GMT -5
Well, Novak just gifted two points like you very rarely see him do. If fed makes a return error here I will die.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 8, 2012 11:07:39 GMT -5
Nah, instead silly backhand error. Unnecessary. I feel like if Roger could learn to be more patient he'd have more success.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 8, 2012 11:09:19 GMT -5
So he holds. Now this set is up for play. 5-2 down ... probably not. 4-3? Definitely.
You see things from Roger which are very silly sometimes. Go back to the 3-0 game. He got down 0-40 and clearly went for a forehand drive out of nowhere just to get the game over with. He missed by five feet. Rafa would never do that.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 8, 2012 11:10:31 GMT -5
The BH DTL was not the right choice of shot by Roger when he had the bp. Nole is still clinging along...this set isn't over. Errani/Vinci win the women's doubles title!
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 8, 2012 11:13:59 GMT -5
Ugly forehand misses close the game. This is a really bad performance from Fed. He really has no confidence left against Novak. USO 2011 killed it.
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