US Open 2004

Jon Abbey · August-30th-2004, 08:22 PM

where are you, Tanager?

this started today, lost somewhat in the wake of the Olympics. good match up next, Agassi/Ginepri, after Serena finishes crushing this girl. I'm maybe thinking about going to one of the day sessions, Thursday or Friday, we'll see.

Steve Reynolds · August-30th-2004, 08:23 PM

say HI to Serena for me, Jon - tell her she's my hero

Jon Abbey · August-30th-2004, 08:25 PM

she's on TV now, on USA. she warmed up in specially made boots, no joke.

moneyp · August-30th-2004, 08:35 PM

Justine the Machine, baby!

Steve Reynolds · August-30th-2004, 08:36 PM

thanks - I like the denim skirt

actually tennis is pretty boring to me - I can only watch it for a little bit before nodding off - reminds me a bit of volleyball - I watched some of the olympics - OK - but not my fave

and I hate men's volleyball or men's tennis

then again, I hate women's golf or women's basketball - especially women's basketball

I think I have some issues

steve(thelil) · August-30th-2004, 09:07 PM

The Open is a wonderful event to see live. For the first several days, the cheap tix are every bit as good as the expensive ones, because the seats are only reserved in the main stadium (where you would expect early round mismatches with big name players) and I'd want to see the other courts' matches more anyway. And a couple of years ago, they'expanded the seating at many of the peripheral courts.

So now you can go from court to court and work your way up to the front pretty easily. Up close it is amazing how the players work so hard, so long, with such power, speed and precision. It's ideal for getting close up to players who a week later are "surprises" to those who haven't seen them. And when you need a break, you can hang in the immense outdoor courtyard, where you can watch the matches on the enourmous video screen and a few other screens. And the people watching is excellent. I'm gonna go three straight days this year. I usually go 2.

Jon Abbey · August-30th-2004, 09:26 PM

yeah, when I go, I only go the first week, and I almost never go into the big three stadiums. I saw Federer play twice on outside courts before he became Mr. Superstar.

MRS · August-30th-2004, 11:39 PM

Jon Abbey · August-31st-2004, 08:40 PM

I bet Tanager is at the Open. some good nighttime tennis so far, but a note to USA's producer: when Sharapova is playing in prime time, SHOW HER MATCH. thank you.

Roddick against the current American junior champion on later also...

Gordon B · August-31st-2004, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve(thelil)

The Open is a wonderful event to see live. For the first several days, the cheap tix are every bit as good as the expensive ones, because the seats are only reserved in the main stadium (where you would expect early round mismatches with big name players) and I'd want to see the other courts' matches more anyway. And a couple of years ago, they'expanded the seating at many of the peripheral courts.

So now you can go from court to court and work your way up to the front pretty easily. Up close it is amazing how the players work so hard, so long, with such power, speed and precision. It's ideal for getting close up to players who a week later are "surprises" to those who haven't seen them. And when you need a break, you can hang in the immense outdoor courtyard, where you can watch the matches on the enourmous video screen and a few other screens. And the people watching is excellent. I'm gonna go three straight days this year. I usually go 2.

I used to go a couple of times during the first week when I lived in NY. It's fun to go from court to court. The stadium would typically have Steffi Graf beating somebody 6-1,6-0 back then. Who needs to watch that? One time my wife and I waited about 15 minutes to get in the grandstand to see a great match. I don't remember who it was but some guy who didnt' want to leave and lose his seat pissed into a bottle. A woman started screaming at him, getting everybody's attention. They guy got ejected, of course.

I remember seeing Jimmy Connors beat Pat McEnroe at night at the end of his career. He had a great run that year. Did he make semis? Does anybody remember what year that was?

Brian Olewnick · September-1st-2004, 08:56 AM

I was cursing the cameraman last night during the Sahapova match for consistently aiming his lens several inches too high.....

steve(thelil) · September-1st-2004, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon B

I used to go a couple of times during the first week when I lived in NY. It's fun to go from court to court. The stadium would typically have Steffi Graf beating somebody 6-1,6-0 back then. Who needs to watch that? One time my wife and I waited about 15 minutes to get in the grandstand to see a great match. I don't remember who it was but some guy who didnt' want to leave and lose his seat pissed into a bottle. A woman started screaming at him, getting everybody's attention. They guy got ejected, of course.

I remember seeing Jimmy Connors beat Pat McEnroe at night at the end of his career. He had a great run that year. Did he make semis? Does anybody remember what year that was?

Wasn't Connors's last great run the year that Agassi and Sampras and Chang made their FIRST great runs and Sampras won it all as a 19 year old, playing incredible tennis ? ( Pete's tournament that year was the second best tennis I've ever seen - the year Safin won it, beating Pete in the finals, Marat played some matches that were the best and most flawless tennis ever, IMHO). BTW, I almost caused him to have a meltdown at an early round match that year when I booed him for slamming his racket. He booed me back. It was great ?

If I'm not confusing my years, I think Andre knocked out Jimbo, maybe in the semis, maybe in the quarters, the year of Sampras' first title. But maybe Connors' LAST great run was a later year.

Uli · September-1st-2004, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve(thelil)

Wasn't Connors's last great run the year that Agassi and Sampras and Chang made their FIRST great runs and Sampras won it all as a 19 year old, playing incredible tennis ? .

For some reason or not I would believe that Chang's first great run was a year or two later.

gnhrtg · September-1st-2004, 10:56 AM

Well now, looks like no coverage of this around here.

Ron Thorne · September-1st-2004, 03:25 PM

I must have missed it before, but I'm glad I got a good look at Serena Williams latest outfit today. Holy moly! She has the body and the talent to get away with it, but it did surprise a bit, I must say. Apparently I missed the 2002 catsuit edition.

This is not it, though she warmed up with these patent leather-like spats on over her black tennis shoes. She also had on a black warmup jacket with Serena spelled out in rhinestones on the back. She removed the jacket to reveal a skin-tight black tank top with studs and a pair of 2nd-skin black hot pants which barely cover her ...

Yeow!

What's next, thongs?

Steve Reynolds · September-1st-2004, 03:27 PM

same top today, Ton

with tiny black shorts (well as tiny as can fit on her wonderous shape)

love that woman madly

Ron Thorne · September-1st-2004, 03:29 PM

Time for a cold shower, Steve.

Steve Reynolds · September-1st-2004, 03:32 PM

*very* cold shower, Ron

mke · September-2nd-2004, 04:11 AM

I wonder if she designed the clothes herself (as she and Venus study (studied?) fashion design).

HLJ · September-2nd-2004, 10:40 AM

Serena might as well show up naked one day.It's a shame someone with all that talent feels she has to look like a "Video Hoochie" to get attention instead of the wonderful skills she has been blessed with.I told my 5 year old Daughter as I watched the highlights on ESPN you my play tennis like Serena but you would never , ever dress like her .Now Venus style,class and talent Althea Gibson would be proud of her.Peace and all that

Tanager · September-2nd-2004, 11:02 AM

Actually, I'm not at the Open this year. We've had friends in town from Munich, and I've been afk the entire time. I note there are a couple of interesting matches today - Gaudio-Johanssen should be a good, if not overly inventive, match, and the Hrbaty-Kucera match could be interesting.

Federer is my pick to win it all, since he's had good results of late against Roddick, including some on hard courts. I haven't watched any play thus far, but I note he straight-setted Alberto Costa in the first round (from top-tenner to first round victim of the top seeds, my has Costa fallen).

I note as well that, if the seedings hold, Massu and Dent have a rematch of their Oly semi coming in the third round. Fish would play Henman in the third, a match I think he can win, which would give even more life to his good results of late.

Another good second round match (to be played tomorrow, I believe) is Hewitt-Arazi, featuring two of the wiliest players out there (even though that is an incredibly overworn cliche).

Moya is the player with the (at least on paper) best chance of getting to face Federer in the semis - but that's a strange draw, I don't really see any strong threats in that quarter - Srichapan has never really been a strong player deep into the Slams (although he has good hard court chops), and as I noted, I think Henman is ripe for an upset. A rejuvenated Nicholas Kiefer lurks there, as well.

Jon Abbey · September-2nd-2004, 11:22 AM

hey, Tanager.

how could you write all of that on the men's draw, and not note that Federer and Agassi are scheduled to meet in the quarters? Federer had some trouble last night, until the kid from Cyprus he was playing ran out of steam early in the fourth.

Henman barely won in the first round and is playing hurt, he shouldn't last much longer.

Tanager · September-2nd-2004, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

how could you write all of that on the men's draw, and not note that Federer and Agassi are scheduled to meet in the quarters?

Hrm...I'm a clueless dolt?

I'm torn on that one wrt. for whom I should pull.

Quote:

Federer had some trouble last night, until the kid from Cyprus he was playing ran out of steam early in the fourth.

I may be wrong, but I think that, despite his recent improvements, Roger still has a little trouble focusing when playing lesser opponents. Obviously, I didn't see this particular match, but I think one area in which he could stand to improve would be consistency of effort.

Quote:

Henman barely won in the first round and is playing hurt, he shouldn't last much longer.

Ah, didn't know that. Yeah, even healthy, I had him going out.

Uli · September-2nd-2004, 11:34 AM

Have been watching a little bit here and there. It's too early for me to have any comments other than to Serena's outfit. For my taste, her drumsticks are just too porky for it.

Jon Abbey · September-2nd-2004, 04:34 PM

this recent wave of Russian women is amazing, they have 8 in the final 32 already, with Sharapova and one other still to play, so between 8-10, and that's not counting Myskina, who was upset earlier today. by who? a 17 year old Russian qualifier.

Enforcer · September-2nd-2004, 04:35 PM

Didn't a 15 year old give Henin-Hardenne some trouble, too?

Tanager · September-2nd-2004, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

that's not counting Myskina, who was upset earlier today.

That broke my heart. At the Sydney Olympics, I made a point of checking out all her matches. I can't quite explain it, but I find her incredibly hot. Sue me.

Jon Abbey · September-3rd-2004, 10:12 PM

it's against two kids, but Roddick has looked awesome through a round and a half so far. his serve should be illegal, 153 MPH is crazy.

gnhrtg · September-4th-2004, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

...153 MPH is crazy.

Oh my - that's about 246 kilometers per hour, needlessly fast; anything above 215 merits awe, I think.

Jon Abbey · September-4th-2004, 10:02 AM

he actually peaked at 152 yesterday, my mistake. Nadal looked like he was under fire out there, one to the body he swung through and it knocked him down, another he just tipped so it went backwards, hit him in the face and drew blood. Nadal has real promise, he played some amazing points and games, but overall was pretty much steamrolled. Roddick got distracted for a few games in the third set when his new buddy from Athens, Rulon Gardner, showed up courtside, but he gathered himself down 4-2, and ran off 4 in a row to finish it out.