Australian Open -2018

Now to the compelling part of the tournament. How many lesbians does Margaret Court think will be created here? Number 1 Help faces her Destanee. Penciled-in finalist Bouchard crosses the Oceane to face Dodin. The chunky Billy Barty gives Taylor Townhouse a run for her money. Giorgi Girl gives way to 4chan's Kuc via Osaka. Tunisian Jabeur, who faces Vesnina, is fat too. Kunta is down below; let's hope she's not tainted by American Madison Brengle. The last Gasp of the Aryans hopes to gas a qualifier. Now Ahn to Ova, Stryn. Cystea meets Jedi Master Sifo-Diyas, who ordered creation of a clone army. Number 3 seed Mugurutha faces Frenchie Ponchet. Hsieh! Bless you. Say "Vikhlyantseva" three times fast. If it were the other Ova, Plisk, the Radwanska match could have been interesting. Hun vs. Hun: Friedsam vs. Kerber, former world number Hun. Nao on to Maria vs. Maria: Tatjana vs. Sugarpova, who was not so long ago on an extended vacation. How do we solve a problem like Maria's heart condition? A rare Eva (Putinst) faces Brit Heather Watson. The rising American Madison Keys faces a rising Wang. I'll have a McHale Sansovich with lettuce, tomato, mustard and pickles.

Pregnant pause.

Granny Venus faces Bencic. Much like Gramps, does she still have it in her? She came close to another major last year. Hope she doesn't crash. Will Prince Harry in a skirt, Alison Van Uytvanck, gingerly walk into the second round? I Begu to consider Cornet tableware who also faces an erect and throbbing Wang. Hello, Goerges! Finally beginning to fulfill her potential, Sloane Stephens meets Zhang. Zh-wing! Ostapenko faces Frank Schiavone. May the better, erm, man win. Ying-Yang or rather Ying-Ying. Is that the name of a panda? Well she faces the Duque. Pass the Kanepis, ranked 100 in the world. Stosur vs. Puig! They haven't told Carlo which qualifier he's facing for fear of his harassing any pretty young WTA ingenue. Will there be a "Me Too!" movement in women's tennis thanks to Frank and Carlo? Babos. Coco. Babos. Coco. "Anastasia Sergeyevna Pavlyuchenkova". Again say that three times fast. It seems as if Flipkens and Riske meet in opening rounds often, but on to weightier matters: Taylor Townhouse! Boba Fett battles Charo-wannabee Eguchi Cuchi. And finally Buzz-arnescu meets the number 2 seed, the Woz. Like Help, she too has never won a major.

Missing in action: "Mom" Serena, Misery, Kei Pond, Azarenka.

Ova recap: Cepel, Kvit, Kuc, Stryc, Safar, Plisk (Ka & Kr), Sharap, Sevast, Alexandr, Vondrous, Makar, Gavril, Cibulk, Siniak, Pavlyuchenk, Kozl, Rybarik, I'm so ova this post...

So as always let's keep our discussion civil and, she did it once, so perhaps she can do it again: can Pamela Howard Shriver at long last find another Australian man?

What a tremendous tuckus!

Sorry OP, TL/dr.

But Murray will get his come-uppance later.

[quote] What a tremendous tuckus!

Whose?

Where’s ESL?

I see where Monica Seles married her billionaire....

[quote] I see where Monica Seles married her billionaire....

Where?

Is this where we talk about Aussie Cup and Bulges?

Or is this just an Ass thread? Asses seem to be proffered in tennis threads.

did you hear about bartoli? i saw reports of her recently...

also, serena williams said she had blood clots after c section. isn't that from steroid use? cmon, so obvious.

Bartoli olive oil?

ESL is probably every post referring to Andy Murray as Misery r5. He’s such a wit.

It’s love, set, match for Venus Williams, as friends wait to see if her new boyfriend, millionaire Nicholas Hammond, will sit courtside for her Australia Open matches. The pair has largely flown under the radar, but insiders close to the super jock don’t expect that to continue much longer.

“He’s a wealthy financier who goes between California and New York,” according to a source, who, along with other Williams’ associates, say Hammond’s name has come up a lot Down Under as Williams readies for this weekend’s tournament.

“She likes that he’s very private,” according to our spy. We’re told that Venus affectionately calls her beau “Nicky” and she’s telling friends she’s “very happy.”

Hammond — who’s 12 years younger that Williams — isn’t in it for the money, according to our spy.

“He’s definitely not a fortune hunter,” we’re told. “She’s head over heels for him.”

The “very handsome” 25-year old is an heir to Walter Annenberg’s TV Guide fortune. His parents are socialite Dana Hammond and her ex-husband James.

“Nicky has met up with Venus in Palm Beach, where his family has a $20 million mansion as well as in the Hamptons, where they have a $20 million house,” we’re told. We also hear that Hammond was Williams’ date to her sister Serena’s wedding in November.

Williams, the number two rated womens tennis player in the world, needed a shoulder to cry on Tuesday. That’s when she was upset by German racket-swinger Angelique Kerber at the Sydney International tournament. It was revealed on Thursday that she’ll be back in action Sunday when she takes on Swiss challenger Belinda Bencic in the first round of the Australia Open. All eyes will be on the VIP seats.

According to our source, Venus has expressed an interest in having kids, despite Vogue magazine’s report on Wednesday that her 36-year-old sister Serena, overcame life-threatening complications in September when she gave birth to her first baby.

R7, there was an article a short while (USA Today?) ago about Tom Golisano suing the interior decorator of his yacht in which it referred to Monica as his wife...

Now back to the Monica who matters...please OP, say something else clever about Puig, you barely mentioned her! After all, she did win Olympic gol

Gold

R15, Puig with an exclamation point is all that’s needed here. It became a meme here during the Olympics whenever she would win or score big that people would post “Puig!” It stuck after that. It’s rather the same as posting “Nole” on tennis threads here rather than “Bump”.

Hands out to you.

Oh, OK, thanks R15

[quote] It really is my first tennis thread ever

Welcome! I hope you stay. We’re not the most sane bunch of people.

Benoit Paire of France...

Mon Dieu!!

You actually are, r19, if only by the mere fact that you clarified. Most other insider threads (and I have been guilty of being too much of a DL veteran) will only snicker and jeer at the newbie.

Classic example - when some rookie tries to correct WHET. So, again, thanks.

Yes, I'll stick around, silently, because we haven't got cable TV back in Puerto Rico yet!

R20 are you really the BPC of yore??!!

[quote] Benoit Paire of France...Mon Dieu!!

I haven’t seen tennis shorts that tight since watching 70s match clips on YouTube.

[quote] Yes, I'll stick around, silently, because we haven't got cable TV back in Puerto Rico yet!

Seriously? I feel for all of Puerto Rico and hope you return to normal conditions soon. I know Monica has done a lot for relief efforts.

I apologize for misspelling grand-père. Autocorrect “corrected” it.

Puig! has sucked since she won that Olympic gold. All that she's done since is become Maria's only friend on the WTA.

Would Domi and Sock make good doubles partners now that Popsicle is out of Sock’s picture?

r27, for a second there I thought you were referring to Dominika Cibulkova.

I'm sorry, but can they stop having such ridiculously lop-sided draws. As usual Fed has a murderers row while Nadal has a cake walk.

I guess Popsicle and Sock are never, ever, ever getting back together.

They were such an adorable couple.

Has there been any word what hotel young Grigor is staying? The kids are asking me to bring them back an autograph that's all. I wouldn't want to intrude on my...I mean his focus during the event. He needs to save his energy for my...Uh sorry the court. Yeah the court.

Dear lord, Tennis Channel is having a retrospective on Margaret Court's record number of majors. Their oblivious ass kissing is worse than that of Ben & Courtney. Of course, Court is against ass kissing.

Honestly? Please lets get the qualies over with and on to the tournament so we can leave these tired florid postings behind.

Aussie Open draw was taken place on Marget court arena and not on Rod Laver Arena or Hisense arena. So whoever was wondering about a possible boycott of MCA should get their answer.

I told you guys. Tournament directors are not going to create controversy

ESL!!!

a moment for Jack Sock's ass and furry arms and chest.

thank you.

Paire SO needs to lose that atrocious beard. It looks like small mammals have nests in there.

Stan really does have a tremendous tuckus.

I don't get the love for Sock, r35. I look at him and think that if he's fat now (and I don't think it's fit-fat), what's he going to balloon into when he hangs up that racquet??? I imagine that, with all that sweating, his hairy lardy arse is zit-laden and the extra folds of skin in his crotch give off nauseous fumes when he's changing after a match. I also suspect he doesn't shower, and just puts his civilian clothing on over his sweaty body.

I also find myself thinking that they got his veneers all wrong—his teeth are too long, almost like Donal Sutherland's in [italic]Novecento[/italic]—and that his breath stinks...

No mention of DL fave PHH? Pack 15 pounds on that boy and hit it all day long.

Okay, I would anyway.

Did that 18 year old twink ALex De Muner[or what ever his name is got wild card for Aussie Open]

Pairs is indeed sexy- esp in person. But I understand he is a jerk- not well liked by peers etc.

Interesting that Kerber and Sharapova, the only two past Aussie champions in the draw, could meet early in the 3rd round.

Yes, R22, I'm the Jacobite claimant to the British throne. If only that German woman and her brood would go back to Hannover!

I can't believe that Sloane Stephens hasn't won a match since her victory at the U.S. Open. Evert recently had some sharp words about her...

And I thought I couldn't love Billie Jean King more than I already did.

Sloane is one and done. It will be interesting to see if maybe she is just a slam girl?

OMG that's right, Sloane Stevens won the 2017 USO!

I had completely forgotten that.

[quote] Did that 18 year old twink ALex De Muner[or what ever his name is got wild card for Aussie Open]

“Birditch goes through the maze to meet the Minotaur.”

Sloane is lazy like a lot of the other American players. Plus she plays best in the US (also like all the other American players).

Sloane is one and done. It will be interesting to see if maybe she is just a Sloane Ranger?

That's too bad. I like Sloane and she has loads of talent.

She has never shown much fire....ability and talent, yes, but no passion....

Other than the 2017 US Open, the only other times Sloane ever showed fire was when she was attacking Serena and Gilles Simon.

^ why was that?

Cross posted from The Gays and Tennis — Part 23:

[quote]Ok, serious question—why are almost all the Gays and Tennis threads now greyed and crossed out? This is also true for the new Australian Open thread. My settings are at “asbestos eyes,” so that can’t be it. What’s more, I’m actually the OP for quite a few of these threads, so I certainly haven’t F&Fed them. Is this Muriel’s doing, or is there a concerted effort to make these threads disappear? And if so, why on earth would that be?? I really do find this unfathomable.

Any ideas?

I've noticed that too, R54, and it happens almost immediately. This thread was greyed out the day it was created, and it had a nice pic of Domi's ass and Sock linked. I'm set for "asbestos eyeballs" as well.

And, r55, I didn’t OP this thread, unlike Part 23, so it can’t be all the deplorables F&Fing [italic]me[/italic] because of the nasty things I have to say about the deplorables among the US players... (I know a couple of people said they were blocking me on the Tennis threads because they were sick of me pointing out that Isner and Vandewegh are trumpeteers.)

But it’s obvious these threads are being F&Fed by someone...

[quote]But it’s obvious these threads are being F&Fed by someone...

... a closeted player perhaps? Mr. Courier perhaps? The ATP perhaps .... the possibilities are as endless as the number of posts in the threads

truthfully, I didn't make it through OP's diatribe ...

Sloane is part of the US Millenial bunch. They're lazy asses who can't focus for an entire year. It applies to the men and women. Give me the old school champions who kept it up for the whole year like Evert, Navratilova, Graf, and Seles. As much as the Williams sisters are icons, they definitely went in and out of the game, although they certainly were able to pick it up when the Slams came around and they were healthy. Given the current state of the game, and in-form Serena has another shot at a Calendar Year Slam if she's health for an entire season.

"Australian Open players show nimble verbal skills on Margaret Court issue"

Anyone else HATE the new design of the AO website? It's fucking horrible especially when looking at the schedules of matches. It's really awful. There was no need to change anything. I hope the 3 other slams this year don't copy it.

It's not fair that the qualies aren't over yet. Main draw play starts tomorrow and they have to finish their final round today. Usually they get a day off. Some of them will have to play round 1 of the main draw the following day

R61 yes, it's horrible.

I agree, R61. It's difficult to tell where one quarter of the draw ends and another begins. Wimbledon's site is very clear as is the US Open's.

I hope it is not a sign that RG, Wimbledon and USOpen website will be as horrible.

New design is horrible. I think they have change IT service provider . Same things happened to ATP website. Earlier it was done IBM at that time it was fine . Now it is done by Infosys for past few years an d it is horrible

I had the same difficulty, R63, so I instead used the PDF versions of the draw.

The WTA site is one to be seen! The latest designs and clarity. Go to it now!

Sam Stousur is playing on Monday on Marget court arena

Stosur is not ‘out’ out, is she?

Stosur is still in the close but you can still hear the KD Lang music playing inside it.

Caroline Wozniacki said for one that she's excited to play on Margaret Court Arena.

Queen Billie Jean causing a stir and ruffling feathers in Australia.

Caroline Wozniacki is always thirsty to play on big courts. Remember how much drama she created during US open when her match against Makarova was not scheduled on Arther Ashe arena but Simona Help/Maria Sharapova match was on AA stadium

I should say part of the Marget Court Arena controversy is short sighted. No one has raised any fuss about the tournaments in Qatar or the UAE where homosexuality is illegal. Additionally, those tournaments have treated Israeli players badly in the past (Shahar Peer) and the only person I remember voicing opposition then was Venus.

This guys is hot?

Well his ass definitely is

I've found another future stud up-and-comer. Matteo Berrettini of Italy. He has reached the final round of qualifying

I've never heard of him before tbh R77

I suspect our OP also started a bunch of threads or made comments that people DID F&F. I don't think the F&F function discriminates between threads.

The new AO site is not so great, agreed.

If you want to watch any of the matches on their site, you'd better know what court you want ahead of time or you'll be forced to sit through the 30-second promo each and every time. As others mentioned, I agree a lot about it is klunky.

The AO website doesn't even have an international clock.

True, R81, but it does have the Melbourne time and one’s local time.

AO website sucks. As someone upthread earlier, the ATP redesigned their site a few years ago, and it equally sucked. I used to visit the ATP site every day or every other day for results, notes, etc. but rarely visit now. I wonder what options I have if I blow off the AO site.

So... I hadn't had much opportunity to look at the draw, so I made the mistake of listening to Ben and Courtney's podcast. Ugh.

First of all, they still have too much "banter" about insider stuff that isn't that interesting to people who just want to hear about tennis. And it's mostly done as a humble-brag, IMO.

Second, the new "compelling" is the talk of players' "kits" (e.g. their tennis outfits). If I never hear that phrase again it will still be too soon.

Finally, it amazes me that they don't see the absurdity of having conversations about Alessandra Krunic and Carina Witthoeft, and minutes later criticize lack of name recognition of ATP players. Sheesh. Also, the fact that about 30 WTA players have a shot at winning the title doesn't mean that there are 30 great WTA players.

And with that, I'll pass on their future podcasts.

With heft.

Tomic loses in the final round of qualifying to the young up-and-coming Lorenzo Sonego.

Qualifiers:

Salvatore Caruso (Italy)

Dennis Novak (Austria)

Jaume Munar (Spain)

Quentin Halys (France)

Vasek Pospisil (Canada)

Kevin King (USA)

Denis Kudla (USA)

Mackenzie McDonald (USA)

Elias Ymer (Sweden)

Dustin Brown (Germany)

Casper Ruud (Norway)

Lorenzo Sonego (Italy)

Ruben Bemelmans (Belgium)

Václav Šafránek (Czech)

Yuki Bhambri (India)

Matthias Bachinger (Germany)

Ryan Harrison/Pospisil?

^ who's on top?

Tomic will be counting his millions of dollars instead of playing tennis:

Popsicle!

Tomic is a disgrace to tennis.

How bad is the AO site? At the moment, with the tournament starting in 10 hours, I can't even get the draws on their site. The PDF for printable draws isn't opening, and the web-based draw isn't loading. Tried on both my phone and tablet with the same result.

I went to do my Racket Bracket entry on the Tennis Channel site, and they still don't have the qualifiers placed in the draw. Although hard to blame them when qualifying ended about nine or ten hours ago. WTF? I had to go to Wikipedia to find a draw with the qualifiers placed.

I predicted Pliskova vs Svitolina for the women's final, not because I think they're the best players, but because that would be the most snooze-inducing matchup between two WTA stars who appear to lack any personality.

I'm predicting Kyrgios vs Federer for the men, because I'm an idiot who keeps predicting big things for Kyrgios even though he often flames out, and Federer will probably waltz to another title with the commentators giving him a tongue bath every step of the way.

Jaded, one of the Tennis Channel commentators also had Kyrgios in the finals.

I cannot wait to watch Sam Stosur on MY court on the telly. What an all-around good Christian girl she is, family values and stuff!

I'm trying to think of a bigger douchebag in tennis that Tomic... Hmm...

^^than and not that... and I'm still thinking...

I recommend Fognini.

R96, current day players only?

I'm curious to see Djokovic's new service motion.

It's always risky to debut a new technique for any stroke at a slam lol it takes so much repetition to make it automatic and if he gets nervous, he'll likely revert back to a previous serving motion.

there are a lot of men's and women's matches I'm going to be following on day 1. Can't wait!

The app is equally shitty as the website.

So Mischa is playing against Marcelo Melo in the doubles' 1st round. Poor Sascha, haha.

WTA bookies favorite Svitolina

Sasha has never defeated a Top-50 player at slams. Could face one in 3R -- his brother.

What's the gossip on Nole? Still fucking whores? Still with that loon Pepe Imaz?

Enquiring minds want to know!

Yes, R106, and he really doesn't want to play against him. He said so on a German TV show last month...while Mischa is more relaxed about the possibility.

Svitolina went to the AO gala dinner looking like an Ukrainian lady of the night

That's really interesting , r105. I wonder why the bookies have Venus so low.

R110 because she's so unpredictable.

[quote] It's always risky to debut a new technique for any stroke

One tries new strokes at home for hours before playing in tournaments, no?

¡Me encantan las pajas!

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

R111, But all of the top WTA players (with the exception of Serena and maybe Sharapova and Azarenka) are pretty unpredictable, especially when it comes to dealing with pressure. I would have put Venus in the top five contenders of women who could win it all.

R114 I'm rooting for Venus but it wouldn't shock me if she lost to Bencic today. Last year she was more consistent than she had been in 5 years but she still had some WTF losses. I'll be shocked if she comes close to defending her AO points from last year. She did at least win a set off Kerber last week but then got routined in the second and third.

R115, I too wouldn't be surprised if Venus lost to Bencic. But I also wouldn't be surprised if she won it all either. I guess I haven't seen her play since the U.S. Open, where she looked like she was in pretty good form until Sloane took her out. But I thought it was a very respectable loss. Still, maybe her level of play has dropped since then?

Anyone but Roger...but preferably Rafa.

Anyone but Rafa...but preferably Roger.

Chris McKendry pulling out the stripes wow

R119, and red belt.

Does McEnroe still do cocaine?

Chris Evert looks amazing for her age.

So Djokovic has apparently gained 10 pounds. Good. He was way too thin the past few years. The rumor is his back and elbow injuries might not be fully healed

How much more difficult was it to get to Australia from Europe and the United States in the 70s and 80s than it is now?

OK espn they've started play...cut the chatter

Is the Australian Open DL's favorite major? It seems to get a lot of attention here, more than the French or US Open.

This is sweet!

The crawler on ESPN said that Azarenka isn't at the Aussie Open this year because of personal reasons. Anybody know what that's all about?

SHOW THE MATCHES

All matches are streamed live on ESPN3. That's how I watch.

Stephens vs. Zhang. Compelling.

R124, I saw a recent clip of Djokovic practicing and it didn't look to me like he's gained 10 lbs., but maybe I'm not accurately remembering just how skinny he was last season.

lmao is the AO site down for anyone else? I don't know if it crashed or what I wanted to follow multiple scores

Pospisil to play Cilic in Round 1

I’ve seen Djokovic play in person, and he looks extremely thin in person, more so than on TV.

OK I was just going off of what Cahill was saying. He needs to bulk up though. I think some of his injuries may be due to that. Smashing the ball is hard on the limbs.

Taylor Townsend lost the 1st set against Rybarikova 0-6

I liked Djokovic best when he looked like this. And, if I'm not mistaken, I think this was around the time he had that monster season.

Yeah, I can't get scores, schedules or draws from the AO website. But who needs info like that?

Why did the Australian Open change their website and app? What was wrong with the previous version?

I can get schedules but not draws or scores other than the live scores.

try this

Who's the player at R139?

[R126], it's to do with the custody battle over her child. At present, she can't legally take the child out of California so she won't leave.

I was just going to comment on not having had any problems with the AO site, accessing draws, etc. and just tried to get on now and the page is unavailable due to "Site Maintenance." WTF?

[R141] here. Two minutes later and i can get on to the site but the Live Scores tab is still down. Way to fuck up, guys.

Thanks, R141

Sloane really needs to regroup ASAP.

I was away for a bit. Did Sloane lose already?

Sloane was serving for the march in the 2nd set but then lost that set in a tiebreaker. Now she's down a break in the 3rd set.

Kyle Edmund's looking pretty in pink

R136 yes totally agree. He's been anorexic looking for a while now. That pic he looked great

Sloane pathetic choke in the second set. She's such a flaky player. Some matches she's mentally rock solid and other times she seems to give up

Zhang: pronounced Zhyung

Pathetic from Sloane.

[quote] pronounced Zhyung

Zwing.

Down two breaks now, on a shitty-looking double fault. #sloane #choker #compelling

Gracious hug at the net from Sloane at least.

Frank Schiavone is out in straight sets to Ostapenko! I guess we'll have to pin our hopes on the only remaining male in the women's draw - Carlo Suarez Navarro.

Townhouse is out too! That weighs heavily on me.

Sloane needs to hire a coach like Billie Jean King who can work on her mental as well as physical game.

Sloane needs a new coach.

Sloane needs a new attitude.

That's what I was going to write as well, R158. Her mental game needs much improvement.

Now Ben and Courtney will go on and on about what a great player Zhang is, how she's a tournament dark horse, etc. etc. ignoring the fact that Sloane isn't a great player, but a good player who got hot at the right time.

When all the top women are beating each other, it doesn't mean that they're all great players, it means they're all good players and none of them are great.

Play is suspended or delayed for almost all matches, but why does it say that Yu vs. Cilic is cancelled?

That floral print DL fave Pam Shriver is wearing is awful. How will she ever get a man with that?

Yu must have dropped out. I believe Cilic is scheduled to play someone else now.

Cilic is playing Pospisil.

Chris Evert: "Shows the depth in the women's game right now that you can have a first round match like this."

She's taken some of the Ben & Courtney Kool-Aid. World's Worst Tennis Commentator.

This is a nightmare first-round match for Venus. She is going to have to play her best tennis to pull out this match.

Colic was supposed to play Randy Lu, who pulled out.

I kind of like Bencic, and wish she wasn't playing Venus 1R.

FYI Chrissie, Venus vs. Bencic isn't because of depth in the game as much as it's because Bencic has been out of the game with injuries. That's like saying Djokovic at No. 14 shows "the depth" of the men's game.

Thankfully, r165, Chris didn't go completely off the deep end and say that Sloane's loss was also an indication of the depth of the WTA today.

Earth to Chrissie: as you're wondering why Babos has never been more successful, remember to check out last year's draw when she was seeded here.

[quote] Randy Lu, who pulled out

Tehe.

Venus is in Granny mode today. She looks old and slow.

omg there goes Venus.

Sloane and Venus are both already gone, and the tournament is barely a few hours old! Will Coco be next?

Let's hope so, R173. I can't stand Coco.

The CuntCo lost the first set.

Coco VanderTrump

Coco is in a shithole right now!

Good god look at the Nike 'kit' on Shapovalov! Hideous! Poor Kid.

When are we getting to the mens?

hahaha point penalty for Coco

so pissed at Sloane and Venus

uh oh. They are strictly enforcing time limits-coming out on time, warm up time and between point time. Nadal is going to FREAK and probably argue with umpires

Shapovalov takes the first 6-1. He's pumped.

Coco out

Coco is so gross. Swears like a sailor, stomps around the court like dump truck, rude and nasty to everyone. Luckily, she's about to lose.

I'm thrilled Coco is out. Bye, Felicia!

Coco is so nasty that even Cortney and Ben drag her. Neither has ever tried to prop her up.

4 hours in, 3 US woman out.

American women are 0-7 today.

Shapo is an exciting player, holy fuck

Isner also in a shithole!

loving the pink Edmund is wearing. So USO finalist Anderson out in the first round

WHET Sabine "Cankles" Lisicki?

Anderson is a good guy. I like him, but I'm fine with Edmund advancing.

All Ebden has to do is hold serve and he'll be through. He just got the break.

Grigor is PINKED out too.

Puig!

In pink, Grigor is in full-on Gaygor mode. He looks like he should be waiting tables at a '50s themed diner.

Pospisil is looking a bit beefier this year.... he wears it well

Deplorable Isner shitholed OUT by Ebden

I'm so glad Isner is out.

Amazing the hype Isner gets just because he's an American. There were much better players (American) who got less attention just because they played in the Connors-McEnroe or Sampas-Agassi eras. Now that Isner is fading away, we're probably going to start gettting Sock, Sock, and more Sock.

I see Pavlyu-choke-ova is down a set.

Really? We get Luke Jensen in the booth?

Isner benefited from the fact that all the other American guys of his generation sucked. He's only gotten to one QF his whole career.

I like Stevie. Where is Stevie?

R204, plays tomorrow against Denis Kudla.

Fat Fundie Sock getting his ass kicked. USA! USA!

I swear to God, someone spiked the Americans food/water with something shitty as payback for Trump’s shithole comments. Every single one of them is abnormally sluggish and out of it today.

Sock out too!

Is that all the deplorables gone now, or are there others in the US contingent?

Well, Sock will have more time for Klan rallies and worshipping his Orange lord.

Is Queery still in it? He's another Trump lover.

Coric out

Schwartzman survived 11-9 in the fifth

Carreno wins a match. Only because he faced the Aussie wild card

Kohlschreiber against Nishioka

When does DL fave Sharapova play?

R209 nope. Harrison got through in 5 sets

Puig def. Stosur in 3 sets. Yes, Stosur had match point in the tiebreak

Is Sock really a fundie? I know Isner is a Republican, but is Sock? Jesus, WTF with all the American players being conservatives?

Bugger it, r214!!!

We'll need to assess once all of today's matches are done and dusted.

Just the 8 Federer questions (incl. follow ups) for Belinda Bencic today.

Look I like gramps and I don't have problem commentators giving tongue bath during his match but don't disrespect other players by making their interview all about Roger.

specially in this case when Bencic and Roger are not vying for same trophy

r216, Sock didn't vote (I'm too lazy to look up the various articles, but just Google Jack Sock voting Trump—I think I originally read it on the Miami Herald site, but who can remember?), and apparently never votes. Unlike the Williams sisters, who use their religion as an excuse not to vote (why is it that [italic]all[/italic] these people who publicly identify with some form of religion or other—"Thank you Jehova/God/Allah for all my riches!"—always cherry-pick which bits of their particular religion suit them?), Sock probably just finds the whole politics thing too complicated, duuuude... So let's just call him deplorable-adjacent. Which is pretty fucking bad.

Pouille out beaten by Bemelmans

[quote]WTF with all the American players being conservatives?

Being "conservative" is one thing, but the Trumpism that these tennis players are espousing is actually reactionary, racist, homophobic right-wing populism. That's why I take a certain amount of joy when they're trounced out of a tournament, especially if it happens ignominiously in the first round (even though there's an even more special pleasure when they're pipped at the post in the finals...).

Nadal won. His new outfit is cute but it looks like he is training. I personally love sleeveless shirts.

Judy Murray's twitter feed should have its own show. The woman is a riot on twitter.

And adorable at the net.....

How is he still so sexy?

I like Shapo a lot. I hope he goes deep in Oz.

Wow, the Joker is really a greedy mofo. He seriously needs some perspective. I officially hate him now.

Kyle Edmund is adorable. And I get the feeling he's family.

Looking at Judy Murray you would never guess she was funny.

Randomness:

I agree with R221 about American Trumpsters. We can debate whether it's appropriate or not, but my truth is that I can't isolate their viewpoints, and players I used to root for because they were American, lost that privilege. Maybe I'm the one not evolved enough, but so be it.

Agree about Edmund, and too bad for Anderson, a very likable guy.

Is Djokovic greedy? It certainly seems that way, but is there a legitimate case that the players are being exploited? Would his measure help the lower ranked players who struggle financially to travel and train? (I wonder how many freebies are given to players and/or coaches at Slams? Other tournaments? I know that at the minor league tournaments that players sometimes stay with host families. I'd be happy to buy a few extra groceries if a hunky player or two would hit with me for a few minutes and promise to walk around in their underwear.)

I love Chris Evert and her commentating. I'd love to have dinner with Evert, Carillo, Shriver, Drysdale, Gilbert and a few others and just listen to their stories. I'm one of the rare posters on these DL threads who loves many of the commentators.

R226 why? What did he do?

[R230]

Well, we don't know yet what exactly Novak said at that meeting...so I'll withhold judgment. But if it was some big surprise...if he went up there without getting Federer and Nadal to sign off on it...he's a fucking fool. You don't piss off the King and Queen.

If Djokovic was trying to get increased prize money for *all* the players, then good for him. And Federer and Nadal strike me as the types not to rock the boat, especially when they're the ones benefiting the most from the perks and lucrative money for the top players.

I have a nagging suspicion that Djokovic's call to arms wasn't just about money, but probably had a lot to do with "dumping the chicks" of the WTA [italic]so that[/italic] the boys (i.e., the only real moneyspinners according to idiots like Djokovic—as if there are no ebbs and flows...) can negotiate a bigger slice of a bigger cake.

He is loathsome. And vile.

And no, I still think the current incarnation of the WTA is woeful.

Oh, almost forgot: I really hope he didn't consult with the King and Queen (kudos to r232 for two exquisitely appropriate terms for Nadal and Federer—I just can't work out which is which...), and it all comes tumbling down on him.

[quote]Vandeweghe lost her cool again after going down 5-1 in the second set, bouncing her racquet on the court and appearing to swear at the Hungarian. She copped a point penalty for her second code violation of the match. Many on social media claimed Vandeweghe said: “F*** off you f***ing b***h.”

Coco never fails to disappoint.

Please. The Joker has made 88 million pounds in prize money and probably multiples of that in endorsements. Contrast that with Misery who remarked that top professional athletes are absurdly overpaid -- as they are.

Djokovic is a first class douche.

I wish the crowd had thrown bananas at CoCunt. What spoiled, entitled brat.

The Nike hot pink that the men are being forced to wear is a serious eyesore, or was, especially on Sock, though Coric rocked it somehow, and it doesn't look too bad on Shapo. Grigor's stuck with it too, as is Kyrgios. Bleah.

I like pink dress on men . It is that pink shoes which is coming off very odd on men . No men will wear those pink shoes in personal lives .

Though I secretly like it as overall it make them looks so gay

I'm definitely glad Cunt-co is gone. I can't stand that bitch. What a petulant snot. Not surprised she supports Trump.

Just for you, ESL

LOL Np R242. You have to see this

I don't like Nadal . His body is good and ass is great but he has serious problem of butter face.

However even Nadal manages to look very good[and a power top] in this dress

Pouille and his phatty lost.

Monica Puig (she's an American technically) and Gibbs (who was only of the only vocally anti-Trump American players during the campaign) won their matches.

I'm fine with the ATP players unionizing. I'm not fine with an ATP Union (led by Novak, Gilles Simon and the other sexists) being used as a Trojan Horse to end equal pay.

More men players need to a adopt sleeveless shirts. While WTA's top and shorts are getting shorter and skimpier over past few decades, rarely an ATP player wear sleeveless shirt and their shorts also have become long

I for one love to see Domi in short shorts

Sleeveless was popular among some players about 12 years ago. Safin, Haas, Blake Nadal and others did it. I remember Wimbledon obnoxiously trying to ban the,

The only one in recent memory to stick to sleeveless has been Dustin Brown.

Somewhat off topic: I’m thinking of going to the French Open this year. In your experience what has been the best way to get tickets? I’m from the U.S. if that makes any difference.

^ you can do it online at the French Federation site IIRC. You can select which court (PC, SL or Court One). Pay online tix come in the mail -- or at least they used to. Easy peasy.

Tomorrow there are no exciting matches on day time . No idea about nigh sessions though .

Only possible minor upset I can is that tin daytime are

Andrea Petkovic can defeat Petra Kvitova

Oceane Dodin can defeat Genie Bouchard

Thanks, R249.

As far as the established American players go, pretty much all the white ones are Trump fans. It seems like all the others aren't though. Nicole Gibbs and Noah Rubin are 2 white American players who aren't deplorables. I would imagine southside Chicago-born, Atlanta-residing Donald Young probably isn't either. Last year when Florida still had its voting registry public, I checked and saw that Sloane Stephens is registered as a democrat.

I can't imagine players who come from immigrant families like Tiafoe, Mmoh and Escobedo would be fans of Trump either.

I like Nicole Gibbs. I watched some of "my tennis life" on tennis.com. It ain't easy be out of the top 100.

R248, if you do go get tickets through the official website, don't use the Safari browser. Last year, on the day that tickets were first available, I waited for two hours on the website and then, when my turn was finally up, I selected the tickets and was about to pay when my Safari browser froze. So I had to get back into the waiting line but then the same thing happened. So the next time I used the Chrome browser and everything went smoothly.

The French Open always has poor attendance so buying tickets on site wouldn't seem to be a huge problem.

I think tonight will be another bad day for the American women with only Keys being favored to win and about 6 losing.

Whatever queen at Nike woke up and put Nadal in sleeveless again deserves dick for days. And it's much better than the 2004-8 era because the fabric is thinner. It gets sweaty and bunches up and we get glorious side pec.

Now if we can only get directors who won't cut away during the shirt changes...everything will be good. Earn those millions, boys.

Catherine Whitaker and David Law spend the first 15–20 minutes of today's Tennis Podcast** on the Djokovic "unionization" question. The guy sounds [italic]so[/italic] shady. Apparently, nobody knew it was on the cards, and once the general meeting had drawn to a close, he just asked anyone who wasn't an ATP player to leave—admin, directors, Kermode...—except for his lawyer. No word on who said what, but Simon stated that his opinions have not changed on any of the questions raised by Djokovic, which sort of points to the equal prize money brouhaha.

As Whitaker points out on the podcast, if the whole thing turns out to be a bunch of "unionized" millionaires asking for a bigger pay cheque, then it'll be a PR nightmare. Be interesting to see what develops, and which players bite.

**Podcast in question linked below.

A big issue for the players is that the tournaments make a lot more money than what they are paid. They feel they deserve a bigger piece of the pie. I personally don't think the final rounds need any more money. Maybe rounds 2, 3 and 4 could be raised. The first round should not be any higher. We wouldn't want a situation in which players were only compelled to get their ranking up high enough to enter big events and then tank the first rounds despite getting a handsome check for just showing up.

In terms of star power, nothing in the men's game has really changed over the last 6 years. There are 4 big names (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray). Wawrinka is a lesser known big 5 member. The rest of the tour is living off of the top 4's popularity. Do ATP players believe people would pay big bucks to see another Anderson vs. Carreno Busta slam semi?

No wonder that Djokovic has always come across as a smiley façade covering the shifty grifter within--because that's exactly who he is.

I wouldn't pay another dime to see Djokovic, Nadal or Federer since I'm beyond bored with them, R259. Give me the professionalism and decency of Anderson and Carreno Busta and I'll pay to see them instead every time.

Bingo, R260.

Please don;t insult PCB . He is after all BIL of ARV and DP of GGL

Show some respect to PCB

Sucks young daddy Taylor Fritz went home so early. And no Murray or Serena either. Shitty tournament

[quote] Please don;t insult PCB . He is after all BIL of ARV and DP of GGL

Huh? In English please, ESL.

R265

PCB=Pablo Carreno Busta

BIL=Brother in Law

ARV= Albert Ramos Vinolas

GGL = Guillermo Garcia Lopez

I don't know DP

Doubles partner R266 and R265

doubles partner?

DP=Double Penetration

It seems like Djokovic and Simon are being careful in suggesting the Union would be for the benefit of mid-ranked players 50-150 in getting the tournaments to spread the wealth downward to the lower rounds. But I still suspect part of the Union effort will be to get rid of the joint tournaments so many of the men loathe and get the grand slams to give the men more money.

Ultra rich, white, male tennis players of the world, unite!!

R270 that's a good point. Distribution is clearly a problem, with the top guys getting all the scratch. So the question is: how much do the tournies make versus the payout is to the players?

R261 I'm tired of the big 4 too. My point is that the ATP players are all trying to bank off the backs of the big 4. Many ATP players are acting like the general public cares as much about them as the big 4. We know many in the public only care about established champions. In the same way that the WTA has struggled to find a new star since the Williams' sisters and Sharapova, the ATP hasn't found one since the big 4 Eventually they will decline and retire. From what we saw last year, no one else is ready to dominate.

Just for comparison, in the US, the Sloane Stephens vs. Madison Keys final got higher ratings than Rafael Nadal vs. Kevin Anderson. Yes, the American factor was important in terms of ratings, but still it's a big deal. Serena is usually the only one who can beat the men for ratings in the US. For the men to claim that they always do better is wrong as shown at the USO.

Interesting that Andy Murray was at that meeting, R271. I wonder what his take on this is.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

Matt Ebden, who beat Isner last night, often joins Margaret Court's prayer circles.

I'm totally fine with Novak the grifter boycotting the AO next year - in fact why doesn't he just retire! I, like so many others, can see right through his antics.

ugh, r276, and I was just beginning to like Ebden.

Hands and hearts out to you, R277.

Are you rooting for Maria or Sharapova?

At least ESPN admits she was out for doping rather than a “vacation” as Tennis Channel had it. Even Chris Evert now says on ESPN said it was a drug ban.

Tune in Gays!!! Your tennis icon Sharapova is on and screaming her way to victory!!!

Bautista Agut must have been distracted by Verdasco's sexiness. A straight set upset wow. RBA just won Auckland!

Gays are not fans of Sugarpova.

Alright, I'm thoroughly confused by this unionization talk. Are we *against* a players union? Why shouldn't there be a players (only) union?

I get the argument that the Top 10 (or 20, or 50) are sufficiently compensated. But there are almost 2000 players in the rankings, and I'm sure most of those guys are struggling to earn a living. A players union would help to do this. And I doubt a Facundo Bagnis could lead the unionization; the effort would need the voice and power of a top guy. (In the Tennis Channel podcast, the mentioned the failed efforts of Wayne Ferreira some years ago.)

As far as the equal prize money debate, it makes NO SENSE outside of the Slams. The men play for the ATP, the women for the WTA. They are separate organizations. Brisbane paid it's WTA winner $190k and it's ATP winner $83k. Should it have paid them equally? No, the WTA has a "premiere" event there, the ATP has a smaller 250 event there. Regardless, if they were both "premiere" events, should they pay equally? Do we require the NBA and WNBA to pay equally? We've turned the equal pay argument into a social issue, when it's not; it's economics.

I get the anger towards Djokovic if his mission is all about getting more prize money for the winners and runners-up, but I haven't heard that as the purpose of this.

Boo! Super fug Trump lover Sam Queery won his match

I’m sure he’ll be one of the first to let us know, r274.

Roanic out defeated by Lacko

Donaldson lost to Ramos Vinolas

Querrey wins

Title Contender GENIE BOUCHARD wins her first round match over Dodin! I hope all the other girls are scared. This is feeling like 2014 all over again

My pencil? Oh God, where is my pencil?

Yes, so proud of QUEEN Genie, WTA superstar, cover model and UN human rights ambassador.

I love you, R290 and R291.

Berdy is imploding against that Aussie twink

AO site isn’t working, and the app won’t load completed matches scores... Does anyone know who won the Kvitova–Petkovic match? I was watching until Petko imploded at 4–2 in the third, then had to leave for work. TIA!!

Petkovic won ...

Thanks, r295. I thought she’d blown her chance at 4-2. For some reason, I’m fond of Petko.

Petkovic won ... 10:8 in the third ...

I have given up on the AO site already and just follow on livescore

Kiki Lost again !!

Don't mess with DL,Kiki . We know Voodo

Bogdan def Kiki 63 62

Bogdan is currently at her best ranking...which is number 104!

And he's 25 years old

Google is the best for following live scores - just search Australian Open 2018 and you should see a big table with results which seems to be updated quicker than livescore.

Thanks, r302!

Karma, Kiki.

Now get your damm Lee Press-on Nails out of Domi's cakes!!

Ugh! I see from Google scores that the absolute worst of the ‘phobe deplorables, Tennys Sandgren, won his first-round match against Chardy in three straights.

Hsieh -Zhu score

06

60

86

^ compelling!

^ ^ stupendous!

Wow the Petko-Kvitova match must have been a good one! So happy for Andrea. She is one cool lady!

Petko-Kvitova was a women's match of the highest caliber; in other words, both made a ton of errors and mentally choked in equal amounts so as to make us call it "compelling."

Eye candy alert: Grigor plays American Mackenzie McDonald next.

Bunch of Trumpsters down (bye, Jared!), three left on the hit list. Let's hope "Mackie" plays for our side!

Here’s more on Djokovic’s Bolshevik ATP Revolution, again from the Tennis Podcast, with a longish bit from D’s postmatch interview. Talk about splitting hairs and being noncommittal. He sounds more than slippery here, sort of like the ultimate politician you wouldn’t want to buy a used car from. And then the podcast interviews a journo, with his own take on the nascent revolution. Not really pro-Djokovic, and he puts paid to the big PR coup that what the Djokovic acolytes are after is more money for the players out of the top 100.

Maybe the tours can provide more for their travel and hotels but I don't think challenger players should be making a lot. The goal is to make it on the pro tour.

Djoko needs, and always has needed, a better PR team.

Shenzhen will host WTA Finals 2019.

- Shenzhen and Singapore were last two candidates;

- Prize fund could be increased from $7m to $14m;

- New tennis stadium with a capacity of 14,000 should be ready for 2019 event;

- Shenzhen offered more money, it was the key factor.

WTA Finals will stay in Shenzhen until 2028

Is this where we talk about Year End Championships?

Russian men are doing well in Aussie open 1 st round 4/4 are in the 2nd round. However, I don't see them crossing that except maybe Rublev. But he may be too tired against Marcos Baghdatis after playing marathon almost 5 hours 5 sets match against Ferrer

Mladenovic 0-15 since August:

Andreescu 26 36

Strycova 26 36

Gavrilova 06 67(6)

Babos 57 57

Niculescu 36 26

Fett 46 36

Qiang 06 06

Siniakova 36 26

Duan 57 46

Sasnovich 26 62 26

Rybarikova 57 61 67(5)

Goerges 26 67(4)

Sasnovich 61 36 57

Perez 46 24 RET

Bogdan 3-6 2-6

[quote] New tennis stadium with a capacity of 14,000 should be ready for 2019 event;

4,000 would be enough

American men continue to tumble on day 2 Donaldson, Donald Young Tiafoe.

Speaking of Tiafore today was first time I saw him playing . I have read too much about on DL that he is very portioning but I didn't see anything good from him

Yes he hit hard and has raw power but nothing which cam him differentiate from any other newcomer

Delicate question but, has Rafa 'had work done'? Or is he aging in to more handsome facial features.

DL must be disappointed that The Kokk is out

Misha out of singles due to injury may still play doubles

Guess what Simona Help injured herself . These journey women play their best throughout the year but at Grand slam when it is most important they fizzles out

[quote] Guess what Simona Help injured herself .

She can’t help herself.

I hope Fucsovics fucks up Querrey.

Hey, where's Kei Noshikori?

Simon (not Simona) retires.

Are you for Siniakova or Svitolina?

Wow, R320. Mladenovic sure sucks, doesn't she?

Siniakova. I'm not a Svitolina fan. I respect her work ethic but she has a boring grinding game. I don't like her forehand technique either

Simona has 0 sponsors. She had to buy her tennis dress. WTF? She is number 1. Regardless of her likability. She deserves better.

[quote] Simona has 0 sponsors. She had to buy her tennis dress. WTF?

One answer to that: unionize!

That's what happens, R334, when you get rid of the big tits.

WHET good ol' "Juggs" Halep?

Oh yeah - asking for a friend.

I've fallen in love with Shapovalov

Shop bottom.

Zhang beats Stephens, then loses to No. 131 Allertova

Bencic beats Venus, and is now losing to No. 123 Kumkhum

The DEPTH!!! The DEPTH!!! The DEPTH!!!!

8 players I'd most like to seed: Monfils, Sousa, Mmoh, Shapovalov, Coric, Nishikori, Herbert & Tiafoe

R341, some of those will never be seeded players in any major.

Oh, poor R342.

That's just sad, girl.

Boba Fett is ahead of the Woz.

Woz has a HOT finance! Get it Woz!!!

Woz's fiance must be into corn teeth.

Corn, R346? When did Woz have corn?

Tsonga Shapovalov go 5!

R347, havne't you ever heard of corn teeth? Woz has them. Her teeth are shaped like corn giblets.

Shapavalov v. Tsonga has been fun to watch. The first 2018 Aus Open match I've enjoyed. So of course ESPN shifts to Woz v. Fett. Is that Boba Fett?

Tsonga looks lighter skinned this tournament. Is it the winter in France?

[quote] So of course ESPN shifts to Woz v. Fett. Is that Boba Fett?

She’s just a simple woman trying to make her way in the universe.

Slam after slam, Wozniacki eventually runs into someone who hits her off the court and her passive hope-for-an-error game just isn't enough. More and more of the younger girls can overpower her and move well enough to rally.

This year is supposed to be Wozniacki's farewell tour before she rides off into the sunset. It'll be a really inauspicious start if she starts by losing to someone nobody like Jana Frett.

R349, you can watch it all here...

oop I speak too soon. Wozniacki broke back twice and will serve at 4-5 in the third

Nike needs to take a lesson from Adidas, as in Shapo's hanging neon clown suit vs. Tsonga's well-fitted classic sexy look.

novak, usually pros from that region have ties to gangs and mafia, they may have funded their training etc and the pros are indebted to them for the rest of their lives, they gotta keep giving them money.

That's what I hear...

I don't give a shit about sharpo that cheating cunt. In fact, I don't really even care anymore about women's tennis. Heard serena nearly died from blood clots after giving birth. I hope all those riods were worth it.

Surely Roger isn't stuck playing in that horrendous Nike pink

wow massive tightening choke from Fett. Sad, Wozniacki escapes 7-5 in the third

Shapovalov choked too while serving for the match

If Wozniacki would flatten out the ball like she does when she gets behind, she might not find herself in these kinds of matches.

And Tsonga wins last 5 games to take the fifth set 7-5. Go Jo!

Shapovalov just didn't raise his level when he had to. I hope he learns. I really like watching Shapovalov.

Are there any white male players with yellow skin?

I can’t believe fett’s choke. Unreal.

Thanks cameraman for the extended full cut off shapovalovs shirt change! I was surprised he was so smooth considering how furry his legs are.

Shapovalov's furry legs are making me extremely horny.

R368 = Ron Carlivati

Is that Woodford or Woodbridge (aka "The Woodies") in young Grigor's box?

R353 I keep seeing comments about Wozniacki supposedly retiring at the end of the year, but couldn't find any mentions in the news. Where did this come from?

Goddamit! Shapo is my new tennis crush. Dem legz!

Battle of the hotties: Dimitrov and McDonald are 4-4 in the fifth set.

what kind if a man is attracted to a big steroid broad like the williams sisters are????

weird.

Dimitrov pulls it off 8-6 in the fifth.

Too bad for Mac. I saw him play in the semis at Tiburon in October. He's really fun to watch.

McDonald, Escobedo, Tiafoe & Mmoh

How sad is the AO site when you can get to the draws faster on Wikipedia?

Daria was leading 4/0 in forst set . Now she is staring at straight set defeat . What crazy day this whole day was

On a day when it's supposed to be 100 degrees, of course Federer gets scheduled to a night match.

It’s good to be the king! 🤴

Tsonga is a really beautiful man. Great face and phenomenal physique. He must look incredible naked. His fiancé is gorgeous as well.

Yeah he is R383. Kinda like that ridiculously beautiful chocolate boy on Glee in the later season. Yum.

Oops I meant R382

I've long been a huge fan of Tsonga. In my opinion, he's the best men's player currently on the tour who hasn't won a Major. I think he could still do it but he's 32 and the window is starting to close.

Tsonga has always been injury-prone and a headcase. It was never a question of talent with him

Today Nole is playing in form Monfis . this should be very exciting match

I can't believe Nole is playing Monfils in the second round. It's really too bad that Mofils' ranking dropped below 32.

USO rematch between Sharapova and Sevastova!

If Struff plays well he might give Federer at least 1 tough set.

2014 Wimbledon SF rematch-Halep vs. VERY IN-FORM Bouchard!

Del Potro and Khachanov just played a competitive match in Auckland. Now they're going to play again

Chung vs. Medvedev in a young gun show

If it’s really going to a 40 degree day, then they’ll be playing day matches with the roof closed and the AC on, r380. I can’t see how that would be worse, and not better, than playing the night match in sticky, albeit cooler, conditions with the roof open.

The grunting in Thiem-Kudla is turning me on.

Kudla, shirtless, turned me on. Again, as I switch from court to court, I'm frequently disappointed at how many quick cutaways there are as the shirts are about to be doffed.

Tennis needs to know sex sells, so give us a little something, something more often.

well most of the cameramen are straight

A few years ago when ESPN first started streaming all the courts at the majors there were no commercial breaks like now so the camera would just linger on the players during changeovers and between sets. Tons of shirtless players. But not anymore.

I seem to recall that, R394. I wonder if the players have some say (besides corporate revenue execs) in the coverage of their changes. Even when there's not a break, I notice the camera will often swiftly break away. Pisses me off.

That being said, there was a nice lingering shot of Fuscovics. Yum!

[quote]what kind if a man is attracted to a big steroid broad like the williams sisters are????

Venus is tall, but I fail to see how she's a "big steroid broad". She's pretty slim, toned but not with bulging muscles.

Speaking of which, what PEDs is Maria taking these days?

Give Rafa his due...he gets it. After he wins a match, he always makes that big show of taking off his shirt and toweling off and putting on a jacket. (And the camera shows it, which means he hasn't complained.)

Maria’s face looks awful.

Lucky Loser Pera beats No.9 Konta.

The depth! The compelling depth! I think I'm coming!!!

Dom really is the cutest thing.

Ha! Aggressively unattractive Trump lover Sam Queery is OUT!

Thiem and Kuda go to a fifth. Someone please tell me that Kuda isn't another Trumpster.

[quote] Ha! Aggressively unattractive Trump lover Sam Queery is OUT!

Good.

[quote] Dom really is the cutest thing.

Best ass in tennis. Sorry Rafa.

Upset alert: Mugurutha is down a set and a break against a Taiwanese player who is ranked outside Top 100

If Thiem can't put away a player who is ranked 150 then how he will deal with big guns? I don't see him moving beyond Rd4.

WTA is totally exposed in this Aussie open

so do these young guns of ATP too like Grigor or Thiem

I am telling you guys [which you probably already know]

It is going to one of big three or Stan who is going to win men side and as far as womens are concerned don't be surprised if a player ranks outside Top 100 manages to win the trophy.

And his opponent was really good looking

Maria got her revenge

[quote] WTA is totally exposed in this Aussie open

Compelling.

Am I the only one who appreciates the new look from Adidas for the men (tight grey shorts and yellow shirt)? It's great to see things going away from the Nike tent look.

(R409), Tsonga looks great in the Adidas gear. Mind you, he looks great in pretty much anything.

So, #9 Konta and #3 Muguruza the latest women's seeds to fall. Sharapova must be rubbing her hands in glee.

I may not even need to take any drugs to win this thing!

Domi hot cakes!!!

Davis def Petkovic, 4-6, 6-0, 6-0.

What da fuck?

R414. Petkovic was exhausted after her marathon first-round victory against Petra Kvitova. Commentator mentioned that she was also carrying some injury.

Last year Semifinalist and 30th seed Mirjana Lucic Baroni also lost in today in straight set

Never noticed that McEnroe's cadences and phrasing sounds a lot like Trump beyond just their roughly common points of origin. Blech.

Djokovic at 30 already looks like a gaunt, emaciated weasel. Greed kills.

Two seeded Czech players who I like a lot moved into 3rd round despite facing tricky opponents .

Berdych defeated GGL and his former girlfriend Saforova defeated Cristea in straight sets

Just now I learned that Fog was fined 96K for abuse in US open . That may be his entire year earning

Serious Monfils bulge going on.

Serious Monfils fade going on.

Kerber won. Hopefully she can take out Sharapova in the next round

Is it hot on court, or something?

That Hungarian dude was extremely good looking.

Diego Schwartzman ... fucking hot

Fug, Fugger, Fuggerer, Fuggest

Madison Keys cruising. Here's a picture of her in action.

Is Agassi back on steroids? Or just on the Dunkin' Donuts diet?

Nole has no ass and no bulge.

And no heart and no charm.

classy

Going down as Lendl II.

You mean you DON'T think it's genuine when Djokovic gives you his heart after each victory?

He looks like a Serbian war criminal in R432.

Please Julien don't choke this time

Karen is rocking in Pink

Julien did this !!! So happy for him

No surprise. After giving a rocking performance against RBA in first round, Verdasco is now struggling against an unheralded German in 2nd round

Basically story of Nando's life

Please Help finish this in straight sets

I mean Help is leading a set and a break up but douchard plays well in grandams so you never know

Don't worry, Douchard is out

R442, where’s your pencil?

Must be a DLer in the stands...

Un Nando out in 5 set by some unknown German qualifier after giving awesome performance in 1st round performance against RBA. WTF is his problem?

Stan has become fat . Sad that he is out too .But since he has just returned from surgery so understandable

Vesnina is also out she got defeated by hot and cold Osaka

Nando and Lopez should retires gracefully this year .

Lil David went down to Benneteau. Formidable! Isn't Benneteau like 40 years old?

It seems Jim Courier read DL. He went there asking Roger;s leverage asking for the night session

Not sure what you meant, r447. Do you mean that Courier asked the tournament officials whether Federer applied some kind of pressure on them to get scheduled to a night session?

The problem, R390, is when it's extremely hot in the day but not quite hot enough to close the roof, as was the case yesterday. When that happens then, yeah, it's much better to be Federer playing at night than Djokovic playing in the afternoon.

No I meant he went "there" during interview asking Roger . that whether he asked for night session on Rod Laver's arena for two successive rounds? Roger replied that there may be 60 players who probably asked for the same thing . Then Jim asked do you think you have more leverage than those players in getting favor from officials.

Roger defected the question by saying that Novak is pretty popular too so do many Aussie players. I don't know its my call . may be its ad revenue etc etc

Thanks, ESL. I'm glad that Courier asked that question. Really, in my opinion, the Djokovic/Monfils match should have been the men's night headliner if you wanna talk about viewer interest and ad revenue.

I disagree, r451. Channel 7 broadcasts the AO in Australia, and Roger v Anyone brings in much better ratings than Djokovic (or any other player). I think that’s what tips the balance. Channel 7 wants the highest ratings possible in that evening time slot. To give you some idea of the adulation RF gets in Australia: people who never watch tennis will tune in and stay tuned in for a Federer match. Someone I know (a tenured uni prof, no less) will actually cry if Roger loses, and she barely watches tennis beyond the Australian leg in January. My father was never one to watch tennis, and hated it when I monopolised the tv as a kid to watch the AO, and yet I couldn’t pry him from the telly during last year’s final. He cheered when Federer came back against Nadal in the fifth.

Federer is to the casual Australian television sports viewer today what ABBA was to the casual radio listener in Australia in the ‘70s. Ratings gold.

You make some good points, r452. I had no idea that Federer was that popular in Australia.

The women's draw is a mess. There are only 6 of the Top 16 seeds remaining. Only three players still alive have won a major, and two of those (Kerber, Sharapova) face each other in the 3R.

Which is fine for die hard fans, who will tune in regardless of who is on court because they want to watch the Australian Open. But casual fans are left with Sharapova, Wozniacki, maybe Halep and Kerber and Keys.

I know the spin we'll get from the tennis press, about how it's a wide open event, and there's such great depth of talent. But at some point, don't people have to acknowledge that very few people are clamoring to see Pliskova vs. Ostapenko, or Garcia vs. Svitolina? Won't this have long-term effects on the sport, it's ratings, it's attendance? Or am I completely off-base, and these unproven players can bring excitement and viewers?

I feel like tennis commentators are so caught up in debates on equal prize money, and Serena's 329th death-defying illness that they're missing the forest for the trees, and our sport is slowly dying.

R454, eventually new players do have to rise up. I don’t see stories complaining about the WTA hemorrhaging money or broadcasters not wanting to show women’s tennis. So why are you projecting that it’s all about to collapse? Keep in mind, these mid range players are all very popular in their own countries despite not being worldwide names like Serena, Venus or Sharapova.

Updated Federer draw till the QFs

Rd3: Gasquet/Sonego Rd4: Fucsovics/Kicker (what a chance for these two to reach a first GS 2nd week and play Roger

Old man Benneteau defeating Goffin who just had his best year! Compelling! Old man Federer the favorite to win over everyone else! Compelling!

Jim Courier looks younger than Julien Benneteau.

Speaking of ad revenue

Kumkhum-Martic opens the Laver Arena (!)

1st match on MCA

Denisa Allertova vs Magda Linette

3rd match On MACA

Kateryna Bondarenko vs Magdalena Rybarikova

Very good for ad revenues

New players [italic]are[/italic] coming up, r455, but they’re all so boring. And I’m not talking about “narrative-driven” boredom (that “narrative” crap lazy journos and Ben and Cortney are always on about)—I’m talking about tennis boredom. It’s as if all the women have been brought up to play the same way (hit hard, then hit harder), and none has a plan B (if hitting harder doesn’t work, then spray the ball beyond the baseline). There’s nothing even remotely compelling about that.

The WTA and the army of WTA apologists decide they need fresh blood, so what do they do? They latch on to technically unremarkable players who have won the odd slam in a period of great technical mediocrity (Muguruza, Ostapenko) and foist them on us even though they are among the most unpalatable of athletes ever (I swear that a brat like Ostapenko should be grounded by her parents and not turned into an (un)marketable commodity who can get away with murder, and a Coco Vandewegh should be fined for calling her opponent a bitch on court and not lionised by the press for her indomitable spunk). At the same time, they decide that a lying, cheating player like Sharapova should be given extra prefect duty, and bring her on for the AO draw ceremony. People not only aren’t buying it; they’re actually being put off the rest of the tour by it.

Rd3 on Thiem/Zverev/Djokovic quarter

Thiem-Mannarino

Marterer-Sandgren (!)

Djokovic-Ramos

Chung-Zverev

No Stan but still the most interesting section of the draw imo.

[quote]Keep in mind, these mid range players are all very popular in their own countries

Do you really think so, r455? I don’t think a Camila Giorgi is particularly popular in Italy (if anyone knows who she is, they’re probably just as likely to be familiar with stories involving her grifter father). Nor was a Schiavone or a Pennetta remarkably popular until they really made it big in Paris and New York. I can’t imagine Svitolina and Alona Bondarenko getting ticker tape receptions in Kiev, either.

Again, the problem is that the women’s game is going through a slump at the moment. It hasn’t always been like that—there were periods in which the women’s game far outshone anything the men were doing, and other periods in which both games were equally exciting. At the moment, with very, very few really topnotch exceptions, most women’s matches are virtually unwatchable.

No amount of denying it will solve the very serious problem.

Pennetta was a pretty big personality and figure in Italy even before her US Open win. A lot of it had to do with her looks. But yes some of these new WTA superstars aren't even well known or liked in their home country - Jo Konta, Julia Georges, Naomi Osaka, etc.

Most interesting matches for day 5 (at least on paper)

Dimitrov vs. Rublev-rematch of their USO match that Rublev won

Tsonga vs. Kyrgios!!!!!!!

Nadal vs. Dzumhur

I'll check the women's scores but on paper the only interesting ones are in the other half of the draw. This half had too many upsets.

Seriously I hate Maria but I do get why she is a draw. She played at a very high level yesterday. And Sevastova is fun to watch too. There are no personalities in the women's game and really they're so boring to watch.

PCB is actually cute . This is first time I am noticing

Djokovic looks almost sickly thin. Tsonga-Kyrgios match looks to be good.....go Tsonga....

PCB looks like he'd be super smooth, but he actually has a hairy chest. Yum. Love him.

[quote][R454], eventually new players do have to rise up.

Well, certainly. Wertheim said something similar in a response to a Mailbag question this week: when the big names are gone, *someone* still has to win the Grand Slams. But my point is that if the Slams are won by Halep, or Pliskova, or Svitolina, maybe that raises their profile some, but it doesn't mean the public/sporting world will take an interest in them. Bland, bland, and more bland. It's like a tour full of Conchita Martinez.

If Sloane Stephens could pull it together, there might be some hope. Five years ago, she was a bubbly, charming interview. These days, she's sour and dour with a shitty attitude. So she'd have to start winning AND change her attitude. Probably not going to happen. Maybe Keys?

[quote]I don’t see stories complaining about the WTA hemorrhaging money or broadcasters not wanting to show women’s tennis.

Hmm. It's tricky. Why do you think the WTA has been pushing for combined events? There were great stories about record US Open ratings last year... but how often will four Americans - including Venus - make the final 4 of their hometown Slam? What would those ratings look like had it been Svitolina vs Konta and Sevastova vs Vesnina?

This could all change if Serena can come back for a few more years, or Venus stays near the top, or Sharapova can successfully come back from the doping ban. These three are very capable of holding the sport up, but with each passing year, it becomes more difficult for them. Sharapova broke through in 2004. I'd argue that it's been 14 years since we've had a big-name woman's player break through.

[quote]So why are you projecting that it’s all about to collapse?

As I said in my earlier comments, there's always going to be an audience for tennis - the die hard fans follow the sport regardless of who is playing and winning. But the sport is losing casual fans because it has no personalities other than the three I mention above. It basically isn't televised on the major US networks anymore. I think ABC (through their affiliation with ESPN) still shows Wimbledon on tape delay.

A sport can continue to exist as a "fringe" sport. That's what horse racing is today. It was huge 60, 80, 100 years ago. But today, it's just the Kentucky Derby that anyone watches unless there's a Triple Crown threat. Who watches Boxing anymore? Who watches Indy Car racing? Who watches the LPGA? So many of the sports became marginalized when they lost personalities that carried them. Twenty years ago, the LPGA had some buzz when Annika Sorenstam was playing, winning a lot, trying to qualify for PGA events. But no one stepped up when she retired, and you hear almost nothing of the sport anymore.

[quote]Keep in mind, these mid range players are all very popular in their own countries despite not being worldwide names like Serena, Venus or Sharapova.

This means nothing. Seriously. So much talk about Ostapenko being celebrated in Latvia (parades, postage stamps, etc.), but if she can't draw fans and attention worldwide, it's pointless.

I've followed - and loved - women's tennis for over 30 years. There have been lulls, like when Jankovic and Safina were atop the sport. But the post-Serena, Venus, and Sharapova years look pretty bleak indeed.

Man vs. Boy

Rublev makes Grigor appear ultra masculine and virile.

Ruble is one ugly cunt.

Nearly 10 percent attendance in MCA during Bonerkno vs Rybrikova match

May be Porna Coric should learn something from his country man Ivo Karlovic .

Regardless of outcome of todays match one should admire Ivo for his tenacity in this sweltering heat .

BTW where the hell is Porna? At what round he lost ? And to whom

Dwarftzman beats Dolgo. Good

R474 lost in round 1 to Millman

CSN won

Will Smith is also in Krygois / Tsonga 's match . He never comes to watch tennis matches What he is doing here? looking for BBC?

There are rumors about his likings in Blind Gossip

The level of play in the Tsonga/Kyrgios match is really high. I want a fifth set!

Offical DL confirmation : Jim Courier is GAY

R479, I thought that was confirmed quite a while ago, LOL.

[quote]a tour full of Conchita Martinez.

I love tennis but even I would not be able to handle this.

Is Ostapenko wearing culottes? It's not a very flattering look for her.

Ostapenko out! Beaten by Kontaveit!!

Compelling!!!

It's a long ways away, but if there is a Halep v. Wozniacki final, I fear it marks the End of Days.

No kidding, r484. I was hoping for a Sharapova/Ostapenko final, but now that's not going to happen.

I love Federer, but he really should've kept his mouth shut re: playing in the heat, esp when he's almost always given a night match. They are almost literally playing w/ fire by having them compete in such sweltering conditions. After someone suffers a serious health scare, everyone's going to wonder why they didn't do something about it earlier.

Agree with R469, but would argue that it's not just personality and star quality that makes tennis stars. You can be bland if the game is good. Play well enough...often enough...and the system will work. Fans will admire you...media and marketing will push you.

The real underlying issue for me is that none of these women are good enough. No one is playing consistent high quality tennis. If Halep, Kvitova, Mugurza, Kerber, Wozniacki, etc. were consistently making Quarters/Semis...we'd be in much better shape. It wouldn't be a Golden Age, but we'd pick our favorites and deal with it. But they're not doing that.

The truly frightening thing for the WTA is that women's tennis is the most profitable sport for women...and yet the sport isn't attracting the top female athletes. For all the talk about depth, there are a lot of chubby, mediocre players in the Top 100. Why are the true female jocks choosing other sports (basketball, soccer, volleyball, track)? The ATP is in better shape, but also desperately needs new stars/great players. So there is obviously a systemic problem in attracting and cultivating new talent (male and female). Deal with that or tennis will become more and more irrelevant.

I agree with you, r487, that a consistent, talented player can be bland but still generate a lot of fan interest. Case in point: Pete Sampras. And another problem with not having any consistent women at the top of the WTA (besides Serena) is that you don't get the rivalries that can make the sport so compelling. I suppose the closest thing we have is Serena v. Sharapova, but that's not really a true rivalry given how lopsided their head-to-head results have been. What we need are some intense rivalries. I long for the days of Seles v. Graf, Serena v. Henin, Evert v. Navratilova, etc.

[quote] there are a lot of chubby, mediocre players in the Top 100.

Who?

The current French Open champ...

So do the Aussies or the Yanks get the award for rudest, loudest, drunkest local Slam crowds?

R491, Ummm, what about us?

Today the only 2 men's matches that look good on paper are Zverev vs. Chung and Del Potro vs. Berdych. The others will likely be blowouts. Federer destroying Gasquet for the 1000000th time is sure to be compelling stuff. I wonder if Gasquet is mad that Dimitrov was deemed the new "baby Fed"?

There are a few interesting women's matches today. Sharapova vs. Kerber, Pliskova vs. Safarova and Barty vs. Osaka

R493, I'm also hoping to see Marterer dump last Trumpster left, and Ramos-Vinolas and Fucsovics for obvious reasons.

Del Potro/Berdych could be the match of the tournament if both players are on, or it could be a dud if either player is off. Interestingly, they've played each other only eight times, with Del Potro having the edge (5-3).

Predicting Delpo in no more than four sets. Berdych hasn't done anything significant since Wimbledon.

Who are you rooting for Safarova or Pliskova?

I'm rooting for Pliskova, r497, because Safarova got to fuck Berdych for eight years so she's already had her day in the sun.

I'm rooting for all -ovas to be ova.

R499, so you want a, gulp, Halep/Wozniacki final?

....

No, R500, I'm hoping for a Woz/Keys final.

Page not found R501. Summarize?

Not laughing at all, r502. If Keys is in the final, I might actually watch it.

Strange, sorry, R503. Anyway he is on Nole's side and says the aim is to benefit all the players. He mentions that players receive just 14% of revenues at some grand slams while the NBA offers 50% for example.

I'm not sure that comparison is valid, R505, because the Grand Slam sites only have a two-week period every year to rake in their revenue. Of course, they might host other minor events throughout the year, but it's basically just two weeks that have to subsidize a whole year of upkeep for those large facilities. Or am I missing something here.

Perhaps a compromise between the two figures can be reached, R506?

Djokovic is trying to have his Venus equal prize money moment.

I think a compromise would be great, r507, if that means more money for the lower-ranked players. And I'm actually glad that Djokovic raised the issue because now, I think, there's gonna be a more open discussion about where the revenues go. If, for example, a lot of the money from the U.S. Open goes into the USTA funding for player development, then I'm all for that. But if a lot goes to USTA officials and administrative overhead, then I think that that should be questioned. Just my two cents...

Are Will and Nick a thing?

Coco needs to hire whoever managed Kyrgios' PR turnaround. He went from vile, lazy, spoiled brat to Mr. Equality who devotes his waking hours to putting smiles on the faces of the poor children of the world.

There's a recent ESPN article about the 'softer side of Coco'...I guess it didn't help much with her behavior at the AO (she was fined $10,000 for unsportsmanlike behaviour)

R511, we remain unconvinced.

Ummmmm, R512, so Coco has a soft side?

R514, her belly

....

The hardest thing about CoCunt is her dick

Marathon match between Halep and Davis. It's now 10-10 in the third set.

three straight match point wasted by Davis

Halep I need somebody

Halep not just anybody

Halep you know I need someone

Halep!

It really says something that the No. 1 seed is not the one who's dictating play against her No. 50 ranked opponent.

Has there ever been a more pathetic No. 1 seed than Halep???

I was never that keen on Wozniacki, r522 but, yeah, Halep might have a slight edge.

Where’s ESL?

I am right here . Just finished watching Help/ Davis match

Thiem has such a gay voice . It becomes gayer when he shouts

I'm not as down on the WTA as some of you but Halep is pretty dire. Sure, she's an excellent defensive player and plays the retrieving style better than anyone but she has no offensive abilities whatsoever. Add to that her 65 mph second serves, her fleeting grunt and that dumbstruck look she always has and I think the WTA is much worse off with her at #1.

Halep served for the match at least twice earlier in the 3rd set. Davis had love 40 to break for the match. Halep finally closed it out 15-13. That's like playing over 4 sets.

Halep is this generation's Arantxa, but not as mentally tough.

I had no idea that Thiem has turned into Misery.

Shouting at his coach right from game 3.

He did the same thing regularly during his second round match.

What gives? When did our sweet Domi turn into such a cunt?

I noticed that too, ESL, a couple of days ago.

Surprised to know that suspected gays. Henri Kontinen/John Peers lost their doubles match yesterday

R530 Thiem probably picked up the habit from Mladenovic

Chung has the best legs on the ATP

Zverev's face can look attractive from afar on court but up close in interviews he's weird-looking to me

R530, maybe the pressure is getting to Thiem much more now that the expectations for him to break through are so high.

Sandgren is repulsive.

I had no idea that Sasha's boyfriend is no 1 player in doubles

Nick Krygois has withdrawn from his doubles match which is understandable consider very hard fought match last night against Tsonga

Never hated Halep and her no risk game more. She is one lucky little gnome. She needed the gods to break her obviously much more bold opponent to be hurt to get through. Like her being number 1. Just great fortune. Her game is a bore and full of Euro defensiveness. Can't wait to see her blown off the court again.

O M G!!! I interviewed young Grigor last night and he told me I asked a good question. And then mentioned an ice bath. I mean ice. Just ice. That's all I heard. The kids are so excited.

Chung plays a similar way to Coric so it's not a surprise that Zverev is having trouble with him.

ugggh useless Sasha

I wanted him to do well

Serena v Capriati was much more compelling than Serena v Henin. Serena feared Capriati more which made it more compelling. She thought she should beat Henin but thought she could lose to Capriati. Look at all the 3 set thrillers they had. Henin was just a pest busy bee to Serena. Capriati had a game that could hurt her. And she knew it.

Serena had a losing record vs. Henin at the majors (3-4).

Henin also cheated and lied in one of those majors. Remember her non time out time out? She was never above doing that. She often took medical timeouts when getting schooled.

The Argentine Nicolas Kicker is extremely cute. And bulging massively at the moment.

Henin also did that shit to Capriati at the 2001 Wimbledon. She was getting pounced 6-2 4-2 and then took a medical timeout that annoyed Capriati and she ended up turning it around. She was a little sneak throughout her career. Granted I give her credit for improving her game throughout her career but her gamesmanship was always snotty at best.

I thought Henin had a secret obsession with Kim Clijsters, perhaps dating back to their coming up together in Belgium. After Kim retired, Justine walks away from the game somewhat suddenly. Then Kim makes a comeback, and guess who also comes back shortly thereafter? Henin always came off as having some weird chip on her shoulder or some void or something that caused her to be so single-minded in her tennis career.

I agree 549. She seemed cold, calculating and hateful. With no friends on the tour to speak of. Whereas Kim was friends with everyone. I've heard her call Lindsay, Anastasia Myskina, Mauresmo and especially Jennifer who she was tight with as friends. Never heard Henin call anyone a friend.

Third Zverev match and the third time Melo is in his box (not from the start of the match).

I see Jen C. (R544) is out on parole and bored.

Why is Sascha so miserable at slams? Bageled by chunky Chung. Wow. Pathetic.

Madison is so pretty here.

ESL, you sure do turn quickly if your players lose.

Wow Osaka totally destroyed and exposed inform Barty

For a skinny guy Nole has decent a ass . At least decent than Sasha

Kerbs!!!

[quote] Madison is so pretty here.

Where?

Bwahahaha, bye Dopova!

Seems like all of the ESPN tennis commentators are smarmy, full of themselves, not even remotely impartial, and overflowing with verbal diarrhea.

Gramps!

Great effort by Kerber.

And tell me it's not just me that's noticed that Sharapova's face has gotten fat. I noticed it in her presser but thought maybe it was just the weird high-collared black top she was wearing that made her neck disappear and face appear fat. But against Kerber it was really noticeable that she was transitioning towards Yeltsin territory.

Why does the Aussie Open seem to be the favorite major of DL?

[quote] transitioning towards Yeltsin territory

Is that a disputed territory claimed by Russia?

I posted on here years ago - and got viciously attacked for it - that a friend who runs IMG tennis in one of their global markets told me that Henin's walking away from the game the first time was a "silent" doping ban. And yes, i know that Henin was not repped by IMG but i believe him totally.

Kerber should have won 6-0 6-2 but 6-1 6-3 is a nice beatdown. She played well and retrieved a lot of balls. Sharapova was sloppy and did not move well at all. So glad she won't luck her way to another slam.

Kerber has a good shot at winning her third major if she keeps this form

lol @ the very hyped Zverev failing to go deep at a slam again. This is also the second straight loss to someone in his age group at a slam (Coric now Chung).

Berdych easy over Del Potro

Hands and hearts out.

Maybe Serena feared Capriati more than Henin, but I think she hated Henin more. And that's why, to me, her rivalry against Henin was more intense.

Berdych vs Del Potro

20 aces

52 winners

28 UE

I had forgotten that Berdych is 32. Not long ago men player use to retire at that age.

Did you see that match, r572? I'm wondering if Berdych was playing lights out, or if Del Potro had a really bad day. Or maybe a combination of both?

R574 both but tilt slightly towards Berdych 's strong performance.

Delpo was bit off after his marathon match against Karen Khachneov

Berdych posted a hot photo of himself on twitter

He will meet Fog next

I am really happy for Kerber! Zverev is putting too much pressure on himself at the slams.

I totally believe Henin was caught doping. A cheater is a cheater. She pulled shady shit on court...why wouldn't she do it off court? That makes more sense than her just walking away.

She always came across to me like a fucked up little sociopath who thought she was justified to do anything because her mother died. And those dead eyes! LOL...can you tell I hated that bitch?

Happy for Kerber, rooting for her to win the whole thing. She could teach Sasha how to keep his head in the right place.

I also noticed the other day that Sharapova looked a little more,,,matronly.

Henin--I loved the looks of her game, but unless she had some intense legit workout program, her sudden spurt of muscles was suspect to me. I thought her retiring in the Wimbledon final to Mauresmo was classless--she could have stood out there for three more minutes just batting balls into the net and allowing herself to be aced so ensure that Mauresmo got to experience match point. Instead, she quit, robbing Mauresmo of her moment...implication that she could have won the match were she healthy.

I would imagine that Serena probably had a grudging respect for Capriati because Jennifer gave as good as she got in the attitude department. I think the only player she truly dislikes is Maria.

This thread is about to be filled so quickly not even week one has finished .

ESL, do you think Berdych is playing well enough to challenge Federer, should they meet in the quarters?

R583. I wish but we have seen time and time again recently that Berdy plays really well in the tournaments but in crunch moments he can't finish the matches. Yes I know he has beaten Federer twice in grand slams but that was eons ago.

Even today when he was two sets and 5/0 up and had three match points on his own serve he could not hold it. And no he was not complacent or lost concentration. He became tight and tentative just like he always does at big moments..

Yes he managed to seal the victory in his next service game but today his lead was too big and DelPo was fatigued.

But do you think he will able to close against match against Federer in the fourth set tiebreaker if he leads 2 sets to one.? I don't think so. He will probably have a brain fart at 5/5 in the tiebreaker and will loose it and will probably get demolished in fifth set.

So 95 percent chance is Roger is going to win. Berdy may give Roger a really hard time but he will not be to close the match.

So I saw an article on Aussie open official website whose title was " Five thing which learned on day 6' . Each time I clicked on the article to read it

It got a page which only read

Partners The Australian Open is proudly supported by:

Name of its five advertisers

I watched a bit of the Zverev match last night. Glad he lost. Gilbert was acting like it was a a foregone conclusion that Zverev would win, and Zverev himself douched it up by screaming after every point he won.

Del Potro was not moving so great. He got a bit of a leg issue in his previous match that carried over. Berdych played decently but it wasn't super amazing.

I was also unimpressed by whiny Berdych. It was clear Del Potro was running near empty. All it takes is an unexpected loss for Zverev and Kyrgios to revert back to their spoiled brat modes.

Part II thread:

Gasquet has a nice ass for his age.

First week almost over.

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