BlackAdder7 said:

i can't wait to see who winds Mcenroe-bjorg.

or maybe it will be agassi...

Cerebus said:

RodeoSchro said:

But you're Serious and McEnroe always said, "You cannot be Serious!"

:confused:

mynameisnotsusan said:

Cerebus said:

And not go back to being a pouting, douche face, "oh I'm injured" quiter if he starts losing. How quickly people forget.

I think he's moved through that now. The mental confidence and strength he got from winning the Davis Cup and changes in his diet was like a light switched on for him. He carries himself like a champion instead of an also-ran *cough-Andy-Murray-cough*

BlackAdder7 said:

i can't wait to see who winds Mcenroe-bjorg.

or maybe it will be agassi...

more! more! He could do Martina

NDRU said:

BlackAdder7 said:

i can't wait to see who winds Mcenroe-bjorg.

or maybe it will be agassi...

more! more! He could do Martina

My people!

It's probably obvious from my avatar who I want to win on the women's side. Realistically, assuming that she gets through Azarenka tomorrow, Serena has to be considered the heavy favourite. If Caroline does not choke and makes it to the semis I hope she can at least take a set off of Serena.

On the other side of the draw it looks like a potential Sharapova/Zvonareva semi (although Maria looks to be in a bit of trouble against Pennetta). I don't think it will happen but I would love to see a Wozniacki/Zvonareva final.

I don't think he is back to where he was two years ago but if he catches fire Juan Martin del Potro is capable of beating any of the big four.

Federer potentially has Tsonga in the quarters who he lost to twice this year. It will be tough for Roger to even make the semis.

I kind of hope that if Djokovic, Nadal or Murray makes the final they will play someone else. Berdych, Fish and Tsonga would be my picks who have an outside chance of beating one of the big four to make the final.

Serious said:

NDRU said:

more! more! He could do Martina

Not you, Martina! I meant Navratilova

NDRU said:

Serious said:

Not you, Martina! I meant Navratilova

Not Hingis?

Serious said:

NDRU said:

Not you, Martina! I meant Navratilova

Not Hingis?

nah, she is a little too cute for him to pull off

The Women's draw continues to fall apart with Sharapova losing to Pennetta today. From that half it looks like Zvonareva or Stosur will make the final with Lisicki having an outside chance. I don't see any of them giving Serena any problems.

On the other half it looks like either Wozniacki/Kuznetsova/Petkovic will face Serena or Azarenka in the semi with Jankovic/Schiavone/Pavlyuchenkova having a slim chance of taking Serena/Azarenka's spot.

What a mess!

Yeah. Can't believe how many highly ranked players have withdrawn or lost already. Makes the top ranked mens players seem even more impressive.

Cool that the young American guy won today... I'm spacing on his name.... But its nice to have somebody else to watch in the next round.

rialb said:

The Women's draw continues to fall apart with Sharapova losing to Pennetta today. From that half it looks like Zvonareva or Stosur will make the final with Lisicki having an outside chance. I don't see any of them giving Serena any problems.

On the other half it looks like either Wozniacki/Kuznetsova/Petkovic will face Serena or Azarenka in the semi with Jankovic/Schiavone/Pavlyuchenkova having a slim chance of taking Serena/Azarenka's spot.

What a mess!

Yeh, The womens game is quite erratic isn't it. I've got Caroline at 11/1 to win it all. She's great on hardcourts, but doesn't seem to have the mental strenght for the majors. Serena will be there i think, with maybe Kuznetzova a dark horse this year.

Sam Stosur is hit and miss. She has the game to beat anyone but reminds me to much of Jankovic!

I'd like to see Sabine do well. As for the mens, Novak- Roger Semi. Nadal always looks vulnerable on hardcourts. I'd fancy Mardy Fish to make the semis, but i don't know what side of the draw he's on.

It is too bad that Azarenka was not able to get into the match quicker, she may have been able to extend it to a third set. I think that was the most dangerous match for Serena and she has now all but won. Ivanovic is much too fragile to threaten her, after that it's either Pavlyuchenkova or Schiavone neither of whom should be a problem and then probably Wozniacki or Petkovic in the semis. Of her potential opponents I think that Andrea is probably the most likely to defeat her. It's not very likely but if she catches lightning in a bottle she might have a chance.

I like Vera but I kind of hope she doesn't make the final. If she does the result will likely be very similar to the 2010 Wimbledon final.

I hope that Roddick somehow makes it to the quarters to face Nadal. It seems like Andy is past his peak and would not be much of a problem for Rafa but I still think Andy can pull off a huge upset. This is a matchup that I would have loved to have seen more often particularly circa 2005-2008 when Andy was still one of the better players on the tour.

The ladies tournament is definitely crazy, as usual lately. My three favourites are all out. I'm sorry for Sharapova, she has been fighting hard and deserved to win another Major.

Today we have an interesting Nadal-Nalbandian. Let's see what happens, it's a tough test for Rafa.

Javi said:

The ladies tournament is definitely crazy, as usual lately. My three favourites are all out. I'm sorry for Sharapova, she has been fighting hard and deserved to win another Major.

Today we have an interesting Nadal-Nalbandian. Let's see what happens, it's a tough test for Rafa.

Nalbandian is a great player who should have won a major. If that 2003 US Open semi final against Roddick had gone his way things may have worked out quite differently. He was one of the few players that was capable of beating Federer at his peak, it's too bad that injuries screwed up his career.

Alright, let me just say this - women's tennis is UNWATCHABLE.

Not because they can't play. They can.

IT"S THE ^%$^$&E^&%$&%$ GRUNTING!

I hate it. I hate it hate it hate it hate it. It sounds like someone's getting raped. I was going to say it sounds like a porn movie, but porn is music compared to some of these "women".

The girl that Serena Williams beat yesterday actually had a VIBRATO in her grunt! A F$%^^ING VIBRATO!

I wish she had won, just so she could have played Sharapova. The match would have sounded like this:

"HUT UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

"AHHHHHHHH-OOOOOOOO-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH!!!!!

"HUT UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

"AHHHHHHHH-OOOOOOOO-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH!!!!!"

"HUT UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

"AHHHHHHHH-OOOOOOOO-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH!!!!!"

"HUT UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

"AHHHHHHHH-OOOOOOOO-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH!!!!!"

Ugh.

rialb said:

Javi said:

The ladies tournament is definitely crazy, as usual lately. My three favourites are all out. I'm sorry for Sharapova, she has been fighting hard and deserved to win another Major.

Today we have an interesting Nadal-Nalbandian. Let's see what happens, it's a tough test for Rafa.

Nalbandian is a great player who should have won a major. If that 2003 US Open semi final against Roddick had gone his way things may have worked out quite differently. He was one of the few players that was capable of beating Federer at his peak, it's too bad that injuries screwed up his career.

Yeah, I agree. He's a master, his backhand and his angles are amazing. It's sad and unfair that Del Potro has won a Major and David diesn`t. Del Po is simply unpleasant.

Anyway, it's unfair but Nalbandian's time seems to be over. Today he has played an excellent first set, but even so he lost it to Nadal. Having lost the first set, he made a horrible second and finally a decent third. But it's still a pleasure to see him play.

Although some may accuse me of patriotism, I'd like to emphasize Nadal's adaptation to hard courts. He was, and to some degree still is, a clay court player, as many Spaniards before him, only better. I've read some posts underlining the flaws of Nadal on hard court. Well, he has won the Australian and the US Open, apart from two Wimbledons! Just think of how many great players couldn't overcome his difficulties in certain surfaces. Nadal has done it to the point of winning Majors in surfaces to which his tennis didn't seem to be prepared. This has merit.

Also thumbs up for Juan Carlos Ferrero. After many years and many injuries, he is making an impressive tournament. He may even make it to the quarterfinals and win Djoko there!

RodeoSchro said:

Alright, let me just say this - women's tennis is UNWATCHABLE.

Not because they can't play. They can.

IT"S THE ^%$^$&E^&%$&%$ GRUNTING!

I hate it. I hate it hate it hate it hate it. It sounds like someone's getting raped. I was going to say it sounds like a porn movie, but porn is music compared to some of these "women".

The girl that Serena Williams beat yesterday actually had a VIBRATO in her grunt! A F$%^^ING VIBRATO!

I wish she had won, just so she could have played Sharapova. The match would have sounded like this:

"HUT UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

"AHHHHHHHH-OOOOOOOO-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH!!!!!

"HUT UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

"AHHHHHHHH-OOOOOOOO-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH!!!!!"

"HUT UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

"AHHHHHHHH-OOOOOOOO-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH!!!!!"

"HUT UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

"AHHHHHHHH-OOOOOOOO-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH!!!!!"

Ugh.

Viktoria Azarenka is the player you are referring to. She's actually one of the more promising young players on the tour so her and her shriek are probably going to be around for a while.

Azarenka has played Maria twice this year. Once in the quarters in Rome, where Azarenka had to retire with an elbow injury, and once in the final in Miami (Azarenka won). I guess I'm used to the shrieking but both matches were probably as loud as you would imagine.

The final in Moscow last year was kind of funny. It was between Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko (who you may have watched defeat Christina McHale Friday night, she should be on Arthur Ashe Stadium shortly to play Sam Stosur). Azarenka was shrieking the same as always but Kirilenko's play seemed directly proportional to her shrieking. When she was at her loudest she seemed to do much better than when she was quiet.

The whole grunting/shrieking mess should have been stopped back when Monica Seles was starting out but it's probably impossible for them to put that genie back in the bottle.

Javi said:

rialb said:

Nalbandian is a great player who should have won a major. If that 2003 US Open semi final against Roddick had gone his way things may have worked out quite differently. He was one of the few players that was capable of beating Federer at his peak, it's too bad that injuries screwed up his career.

Yeah, I agree. He's a master, his backhand and his angles are amazing. It's sad and unfair that Del Potro has won a Major and David diesn`t. Del Po is simply unpleasant.

Anyway, it's unfair but Nalbandian's time seems to be over. Today he has played an excellent first set, but even so he lost it to Nadal. Having lost the first set, he made a horrible second and finally a decent third. But it's still a pleasure to see him play.

No love for del Potro? Shoot, beating Nadal and Federer in the same slam is not an easy task, he had quite an impressive run at the 2009 US Open. I am a bit disappointed that he has yet to come close to recapturing that form. Sure, he's coming back after nearly a year off but I had hoped that by this point in his comeback that he would be getting better results. Ah, well, maybe he will do better next year. With Federer in decline maybe the new big three will be Nadal, Djokovic and del Potro?

^I remember Nalbandian always excelled against Federer, they have a pretty tight h2h I think. Was glad when Lleyton Hewitt done him in the 03 Wimbledon final though, even if he could act like a childish fuckwit at times he often provided great entertainment.

COME ON LISICKI

I have to agree with the Schro regarding the grunting, screaming, whatever the hell it is. Its really getting annoying. Like, I beg for Sharipova's points to be short.

Anyway, what the hell with Nadal? Blisters and cramps? That would be crappy way to leave the tournament.

Sigh, Maria Kirilenko won an epic second set tiebreak (17-15) against Sam Stosur but lost the match 6-3 in the third.

Vera Zvonareva topped Sabine Lisicki without too much trouble 6-2 6-3. I kept expecting Sabine to get her serve working but it was a bit off tonight. If Sabine can stay healthy she should have a great 2012 and I expect her to finish next year in the top ten, possibly the top five.

This picture does not have anything to do with the US Open but I am posting it because Viktoria and Maria look super cute:

[img:$uid]http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Maria+Kirilenko+Mutua+Madrilena+Madrid+Open+gk41SksSMrUl.jpg[/img:$uid]

rialb said:

Javi said:

Yeah, I agree. He's a master, his backhand and his angles are amazing. It's sad and unfair that Del Potro has won a Major and David diesn`t. Del Po is simply unpleasant.

Anyway, it's unfair but Nalbandian's time seems to be over. Today he has played an excellent first set, but even so he lost it to Nadal. Having lost the first set, he made a horrible second and finally a decent third. But it's still a pleasure to see him play.

No love for del Potro? Shoot, beating Nadal and Federer in the same slam is not an easy task, he had quite an impressive run at the 2009 US Open. I am a bit disappointed that he has yet to come close to recapturing that form. Sure, he's coming back after nearly a year off but I had hoped that by this point in his comeback that he would be getting better results. Ah, well, maybe he will do better next year. With Federer in decline maybe the new big three will be Nadal, Djokovic and del Potro?

Del Potro is great, but I prefer Nalbandian's style and I think it's unfair that he has never won a Major. I also dislike Del Potro's showman attitude. Monfils is funnier to me, although in general I don't like showmen in tennis.

Joyinrepatition said:

ha ha i thought this was going to be about golf

twas the only reason I clicked on the thread

muirdo said:

Joyinrepatition said:

ha ha i thought this was going to be about golf

twas the only reason I clicked on the thread

Cerebus said:

I have to agree with the Schro regarding the grunting, screaming, whatever the hell it is. Its really getting annoying. Like, I beg for Sharipova's points to be short.

Anyway, what the hell with Nadal? Blisters and cramps? That would be crappy way to leave the tournament.

Yes, I can hardly watch if they are doing it. I am not crazy about the light moaning either

It is like a siren hearing two players who moan in different pitches back and forth "UUH" "ooh" "UUH" "ooh"

Even the announcers talk about how annoying it is, but it has filtered down to regular people, too. I work next to a tennis court, and I actually had to change offices because of it.

and it is not just the women grunting and moaning, BTW

This rain is a draaaaagggg. Please build a roof on one of these courts.

Looking at the matchups to come...

Womens quarters

Wozniacki vs Petkovic. Petkovic has been looking strong. Woz was lucky to get the win against Kuznetsova.

Williams vs Pavlyuchenkova. Serena is looking scary good. The Pav has a game that could trouble Serena if she has an off day but Serena is looking as focused as I've ever seen her.

Kerber vs Penetta. These ladies are both happy to have made it this far. Penetta will make the Semi.

Stosur vs Zvonareva. Sam has had some tough matches and got through. She's inconsistent though so it's up to her. Could go either way depending how Stosurs forehand and serve hold up.

Anyone other than Serena winning the whole thing will be a huge upset.

mynameisnotsusan said:

This rain is a draaaaagggg. Please build a roof on one of these courts.

Or two or three of them. Like, one of each size, maybe. Its one of the best sports facilities in the world and they have a problem with rain almost every year. I get that its an outdoor sport, so make 'em retractable.