Roland Garros

#1
volfanbill

volfanbill

pack light and love heavy…
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#1
a little early to start this thread, but it's worth noting that Roger Federer dominated Rafael Nadal on the clay today to win the Madrid Open. Federer won 6-4, 6-4 and was never broken. The men's side of tennis is getting very intense. Nadal, Djoke, Murray, Roddick, Tsonga have all looked solid this season and now Federer shows that he's not quite done yet.

On the women's side, Safina is rolling along, but she's never won a major. Jankovic has won at least once this season and the Williams sisters have played well, but no one is looking all the great, and few of them are completely healthy. I have no idea what's going to happen on that side.

Could be a great French Open. I honestly love watching them play on clay, but it is by far the least watched major in tennis.
 
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#3
#3
Seriously, what do Americans have to look forward to with talent these days?
Its it all on Mister never lived up to expectations Roddick? I realize we have two of the most dominate male players in the game right now but damn i miss the mid 90's of tennis..
 
#4
#4
Roddick is the only American male in the top ten, while Blake and Mardy Fish are still in the top 30 and that's it until you get past the top 50. There is no hope right now of an American being a dominant male player. Sam Querrey has shown flashes, but he has a LONG way to go.

On the women's side it's actually worse. There are only like 5 US players in the top 100. It's hidden because the Williams' sisters are both top 5 and are always contenders no matter what surface they are on or where they are at. But they're starting to age and once they are gone, I don't know if anyone will step in.

Tennis has just become IMMENSELY popular in Eastern Europe and it's starting to spread all over the continent over there. I've read reports that it's growing in the states, but it's nowhere near the numbers that Europe is seeing.
 
#5
#5
and since I can't talk tennis without mentioning her, Ana has been hurt all season and playing like crap. She's still remarkably easy on the eyes. Just gorgeous:

ana-ivanovic.jpg
 
#6
#6
volfanbill said:
Roddick is the only American male in the top ten, while Blake and Mardy Fish are still in the top 30 and that's it until you get past the top 50. There is no hope right now of an American being a dominant male player. Sam Querrey has shown flashes, but he has a LONG way to go.

On the women's side it's actually worse. There are only like 5 US players in the top 100. It's hidden because the Williams' sisters are both top 5 and are always contenders no matter what surface they are on or where they are at. But they're starting to age and once they are gone, I don't know if anyone will step in.

Tennis has just become IMMENSELY popular in Eastern Europe and it's starting to spread all over the continent over there. I've read reports that it's growing in the states, but it's nowhere near the numbers that Europe is seeing.
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Its a shame really, we really can't fall on the "its not easily accessible and expensive" excuse we use with other sports. Where are all the crazy obsessive fathers we grew to love that started training their kids on the court at 4 years old?

Its funny just to observe our culture now and you can tell tennis has had a bad decline in popularity. When i was a teenager i would have to wait an hour to get a open court. Now not only is nobody usually playing at tennis courts i go by but the maintenance on them has lagged and you find crappy run down courts alot more then you use to.
 
#7
#7
wounded mullet said:
Its a shame really, we really can't fall on the "its not easily accessible and expensive" excuse we use with other sports. Where are all the crazy obsessive fathers we grew to love that started training their kids on the court at 4 years old?

Its funny just to observe our culture now and you can tell tennis has had a bad decline in popularity. When i was a teenager i would have to wait an hour to get a open court. Now not only is nobody usually playing at tennis courts i go by but the maintenance on them has lagged and you find crappy run down courts alot more then you use to.
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yeah, my biggest problem now is finding friends who will still play. I bought a sweet new Head LiquidMetal last summer and I've got to play with it like 10 times. the courts around here are always pretty much wide open.
 
#8
#8
volfanbill said:
yeah, my biggest problem now is finding friends who will still play. I bought a sweet new Head LiquidMetal last summer and I've got to play with it like 10 times. the courts around here are always pretty much wide open.
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I feel you on that one. I played at least 4 times a week in high school and played on the high school team and even joined a tennis club with indoor courts and tourneys in Chattanooga. The past few years i got so desperate i tried to teach my gf to play so i would have somebody to play against. If you consider fetching a dozen balls out of the parking lot fun then it was a blast.
 
#9
#9
during summers of undergrad school, I'd play around 27 holes of golf and then 2 or 3 nights a week we'd play tennis. I felt like the super prep, but now I only have one buddy that will occasionally play tennis with me. I've had tennis "dates" and they always went very badly. Don't think I'm ever going to try those again.
 
#10
#10
wounded mullet said:
Seriously, what do Americans have to look forward to with talent these days?
Its it all on Mister never lived up to expectations Roddick? I realize we have two of the most dominate male players in the game right now but damn i miss the mid 90's of tennis..
Click to expand...

Amer Delic is a pretty exciting player to watch as is the former Bulldog John Isner. It will be interesting to see how good he gets.
 
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#11
#11
volfanbill said:
a little early to start this thread, but it's worth noting that Roger Federer dominated Rafael Nadal on the clay today to win the Madrid Open. Federer won 6-4, 6-4 and was never broken. The men's side of tennis is getting very intense. Nadal, Djoke, Murray, Roddick, Tsonga have all looked solid this season and now Federer shows that he's not quite done yet.

On the women's side, Safina is rolling along, but she's never won a major. Jankovic has won at least once this season and the Williams sisters have played well, but no one is looking all the great, and few of them are completely healthy. I have no idea what's going to happen on that side.

Could be a great French Open. I honestly love watching them play on clay, but it is by far the least watched major in tennis.
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Remember '07? Didn't do Roger much good that time. I'm hoping this year is different. Nadal doesn't like the Madrid masters because of the altitude (so he says). Djoke is looking solid, as you said. I think Del Potro is looking pretty solid right now, though he lost to Roger in straights, as well.
 
#12
#12
MphsBlues said:
Amer Delic is a pretty exciting player to watch as is the former Bulldog John Isner. It will be interesting to see how good he gets.
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Delic is fun to watch, but he's never made much out of his eight years as a pro. I've given up on him as a top ten guy.

Isner is good, but it will be a few years before we see anything out of him I think. Speaking of SEC tennis, have you seen Auburn's tennis center?
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#13
#13
volfanbill said:
Delic is fun to watch, but he's never made much out of his eight years as a pro. I've given up on him as a top ten guy.

Isner is good, but it will be a few years before we see anything out of him I think. Speaking of SEC tennis, have you seen Auburn's tennis center?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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Haven't seen it, Bill. Pretty nice?
 
#19
#19
The French open kicks off in 6 hours and 59 minutes, i wonder if there will be any upsets in round one.
 
#20
#20
volsgal03 said:
The French open kicks off in 6 hours and 59 minutes, i wonder if there will be any upsets in round one.
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Ana was given a tough test, but she pulled through 7-6, 6-3.

ten_g_ivanovic_400.jpg


not shown in this pic is the tape around her right knee. I can't see a scenario where she can make it to the final again this year...
 
#21
#21
It seems as though she was playing a little tight, but persevered to win. Sharipova back in action ater a 10 month layoff due to injury herself. I wonder how she will fair tomorrow. She is in the same bracket as Ivanovic, I would like to see those two matchup, i think it would be in the semi-finals if that happened, there is a lot of tennis to play.
 
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#22
#22
Anyone familiar with this Marc Gicquel dude? He is POUNDING Reiner Schuttler. Goose egged him in both of the first two sets.
 
#23
#23
MphsBlues said:
Anyone familiar with this Marc Gicquel dude? He is POUNDING Reiner Schuttler. Goose egged him in both of the first two sets.
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i know nothing about him, but sounds interesting. Third set was a little more competitive.

In other news, American Mardy Fish is about to go down. 22nd seeded Fish losing to an unranked. Ah, it's good to be a fan of American tennis.

Jelena cruised earlier this morning and Djoke was dominating before his opponent retired.
 
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