OT: The Australian Open

[meyers7]

Good to see Williams go down.

 

[John Glass]

in the next hour, 15 minutes? or Thursday evening?

it depends on where you are, Australia is 16 hours ahead of EST. I think it is tonight on the east coast

 

[sivad40]

Li beat Maria in straight sets 6-2 6-2.

 

[DaddyChoc]

dang Sloane

 

[VAUConnFan]

Good to see Williams go down.

So, you'd rather see a non American win the Australian Open?

 

[VAUConnFan]

dang Sloane

She'll be fine. She's had a taste. From what I have seen, there is no reason to believe she cannot continue moving up. She has what it takes in today's game to succeed. What I especially like is that she generates her power with a very easy swinging motion.

 

[Bigpetunia]

So long as Serena is around, the two shriekers will have to settle for second and third place on the list of players one roots against most ardently. Two, thankfully, are now out. Too bad Sloane was overmatched by VA, but here's hoping for Li Na!!

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Going back to 2011, has anyone else looked forward to Na Li's post-match commentary as much as her matches? She is incredibly funny (especially since English is not her first language), has a beautiful smile, seems to really engage the crowd, and does not seem to take herself too seriously.

In 2011, she mentioned her husband's snoring, the fact that her mother does not come watch her because she has "her own life to lead," and the fact that "prize money" is what motivated her to overcome exhaustion and make it to the final. Then there was the issue over the exact date of her wedding anniversary...

http://youtu.be/9lIdJWLI7kY

 

[meyers7]

So, you'd rather see a non American win the Australian Open?

Than a Williams? Absolutely.

If it were say the Olympics, then I'd hold my nose and I wouldn't object.

 

[EricLA]

She took out one shreaker, let's hope she can take out the other...

 

[VAUConnFan]

Are there any among those responding on this thread that feel Azarenka may have gamed the rules a bit? There were signs of a Serena-like momentum change in blowing in the hot Australian wind when Azarenka took her injury break>

 

[VAUConnFan]

Than a Williams? Absolutely.

If it were say the Olympics, then I'd hold my nose and I wouldn't object.

I'm sure you have your reasons.

 

[meyers7]

I'm sure you have your reasons.

None with any real foundation, just don't like them.

 

[VAMike23]

Found this while looking up Sybil Smith, who is Sloane's mom. I read she was a swimmer and it turns out she was a damn good one!

LINK

In her day, she made the Olympic trials in three different events. Nothing to sneeze at. Also, it appears that most of her records, set in the 1980s, still stand at her alma mater (BU).

So Sloane's dad was an NFL running back and her mom an accomplished swimmer. Fairly athletic set of genes, I'd say!

 

[Bigpetunia]

Venus is adorable! Serena? Great player, but kind of a trashmouth....

 

[wire chief]

Venus is adorable! Serena? Great player, but kind of a trashmouth....

I'll go with "Venus is adorable", and I like Na Li. Shreeeeeking is not a factor in my tastes, and
I've long known there's just no explanation for Meyers.

Tennis Channel reads that we can see a replay of Fed/Andy about 7:30am and again about 5:30pm tomorrow.

 

[hoopsdiva]

So, you'd rather see a non American win the Australian Open?

I root for/against the player, not the passport.

 

[Olde Coach]

Are there any among those responding on this thread that feel Azarenka may have gamed the rules a bit? There were signs of a Serena-like momentum change in blowing in the hot Australian wind when Azarenka took her injury break>

I have been a big fan of Azarenka for the past two years; but, this said, Her leaving the court for "medical attention" does not pass the basic smell test with me.

The only thing that was hurting her was her confidence. In her own words (not exact but generally accurate) she said that she "had lost control of her nerves" and was "having trouble breathing."

Controlling your nerves is one of the basic skills required of professional tennis players. Azarenka took a time out for ten minutes to collect herself. Not fair. And I do think she was "gaming the system."

Stephens should have stayed active while waiting for Az to return. Instead, Sloane just sat quietly. When play resumed, she was not warmed up and ready to continue play at the level she was at in the previous few games.

P.S. Myers7. Please email me at wwitherell2@gmail.com

Thanks, OC

 

[pap49cba]

Anyone who wants an 'inside baseball' look at the Williams' PM me.

 

[iri10]

Azarenka was almost certainly doing some gamesmanship, but I only feel moderately annoyed at her for it. She's only doing what's been done countless times in both women's and men's tennis. The difference this time is that she was too addled in her interview to properly obfuscate that, like everyone else does.

I'm hoping that things like this will continue to accumulate until there's a rules change around medical time outs. What I want is a rule that says that you have to take your medical time out before your own serve, not before your opponent's serve. If you can't play your opponent's service game, you forfeit that service game to the opponent, and then get your time out.

Stephens should have stayed active while waiting for Az to return. Instead, Sloane just sat quietly. When play resumed, she was not warmed up and ready to continue play at the level she was at in the previous few games.

Yup. Not the first time she's done it either; earlier in the tournament, on that day when the temperature hit 105, her opponent went into the back for a bathroom break/clothes change after the first set finished. Sloane sat in the heat, eventually even coming out and sitting down on the court. She's got a lot to learn.

 

[VAUConnFan]

Found this while looking up Sybil Smith, who is Sloane's mom. I read she was a swimmer and it turns out she was a damn good one!

LINK

In her day, she made the Olympic trials in three different events. Nothing to sneeze at. Also, it appears that most of her records, set in the 1980s, still stand at her alma mater (BU).

So Sloane's dad was an NFL running back and her mom an accomplished swimmer. Fairly athletic set of genes, I'd say!

Sloane looks just like her mother.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Andy and Roger playing right now... 4am, early in the first set

 

[meyers7]

P.S. Myers7. Please email me at wwitherell2@gmail.com

Thanks, OC

Done.

 

[boontonbomber]

Than a Williams? Absolutely.

If it were say the Olympics, then I'd hold my nose and I wouldn't object.

nose-holding would probably not work for me, especially if serena is playing.

 

[wire chief]

The quote about Azaranka is incomplete. She said she had a rib injury, which was involved in her breathing problems.

Again the primary program will be at 3am for the women's final. Tennis has a rebroadcast scheduled for 5pm tomorrow.