Monday, January 26, 2009

Seen Around - Never Assume Part Two

by Savannah


Fernando Verdasco

Andy Murray

Don't count your chickens before they hatch. I grew up with that expression but I got the visual much later in life when visiting my then in-laws in the Caribbean. I got another visual this morning when Fernando Verdasco won in five sets over Andy Murray. There wasn't all the drama of the Gasquet/Gonzalez match from the other night but in it's own way it was just as spectacular. Verdasco seems to have figured out that tennis matches have an ebb and flow and that just because you miss a shot or two it doesn't mean that yo should pack your tent and leave the premises.

This was the kind of match Verdasco would have lost in the past. He held his nerve and was obviously fit enough to play as long as it was going to take. He'll take on the winner of James Blake vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals. Who'd a thunk it?

General Hospital

I wonder where Nurse Sheila was?

It was one very bizarre night for the medical staff at Melbourne.

  • Gael Monfils retired allowing Gilles Simon to advance to the quarter finals.
  • Zheng Jie retired after a fall aggravated a wrist problem allowing Svetlana Kuznetsovato advance.
  • Victoria Azarenka had to be escorted off the court after appearing disoriented and staggering around behind the baseline. Serena Williams advanced to the next round. Ms Azarenka was said to be suffering the aftereffects of food poisoning.

In off the court medical news Elena Dementieva admitted that her mother is not with her in Australia due to medical reasons. Guess Pammy and the others can stop saying Elena is flying solo because at twenty seven she doesn't need to travel with her mother.

This and That

The Australia Day firework display is beautiful. It also seems to have stopped the men's round of sixteen match between Blake and Tsonga. Don't ask me. I'm watching this live and it appears the players are going to resume their match after the pyrotechnics. The delay is going to be about eight minutes. The players are still on court. Tsonga is trying to keep warm. Blake, legs crossed, is chillin'.

Sanity prevailed and the match has resumed. Bizarre.

They did a feature on Jelena Dokic during the fire work delay. I kid you not. I'm sure this was supposed to be shown tomorrow.

End Note

January 26 begins the Lunar New Year. This is the year of the Earth Ox

The Ox is the second sign of the Chinese zodiac. Like its predecessor and complement, the Rat, it signifies new beginnings. The main difference is the Ox is associated with building to last and slow but sure action. Even more so than last year we all have to make good choices, as that which is begun now is likely to have long term consequences.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

After tonight I am picking Tsong to win it all. Actually I cannot say that as I have no idea where Nadal sits because Nadal is playing his arse off as well. I missed the fireworks but I remember it happening I think in 03 or 04 when Hewitt played Nadal and the same thing happened. Well Hewitt actually won so maybe not the same thing. I don't know about ESPN but they are flogging Jelena like a dead horse on tv over here-Channel 7 is putting her up every 30 minutes it seems and even the current affairs show is tracking her dad down in Serbia trying to make the story even bigger.

Savannah said...

Wayne if Carillo is to be believed the Today Show picked the story up and did/is doing a feature on Jelena. Pressure much?

Unknown said...

If Carillo said it, it must be true. She seems to be handling the pressure okay but if I was her I would be pissed at 7 (the host broadcaster here)for trying to drumb up talk Damir is coming back to Australia. She is a pretty tough girl and well Safina is a bit of fruitcase sometimes so should be a good match.

love40 said...

Novak needs to get his act together. I see him falling out of the top 5 this year.