So, who else watched Venus absolutely own Dementieva today? It was a pretty thorough ass whupping.
Frequent poster sG made the above comment and I don't think there's much more to say. I mean Venus didn't let Elena breathe imposing her will from the opening shot of the match until it's merciful end. Elena did manage to hold serve once hence the 6-0, 6-1 score. If that's how Venus is doing her second set walkabouts these days the tour had better look out.
I expected a knock down drag out three set match that Venus would win in the end. I didn't expect ownage. I didn't expect Elena to look like a newbie on the court with no answers for what Venus was throwing at her. None. Elena didn't have a chance to unleash her powerful ground strokes and when she did Venus went "nuh-uh, not havin' it", and that was that.
Venus opponent in the final will be none other than recently slimmed down Marion Bartoli. Marion has stated that she would do anything to replay her Wimbledon Final match. Here's her chance, on a hardcourt in the United States.
The player pictured above was expected to make an appearance in the men's final in Los Angeles. He showed a lot of fire and passion during the match. Too bad it wasn't on the court. If he'd shown the same fire there as he did towards his box maybe he would've beaten Sam Querrey.
I'm not quite sure how Sam got to the Final, I find it difficult to watch him play let alone take him seriously but here he is in his third straight final. He's playing a guy named Carsten Ball. Ball is from Australia and as far as I know this is his first main tour final. He hasn't used racial slurs against opponents, stormed off the court in a fit of pique, or engaged in any of the usual shenanigans Aussie players are known for. Someone will win the match.
By the way these are not drunken frat boys who wandered into the stands. These are the "Sam"urai. American tennis marketers seem to have a thing about a bunch of drunks cheering on American players. Remember the late and unlamented "J" Block? The"Sam"urai were so bad that the chair had to tell the to shut up the other night. Let's hope these guys go the way of the "J" block and quickly.
Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has been showing up at tennis matches lately. She was at Stanford yesterday. She used to work there.
I've been focusing on the US Open Series but there is a nice little match that will take place in Europe today.
Nikolay Davydenko will face Juan Carlos Ferrero at Umag. Both men have been playing very well of late and it should be a beautiful clay court match between two veteran players.
I don't favor either man. In my opinion the match should go the distance but then again opinions are like anal apertures. Everyone has one.
The other clay court final features two newbies, Andreas Beck(above) and Thomaz Bellucci. They're playing for the trophy at Gstaad.
I've seen Brazilian Bellucci play and remember that he has a nice game. I've never seen Beck play.
Draw-capades
The women play in Los Angeles next week. This is the draw. Some are already whining about Maria Sharapova having to face Victoria Azarenka if she gets past Jarmila Groth who is playing the role of sacrificial lamb in this little drama. Trust me the US Open draw will not have someone like Azarenka anywhere near the Golden Child. By the way if that match does end up taking place bring your ear plugs.
(1) SAFINA, Dinara RUS vs BYE
LISICKI, Sabine GER vs HANTUCHOVA, Daniela SVK
SZAVAY, Agnes HUN vs VESNINA, Elena RUS
QUALIFIER vs (14) ZHENG, Jie CHN
(9) BARTOLI, Marion FRA vs NICULESCU, Monica ROU
QUALIFIER vs KIRILENKO, Maria RUS
(WC) KING, Vania USA vs BAMMER, Sybille AUT
BYE vs (6) IVANOVIC, Ana SRB
(4) WOZNIACKI, Caroline DEN vs BYE
CIRSTEA, Sorana ROU vs (WC) LARCHER DE BRITO, Michelle POR
CZINK, Melinda HUN vs MAKAROVA, Ekaterina RUS
QUALIFIER vs (13) STOSUR, Samantha AUS
(11) RAZZANO, Virginie FRA vs CHAKVETADZE, Anna RUS
KLEYBANOVA, Alisa RUS vs KUDRYAVTSEVA, Alla RUS
QUALIFIER vs SUGIYAMA, Ai JPN
BYE vs (8) RADWANSKA, Agnieszka POL
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(7) CIBULKOVA, Dominika SVK vs BYE
RADWANSKA, Urszula POL vs COIN, Julie FRA
WOZNIAK, Aleksandra CAN vs MATTEK-SANDS, Bethanie USA
MORITA, Ayumi JPN vs (12) LI, Na CHN
(15) KANEPI, Kaia EST vs SAFAROVA, Lucie CZE
SHAUGHNESSY, Meghann USA vs BONDARENKO, Alona UKR
SHARAPOVA, Maria RUS vs GROTH, Jarmila SVK
BYE vs (3) AZARENKA, Victoria BLR
(5) PETROVA, Nadia vs BYE
PEER, Shahar ISR vs QUALIFIER
GARBIN, Tathiana ITA vs (WC) VANDEWEGHE, Coco USA
QUALIFIER vs (10) PENNETTA, Flavia ITA
(16) SCHIAVONE, Francesca vs QUALIFIER
WICKMAYER, Yanina BEL vs VAIDISOVA, Nicole CZE
QUALIFIER vs PENG, Shuai CHN
BYE vs (2) ZVONAREVA, Vera RUS
Too bad Sabine Lisicki vs Daniela Hantuchova is taking place so early. I've made a vow never to watch Daniella play again unless I've had a sleepless night. If Lisicki lets Dani set the pace she's a goner. Agnes Szavay could be a dangerous opponent in Safina's section. I'm surprised that Ana Ivanovic is seeded high enough to get a Bye. Then again Nicole Vaidisova is in the main draw.
3 comments:
Savannah, you are on song these days. I saw the draw posted over at TW and it would seem as if Sharapova/Azarenka will meet in the second round. Groth has a very good serve and she moves well. However, she is very inconsistent so Sharapova if she can find her ground strokes should be able to win this. I understand that Pam Shriver said that Sharapova looked awful. You can always depend on Shriver to say whatever comes to her mind these days. I went to bed early last night so did not see the handsome one v. Querrey. I am like you I just cannot get behind Querrey. That Mope a Dope attitude on court drives me nuts.
I used to call him Kid Porsche after he said that losses didn't bother him because he could go home and drive his mother's Porsche. I like mope-a-dope and I'll use that from now on.
LOL - and then there is the Samurai squad - less said the better. He apparently sees absolutely nothing wrong with his cheering squad shouting break, break, break when his opponent faces break point.
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