Paris Pondering

Loving the outfit Rafa is rocking this year!!! #leftiesalwaysgetme
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) June 1, 2013

Wonder if she knows about Rafa's football connections and that he is really just a tennis leftie.

I think I need to watch more #rolandgarros tennis. Yesterday, had no clue who Paire was, today Chardy?I need to step up my tennis knowledge!
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) May 31, 2013

They just happen to be ranked in the two spots ahead of her boyfriend. Also this happened.... yes that would be Benoit Paire himself retweeting it.

RT @alvianojs @andyroddickwho'll be this RG champion? .......... I'm gonna go out on a limb and say rafa
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) May 27, 2013

Bold choice Andy. 

While he has been away from Paris Andy Murray won the first week with his tweets. He is a Aga fan, possibly invented the hashtag of the year, complained about commentators . Which lead me to the conclusion is really bored sitting in home or he is just letting his inner tennis dork free while he can. 

Not a large crowd on lenglen for ivanovic radwanska.. Where is everyone?
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) June 2, 2013

Radwanska has the best lob in tennis! An inch from the line everytime and venus isn't small, so accurate
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) May 26, 2013

I am still not sure if he confused Ula with Aga here but maybe the ninja skills are genetic. Also blonde Aga confuses things. 

He really goes wild on Saturday night

Got the house to myself tonight which on the plus side means no reality tv but downside i have to settle for a diabolical tasting dinner..
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) June 1, 2013

• Extended fifth sets are not a Grand Slam problem. It is a John Isner playing Grand Slam tennis problem. That is two years in a row that he has lost in an extended fifth set at Roland Garros alone. 
• Tennis coverage on weekends & holidays (Memorial & Labor Day) is rough. They show what they think will catch the casual viewers eye. It is unfortunate for the hardcores but they do what they think will make them the most money. If you pay for tennis tv, tennis channel or possibly both and for those few hours that the Slam is getting national network tv exposure then I really don't think the tennis gods will smite you if you pop open a stream to watch a match or two. Yes it is not ideal but it is a better use of the time the match is on to be using a yes somewhat shady resource to get to watch what you want. 
• Serena is looking amazing so far but the quarterfinals are the obstacle that has stopped her from adding to the only single trophy in her Grand Slam collection. She faces Sveta next who beat her in this very round on the way to winning in 2009. Will there be a different outcome Tuesday? 
• In Rafa's first two matches especially he has not had the edge that he usually does and there have been some unexpected happening for someone who has won an event seven times but of one who is coming back from a extended break from the game. When he stepped on the court Monday he had not been on the grand slam stage in eleven months. Do the reaction to the results have more to do with where they are happening rather than what actually happened? Say that this was the US Open, would you look at Rafa dropping a set to Brands and in real threat of going down two sets to love in the first round with the same shock. Then in the second round again losing the first set to Klizan another hard hitter who he had never faced. In a way it takes me back to Wimbledon 2011 Serena in her first Slam back from her long heath battle and to my memory the talk was that she was going to come back and win "because she is Serena", "because its Wimbledon". Which while I think it was a good for them to time their come backs before their most successful Slams. It makes the expectations seem even greater because of the history they have at these events. There were improvements in the Fognini match and he can only improve and gain rhythm going into the second week. The sun is all expected to be shining on Monday at least. 
• This is shaping up to be the year of the 30- something Tommy. Both Haas & Robredo are through to the quarterfinals. 

USO 12: Practice Videos

I was on the US Open grounds on Wednesday and Thursday checking out some practices here are the short little videos. Sorry for the quality but this is the best my camera can do. 

Serena practicing on Wednesday. 

Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka practicing on Grandstand Wednesday. 

Laura Robson practicing on Thursday. 

Kim Clijsters practicing on Grandstand Thursday.

Vika Azerenka on Armstrong Thursday.

Maria Sharapova does overheads on Armstrong Thursday. She was practicing with Dani Hantuchova

The Torch comes to SW19

The torch relay came through the All England club today. Andy Murray and Venus Williams had the honor of carrying the torch around the grounds.


The BBC torch cam did not actually show when Andy got his torch lit but then the cameras did catch up with him.

pic from Neil Harman's twitter

Maggie wasn't too pleased with torch cam.

Great footage of OUTSIDE the AELTC, bbc...
— Maggie May (@maggiemay_hem) July 23, 2012

Um... TORCH CAM SUCKS
— Maggie May (@maggiemay_hem) July 23, 2012

But once Andy got on to Centre Court it was all smiles and the feed was back!

He then made the short way to Henman Hill where Venus was waiting for him.

Venus then took the torch from Henman Hill off the grounds of the All England Club. 

Some gems from the BBC Torch Cam live text: 

"I don't want it to catch my hair", says the next torchbearer Venus Williams as she accepts the flame from Andy." 

Good thing it didn't Venus! "

" Here comes Andy. Looking fit and strong as he runs up that hill. Can he swap the gold of his torch for a gold in the tennis at London 2012? Let's hope so."

You Brits have a way with words. No?

Maggie and Rusty inspected the torch as it was brought home as a souvenir of the lovely sunny day. 

You told me there would be fire in this thing. So why is Rusty's nose still intact? twitter.com/maggiemay_hem/…
— Maggie May (@maggiemay_hem) July 23, 2012

The draw for the tennis event is Thursday at 11 am London time.

New Surface. New Dos

A top 5 player on each tour has debuted a new hair do just before their 25 birthdays which some could say might be a sort of quarter life crisis. Maria Sharapova has gone short with her blonde locks. While Andy Murray has buzzed his hair down almost to the skull. Which do you think is more extreme change?

Wondering if she will stick with her trusty visor or switch to a headband? We should find out next week since she is scheduled to play in Stuttgart. 

UPDATE: Thanks to @theslicetweets who found this that WE HAVE ALL BEEN PUNKED BY POVA! I feel played. 

The by Muzz Buzz will debut 2nd after 10:30 am Tuesday on Court Central in Monte Carlo. 

Do you think the new do's will make for more aero dynamic sliding? 

(Pics from Maria's facebook and Yahoo)

Passing Shots: Olympics

Visa Commercials:

Nastia Liukin:

Michael Phelps:

Li Na:

Pacific Rim Gymnastics:

Senior Event Finals:

Charlotte Sullivan from Christchurch New Zealand only 13 years old. She is too young to be at the Olympics or World Championships for a few years still but looking forward to hopefully seeing her there in the future. Listen to Team New Zealand's story here.

Roster announced for USWNT games in Japan

April 1 at  6:30 a.m. ET vs Japan

April 3 at 7 a.m. ET vs Brazil

Both games will be live on ESPN2 and ESPN3

Torch Bearers and Olympic Kits

Andy Murray and other British tennis players will be taking part in the torch relay. 

What Andy Murray will be wearing at the Olympics.  I think it would look better with more red in the shorts or possibly just red shorts all together. 

What I am watching Day 6

Day 6 is upon us which means we are almost half way through the tournement. Today also brings the start of Olympic Qualifying for the USWNT Soccer team you can watch that here at 10:30 EST. Now on to the tennis.


Rod Laver Arena 11 AM (7 PM est) 
  Match 1: Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Maria Kirilenko(RUS)[27] vs. Petra Kvitova(CZE)[2]
 
  Match 2: Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Angelique Kerber(GER)[30]vs. Maria Sharapova(RUS)[4]

 7 PM (3 AM est)

 Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Greta Arn(HUN) vs.Serena Williams(USA)[12]

Hisense Arena 11 AM

  Match 2: Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Vania King(USA)vs.  Ana Ivanovic(SRB)[21]

  Match 3: Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Sabine Lisicki(GER)[14]vs.  Svetlana Kuznetsova(RUS)[18]

7 PM

  Men's Singles - 3rd Round: Andy Murray(GBR)[4]vs. Michael Llodra(FRA)

What I noticed: Day 4

• Serena won in straight sets. She played well but seemed annoyed with herself or the sun, or the universe. Who knows. She told Stubbs in the post match interview that she wouldn't make a good ballerina with wobbly ankles. 
• Andy Murray is hitting his forehand harder than I remember. But I miss the muttering and monologuing. The winning however I do like. 
• Domi Cibulkova dress is always so short. It's like she is trying to make herself seem taller by showing more leg. 
• David Ferrer won in 5-sets after losing the first. If that surprises you. It shouldn't. 
• Ana Ivanovic won in straight sets. Her serve and forehand were looking good. 
• Maria Sharapova played crisply and has lost two games in her journey to the third round. She also talked doubles at the Olympics and the apocalypse in her presser. 
• Petra Kvitova was crusing against Carla Suarez Navarro then she wasn't dropping the second set and going down an early break in the third before rebounding to advance. 
• Nicholas Mahut advance to the third round which is totally awesome. 
• Sabine Lisicki had a much easier advancement to the third round then she did to the second. Defeating Peer in straight sets. 
• Andy Roddick won the first set. He injured his leg early in the second set took a time out to get it looked at or taped up. He lost the second and third sets even trying to bravely come back at the end of the third set in which he lost when a double net cord drippled over to give Lleyton the set. Then Andy retired. Get better soon Andy! 

Things I Noticed: Day 2

• Petra started off a bit shakey losing the first two games of her match. She then went on to win the next 12 games.
• It occurred to me that Novak's kits since he switched to Sergio Tacchini he very rarely is not in Serbian colors. To Davis Cup-ish for me. He won in straight sets. 
• I cannot stand the tweener. The need to stop.
• Stosur got knocked out in the first round by Cristea in straight sets. Ending Sam's Australian summer of tennis with only a single victory. I am thinking she will enjoy returning to the Northern Hemisphere. 
• The ESPN montages are just about my favorite part of their coverage of the Slams. 
• Ryan Harrison but up a good showing taking the first set from Andy Murray before eventually losing in four sets. Hope Ryan uses it as a spring board for a good season. 
• Andy Roddick won in straight sets. Brooklyn's dress was lovely. 
• Ana Ivanovic played a soild match for to advance to the second round. 
• Lleyton Hewitt had a dramatic fourth set to come back from 1-5 to win the match. He fell to the court on his back when he won it was and endearing reaction. He has a throw match with Roddick in the second round. 
• Maria Sharapova sailed through the first round 6-0 6-1 against Dulko the single game she lost was a game where she hit 3 double faults in a row.
• Serena won. She beat Pazek and the bugs late into the night on Rod Laver. 
• Nicholas Mahut won his first round match. 

What I am Watching: Day 2

Day 2 has the bottom half of the Women's draw and the top half of the Men's draw take the court.

Rod Laver Arena 11 AM (7 PM est)

  Match 1: Women's Singles - 1st Round: Vera Dushevina(RUS) vs.  Petra Kvitova(CZE)[2]

 Match 3: Women's Singles - 1st Round: Samantha Stosur(AUS)[6] vs.  Sorana Cirstea(ROU)

Rod Laver Arena 7 PM (3 AM est)
  Men's Singles - 1st Round : Cedrik-Marcel Stebe(GER) vs.  Lleyton Hewitt(AUS)
 
  Women's Singles - 1st Round: Tamira Paszek(AUT) vs.  Serena Williams(USA)[12]

Hisense Arena 11 AM

 Match 2:  Women's Singles - 1st Round : Gisela Dulko(ARG) vs.  Maria Sharapova(RUS)[4]

 

 Match 3: Men's Singles - 1st Round : Andy Murray(GBR)[4] vs.  Ryan Harrison(USA)

 

 Match 4:  Men's Singles - 1st Round: Robin Haase(NED) vs.  Andy Roddick(USA)[15]

 

Margret Court Arena 11 AM

Match 1: Men's Singles - 1st Round : Rui Machado(POR) vs.  David Ferrer(ESP)[5]

Show Court 2 11 AM

 Match 1: Men's Singles - 1st Round: Andreas Seppi(ITA) vs.  Richard Gasquet(FRA)[17]

 

 Match 4:  Women's Singles - 1st Round: Lourdes Dominguez Lino(ESP) vs.  Ana Ivanovic(SRB)[21]

 

 Show Court 3 11 AM

 Match 1: Women's Singles - 1st Round: Sabine Lisicki(GER)[14] vs.  Stefanie Voegele(SUI)

 

 Match 4: Men's Singles - 1st Round: Gilles Simon(FRA)[12] vs.  Danai Udomchoke(THA)

 

Non Watchable matches of interest from 11 AM:

Court 5: Match 3:   Women's Singles - 1st Round: Sloane Stephens(USA) vs.  Silvia Soler-Espinosa(ESP)

Court 7: Match 4:  Men's Singles - 1st Round: Julien Benneteau(FRA) vs.  Karol Beck(SVK)

Trophy Case

I present you the winners of the first events of the season.

Brisbane: 

Andy Murray defeated Alexander Dolgopolov 6-1 6-3 in the Men's Final.

Kaia Kanepi defeated Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 6-1 in the Women's Final.

Zheng Jie defeated Flavia Penetta 2-6 6-3 2-0 (Ret.) in the Auckland final.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated Gael Monfils 7-5 6-3 in the Doha Final. 

 Milos Raonic defeated Janko Tipsarevic 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 7-6(4) in the Chennai Final. 

(pics Getty, AP)

First Day of School.

Ivan Lendl has arrived in Brisbane and supervised Andy pre-match warm up prior to his semi-final against Tomic. Andy looks like he is nervously meeting the teacher on the first day of school. Excited to see how this plays out.

pics Getty

HIghlight Reel

Andy Murray advanced to the quarterfinals in Brisbane after defeating Gilles Muller 4-6 7-6 6-0.

Iveta Benesova upset Sam Stosur 6-4 6-2 in Brisbane to advance to the quarterfinals. 

Serena Williams defeated Bojana Jovanovski 6-2 6-4. But do to the ankle injury she sustained in the second set she withdrew from the tournament granting Daniella Hantuchova a walkover to the semifinals.

Serena Press Conference

Passing Shots

• Sycronized Swimming tickets were double sold for  London. Yikes. 
• The number one British Elena Baltatcha women does not think that tennis at the Olympics will suffer because of its close proximity in the calendar to Wimbledon. Neither do I even the Wimbledon Finalists will have two entire weeks in between events. 
• Andy Murray did it the hard way again defeating Gilles Muller in 3 sets. 
• Serena won her match. But as she was serving for the match she sprained her ankle and had to withdrawal from the tournament. Hope she heals up and is ready to go in Melbourne. 
• Seeds fall in Auckland but top-seed Lisicki advances to the Quarterfinals.
• A torch used in the 1996 Atlanta Games was stolen the sold to a pawn shop. 

Highlight Reel

Andy Murray came back from a set down to defeat Mikhail Kukushkin 5-7 6-3 6-2 in the first round of  Brisbane.

Andrea Petkovic defeated Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 7-6 6-0 in the second round of Brisbane.

Kim Clijsters defeated Ana Ivanovic in 3-sets 6-1 1-6 6-3 in the second round of Brisbane. 

Nadal got his season off to a winning start in Doha with a 6-3 6-7 6-2.

Passing Shots

Maria Sharapova and her lime shoe laces get first dips at Rod Laver Arena

• Serena's comments about how she doesn't love tennis made Sports Center today. Brad Gilbert gives his opinion on it. 
• Andy Murray opened his season in dramatic fashion with a come from behind 3-set victory in Brisbane. 
• Judy Murray names her first Fed Cup team for Great Britan. Which will be Elena Baltacha ,Anne Keothavong, Heather Watson and Laura Robson. The tie is in February in Israel. 
• The Spanish team of Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues is one win away from the Hopman Cup Final. 
• Check out the ITF's Olympic Tennis page. 
• The International Olympic Committee Olympic Athlete Hub. Every Olympic Athlete ever. 
• Serena dropping a perspective bomb on twitter.
• How Sabine Lisicki's comeback is still ongoing. 
• Fed & his zit, Rafa and Tsonga all advanced to the second round in Doha. 

Tweets of the Year

Laura while watching the Australian Open Quarterfinals between Rafa and David Ferrer.

Serena announces she got her boot off in mid-Febuary.

If you haven't seen this video from after the Armada advanced to the Davis Cup Semis. You should.

I hope this is still on. 

Rain Delay fun: WTA/ATPers plan a Karaoke event.

Passing Shots

Andy rides down the Brisbane River.

• Beating the reigning all around World Champion, becoming National Champion then becoming all around World Champion. This year Jordyn Weiber lived up to every expectation placed on her. Can she do it again in London? 
• A trip down memory lane to Roland Garros. 
• Will they have matching Argyle Tracksuits? If not I will be disappointed. 
• What happened in Abu Dhabi. 
• TV Schedules for ATP in Doha, Brisbane and Chennai.
• Brisbane was not kind to the home town girl. Serena, Kim and Ana are all in Sam's half.
• Auckland OOP
• Brisbane OOP
• Rafa changes his racket specifications. 

ATP Wish List

Rafa Nadal:

• Win a hardcourt title
• Win a Slam
• Finish on the Olympic Podium

Andy Murrary:

• Win a set in a Slam final (baby steps) then we can talk about actually winning the Slam. 

Andy Roddick:

• Make it back to the top-10
• Win a title
• Reach a Slam Semi

Passing Shots

Pasty Petko Preps for Brisbane.

• Top 20 Gifs of 2011- 20,19,3,2,1 are my favorites
• Rafa says he is going to take February to rest. The BBC and other media freak out. Even though he first said this at the World Tour Finals. 
• OMG more freaking about about Febuary. Rafa is not going to play Dubai. But I didn't think he was ever going to play it so, moving on. 
• Brisbane Qualifying Draw including- Ash Barty (2011 Jr.Wimbledon Champ playing her first pro match) , Vania King, Sloane Stevens
• Murray is in Brisbane with his groin intact.