Roland Garros 2011 / French Open 2011

I'm so tried after a major I just want to crash.So I wrote this about a week after the tournament.Just my impressions.

That had to hurt for Djokovic.Going in no losses on the year,and then the wheels kind of fell off/got kicked off by Federer.One match though.
I'm a Fedhead so I loved seeing him end the streak and get into the final.
Strong effort.Great tennis but..

Nadal is still the king of clay.He's just the best.Federer needed,no NEEDED,that first set.Way ahead.Didn't get it.End of story.
Nadal bites another trophy.

The women.Now here's where it gets a little painful.I realized watching the tournament how much I've grown to enjoy Schiavone.I really wanted her to win.As the the tournament went on,I started to believe she could.I thought she could take the final.And then Li wins it.

I knew what was going to happen.called it on my twitter(Like that matters).The media were fawning over China.Why? Are we supposed to feel sympathy for China? Really?
Two points.
An individual won this title.She deserves the credit.Not a country.
China "good for tennis".
It's not all about money folks.Tennis is a western sport.Born and bred.
I'm trying to think of a sport that is substantially dominated by China that is popular in the west? None come to mind.
If a player from China loves tennis,and wants to be a part of it,of course she/he is welcome.
But for the ultimate welfare of the sport,Tennis needs American,French,UK(please!),and European players,with some Aussies thrown in for good measure.There's your tennis tradition.
I'm not trying to be nasty.Just telling the truth.And what's the point of writing a blog in the first place if you're never going to have an opinion and just stifle yourself?
Li is not a problem.And she's clearly no flunky for the Chinese sports authorities.It's the media,and the head of the WTA I don't see eye to eye with on this.

I admit I wasn't cheering for Li.But taking it on it's own,she's a nice,funny young woman.good for her and all that.

A few more notes.
-Sad to see Clijsters hurting.Women's tennis desperately needs her.She has a personality brighter than a parade.
-Kuznetsova.usually in the category of "I like you, but I'll never under stand you'
she could have won this whole thing.If she had a burning pride.It seems she did not get that installed at the factory.
-The French box holders.What the hell is wrong with you people!? I know the food is good,but get through with lunch already and put your but in a seat court side.
Why do you want to improve the site.Do you need more seats not to sit in.
-American tennis.Whither thou?
Just whithering.

I didn't mean to sound so cranky.But getting up at 4a.m. for two weeks will do that to you.Really.The wretched schedule makes me miserable.

I hope Wimbledon is more fun.It almost always is.Just something profoundly refreshing about the green grass after the ruddy dirt.

I will leave on my positives;
Federer making it to the finals.
Nadal just making tennis look great,and being such a decent guy.
Schiavone being as entertaining as usual,and fighting her way to the finals for a second straight year.

French Open 2010 - Notes

A few things.First happy to get to catch up on my sleep now.

I've always really loved Wimbledon,and the U S Open more.I'll see an orange tennis court and cringe a little.Tennis courts are supposed to be green.Blue concrete is also acceptable.
Orange can never look lush.

But I do enjoy the results of the tournament.Last year Federer,and Kuznetsova winning was wonderful.This year,Schiavone's joy has left a warm honey glow that will take some time to wear off.
As much as I revere Wimbledon,the women's champions have not always produced much joy in me lately.But that's another subject.
The French Open was a good show this year.

There were a few retirements during the course of the tournament.

Camille Pin - The thing I most remember about her is the fact that whenever I looked at the IBM stats during a major,her name was usually at the top of the first serve percentage list.
Which means there probably wasn't a great deal of force involved in the operation.But credit where it is due.
I see she likes to scuba dive.She once said, "When I'm done with tennis,I'm going to make a list of all the things I want to do." Hope she has fun.
She did have fun at her last presser.She had been drinking before it.Maybe during,I don't know.
She said she wanted to show up "pissed".Pissed in the English use of the word,not the American.


Sebastien Grosjean - And I'll miss him.Always pleasant to watch.High quality,compact,well produced tennis.Not up to winning a major,but a fine player none the less.
With his Gallic looks,backwards ballcap,and rumpled clothes he cut his own unique figure on the court.I remember the episode he did for the Tennis Channel Interview show (which they unwisely cancelled).He seemed to have just stepped off a practice court.He looked like a sweaty unmade bed.
He lives in Boca Racton Florida.The host asked him if he had a favorite American food."Ribs" he said.Good choice.
I see that he worked out at the Chris Evert Academy in Boca Raton.I hope he keeps a place there.He would be a great addition to the program if they could get him to work with them.


I happened on a twitter account by Brett Conners,Jimmy Conner's son.Apparently he works for Tennis Channel.Daddy got him a job no doubt.Look what he says about Federer's loss to Soderling.

"Later Fed, love watching you lose. Why no tears this time??"

(june 1st)

Wow ! What a mook.
This twerp insulting Federer.

Francesca Schiavone Wins the French Open

Viva Italia!
Break out the champagne,and put on the Vivaldi.That was a whole lot of happy out there on the court at Roland Garros.What a breath of fresh air for tennis.
Francesca just played beautifully.She never looked scared.
It times like this I remember why It's worth watching.
To see someone who can play like a violinist.Not the ugly Stomp,Slam,and Scream show.
Schiavone may never get another major,but she will always have this bright day.

You have to feel for Sam Stosur.I do suspect she had shot off most of her ammo in the previous rounds.The experts are saying they expect her to win majors.I think they're right.
I hope she will.Love them Aussies.