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.

Nadal Wins his Fifth at Roland Garros

I would call that a thorough job.A comfortable straight set victory over the man who upset him last year must have felt great.
I really didn't get any feeling of Rafa wanting revenge as such though.Which just proves again what a classy young man he is.He was looking at the big picture.

The Borg era was before my time as a fan.I never got to see him play at his peak.I have seen taped matches replayed of course.But that just can't give you the full feeling about a player.You lose a sense of context.And I've never seen anything from the French except highlights.
So I don't know if Rafa is greater than Borg.Looking at the fact that Borg kept repeatedly winning at Roland Garros,and then Wimbledon, I have to think that Borg is still historically ahead of Nadal.But I think it's almost certain that Nadal will break Borg's record at RG in the next few years.
But can he get Chris Evert's ?
Good luck

Robin Soderling is really growing as a player.But as I said,There is a difference between being an upsetter,and being a champion.One of these days he may be a champion.
But it can't be a easy to be put out of the finals two years in a row.Roger,and Rafa have another gear when they are in shape to win that he can't hit yet.

btw-I refuse to call him Sod for a knickname.Please,that's not good.It's dirt,or a reference to a horrible old Hebrew myth.
Can't we call him Rockin Robin?
That's a really fun little song.Popular with guitar teachers.

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.

Red Clay Halo

There is this great song by Gillian Welch,and David Rawlings; Red Clay Halo.
I doubt there are many tennis players who listen to country music.But I think maybe they could appreciate this one.It's wonderful.
It would make a fine theme song for Rafa Nadal.
Here is a YouTube link .I know you can't count on YouTube videos staying up,but this is a good live version of the song.It's from Gillian's album;Time(The Revelator).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7knB3VtAqY&playnext_from=TL&videos=tuIfsH27Sec

French Open starts-Happy sleep deprivation

Up at 4am ,far more deprivation than happy.
I wish there was some other way the tournament could be televised.But at this point how else would they do it.Tennis Channel paid for it and they are going to show it live.All of it.
The truth is the only way to really get a sense of things is to watch the original coverage.
I'll watch what I can.But it is still overkill.What other sporting event is like this? The only thing I can think of is the Olympics.And tennis does this four times a year.Crazy.

Great to see Martina Navratilova is doing well with her radiation treatments.Going to play the senior doubles with Jana Novotna.Good luck to them.

Lyndsey Davenport has been added to the commentators lineup.Good addition.Why are there so many more women than men who take to commentating? They can't compete with John McEnroe I guess.

This is my 28th French Open.I've watched them all since 1983.Funny how time slips away.