Peter Bodo's TennisWorld - Bye-Bye Dubye
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Bye-Bye Dubye 03/08/2008 - 9:30 AM

[This is Doug Robson's last dispatch for TW from Dubai. You might also want to check out his post on Andy Roddick over at Doug's own weblog.  Enjoy, and use this thread to discuss the Dubai final - PB]

By Douglas Robson, TW Guest Contributor

Outside of the tennis, I've had the opportunity to visit a number of other sports venues for another story I'm reporting here in the Middle East, among them the Nad Al Sheba race course, home of the World Cup, the world's richest race (but no betting allowed at the track!); Dubai Sports City, a $3.6 billion, 50-million square foot complex that would put the building projects of Ramses II to shame; and the lush Emirates Golf Club, home of the lucrative Dubai Desert Classic, which Tiger Woods won last month. The line-up of major sporting events here, and in nearby Qatar, which will host the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour championships the next three years, and which is bidding for the 2016 Olympics, has reached critical mass.

Dubai In my wanderings in the city, I've seen an office building shaped like a pyramid, an amusement-part-cum-shopping-mall called Global Village, a fake Italian mall called the Mercato, plus numerous "cities" of one kind or another (Internet City, Media City, Maritime City, Endurance City, etc.) - city being the catch-all suffix denoting a cluster of any kind. On the grounds of the tennis tournament they have developed a faux Irish village, which, surprisingly enough, is called - Irish Village. It features a Kelly green facade with a post office (fake), a bric-a-brac storefront where they sell Irish souvenirs, an Irish pub serving brewskis-a-plenty. It's a popular place, as crowds either watching the matches or just enjoying the atmosphere pack it nightly, especially loads of ex-pats clearly thirsty for a buzz.

You're out of luck if you don't drive in Dubai. I come from a city where taxis are in woefully short supply, but San Francisco has nothing on this place. At any given time of the day, one can expect to wait from 10 to 30 minutes to flag a cab. Even the hotels seem to have little sway. At my hotel, asking for a cab means the bellman walks out to the curb and fruitlessly waves his arm. It's a two-pronged problem. One, taxis are cheap. I rode many miles for about 30 minutes the other day and it cost 60 dirhams, or roughly $18. The other issue is that public transportation doesn't exist. There is no rail system, though a new limited metro is due to open in 2009 (like everything else, it's visibly under construction along the main roadway).Of course, gas is cheaper than water ($1.50 per gallon), which means everyone jumps behind the wheel to go places.

Driving along Sheikh Zayed Road, the main thoroughfare filled with all those mind-boggling buildings, you get the sense this city is an architects dream and an urban planner's nightmare. In isolation, the building designs are inventive, inspired, and mind-bending. However, there is no visible street life, no cafes, no workers streaming in and out. You almost wonder if anybody occupies these architectural marvels.

Rising above them all, of course, is the ominous Burj Dubai, which when completed will stand substantially higher than the current tallest building, the 1,671-foot 101 Tower in Taipei. The Burj is expected to grow to some 2,625 feet. Nothing seems built on a human scale, and so in the end, it feels alienating.

Along the same lines, all the themed parks and Seven-Wonders-of-the-World rip-offs are reminiscent of Las Vegas, which is often the first comparison that jumps to mind.

Except in Vegas, the fakeness is part of the fun. Here, it's not clear.


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Posted by proudtobeafilipina 03/08/2008 at 09:35 AM

first! 0,o

Posted by Joe 03/08/2008 at 09:53 AM

GO SERENA! It's her turn this time.

Posted by Schwab 03/08/2008 at 09:54 AM

Per live scoreboard,
Schnyder 6-3,5-4 over Yan. Patty served for the match but lost her serve.

Posted by Serena and Venus 03/08/2008 at 09:54 AM

By the way, who's outraged that Venus vs. Serena won't be covered at all by any channel?

Posted by Schwab 03/08/2008 at 09:56 AM

Schnyder breaks Yan to win 6-3,6-4. Williams Sisters shortly.

Posted by afwu 1216 03/08/2008 at 09:57 AM

It looks like A-rod and Feli are going to run a little bit later than 10 o'clock because the doubles is not finished.

Posted by Serenaaa 03/08/2008 at 09:58 AM

Hey, Schwab, are u watching it or something or do u just have live scores? How can we watch serena and venus.

Posted by Samantha Elin 03/08/2008 at 09:59 AM

Go Serena! Go Venus! I like them both, but I think Venus maybe playing better at this point. Players who are in a slumps Roger, Rafa, Janky, Petrova.

Posted by Schwab 03/08/2008 at 10:01 AM

A fellow poster said try this to get the Williams Sisters:

www.sopcast.org/download/

Posted by low chicago 03/08/2008 at 10:04 AM

Finally a piece on Eurosport on Roger.

Posted by afwu 1216 03/08/2008 at 10:04 AM

Schawb did that link work for you? If it did what one do you click on once you get there?

Posted by afwu 1216 03/08/2008 at 10:05 AM

Please post the Eurosport link

Posted by Schwab 03/08/2008 at 10:07 AM

AFwu 1216,
I have not been successful at all and EuroSport is showing volleyball at the moment instead of Dubai

Posted by afwu 1216 03/08/2008 at 10:09 AM

low chicago could you please post your eurosport link

Posted by ptenisnet 03/08/2008 at 10:11 AM

Channel surfing is showing dubai through eurosport "en unos instantes"

Posted by Papo 03/08/2008 at 10:12 AM

If you went through the trouble of installing "Sopcast" in your computer, then you can try going here for Bangalore:

http://tinyurl.com/2mxpw6

Posted by TennisChica 03/08/2008 at 10:13 AM

"en unos instantes"

:-) gracias.

Posted by ptenisnet 03/08/2008 at 10:13 AM

For Eurosport
Go here and click on the ATP Dubai with the strikingly pretty face of Feli

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/

Posted by jb 03/08/2008 at 10:14 AM

morning gyys! i'm watching Flo and andy warm up. on an appalling bad feed on sopcast.

i'm going to look for another one...

Posted by ptenisnet 03/08/2008 at 10:14 AM

tennis chica, grenada.

Posted by TennisChica 03/08/2008 at 10:18 AM

the feed from channelsurfing.net for bangalore is showing and exciting soccer match but no Serena vs. Venus :-(

will try the installing sopcast thing

Posted by Papo 03/08/2008 at 10:18 AM

As a last resort, you can try this low quality stream for Dubai:

http://tinyurl.com/2zabsz

But I prefer the Eurosport stream.

Posted by ptenisnet 03/08/2008 at 10:18 AM

jb, what channel on sopcast do you have it on?

Posted by kirsty 03/08/2008 at 10:19 AM

Papo - at least that link is showing tennis. Eurosport seems to have ice skating in france and biathlon everywhere else at the moment!

Posted by jb 03/08/2008 at 10:21 AM

ptenis - there's a link on channelsurfing from 3/3. its bad - but its live-ish.

Posted by jb 03/08/2008 at 10:22 AM

lol - i cannot see the ball - and flo looks homely - that's how bad this feed is!

Posted by marta 03/08/2008 at 10:23 AM

Eurosport is showing ice skating! argggghh

Posted by low chicago 03/08/2008 at 10:24 AM

awfu1216, here is the link for "Federer blames virus for form" from Eurosport:

http://tinyurl.com/yrvtbk

Posted by Papo 03/08/2008 at 10:26 AM

that was a great lob from Roddick 30-40 break point for Andy

Posted by afwu 1216 03/08/2008 at 10:27 AM

WHAT IN THE HECK IS WRONG WITH EUROSPORT IT IS NOT SHOWING ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Papo 03/08/2008 at 10:27 AM

F-Lo with an ace at just the right moment Deuce

Posted by 03/08/2008 at 10:28 AM

For me the link on Eurosport is just showing commercial??

What's up with this?

Is there a direct post to the video itself?

Posted by TennisChica 03/08/2008 at 10:30 AM

Papo, dude. Are you watching the same bad stream as the rest of us?

am having a hard time with this stream, is it me, or am I just as dysfunctional as eurosport this morning?

*takes big gulp of cafe*

Posted by Or 03/08/2008 at 10:30 AM

Broadcast is going to start on Eurosport at any second, ski is over.

I suspect the livestream will start along with the broadcast, not exactly wise...

Posted by marta 03/08/2008 at 10:31 AM

Andy holds assisted by two great aces. Feli to serve at 1-2

Posted by ptenisnet 03/08/2008 at 10:31 AM

Eurosport was supposed to start at 10:30

Posted by The Original French(ie) 03/08/2008 at 10:31 AM

thanks Doug for your great reports on Dubai!

It's interesting to see that Dubai is a sort of modern "potemkin"/village city build on sand! I'm curious to see how it's going to "grow old"? How is Dubai going to look like in 15 years? Will women finally be able to drive?!

I'm also wondering whether Qatar will have a shot at that Olympic bid...If one remembers what happened for London's 2012 win, with Sebastian Coe and Blair "working it" (ahem) behind the scenes prompting loads of negative reactions from the French, who lost big there, I guess the Qataris are deploying a lot of their $ to make sure the choice goes to their side...Will it work? Chicago is in the race too and so are Madrid, Rio, Tokyo, Prague and Baku. I'm all for Rio!!

Posted by Jenni 03/08/2008 at 10:32 AM

I think Or is correct. The same thing happened with skiing and the Djokovic-Santoro match, I believe.

Posted by marta 03/08/2008 at 10:33 AM

Feli holds at love. Andy to serve 2-2

Posted by Papo 03/08/2008 at 10:33 AM

F-Lo holds to love. He's holding his own against Andy so far.

TennisChica, yes I'm stuck with the low quality stream also. Better than nothing.

Posted by afwu 1216 03/08/2008 at 10:33 AM

My Eurosport never even showed skiing. It just says coming live in like 50 different lnaguages.

Posted by afwu 1216 03/08/2008 at 10:33 AM

My Eurosport never even showed skiing. It just says coming live in like 50 different lnaguages.

Posted by marta 03/08/2008 at 10:34 AM

another love service game by Andy. both guys are serving lights out so far.

Posted by Papo 03/08/2008 at 10:35 AM

Andy up to his old ways holding to love with four serves.

Posted by Annabelle 03/08/2008 at 10:35 AM

Hi all, so excited!

Eurosport still showing the handball on TV ...

C'mon Andy!!

Posted by Yummy Prince Fed (now we know why he was playing like that) 03/08/2008 at 10:36 AM

I cannot believe I am watching encore matches of the great Tennis Channel Open and live tennis with some of the greats of the game is going on. I am so taking down my satellite dish. This is ridiculous. I have to be scouring the internet trying to find live feeds and doing scoreboard watching while live tennis is going on. Someone needs to tell Tennis Channel that the reason why there is no one at the Tennis Channel Open is because they are all at home watching live scoreboards of matches that are of interest.

Posted by afwu 1216 03/08/2008 at 10:36 AM

THEY JUST SWTICHED OVER TO RODDICK AND F_LO

Posted by TennisChica 03/08/2008 at 10:36 AM

Thanks Papo :-)

Yes, it is coming on!

Posted by Jenni 03/08/2008 at 10:36 AM

Okay, I don't even know what his sport is that they're showing now. Is this handball??

Posted by Jackie 03/08/2008 at 10:36 AM

new to the board (well, if you don't consider lurking ;)). happy to be watching - or trying to watch, anyway - with all of you!

YES - EUROSPORT! FINALLY!

Posted by Rosangel 03/08/2008 at 10:37 AM

Why are Eurosport starting the tennis from 3.30? Play has been underway for ten minutes already...not that I'm sure I can bear to watch this one, as I don't think F-Lo has much hope today, much as I'd like to see him win this.

Posted by Papo 03/08/2008 at 10:37 AM

F-Lo always looking to end points up at the net. Very agressive strategy from him and it's working so far.

Posted by ptenisnet 03/08/2008 at 10:37 AM

WE HAVE FEEEDD!!!!!

Posted by TennisChica 03/08/2008 at 10:37 AM

it "looks" like Serena just broke venus.

serena serving: 3-2

Posted by Yummy Prince Fed (now we know why he was playing like that) 03/08/2008 at 10:38 AM

and now live scoreboard has frozen. Because Venus and Serena could not have been playing a point that freaking long.

Posted by marta 03/08/2008 at 10:38 AM

Feli holds at 30 capped off by an ace!
andy to serve 3-3

Posted by The Original French(ie) 03/08/2008 at 10:38 AM

eurosport is an absolute disgrace !!!

Posted by jb 03/08/2008 at 10:39 AM

Flo's a new man Ros! He's been serving great - and his head seems to be screwed much straighter and tighter, imo. This will be a tough match to call, imo.

Posted by marta 03/08/2008 at 10:39 AM

0-30, feli has half a chance.

Posted by Yummy Prince Fed (now we know why he was playing like that) 03/08/2008 at 10:39 AM

Just saw that Serena finally broke -

Posted by Papo 03/08/2008 at 10:40 AM

Try this Eurosport high quality stream:

http://tinyurl.com/2y3rdw

Posted by Annabelle 03/08/2008 at 10:40 AM

Good on eurosport uk stream! Germany still with the handball....

C'mon Andy!!

Posted by jb 03/08/2008 at 10:40 AM

ToF - eurosport has it on - and its a beautiful feed - very clear on my screen!

Posted by Schwab 03/08/2008 at 10:41 AM

I have been very unsuccessful in finding Dubai but somehow, I got an audio so I will have to be content until I see pictures.

Serena consolidated the break and leads 4-2 per scoreboard

Posted by marta 03/08/2008 at 10:42 AM

but Andy holds at 30. feli to serve at 3-4

Posted by Carrie 03/08/2008 at 10:42 AM

My live stream is a bit like a Georges Seurat painting. Kinda waiting for Feli and Andy to spend a Sunday in the Park or something.

Vamos Feli! He has a tough task- Andy is looking mighty good.

Posted by svelterogue 03/08/2008 at 10:43 AM

feli is so beautiful. everytime he hitches up his shorts, he exposes so much more of those beautiful golden legs, rippling with muscles ยจ*swoon*

roddick is furiously at it with his "gear" and is prolly on fifth gear just about now. looks like an exciting final thus far! :)

Posted by TennisChica 03/08/2008 at 10:43 AM

the feed from eurosport has worked great for me all week. so why now does it decide to act up, it's not like this is a final or that this match is meaningful to these guys. sssheesshhh.

but now the feed is brilliant for the commercials of MEXICO! ;-)

Posted by Black Matt 03/08/2008 at 10:43 AM

Eurosport still won't show anything for me - it says biathlon but doesn't actually show it.

Posted by ptenisnet 03/08/2008 at 10:44 AM

Yep. all the commercials are coming through fine, but the moment they start showing tennis, it's like a montage.

Posted by Sherlock 03/08/2008 at 10:44 AM

Welcome, Jackie!! :)

Posted by TennisChica 03/08/2008 at 10:45 AM

Here you go Schwab, try this one:
http://tinyurl.com/2y3rdw

Posted by Annabelle 03/08/2008 at 10:46 AM

For those still struggling to view the match - go to www.eurosport.co.uk - works perfectly fine, lovely British commentary and when clicking on "tennis" it actually shows the match, rather than the ehf...

C'mon Andy! Time for that break!

Posted by marta 03/08/2008 at 10:47 AM

Feli saves two BPs and holds capped of by an ace.

Posted by 03/08/2008 at 10:47 AM

awesome hold from feli.

Posted by TennisChica 03/08/2008 at 10:47 AM

blackmatt, try the link i just posted.

though it still freezes on/off, on/off, on/off...

Posted by Flyer 03/08/2008 at 10:48 AM

Finally!!

Great feed.

Posted by Flyer 03/08/2008 at 10:49 AM

Come on Andy!

Posted by raven gypsy 03/08/2008 at 10:49 AM

channel surfings Eurosport feed just changed to Dubai!

Posted by Black Matt 03/08/2008 at 10:50 AM

Thanks Anabelle. It's beautiful!

Posted by Annabelle 03/08/2008 at 10:51 AM

Match finally on TV. Hiya Frenchie - missed you! - is on telly in France now too?

C'mon Andy!

Posted by TennisChica 03/08/2008 at 10:51 AM

Andy is serving up aces, on one, feli looked like he was still getting into position and had just stuck out his "ponpis" and a ball whooshed by...

meanwhile in bangalore:
Serena and Venus, 5-3, serena with the break, venus serving

Posted by jb 03/08/2008 at 10:51 AM

Hey A-belle! I was awonderin' where you were! Have you been able to catch any of Andy's play this tourney? This is actually the first I've been ablet to catch.

Posted by marta 03/08/2008 at 10:51 AM

I'm using the link that Papo posted at 10:18 and it's working great for me.

Posted by marieJ 03/08/2008 at 10:52 AM

dreaming about feli's legs svelty ? hehe :P

there are plenty of spanish flags out there, they want a hot lefty spaniard and they got it ;)

Posted by The Original French(ie) 03/08/2008 at 10:52 AM

THANKS!!!!!! finally got an image. roddick at the net!!!

Posted by Schwab 03/08/2008 at 10:53 AM

Serena wins set 1, 6-3.

Still only have audio on Dubai.

Posted by afwu 1216 03/08/2008 at 10:53 AM

Serena takes the first 6-3.

Posted by raven gypsy 03/08/2008 at 10:54 AM

The male model (FLo) getting fired up with his shots here!

Posted by svelterogue 03/08/2008 at 10:54 AM

exquisite service game from feli! 5-5 volleying so deliciously

Posted by ptenisnet 03/08/2008 at 10:54 AM

Feli is playing beautiful tennis.

Posted by raven gypsy 03/08/2008 at 10:55 AM

schwab - try to second feed on channel surfing. It's working for me.

Posted by creig bryan, GBT 03/08/2008 at 10:55 AM

Serena just administered a booty shot lob, before winning the first set. This shot was a miracle of desperation, but it worked when Venus couldn't handle it.

Keep Smiling

Posted by Ndesque 03/08/2008 at 10:55 AM

Feli showing why he deserves to in this final.

Posted by marieJ 03/08/2008 at 10:56 AM

that's plenty of good stuff from feli, i did not watch his previous matches...

Posted by afwu 1216 03/08/2008 at 10:56 AM

Schwab go to atptennis.com. Under news it says FREE web stream click on that one. it worked for me.

Posted by Flyer 03/08/2008 at 10:57 AM

Stay calm now Andy

Posted by Papo 03/08/2008 at 10:57 AM

F-Lo showing off some serious net skills.

Posted by Carrie 03/08/2008 at 10:57 AM

Feli sometimes seems like he is moving in slow motion. Fun contrast in energy and movements between points- even during.

Oh Feli- your backhand can make me cringe....oh Andy- that volley made me cringe as well.

Posted by Samantha Elin 03/08/2008 at 10:57 AM

Poor Venus, she's too sweet. She will never learn to see Serena as an opponent. Go Justine, world's #1!

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