I'm here

First?

So guys...are you all coming over to Wednesday's post or staying over on the overflow thread? lol! Where are you guys!?

Jesse practiced with Roger last summer in Dubai and it will be interesting to see what plan he has in store for Rafael. Also, it will be interesting to see what adjustments Rafael will make for the US Hardcourt season?

Ed,
Guess Andrew will cover Gilles Simon and a mystery player later today.

woo hoo just in time!
morning everyone. so who's up first?

When they showed the live view of Centre Court this morning it didn't look like it was raining, just looked like they were drying it.

Thanks Ed.

It would be good if you could please give us an update on what the contingency plans Toronto has for the weather, if any? Apparently, there are indoor courts in the vicinity.

cheers,
Syd

Sam I haven't mention it as there are too many trolls and it is prolly not the right time as it is pretty serious and there tennis is on when it is not raining of course.

Well as there is no tennis I better go to bed and try and get some sleep.

Ed McGrogan, Jose was in the stands for that match as Roger Federer's coach, I'm pretty sure...since the winner of Young/Simon is Federer's next opponent. Higueras is accompanying Fed to Toronto, Cincy, and the USO from what I heard....

HEY ED, CAN YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS WEATHER?

Also, nice courage on revealing your serve speed! Not bad at all, a 90mph shot under less than ideal conditions...

Ed:

Someone said yesterday that they thought Kudrayvtsev was Kudrayvtseva brother. You know Alla Kudrayvtseva who beat Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon.

Ed, great stuff as always. Bless you. :)

"Honestly, I was nervous even in front of a few teenage onlookers - a clear sign that I was never meant to play tennis for a living. I clocked a 89.5 mph strike, or 144 kph in Canadian. And I got all of it."

LOL. Fantastic. :)

ugh is it raining still? and the weather's not wonderful here either.

so great, i guess we shall have to wait for the matches to start for however long...

harini: Check out my posts on the other thread. :)

hmm did my prev comment get deleted? i'd complained about the weather...either that or the cache is being weird...

Gee, I sure hope Davydenko still remembers how to play tennis after such a long time away from it.

any news about the weather??

when will the games start???

oh never mind there it is. weird.

JACKIE! just saw your Coldplay post on the other thread. glad you had such a wonderful time, i'm super excited for Friday. and thanks for the cam info, i definitely have a big bag i can stash it in :)

did you have floor seats? i'm not that close to the stage but i do have a floor seat. well if i can get something of a picture, i'll be happy :) yay, i'm glad you had such a fantastic time!

Don't want to get into politics here but I was reading an article about Radovan Karadzic's arrest and this sentence came up:

"Sonja Licht, a leading human rights advocate, who has campaigned in favor of Serbia’s membership, said Mr. Karadzic’s arrest was part of Serbia’s attempt to revamp its image as a cosmopolitan country of tennis stars, rather than one that hoarded war criminals."

Kinda puts into light how Djokovic, Ivanovic, and Jankovic have the pressure of not only representing Serbian tennis but the vision of a newer, more cosmpolitan Serbia...

Dont know why but Im a bit worried about Rafas match. Oh well, Im always nervous about any Rafa match!!!
Anyway, thanks for the great reports Ed
And Sam,
So sorry about you friend. Life can be so cruel at times.

thanks a lot Ed.
nice analysis of Young's strokes. Who is his coach?

Rain delay again? I agree with Syd. Why not use the indoor facilities and get some matches out of the way?

zolarfa:

Young is coached by his parents.

This is what the atp website said:

Donald Sr. & Iona Young

Crazyone;

Another incendiary subject and I haven't had coffee yet. :-)

harini: Floor seats? Um, we were in the second to the last row of the entire arena. LOL. No matter, though - still sang my guts out. AND they were filming - I think they're going to use footage from that concert for the "Lost" video! YAY! And I'm jealous you'll be so close! Take pics and send my way! (And don't forget - if things should go awry with the camera, you do have your phone. ;))

(Mods - sorry about the OT. Blaming it on the rain!)

"Several pros to play in unisex tournament"
"Bellamy said Vince Spadea, Justin Gimelstob, Derrick Rostagno and Alexandra Stevenson are among those expected to play. Spadea is ranked No. 70 and Stevenson No. 204; Rostagno and Gimelstob are no longer on the tour.

The Battle of the Sexes approach recalls the 1973 showdown between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. King, at the top of her game, won easily against her long retired opponent."

Justin Gimelstob...really?

BTW, many thanks for creating the "verdasco for Shanghai" bandwagon abbey. The match against Berdych will be a good test. And we can be sure that we will go through many rollercoasters.

Jackie, as soon as tix went on sale, i bought them. i think on the hour on the day, i was online purchasing my ticket, i didn't want to waste even a minute lol. last time i did, they were sold out and that was before they became so big.
that'll be great if you might in the Lost vid! i'll look out for you when it comes out :) and yup, will def send pics/vids if i take them :)

mods...apologies for the OT but yes, i also blame the rain.

hahahaha rudy3 - my thoughts exactly! like they couldn't find a decent ATP level player..

d'oh. didn't see the new CCC.
posted this at the bottom of yesterday's:

sic - thanks for posting that Nadal interview translation re: doping. wow. he paints a really intense picture, and I have no reason to believe he would exaggerate these matters.

Jackie - glad you enjoyed Coldplay. was it part of an arena tour? so they were pretty large scale shows?

Derrick Rostagno, eh? I wouldn't mind seeing him play again. Strange, though. He's been out of the game quite a while.

Anyone in Toronto and want to elaborate on the rain situation

Jackie: What? I'm not even top 3?! Bret, Jericho, Santino, Steffi, Fed. Sigh. What's a boy to do? ;)

At the moment, play is still suspended

news (about the weather) anyone???

afwu,
thanks for the info. I hope they read Ed's column. seriously!

It is amazing how some talents zoom upwards and some stay where they are. Is that coaching? ambition? Headcaseness? ...

Crazyone,
Nice find. But why can't they have other things? Industry? Tourism? More friendly politics? These players have enough pressure on them as it is.
These kids should not be used as windex for whatever mess the Serbian government got itself into years ago.I think it is better to keep tennis and politics separate.

This just in... the Tour De France has changed its drug policy:

http://tinyurl.com/34fro5

harini: Fairly certain Jackie in penultimate row won't make the vid. But at least I'll KNOW I was there? ;)

Rachael: Yeppers. Big tour, big arenas. I actually wish I had the chance to see them before they got so huge ...

Rain looks like it has stopped, but word in the press room is today will likely be a 'typical Wimbledon day' - stop and start showers.

woohoo, marta on the bandwagon! =)

sic, thanks for posting rafa's interview over at the previous cc thread.

"That makes you really angry, most especially when, like me, you are a sportsman who is completely clean."

sic: Thanks for posting the Nadal interview on the previous thread. He sounds very frustrated, and justifiably so.

Wouldn't it be great if Gimelstob is beaten soundly in the unisex tourney?

The underhand serving is kind of a brilliant idea!

I have to say, without his serve, and given how unimpressive his groundstrokes are, I'd guess there are a fair number of women on the tour who could do some serious damage to old Gimelstob the Wise.

Ugh! Rain really kills these week-long tournaments with no days off in between. Heck, the winner of Safin/Querrey is supposed to play twice today. If today is washed out...I imagine many of the top players who are also playing doubles will drop out of the doubles tourney - can't see Fed or Nadal playing 1-2 singles matches in one day AND 1-2 doubles matches...

If Safin/Guerry get to play today, will the winner play two matches tomorrow?

What if there is another rain delay today and they can't play at all?

does the tournament have a plan "B"?

Russ: *hanging head in shame* I kid you not, I typed your name. Then erased it. Stupid Jackie.

Asad: I'm actually surprised Gimel's playing in it. He seems to have absolutely nothing to gain. Either that, or hey, he really doesn't care about what people think, and wants to have a lark.

Marta:

PUT ME ON THE LIST!!!

Some parents should just stay away from coaching if they want their kids to succeed.

Marta
thanks :)

I think Levine will be a hard match up for Rafa. Judging from Nishikori, who was also a hit partner for Fed. I hope Rafa can win the match, but won't be surprised if it is a long one.

Jackie, don't listen to Russ. Love of the Beatles is like a slam win compared to those he mentioned. :)

Btw, thanks for the reference on the other thread. A good way to start the day. :)

Sic, I'll add my thanks for the Nadal interview. Hmmm, wonder if Barry Bonds was ever awakened at 9:00 to give a sample? :)

zolarafa, I think it's simply that they are the most prominent Serbians who aren't in politics...even some of my friends who follow sports in general but not so much tennis in particular, know about the burst of Serbian tennis at the Australian Open...

Also, I don't think they are forced to do anything political, it's more that being attractive, very good at what they do, multilingual, charismatic, etc.--they're taken as representatives of a brighter future, rather than a dark past...

"Love of the Beatles is like a slam win compared to those he mentioned. :)"

That's right, Sherlock. ;-)

Here's some more of that interview, it's pretty good and touches on things that have been discussed here as well (I cleaned up some of the translation):

XL: Your parents and the rest of your family have always been an important support for you when things have been hard. Now that everything is going well, what's your relationship like?
R.N.: It's the same when I lose as when I win, whether I'm down or up. They're my parents and my relationship with them is not going to change because I'm a bit higher up the rankings. It's the same as when I was 15 years old and starting out in this tennis business, except that now I'm a bit older and they let me have a bit more freedom. But I live with them and if I do things badly, they're the first to tell me; my mother tells me off if I make a mess or leave things lying about the house.

XL: The member of your family who has most influence over you, even if it's only because he spends most time with you, is your Uncle Toni, your coach. What's your relationship like?
R.N.: He is a very important person in my career and in my life. He has spent a lot of time with me since I was little and, as far as ports are concerned he brought me up very well. He made me disciplined and he has always demanded that I give maximum effort, attention and enthusiasm for competition.

Nole played well yesterday against Frank. He was very aggressive from the baseline, almost anxiously so, but he kept the errors in check. Nole has a way of floating deep returns to good serves, it doesn't look pretty, but it gets the job done.

Yes: a dark past that has included the worst genocide since WWII.

Rafaelites:

I'd take the Fedadorers over that motley crue, er, crew, any day. ;)

I haven't been here too much lately...but what is the point of listing "Rafaelites"? And no, I'm not one.

Gimel is probably trying to repair his image or something.

Jackie - that's cool. I'm not a fan, but it must be an awesome exeperience to see a band you love in such a massive show. most of the gigs I attend are in sweaty rooms no bigger than my bedroom.

my sleepless nights are cathing up to me.
I just spent about 15 minutes mesmerized by the homepage on the Marc Jacobs website. trying to spell mesmerized in this condition was also pretty mesmerizing.

oh live tennis, come back and focus my attention.

Nole has a way of floating deep returns to good serves...

Yes, and Dancevic was visibly surprised every time this happened, and didn't really get in position in order to deal with the return.

(Continuing in different posts so that they are not too long)

XL: You have always avoided cheap popularity and commercialising on your private life. How does it feel to know that each time you go home to Manacor there's always a crowd of paparazzi on your doorstep? Or when you turn on the tele and see them talking about your backside or your girlfriend on 'Tomate'? ['Aqui hay Tomate', an irreverent daily gossip programme that used to be on Telecinco.]

R.N.: Quite honestly, I'm not aware of any of it because I don't watch those shows. With the exception of a couple of channels or a film now and then, I don't like television. Most of it is bad, not just in my view but for all of society. They don't educate children or anyone well. I can't believe that there are people who enjoy watching them screw up someone else's private life.

XL: What would you say to them so that they will leave you in peace?

R.N.: Nothing. I don't pay any attention to them. They follow me at certain times of the year, usually in summer, but they usually leave me alone the rest of the time. Besides, there's nothing I don't do because I think there might be paparazzi.

XL: The ones that follow you all year round are quite a different matter...

R.N.: That's different. I wouldn't give the gossip journalists a minute of my time, but I have a very good relationship with other journalists, especially those that usually follow me. Well, they don't follow me, but the tour itself.

XL: But, when it comes down to it, they're Spanish journalists who are following the Spaniard with the highest ranking.

R:N:: They follow the tour, but, of course, they talk about the one that's highest at that moment. The last few years, I've had the luck that it's been me, just a few years ago it was Ferrero or Moyà, and in two or three years, or in one, because you never know, it will be somebody else.

XL: They follow you over a very long season, from the end of December until the Shanghai Masters in November. Isn't an 11 month season away from home exhausting?

R.N.: It's tiring being away from home but what really exhausts you is the tension, the nerves, the routine, the obligation of focusing everything you do, from when you get up in the morning, in one direction: the match. Then, of course, there are the matches. Travelling is also tiring, but that doesn't affect me mentally. Well, if you are alone, it does. But, now, for example, my girlfriend was here in New York for a week and a half, and then my parents are coming... and I'm with Maymo, with my uncle, with Benito, with Carlos (Costa)...

Jackie: Remember when I said you have miles of slack with me? You still do. But comeon, you had to expect that one ;)

I agree Jackie, i wish i could've seen them in '03. me and two friends were planning on buying tix (gifts from us to us for graduation hehe) and we had it all planned--and they were only about $50 back then!--but they were sold out. grrr. this time i made coldplay my splurge of the month by buying the ticket.

did you have a good view of the stage though? when i went to see Matchbox 20 at assembly hall, we had seats way far back but had a pretty good view of the stage and rob thomas didn't seem so far away.

man what a day. rain here, rain there, rain everywhere. it's going to suck for safin-querrey, i'm still bummed that match got postponed last night. argh.

Marta:

Nevermind don't put me on the list. I did not know it was for Rafa. I thought it was for Verdasco to go to the TMC.

sic:

Thanks for the Rafa interview. He always strikes me as so sane and smart.

Alexis: Belonging is a strong human need. Being a member of group who is believed to be right gives humans a sense of pride. It feels good to be with the "winning" side.

here's a great take on the gimelstob issue:

http://www.insidetennis.com/0808_second_serve.html

kinda sad, actually.

XL: The best tennis players in the world, including the present number one, Roger Federer, will be at the Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid. When you are both competing, the characteristic Federer-Nadal final is always expected, which is a bit tiresome viewed from the outside. And from the inside?

R.N.: What I find tiresome is something else... (he is in two minds about saying it).

XL: .... that question?

R.N.: Yes. It's tiresome to be asked about Federer-Nadal before the first round of a tournament has been played, when Roger is at one end of the draw and Rafa at the other. It is difficult to reach any final and even more so in the Madrid tournament, which is played indoors, the top 40 players in the world are there, and I'm not the favourite because the tournament doesn't suit my characteristics. But even if it were played on clay, where I have won many matches in a row, I wouldn't see myself in the final. I always think before every tournament that I have a difficult first round, an even more complicated second round, and if I'm in the semis and I win, then, yes, I think: "Federer, what dirty luck! Another final against Roger."

XL: You and Federer are very similar. You're both quiet guys, you seem nice people and you don't give us a cheap spectacle or polemics. Shouldn't you put a bit more of a bite into this relationship for the good of the spectacle?

R.N.: No, I don't think so. I think it's nice to show that sport is sport and it ends there. That things are calm, but there's also maximum competition on court, as there always is when we play. But when the match is over, it's over. It shouldn't go beyond there. Hating your rival just because he's that is not among my values in life.

XL: It's not hating, but putting a bit of spice in it...

R.N.: Watching Alonso and Hamilton fight doesn't leave me with a good impression. There'll be people that think the more morbid the better, but I don't like seeing one sportsman fight with an other. Sport should demonstrate positive values: fight, commitment and effort. Everything else is superfluous. That doesn't mean to say that because I get on well with Federer I don't want to beat him: if one day I could beat him 6-0 6-0 6-0, with him not winning even a single point in the whole match, it would be the happiest day in my life. But that's where the rivalry stops. I wouldn't go and stir things up afterwards.

XL: It's clear your relationship with Federer is making satisfactory progress. Who else do you get together with on the circuit?

R.N.: With David (Ferrer), Carlos (Moyà), Feliciano (López), Juan Carlos (Ferrero)... In fact, with all the Spaniards. And with the Argentinians, too. With David (Nalbandián), (Juan Martín) Del Potro, (Guillermo) Cañas, (Juan) Mónaco... I get on well with all of them.

XL: Especially for those famous PlayStation matches..

R.N.: Four of us play at the Play: Moyà, Nalbandiàn, Ferru (Ferrer) and me... and sometimes (Nicolás) Almagro.

XL: One of your acknowledged vices is PlayStation. Apart from playing at football, I suppose you also have a go at tennis.
R.N.: No. I swear I've never played tennis on it in my life.
[His public relations chief, Benito Pérez-Barbadillo, who has remained silent until this moment, is no longer able to keep his mouth shut: "No, he doesn't play at tennis, but he's always absorbed in the football. He gets hold of Cristiano Ronaldo and won't let him go..".]

R.N.: Come on, Benito…

XL: Have you ever thought at all of playing tennis, choosing Federer and making him lose?

R.N.: No, I honestly haven't.
[Pérez-Barbadillo adds a rejoinder without looking at him, addressing me: "He would want to win. Even playing with/as Federer."]

*drive by post*
I know this is OT, but I just read about Sam's friend on the other thread and I want to say I'm sooo sorry.
*gives Sam 1,000 hugs for whenever he needs them*

HARINI! I went to see Matchbox at Assembly, too! Awww, wish I knew you back then. I just remember being so surprised at how pocket-sized Rob was. And crying at the acoustic rendition of "If You're Gone." Tsk.

And um, Assembly Hall and the United Center don't compare. I felt like Coldplay was in a different time zone. LOL.

Rachael: That post was mesmerizing.

Russ: Yeah, but I can't let all that slack run out. :)

Is Rob Thomas really short? How tall is he? 5'8"?

@harini
And moreso that Safin/Querrey are not being to allowed to take the court first; the winner has to play another match later today..

Russ: Saw you reply to my 5:14 PM post yesterday..

sic: I liked the way you brought in cultural difference to explain how Nole is being seen as the object of evil.. Yes - he is not a saint and some of my comments irritated me; but I feel sad that some of the Rafalites (and some of my fellow Fedadorers) have found a common sackbag..

kiwibee: Hmmm, not sure. 5'8" or 5'9"? Seemed pretty little, though. I think it's that way with a lot of celebs.

Ferrer and Ginepri are up on the scoreboard.

crazyone,
Having Steffi Graf or Boris Becker or even Benz or WolksWagen, doesn't earse the memories of what Nazis did in WWII. Similarly, having some bright tennis stars won't change anything about what the Serbian government did. Those will remain as dark spots in the history and nothing can change the past. But for the future, they have to make sure that those mistakes will never be happen again.
This effort to use tennis to divert attention from Serbia's past actually might prove costly to their tennis. It is the wrong association and can be a put-off rather than a promotion.

Ferru and Robby! Who to root for!

Will go with Ferru, for Jenni's sake. :)

Jackie: There's always more rope in my book. If your friends can't give you all the rope you need, then what good are they? Just don't hang yourself with it.

Arun: Saw your reply to my reply to your 5:14 post yesterday. ;)

All: Who came up with the term "Rafaelite"?

yeeeaaay! tennis time!
OK, I am going to watch the scoreboard and try to do some work. Be back for Rafa's match ( or after!)

Seeya!

Ferrer is on the court? I'm going to have to go down to the tv set then...!

just reading in (kinda sucky but you've got to buy it anyway) British mag Ace Tennis that Fed starred in a Nike commercial with RHYS DARBY.

how the flippp did I miss this? I am a huge huge Conchords fan.

*runs to youtube

Aww Celia, that was very sweet of you!!

Who will win Toronto?

27.80 %
Roger Federer

62.66 %
Rafael Nadal

6.08 %
Novak Djokovic

3.47 %
Someone else

This Poll was taken on tennis.com's home page. To me this poll shows nothing except who your favorite is.

Oh....
Sic,
Thanks a lot for posting that interview. very informative. I hope that id&%t writer from LA Times will read this and melt in shame!

Jackie, you are too sweet. :) I admit I was a little afraid he'd come out in powder blue and orange.

Adler on Ferru: "He's a real self-believer." That'd be hilarious if it wasn't so completely wrong.

Zolarafa: @ 12:03 amen.

hi everyone, it is freezing here in oz,just finished watching tdf,replaying frank v nole,no thanks too bright for me at this time of morning 2.06am, where is neil,i hear the weather dosen't look to good fot today, pls neil get on that roff and do your magic!.

Rachael, i love the smaller gigs. more intimate and i love how close you can get to the stage.

omg Jackie, that's too funny you were at MB20 too. yeah, Rob Thomas's acoustic rendition of "If you're gone" still haunts me. my friends and i wanted that version as soon as we came out of assembly hall.
heh, true, Assmebly hall must be pint sized compared to the United center. but i still remain in awe of Assembly Hall, esp how weirdly huge it looks from the outside.

thanks for posting that Rafa interview sic.
"Sport should demonstrate positive values: fight, commitment and effort. Everything else is superfluous. That doesn't mean to say that because I get on well with Federer I don't want to beat him: if one day I could beat him 6-0 6-0 6-0, with him not winning even a single point in the whole match, it would be the happiest day in my life. But that's where the rivalry stops. I wouldn't go and stir things up afterwards."

and this

"[Pérez-Barbadillo adds a rejoinder without looking at him, addressing me: "He would want to win. Even playing with/as Federer."]"

that's why i love rafa. no ifs, ands or buts, just does his job and does it well.

sic: where did you get that interview? I know you're translating it, but i would love to see it in spanish.... post the link please.... thanks

I'm not a fan, but Nadal seems extraordinarily mature and pragmatic for his age.

"that's why i love rafa. no ifs, ands or buts, just does his job and does it well."

That's why I love Federer too.

nice.. all this Rafa craziness might come back to bite, if there is to be a dry run in the hardened courts.. le sigh

Koenig gives us his top 3 chair umpires.
1 - Layhani
2 - Bernados
3 - Graff

good to know, Robbie.

If I were TW king for a day, I'd put a moratorium on all anti-Djokovic talk for a few hours. The back and forth gets a tad ridiculous. I'm not a big fan, but he's not Evil personified, so just let it go folks.

[Maja, this is a cultural misinterpretation - in America holding up the finger like that means I'm #1, but in other countries, it means pointing to the crowd as if saying "this is thanks to you"...]

Very nice explanation. I've heard this before, but until it was explained to me I thought differently.

Sam, he "let it go on"? Goodness.

FoT, that must be tough, but you keep such a positive attitude.

I didn't translate the article, someone else did and posted it on Vamos Brigade (which requires registration, that's why I'm posting it here):

Here's a link to the original in Spanish:

http://www.xlsemanal.com/web/articulo.php?id=21057&id_edicion=2447

joker is the man to beat on hard courts;

nadal tops on clay and grass;

fedex was tops everywhere but turns 27 on aug 8;

murray, gasquet, gulbis, monfils ..have yet to fulfill their promise;

play has started ferrer v ginepri on centre court

Sherlock:

Who has ever said that Novak was Evil personified?

Sher: Even J-Mac thought that holding up the index finger meant 'I'm No. 1" - or so he said when Roger did it.

sic, wow great interview, thanks! Can you link to the original source please?

[That doesn't mean to say that because I get on well with Federer I don't want to beat him: if one day I could beat him 6-0 6-0 6-0, with him not winning even a single point in the whole match, it would be the happiest day in my life.]

LOL
That's the best, that they can bring that kind of intensity to the court and not have it affect them outside of the court too much.
[XL: Have you ever thought at all of playing tennis, choosing Federer and making him lose?

R.N.: No, I honestly haven't.
[Pérez-Barbadillo adds a rejoinder without looking at him, addressing me: "He would want to win. Even playing with/as Federer."]
]

I love PB's answer!

finally
I finished packing just as live tennis is about to start
this could be a long match - both guys run down a lot of balls
ET- thanks for your reports on the other thread -just an inside - the guy who practiced with Gasquet could be his trainer . He travels with the Lagardere group and matches the description you gave . Or it could be Eysseric - a young french hope who is also fairly small and has practiced with Gasquet before .
to Aussie Ange- hugs and my thoughts are with you
Sam - hope you are feeling better this morning