Loved it, Pete!

Have something similar in mind for the DC ... great minds ... ;)

These are priceless Pete! ROFL

Pete This post cracked me up LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great story on Marsel Iihan,gee what a thrill it must of been for him when Roger walked up to him in the locker room and wished him luck.

Talk about "Faints".

fun post, Pete! I actually saw Ilhan play in qualies and was up close for his match with Isner. I'll be interested to see how he progresses...

Feliciano Lopez: Cuts off hair, hoping to gain an ATP backhand. Doesn't work that way. ;)

Being Turkish, I was very proud of Ilhan's run. I would have loved to hear that interview. Bummer. Class by Fed to introduce himself.

Oh, and thanks Pete for writing about him!

"2 - Serena Williams: What? I'm going to take this ranking system and shove it down your effin' throat!"

yes, someone fat, unfit, out-of-form, certainly can not be called among "the best ever"

Pete, I love what you say about Verdasco, Soderling, Roddick and Blake, really funny

The Spanish dream, Madrid 2016!!

http://www.rtve.es/mediateca/videos/20091001/madrid-2016-sueno-todos/596944.shtml

yes, any player who had been beaten by a retired mommy who had given birth a mere 18 months ago -- can't be that good, you know.

yes, any player who had been beaten by a retired mommy who had given birth a mere 18 months ago -- can't be that good, you know.

"10 - Andy Murray: Is he the next Tim Henman? I don't think the Brits could take it."

There's at least five more heartbreaking Wimbledon SF losses to go before Murray reaches Henman status, surely?

Nice story about Federer, and LOL at the epigrams, especially Gonzo's. :)

Nadal pushing his luck -- do i hear the requiem for the Nadal era? For whom the bell tolls?

Nadal pushing his luck -- do i hear the requiem for the Nadal era? For whom the bell tolls?

Carol Thanks for that clip

I did post Rafa will not be able to make it to Denmark,seeing he is on way to Beijing.

"One thing I remember clearly from the interview: Roger Federer was in the locker room, watching the scoreboard, and he noticed Ilhan's name. Discovering that he was the first player from Turkey ever in a major, Federer introduced himself and wished Ilhan good luck. Ilhan told me it was a highlight of his tournament experience."

There goes Roger...charming Ilhan just like the rest of the tour. Now, if Ilhan ever loses...they'll put it down to "soft power".

Soooo Fed. I wonder if the Swiss inhale diplomacy skills along with chocolate fumes and wafts of emmenthaler.

***ouch*** Amelie. Very sad. But at least she has a couple of GSs. Which is a couple more than 99% of the tour. And if she is sleep walking, than James Blake is sleeping walking BACKWARDS.

"Kim Clijsters: She may not have been "match tough", but then she's had plenty of experience in the last year taking candy from a baby."

ROFL!

This is a great post.
Can't add anything to Rafa's. It is perfect:

**Rafael Nadal: First, he bags the piratas and covers of the sweat-sheened guns, then he cuts his hair. The kid is really pushing his luck.***

-Melanie Oudin: Tough luck playing her if your last name ends with ..va!

-Dinara Safina: No need to beat her. She can do it herself!

Zolarafa Hey long time no see?

Fed sure knows how to be an ambassador of the sport. Great detail of him towards the Turkish player.
First, i will try a couple of answers to your comments, Pete:
Robin Soderling: I dont think he's been punished enough. Give him Fed in AO 2010.

Caroline Wozniacki: Of course she can do all that, and besides, she can look very good while doing it.

Pete, very enjoyable! Not sure if you know this or not, but Nico Lapentti and Gomez are actually related (beyond both being from Ecuador)-- Gomez is Nico's uncle. So maybe it's something in the genes! :)

I must admit Rafa with his new shorter hair cut looks about say sweet sixteen.

Gael Monfils: Look at me jump! Look at me go wild! Look at me celebrate!...Look at me lose.
Marat Safin: Why did i have to play tennis this year again?
Vera Zvonareva: Off with the tapes! Hey, chair umpire, i need a trainer to get them back! You know, so i can tear them off again.

"Gael Monfils: Look at me jump! Look at me go wild! Look at me celebrate!...Look at me lose.
Marat Safin: Why did i have to play tennis this year again?"

Good ones..Mr.X

Gael Monfils: Look at me jump! Look at me go wild! Look at me celebrate!...Look at me lose.
~~~~~

LMAO! Ouch, but...yeah.

He looks adorable with the new hair...*starry-eyed*

Not that he didn't look lovely with the old hair. :)

"Gael Monfils: Look at me jump! Look at me go wild! Look at me celebrate!...Look at me lose."

LOL LOL LOL

Jewell I would not expect any other comment coming from you on the subject of Rafa,period lol!

Jewell: me too. I love the short hair.

Loved the post pete.

Jackie: something like this for DC would be fun.

David Nalbandian: First Gaudio, and then this big guy. The tennis gods must hate me. Well, not that i care all that much, anyway.
Justine Henin: One more Slam is more than enough for you, Kim, thank you very much. I'll take care of this from now on.

Answer to Alexandra Wozniak: the smile.

Jewell I did post Rafa's Lavin commercial for Annie and also other Rafa fans,its on the Safina post,if you care to have a look.

I love the way they did his hair for that ad.

...now this is right up our alley...so to speak....

Maria Sharapova: "i never thought the day would come when I'm jealous of Lena's serve"
Andy Murray: "Wait a minute....wasn't I supposed to win won of these GS's this year?"
Sam Querrey: "Who needs lights when I can just hit at night based upon the reflection from my Reebok-issued Neon eyesores!?"
TennisRone 1000: "When does Hott Wozz shoot a scene as a Fembot from Austin Powers....preferably in the ilk of the Britney Spears scene"

....good times....look forward to everyone's entries

Right Porto "fat, unfit, out of form and won more slams then any other current player and more slams this year. great picture of Caro, she is so pretty and talented too. I'm so proud of her. Go Caro, Scandinavia's#1!

Right Porto "fat, unfit, out of form and won more slams then any other current player and more slams this year. great picture of Caro, she is so pretty and talented too. I'm so proud of her. Go Caro, Scandinavia's#1!

Thanks, AM, I will look later. :)

Am totally lacking in inspiration, I think I need to sleep. Night, everyone. :)

Tennis Rone, the one on Sharapova was hysterical. See Vika loss while Caro is soaring and is almost in the top five.

Martina Hingis: Maybe i should have said the Worm was into coke.
On that same note:
Richard Gasquet: Holy cow, they bought the Pamela story! Unfreakingbelieveable!

Tennis Rone,I concur with your thoughts on Maria and her serve lol!

Mr X Yikes,thinking of the Worm into anything makes my blood curl.

Martina Hingis: Maybe i should have said the Worm was into coke.
~~~~~
*dead*

You're on a roll, Mr X!

Firt Federer withdraws from Japan Open and now Murray because the wrist injury. Delpo has a good chance to win this tournament

Richard should just Blow Kisses from now on.

"5 - Robin Soderling: His punishment for making fun of Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon a couple of years ago was drawing Roger Federer in three Grand Slams in '09. Talk about harsh justice."

Considering Fed made like 20+ GS semis, odds are high you run into him eventually! :)

Roger Federer: "Hey Or, here's 300$ + box tickets for next year Wimby, sorry you had to pay so much money for postponing your flight to Israel, just to see me lose a final I should have won"

This is good fun, isn't it guys?

Totally OT, just read where Rafa won't be going to Denmark but the President will. Sorry Rafa didn't get a chance to go, used to live there and it is one of the most beautiful and friendly places to visit.

AM...LOL!

Or tell me about it,I had tickets to see the final of the AO this year,spent 4 hours in Melbourne and had to return to Sydney ASAP

Got to miss Rafa winning his first h.court GS Title.pfft.

Novak Djokovic: I wonder if i'm already allowed to stop being quiet.
Fernando Verdasco: If i came up with a nickname like FeVer, i'm capable of pretty much anything.

Victoria Azarenka: Somebody give the Queen of Nastiness her nastiness back. Without it, she looks like Safina, without the annoying coach.
Rafael Nadal: Repeat after me, Rafa: No more injuries, no more injuries, no more injuries, no more injuries

I guess I was just lucky letting Pete take care of my 300mm F2.8 Canon lens at last year's US Open....though I figure the messenger bag probably wasn't pilfered from his locker, which is where my Very Expensive Lens was.

When I was at Queen's Club this year, some poor photographer had his memory card reader pinched by someone else in the media room....the things are pretty cheap, so whoever did it probably wasn't doing it for finacial reasons.

And now, I'm going to try to fix the formatting in Pete's article above:)

Hey Bodo, stop making fun of Woz's USO dress. I thought it was fetching. Okay, commence with the punning now.
- Slice

Mr. X.,
Those are some good entries especially the one on Gael.

Venus Williams: I did not feel like bragging for winning Wimbledon 3 years in a row so I decided to let my little sister win it this year.

Petra Kvitova: I won Hobart, defeated Dinara at the USO, and went on "vacation" for the rest of the year.

Slice The dress looked like a 50's frilly lampshade in a puke colour lol!

Pete was spot on there.

aw, aussiemarg... do I detect a hint of envy?

Yes I repeat before going to bed each night with my Premier Rosary Beads

Rafa,No More Injuries,No More Injuries,No More Injuries.

Woz could have come out on court wearing a Bjork getup and looked awesome.

Oh No Slice not you too?

You have become a Fan Boy

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Novak Djokovic: "Maybe I should go with 15 bounces as opposed to 18....I don't even hear those last 6 or so"
Roger Federer: "What exactly do other players do on those GS Semifinal days, anyway? I've forgotten...."
Marsel Ilhan: "wHo was that man asking me all of those funny questions with the name of Bodo? Was he somebody important?"

....hey...it's an equal opportunity ribbing blog...

Porto, I can see you would be very pleased if you could hear *requiem for Nadal era*, you've repeat the same again and again, but maybe you have to look or to be worry for someone else era......

"Woz could have come out on court wearing a Bjork getup and looked awesome."
That's very true, although the dress was pretty bad.
Pspace said it best the other day: Off with the ruffles!

Gomez is Nico's uncle? Thanks for that, AmyLu....and I guess, Juan Jose, who would tend to know these things about Ecuadorean players:)

As for the uncovered guns, the good thing about Del Potro's attempt is that there is no-one who does "naked guns" better than Rafa, in the tennis world at least. The look doesn't suit Delpo in the least (his arms are too long for it), though I expect that was the least of his worries when it came to being photographed holding the US Open trophy.

Well, if Rafa had to lose I'm glad it was to the eventual winner:)

AM, amen!!!

Wozz could pull off one of those Lady Gaga get-ups....

Mwuaahhhhh ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Yikes Lady Gaga looks to me like some high class hooker in the clothes she wears.

I actually did think it looked kinda cute, but only two women tennis players could have pulled it off--Woz and Ankles (in a tribute to Sam). Even Kournikova could not have -- too slender a body. This required some curvature.

Who in hail is Lady Gaga?! Nevermind, I don't think I want to know....

Watch those long Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh's, aussiemarg. The mods don't want to be deleting your posts because of TypePad freaking out with words that are too long for it/him/her to cope with.... ;-)

Rosia, thanks are really due to JJ, as I didn't know of the relationship until JJ told me. :) I'm guessing quite a few people in Ecuador know of that relationship, not just big tennis fans, as Gomez is still very much a hero there.

Sorry Rosangel I will cut them short in future.

aussiemarg: I was just joking with you; your ahhhhhhhhhh wasn't too long. But the really long words make Typepad extend out to the right beyond its normal width, which is seriously weird:)

A tribute to Sam.....Sam, where the hail are you?

AmyLu: how are you feeling about Rafa's career these days? And was JJ over the moon about JMDP's US Open win? it always makes me feel better when I know that my friends are celebrating even if I'm not:)

Yes I knew you were joking,but one day Jacko went over board and mucked up the post lol!

Nice words from Rafa

http://www.rafaelnadal.com/nadal/en/home

As for TypePad's sexual identity, I guess it's a good thing that most people have stopped worrying about TypePad these days. I'm still not a fan of pagination, but at least it's working better than it was in the beginning.

....and you know there's no exciting tennis going on right now when anyone is commenting about TypePad's sexual identity....

Yes the type pad has certainly improved now,out of sight.

Spent most of the USO watching the WTA. So my burning questions:

Sorana Cirstea - Who the hail does her eyes?
Caroline Wozniacki - Is the beautiful tan in the evening light natural or artificial?
Flavia Pennetta - Will you marry me?
Victoria Azarenka - Was like a spaghetti, but is now like crispy noodles. What's wrong with her?
Ana Ivanovic - Looks better on the golf course. Can we ban visors from the WTA?

Tennistically, I don't have much to say that hasn't already been said. As someone who tends to watch ATP for the most part, I find the WTA players fall into two categories -- those who can move, and those who can hit. Very few who can do both -- Kuznetsova and Kim off the top. Hope they continue to do well.

I think Del Potro was the right guy for that win. I mean, he's a feel-good story. First Slam final, young, up-and-coming, doesn't really have a good record against Roger OR Rafa, so no special grudges against him from either fan base.

I mean, sure I shed a few tears when the wrong guy wept his way through the ceremony, but I felt good for Del Potro, who really played an excellent match, and showed a lot of heart.

I LOVE Lady Gaga, but wouldn't be caught dead wearing some of her outrageous outfits, plus she wears a lot of bright pink and crazy yellows that don't look good on blond. Caro is so beautiful, but her USO just didn't do her justice, she needs more form fitting stuff like her old outfits. Go Caro, du er den bedste.

Hilarious, Pete!

Jon W on Jordon and Federer...not sure i agree with everything he says...I do think Federer has a killer instinct, but its just on court..he;s a friendly guy off court, but highly opinionated, nonetheless. But he does have the killer instinct, but not the nastiness towards his opponent.

From SI:

"Many sports media members are still discussing Michael Jordan's vindictive speech at his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Am I off to say Jordan's rancor is akin to that of Jimmy Connors? Connors did not attend the opening of Arthur Ashe Stadium in 1997. He initially balked at being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998, contending that he had never retired. What do you suppose makes Jimbo and Air Jordan tick? Is it a personality type that does not age well?
-- Dan Martin, Dayton, Ohio

• You know the first person I thought of when I heard about Jordan's monologue? Roger Federer. In a million years, could you ever imagine such a tone-deaf, ungracious, self-absorbed speech at his Hall of Fame induction? Could you even begin to conceive of his calling out former junior rivals, recalling decades-old feuds, trashing Rafael Nadal, making only awkward passing reference to his own kids and threatening a comeback at 50? The Jordan apologists have cited this as an example of his "pride," a vivid illustration of his "fierce competitiveness," his "killer instinct." Whatever.

Episodes such as this ought to heighten our respect and admiration for Federer, who's managed to achieve all he's achieved without such an aggressive streak, without the me-against-the-world self-delusion. The knock on Federer is that he's not a killer, that doesn't have that "assassin mentality." To me, it's just made his accomplishments all the more impressive. He became tennis' analogue to Jordan based on his physical ability, superior fitness and accomplishments on the big stage, but without that "killer instinct" and the attendant nastiness."

OK, I'll bite. 2009 soundbites:

Roger Federer: Tears - check. RG + Wimbledon - double check. Marry + twins = priceless.

Rafael Nadal: I'm 23, and two matches away from the career slam. I just have to get to the tournament in one piece once in the next eight years.

Andy Murray: Two steps forward, one and a half steps back. I was the best player in the world for half the year - too bad it wasn't a continuous half year.

Novak Djokovic: The good news - the fans love me again. The bad news - everyone loves a gallant runner-up.

Juan Martin Del Potro: If an Ent doesn't fall in the middle of New York City, I guess he makes a very big noise indeed.

Andy Roddick: What Roger said, dang it. AO SF - check. Wimbledon F, check. Brooklyn Decker - priceless.

an entertaining post and thread...! makes up for the disappointment of the previous one, whose title seemed to promise some drool-worthy pics. oh, i am so shallow.

Re: Roger and lack of killer instinct.

I don't think a player can win 15 GS- two tourneys 5 in a row and not have a killer instinct.

Of course Roger has a killer instinct,

His is more a unstated one compared to some of his male counterparts.

This is a brilliant piece. I think this sort of writing is Pete's strength, clever, pithy, insightful and just great fun. I enjoyed the image of Nalby in a rubber sweat suit and the image of Safina missing the ship was all too true.

And maybe when Rafa predicted dire things for Soderling at the end of his life, he got it right, just got the wrong time frame.

The fact that Federer is probably the most approachable #1 ever, who goes out of his way to be friendly to the more lowly players, is why I like him. It's nothing to do with soft power, diplomacy etc, he was always like that, even as a kid. Both he and Rafa have dispelled the image of the lofty, snooty #1.

Rasangel- well some folks like Delpo's arms. A writer fro Best Week Ever described them as long caramel logs of lean muscle or something like that. lol.

He may not have arms like Rafa and I know he is not everyone's cup of tea but over the last year and a half he has added some lean muscle and I think he looks fine/good in the shirts. :) I think the long arms suit him.

these soundbites are 'priceless' i'm afraid i'm not clever enough to come up with any.

TennisRone1000: my fave with roger's "what exactly do other players do on Semi-final day?"

Flavia Penetta to TD: "excuse me. may i see court no.3?"
Gonzo's Dad: "I don't like bagels. I didn't come to New York for the bagels."

And i'm really out of the loop on this Jordan thing. Did he make a horse's patoot out of himself at the hall of fame induction ceremony? What's the matter with him? I thought he was supposed to be a great guy. wrong impression?

^^^^

I did not mean to sound creepy in the above post. Lol. I just meant that I don't think only one male body type is "ideal" and the taller, longer guys can have their place too. He looked a bit awkward in the sleeveless shirts when he was really skinny two years ago but now I think he looks nice. He reminds me of someone you may see in track.

maedal: did you see the rafa's presser after the monfils match? when he talks about the fan who came up and kissed him? he said something like: "he was a great fan. he told me he loved me and he KISSED me!" i mean, can the guy get any cuter?

Okay- I must confess- I have thought and thought and still don't get the Jesse Levine tweet. I feel like Lisa in the episode of the Simpsons when she can't get the word puzzler.

Gael Monfils: After winning his first title in four years, wonders if having Whoppi Goldberg's hair will bring him title success on a bigger stage.

Annie, hehe, but you forgot what else Rafa said at the end about that fan: "but I didn't like the kiss" (always smiling)

carol, he said that? i didn't hear that part. they asked him if he understood him in english and he said "yes I understand that." I just love his whole attitude.

"but now I think he looks nice."

Except for the new teeth. Thumbs down.

So, Federer discovered that Ilhan was the first player from Turkey ever in a major, after he was exposed last year to not know who Althea Gibson was. No more such blunders in future. Salary earned, Godsick.

So, Federer discovered that Ilhan was the first player from Turkey ever in a major, after he was exposed last year to not know who Althea Gibson was. No more such blunders in future. Salary earned, Godsick.

Jenni, so you really think he had his teeth capped? that takes hours and hours in a dentists chair. did he have time to do that after the open? maybe he just got them whitened.