Karen i agree again (trust me im not a stalker lol) when Serena was a 17yr old who'd had a good run at a few tourneys im sure she was more then willing to play fed cup. But as a 28 whos had a long sucessful season and picked up an injury i don't see the issue in her skipping the tie. They got to the final without her so why do they need her now? And did they even ask Venus? I think Oudin needs to realise that as a top player sometimes u have to make tough decisions and until shes in their position she shouldn't judge.

I was specifically thinking of '07 Shanghai. The match went 3, and Ferru ran a visibly tired Rafa all around the court in the latter half of the set. The USO '07 also works, even though I would agree that Rafa wasn't 100%. Regardless, in terms of pure fitness I would take Ferru over Rafa any day.

This is a strange video I just came across but it's fitting since we're about to start Paris. I think it was made by one of the racket stringers a couple of years ago. About 4minutes into the vid is a backstage tour of the players lounge and eating areas at the Paris Masters. Thought it might be of interest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDVq4gyBIDg&feature=related

AM, I don't think it's particularly serious but he's withdrawn from Bercy. I think he's had this injury before, in Oct. of '07, and it didn't seem to hinder him after a couple of weeks of rest. Seems like it's always a leg injury with him.

Jenni: that says alot about Ferru 'cus he smokes!

Jenni I must say David is like a non stop guy who seems to be on a Ever Ready Battery theres no doubt there for sure.

Ferru has knee tendinitis. surprise surprise.

Jenni Bad luck for David,cause he is good on the h/courts

I think this is the Year of The Injury!

I am officially naming it now

Hoping he can recover well.

AM, it's not a good time for my favorites right now. Del Potro's wrist, Ferru's legs, and Dinara's probably in traction somewhere. I've been reduced to rooting hardcore for Frannie Schiavone.

Just sitting down to watch the Agassi interview on 60 Minutes. Been out of the country in Aruba for 2 weeks. Can't wait to catch up with this; Andre was always my fav before Roger.

Jenni I feel bad about Safina,I was giving her hell especially her serve,little did I know that she had this condition for 3 months.At the US OPEN especially I think both you and I died and went somewhere else.I hope she dosent push it,gee disc in her lower back starting to Fracture? not good.

Is Agassi blaming Sampras for everything? :P

""My opinion – on clay Nadal wins against the current field not because of his strokes, but because of his cardio ""

I would respectfully disagree. There are other players who are faster or have more endurance than Nadal (Ferrer, Robredo, Murray etc.). Nadal wins on clay, not because of his ability to run or his defense, but because he's the MOST aggressive on that surface. On clay, more than any other surface, Nadal can "dictate" play almost all the time. The slowness of the surface suits his top spin game to a T. He can hit the ball short, angle it with top spin and work his opponents side to side while they are several feet behind the baseline. Of course he also moves best on clay and slides equally well on both wings. But it's his topspin and his shotmaking, not his cardio, that has elevated him to the top on clay.

Compare that to fastest hardcourts where Rafa almost always loses control of the point as soon as neutral rally starts since his topspin is ineffectual. In fact the AO that Rafa won on HCs was using some flat hitting and the best defense I've ever seen in my life (from anyone). His clay game doesn't work on hcs.

agassi craping on sport that earned him over 100 million dollars.
screw him.

Listening to Andre now, he is winning my heart all over again. What a vulnerable persona, he seems so humble. Mistakes were huge....I forgive him!

Gee guys I wish I could see the 60 mins thing on Agassi,living here in Oz we might not see it.

I found the Agassi interview was good. Two things I came away with: Steffi is looking fit and the story of the wig was hilarious. I think people should lay off him he made a mistake and has made amends for it.

Agassi interview was great. I'd give it an A.

I thought he handled the meth issue very well.

The only thing i'm wondering about is What IF andre hadn't had any talent for tennis? what would he father have done. As a toddler he was driven to be not just good, but the World's Best. What if he wasn't that skilled?

AM: i'm pretty sure it'll be uploaded to youtube shortly.

Im totally with Agassi on this whole story, he's owned it, told it, and clearly is doing far more good inthe world than not, anyone who saw 60 Minutes, tell me I'm wrong... he clearly was an emotionally abused child of sorts, and that takes many years to unwind and heal from, and bouts of self destuction are usually part of the process...

Diane: i agree, he came across humbly. Hope martina amends her harsh criticism.

immjimmy I agree with your thoughts with Rafa on clay

I've just seen Andre's interview and, to me, he comes over as a guy asking for compassion and forgiveness. Especially from Martina. I was impressed.

Perfect timing. The Agassi interview ends 10 minutes before the Eagles-Cowbays game is to start. Agassi was and still is a favorite of mine. Minutes after he won Wimbledon, all my friends, not just from the USA but also from England and Barbados, started calling me to tell me they knew how happy I was (even though they'd always tease me about, at my age, liking a player who was greatly popular among teenyboppers et al). My husband was flabbergasted by the calls; he said my friends were acting as if Agassi was my son or something like that. :)

But my affection for Agassi does not prevent me from understanding why so many of his professional peers are bothered by his revelations, especially the revelation that will make it difficult -- no, impossible -- for any doping board to be considerate or believing with someone whose situation looks bad but who may be innocent of deliberately abusing any type of drug.

AM: see if this works for you. http://tinyurl.com/ykva9ol
The Agassi portion starts at about the 20th minute.

I have respect for Martina

Though she needs to chill ASAP

he wants compassion and forgiveness so he can sell his book.
he was a phoney when he was playing and he is still a phoney.

Thanks a lot Arun,I will be heading back to Sydney shortly.Will watch it when I get home

Welcome back, Diane! Just saw your 8:09. I'm sure you had a great time with the family.

Andre certainly handled himself in an upright way. That's good to see- he absorbed the criticism and tougher questions from Katie and didn't appear to be unduly hurt or defensive.

Somebody get Samantha the Cliffie D "Ladies" tennis retreat advertised in the banner ad at the bottom of the page

It was great to see all the kids who graduated from his school at the end of the segment. Good job, Andre.

Hey Brad long time no see

I am a big Agassi Fan,I have been a fan through the good times and bad.I admire anyone who turns their life around.

Azhdaja: Well, since uttering those famous words, Novak's won 1 Slam, Fed 3. I believe in 2 of those 3, he's beaten Novak en route. So let's hold off the discussion of which king is what at least until Novak gets that 1-4 record against Fed at slams turned around.

this is what I wrote on www.Ubitennis.com English home page http://ubitennis.quotidianonet.ilsole24ore.com/english/sport/tennis/2009/11/07/258085-italy_goes_ahead_against.shtml (just in case you are interested...)

ciao

ubaldo

For the second time in four years Italy has won the Fed Cup. It was an easy win. 3-0 after the first three matches, without dropping a single set. Pennetta won 7-5,6-2 over Oudin after having served for the first set already on 5-4. Than Vinci and Errani won also the fourth point over the no.1 and the n.32 in the world doubles rankings, Liezel Huber and Vania King.

In the last four years Italy has lost only two matches in Fed Cup, with Spain at home in 2008 (in Naples) and with Russia in Moscow in 2007 Fed Cup's final. So three finals in four years, two wins. Not bad. It reminds me those times when it was the Italian Davis Cup team, with Adriano Panatta, Corrado Barazzutti (the actual Fed Cup's captain), Paolo Bertolucci and Tonino Zugarelli, to reach 4 Davis Cup finals in 5 years (1976-1980) winning the first while playng all of them abroad.

Tennis is an individual sport, but if Italy has been able to play seven Davis Cup finals and three Fed Cup finals, and only four Slams finals (three with Nikki Pietrangeli in Roland Garros, two won, and one with Adriano Panatta, in Paris too vs Harold Solomon in 1976) it means that in Italy the feeling for playing for the country is strong, the spirit is the right one. A team effort needs perhaps different qualities and attitudes than an individual sport. Solidariety, friendship, reciprocal trust and confidence count almost as much as the quality of one's game. Pennetta and Vinci could have gone to Bali to play for money and ranking, but they choosed to play for their own pride and country, without asking anything back. Any money, any special recognition.

They didn't win only against an American team deprived of their best players, the two careless Williams: they won earlier on vs the powerful Russia 4-1, and before 5-0 in France. "In the last 4 years Italy has beaten every strong country we played _ said the Italian federation's president Angelo Binaghi _ France three times in a row, Spain, Cech Republic, Belgium , Usa etcetera, so we deserve to have become the world champions.."

World champions sounds probably too much for players who have never reached the semifinals in Grand Slam event _ Silvana Lazzarino is the only Italian capable to achieve that goal...back in 1954 at Roland Garros! _ but it is also true what the president of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) Gianni Petrucci said: "It is not our fault if other countries or USA with million inhabitants do not have enough depth to overcome the absence of two sisters missing a game".

To win a team game you must also be available all the time, with the best players you can have. You must be able to sacrifice yourself, your selfishness, for your country's pride. Commit and be there when you called. Italy has seven players in the top hundred, plus than United States, even if only this year, and just for three weeks, had for the first time a player ranked in the top-ten: Flavia Pennetta. Francesca Schiavone, now no.16, was never better than no.11 (in 2006). But only Russia, 15 players in the top 100, has more players than Italy in that range. Italians played nine Wta finals along the year, with Flavia winning Los Angeles and Francesca winning Moscow as their best results.

Playing in Bali Flavia could have reached the top-ten ranking list at the end of this year, a great achievement which would have consented her also some ...adjustments in her endorsements. "But I never thougt to choose Bali over Reggio Calabria, and of course I do not regret for having made this choice". Instead she was surpassed by Bartoli and now she will end the year as no.12. May be is better to be called World Champion for the second time in her career than to be n.10.

Life goes in cycles: once Italians were excelling in men's tennis, now in women's tennis. May be they are two different sport, because the competition is for sure a lot different. Still in Italy the last weekend has been a magnificent spot for our sport.

AM: I respect Martina, and I respect her position that, once Agassi got caught via the drug test, he should have considered accepting the 3-month suspension. I think that she is quite qualified to speak in favor of telling the truth even if it might cost you many, many dollars in endorsements etc etc. Now, I'm not saying that, in Agassi's place, I wouldn't be tempted to try for and accept the pass that he got from the ATP.

But I hope that people can understand that there are many, many people, like Martina and others, who don't condemn Andre for taking meth but are furious that, when caught, he didn't admit his guilt and take his punishment. Some people have zero tolerance for lies -- just as WADA wil be having -- if they don't already have -- zero tolerance when any banned substance is found in any athlete's body.

Hey AMarg. Yeah it's work, playing tennis, and keeping up with my 4 Cats for me these days... Throw in sleep and coffee and eating, and all the required grooming (for me & the cats) and I barely have any time to enjoy TW

Hey Russ

Happy belated Birthday,to my fellow person who happens to share the Best Birthday Date in the World with Me!!!!!

Brad Your a cat lover? welcome to my world.I have a nine month old Bombay named Remus,also this week I will be picking up a female of the same variety.

In both her matches, Oudin had chances and just couldn't reproduce her USO form. The more experienced Italian gals were there to snatch those wins. Well done Frannie and Flavia.

Yes AMarg. I belong to my cats :)

Ruth I am the first to admit my disappointment and shock with the cover up with Agassi.I respect Martina and any one else with their thoughts.I am not condoning his actions at all.

Annie, I was surprised that Martina had such a harsh attitude towards Andre. She had to fight so hard to get acceptance because of her sexuality; seems to me that she would be more forgiving. But then again, she may feel that he got all the money and endorsements, she had a huge talent and because of her honesty about her sexuality she was denied many lucratine contracts.
Ruth, thanks, it's great to be home....best vacation ever because we got to spend time with our beautful grand daughter, memories were made!!!

Diane: so glad to hear you had a special trip with your, is it Olivia? can't remember your granddaughter's name. You are so in love with her, it warms my heart.

ubaldo: Fascinating take on the Fed Cup tie! It is interesting that you mention the lack of Italian women who have made it even to the semi-finals in Slams; the same probably goes for the YEC's of past years. This fact fits in very nicely with a criticism that I've had of the scheduling of the David Cup and Fed Cup ties right after the Slams or the YEC's.

These are the events in which the best players go deep into the draw, and if the tennis organizations are serious about having the top players -- not just the top players of any given country (like Panetta and Schiavone), but #1 players like Federer and Serena participate in these ties regularly -- they must stop placing the ties immediately after those major events.

I'm prety sure that Flavia and Franscesca would have had some trouble being willing and able to play well for their beloved country if they had played 5 matches in 100+ degree weather in Doha the week before.

You may characterize the Williams' sisters attitude as you wish; but they have both played Fed Cup many times very successfully. Serena, who has played fewer times than Venus, has a 7-0 record in FC singles. And I remember Venus hauling herself off to Moscow to participate in a tie (and losing one of her two matches) right after winning Wimbledon. The other American scheduled to play that tie -- Lindsay Davenport -- went home, suffering from exhaustion and back problems, after losing that long, exciting, and strenuous Wimby final.

I am sure that many folk would have enjoyed seeing Serena go to Italy and try to make the transition -- strapped thigh and all-- from hard courts to clay in a few days. I, for one, even though I'm a Fed Cup fanatic, am glad she didn't give critics the opportunity to ask, "Why the hell did she agree to play when she knew she couldn't be at her best after Doha?"

Correction: ...the Williams sisters' attitude ...

"I noticed that Roger warmly congratulated him in his speech, whereas Novak didn't mention Roger in his speech, unless I missed something vital. "

I was just wondering the same thing...I didn't hear any mention at all during the pres and I was thinking I missed something (watching highlights). He didn't mention his opponent at all? In Basel of all places? Bizzare!

""My opinion – on clay Nadal wins against the current field not because of his strokes, but because of his cardio ""

I would respectfully disagree. There are other players who are faster or have more endurance than Nadal (Ferrer, Robredo, Murray etc.). Nadal wins on clay, not because of his ability to run or his defense, but because he's the MOST aggressive on that surface. On clay, more than any other surface, Nadal can "dictate" play almost all the time.

I'm sorry but I don't think Murray has more endurance than Nadal nor Robredo. Ferru I think can match Nadal.

Well Well Well Hampster Head beats The Youz and quite convincely. Ok so he is on target to win the last three tournaments of the year.

Annie yes, you have a great memory...she is Olivia or lately I call her "The Devine Miss O"!!!

Love the nic Diane!

I didn't see the trophy presentation ceremony, and I don't know if this article was based on the post-match speeches or a later presser, but this writer seems to be saying that Nole did mention and praise Roger:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/tennis/11/08/swiss.indoors.ap/index.html

Ubaldo, The WTA mandates that a player who qualifes for the YEC's
play that turnament. You cannnot compare Flavia's situation to Serena's!
Even though the Williams sister have not played as many total
Fed Cup's as the WTA legends, they have almost played equal to the number of matches in Fed Cup as the rest of them have.
Many Williams sister fan's were saying before this
loss that it was a no win situation for Serena. It seems to me they were right!
I can't believe that Oudin is on a moral high horse questioning the patrotism of the Williams sister; since she has only played in one other Fed Cup match. She is covering up her disappointment
with scapegoating of the Williams sisters.

“One reason could be I see so many of Fed's fans on his website asking him for a recent pic of his twins, and he doesn't. “

That’s a rather petty and shallow reason. They are his kids and he has a right to protect their privacy.

Has anybody seen this photo of Murray at Yahoo? I am not a fan of tanning myself, but in this photo, he really looks scary and very vampire like. No wonder he is called Lestat. I’m doing this tinyurl thing and I hope it is correct.

http://tinyurl.com/ygubvwr

"Novak didn't mention Roger in his speech, unless I missed something vital."

He did, almost at the very beginning of his speech, when he thanked organizers, crowd and Roger personally for the special hospitality and kindness towards him, his team and his family, that made him feel at home although he's here for the first time.

As for Bercy updates, there's again that problem with the lack of practice courts. There were 4 players hitting on each court yesterday:
http://tinyurl.com/yarcdd8

Unc Toni and Rafa conferring:
http://tinyurl.com/yb33hrm

Also, Rafa & Juan Pico Monaco are to play in doubles; their 1st round opponents are Germans Kohlschreiber & Kas.

Elsewhere in Paris, there's this exhibition at Le Musee de Roland-Garros of artsy b&w posters of players past and present. This is Rafa ready for his closeup:
http://tinyurl.com/ybkhtkz

AA It said on Rafa's website,that Juan and Rafa were childhood friends? did they play juniors together at all?

Annie I think Pico and Rafa have been friends ever since juniors and their love of football solidfies their friendship. I think one year Pico gave Rafa his favourite football shirt. I will try and find out more once I get home.

I am having internet provider hassles atm and need to sort that out first.

I am not having a great day but then again it is Monday.

Malimeda Thanks for those photos

gee Rafa looks soo young in that photo with Uncle Toni

By the way has he enough tape on his fingers? lol!

Ruth, you are a fantastic woman, do you know that. You are so right on the money with that response to Ubaldo. Melanie Oudin needs to learn to let sleeping dogs lie. So, because she made a run to the USO she believes that she is qualified to speak about the commitment of veterans like Serena and Venus. Someone needs to stop reading her own press. Then again, we have a think in Jamaica when children speak out of turn, we usually say it is what they have heard from their elders. Could it be that little Ms. Oudin eavesdropped on adult conversation and ergo is making these remarks.

Then again Liezel Huber's partner is of the view that the reason why the WS beat them at the USO is not because they are more skilled or better tennis players, but because they are stronger, a statement that Liezel did not disagree with, so in that context I guess they felt that either of the WS should have been fit and ready to go, after all they are very strong girls. Idiots

Well I am heading back home to Sydney

I will watch the 60mins program on Agassi,thanks to Arun

By the way Roger dosent have to give out any more photos of his girls as far as I am concerned.That is very private.He did publish that photo of Mirka and himself when they were very young.

Considering Rogers profile those girls will have enough to contend with in their future lifes.

If I remember correctly, I read somewhere that Pico, while still junior, took on the offer (the same that was later on extended to Donald Young as well) to come and train with Rafa in Mallorca. He spent some months there, living in Rafa's home.

'They didn't win only against an American team deprived of their best players, the two careless Williams....'

Ubaldo
Venus and Serena played doubles and singles on consecutive days while nursing injuries last week!!! These ladies have played Fed Cup when called up before and the one time that they are clearly injured and exhausted they are 'careless'?! Promoting a book is not comprable to switching from playing on hardcourts to clay in five days....while nursing injuries. I respect that the Italians decided to forgo earning points, but I'm sure they were practising at home prior to this week and not playing the top players in a round robin tournament. Careless indeed.

Unbeweavable. Agassi had a weave. lol.

Just watching the Couric interview now.

"He did, almost at the very beginning of his speech, when he thanked organizers, crowd and Roger personally for the special hospitality and kindness towards him, his team and his family, that made him feel at home although he's here for the first time."

The Roger he was thanking for his hospitality and kindness may be the tournament director who's also named Roger- Roger Brennwald

Oh dear. I have been M.I.A too long. Ms. "The Future of American Tennis" threw Vee and Serena under the bus? Must go read thread.

Thanks, Jamaica Karen. Iwonder if Ubaldo will respond to what dolly and I have said. I'm just sorry that Serena even told Mary Jo that she'd play the final. she shoukd have known that her aging body couldn't be ready for the clay after Doha -- even if she didn't think that she'd go all the way to the final this year.

I went out to a long leisurely brunch after church today and missed the whole Nole-Roger match. So I'm staying up to see at least some of it on the TC replay tonight (11 pm) before I call it a day/night. Have you made up your mind about whether you're supporting my Eagles or those darn Cowboys tonight? Saw your comment earlier about your conflicting feelings. Well, the Eagles are ahead now 13-10, playing well but not dominating like last week.

Ooh Hi Ruth, I am still conflicted about the Cowboys/Eagles game. I love both teams even though I love the Cowboys more (sorry). Funny thing is I do not understand the game but I have loved the Cowboys ever since Deon Sanders (go figure). As to Serena she needs to start listening to her body and Melanie needs to leave big people business alone.

60 Minutes finally aired on the West Coast and I watched the Andre interview, despite feeling a bit Andre-d out at the moment.

Overall, a really good interview. The story benefits from being told in Andre's voice -- rather than coming across as bitter (like he did in the leaked book excerpts), he seemed contemplative, a bit rueful, and occasionally funny and self-deprecating (esp. on the subject of the hairpiece). Of course, it also helped that Katie Couric didn't ask him about some of the things he said in the book that didn't fit into the redemption narrative (the odd tidbits about Sampras' tipping habits, the Agassi/Shields quest for Steffi's legs, etc.).

The part about Agassi Prep was particularly nice.

BTW, We all owe Brooke Shields a "thank you" for convincing Andre to just shave his dang head already. If not, we might've been looking at a mullet combover situation.

Ruth - I'm just going to ignore your comment about my Cowboys (a.k.a. "AMERICA'S team") ;)

O/T is there anyone else more annoying on TV than Bobby Flay?

Melanie needs to leave big people business alone.
~~~~~

Bwahahahaha!

The trophies from Valencia look like they did them in pottery classes and ran out of time to paint them. I wish they were like the Estoril trophy which btw is one of my favourite trophy's on the tour.

Knew I read across where the posters are saying what Melanie said about the Williams Sisters and their dedication

http://tinyurl.com/y9um4pp

The money paragraph(s)

"The U.S. was without Serena and Venus Williams, who opted not to play after meeting in the season-ending WTA Tour championships final last weekend.

"I wanted to come here. I wanted to play for my country," Oudin said. "Other people choose different things. Some people I guess didn't want to play as badly as I did.

"But I think that the team that we had here really wanted to be here. You don't want people here that don't want to be here. Even if you lose, if you give it everything you have, then that's the best you can do." "

Karen, I'm smiling nostalgically at your "big people" comment.

sblily...another Cowboys fan??? For shame! Score's 13-13 now, and I'm switching over to Roger-Nole for a bit.

Go, Eagles!!!!

"Some people I guess didn't want to play as badly as I did."

No, I guess they didn't want to play that badly! That's why they didn't play, kiddo! LOL (That was mean, Ruth.)

From the few matches I got to see from Valencia I thought the stadium was a multipurpose one for exhibitions and not just a tennis stadium. I love the way the light came in through the high windows. Not so sure the players would share my sentiments.

Is "The Future of American Tennis" trying to alienate fans.

"The U.S. was without Serena and Venus Williams, who opted not to play after meeting in the season-ending WTA Tour championships final last weekend."

I just don't like the word choice here. "[O]pted," as if Venus and Serena had a choice. They were exhausted and broke down. They have paid their dues. No one should question their patriotism.

Did people ever question, Davenport's patriotism when she "opted" not to play Fed Cup.

Ruth - I can't help it. The 'Boys are my hometown team. :)

Thanks, MA, for the link and full quote. Oh, Mel. We'll talk when you're oh, a decade older and your body is beat up from your years on the tour and the cumulative effects of playing a full year against the big girls.

Hi everyone -

Ruth and others, I agree with what you said about the Agassi interview. Andre is a flawed person, as most of us are. Unlike most of us, he has lived his life in public and had to deal with various consequences of bad choices played out in public. That he could easily have kept this unflattering episode/information private (even while writing an autobiography) and chose not to probably speaks to the power of coming clean and asking for some measure of forgiveness. I have tremendous respect for Andre in terms of what he accomplished on and off the court and I don't think any less of him now, despite what obviously were some bad decisions.

Congratulations to the Italian women. I did not get to see the matches. Little Melanie will probably regret opening her mouth about the Williams' sisters absence, but oh well. *shrugs*. It would have been nice to have the WS there, but there are many many factors that go into these things, most of which the fans are not privy too.

Diane, welcome back. You should send Jackie a photo of your grandchild for Deuce Club. Ruth started that tradition!

Melanie's still learning how to negotiate the tricky press questions, and she can be cut a little slack if she said something that comes across as a bit critical of the WS. The written word can be so different than the meaning- she's was probably smiling or half-giggling when she said those things.

The New "17 year old Martina Hingis with the press" position is yet to be filled-- though if that gal? Who beat Sharapova at Wimby last year would start winning more she might fill Chucky's shoes. "I hate her outfit"

Hello good people!

*still busy as a bee*

Congrats to all this week's winners and their fans and commiserations to the finalists and their fans.

MA - The WTA finally responded to my email about differentiating which tournaments count towards a player's ranking and which do not. The mgr or director who responded to my email said they are working towards implementing this at the start of the 2010 season so I am keeping my fingers crossed but at least I have his email now ;-)

Wishing everyone a blessed and fruitful week!

Hi, Jenn. Yes, maybe Melanie can sign up with Venus for some lessons on navigating the presser waters. Or she could simply have noticed that none of the other players commented on that topic. I don't think that she was even answering a direct question about the Williamses from a reporter, was she? Just thought she'd throw that in, I guess.

It's too bad that Karatancheva got suspended for doping because she was shaping up to being the new teenaged Chucky-with-the-press. On her return to the Tour, her commentary, like her game, has been a lot less exciting.

tennisesq, that passage you quoted was by the AP writer, not Oudin. I think the word choice itself was fair. After all it's not like the W sisters were forced to pull out. If the writer was guilty of anything, it was his/her failure to mention the W sisters' physical condition at the end of the YEC final.

And I'm outtie. Ciao.

Pat Rafter pic and story about blokes and their undies. The other guy with him Michael Clarke is an Australian cricketer for those who don't know. Sorry for not doing a tinyurl as I am at work.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/face-of-bonds-pat-rafter-bags-out-blokes-undie-habits/story-e6frewz0-1225795559670

Just arrived back homme,I havent seen the Agassi interview as yet

Shout out to Jenn I agree with your comments 100%.

AA Thanks for the Rafter pics,pity there picked up Michael Clarke to do Bonds

Rafter is a living legend.Well I suppose Laura will benefit greatly from those ads anyway.

Ruth Seeing my daughter is a career woman and I will probably never be a grandmother,nana,I say Nonna

Could I post a picture of my Remus,the Bombay kitten.

I missed the part at the Basel final when Federer was arguing with Lars Graff regarding a bad Hawk-eye. Can anyone enclose a clip of it. Thanks

AM did you get the music video finished. How did your Kylie outfit go?

I missed the part at the Basel final when Federer was arguing with Lars Graff regarding a bad Hawk-eye. Can anyone download that segment. I missed that part of it. Thanks

AA The beach scene was cancelled due to rain.The are going to fix another date.I am going to fill in at the hosiptal for 1 month in a couple of weeks.I hope its not then

Marat Safin who is a triple winner of the Paris Masters will be handed a trophy representing the keys to Bercy arena during a little ceremony said tournament organisers.

Sniff,Sniff,Sniff.

Hey, everyone. :)

Oh dear, Oudin. Still - she's really young and she's likely a bit taken over by all the hoopla. I'll forgive her. ;-)

Hello all! Saw the Basel finale. What a match. Nole was super solid. Very sad for USA. Poor Oudin. How I wish that either of the Williams' turned up. :-(

I am meant to be going to my sister's for dinner tonight. I also forgot to do my bracket challenge and my internet connection is playing up. I dare not do it at work.

Does anyone have the OOP for today in Bercy?

Can you open PDFs, Angel? It's here:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2009/352/op.pdf

Hi, rg. :)

Hello jewell.

Hi Jewell and RG

Good wins by both Novak and Murray

Good morning,

Roger lost? . Glad I missed it. I hope he can win Paris. I'll stay at home next weekend to support him. Congratulations to Novak. I suppose he played better and that's always good to hear/watch.

AM,
I would give Marat the keys to my house if he would promise to reflect on his deeds.

Super glad for Murray too. Surprised that he trounced Youzhny so convincingly.

zenggi My lips are sealed for this tournament regarding Marat

I dont want to jinx,even my famous premier Rosary Beads could not save him.Sigh!

Thanks Jewell I prolly won't get to see Kohlwhatevermynameis play but might have to settle for Berdy.

I have been trying to read posts over at DC but there are too many. It looks like I missed a good one. I just decided on Saturday morning not to use the computer as I would never get out of the house so instead I went for a hour's run.