JohnC, unfortunally they can't see that putting down the other guy they don't do any favour to his idol

I just looked in the mirror, and I'm definitely looking my new age. Time for my beauty sleep, though it never seems to work :-)

Catch u all later.

oh btw, happy birthday JohnC. I thought you were fairly new to TW but i gather from what i'm reading that you've been here for awhile. either i was missing you or you were on an extended "hiatus" from posting.

Nic, I gave people pete's book a couple of years ago. this year, it'll be AA's

pfft, i missed john..

still here -- gone now :-)

Happy birthday JohnC!!!

That hair-weave story was indeed hysterical--I had tears in my eyes from laughing at that story he told. I think Couric did a very good job with that interview. I am no fan of hers but I thought she did a very good interview with Andre. I did disagree though with lumping Federer in with the critics--I don't recall him being critical--he said that he was shocked & surprised by it. But that he felt that all the work Andre had done with his foundation rises above all the negative.

Martina--did deserve to be singled out because she was very vocal & very critical. She wanted to be heard loud & clear so she did need to be singled out...Couric would have been remiss in her duty if she had not called that out & had Andre address it.

Hello my fine furless friends
Saw the Andre 60 minutes interview and it was beautiful, he is quite a guy. And seeing Steffi with him and how she looks at him ....well...I'm all verklemmt now.
I also saw Martina answering questions about her harsh criticism on Good Morning America (or one of those morning shows), she was pretty defensive .more or less saying she didn't mind him using a recreational drug(!?), which she thought should not be an issue with the ATP , since they do not enhance performance.She had a problem with the lying

Troicki takes the first set against Matthieu in the tiebreak while Montañez is up a break 4-1 in the second, after losing the first set 6-3

Montañes is playing Hanescu, btw

Well Matthieu retired so Troicki is through. Victor & Albert are in the third having split the first two with equal score 6-3.
Since I seem to be talking to myself, I will stop now :)

im here Tfactor:) How are things going for you btw? I didn't realize that you live in the caribean or is it the bahamas? for some reason i thought you lived in new york. don't know where i got that idea..

Happy Birthday, JohnC!

Sarah Harwitt says if you are looking for why USA lost to Italy besides giving the Italians credit. Blame Serena. She is saying that Serena should have been home instead of London promoting her book and being on Johnathan Ross late night show. Also, Melanie quote is part of this link

http://tinyurl.com/yzuy9af

Sarah Harwitt is an IDIOT. Some of these "writer" are unbelievable. How does she know that the team would have won even if Serena had played? Where do they get their analytical skills from?

Ms. Harwitt, Fed Cup is purely VOLUNTARY! Serena is not the only American top player who opts out. If you don't want to play you don't have to play. If you are fatigued or injured--it makes no sense to play. The surface is clay--Serena's least succesful surface. What is the guarantee that--given the state of her body--she would have been able to carry the team against a very strong set of claycourters? My goodness!

Besides, what Serena does with her time is no one else's concern but Serena's.

If she had played & lost--what would the reaction have been? I know the answer to that one.

Babe,
Did you read Melanie's quote about Fed Cup? She did not mention the WS in the comments but it probably did apply to WS especially Serena. Also, if Serena played and Italy would have won, Serena would have been talked about for failing to lead the team to the Cup after the youngsters got them there instead of giving Flavia, Francesca, and the team credit. Roberta Vinci has not lost a Fed Cup doubles match in her career despite most of them being dead rubbers.

Babe i was saying this yesterday, until Oudin has played an entire season as a top tenner she is not in a position to judge what Serena decided to do or not do. Im sure if Serena wasn't exhausted and injured she would have gone; but for that writer to equate playing 2 greulling matches on clay against quality opponents with an injury to sitting on a couch talking about a book, shows how dumb she is.

Babe and MA, Serena is in a situation that no matter what she did she would have been blamed. Prior to Serena saying she would play people were of the view that neither she or Venus should be on the team for the finals as they played no part in getting the team there. Now that she has not played, little Ms. Believe is of the view that Serena was not patriotic. As I said earlier, little Ms. Believe should leave big people business alone, go get a serve and a ground game and try to get out of qualifying. Then let us see how she does when she has to play a full calendar year on the Tour as well as play Fed Cup.

Coaches, like players' families, should be seen but not heard, imv. When was the last time you heard a consummate professional like Roche yammering on to the press about one of his charges?
~~~~~
Unless Roche talks in his sleep… :)

jbrad - Well said @ 8:52.

Re: Fed Cup - Agree w/ Babe and others that Serena was in a lose-lose situation.

Yes, I read Oudin's quote & it was quite obvious what she was trying to say without naming names. But she is the favorite coolaid flavor right now so she should enjoy it & continue prattling on about things she knows nothing about. She should also be very careful though, because those same admirers will be turning on her sooner rather than later.

I don't really understand the point of that ridiculous article. She is conceding that the team may have still lost with Serena but then she seems to think that that's okay because they would have at least won a point or Oudin would have felt less pressure so--what--she would have beaten either Schiavone or Pennetta? Absurd!

She also implies that the Italians gave up playing at Bali for Fed Cup--I guess implying that Serena should have done the same with Doha. Again, ABSURD! Why should she?

Giving up playing Bali does not quite equate with giving up Doha--does it? Pennetta would most likely have played Doha had she gotten in. And just because the Italians made that choice does not make it the right thing for an American to do likewise. Most people in this country don't know or care about fed cup--& that includes the players. Serena was in a battle for #1--she was being crucified day-in-day-out for not winning anything other than slams. Can you imagine the uproar if she had dogged Doha.

Jesus--you can't win with some of these people. You just can't. MJF's comments were also telling--very self-serving.

This situation reminds me of the post 9/11 era and the Iraq War. If you were in opposition to the war you were not patriotic. I guess now if you do not play Fed Cup on one leg and rather go and secure your financial future, you are now unpatriotic.

Karen - LOL @ your 11:31. Why don't you tell us how you -really- feel? ;) And yes, Oudin's comment brought the same thoughts to my mind re: post 9/11 patriotism. :/

Oh, Serena. If only you'd worn a flag pin while you were off in London promoting your book... *rolls eyes*

ICAM, Karen, ICAM! Yes, I read those comments regarding her participation as well. Criticisms followed her agreement to play--why should she when she hadn't played all year (as if they were doing her some big favor & not the other way round). COnsequently, she herself felt the same way--she mentioned that the team got there without her. But she was pressured into agreeing to play--but many were unhappy still. She goes on to win Doha--six matches in six days in brutal conditions--she then opts out cos she feels she can't perform at the requisite level to succeed--then she is blamed for that as well.

MJF & the 'indomitable' Ms. believe, go on to harp with their self-serving rant. MJF should realize that Serena owes her NOTHING. Her statements that she was impressed with the Italians sacrifising all for country is simply laughable. And, Ms. believe should keep quiet & do as you say because pretty soon, she will have some questions to answer herself. She will be forced to BELIEVE that other players' business are theirs & no one else's.

Babe it is politics, pure and simple. Ever since the day Venus and Serena came on the Tour everyone and their mother have always felt that they knew what was best for them. They should hit their forehands like this, they should serve like that, why dont they volley more, why dont they play a fuller schedule, why, why, why and so it goes on. 15 years later the Tennis Establishment is still asking the same question and the Williams Sisters have been giving the same answers - *birds and crickets try and break the deafening silence. At some point in time the Tennis Establishment needs to know when they are beat, but knowing them, they will not.
On another note, if someone comes out in public and basically writes you off for millions of viewers to hear do you go up to them and smile as if nothing happened. I like that Serena and Venus gave Tracy the cold shoulder. It is about time the media realises that you cannot just go on air and say whatever you want about players without feeling some backlash from said player. Yes, said player is in the spotlight but they deserve a modicum of respect and do not deserve to be villified by some has been just because they are behind a microphone. Perhaps one day the animosity will cool, but somehow I doubt it.

Indeed, Karen, indeed. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I guess she should have flown back to the US passing the UK, BTW, to avoid any so-called appearance of impropriety & then returned to the UK after the fed-cup teamed had been hosed--to please who, exactly?

Give me a break!

"She also implies that the Italians gave up playing at Bali for Fed Cup--I guess implying that Serena should have done the same with Doha. Again, ABSURD! Why should she?"

Babe,
Yes, Flavia would have been in Doha trying to win the 1.55 mil prize then she would have played Fed Cup after that as she has played tournaments on a consistent basis. But, in the end, we all agree that if players play, they play and if not, that is their business.

Was out yesterday and just caught glimpses of the Basel Final. Every glimpse seemed to be another botched Fed UFE FH, and I just knwew he was going to lose. Finals losses cast a pall over one's whole Sunday. Warching the tape when I got home just made it worse.

Hate it when Roger throws in another clunker Final and loses a tournament. That's 3 (AO, USO and Basel) so far this year, and each one has ended with a final set 2-6 thud. Stop it right now, Roger!

Oh well. Congratulations to Nole. At least there's some honour in losing to a player of Nole's caliber. Fortunately Paris comes up immediately. This is the year for Roger (rested for once) to finally win this elusive Masters, and tie Agassi with a 17th Masters title and clinch the 2009 Ranking #1. Just consider Basel a warm-up this year. Allez Fed (who now loves Paris!).

Jamaica Karen,
Remember reading on TW that Serena gave Tracy the "treatment" when she played her first match then the media got on Serena for that. Now, when the WS do retire, who is going to step up and face the media representing the USA on the WTA tour. To my knowledge whether agreed or not, Venus is now the voice of the players on the WTA tour.

Tigress,
Forgot Roger did break that winless streak in a French speaking country when he won the French Open but if I read correctly, Roger has not even made a SF let alone winning Bercy.

"On another note, if someone comes out in public and basically writes you off for millions of viewers to hear do you go up to them and smile as if nothing happened. I like that Serena and Venus gave Tracy the cold shoulder. It is about time the media realises that you cannot just go on air and say whatever you want about players without feeling some backlash from said player."

Hallelujah! I remember Chris Evert saying that she was informed by the Capriati team that Jennifer would no longer speak to her because she dained to suggest that BJK had done a lot for women's tennis & deserved more respect than she received from Capriati. Imagine that! For making an appropriate, somewaht tepid comment--she was summarily dismissed by Capriati--as were many others who dared to say anything that might be construed as negative about her. I wonder what she would have done if she were Venus or Serena--who can probably record in half a page all the positive stuff that had ever been said about them by the tennis establishment. Well, I love the way the girls have been handling them now. Their attitude appears to be--enough is enough; leave us the heck alone. And to that I say, AMEN!

Babe,
Speaking of Chris, did she get on Serena case in a letter?

I find it odd that the WS are still around and winning Slams, and yet somehow, these victories don't count as much for the US as the times like this week, when they are absent from Fed Cup.

From an outsiders perspective it feels like a WS victory is felt in the US more like an individual victory, rather than a victory on behalf on their country. Of course, one could say that tennis is an individual sport, where national representation is increasingly being dissolved and is kept alive only in fossils like Fed Cup, and DC. By this account, tennis as an Olympic sport makes little sense. That players are listed under their countries at slam events is meaningless.

But the way in which Serbia celebrated Novak's slam victory, Chile's reception of Gonzo and Mathieu's gold, the Russian reception to their clean sweep in Beijing, the pressure on Muzz to be a future Wimbledon champion, would seem to me to indicate that the national aspect isn't dead or restricted to less established tennis nations, or events when national colours are worn.

My question is, why aren't the WS enough for the US? I suppose it could be based on higher expectations based on legacy. And to be honest, I don't know enough about days gone by to make a comparison. Except to maybe assert that when say Chris Evert was playing, her victories were claimed on behalf of the US more than I think the WS ones are. But I don't think the legacy issue explains it all. Oz has a legacy we often whinge about not living up to, but we are more than happy to claim even the most minor victories of "our" players regardless of background.

And it's true, there are far more 'ovas' on the tour, but between them, they have far fewer slams. Which I keep hearing is what most of the US audience knows and cares about. Not the Fed Cup for which there is little coverage (even with a place in the finals). So why does it matter that the WS didn't play this time?

Maybe people expectations are too high because of their success? Because Serena has won 2 slams and the yec this year, she should also be able to win Fed Cup for the US.
But why not claim the Williams', their tour victories and slam victories rather than discounting them for a tournament everyone claims not to care about? If you could do that, then the fact that Fed Cup participation needs to be sacrificed for ongoing success would be more understandable.

The WS will retire someday and that day is approaching, still, they haven't yet. Why not savour it, and say that it's been a good time for US women's tennis - this year Serena's won 2 slams, Venus has been in a final, both are still in top 10, break through for young talent like Oudin and a Fed Cup final to boot.

"Hate it when Roger throws in another clunker Final and loses a tournament. That's 3 (AO, USO and Basel) so far this year, and each one has ended with a final set 2-6 thud. Stop it right now, Roger!"

He's not exactly match-tough guys. That AO final stands alone--but the other two matches are little less alarming. At the USO--I think he hurt his back midmatch & just couldn't serve any more. He should have wrapped up in 3, but it didn't happen. The Basel final--I didn't see it--but I was not all that surprised by the result. Djokovic was playing with house money & after that semi--it would have taken a Roger close to his A game to stop him. Not having played in more than 6 weeks--that is expecting a little too much. He will probably win Paris.

Well said, Nic!

I remember when they were off the tour for an extended period...the tennis public were hollering for them to return. Top players asked for their comeback in interviews. Heck, I remember Roddick saying that women's tennis is dead without them. Chris Evert even wrote an open letter to Serena. Tracy Austin interviewed them during that year's Open & was practically groveling for them to return. Now that they are back & winning--the criticisms can't seem to stop. Talk about being stuck between a rock & a hard place.

Just back home from a chaotic day at work to watch Marat play. Don't lose, Marat. It's your last tournament!. Think of us a little and let your talent flow one more time.

Roger and Rafa will play on Wednesday for sure.
Rafa and Juan Mónaco will play doubles against Cabagge-writer and Cristopher Kas tomorrow.

Sorry Annie, I stepped away from computer and just saw your msg.
I'm in St. Kitts a tiny Caribbean island, 50 miles from Puerto Rico. No connections with NY (other than my niece who was born there). I'm originally from Venezuela

Glad Montanes made it through

Sorry Annie, I stepped away from computer and just saw your msg.
I'm in St. Kitts a tiny Caribbean island, 50 miles from Puerto Rico. No connections with NY (other than my niece who was born there). I'm originally from Venezuela

Glad Montanes made it through

Nic, love your 12:04 and you ask some really good questions. I want to say it is incidents in the past by both sides, media as well as the Williams Family that have allowed this sore to continue to thrive until it has now festered (sorry for the analogy) but I think that steps have been made on both sides to co-exist with each other. Unfortunately, the fans (read US fans) have become used to the idea that the WS go their own way and do not care too much about country, even though the facts say differently. Perhaps the WS need to hire a media guide for this. Whenever I go back and look at Youtube videos of previous matches that they have played in the US, you can hear the enthusiasm and feel the buzz that they generate amongst fans. However, there have been instances where the reaction of fans and the media have been extremely muted, and in some cases, where US fans have cheered voiceferously against Venus and Serena (see USO 2009 Venus v. Clijsters). I do not know what it is and frankly I am afraid to venture into this particular territory, but heres hoping that one day soon both the Williams Family and the media will co-exist and each will learn to respect the other's point of view.

Babe,
Speaking of Chris, did she get on Serena case in a letter?"

Oh YES--MA; She sure did. It was all over the news. She claimed that she did it just because she thought she was helping Serena--but she did it to sell her magazine mainly; cos if not, she would have sent it privately.

Oops sorry for the double.

'cabbage writer' :)

OK my Pulitzer prize winning post just got eaten by TypeBad

Here's the link, MA: http://www.ireneeng.com/?p=12790

"there have been instances where the reaction of fans and the media have been extremely muted, and in some cases, where US fans have cheered voiceferously against Venus and Serena (see USO 2009 Venus v. Clijsters)."

How about the USO semi between Venus v. Mauresmo--forget the year, I think it was Serena's catsuit year. They booed Venus & cheered Momo--so much so, that Martina Navratilova criticized them.

Tfactor,

Cabbage-writer is literal translation of KohlmewhenyouarrivebutbeforeyougetyourluggagesoIdon'thavetopark.

For friends and family: Philipp Kohlschreiber

Babe, I think that was in 2002 - right after 9/11 when France and the US were at logger heads over French fries. Does anyone else here find that very funny?

Thanks Zenngi, that explains it! :)

"Babe, I think that was in 2002 - right after 9/11 when France and the US were at logger heads over French fries. Does anyone else here find that very funny?"

LOL--indeed, you are correct. That's ironic isn't it?

That whole french-fry freedom-fry thing was one of the low points of this country in the past several decades. YIKES!

I was there at the U.S. Open this year...saw quite a few fans cheer for Clijsters over Venus.

"saw quite a few fans cheer for Clijsters over Venus."

Much more than "quite a few".

Master Ace at 11:59,

It's true that Roger has never done well at Bercy. But previously, Fed was always banged up, physically tired or outright injured (2005, 2008) by the time Bercy finally rolled around. In 2007, they had to entice him with extra prize money to even go.

This time Roger should be motivated and ready as never before. The loss yesterday in his hometown surely stung him and should make him hungrier in Paris. Plus, he's been bleeding ranking points since his high at Cincinnati (1450 total lost), and needs 1000 here (750 net gain) to clinch the 2009 #1 and build up the points cushion he needs to get to 287 weeks and pass Sampras next June.

Well, I've had my beauty sleep (didn't work, hehe)

Meanwhile, very interesting discussion about the Williams sisters' relationship with the American media and public. As an outsider I can but only help notice everyone has politely not mentioned that perhaps a lot of these apparent contradictions might have to do with the fact (*lowers voice*) they are black.

And another American, Isner, is being given a hard time, but on-court, by Falla as they go into a third set.

JohnC:

Regarding the William's sister discussion, you wrote:

"... might have to do with the fact (*lowers voice*) they are black."

I agree. I wanted to say the same thing, but was not bold enough to say it.

In some ways they remind me of Mohammad Ali --- he was not embraced by America for a long time.

Morning Everyone,

Not a lot of fans showed up for the matches in Bercy,maybe when the Big Guns come out on court

Happy Belated Birthday John,to a fellow Scorpio there should be more of us.lol!

Tigress, as I said yesterday the chances of Roger actually winning in Bercy don't look fantastic to me. What he needs, if my arithmetic is correct, is to come away with 190+ points more than Rafa to lock in the year-end #1. I'm sure he was counting on a Basel to do this, but of course he in fact lost the crucial 200 points on balance.

If he goes into London with the top slot locked in, then a lot of the pressure is off his shoulders, which will thus help him play a lot more freely at the YEC.

JohnC,

Congratulations on your birthday!. Am I too late?

Waiting for Marat... and waiting...

Thanks to all for their felicitations. Now it's over I can forget about the age thing for another 364 days :-)

Does anyone find the poll questions in the home page a little odd?
The Italian Fed cup team was very strong going in, and a young US team without the William sisters wasn't going to be much of hurdle for them.
Also, Nole beating Roger is a "surprise"?

zenggi I have the Rosary Beads in hand well I cant think of anything else regarding

You know who lol!

AM,

Start praying NOW!. Though Ascione has lost the one time he played against Marat. Go figure.

TW Editors and moderators:

The ATP rankings for 11/9 appearing on this site are INCORRECT and need to be fixed ASAP. Roger Federer is listed with 10055 points. Wrong. The ATP site shows him with 10,340 ranking points (200 from Basel and 250 from Paris deducted), and 10, 140 Race points (additional 200 from Masters Cup also deducted). The points total TW lists for Nadal (8845) is correct. The totals for Djokovic and Murray should also be checked.

I gulped and almost fainted when I saw the TW figures, then raced to ATP to verify it was wrong. Please please, if you publish incorrect lowball points again, do it to Rafa and not Roger. :))

zenggi Ok,though I have Isner on my tv now.I will do a Warm Up with Rosary beads.

Now, you've done it, you've gone and used the 'b' word :P

I didn't want to throw it out there. Although I admit I was thinking it.

Perhaps I was trying to be a bit sneaky (or more cowardly ;)). I was afraid it would throw people in a tiz, and I wanted the chance to explore other factors first. Because like Karen pointed out, there have been actions taken on both sides that have made the relationship more difficult. And the relationship has had it's ups and downs. So I stuck to asking questions and complicating the issue rather than going straight for the jugular.

Good girl, AM.

We need all the help we can get to watch Marat win. It doesn't matter what. :)

Lovely Lahyani as umpire and Marat chose to receive. We'll see what happens next :)

Arun if you are around thanks for the link to the Agassi interview.I really enjoyed it.He was very frank in the interview.

JohnC: Happy Birthday. Roger has done well this year when expectations were low (Madrid, RG). Hoping this pattern repeats this week at Bercy. Also hoping that Tignor picks Roger not to make the SF, and Pete picks Monfils or Verdasco to beat him before the SF.

Still believe that Pete's prediction of Mathieu beating Roger at RG was the 'other' key ingredient in Fed's #14 in Paris. :)

I wouldn't think Tennis.com would distort the rankings. They probably haven't been updated yet.
In any case, I don't think Fed or his fans have anything to worry about, at least where Rafa is concerned. I don't see him getting close to Roger and besides his main priority for the rest of 2009 is that little *unimportant* and *irrelevant* event they will be playing in Madrid in a few weeks. I think it's called Davis Cup or *Copa Davis* or something like that ;-)

No worries, AM.

"Roger Federer and Marat Safin practicing together on Court N°2..."

Funny banner:

Marat does "Everything" better. Hmm, no, not really.

I see Alejandro fought hard but Isner is serving for the match

Is the ATP scoreboard working for you, Tfactor?

Greenhopper,
Yes. Isner just defeated Alejandro Falla 4-6, 7-6. 7-5

Greenhopper,
Yes. Isner just defeated Falla 4-6, 7-6, 7-5

Oops sorry for the duplication. I thought my first post had disappared. Bad typepad, bad!!

Meanwhile the "tortured soul" is 1-2 against Thierry on serve.

Mo is the umpire,mmmmm Great eye candy

Robbie and Jason commentating

I miss Doug

Holy Hell Marat

What was that shot? a swinging volley.pfft.

That's a tough loss for Alejandro after winning the first set and getting to 10 pts in the second set tiebreak.

Davai, Marat!

I don't believe it. Marat broke 3-2! DF Ascione

Marat has 2 b/points

yes he has a early break 3-2

And Safin with the break!

Oh, Marat. That drop-shot was not a good idea.

Safin hitting lots of aces but nothing else in during the first three games. Ascione can't serve but some really nice scrambling (in response to nice placement by Marat) in first point of 6th game. And second point pretty as well (crosscourt smash by Marat). No more aces, though - first serve % dived this game.

Marat hits wide - 30 all, 3-2 Marat.
Spoke too soon on the serving - there's another ace. 4-2 Safin.

Mercy me! Safin consolidates 4-2.

John C,

Maybe Marat wants to give you a belated birthday present :) Hang on!

Hey everyone. I had company for the last four days so I've been offline. Want to say congrats to Djoker and his fans. Good win for him yesterday considering the guy could have gone out to Wawrinka and probably should have gone out to Stepanek. Give the guy a medal for hanging tough.

Wish Fed had shown up instead of "Fred" yesterday. Where oh where was that FH? Bad memories from earlier this year, that's for sure. Ugh. At least all the ballkids still got their pizza party with Fed.

On to Paris. Saw the draw finally. Top half is tougher, no doubt. Muzza and Delpo have the toughest quarter. Rafa got by far, the easiest - should be a cakewalk to the semis for him. I don't think any of the top guys play before Wednesday - so that should be a banner day.

"Mercy me! Safin consolidates"

:-))

(Dodgy connection, so I don't know how long I'll be on.)

Man, Ascione has no first serve.
Marat at net, gets passed. 40-0 Ascione. Back to me wondering what the hell he's doing.
Ascione first serve in, but now his groundie goes wide. 40-15.
Solid rally ends with Marat hitting long. 3-4 Ascione.

I love it when Mo speaks french,forget about Marat lol!

"Also hoping that Tignor picks Roger not to make the SF,"

Tigress,
Tignor has Roger losing in the semifinals to the current Valencia winner.

Well, I watching some classic Marat-Roger contests over the weekend. Geez, what a player when he was on!

Thanks, Tfactor.

Clement/Llodra !!!

I feel like Marat wants to smash his raquet already.

Lahyani's voice is soothing. Anything to help Marat.

Another Marat ace. 15-0.
Fault.
Marat to back corner, Thierry hits into net. 30-0.
Fault. Nowhere near in.
Second serve. Awkward return by Thierry, total shank by Marat.
Thierry hits long, challenges -- ooh, right on the line. 40-15.
Brief rally ends with Marat hitting long. 40-30.
Thierry hits long. 5-3 Safin.

Marat cannot volley to save his life at all, at all. 5-3

Robbie talking about the moving of RG

Please dont,that would be a major mistake if that happened

Its my fav slam,with so much tradition.

Lets see if Marat can serve for the 1st set

Praying hard.

Thierry serving, Marat hits way long. 15-0.
Forehand shank by Marat. 30-0.
Ooh, sweet placement by Thierry right into deuce court. Marat hits out.
And another one out gives the game to Thierry. 4-5 Ascione.
Marat switching rackets? Or at least thumping the one he's holding with his fist (lightly) a couple times.