Well, time to make supper...I wonder if I can stay awake till midnight? Doubt it, somehow. :)

Happy New Year to everyone. :)

Happy New Years to all. Thanks to everyone for their kind wishes about my Dad. 2009 was a Wonder Year: Channel Slam, Fed becomes a Career Slam and all-time Grand Slam champion, Lady Mirka becomes Queen Mirka, Fed Baby becomes Fed twins, Fed beats Rafa on Spanish clay at Madrid, Fed wins 16th Masters at Cincy, etc etc. Hoping for 2010 to be even better, if possible. That will be difficult, but we know that there's One Thing Fed hasn't done yet (besides Olympic singles Gold).

My New Years resolutions: Be nice to Rafa and Rafa fans all year, and root for Rafa second-most starting after Wimbledon.

Just to give you an impression of Abu Dhabi goings on, here are two Snow Whites & six grumpy/hungover dwarfs:
http://tinyurl.com/ydkbe96

Two grumpiest of them all:
http://tinyurl.com/y924q2u

Just grin and bear it (with a little help of iPod):
http://tinyurl.com/ybj3wau

Things did improve while walking on sunshine to the F1 track for the photoshoot:
http://tinyurl.com/ye5k4p5

On to eating 12 grape berries when clock strikes midnight, for good luck in the new year, as Spaniards do.

Ah, I see the holiday party morphed into a tennis-watching party! How apropos. :) But it's quieted down again ...

Re: the home page thing: If I'm not mistaken, it seems we're trying to highlight red-meat posts on the home page, which are probably more interesting (and less confusing) to non-TW regulars/new readers/sporadic Tennis.com visitors than, say, a Your Call. That's why it's not always the most current post. (Pete will be able to clarify, this is just my assumption.) I don't necessarily disagree with the practice, though I'm with y'all that the featured post probably shouldn't be something that was written more than maybe a day ago, lest too many other posts get lost in the shuffle.

I just realized I missed the party! Any scraps leftover? Anyway, happy new year to all of the TWibe and let's get tennis started!!!

malimeda, your middle two links don't work for me.

Happy New Year Jax!!

Hey, and Crazyone - all the best for 2010. see ya. :)

Oh, happy new year to you too, Syd! And to the rest of you lovely people. :)

I wouldn't be my life on it, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out the change is intentional. Wasn't there talk not too long about about the front page being cluttered with the 'community/discussion' stuff and the 'red-meat' stuff getting shoved back too quickly?

Pretty sure that's it, would love to find out I'm wrong.

Middle 2 links once more:
http://tinyurl.com/ydhlkao
http://tinyurl.com/ydl2mfw

And a bonus droopy-eyed Kolya with finger-gnawing Rafa:
http://tinyurl.com/ydw2j9u

Plus tutti, with Federer sporting a washed-out shrunken orange tee:
http://tinyurl.com/ybb36xa

Rafa didn't lose weight, my ass.

Jackie -

GMTA.

Frankly. I find it more confusing. There should be a seperate link to everything that isn't red-meat posts (which I totally understand the need to put on the front page), but not at the price of eliminating the rest of the social/community/YC posts from the front page. There can be a place for both. I like the new look, but not at the price of being properly informed as to where the discussion is. It took me days to figure it out. Seriously.

A newbie will visit the site on Wendsday, read the red-meat post, read it and comment. He'll visit again on Thursday, glance at the front page, realize nothing new was added, and go away, he'll visit again on Friday, see nothing new was added, and surf to another website. He may not visit again on Sunday for the newest red-meat post. However, if Newbie see a new post on Thursday (even if it is mostly chatter), he'll stick around and eventually be here to read the newest red-meat post.

Funny links, malimeda. Our guys don't look happy to be greeting the new year in Abu Dhabi. :)

In fact, they look like they agree with AA--that they hate tennis. :)

Jax Jax Jax... I seem to be fashionably late to the party yet again.
At any rate a very Happy New Year to you all... unless your happiness is contraindicated by mine.. in which case...be as miserable as you like.
Ok I am off to sip more bubbles and find solace in the arms of young men of lax morals.
enjoy enjoy enjoy people.

A Happy New Year to Everyone

Just woke up,Yawn

Its 2010 here,scary indeed

great result for David,Jenni will be thrilled.

Oh I missed NT,he hasnt been here for ages

I see he hasnt changed lol!

Leytsie posted as well,missed him too.drats.

Sorry I missed yesterday's virtual party.

I was on my way over to the party, but decided to make a quick stop at a virtual bar to imbibe my favorite type of virtual libation, which I didn't think would be available at the TW party.

In any case, I got involved in an overly heated discussion regarding tennis fashion and the significance of certain head-to-head records.

A virtual law enforcement representative showed up and tossed me into a virtual gaol.

I spent the night in custody dreaming of electric sheep and have just extricated myself from this mess.

My resolution for this new day is to stay out of trouble for the rest of 2009, so that I may actually arrive at the New Year's Eve events I have on my schedule.

Manuel LOL!!!!!!!

Happy New Year

I also hope that your "stay out of trouble wish for the rest of 2009" comes true

See I am already in 2010

December 31st,2009

Fox Sports news,

Casey Dellacqua has been granted w/card into Medibank International in Sydney.

Dreaming of sheep? MSF must be Scottish or Aussie.

carnap lol!!

Happy New Year to you as well

Gee you guys are still stuck in 2009

While I aready Rocking in 2010!!!!!!!!!!

Oh it feels like forever since I last posted. Just wanted to wish you guys a very Happy New Year. May all your wishes come true in 2010 and may we all be treated to some mind blowing tennis action (that doesn't include Fedal. sorry old habits/feelings never die)

Well, it's almost 12 here. *blows some kisses* Cheers!

Fox Sports news,December 31st,2009.

Jo-Wilfred Tsonga is struggling to be fit for the Australian Summer of Tennis after injuring his wrist.Tsonga still hopes to contest the Kooyong Classic Jan 13-16 and the AO Open Jan 18-31.

Ahhhhhhhhh Nancy

Happy New Year to you!!!!

Hoping David stays injury free and does well in 2010.

Hi all, Happy New Year...missed the party last night as I had a friend's birthday party to attend.

Tonight, I have my 7 mo. old grand daughter to help celebrate the New Year; her parents, my daughter and son in law are off to ski in Park City Utah!

Just had a glass of wine as we will put the baby to bed in 2 hours; funny but I may follow soon as the baby gets up early....doesn't make a late night any fun but we love every minute!

carnap:

or a fan of P.K.Dick

Fox Sports news,December 31st,2009.

As the only previous winner in the field,Spains Tommy Robredo hopes his experience in the unique format of the mixed teams Hopman Cup will be a advantage when the tournament starts on Satyrday.The 27 year old was just a teenager when he made his debut at the Hopman Cup in 2002,teaming with Arantxa Sanchez Vicario to snatch the title.

"But maria and I are good players and we can play good in our singles and also in the doubles,so we will try to mix it up and win two matches every day".

The Spainish pair are seeded fourth.The will play the US team of Oudin and Isner on Sunday in their group A tie.

MSF: That too : )

AM: Happy New Year. It's safe to wish you that since it's now 2010 in Oz. As for me, it's still "Hogmanay," and there's that Scottish superstition about saying HNY before it actually occurs. It accompanies another superstition about not singing (or playing) "Auld Lang Syne," until the bells ring at midnight.

Tigress, sorry to hear of your Dad’s stroke. During such a scary time for you and your family, I hope you’re coping and keeping your spirits up as best you can. I’m sending prayers and positive thoughts your way.

Jax, sorry I missed your party - it sounded wonderful!

Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, I wish everyone a Happy New Year. I look forward to fantastic tennis in 2010 with all of you!

carnap Ok better that you dont break with tradition until those bells toll at midnight

meanwhile I will enjoy 2010 by myself until the rest of you guys catch up

Enjoy!

Tigress, I also want to add my wishes for a speedy recovery for your dad.
Aussiemarg, how was your NYE dinner? Tell us all the details!

hi gang!!
happy new year to all who have allready hit 2010, and all to have yet hit midnight!!
...speaking of, T minus -6 hrs, 35 mins till midnight here. cant wait for the new year,
and more importantly TENNIS!!
..i did manage to come to the party, twas nice to see people. enjoyed the white choco martinis w/o getting sick. was dissapointed to not see some tennis people show up (roddick, venus, serena, novak)
also trying to come up with a moniker, hmmmmm?

Dianne Well thank goodnes it stopped drizzling so my hair which soo important didnt friz aand kept straight lol!

We had a 5 course dinner,let me tell you here and now I Am Soo Over Food,also champagne and I love Spainish wine.Which at the moment my head feels very dull and not with it

The fireworks were just amazing here in Sydney.Our harbour bridge looks spectacular with all the fireworks.Maybe on another trip you can visit on NYE and see for yourself how great they are.People are in masses all around the harbour and our Opera House of course.

It was a great night.

Syd!!! Long time no see. Happy new year to you!

and look, a special appearance by Nancy...how are you, girl? Hopefully Nalby'll be able to make some waves this year.

So - Happy New Year to everyone

sorry about your dad , Tigress - hope he has a speedy recovery -

to GV Girl , who I notice answered my question that she will be in IW
and then asked me where folks were staying
sorry I did not get back to you last night - and I hope you see this answer
In IW - I have always stayed at the Esmeralda -
the Hyatt is right next door and also very nice - and has access to the shuttle bus to and from the venue which along with the up close and personal look at the players away from the courts - is probably the best part of staying at those two hotels
Seems that the TW group is largely split between those two
But , I know that Pete , Steve and Andrew have stayed at the Holiday Inn not too far away and found it to be quite nice as well
look forward to seeing you there - it will be nice to meet you

Hi Eric

Happy New Year to you when it arrives lol!

I am already in 2010,my head is suffering a bit apart from that I am great

I think lol!

Hi Beth,

Happy New Year to you

Hope 2010 is a good one

Gee its weird typing 2010 lol!

Happy New Year , AM
and hope your head feels better soon :)
Hope we all have a great 2010

"When it arrives..." Methinks AM has a dram of Scottish in her, or is it a dram of Scotch? : ) Traditionally, that's what Scots append to their slip of the tongue, "Happy New Year" if said before the bells ring at midnight. "Happy New Year...when it comes." That's to ward off all the bad luck that's supposed to befall you if you don't add the caveat.

carnap please I am soo over alchol at the moment too lol!

hey my hubby is half Scot? what more can I say.He must be getting to me all these years lol!

ok, just had to throw this in here...2009 was an awesome year, Federer finally won the French! After I had given up all hope of such an event...

CI I knew one day Roger would win the French,it was only a matter of time.

I am glad he achieved his career slam.

A.M: thank you,
sounds like you had a great time bringing in the new year! i saw video of the fireworks in aussie. looked great. here in philly they have fw but nothing as spectacular..or at least to me cause i hate the cold so i will not stand outside to watch them..

Eric Well you should come "down under" and see them for yourself one day

I also think if it was cold here,I would not go out and watch them myself

indoors is the way to go lol!

Remembrances of Scottis New Years Past.

As a child I detested this particular time of year with a passion that no child should know. This was the time of year that signalled that I (as well as most Scottish children) would be benignly neglected by my parents and all other adults. With the traditional steak pie dinner on Hogmanay (New Year's Eve), I knew that I wouldn't see another nutritious meal until approximately January 3rd. While the adults got liquored up starting with the first stroke of the New Year's bells, the children were left to fend for themselves.

My most vivid memories are of the next three days where no adult gave any thought to preparing a meal for the children. I remember eating myself into a near coma with shortbread, black bun (too heavy fruitcake that always tasted charred to me), madeira cake (with those nasty glace cherries in it), sultana cake (the raisins also tasted charred), nuts, tangerines and clootie dumpling. For drinks, it was raspberry cordial, ginger wine and ginger beer. All of which were non-alcoholic. The adults kept that stuff for themselves; the chief reason the kids were neglected for days on end.

Add to the festivities that the house that had been scoured from top to bottom on Hogmanay would be totally trashed after the 3-day bacchanalia. Friends and strangers alike would traipse through the house in various states of drunken revelry while I'd hide beneath the stairs praying that they wouldn't discover me. "Whit's that wean up tae? Ah don't like the look o' that yin." The feeling was very mutual. To this day, I have nightmares of besotted adults talking too loudly, arguing over nonsense, fist-fights breaking out for no apparent reason, endless puking followed by more endless drinking.

Ah yes, those were the days, my friends. I'm SO glad I'm an adult now and am no longer captive to that horror against any more. Tonight (New Year's Eve), I'll watch the ball descend in Times Square from the comfort of my home...warm, clean, tranquil. Tomorrow, I'll host an open house brunch with good food and modest wines. Everyone will be gone by 6pm latest. Right now, I'm watching, "Annie Hall." All in all, "a guid new year."

Doctor, my brother's crazy. He thinks he's a chicken.

Why don't you have him committed, then?

I would, but we need the eggs.

LOL...great ending line to "Annie Hall."

A.M: I wouid love to come down under one day. i hope to see all four slams in person and i think i would love aussie the most cause of the warm weather, and the beaches.
and yes, i hate the cold with a passion!! in winter u cant make me go out excpet for work and such lol

carnap: LOL...

Pop!

Keep Smiling

Why do these TV news readers (they sure as hell aren't journalists) keep saying that Tavern On The Green is closing for good? It isn't! The contract to operate the restaurant in Central Park (City property) has been granted to someone else and will close for renovations after tonight's dinner. It's scheduled to reopen in March or April.

Aussiemarg, you think it's cold there,funny here in the sunny south{Atlanta}, it will be in the 20's this weekend and that is very cold and unusual here!
I can't wait to get to Australia next week and warm up although the flight may kill me!

HAPPY NEW YEAR for the ones are already in 2010!!!!!!

I just talk with my family in Spain, they are in 2010 too and celebrating
Hear still we have to wait more than 5 hours to get in. One more year, time flies!!!!!!

Dianne may I advise you to bring some long sleeve blouses etc,our weather here is crazy.Over Christmas it rained,windy and cold.One day our temp got to only 19 deg f.

Still humid,but over cast and drizzling rain.

I meant to say *here* and not "hear"
Gee, my english is getting worse and worse!!!!!!!

What is wrong with me? now I've said *I meant to say" wow!! I need to be more focus!!

Carol: Blame it on the internet. Seeing a word misspelled over and over again will do that to you. Same goes for bad grammar. I've often wondered if languages other than English are also suffering on the internet. On the whole, your English seems very good to me.

"I meant to say..." was perfectly fine. Past tense, no?

Thanks Aussiemarg, we will probably have to pay extra baggage fees with all the wardrode issues!

I will be prepared for all temps, not a worry as this is something that I have wanted to do for years and now we will finally see the Aussie Open; next year Wimby!!!

Well I need to get some fresh air for my head lol!

Hopefully with a bit of excercise it will clear

Makes another New Years Resolution not to ever drink again.

Back later if I survive.

Thanks carnap!!!! but sometimes I'm thinking in spanish and then I'm doing more mistakes. When I'm thinking in english then I'm doing better. Focus, focus!!!

Happy New Year, UK and Europe!!! *flashing lights*

carnap:

speaking of overrated sheep and P.K.Dick:

Joanna Cassady characater to Harrison Ford character in "Blade Runner":

"Are you for real?"

Have to see the movie to get understand this brilliant line.

Wow, CNN just showed the fireworks from Sydney, just spectacular. Aussiemarg and all others from down under, what a sight!

Yay!!! the New Year is getting closer to the east coast lol.
T-4 hrs, 48mins
A.M: have a good exercise, hope it helps. see you later!!

Diane: Atlanta in the 20's?? Say it ain't so! :) Well, I can't pretend that I didn't know that your city and its surrounding areas (and my possible future home) can have some weird weather -- for the South.

I have an early flight tomorrow, and, of course, everyone is warning that we must be extra early because of this and that. But I refuse to panic although I'll rpobably not be up at midnight since it would be a good idea to try to get more than 4 hours of sleep. I'll just pretend that I'm with AM or jewell or any TWer who has already celebrated the arrival of the New Year.

Happy New Year to all of you!

Ruth: Have a good trip ... Happy New Year!!!

The fireworks from Sydney are always magnificent!! Love them!

Well Ruth, as soon as Olivia goes to bed I may join her as the day will start early tomorrow!
My family in NJ told me that you have got some snow up there; hope your flight will be on time with no hassels. Have a great time in the tropics;I am looking forward to warming the "old bones"!

""My New Years resolutions: Be nice to Rafa and Rafa fans all year, and root for Rafa second-most starting after Wimbledon. ""

That's why New Year resolutions NEVER work..

MSF: I'm guessing you're a part-time android who aced the "Are You For Real Quiz."

Make that, "Are You A Real Blade Runner Fan" quiz.

carnap, but "I meant" really means "I wanted to say" correct?

Lynne, how are you? we still are in 2009.......

Yes, Carol, and it was perfectly fine. Now quit trying to confuse me!

carnap:

well, there is a "are you for real (as in human) or are you an android quiz near the beginning of the movie.

With a rather memorable last response by the droid.

Carol: Apart from a thundering headache and a broken bone in my foot, I am fine. Yes, I think we are in the same state still.

MSF: Been a long time since I saw "Blade Runner." I'll revisit it, though.

Regd Today's matches: The Soderling - Wawrinka match was doozy. Unfortunate for the last match of the year b/w top players to be such a hapless affair. Competes directly with Nadal-Djokovic WTF match where neither guy wanted to win the match. Sod was well below his best.

Davy-Ferrer match featured a sub-par davydenko possibly because of fatigue. But it was a good courageous effort by Ferrer. He seemed to continue from where he left off in the DC.

Looking at the SFs: Ferrer/Nadal should be a great match. Unlike most other Spanish players, Ferrer can push Nadal on clay and has a 2-2 h2h on hard. If Ferrer loses it will be because Nadal raises his level and plays tennis the way he should. If Rafa plays the defensive, reactive and pusher tennis, he did at WTF, he will loose. Ferrer is no Almagro.

Soderling (given how he's playing) should go down tamely to Fed.

Hopefully Rafa can prevail too so that we can see a Fed-Rafa match, which considering how Rafa's been playing recently has not happened for a while..

Oh carnap, I'm so glad you're "no longer captive"; sounds unpleasant no matter how you look at it, especially for a child;(. Your open house New Year's Day sounds delightful;)). And I watched "Annie Hall" earlier today along with "Manhattan", my fav. (Well, I also like his "Manhattan Murder Mystery" alot.)

Diane(Atlanta) - safe trip! From your posts you seem to enjoy your trips so I hope Australia brings you more great memories. Maybe we'll hear from you while you're there with lots of on-site info;)).

If anyone wants a good laugh, read Frank Skinner's column in the London Times ... it's really very funny.

Wow Lynne, sorry to read that, hope your foot is going to be well soon
Yes, we are in the same state, Florida, you live in the west and me in the east

carnap, don't tell me you're a fan of Annie Hall, let alone the terribly unfunny Woody Allen.

just a note: There's a silver lining to every cloud. All I had to do was dodge the bullets and wait until I grew up so that I was the one at the helm. TADA!

NP: Mea maxima culpa. I am a Woody Allen fan. What's my penance?

Thanks just a note, I am so excited about this trip; got my H1N1 shot today, don't want to take the chance of getting sick after planning this for so long. We are really looking forward to it; still don't know how I will survive all that time on a plane.

Dunno, carnap. Who's your least favorite player?

Diane: Just take a good book and you will be fine! Have a great trip.

Yes Lynne, a book and a few glasses of wine and maybe some Valium(have a script from my Dr.)

carnap - gotta love those silver linings;))!!

Diane - Some thoughts on passing the time - I have a small travel magnetized backgammon/chess set I always brought on long trips. Combine games/cards with sleep, a movie, a good book, some conversation, some food/drink - lots of options as time “flies“. Most important, relax and enjoy;))!

Thanks just a note, will bring my Ipod and am sure some good movies will be available. Hubby traveled internationally all his working days , so he is asleep before the plane leaves the ground, no problem for him but it leaves me on my own. We have upgraded so I hope I can get some sleep!!!

Thanks for the good wishes, Lynne and Diane.

Diane: I just noticed that you had a birthday party last to attend last night, as I did. My two closest friends' birthdays are 12/29 and 12/30, and the one whose birthday was yesterday finally "allowed" her family to throw a party for her this year. But I popped in to the TW party before and after the birthday party. The TW party was great fun. Jackie really knows how to throw a party! And Bobby's martinis were WOW! :)

Re: your trip to Oz...When she lived and taught with me in Philadelphia, my Australian friend Peg (whom I just heard from with the annual "Why aren't you coming to Oz for the AO...it's warm here, too" comments) used to travel home every summer to visit her mother, and she always stocked up on mystery novels which she read all the way to Melbourne. It became a thing for me and some of her other colleagues to buy novels by her favorite mystery writers as gifts for her at the end of the school year.

Anyway, I'm counting on you to tell me how you handled the 19+ hours from the West Coast to Sydney or Melbourne. OK?

Re: the finding of the TW pages...I have two links saved in my "Favorites": my tennis.com link takes me to the main page of this site so I can keep up with all the tennis news, and my TennisWorld link has always taken me directly to the most recent post on Pete's blog, so I've never ever been "lost."

Yes Ruth, my dear friend Jean, a tennis team member and long time friend celebrated her birthday yesterday. Ten of us aging tennis ladies made sure she had a good time!

I also love mysteries and will stock up before boarding...and you can be sure that you will here all the details of my adventure, hopefully over a glass of wine here in Atlanta!

Am watching the Spurs-Heat game. This Blair rookie continues to impress. Good footwork for a big guy, and IC he's been averaging just under 6 RPG as well. Unfortunately for the Spurs, though, he's one of Shaq's umpteen cousins from the line.

Zzzzzzzzzz.... Well, at least I'll get to see Iverson play for the 1st time since he un-retired. Nice way to segue into a new year.

I think everyone is out partying , but if anyone remembers me I just want to say hi and happy new year. I'm sorry I missed the party:( It feels like only yesterday that I was at the first one 2 years ago(or was it three?). I've been so busy that I haven't had time to drop by in awhile. Anyway, just wanted to pop in now that I have a free moment. Bye.

Hmm, AI is playing like a PG so far, passing a lot of balls and rarely attempting shots. I thought the limited playing time would tempt him to take more shots. Good to see him playing well.

LOL, Anderson Cooper & Kathy Griffin are an awkward couple as usual. Dunno why CNN keeps inviting the loudmouth despite the obvious discomfort that Cooper cannot disguise live on camera every year. Or maybe that's what they want.

That's probably why they want it NP. Discomfort is good for ratings and entertainment.