vetmama I am loading some new ones

Next time your on I will post ok

They are the love of my life.So comical both of them.

Well I am off to lunch

later everyone

Evening, all.

Just rewatching Spain-Switzerland from this morning. Two observations: one, if the Spanish team has a player with lots of pace, I haven't spotted him. The Spanish are playing very pretty passes, but rarely playing men into space the way the Germans did against Australia. Speed kills.

Two, this match is a great illustration of the way that one team (or player) can dominate a match, but if you can't create and take opportunities, and your opponent does, even once, goodnight nurse.

Oy! Not another bloody book plug...

aussiemarg- "I cant see Spain having any problem with Switzerland."

LOL!! In your face marg, in your face!!! hahahahaha

Rafael Nadal- "Switzerland has no chance against us."

In your face too Nadal, In your punk face!!! hahahahahahaha

Giggling over Rafa and Roger having a dust-up on Centre Court. :)

Morning, everyone. :)

Well I must say that people roll their eyes whenever rafa says "You never know what might happen" about his own matches and today just that scenario occurred on the pitch in S.A.

Hello all!

Shocking win by the Swiss. Kudos to them.

jewell: something to brighten your day
http://tinyurl.com/2fh3cel

I think Spain missed Torres early on, plus he was a bit rusty after an injury lay-off - they did look more dangerous when he was on the pitch. And maybe Fabregas? But the Swiss did well in closing down attacks and making it difficult for the Spanish to set up in front of goal, too.

Hey Annie and rg, how are you?

I am good here. Going through the list of W quallies. Pity than Ward did not get a wild-card!

Cheers rg, nice story, and hopefully it won't end the usual way, with a heartbreaking loss in the third set...LOL.

hey jewell and rg! gotta say hi and bye though. time for bed.

Annie: Ciao for now. Good nite.

'Night Annie. :)

Reading that Wimbledon has banned vuvuzelas, anyway - well actually it seems to have banned the entire World Cup, no matches will be played on the big screens, no large flags allowed, etc.

Thinking of football - Forlan was lovely to watch last night for Uruguay; he just absolutely ran that game.

Me saw the first goal that Uruguay scored. Fine goal that was.

Well just back in from a long lunch

Gee I love the message that was left for me

I think most people thought Spain would win not just me

I glad that poster found Joy lol!

Hi who is around

AM: I am. Would be going for lunch soon and be back in a jiffy.

RG Nadal Have a nice lunch

He made the third goal too, with that lovely ball to Suarez.

Going to work, see you all later. :)

Although I think SA didn't much pressure on him.

*waves to AM*

*really goes*

Bye Jewell!

Rafa news,website,17th June,2010,

Rafa has been named the 2nd seed for Wimbledon behind Roger Federer

Rafa was quick to tell the media before leaving for London that he is very excited to be playing "at one of the most important tournaments of the year" and that the only thing that worried him was "to play well and win more points" that can help him "cushion" his lead for the end of the year.

He insisted that he will try to play at Wimbledon at his highest level,like he always does.

"I will do everything possible to train these next few days and get the best preparation possible" Rafa said at the airport in Mallorca.

AM: Thank you. Just back. Nice comment and attitude from Rafa. I just wish they would have pushed up Maria and Henin up the seedings a bit.

RG Nadal Well I suppose they can only go on results and rankings.Justine has just come back to the tour.Maria has been out with injury and really now has just found some form

RG Have you any news on the injury to Rezai? she had to retire in her match

Far more significant than changing the grass is depressurising the balls!

They take the beautiful (but so short lived) Slazenger balls out of the cans two or three days before use. Of course that means the pressure drops and so produces a heavier, slower ball.

Tim Henman was horrified to discover this fact accidently one day in the early years of the decade. It says a lot for Wimbledon's self defeating fairness that they supplied the 'depressurised' balls for all matches.

I'd have supplied serve and volleyer Tim with fresh balls out of the can to give his serves and volleys a bit more zip! :-)

AM: Apart from the news that it was a right wrist injury, I do not know much.
Poor Almagro. Might miss W.

RG Nadal Thanks I hope she will be ok,soo close to Wimby

Whats up with Almagro?

roGER, John Mcenroe says that last year's French open used small fast balls. heh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USQ6ADo3C6E

Just found this desciption of how Spain's match with Switzerland unfolded, from a Spanish perspective, in the comments section under a newspaper report on the match:

pass, pass, pass, shoot, wide
pass, pass, pass, shoot, over,
pass, pass, pass, triangle, out of play
pass, pass, pass, corner, overhit
pass, pass, pass, shoot, straight at keeper
pass, pass, pass, corner, underhit
pass, pass, pass, pretty pattern, tackled
pass, pass, pass, goal kick
pass, pass, pass, clearance
pass, pass, pass, geometric precision, blocked
defence, smoke cigar
keeper, lounge chair
long ball, defence, panic, scramble, goal
&$£K!
pass pass pass, nada
pass, pass, Torres, pass,
pass, pass, corner, shoot, crossbar!
Durdiyok, run, run, run, box
defence, panic -
Durdiyok: Hi Pique, bye Pique!
Durdiyok: Hi Puyol, bye Puyol!
shoot, off post, OMG!
pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, added time,
cinco minutos, por favor, Señor Webb,
Gracias!
pass, pass, pass, fail
peep, peep, peep
Oh no.

'morning folks!

Well I have a surprise. I found this great article about Rafa on another site and it's by our very own poster, Jai. I didn't know he was a writer, and a very good one (and apparently too modest to tell us about it) :))

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/hell-always-have-paris/397983/

His description of the difference between the casual tennis fan and the hardcore folks like us is spot on.

Jai, don't know where you are right now, but thanks for a great read!

Cotton Jack LOL!

Almagro slipped and hurt himself. Had to be carried off in a stretcher.

RG Gosh when did this happen?

AM, do you have any news re. Rafa's physical condition? Stuff like: Was it the glute, or back knee elongation? How serious was it, is he ok now? Has he already had time for just a little training after recovery? Thanks!

Kawaku It wasnt that serious from what I gather from the Spainish site,cause its in Spainish thank goodness my Spainish was good enough to translate.I think it was wise for him to withdraw from the doubles as well.He had a video on his website his training in Mallorca.He has arrived in London and was scheduled for his first practice session on Wednesday.

He also said if he felt with the practice he has now before Wimbledon he can always play that expo to get more match practice.He said he needs to adjust his serve a bit,his b/hand and his movment more on the grass.Remember too he hasnt played on grass for 2 years.

Kwaku I forgot to say it was a Glute problem,though the grass was wet and slippery any player in those conditions can easily pick that up.Also in his match against Feli he was going forward to get a ball at the net and had a tumble and roll at the net? lol! I think that was a combination of movement more than anything though I had to chuckle

Kwaku: maymo was interviewed right before they left majorca and he said rafa was fine. that it was a common strain players get when adjusting to grass where you have to bend down more to reach the ball. nothing serious. In one of his pressers he said it was lower glute/hamstring area. someone here said there's a name for the condition: grass ass. lol.

So I just found another great article on rafa from the timesonline. I found it at VB. They have an extensive articles thread and catch lots of good pieces we don't seem to find. I hope there isn't a problem with me passing on the link. It's rafa talking very personally about his training/work life and philosophy on life basically.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article7133233.ece

I have Eastbourne live now on my tv

First match

E.Baltacha Grb v Sam Stosur in the first of the q/finals

I think I just posted that about Rafa?

Mornin' all. Something about that quirky tennis from Marion---that serve motion, in particular---always has me rooting for her. Not sure how she wins so many matches....when it comes to quickness, looks can be deceiving, I suppose. Two hands off both sides too.....I don't like any of it, yet she has me hooked!:) Anyone else?

Stosur to serve first in the 1st set

AM: "Nicolas Almagro of Spain was carried off court on a stretcher after he slipped while trying to turn on the baseline and suffered a right hip injury."

Mr and Mrs D I have always called the Sugar Queen a wannabe Monica Seles without the serve which is the most "weirdest" service action I have ever seen.Enough said for me.

RG Gee.That sounds serious.Dont know if he will have time to recover

Rotton slippery grass.Pfft.

Alison Lang is the umpire for this match

Sam holds serve

Stosur 1-0

AM: yeah. Terrible for him.

Annie: thank you for the link. Good read.

I will call the GBR girl Bally

1 game all,1st set

Thank you AM and Annie! Nice to know it's not serious and he will be fine for Wimby.

Sam with a easy service hold

Stosur 2-1,1st set

I've always had a bit of soft spot for Marion - in a sort of the-one-left-out, kid-every-picks-on way. I think it's pretty remarkable that she has come so far considering that she's definite not a "natural athlete" and her game is somewhat of a "science experiment" by the good Dr. Walter. Apparently her service motion mimics casting a fishing pole.

Will be interesting to see how she MJMS - moving for her drop shot. About to go see.

Poor Almagro....was always my least favorite of the Armada, but after the crowd jeering he suffered two winters ago in Mexico (or was it in SA?), I've softened up a bit.

Kawaku No I didnt think it was all that bad.Though watching him I thought his movement wasnt there on the grass

Of course thats just my opinion.

Mr and Mrs D I am glad you have finally found a soft spot? lol!

He also is the least of my favs in the Armada? great minds

Should have said definiteLY not a ... and ... how she HANDLES MJMS ...
And guess not (going to see) since there's no stream

Colette...that's exactly how I feel about her (shamefully admitting I would have picked her last in gym class):(

Bally holds though was taken to deuce

Sam had b/points but could not convert

2 games all

Yes, ladies, and are we also shameful about Almagro being our least favorite Armadian (ditto here) because (deep down) he's lowest on the hunk-o-meter?

Easy service game by Sam she holds,though she did have a d/f toward the end of that game

Stosur 3-2.1st set

AM: don't expect anything remotely 'soft' from me tomorrow if things don't go my way!!!! (Kobe doll taking on the appearance of a porcupine!)

cough, cough, sorry Colette, I didn't catch that!?

Annie: just saw your 6 AM (glad I happened to log on, wasn't really planning to today) and thanks for the kind words. Incidentally a slightly extended version of that piece is on my blog: http://jaiarjun.blogspot.com/2010/06/from-rafa-fanboy.html. (Hope it isn't against the site rules to link to one's own site!) I was SO relieved after the RG win, I just dashed the thing off immediately.

Mr and Mrs D Revenge and being totally Bitter is a very unattractive quality may I say?

Revenge and Bitterness when cloaked in Chanel will always be in vogue.

Ms. D,
Soul searching time.
(P.S. I'm pulling for the Celtics. Not a real bball fan at all, but have a soft spot [topic of the day?] from the Larry Byrd/Kevin McHale days)

Jai You never told me you had your own site? I did a some pieces for Rafa on another site.

How long have you been doing this for?

By the way I wasnt at all nervous for Rafa at RG.I cant understand why people started frazzling lol!

Jai, glad you saw my post and kudos on the piece!

Mr and Mrs D I have also found with Bitter people than can become very Sarcastic as well

Funny that?

I hope you will be at the match though

Colette.....good ole days! Son dressed as Larry Byrd for school project a while back....wouldn't go near the shorty shorts of the time--not the same effect!!:)

Bally held serve but again was taking to deuce on serve

3 games all now

Bad call for Sam that ball was clearly in great lob by the way

We had bad calls yesterday in these matches

I usually like Alison Lang as a umpire,she needs glasses

Both girls have had 3 d/faults soo far in the match

Wind playing havoc again

Sams holds

Stosur 4-3,1st set

Ah, shorty-shorts. Can you imagine what some (like Rafa) would look like in the shorts of JMac's day?

Gotta run.....why do these schools insist the kids arrive on time!!:(

They really have to get Hawk Eye here at Eastbourne

"I usually like Alison Lang as a umpire,she needs glasses"

Btw, who was that battleax in yesterday's match?

Colette I will pass on that thanks.Have you seen Rafa's legs? lol!

Colette She was a Amercian on Sams match who made bad calls for both girls forgot her name

Lyn Welch was the umpire on Kims game,she is good.

I wonder if Kim will set a new game record today

She did 2 sets in 38 mins yesterday

Aussiemarg: well, the blog isn't really about tennis, it's mostly film and book reviews (those are the beats I work on as a journalist), so didn't really think it was appropriate to mention it here. What's the URl for the site with your Rafa pieces?

Nice dropper by Bally she again holds serve after having b/points against her

4 games all,1st set

Jai I didnt know that was your work

Those pieces are gone now they were a one off thing

If I get ask to do again I will let you know

Morning All.

@tba: in relation to your post about Tennis Channel, we have about 100 (exaggeration) cable providers in Jamaica. Unfortunately for me the one I have did not carry Tennis Channel. One of the arguments that I used to make to my cable provider was that there were other cable companies that do provide TC and so it was not true of them to say that they could not legally carry the channel. Another argument I used was that the World Cup would be broadcast at the same time as Wimbledon and because one of the local tv stations has rights to carry World Cup matches, all cable providers who give us ESPN and ABC will have to block those channels.

Just because of irony, how about TC does not carry Wimbledon during the days but a review of the day's matches. Ugh. Happily for me I have TSN so I will be able to see round the clock play and when all else fails, I have live stream, though not the Wimby live stream.

Watching Eastbourne I can see why TC is behind. They keep cutting out, not at the change of ends, which would be the ideal thing to do, but during play, i.e when the match is still in play. How idiotic can you get.

Jai Then again I might not lol!

Aussie newspaper editor has picked up my reports I do here and has got in touch with me

He likes what I do,he has gone to the World Cup to do the coverage.So when he gets back he will contact me.Though he did pass my stuff onto the tennis peole there.So you never know.I would love to travel to tournaments and cover and get paid for it lol! my dream job.

When did Bally start whooing when she plays? I have seen about 3 matches of hers at Wimbledon, including an epic 3 setter that continued late into the evening and cannot recall hearing her making any sounds. She is sounding like Azarenka. She actually makes the sound after hitting the ball.

Bally serving to stay in the 1st set 4-5

Karen This is the 1st time I have seen her play? also I have noticed she does a Maria Sharapova thing when about to serve she turns her back and then comes back to the service line?

Watching these ladies play you realise just how effective some players are on grass and how others are not effective. There were so many times when Bally could have come in and taken a ball out of the air, instead she waits until it drops before hitting it, either out or restarting the point. Neither one of them knows how to attack a short ball to end a point. Really hard to watch.

Good serving by Bally she holds

5 games all 1st set

AM, all these things that she is doing is new to me. Like I said I have seen her play at Wimbledon about 3 years running and all of this that I am seeing I have never seen before. I think the year that I recall seeing her play a really late night match was against Alona Bondarenko. She really had the small crowd on hand really pumped up.

Bally will serve to force her way into a t/break for the 1st set

The Kim, Vika match will be the one I'm most interested in because I think Kim is playing at a very high level no matter what opponent she faces. And I wouldn't say this because Kim is probably one of my least favorite players. I remember all to well the thing she did against Justine while pretending to be so sweet. Can't wait for the draw, one more day. Go Caro, Scandinavia's#1, World's#3, winner of 7 WTA titles, reigning USO finalist, ONLY teen in the top 25.

Karen Thanks.Maybe she has had a new coach or something? Sam has had many chances to break her in this match soo far? unable to convert.Sam seems tenetative to me in her shot selection at times.

T/break will decide the 1st set

Stosur to serve first

Stosur 2-0 great anticipation at the net paid off

Stosur f/hand wide

Stosur 2-1

Good return by Bally

2 all

Good serve Stosur

Stosur 3-2

Bally good serve

3 all

Bally with 1 srve left

luck net cord by Bally

Bally 4-3