"the marquee match-up today"

Fodder for you-know-who

What does the elder Gulbis do for his wealth?

off topic but on my screen- the ads on this site these days are just ridiculous. 'close'... 'close'... 'close'...

Morning, everyone. :)

Buying (or even looking at) camping equipment is so much fun. :) Coffee, though. *shivers*

Read on Twitter last night that Verdasco hurt himself, I think had a time-out for an ankle thing? - in that match, too - hopefully nothing very bad.

"Over on the WTA side, where the Mercury Insurance Open (San Diego) is underway, the marquee match-up today, and one that I'm going to try to catch some of, finds Melanie Oudin battling Slammin' Sammy Stosur."

Pete,
How are you going to catch this match? There are no streams around unless you have one that TWibe do not know about or will be going to radiotennis.com.

Pete - as a veteran camper (and REI shopper) myself, I've always used a Bialetti "mokka" on my camp stove to make espresso (though yes, it requires a mug). Generic caffeterie can be found all over Manhattan - and in camp shops. But I'm guessing this special gizmo also has a built-in grinder?

Now, as for Cahill, I don't see him leaving his comfy ESPN life for a coaching gig.

*raises eyebrow* Fish as Delpo 2010? I think not.

Mel/Sam matchup is an intriguing one. Too bad that no one outside the ppl in the stadium will actually get to see it.

Seems like Verdasco has peaked for the season after an excellent first half, he has been struggling ever since. It may have to do with playing too much tennis in the clay court season. As for Stosur, she had a decent run in Stanford, she's not a grass court player so I wasn't surprised that she didn't do well but I think she will have a good HC season and I look to her to reaching the late stages of the USO.

Why the lack of streams, does anyone know?

Any way to get good coffee when you're in a "challenged environment" is fine by me. ("fresh grounds" - favorite oxymoron of the day)

I'm hoping the tough-win come-back may infuse some humility and help turn Verbratso back to Verdasco. (or not)

Stosur loses this match to OUdin would be a very bad thing for Stosur. I just don't understand why that would happen unless she gave Mel the match. Naturally, I'm behind Mel as it would be nice to see some kind of positive performance out of her in the near future.....but.......there is nothing that has happened this year which would make you feel like that is imminent.

fish....Del Potro of 2010? Really? What's in that fancy cup you purchased from REI, Pete? I know we're all happy that Mardy has taken his training up a notch....he does have dangerous weapons......but............for seven USO matches....i'll need to see that to believe it. Delpo had to be way more productive in a comparable time period in 2009.....there were reasonss to believe in his ascent.......Fish....ehhhh....

Not sure about Delpo version 09.
But (minimally) Fish is playing like Delpo version 08. Insanely consistent in the tournaments between Wimby and USO; and beating everyone he is supposed to and even some top dogs.

you and my husband , Pete , both of you - your fresh coffee and your REI
Those little coffee presses make a decent cup of coffee - we have one on our boat

as for Gulbis' dad - all I can find is he is an investment businessman - sounds like he buys and sells companies and turns a healthy profit . Wikipedia says he is one of the three wealthiest men in Latvia . No guess as to net worth though that I can find .

jewell: If nobody is televising tennis there will be no live streams-Simple as that.

i don't think oudin has ever beaten stodsur...
she is bound to lose again...

I think it would be a huge upset for Oudin to beat Stosur. Stosur has a strong kick serve and should be able to hold and break the club like serve of Oudin. For me Querrey and Isner are what I call gray area players meaning they both have elements in their game that are consistent and inconsistent with GS champion. Both have a good serve, but the movement is questionable, but I've seen players with poor movment win slams, ie Davenport. There is some talk that she will try to make a singles come back. I really hope Caro can come through.

"It may not be pretty but I would swap places with him in a heartbeat. Playing tennis and travelling the world beats being stuck behind a desk for 40 hrs a week."

Amen, wilson75. Where can I sign up? :)

I think what Pete is trying to say is that Fish could have a similar streak like what Del Porto had in '08 winning 4 tournaments in a row. It's possible to see him win DC but I very much doubt he will feature in either Toronto or Cincy. We have to remember the four torunaments Del Potro won were Kitzbuel, Stuggart, LA and DC.

Not even in my wildest dreams can I envisage Melanie beating Stosur today !

Sherlock: If I was a professional athlete I would never complain about anything. They don't know the stress and aggravation we go through on a daily basis just to earn a decent living.

For those interested in what Roger's been up to. http://www.philippkohlschreiber.de/en/camp-mit-roger.pk

And does anyone else think that part of Berdych's improvement could be due to playing lots of doubles? I see that he's playing with Stepanek again in DC and they beat Nestor and Zimonjic yesterday.

I don't know, I expect they have other stresses about which we know nothing.

Plus, if we're going to go for an absolute scale of misfortunes - well, office jobs aren't necessarily that bad in the global scheme of things. :)

Jewell, don't be reasonable. Let us wallow in our misery and envy. :)

jewell: you're not working were I'm working so the stress of the tour is looking good to me right now :)

I have no desire to be a pro athlete . Having met a few in their later years , their bodies have paid a heavy price for all that work . Not that I have met that many older tennis players - but the older football and baseball players I have met are a pretty arthritic and pain filled bunch .
At least the ones I know have invested wisely - and have skills other than their sport - but some have nothing else , and were never all that sharp when it came to managing their funds. It is a short lived glory in many cases .

beth: that's worst case scenario, for every failed athlete there are those who have led good productive lives after retirement. But I get what you mean.

*sends special magic cheer-up-work tea to wilson & Sherlock*

jewell: Thanks, I really need it.

Yeah, I have no desire to be a football player. Too brutal. My dream is either a top 50 tennis player or a relief pitcher in baseball. I could handle sitting in the bullpen for hours at a time, go in for an inning or two, and collect my 6 figure check at the end of the year. :)

Passing by...

Work. Complaining about work (and stress related to it) is a luxury for the majority of the world population who isn't paid anything for their labor.
Seriously now, I hear you, wilson75. I don't know if I could sit behind a desk for 40 hours a week though I complain a lot about travelling and specially airports and air companies.

Could this video cheer you up a bit? It's from a professional!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdEimnmW1Yc

And Thiemo lost to Isner 6-7, 6-7. Poor anyone facing the serve machine.

*taps microphone*

Is this thing on? :)

Guess everyone's working :)

Lol. Good call, Colette. :)

Colette & Sherlock,
At this time next week, traffic will flow as Toronto starts qualifying this weekend

That will be fun, MA. :)

It's just weird getting used to the North American swing, when matches start so much later than the European stuff we're used to the last few months. DC starts in the next hour or so, correct?

Sherlock!!! I hear ya!!

Did you see/hear about Mike Lowell's homer last night!!? It was SO amazing...first at bat in like forevah and kaboom! (Down side is that Youklis may be out for the season...this is VERY bad news.) Apprently there was a chance that Lowell was going to be traded to the Yankees. EEEEK!! I would have had to change identity and become, gulp, a Yankee fan. Whew! Jacoby back tonight I think.

I honestly can't think of another team that has been as benighted by injuries as the '10 Red Sox.

I should be (working, that is), but keep peeking under the guise of *thinking about next sentence*

Good afternoon All. Whew, those lawyers can talk. My poor fingers are killing me from recording this stuff. Ugh.

How is everyone today? Slow day on TW, but then it has been like that for the last few weeks. Hope everyone is feeling good.

Radio Tennis should be going live soon with the Shahar match but as of now I cannot even get the web page to load.

Anyway, hope everyone is having a very good day and hard at work trying to earn that money for the next tennis tournament.

CL,
How about the Phillies? Howard, Utley and Victorino are currently on DL. Rollins was out for a lot of games this year and Werth was in a long slump.

Sherlock,
DC starts at 4 PM.

CL!!! :)

I got home late last night, so I totally missed Lowell's homer. Great news! I was just reading an article about Jacoby's progress yesterday, and they mentioned Lowell having a different issue, in that he was able to play, but wasn't being used. So that's really good to hear.

Sorry about Youk though. :( It's amazing the Sox are still fairly close considering the incredible injury bug this year.

Hi, Karen. :)

I'd make a lawyers' joke, but we have so many around these parts, I best not. :)

Well, the star of the week in a WTA tournament in Europe is about to play a doubles match.

The Golden Retriever is springing into action, MA? :)

Sherlock, I think the lawyers around here have perhaps heard every lawyer joke there is to hear. I am sure they have made up some lawyer jokes themselves. They can be so long winded. Been on that particular call since 9:30 this morning and only finished up about 30 minutes ago. My poor ears ...

Sherlock,
Correct:)

Lets be serious. The Sox are out of it barring a major collapse in Tampa.

Patrick, what time is the Stosur, Oudin match?

Hi everyone! Wilson, sherlock, collete, MA, Jewell, beth, zengii - work - as Desiderata says, "keep interested in your own career, however humble, it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time." I wish I'd read that before I left my last job. Maybe I would have stuck it out working for the supervisor from hell. OTOH, the stress was giving me chest pain...besides I didn't discover TW until I was unemployed!

I agree with Wilson (I hear Tom Hanks every time I write that), making a living as a professional athlete sounds fantastic. It was a fantasy of mine as a young girl to be Chris or Martina.

Good Morning Everyone

I would like to have a Rafa Knee Free Day?

Everyone one on board ok

Like Yawn

Coffe thanks Pete though dont offer me a Starbucks coffee Yucky!

TWibe,
I remember after Tsvetana and Petra both lost their first match, comments were getting over their unlikely run at Wimbledon. Now, both ladies lost their first match at Copenhagen.

Records of the losing Wimbledon SF since Wimbledon
Tsvetana (2-3) : First round wins at Palermo and Portoroz. No QF appearance.
Petra (0-3): Losses all on hardcourts at Portoroz, Istanbul and Copenhagen.

I know that lot of players go through valleys but there were loads of comments saying I hope to see these players more in the future.

..and samantha, Brooklyn and JK!

I was in Starbucks yesterday (hate their coffee) and noticed they are selling a cup of coffee to go in a disposable cup where the coffee is in a tea-bag. Just pour in hot water and steep!

pete's newfangled coffee thing sounds too fancy.

I am afraid Amercians have no idea what a good cup of coffee is

Go to Italy and find a good barrister

Even in France you will find a good cup of coffee

Though my good friend Moon Ball Tim will disagree with me no doubt lol!

Master Ace Will there be any live streams for the woman this week

The best cup of coffee I ever had was in Hawaii. Real Kona coffee. Unbelievably delish.

MA -I'll see you that and raise you Beckett, Varitek, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Cameron, Bucholz, Lowell, Martinez, and now Youklis.

Beckett, (back spasm) was out for about a month...Varitek, (broken foot) gone for rest of season, Ellsbury out since April, Pedroia, (the spark plug of the team...ALSO broken foot..not sure if he can get back before the end of season he works out on his KNEES!), Lowell, hip, thumb, age, (talk about creaking bones); Cameron needs and has to keep putting off a hernia operation,Martinez jammed thumb, Bucholz missed two rotation appearances because he pulled a leg muscle while he was RUNNING THE BASES for heaven sake..even the Red Sox hits come back to bite them...etc., etc.

Sherlock - Really, Scuturo and unbelievably Beltre have been holding things together and the starters have been doing really well. Bull pen less so. Paplebon has blown too many saves this year. **le sigh** still they are fun to watch and last night even provided a bench clearing non-brawl. Me thinks Beckett built up a bit too much testosterone while he was sitting on the bench. lol.

By the way for Rafa fans

He had done solid practice was reading a site last night

No talk of you know what being in any discomfort

Samantha Elin,
Melanie/Samantha is 3rd on the schedule following Yaroslava/Shahar and Dinara/Agnieszka matches. Approx time is b/w 4:30 to 5 PM

So, back to what pete was saying about Cahill and his coaching prospects, I think Killer likes being the "Best coach no one can hire." He's reaching legendary status without having to actually get results. Besides, he's got a great gig with the commentating. He gets to see all the best tourneys from the best seat in the house!

Does anyone know what Gulbis's father does? Balkan industrialist?

The best cup of coffee I ever had was in Copenhagen. But that was just because it was the FIRST cup of GOOD coffee I every had. I never dreamt the muddy water we get in the US could taste that good. Then I went on to great coffee in Vienna and finally greatest coffee in Italy. We try to recreate it at home but with only minimal success. A friend pointed out that since coffee is 98% water, a huge amount of flavor is determined by the water. Our water tastes great all by itself but may not be THE best for making great coffee. Still,we do ok.

Good point, Annie.

*waves to Annie* *and everyone else*

CL: you beat me to it! I had heard the water theory too. makes sense to me.

for this one, btw:
"I think Killer likes being the "Best coach no one can hire." He's reaching legendary status without having to actually get results."

"I honestly can't think of another team that has been as benighted by injuries as the '10 Red Sox."

How 'bout the 09 Mets!

Hi, Annie

CL You are making me drool with the coffe talk

Arun Darren dosent want to coach I think that is evident by now lol!

Jewell You will be around for JJ match oops I mean the Golden Retriver there sorry

Annie, see Beth's post at 11:42

Anyone else listening to the Radio Tennis commentary for Peer/Shvedova? This commie is killing me. Dude, "Shove-a-Dove" (for Shvedova)? Seriously?

sblily "Shove a Dove?

In John Macs words

You Cant Be Serious? lol!

Hello AM! :)

Apropos of nothing, one of the cricket websites is picking the best XI (of all time) for each and every side:

Here is the Australian XI:

Victor Trumper
Arthur Morris
Don Bradman
Greg Chappell
Allan Border
Keith Miller
Adam Gilchrist
Shane Warne
Bill O'Reilly
Dennis Lillee
Glenn McGrath

What time is JJ's match, AM?

CL! Did I read the other day that you saw a black bear?

Jewell hey you were suppose to tell me that lol! I will have to check

Arun Hmm those were they days

Must congatulate Tendulker being the most capped cricketer great player.Well Done.

Luzianne (New Orleans coffee with chicory) done in a Bialetti-type espresso pot - with a half a cup of microwaved milk and half coffee - makes a great cafe latte.

When I was Italy, guys I worked for claimed the best coffee was in airports and other busy places, ergo, good coffee was the result of using the same equipment over and over.

Supper time, bye all. :)

Jewell,
Jelena plays at 10 PM (3 AM England)

Sblily,
I would but I am at the day job:( Today is radiotennis.com last day in San Diego. Radiotennis.com will resume broadcasting in Cincinnati on Saturday(WTA qualies). Do not forget there is a live chat feature on the site.

Cheers, AM.

10 games and 2 holds. 5-all b/w Yaroslava and Shahar. And, yesterday match b/w Ana and Shahar had only one break all match.

HI Arun! thanks.

collette - thanks for pointing me to beth's post. i'd missed that.

--and that's the last time i try to say hi to every one on the board by name. as soon as I did, like 10 more people came on....

Master Ace Thanks

Jewell Supper time bye

Only radio streams thanks again MA.I forgot about your day job oops.

MA - Dang, I didn't realize today was the last day of RT coverage. Is any site covering tomorrow's matches?

"Does anyone know what Gulbis's father does? Balkan industrialist?"

Annie - Latvia is in the BalTICs - not the BalKANS. This confusion is a major peeve of mine, and a network news reporter made the same mistake a couple of nights ago, I nearly choked. Or maybe it was Good Morning America - but still....

Now, I will bid farewell before I get started on the BoSox --

Arun Anyway I have Shane Warnes Variety program to look forward to

Should be the high light of my Summer here in Sydney

Sblily,
As far as San Diego, we are up the creek but Washington should start streaming tomorrow as Tennis Channel has coverage. ESPN2 starts coverage on Friday. Per tweets, Patrick McEnroe and Brad Gilbert will be commentating. Question is who will be the 3rd person.

So pete got lots of face time last night on TTC's "only at the Open" - It was JMac's USOpen history and very interesting from his first-person POV. For instance he said that during the '79 final between him and Gerulatis (sp?), the crowd was booing them because they had wanted a final between Borg and Connors. And amazingly the silly (read stupid) New York fans didn't appriciate that this was the first and only time that two players native to Queens NY were playing the final in Queens NY! He also said that Borg walked off the court after their final in 1980 as soon as the match was over. He didn't even stay for the trophy presentation. I remember that, actually. I can't see a player doing that today.

12 games 9 breaks as Shahar takes the set 7-5

geez, spell much? appreciate a p p r e c i a t e

MAster Ace Cant understand no live streaming for San Dieago at all

Oh well cant do much about it.

tina: oops, sorry about that. So where are the Balkans? educate me!

ooh breakfest in the shahar match. Yikes.

Oh, dear. Radio Tennis commie has moved on to calling Shvedova "Schwev-a-dove."

Annie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkans

Thursday Order of Play:

WTA: Copenhagen at 5 AM - Keothavong vs Hercog and Srebotnik vs Cirstea scheduled
WTA: Copenhagen at 11:30 AM - Lapushchenkova vs Chakvetadze
WTA: San Diego at 2 PM - Players to be determined
WTA: Copenhagen at 2 PM - Wozniacki vs Benesova
ATP: Washington at 4 PM - Players to be determined (LIVE on Tennis Channel)
WTA: San Diego at 10 PM - Players to be determined

sblily LOL!

thanks, sblily! can't he at least see the "a" at the end of her name? that's the easy part.

AM - No joke, he's trying on pronunciations like Imelda Marcos tries on shoes. Over the course of the match, I've heard:
Shove-a-Dove
Shev-a-Dove
Schwev-a-Dove
Yaro
Yaro-slow-va
and now Schwuv-a-Dove

The odd thing is that the chair ump has been saying it correctly.

RT commie is also hyping the Oh-dan (Oudin) match later today.

Sblily I cant wait for Oh-Dan match lol!

Sblily,
How are Yaroslava and Shahar playing so far? Forgive, Ken as pronouncing names is not his strong suit. By the way, have he said anything about people talking on livetennis chat?

I thought Gulbis was from Croatia for some reason. That's why I said Balkan. It's the Baltics I need to look up. *off to wiki some more..*

I want Yaroslava/Shahar and Dinara/Agnieszka go 3 sets so I will be on time for Melanie/Samantha.

Baltic nations: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania