Ruth, that looks like muscle to you? He's shaped like a pear

Ruth: It helpe that his opponent, Ivan Navarro was just as overweight as him. If he's serious about being competitive he has to lose weight.

I think Taylor can't train his "core" too much since his back surgery.

Hi guys!!!

@ teamnadal?

what happend to him-- set 1 was clear his -- whats up on the second set?

HI AND HUGS to everyone-- its been a long long time!!

Ruth - It's because Dent carries his extra weight in his breasts and hips. :p Or maybe he's just "big bone-ded." LOL. Whatev - definitely not muscle. Oh, and Ouch, re: Sauce. Ouch, but... yeah. I kinda preferred him when he was just a headcase w/out the attitude.

Now Rafa, 'for the love of the sport' break already and serves this out!

I can see why Rafa's level has dropped; his eyes are glazing over with boredom...

4 games all Rafa good time for another break

Ruth I saw Taylor at Medibank earlier this year he has added some pounds on.

Frances Hi back!

Well, now that I've read Roger's article, I didn't notice anything unusual about it. Very open and candid as always. Maybe slightly defensive, but the questions sort of demanded that.

Interesting they've asked him about the mixed in the Olympics, I was half hoping he'd say "Yeah, Mirka gonna un-retire and we'd play mixed together" - Well, obviously not going to happen, but pity there wasn't any mixed doubles in the 2000 Olympics - though he would have probably played with Hingis anyway.

Henin out till neat year.

What the heck...lol...Dent with a rather long outburst there.

Dent you should have been going to Rafa's f/hand hard like that before

Nam1

From the few minutes my stream allows me to see, Nadal is just leaving his shots short in the perfect location for the forever approaching Dent.

Dent holds with a huge ace.
Since he's improving and Rafa's um, not, I fear a t/break. But, Rafa's gotta keep holding first.

Rafa appears to be awake now...I think. 4-4

Nice serve, Taylor.

He's a nice looking chap, would have been a real hottie if he was slimmer.

...and TV is behind stream so I don't know why I posted the score. lol

0-15 start yet again:)

With Justine out until 2011, it seems like Pete compairson of Kim and Justine are spot on as Justine's game takes time to get fine tuned while Kim's game is already ready for prime time.

It doesn't matter how much you work out in the gym....if you are not eating right you will never see muscle definition.

Dent has lovely thick head of hair too

Caroline rallies from 40-0 to break and now will serve for a date with Flavia tomorrow at 7-5,5-3

Okay Rafa another good time to break

BTW, speaking of Roger - the RFers watching his practice said he was stretching his chest, shoulder, doing squats. Yup, still feeling it. Hopefully he'll warm up into it, his first round match isn't the easiest match there is.

0-30 becomes 30-30:(

Approach shot by Dent??

Rafa just serve it out

Hi there Frances ;)....I don't know WTH happened here....I thought this match would be over by now

Caroline fails to serve it out as she DF at 15-40, Patty to serve 5-7,4-5

live stream for Rafa-Dent pls? :(

Aussiemarg vs Jenni tomorrow.

Patty denied Caroline 2 MP. Deuce

Rafa, please no drama....close it out

Oh I just got a look at Dent and with the shirt sticking to his body you can really see the excess weight around the middle.

Master Ace LOL!!

I will be ready and waiting.Though I cant speak for my opponent though.

Well, it's finally over...At least Rafa didn't have to go 3. That's about all I can say. Agree with Robbie that Rafa'll be heading for the practice courts.

Rafa 2010 Cincy Champ project 20% complete. Benneteau next. He beat Stan the man rather easily (easy score, at least), but Rafa should handle him. Big test may come against Berdie man, but Rafa's got him many times in row now, unlike old man Fed.

Or: There's a video of the presser in the video section of rf.com. He didn't seem testy to me but guess it depends on who is watching or attending the presser.

Hey -- something for Muzz fans -- I'm getting a quick lunchtime pedicure, flipping through the 50-lbs. September Vogue, and who pops out at about p. 650 but Muzz himself! I must say, put a tux on that guy and add a famous fashion photographer, and he looks goooood! The interview was a bit of a dud -- the deadpan one-liners don't go over well in print, in my opinion, but the pics are great.
Most of its available at www.vogue.com

Carry one

Patty holds for 5-all set 2

make that "Carry on"

*sigh* I can't BELIEVE that a stupid tv channel stops broadcasting a live tennis match at 6-5 in 2nd set to go a few mins early to a Champions league QUALIFIERS match. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

I wish I had known in advance to find a livestream, if there was one. :(

CherryNYC: Isn't photoshopping a marvellous invention. It can make anybody look good.

wilson -- hahahaha!!! good one!

3 more MP for Caroline which Patty denies the first but finally on the 4th one, Caroline gets that date with Flavia

Fish playing great. Where the heck was that all those years? Why did you wait till you were 28 to drop the pounds, man?

To think I used to like Verdasco, he has just morphed into a CLASS-A JERK!

final tally as Caro wins 7-5, 7-5
Caro: W/UFE 21/25
Patty: w/UFE 25/41

Francesca vs Dinara tomorrow with the winner facing Caroline vs Flavia on Friday

Or-sometimes it just takes a good woman to inspire one to improve.

Still tight with Fish V Verdasco

and

Melzer v Gulbis

Okay, that was one boring match. Taylor Dent might want to rethink the black and white ensemble--gets that Orca thing going.

Crowds not very wild in Cincy--lots of empty seats. At the Oscars, they have seat-fillers. Wish they did for tennis. I'd volunteer--and it's the only way I could afford to attend.

Yesterday, I think during the match between Berdych and Matthieu, I was ironing, not watching, and apparently a Hawkeye challenge revealed the linesman was wrong. Robbie says, "And the crowd goes wild." I looked up to see one guy in the stands behind the player. Overwhelming silence.

Where are all the people????

It is not very nice/classy of Caro`s father to do those gestures when her daughter misses a point even is she was mistaken with the tactics. Come on that is not the attitude of the father of a top player, the juniour times are far behind now for Caro. A lot to learn from Venus & Serena's parents current attitude.

"",
Look like Caroline went back in defensive mode and Patty started to go for her shots.

Robbyfan,
Ready for Robby vs Nikolay today? Winnable match for him.

Melzer has 2 match points against Gulbis

Hi Master Ace-sure hope Robby will come good.

Linex-what did Caro's father do?

Well the Sockless Wonder is married to one of the "Deal or No Deal" girls so no doubt she inspired him to get in better shape.

2 MP for Jurgen

Amazed that that moonball fest in the last few games between Caroline and Patty didn't summon Tim from the abyss. Hideous stuff.

Taylor Dent good looking?? I must be missing something!! He looks like that guy "Jaws" from the Bond movies of the 70's...the ones with Roger Moore..

2 MPs denied by Ernests

So doubles partners Kirilenko and Azarenka are facing off today, this is the tennis tour, quite tough in some regards.

Woot! Franny won a match! Forza!

Murray and Chardy are on court

Umpire for the game is Lars Graf

Murray won the toss and will serve

Gauloises,
How did Caroline play? Did she play defensive tennis again especially in the 2nd set?

Robbyfan, he did not curse or something like that, but he gave her a nasty look, like a denial sign, saying like that not or something similar, and when she had 2 match points in her favour.

Aussiemarg,
Do you remember who was in the chair for Viktor/Novak earlier?

Kom sa, Caro, Congrats to Scandinavia's beautiful and talented no 1, du er den bedste, Caro.

Fish serving to force another t/break in the 2nd set against Verdasco

I can really see Murray losing to Chardy here.

That said ... 'mon.

Master Ace for most points that I saw and with the exception of some backhand winners Caro was mainly playing moonballs and running a lot, bringing all Patty's shots back.

*Robbie says, "And the crowd goes wild." I looked up to see one guy in the stands behind the player. Overwhelming silence.*
lol, Kate.

Master Ace, I only saw the last few games - from 5-3 onwards.

But 'defensive' would be putting it politely. In fairness, it worked for her.

Victoria takes the first set 6-4

Master Ace The umpire was Gerry Armstrong

A pity that we do not get to see Gulbis match.

"Listen, (since the tennis is fairly uninspiring right now) what ARE we going to do about Rafa's imminent baldness...the sun is glinting off it as we speak...not cool...this constitutes a crisis of epic proportions in rafaworld..."

There is hair transplant and Rafa can certainly afford it!! maybe one of us should email him on his facebook page.
I just cant bear to hurt his feelings!!

Verdasco with 2 set points

Sauce w/ 2 BPs/SPs. Vamos jackass!

LOL Nam1

Linex,
Thanks. Look like the ankle she injured at Charleston has healed if she is doing a lot of running. Two last questions - how was the serve and was her forehand still loopy?

Gauloises,
That is more games than I saw(Darn, that day job).

"Vamos jackass!"

Sblily,
Be nice as Sockless Wonder got it to deuce.

MP 3 for Jurgen

Empty seats. Empty seats. Maybe they need a sign out front: Free Beer.

Did you hear they've created a new cheeseburger donut? I thought that was a joke on The Simpsons ("Donut Burger. Uuummmm.") And now it's reality. Coming, they say, to a State Fair near you.

MP 3 denied by Ernests and Mardy forces 2nd set TB

Pfft Jackass into a t/breaker we go

Bleh. Fish holds. TB time.

MA - Sowwy. Love Sauce, but dang, he has been working my nerves lately.

Kate,
Surprised that Cincinnati has empty seats with the heavy hitters playing. If it is a sellout, some of the crowd must be watching players on the practice courts.

A cheeseburger donut? That sounds amaaaaaazing... It comes with bacon, I hope?

Melzer 4-0 in t/breaker against Gulbis

sblily: A cheeseburger donut? That sounds amaaaaaazing... It comes with bacon, I hope?

More likely, it comes with a heart attack.

And an egg, I think, in some regions.

Coco(done well at San Diego) and Christina(done well at Cincinnati) gets wildcards into the main draw at USO.

Sauce DFs to give Fish a MB. Kvetching ensues.

cheeseburger donut...blech!!

well, at least its not the sandwich made with 2 fried chicken breasts instead of bread..KFC has that one I think...comes witha side order of obesity and a heart attack waiting to happen.

Fish with 2 serves at 5-4.

Back on serve at 5-all in TB b/w Tuna Melzer and Ernests

Gulbis vs Chardy or Murray tomorrow

Fish vs Gasquet tomorrow

Yay Young Earnie prevails in a tight match.Good come back in the t/breaker

Fish takes the second set TB (and match) with a service winner.
Sauce...Ahhh, there are no words.

Master Ace: Thanks for the info. I was just going to ask who Gulbis was playing in the next round.