Liezel/Bob gets the early break on deciding point where Bob crosses and hit volley winner after Liezel hit a good FH return to Kveta's BH. Liezel/Bob to serve 2-1

"so, Grant - how is the 'Name Grant's New Fav Player' sweepstakes coming along? I take it after yesterday's debacle, La Monf is right out?"

Even when he was up a break I was saying that Monfils fandom seems terrifying, so yesterday's debacle was more about proving me right than ruling Gael out.

Well the power transends from the wrist to start off with maybe amping your serve up can lead to wrist injury

CL: They already have.

AM: Who is Wayne?

Though players like Rod Laver and Roger Federer who have "great wrist action" dont seem to have any problems with their respective wrists.

AM I listened simples on Amazon and loved it. so what do you think about Rafa/verdasco?

Kveta/Aisam break back as Kveta hit good FH return that set up Aisam with the smash winner. Kveta/Aisam to serve 2-all

By the way, Liezel aced Aisam to start the game - 95 mph wide

Russ He is a Rapper and is currently in jail.He wrote a lovely letter wanting to see Rafa win this years USO.

I hope Rafa can do it for Wayne.

Hey we have all made mistakes

Rapper Rafa USO CHampion

Me likey!

Although, silver lining - a whole new world of excuses opens up before me. ;-)

nina Well it wont be a walk over.Verdasco will come out strong thats for sure.I feel Rafa will prevail

AM: Okay. Then Rafa can dedicate his victory on Sunday to his peeps in Cell Block 8.

Waaaah! Where are Youz and Stan??? I can see dubs running long, but by the scores, it looks like they just started and I thought YouzaStan was at 2pm?

Er...for those interested in Jack Sock he is on TC right now playing someone named Dzumhur. Poor lads are in a real gale. Just think - the Jack sock fan club could call themselves the 'Sock Hoppers.'

But please-- no rap from either Roger or Rafa. Hearing them destroy "If..." was punishment enough.

AM: Walkover, no? Bendover. Yes.

Another break for Liezel/Bob as Bob wins the volley exchange with Aisam with a FH winner.

Liezel/Bob to serve 3-2

OK, I have a couple of questions.

1. Who was Grant's old fave player?

2. What are the criteria for this choice? Because if it's a simple risk/reward calculation, I would suggest one of Fedal, surely, seeing as they're the only ones who ever win any damn thing. (Not over it.)

3. How quickly do you need to see some sort of return on your fannish investment?

Russ - oh dear! I HOPE that was a joke. :-(

CL,
The WTA SF doubles started at 11 AM and their match took over 2 hours to play 3 sets is the reason why the schedule got behind.

"Hearing them destroy "If..." was punishment enough."

Too funny.

Russ LOL!

Master Ace - thanks for the info...le sigh...back to the Dog Whisperer for me..though the Sock/Dzhumur is quite interesting and has Marina N as a commentator.

I want a Caro and Vee final. I have never seen Caro play Vee so that would be so cool. Kom sa, Caro, Scandinavia's no 1, world's no 2.

Grant:

I believe that you are being a bit harsh regarding J.Sock's parents naming choices.

"Sock" is a difficult surname for matching purposes.

What works better for you?

Red? Dimitri?

Let's see you do better.

Grant:

I believe that you are being a bit harsh regarding J.Sock's parents naming choices.

"Sock" is a difficult surname for matching purposes.

What works better for you?

Red? Dimitri?

Let's see you do better.

Btw. Is it true that Jack Sock's middle name is Aurelius?

Poor Robin, he looks completely lost in that picture, like darn wind.

gauloises:

1. Federer

2. It was originally going to be by vote on this site (with me wielding a 'headcase veto'), but that would've required work and I'm lazy so it never happened.

3. If the choice was made for me, never, but if I'm going to do it myself imma weed out the players who drive their fans bonkers.

Hey, CL! I left a martini for you on one of the threads. ;-)

Did Ferrer not get the bend over memo 3 years ago then?

Liezel/Bob takes the first set 6-4 as Bob closes out the set with 131 mph unreturnable serve

But what are you looking for in your new fave, Grant? Talent? Achievement? Fighting spirit? Sense of humour? Good taste in hats?

i for one love the us open for one reason,i can actually sleep at a reasonable hours without looking like a zombie for 2 weeks, lol being practically on same longitude as NY

but for sure AO is the worst confuses the heck out of me, its like 16hrs away that's a whole day,after 2,3 days i'm like "don't mind me i'm on australian time,lol..."

i sometimes feel like they live on another world, and then i get an idea of what colombus and other adventurers must have felt like...

You talking to anyone in particular, Sherlock?

I would like Vera-Kim final. Not likely, I know. If Vera falls tomorrow, my rooting interests will belong to Kim all the way.

eclipse 22 LOL! Of course we live in another world

I mean when the tennis gets to Australia I am brain dead.

I actually get to watch tennis in day light hours which is quite scary.

By the way I left you a message on the other post dont know if you saw it.

tina, that match you want is on TTC.

MA, do you know what time will the WTA final will be on Saturday?

Just saw CL made note of it tina; hope you can see it.

"Oooh... amping up serve = wrist injury? That gives me hope yet"

Not if we don't get the twins to sneeze on daddy first :).

or...umm, get.

AM
no i haven't ,going to check it out now!
so much to do while waiting around for tonight!sighh

Sokol,
WTA final will be at 8 PM on Saturday

Gosh Pam Shriver gets on your nerves after some time.

Grant, that would be affirmative.

"But what are you looking for in your new fave, Grant? Talent? Achievement? Fighting spirit? Sense of humour? Good taste in hats?"

Picking a new fave was a promise I made to the universe, and so all I need to do is follow the letter of the law rather than the spirit. So really, if the player isn't ranked high and just shows up and loses at slams and minor tournaments, that would be fine.

So really, good sense of humour and taste in hats are more important than the other factors. All I really need is somebody cool, so I won't feel dirty about spending the rest of my tennis fandom cheering for a guy with Gwen Steffani in his box, so I suppose I should leave the choice in your hands.

eclipse 22 I was just saying that I always post Rafa's time and opponent on the post and give details head to head etc.So always check the post if not sure what time etc.

I am not watching the final in 3D thank you very much.I hate those pesky glasses that you have to wear at the movies for starters.

I rememebr once Roger saying he could serve harder but if he did it too much his arm would drop off. Lucky Rafa has an arm of steel. :0

"So really, if the player isn't ranked high and just shows up and loses at slams and minor tournaments, that would be fine."

Oh I *see*. In that case, might I suggest something in the Potito Starace genre? Perhaps a Dudi Sela or Horacio Zeballos type? Unthreatening, yet hilarious.

Is Marian Vajda still coaching Djokovic? I thought I heard they split, but the commentators (when I can watch) and google are giving me nothing.

I hope I'm not too off topic with this one.

thanks, MA.

another question: to what age boys are considered juniors and able to play as juniors?

Kveta aced Bob at the T - 96 mph serve. Liezel/Bob to serve 6-4,2-3

going away this weekend and probably won't be able to watch. If Vera somehow will survive tomorrow and makes it to the final I have to find a way to watch it.

Liezel/Bob breaks as Kveta volley sails long.

Liezel to serve 6-4,4-3

Libby, I heard Vajda's wife is sick and he's with her in Europe. Someone indicate there might be other troubles in the camp though.

"All I really need is somebody cool"

Well, that right there eliminates 99% of the men. Your best bet? Talk Safin out of retirement.

No, wait - all those guys are kind of old. You want someone who's going to be hovering around the edges of the tennis consciousness for many years without actually penetrating it.

I suggest Jerzy Janowicz. He has a very large head. Very much like a pumpkin.

Who is commentating for ESPN2 along with Mary Joe Fernandez and Pam Shriver?

Usopen.org commentating team is Sam Gore and Katrina Adams

Does it have to be a male player, Grant? If not, how about Andrea Petkovic?

kbw -- mMuchas gracias. :)

AM
ok saw it, thanks!! good to know.
plus very interesting convo re: u &imjimmy on rafa mph speed
see u guys later then , i surrrreee hope wawrinka and youzhny duke it out for fiveee looong sets,so that the winner is mentally spent!!

AM - I am sooo with you re Shriver. At the end of the King/Shvedova match as they were consulting before a point she exclaims "C'mon all ready, just play" I remember her taking quite a bit of time netween point back in the day. I thought it was totally inappropriate.

MA - Cahill was in the booth with them for the women's doubles semi.

Federer is already second in the list of aces for the tournament now. With 74 aces.

MA - Cahill.

"Your best bet? Talk Safin out of retirement."

That would be quite cruel of me.

"I suggest Jerzy Janowicz. He has a very large head. Very much like a pumpkin."

Hmm, nice. I like the alliteration, but on those lines I might have to go with Peter Polansky and get the 'canadian pride' angle going as well

sokol - spoken by a true Vera fan "Vera somehow will survive tomorrow and makes it to the final " :) Cheers! Hoping she keeps her head together tomorrow! I am expecting a tough three setter!

"Does it have to be a male player, Grant?"

For this exercise, yes, but I'm always open to new female players to cheer for

Liezel/Bob wins the championship as Kveta service return sails wide

Liezel Huber and Bob Bryan defeated Kveta Peschke and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi 6-4,6-4

Mikhail and Stanislas shortly...

Congrats Bob and Liesel well done

Grant- I think you decision is clear: Jack Sock...young enough to provide years of potential enjoyment and a name that has almost as many possibilities for humor as Mardy Fish. Watching him on TC he seems a promising lad.

The taste in hats may be a bit problematic though...seems to be wearing a generic backward baseball cap instead of the pith helmet I know you prefer.

Great fun! Love mixed doubles. Congrats to both. Qureshi and Peschke (couldn't type that w/o MA ;)), congrats on a great tournament!

Sounds like you're leaning toward Jack Sock and fighting it at the moment. I detect a bit of denial.

tari - I came, I saw, I drank. Many thanks. :-))

Oh no, Grant. I want it to be a player I like. Besides, I'm sure I've been reliably informed that Polansky is unlikely ever to live up to his early promise.

If you're interested in the Canadian oeuvre, how about Milos Raonic? His surname has a sort of a "rawr" sound in it. If you pronounce it the way I do in my mind.

I still don't get why they had to schedule that bogus old women vs old men exo double match before Darth Rafa tonight!!! If you want to fill AA night session, put it after Rafa match, not before. Now if Statn-Youz play longer than 3 hours 30 min, which is highly likely, Darth Rafa won't get to play at 8pm! This would only give more chance to Verdasco to recover AND less time for Rafa to recover for Saturday noon 1st SF match!. Not cool at all! They'd better finish that hit and giggle session under 40 min!!

Given the debacle yesterday which including La Monf actually falling down for even less reason than he normally falls on court, you would think KSwiss might wannt re-think that ad.

Al Trautwig and Fred Stolle will be doing the commentating on usopen.org for the quarterfinal match b/w Stanislas Wawrinka and Mikhail Youzhny

Wow, four beautiful people with lovely words from all.

Congrats to them again!

@sisu -

Thanks, I am watching the Jack Sock/Damir Dzumhur match on the USO stream. It's refreshing to have no commentary at all. On TTC I might get Gimelblab, right?

It's also refreshing to see a young homegrown Bosnian talent who still lives and plays there, instead of moving to Croatia. But it looks like Sock will take this match.

Of course the 'downside' of Sock is that he is an American which means that, especially if he wins here, he will be in the 'hype' pipeline than quicker than you can say Jack Sock. Though as a Canadian, perhaps you would be spared some of that?

"Sounds like you're leaning toward Jack Sock and fighting it at the moment. I detect a bit of denial."

Actually when I made my USO predictions posts I discussed Mr. Socko. I'm clearly going to follow him based on his name alone, but he might actually turn out to be good, and then I'd be stuck cheering for an american in the quarters and beyond. That'd be awkward.

Sisu,
Yes as the Bryans will contribute to the Pakistan relief fund to help them recover from the flood they occured recently.

Grant - You can join the group of us who are Gasquet fans in here. One thing you CAN count on is that the results will be completely unpredictable but when he's on - its a beutiful thing to watch!

ESPN commies are saying that the conditions tonight are supposed to be cold (~50 degrees) and windy. Should be fun.

Right MA. Hope you were able to see it, or maybe you're at work? As I said, I love mixed doubles and rarely get to see them. Such fun and good tennis too!

tina, so glad you found them!

I hear rumors in US open ground that Fed have started handing out his $500 haircut coupons to the schedule communities and CBS personals in hope of getting 1st SF on saturday. No chance!! And it's too late since Rafa have been handing out genuine replicas of his $500,000 watches to them ever since Muzz went out! oh yeah! Rafa crush Verdasco tonight and get 1st SF spot!

Sisu,
I am at the day job but somehow, my day job is not blocking the usopen streaming so far therefore, I did see the match. It was fun see Liezel acing Aisam wide and Kveta acing Bob at the T.

£££, I'm sure Rafa can handle it. Roger has won the USO when he played the first semi and when he played the second semi. Surely Rafa could as well, right?

so, instead of 2PM, Misha-Stan will start around 4PM. I might be able to catch some of it when I get home, if it's still going.

Davai, Misha!

Well, the Jenki beat the kid from Sarajevo, and now it's on to the men. I really love the Youzh - Grant, can you get behind him? - but I always feel bad for Stan, as a Swiss guy having to play in the time of Fed - Hlasek and Rosset got to be national number ones in previous eras.

I see a lady umpire is on this mens q/final

Stan won the toss and elected to serve

But now - do I watch ESPN with Cliff and Brad or the stream with the Fiery One?

Abraham Lincoln Sock?

Jefferson Davis Sock?

Scipio Africanus Sock?

Hannibal Barca Sock?

If the last, Sock would have had a Barcelona connection, which isn't a bad thing in tennis, these days.

Alexis, Rafa is more prone to exhaustion than Fed due to his slower play and more physical-style. Rafa has history of being blown off when he didn't have enough time to recover after a tough match. i.e. after 3 hour 3 set against Moya, he had nothing left for Youz and got blown off in final. I don't think that ever happened to Fed...

And the American Hype Pipeline receives its first dribble!

sblily - Minus 50??? That DOES sound brisk. ;-))

"Rafa is more prone to exhaustion than Fed due to his slower play "

ding, ding, DING!! We have a winnah!!!!

Poor Cliffie...stuck with BG.

Come on, Misha, break!

Stop this crap before it gets out of hand.Rafa being the professional that he is will just play the draw as it works out.Knowing him over the years he will just get on with it.

Geez lets take one match at a time and stop baiting one another

Kindgergarten stuff.Move on.

Lets watch this q/final for starters.

There are you go, Misha, good start. Now please hold.

MA, the aces were such fun!! as well as the reactions ;)). Glad you were able to view the match!

Love both these guys. Hope it's a good match.

FWIT, this is a site I use to check on the weather at the USO (Flushing Meadows, Corona Park). I've chosen to see the projections "hour-by-hour" and it includes all regular weather info along with wind.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/homeandgarden/pets/hourbyhour/59215:20