Good deep shot Gulbis with good pace

ad to Gulbis

Ace and he holds serve

Gulbis 1-0 in the 2nd set

Andy to serve

Commies saying that average speed of Andy 1st serve in the 1st set was 199?? Gulp

His 1st serve percentage was at 80%

No wonder Gulbis cant break his serve

Too many u/errors from Gulbis

1 game all 2nd set

Gulbis to serve

Someone is flashing in the audience.

Thank you so very much for the match calls. Go Andy!'

temes A Flasher?

My goodness

Roddick Fan Your welcome Andy in good form and his serve is on fire

Better control there by Gilbus and good hands at the net he holds

Roddick to serve 1-2 2nd set

Yes AM but with a camera lol! Excuse my poor choice of words.

Great pick up from Andy there at the net and he puts away a angle volley

Roddick holds

2 games all and Gulbis to serve

temes Thanks for the clarification I was trying to look for that person

Ok must keep my mind back on the tennis

I just love Nouni's voice by the way

Gulbis d/faults

30 all

Andy did a drop volley though Gulbis read it well and puts the shot away

40-30 Good serve and Gulbis holds

Roddick to serve 2-3 2nd set

Commies say Gulbis is like "a volcano is simmering" lol. They compared him to Safin I didn't know he was a one the hotheads.

Gulbis f/hand goes astray and he drops his racquet in disgust

Andy attemtpts drop volley with a good approach but that smash found the net??

Good 1st serve Andy

3 games all 2nd set and Gulbis to serve

-a. Grammar grammar. lol

Brain snap by me

Andy good approach shot to the net and his drop volley went into the net

That so called flasher has taken my mind over

Gulbis try to play to your strenghts okay

You keep going for high percentage shots and your u/error count is mounting

Andy really wrong choice of shot at the baseline?

Gulbis holds

Andy to serve 3-4

Hell the choice of music at the breaks

Has my mind in shock at times

At least they havent played as yet

Dolly Partons Joeline? Ugh!

Love service game by Andy

4 games all

Gulbis to serve

Andy nice time to break

What you can do Andy so can I

Gulbis with a love service game

5 games all

Andy to serve

Aww Gulbis got broken...I don't know how you're supposed to break Andy on this court.

Wait what...I need glasses lol.

oops wrong score before

Andy holds its now 5 games all

Gulbis to serve

Back again,

Brewer,
Totally agree with your comment. Problems really start when consecutive languages are similar (Spanish and Italian, German and Swiss German, Dutch and Flemish etc.)

"Commies say Gulbis is like "a volcano is simmering" lol. They compared him to Safin"
temes, that is really silly!. Those are really silly commies. Nobody compares to Marat. Ever!

Gulbis finding his 1st serve in the last couple of games on a consistant basis

This 2nd set is tight now

Gulbis holds 6-5

Roddick to serve to force a t/breaker in the 2nd set

I would like to have a dollar every time Andy pushes his shirt after he serves

A t/breaker will now be played.pfft.

Gulbis to serve first

Gulbis with a good f/hand for a change down the line

Gulbis 1-0

Andy to serve

2nd serve for Andy

1 all Gulbis f/hand into the net

Poor shot selection by Gulbis and Roodick puts the f/hand away

Roddicl 2-1

Gulbis to serve

Error on f/hand by Gilbus

Roddick 3-1

Gulbis with one more serve

Good volley Gulbis

Roddick 3-2

Roddick to serve

Roddick challenges his serve and it was out

Gulbis with good f.hand

3 all

Roddick with one more serve

Gulbis challenges the serve and it was in

Roddick 4-3

Gulbis to serve

2nd serve for Gulbis

d fault Gulbis and he challenges the call it was out a mile

Roddick 5-3

Gulbis with one more serve

2nd serve for Gulibs

Good volley Gulbis

Roddick 5-4

Roddick with 2 serves

Gulbis b/hand wide

Roddick 6-4

Match point

Gulbis b/hand slice and Andys shot finds net

Roddick 6-5

Gulbis to servre

Good relfex and hands by gulbis

6 all

Gulbis one more serve

Ace by Gilbus

Gilbus 7-6

Great tiebreak from both but Andy should have finished it off.

Morning all!

Hi zenggi, LOL!

Roddick with good slice kicker

7 all

Roddick with one more serve

Ace by Roddick

Roddick 8-7

Though I want Andy to win, nice to see Gulbis is not giving in.

Hi, temes and sisu.
I can only SB. It seems that Ernie wants to stay and play. :)

Gulbis to serve

Smash away by gilbus

8 all

Gilbus with one more serve

Error by gilbus at net

Roddick 9-8 with 2 serves

Take the set Gulbis!

Kom igen Robin, du ar den basta!Sweden's no 1, world's no 5! Kom sa Caro, du er den bedste! Scandinavia's no 1, World's no 1!

Roddick d Gulbus 6-3 7-6 (10-8)

Nice get from Andy from Gulbis drop, well deserved tiebreak and match win.

Blah, Ernests!. Congratulations to Andy. Next Robin or Stan. Both will have chances against Andy.

Roddick with 81% first serves

Won 80% of the first set points

Well done Andy

Brain snap

Andy won 80% of first serve points not set

I hate t/breaks full stop

I need a coffee

I refuse to do a match call on Gaels game I havent enough drugs for starters

Good win for Andy! Sorry for Ernie.

temes @4.52am - gave a quick glance at an online dictionary for silly and, along with the regular definitions, was quite surprise to see this - [Old English sǣlig "happy" < W Germanic, "luck, happiness"] - Silly has undergone one of the most astonishing semantic about-faces in the history of the English lexicon. In a thousand years it has gone from "blessed, happy" to "foolish." The transformation began with "blessed" becoming "pious." This led on via "innocent, harmless," "pitiable," and "feeble" to "feeble in mind, foolish." The related German selig retains its original meaning "happy, blessed."

Being monolingual, I see I still have a lot to learn. ;)) Respect for all our multilingual Twibers just grows and grows.

Hi zenggi! Noticed you were away; did you get to see Roger in person again? ;))

surprise = surprised

Carlos Berandes is the umpire for this match

Monfils v Verdasco who has the Mo Hawk with enough gel to keep it in place

Another great read, Gauloises. I really love the RF logo. I have two hats and it is required in our family that all of my children have one too. They do spark conversation with strangers. My son was playing golf with his RF hat on one day and a guy on another team approached him and stated that he worked for the Tennis Channel, which sparked a lot more conversation. So, if we ALL wore RF hats, ultimatley we could achieve world peace??
On another note, Gauloises, when you speak about Roger making eye contact, I notice this alot. Not just at his pressers. In fact, I make it a point to observe every players hand shake with the chair umpire. If fact it has become an obsession. Many players do not even look up when they shake hands, even if they have won their match. Didn't our daddys teach us that we must make eye contact whilst shaking hands? Roger, always, Rafa most times, Novak, most times, Soderling, rarely, Ferrer, almost never. Okay, my obsession continues. But you get my point, once you start to notice it becomes very interesting and kinda tells you a little about the man or woman on the court and their manners. By the way, most of the women do not look the umpire in the face, but then again their handshakes are wimpy anyway.

Sisu, that's interesting. I guess I use it so much because I haven't yet found a word with quite the same ring to it lol.

Monfils brings back the sleeveless shirt.

Roger Rasheed looks upset already with a white cap on?

Commies were saying that Roger was saying Gael is feeling the pressure of playing DC and that was the reason he was all over the place in his first match here yesterday

Well done Andy and congratulations to his other many fans. Commissirations to the Gulbis fans with a shout out to his best season yet.

Verdasco to serve when he is ready

Too much tennis going on but need to say ah, gauloises I have a feeling we’ll be delighting in your narrative all week. Fingers crossed with hands in prayer formation. ;))

I see many picked up on the sentence including “…trying to look bilingual”. Truly a phrase I can identify with in regard to not wanting to appear ignorant or foolish in an awkward situation. However, though it may feel uncomfortable on the inside, your full-on professional mode is what shines through.

And I join the poster who asked if you are to be in London for the WTF you continue sending us your insightful observations.

On to Gael and Fernando.

Games are on serve

Verdasco 2-1 1st set

hmmm..purveyors of innuendo and hearsay...
------
darn, wanted Gulbis to win! hard to beat roddick in a tiebreak.

but in some cultures, lennon, eye contact can show a lack of respect (depending on the relationship between the speakers and other matters, of course). only know one swiss (who speaks german; a ceo of big swiss company i'm doing some work for) and he makes strong direct eye contact and is straightforward. during an interview as we sat across from one another at a table, he looked me straight in the eye and almost never looked away. very nice guy also. i prefer this to the indirect style that i often have to contend with...

Verdasco had a b/point but over played his f/hand

Gael holds with 2 good 1st serves

2 games all 1st set

Verdasco to serve

Verdasco's dad in the stadium

Verdasco down love 30 on serve

Monfils with 3 b/points

Verdasco u/errors on his f/hand and is over playing them

Verdasco 15-40

Good angle f/hand Verdasco

Verdasco 30-40

deuce now Verdasco has finally found his f/hand

2nd serve now

Ad to Verdasco Monfils b/hand finds the net

One Two punch Verdasco

Verdasco 3-2 1st set and Monfils to serve

sisu,
Sorry, work got in the way.
I saw Roger on court but not close by.
Basel is FEDERation base all around. Everybody wants him or at least his autograph. :)

Back to work. I'll be back for evening matches.

Monfils with the "hot dog" between his legs or the Tweener

Monfils was 40 love

Verdasco going after Monfils 2nd serve

Good 1st serve by Monfils

3 games all

Verdasco to serve

Good Morning! Hope everyone is well. Happy to see Andy make it through, this means Melzer is out of contention for London now and Nando has to make the final.

No worries zenggi. Enjoy your day and see you later.

Hi susan.

Verdasco taken to deuce now

ad to Monfils verdasco f/hand finds the net

2nd serve for Verdasco

Good rally and Verdasco steps onto court and puts the f/hand away

deuce

Hi Heather! Happy for you and Kristy. Does this mean Andy definitely gets to go to London? I'd like to see him get in.

Verdasco with good serve and puts the cross court angle volley away

ad to Verdasco

deuce

2nd serve for Verdasco

ad to Monfils Verdasco f/hand finds the net

Lame drop shot attempt by Verdasco and Monfils foot speed to net to quick and he puts away the passer

Monfil breaks

Monfils 4-3 1st set and will serve

Hi sisu, thanks! I think barring anything magnificent from Fernando that Andy is in. The only way Fernando could edge him out is if he makes the final.

It would be good to put coffee in your cup than just hot water.Hmmm

Monfils is taken to deuce though 2 good serves again saves him

Monfils 5-3 and Verdasco to serve

Heather Hi.Andy's serve was on fire.His 1st serve percentage stats were excellent.Good form from him soo far in this tournament.

I am still out on the beard though lol!

FERN: "Gauloises, another great article. The above sentence - so true. I've seen so much criticism on these boards when a player (accidentally or otherwise) departs from scripted, bland replies ... so often the player is then described as arrogant/disingenuous/deluded/disrespectful etc ... these highly critical debates run for pages! Good to remember that 20something tennis players are not diplomats or robots :) "

amen to that!

Vewrdasco holds

Monfils 5-4 and will serve for the 1st set

Hi AM! I saw the first set before I left the house and he was looking great, Gulbis definitely needed a comb! :) I wasn't feeling Andy's beard either, maybe it keeps him warm, haha.

Hope Monfil can beat Verdasco. Kom igen, Robin!

i love the Wild Thing's hair just the way it is.

if it was combed, he wouldn't be Gulbis.

Good point, Susan! :) He's apparently a fan of the deshelved look.

Verdasco with 2 breaks points and he breaks back

Gael just went brain snap in shot selections

Roger Rasheed just shakes his head

5 games all

Verdasco to serve

oh I clearly can't spell..oops!

the one time I want Monfils to win and he's letting me down

Okay Brain Snap now is catching

Verdasco was down love 30 on serve

Hell over plays the cross court volley? and it was out?

Monfils with 2 b/points

Verdasco 30-40

Good kicker wide serve by Verdasco and Gael challenges it was out

2nd serve for Verdasco and Monfils ROS wide

deuce

what the heck has happened to verdasco?

he need to go run up some hills in nevada again.

Hell Verdasco what were you thinking?

Monfils b/hand too good and forces the error

ad to Monfils and Monfils with a b/hand error wide

Good 1st serve by Verdasco

ad to verdasco and good 1st serve and he holds

Verdasco 6-5 and Monfils will serve to force a t/breaker in the 1st set

I hate t/breakers

Gael now finds his first serve?

Where was it when you were serving for the 1st set?

Monfils easy hold

Oh Goody another t/break

he needS.

A Tiebreak.

Hingis who was one of the smartest player was asked who her toughest opponent was and this is what she had to say on Serena, "I couldn't read her serve. It was hard to get her into play. At her best she didn't really have a weakness. Even Steffi had a weakness, you could play her backhand." I think that when you look at greatness and the best you know it, and I believe that if Serena was more appreciated particularly in the states, you would have a lot more tennis expert reach the same conclusion that Weirtheim reach: Serena is the greatest player to ever take the court when she is at her best.

Verdasco to serve first

Verdasco with good f/hand

Verdasco 1-0

Gael with 2 serves

Gael with f/hand winner

1 all

Monfils good 1st serve

Monfils 2-1

Verdasco to serve

Verdasco f/hand into net

Monfils 3-1

Verdasco one more serve

Monfils ROS long

Monfils 3-2 and serving

Susan at 6:54, point taken on different cultures and eye contact. FYI, Andy Roddick and Ernests both gave eye contact with the ump. Good boys. Have to go to work, it sooo does interfere with my tennis life.

Monfils good smash

Monfils 4-2

Monfils with one more serve

2nd serve for Monfils

Great f/hand volley cross court by verdasco

Monfils 4-3

Verdasco to serve

Verdasco f/hand winner

4 all

2nd serve for verdasco

Monfils ROS into net

Verdasco 5-4

Monfils to serve

Good deep cross court b/hand by Verdasco

Verdasco 6-4

Horrible TB from Gael.

Monfils b/hand long

Verdasco 76 (7-4) 1st set

Guys its hard to do a t/break and get it through with people commenting

Pls wait till the t/break ends

Thank You

Monfils to serve first in the 2nd set

1 game all in the 2nd set

Monfils to serve.Monfils had a b/point but failed to convert

Monfils is hobbling on his feet

Verdasco with 2 b.points

verdasco breaks he has won eight of the last ten points

Verdasco 2-1 2nd set and will serve

lennon, no problem. i'm on the other side of the planet so i'm relaxing after work.

spoke too soon about verdasco.

the mohawk is bringing him luck.

channelling AO 2009.