Anytime, ladyjulia. My job here is to put Fed KADs in proper place.

Bismarck: nope. Molina is a very, very good umpire - I can't remember a single match I've seen him umpire where I've thought "you could have handled that better."

VC: um, the outcome of Wimbledon F 2008 means that I haven't watched it quite as much as YEC Shanghai F 2006. It has at least two brilliant passing winners, but if I remember rightly, more of the points are decided by tiny errors than astonishing winners as in the Shanghai match.

It does say something, though, when you think about the number of matches of astonishing quality the two men have played. Miami F 2005, Rome F 2006, Wimbledon F 2007, Wimbledon F 2008 and AO F 2009 are all 5 set classics - Rome F 2006 may be an even better match than its more celebrated GS cousin two years later. Same outcome, alas. But what a scrap.

Awww...a young Roger...2006 was sooooooooo 2006.

nice match that Shanghai TMC SF.

NP...I think you and Pspace won equal points...it was a draw :-)

Anyway, folks...thanks for the video, and all the discussion ...as usual it was about Rafa and Roger :-)

Good night...looking forward to lots of tennis tomorrow.

"I think you and Pspace won equal points...it was a draw :-)"

Spoken like a fellow Fed KAD!

"Anytime, ladyjulia. My job here is to put Fed KADs in proper place."

NP : I thought Pspace had hopped over next to you on the Murray bandwagon. ;-)

NP..

I can bring out my scoring sheet...:-)

Besides, Pspace dosen't come into the Fed KAD category anymore (though, as you correctly pointed out, I do)...in case you haven't noticed, he is rooting for the Muzz.

Actually, VC, I'm pulling for Djokovic. Then it's Murray. Wouldn't mind seeing Roddick get that elusive 2nd Slam, but Fed is still in the draw.

ladyjulia, Fed KADs past or present, they're all the same. :)

NP: ah, lumping. Tsk.

Andrew, note that I left out the future cohort. I'm feeling futuristic.

Andrew...LOL!

And thanks.....:-)

Thought I was holding the fort alone for a moment!

"VC: um, the outcome of Wimbledon F 2008 means that I haven't watched it quite as much as YEC Shanghai F 2006. It has at least two brilliant passing winners, but if I remember rightly, more of the points are decided by tiny errors than astonishing winners as in the Shanghai match."

Andrew : It's been hard, but I've been able to bring myself to watch the highlights on a few occasions. :-) There were atleast 4 or 5 stunning points decided by winners in that tiebreak. But that tiebreak has to be up there for THAT passage of play alone, as Jon Wertheim describes it in "Strokes of Genius" :

http://www.tennis.com/features/general/features.aspx?id=177840

The tiebreak highlights start at 1:16 on this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThlrqctoyCY&feature=related

The FH passing shot by Nadal for 8-7 is probably the greatest pass I've ever seen.

"I'm feeling futuristic"

Forgot Agassi? Became sentimental favorite after 30.

For Rafa to get to 30, you will have to wait 7 years.

We Fed KADs have an easier life.

Goodnight folks!

"Forgot Agassi? Became sentimental favorite after 30."

That's so true. Even I, as a fully paid-up former member of the Sampras fan club, started rooting for Agassi against Roddick, Hewitt etc. by 2004.

In response to the swine flu article evie posted earlier,

"TravisParrott: For the record...I was not diagnosed with swine flu. It is true that my doubs partner was diagnosed with swine flu."

www.twitter.com/TravisParrott

Uh, Andre retired a few years ago, didn't he? Nothing much futuristic about that. :)

Speaking of Agassi, here's his '96 gold medal match against Bruguera:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=casq7u_5mlo

Sergi was more aggressive than I remember. Prolly 'cause it was on a HC.

Oh yeah, and don't miss Andre's service bombs in the last game. Perfect way to get that gold medal.

"Former" member? I didn't know Sampras fans ever wandered off the rez. Does NP know this? VC, I fear re-recruitment and a collection of outstanding membership dues is soon to follow.

My memory didn't serve me well this time. That was the last game of the '00 AO final, against Kafelnikov:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH-RBqlzG1c

Morning, all. :)

ooh...bonus Agassi Hour? *loves*

Hey...did someone mention *that* TB? *hugs DVD to self*

VC: thank you SO much for "helping" me to relive those moments. :-)

Federer did everything right on the 7-7 point - moved Nadal off center, attacked to ad. Nadal was just too good. Then for Federer to make the BH DTL pass on the next point.... the TB did finish with a long return forced error, though. And the points are shorter than the 2006 Shanghai match - the 1960s Rolling Stones rather than Mozart, perhaps.

""Former" member? I didn't know Sampras fans ever wandered off the rez. Does NP know this? VC, I fear re-recruitment and a collection of outstanding membership dues is soon to follow."

mcakron : Don't you automatically become a "former" member after the guy's retirement? Or is it forbidden to pick a new favorite for ever after? ;-) To be fair, I did lose interest in tennis in the "transition" period when Hewitt, Ferrero etc. were dominating tennis, so it wasn't as if I moved on immediately. :-)

Either way, no club I know of charges membership fees after it shuts down. Well, I guess the analogy breaks down here. :-)

Pre-'68 Stones, of course.

No, jewell. It was the Players-Sampras-OWNED Hour.

"Federer did everything right on the 7-7 point - moved Nadal off center, attacked to ad. Nadal was just too good. Then for Federer to make the BH DTL pass on the next point.... the TB did finish with a long return forced error, though. And the points are shorter than the 2006 Shanghai match - the 1960s Rolling Stones rather than Mozart, perhaps."

Yes, but I think the surface and TV camera angles have something to do with the type, length and perceived quality of the rallies. That's my theory as someone who has never watched a live professional tennis match. I mean, indoor tennis always comes across as super-high quality in terms of quality of ball-striking and rallying. Never been able to work out why that should be the case.

"I mean, indoor tennis always comes across as super-high quality in terms of quality of ball-striking and rallying."

That's why the '96 Sampras-Becker YEC is the GOAT of 5-setters. :)

mcackron: I dunno. Beggars Banquet is pretty good. See you all in the morning.

VC -- just busting your chops, of course. To be honest as a founding member of the Mats Wilander fan club who later became a card-carrying member of Fed's, I'm probably a mite envious of those with smoother transitions than my own. It's been a tricky pass to navigate. A little dyslexic-inducing at times.

Andrew -- oh yeah, the '68 to '72 stuff was seminal, including Beggar's. I was suggesting/clarifying the pre-Beggars stuff; you know, the singles-length cuts regarding your comparison. But no worries.

"It's been a tricky pass to navigate. A little dyslexic-inducing at times."

mcakron : I understand. :-) Wilander was before my tennis-watching time, I became a Becker fan by default (parental inheritance) in the early '90's, and a Sampras fan for the rather shallow reason that he won the '90 US Open. But then I was only 6 or 7 at that time. :-)

I'm outtie. Later, folks. Go, Nole & Muzz.

G'moring/G'night All.

Looks like I have free reign, even the mods must be sleeping...

Finally watching today's matches. Was expecting a tougher match b/w Serena & Azarenka.

Tres excited about the men's Q's later. Hoping Haas & Hewitt can pull it off (fingers crossed)

Drats this the 2nd time I have missed the New Pete Sampras Hour

Gee my day has just been spoil

Internet connection decided to break again...guess I'll see you all next week some time. LOL.

good luck for everyone later!

Watching Cara/Leander - Bhup/Mirz from the e360 archives. 3/4 of my fav. people on court. BLESS YOU, E360.

Andy Roddick accepts he cant break Lleyton Hewitt mentally and is gearing up for a mighty struggle despite his recent edge over his Wimbledon quater-final opponent

Chris Evert was renowned for her concentration but admits she'd have trouble playing with the "louder,schriler" grunting emitted by some leading womans tennis players.

News coming from Fox Sports Tennis News Australia.

Predictions?

Roger in four, not in three. I expect Ivo to prove a tougher nut than usual to crack.

Muzz will win easily.

Djoko will be going home.

Andy will advance to the Semis.

Hewitt - Roddick h2h:

Miami 2001 - Indian Wells 2005: Lleyton 6-1
Cincinanati 2005 - Queens 2009: Andy 4-0

Yeah, Lleyton's on a roll, but Andy's not been looking too shabby this year. Great match ahead!

Does anyone know whether Federer has hyperextensible joints like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2exetYZDsA

Might explain some of the power and topspin he used to generate one-handed off both wings.

Gosh its like a library in here today ... everyone getting things done before 1pm?!

Well great matches today,the weather forecast again is hot well for English stadards anyway

Good luck to Lleyton,though I feel Roddick who played well agaisnt Tomas will win.

Novak should win against Tommy though he will have to be on his game

Murray for the win over Ferreo who has had a wonderful tournament seeing he got a w/card

Well I am going for a upset here,I wasnt impressed with Rogers win over Soderling.If the Dr can serve well I feel he has a great chance.Roger will have to return his serve well,also at the same time serve well himself.Close match I feel.

Trying to decide which match will be the tightest:

Hewitt-Roddick was tight at Queen's, but never felt Lleyton was going to win either set. [2nd tightest]
Murray-JCF wasn't tight at Queen's; if he's got out of his grump - and it seems he has - this shouldn't be a problem [Least tight]
Djokovic-Haas - a 3rd grass season rematch! Djok seems happier now ... but what that means ... heaven knows! [Tightest]
Federer-Karlovic - the h2h suggest that Roger will make it look a *little* easier than we're expecting. [A bit tight]

Can't wait to find out!

I don't think Muzz is going to win sooo easy. Ferrero is playing realy good
Roger is going to have a tough match
Roddick-Hewitt very interesting match
Novak can win too

I'm not saying Muzz's is going to find it easy: none of these four match-ups are :-) What a great set of quarter-finals. None of the eight possible results would be surprise. Love it!

Aussiemarg,
Your upset special match begins in approx 35-40 minutes along with Novak and Tommy. NBC has embargoed Dr. Ivo/Roger so ESPN2 will show Tommy/Novak at 8 AM TW.

I think: Novak-Tommy on the telly, Roger-Ivo on the BBC internet feed.

I'm figuring that in the Karlovic match I won't be able to see the ball anyway, so why waste the telly's better resolution on it?

hello my fine featherless friends
the anticipation of todays fireworks is palatable....these 2nd week dramatics are what makes tennis such a great sport. so many storylines and so much desire and expectation

CottonJack -- agreed. About the best match-ups one could hope for w/out Rafa. Top three seeds left. The old-guard providing a blast from the past. The Brits with their hope. Eight different countries represented. A five-time defending champ. And yes, of course, Dr. Ivo.

Mcakron - I know its heretical to say so round here, but I'm not *missing* Rafa

Everyone else - *nota bene* there's a difference between saying that and thinking the tournament wouldn't benefit from his presence

When was the last time the average age of the men's quarter-finalist was over 27?!

Also, this year, unlike last year, I think we've a good chance of seeming some competitive tennis in the semi-finals. A *very* good chance.

Master Ace -- by chance would you know the state of the Slams' TV contracts in the states? Just wondering how long NBC intends to be the all-controlling replay show run by people who are apparently unaware of such recent advancements as cable and the internet.

Mcakron,
No idea on TV contracts in the States. Matt Zemek may know and he should be posting in the next few minutes.

Yello Fuzzy,
Unlike the WTA yesterday, ALL ATP matches can go either way including Dr. Ivo(BKA - Celebration Master) and Roger.

Pete has posted Day 10 Crisis Center....

CottonJack -- going back to one of yours earlier, I think Muzz might have the easiest go of it today. Funny, I'm no huge fan of Muzz, but I will feel bad for the Brits if he loses. The sentimentalist in me can't help but be touched a tad by their national fervor.

When someone doesn't "miss" having the world's top-ranked tennis player at the world's premier tennis tournament, that person can't be a fan of good tennis.

Williams sisters are playing and ESPN chooses to show Jamie Murray interviews and other "filler." More total nonsense.

Sergio Garcia, aka "Kisss of Death" will reportedly be in Juanqui's box. That will probably prove to be an insurmountable burden for Juanqui.