Corrie... sorry, was absorbed in that Almagro-Gasquet match. Ultimately, I suppose, Murray can't blame the press if he fails to win a slam. And don't expect the press to ever consider its role in the intemperate heaping of expectations on British talent and its effect on performance. He is certainly good enough to win a slam but grand slam history is littered with the corpses of the good enough.

Pspace Agreed.His b/hand especially on the h/court was indeed a weapon.

Don't remember Acapulco getting such a good draw in recent years.

Nico has to likely play Ferrero next, and Pablo has to play Ferru or Bellucci.
And if Monaco pulls this off, he could play Verdasco next (Tfactor's favorite player willing, of course). Gonzo has a cupcake to the semis.

I saw Rafa's problems to hit his open stance BH as well as he has in the past related with maybe a slight loss of speed, causing him to get to the ball a little later than he should. Also, considering how awkard his position is when he hits those, he probably is tentative, considering all his knee problems. That shot has to be awful for the knees.
However, i think his level was getting close to what it had been. Hopefully, when he comes back at IW, the returning proccess wont have to start from the beginning again. In his interview last week, he sounded confident about the level he was reaching, but then again, he wouldnt express his doubts openly, if he had them.

Yep, Peg, it does sound like a different problem.

Mornin' folks

Well a couple of upsets in Dubai I see. The Youz for the title.

And as always Acapulco is looking in good shape. Nice one Nico for keeping his chances of defending his title alive. So hoping either Pico or Gonzo wins though. Would love a rematch between Pico and Nico though.

I am going away for a long weekend tomorrow so no internet or tennis watching for me until Tuesday.

Juanqui is no sure thing against Andreev on clay.

After all, Adreev was the last man to beat Rafa before he went on his 80+ winning streak on clay.

Getting back to that bad, bad Nico.

He'd better be careful when he gets to IW. Rumor has it that at least one very angry TW lady may be waiting for him to administer some discipline.

GH,
Hehe, I wouldn't call him favorite but I will admit I like how he looks *blushing* and I'm not one to realy look at tennis players in that light :) Still I'm rooting for Fer, of course!

"Youzh for the win"
I can get on board with that :)

Anyway, I'm out, typepad is trying my patience (whatever little I have left)

msf I don't think Nico will have a wandering eye anymore afterall I heard he has a stunning girlfriend.

what's this about Tiger Woods having such a comely wife that he could never, ever look at another woman.

Rule No. 1 about guys. Guys are dogs.

Rule No. 1. See above.

"Mr. X, Muzz doing well would keep Fed from gaining too many points, and Rafa can make a quicker jump back to #1...where he rightfully belongs. Is that the party line? ;-)"

Pspace, this is too much!

"Pspace By the way you can Cut Out Our Boy business by the way"

Well said, Aussiemarg. Next thing he'll be cheering for Djokovic to beat Nadal because he likes his new clothing sponsor or something.

Did Tipsy play well or was Muzz just woeful? I am not surprised that Kolya loss after reading about his wrist injury.

VC Pspace has "clearly lost it" these days

He just gets on anyones bandwaggon

Spacie's taking digs at every other player under the pretext of supporting them. Just don't let him in your secret meetings, that's all.

Pico and Nando broke back. Phew.

a link for Russia-Canada, anyone?

AM, i'm very surprised. I thought you would be delighted to have 2 members of your beloved fanboy club in the group you are president of:)

"Rule No. 1 about guys. Guys are dogs."
I thought it was "pigs".

Anyway, time for me to get some sleep. Hopefully, i'll be able to watch some of Acapulco as the week advances. It isnt easy to predict a winner at this point. Quite an open tournament, IMO.

See you tomorrow, everyone.

Also Miss Dulko broke back.

VC, hehe, bandwagoning is fun. As Steve said a couple of weeks ago, the best way to learn about any player is to root for them.

Anyways, it's more that I like most of the top guys atm. I mean, what's not to like.

Well, I'm in the "root for your guy to win and everybody else to lose" camp. Grudging admiration and respect is one thing (and even liking their personalities is fine by me) but I can't bandwagon. I don't think I could ever cheer against Federer until he retires.

Yeah, yeah, 'hopper. You know that saying about the jaundiced eye.

Anyways, why is it a rule that one has to root for one player every day? ;-)

I see being a "old fan of Murray" and clearly rubbed off on Pspace

Excuse and excuse

ps GH I think we need to hold our meetings in a underground place.

"Anyways, why is it a rule that one has to root for one player every day? ;-)"

Well, the rule certainly isn't a different player every day, either.

"ps GH I think we need to hold our meetings in a underground place."

...the transition from fan club to league of super-villains was so gradual, we didn't even question their volcano lair.

Jeez, what is this? Pile on Pspace day? It's just tennis people ;-)...I will root for whoever the hail I please.

Nice win for Pico over Chela for the second week in a row.

"Jeez, what is this? Pile on Pspace day?"

What? No, that's June 3.

"I don't think I could ever cheer against Federer until he retires."

I could cheer against Federer depending on how sympathetic i feel about the other guy.

I mean i really felt sorry for Muzz at that trophy ceremony even though i don't like watching him play. If i had known beforehand that Muzz was going to be sooooooooo gutted, i would have cheered against Federer...after all, the Fed has 16, he can afford not to have one. Yeah...but considering Fed lost a heartbreaker at AO last year, his winning this year was important...meh..i just wish there were enough GS for everybody. Tennis is a cruel sport.

Pspace Ok it is a free society

Though you are dead to me if you decide to root for Mardy Fish ok

Pspace, *snort* (I just tried to send you an email :D) hehehe

Grant LOL!!!!! Stop it I just split coffee all over my computer

Thank goodness it wasnt on my lap with seat belt intact

Nadal's backhand is nowhere near the shot that it was in Wimb '08 and (parts of) AO '09. For one thing his movement towards the right is much slower, so he is more vulnerable to the wide serves by Muzz and angled fh cc shots by Davy; another is that his footwork and shot positioning is patchy - he gets late to the ball, doesn't bend as much nor put his full weight into the shot. The result: he cannot get the cc angle and penetration that he used to ( a year ago).

That said, he's doing ok when the ball lands in the slot to be hit, but still missing much more than usual. That's hard to understand since it looks like he's almost muscling the ball sometimes.

What's so special on June 3?

Grant: i think june 3rd is some boy's birthday, no?

Annie, hehe, if you really did want to send me an email, you can do it via facebook. OTOH, feel free to keep clicking on the blue ;-).

"You know that saying about the jaundiced eye."

No, not really, it's all yellow and fuzzy in here.

I feel sorry while saying this- but Gasquet seems to be working hard on his reputation as an unrealized talent. Such a shame for a shot-maker of his ability.

lol Annie, I just picked a day at random, but wikipedia has confirmed.

imjimmy Good post.I agree there.I think he lacks speed as well.

Yes 3rd June,1986 is indeed Rafa's birthday

Goodness me Rafa fans that should be proudly marked on one's calender

Type pad going weird again

Anyway I have a appointment.I hope I am back in time to watch our 3 Aerail Aussie girls hopefully one of them will medal.

For Fed fans...SI's Jon W on the asterisk debate:

"I am offended by so many tennis writers who want to put an asterisk next to Federer's achievement at the French Open. It's not at all warranted by any stretch of the imagination, given that Nadal was in the tournament. What is your take on this?
--Adityan, Chennai

• This still comes up every few weeks. No asterisk. He beat the seven guys they put in front of him. Can't ask for more than that. (Plus at least he beat the guy who beat Nadal.)"

"Now that they've added mixed doubles to the 2012 Olympics, I think Roger Federer and Patty Schnyder should consider pairing up. Another gold to add to Federer's collection. What do you think?
--Fox Brasil, Ventura, Calif.

• Consider this another plea for the Federer-Federer (née Vavrinec) pairing. Both keep have mentioned that they are excited by the prospect of their daughters watching their father play in person. Well, here's the chance for double duty. (Babysitting joke here.) We'd settle for Federer-Hingis as a consolation prize. Long as you brought up Schnyder, her brother was once a junior rival and friend and Federer before giving up tennis for hockey."

"Though you are dead to me if you decide to root for Mardy Fish ok"

Psst, Pspace. I got that covered for ya. Especially if he decides to practice shirtless anytime soon. ;-)

I have to say, Nico's growing on me as well, in spite of his rep as an arse to ballkids. Getting as far as he did in AO with a fractured wrist = major props from me.

After a slow start Miss Dulko races through the second set. As I type FeVer looks like he will wrap up his match as well.

Peg, is that you in L. Jon's Mailbag?

*.

• Peg Duthie of Nashville, Tenn., had LLS: Kolya Davydenko and Colm Feore -- resemblance?

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/02/24/mailbag/index.html#ixzz0gVX5frKP
Get a free NFL Team Jacket and Tee with SI Subscription
*

Muzz-Tipsy replay.

Muzz gets broken @2-2 in the first after S&Ving off his second serve on BP. WTF?

c1: Good lord, so it is. Sent that in ages ago (like after WTF).

" Consider this another plea for the Federer-Federer (née Vavrinec) pairing. Both keep have mentioned that they are excited by the prospect of their daughters watching their father play in person. Well, here's the chance for double duty."

For somebody who wrote book of which half was about Federer, Wertheim doesn't know Federer history. He keeps talking about Mirka and Roger playing in the Olympics but doesn't he know that the reason she stopped playing tennis was because she had a foot injury that didn't get better? Maybe he really doesn't know, I've heard either Enberg or Robinson in the past, say she quit tennis to travel with Roger.

Taylor Dent sounds like he's a Glenn Beck/Rush Limbaugh fan

http://espn.go.com/sports/tennis/blog/_/name/espntennis/id/4938138/dent-hoping-second-career-politics

4-3 Tispy to serve. Up a break.

Muzz is just so casual. I mean, S&V is ok...but at least move those feet and put some freakin' split steps. Gah! He deserved to go home for this kind of attitude.

Ferru is not a dead cert against Bellucci. Just sayin...

5-4 Tipsy serving for the set. Brain cramp and makes three UFEs to set up 0-40. Muzz breaks for 5-5.

That seems to wake him up a little.

Commies are playing "Where is Andy hurting". Jajaja.

Off topic,
But check my website (linked above) regarding a drug testing document that the ITF Scrubbed after one day online (don't worry, I have a copy - email me if you are interested). Lots of players at the top and others who apparently weren't available for the so-called drug testing. Peter Bodo will pretend not to notice, but I invite the rest of you to drop by or send me an e-mail at tennisroids@gmail.com
Thanks,
Tehaspe

Wendy Grossman -- thanks for giving us the other side of Bollittieri analysis. I think he should be in the HoF, but it's good to be reminded why people might vote against him beyond some patrician/snobbery impulses implied by the author.

Yet another Lurker -- seemed a curious choice for a title to me too. But i'm guessing it's one of those hoary phrases that people crib without knowing its source. Hopefully we won't soon see a careless reference to the Beer Hall Putsch, or worse ... well, we won't go there.

TB time!

Huge return from Tipsy to get the mini-break 1-0. I-O fh winner and first serve later it's 3-0. Muzz with an ace and some big (for him) fhs to pull it back to 3-2. BH CC exchange, Tipsy gets it deep CC, Muzz gets out of position, and Tipsy with an I-O fh winner. Good stuff. 4-2. Side change.

Return error from Muzz off a second serve. Challenges. Molay has fun with it. 2-5. Muzz with a stupid little slice approach to Tipsy's fh. Bang DTL fh passing shot 2-6. Unreturned serve makes it 3-6.

Jankko hits a huuge first serve. Overruled out...Muzz got his racquet on it. Challenge reverses the call. Molay, rightly, gives Tipsy the point! Muzz is furious! If he'd shown that much interest in the set, he would have won it.

Jankko has a girlfriend? Stranger things have happened...I guess.

Ahem. Canada leads Russia 7-3 in the 3rd. Kills penalty in the 3rd. Like being two sets and a break up. You could lose, but it would take an epic collapse.

Superb showing by the Canadians. Tough luck for the Russians. A brutal draw.

Spacie why is that strange Tipsy has a gf, I think they are engaged.

AA, I thought he was a well-known misogynist? But, that isn't really a problem.

Yes, Bolletieri should get a spot as should Robert Landsdorp.

http://www.crickethighlightsvideo.com/2010/02/sachins-odi-200-highlights-video-vs.html#more

Today's cricket highlights for anyone who may be interested...

LOL at Pile On Pspace Day. and yes, Janko is engaged:

http://cowbell.typepad.com/forty_deuce/2009/11/another-one-bites-the-dust.html

boo.

mina, weren't you stalking Janko at Medibank? or was it nestor?

ladyjulia: thanks for the link to L.Jon's mailbag. I always enjoy his columns so much. and he's a wonderful writer.

Annie, it was a Serb, but not Janko... Nenad :)))

Thank you for bringing up the contributions of Jimmy Van Alen, Pete. While I was not aware of his "pedigree" I personally always thought, and still do, that the first-to-five sudden death tiebreak was brilliant. I played an entire year of high school tennis using his system (Van Alen Simplified Scoring System, or VASSS), which also used the no-Ad scoring during games, and I loved it. It favored the aggressor, the one with the steel cajones. One thing, though, at 3-3, 2-4, or 4-2 in the tiebreak, the next player to serve served the last three points, if they were necessary, serving the very last point to the box of the receiver's chooosing. It was a stroke of genius that not only sped up the game but that neutralized much of the inherent advantages of (a) the server and (b) left-handed players, at a time when the racquet technology hadn't caught up with the serving prowess.

I still think the professional game would be far better served with the Van Alen sudden-death tiebreak.

LOL, Tipsy came prepared to fight the Lestat:

“I came here with fever and being completely sick, but I’m feeling better with each passing day,” Tipsarevic said.

“Last night, I ate two big heads of white garlic, because Novak (Djokovic) told me I’m going to feel better. Actually, I did.”

A garlic necklace it is for Rafa the next time they meet then.

Ah, she's a "tv presenter". Kinda wondered. She looked a bit too stunning and self-possessed to be an anonymous grad student from Belgrade.

Well, how was it for you? No goal final period, but no-one in Canada gives a monkey's. Canada 7, Russia 3. Lots of Canadians going "beauty, eh?"

Uneventful second set. Muzz broke to start, and held all the way to 6-4. A little lucky to overcome a 0-30 deficit while serving for the set...as Tipsy hit a return just wide.
Also had a couple of BPs at 5-3 to break for the set, but missed a return on one, and Tipsy came up with the goods on the other. Gah! This disinterested Muzz is just pissing me off.

LOL, GB. So, it was the garlic, eh?

aussiemarg, you must eradicate any feelings of hope you might have for Richard Head-Gasket Gasquet. It will only bring you pain and misery. Ask Sam next tme you see him on TW. LOL

- Slice

Ah good....some fire from Ahndee to start the third. Doesn't really help him as Tipsy holds for 1-0. But, good points.

when does venus play????

0-1 in the third Muzz serving at 30-15. On a defensive fh, he puts his left hand on the ground to change direction and looked like he hit a nail. 30-30. BH volley error, and BH UFE, and that's the break. 2-0 Tipsy.

oh - slice - you are just so .... practical

Actually , Sam was just here in LA - and Jenn and i met him for drinks for happy hour
he is doing well , but very busy with work

and he still has hopes that some day - Gasquet will live up to his potential
He may never win a slam - that may be a stretch - but i think a few good tournament wins may still be in him
He just needs to believe in himself .
But it will not be easy

didn't Tipsy and Andy play earlier today
Is the tape delay trend now invading TW match calls ?

Spacie, *shakes head* Muzz's obsession with the Fed continues...someone really needs to tell Muzz that he's not the Fed...;)

Exhibit A:
"When I'm getting ready for the Slams and the big events, you need to try some things. If you ask someone like Roger Federer how he gets ready, it's not necessarily about winning the week before or playing your best the week before. It's playing your best at the right times of the year."

http://tinyurl.com/yf2vtt2

Great game. 15-30 Tipsy hits a bh winner for 30-30. Muzz with a deep DTL bh to set up BP at 30-40. But, Tipsy with a nice I-O fh winner to save it. Approach + overhead to get Ad. And, a bh UFE from Muzz gives Tipsy a 3-0 lead.

Beckham, hehe, I'm waiting for him to explain the Tipsy loss by brining up the AO '08 4th round. Then, we can agree that it's going too far.

Seriously dude. Get Fed out of your head.

what - is he expecting a different result ?
Pspace - hate to break it to you - but doing the same thing repeatedly , and expecting different results is the definition of insanity

We Safin/ Gasquet fans know this all too well

beth, I'm not sure what you mean by doing the same thing?

Pspace - didn't you see the match earlier ? I could have sworn you were here for the real "live " event
so I thought perhaps you had all ready seen this match and were watching again - in hopes of a change for you favorite
that's all

Don't worry - I still do the same thing for that BCS game between Texas and SC - I keep hoping that
a) Reggie won't attempt the lateral
and b) Frostee Rucker will actually make the tackle - instead of falling over at the goal line
:)

London,
Venus plays after Gonzo match is over and they are in a 3rd set

ok , CL , I will cut him some slack

as for the Olympic medal count
I remember when we as a nation won nothing - the whole winter olympics and not so much as a bronze
so , we are due to win something
I am gonna cheer

The Olympics is about the only time I get nationalistic about my sports favorites
I have no such feelings about cheering - oh for say and American at the US Open - if he is not one of my favorites players , I dont' care at all if they lose

Gotta love Muzz's logic: he didn't want to get crap for pulling out, but has no problem admitting he didn't really prepare/was kinda half assing it. Oh MAndy:(( At least get in some practice before IW, k.

I really hope Oz hasn't f him up for awhile. That's what he was doing sooo well - rebounding from slam disappointments. Um, until the next slam of course :(((

Wheee! The level just went through the roof! Muzz holds for 1-3. And, then a loooong game in which Muzz had like 6 BPs, but couldn't convert! He really had a chance only on two BPs...on one he was a little late in getting to net, and Tipsy's defensive shot got on his feet, in the second, he chose to lob instead of pass, and Tipsy with the overhead. Good stuff from Tipsy. Cojones. 1-4 Muzz to serve.

beth, hehe, no, I didn't catch the match earlier. Though, I must say that this third set will be well worth watching twice.

4-1 is apparently a killer score

just ask Richard

enjoy then, Pspace
I won't tell you the final score :)

That's an interesting article that Beckham linked. If he's trying out stuff and being aggressive, it will help him long-term.

Back to back holds. Commies (rightly, imo) point out that Tipsy doesn't have anything in his legs. But, Muzz makes some boneheaded errors to let him hold. 2-5 Muzz to serve.

thanks master ace, this could potentially be tough for venus. kanepi had a good 2008, then fell off. she has nothing to lose, and this is clay...

Whoo! What a point by Muzz to break back! Unfreakingbelievable defense and a ridonkulous CC BH passer to win the point. 4-5. Tipsy looks tired. I would've thought that Muzz had the match at this point.

Muzz had good position at 30-15. No love from the net chord, as his attempted fh winner drops back on the same side 30-30. Tipsy suddenly finds his legs. Muzz has him running side to side but makes a fh error. 30-40. On MP, Muzz has the advantage in the point...CC BH exchage, Tipsy suddenly pulls up the line, I-O fh, and then overhead winner. Good stuff from him.

Congrats to Tipsy fans. Commies to fellow Muzz fans.

Great third set. Wish Muzz had shown some more desire in the first.

I'm not a big fan of "trying things". Especially for a player at this stage of Muzz's career. Rule No. 1...do what you have to do to win the match. It's one thing to make a few adjustments. Totally different to go all kamikaze and S&V on BPs.

And, besides, he need to build up the aura of not losing before the SF...which will let players choke against him from winning positions.

Thursday Order of Play:

WTA: Kuala Lumper at 1 AM - Amanumuradova vs Bammer, Scheepers vs Malek and Lertcheewakrn vs Rybarikova scheduled
WTA: Kuala Lumpur at 5 AM - Zheng vs Chang
ATP: Dubai at 5 AM - Melzer vs Cilic to be followed by Tipsarevic vs Youzhny(LIVE or delayed by a few minutes on Tennis Channel)
ATP: Dubai at 10 AM - Ljubicic vs Djokovic to be followed by Baghdatis vs Berrer(LIVE or delayed by a few minutes on Tennis Channel)
ATP: Delray Beach at 11 AM - Korolev, Gulbis, Fish and Chardy scheduled
WTA: Acapulco at 4 PM - Williams or Kanepi vs Pous Tio, Fichman vs Gallovits, Suarez Navarro vs Dulko and Hercog vs Szavay scheduled
ATP: Acapulco at 4 PM - Almagro vs Ferrero or Andreev, Cuevas vs Ferrer, Schwank vs Gonzalez scheduled (LIVE or delayed by a few minutes on Tennis Channel)
ATP: Delray Beach at 5:30 PM - Blake vs Haase
ATP: Delray Beach at 7:15 PM - Brands vs Karlovic
ATP: Acapulco at 10 PM - Verdasco vs Monaco(LIVE or delayed by a few minutes on Tennis Channel)

Some great matchups tomorrow. Can I be teleported to Acapulco for FeVer and Monaco. Pico wears the Addidas gear wayy better than FeVer.

well - Pico / Verdasco will be a pretty match

I don't know , CL , I am kind of partial to the snowboarders mismatched plaid / denim look for fashion winners
biggest loser - the orange speed skating unitards of the Dutch team
just say no

and - as much as I adore Bode Miller - the bad boy of ski personified - face it , he is my type - He should never wear a unitard
Lycra is just not a forgiving fabric for a beer swillin ' good ole boy :)

riddle me this ?
Why does NBC give us subtitles when the athetes are speaking English

granted this man has an accent but - I can understand him without the subtitles , thank you very much

really stupid

Pico has followed up his win in the singles with a dubs match victory as well. I think he deserves a couple of beers after this.

I'll drink to - or with - Pico !
anytime

"He should never wear a unitard Lycra is just not a forgiving fabric for a beer swillin ' good ole boy :) "

ROFL. don't ever hold back Beth. :D

venus up 4-1.