Oh well I am off to do 'life things' EEk like grocery shopping

Have to eat I suppose

Like look at the Chanel things I could buy if I gave up eating for 1 year

Then again I would die and then never have the chance to wear it....

Later

"Have to eat I suppose

Like look at the Chanel things I could buy if I gave up eating for 1 year

Then again I would die and then never have the chance to wear it...."

AM, that's a profound observation. Salut.

How do you think Nadal would recover if he lost for a seventh straight time in a final, third GS final in a row, to Novak? I find it so interesting. After watching Fed go through so much angst about another top player who beat him frequently, I find it strange to see it happening again to someone else. (I haven't been watching tennis for years). I have the feeling Rafa is more in the Borg mould.... how long would be put up with it?

Looks like every1 is either out or zzzing for the chicks' final.

Chandler's inside presence & screens are invaluable to the Knicks. It's a shame he couldn't stay with the Mavs after last yr's Hollywood ending.

I wish both ladies a lot of luck in the upcoming finals.

But one last big special shout out to Vika ... I so hope that she can keep calm and win her first slam.

Well, I'm in for the "chicks' final".

I just really don't know what to make of it. It's a widely held opinion that there are no real dominant champions in women's tennis at this time. People often questioned Wozniacki's #1 ranking -- for well over a year, in fact. Despite talk about her not being a "true #1", it's taken this long for anyone to wrestle the ranking away from her. That says something about the rest of the field, doesn't it?

Now that the "fake #1" is on her way out, we'll get... another fake #1? The Azarenka vs. Sharapova match will determine who wins AO 2012, but the search for the "real #1" in womens' tennis may not end this year.

Azarenka and Sharapova both being a part of "the rest of the field" as I mentioned earlier, I think there are too many "ifs" to make a solid prediction here. Since I can't make a solid prediction, I'll make a shaky one: Sharapova, in three. She's not a favorite of mine (a designation I'd most likely give to Petkovic and Schiavone), but she does have a history of winning slams. It could just as easily be a breakthrough night for Azarenka, and her recent play suggests this is far from improbable.

I'll just tune in with an open mind and hope that both players can rise to the occasion and leave us all with a memorable match. Good luck to both.

Waltzing Wounded Memorial

Saturday Order of Play
3:30 AM: Victoria Azarenka vs Maria Sharapova followed by Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan vs Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek for ATP AO doubles title

Sunday Order of Play
12:30 AM: Elena Vesnina and Leander Paes vs Bethanie Mattek-Sands vs Horia Tecau for Mixed doubles title
3:30 AM: Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal

Roddick fan from Virginia, congratulations on the girls' single title won by Taylor Townsend.

sokol, commiserations to you and other fans of Yulia Putintseva. Judging by the livescores Looks it looks like they both fought hard and well.

Regarding domination...Fed did have close matches..he didn't win everything 6-0. But its a bit like Novak...close matches..but crucial moments, would come up with an answer.

There was a 30 min tiebreaker with Safin once..or was it a TB that went on for 20 min?Then a five setter with Haas..there was a time when he used to be down a set and break to Roddick where Fed thought he would not be able to make a comeback..until it rained ofcourse. There were a lot of TBs with Roddick actually..but Fed would always win those.

But because he made it look easy in the end...it looks like he steamrolled everybody except Rafa. Which is not really the case. He used to shank during the matches at those times too. But somehow he always managed to get his game back in control before any real damage was done.

But like he said..he rode a huge wave of confidence since 2004 Wimby. Similar to what Novak rode last year..whether its for a short time or long time..we will find out on sunday.

"There was a 30 min tiebreaker with Safin once..or was it a TB that went on for 20 min?"

You're prolly thinking the '04 YEC SF, which ended w/the (in)famous 20-18 TB.

And Safin was Fed's opponent in that match, back when he was fit & serious.

Rafa didn't get a lot of time to dominate..it took longer for him to reach HC finals despite being #2 for a very, very long time. He never lived up to his ranking in the HC majors till 2009 if i remember right..that's 4 years of being the second ranked player in the world.

By the time it came to defending those slams...Novak sprung a surprise.

Still, they both are young and both are still at their peaks. They can fight it out as to who will dominate for a longer time.

And ofcourse, Muzz will try to get a toe in. While Fed will try to steal if he can.

"And Safin was Fed's opponent in that match, back when he was fit & serious."

Wasn't that 2005? I thought that was the year Safin knocked out Fed in that late night five set thriller at AO. Brought Fed down to his knees...literally.

That '04 YEC was before the '05 AO (obviously). Before Rafa hit his prime off clay Safin was no doubt Fed's toughest competitor.

Thanks love-means-nothing.

I just found out that the match was on AO radio, but I did not know. The boys is about to start. The announcers said Taylor needs to improve her fitness and Yulia has talent, but she is a "head case". At 3-3 in the 3rd, Yulia "exploded", destroying her racquets and losing all composure.

Roddick fan from Virginia, thanks for the info. I figured something must have happened to Yulia at 3-3. Does USTA include coaching the mental aspect of the game to young players?

I don't know much about the USTA. I just follow the players by Internet. Taylor was being coached by Donald Young' s father, at least through the US Open. She was Donald's Mixed Doubles partner at the US Open.

Oh ... Young Sr. is a tennis coach & Taylor having played mixed doubles at USO are new things I learnt today. ^v^ Thank you.

Taylor and Jessica Pegula lost to King/Shvedova in the 3rd round in Women's Doubles at the US Open and beat Jankovic and her partner in the 2nd rd.

I think Taylor will be #4 in Junior rankings come Monday. Maybe higher.

Hello anyone here?

Will the match calls be here for the womens final pls?

barf. where r all the natives?

Just some Great Aussie News,Like Oi,Oi,Oi,

Luke Saville won the Junior Boys Title at the AO today

Luke I am soo proud of you

Aussie,Aussie,Aussie,OI,OI,OI.....

Posters who are interested in the Womens Final we have moved to Petes new post

Thanks.

Roddick Fan: "At 3-3 in the 3rd, Yulia "exploded", destroying her racquets and losing all composure."

I tuned in just before that. Yulia smashed her racquet onto the court in frustration, it had been a close game and she could see it slipping away. Taylor, for her part, did not relent and served strong. Yulia was able to return and volley, but the volley ended prematurely when she dumped the ball into the net. It was 40-15 at that point (if I remember correctly), and Yulia was done. She lunged to return Taylor's serve, and the ball bounced before reaching the net.

Taylor's composure was admirable. Her expression and movement showed a stable mix of focus and serenity. After losing the match, Yulia returned to her seat and spent the next minute and a half crying and smashing her racquet into the court. It seemed to take an eternity before the award ceremony began, and there was plenty of awkwardness before that. Taylor sat, smiling and looking relieved -- until glancing over at Yulia, whose racquet wound up looking like Baghditis' first smashed racket -- mangled, that is. Taylor's smile vanished, replaced by a look of sympathy for her defeated opponent. Off-camera, a lady could be heard having a loud and clear cell phone conversation -- a conversation where the whimsical and joking mood completely betrayed the silent and somber images of Taylor and Yulia in their seats.

Happily, Yulia was able to regain her composure before the award ceremony began. I would be happy to learn some day that Yulia was inspired by Andy Murray's surge of self-control, and opts to not implode in frustration. I know she's young and practically has a license to throw tantrums, but it was very unsettling for me to watch. No one needs to have their tantrums replayed on television or YouTube on top of a rough loss.

Azarenka started shaky, but is starting to pull herself together. They're on serve after a couple of breaks, but Sharapova is starting to look defensive.

Azarenka really seems to have the upper hand. She seems unfazed by the pressure and confident. Maria looks grave and is sweating profusely.

Absolutely horrible tennis from Sharapova. I'd be equally hesitant to call it "tennis" or say that anything's coming from her at all.

6-3, 5-0 Azarenka.

Thanks for the info More Permament Name Pending.

I didn't actually read Pete's post yesterday. It's a real giggle in retrospect! He's long been such a Masha Fanboy. Will Sharapova be "on the comeback trail" for the next 6-7 years? It's ridiculous how much mileage "experts" get from her 2008 surgery. Furthermore, being stiff and slow has nothing to do with her shoulder or even the "yips".

Vika got "OVA the Hump", Pete. Quite easily.

Bodo the genius.

haha I just had to laugh at this write-up. Anytime the likes of Roddick or Sharapova show 'signs of life' the predictions and positive reviews flow in. At least with Roddick, people have come to their senses after so many 'predictions' did not pan out.

I think Bodo is right...Masha will come back...there are certain people who don't believe this and there are others who does...only time will tell..but Masha is a fighter and it will wrong for us to think that her career is over when she is just 24. Here is another nice one from Masha believers: Lost Hope? http://bit.ly/wb2oSM

Hilarious to read the write up after knowing the results....wonder howmrafa feels with Bodo on his side !