Tennis anyone?

[Bakunin]

Re: Tennis anyone?

I would be surprised at a Schiavone victory, but any of the other three have a great shot at this. I agree that beating Henin and Williams back to back certainly means she'll be able to hang in with anyone on the big stage. Her nerves held up, and that's been a problem for Janvokic and especially Dementieva.

The women are notorious for folding under pressure - the ones that hold their **** together are few and far between. You really pick up on it in their service games (double faults and horrible second serves that get destroyed by aggressive returns). I don't know what to expect from Dementieva - she's either really good or flat out awful.

My gut tells me the winner will come out of the Stosur-Jankovic side.

[Bakunin]

Re: Tennis anyone?

Nadal advances in straights over Almagro (7-6, 7-6, 6-4) - competitive match, but Almagro couldn't get it done in the tie-breakers.

... and Djokovic loses in the quarterfinal to Melzer. He won the first two sets and lost the last three.

[MaizeRage]

Re: Tennis anyone?

You really pick up on it in their service games (double faults and horrible second serves that get destroyed by aggressive returns).

That's really more of a physiological difference. Everyone gets a little tight in big spots, but women don't have the strength to generate racquet-head speed, and subsequently, spin on a second serve, like a man can. That gives them way less margin for error on a second serve.

[Jason A]

Re: Tennis anyone?

What happened to Dementieva? It syas she retired after losing the first set in a tiebreaker.

That Djokovic loss is a head-scratcher. His career has stagnated since he switched racquets.

[Bakunin]

Re: Tennis anyone?

Don't know, but this tournament is now clearly Stosur's to lose.

[Jason A]

Re: Tennis anyone?

Stosur cruises past Jankovic. The fans didn't exactly get their money's worth today.

A Stosur-Schiavone final. Nope, didn't have that one in my brackets.

[Bakunin]

Re: Tennis anyone?

Dementieva is claiming a left calf muscle tear; trainers are saying it's a strain.

[Jason A]

Re: Tennis anyone?

Soderling in trouble here, down two sets to one to Berdych.

[Jason A]

Re: Tennis anyone?

Another great prediction by me . . .

I would be surprised at a Schiavone victory, but any of the other three have a great shot at this. I agree that beating Henin and Williams back to back certainly means she'll be able to hang in with anyone on the big stage. Her nerves held up, and that's been a problem for Janvokic and especially Dementieva.

[Terrierbyassociation]

Re: Tennis anyone?

The men's final is win win for me. If Nadal wins Federer's streak at #1 is over.

If Soderling wins potentially a new player to challenge Nadal and Federer for Grand Slams now that Djokovic has disappointed.

[walrus]

Re: Tennis anyone?

Watching the Williams sisters play doubles, wow.

[Bakunin]

Re: Tennis anyone?

Another great prediction by me . . .

That caught everyone off guard. I didn't see the match - how would you explain this? Did Stosur simply lose her edge after going against tougher opponents? Did Schiavone play out of her mind...?

I can't imagine how insane the odds were of her winning this thing when it started.

[Jason A]

Re: Tennis anyone?

It looked to me like Schiavone played the match of her life. She could do no wrong in the second-set tiebreaker.

Nadal-Soderling on serve early in the first set.

[Jason A]

Re: Tennis anyone?

Nadal up 6-4, 6-2. Soderling is playing okay but Nadal is just amazing.

[Priceless]

Re: Tennis anyone?

That was quick.