tennis, life and a few sports in between

I got up at crack of dawn to watch Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula (1994-; 2009; $4.9m) vs two French women Caroline Garcia (1993-; 2011; $11m) and Kristina ‘Kiki’ Mladenovic (1993-; 2009; $12m), but was disappointed after the first set: the two Americans couldn’t get their act together any more, specially Pegula being passed left and right in the alley.

The two French women came back strong and won. They’ve many similarities: both were born in the same year in France – from their names, their origins suggest Spain and Yugoslav; of similar high and physiques, and prize income. They deserved the win and $620,000.

Rafael Nadal def Casper Ruud (1998-; 2015; $7.5m) easily: 3, 3, 0. It’s Rafa’s 14th on the red clay and 22 overall. Their respective royal family came to cheer them on: King Felipe VI (1968-; since 2014) of Spain and H.R.H. crown prince Haakon (1973-) of Norway.

Someone happy 😊 some sad 😢 @ Roland Garros. So is the game. It was Iga Świątek’s second, Coco Gauff’s first grand slam final.

🇵🇱娃 干净 利落 速战速决 [强]

德加的小舞娘 一家人都在给她⛽️ 二个小弟好可爱. 加油 [强]

The second Wednesday in Paris. The line call continues to be a problem:

June 3 Fri, the first game of 3rd set between Marin Cilic and Norwegian player Casper Ruud (1998-; 2015; $6m). It was an OUT ball but the umpire ruled it was good, IN. The commentators noted the errors made by the umpires at French Open.

June 2: the 1st set, Coco Gauff vs Italian ah ah ah screamer Martina Trevisan. No call but Coco stopped play. It’s clearly OUT but the chair umpire, after a lengthy discussion, ruled it in.

June 1: the 5th set, 1 all, Marin Cilic (1988-; 2005; $29,829k; won 2014 US Open) hit a ball that was called out. The chair umpire got down, and ran to the point of contention, then confirmed it was indeed out. Cilic disagrees so much that Andrey Rublev (1997-; 2014; $11m) offered to replay the point. The tv replay shows the ball was indeed OUT.

_{Cilic: NOOooo way it was out … | hand and racket to thank Rublev |  … the hard stare …}
 

The 5th set, 4 all, Cilic hit a ball that was called out. The chair umpire confirmed it was indeed out. BUT it was IN, IN, IN. The commentators giggled and said, it was the pay back for the above shot.

Although I’m glad that Cilic won but Rublev is quiet with a calm demeanor, very unnoticeable but likable, especially he offered the replay. Unfortunately his country under Putin is invading Ukraine, so I root against any player that has no national flag next to their names.

The first match of the day at Philippe-Chartrier was between two Russians, Daria Kassatkina defe Veronika Kundermetova. Both are quiet and quite good looking.

The winning streak 连胜纪录

Iga Świątek is having the time of her little life, winning 33 matches straight. Only behind the Williams’ sisters, Serena 34  in 2013 and Venus 35 in 2000. If she wins this tourney, she’ll tie Venus’.

Camila Giorgi (1991-; 2006; $5m) is the Italian player I like, not for her playing – three career titles and her highest rank was #26 in 2018, but for her court outfits: always pretty and tasteful.

This year in Paris, however, someone finds her commercial logo too beg, and the chair umpire Jennifer Zhang (a Beijing native) told her to change, on court, right before her match against Arena Sabalenka the screamer (au.sport; ). Thanks lord she won the match.

Are you kidding me? Go get a life.

She lost in the 4th round, to Russian Daria Kasatkina (1997-; 2014; $7.5m) 2 and 2.

Before the start of the tourney, Amélie Mauresmo (1979-; 1993; $15m), the current director and former player with two slams, has said flatly that no pro Putin comment is allowed and the Russian players will not have their flags displayed next to their names. Right or wrong I think it besides the point, but the overwhelming sentiment to support Ukraine is obvious.

Iga Świątek (2001-; 2016; $8,929,786) def Zheng Qinwen (郑钦文 2002-; $) in three sets at 2022 French Open.

A pretty good 🎾 match: Iga is the hottest girl on women’s tour and Zheng is the hottest tennis girl from China, and the tallest 6.1’/1.85m. They’re one year apart but the careers are farther apart.

However, Zheng was able to closed out the first set – Iga was pretty upset with herself. But after that, it was all Iga, the last year’s champion.

Iga Świątek (3⃣️ 伊加·斯维泰克 2001-; $9m) def Zheng Qinwen (郑钦文; 2002-; $0.5m >> 0.296+.273) in three.

斯最热门的女🎾员
郑最热门的🇨🇳🎾员 (也是中国🎾最高 6.1’/1.85m)
好可惜 她赢了第一局 就没有然后了
继续努力 下次卷土重来 ⛽️

二个娃年纪相仿
但是🇵🇱妞2020年就赢了法网,球场上的奖金近九百万. 郑的奖金几乎全部来自今年的法网. 她如果转行做模特说不定也行-中西的审美差异很大.

What a good match!

Coco Gauff (2004-; $3,159,857) def Sloane Stephens (1993-; 2009; $16m), into her first semi at a slam: a shoutout for her.

Coco always reminds me of ‘Little Dancer of Fourteen Years’ by French Impressionist Edgar Degas. Today’s outfit only enhances that impression (colors could have been better)

Coco Gauff (可可·高夫 2004-) 打进她的第一个大满贯半决赛. 赞

她总是让我想起法国印象派埃德加·德加的《十四岁的小舞者》.她今天的服装更增强这种印象(颜色搭配可以更好一些吧? [得意])

^{May 16–Jun 6, 2022; €43.6m/$66.8m: $3.35m to the singles} 

Roland Garros is still not using hawkeye, the same argument that the ball leaves a mark on the court. So old and nonsense, it’s the human error, specifically the chair umpire’s errors that are the most irritating, disgusting in this high stake tourney. Remembering what happened to Barbora Krejčíková last year?

At Iga vs Zheng Qinwen match, they showed a group of men who wear the similar blue t shirts, each with a different country on the back …

^{ha ha ha very international}  

During this year’s matches, again, I’ve seen plenty bad line calls by the chair umpires. One was Madison Keys vs Veronika Kudermetova, when the later served an out ball but was called an ace. Oh well, they’re French.

• the two finals women’s doubles and men’s
• Women’s final: Iga Świątek def Coco Gauff
• the 2nd Wednesday line calls; Iga, etc.
• Iga def Zheng Qinwen
• Coco Gauff def Stephens

John Isner (1985-; 2007; $20m; 6’10″/2.08m) and Jack Sock (1992-; 2011; $11m; 6’3″/1.91m) are playing Santiago González (1983-; 2001; $2m; 6’3″) & Édouard Roger Vasselin (1983-; 2002; $6m; 6’2″) for the final. The prize money is $426,010, which is good (singles are $1,231,245).

Isner’s nickname is little tree. This is the first time I see him playing doubles. Sock isn’t a small guy but next to Isner, he looks like a kid. Reilly Opelka (1993-; 2015; $3m; 6’11″/2.11m) is another American who’s an inch taller than Isner. Here are a few visibly memorable photos by the nets, two are Diego Schwartzman (1992-; 2010; $11m; 5’7″), I saw on Facebook:

The second semi of Indian Wells is Rafael Nadal (1986-; 2001; $127m) vs Carols Alcaraz Garfia (2003-; 2018; $2.207m). Two years after Nadal turned pro did Alcaraz was born: two generations play each other. 

Can’t say I’m a fan because he represents brute force than finesse. And he grunts, however lightly. But he seldom if at all loses his temper on court, don’t remember seeing him smashes his racket or argues with the chair empire. 

During this tourney, Osaka (1997-; 2013; $20m) broke down again when someone, one spectator, called out “Naomi, you suck!” during her losing match to Veronika Kudermetova. She wanted that fan to be removed. Gosh. …  Mommy I want milk 🥛Mental toughness is part of the game, isn’t? Nadal says “We make money. And even if it is terrible to hear that … we need to be prepared for that.” 

A sensible thing to say. Thank you. Who doesn’t need mental toughness to accomplish anything? Can Serena collect 23 slams and Nadal 21 without their mental strength?  

🥛 妈妈我要喝奶

 心理韧性是人生的一部分. 不仅仅是运动员.
🇩🇪的 Boris Becker 说过 🎾第五局不是在打网球了 打的是心理战.

幼稚可笑 [呲牙]

Indian Wells Masters (BNP Paribas), Apr 3-20.

Taylor Fritz defeated Russian Andrey Rublev 7-5 & 6-4 in the first semi match. The second is Nadal vs Alcaraz. I saw Fritz at US Open last year but didn’t much because my suddenly famous dad came and the whole section came to live.

• John Inser and Jake Sock
• Nadal and Osaka

The organizer avoids to display Russian flag. Audience is polite and there is no boos, unlike what Venue and Serena experienced in 2001. It left such traumatizing or agonizing feeling that Serena didn’t play there for the next 14 years.

整整一年没有碰过🎾了
简直不是人过的日子
只能看看 解解馋 [吃瓜]

红衣少年有点像 Tom Cruise 或者 那谁谁谁 (?) [偷笑]
年纪大 记不住
Taylor Fritz 赢了半决赛
去年🇺🇸网看他时 6⃣️ 犹爸来了
热闹非凡 简直没人看球了
孝敬他的🥟 包子都被陌生妞们秒扫光了 [偷笑]

4⃣️ 红衣哥打赢 Rublev 一个不讨人厌的🇷🇺. 主办方连人家的国旗也免了 够糟糕的.
喊话贼眉鼠眼
快下台吧
看看你的臣民的处境. 观众还公平 没有人boo 嘘 一 好多年前 同一个地点 大小威的待遇可没有这么幸运 被嘘到 小威一气之下 14没有去打. 觉得那是明目张胆的种族 [弱]