Those school tennis courts have been renovated recently. Same court different times: 2005 vs 2009. Don’t think my game has improved much. In all honesty, as long as all my body parts agree to work together – not go on DL, I’m a happy camper.
good jumps ..
Keep eye on the ball ..
stay down ..
prepare; always think the ball will return .. good thinking .. but I often get lazy .. and rely on my partner ..
big hair do 🙂
Out of blue, two days ago some family member of the players from Beijing Chaoyang tennis club contacted me:
Subject: Sunday in NY
Hi Irene,
Please don’t mind if I ask who paid for the tennis court that day, I need to know this because I was told that I need to pay for my share of the fee, and I am not even part of the tennis team.
Thanks,
Weird .. was my first reaction.
What’s going on? Why would anyone ask the family member to chip in to share the court cost? We all knew USTA paid for the two courts for two hours 10-12 noon. Since we had about two dozen players from both sides, soon we played on the next two courts. Four courts in total. In any sense, we, as the host, should pay for the court cost, if there were any, just like the lunch.
Who actually asked you to pay for it, and how much? I questioned the sender.
No reply.
(On that Sunday 8/30, as we were leaving the tennis club, one of my buddies mentioned that Sandy went to the front desk at the club and negoated the additional two courts and paid for it.)
To be sure, I forwarded the e-mail to Andy and one of the organizers for clarification. The organizer replied two days later:
Subject: Re: court fee for BJ club
Hey Irene,
When you raise questions, you have to be specific. I have no clue what you or your someone are referring to.
What court, which court, where, when ???
Sorry .. for being not clear and specific. I thought the initial e-mail/subject is self-explanatory.
From reading the e-mail I forwarded to you, I think the inquirer is asking about Sunday 8/30 at Roosevelt Island tennis club. Have any of catsny member asked the Chaoyang tennis club to share the court fees (original two and the addition two ??) in any way?
It sounds very odd.Best regards
Irene
From the organizer:
C’mon, Irene, that was history and whatever happened, happened. It’s water under the bridge.
Just to clear your doubtful mind,
USTA paid 2 courts for Chaoyang Tennis Club as courtesy and we were arranged to play the friendly games with them.
Then, Tom the club manager came later and told me that we can use balance 2 courts for free as the courts were paid for by seasonal players who did not show up.
As such, we got to use balance 2 courts that day. No fees were paid to no one.
To my knowledge, no one asked anyone for money in any form. I, for one, did not pay out any fee to Tennis club for additional courts.
There might have been conversation among our players to suggest that we rent the 2 empty courts and everyone chip in for the cost. That’s my guessing.
Both your neighbor HL and PZ were there. If anyone asking for money, I should have know about it.
So, here you go. I hope this will satisfy the sender.
Now, I have a question for the Inquisitor that wasn’t being answered:
– Who asked for payment? More importantly, was the request made after the 8/30 event – That’s the root of the problem.
Will the Instigator share this info that started this flurry of e-mails exchanges?
I won’t be surprised to see that Chaoyang has as much politics as the catsny although I sincerely hope not. But .. coming to NY/USA isn’t a small deal, especially when China makes tennis/golf so out of reach for the masses.
It’s just a game. People. Lets KISS. Let’s forge friendship and promote sportsmanship.
Played with Alex the assassin who’s game has improved a lot. I like to tease him .. wondering which temple he’s visiting in China 🙂 [to hone his tennis skills]. We won 2 sets to 1.
He knew the Chaoyang tennis club in Beijing well even he holes up in a podunk somewhere near Guangzhou.
RMB 50,000 annual due that only gives you the priority to book a court. Each hour cost US$100 – hope I got the figures right here.
“That’s cheap.” compares to golf in China.
One golf club charges RMB 1,000,000 (life time) membership fee and each outing would cost about RMB 2,000 – 3,000.
His opinion is that China couldn’t produce top notch tennis/golf athletes was due to the 贵族化 the sports, making it prestigious and unreachable for the mass.
Pumpkin’s serve ..
Their team lost narrowly to Roy and Pan – they were leading 5:1 in tiebreak .. .. and beat Roy and I 6:3.
Not sure Tini Tran and Edward Wong’s is the first wedding announcement took place in Beijing that appear on the New York Times.
The bride and bridegroom are foreign correspondents in Beijing, the bride for The Associated Press and the bridegroom for The New York Times.
Daniel Gross and Steven Goldstein were the first same-sex couple to appear in The Times’ wedding announcements.
Watch the video, it’s really heart warming. One’s mother broke down at the party
“Not of joy but embarrassment.”
17 years and they’re still going strong.
..
Anyway, it’s a gorgeous weekend, hope all of you had plenty out door activities. I played tennis for 3 straight days, today 7-11:30am .. the last set was against Pumpkin in doubles .. .. we or I lost, 6:3.
I need a life.
Chair umpire: “.. .. Be quiet.”
Roger Federer “.. .. I don’t give a shit .. ..”
..
Wow.. Men’s Singles Final is in progress, between Juan Martin Del Potro and FedEx.
One set apiece.
Del Porto broke Rog and was serving at 4:3. But couldn’t hold. Rog broke back and the last point that gave Rog 5:4 was questionable. Del Porto decided to challenge the call long after 2 seconds has passed; and Rog walked to his chair. Players have two seconds to file a challenge.Rog .. “I wasn’t allowed to challenge after two seconds. The guy takes like 10 every time.”
“Be quiet,” The umpire told Federer.
That irrated FedEx
“You have any rules? Don’t tell me to be quiet, ok? When I want to talk I’ll talk, all right…I don’t give a shit what he said, ok?”
I think he has Serena’s incident in mind.
Mary Carillo commented that it’s joke for no coaching:
“Everyone cheats.” They all look up to their coach.
“Whom would you turn to?”
The 2-second rule is to cut down the chance to consult with coach.
I’m not sure now, but for a long time, Roger didn’t have a coach.
..
4th set, tiebreak.
Del Potro’s serving.
His first serve looked out. No call.
I think someone from the crowds called out.
Federer approached the chair. After brief conversation, Rog challenged the point.
Del Porto said .. didn’t we just had this 2-second exchange?
He had a point.
But the chair umpire allowed the challenge.
It was out, by a hair distance – but it’s beside the point – why did the chair umpire allow it??
Del Porto did his second serve .. and went on to win the 4th set at 7:4.
..
US Open is tarnishing its name.
I can’t wait for the Federer trophy ceremony and interview ..
Did anyone feel funny when US Open claimed
A Storybook Ending for Clijsters
??
I disagree for she didn’t exactly, actually win that match.
5th set: Del Potro leads 3:0. He started the 5th set .. Rog started the previous 4 sets. Hmmmmm…
5th set, 4:1. Del Potro serves. Rog has 10 double faults and 58 unforced errors. He’s playing below himself and looks dare. .. he lost the match at 6:2 5th set.
Ironically, given what’s happened earlier about the delayed challenge, Rog changllened a Del Potro’s first serve after prolonged delay. Del Potro protested. But the chair umpire allowed it anyway.
It was out.
Del Potro went to the line and smacked out a second-serve.
Really, IS THERE any rule at US Open?
Serena and Venus Williams disposed the number 1 doubles team Cara Black and Liezel Huber 2 and 2 – 6:2, 6:2. Their third major this year (only lost the French) and their last US Open was 10 years ago.
The match was very exciting – show more doubles games please!!! Aside from wonderful hands at net – ping pong volleys, clean passing shots, they whacked balls hard at each other. One male commented wondered that you may lose a friend that way. The court side commentator, the Aussie said there wasn’t many other angle you could hit to when one stays so close to the net.
Simon sometimes would say to me, not to hit to the net person. The truth is
1. I’m lazy – often the case – not moving my feet
2. have nowhere else to hit to
3. I don’t have much control
I have no desire to hit anyone. Yesterday I got hit on my banded up arm. The guy held up his hands to apologize. No need. Honestly, I wasn’t tad mad, not at all. The first thought hit my head was,
“Oh, Irene, move your feet.”
Ding and I have been winning a lot lately. He thinks that my game has improved a lot. It’s getting harder and harder to have all your body parts work at the same time: wrist, arm, elbow, shoulder, back, ankle .. mine are having truce at the moment, so I treasure the opportunity and play well.
The sisters earned US$420,000 from Olympus, and one trophy from Tiffany. How do they split the trophy?
You’ve got to see the trophy ceremony. Patrick Mcenroe is an terrible by pressing Serena. Was he trying to give her an outlet or egging on her?
“Did anything changed in the last 48 hours?” then reduced to 24 hours
Serena laughed. Finally it’s Venus took over and said .. ..
“I think the crowds says let’s move on Patrick ..” that ended the interview.
What was he thinking? Out of line there.
Serena made a statement on Sunday after the foot fault incident.
“Last night everyone could truly see the passion I have for my job. Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that while I don’t agree with the unfair line call, in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly. I would like to thank my fans and supporters for understanding that I am human and I look forward to continuing the journey, both professionally and personally, with you all as I move forward and grow from this experience.”
No remorse, deemed the media.
So she made an apology today.
Hey guys!!!
I want to amend my press statement of yesterday, and want to make it clear as possible – I want to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lines woman, Kim Clijsters, the USTA, and tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst. I’m a woman of great pride, faith and integrity, and I admit when I’m wrong.
I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it’s not the way to act — win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner.
I like to lead by example. We all learn from experiences both good and bad. I will learn and grow from this, and be a better person as a result.
Xxxx,
S
Was the line judge a volunteer? Did the judge know all the rules? Why couldn’t USTA spend little to hire someone who’s competent? Her conduct on court was unsportsmanlike. But why would major player tolerate a quasi-professional? And as if she never got a bad call.
As the USTA officials are saying that they’re launching an investigation, an INVEStigation!! – to decide if to levy more fines or even suspects Serena. It’s bogus. What’s there to investigate? The sisters are playing ladies doubles final – they won 6:2 n 6:2. Higher TV rating to have them in the tourney? Without Serena and Venus, what else do they have to offer? I know the limit shelve life the top players have, but the sisters are sure could dominate the tennis for few more years.
Serena was provoked.
According to Wimbledon, the player challenge system works like this ..
Players have unlimited opportunity to challenge, but once three incorrect challenges are made in a set, they cannot challenge again until the next set. If the set goes to a tie break, players are given additional opportunities to challenge.
How the On-Court Challenge System Works
Each player/team is allowed a maximum of three incorrect challenges in a normal set after which they are not permitted to challenge again in that set.
If a set goes to a tiebreak, this limit of incorrect challenges is increased from three to four for the set.
Challenges may not be carried over from one set to another.
.. ..
Ok, enough. The above explanation is for non players. This blog is about how could a ball call in or out when only a fraction of the yellow-greenish furry thing bordering the line – the contact point of the ball is so small, yet it shows on the challenge screen un-proportionally large. I’m not good at science and unsure this would involve math or physics, but look at the shape of the dot on the review screen which represent the 
whole shape of the ball, which is approximately 6.7 cm (2.7 in.) in diameter .. .. my point is when it lands on the floor, only tiny portion would kiss the earth .. shadow shouldn’t count.
Oh well, just wondering.
Just saw another screw up of the umpire: Novak Djokovic served an ace to Roger Federer from ad court. The line judge called out, late. After challenging or reviewing, it showed the ball was in. Yet, Joker had to go for the second serve. Where’s justice?
