Posts Tagged tennis

Day 10 at US Open 2010

New York World Fair 1964 score board as of Sept 8th, day 10

I’m weak: 10:40pm flight out to Asia and I haven’t packed yet, but when the US Open is calling, I dash off to Flushing in no time. It’s day 10 of the two weeks long tournament. A glorious sunny day, cerulean blue sky n all that.

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Jordan and I watched women’s doubles quarterfinals between Y. Chan and Jie Zheng vs Bethanie Lynn Mattek-Sands and Meghann Shaughnessy. The Chinese pair won over the Americans.

Zheng Jie's coach DSCN0620

Zheng Jie’s coach (can’t recall his name but he looks very familiar) in white cap came over to rally us to cheer for Zheng Jie.
“I’ll count to 3 .. you’ll say 郑洁加油” .. make an extra effort.
True to his words, he would shout in good Mandarin
“一,二, 三, ..”
We would chime in with “郑洁加油 ..” The echo worked: they won, despite 64-mile serve.

64 miles per hour serve Day 10, most courts are empty

Zheng had double fault and her second serve came at 64 .. but the China dolls managed to win with persistence and remarkable retrievals. By 10th day, most matches were done, courts became vacant

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The qualifying rounds
US Open Day 3

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Room with a view

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Le Meridien (Starwood) on Nanjing Road East in Shanghai. A great location, but the lobby is less than desirable. Stacks of moon cakes piled high, in prominent displayed near the entrance, and were being handed out. AT first I thought it were the guest who stays at the hotel. But after I walked a bit on the street did I realize what’s going on. Still, I didn’t understand why the hotel would want to get on distributing moon cake business.

DSCN8964The living room looks out to the east and the bathroom looks out to the Bund and beyond.
A while back, in a mocking article on New York magazine projected that by 2020, Americans would rush to China to find a job, like cute white college grad waiting at restaurants or being baby sitters who speak perfect Mandarin. Well, I don’t know if we need to wait that long. At one lounge at the hotel I spotted a tall and pretty cute blond among waiting staff. Was she a trainee of some sort, or just a back packer who would do anything to stretch her stay at a foreign city. Would people feel odd if a Chinese waiting at a hotel in Zambia?
This xiao long bao juicy dumpling tastes pretty good.

DSCN8387According to friends playing tennis in Shanghai can be a hassle and expensive proposition. So I largely wrote it off. Didn’t bring my gears. But then thought what’s the heck. Let’s try. Tried to line up with a coach who would provide me with a racket .. .. but that didn’t happen.
Then I spotted a tennis court from YZ’s apartment
“Yes you can play here.” He assured me.
I spotted few courts from this hotel .. don’t remember its name .. sorry senior moment ..
When I went to pick up Auntie Ida I found a cluster of courts in her gated community.
And the courts were empty too!

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Day 3: The Flying Dutchman, G-string, etc

Day (or night) 3 at the 2010 US Open
DSCN0269 filled out
Pumpkin called over to this court,
“Mom, watch his serve ..”
Someone is flying
And his racket has two handles.
Cool
All in the name of a good game.
Kai-Chen Chang has matured a lot, built up and out a lot too.

somethin is bothering me ..
With all the fame and wealth Rafa Nadal just can’t find a comfy undie. Does it tell us to be happy with what we’ve got (or given)?
.

We watched the little tree John Isner play .. so did Patrick Mcenroe and his Aussie sidekick ..

Andy Roddick is arguing while John Mcenroe is looking on .. Did Mc wish that he were down there?

We’re not worth .. we’re not worth ..

.. and ran into friends that I haven’t seen in ages ..

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Attending US Open

The little tree John Robert Isner in action.
.

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a few serves

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A serve

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Sergiy Stakhovsky vs Denis Istomin

Two unknown players battling out for the Pilot Pen title in New Haven. Is it tennis or chess? Very interesting. Compare to the girls– NYT’s girls rule or girl power .. but any sport in slow mo would look spectacular? – those two look like the sissy. Hmmmmm .. actually it’s different and neat. A break from power game, the hard hitting and all that.
Stakhovsky plays single hand back hand. Except his huge little beak nose, he’s pretty cute.

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A few shots of the 2010 US Open

It’s the qualifying rounds of the 2010 US Open. The atmosphere was very relaxed.
I wandered into Court 11. Near by were two guys, one was holding a huge camera, the size of a canon.
He was giddy.
Click .. click .. click .. he fired away.
“Oh .. I hide the boxes in the garage when I bought new stuff .. ” he offered with a laugh.
He then showed me the shots he took earlier when Novak Djokovic was practicing. We’re agreed should I manage to sell it on eBay, we’ll split the profit.
More pix on FB

US Open Day 3; Day 10

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Formerly

DSCN9831Ok, as it turns out, Maria’s pretty outfit is two pieces: shirt and skirt, at $60 each. Without the Russian bella this outfit looks dead and dreadful. Of course. That’s where models and mannequins come in. I really don’t like the frilly shoulders which is in fashion this season, which is right with the younger crowds. The outfit would look so much better with a simple tank top – I’m old.
Too girlie for my taste.
Btw, there is a new name for middle aged, in between 30-50 or about: formerlies.

This white tank top dress has s similar style sells $120. Bit too plain thou.

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Our first NY vs NJ match had gone well, thanks to Sherry and her team’s tireless effort. First isn’t exactly the right word here since this type of matches had happened in the past. But since it’s my first, so it’s the first. The idea was hatched while we were playing the sectional at Albany. Paul suggested that I should introduce myself to our fifth enemy – our last match was against NJ. It was an easy conversation with Sherry and we agreed on the spot that the friendly battle across Hudson River should continue, from time to time. My aim is to keep my team focused during the off season, monthly match with identical format and number of players. NJ volunteered to do the first. As it turned out, it became a huge party, three courts became 9. The generous hospitality they extended to us was enjoyed and appreciated by all of us.
Our little team welcomed two new comers: Ricky and Helen. Rick had expressed his desire not to team up with his lovely wife
“So I would have dinner for the rest of my life.”
Out of pity, I teamed up with him, thinking what kind of woman is she. Not cooking dinner n all that.
the super girl
So she teamed up with Simon playing next to us. As it turned out, Ricky was very lovesick, constantly longingly looking to the court next to us; whenever I missed a shot, which was often, he would musing out loud ..
” 你这么杂? 我老婆一早就搞定佐了 .. 你真是无用…. hmmmmm … Helen would have gotten that easily …”

So Irene was fooled – they are lovebird too 🙂 .. pretty good excuse on my part for losing the close match: 4:6, 5:7.
Sorry Rick, I’ll run faster next time; play harder and scream louder …

The next match was doubles, Helen and I faced a super girl and her young partner, freshly arrived. NJ team has far more players and they rotate to play two hours match while we did four hours.
One look at our opponents, especially Pat we got discouraged. She has this marvelous physiques, sculptured muscle and perfectly toned body.
We lost 4:6, 4:6
The reason should be obvious by now .. that my partner was constantly looking for her hubby and musing out loud ..
“你这么杂? 我老 公一早就搞定佐了 .. 你真是无用… ”
“我 老公一早就埋单了 ..”
🙂
Sight … 我真不知怎么这么好运 峨嵋山: 被老公吼了然后在被老婆骂 ..

Okay .. in reality, I was tired and couldn’t really move my legs and feet and all that. Pat and Lucy were great good player who played well. The atmosphere was light and jolly, the usual case when the match is loop sided.

Anyway, my kids and I would like to say thank you.

DSCN9839 DSCN9836 DSCN9828 the new lovebirds girls rule big happy family
1. The original lovebirds; 2. My 金童玉女常胜军; 3. 好像有人回娘家了, Paul? 4. The new lovebirds: not his daughter -:); 5/6 with the mates.

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her back and fore

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