tennis, life and a few things in between

The Open

• 9.13, day 14, women’s doubles
• 9.10, my little thoughts on Serena, Steffi and Monica
• 9.08, day 9:  the Williams sisters quarter final
• 9.07, day 8 tickets still plenty
• 9.06, day 7 a squirrel
• 9.03, day 4
• the fashion

Espn broadcast a few doubles matches – thanks and way to go. Martina Hingis and Sania Miraz beat C. Dellacqua and Y. Shvedova 6-3 and 6-3, collecting $570,000.

Wondering how or what do the doubles players do with a single trophy? Your home one month or year and mine?

Having watched the sisters’ terrific match last night, at the net they embraced tightly. I was tearing up. They faced each other in the US Open five times, grand slams 13 times and 27 times in total over their career so far.

My gut feel is, this moment would not happy too often in the future.

The talk of grand slam, which means winning all four slams in the same calendar year is filling the air. On the eve of Serena’s much anticipated win at the US Open this Saturday, a comparison to Steffi Graf, the woman who last accomplished this in 1988 is due.

I was a Graf fan and, I’m still is one now. I loved her single hand backhand. Her quietness. Her shyness. Graf was the last woman who collected all four grand slam trophies in the same year. And more. Because of the 1988 Summer Olympics @ Seoul, South Korea. She won the gold medal too, hence the Golden Slam. To repeat this, it’s nearly impossible.

Talking about Graf’s achievement without mentioning Monica Seles is, just simply not fair. All three top players have some issues. This google sheet shows the three most recent dominate female players

• 1993.04.30 Monica was stabbed by a Graf’s fan.
  • Graf who had won 11, went on to win another 11, without Seles, her main rival.
  • Seles who had won 8 before the stabbing, only won one more in 1996 in Australia.
• Serena’s US Open controversies
  • 2004 quarterfinal match against Jennifer Capriati,
  • 2009 semifinal against Kim Clijsters
  • 2011 final against Samantha Stosur

I’ve no doubt, Serena would have won more without these controversies.

Graf lucked out.

Round of 16 at the Open

3 sets. It’s so sweet and moving to see them hugging each other when it’s over.

Lucie Hradecka (CZE) [3] and Marcin Matkowski (POL) [3] lost to Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) and Sam Querrey (USA) in the third set super tiebreak 10-7. Sand played really well, kind of carried him.

The American pair made to the final and lost to Martina Hingis and Paes in the super tiebreak, also 10-7. Heart breaking!

And the airplanes fly by the half naked man.

Wushuang Zheng (CHN) [14] lost 2 and 3 to Francesca Di Lorenzo (USA). She jumps high to hit forehand – a jumping flea -:)
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American Express Card built up on the three courts side of the main hall. The second floor felt a bit shaky tho. Light fares and drinks, plus massage.
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She asked me if I play … then went on to say this isn’t her life style. Oh well.

The sleeping beauty is only 10 days old. The last time we took a picture together in the Open was 1994
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