Roger Federer Defeats Andy Roddick

I was rooting for Andy?!!! I was, even though I don't really like him. I just had that "underdog is fun to cheer for" thing going on.

I am very happy for Rog. Very.

I have this to say- Johnny Mac said it, too-- but I really think that the Rog being ahead in the service games- making Andy serve to stay in the match-- was a huge advantage. Huge! And also, the shadow and light- I could barely see where the ball was and neither could Andy (Or Rog? I felt as if Rog were always on the better side of the court of something. But they switched sides.....anyway, I felt those mishits that Andy threw in at the end to lose were in direct reaction to the shadows.)

And lastly- GREAT GREAT FINAL!!!!!

Yours Truly,
Paula

Serena Defeats Venus, Ends Her Streak

I meant to write something yesterday. Honestly? It was sort of a boring final. After the Leni/ Serena semi, the final felt like a deflated balloon. To me- it came down to one thing- The Serve. I have never seen Serena get the yips on her serve and I watch a lot of tennis. Venus- who served well during the whole tournament- will throw in an occasional double and her first serve is more likely to go away. Anyway, WOW- to Serena. She is playing her best, best tennis, I think. I love to see them- not young anymore- still so dominant.

Yours Truly,
Paula

The English Are Sadistic - and Really into Cross-Dressing - A Connection?

RR here -

Man the English are mean - we may have commented on this before. The way they make each camp sit in the same box. They just showed Haas win a big point, and Sarah Foster leaped up and screamed, and Mirka, directly in front of her, was visibly annoyed. You could see her kind of look backwards (without turning her head - not sure how she did that) and go "grrrr". And then on top of it, to force Sarah Foster and Mirka to make out at the end of the match - unreal. Oh wait that didn't happen. That was just my fantasy.

Sarah Foster looks like she is from another planet. Or like someone did some bad Photoshop and stretched her out. Shes all long and stringy, like a bug. A really, really hot bug.

Anyway back to the English cruelty - you know they love it. They are all into social awkwardness and keeping a stiff upper lip. And, cross-dressing. All English comedy is based on cross-dressing. I think it has to do with the great public school tradition, which is based on hundreds of years of bullying, physical abuse, and the banishment of women. Like prison I guess. Better to be someone's prison wife than be constantly beaten and abused. And if you make people laugh in the process - bonus!

The Semis have been great so far - the Leni/Serena match was fantastic. Serena really earned her win. And Fed-Haas so far is nice and tight - like an English school-boy! Whoops! I had better go.

RR out

Serena Williams defeats Elena Dementieva!!!!

BEST MATCH OF THE TOURNAMENT!!!!!
Wow.
It's deep in the third. I'm in tennis heaven.

These chicks are hitting the ball SO hard. Holy Cow. Serena's hold to get to 6/6 here in the third was so rad as shit that I think she's going to win the whole thing. I thought that anyway, but now I really think it. We'll see.

But as they are saying "this is as good as it gets". I just so agree with that.

Wow. I think this is the best I have even seen Serena play. Ever.

Sorry I'm being so boring. I am stunned at the incredible level being played. So - it makes me less funny.


Go Serena!!!


Yours Truly,
Paula

Go Juan Carlos!

RR Here - I forgot! Have to quickly say GO JCF! Unbelievable to beat Gonzalez, and then destroy Simon. WTF!??!

That's all - RR out

Lisicki, Azarenka Are Gonna Have To Wait

RR Here -

So Lisicki and Azarenka are gonna have to wait. They are pretty good at tennis, but not as good as some of them other ladies. Actually I haven't seen the end of the Serena-Vica natch yet, but I am using my powers of deduction, based on the crushing awesomeness that Serena seems to be bringing to the affair.

There was another girl that was like who the hell are you, you are kind of awesome. Oh yeah, Oudin. So it's kind of fun to be like, is it a fluke or...? Actually we knew about Oudin, from the Fed cup tie with Argentina. As I recall Dulko beat her, but she beat the other girl whose name is escaping me. Ok I looked it up, Betina Jozami. Awesome name. Who by the way was kind of a beast - but Dulko, who's kind of little , and Oudin who seems tiny although thick, were much, much better. Tennis is funny like that. Our boys were at the Billie Jean King tennis place here in NYC, where the Open is, at tennis camp last week. (They are awesome - ok at tennis, but awesome at being boys). I saw this tiny maybe 12 year old girl who was like, BLAM. She was not in the camp, she was doing some heavy private coaching scene. I dug hanging around there... I was late for work a few times...

Lisicki - I don't know. I'm thinking she's not headed for the top 10. The announcerators were talking about how huge her serve is - for some reason I couldn't see it. Then Serena comes on and it's like, ok THAT'S a big serve. Axarenka on the other hand is clearly headed for some Boss-dom. In fact she is up a break in the second - did I speak to soon?

I played tennis with a guy, Yev, from Belarus today. I quickly name-dropped Azarenka, as well as Max Mirnyi, to let him know I was with it. I enjoyed playing, until, it was really humid at Midtown Tennis over the grocery store on 8th ave, and I started sweating so much I was actually not sure there was any moisture left in my body at all. And that freaked me out. I just started sweating again thinking about it. I use the same racket as Azarenka. But there the similarity ends.

I wanted quickly to note how suck-ass it is that Troicki is allergic to grass - so someone said. What if a major tennis tournament was played on cat hair? If so I would play P there because she is kind of allergic to cats. Even tho we have 4 of them. Other cats. I would make sure the court was made of hair from cats other than ours. And I would WIN! Because she would be blinded by tears and puffery and mucus and so on. Anyway that's what Troicki had to deal with, I guess. He would have lost to Murray anyway tho.

Bye - RR

Making Friends Makes For Upsets, Sometimes

The Wav (Wawrinka) has not yet upset Mr. Murray, but like The Kuz (Kuznetsova), who made friends with the Williams sisters, making friends (they keep talking about how Wav and Murray practiced together and are friendly) gives the Wav an edge other players don't have. I blogged about how I thought that Kuz making friendly with Serena ruined the intimidation factor and helped give her the win at the French. I say the same thing here. But this one is not over. We're on serve in the second, actually.

A couple of observations-
What is with Murray always "come on-ing" the Wav's mistakes? Eh. Not so crazy about that.

Observation numero 2-
Jamie, Andy's brother FLIRTING outrageously in the stands. He's nuts. I love him. Andy? Not really loving him. But whatever.

Yours Truly,
Paula