tennis

http://www.humsurfer.com/view/atp-tennis-free-live-video-streaming-atp-open-13-marseille

Good news, think I found a replacement website for free live video streaming of tennis matches - weblink above (think they took it off eurosport.com unfortunately). Well, unfortunately, looks like this'll be the week where a great women's tournament is going on with no one to watch :-) (coverage doesn't start til Sat. on the Tennis channel unfortunately). The Qatar Open is actually a Tier I event, and pretty much everyone is there who's anyone (except for Vaidisova, Serena, and Henin). Unfortunately, looks like perhaps a few of the young kids have perhaps hit a wall - Szavay just got blown away by the old woman Sugiyami somehow (7-6, 6-0) in the 1st round - sheesh - and Cornet lost in the 1st round in Bogota, and Safarova lost yesterday in the 1st round in Qatar. And incredibly, Kutzy is the No. 1 seed with Henin not here - like anyone thinks she's going to win the tournament - not :-).

As for the men, nice to see the younger Nishikori come through on Sun. - thought he played intelligently by mixing speeds, etc. - to keep Blake off balance (after a great semi win over Querry where he saved a total of 4 match points - including 3 in a row in the 3rd-set tie-break; and also had to win 8 total matches to win the tournament since he was a qualifier as well). And, of course, Blake does what all the stupid American men do (e.g., Roddick, Querry, Isner, etc.) - just rely on a big serve and forehand, and always beatable when the serve isn't going that well - as they all have subpar backhands and return of serve which always makes it a low-margin for error to win against decent opponents. Actually think of the veteran American guys (e.g., Roddick, Blake, Ginepri, etc.) - that Ginepri is capable of being the best one since he has the best all-around game, but seems to have mentally lost it unfortunately (was up to remember him having nice wins over Haas, etc. back in the day, but those days seem long over. And nice to see Murray win in Europe as well - thought he was perhaps done after crashing and burning late last year, but maybe it was good for him to get rid of Gilbert :-). And lots of upsets so far in Rotterdam - Baggy, Ferrer, and Robredo have all already lost; and should be interesting in San Jose (although Young has lost again in the 1st round); Nishikori plays Roddick in the 2nd round - oh well, guess he didn't win his tournament in time to get a draw placement and more respect :-).

latest tennis buzz

http://www.sport.be/proximusdiamondgames/2008/eng/#

Oh well - Szavay wasn't ready for prime-time as I unfortunately kind of expected. Hopefully she'll be ready next time - but put up a decent fight against Chakvetadze. Kind of amazing how someone so young and only 1 year older (20 to 19 yrs. old for Szavay) can seem so much more mature, poised, etc. But the tennis channel does have some good tournaments coming up - Proximus Diamonds this week, then Delray, and then Dubai when everyone comes out for the duty-free money :-). Kind of get the feeling this is Sharapova's season to lose - if she plays like she did at the Australian consistently, no one can touch her, otherwise it'll probably be Henin again. As for the men, definitely interested to see if Federer can get back on track at Dubai, and to see if Tsonga can be more than a one tournament wonder, and whether anyone else new can break through (e.g., gasquet, murray, young, etc.). And who cares about the tennis channel tournament - sheesh - can you get a weaker lineup (e.g., Isner, Hewitt, etc.). Also, looks like you can get a live video stream from proximus tournament - weblink above. And it was interesting during the Szavay-Chaky broadcast, the commentators brought up a point I had thought about before - what's up with all of the 1st round byes for the top 4 seeds - sheesh. They don't have to show up til Thurs. really, and the just do 4 days of work for a big pay day :-). The commentators mentioned that the lower-ranked players are complaining about all of these byes since it's taking away spots from them to get into the tournament. But the tour does it since it says that the top players have all of these other obligations being ambassadors of the sport (e.g., pr work, interviews, etc.) so they can't be expected to make it on mon. for the 1st round all the time - and the tour wants them out there promoting the sport. So guess it's kind of a catch 22 - think I'd cut down it to just 2 byes (for the top 2 seeds); this 4 top seed bye thing is too much - especially when they're for people named Hantuchova, Schnyder, etc. - people who definitely don't deserve a bye :-).

tennis channel

Oh well - looks like the tennis channel has sold out to men's tennis like the
major networks (e.g., CBS, USA, NBC, and ESPN); but won't admit it. Just
called them to complain why they weren't showing more coverage of the women's
tournament this weekend (paz de france) when they showed around 2 or 3 rounds
last year (at least from the semi's), and they're only showing the finals this
weekend. And gave kind of a very weak explanation - said they didn't have
room since they're showing 2 davis cup ties this weekend (US vs. Austria, and
Russia v. Serbia) - sheesh - does anyone care that much (especially since it's
the 1st round - could understand if it's at least the semis). No argument if
they kept the same coverage, but you can't reduce the coverage. Probably has
something to do with no big stars being in it (e.g., no Williams' sisters, no
Henin, etc.); but at least want to see the kids (e.g., Cornet, Szvay, etc.),
but oh well. Told him point blank I guess that men's tennis makes more money,
but wouldn't admit it - kept saying they're showing a lot of women's matches
this year. Uh huh, but then you're only showing one match this weekend -
sheesh. Oh well, think tennis channel is not my favorite channel anymore.
But at least they're showing the Antwerp matches next weekend - and don't
think they showed that tournament last year.

Australian Open

Oh well, it was the good, the bad, and the ugly as usual at the Australian Open as usual. First, the ugly: ESPN should be forbidden from every broadcasting another tennis tournament - they are less than useless. I can't believe they show the women's quarter and then completely stop coverage (even though they have at least 40 minutes left and would assume they'd extend the coverage), and just go to ESPNnews for the rest of the time. Basically saying that Tsonga and Youzny don't matter (Tsonga won). Luckily, I picked up ESPNdeportes exactly for these mishaps, but forgot to tape it for this morning, but it's taped this afternoon I believe. Basically, if it's not Hewitt, Federer, Roddick, Blake, or even Fish; then the match doesn't exist and they don't show it. Definitely will be calling ad/or emailing to complain.

Now the good - finally Sharapova is back - took her enough time (about 1.5 years - since the '06 US Open); she's finally getting near the level she was at when she won Wimbledon. And don't listen the stupid ESPN broadcasters as usual (especially the stupid Mary Carillo); she stupidly said that Sharapova was playing at a level better than when she won Wimbledon - that is totally wrong. She was at the top of her game when she won Wimbledon - she destroyed everyone (including Serena) like they were less than nothing. She had a few hiccups last night, but she basically blew away Henin like she was nothing - was so satisfying :-). Hopefully she keeps it up against Janko and probably Venus. Also, very weird, but think her shoulder is still bothering her or she makes an intentional effort not to wear it out. She basically doesn't hit overheads anymore - she lets the ball drop and hits a swinging volley - she got away with it last night, but a smart opponent would exploit it and see if she can indeed hit an overhead smash.

Now the bad - think Serena either needs to retire or get serious about a real coach and a fitness/condition person. She's totally out of shape - either mentally/physically. Unfortunately, she's turned into a Davenport and the limited American men who think they can win on a serve and a forehand. She wants to win the point in one or two shots - if she has to run she gets lazy/gets out of breath and usually loses the point especially to a human backboard like Janko. Incredibly, Janko is #3 in the world w/o a serve or net game - incredible. Definitely was sad to Serena look so out of position constantly and Sharapova (who's not as athletic) move her butt constantly to get the ball with something on it - oh well.

Australian Open

Oh well, I'm out already on the men's side in talkabouttennis.com's suicide pool for the Australian Open - thought Donald Young was a sure bet, and he loses - sheesh!. But still in on the women's side - picking Bartoli today - probably too early to pick her, but kind of scared of the other choices (e.g., Cornet, Mirza, etc.). But hopefully it should work out. Hopefully Serena can get some revenge for last year when she probably meets Henin in the semis - can't wait for the 2nd round matchup between Sharapova and Davenport - should be fun to watch. And feel so bad for Paszek - totally should have beaten Janko, but wasn't ready obviously (how many easy match points can you blow).

More interesting tennis goings-on. Serena withdraws due to knee inflammation and is replaced by Bartoli (who of course gets to play Henin today - can you say revenge for Wimbledon embarrassment - smile!). And Russian tennis gets into more trouble - accused of poisoning Haas two months in the Davis Cup semis - guess nothing is ever just simple food poisoning, huh.

Clint

Getting Tired of the Williams' excuses

http://www.tennischannel.com/news/NewsDetails.aspx?newsid=3514

Oh well, more bad news and phoniness from the Williams' camp (weblink above). Venus Williams withdraws from the big end-of-the year tournament starting next Tues. due to so-called dizzy spells. Spells she first so-called experienced at the US Open - which was 2 months ago. Hmm, if she's experiencing dizzy spells 2 months ago, then why is she playing in all of these tier III tournaments beating up on nobodies - just come out and say "I want my sister to win so I'll get out of the way - after all, she hasn't done so well in the big tournaments since the Australian Open and I won a big tournament more recently" (e.g., Wimbledon); why all the phony cloak and dagger. And it looks even worse when Sharapova (who I don't think anyone would confuse with being very gritty and actually gets in now that Venus withdraws) says she's going to compete no matter how what despite how she feels physically - isn't that what Venus should be saying - sheesh!