This could be IT for Lleyton

[The_Sweetest_Thing]

All the big seeds are out (well, besides Henman, but he's playing too poorly to be a threat). Lleyton looks like he's at the top of his game. I hope he does it.

My only fear is that little Lleyton will have trouble against a hard hitting, big guy (like Rusedski). Hewitt could go ALL the way...and I damn hope he does. He's the only one playing consistently, and he looks like he really wants it. Not on;y that, it'd be nice for Oz. And good for Lleyton to really step out of Rafter's looming shadow.

(Too bad Pat didn't stay in. He could have won it!)

And BTW - all these young guys--the 'New Balls' campaign. Why haven't they been living up to their standards? I mean, why haven't we really seen one or two male players step up to the plate these past years and win some slams? It just seems that talent is all over the place. We have clay court specialists, grass court heavy hitters, and hard court wonders.

 

[The Wanderer]

well no problems with Rusedski, since he lost today, I wonder if whoever ends up winning the Krajeck/ Phillipoussis match will have anything left in the tank to beat someone like Hewitt (4 tie-breaker sets before play was haulted today)

Hewitt is storming through everyone, without question it is the new hairdo which makes him sleeker and more lithe

and he's almost a lock to win the US Open, so much for Rafter being the best Aussie of this generation (though some might argue Hewitt isn't part of Rafter's generation), but regardless, Hewitt will probably go on to be the most dominant player of this era, I thought for a while that Marat Safin might be his biggest rival, a la Sampras/Agassi, but Safin has no heart, and Andy Roddick doesn't really know how to play tennis, he just goes out and hits balls... I guess Kuerton may be good for a couple more French Open titles on top of his 3 that he has already, but can you really see him winning anything else? maybe the Australian, and even lesser likelihood is the US Open

question, if Kuerton were to win 6 or 7 French Opens and a maybe sneaks in a US Open and 1 or 2 Aussie Opens, would that put him on the same level as Sampras and Agassi based on winning 8 or 9 Slams?

btw, what is the problem that Venus Williams has with showing respect to great tennis players? she came out and basically said that Steffi was not a real grass-court player, though she won 7 Wimbledons, than when asked about players like Navratalova, Everett and Billie Jean King, she draws a blank look and claims that she's "not familiar with their games since she's too young to remember," wtf is wrong with her??? I thought she and Serena had finally started growing up and distancing themselves from the sort of comments that we'd expect from their father, Richard Williams, guess not.

 

[brettig]

Venus and Serena play like low to mid ranked male players! As for players saying dumb things, the women have always done that kind of thing, until theyve matured mentally, which is something the Williams sisters have yet to do.

As for Hewitt, I think I remember saying mentally Safin wasnt quite there, and I think Lleyton has proved he can pace himself through a Grand Slam tournament now. So often early he'd burn himself out by the 3rd round, but now he's got everything under control. As far as generations go, the guy is more my generation that Rafter's!

Kuerten could be on that level, although I'd think of him as just a hyper good claycout player, and I doubt his ability to 'pinch' other slams simply because he doesn't have it over too many good guys on surfaces other than clay...

 

[Popmartijn]

Hello,

As a Dutchman I of course have to say that I hope that today is the end for Hewitt on Wimbledon (this year at least). He's playing Schalken today. I think it's going to be an interesting match. Yes, Hewitt has beaten Schalken three weeks (?) ago in the semi-finals on Queens, but Schalken won the Rosmalen tournament two weeks ago and he's playing some amazing tennis on Wimbledon. I cannot predict what the outcome will be this afternoon, but I think it's going to be exciting.

As for the other Dutchman, Krajicek, I can only say (cue Ali G voice): Respect! He was out of the running for 20 months, played one match two weeks ago on Rosmalen (he lost to Federer in the first round) and now he's in the 4th round on Wimbledon. Hopefully he can put Phillipousis aside today, but he will have a heavy schedule in front of him (today 4th round, tomorrow qtr. finals, the day after tomorrow semi-finals). If he can beat Phillipousis I think he has a very big chance to reach the finals. May court 1 be orange today!

C ya!

Marty

 

[coolhandlaura]

Lleyton--

Pat Rafter--

wish pat was here

damnit, the two i wanted to win, Hewitt and Schalken, are playing each other today! i dont know who to go for!

 

[verte76]

Hewitt beat the tar out of Henman today. Drat. Nothing against Hewitt but I thought it would have been cool for a Brit to win Wimbledon. I didn't get to see the match, I just heard the news. I guess Hewitt showed why he's ranked #1.

 

[The_Sweetest_Thing]

question, if Kuerton were to win 6 or 7 French Opens and a maybe sneaks in a US Open and 1 or 2 Aussie Opens, would that put him on the same level as Sampras and Agassi based on winning 8 or 9 Slams?

Never, no way.

The thing is, there is a certain stigma that goes with winning the French Open....I mean, winning it 4 times and not winning any other tourneys. That gets someone labelled a "Clay Court Specialist."

He'll never be an Andre....winning all four slams. He'll never be a Pete, who was so incredibly amazing that he can't be labelled a Grass-Court-Specialist, or a Serve-and-Volleyer-with-a--big-serve. Pete was so far above everyone for a while...and at 13 slams, he...wow. I'm not even a big Pete fan. I never really cared much for him, but I can appreciate how good he was, when he was at the tiop of his game.

I somehow doubt in my mind that Kuerten will win other slams. He doesn't seem to have the game. He's got it on clay, but every year, he seems to choke. I can't remember my other Kuerten observations right now...I haven't seen him play in a long while, so I'm having trouble remembering his style.

Anyway, even if he did win 6,7 Frenches. And an Aussie. And maybe a U.S, I think he'd been seen as a good player, one for the books. But he'll never leave anyone in the dust. If he did win the Aus or the US, it would be by slim marigins. Am I making sense? I think I'm rambling...

Now, the thing is, Kuerten has won, what...3, 4 Frenches. Pat Rafter won 2 US Opens. He had the Wimbledon finals twice. But he only has (2) grand slams (hardcourt even) to his name. What makes him looked upon as such a great player? Even when MacEnroe and Everett and the other commentators talk, they always place Agassi, Sampras, and Rafter in a league of their own....a generation of superstars, the likes of which we have yet to see in the New Balls Campaign.

On another note, Schalken was excellent. He could be big.

I'm going with Lleyton all the way. He's one of the few who looks like he ENJOYS tennis. He got game. He has it mentally and technically. In someone that young, that is a rare quality to find. His one falter was against Schalken (the overruled point). But, he came back. That says something.

The Williams sisters make me sick. I don't care who wins. I won't watch it. They have never gone past 2 sets with each other anyway. It's not exciting tennis. It's all power, not enough finesse. Their shoddy attitudes (more Venus) are visible even onthe court...or maybe that's their nipples. Wear a bra.

 

[verte76]

I agree, the Williams sisters are boring as hell. I don't watch their finals. I like these South American guys! They have all sorts of cool shots! This Nalbandian guy is too inexperienced to win the tournament--it's only his first Wimbledon and he's a semifinalist-- but he has alot of game in him, it'll be interesting to watch his career. He beat the guy who destroyed Sampras, so he can play on grass.

 

[brettig]

Oh dear

Hewitt v Nalbandien

Im actually more worried about this final than Sampras last year cos Hewitt won't really know what to look for...

 

[verte76]

Oh dear

Hewitt v Nalbandien

Im actually more worried about this final than Sampras last year cos Hewitt won't really know what to look for...

I don't mean to rain on your parade--I like Hewitt, too, and I'd like him to win--but Nalbandien is in the final? Amazing! The guy's playing in his first Wimbledom! The final will probably be pretty overwhelming for him. But what a tournament he's had!

 

[The Wanderer]

well he's not seeing much as of yet!

btw, how about Rafter giving Hewitt a call of good luck before the semis? how many players are classy enough to do that?

and as for Kuerton, no I don't think he's a great tennis player on the level of an Agassi and I don't think he's as good as Hewitt, but he's already got 3 French Opens (and btw, you don't have to win the French 3 or 4 times to be considered a clay court specialist, you just have to do well on clay and no where else, but Kuerton does win matches on hard courts), so I could see him winning at least 1 or 2 more French Opens, and there are not enough dominant players on the men's side right now to count someone like Kuerton out completely in the hard court tournaments

 

[brettig]

hehe

I just dont seen Kuerten winning Slams anywhere but the clay

 

[The Wanderer]

well certainly not against Hewitt!!

 

[brettig]

I can see Hewitt winning ten slams now

 

[verte76]

I can see Hewitt winning ten slams now

Me too! Wow! He'll be #1 for quite some time. He destroyed Nalbandian. Can you say "no contest"?

 

[U2ME3]

The Williams sisters make me sick. I don't care who wins. I won't watch it.

well, i guess you won't be watching ladies tennis finals for awhile because there is nobody close to these two.

 

[bullet the blue sky]

I was very impressed by the crowd's reaction. Towards the end it was like a morgue... on the big points, all you could hear was Hewitt's "come on/you fucking beauty" refrains. I'm sure some witty Australian DJ can come up with some funky remix for the phat antipodean teenyboppers to shake their booty at.

Ahem. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is this. Here in England we're always referred to as frightfully good sports and bravo to the jonny foreigner and all that nonsense. So it was GOOD to see the crowd so apathetic to a player who had beaten their main hope AND is pretty ruthless in his play AND is a bit annoying AND is something of a bully and hothead (remember last year's outburst!).

When he won, there was just a polite round of applause. Good to see the English people are finally getting the message... sport is a professional job... it is not the taking part that counts, it is the WINNING that matters! Respect your opponents by all means, but don't fawn over them. They'll lose eventually... everyone does

 

[coolhandlaura]

btw, how about Rafter giving Hewitt a call of good luck before the semis? how many players are classy enough to do that?

Oh my GOD!! you cannot be serious!!

well are ya?? if thats true, then.....well, if you read my above post youll know Rafter is my favourite player of all time! a v.v.v. exciting player, charming and sweet as hell, a gentleman, and......a looker!! it will be a great shame if he retires*PLEASE DONT PAT!*

but...wanderer whered ya hear that?? i wanna go look at where it says it!! that just shows what a guy he is.

on the subject of Hewitt, i made a bet with my bro at the very start that hed win! (for once i was right!! ) he also is Australian (all Aussie tennis players seem to be sound) and i really thought he deserved it. but unfortunately, even though hes an incredible player- some of those shots against Henman amazed me- hes a baseliner and to me its just not as exciting as Rafters Serve-and-volley game. plus...even though he seems sound, he just doesnt have that genuine gentleman thing goin on like Pat does.

as you can see, im obsessed with Pat Rafter

 

[Salome]

Here in England we're always referred to as frightfully good sports and bravo to the jonny foreigner and all that nonsense.

by who?

you are so chauvinistic you even think Henman has a chance of winning
that's about as likely as holland winning the cricket world cup
or england winning the football world cup !

 

[bullet the blue sky]

Note to Salome: England have already won the World Cup. And Ian Baker Finch once won the Open golf championship, so anything is possible.

 

[brettig]

And Ian Baker Finch once won the Open golf championship, so anything is possible.

And when he did he was one of the best players in the world!

Not anymore tho

 

[Salome]

Note to Salome: England have already won the World Cup.

and dinosaurs once populated this earth

 

[bullet the blue sky]

and dinosaurs once populated this earth

and everyone still goes on about those too!
must hurt being the best side never to win it...

 

[Salome]

neh, not really
we just do not play good enough some times

 

[The_Sweetest_Thing]

well, i guess you won't be watching ladies tennis finals for awhile because there is nobody close to these two.

If it's the two of them in a final, no I won't watch any finals then. WHy should I watch two players I don't care for?

I was very impressed by the crowd's reaction. Towards the end it was like a morgue..

Impressed by what? That your counrty DIDN'T cheer as loudly as they had in the Henman match? Oh yeah. I'm bursting with pride.

Lleyton may get carried away, but i think he held himself nicely this time. They didn't cheer as loudly as in LAST year's final (cause, last year's final was rain delayed. So we had more of the 'riff raff,' for lack of a better word, inside the stadium).

They also didn't cheer as much b/c it was such a lifeless match. Three sets, wasn't close.


ccolhandlaura...e-mail me if you want to talk about Pat (I'm a HUGE fan). the_sweetest_thing@mail.com

Pat's a classy guy. Lleyton's always been his little prodigy. The pupil has surpasssed the teacher.