Baby steps

Baby steps back into blogging. Here are some links! *wink*

• Serena, Kim and Ana notch wins in their first matches of 2012 in Brisbane. Kim and Ana are set to meet each other in the next round.
• MurrEndl? Keeping my fingers crossed that this partnership turns out well.
• Petko has a new move and it’s not the dance kind. Nothing but net? I’m thinking, aiiiiirbaaaall.
• No more Lacoste for Sam in 2012. She’ll be rocking Asics gear.
• Rafa’s going to play with a heavier racquet to add speed to his serve.
• Boom Boom and Gools find out which one of them is more German. You can keep your bonus points, sir.

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He’s out, she’s out, he’s out, she’s out

Four Top 4 players and both defending champions (no, not Rafa and Kim) exit the tournaments in Canada after their opening round matches. What’s that aboot, eh?

That was not how you’re supposed to start a title defense, Andy Murray. Does Muzz have a new hate for North America? I’m pretty sure he used to like it here but he’s only stayed for one round each at 3 tournaments played, 3 Masters 1000s no less. Whether he likes it or not, the next major will be in North America and he’s gotta fix this little issue ASAP.

How was your time off, Caroline? Just kidding. Everyone actually knows how your vacation was. You’ve had some good timez recently… until today.

Injuries are so dumb. Sorry, dude. More time at home though!

It sucks to see Rafa play so tentative? nervous? like he did tonight against Ivan Dodig. I was pretty stunned to see his groundies land close to the service line over and over again. Especially after he won that first set quite comfortably. I’m so used to seeing Rafa run over opponents after taking the lead.

Yes, Ivan played well and I give him credit for not succumbing to the moment. He kept with his winning game plan but he wouldn’t have been able to attack so much if Rafa’s balls did not land short more than half the time.

Apparently, Rafa has some health issues but of course he wouldn’t admit that that affected his game. Honestly, I hope it did because if not, fuuuuh.

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So over it

JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/Getty Images

When Kim Clijsters announced that she was going to play Roland Garros this year without playing any warm-up tournaments, I felt kind of insulted for the rest of the field. Perhaps it was because her announcement was so sudden that I thought, shit, she really thinks she can blow this field up without playing matches for 2 months? Kim’s a great athlete like the Williamses but unlike them, she gets into inexplicable funks. Australian Open 2010, anyone? She was soooo over that match.

Kim was also so over it in the third set of her second round match against Arantxa Rus in Paris. After blowing 2 match points in the second set, she totally collapsed in the third and didn’t look like she could be bothered. Kim finished with 65 unforced errors, including 10 double faults, in her losing… effort?

A bunch of brackets just got F-ed.

*Best new show in town.

RG 2011 lewks

Roland Garros fashion isn’t really a big thing. I mean, compared to Wimbledon, feels like the players (and their sponsors) don’t put as much effort into their on-court looks in RG. Which is weird because… well, they are in Paris. Perhaps they know that they’ll get dirt all over the garment at the end of every match.

That said, some still showed up in new kits and some are even pretty.

But then there are also these messes.

Nike: 1000, Lacoste: 1, The Rest: 0

Also, what’s up with adidas not having any new kits for Roland Garros? You have to put the World Number 1 in a new dress for a slam, Stella.

Images via Getty, AP

Madrid preview

Out.

Out.

Out.

#winning

Images via Getty, AP

Winning Ugly

I enjoy nothing more than watching (reading) about WTA players compete until the very last ball. The 325894 twists and turns a close match takes is made for movies. Yesterday, Winning Ugly was showing in Miami.

Andrea Petkovic had to rally from being a set down then 2-4 down in the third to beat Jelena Jankovic in their quarterfinal encounter. JJ helped her a bit by being… JJ.

It’s great to see Petko have an incredible run in Miami. She’s a big star on the internetz and these wins over the top ladies should help her become a star in the bigger tennis world. She deserves it.

Kim Clijsters saved a bunch of match points to defeat Ana Ivanovic in their 4th round match. It was intense and Ana apparently played some brilliant tennis but only the people in Court 2 were able to see it. Thankfully, some blogger was there.

I have all the love in the world for Maria Sharapova. That love usually overcomes her ugly performances and I can watch her play until the last ball but last night was just… it was 3.5 hours of mess! 5000 errors and 17 double faults from Mash. A MESS. There were some good rallies and you have to give Alexandra Dulgheru credit for getting all those balls back and hanging tough.

Late in the third set, Masha looked like she was cramping then injured her ankle (her leg was probably giving out from the cramps) and had some treatment on it before she was able to close out the match in a tiebreak. All guts. It was all guts from her to finish that one. As per yoosh.

(via seversian)

Australian Open 2011: That's a wrap!

Finally, Aussie Kim.

Kim Clijsters was the heavy favorite going into this year’s Australian Open and she delivered. She started her campaign with a double bagel (wink) and did not drop a set until the finals. Although Kim didn’t look sharpest in the middle of the fortnight, she did enough to win, as champions do. She even started slow in the finals against Li Na and dropped the first set but recovered well. She played more consistently to come back and win the match and the tournament.

This is Kim’s first Australian Open title and fourth career major title.

Li Na had a dream fortnight and played fantastic and incredibly ballsy tennis on her way to the finals. She defeated Victoria Azarenka in the 4th round and fought off a match point against the top-seed, Caroline Wozniacki, in the semifinals. I have a feeling this wasn’t the first and last major final we’ll see her compete in.

Novak Djokovic came into this tournament as the third in line to win. There was Rafael Nadal gunning for the Rafa Slam and then, of course, Roger Federer (GOAT!), who was looking to snap his slam slump. Per our beloved talking heads (in the US at least), for sure it’ll be either Rafa or Fed and then maybe Novak or Andy. I may have taken too much pleasure watching Nole and Andy prove them all wrong, wrong and wrong.

From the very first ball, Nole came out firing and showed everyone that he was ready to win this title again. He played some scurry good tennis and it was a pleasure to watch. He only dropped a set once in the entire fortnight and dismantled Fed in their semifinal bout in straight sets! In the final, Nole’s aggression was too much for Andy Murray‘s defense to contain.

As for Muzz, I completely agree with him that no one was going to beat Nole last night but I feel like he came to that conclusion after the first set. I wish it were after the match. But what can you do? After coming up short in 3 finals, he has no choice but to learn from them and improve for next time. Yes, next time. He’s too good and too talented to not be in more finals.

Until next time, Melbourne!

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