Forty Deuce

Pic This: Smile Like You Mean It

I forgot to give a shout out to Nads and Bethanie winning the dubs in Charleston. 
And, well, this picture just needed to be posted. 

It just looks like the most fun lesbian wedding ever.

Of Poles and Russians.

 
What a day in Ponte Vedra.  Huge win for CanWoz and a gutsy "how'd she do that" win for Boots. 

CanWoz regrouped after losing a 4-1 lead in the second set to take the match 64 46 62.  Per Nads, I've never seen anybody paint more lines than she did today."  Good job, CanWoz!  I can't wait to see what Adidas leftovers you'll wear on the court tomorrow.

As for Boots, WTF?  Happy for you but good lord, Vezzy.  That was a pretty epic display of refusing to win a match. I mean, all credit for Boots for being courageous and staying calm (she had problems dealing with the heat all through the match), but Elena!  You had four match points and couldn't convert.  You served for the set at 5-2 in the second and still lost the set.  You had match points with two break points at 6-5 in the third and couldn't convert.  And then you cried.  You cried going into the tiebreak.  And then you lost.

Oh, Russians.  It's almost comical at this point. 

Noah's Bagels Called. They'd Like To Work Out a Deal.

Please, Bepa, don't hurt 'em.  Double bagel in your second round match?  That's a statement.  Hopefully JJ's paying attention.

Caro and Nads are also through easily.  Caro took out Ruano Pascal, 3 and 3, and Nads ousted Sania (sad face), 3 and 2.  Doesn't look like she's suffering any ill effects of the viral menge.  Good for her.

 

The Cone also through easily, dishing out a baguette and bagel to Petkovic.  And Dani had to fight a bit, but finally took it in three over the weird serving Johansson, 63 46 63. 

It's so amazing with Dani how obviously mental her game is.  Good memories bring good results for her.  How can you explain her two wins at Indian Wells and now, at the tourney where she reached the semis, she's actually progressing through her draw.  This from a woman who we're used to seeing lose before the third round at Tier II tournaments.  Good for her.  Hopefully this is a signal of things to come for her season.

Headlights Are For Cars

Flashes of brilliance in a sea of poo.  That's the only way to describe the 2+ hour match between Dani and Fosters Dellaqua.  It was a battle of nerves as both ladies were broken over and over again.  Fosters had every right to win this match, but she just couldn't shut the door on Dani.  The key was the first set tiebreak, which Dani eventually won 13-11.  She would go on to win the match 76(11) 64.

On the fashion front, I love the blue on Dani.  Also love that she's left her ponytail loose instead of that uptight braid she was rocking last year (it made her look like an insane control freak for some reason).  But please, Dani, invest in some Low Beams.  It's so damn awkward watching you play sometimes.

Nice win for Chakky over AKO, but my heart goes out to Anne.  Tough draw for her.  She played well in Auckland and deserved to make it to the second round here.  But she showed a lot of heart coming back from a set down.  Unfortunately, in today's heat, she just ran out of gas. 

One thing that stood out to me watching today's matches was the gulf in fitness levels between the top players and the second tier players.  It's mindboggling to me to see players completely tank in second and third sets because their fitness prevents them from dealing with the conditions.  I totally agree with Brad Gilbert (reluctantly) that it's inexcusable.  This is the first Slam of the year and you've had two months to get into proper shape. 

And yes, Strawberry-Lemonade Nads is still in the mix.  There's just so much unnecessary color going on in that shot.

Ellesse Fail.

I guess Nads signed a deal with Ellesse.  In return, Ellesse made her look like a piece of Cherry Lemonade Hubba Bubba:

And if that wasn't humiliating enough, Nads was busted by Alize today, 62 64.  But at least she's recovered from her viral meningitis and is back on the court.

Get Well, Nads

Poor Nadster.  She's contracted viral meninghitis during the off-season which has forced her out of Auckland and questionable for the AO. 

There's Gonna Be A Lot Of Leftover Guac To Eat.

Pics from the Pajama Party/End of the Year Player Party. 
 

Where is everybody?  Oh, hail no.  First Lady Dinara went through a lot of effort to put this party together and not even Lena or JJ show up?  Y'all made a big mistake.  Dinara's so gonna pull a Kelly Kapoor on you next year. 

Watch your backs.

Trophy Hoister Sunday: Jo and Nads

Congrats to Nads for winning Quebec City.   She beat Bethanie Mattek 46 64 61 to capture her second title of the year.  But Nads' year isn't over quite yet.  She has to hop on a plane to Doha to join the Pajama Party.

And of course, congrats again to Jo, who won his first ATP Masters title by defeating a very hot Headbandian, 63 46 64.  He was rewarded with a bunch of twisted metal and Flower Hat Butterfly Models.  Luckily, they also gave him a Masters Shield:

More pics from Jo's win.  It was just so great to see how emotional he was.  I think we do get a little jaded with the Roger, Rafa, Muzzah, Nole wins because the players are so used to it.  It's no big deal to them really.  But the absolute joy and appreciation on Jo's face and the faces of his family spoke volumes. 

Nads Refuses To Let A Party Go On Without Her

It ain't a party unless Nads is there acting inappropriately (come on, you know the girl parties).  With her win over Angela Haynes today in Quebec City, Nads has secured the #2 alternate spot for Doha, bumping Flava Flav to #3.

The Pajama Party just got a whole lot drunker.

UPDATED -- Pic This: "High on a hill was a lonely goatherd, lay odl lay odl lay hee hoo"

UPDATED: More from the Linz Player Party

Tammy and Tamira (apparently Tamira has decided to embrace her Austrian citizenship.  At least for today.)

Agnes and Nads (EEK!)

Mono (apparently dressed as the sacraficial virgin)

Agi (anyone get the sense that Agi's got some anger issues to work out?)

Ana and Tamira (aww...no hard feelings)

(Updated pics courtesy of itzhak at TennisForum)

UPDATED: Kuz Soars, JJ Comes Back To Earth.

[For some reason Typepad is not letting me post my picture of JJ, which is amazing and deserves much commentary.  But I want to get this post up, so I'll update it as soon as Typepad stops giving me the finger.]

 

(5) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. (1) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 26 75 75
(Q) Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) d. (3) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 63 64
(4) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. (Q) Kaia Kanepi (EST) 64 67(5) 62
Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (6) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 63 60

Did anyone expect these results?  I mean, sure, Dinara won as expected, but she was taken to three sets.  JJ lost to the struggling Kuz in three sets, Giant Killer Srebotnik continued to frustrate the top players by taking out Lena, Agi was bageled by Nads.  BAGELED BY NADS.  Think about that.

And JJ.  Oh, JJ.  This is what I don't understand.  You make a fantastic and rather miraculous run to the final of the US Open.  I would think you'd apply the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," strategy, the corollary of which is currently being applied by your compatriot. 

SO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY SHE'S (1) NOT WEARING GLITTER, (2) NOT WEARING FOUR POUNDS OF MAKEUP, AND (3) NOT WEARING NAIL POLISH?!?!!  Idiot!  P.S. -- Is it just me or does JJ look REALLY different when she isn't all made up. 

 

How big is this win for Kuzzie?  I don't think she's beaten a top player since Masha at Indian Wells.  Good for her.  Is this tournament hers to win?  Srebotnik never puts two back to back giant killing performances together.  Then again, Kuz has the ability to lose for no apparent reason.  As for Dinara and Nads, something tells me Baby Beluga is still recovering from her year.  Then again, you have to think Nads can't keep this up.  Right?  RIGHT?

Bali Fashion Show Pics: Who's the Drag Queen in Green?

Shuai Peng (nice!)

Nadia Petrova (why?!?)

Anastasia Rodionova (ah, the classic "looky loo")

SuperGirl Dani (constipated?)

Seriously, Dani is gorgeous, but she needs to learn how to work what she's got.  Walking like your arms are taped to your side is not sexy.  It's awkward just looking at her.

"Candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup."

Juan Martin del Potro, or "Little Crazy Elf" as the kids over at TennisWorld like to call him, is quietly tearing through the depleted hard court fields.  He's on a 19-match winning streak and this is his fourth straight title, backing up the title he won over Andy Roddick last week in LA. 

And as for Andy Roddick's huge "I need to stay home and prepare for the US Open" gamble?  Not looking great.  He lost in the quarters of DC to #3 Serb Viktor Troicki.  Great win for Troicki but seriously, what is up with Andy?  This can't help his confidence.  He's admitting that he's not serving or hitting his forehand well.  Hmmm....might want to fix that before you get to NYC.  Things are definitely not looking good for him, especially considering the form of the top players who did participate in Beijing.

As for the Ladies this week, short Russian on the totem pole Nadia Petrova continued the run of Russian dominance on Sunday at won both the singles title and the doubles title in Cincy.  Nadia beat another Russian, Maria Kirilenko in the semis, and then outclassed the classy Natalie Dechy in the final.  Congrats, Nadia.