French Open

[sunshine]

I won't be able to post much in next couple of weeks but should be ready for French Open which starts around then. As i write the one and only Maria Sharapova is playing in a clay court tournament. I believe if she wins she will rise to number one in the rankings.

As for her prospects at the French a few things. because of her game, best suited for grass, clay is her worst surface. That said she could still be a factor. Although if the courts slow down with rain it makes it even tougher on her.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Does anyone know if Maria won on the clay or not? I've been out of the country in Boston all week.

 

[Don Wassall]

Does anyone know if Maria won on the clay or not? I've been out of the country in Boston all week.

That's a good one, Col. Reb! I've known Southerners who feel the same way. How was it in Boston?

 

[Colonel_Reb]

It was ok. There was plenty of historical stuff that made it interesting for me. Toured Paul Revere's house and other places like it. Walked through the communist-leftist Harvard yard and saw plenty of pics of the fat one himself, Ted (The Chappaquiddick Drunkard) Kennedy. Overall it was fun, and I did some informal research while I was there on the issue of racial attitudes. I found that plenty of yankees are just as "intolerant" on some racial issues as southerners are proclaimed to be.

 

[Bart]

Col. Reb, she was defeated in the semi's by a lass named Schnyder.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Thanks for the info Bart. I'll have to look up Schnyder, cause I've never heard of her.

 

[Don Wassall]

Federer is going for the career Grand Slam. A lot of great men's players have never won the French Openbecause it is played ona much slower clay surface than the other three majors.


On the women's side, injury prone Serena Williams withdrew, while Venus is seeded 11th. I'd like to see Maria or one of the Belgians win it.

 

[Quiet Speed]

I'm looking forward to a potential show down between Roger and young Rafael Nadal. Nadal is proving he is the real deal (on clay).


I can only imagine how tough it is to play best of five sets on the slow red clay, especially through the entire tournament. Makes you appreciate the great Bjorn Borg who won six French Open titles.


Because of the low seedings of the Belgians and Venus there will be crucial matches early on the women's side. I believe Davenport and Clijsters can match up pretty early on. Maria and Hardenne could meet fairly soon, also.

 

[sunshine]

Queen Maria was wearing an interesting outfit in her opening round. She struggled but pervailed. About her outfit. Kind of a retro-modern look. The frilly skirt was sort of long and it reminded me of a tennis outfit from way back. Yet the whole thing looked modern. I am no fashion critic but damn it looked classy. Thats the word. Gonna be tough for her to win on clay in Parisbut if she does-----getting ahead of myself--she will be the BIGGEST athlete in the world, male or female. She might be already.

But I have a tendency to get ahead of myself. I believe her ads are in rotation on TV but just saw a snippet. I love this gal.

 

[right winger]

Queen Maria was wearing an interesting outfit in her opening round. She struggled but pervailed. About her outfit. Kind of a retro-modern look. The frilly skirt was sort of long and it reminded me of a tennis outfit from way back. Yet the whole thing looked modern. I am no fashion critic but damn it looked classy. Thats the word. Gonna be tough for her to win on clay in Paris but if she does-----getting ahead of myself--she will be the BIGGEST athlete in the world, male or female. She might be already. But I have a tendency to get ahead of myself. I believe her ads are in rotation on TV but just saw a snippet. I love this gal.

Take your place in line buddy!

 

[Kaptain]

New rule: Any talk of Maria must include photo.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Good one Kaptain Poop. She looks like the Stacy Keibler of the court.

 

[sunshine]

Nice Maria photo. Oddly ESPN has cut down on their French Open coverage. Usually they start showing matches at 8.00 am ET. Now the early stuff is relegated to ESPN Classic a digital/pay station that I can't afford. Nice job ESPN. They start showing matches at 10 am. But they have cut down from last year. Guess they need more slots for poker. IEshow white people play sports where they don't have to move an inch.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Good point sunshine. The poker stuff anoys the mess out of me. What kind of sport is that? I'll tell you. it isn't.

 

[right winger]

Venus Williams was pretty much crushed by a 15-year-old Bulgarian in the third round. She had just 9 winners and 52 unforced errors. Venus hasn't won a major since 2001 and may never win another one.

 

[right winger]

And even though I posted about Venus Williams, I like the new rule. Heeeerrree's Maria!

 

[sunshine]

Watched Maria get pasted this morning by Henin-Hardene. A bad case of one player at home on clay and another struggling to move around on it. Maria will defend her Wimbledon title in a few weeks. She is MUCH more comfortable on grass, her favorite surface. If JHH plays like that rest of tourney she should win. Like to see that given the remaining players.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Who all is left on the women's side sunshine?

 

[sunshine]

Semifinalists include old timer Mary Pierce, another older Russian Elena Likhoustseva--who beat a 15 year old Bulgarian speedster in the quarters. Also relatively young Nadia Petrova--I believe one or both of her parents were track athletes and finally Justine Henin-Hardenne. Hardenne is the quickest player of the four.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

I think Henin-Hardenne has a good chance to win it all, but I don't know enough about the players or the sport to be making predictions, so I'll stop.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

I just saw that Henin-Hardenne and Pierce will be in the finals.

 

[sunshine]

Justine Henin -Hardenne just won her second French Open and fourth career grand slam in convincing fashion over Mary Pierce. A terrific athlete with great agility and quickness, her victory is great news here at Caste

. Now off to the big one . Wimbledon!!

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Yep, I wish I could take all the credit for picking Justine as the winner, but I must chalk it up to beginners luck.

 

[Quiet Speed]

Roger Federer is going for four majors in a row at the 2006 French Open, not too shabby. Donald Budge holds the record with six consecutive majors. IIRC, he and Rod Laver are the only two to have won a Grand Slam, with Rocket Rod having done it twice.

I'm pulling for Roger. With Roger's nemesis the king of clay Rafael Nadal lurking it is going to be tough. They played a 5 hr. plus match not long ago. Nadal survived two match points.

It would be nice if Roger could keep his string alive all the way to the US Open. It would be an electric situation with Roger going for the Grand Slam and Budge's record.

 

[white lightning]

I would love to see Roger keep his Grand Slam Titles alive as well.I'm really frustrated with Roddick.He looked like he could be special but just hasn't acheived much.Maybe he can slowly turn it around this year.He still has to be around 24/25 I'm guessing.He should have a few good years left.Roger is the best that I have ever watched.He will break Pete Samprass Career Record someday.