Bruce,
I'm a big tennis fan, although given the option between playing tennis and watching it, I always opt to play. Many of our friends take the drive each year down to Indian Wells to watch the Open and it really is first class. Some day within the next few years we'll be in the caravan as well.
I thought the Davis Cup match was amazing, as Lubicic by himself beat our best singles players and then, even though his doubles game is somewhat clumsy looking, he managed to cancel out the Bryan brothers. US Davis Cup team of 4 top guys, routed by one guy. In the first round, and on our turf. What a shocker.
As for Lindsay, the amazing thing is she's still playing at all; she's actually mentally a lot tougher than she was 3 years ago, but I agree she's on her way out. Of more interest is how the Williams girls have lost interest in tennis. When you compare their discipline and attitude toward the game (translation: yeah, it's okay, but I can take or leave it, you know) with Andre's (translation: every day I play is a gift, and I will make the most of it until I have to leave), it really is a little sad. I thought they might dominate longer but there seems to be little fire in the belly for the important stuff (like training). A string of injuries, at their age, simply indicates an unwillingness to get into the gym in the first place. Injuries in tennis can be prevented in about 99% of the cases; the rest surgery and rest can take care of. This is not tackle football or basketball, your opponent is many yards away and the missile is a felt covered rubber ball they are trying 99% of the time to hit away from you.
Chinese women will, apparently, be making a big splash in tennis in the next decade or so. Stay tuned.
Justine Henin Hardenne? Hmm. She does have that basic character issue from one of the matches where she played innocent and took an important point that didn't belong to her. There was another issue with her but I can't remember the details, I think it was in a Clijsters match. Action is character, and her character falls short.
Kb |
