June 29, 2001 - Roddick did not invent the fire!
This year Andy Roddick's game, mainly his serve has got everyone in awe, wondering how he can hit it so hard, how his power is matched by no one and that he is the future of the game. A rejuvenated Goran Ivanisevic who's been on the tour since the late 80's reminded the tennis world that power tennis has been around for a very long time, it may be flashier, louder and faster, but sheer power has been produced by many great players prior to Andy, have we all forgotten Mr. Becker?
The match has also proved that Andy Roddick is a one trick pony, a big serving monster who throws his arsenal out with his eyes and brains closed. He does not know how to manage, control and direct his power, but certainly knows how to turn it on full blast. Will he ever learn to "play" tennis, perhaps, if he's willing to grind points out and use his cannon at the right moment.
He's reached the top 30 in a hurry, now the top 20, top 10 will demand more than what he's showing, to constantly beat the better players in the game day in day out will need maturity, not to mention physical and mental fitness. Does he have what it takes? Pat McEnroe is betting his Davis Cup captaincy that he does, and yes against India he will shine, but 2nd week of grand slams will remain out of his reach until he makes some adjustments.
Wimbledon Day 5 rambling!
It seems every grand slam is Patrick Rafter's last, I wish he would make up his mind and say yes or no, instead of this wishy-washy Australian "maybe Mate" stuff. He's the Natalie Tauziat of the men's tour, enough already and quit like a real Aussie!
Why does Sargis Sargissian always look like he's stranded on a deserted island? The razor that could probably shave that guy's face has not yet been invented.
June 28, 2001 - It's not true!
I received an anonymous e-mail from someone pointing out that the only time Zina Garrison works a match for TNT is when the Williams sisters are playing, I thought it funny and decided to investigate the manner - No, she also comments on matches played by Caucasians (Lindsay Davenport vs. Alicia Molik) and she's just as annoying in both cases!
Finally the rain showed up and played a major part in a very exciting match. Would Taylor Dent have beaten Lleyton Hewitt if the contest was not halted? we'll never know, but it always seems that the better player always finds a way to win after a rain delay. It's like the Gods intervening after their plan went off track, they send a little robot in to fix the proceedings, time travel of the Gods was at play at Wimbledon on day 4.
I was impressed by Taylor Dent, if he learns more patience, increases his margin of error on the groundstrokes and still maintain his attacking game, he will be top 10 player before it is all said and done. At least he did not claim injury like Andy Roddick did while playing Lleyton Hewitt at the French!
I'm still waiting for the day when a player blows off the King, Queen, Princess or whatever they called the "superior" people over there - not by accident but deliberately!
June 27, 2001 - The Brits are beyond desperate!
When you can only get hope and satisfaction if one of your players get close to winning a match, then you know you've gone beyond the point of n return.
Yes Barry Cowan played well, but it was only because of Pete's approach to the game, he's not putting pressure on his opponents, he's waiting for them to self destruct and opportunities to pop up, if neither happens, then a tough match will surface, since it's Wimbledon, Pete will find a way to pull through, until he loses, we should not predict his demise.
Sooner or later I'm going to have to admit that Andy Roddick is for real, he's still in the tournament and he next faces none other than Goran Ivanisevic in the 3rd round.
Americans listen up, it's not WimbleTOn it's WimbleDon!
Corina Morariu announced that she's now in remission - great news, I hope she makes a 100% recovery. She was interviewed on TNT, Capriati dedicated her French title to her, and Lindsay davenport is keeping her plight alive in all her interviews and wearing a big C on her blouse, would she have gotten the same attention if she was not good friends with the top players?
June 26, 2001 - Lindsay was amBUSHED!
While watching Wimbledon on TNT and listening to Mary Carrillo and Martina Navratilova calling the Lindsay Davenport match, Mary Carrillo revealed that she was once at Billie Jean King's house along with Martina Navratilova, & witnessed how Ms. King and Martina kept telling and trying to convince Lindsay Davenport that she was a jock, "you're a jock they kept telling her". Lindsay would not listen, she would not believe them, but they insisted and kept telling her that you can play hard, you can rush the net, you can win (Wimbledon), "you're a jock".
Did Lindsay take their advice and agreed and accepted their analysis that she was a "Jock"? She did after all win on the grass and might do it again this year, with the inspiration of her sick friend and even perhaps her "Jockiness"
And now some post 2nd day Wimbledon rambling.
Russia is supposed to be down and out, they're supposed to be broke, the big sports machine of the mighty Soviet Union is no longer, the modern tennis machine that started with Andrei Chesnakov is no more, but wait, they are producing more players, more quality to 50 players in both the women and the men side then US- Amerika - How can that be? For the answer, please call the USTA, and the thousands of academies filled with foreign players at the top of their class. The latest Russian sensation is 19 year old Mikhail Youzhny who's now in the second round.
Andy Roddick is wearing hiking shorts on the court, complete with leg side pockets to carry his Swiss Army knife.
Taylor Dent vs. Lleyton Hewitt will be a very interesting and compelling match up, it will tell what Dent is made of.
Watch out for Max Mirnyi
June 25, 2001 - Wimbledon 1st day
Who would have "Thunk" it? Martina Hingis out in the first round, if I'd known, I would have placed a thousand pounds for clay court specialist Virginia Ruano Pascual to upset the number one seed in the first round, at 100-1, I could have been a millionaire.
Allison Bradshaw is only a rookie and already she's looking like Natalie Tauziat, fat, slow and out of shape, she gave Ellena Dememtieva a scare but lost 6-3 in the 3rd. If Allison was carrying 10 les pounds, she would have won the match.
Did Pete Sampras look good in his match against Francisco Clavet? It's hard to tell, he played his normal, "one break and the set is over" type of match, no sweat, no stress, I'm still Pete on grass!
Thomas Johanson vs. Andy Roddick, I say Johanson wins, I will continue to go against Roddick until I'm right!
Chris Woodruff beat Jan-Michael Gambill, I'm not surprised, if only Jan-Michael's game was as good as his model attributes, but instead his two-handed deliveries look like they belong on a cricket contest.
What is going on here, Bob Bryan is in the second round of Wimbledon - I hope he wins a couple more matches, that would help him reach the journeyman career that he showed signs of several years ago.
(c) 1stserve