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Post by davis on Mar 12, 2008 10:25:23 GMT 3
Tssk Davis! The Big Yin put out Andy in convincing form in their last meeting! Give the boy some positive vibes.  *Ahem* Andy was sick last time they played against each other... I am bringing positive vibes, Mary, I actually like Andy a lot, LOL ;D He's one of my favorites for the title, I just see him as the much stronger player. Vibes is one thing, realism another... That said, Mr. Safin can feel free to surprise me anytime  |
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Post by maryb on Mar 12, 2008 11:01:40 GMT 3
LOL. Andy is always unwell! He had a dodgy tummy ... probably had a curry the night before , as usual. ;D The Big Yin's now the better net player though  - and that's a tactic he needs to employ to beat Andy ... who'll be hanging around the baseline batting the ball back waiting for him to make a mistake (as Maestro says ...) ;D Hope this match is on on Saturday night (GMT) ... |
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Post by Alya10 on Mar 12, 2008 12:24:01 GMT 3
Actually I'm looking forward to saying 'bye, bye Andy' this time... twice ;D Anyway, the realism thing just reminded me of when I was a kid. My mom always had a way of crushing my expectations about things I wanted badly and then she called it realism RFLMAO. Never understood what was good about loosing belief before time, it just made me feel bad longer. Take care girls |
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Post by Happiness on Mar 12, 2008 12:24:24 GMT 3
Not the best draw in the world, but a manageable one I guess!!!  After all we're talking about Mr. Marat Safin, so EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!! ;D |
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Post by Happiness on Mar 12, 2008 12:26:00 GMT 3
Thanks Alex for all the Live streams!!! Anxious to finally see some live tennis!!!  LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!! ;D |
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Post by Happiness on Mar 12, 2008 12:28:01 GMT 3
Actually I'm looking forward to saying 'bye, bye Andy' this time... twice ;D Anyway, the realism thing just reminded me of when I was a kid. My mom always had a way of crushing my expectations about things I wanted badly and then she called it realism RFLMAO. Never understood what was good about loosing belief before time, it just made me feel bad longer. Take care girls Hi honey It must be a mum thing I guess!!! Mine is exactly the same!!! You know me well enough to know I'll always be believing until the end, even if I know I can't do it, at least I tried it!!!  |
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Post by Annie on Mar 12, 2008 12:33:27 GMT 3
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Post by Happiness on Mar 12, 2008 12:41:57 GMT 3
Here's the Head to Head between Maratik and Melzer!!! C'mon Marat level things up please!!!  |
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Post by happy on Mar 12, 2008 17:13:02 GMT 3
When ( at what time) will the match begin???
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Post by Alya10 on Mar 12, 2008 17:35:48 GMT 3
No order of play out yet. Probably later tonight only.
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Post by Mrs. Fabregas on Mar 12, 2008 21:53:28 GMT 3
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Post by maryb on Mar 13, 2008 0:20:33 GMT 3
A left-hander, hmm? The serve will be disguised then. Main thing is a steady return of serve - don't do anything daft on that return Big Yin, just get the ball back in play. Recall how you beat him first time round. (Never heard of the guy ...) Would some net play be involved? (I need to see you do your stuff as the net expert these days ...) Signed Fairy Godmother ... in expectation of a second round meeting with Andy - that I will get to see on SKY PS Frensje, go stand in a corner for that behaviour. You have joined the 'muppet club' with me. And the Big Yin (for the mountain trip). ;D Exclusive membership. ;D |
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Post by Mrs. Fabregas on Mar 13, 2008 0:30:14 GMT 3
PS Frensje, go stand in a corner for that behaviour. You have joined the 'muppet club' with me. And the Big Yin (for the mountain trip). ;D Exclusive membership. ;D Oooooooh, it's going to be a lot of fun in that corner then  Do i get to sit/stand or lay on my naughty step then too  and  for let me enter that magnificent exclusive membership, Fairy M ;D ... I'll be a proud member |
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Post by maryb on Mar 13, 2008 0:34:05 GMT 3
LMAO. I could start charging for membership. All monies go to Oxfam. LMAO.
Who wants to join? And what's yer price? ;D
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Post by davis on Mar 13, 2008 10:38:27 GMT 3
Steve's really cracking me up this time with his predictions (see "Second Quarter") ;D
The Second Opening Day
Posted 03/12/2008 @ 5 :28 PM
With apologies to the continent of Australia, this week marks the true, or at least logical, start of the tennis season. I know the Aussie Open is a Slam, and we love it, but it’s also a glorious false start, a big tournament on a big island cut off from the rest of the schedule.
Now we’ve reached mainland. I don’t say that only because the tour has come to the U.S., and the California desert in particular. I say it because it’s "go time," as the cliché has it—from here on, there’s little rest for the weary, all the way through to the end of the U.S. Open. With that in mind, I’ve written a post for ESPN on five players heading for Indian Wells who are in need of do-overs to begin their 2008 campaigns (it doesn't seem to have been posted yet).
Also with that in mind, here’s the customary bracket analysis of the year’s first Masters tournament. It’s fully loaded on the men’s side, but has its share of WTA absentees—Henin and the Williamses most prominent among them. We’ll just start without them.
The Men
First Quarter
Competition is sparse for Roger Federer in the top half here, which may be just what he needs, considering his early exit at IW last year and his shaky recent health. The first seed he might play is No. 25 Nicolas Almagro, who just won a clay-court tournament but is 0-5 against Federer. Still, it could be his toughest early test, considering that the next seed he might face is Tommy Robredo, who is 0-8 against Federer.
Andy Murray and Andy Roddick are the top seeds on the bottom side. Of the two, Murray has a slightly harder road, with Marat Safin a potential second-round opponent; Roddick may be looking at another showdown with Fernando Verdasco (please God, no). Murray-Roddick would be a fun—they’ve had their battles and have both been in pretty good form. After his Dubai run, I’ll take the American Andy in three in a wild night match. Then he’ll lose to Federer.
Player to watch: Marin Cilic. The big Croatian (are there small Croatian men?) may be embarking on his pre-breakout season (like, say, Djokovic in 2005).
Semifinalist: Federer
Second Quarter
Welcome back to the Nalbandian-Davydenko quarterfinal. How we’ve missed you! In between those two eternal enigmas the heavy hitters are Hewitt, Youzhny, Gonzalez, and Ferrero. But I wouldn’t count out Igor Andreev. The Russian had a weak start to the year, and he never lives up to expectations, but the slow courts and true bounce feed his monster forehand—he made the quarters here in 2006, the best he’s done at a Masters so far.
Giants to watch: Isner and Querrey are stomping around these parts, as is the wild card Mario Ancic, who starts another comeback against Gael Monfils. Potential early match to watch: Nalbandian against the bruising Ernest Gulbis.
Semifinalist: Andreev
Third Quarter
It’s the shotmakers—Djokovic, Kohlschreiber, Baghdatis—versus the pesky grinders—Ferrer, Monaco, Nieminen, Cañas. Djokovic is most likely to succeed, of course. He likes the courts, he wants to catch Nadal in the rankings, and he’s a cut above everyone else in the bottom half. A quarterfinal against Baghdatis or Ferrer would be a test, but one that he’ll pass.
Potential early match to watch: Kohlschreiber vs. Malisse, two guys who know how to hit the ball.
Semifinalist: Djokovic
Fourth Quarter
Who’s left? First we’ve got Rafael Nadal, a man both chasing and being chased in the rankings. He’s got the daunting task of defending points from his title run last year. But it’s safe to say he’s ready for the challenge, and this is the best hard-court anywhere for him. His quarter is not too brutal, either—Gasquet, Tsonga, Blake, and Mathieu are the top guns. Blake has never lost to Nadal, but they wouldn’t play until the quarters; Tsonga toyed with Rafa in Melbourne, but he’s still an unproven commodity as of now. Seeing if he can prove himself may be the most intriguing element of the whole draw.
First-round match not to watch: Spadea vs. Ginepri.
Semifinalist: Nadal
Semifinals: Federer d. Andreev; Djokovic d. Nadal
Final: Djokovic d. Federer
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- and that's a tactic he needs to employ to beat Andy ... who'll be hanging around the baseline batting the ball back waiting for him to make a mistake (as Maestro says ...) ;D
just kidding and teasing 
