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Post by coolgirl on Aug 14, 2008 6:49:54 GMT 3
;D   |
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Post by ignacita on Aug 14, 2008 14:18:30 GMT 3
why he was jumping??
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Post by jenhatter06 on Aug 14, 2008 16:20:04 GMT 3
after a 3 1/2 hour rain delay to start the day ... James Blake beats Fed 64 76  to become the first semifinalist !! |
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Post by jenhatter06 on Aug 14, 2008 18:04:24 GMT 3
upset city tonight ...
Fed lost, Serena lost, and Venus and Novak are both down a set as they play into the night ...
dun dun dun ...
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Post by Alya10 on Aug 14, 2008 19:56:59 GMT 3
upset city tonight ... Fed lost, Serena lost, and Venus and Novak are both down a set as they play into the night ... dun dun dun ... Venus also lost and Novak managed to scrape back from a set down to win 4-6;6-1;6-4. Dinara vs J. Jankovic seems to be the only match left but it's 01h00 in Beijing, I don't suppose they'll play today?... |
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Post by ignacita on Aug 14, 2008 20:58:49 GMT 3
After 4 years, González is in semis again !!! ;D
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Post by justsafin on Aug 14, 2008 21:04:39 GMT 3
Fed lost again..... Blake finally outplayed him. I heard TV news reported Fed kinda made comments about Olympics tennis scheduling. Players have to play 6 matches in 4 days and if you also participate doubles, you have to play 11 matches in a week.......something like that.... He must be very tired and frustrated.  Good luck, Roger! |
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Post by ignacita on Aug 14, 2008 21:22:42 GMT 3
Im a huge fan of Roger, but come on!! if González and Massú could deal with singles and doubles during last olympics and won medals, there is no excuse for Roger. He is just going through bad times.  |
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Post by annie on Aug 15, 2008 4:40:40 GMT 3
I agree with Ignacita. Although I also feel bad for Rog. I'm sure the losses has affected him mentally
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Post by jenhatter06 on Aug 15, 2008 5:03:58 GMT 3
Dinara & Jelena gets pushed over to Friday (Dinara is also still a part of the doubles) ... plus the blockbuster men's semi of Rafa-Novak  .... go figure that Gonzo has a chance to repeat medal ;D Center Court - 4pm start 1 Mens Singles - Semifinals - (8) BLAKE James (USA) vs (12) GONZALEZ Fernando (CHI) 2 Womens Singles - Quarterfinals - (6) SAFINA Dinara (RUS) vs (2) JANKOVIC Jelena (SRB) 3 Mens Singles – Semifinals - (3) DJOKOVIC Novak (SRB) vs (2) NADAL Rafael (ESP) 4 Womens Doubles - Quarterfinals - (1) KUZNETSOVA/SAFINA (RUS) vs (8) YAN/ZHENG (CHN) Court 1 - 4pm start 1 Womens Doubles - Second Round - MORITA/SUGIYAMA (JPN) vs (2) WILLIAMS/WILLIAMS (USA) 2 Mens Doubles - Semifinals - CLEMENT/LLODRA (FRA) vs ASPELIN/JOHANSSON (SWE) 3 Mens Doubles - Semifinals - (1) BRYAN/BRYAN (USA) vs winner of FEDERER/WAWRINKA (SUI) vs BHUPATHI/PAES (IND) Court 2 - 4pm start 1 Mens Doubles – Quarterfinals - (4) FEDERER/WAWRINKA (SUI) vs (7) BHUPATHI/PAES (IND) 2 Women Doubles - Quarterfinal - BONDARENKO/BONDARENKO (UKR) vs PENNETTA/SCHIAVONE (ITA) 3 Womens Doubles – Quarterfinals - (4) MEDINA/RUANO (ESP) vs (5) DAVENPORT/HUBER (USA) 3 Women Doubles – Quarterfinal - VESNINA/ZVONAREVA vs winner of MORITA/SUGIYAMA vs WILLIAMS/WILLIAMS |
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Post by justsafin on Aug 15, 2008 8:55:14 GMT 3
Roger Federer Interview - Olympics, Aug 14
Posted on August 14, 2008
XXIX OLYMPIC GAMES
August 14, 2008
Roger Federer
BEIJING, CHINA
J. BLAKE/R. Federer
6-4, 7-6
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Talk about the singles match and then just about the craziness that we're still here at 1:40 in the morning.
ROGER FEDERER: Well, big disappointment obviously. You know, it was one of the goals of the season for me to do well here. So obviously the quarterfinals is not going to do it for me.
I think James played well. I can only, you know, really say how well he played. I mean, he went full out and hit everything he needed I thought tonight. And I've played him on many occasions, but I think this was the best I've seen him. I'm happy for him. He's a good guy. I hope he can go all the way now.
Q. Did you feel like your forehand in particular let you down tonight? How would you assess your game?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, maybe an occasional shots here and there. It was okay. I mean, James plays very aggressive. We know that. So you only get a handful of chances sometimes to attack.
But I didn't serve my best today. But conditions were quick. James was keeping me on the back foot. So it made it hard.
Probably maybe wasn't my best night out there, but it wasn't bad. It's a tough loss.
Q. You're very dignified in defeat, as always. I know it's not a bad year. By your own high standards, is there something wrong? Is there a problem in your game, in your approach, anything that needs addressing?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, lack of practice. I haven't had time to practice whatsoever since February. I mean, I can maybe blame myself for not, you know, taking time off, maybe skipping Toronto, Cincinnati. But that's all the preparation I need to get ready for the hard court is the Olympic Games, so I never really got an opportunity to get that practice in.
I think that's maybe what I feel most this year. You know, just losing too many matches, which I maybe should have won - maybe Wimbledon, maybe some other matches, as well, now in North America.
But, you know, it's been okay this year. But I agree, I'm not happy with this tournament. You know, I wish I could have done much more. But I've still got to look forward. I look forward to the US Open. I still have really this and then the Masters Cup in Shanghai to really do well now. Try to save my season.
You know, but this obviously is a big blow because I expected more. But at the same time I know the danger of best-of-three set matches. They're over in a hurry. You could feel that today. You know, I was down 6-4, 3-Love in no time. I guess that's a danger in these kind of competitions.
Q. You're starting to lose against guys you always won against, like Karlovic and Blake. Do you feel something in your confidence now when you go onto the court?
ROGER FEDERER: Sure. When you lose maybe five matches a year, I mean, it's a different type of, you know, confidence you have.
But at the same time I think it's always been difficult to beat all these guys. You know, I've beaten Karlovic in the past 7-6 in the third, but nobody knows where that was and when it was, you know. But today I can't hide under the radar any more. You know, No. 1's in the world, when they lose, it's always in the headlines. That's maybe why it also looks a little more extreme.
But I've had tough matches against many of the players. Even though my records might be 5-0, 10-0, whatever it is. It's just not so easy to keep it up all the time. Eventually sometimes they get you, like Andy got me this year or James got me this year, and Fernando at the end of last year. These guys all play good tennis. So when it all doesn't comes together, and maybe I just don't play my very, very best, it's obviously not enough.
Q. At some point does it become difficult for you guys to be playing at such an hour or is this just something you're used to?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, we're not used to practicing at 2 in the morning. But it happens, you know. We, the players, have to be ready for those things. I mean, we're used to waiting, you know, and going to the next day, coming back the next day, maybe it's raining the next day, coming back the next day again. It's obviously not the ideal preparation much, but at the same time it's the same for both.
I mean, I don't think it really comes down to who handles it better. It's just a matter of coming out there and trying to do well. Sometimes, you know, you come out there and you play incredible tennis, and sometimes you're just maybe not as good, you know. And sometimes that has -- maybe the weather had an effect, sometimes not.
But I think we try our best, you know. That's all you can do really. But I don't know, I mentioned it I think yesterday, I think it's why we're still here, it's also brutal because we're playing this tournament in one week. It really doesn't make it a whole lot easier to us as players. That's why they almost have to keep us here. We're almost happy to finish tonight in case we win so we don't have to play again tomorrow, so we don't have to double up. I think that's a bit of a shame. But I don't have that problem any more, so I don't care (smiling).
End of FastScripts
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Post by ignacita on Aug 15, 2008 14:13:13 GMT 3
Vamos González!!!!! You already have the silver medal in your pocket !!! ;D ;D ;D
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Post by sabz on Aug 15, 2008 16:49:14 GMT 3
Hmm, dont mean to cause drama, but I never liked Gonzo and this makes me like him even less  Blake angry at Gonzo after loss
James Blake launched a withering verbal volley at Fernando Gonzalez, accusing him of acting against the spirit of the Olympics after losing to the Chilean in an acrimonious men's singles quarter-final.
The 28-year-old American was convinced Gonzalez, a doubles gold medallist in Athens, had robbed him of a point with unsporting behaviour near the end of a gripping contest that lasted nearly three hours.
With Blake leading 9-8 in the decider he hit a fierce forehand towards Gonzalez (pictured) at the net. The ball landed out but Blake was convinced it touched his opponent's racket.
Eighth seed Blake, who could still end up with a bronze medal, had a lengthy debate with Brazilian chair umpire Carlos Bernardes who awarded the point to Gonzalez.
"Playing in the Olympics, in what's supposed to be considered a gentleman's sport, that's a time to call it on yourself," Blake, who lost 4-6 7-5 11-9 after holding three match points, said.
"Fernando looked me square in the eye and didn't call it. If it had happened the other way, I never would have finished the match because my father would have pulled me off the court.
"We know when it touches us. And he knew that. So that's where it comes into calling it on yourself. Should I expect him to do that? Maybe not.
"It's a disappointing way to exit the tournament when you not only lose the match, but you lose a little faith in your fellow competitor."
Gonzalez played down the incident later saying he had been so tired that he was unaware whether the ball had touched his racket or not, although television replays suggested that Blake had a legitimate gripe.  On lighter news, Roger is through to the semis in the doubles  so he could still get a medal! And on even better news - Dinara beat Jelena 6-2 5-7 6-3 !!!! ;D Her run of good form continues!!! YAY!!! |
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Post by jenhatter06 on Aug 15, 2008 17:36:43 GMT 3
We've had the tourney Upset Day, now it's time for Marathon Day - which it's been thus far: Gonzo d Blake 46 75 11-9 (almost 3 hrs) Dinara d Jankovic 62 57 63 Aspelin-Knowle d Clement-Llodra 76 46 19-17 (4 hours, 45 mintues) Ladies' Singles Semis: Zvonareva v Dementieva, Li v Safina -- I feel a Russian Medal Sweep coming ;D And I figured those long matches would give way to the two blockbusters -- Rafa v Novak and Bob-Mike v Fed-Stan - being played at the same time !! grrr .... which one do I want to watch more??  |
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Post by ignacita on Aug 15, 2008 17:58:09 GMT 3
I completely agree with you Sabz, that's not fare for Blake, but i do not believe that Blake would have done something different if it were the case, or anyone. No one just gives the point in such important set. I mean, they were playing for reach the possibility of a golden medal!! I would have done exactly the same thing that Gonzalez. And, I insist, it would not surprise me that other player had done the same ( not even Roger) (sorry for my English) And, good for Dinara !  |
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to become the first semifinalist !!
Good luck, Roger!
.... go figure that Gonzo has a chance to repeat medal ;D
so he could still get a medal!