OMG, if I see this commercial one more time...
Hey Tennis Channel, you know you don't have to play it every other break.
"A woman's dress... don't ask me how that got in there."
***
Oh and - moments ago Michael lost to Radek Stepanek in Paris, 62 60.
I'd much rather see the contents of the bag that takes care of all that hair!
Here are your 8 combatants for the season-ending championships in Doha.
1. Caroline Wozniacki 2. Serena Williams 3. Vera Zvonareva
4. Kim Clijsters 5. Samantha Stosur
6. Francesca Schiavone 7. Jelena Jankovic 8. Elena Dementieva
Venus & Justine would've qualified but have ended her years owing to injury.
The tournament begins on Oct. 25 and will be aired live on Tennis Channel.
Hopefully without that annoying ticker...
I pay a little extra on my cable bill for a channel they call Tennis. And they aren't showing any tennis. The grass court season got underway yesterday with the men playing in London and in Halle and the women in Birmingham. But you wouldn't know it if you tuned into tennis' very own network.
TC will show the event in London, historically known as Queen's Club starting with the quarterfinals on Friday. But why such shoddy coverage? And it's like this for the 250 events most of the year - little or no coverage. Hell, Queens Club is loaded with top players as it's commonly known as the mini-Wimbledon.
When I first heard that the Tennis Channel was coming I imagined I'd be able to watch non-stop tennis. Wall-to-wall from the smallest of 250's to the Slams. But that doesn't happen. I'm kind of tired of Tennis Destination already.
I mean, I would have loved to have seen Nikolay Davydenko and Nicolas Keifer's wins today in Halle after a long injury layoffs. Or Andy Murray who is about to take the court in London. And I'd love to see Roger Federer play today in his opening match on grass.
Don't get me wrong - I love the Tennis Channel. (I'm guessing I watch it more than any other channel.) It allows me more tennis veiwing than I ever ever ever had before but it's kind of a bummer that today it left me wanting.
4 Jelena Jankovic d Yaroslava Shvedova - 75 64
Between Tennis Channel & ESPN2 I haven't seen Jelena hit a single ball live.
At least I'm guaranteed some Jankovic tomorrow.
She moved into her 3rd Roland Garros semi today and 6th in a Slam (1-4).
And it should get her ranking up to #3 on Monday.
For her part Shvedova will move up nicely from her current #36.
Photo: Getty images
So ESPN2 goes on the air at 9am (I'm in L.A.) with French Open coverage.
In doing so they make Tennis Channel sign off mid-day in Paris.
So what does ESPN2 show us? The Serena match that ended HOURS AGO.
Ok, I get that. But if you're gonna do that then why oh why oh why oh why -
CAN'T THEY JUST LET THE TENNIS CHANNEL KEEP GOING????
There are great matches being played RIGHT NOW.
Yes stupid people at ESPN2 I would like to see Tsonga/De Bakker.
ESPN SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS.
MARTINA IS CANCER FREE!!!
She told Tennis Channel: "I'm doing well. I just started radiation last week."
She is planning to play 'legends doubles' with Jana Novotna at Roland Garros.
Where she will continue her great work commentating for Tennis Channel.
***
Roland Garros is where Martina won her first two Grand Slam titles:
In 1974 she teamed with Ivan Molina to win the mixed doubles.
And in 1975 she and future rival Chris Evert won the ladies doubles.
Martina was a 6-times singles finalist - winning only twice: '82 & '84.
She won 7 ladies doubles titles - 4 with long-time partner Pam Shriver.
In all she won 11 titles at Roland Garros: 2 singles, 7 doubles & 2 mixed.
Photo: Reuters
This struck me as kinda funny.
But good for Victor.
He's playing Andy Murray in the 3rd round as I write this.
Who are these people that get these great seats and then spend the entire match just waiting for every effing opportunity to wave at the camera behind the guy who's serving? I mean, all match long lady? You're not cute - you're just annoying. Go home.
This was happening during the Roddick/Melzer match tonight.
Photo: Tennis Channel - don't sue I did it for the funny.
This gal sounds like all kinds of trouble fun to me.
1. just finished my morning hit with dulko! it was good, but very windy! kim came after on the court! her daugther is so cute.
2. i also did Bag Check after my practise! for Tennis Channel! its gonna be funny when u guys see it :)
You too can follow Victoria on Twitter.
I just got an exciting email from the fine folks who run the Masters Series 1000 in Indian Wells. Former champions Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi will take the court in a doubles match to raise money in a 'Hit for Haiti' exhibition.
It'll be a night match and tickets are still available: HERE.
The event is designed to raise at least a million dollars for the American Red Cross and will feature Roger Federer & Pete Sampras against Andre Agassi & Rafael Nadal.
Lopsided pairing, no? That's 30 Slam singles titles on one side of the net going up against only 14 on the other. More amazingly, it represents a whopping 15 Wimbledon titles - 15 of the last 18 actually, going back to Agassi's victory in 1992.
I may need to rearrange some plans and get out there a day earlier... if not, it'll be aired live on the Tennis Channel.
I don't usually post photos of the losing player but in this case - allow me.
After last years shenanigans in Dubai it was so satisfying to watch (if you could) Shahar reach the semifinals this year. Peer lost today to Venus Williams who was very outspoken about the Dubai/Peer fiasco a year ago.
For safety concerns the match was played on an outer court. The Tennis Channel couldn't even cover it - all they showed this morning was the handshake and a brief chat at the net.
In her press conference Venus talked about the words they exchanged and about the match, "She just said thanks for the support and I said great tournament. She really played so well, beating two Top 10 players. The main difference between playing me and the other top players was maybe my serves, the power, and maybe my speed... but had I not had those things, I could have been another Top 10 player packing today. She played so well."
*****
Final Match
3 Venus Williams vs 4 Victoria Azarenka - h2h 1-0
Venus, looking for #42, hasn't won a title in 12 months.
This is Victoria's 8th final - she's won 3.
>>> Semifinal Results
3 Venus Williams d. Shahar Peer - 61 64
4 Victoria Azarenka d. Agnieszka Radwanska - 63 64
Photo: Reuters
Sorry Tennis Channel but you got it wrong - Steffi Graf is the Greatest Player of All Time
How Steffi finished #3 is beyond me. Let's compare their stats shall we:
Steffi Graf *** Roger Federer
Weeks at #1
377 *** 285
Year-End #1 Ranking
8 years *** 5 years
Grand Slam Titles
22 *** 16
Tour Titles
107 *** 73
Olympic Gold in Singles
Yes, in 1988 *** No
Calendar Grand Slam
Yes, in 1988 *** No
Years with at Least 3 Slams
5 *** 3
Steffi has at least 4 titles at every Slam *** Roger only 1
And Roger places higher than Steffi? I think not.
And this post was written by someone that NEVER supported Steffi.
Photos: Tennis Channel
Posted at 08:33 AM in Commentary, History, Legends, Mens Tennis, Roger Federer, Steffi Graf, Tennis Channel, Womens Tennis | Permalink | Comments (1)
Tags: ATP, Greatest of All Time, Men's Tennis, Roger Federer, Steffi Graf, Tennis Channel, Women's Tennis, WTA
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