Quotable Quotes: Real prediction, false prophet.

I came across this freakish gem today, written back in 2001 by Chris Bowers, right before a certain R16 Wimbledon match.
Now that’s what I call a real prediction. 
 
So just who is going to stop Pete Sampras at Wimbledon? The great American has lost just once on centre court, and in the 1996 quarter-finals he was [...]

Picspam: Things we love about tennis in China

1) Safin-worship.
 

 
2) MCs who just won’t take a hint. 
 

 
Mentioning MCs, is the Shanghai MC from last year back?
Because life wouldn’t be complete without his OTT “Logeeeerrrr Feduhlahhhhh!” intro. 
Not that Loger Feduhlah is even playing.
 
3) Tennis cheerleaders. 
 

 
4) Well-staged photo-ops to show off domestic infrastructure to the foreign media. 
 

 
Tsonga and Nando demonstrated their tennis skills [...]

Picspam: White Flag.

Fernando Verdasco, I SURRENDER.
Dimples + melty moments with wee nippers = all my ovary-related vices captured in one picture. 
 

 
FLOVE.
 

Picket Fence Vid: GOO GOO GAH GAH.

Basically my reaction to the video. 
Bad boy + tan + dimples + shaggy mane + a tender moment with kids = a paroxysm of speech loss. 
 

 
Beware the dimpled ones folks, those are the type that’ll getcha.

ATP Notes: Fast and Furious.

I’ve completely neglected ATP tennis this week. Me bad. But really, men’s tennis without Federer, Nadal or Djokovic is a grim wasteland on which only the occasional wild flower is worth the pause to appreciate. 
Managed to catch two of Jo-Willy’s matches this week against Chiudinelli and Gulbis. And frankly, I got enough power tennis from [...]

Picspam: Truly Aaaaaasia.

The tournament in KL is underway as the PMO organisers arranged a players party at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. 
Go back to your room Reeshie, you’re GROUNDED.
 

 
One of the great things about having tournaments in non-Western countries is that the organisers always feel obliged to dress the players up in traditional costumes.
Can you imagine tournaments in [...]

USO Day 10: Me? Frazzle?! As. If.

Yeah, that’s total bullshit.
I webcammed a photo of myself during the fourth set:
 

 
YUP. Tight Federer matches causes me to sprout eyebrows where eyebrows should never been seen.
After 10 days of upsets, brainfarts and … Melanie Oudin, we finally got a little something I call ‘AWESOME tennis’ in Federer’s 6-0 6-3 6-7 7-6 victory over Soderling.
You [...]

Picspam: FeVer! … In the morning. FeVer all through the night.

Fenando Verdasco has made up for his lackluster American hard court season by defeating US Open series winner/dud Sam Querrey in the final, 6-4 7-6.
Verdasco has developed a habit of choking lately (well, not just lately). After cruising through the first set and getting an early double-break in the second, Nando bizarrely lost momentum. The [...]

Cincy/Toronto Day 2: Who stole Masha Fierce’s visor?

It was YOU Fernando Verdasco! 
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I want the faux hawk back. That birds nest sitting on top of Nando’s head is killing me. 
 
Expect sparrows to fly out any minute: Nick Laham/Getty Images
 
Fernando Verdasco is at the stage in his career where he’s probably thinking to himself – “I’ve made it. I’ve broken [...]

Montreal Day 4: the Fabulous 8.

For the first time ever, the top 8 of the ATP tour are through to the quarterfinals. Clap clap, well done guys.
 
Federer def Wawrinka 6-3 7-6 (5).
Vintage Federer in the first set, 2009-hard-court Feduruh in the second.
Credit to Stan though for some massive serving towards the business end of the second set – I have no [...]