McIntyre Tennis

Paris; Tennis

So right now I'm checking in on the scoreboard to see just how much of a smackdown Nicolai Davydenko will dish out to Hrbaty en route to his first Masters Series shield. Bravo, Kolya--but will some clothing company give him a sponsorship, already?

I'm contemplating now whether I can do the blog justice...as you can see it's been pretty touch and go over the last couple of weeks. I really love doing it, BUT I'm trying to find a way to justify (and schedule in) the effort that it requires, as school and other things take precedence...Hmm. Anyway, I'm going to think it over tonight and post either way.

Federer def. Nalbandian 6-4 6-0

...in under an hour. Nalbandian looks sluggish out there; probably still tired from a tough week; and Federer just demolished him in the last set. Oh well. Star Sports is showing the second set of Nadal-Berdych to fill the time until the Berdych-Gonzalez semi (via http://watch-for-free.atspace.com/; the TVU Player link).

Madrid Semis

I'm watching Fed Nalbandian, courtesy of http://watch-for-free.atspace.com/, and Nalbandian is just about to throw away the break he won (ETA: or maybe not? Is he really coming back from 0-40 down?! WOW HE DID IT. 4 ALL.) I'd speculated that Fed would win in 2, but was thinking Nalbandian would make it close. Does anyone think David has a chance against The Immaculate Federer?

Also, shame about Nadal yesterday. I saw the last point and Berdych's shushing of the crowd did seem rude...but who knows how rabid the fans were in support of Rafa. Did anyone see it? And did Rafa really dis Berdych in the post-match interview?

Ooh, I'm an Arse.

Yes, I've been away too long, and thanks, Federated Sucks; indeed I suck. Anyway, how thrilled was I to check back in with tennis in time to see Federer and Nadal heading for a collision at Madrid (maybe), pending a rematch of Berdych-Nadal (you'll recall that Tomas laid a beatdown on Rafa in Canada this past summer) on the Nadalean home turf? Wait, Berdych took out the Resurgent Roddick today 7-6 6-3? Federer squeaed by Soderling in 2 tiebreak sets?

David Nalbandian half-assedly blogging (a man after my own heart) from Madrid and facing Marat Safin tomorrow's QF? And young gun Djokovic def. young gun and bff Andy Murray for the chance to face Fernando Gonzalez, who advanced after Joachim Johanssen (!) withdrew from the round of 16 with laryngitis? Damn.

Martina Hingis blogging Zurich? What a great week of tennis.

Be sure to check out the Madrid audio interviews here.

Federer Blogs Japan

Roger's blogging from Japan, people. How excited am I?

Blake def. Ljubicic for Bangkok

And it was a beatdown, 6-3 6-1. That's Blake's 4th title of the year, and his first career win over Ljubicic. After rallying from a set down to take out Marat Safin in the semis, looks like James has hit his stride again. Maybe James was getting as irritated with the J-Block as the rest of us during the US Hardcourt Swing. Good to see him in form again.

Here are audio interviews with both of them, and here's a match report.

The WTA in Seoul & Guangzhou

At Hansol in Korea, Martina Hingis won her first match while yesterday saw a couple of seeded casualties (adios, Maria Kirilenko, Gisela Dulko and Lucie Safarova). She'll have a rematch with Sania Mirza in the 2nd round, whom she beat so soundly last week in the semis in Kolkata.

Over in Guangzhou, top seeds Jelena Jankovic and Na Li are through the first round.

The WTA at Luxembourg

Wow, talk about some brutal first round matches: Daniela Hantuchova v. Tatiana Golovin (Hantuchova won in straights); Venus Williams (in her first tournie since Wimbledon) v. Ana Ivanovic, and Schiavone v. Michaela Krajicek. Here's the draw.

An Argentina-Russia Final; Fed: "Novak is a Djoke"

I love how Boris Yeltsin always elbows in on the action. So Andy Roddick essentially choked--2 df's in his last service game, folks--after a valiant fight back from 2 sets down v. Dmitri Tursunov. Here's the official match report.  Here's the AP report. Also, Safin lost to Blake in the dead rubber in two close sets.

As expected, Argentina smoked Australia; the final will be played in Russia. (Lucky mofos! Two-time home court advantage!)

Federer had some choice words for the injury-prone Novak Djokovic post-their tie-deciding match today--which have been censored from the Davis Cup site. The original 3 minute interview that was posted has since been cut down to 1:19 minutes. Listen here to the original version; here's the new Davis Cup site's version. *Ouch*--and for shame, DC staffers!

Here's the Davis Cup radio round up. Tons of pictures here.

Mauresmo vs. Kuznetsova in Beijing

ETA: Kuznetsova 6-4 6-0 actually. Well done, Svetlana! What's up with Amelie, though? ANOTHER bagel? It must be said: that's no way for a world Number 1 to go out, no matter how well Sveta's playing right now. Here's a match review, with quotes from the players.

I'm gonna go with Mauresmo in three. This is live right now...I hear it's on CCTV5...will look for a stream...

ETA: There are lots of options here. Just scroll down.

ETA: ...none of which seem to work. Anyway, there's a rain delay at 4 all in the 1st set.