You’re Not Mother Theresa, and You’re Not in the Finals

Mother Theresa will not be in the women’s finals of this year’s French Open.  A collective sigh of relief, please, that Maria Sharapova has been smacked down on the red clay.  Guess she was too busy pretending to be a dead nun because we know she can’t do that and win a match, right?  Oh what a sweet sound it was to hear that Ana Ivanovic won 6-2 6-1.  The same thrashing score Serena Williams had on her in the finals at Australia.  But I was equally crushed that Justine Henin beat Jelena Jankovic 6-2 6-2.  Jelena did such a great job and had some great matches.  Perhaps now Ana can get some well-deserved endorsements.  I still think that should be part of the tournament.  Winner take all, including sponsorships.   Speaking of winners, congratulations to the first Roland Garros champion of 2007.  Mixed doubles team Nathalie Dechy of France and Israel’s Andy Ram took out the seasoned and extremely attractive pairing of defending champs Katarina Srebotnik and Nenad Zimonjic, 7-5 6-3.  I guess I shouldn’t have thought two much about this prediction.   Speaking of wrong predictions, what about Czech pair Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Vizner, huh?  Where did they come from?  I mean, I know where they’re from and a little about them, I mean like an appearance out of thin air kind of “where did they come from.”  Perhaps they’re to blame for Nenad’s doubles loss.  I’m sure Fabrice Santoro didn’t have a great day after the match, either. 

And finally, the talks-of-separation-pair Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor continue playing like they’ve got nothing to lose and the clay gave them thanks in their defeat of India’s Mahesh Bhupathi and Hingis’ Radek Stepanek … her Czech, you know. 

 

Tomorrow brings us great play from four of my favorite guys, Roger Federer against Nikolay Davydenko and Novak Djokovic will play Rafael Nadal. And then the ladies’ doubles final.  Of course I want to see Novak and Nikolay in the finals and maybe I’ll see Novak, but it’s really just not going to happen.  Federer and Nadal are headed for a repeat, I fear.  At least the match will be pretty awesome to watch.  Then Katarina Srebotnik and Ai Sugiyama will take the crown from the amazing run of Alicia Molik and Mara Santangelo.  And right after that, I’m calling up the voodoo doctor and sending them a barbie doll in tennis shorts, nose pinched, eyes looking beady, and we’re going to have a talk about the women’s finals on Saturday.

Girls Behaving Badly, Welcome to France

Forget that there were some exciting French Open matches today, though a few lacked in dramatic conclusions.  Happy to say, I was wrong about Black/Huber taking the match against Alicia Molik and Mara Santangelo, and I am glad.  I like Black/Huber a lot, but I love it when new blood takes the big stages.  Same thing in mixed.  I am disappointed that Yan/Knowles did not make it through, but I am a big Katarina Srebotnik fan when it comes to doubles.  I’ve always felt she’d been passed by for potential power pairs and it was Nenad Zimonjic that has really helped her shine in the mix.  Sure I was cheering for the underdog, but it’s the polite sport.  It’s what we’re supposed to do.  As for who wins tomorrow, my guess would be Nathalie Dechy/Andy Ram and underdog has a lot to do with it.  Otherwise, it’s just stats.  Rare that the same mixed pair wins the French Open.  And it hasn’t happened in a long time.  Not since the days of  Françoise Dürr.  But Katarina has one twice with different partners, with Nenad just last year.  Hmmm.  I’ll stick with the underdog.  Katarina knows that I think she’ll win the women’s, so hopefully she’s not offended.  Hometown crowd (albiet rude and hateful) will be a boost for Dechy.

Speaking of underdogs, can we all please make a collective wish that the numeric underdogs of Serbia move forward after tomorrow’s matches?  Justine Henin has been trying to behave in a not-so-snotty way but hey, to the victor, huh?  It’s always easy to be polite when you got game, you won game, and the rudest crowd in the entire world thinks you’re just darling.  Still, it’s Maria that makes me hurl, still.  My stomach is still churning over her comment about her poor sportsmanship against Patty Schnyder, “You can’t be Mother Theresa and win a tennis match” or some such crap.  No, Maria, you ain’t no saint and we’re all so very glad you know that.  I’m this close to slinging a banana insult, but I’ll keep saving it up. 

Well, whatever happens, huge congratulations to Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic for not only getting to the semifinals, but for a great past year filled with two athletes getting better and better and showing us some great matches.  Nobody’s talked about Jelena winning, but I’ve seen at least one Ana pick.  I’m going with Jelena simply because she’s been figuring out Justine a little bit more with each match and if she pulls that off, she’s finally going to have the goods to beat Ana, which she’s only done once.  But when push comes to shove, I have to say that it’s probably going to be Henin and Ivanovic in the final.  Ana’s only played her once, two years ago.  She lost, but she wasn’t this good two years ago and it was a close (enough) 2 setter.  Ivanovic and Sharapova are 1-1 but Maria ran away from their last match, which she was losing, and claimed injury.  Ivanovic will put that injury back, metaphorically speaking … somewhat, and she’ll march out of Roland Garros as a new hottie of tennis.  I hope.

My tennis friend Kim left me a hilarious message today about Serena’s interview with the press, talking about Justine’s little tricks (she went there!) and how all of them are bitches.  Well, that’s what got me into the tennis thing again anyway.  The soap opera.  Now that Serena is back, her dad is back, too, of course, if anything just to put Papa Sharapova in perspective.  Enter the Shakespearean scribes, there’s gonna be heads rolling and lots of gnashing of teeth.  What a hoot. 

As for the men’s doubles, I’m going to have to go with Fabrice Santoro (FRA)[4]/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)[4] over Lukas Dlouhy (CZE)[9]/Pavel Vizner (CZE)[9].  And Mark Knowles (BAH)[6]/Daniel Nestor (CAN)[6] over Mahesh Bhupathi (IND)/Radek Stepanek (CZE).  If this is one of their last, or the very last, they’ll play with reckless abandon.  Clay loves that.

Just Looking at the Numbers

I thought I’d try this on for size, just talk out what I see in the numbers.  The ride through a tournament bracket is the “tell” for how they’ll do in the last few rounds.  For instance:

Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals

Novak Djokovic (SRB)[6] vs. Igor Andreev (RUS) – Igor Andreev is having a great ride and he’s had some great wins along the way.  In the first round, knocking out #3 seeded Andy Roddick provided some chutzpa to get him through the next rounds.  He even beat Marcos Baghdatis in front of the emotionally charged French crowd.  Novak Djokovic has been having what I like to call a “Sharapova” ride through the tournament.  In other words, talk about luck of the draw.  Sure, he played fine players but they weren’t anything that should have derailed him, yet Olivier Patience of France almost did just that.  I’m sure it’s his youth, but Novak seemed a bit awestruck to just repeating to the same round as he got last year.  Now that he’s surpassed it, he could very well enjoy it.  Plus, he does have that thing that makes you a top player and Igor is only now showing it, a few important years Novak’s senior to boot.  Tough call if you mix numbers with gut.  I won’t be terribly hurt if Novak loses, though I’d hoped he would play Nadal.  I believe he very well may still.

Carlos Moya (ESP)[23] vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2] – Numbers?  Rafael Nadal hasn’t dropped a set.  The only other player, Federer, lost one to Robredo.  And as wrong as I was with yesterday’s blathering, I sure called that one.  Carlos Moya only dropped one and that was in the first round.  Moya won in 1998.  Sure, nine years ago.  Mary Pierce won ten years after she was in the finals the first time.  It’s the French Open.  Everything is possible.  I’ve been thinking for a while that most events are going to see some sort of shake up, if not all.  Perhaps this is the first one.  Who can say?  Not me.  But I’d say Nadal isn’t finished just yet.

And in other events:

Women’s Doubles – Semifinals

Lisa Raymond (USA)[1]/Samantha Stosur (AUS)[1] vs. Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)[7]/Ai Sugiyama (JPN)[7] – First, congratulations to Lisa Raymond for being the last American standing at Roland Garros this year.  I believe she was last year, too.  Second, congratulations to Katarina Srebotnik for being alive in two events.  Now, as for the record books, Raymond/Stosur are the steamrollers and Srebotnik/Sugiyama are the sorta new kids, having just teamed up.  But this fresher team has made some impressive efforts so far.  They beat Shahar Peer/Dinara Safina quite handily.  But then again, Srebotnik lost to Shahar Peer in singles.  Nothing like a stinging loss to get one’s … and one’s partner’s … blood boiling.  I believe they’ll find the magic in this round.  But I fear Raymond/Stosur will break it down.  I know.  I should be cheering for the American.  I’m still glad for Lisa Raymond, of course, but she has many, many, many, many wins.  I love the underdog.

Alicia Molik (AUS)[17]/Mara Santangelo (ITA)[17] vs. Cara Black (ZIM)[2]/Liezel Huber (RSA)[2] – Speaking of which … Molik/Santangelo have made a great run.  Their first round against Italians Alberta Brianti/Karin Knapp was a shutdown, but they would have been, of course, a little intimidated by the likes of their own Mara Santangelo on the other end.  The rest of their matches have gone three sets.  But wait!  They beat the Yung-Jan Chan/Chia-Jung Chuang.  That’s something to consider.  Black/Huber have been relentless.  Only against Janette Husarova/Meghann Shaughnessy did they concede a set and then they pulled out the extra large cans of whoop-ass.  It’s Black/Huber.

You know what?  Forget the numbers.  It’s all about the fun.  Billie Jean King has said numerous times that her favorite event was mixed doubles.  She always enjoyed it.  And so do I.  They never show one bit of it on television but I love reading the match-ups at the Slams.  I won’t comment on who’s going to win … I just wouldn’t.  I would rather talk about why I like them.

Mixed Doubles – Semifinals

Tiantian Sun (CHN)/Julian Knowle (AUT) vs. Nathalie Dechy (FRA)[8]/Andy Ram (ISR)[8] – I’m mesmerized by the spirit of so many of the Chinese ladies in tennis.  They’ve made amazing strides and provided some great tennis along the way.  Julian Knowle is a new favorite of mine, so I’m barely learning his stats, but he seems to have quite the colorful past.  Of their opponents, I have cheered Nathalie Dechy for years.  She had a great couple of major runs a few years ago and climbed, deservedly, into the upper ranks.  Andy Ram of men’s doubles fame is always a good contender.  My bet is on Dechy and Ram.

Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)[6]/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)[6] vs. Zi Yan (CHN)[5]/Mark Knowles (BAH)[5] – Both pairs are great match-ups.  Srebotnik and Zimonjic know the feeling of winning a mixed doubles slam.  Zi Yan and Mark Knowles do not.  I believe I’m going to be a bit hurt when Yan and Knowles move into the finals. 

Fine, I Was Wrong

Going totally on emotions yesterday, I posted my predictions.  Boy, there went my 80%+ prediction rate.  Serena Williams lost to The Evil One (aka Justine Henin).  Chakvetadze choked against The Uglier of the Two Blonde Russians (Maria Sharapova, Miss “Make Every Shot a Powershot” like the serve against Patty Schnyder when she wasn’t ready and you took the point anyway … by the way, don’t EVER compare yourself to Mother Theresa again.)   And yes, I’m still a little emotional.   

Meanwhile, the Serbian players are kicking butt and they’re who I want in the finals anyway.  Jelena and Ana, I am begging you:  Avenge Me!!!

As for the rest of the matches, I see where I wasn’t emotionally invested, I got it right.  For example, Ana Ivanovic in three sets over Svetlana Kuznetsova.  I’ll be less rash this evening when I post predictions for tomorrow.  Forgive me.  In the future, my predictions should have a little more to do with modern tennis! 

I’m going to bang my head against the wall for a while to help alleviate the pain caused by the thought of Justine making more money and advancing a step further than I can take – while Maria Sharapova has yet to play a tough match.  Except the one she cheated in, of course.  And she only one that in tie-breaks.  Sure, the Snyder match was tough, but it shouldn’t have been for this “#1 player” … by the way, why is she always referred to that way when everyone else is a “former.”  She was number one for how many weeks?  Hint:  you only need one hand.  And it was when Lindsay Davenport was out on injury (among MANY other players) and couldn’t defend her points.  The second time, same thing with Amelie.  She’s good, sure.  But she gets too many breaks and way more credit than she deserves.  And I am sick of these Russian ladies not being able to beat her.  Enough cowering to her.  Learn to take her.  Nadia Petrova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anna Chakvetadze, Elena Dementieva, and even precious Anastasia Myskina, ARE YOU LISTENING?  You can take her.  Most of you have.  Just do it.  Meaning, yes, whack away at those endorsements, too. 

French Open Ladies’ Quarterfinals and Then Some

Tomorrow’s picks for the French Open.

• Ana Ivanovic (SRB)[7] vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)[3] – It’s Ivanovic in three sets.
• Justine Henin (BEL)[1] vs. Serena Williams (USA)[8] – Dare I say it and jynx the whole thing?  Serena.  Quite possibly like she did in an earlier Slam.
• Roger Federer (SUI)[1] vs. Tommy Robredo (ESP)[9] – Federer will have to concede a set, or at least fight to the end in all three.  But if Roger goes down (Tommy’s my preferred winner but not who I think will win) it’s because Cañas has rattled the cage … and we’ll see some more surprise Roger-losses in the coming year. 
• Jelena Jankovic (SRB)[4] vs. Nicole Vaidisova (CZE)[6] – It’s been too long waiting for Nicole to really solidify upper level play.  Jelena wants a Slam.  And this year, what Jelena wants.
• Anna Chakvetadze (RUS)[9] vs. Maria Sharapova (RUS)[2] – Oh, I’d say the prettier of the two.  So, Anna.  And if I could give Anna a piece of advice, aim for her shoulders.
• Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)[4] vs. Guillermo Cañas (ARG)[19] – There’s now much expected of Cañas.  He should deliver.  There’s nothing expectedof Nikolay.  I’m not calling this one.  Mainly because I like both players a lot for very different reasons and they deserve a great match.
• Yung-Jan Chan (TPE)[5]/Chia-Jung Chuang (TPE)[5] vs. Alicia Molik (AUS)[17]/Mara Santangelo (ITA)[17] – The Taiwanese Two!
• Fabrice Santoro (FRA)[4]/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)[4] vs. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS)/Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) – Experience and Finesse vs. Red Hot Russians.  I would go with Fabrice just because he’s the only French player not afraid to win at Roland Garros.  Will it be a day of new arrivals?  I’ll go with no on this one. 
• Lisa Raymond (USA)[1]/Samantha Stosur (AUS)[1] vs. A. Medina Garrigues (ESP)[8]/Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP)[8] – The number one team and the defending champs are quite impressive, but Pascual has had her name on six of these titles.  It’s an upset
• Mahesh Bhupathi (IND)/Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs. Jonas Bjorkman (SWE)[2]/Max Mirnyi (BLR)[2] – I’m thinking upset again. 
• Janette Husarova (SVK)[10]/Meghann Shaughnessy (USA)[10] vs. Cara Black (ZIM)[2]/Liezel Huber (RSA)[2] – And again, here, but in the end, Black and Huber will grind it out.  Meghann’s a hero, though.  It would be quite wonderful if I were wrong, wrong, wrong.
• Bob Bryan (USA)[1]/Mike Bryan (USA)[1] vs. Lukas Dlouhy (CZE)[9]/Pavel Vizner (CZE)[9] – The Brothers
• Meghann Shaughnessy (USA)/Leander Paes (IND) vs. Tiantian Sun (CHN)/Julian Knowle (AUT) – Tough match but Meghann, you take this one, okay?  And Leander, talk about a hero of the tennis court!  Hats of to Sun and Knowle, but I don’t think they’ll win.  Brave of me to suggest (perhaps heart is informing the decision), because at some point this year, there’s going to be some more Chinese names in very important tennis circles.
• Nathalie Dechy (FRA)[8]/Andy Ram (ISR)[8] vs. Liezel Huber (RSA)[2]/Kevin Ullyett (ZIM)[2] – Huber and Ullyett.  How can you say a well-engineered car can’t win a race?  I’ll stick with the usual, Huber and Ullyett.
• Mark Knowles (BAH)[6]/Daniel Nestor (CAN)[6] vs. Michael Kohlmann (GER)/Rainer Schuettler (GER) – Knowles and Nestor are going their separate ways, so they have nothing but fun to have.  No pressure.  Their experience wills out in the end.
• Maria Elena Camerin (ITA)[16]/Gisela Dulko (ARG)[16] vs. Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)[7]/Ai Sugiyama (JPN)[7] – Srebotnik and Sugiyama, the Quite Possible Winners of the Whole Shebang!