re: Official US Open Tennis Tourney thread

Vika is playing like shite and Masha is taking it to her. This could be a quick one. Masha leads 5-1.

ETA: Masha takes the first set 6-3.

Yep. I should have known better than to think a women's match not involving Serena would be routine.

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Maria NEVER goes to the net. it's so weird.

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I rarely watch women's tennis, and so I actually don't remember the last time I saw Sharapova play, but even at her best she wasn't terribly quick. And in the absence of a certain requisite level of agility, going to the net is a bad play. Isner, for example. Every time he goes to the net he just gets passed.

random aside: I wish I would have forced myself to go to the net more when I was growing up. I do move well - and so it would be a nice skill to have -- but my volleys are not going to remind anyone of Mcenroe.

she was like half way to the net to chase a ball then literally turned and ran back to the baseline i just wish more players would go to the net more often, both in men's and women's. it makes for more excitement

3rd set here.

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she was like half way to the net to chase a ball then literally turned and ran back to the baseline i just wish more players would go to the net more often, both in men's and women's. it makes for more excitement

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Most of the men do. Some more than others. Mardy Fish has a gorgeous net game. Federer actually comes to net a lot less than people think. I don't know why people give him credit for that. Do they not watch the matches? Nadal and Murray are both VERY VERY good volleyers and should attack the net more. As it stands, they'll only come in on real short balls, which amounts to about 10-15 times a match. Djoker will come in a little more than Murray and Nadal.

Del Potro rarely comes in. Berdych rarely comes in. Tsonga comes in a decent amount.

The serve and volley is dead. But I don't think strategic net rushing will ever die.

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have i mentioned i've interviewed her before?

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No, but I'd like to hear the story.

Have I mentioned I shared an awkward moment with her in the players lounge (after I snuck in)?

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id love to hear this

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Very short version. I told the guy I was a junior player and snuck in the player's lounge. Kournikova was in there laying on a couch in white panties and a white sports bra. I sit down in a chair adjacent to the couch she is on. I'm still in HS at this point and I've been completely obsessed with Kournikova for like two years. And so what do I do? I turn to stone. My tongue ceases working. I cannot speak. After five or so minutes and several glances from Anna that said "who the hell is this guy?", her peeps showed up. This included Sergei Federov. So there went my chance. I got up and left. Still regret those five minutes to this day.

I'm fairly certain you are the only one to get tongue tied around Anna.

Maria needs to break Azarenka here because Azarenka is on the edge of breaking her.

Congrats to Vika for toughing it out.

Serena will win the final 6-1, 6-0.