Mana Games

[Leena]

Since people don't like my negativity (I don't blame them), I'll contain all of my vitriol in this thread.

Latest WTA shenanigans:

Madrid Main Draw:

[1] Safina bye
Suarez Navarro - Li
Keothavong - Qualifier
Safarova - [16] Kanepi
[10] A. Radwanska - Stosur
Chakvetadze - [WC] Ruano Pascual
Cirstea - A. Bondarenko
[6] Kuznetsova bye

[4] Jankovic - [WC] Llagostera Vives
Hantuchova - Dulko
Razzano - Tanasugarn
Qualfier - [13] Cornet
[11] Bartoli - Wozniak
Schnyder - Errani
Qualifier - Niculescu
Benesova - [8] Petrova

[7] Azarenka bye
Pavlyuchenkova - Peng
Qualifier - Pironkova
Szavay - [12] Pennetta
[15] Zheng - Kirilenko
Mauresmo - Sugiyama
[WC] Dominguez Lino - Qualifier
Mattek Sands - [3] Dementieva

[5] V. Williams bye
[WC] Soler Espinosa - Kleybanova
Qualifier - Rybarikova
Peer - [9] Wozniacki
[14] Medina Garrigues - Qualifier
Qualifier - [WC] Martinez Sanchez
Bammer - Kvitova
Schiavone - [2] S. Williams

As you see, Madrid is the first tournament where the WTA has instituted byes for players who reached the SF of the previous Tier Fancypants tournament, Rome. I don't agree with it... tournament results should never carry over advantages from week to week, but whatever. It's not that horrible.

However, logistical flaws arise when we look at the qualifying draw.

1 (1)MAKAROVA, Ekaterina RUS vs. (wc)BOGDAN, Ana ROU

Makarova, Estoril finalist, won't even be able to play this tournament (unless she travels back and forth from Portugal to Madrid, which has been done before). Yet, we needlessly coddle top ranked players yet again. Way to go, WTA.

And I can't wait for Jelena Jankovic's probable bitching after her 1st round match.

[btaylor]

Hey Leena,

I think that your so-called "negativity" adds an awful lot of insight to the forum...in fact I don't think you are all that negative, really...

You just happen to speak your mind, and there's a helluva lot of truths in what you speak ( at least 90% of the time )

In so far as that's concerned, we may be sort of "kindred spirits" because I also believe in speaking my peace (hopefully not personalizing anyone except those that may deserve it.)

Some people I feel tend to over-personalize in that they feel that you (or I) are attacking either them, their favorite players, or the way that they play the game or, in a few cases (no names here) their immature stupidity...

But, for most practical intents and purposes, this is an "open" forum, and as such, there's room for everyone's "intelligent" responses...

Like I told you once before, you just "keep on keeping on" with your bad self... the forum's the better off for it...

[Leena]

Thanks.

So, I watched Safina/Venus today, and I have to say it was well played for most part (before Dinara's DF-fest near the end...) Probably the best women's match I've seen this year. Demented vs. Cibulkova was higher quality, I guess... Elena was just magical that day, and Sexy Domi played her best, but she's the definition of a one-style player.

Dare I say it... Venus a real competitor at a slam other than Wimbledon? I may not be a fan, but we'd all be better off if she showed something close to her best outside of 2 weeks in July every year.

[btaylor]

If not the "inventors" at least Venus and her sister are the "inheritors" of the "power" game and as such really seem to relish the "Scream-Bang" game that has become womens' tennis in the 2000s...

"Hard and harder" with absolutely NO consideration of "angles" or intricate "thought" and only VERY limited point construction seems to be the order of the day, and was certainly on display in the Venus vs. Safina match today...Competitive though it may have been...

Once upon a time "tennis" was considered on a par with chess, with players trying to"out strategize" the other guy, using all the tools of the trade...(which were once considerable)

I dunno, maybe it's time to give the sport we watch now a new name...how about "Ball-Strike?" since that's all that most of these women pros know how to do....they're top-notch "ball-strikers", not "tennis players"...

Though I'm not a Nadal fan, today's women players could certainly learn a few things from him besides "oohing and ahhing" over his "guns"...in terms of point construction i.e., heavily "spun" (topspin or slice") shots to the side "Ts" to either break up rhythym or jerk the opponent out of position...(something even the great Venus has virtually NO clue how to do) even at this late stage of her career...

How in the hell can you hit "tasty" angles when your only motivation is to try and show the other woman that you can "out scream and out bang) her?!

Going for screaming down the line winners at "mach 5 speed" on break or game points is something that Venus should know better than to attempt, with all her supposed "experience", but, c'est la vie....all too often "a hard head makes a soft ass"

Safina may yet figure it out, given time and experience.... hopefully her coach will supply this thought seed at some point...
(Probaby at court-side)

As I alluded to in an earlier post, although the other women may (so far) lack the "heart" and "will" to rise to the occasion on the biggest stages, they're certainly starting to feel much less intimidated about (I dare say RELISHING) getting into a baseline "slugfest" with either of the Williams Sisters in the Scream-Bang world of womens' tennis...

[Togtdyalttai]

If not the "inventors" at least Venus and her sister are the "inheritors" of the "power" game and as such really seem to relish the "scream-bang" game that has become womens' tennis in the 2000s...

"Hard and harder" with absolutely NO consideration of "angles" or intricate "thought" and only VERY limited point construction seems to be the order of the day, and was certainly on display in the Venus vs. Safina match today...Competitive though it may have been...

Though I'm not a Nadal fan, today's women players could certainly learn a few things from him besides "oohing and ahhing" over his "guns"...in terms of point construction i.e., heavily "spun" (topspin or slice") shots to the side "Ts" to either break up rhythym or jerk the opponent out of position...(something even the great Venus has virtually NO clue how to do) even at this late stage of her career...

How in the hell can you hit "tasty" angles when your only motivation is to try and show the other woman that you can "out scream and out bang) her?!

Going for screaming down the line winners at "mach 5 speed" on break or game points is something that Venus should know better than to attempt, with all her supposed "experience", but, c'est la vie....all too often "a hard head makes a soft ass"

Safina may yet figure it out, given time and experience (hopefully...)

As I alluded to in an earlier post, although the other women may (so far) lack the "heart" and "will" to rise to the occasion on the biggest stages, they're certainly starting to feel much less intimidated (I dare say RELISHING) getting into a baseline "slugfest" with either of the Williams Sisters in the Scream-Bang world of womens' tennis...

I watched a good chunk of that match today and thought that it's not a sign of concern at all for Venus. This is mostly because it was on clay--by far Venus's worst surface and Safina's best (at least I think it is). That Venus could even come as close to winning as she did is a good accomplishment in my opinion.

What I did see that Venus could do more of, especially against Safina, would be to come to net more. We all know Vee has one of the best net games in women's tennis, and when she had Safina on the run she often didn't come forward to exploit it (given, she did do this a few times). I know it's not something I've ever seen her do, but would it kill Venus to try a serve-volley once in a while? She'd probably be pretty darn good at it. And if Venus just bashes the ball around on clay, where her flat strokes aren't quite as effective, she's not gonna get too far. At Wimbledon, Venus is always looks to move forward, as has often been pointed out. Why can't she do this wherever she plays? We know she's not the staple of consistency (although who is right now?) and so she should try to end points earlier.

[btaylor]

Hi Tog,

When Venus and Serena were just "little girls" at the age of 12 and 11 or so, none other than the geat Billie Jean King said (especially of Venus) that with her height, athleticism, and wing-span...not to mention her explosive groundies, that she was a SURE-FIRE BET to become the absolute best womens serve and volleyer that the game has EVER seen....

What a disappointment...

As far as Venus' net game, who's out there now to really compare her to?
She's certainly not a GREAT volleyer...as a matter of fact, her technique really ain't ALL that...she gets by because of her height and length...

Yes, she COULD come forward behind her groundies to win points at the net on other surfaces besides Wimbledon, but alas...she just never really developed either the mindset or the natural footwork to become a FORCE at it...even though she absolutely could/should have...

As I said in my previous post, for the most part, she AND her sister would rather just play "Scream-Bang" tennis until the day when they're either too old (which is definitely on the near horizon) or too ineffective....

[Leena]

Gasquet on drugs. Possible Hingis'd ensuing.

http://www.cbssports.com/tennis/story/11728284

Report: Gasquet tested positive for cocaine in Florida
May 9, 2009
CBSSports.com wire reports


PARIS -- French sports daily L'Equipe reported on its website that tennis player Richard Gasquet tested positive for cocaine.

The newspaper's website reported Saturday that traces of the banned drug were found in the 22-year-old Gasquet's urine sample at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla., after he pulled out of that tournament in March. Gasquet cited a right shoulder injury when he withdrew before his second-round match against Albert Montanes of Spain.

The report said Gasquet could face a two-year ban if the "B" sample comes back positive. The report said neither Gasquet nor his management team have responded to the charges. The newspaper did not cite a source, and no further details were given.

The RMC radio station said Saturday that a member of the French tennis federation had confirmed the positive test to them, but did not cite a name or give further details.

The FTF could not immediately be reached for comment.

Gasquet reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2007, but has struggled with his form since then and is currently ranked 23rd.

Lulz.