MATCH 
POINTS

Have become (Me and Ellen) pathetically hooked on the US Tennis Open fortnight from Flushing. Just a few days left before we can resume our regularly scheduled routine of pre-recorded episodes of DCI Banks and Doc Martin...but til then it's all preternaturally precocious prodigies pummeling the fuzzy yellow ball with far too frequent interruptions with commercials we've seen sixty times and still don't understand. 

 Warwrinka was dazzling in his dismantling of Murray.  Hard to feel sympathy for Murray with his penchant for petulance when his opponent hits outright winners. Yet, I do sorta feel for him the way I feel for a child throwing a temper tantrum in the presence of clueless parents.  The difference between him and Fed, Nadal and Nole seems not to be one of skill and talent but of temperament and perspective.  The other three appear to love what they're doing and  feel honored by the opportunity to compete at the highest level while dealing dispassionately with the fickle farce of celebrity/media madness.

Billie Jean King said 
" Pressure is a privilege". Not sure Murray understands or believes that and that's why he plays like he's suffering, (which he is) and watching him play so unpleasant. 

  

Is it just me?  Or is the "It must be Love"  Ad campaign a stinker?  I (as you know) love a good pun as much as anyone, But  "Love" in tennis means zero, zip, nada, zilch...and there's just no getting round the fact that no matter how much they may want us to think otherwise, the tennis related message of their square peg in a round hole pun is  "IT MUST BE NOTHING"

Arthur Ashe Stadium is Big! 

Ridiculously, Vertiginously, Comically, Bewilderingly Big. 

Got seats a third of the way up?  You may see that one of the players is wearing a hat. 

Got seats half-way up?

You may see that the guy sitting a third of the way up is wearing a hat.

Got seats near the top?

You may see that the pilot of the Blimp overhead is wearing a hat. 

SCREAM QUEENS

Tennis talents aside, #'s 1 and 2 in the ladies draw are waging a fierce battle for title of highest decibel level shrieking.
  

Victoria Azarenka.  83.5 decibels  Short, sharp, penetrating.  Often achieves highest decibel reading  after mis-hitting overheads and easy volleys. 

 Serena Williams.  88.9 decibels.  Deeper in pitch, part grunt, part roar. Defensive shots on the run and serves often accompanied by strongest vocalizing.   

Reigning champ.  Maria Sharapova.  101 decibels.  Very high pitch with two notes, vibrato and long sustain. 

                                       

Predictions


1. Flavia Pennetta defeats Azarenka 

 2. Li Na beats Serena

3. Stanislas Warwrinka defeats Djokovic

4. Richard Gasquet beats Nadal 

5. USTA cancels both men's and women's finals.