Augie Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 Big tennis guy though I usually only watch Federer or the Majors. The 15 year old Coco Gauff (USA) is in an amazing battle with Babos in the 3rd right now. This is AWESOME stuff! A buddy who’s been to the US Open several times tried to get me to go up, but we leave for a big trip Saturday. The US Open and Wimbledon are on my bucket list! I’ll take the French and Australian too if I’m being greedy. ? Coco is an AMAZING 15 year old! 1
Augie Posted August 30, 2019 Author Posted August 30, 2019 Coco coming up for interview after her match. I’ve seen very few 15 year olds who have shown her composure so far, and on such a big stage!
Augie Posted August 30, 2019 Author Posted August 30, 2019 OK, if you don’t love tennis, you can still love Coco. AMAZING young 15 year old! Looking forward to seeing her in the future.
RaoulDuke79 Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 I remember her making a name for herself during Wimbledon. At 15 it seems like the sky is the limit. At 15 I was just figuring out how to make an apple into a weed smoking apparatus. Seems she has a more solid path forward. 1
Another Fan Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 I haven’t watched it in years but the US Open used to be one of my favorite events too watch. I have more in my head though Capriotti, the Williams Sisters, and Martina Hingis how ever long ago that was. I honestly never heard of Coco. This was my favorite match ever: 1
Augie Posted August 30, 2019 Author Posted August 30, 2019 (edited) 7 minutes ago, RaoulDuke79 said: I remember her making a name for herself during Wimbledon. At 15 it seems like the sky is the limit. The interviews that followed really impressed me. She’s got her head on straight. Covers the court like CRAZY! Hard to believe that young lady is only 15 years old. Wow! Impressive. . Edited August 30, 2019 by Augie 1
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 Count me as a huge Coco fan. Watched a fair amount of her at Wimbledon. Hopefully she can make another little run at US Open! I am otherwise a huge Nadal fan, and pulling for him on the men’s side.
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 PS— you want to talk about great US Open memories... 1
Augie Posted August 30, 2019 Author Posted August 30, 2019 (edited) 8 minutes ago, JR in Pittsburgh said: Count me as a huge Coco fan. Watched a fair amount of her at Wimbledon. Hopefully she can make another little run at US Open! I am otherwise a huge Nadal fan, and pulling for him on the men’s side. Love Nadal, but Federer is my all-time guy. Loved when cocky Djokovic said Roger was no big deal, and Nadal stepped up and said (at the time) something like “well, he’s got 13 majors, and you have squat! Have some respect. Go out and win some.” I hate that the Joker may catch up, but he’s a petty guy who is upset that people don’t love him. That’s the price of not being lovable! . Edited August 30, 2019 by Augie
Augie Posted August 30, 2019 Author Posted August 30, 2019 (edited) 26 minutes ago, JR in Pittsburgh said: PS— you want to talk about great US Open memories... That brings back memories! I used to play in a 10 week Monday night doubles league at our club in Florida. It was 14 courts of doubles under lights. One set with each guy, win 18 games, you move up to a higher court. Lose, you move way down. I had a couple good weeks to start, and wound up on court #1. Not the first time, but the most unique. I was worried about the guy I knew had a full ride to play at Univ of FL, and a neighbor of mine from Canada who was his doubles partner when they played in Florida tournaments. I was dreading the next 2-3 hours. I started with an apology....I didn’t ASK to be here. Before we start, a buddy comes up to me and says “I know you're probably nervous about playing with Tom and Chris, but do you see the tall guy? He lives down the road from me. I sat in his family room and watched video of him playing Connors and Lendl at the US Open.” WHAT??? Turns out the guy was a top 10 doubles player in the world, then got chicken pox as an adult, as I remember it. Complications ended his tennis career. Highlight of my tennis life, probably low light of theirs. I got 9 games, 3-3 and 3 is not embarrassing, and I never got broken (thanks to monsters at the net!). Love the game still, wish I could play it the way I used to. Edited August 30, 2019 by Augie
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 16 minutes ago, Augie said: Love Nadal, but Federer is my all-time guy. Loved when cocky Djokovic said Roger was no big deal, and Nadal stepped up and said (at the time) something like “well, he’s got 13 majors, and you have squat! Have some respect. Go out and win some.” I hate that the Joker may catch up, but he’s a petty guy who is upset that people don’t love him. That’s the price of not being lovable! . I am with you. Killed me to see Joker beat Federer at Wimbledon. I can’t tell you how hard I was pulling for Federer. Had two championship points! Still makes me sick! 4 minutes ago, Augie said: That brings back memories! I used to play in a 10 week Monday night doubles league at our club in Florida. It was 14 courts of doubles under lights. One set with each guy, win 18 games, you move up to a higher court. Lose, you move way down. I had a couple good weeks to start, and wound up on court #1. Not the first time, but the most unique. I was worried about the guy I knew had a full ride to play at Univ of FL, and a neighbor of mine from Canada who was his doubles partner when they played in Florida tournaments. I was dreading the next 2-3 hours. Before we start, a buddy comes up to me and says “I know you're probably nervous about playing with Tom and Chris, but do you see the tall guy? He lives down the road from me. I sat in his family room and watched video of him playing Connors and Lendl at the US Open.” WHAT??? Turns out the guy was a top 10 doubles player in the world, then got chicken pox as an adult, as I remember it. Complications ended his tennis career. Highlight of my tennis life, probably low light of theirs. I got 9 games, 3-3 and 3 is not embarrassing, and I never got broken (thanks to monsters at the net!). Love the game still, wish I could play it the way I used to. Ha—that’s great!! Great game to play. I wish I can get out more— used to be a decent doubles player in high school. Just no time to play and none of my friends really play. 1
Augie Posted August 30, 2019 Author Posted August 30, 2019 12 minutes ago, JR in Pittsburgh said: I am with you. Killed me to see Joker beat Federer at Wimbledon. I can’t tell you how hard I was pulling for Federer. Had two championship points! Still makes me sick! Ha—that’s great!! Great game to play. I wish I can get out more— used to be a decent doubles player in high school. Just no time to play and none of my friends really play. In season I hit at a park 4-5 days/week. Just groundstrokes with a couple guys. Another group is there rotating in and out with several courts of doubles. We’re all pals, but I’ve never broken into the doubles crowd. Haven’t done much volleying in a decade. Turns out the eyes change, and that makes a difference in tracking the ball with multi focal contact lenses. Excited about the Open, as always, but heading to a Spain/Portugal trip Saturday on a small cruise ship (310 people). More excited about that, but hope I get to see some tennis! I know they have some bars on board! 1
stony Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 27 minutes ago, Augie said: Love Nadal, but Federer is my all-time guy. Loved when cocky Djokovic said Roger was no big deal, and Nadal stepped up and said (at the time) something like “well, he’s got 13 majors, and you have squat! Have some respect. Go out and win some.” I hate that the Joker may catch up, but he’s a petty guy who is upset that people don’t love him. That’s the price of not being lovable! . Djokovic never did himself any favors early in his career. He was notorious for questionable injury breaks during tight matches and of course, how many times does a man bounce the ball before he serves?!? Crap like that didn't help pick up fans who were already spellbinded by Roger & Nadal. But to be fair, that was 10+ years ago. Does he try too hard to get the crowd to like him? Yes. Does his grass eating celebration at Wimbledon make you cringe? Kinda. But he crashed the most popular men's rivalry ever (arguably). I don't recall the Rafa quote, but it doesn't surprise me. He's the classiest athlete I've ever come across. I've always appreciated Nadal's interactions with Novak more than Federer's. It seems pretty apparent Nadal has accepted him as a peer and equal, something Federer hasn't done. I'll be in the minority, but I'll be happy if/when he passes Fed. 1
Augie Posted August 30, 2019 Author Posted August 30, 2019 3 minutes ago, stony said: Djokovic never did himself any favors early in his career. He was notorious for questionable injury breaks during tight matches and of course, how many times does a man bounce the ball before he serves?!? Crap like that didn't help pick up fans who were already spellbinded by Roger & Nadal. But to be fair, that was 10+ years ago. Does he try too hard to get the crowd to like him? Yes. Does his grass eating celebration at Wimbledon make you cringe? Kinda. But he crashed the most popular men's rivalry ever (arguably). I don't recall the Rafa quote, but it doesn't surprise me. He's the classiest athlete I've ever come across. I've always appreciated Nadal's interactions with Novak more than Federer's. It seems pretty apparent Nadal has accepted him as a peer and equal, something Federer hasn't done. I'll be in the minority, but I'll be happy if/when he passes Fed. I respect the talent, and I respect your opinion. I don’t think Roger has shunned Novak in any way. I’ve never heard an interview where Roger dissed Novak or diverted the conversation. It may be real, or he may be too smart. I’d rather have Nadal on top than the Joker, for sure. In the end, it won’t be Roger. It doesn’t make him any less great.
The Plastic Cup Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 59 minutes ago, JR in Pittsburgh said: PS— you want to talk about great US Open memories... I used to go every year back in that era....the 80s/early 90s was incredible for tennis. Wifey is actually flying out tomorrow night to meet up with friends in NYC for the weekend and going to the Open on Sunday. 1
row_33 Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 (edited) I try to tape and watch the semis and finals if they are going to be competitive as a somewhat fan it's hard to devote up to 5 hours for a match frustratingly, the man who is ahead in sets often tanks an entire set to rest up, so that's 40 minutes i can fast forward through Djokovic tanked the 2nd and 4th sets, basically, against Federer at Wimbledon 2019, good strategy 10 hours ago, The Plastic Cup said: I used to go every year back in that era....the 80s/early 90s was incredible for tennis. Wifey is actually flying out tomorrow night to meet up with friends in NYC for the weekend and going to the Open on Sunday. 1970s was the best for personalities and extreme rivalries. Edited August 30, 2019 by row_33
The Plastic Cup Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 53 minutes ago, row_33 said: I try to tape and watch the semis and finals if they are going to be competitive as a somewhat fan it's hard to devote up to 5 hours for a match frustratingly, the man who is ahead in sets often tanks an entire set to rest up, so that's 40 minutes i can fast forward through Djokovic tanked the 2nd and 4th sets, basically, against Federer at Wimbledon 2019, good strategy 1970s was the best for personalities and extreme rivalries. I think we started going in the early 80s. Post Borg, but Mac, Jimmy, Lendl, Becker, Evert, Marina, etc. I remember watching Stefen Edberg as a teenager playing the junior tournament on the of the side courts, thinking, ‘wow, this kid is good!’ Nothing like going the first week and being able to hop around to different matches and seeing the crowd gather as word spread about an unexpectedly tight match.
row_33 Posted August 30, 2019 Posted August 30, 2019 44 minutes ago, The Plastic Cup said: I think we started going in the early 80s. Post Borg, but Mac, Jimmy, Lendl, Becker, Evert, Marina, etc. I remember watching Stefen Edberg as a teenager playing the junior tournament on the of the side courts, thinking, ‘wow, this kid is good!’ Nothing like going the first week and being able to hop around to different matches and seeing the crowd gather as word spread about an unexpectedly tight match. i try to get to see the pros in Toronto each August, the women command 1/4 the ticket cost of the men.... if you haven't seen the level of Nadal or Serena in public, please go at least once in your life, even for a who-cares exhibition TV compresses the game, maybe the worst for sports, but the actual distance this ball is traveling in that short a time and the demands of coverage and movement are never forgotten the first time you see it.
Augie Posted August 30, 2019 Author Posted August 30, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, row_33 said: i try to get to see the pros in Toronto each August, the women command 1/4 the ticket cost of the men.... if you haven't seen the level of Nadal or Serena in public, please go at least once in your life, even for a who-cares exhibition TV compresses the game, maybe the worst for sports, but the actual distance this ball is traveling in that short a time and the demands of coverage and movement are never forgotten the first time you see it. 1) We saw Serena on a practice court at the Sony/Lipton/Ericsson/Miami Open years ago. She was cussing like a sailor at her hitting partner and smashing racquets left and right. THAT was the real Serena, the one who told the line judge she would shove that ball where the sun don’t shine. All this with little kids lined up along the fence and her father scowling at everyone watching. Changed my opinion of Serena for sure! (Meanwhile, Federer walks by playing and laughing with a couple dozen kids following him...LOVE that guy!) 2) If you haven’t seen top level tennis in person, you have no idea what it’s like! On TV it looks.....interesting. In person it appears to defy the laws of physics! THAT tennis even sounds different! . Edited August 30, 2019 by Augie 1
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