Kieran
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You think that’s necessarily racist? Or was she just being friendly? When Rafa pats an opponent in the shoulder after a victory, is he being racist?
Roland Garros / French Open 2023 [Women] - Grand Slam
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Fiero425
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Someone has to be beggin' to twist an arm around that far! I'm shocked! The condescension is mindblowing!
Kieran
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I think that calling racism on everything, even for privileged multi millionaires, shows how far we’ve come on race. If Sloane Stephens is saying that racism is at an all time high, then she’s insulting victims of slavery, Jim Crow and segregation. Or maybe she doesn’t know history? Now a pat on the shoulder is racism?Someone has to be beggin' to twist an arm around that far! I'm shocked! The condescension is mindblowing!
Gimme a well-earned break…
Fiero425
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I can still picture Navratilova defeating Graf in the SF of the '86 USO! At the net she tried to pat her on the back and Graf twisted away! That wasn't condescension, but rude behavior on Graf's part IMO!
Kieran
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Yeah! I remember that. And I don’t even think Martina was trying to patronise her, but Steffi reacted!I can still picture Navratilova defeating Graf in the SF of the '86 USO! At the net she tried to pat her on the back and Graf twisted away! That wasn't condescension, but rude behavior on Graf's part IMO!
Fiero425
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Martina had a lot of bad luck at the USO winning only 4, but she all but owned Steffi there winning 4 of 5 matches! The lone loss '89 final!
I was not a fan of Steffi's 80s behavior. Very robotic, reminds me of Swiatek today. To her credit, Steffi's personality improved in the 90s.I can still picture Navratilova defeating Graf in the SF of the '86 USO! At the net she tried to pat her on the back and Graf twisted away! That wasn't condescension, but rude behavior on Graf's part IMO!
Kieran
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You know, she was like Borg at first, then Bjorn retired but she didn’t - and won it the following year!Martina had a lot of bad luck at the USO winning only 4, but she all but owned Steffi there winning 4 of 5 matches! The lone loss '89 final!
Fiero425
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No one was more unlucky than Borg at the USO! He played on all the 3 surfaces, but something would always happen to thwart a win! He was injured a couple times; shoulder ('77), thumb ('78), and in '79 Roscoe Tanner serving in the middle of the night!
Kieran
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Yeah, high bounces and crumby floodlights, bad timing at times, and injuries. If it was on clay from 80-81 he’s got two wins there, despite the vexed difference of that green clay. He’s the great mystery of tennis, and the mystery is even the good stuff, makes us think..No one was more unlucky than Borg at the USO! He played on all the 3 surfaces, but something would always happen to thwart a win! He was injured a couple times; shoulder ('77), thumb ('78), and in '79 Roscoe Tanner serving in the middle of the night!
Great moment for Brazilian women's tennis.
I would think the late great Brazilian tennis player Maria Bueno would be pleased with Beatriz Haddad Maia's break through to the SF"s. Just have seen scratchy videos (and watched her on TV well past her prime in the mid 70's) but what a mover she was on the court, smooth as silk ala Evonne Goolagong with a S-V game so endemic of women's tennis pre the Open Era. Her and Margaret Court and Billie Jean had some huge epic battles, and no love lost between the 3 champs...LOL.
Bueno, a 7 time Slam winner, came so at close the French Championships, made the SF's 4 times and losing a 3 set final to Margaret Court in 1965.
I would think the late great Brazilian tennis player Maria Bueno would be pleased with Beatriz Haddad Maia's break through to the SF"s. Just have seen scratchy videos (and watched her on TV well past her prime in the mid 70's) but what a mover she was on the court, smooth as silk ala Evonne Goolagong with a S-V game so endemic of women's tennis pre the Open Era. Her and Margaret Court and Billie Jean had some huge epic battles, and no love lost between the 3 champs...LOL.
Bueno, a 7 time Slam winner, came so at close the French Championships, made the SF's 4 times and losing a 3 set final to Margaret Court in 1965.
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MargaretMcAleer
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I picked Haddad Maia to win against Jabuer, a great win for Brazilian tennis, well deserved win for Bea!
Though seeing Ons went out in the first rd at RG last year and making it to the QF a good tournament, wait for the grass that is where Ons usually shines
Though seeing Ons went out in the first rd at RG last year and making it to the QF a good tournament, wait for the grass that is where Ons usually shines
MargaretMcAleer
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Hoergren,
If you are around I see Caroline is teaming up with Kim Cljsters in the Legends Doubles tomorrow
If you are around I see Caroline is teaming up with Kim Cljsters in the Legends Doubles tomorrow
MargaretMcAleer
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I personally think Iga is a pleasure to watch on clay, her footwork, fhand, and her outstanding defense, defense on clay is vital, this is a area that Iga shines
Coco had her chances more in the 1st set, though she competed much better today than previous matches, I hope Coco finds the right coach to take her game to the next level, she is a good athlete, and has always had the good potential
Coco had her chances more in the 1st set, though she competed much better today than previous matches, I hope Coco finds the right coach to take her game to the next level, she is a good athlete, and has always had the good potential
MargaretMcAleer
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Tomorrow in the SFs we have 2 matches with players with contrasting styles.
I will put up the SF matches later
I will put up the SF matches later
MargaretMcAleer
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Ladies singles Semi - Final matches,
Thursday 8th June,
Aryna Sabalenka (2) vs Karolina Muchova unseeded
H2H Sabalenka 1-0 Oct 2109 Elite Tropy Zhuhai Sabalenka won in straight sets 75 76(4).
Sabalenka is one of the hardest hitters on the WTA Tour, she also wears her heart on her sleeve. This is the first time at Roland Garros she has past the 3rd round, to her credit this year, she mentally has turned her game around and worked with a Bio Mechanic Specialist on her serve, to cut out those DF's that were a big problem in her game.
Karolina Muchova is no stranger to semi final tennis she previously made the SF at the AO in 2021, sad to say injuries have kept her out of the Top 10, she has a great IQ for tennis and a all court game, she can slice, dice her way around a tennis court, her variety is just a pleasure to watch, Muchova has the game to cause problems for Sabalenka, this is a match of contrasts I am really looking forward to.
Iga Swiatek (1) vs Beatriz Haddad Maia (14)
H2H Haddad Maia 1-0 Toronto Aug 22 in 3 sets HC, though this is their first meeting on clay.
An outstanding stat for Iga at Roland Garros she has won 26 of 28 matches, her winning percentage 92.9% is second only to Margaret Court at the AO ( 95.5%) and French Open ( 95.2%) among all other women in the Open Era. Iga has dropped all of 15 games in five matches, Pierce, Graf, Martinez and Navratilova have arrived in this final four with fewer losses in the Open Era.
A puzzling question , is how did Brazilian Haddad Maia, who had never been past the 2nd round of a Grand Slam, reach the final four in Paris?
Bea defeated no 7 seed Ons Jabeur in 3 sets, and first win against a Top Ten player in a major. Bea is the first woman in the Open Era tlo advance to the Roland Garros SF with 3 sets comeback in 3 previous rounds.
So do not underestimate this tenacious left hander from Brazil.
Thursday 8th June,
Aryna Sabalenka (2) vs Karolina Muchova unseeded
H2H Sabalenka 1-0 Oct 2109 Elite Tropy Zhuhai Sabalenka won in straight sets 75 76(4).
Sabalenka is one of the hardest hitters on the WTA Tour, she also wears her heart on her sleeve. This is the first time at Roland Garros she has past the 3rd round, to her credit this year, she mentally has turned her game around and worked with a Bio Mechanic Specialist on her serve, to cut out those DF's that were a big problem in her game.
Karolina Muchova is no stranger to semi final tennis she previously made the SF at the AO in 2021, sad to say injuries have kept her out of the Top 10, she has a great IQ for tennis and a all court game, she can slice, dice her way around a tennis court, her variety is just a pleasure to watch, Muchova has the game to cause problems for Sabalenka, this is a match of contrasts I am really looking forward to.
Iga Swiatek (1) vs Beatriz Haddad Maia (14)
H2H Haddad Maia 1-0 Toronto Aug 22 in 3 sets HC, though this is their first meeting on clay.
An outstanding stat for Iga at Roland Garros she has won 26 of 28 matches, her winning percentage 92.9% is second only to Margaret Court at the AO ( 95.5%) and French Open ( 95.2%) among all other women in the Open Era. Iga has dropped all of 15 games in five matches, Pierce, Graf, Martinez and Navratilova have arrived in this final four with fewer losses in the Open Era.
A puzzling question , is how did Brazilian Haddad Maia, who had never been past the 2nd round of a Grand Slam, reach the final four in Paris?
Bea defeated no 7 seed Ons Jabeur in 3 sets, and first win against a Top Ten player in a major. Bea is the first woman in the Open Era tlo advance to the Roland Garros SF with 3 sets comeback in 3 previous rounds.
So do not underestimate this tenacious left hander from Brazil.
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Just finished their match. Must say that Woz is playing quite well and she and Clijsters won 6-2 6-4 .i's actually nice to see these matches
I think Venus Williams would be the perfect coach for Coco Gauff. Venus had the same weakness (forehand) in her earlier years that Coco has now. If anyone would be best able to correct it, Venus would be the one.
Yes Vee would be ideal and the players used to target her fh a lot.All Coco problems will go away once she beefs up her serve and corrects her fh.
