US Open, uh-hmm...

...trying to focus, but work and these football men are "distracting" me! :)
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by Philipina A. Marcelo


I am totally putting myself in a lot of "trouble" sitting here writing this rather than enslaving myself some more... to work! It's my "free day" from work... but I have "six-feet tall" of workload beside me as I write this, almost "killed" myself yesterday from crazy workload. I've already given up "my" Sunday for lab work, and now used six hours of "my" day on work stuff... so, maybe, I deserve some "fun time"? No? Ah, whatever! My brain says "fun", and refuses to recognize things like "refrigeration", "mechanical energy losses in pipelines", or "permeate flux"! "Love", "deuce", "ace", "goal", and their variants are all that it recognizes right now... so, "fun" it is then! Yay!

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US Open, finally!

It is unbelievable that the US Open is already on its eighth day today and I only got to sit to pay "serious attention" to the goings on at Flushing Meadows. I did say that work was threatening to crush me flat this month... and the threat turned to a real crushing force. *sigh* And this is why, I need some serious fun time. :) Besides, after seeing the Rafa Nadal "cramping episode" during his press conference yesterday (and reading about the funny comments from people later), I got really curious! Haha... uhm, ahem, excuse me... sorry (hahaha...).

Moving on...

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Excitement in the women's singles

Ah, finally, World #1 Caroline Wozniacki triumphed in a BIG match - against Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia. It was an exciting match... I know, it sounds weird that the word "exciting" is in the same sentence as "Caroline Wozniacki" (hehe...), but there is no other word to describe that match though. It was exciting... and mostly because of, ahem, the Kuznetsova forehand! =)

The first set was stretched to maximum tension in a tie break, where Kuznetsova assumed the "attacker's role", and Wozniacki took the
Wozniacki, on a fighting mode.defensive end. Both were fantastic in the roles they chose for themselves. Between the two, Kuznetsova had the bigger artillery of shots, with her tricky Nadal-like topspins and incredible forehand as her biggest guns, therefore, she fits the offensive role like a glove in this match. She took several shots at Wozniacki with her forehand, and Wozniacki defended with fast reaction and her usual ball-scampering moves. Wozniacki wore her "wheeled tennis shoes" today, and she covered the court with it without reserve as she tried to return the spinning balls from the Kuznetsova racket. But, everytime, Wozniacki's attention strayed in split second, the Kuznetsova forehand collected points... and so, the first set went to the Russian's way, 7(8)-6(6).

The second set started with a Wozniacki defeat written all over it, with a break of serve in favor of Kuznetsova... until the Russian's tank ran empty at around the 8th game when Wozniacki pulled Kuznetsova's cushion of break of serve under the Russian with a break of serve of her own. The young Dane, whose biggest attributes are stamina and positive attitude (that, sadly, is enough to catapult one to the top of the women's ranking these days), recognized the weakening forehand and the less lethal topspins as Kuznetsova started to succumb to fatigue. The smart Wozniacki then went for a reversal of roles, using her speed to beat the Russian to the points by
Svetlana Kuznetsova, running on empty tank. split seconds. The delayed reaction of the Russian to the Wozniacki balls erased her early lead as Wozniacki snatched the second set. And, in the third set, Kuznetsova was not only running on empty tank, but she was running on flat tires, too. And the Dane took advantage of it, rushing to every point with a speed that the fatigued Russian cannot match. With that, Wozniacki received her pass to the quarterfinals to meet with 10th seed, Andrea Petkovic of Germany, who earlier took out the returning-to-top-form, Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, in straight sets.

So, how do I feel about Wozniacki's chances this year in the US Open? Hopeful, but not exactly excited. While she won a big match against Kuznetsova, she won it by her tenacity to run after the ball, and Kuznetsova's lack of fitness, rather than by talent and patented shots. She will continue to outdo less fit and less patient players along the way... but once she's faced with fit and talented players, she'll assume her boring defensive position again. She might bag the US Open this year... and keep the #1 Rank... but that doesn't mean she's the best in the women's side. In fact, she will continue to be the symbol of the lackluster bunch of inconsistent performers, so lacking of passion for the sport, that women in tennis have become these days... until she
Williams and Ivanovic, former #1 in the World both,
when ranking was still a reliable barometer of
greatness in women's tennis.packed her bag with exciting shots artillery the next time she steps into the big stage, of course. I hope that that comes soon enough. Well, she's dressed quite decently - by her patented "free-skin peek" standard - for the US Open this year. That's a start. :) While she's no sister - yet - I still wish her the best, of course.

In the other big matches in the women's side, two former #1 in the World ladies, Serena Williams and Ana Ivanovic, exchanged fire powers. Williams prevailed in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, but not without a fierce resistance from Ivanovic, especially in the second set. The American is on collision course with Wozniacki in the semis. If no one upsets the Dane along the way :), Serena would have a chance to show the #1 in the World who, actually, was boss in women's tennis. :). Well, that would be a must-see. Another Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, moved on to the QFs after outlasting the 2010 Roland Garros champ, Francesca Schiavone of Italy, in three sets. I have yet to see the Aussie, Sam Stosur, in action... I like her brand of tennis, actually. She will meet the #2 seed, Vera Zvonareva, tomorrow in one of the first women's QFs. Hmmm... I hope to find a hole in my packed sked tomorrow to catch that. Good luck to me! =)

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The men are on fire... as usual

Roger Federer, finally! Yeah, it's my first time to see
Roger Federer... oy!him in action in the 2011 US Open - I'm serious! :) That's how monstrous my work sked is these days. :( Oh. well... but, let's be positive and think about the RF shots hotness, shall we? OK... so, he was awesome! He took out Lionel Messi's compatriot, Juan Monaco of Argentina in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0. Yeah, I know... poor Monaco! RF played like a man who needed to get home soon to feed her little twin girls... and didn't carry an umbrella, and the rain threatened to pour at Arthur Ashe. :) He didn't give Monaco time to get into the match at all. It was a victory obtained in a hurried New Yorker's pace! :) But, he did give the fans something - a lot of things - to dream about. Whew, hot! But that's all that I'm willing to say right now, considering he's facing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga again in the QF. Remember, 2011 Wimbledon QF? And then three weeks ago, Montreal? I hope he... nah, I'll stop here. :)

Speaking of Tsonga, he beat the top American player, Mardy Fish, in their
Fish and Tsonga, impressive.incredible fourth-round five-setter match earlier today. Tsonga claimed the first set in his characteristic energetic game... and then Fish fought back, in a fantastic way that I've never seen him play before, to claim the next two sets - deflating the Tsonga livewire enthusiasm. But the "comeback kid" Tsonga, accepted the fact that the New York crowd will not play "I heart Tsonga" with his "showman antics", which included changing his shorts on the sidelines within a makeshift wall of towels held by the ballboys. =) The Frenchman refused to go for a restroom break as suggested by the chair umpire, and insisted to change on the sidelines after Fish received naughty whistles when he changed shirts there during the break. Oh, well... that's Tsonga for you! :) And then at two-sets all, on the fifth set, with the men one game a piece and at 40-40, Tsonga started talking to himself instead when the NY crowd refused to side with him. He sucked it all in, moved on... and then claimed victory from the pained Fish - on his own! :)

World #1, Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, while claiming a straight-sets victory, 7(16)-6(14), 6-4, 6-2, over Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine, was tested rather heavily in a totally
Djokovic and Dolgopolov: talent,
focus, adventure and sense of
humor.entertaining match! Both men were unleashing ferocious shots through awesome athletic, sometimes even acrobatic, moves. The tie break in the first set was of championship quality - a crazy exchange of great shots that sent the NY tennis fans in Arthur Ashe to their feet. After snatching the prized win of the first set, The Djoker celebrated like he's already won the tournament... and quite understandly so!

I was almost sad to see Dolgopolov exit. While defeated by the #1 man in tennis on the planet, NY showed tremendous appreciation for the Ukrainians's performance - and he totally deserved it, too. Dolgopolov is one very talented chap! He will rise to the rankings soon, that's for sure... uhm, Andy Murray, are you paying attention? =)

Speaking of Murray, I did see him in action - albeit fleetingly and
Murray and Haase, incredible
match - uber!without my full concentration - when he crossed swords with Robin Haase of Netherlands in the second round as I prepared to go to work. The match started out as a "sigh-sigh-sigh-what-are-you-thinking-Andy" sort of a match as I watched Murray being hammered by Haase in the first two sets... and then, Murray seemed to wake up from a trance induced by the fourth-in-the-world boredom, realized he hasn't won a major, and this might be his chance... and pouced back! His "awakening" was too powerful that in the fourth set, Haase looked like he didn't know what tsunami was attacking him - Murray won that set, 6-0! Simply amazing! He won the match eventually... well, I found out about the result after work... I had to leave Murray's in his third round saga in the middle of the fifth set for... uh, work, what else! :(

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Ah, these scene stealers...

When you see news stories like this, this, and this... and, well, this, it's hard not to pay attention! :)

After watching the new UEFA Champions League video magazine which featured Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Cristiano Ronaldo, pangs of guilt bit painfully. I've been meaning to write
Midfield Maestro, Xavi Hernandez.a feature on Xavi when UEFA announced last July the Top 3 contenders for the inaugual of the "UEFA Best Player in Europe Award": two of Barça's superplayers, Messi and Xavi, and Real Madrid's Ronaldo... with Andres Iniesta - another Barça genius - coming in as a close fourth. Of course, we know now that Messi won the award in an overwhelming domination of votes two weeks ago.

While I am a BIG Lionel Messi fan, I am also a HUGE admirer of the "Midfield Genius", Xavi... and I have to admit that, while I am happy to see Messi collect those individual awards, it's kinda painful, too, to realize after the jubilation that Xavi missed yet another opportunity to be recognized for his own genius. Okay... I'll save this topic for when I have enough time to write about it. Xavi is too awesome, he deserves full attention.

'Til later...

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Photo credits: All photos were grabbed from the Zimbio website - thanks.

Red hot in white on green...

...in the All England Club!
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by Philipina A. Marcelo


There's serious work, of course... but there's also serious play - courtesy of Wimbledon!

Just three weeks after my Knights' successful negotiation with the "hooded one" for my "visa extension" in this "valley of tears", I'm just very thankful to be back in the swing of things at España Blvd. While I'm only about 70% fine, all at once, busy, busy, busy is the story of my life again... but I'm not complaining. After all, I imagine it's a (big) "clause" in the negotiation "agreement": I'd get an "extension", I'd use my time productively... not that I haven't been trying to do exactly that. But it's a fair enough "clause"... therefore, I'm just very happy to comply. :) However, no matter the level of "busyness", there's always time to enjoy the fabulous tennis on display at the 2011 Championships, Wimbledon. I have to make time... it's a part of the "negotiation", too, you know. ;)

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First and second rounds roundabout...

So, the Big Four in men's tennis are once again parading their tennis hotness... with the other men close "behind them" making the "grass show" at SW19 all the more alluring. And yes, there had been a number of well-documented baring of chest and abs on court, too, among the beautiful men, which received a lot of ooohs and aaahs from the smitten crowd. :) And from the looks of it, unlike in football world, I don't think the officials of tennis are about to outlaw such acts. Uhmm, nah, not complaining - never! ;)

The first round was full of heart-stopping "scares". The defending
Rafa Nadal, having fun? Champion, Rafael Nadal, was broken in the first set by USA's Michael Russel in their first round match on Day 1, going down to 0-2. Of course, after that first round scare courtesy of John Isner in Roland Garros, this was kind of unbearable - emotionally unacceptable! I had to give up my lecture slides preparation for a bit to pay close attention. But the World No. 1 recovered fast, re-calibrated his game to beat the American, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. I was too tired to stay up all night on Day 3 to see him take care of another American, Ryan Sweeting, in the second round. But I had just enough viewing time to notice that while he still glared a lot on court like the hot Spanish Matador that he is, he had been more than generous in flashing his charming Mallorcan smile in the first and second rounds - sweet! Purr.... :)

Roger Federer walked into Centre Court for his first-round match with Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin with the "gentleman of distinction" swagger that only he can carry without looking in-your-face arrogant - I think it's called "elegance". He seemed very aware of the admiring smiles all around him, obviously still conveying their appreciation of his good run in Roland Garros... and hoping he'd exceed his performance in the City of Lights at the All
The Swiss Maestro, en concieto.England Club. The Swiss Maestro most graciously returned the open admiration with an awesome grass repertoire: beautiful full-body lift for right-on-the-tee serves, full-body twist in mid-air for a blistering forehand down the line, full stretch of the sexy chest with a twist of the torso and a graceful bending of the knees to issue a precise one-handed backhand, brilliantly executed serve-and-volley, graceful groundstrokes that earned breathtaking winners... too beautiful! Undeterred, Kukushkin pushed El Maestro to earn his swagger to a tie break in the first set... kinda scary. But RF was not about to be robbed of "his moment", and went on to beat the Kazakh, 7(7)-6(2), 6-4, 6-2. While I enjoyed the match... I felt there was a bit too much of the RF awagger though as he went deep into the match... and I'm not liking it too much. He'd better concentrate on his game more, I think. Then again, it's his opening match... he's allowed a little All England "grass flirting". :) He was more of his serene and focused self in his second round straight sets victory, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, over Adrian Mannarino of France, which was good. And he was fantastic to watch, of course! He will face the dangerous Argentine, David Nalbandian, in the third round. And the uphill climb begins....

No. 2 in the World Novak Djokovic has been winning clinically as he resumes his phenomenal 2011 run, suffering a hitch only from that
Novak Djokovic, look-at-me, look-at-me!derailment courtesy of RF in Roland Garros. He dismissed Jeremy Chardy of France via a convincing 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 win in no more than 80 minutes in the first round. He followed that up with another clinical straight sets win over Kevin Anderson of South Africa, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. He's living up to expectations, that's for sure. However, somewhat like RF, he's been walking with swagger, too. His is a bit overdone though... and there are some of those tell-tale signs of ego-swell with a "look-at-me, look-at-me" show on court that I can surely do without. As if the whole tennis planet's attention wasn't enough! Ugh! Then again, who am I to judge? Nobody, I guess... it's just that I prefer The Djoker in the brilliant Djokovic.

British Numero Uno, Andy Murray, scared the hell out of me in his first-round match with Spain's Daniel Gimeno-Traver. The
Andy Murray, British #1.
Aaaw-wooo... Scot looked red hot as he started his SW19 campaign... until he was broken, and lost the first set, 4-6! Into the second set, he was looking vulnerable - again! Dang! I had to make tea in the middle of the night to force butterflies in my stomach to settle down! But he prevailed... 6-3. And then, he realized that he had a "mission" to fulfill in SW19... he then gripped his racquet with a steel determination and downed the Spaniard, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-0! Of course, he growled in the end! Aawww-wooo! His second-round match with Tobias Kamke of Germany was less tense, winning it in straight sets... and I hope it stays like that for him for the rest of the tournament... except that he's in the same half of the draw as Rafa Nadal! Aaaawww...

Of course, I've been watching Robin Soderling, too. It scared me
Robin Soderling escapes!silly, too, to see him being pushed to four sets by the German, Philipp Petzschner, losing the third set, and going on a heart-stopping tie break in the fourth! He won, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 7(7)-6(5). As if that wasn't enough, the Swede had to dig deep in his shots kit to prevail in his second-round confrontation with former No. 1 in the World and 2002 Wimbledon Champ, the Aussie Lleyton Hewitt in the second round. I was torn, of course, because I like both men! I was glad to see Hewitt finally broke through his bout with injuries and arrive
Lleyton Hewitt, nice try. healthy in SW19 this season... but I couldn't completely celebrate as I watched him kill Soderling's "programmed game" in the first and second sets! Hewitt, brought his champion caliber game to Soderling, displayed fantastic moves that shook Soderling some... and more! But the Swede re-grouped... concentrated in winning points - one at a time - to re-emerge from a two-set deficit to go even in the fourth. He barely edged the passionate Aussie in a heart-thumping five-set battle, 6(5)-7(7), 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4. Whew, too hot!

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Bits and pieces of awesomeness...

Speaking of "scares", Roland Garros 2011 finalist and 2010 Champ, Italian Francesca Schiavone, made me sit up as she battled
Dokic & Schiavone, tight match!Australia's Jelena Dokic in a three-set first-round thriller! I couldn't make up my mind between the two ladies as I like Dokic, too. To be honest, I think the former Juniors World No. 1 Dokic was shooting the more outstanding winners - such a natural talent... but she looked rusty and "too heavy" to effect her former top caliber moves. She has been in and out of the tour due to various reasons... and it's a pity how her natural talents are being put to waste... I'm glad she's back, but Schiavone was too much of a wild force for her to tame. Maybe next time....

Of course, the big Argentine, Juan Martin del Potro, is making his presence felt once again with his booming shots! But I have been too busy to include his matches in my limited "relaxation time". Caught a few of his big shots though - whew, frightening! He just set up a third-round match-up with the brilliant Frenchman, Gilles Simon! Dang, how exciting is that! For sure, that's a must-see match... and it's going to be one of my priority matches in the third round! :)

Serena Williams has been moving beautifully on court. She's
Serena Williams, too good!playing a perfect game so far - fast, powerful shots, nicely put games for impressive winners. But then again, it's Serena. What else can be expected? She's too good, it's almost boring! Venus Williams, on the other hand, is painful to watch in her yet again trying-hard-to-wow outfit. Sorry, I know she's a great champ, and I like her personality... but that's exactly the point - she plays brilliant tennis, she doesn't have to try too hard to wow!

Ana Ivanovic is looking like she's on the right track... and I'm so
Ana Ivanovic, getting there.glad. I'd really like this former No. 1 in the World Serb to regain her great form and her Top 10 status. She's one of those great ambassadresses of tennis - very talented, and with a wonderful personality, too. She's through to the third round! Yaay! :)

The French Showman, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, once again wowed the crowd with his emphatic second round four-set win over Gregor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, 6(4)-7(7), 6-4, 6-4, 7(10)-6(8) - very exciting and emotionally charged match. Tomas Berdych is flying under the radar, gliding from one round to the other without hitches. I haven't seen David Ferrer in action, but he seem to be doing fine, playing the second round now with American, Ryan Harrison. I'm hoping to see Julia Goerges of Germany in action, too. She's through to the third round - good. I've yet to see Maria Sharapova's outfit... okay, and her, too. :) I'm not too excited to see Caroline Wozniacki in action though... could this be "the one" for her? I wish her luck... I'm serious! :)

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And then the upsets...

While Robin Soderling marginally escaped a second round upset as Lleyton
Sabine Lisicki, sweet
victory!Hewitt faltered on critical points in their match, the 2011 French Open Champ, Li Na, was not as lucky. She was ousted by the wild card Sabine Lisicki of Germany in a truly fantastic second-round match that turned out to be the biggest upset so far! The 21-year old German had an answer to all the great shots thrown at her by China's No. 1. Li Na's usually unruffled faҫade was visibly shaken and in distress as the German assaulted her with big forehand shots send in winners and sprinted blindingly fast, covering the court easily, to save points! The high intensity of the match and her dramatic win, 3-6, 6-4, 8-6, sent Lisicki to her knees as she shook from tears of joy. Great match!

Seeded #13, Viktor Troicki of Serbia - the man who pushed Andy Murray to his limit in Roland Garros, was sent packing by Taipe's aggressive Yen-Shun Lu in a straight sets second round victory. Another high-quality match right there. #20 seed, Florian Meyer of Germany, suffered a second round ouster from the hands of unseeded Xavier Malisse of Belgium. Fernando Verdasco of Spain, a former Top 10 player and now seeded #21, exited in the second round after a four-set upset in the hands of Robin Haase of the Netherlands. Verdasco is slowly slipping down in the ranking - pity.


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Photo credits: All photos were grabbed from the Zimbio website - thanks!