mashadabest:

paul_pipkin:

WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS


USA
Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Liezel Huber
Melanie Oudin
Alexa Glatch
Captain: Mary-Joe Fernandez

Where the heck are the Williams Sisters?   How come they are not playing for their country?

 

Dee, this was posted a couple of hours ago on Tennis-X -- a 'zine for which I have limited use. It does not represent my views, but it may somewhat address your question.

More importantly, the item demonstrates the sickening depth of Yankee cynicism & fundamental contempt for any values beyond immediate acquisition. Yeah, it's true -- this is who we are.

April 23rd, 2009

Yawn, it’s the Fed Cup Semifinals!

by Staff

Four countries will engage in an intense battle of ‘Who cares!’ this weekend when the U.S. faces the Czech Republic and Russia squares off against Italy in the Fed Cup semifinals.

Since the rise of Russian women’s tennis, the Russians have lifted the Fed Cup trophy in four of the last five years, and the unstoppable juggernaut will again lift it in 2009. The Williams sisters have no interest in representing the U.S. in the “prestigious” international competition. The Serbs, Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic, are too new on the scene, and are still in the process of moving Serbia into the top World Group.

Nine of the current Top 10 on the WTA rankings are American, Russian or Serb players.

That leaves “the rest,” and France as the only country with two players in the Top 20.

Without the Williams sisters, the U.S. fields No. 39-ranked Bethanie Mattek-Sands and rookies Melanie Oudin and Alexa Glatch against a Czech squad that isn’t pulling in any TV ratings with their line-up. That semi is a toss up, not that you’d sit through a rain delay to see the outcome if the Bennigans outside the stadium in Brno, Czech Republic, has a two-for-one special.

In the second semifinal, Italy’s Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone are overwhelming underdogs against the Russian team. The Russians have three Top 10ers to choose from in Vera Zvonareva, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova. Good luck there.

The difference-maker in Russia racking up all these titles is team captain Shamil Tarpischev. He rules Russian tennis with an iron fist. On the other side of the coin, U.S. tennis is ruled by cash — the Williams sisters don’t see enough cash on the table, so they won’t play. Serena is injured right now, but she wouldn’t be playing if she was healthy. Venus also took a pass. No thanks. There are dresses to design and movie openings to attend. Don’t know what Russia pays their players, but if it was a free beer coupon for said Bennigans, that would be enough. Part because they love to represent country, part because they are scared of Tarpischev yelling at them, part because Bennigans is not bad.

Perhaps because the Williams sisters didn’t come up through the U.S.-funded tennis system, they feel no allegiance to represent the U.S., as opposed to many players who feel it is one of the greatest honors in tennis, to represent your country in international competitions. Regardless, the U.S. is lucky to be in the World Group without top player representation. Check back in a couple years.

Just present Russia with the trophy now and be over it, save two weekends of poor representation of the international championship that should focus top players and top nations all the time — but doesn’t. Fed Cup needs help.

Italy, to note, won the Fed Cup three years ago with the help of Belgium, which it beat in the final. Italy beat a Kim Clijsters-less Belgium in the final. But in the first round that year, Russia ran into a buzz saw, drawing Belgium and losing to former No. 1s Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne.

http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2009-04-23/1199.php 

Ahhh cool article, thanks for that Paul!!  Well I think it's kinda bad that the Williams sisters don't represent their country in the Fed Cup.   You would never see JJ not play for Serbia.

---

SANDRA BULLOCK = Best Actress at the Oscars 2010!!!

If you have a few seconds free, PLEASE go and sign the petition to try and help stop all commercial whaling: http://whaleman.org/index.htm

Maria Sharapova | Novak Djokovic | Jelena Jankovic | Grigor Dimitrov | Kim Clijsters | Rafael Nadal | Elena Dementieva |
Andy Roddick | Laura Robson | Fernando Verdasco | Maria Kirilenko | Lleyton Hewitt | Melanie Oudin.

bcuz dey only want to play close to the olypics to confirm their participation.....like what maria did...

---

CONGRATS!! SAME IN INDIAN WELLS PLEASE!!

If we are mystified at what Shamil is thinking here,  don't expect enlightenment from the Fed Cup site's account. I've noted the various questionable assertions, starting out with Schiavone's self-serving BS. (In what universe is the sticky RuKort "relatively slick"? In fact, the Italians' Moscow debacle arguably pivoted upon a ridiculous series of errors by Schiavone.)

More immediately, Shamil has had at least ten days to ponder the shape of the composite. (The timing of his team announcements indicates he was considering a Zvonareva health problem some 36 hours before Vera's ankle injury occurred--one had to be following Russian media to realize that.)

One suspects another of the old fox's famous last-minute reassignments may be coming. Indeed, why Chaki first up with Petrova on the bench? Personally, I wouldn't be surprised at some unexpected & creative use of Nastya...

  

Love her nails.

Italy aims to derail the Russians
The expressive Italian Francesca Schiavone made a rather bold statement after seeing her side beaten by Russia in the final of the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas two years ago. The 28-year old surmised that had the match been played on clay rather than a relatively slick hard court the Italians would have won.

What goes around comes around and 19 months on and with a similar cast assembled in the rather wet Italian seaside resort of Castellaneta Marina she has the chance to prove her words were not sour grapes but ones of substance. No easy task. Schiavone confesses to a liking of cartoons, and this weekend they play tennis's answer to ‘The Incredibles’.

The full draw for the tie is as follows:

Saturday
Flavia Pennetta (ITA) v Anna Chakvetadze (RUS)
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) v Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)

Sunday
Flavia Pennetta (ITA) v Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) v Anna Chakvetadze (RUS)
Sara Errani /Roberta Vinci (ITA) v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/Nadia Petrova (RUS)

Russian changes

Russia arrive for this semifinal without the new world No. 1 Dinara Safina, although the rotation policy adopted by this team is nothing new. (Unlike most press, they do recognize that.) What captain Shamil Tarpischev didn’t bargain for  though was the withdrawal of the in-form Vera Zvonareva with torn ankle ligaments.

Into the second singles berth steps the 22nd-ranked Anna Chakvetadze who has registered only four wins to her name this year, four less than Nadia Petrova who can count herself unlucky to be watching from the bench. (Yeah, what's up with that?)

Winners of 15 of their last 16 ties, Russia will look to Svetlana Kuznetsova to provide a backbone for success. Kuznetsova is now coachless after her split last month from Olga Morozova but is enjoying a Fed Cup run of eight straight singles wins. She admits though that preparations this week have not been perfect: “We have not managed to practise indoors, only outdoors, and not as much as we should have because of the conditions but we are looking forward to the weekend.” (So? The tie is outdoors.)

 

ved_mariafan:

bcuz dey only want to play close to the olypics to confirm their participation.....like what maria did...

lol shhhh I know it looks a bit suspicious, I mean the timing of Maria playing in the Fed Cup, but I still believe that she didn't only play to confirm her participation for the Olympics.

I actually like the composition of the Russia team this time, I mean not in terms of ability, I mean in terms of the players I like lol!  One day I really hope the team will be made up of Masha, Kiri, Chaki and Vera Z/Kuzi.  That would be my dream Russia team.   Anyways, good luck Russia, and goooooo Chaki!!!

---

SANDRA BULLOCK = Best Actress at the Oscars 2010!!!

If you have a few seconds free, PLEASE go and sign the petition to try and help stop all commercial whaling: http://whaleman.org/index.htm

Maria Sharapova | Novak Djokovic | Jelena Jankovic | Grigor Dimitrov | Kim Clijsters | Rafael Nadal | Elena Dementieva |
Andy Roddick | Laura Robson | Fernando Verdasco | Maria Kirilenko | Lleyton Hewitt | Melanie Oudin.

mashadabest:

ved_mariafan:

bcuz dey only want to play close to the olypics to confirm their participation.....like what maria did...

lol shhhh I know it looks a bit suspicious, I mean the timing of Maria playing in the Fed Cup, but I still believe that she didn't only play to confirm her participation for the Olympics.

I actually like the composition of the Russia team this time, I mean not in terms of ability, I mean in terms of the players I like lol!  One day I really hope the team will be made up of Masha, Kiri, Chaki and Vera Z/Kuzi.  That would be my dream Russia team.   Anyways, good luck Russia, and goooooo Chaki!!!

Glad to see you're not vanishing altogether, Dee. A few minutes a day here won't make you flunk the exams.

I've argued at length that accepting leadership of the Israel tie was above & beyond the call of duty. No need to run down the list again--but note how Masha's own Western handlers remain in sync with the commentariat's efforts to erase that from her record. lol! The battle on the Plain of Sharon was one of her proudest moments.

But, speaking of Ramat Ha'Sharon, Shamil remembers Chaki there--certainly better than the fans (precisely because of the press's expurgated record.) I will die on this court... As the Russian media likes to say, "Let us recall" the Chak-Attack.

Perhaps Fed Cup responsibility is just the thing for the Chakster.

paul_pipkin:

mashadabest:

ved_mariafan:

bcuz dey only want to play close to the olypics to confirm their participation.....like what maria did...

lol shhhh I know it looks a bit suspicious, I mean the timing of Maria playing in the Fed Cup, but I still believe that she didn't only play to confirm her participation for the Olympics.

I actually like the composition of the Russia team this time, I mean not in terms of ability, I mean in terms of the players I like lol!  One day I really hope the team will be made up of Masha, Kiri, Chaki and Vera Z/Kuzi.  That would be my dream Russia team.   Anyways, good luck Russia, and goooooo Chaki!!!

Glad to see you're not vanishing altogether, Dee. A few minutes a day here won't make you flunk the exams.

I've argued at length that accepting leadership of the Israel tie was above & beyond the call of duty. No need to run down the list again--but note how Masha's own Western handlers remain in sync with the commentariat's efforts to erase that from her record. lol! The battle on the Plain of Sharon was one of her proudest moments.

But, speaking of Ramat Ha'Sharon, Shamil remembers Chaki there--certainly better than the fans (precisely because of the press's expurgated record.) I will die on this court... As the Russian media likes to say, "Let us recall" the Chak-Attack.

Perhaps Fed Cup responsibility is just the thing for the Chakster.

Hehe well I am vanishing as of tonight, today's my last day.   Well I would come a few minutes a day, except that those few minutes would lead to a couple of hours a day lol when it comes to the forum, I have no self control.

Ahhhh the Chak Attack wow I saw a video of that on YouTube Chaki was so funny and awesome, it's actually when I became a fan of her!!

---

SANDRA BULLOCK = Best Actress at the Oscars 2010!!!

If you have a few seconds free, PLEASE go and sign the petition to try and help stop all commercial whaling: http://whaleman.org/index.htm

Maria Sharapova | Novak Djokovic | Jelena Jankovic | Grigor Dimitrov | Kim Clijsters | Rafael Nadal | Elena Dementieva |
Andy Roddick | Laura Robson | Fernando Verdasco | Maria Kirilenko | Lleyton Hewitt | Melanie Oudin.

paul_pipkin:

Never underestimate "the patriot game", y'know?

Tell me what I said.

I didn't expect Chaki to take down Flavia in the first rubber--and really don't think Shamil did either. But Kuzi pulling her typical 2nd set screw-up was a letdown.

It's near to impossible to deny the Italians one more, decisive, rubber. IF Kuzi can beat Pennetta, and IF Schiavone should come unstrung, then maybe the Russians can pull something outta the hat in the doubles. But it's looking grim.

I hope Shamil at least finds the opportunity to let Nastya show what she can do for the team.

 

No doubt that Russia is facing an uphill battle to overcome Italy.

I don't why Chaki was selected - her form sucks at the moment & she going down in the rankings. Kuzzie is certainly another player who is not performing either. Maybe the Russians have shot themselves in their foot by playing too much "Russian roulette" with team selections? It sort of reminds of the rotation policy that the All Blacks used for the 2007 World Cup (rugby union) - if you don't pick your best team, you will eventually pay for the consequences.

In other Fed Cup ties - Serbia are 2-0 up against Spain. With Ivanovic & Jankovic - both good clay court players, the Spanish were certainly going to be up against it despite having home advantage. USA & Czech Republic locked at 1-1. Could be interesting to see where this one goes, but if the USA win you can guarantee that the Williams sisters will be back to play the final. FRance & Slovak Republic at 1-1. The 2x veterans Mauresmo & Hantuchova will be doing battle as well as the new kids Cornet & Cibukova. An interesting tie! Nearer the home front, Aussie is 2-0 up against the Swiss. No surprise there. Stosur is in good form & Dokic isgoing okay too. The Swiss are no longer the force they used to be without Hingis or Schnyder. 

No Safina, no Zvonereva. No wonder they lost !

On the whole, the "rotation" of top players is a good system, but things like Vera's injury are going to happen--there should be a more detailed understanding for fall-back in case of those emergencies.

I do not understand why Shamil low-profiled Petrova, but I'm sure the вождь had his reasons. Pushing Andreev & Kunitsyn in Davis Cup surprised many, but his wisdom has proven out over time. I'm really pleased with him tossing the ball to Nastya Pavlyuchenkova today. If her more experienced team mates had similarly exerted themselves, there might have been victory in spite of the top level absences.

I expect Nastya on the Olympic squad in 2012.

Had Russia won today, the final would have been in Birmingham, Alabama or some other reactionary cesspool, plastered with ultranationalist posters & accompanied with the visa obstructions, cellphone tampering and other features of a uniquely American welcome.

As it worked out, however, the question now arises: will one or both sisters delay their vacation for an Italian clay date after the YEC? Actually, I make that 50-50 or less.  Those who would make it worth their while to participate are more about humiliating Russians than taking an earned honor away from Italians. Sorry, y'all, but this is a political consideration.

Congratulations to Italy & expectation of their victory in the final.

The sisters have expressed their desire to play in the finals after all the hard work was done. Only now they say they want to play!!! I feel sorry for Mattek  and Glatch.

---

There's a lot I could say about that--most all of it laced with profanity.  But six months is a long damn time in the world of the Tour. I'll refrain until the prospect is more certain to actually happen.

beni:

The sisters have expressed their desire to play in the finals after all the hard work was done. Only now they say they want to play!!! I feel sorry for Mattek  and Glatch.

Nooooooooooooooooooooo waaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!  OMG that's so unfair!!!!  They shouldn't be able to pick and choose when they play for their country!!  Actually well on the one hand it's good news cos I do support the USA, and with the Williams sisters they have more chance of winning BUT that doesn't change the fact that Mattek and the other players who played did all the hard work!!  For them to be dropped for the final so that the sisters can play is soooo unfair!!!  Even though I want the US to win, I would rather Mattek and Glatch keep their places - they were the ones that put in all the hard work and they got the US this far, who knows, maybe they can win without the sisters!

---

SANDRA BULLOCK = Best Actress at the Oscars 2010!!!

If you have a few seconds free, PLEASE go and sign the petition to try and help stop all commercial whaling: http://whaleman.org/index.htm

Maria Sharapova | Novak Djokovic | Jelena Jankovic | Grigor Dimitrov | Kim Clijsters | Rafael Nadal | Elena Dementieva |
Andy Roddick | Laura Robson | Fernando Verdasco | Maria Kirilenko | Lleyton Hewitt | Melanie Oudin.

i feel bad for mattek and glatch too