[loveprint]

He's done so well. Yes, it was painful watching him in the third set. I watched up to 0-3 and stopped. Resumed again at the first match point. It was hard. Like Julie said, I thought the best thing was to retire. I was watching via a Chinese channel so I didn't catch the comment about the retiring thing but I read it on RF.com.
Over 700 matches played and not once has he retired. What a champ.

[wonderbang]

^In that regard he's like the antithesis of Djokovic aka Mister-I-retired-one-time-because-I-had-a-headache.

[dOotsiez]

^ Djokovic actually holds the record for the most number of retirements when he's down a set or trailing, an honour he shares with Richard Gasquet, Federer on the other hand holds the record for having never retired from a professional match in his career, so go figure. Have to say though, when I saw him needing to sit down in the linesman's chair between Murray's serves, it was a real low point of the year for me. Urgh....

Strangely enough I'm going to root for Simon and Davydenko (or Davo, as I've australianised his name ). Masters Cup always brings out an underdog finalist - Ferrer, Blake, even Nalbandian to some extent, so Simon and Davydenko should count their lucky stars. I've always had a love/hate relationship with Davo, when you look at his game, you wonder why he doesn't give the top players fits, but he just doesn't seem to have the heart or the belief that he can really win anything major. Oh well, he's got a chance right now. He's 3-3 against Murray (and would've been 0-12 against Fed).

[dOotsiez]

oh my god we really don't care once Federer's gone do we? LOL thanks Murray, sif kick out Feddy and lose to Davo.

GO DAVO!

[wonderbang]

oh my god we really don't care once Federer's gone do we? LOL thanks Murray, sif kick out Feddy and lose to Davo.

GO DAVO!

LOL....seriously, what the heck happened....Murray must be kicking himself big time. Davo (I like this nickname haha) in the final?! Who would've guessed at the beginning.....amazing.

So Davo and Djoko....who's gonna win?




EDIT: This quote from Davo cracked me up!

“Murray was very tired,” Davydenko said, adding that the Scotsman looked as if he were ready “to die.”

give yourself some credit too dude....believe in yourself

[dOotsiez]

If Djokovic wins, Federer will hold on to his no 2 spot by 10 points! WOW! but Djokovic is defending AO and IW next year, good luck with that.

Murray was really tired, both djoko and davo had an extra day of rest, and Federer must've tired murray out so much. so it's no wonder both guys from the red group lost yesterday. Yeah I don't think Davo has ever had that much belief in himself when it comes to beating the top guys.

wonder if mirka saw this looks like two guys holding this up

[cecilia]

LOL
2 guys???


well 10 points would be too close for comfort... although djoko does have to defend his AO title...
but i fi had to choose i would choose him over davo ^^

[loveprint]

DAVO. AHHAHA. I love that name. xD

10. freaking. points. Wow.

[dOotsiez]

wow can't believe the season's over! (well except for the davis cup)

10 points is a little too close for comfort, but you kno what? AO and Indian Wells are worth 1,500 points, not exactly easy to defend. Djokovic himself has to be careful of Murray, who lost R1 at the AO this year and has HEAPS of points to gain right up til Wimbledon. and I think he may be due for his first slam at the Australian. Let's hope Federer takes it instead though

And looking on the bright side, new year, new tournaments, refreshed Fed and Rafa. the next time Federer steps on a tennis court, I'm going to be there watching because *YESSS!* me and my friends got Kooyong tickets too

[crystal_t33rs]

ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Davo(LOL Julie. Nice nickname) lost TT_______TT I can't believe how close Djoko is to Fed now. AHAHA. I could only laugh at how... completely ridic that is. For seriously! Congrats to all the players though ^___^; Wow, what a year for Djoko. Start the year with AO & end the year with MC. How freaking awesome is that?!

[endlessrain]

^Yesssss, its sick, im proud of Djoko
10 points. damn. lol

[loveprint]

I know this is probably kind of late, but a quote from Roger after his loss to Andy.

"I don't quit once I step on court. Guess you got to drill me one in the eye, then maybe. But otherwise I don't quit," he said. "The body was hurting, you know. Normally a best-of-three match is peanuts. So it was a pity I couldn't handle it today."

"It's been a good year, you know," Roger said. "Tough to start off with. Tough to end. But I think it gives me the opportunity to start over all new again next year."

That's the spirit.

[wonderbang]

^that's a really nice quote! the guy has spirit AND eloquence.

And looking on the bright side, new year, new tournaments, refreshed Fed and Rafa. the next time Federer steps on a tennis court, I'm going to be there watching because *YESSS!* me and my friends got Kooyong tickets too

jeeeeeeeeealous. take pictures and videos and upload them! (if that's not allowed, do it secretly lol)

[dOotsiez]

Yes that quote reminds me of what Federer said at the same event in 2005 when he played with a bum ankle and lost to Nalbandian in 5 sets. The reporter asked him whether he considered pulling out.
Federer: “Roger Federer doesn’t pull out. Otherwise he doesn’t walk on court."

but you kno what he should be pulling out of? That stupid exho with Borg and McEnroe. Let those retirees play with someone their own age. After all the crap Borg and McEnroe said about Fed this year, can't believe he still feels like playing nice.

ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Davo(LOL Julie. Nice nickname) lost TT_______TT I can't believe how close Djoko is to Fed now. AHAHA. I could only laugh at how... completely ridic that is. For seriously! Congrats to all the players though ^___^; Wow, what a year for Djoko. Start the year with AO & end the year with MC. How freaking awesome is that?!

very close indeed. hopefully Federer starts off next year with the title here in melb and make that gap more respectable. Djokovic doesn't have a lot of points to gain during the first half of 09, so I'm not too worried, even if Fed loses his no 2, it should only be temporary.

I don't know what to think about Djokovic's year. He started well, and ended on a high, but in between Wimbledon and TMC, he just seemed to be so bummed out.

EDIT// someone just pointed that that if Djokovic choses to play a warm up event for the Australian Open next year, he will overtake Federer as the no 2 because Federer never plays any warm up except for Kooyong.

[wonderbang]

i can see novak doing that early in the year, especially since he would probably want to continue his momentum from winning the masters cup. however, for some reason, i don't see him defending his AO title.

[crystal_t33rs]

I actually see Andy Murray in that AO final. lol.

Honestly, rankings don't matter to me anymore. I still know and believe that Fed's number 1. XD (Which makes me think of the BoA's song, "No. 1" but that's a whole other story. HAHAHAHA)

And hell yes, Roger should defo pull out of that exhibition. When I first heard he was doing that, my reaction was "WTF?!" When exactly is this exhibition? I only heard about it during USO(I believe it was during then. Maybe a bit after it...?) And seriously, Borg better not answer or offer to give anymore "predictions." >=(

And defo an awesome mindset Fed has with matches. I'm so proud to know my fave player has never pulled out from a match once he's stepped onto court. ^_____^

Oh, and even if Fed lost the match against Murray....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXNvSChWevo
This was wonderful!!!

LOL, but I couldn't help but think in my fantasy Tennis world that Murray was trying to get revenge for what Fed did to him with this shot at USO(check out the shot during 4:32)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srvda0vteoA
hehehe nice try, Andy. XP

[wonderbang]

^I love highlight videos! (especially of unbelievable shots like that....guy's a genius)

[dOotsiez]

Oh, and even if Fed lost the match against Murray....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXNvSChWevo
This was wonderful!!!

LOL, but I couldn't help but think in my fantasy Tennis world that Murray was trying to get revenge for what Fed did to him with this shot at USO(check out the shot during 4:32)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srvda0vteoA
hehehe nice try, Andy. XP

The first shot is just MENTAL. I remember watching it live and laughing at my computer screen like a mad woman, and LOL @ at the commentator who screamed into his mic.

if anyone's interested, the match is here - (wmv file, 4 rar parts, english - sky sports(?) commentary)
part1. megaupload.com/?d=VOQGUS1J
part2. megaupload.com/cn/?d=TY9TPK1Q
part3. megaupload.com/cn/?d=CLLFFJFI
part4. megaupload.com/cn/?d=WC6G8BCU

US Open final was awwwwesome. I remember Pete Bodo saying at last year's USO final that getting Fed for your first grand slam final is a bit like getting Jessica Alba for your first date, well, Andy Murray knows what it feels like now. Can't believe the year is over. Argentina or Spain for Davis Cup? I'm picking/jinxing Argentina

Exhibition time! Fed and Borg vs Blake and McEnroe. Can't believe Fed's gonna play in Malaysia and then fly to Macau to play two days later! What a workaholic!



My own captions-
Roger: "the next time you make another prediction..."
Borg: "what?"
Roger: "...I'm gonna serve the ball right into your mouth."

Borg


I love James Blake, but isn't he a little anticlimatic next to Fed/Borg/McEnroe?




and either Roger's really tall or those fans are REALLY short

[loveprint]

I love James Blake, but isn't he a little anticlimatic next to Fed/Borg/McEnroe?

lol you said it.

And he looks amazing in that last picture.

[dOotsiez]

Switzerland is a good country indeed...