Del Potro defeats Ancic

This is the match I've been waiting for. I wonder if Del Potro is going to crush Ancic. Now, Ancic can play tennis, but he hasn't been playing to his best ability lately. Anyway, two REALLY tall dudes. Ancic, walking out, his face all unshaven and his hair all mussed- damn. He's very, very attractive. He's a Croat, which like the Serbs, mean they really are Greeks that went mountain climbing and didn't come back. Hence- dark haired and sort of easy going. Also, both these guys are Catholic and blow kisses to God and wear crosses and I love that about both of them. Really. I do.

LATER:
What is up with the bagels? I mean, it's after 6pm, I have a martini sitting next to me, and people are serving up breakfast. Boo. That's what I say. I hate bagels. In tennis. At breakfast- pretty tasty, but I am more of an english muffin person, or banana, or if going to the gym, Cliff bar. So there you have it. Oh, and on Saturdays and Sundays? BACON. Like, six pieces. Bacon and I have a special relationship.

LATER:
Del Potro won. Did you know that Ancic got a law degree lately? Anyway, Del Potro is sooo on a roll. I joined a facebook group about him. Great handshake between these two wonderful young me. And, did you see Del Potro do the sign of the cross. God bless.

Yours Truly,
Paula

Monfils defeats Monaco

I think Monfils should win this easily, but then again, I would have said the same for Safin and I would have been wrong in the way of the BAGEL. Speaking of bagels, they are just showing that the last time these two played Monaco bageled Monfils! Whoah! It was on clay, and clay is Monaco's best surface.

Rasheed is Monfil's new coach. I find him hard to look at. When Rasheed and Hewitt were together? It was like doubley hard to look at either or them. Those two multiplied their obnxiousness together. Something just really smug comes steaming off Mr. Rasheed. Smug turd steam.

LATER:

Monfils took the first set. Monaco looks nice in green. As everyone here knows, I have a thing or two for Spanish and South American dudes. In fact, I want to find this one post I wrote and stick on the side, where I sort of go deeply into why. But Monfils is a very handsome professional athelete. I find him attractive, too. Also, I sort of want him to win in his hometown, you know? Looks like he might do it.

LATER:
He did it! Nice.

Now they are showing Kohlshreiber beating up on Youzhny. I would rather have Youzhny win- he's cute. Oh well. They are playing on the back courts, which are not very nice, just like the back courts of Madrid. But the ball sounds really good whacking around- indoor tennis has such clean striking and clean sounds.


Yours Truly,
Paula

Marat Safin has Lost his Mind

OK, the beginning of the second set here but OH MY GOD! Safin got bageled in the first set? By famously no-underwear-wearing hottie Argentine, Monaco? Honestly, all of the earlier matches rolled by while I - spaced out. No one was hot enough for me today to actually pay attention. These guys? Safin? Monaco???!!! SMOKING.

And yet the tennis they are playing is deeply confusing. I guess, sometimes, it take awhile to wake up. For instance, today, it took me AGES to wake up. Like, I wasn't really awake until 2pm. So, perhaps, Safin was, you know, basically asleep there for awhile. Yes, I think so. I relate.

Murray Defeats Simon

After the Simon/Nadal match, this was a snoozer. They both seemed to be hitting so carefully. Nerves, I guess. Also, I was not in party mode at all, so I sort half-assed watched it. I was so tired from my big Simon/Nadal party! I guess it's a big deal because, like, no other English dude has won two Masters? And now Murray has? I think that is so. I wanted skinny Simon to win. But there was a nice handshake. Alright, off to scoop the cat litter.

Yours Truly,
Paula

Simon Defeats Nadal

HOLY CRAP! Rick Rock said that already. Last night, I was in tennis heaven watching that match. It was one of the best matches I've seen in quite some time. Unbelievablely fun time staying up late watching that match. Of course, I feel like shit now from a late, booze and smoke filled night. Screaming at the TV. Fun, fun, fun-- now, Ug. Tonight, Sunday night, there is no party happening. Early bed. BUT- I get to watch the final when they replay it Oh my. Maybe just a tiny party.

I hope Simon beats Murray. Murray cursed out the ball kids in Binghamton four years ago- I think it was four years ago- and I'm still angry at him for that.

Yours Truly,
Paula

Rafa Vs Simon - holy crap! Not over but Simon won the second.

Rick Rock here -

Wow - Simon, after failing to serve out the second set on his first try succeeded on his second! Simon is a pipsqueek b y professional athlete standards - he looks like Joaquin Phoenix left too long in the dryer and shrunk up a bit. But he's good at tennis! It;s kind of neat - another guy who makes the most of his gifts Across from Nadal, he looks comical, but he is holding his own.

The ball girls are really hot. The ball girls are really hot. Did I say that already?

Paula and I played today in Binghamton, New York - about 2k feet above sea level, indoors, very fast, not unlike the conditions in Madrid, so we are having a little extra appreciation for the play today. Just clean, hard hitting tennis - no sun, no wind, kind of brings out the best in everyone.

We are demoing new racquets - I am trying the Head Extreme Pro, used by Gasquet, (beaten by Nadal just a bit ago), also Ljubicic, Youzhny - all one-handed backhands. I am digging it.

Mmmm.... the ball girls!

This is turning into a real battle between Rafa and Simon. Last year was so special because of the amazing performance of Nalbandian, but this has been a great tournament. Paula has been, someday we are all going to go. The Fed-Murray match was great - hard fought, close,and Murray coming through, to general disappointment in the household. We are not crazy about Murray but to see another real challenger to the top 3 emerge, is interesting.

More when the match is done - we love the indoor season...

Rick Rock

The Quarterfinals of The Madrid Masters 2008

Today was a day when I should have watched tennis- there are only four matches?! - but I was really out of it and hungover and distracted. Also, I think I was a little sad inside still about Nalby's loss to Del Potro.

Right now, I am watching Nadal v. F-Lo. Nadal took the first set, and it is the beginning of the second. This is the best surface for Feli - fast surfaces are really his thing -- but Nadal is too tough.

Soon, I will be driving upstate. We are taking the kittens with us-- last time we did that, it was fun. The big old cats hate to travel- our trusted cat sitter will take care of them for a couple of days.

Right now, what is freaking me out, is Nadal's amazing concentration. He, like Fed, is so inside of his own head. Nothing rattles him. Feli, on the other hand, you could see worrying about, like, how his hair looks. Anyway, maybe that's not fair, but what I really mean to say is, most people- me, for instance- -do not have that insane concentration. Nadal IS focus. It's cool to watch. Also, these dudes? Good friends. I've seen them out for dinner in Canada (with Ferrer and some others...)

Yours Truly,
Paula