posted May 12, 2008

That's cool impatiens.

Can i do the hamburg one please. I have a few gossip storylines to update.

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posted May 12, 2008

Well done Impatiens, and many thanks for all the work you put in on here.

& a quick note of thanks to everyone that's been posting away on here this week, I've had a blast chatting & chuckling away with you all as events unfolded.

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posted May 12, 2008

Rome Review:

It was a weary and disgruntled bunch of players that made their way to Rome for this week’s tournament. The punishing schedule this year was beginning to show its effects, with Uncle Toni, Undosweiter and King of the Hi-Vis deciding to skip this tournament and save themselves for the French Open. However, the real reason behind the serious faces at the pre-tournament press conference was the change to scoring rules introduced by Rome Tournament Director Estefania “Cruella” DeVilliers.

It was no surprise that a charming, smiling and positively radiant Debs quickly became a favourite among the Italian media covering the event. “It’s great to be here in this beautiful city”, Debs enthused “and of course Ruggers is here this week took, filming scenes for his upcoming children’s TV series “The Adventures of the Delightful Ruggers” and it’s so good that our busy schedules actually have us both in the same city in the same week”!

Debs was all smiles on court as well, after beating last week’s finalist at Barcelona, Scotsguy, with a convincing 6-3 6-2 display in just over an hour. Scotsguy was clearly below his best and must have been upset that the organisers did not see fit to agree to his request for a Wednesday start to give him more time to recover, although, always the consummate sportsman, he refused to make excuses. “Debs played phenomenal tennis today”, he stated in his post-match press conference”. “Yes, it’s tough playing back-to-back tournaments, but we all know this is something that might happen when we decide to play so many tournaments, and we’re used to it.”

Last week’s winner, Impatiens, fared only slightly better, struggling to get past GJ in her first-round match. GJ and Guiro both continued their poor form on clay. While Guiro left the following day for Hamburg, GJ apparently remained in Rome a few more days, although he strenuously denied rumours that he had spent them praying at the Vatican for divine intervention to improve his clay court performance in future tournaments.

Duggie, Mapie and newcome Lolpanda also lost in the first-round, to Nameless, Aldo and Coolwolf, respectively, while Impatiens lost on the first second-round match of the tournament, to her doubles partner Aldo, who was in devastating form. Impatiens seemed surprisingly upbeat about her defeat at the press conference, but was later to strenuously deny rumours that she spent the next three days on a mad spending spree in the most select Roman shops, despite photos taken of her leaving Armani with six carrier bags.

Quarter Finals:

The first Quarter Final saw CoolWolf, seemingly recovered from the injury that caused him to retire from MonteCarlo, face Chumba, who had been in excellent form in the earlier rounds, without dropping a set. It was a different story this time though, with CoolWolf getting an early break and eventually taking the first set 6-4. Chumba reacted by wining his first service game of the second set to love. The match continued to go with serve, with Chumba taking the tie-break comfortably 7-3, ending with a couple of impressive aces. CoolWolf was clearly demoralised by this and had a poor start to the third set, being broken by a really fired-up Chumba. It was clear there would only be one winner, and Chumba took the third set 6-2.

By contrast, the Quarter Final between Fish and Reddevils was a much more straightforward affair with a crucial break in the seventh game giving Fish the edge needed to take the first set 6-4. Fish seemed to step up a gear in the second set, allowing Reddevils only two games.

Nameless v Debs was definitely the match of the tournament. As Debs, the darling of the Italian crowd, walked on court she was greeted by cheers and enthusiastic shouts of “Viva la Mamma!”. With the crowd behind she made a great start, holding her serve to love and taking Nameless to deuce on his first service game, although he fired down two aces to secure the game. Moving extremely well on the court despite now being four months into her pregnancy, Debs held her own in rally after rally, sending Nameless from side to side, trying to grind him down. Nameless seemed to use the fact that the crowd was so firmly behind Debs to fire himself up, and the result was some great tennis from both players. The first set went to a tie-break, which Nameless won 10-8 after one hour and ten minutes. The second set looked as if we were going to be treated to another tie-break, until Nameless, serving at 5-6 30-40, bravely going for an ace on his second service, hit a double fault giving the game and second set to Debs. The players had now been on court for two hours, and Debs started to show some signs of fatigue. She was broken early in the first set, and despite the backing of the ground was unable to break back. So Nameless won the third set, 6-3, and a place in the Semi Finals against Fish.

The last Quarter Final saw Aldo continue his impressive form against the more erratic SirBenson. Although Benson made the better start, Aldo rattled off five games in a row to take the first set 6-4. The second set saw the players trading breaks, then holding serve and eventually forcing a tie-break. Benson opened the tie-break with a double fault, Aldo responded with two aces, and at 0-3 down Benson was unable to come up with good serves when he needed them. A return of Aldo’s that was just long gave him a point, but Aldo made no mistake on the next point, with great backhand down the line, completely wrong-footing Benson. Aldo easily won his next two service points to leave Benson with the daunting prospect of serving to stay in the match at 1-6. A good serve wide to Aldo’s backhand saved one match point, but Benson’s weak second serve on the next point was mercilessly punished by Aldo, giving him the second set and the match.



Semi-Finals

The First Semi-Final featured Fish against Nameless. Nameless was obviously tired after his epic QF match against Debs, and it was apparent that he was going to struggle against an in-form and much fresher Fish. Fish took the first set 6-4 and was leading 3-1 in the second when Nameless, obviously in great discomfort, called for the trainer. There were shocked cries from the crowd as they saw the huge blister on Nameless’s foot, and after exchanging a few words with the trainer, Nameless retired from the match. At the post-match press conference, Nameless was full of congratulations for his opponent and it was Fish who indignantly denounced the crowded schedule, blaming it for Nameless’s retiral. “We’re not machines you know”, he said, “with this crazy schedule of course players are going to skip tournaments or retire because of injury. Nobody seems to care about the players. Of course I’m happy to be in the final but I hate that it happened this way. I just hope Nameless recovers in time for Hamburg next week. The sport needs him.”

The second semi-final between Chumba and Aldo was an ill-tempered affair. Chumba made a successful Hawk-eye challenge, but then proceeded to argue with the umpire who insisted that the point had to be replayed, while Chumba insisted the point should be his. The tournament referee was called to intervene, supporting the umpire’s decision. The point was replayed and this time was won by Aldo, who had managed to retain his focus and not lose concentration. Clearly upset Chumba was broken to love his next game, leaving Aldo to serve for the first set which he did.

The second set went with serve until the eleventh game, when a powerful forehand return from Aldo hit the net cord and just trickled over. There was no way Chumba, who was a couple of feet behind the baseline, could reach the shot in time and this gave Aldo the first break point of the second set. Cursing his bad luck, Chumba prepared to serve, only to hit a double fault giving Aldo a crucial break to go 6-5 up. Aldo had some trouble serving for the match, with the game going to deuce no less than five times, but in the end a cheeky little drop shot made it GSM Aldo as Chumba threw his racket to the ground in frustration.


Final

Fish was the favourite in the final against Aldo, particularly after such a short semi-final match, but Aldo made the better start of the two, getting an early break. Like a true Champion, Fish broke back immediately to make it all square again. Both players managed to held serve but with difficulty, with the next four games all going to deuce. At 4-4, Fish found some big serves when it really mattered, winning his service game to 15. This left Aldo serving to stay in the set, and his nerves seemed to get the better of him as quickly found himself at 0-30, after failing to get his first serve in. However, an ace to make it 15-30 gave him some much-needed confidence and two good serves quickly brought him to 40-30. Fish then came up with a blistering inside-out forehand return to take the game to deuce. Encouraged by this, Fish hit two more fantastic returns to win the game and the first set.

To his credit, Aldo refused to throw in the towel and started the second set on fire. His aggressive play was rewarded in the seventh game with a break to give him a 4-3 lead. This time Fish was unable to break back and Aldo took the second set 6-4.

In the third and decisive set, both players began holding serve. At 2 -2, Fish found new inspiration, breaking Aldo to love with some spectacular shots. Although Aldo won his next service game, there was no going back now for Fish, who finished the match in style winning the last three games to take the last set 6-3

“I’m delighted” said Fish. “The last two matches were really tough and I’m proud that I was able to hold my nerve and play my best tennis against such difficult opponents. This has really encouraged me to believe in my chances at the French Open”.

BREAKING NEWS: The Italian Tennis Picking Federation has just confirmed that Estafania DeVilliers (known as “Cruella” among the players) has resigned “to spend more time with her family”. They insist that their U-Turn on the new scoring system is entire unrelated to her decision and wish her well.

Reports from the Nameless camp state that he is fully recovered, and practising normally, thanks to a generous application of new improved “Djokergel” foot balm. “It’s truly amazing” said his physio “one moment you can be limping, barely able to move, then you put this stuff on and in 10 minutes you are completely cured!”

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posted May 12, 2008

"while Chumba insisted the point should be his"

it was a scandal, i feel deeply dismayed

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posted May 12, 2008

Great detailed review, Impatiens! Thanks for running the game and chosing to stay on for Hamburg!

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posted May 12, 2008

excellent stuff Ipatients.

Where can I get some of this Djokergel?
Sounds like some amazing stuff!!!!

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posted May 12, 2008

I find it impossible to believe that Nameless got through the entire tournament without smashing at least one racquet or skull (possibly his own), or without getting a code violation for telling the inhabitants of his opponent's players box to "be quiet OK". And presumably wings got thrown out of the stadium, either for excessive drunkeness or for throwing rotten fruit at the players?

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posted May 12, 2008

Great review Impatiens

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posted May 12, 2008

Excellent review <buubly> Super Work the past week...


Congrats fish well done overdue i would say

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posted May 13, 2008

Only just realised the review was up! Fantastic Impy!!

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