30 Days of Tennis Challenge – Day 15: Most attractive women’s player

“Oooooh, we’re halfway there. Ooooooh, living on a prayer. Take my hand, we will make it, I swear. Oooooh, Living. On. A prayer”.

What the hell is Bon Jovi doing here?, you might ask yourself. The first phrase, you know? Halfway there. To celebrate the 15^th post of the 30 days of tennis challenge. Halfway there. 15 to go. In the end I’m gonna miss it, totally will.

And by the way, have you noticed how often I’m using ‘edginess’ and ‘sleepiness’ as excuses to make shorter posts? Why would today be different? It’s close to 11 p.m. here, and I’m feeling weird for no reason. I just need a full night of sleep and rest. Ich brauche!

To the chase. I warn you even though guys who don’t have the slightest idea of who they are and what they do for a living would say ‘Dang, these gals are hawt!’ when staring to a photoshooting of Ana Ivanovic or Sharapova, she won’t be here. Why? Well, I’m avoiding the clichés.

 

Ladies and gentlement... ok, gentlement, clap your hands for Daniela Hantuchova

This means the chosen one, by a naughty face of difference, is Daniela Hantuchova. The last phrase explains it all. I was torn between her and Vika. You know, she’s too skinny for my standards, and too tall. She’s not the kind of girl I’d date in real life – though it’s not really my call hahaha – but what can I do? She’s extremely hot. Or attractive, whatever.

YOU NAUGHTY

Periguete. But WHO FUCKING CARES?

 

SMILES: Make the world a better place

 

There’s not much left to be said here.

 

Useful:

Prologue and explanation

Day 1 – Favorite men’s player

Day 2 – Favorite women’s player

Day 3 – Favorite doubles team

Day 4 – Least favorite men’s player

Day 5 – Least favorite women’s player

Day 6 – Most memorable match

Day 7 – First player you became a fan of

Day 8 – Earliest tennis memory

Day 9 – Favorite retired men’s player

Day 10 – Favorite retired women’s player

Day 11 – A player nobody would expect you to love

Day 12 – A player that you aren’t a fan of but you respect

Day 13 – Favorite Grand Slam tournament

Day 14 – Favorite non-Slam tournament

30 Days of Tennis Challenge – Day 3: Favorite doubles team

This one was a bit tough to call. My emotional investment in the doubles game is not even close than in singles. And then, I had some philosophical doubts about its concept – Should I pick an ATP or a WTA team? Does it have to be a full-time partnership or I could choose any random couple of players who had already teamed up to play a two vs. two tennis match? To avoid four subdivisions of this topic, I present you the rules:

a) One ATP and one WTA team

b) I will pick two teams that have played more than one single tournament together.

 

ATP:

What? Tennis is not only made of pretty faces.

Taking a look at the top teams in the rankings, there are none I can say I dislike. I like the Bryans – though their dominance sort of repels me (except when it comes to Davis Cup) – but no. I could also select Roddick/Nalbandian from Queen’s, but it turned out to be an one-match only team. I could pick some teams from the past, like Elitngh/Haarhuis or Mac/Fleming. But ruled out. Zimonjic/Llodra and Melzer/Petzschner (and maybe even the Indian Express) are among my favorite pairings but this team won the race. By a nose. Or a volley.

Nestor and Mirnyi, both former #1s, veterans with countless titles, are the chosen ones. They both come from lovely countries, and Nestor was involved in some interesting teams – with Knowles (one of my faves!) and Zimonjic (loved it!). And Mirnyi always had my admiration – he is a specialist now, but once was a top-20 singles player – serve and volley style, has a Masters Series final among his singles deeds.

I’m terrible at finishing texts and posts. So I’m not sure of what I should write now. Something different than “Yay” or “Keep Rocking!”. Well, I guess I will just go on and name my WTA favorite doubles team. Yes, that’s what I’m doing.

 

WTA:

 

So much win

This one wasn’t as hard to choose as the ATP winners. What happens when you take two players from my personal top-10 and team them up in a winning pair?

The 2011 Miami champions. Daniela Hantuchova and Agnieszka Radwanska – or simply Dani/Aggie – are by far my favorite girls’ team. At least this year.

If Hantuchova is that sort of player that drags your attention for the dress, or the legs, or the swimsuit calendar, Aggie on the other hand (though she’s a cuttie!) will get you in the moment she flies the first drop-shot of the day. Or the head of her racquet flies away, but whatever.

Thing is, even though other of my faves also play doubles – Pavs, sometimes with JJ and sometimes with Vera, or Dulgheru/Rybarikova, even Wicky/Flipkens – none of them even gets close of Hantuchanska, or Radchova, or Danieszka, or Aggniela.

(Unless Kim and Nina decide to sign up for a competition together. Until then, I stand)

 

Useful:

Prologue and explanation

Day 1 – Favorite men’s player

Day 2 – Favorite women’s player

Oh, that’s what ‘Open Field’ means?

HA. Remember when we used to say Roland Garros ladies draw were wide open and there were no clear favorites, though we had some players who wouldn’t shock the world by lifting the title? Very well. It is starting getting to us!

 

Why did it take “so long”, a.k.a three rounds? First, because clay is no puzzle. Second, because the good players are really good. Third, because the seed vs. seed clashes only start in the round of 32.

 

Where to start with? What about yesterday? I was mourning. And you all know why. But the first and biggest upset of the French Open brewed yesterday, by Le Parisienne Morgen, on Philippe Chatrier. Needless to say further, let’s move on.

 

Make no mistake: She's not facepalming, only celebrating

Today, to kick-off the third round, the organizers selected 2010 runner-up Samantha Stosur to open the main stage. She took on the Argentine beauty and doubles #1 – just like herself was in 2006, and please correct me if I’m wrong – Gisela Dulko. And lost (6/4, 1/6, 6/3)! Ups and downs. Ups: Gisé, of course. No-one beats the world no.6 and defending runner-up randomly. The newest auntie of the tennisverse ties her best Roland Garros run by reaching the last 16. And downs, of course, Sam. Gosh, she’s just frustrating, and is having a truly mediocre year. Result? Bye bye top-10. Just hope you find your game – and for good – someday, Samantha.

Stop hating and start loving her, like, now

After the first upset of the day was complete, it was time for one of the most interesting matchups of this third round: 11^th seed, local girl and Bambi on ice (sometimes venomously referred to as “Elephant on ice” by some stonehearted pricks) Bartoli and the 17^th seed (defending champ with Francy-esca), Stuttgart champion and clay wonder Julia Goerges. Must confess: a) Hadn’t watched her since Stuttgart, when she became relevant, b) I was impressed and, finally, c) Marion Bartoli is way hotter than her. But well, Julia – who was the favorite for this one – cruised in the first set, heavily pumped by her confident service and the massive forehand (made me giggle in the middle of my Portuguese Literature class). Only to follow the script, she got broken serving for it, but broke right back and won the first. And then it was all Marion. Don’t ask, because I could not tell. Maybe was Julia’s nerves, or maybe was the flu or even the French crowd backing her opponent. The fact is, she lost the following two sets, 6/2, 6/4 and said goodbye – at least she was coherent when saying she wasn’t a favorite for lifting the trophy. Marion also surprisingly ties her best FO run, and will battle Gisela next. And I, who always thought Rezai would be the next French clay star, am glad to be wrong. At least this year. But whatever J #AllezMarion

THIS JUST IN: Hantuchova announced she will do a lingerie photoshooting to celebrate her RG run.

The last, and maybe the biggest, upset of the day had two major consequences: First, it will keep the label “slamless” sticked to Caro for a little longer. And second, maybe even worse, it triggered a wave of hatred towards the number 1. Complaints where the same as always: too much passivity and even theories about Wozz’s skills of facing adversity without on-court coaching, plus the points system and stuff. I guess this matter is way simpler: Hantuchova was the better player today and won. Aaaand, there’s also the “you can’t always win” thing. About her decision to play Brussels in the week before RG? Dumb decision, in my opinion. Finally, I have to say I’m far from being a fan of her game, but I recognize her talent. And the fact she’s winning. And, please, some people should stop whining. The rankings are not subjective, they never were. If Serena and Venus have abandoned the pro-tour, it is THEIR problem, not Caro’s. You want to blame a professional player for winning matches and adding points? That’s just… not smart. But whatever, final results: Hantuchova def. Wozniacki, 6/1, 6/3, will play Kuznetsova (!!!) in the R16. Good to see Dani pulling a good run, but there’s a lot of the momentum thing on it. And when it comes to Dani, you can never know how long the momentum will last – could be six matches or fifteen minutes.

 

SIDE NOTES:

 

- Is it me or Jelena Jankovic is playing really good tennis these days? 6/2, 6/2 today over Bethanie, and well… how crazy would it be if she somehow… I don’t know… wins it all?

 

- Smooth assassin, troubled wins, but Vera Zvonareva is making her way through the early round. Didn’t face the hardest foes out there, but the possibility of taking over the #1 prior to Wimbledon exists. She must win Roland Garros and Eastbourne in order to make it. Let’s see. She plays Pavs next.

 

- She was also “helped” by her draw, but Svetlana Kuznetsova is winning matches again! She hasn’t dropped a single set in her three wins so far, and faced some tricky opponents – in a bad day, I can totally picture Sveta losing to Rybarikova, Begu (it even happened, eheh) and Rebecca Marino. Her 4^th Round matchup with Danka could be the most-amazing-turn-disappointing-and-ugly match of the next round. We shall see.

 

- Tomorrow, Azarenka-Vinci, Sharapova-Chan, Wicky-Aggie, Li Na-Cirstea, Petko-Gajdosova, Kirilenko-Rus, Kanepi-Makarova and King-Kvitova will close ladies’ third round. Potential upsets? Makarova, Cirstea and Rus. Vika will bake some products, HAHAHA @ Maria and no upsets possible in Wicky-Aggie/Petko-Jarka. And oh, go figure what I think about the Kay-Kay meeting.