French Open starts Monday

[Katie]

Hi Tennis Fans!
The French Open is just a couple days away. Serena Williams pulling out of the tournament with an ankle injury. Aside from this, the ladies draw looks pretty exciting, especially by the fourth round. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens.
For the men, looks like the US men have a pretty good draw. We'll see what happens.
Here's the link to the site:
French Open Official Site (http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/)

Any early predictions?

[handlem9z]

Based on the HOTTIE Factor alone, I know who I'll be rooting for :b

:D :eek Maria Sharapova :eek :D

img118.echo.cx/my.php?ima...a219bp.jpg (http://img118.echo.cx/my.php?image=sharapova219bp.jpg)
img154.echo.cx/my.php?ima...va48rh.jpg (http://img154.echo.cx/my.php?image=sharapova48rh.jpg)
img1.echo.cx/my.php?image...0261ts.jpg (http://img1.echo.cx/my.php?image=sharapova0261ts.jpg)

The other Russian Myskina also has a good shot at the women's title.

I'd like to see one of the US Men win it (Agassi or Roddick). But if I was to lay money on it, one of the men from Argentina will win (Gaudio or Coria).

[Katie]

I think it would be awesome for Venus or Lindsay to be back in the final for the ladies.
As for the men, I would love it if Agassi was in the final!

:)

[billob]

I saw a blurb somewhere that quoted Venus as saying she was or is becoming 'burned out' with the sport.

I hope they mis-quoted her.

[Katie]

yeah, me too. I love watching Venus play. I do recall hearing that she wants to continue with her interior design business, though, so maybe what you heard is true. Hope not!

[handlem9z]

Unfortunately, I don't think any of the U.S. entries have much of a chance.

Last U.S. Men to win French Open was Agassi in 1999. Roddick has never advanced past the third round in French Open.

Last U.S. Woman to win was Serena Williams in 2002. She has pulled out of this year's event due to injury. As for Lindsay Davenport, her best showing was a semi-final in 1998.

[Kwanstruck]

LOL h9!!! For ONCE I have to agree with you!!! :lol Sharapova IS a "HOTTIE"!!! :eek :p :eek I'll be rooting for her too!!! :)

[goofygirlinva]

Did you guys see the new Cannon commercial (I think that's what the camera company is that Sharapova endorses) with Sharapova? I saw it last night for the fist time, thought it was a good one! Anyhow, if we're talking hotties here, I definitely think Federer should be given MAJOR consideration (sorry about the pun there, LOL!). He is one stud of a player, to say the least!:b :smokin

[lavender]

Unfortunately, I don't think any of the U.S. entries have much of a chance.

I sadly agree. I think Lindsay has the best chance. I would hope for Venus who I would love to win but she's just not the same.

Not really into Maria S. It will probably be Henin. She's pretty awesome on clay. I love Kim Clijsters too but she has a slight injury so I don't know how she will do against the top players.

[aaronts]

personally, i find Federer to be one of the most unattractive in the top 10. that said, his playing speaks for itself.

actually, i think Venus has recommitted herself to the sport. Serena OTOH, that's a different story. how Venus does is solely based on her confidence. whereas someone like Patty Schneider needs confidence & a miracle.

i fully expect Nadal to win on the men's side. past that, i couldn't tell you~

[vanhs]

i hope venus can pull it together and win it all. i am rooting for her to make a come-back. if she doesn't get through then i would like to see davenport finally win on clay. i like nadal in the men's. he playing great tennis and has lots of energy. although agassi winning would also be a treat however he's got tough competition.

[Katie]

Myskina is out! Venus and Lindsay are still in! :)
On to day two...

[handlem9z]

Not a good start for the Americans: Agassi loses in the first round.

Sharapova had a rough start with 59 unforced errors, but was able to pull out a victory in three sets. So I still have a reason to watch Maria...I mean the French Open :D

sports.yahoo.com/ten/news...&type=lgns (http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=ap-frenchopen&prov=ap&type=lgns)

[trice77]

See Federer is what I like to call ugly-sexy. Sometimes he's not so attractive, but when he's playing tennis and looking so intense...man, he's smokin'!!!! :hat

And the body (the arms, legs, broad shoulders)! Yeah, I definitely have a crush. :D

[Sparks]

Federer is so wonderful. I think he looks like a nice boy...his game is so pretty that after 3 years of watching him, I'm still stunned!
Sad for Andre today... :(

Sparks, who likes all the tennis bodies...

[vanhs]

i think federer is kinda cute. his face looks like a baby though. hehe. there are quite a few hot looking women on the tour that doesn't get exposure because they don't play well. in my opinion way better looking than sharapova. but maria can play and that's what counts.
yes, i'm sad for andre. there's still wimbeldon and the u.s. open. sampress did it so lets not count andre out. GO VENUS!

[Katie]

Watching Agassi was tough, and I hope he can play at Wimbledon! Roddick is through to the next round- good for him! :)
And hi's sporting a new look this tournament- the alligator! ;)

[ScoobertDieu]

I think Federer is pretty cute. Hope Venus and Lindsay can last till the finals. Nadal is starting to grow on me this year. Will always love ARod. Feel so bad for Agassi. Saw his press conference after his loss, and he's in a lot of pain. His syactic(sp?) nerve is giving him major problems and he's having to take cortisone shots every few months in order to play tennis. He says this is now for the rest of his life. So, I guess his retirement is coming. But I know he doesn't want to go out like this.

[Katie]

Venus won her match today! lindsay's in trouble. Nadal is wearing a very interesting outfit today- looks like capri pants?
edited to say:
Lindasy's through to the next round! :)

[trice77]

Nadal always wears those pants. I really like him. He's so enthusiastic...fun to watch!!! Is he supposed to meet Federer in the semis???? I think I'll have to be very sick and unable to go to work that day. Because no way am I missing that match!

[lavender]

Well Federer has a beautiful game, beautiful hair :) and seems to have a beautiful personality. I don't know but that kind of makes him attractive.

[ScoobertDieu]

Those capris are Nadal's trademark look. We'll probably never see him in anything else. He's only 18, and he's the new star of men's tennis. And yes, he's supposed to meet up with Federer. That's one match I refuse to miss too!

[Katie]

That's cool about the capri pants. I guess I haven't seen him play before, or just didn't notice them. Anyway, he played phenomenally today, and it will be exciting to see how he does through the rest of the tournament as well as the rest of this season. :)

[ScoobertDieu]

Andy Rod lost today. :( Can't believe it. He's been having a hard time lately in the major comps. Blake lost too. I wanted to see his big comback last longer. Both guys were leading 2 sets to nothing, then lost 3 in a row. Sad.

[honey827]

So disappointed to see all the American Men out of the French Open. To make matters worse it was the way they lost after being up two sets to none. Hopefully they will be able to get it together for Wimbledon and the US Open. In any case hopefully one of the US ladies will be able to make it to the final. I am pulling for Venus but she has been kind of erractic even with her recent win in Istanbul. She has been in the position to win big matches against Amelie m and Lindsay D and then can't get the break point despite multiple opportunities or close it out. I hope that changes but if she has to go down I wouldn't be upset if it was to Lindsay as long as Lindsay won the whole thing.

[handlem9z]

That was an easy call regarding the American Men being put out early. Very rarely do they do good at the French Open.

Sharapova won easy today :D
She sure does grunt loudly when she plays.

[torialynne]

Venus is out!! :( Not an exciting french open for me at all. I hope Lindsay can pull it together and beat Kim. I know this is not her best or favorite surface, but she might surprise herself!!

[Katie]

I am so disappointed for Venus. her match was all about unforced errors. I thought she had her game back in the second set, the the third set started off so well.... she just unraveled. best of luck to Lindsay in the semis!
Did anyone catch the clips of Andy Roddick's press conference? He seemed pretty ticked off. I understand he had higher expectations for himself this year, but he played really well til the third set. Hope he does really well on the grass!

[ScoobertDieu]

Yeah Andy was very disappointed in himself. He fought really hard to win, but his opponent was awesome. Clay court hasn't been his friend either.

I'm so mad at Venus. She let Selia, that 15 year old beat her! She really did unravel in the 3rd set. Selia won the 3rd set in no time flat. Seemed like 5 minutes it was so fast. Venus was so off.

[honey827]

Venus played awful she could not seem to serve or keep the ball in at all. I hope she gets it together for the next two majors. It was just really too bad because she had a great chance to go far in this tournmanet. Hopefully Lindsay will keep the American flag flying.

[handlem9z]

Woohoo, Sharapova advances to the fourth round.

sports.yahoo.com/ten/news...&type=lgns (http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpb3M3YzRkBF9TAzk1ODYyNTg0BHNlYwN0 bQ--?slug=6frenchopen&prov=st&type=lgns)

I'd like to see Lindsay advance to the finals and play Sharapova. That would be an awesome match. Plus as an added bonus, if Sharapova advances further than Lindsay, she would take over the number one ranking in women's tennis. Lindsay at least needs to advance further/same in the tournament than Sharapova to retain her number one ranking.

[Katie]

Sharapova has made some big endorsement deals. The announcers were talking about how she was grossing about 27 million this year off the court! Does anyone know what she's endorsing besides Cannon?

[handlem9z]

Does anyone know what she's endorsing besides Cannon?

She recently just signed a 3 year endorsement deal with Colgate-Palmolive that is worth $2 million.

Some of her other endorsement deals are Nike, Prince, Motorola, Speedminton, Parlux Fragrances, Honda Japan and Tag Heuer.

Her Perfume "Maria" comes out in September.

Canon:
www.usa.canon.com/templat...maria3.jpg (http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/images/loRes/20041108_loRes_maria3.jpg)

Tag Heuer:
www.mariaworld.net/scan136.jpg (http://www.mariaworld.net/scan136.jpg)

Motorola:
www.mariaworld.net/scan106.jpg (http://www.mariaworld.net/scan106.jpg)

Nike:
www.mariaworld.net/scan167.jpg (http://www.mariaworld.net/scan167.jpg)

Prince:
img161.auctions.yahoo.co....695401.jpg (http://img161.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/2/6/8/5/hiteq_s-img423x600-10999695401.jpg)


Miami Herald:

"Her endorsements total $20 million, making her the highest-paid female athlete in the world".

She took over as the Hottie of women's tennis when Anna Kournikova left. At least Maria can play tennis and look good :b Anna was only a decent doubles player.

[Katie]

Lindsay's through to the quarter finals! What a match. I thought Clijsters would have it for sure after Lindsay was down 6-1/ 3-1, but she really fought back. Good for her.
:)

[handlem9z]

Maria Sharapova advances to the Quarter Finals :D

Good come back by Lindsay to advance to the quarter finals. I thought she was done when it was 3-1 in the second set.

[Krista]

Watched Lindsey Davenport win her match yesterday. She did great! She's always been one Ive hoped did well.

[Katie]

Lindsay's out. :(
Sharapova's out too.

[handlem9z]

Dang it, Sharapova and Lindsay gone. No use to watch the French Open any more :rolleyes

[Krista]

ah bugger :(

[ScoobertDieu]

Dang it, Sharapova and Lindsay gone. No use to watch the French Open any more.


Me too! Now the only thing about the French Open that interests me is the Rafael Nadal/Roger Federer match coming up next.

[Katie]

I'm excited for that match as well! I think that Nadal will really challenge Federer, and since they both are playing really well it will be very exciting. They are both pretty cute too! ;)

We still have a doubles team playing in the semi finals! The Bryan brothers are doing well. (they won the mens doubles title in 2003 at Roland Garos)

[honey827]

I am so happy for Mary Pierce making the French Open final . I hope she wins.

[Inez91]

Federer is gone, YES. Go Nedal :evil

[ScoobertDieu]

Wow, that Federer/Nadal match wasn't as intense as I expected it to be. Nadal won it in 4, and Federer had Venus Williams type errors -- too many! I'm sure Nadal will win the championship. I really really hope that Mary Pierce beats Justine tomorrow.

And Happy 19th Birthday to Nadal!

[ScoobertDieu]

delete

[aaronts]

that stupid Justine just won. jeesh, Mary pretty much gave it to her. it's too bad too cause she's been there before.....

oh well, we'll see what Nadal does tomorrow~

[JaneC]

Wow! Justine basically killed Mary Pierce!!! Too bad Mary wasn't in her form today or we would have had a more exciting final, which I still think Justine would have won. Congratulations to Justin for starting a great come back!! <img border=0 src="http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/contrib/sarge/Angel_anim.gif" />

Jane