[bppstorr]

Day 8 - August 4 2012


Centre CourtStart: 12:00

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals

ROBSON / MURRAY (GBR) V STOSUR / HEWITT (AUS)
Men's Doubles - Gold Medal Match

BRYAN / BRYAN (USA) [1] V LLODRA / TSONGA (FRA) [2]
Women's Singles - Gold Medal MatchNot before14:00

Serena WILLIAMS (USA) [4] V Maria SHARAPOVA(RUS) [3]

Court 1Start: 12:00

Women's Singles - Bronze Medal Match

Victoria AZARENKA (BLR) [1] V Maria KIRILENKO(RUS) [14]
Men's Doubles - Bronze Medal MatchNot before13:30

BENNETEAU / GASQUET (FRA) V FERRER / LOPEZ (ESP)
Mixed Doubles - Semifinals

TBC V LISICKI / KAS (GER)

Court TBAStart: 14:30

Mixed Doubles - QuarterfinalsNot before14:30

AZARENKA / MIRNYI (BLR) [1] V MIRZA / PAES (IND)7-5 3-2
Women's Doubles - SemifinalsNot before16:00

KIRILENKO / PETROVA (RUS) [3] V WILLIAMS / WILLIAMS (USA)
Mixed Doubles - SemifinalsNot before17:00

TBC V RAYMOND / BRYAN (USA) [3]

[JulieSmithdccd]

Vika is starting to run away with this one.

[JulieSmithdccd]

Or was until I mentioned it! Was 3-0 Vika in second set and now we're level.

[JulieSmithdccd]

The only good thing about working this holiday weekend is getting to watch all the Olympics & Tennis.

And from the list of highest paid female Olympians:

The List:

#1 Maria Sharapova – $27.1 million
#2 Li Na – $18.4 million
#3 Serena Williams – $16.3 million

$43.4 million dollars made by this years finalists

[Peabelilt]

This is a beatdown that Serena is giving Maria. Their matches are ridiculously dull.

[JulieSmithdccd]

Yeah I started the match late on PVR but I am fast forwarding through it pretty quickly and shall be live soon. I'm not surprised though.

[retTreftowhexm]

What is Natasha Zvereva doing in Maria Sharapova's body?

[tsamprasxx]

Serena is DOMINATING . I love it.

Anyway, so a few minutes ago, they were talking about how Serena had only lost one match several years back after winning the first set and that it was to Capriati.
Carillo said, "right here, at the 2004 quarterfinals."
WHAAA? Serena didn't lose in the quarters of Wimbledon that year, nor did she lose at the quarters of the Olympics...since she didn't even play the olympics that year.
Was she referring to something else?

[retTreftowhexm]

Serena is DOMINATING . I love it.

Anyway, so a few minutes ago, they were talking about how Serena had only lost one match several years back after winning the first set and that it was to Capriati.
Carillo said, "right here, at the 2004 quarterfinals."
WHAAA? Serena didn't lose in the quarters of Wimbledon that year, nor did she lose at the quarters of the Olympics...since she didn't even play the olympics that year.
Was she referring to something else?

2001 Wimbledon Qs, Jessie

[JulieSmithdccd]

Double Bagel anyone? Did ANYONE pick 0 games in the H2H contest? I had to check and I had given Sharapova 6 (!!!) games.

[tsamprasxx]

2001 Wimbledon Qs, Jessie

Yeah, I know when she lost, but I heard Carillo say 2004. I guess I misheard?

[Nypbscao]

There is really a huge disparity between Serena and everyone else. I think this is because of the inability of the women to generate enough pace on their shots. If you look at men's matches alongside the women's, you'll see that the men hit their groundstrokes with noticeably more pace than the women, with the consequence being that it is more difficult to hit through a good defense or produce a clean winner. And since Serena has such good defenses, it is more difficult for any woman, even the tops ones, to put her on the defensive than it is for a top guy to do the same to someone like Djokovic.

In other words, Maria brought a Humvee to a tank fight.

[AutocadOemM]

Serena wanted that double-bagel. She looked pissed. LOL.

[jagxj12]

There is really a huge disparity between Serena and everyone else. I think this is because of the inability of the women to generate enough pace on their shots. If you look at men's matches alongside the women's, you'll see that the men hit their groundstrokes with noticeably more pace than the women, with the consequence being that it is more difficult to hit through a good defense or produce a clean winner. And since Serena has such good defenses, it is more difficult for any woman, even the tops ones, to put her on the defensive than it is for a top guy to do the same to someone like Djokovic.

In other words, Maria brought a Humvee to a tank fight.

I agree fully, but would like to add that men's serve makes blowouts like this virtually impossible (although some matches with Rafa on clay or Roger on hard during his prime come close).

[Nypbscao]

I agree fully, but would like to add that men's serve makes blowouts like this virtually impossible (although some matches with Rafa on clay or Roger on hard during his prime come close).

Yes the men's serve gets them a lot of free/cheap points. Which is a weapon only Serena has. Hence the problem. This is why I don't think we'll see anyone who can really challenge Serena until there's a woman as physically gifted as her. Or she retires. At which point the entire WTA will breathe a collective sigh of relief.

I know I will. I appreciate Serena's game and her dominance but her matches are boring to watch because no one else can even put up a fight. This is why for most of the final I was doing my laundry and baking a cake instead of watching the tv.

[jagxj12]

She has had a particularly dominating stretch recently (like during 2002). It has not always been like this and there have been many dissapointing results as well. Not at all obvious how much longer she can keep it up (Serena will be 31 in December)

[steevyjeors]

A beautiful match to watch! Thank you, Serena!

[Waymninelia]

She has had a particularly dominating stretch recently (like during 2002). It has not always been like this and there have been many dissapointing results as well. Not at all obvious how much longer she can keep it up (Serena will be 31 in December)

You beat me to this.....

Yet again, let's remember not to base our take on upcoming tennis history on "what have you done for me lately." Serena goes through spectacular periods of tennis, then she doesn't. I don't think it's exactly likely that she'll maintain this pace for the rest of her career.....AND, let's also remember that her Sister among others used to be pretty damned good, too, with a few skills......Granted, at her peak, Serena's the best. But, she also just doesn't maintain this level for huge stretches of time. (Mind you, I don't think it's much of a stretch to suggest that, barring injury or disinterest on her part- LOL, perhaps Serena's now the favorite at the US Open....)

P.S. I've got some more commentary I could make, but gotta let it go for the moment to let the big Serena fans among us enjoy this huge moment.

[Waymninelia]

P.S. Congrats to Gasquet and Benneteau on their bronze medals.

Wasn't the men's doubles final supposed to be before Serena's beat-down? Does anyone know if they rescheduled, or have found a "Matrix" kinda way to hide the results of the men's doubles final? AND- any chance NBC will show any doubles action? I know, I know:

[JulieSmithdccd]

When I looked last night it said the Men's Doubles Final was after the women's final despite the order in this thread. Livescores shows it should be starting in 7ish minutes.