[Automobill]

My interest in the sport has gone up and down considerbly during the last 12 years. The low point was ca 2001-2002. Martina was gone, Roger was winning anything yet and Rafter wasn't winning anything any more...

[Peretool]

When a fave retires, it is like someone has died. It hurts, it kills, and I have no need to ever go to that place again.

[Muramoursuard]

I wonder what Nicole is going to do next year... she either has to get back to top 100 (at least) or quit tennis.

Same feeling, it's hard to even devote energy to her, she's completely collapsed in on herself.

So essentially, I'm in the "low period" or the "post-break up stage", and while I have my secondary favorites or my "rebounds" it could take a few years still before I get back into the swing of things? Is it more or less of a waiting for the right player to come along or is it waiting for a current secondary favorite to cultivate their game into a top threat?

[dXI9XFOA]

I try and pull new, younger favorites out even before I feel my current favorite is on the out-n-out just so that I can get a solid base for my fan-dom before it is tested and put into serious action.

[lalpphilalk]

Arantxa was my fave WTAer. I got lucky, because Kim came along right as Arantxa's star was descending, so that made the transition easy. Then, when Kim called it a day, I struggled for a brief while, but along came Philipp. And now Kim's back.

I think if you give it a fair chance, someone sill capture your fancy. But it's a struggle. I know I never warmed up to another female in quite the manner I felt for Kim, even though Tati, Jelena and Ana became solid faves. It might be best to look for an ATPer for now, Jeanne.

[SannyGlow]

I think if you give it a fair chance, someone sill capture your fancy. But it's a struggle. I know I never warmed up to another female in quite the manner I felt for Kim, even though Tati, Jelena and Ana became solid faves. It might be best to look for an ATPer for now, Jeanne.

I agree that it's best to flip back and forth. I keep looking for suitable WTA successors, but have been consistently disappointed with my prospects.

[staisacic]

I don't know if the following will help or hurt, Jeanne.

And, YES, since nelslus is still traumatized by that Wimbledon final love and love thrashing that poor Dora Bootby took against Dorothea Douglass Lambert Chambers, he can speak from experience here.....

If you can stick with this sport- like any sport- it will bring you great highs, and then break your heart.

And then, repeat.

With the exceptions of the likes of Henin, Margaret Court and Sampras- even when I don't care as much for some players- it always can feel a bit sad when players retire. It's like- DAMN- I will never see that person play again. Eras end, which is very sad. Sometimes, you do just have to mourn. And know that the big sadness will pass- albeit, if you're like me, you'll ALWAYS miss certain players. (AND thus why we have literally hundreds and hundreds of old match DVDs. It is still fun to relish victories of your favorites- and even matches that you never thought you'd ever have the chance to watch.)

While I can always try to analyze and dig, dig, dig, dig to try to figure out why specific players become my blazing-hot favorites- eh, who the hell really knows? For me, I sure can't manufacture it. Better just to accept when your favorites happen for you and enjoy.

Through the highs and lows of the sport for me, I always watched the Slam finals. But, say, when Graf and Sampras were winning ALL of the time- I wasn't watching too much of the regular tours. So, my over-all obsessiveness with tennis has also ebbed and flowed.

For me- it sucks when I don't have big favorites. Of course, it also sucks when DO have favorites- when you're so geeked over players that you can't even watch their big matches live, and must perform all the aforementioned OCD rituals trying to lead them on to victories. As if any of that matters.

Still, I guess that I will always prefer having huge favorites. I don't have a clue who will replace V and Fed for me. I don't know how long it will take. Could be days, or months, or years. But- if you hang in there- you'll have future favorites. Again, though, at least for me, this cannot be manufactured. I have never been able to will myself into having favorites. Can't "convince" myself into this. Someone "should" be my favorite because of this and that.....eh, rationalizing doesn't work either (see: Mauresmo, Amelie.) It just happens.

IN any case- NOW there is you all to contend with. And, damn it, I wish I knew how to quit you. BUT- y'all will keep me into this game, no matter what. 'Cause y'all are my favorites now.

[Muramoursuard]

[quote]

[carfAball]

I think Kleybanova is your ticket. She's just so awesome.