Aussie Battlers R Doubles GODS!

[Yours!05]

Unheralded Aussie in Wimbledon final
July 2, 2005

LITTLE-known Australian Stephen Huss is through to the Wimbledon doubles final after teaming with South African Wes Moodie to stun top seeds Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi.

Huss and Moodie are the first qualifiers to reach a doubles final at the All England Club after their remarkable 2-6 6-2 6-4 7-6 (7-4) semi-final win.

They will play American twin brothers Mike and Bon Bryan, the tournament's second seeds, in the final tonight at 9pm (AEST).

Australians in action on day 12 at Wimbledon:

Men's doubles final
Stephen Huss/Wes Moodie (RSA) v 2-Bob Bryan (USA)/Mike Bryan (USA)

Women's doubles semi-final
11-Samantha Stosur/Bryanne Stewart v 2-Cara Black (ZIM)/Liezel Huber (RSA) Mixed doubles quarter-final
6-Todd Woodbridge*/Samantha Stosur v 3-Jonas Bjorkman (SWE)/Lisa Raymond (USA)

Obviously, this is the reason ppl are conspiring to change the rules.
Nice little story about Huss: He exaggerated his way into a US college program, left with a singles ranking in the 800s, played Challengers in the remotest parts of the earth, without ever getting anywhere much, covers expenses, has a 22 yr old car named "Graham", and wouldn't do anything else!

*now very sorry he didn't choose Huss

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,15797706-23216,00.html
"No Fuss" Huss interview

 

[Gasquetmania]

BON Bryan, the tournament's second seeds, in the final tonight at 9pm (AEST).

ah yes, BON Bryan is quite possibly my favorite tennis player.

 

[bertrevert]

First ever qualifiers into the doubles final? Hard to believe, but a real stunner! Great news thanks.

Woody has announced his retirement so I guess he won't mind not choosing Huss.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Woodbridge used to play with Bjorkman, but they havent for awhile, what happened, did they have a falling out? I dont follow much doubles. I find it interesting but they barely show it on TV where I live so it is futile to try and follow it.

 

[StraightSets]

I think Bjorkman wanted to play more events and Woodbridge didn't. Something like that.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Awww ok, are they still friends?

 

[bertrevert]

Woodbridge did say in interview that the split with Bjorkman was the one "bitter" moment in his career. Woody certainly didn't want to lose Bjorkman as a partner.

 

[slice bh compliment]

sorry

doubly posted.

 

[slice bh compliment]

Ah, Bon.

ah yes, BON Bryan is quite possibly my favorite tennis player.

Ha hah!
Either it's a typo, or he was listening to early AC DC at the time.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Well it sounds like they arent friends then.

I remember some of the great finals betwen Woodbridge/Woodforde and Haarhuis/Eltingh when they used to actualy show doubles on TV in Canada and the U.S(Canada borrows almost all its coverage from the snooty U.S stations).

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

The doubles field today is actually quite strong. Ullyett and Wayne Black still play together dont they? You have Llodra/Santoro, Bjorkman and Mirnyi with various partners, Novak/Stepanek, the Bryans, Nestor/Knowles, Gonzales/Massu. I wish they showed more of it on TV.

 

[AndrewD]

Todd wanted to play a limited schedule during the year while Bjorkman wanted to play a full schedule. I believe that Bjorkman didn't want to play X amount of tournaments with Woodbridge then have to hunt for another partner the rest of the time. He might also have felt it unfair if he played regular tour events with one player and then ditched them at the majors.

Woodbridge was quite upset about it but you would hope they'd be able to maintain their friendship. Really just a case of different requirements, Todd wanting one more crack at Wimbledon and Bjorkman saying, 'fine but you've got to play all the other tournaments as well'.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

It sounds like a tough situation. I can understand Todd not wanting to play as much, he is raising a young family, getting older, etc......but I also understand Jonas's stance. It is hard to have a revolving door of partners all the time, and he likes to play alot, he has alot of energy on court all the times, he is funny to watch almost.

 

[bertrevert]

Bjorkman is great to watch! A real scream! He's done some good things for doubles and fired up the fans. Lethal athleticism, soft hands, great sense of competitive fervour, Bjorkman is a real joy to watch and thankfully some doubles makes it onto the TV screen because of his cailbre.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Well I dont know about Australia, but here in Canada, they only show womens double occasionaly(usually borrowed from a U.S station). God I hate watching Paula Saurez and Ruano Pascual dominate with so-so paced groundstrokes and crazy doubles formations.

 

[bertrevert]

They won! Qualifiers taking the crown, now that's a good news story to wake up to indeed. I hope there's some sort of a screening of this somewhere.

I wish Wimbledon.org videos were free. You know they could charge for a premium up-to-the-minute service and let's say a little later release their daily video highlights online.

Anyway the Huss hustled and won the cup!

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Bertrevent, since you seem to like doubles, why do you think doubles is not more popular in many parts of the world, especially North America? Do you think it is because it lacks the glamour of the singles play? I personaly prefer the doubles alot of the time, especially the mens. The womens was so much better in the Navratilova era, but the mens doubles is incredable, when I get a chance to see some.

 

[andfor]

Well it sounds like they arent friends then.

I remember some of the great finals betwen Woodbridge/Woodforde and Haarhuis/Eltingh when they used to actualy show doubles on TV in Canada and the U.S(Canada borrows almost all its coverage from the snooty U.S stations).

The US rules! :mrgreen:

 

[Yours!05]

They won! Qualifiers taking the crown, now that's a good news story to wake up to indeed. I hope there's some sort of a screening of this somewhere.
I wish Wimbledon.org videos were free. You know they could charge for a premium up-to-the-minute service and let's say a little later release their daily video highlights online.
Anyway the Huss hustled and won the cup!

Bert - They showed last half of final set after the Women's on 9/WIN. At this minute Fox Sports 1 is replaying the women's. If you have Foxtel, worth staying tuned maybe.
Ch.Nein totally unprepared for this. Just after the win (Newsflash! blah blah), Tim Sheridan crossed to scene of victory and raved on, clearly not knowing which one was Huss. And then, very unusually in Australia, no doubles match scheduled after Women's Final. So hasty scramble to show a few games and interview Huss. Pity they don't monitor TW Forums - we knew this would happen

 

[Yours!05]

federerhoogenbandfan

why do you think doubles is not more popular in many parts of the world, especially North America? Do you think it is because it lacks the glamour of the singles play?

This topic has been exhaustively discussed in recent threads, including the doubles rule change ones. But, having some cultural similarities with the US, and a shared tennis history, it is perhaps a bit odd that the Woodies were so feted here* and the Bryan bros don't enjoy similar adulation, esp given the twin factor. Perhaps because the Woodies won reliably. Mostly.
Woodforde is the good Woodie. He had to put up with a lot. IMO Woodbridge sulked their way to a Silver Medal in the Final at the Sydney Olympics. This tendency may have been an issue in the bad feeling re. the Bjorkman split.

*Then there's the appealing "fake twin" factor! The Woodies were preceded by the Super-Macs (see below):
Court 2 12.00 noon Start 1 Gentlemen's 45 & Over Doubles
Kevin Curren (RSA)[1]/Johan Kriek (USA)[1]
vs Peter McNamara (AUS)/Paul McNamee (AUS)
and before them, other iconic doubles pairs: Newcombe and Roche, Hoad and Rosewall (The Tennis Twins) etc.

(BTW MacNamee is now CEO of the AO, and McNamara his employee.)
A few years ago we would have seen at least part of these golden oldies matches here, but not likely these days.

 

[AndrewD]

A fantastic effort by Huss and a terrible shame we only got to see an abbreviated version of the last set. An even bigger shame that we didn't get to see their other matches. They pretty much took out the best doubles players going around and did it with a lot of style.

Well, with Todd retiring I don't think they'll have to look too far to find a suitable replacement. Doesnt have the same penetration on the forehand but his groundstrokes are pretty darn solid and he has a much bigger, more reliable serve. A shortish guy like Woodbridge and he plays the same side - forehand- so I don't think it would take too long to fit in with Wayne Arthurs.

Any other Aussies see the interview that Ken Sutcliffe and John Newcombe did with Huss? Very cringe-worthy. Sutcliffe was going overboard on the whole 'qualifier made good' angle and seemed on the verge of saying that, prior to the tournament, Huss had been living on packet noodles and sleeping under bridges. Newk had to step in and cut Kenny's fantasy short because he was starting to get embarrassing.

 

[Yours!05]

Any other Aussies see the interview that Ken Sutcliffe and John Newcombe did with Huss? Very cringe-worthy. Sutcliffe was going overboard on the whole 'qualifier made good' angle and seemed on the verge of saying that, prior to the tournament, Huss had been living on packet noodles and sleeping under bridges. Newk had to step in and cut Kenny's fantasy short because he was starting to get embarrassing.

And Huss said something like "I haven't exactly been on Struggle Street" - a bit embarrassed himself.

- and Stosur & Stewart thrashed I see. Looks like we only have one new Doubles God.

 

[StraightSets]

Any other Aussies see the interview that Ken Sutcliffe and John Newcombe did with Huss? Very cringe-worthy. Sutcliffe was going overboard on the whole 'qualifier made good' angle and seemed on the verge of saying that, prior to the tournament, Huss had been living on packet noodles and sleeping under bridges. Newk had to step in and cut Kenny's fantasy short because he was starting to get embarrassing.

I also saw that interview at roughly 3:30-4:00am. You could tell Huss wasn't very impressed being referred to as a battler. I thought they went a little overboard.

I think they deserve credit, they knocked out numerous seeds on their way and played great tennis. It's also great to see a tennis player in an AFL jumper

 

[Yours!05]

It's also great to see a tennis player in an AFL jumper

Keep an eye on Lleyton when he's at home

 

[peter]

LITTLE-known Australian Stephen Huss is through to the Wimbledon doubles final after teaming with South African Wes Moodie to stun top seeds Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi.

Hehe. And here I thought Jonas Björkman was our greatest hope for a Swedish Wimbledon winner - and then the half-Swede Stephen Huss wins Wimbledon instead

(Both his parents are Swedes, he speaks perfect Swedish, and he holds a dual nationality - althought he says that he feels more Australian than Swedish but that part I conveniently ignore

 

[Yours!05]

Hehe. And here I thought Jonas Björkman was our greatest hope for a Swedish Wimbledon winner - and then the half-Swede Stephen Huss wins Wimbledon instead

(Both his parents are Swedes, he speaks perfect Swedish, and he holds a dual nationality - althought he says that he feels more Australian than Swedish but that part I conveniently ignore

Noooooooooo!!

 

[AndrewD]

StraightSets,
my girlfriend was very impressed to see him in a Geelong jumper (her team of choice since I coaxed her away from Rugby and over to the 'dark side' LOL). I gather he barracks for Hawthorn but then no-ones perfect LOL.

I agree completely. They didn't just sneak into the final, they pretty much beat the best and, in two separate matches, beat the Wimbledon winners from the last 3 years. Even bigger congratulations to them when you consider how many major doubles titles those other players have won. It makes their victory all the more emphatic.

Pity about Stosur and Stewart but congratulations to them anyway. Getting through to the semis is a fair effort and to the mixed quarters for Stosur as well.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

The US rules! :mrgreen:

Yeah but the T.V commentators are awful, except for Pam Shriver who is great. Too bad she cant do all the womens and mens matches with Cliff Drysdale.

 

[Rabbit]

why do you think doubles is not more popular in many parts of the world, especially North America?

Doubles is very popular in the United States, more people at the club level play doubles by an overwhelming majority. Doubles as shown on TTC does very well with the fan base. IMO, doubles is not shown on ESPN more for the same reason they show every Williams and Roddick match, their perception of what goes with the fans.