Hopman Cup

[Yours!05]

Hopman Cup *Spoilers*

http://www.hopmancup.com.au/default.aspx?id=1

Blissed out here in Oz. Real tennis in real time. Commercial-free zone!
Hawk-Eye challenges are being trialled here. Looks good so far.
Great venue, great graphics, camera angles. F. Stolle commentating.
Stosur V. Groenefeld playing.
Possibility Peng Shuai will play if Russia withdraws, so we'll get a good look at her.

EDIT: Ooops! Forgot to put SPOILER in title.
Note that the US Tennis Channel may be showing this on Delay.

 

[Ronaldo]

Yours!, not to dampen your enthusiasm but will the Hopman Cup survive? Two years ago James Blake and Serena Williams played Lleyton Hewitt and Alicia Molik in the finals. No top 10 players in the field this year.

 

[Yours!05]

Yours!, not to dampen your enthusiasm but will the Hopman Cup survive? Two years ago James Blake and Serena Williams played Lleyton Hewitt and Alicia Molik in the finals. No top 10 players in the field this year.

Ronaldo, you couldn't.
Good point. Maybe it serves a purpose, like Kooyong Classic, i.e. not ultra demanding but good workout for the AO.
And maybe top player participation is cyclical too...

 

[Ronaldo]

Looking forward to the Hopman Cup next week on the TTC. Recap of older matches on tonite, Fed and Hingis are playing Seles and Gambill at 11 pm. Clijsters played Serena two yrs ago.

 

[idj49]

Yours!, not to dampen your enthusiasm but will the Hopman Cup survive? Two years ago James Blake and Serena Williams played Lleyton Hewitt and Alicia Molik in the finals. No top 10 players in the field this year.

Gaudio is still #10 right? So there is your top 10 player.

 

[Keifers]

Thanks for the thread, Yours!05. If ever a pro tournament deserved to continue, that would be the Hopman. Unique in pro tennis (in terms of its format, as far as I know; each match is 1 MS, 1 WS and a Mixed), very well run, and, I believe, enjoyed by all pros that play in it.

Because of that, it doesn't HAVE to have Top 10 players playing. It's great tennis to watch, Australian fans certainly love it, and it's an excellent and fun alternative for the pros to play just before the AO.

I remember well watching it on TV (I was in Adelaide) a few years ago. In the deciding match, Martina Hingis and Marc Rosset (SUI) were playing Goran Ivanisevic and Iva Majoli? (CRO), and Martina was giving Goran fits returning his serves with aplomb and style. (He was slowing down his serves a little when serving to her, but not that much!) I believe Goran and Iva prevailed in the end and won the championship.

I tell you, that format makes for a very unique atmosphere at the Hopman. And I think everyone -- fans and players -- enjoys it.

 

[Keifers]

I just looked at the web site.

Yours!05, I guess China didn't make the main draw, but did you get a chance to see Shuai Peng play? If so, any comments?

I saw her playing Kim Clijsters in the San Diego tourn. and she was really impressive. Eliminated Kimmie...

 

[Ronaldo]

idj, you cannot be serious. Rather watch his partner................

 

[idj49]

You didn't say a good top 10 player. lol

 

[Keifers]

idj, you cannot be serious. Rather watch his partner................

I'm with you on that one, Ronaldo. Gisela is gorgeous...

 

[Yours!05]

Yours!05, I guess China didn't make the main draw, but did you get a chance to see Shuai Peng play? If so, any comments?

Not yet. The Qualifier Play-Off wasn't shown. Apparently the Safin substitute Teimuraz Gabashvili is injured, so China might play instead of Russia. First match for whichever team will be v. USA on Tuesday.

 

[AndrewD]

I think the Hopman Cup will survive and probably end up with better and better players. It's a semi-serious hit for the players and can provide them with at least two matches against good calibre opposition in friendlier conditions than they'd find in Queensland, Adelaide or Sydney (as in, not so bloody hot lol). Alicia Molik used it as a springboard in 2004/ 2005 and I think that might provide a good example for some players. Just gives them a nice way to shake off the rust and try out, in competition, anything they've been working on without the fear of losing points.
Also seems to be the right place to unveil any racquet changes (again, to trial in semi-serious comp). We saw that last year with Sanguinetti and the 03Tour and can see this year with Sam Stosur switching from her Volkl t10mp v-engine to the Prince 03 White.

 

[StraightSets]

Germany d. Australia

Sam Stosur d. Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-3 7-5
Nicolas Kiefer d. Wayne Arthurs 6-3 6-4
Kiefer/Groenefeld d. Arthurs/Stosur 4-6 6-3 [10-8]

 

[nickybol]

My good friend Michaella Krajicek is playing here, together with Peter Wessels!

 

[Keifers]

Germany d. Australia

Sam Stosur d. Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-3 7-5
Nicolas Kiefer d. Wayne Arthurs 6-3 6-4
Kiefer/Groenefeld d. Arthurs/Stosur 4-6 6-3 [10-8]

Wow, looks like that deciding match was a close one. Good to see Sam Stosur won her singles match.

 

[Keifers]

Not yet. The Qualifier Play-Off wasn't shown. Apparently the Safin substitute Teimuraz Gabashvili is injured, so China might play instead of Russia. First match for whichever team will be v. USA on Tuesday.

OK, thanks for the update. Looks like Kuznetsova is having a bit of bad luck with her partners.

 

[Rabbit]

Yours!, not to dampen your enthusiasm but will the Hopman Cup survive? Two years ago James Blake and Serena Williams played Lleyton Hewitt and Alicia Molik in the finals. No top 10 players in the field this year.

Speaking of which, for those of you who watched the replay, did you notice the size difference of Serena then and Serena now? She is considerably heftier now than then.

 

[sureshs]

Speaking of which, for those of you who watched the replay, did you notice the size difference of Serena then and Serena now? She is considerably heftier now than then.

I did. I first thought it was the TV aspect ratio (everybody looked taller and slimmer) - with the 16:9 resolution today, it is more shorter and fatter. Then I realized Serena has really blown up.

 

[Ronaldo]

Serena has definitely added some weight to her groundies to match the current players pace. IMHO, the Nike wear makes her appear heavier.