The Gays and Tennis -- Part 156 USO and the Carpet Season

MEN!!! FINALLY! Mind to have a drink with me boyzzz?

Hello, I'm another person in the world? Hello? This is so rude. And what am I? Chopped liver?

"Gorgon Ferocity"

I feel nothing.

Thanks for the new thread, OP. Shouldn't it be Part 158?

If this is Part 156, let's rewrite history.

Here's to Rafa returning 2024, healthy and ready to play, winning all Grand Slams , then retire at 26 Grand Slams

Everything about Novaxx is so fake. The man is not genuine, Everything about him seems so staged. Inauthentic asshole

Shapo and fiancee.

OP your pic is of the worst human. Ugly on the inside and out. We have to look at her while at the Australian Open every year. F*ck you Margaret Court, you religious bigot.

[quote] F*ck you Margaret Court, you religious bigot.

And still GOAT.

Does Shapo suffer from the Poison P like Daddy and our sweet innocent Tommy Paul?

Poison P Daddy.

Doesn’t Court hold many of her records because few highly ranked players traveled to Australia when she was competing?

Yes^ and not everyone was pro when she played if I'm not mistaken. I started watching tennis in the 80s and many American players didn't even go then because it was within the holiday time.

Serena had 2 close chances in 2018 amd one in 2019 to get to 26. Damn you Osaka, Bianca and that druggie Halep

That's Margaret Court?! I don't follow tennis beyond checking scores for big tournaments, but I used to in the 70s and early 80s when I was a teen and remember her. I've passed this thread a few times scrolling and I think "Damn. What a sour-looking old biddy." and crack up. Shame about her.

Margaret Court is a homophobic cunt.

Court always ranked high on my list of women whose appearance and demeanour coexisted uneasily with their homophobia. Another was Midge Decter.

Thought that was Jackie Hoffman.

Even though Djokovic is a horrible human being, Margaret Court may always have the edge on him making her the eternal GOAT. Her hate has made her powerful.

R17. Did she overlook the verse about women remaining silent in church?

R7= Holden Caulfield

R20. Isn’t she GOAT only in a simplistic statistical sense? She won the required number of titles, but many of those titles were not that competitive.

She seems full of bitterness in general—-bitching about not getting her due recognition.

Court's beliefs are despicable, but the disparaging of her record is also not necessarily acccurate. The Australians she won often did have very competetive fields, in fact, Court's first victory at the Aussie Open had a field that included Maria Bueno and Christine Truman the number one and two players in the world (the event was in January 1960, and Bueno had won Wimbledon and the US the previous year, while Truman won the French and was runner up at the US). Even the years when U.S players did not go down to Australia, still featured top players like Lesley Bowrey (2x Grand Slam champion), Judy Dalton, Kerry Melville, Robin Ebbern, and Jan Lehane (whe defeated Bueno at the '60 Aussie). Court's a bigot, but she was one of the greats (I don't believe in a single GOAT), but I believe that Court is with Serena, Graf, Navratilova and Evert as the top 5. This is not counting legends like Lenglen, Connolly or Wills from the pre-1960 era.

R24. You mention some highly tanked players who went to Australia, but can you claim those Australian titles over all were as competitive as titles in Europe or America?

Cunt, I meant Court's face looks like a cat's puckered asshole.

I didn't even bother watching the final and nobody has even commented on it here.

OP why the fuck post a picture of that homophobic cunt???

JFC. We want to rename the stadium. She's hates the gays.

To be fair, Court won everything. Not just Aussie's. She won 13 other slams. Let's say she only wins 6 of the 11 Aussies if they were more competitive. That still gives her 19.

So, while I would never ever put her on the same level as Graf, Serena, Chrissie, or Martina, I would put her one small step below those Big Four.

Being a cunt of all cunts doesn't change that she was really damn good.

Hingis!

[quote] Being a cunt of all cunts doesn't change that she was really damn good.

That not only makes me good, it makes me GOAT!

Novaxx will be back to no. 1. Coco with a new career high of no. 3.

R25, comparitively it varies for event to event. Court also didn't play in any Grand Slam events in 1967, missed the U.S. in 1966, missed three of four in 1972, and yet no one questions the winners of the events that Court missed, despite her absence being a glaring omission in terms of quality, as she won all four GS in 1970 and won 3 of 4 in 1962, 1965, 1969, and 1973. So at the end of the day, though some of the fields at the Australian were not as strong, there were also years when the European events were lacking field-wise, as well.

R27, on the other thread they did. It had a lot of the hypnotic long exchanges of Djokovic-Murray matches, in which you know you are watching very solid shot making but don’t really want to see 22-shot rallies on every point. I think that the intense humidity here really did impair Djokovic in the second set, but it’s also true that, at this point, everything is a weapon for him. He actually did need to slow down the pace of the match, but that conveniently undermined Medvedev’s rhythm. E eventually his confidence was just gone. People who play sports say that by the time you really understand the game, you are too old to benefit from that knowledge. It didn’t work out that way with Djokovic, who now knows everything but somehow is still able to play.

^ somehow

[quote]I seem to recall Fed walking into court with his current number of wins (13? 14?)

No it was at Wimbledon. Sampras and Federer were both holding a record 14 GS titles and Roger entered the court with the number 15 embroidered on his shoes, towels and his jacket. It was so disrespectful towards Andy Roddick who was his opponent, like it was a done deal when he entered the court. I didn't like Roger before that, but I actively hated him after he did it. Of course Anna Winter was applauding frantically. She probably was behind the idea.

R9, At first, I thought it was Patti LuPone.

R603 from the last thread:

[quote] Novak obviously gets zero respect from the lot of fat, bloated losers on the DL. Do any of you play tennis? Compete at anything on a high level, other than silly insults? Jealousy gets you what? Go bow at the altar of Fed and the butt picker, and remember all their wonderful moments. And then count....to 24, and eat shit.

I’m not fat, bloated, or a loser, darl. And I play tennis. I’ve also had a great career and have reached the highest level in my own particular field. I’m not jealous of Djokovic, do not bow at the altar of Federer or Nadal. Hats off to 24—a truly impressive feat.

Shame, though, that Djokovic is unbearable in terms of his public image, and so transparently nasty and smarmy. An even bigger shame is his arrogant, “truth-defying” and (unfortunately) very public and influential stance on public health issues, as well as his recourse to questionable “official state documents” regarding his health status to get around another country’s legitimate legal provisions.

You’d do better to stop assuming that anyone’s dislike of Djokovic is based on a blinding love for Federer or Nadal. I think most of us who don’t care for him are swayed more by his truly awful public image than any sense of disappointment that he’s got more GSs than his historical rivals.

I loved the Djoker from the moment he took on Andy Roddick in NY who was a total cunt to him in his news conference. Roddick won his only GS due to favorable scheduling. In the game of what ifs, how many GS would Novak have if he emigrated to US or UK?

At every slam, he's had the least favorable scheduling, for good reasons, even this week, playing 2 matches in the heat. That's what makes him so impressive to me.

R38 what did Roddick say/ about Djokovich?

Mopsy up to #19 in rankings

You're right of course, R4.

I've never been good with figures -- excepting my own.

[quote]Roddick won his only GS due to favorable scheduling. In the game of what ifs, how many GS would Novak have if he emigrated to US or UK? At every slam, he's had the least favorable scheduling, for good reasons, even this week, playing 2 matches in the heat. That's what makes him so impressive to me.

You're right that if he had been American or British, he'd automatically have had good scheduling but players like Federer and Nadal always got great scheduling because they're popular. So if Novaxx wasn't such a bit of an ass, he would have similar.

[quote] Novak obviously gets zero respect from the lot of fat, bloated losers on the DL. Do any of you play tennis? Compete at anything on a high level, other than silly insults? Jealousy gets you what? Go bow at the altar of Fed and the butt picker, and remember all their wonderful moments. And then count....to 24, and eat shit.

Fascist little bootlickers in the tennis thread?

Oh, DEAR.

Along with his own foibles, the entire tennis business machine has amplified and curated his villainous behavior while simultaneously carefully crafting the images of Fedal.

There were times when Roger threw his racket or barked at a ball kid and not only would he not be questioned about it, the commentators wouldn't mention it and not replay the clip. Thou shall NOT criticize Roger or you won't get the Nike gift bag or be invited to the Rolex party. One year at Wimbledon, McEnroe said something negative and I swear he was banished for a year. I'd love to hear what he really thinks about some of the business politics and Tony Godsik.

And don't get me started on Nadal living atop an island of interconnected closets. While Novak's psychological weaknesses have been analyzed with excruciating detail, NO ONE in the media has ever discussed, or asked about, why Nadal has the need to do a 21 step routine just to serve a point. What the fuck is THAT all about? Don't ask, it would be rude but let's talk endlessly about Novak's "desperate need to be liked" and his fakeness.

And so what? That's life, but to me, that's what makes his accomplishments even more impressive.

Whatever

Shelton is ranked way too high

Wow Ruune fell off

Rune Vs Mopsy would be an awesome shitwatch - which one can out-obnoxious the other?

Apparently it's what the 'fans' want these days.

Shelton was exciting but he said in the hallway interview his plan was to "just get out there and get the fans involved". Not, "play the best match of my life" . And this from an interview a couple of months ago is telling about his goals and who he is.

“I want to be that dude in the draw that there’s not one player who wants to see me,” he said. “I’m talking scared of me, genuinely, like Roger in his prime – he pulls up to a tournament, everyone’s thinking about him.”

[quote]Nadal living atop an island of interconnected closets

Mentira!

Andy Roddick:

What a charmer!

Andy Roddick:

Novak was on the Gayle King show this morning and looking super handsome

Okay, R245.

Erm, R45, that is.

You can't pick your relatives, but you can pick your butt.

Nadal doesn't pick his butt and dick in public/ off court , his antics are just a way to buy time

R24 and R29 - why doesn't Billie Jean King deserve to be in the top tier?

She won 39 Grand Slam titles: 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles. King was a member of the victorious United States team in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups.

And R39, I read, I think on an earlier thread, that Novak himself asked for afternoon instead of night. Probably something to do with his complicated drug taking rituals. I must say, he has it all figured out pretty well. All hail Creatinovak Djokovic!

And Sabs has squawked her way to #1 baby !!!

Coco at 3 - will she have staying power? Only 19 so ups and downs are expected and the American press will be on it. Woo hoo for us :(

She Hulk reigns Supreme!

[quote] King was a member of the victorious United States team in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups.

And she was one of the Original Nine!

Op, who’s the guy on the picture you posted?

That's Margaret Court-Smith, silly!

Here's a better photo of her.

Novak is the Debbie-Downer of tennis.

[quote] That's Margaret Court-Smith, silly! Here's a better photo of her.

I am GOAT.

Is this where we talk about the San Diego Open?

Why do the american tv presenters mangle his name so badly? It's 2023 and they're still calling him Novak JOKER-vitch.

Well, in fairness, he is the Djoker.

I did not like Novak Djokovic in his role as "Djoker".

Enough talk about Miss CREATINA. Let's move on

Lorenzo mole when he was younger.

Awww. How cute, r73. Here he is again, with a few clips showing off his great skills at an early age.

Lore needs to marry me.

Get in line, r75.

You need to get laid. People who constantly post about how hot celebs aren't getting any.

^ not true

I got laid quite thoroughly on Sunday. I still lust after Lore.

grrrr

It's boring and cringe for other people to hear about - just go and jerk off?

Fuck you cunts for making us have to look at the gay hating, anti-LGBT campaigner Margaret Court every time this fucking thread pops up the top of DL.

R80, I enjoy these photos, even if I'm not into a particular player. It's part of the ambiance of these threads.

R80 shut up

Yeah, fuck off R80, you don't speak for anyone but yourself

How very Hemingway of Carlitos.

speaking of something morally repulsive...

Halep receives four-year suspension.

But Halep was going on like this was all a mistake and she would be back in time for end of year tournaments

[quore] Halep receives four-year suspension.

!!!

Holy shit!!!

Does that mean Serena can appeal her 2018 Wimbledon loss to Halep?

^*2019

Serious stuff.

Serena had 4 chances to tie Court's record and she let these slip away

Simona is done

I want to believe she’s innocent — but how does a drug used to treat kidney failure show up in her system?

Damm. That's just sad.

At least she married well...

She's divorced

Help!

[quote]She's divorced

Really? I must have missed that. I thought she was married to some gabillionaire.

Hope she divorced well.

Monica Seles is married to a billionaire.

Happy for Monica. Looks like someone who deserves a happy life

Halep is claiming she switched supplements and one got contaminated.

However… how does a supplement get contaminated with a kidney failure drug?

I’m struggling to follow her defense.

I find it non-sensical that at tournaments there has to be someone supervising the physio during a medical timeout to make sure they don't slip the player a PED yet there's no supervision of what player teams give the player while on court such as Djokovic's potions.

[quote]Halep is claiming she switched supplements and one got contaminated. However… how does a supplement get contaminated with a kidney failure drug?

The anti-doping people accepted that it may be plausible that a supplement was tainted with trace amounts (I suppose that goes for anything) but basically said that she would have had to eat a crazy amount of the supplement to get to the amount she tested positive for which wasn't convincing.

She also had changes in her biological passport which three independent experts said "likely doping" was the explanation for.

yeah, it's not a good look for Help

Serena is coming for Simona's neck! The shade! The shade! That serena GOAT has been throwing on Twitter

... which is highly ironic but Serena's retired now so she can do that. There can't be much love lost between them for Serena to do that though.

Bouchard is also throwing shade.

"@geniebouchard

I was told not to tweet today 🫢"

I wonder whether Halep will manage to get a reduction on appeal though, like Sharapova did. She has already had a year suspended so it's possible she could come back in a year or two if so. But in her 30s so likely will not be competitive at the top.

Give Serena her entitled Wimbledon 2019 title!

PEPPA! Brava, what a match!

Somehow I missed that Jenson Brooksby is currently suspended for missing three doping tests. Since July.

Brooksby is a trash player. Doping didn't help him

R106, thanks for your interpretation!

Serving looks: See inside the exclusive hair salon for tennis players at the US Open

Is anyone Brooksby team?

Where is Peppa? What did she do? I adore her!

Ostapenko bet Alexandrava today.

Bouchard is a joke. Does anyone really care what she has to say?

R117 she played Alexandrova at the San Diego Open today

Medwed's daughter looks like a female mini-me version of him.

"US Open Finals viewership averages:

Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka: 3.422 million

Novak Djokovic vs Daniil Medvedev: 2.321 million"

For comparison the men's final was 2.15 million last year. But nothing compares to Serena's final match which was 6.9 million...

I'm a little confused about the whole Halep doping offense and the subsequent tweets by both Serena and even Bouchard. Haven't the drug tests always been random and constant? If Halep was banned as a result of a late 2022 or early 2023, why would that negate her previous results, particularly that 6-2, 6-2 Serena Wimbledon thrashing?

I'd appreciate insights if anyone knows.

I think she admitted taking the supplement for years, without knowing it. The entire drug testing system is riddled with inconsistencies. We can't rewrite history.

Think about it. You can't use cannabis but you can take Ritalin and Adderall, stimulants, the very definition of performance enhancing drugs.

R123, they are "constant" only in theory. A player can miss two tests in a row without the public knowing about it and without earning any kind of sanction. Brooksby's problem was that he had missed three tests.

Kokkinakis Vs Draper in the Davis Cup is a real hunk o' spunk fest to coin a charming Aussie expression.

Considering Serena once hid to avoid having to take a test, she might want to bow out of this situation.

Court is a revolting woman and yes in her prime the best women (BJK, Maria Bueno) did not play the Australian and French slams regularly. Court racked up Australian titles. That said, awful as she is, she was a superb powerful attacking player- enormous power and court coverage built around an attacking game. She may not be the best ever but she is certainly one of them. I saw her play in the early 70’s.

Can barely contain myself at the thought that Serena GOAT can possibly rightfully claim her 24 GS titles

Bottle-Blond Bombshell, Borna Gojo, down Big Foe in straight sets to level up the Davis cup tie.

Meanwhile the crowd is singing along at the top of their lungs to YMCA as Diallo leads Musetti 7-5, 5-3.

r129, Serena has 23 GS, but who's counting?

r128, Charlie- Cheers! Yes, she was a great champion, no doubt. But, in the olden days of no instant replay, no drug policy, and little tv/video, she benefited from favorable calls and scheduling from officials and sponsors who wanted to see her in the final, just like EVERY professional tennis event in the world; then and now. It's easy to see how the champion gets every close call, all the way up to Federer. If you were an Aussie linesperson, would you want to make a call against her and have to explain it the rest of your life?

The 2022 USO earned 472 million dollars, more than the annual GDP of at least 4 countries. Having Rolex and Swiss Bank as your sponsors is a lot more helpful than being sponsored by your family's pizza parlor.

Federer on Hawkeye 2002- Not everybody loved the idea, of course. Roger Federer believed the money being spent on correcting "just a few points"—roughly $50,000 per court at the time—could have been better used elsewhere. "I am against the whole idea of replays," the Swiss phenom, then 24, declared. True to his word, Federer would maintain a complicated, begrudging relationship with line-officiating technology for years afterward.

Of course

Noah Rubin had something to say related to the Halep suspension.

[quote] PED’s in tennis

What does the PED possess?

Did we really need a photo of that homophobic old sow in the OP?

At the San Diego Open:

Ons lost

Ostapenko lost to Collins

Ons

Osta

Ollins

Ova, enka, ina

FWIW: while playing singles, Court also won 19 grand slams in women's doubles and 21 grand slams in mixed doubles. Serena Williams won 14 slams in women’s doubles, two slams in mixed doubles and four Olympic gold medals.

Novak has 0 slams in men’s doubles, 0 slams in mixed and 0 gold medals.

See - still GOAT.

That’s not my *exact* point, but thanks for your support.

Awkward moment with Joy threw in "isn't he an anti-vaxxer?" while McConaughey was fawning over Djokovic.

His brand has become just as canned, bland, synthetic and predictable as Djokovic's Jekyll moments.

R60, I don't ever include doubles accomplishments when talking about the best ever singles players.

BJK is at the very top of tier two for me. With Seles, Venus, Henin, and Goolagong below her.

That’s a double fault on your part—because your out of step by completing ignoring doubles.

you are

If players like Fed/Djok/Nadal don't even seriously play doubles it kind of makes sense to discount that. But I really, really hate the endless GOAT debates because it's silly. Players have different eras/competition/objectives so I just prefer to focus on who's playing now. You know, there may be someone else in the future who breaks the record even. It's a bit boring.

Big Jack

From the full judgment in the Halep case (a mammoth 126 pages at the link): "Dr Eichner's conclusion was that the Player would have needed to ingest 5,000 times the recommended 10g serving size of MCT in order to produce the estimated concentrations of Roxadustat in her 29 August Sample. He did not consider that plausible or in line with what the Player says she ingested."

Halep "forgot" to declare the supplement and it's an obscure keto MCT supplement, only one batch of which was produced of in China, meaning they couldn't get hold of information about the manufacturing process or samples. Halep directly blames Mouratoglou and someone called Ms Gohier who works at his Academy for suggesting the supplement and saying that it was safe to use.

That's fucked up. Luckily, she has her millions to soften the blow. It's easy to see how this could happen by accident.

When she first failed the test Mouratoglou issued a strong support statement. It probably was his fault.

--from MTF--

"Halep claims that the presence of roxadustat (n.r. - banned substance) in her body was caused by contamination with a collagen supplement she used in late August 2022, which she says could not have been reasonably suspected by her or anyone from her team," ITIA's motivation reads.

On August 17, Simona Halep withdrew from the tournament in Cincinnati with a right thigh injury, but she still had high hopes for the US Open.

At that point, her physical therapist, Candice Gohier, recommended that she add a collagen supplement to her diet, since she wasn't taking one. Based on a recommendation from Frederic Lefebvre (who was the director of the physical training department at Mouratoglou Academy) to Candice Gohier, she recommended Simona 3 products from one manufacturer. Halep had not heard of those supplements before. She asked if Gohier had checked them and was told yes.

Halep and Gohier also checked the container together and noticed that there was no banned substance on the ingredients list. Halep also checked with coach Mouratoglou, who told her that all 3 products were safe to use since no banned substances were listed on the label and they did not appear to be risky. Halep was aware of the possibility of supplements being contaminated and made sure the products were vetted and recommended by experts in the field.

All 3 supplements were ordered by Gohier on August 16, 2022 and shipped directly by the distributor to Gohier in New York. The player then started using the 3 supplements in mid-August 2022," ITIA's reasoning reads.

The document talks about the supplements in question, but has censored the company that markets them. There are 3 products: an electrolyte drink (Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium), a recovery supplement and Keto MCT, a medium chain fatty acid supplement (which is absorbed directly into the bloodstream) and marine collagen powder .

Blah blah excuses, excuses

[quote] It's easy to see how this could happen by accident.

How? It simply does not make sense. Again: "Dr Eichner's conclusion was that the Player would have needed to ingest 5,000 times the recommended 10g serving size of MCT in order to produce the estimated concentrations of Roxadustat in her 29 August Sample."

Anyone doing business with Mouratoglou is slimed by association.

It explains why he's been acting fairly panicky about this, issuing statements. I'd bet that Halep has been furious with him behind the scenes. He is likely only not being exposed because she'd then have to admit that she was lying too.

[quote] Anyone doing business with Mouratoglou is slimed by association.

Perhaps the Brat/Legz has banned substances on the makeup he wears on court in order to absorb them cutaneously.

Wasn't Serena coached by Mouratoglou for years?

Quite

[quote]Wasn't Serena coached by Mouratoglou for years?

Yes, for ten years until 2022 which is when he dropped her (because she wouldn't commit to playing RG). The same year Halep dropped her entire team and moved to Mouratoglou which was quite shocking at the time.

R158, it was thought that Mouratoglou got into a relationship with Serena as a way of controlling her. He’s never been highly thought of in the tennis world, as far as I can tell. Every time a new player hired him people would joke that he was just a conduit for drugs.

r153,

As someone who has endured hundreds of lab tests for the past 40 years, I assure you that lab errors are common. Also, urinalyis testing is fraught with errors.

I mean, IDK and IDC but anything involving only one sample is suspect. I'm just sayin'

PS- Did you know that steriods ARE allowed, to a certain extent, if you get an exemption.

Yeah. This book is old but it talked a lot about how coaches and trainers try to get into personal relationships with players or to get players attached to them so that their job is secure. I've no doubt that still goes on, especially in the women's tour.

R161 Yes, Serena in particular had a long list of TUEs - predisnone especially. TUEs are mostly bullshit conditions - but they're legal.

I'd love to see Justin Henin/Carlos Rodriguez porn, including 3 way with the husband.

[quote] the husband.

That husband. My jaw would drop every time I saw him. He pinged my gaydar like crazy. She never said why they suddenly divorced but I think I could guess.

Lots of things can mess up a drug test.

As a reminder, this was Henin's husband.

Her current man vibes more masculine like Rodriguez.

I could be wrong but they they had A and B samples so they could confirm results and rule out lab error.

Yes, that is exactly why they have A and B samples. Dear god.

Dear God,

Other realities exist

A critical concept is that not all drugs within a class have similar chemical structures and therefore may or may not react with the antibody included in the assay.4 Depending on the manufacturer there may be variable cross reactivity to various substances (discussed in further detail below). The manufacturer often does preliminary testing and reports some agents in their package insert known to cross-react with each class. This list should not be considered exhaustive as many unlisted substances cross react. The sensitivity and specificity of the various components of the immunoassays also can vary between manufactures as well. Thus, health care providers should be aware of the specifications of the immunoassay that is used by their laboratory.

The Halep PR has entered the thread.

Justine's hair @ R167 is tragic. I mean, even for a dyke, it's tragic.

I don't think she's a dyke. I think she wanted to get married and got conned. She seemed genuinely upset by the divorce because she withdrew from several tournaments including the AO. Then she went on to marry another man (who pings as straight) and have kids with him.

R169, what is your snooty “dear god” about?

I didn't know she had kids, R173. I'm happy to accept that she's straight.

My point remains: that hair is tragic, even for a dyke.

[quote]what is your snooty “dear god” about?

That poster is full of shit. There is an A and a B sample to rule out lab error. Is that not clear?

[quote]that hair is tragic, even for a dyke.

I thought you were implying that she was one. My bad if not but honestly, most dykes I know wouldn't even try to dye/style their hair. Classic dyke hair is something like a short cut to me.

[quote] who pings as straight

Is pinging straight even a thing? I thought pinging was specifically related to being gay.

R178 Pinging is about guessing someone's sexuality so it makes sense to me.

No worries, R177.

Here's some tragic , longer dyke hair.

Anyway, enough about bad hair. The gay in me compelled me to bring it up.

Back to tennis.

Of course, Margaret Court's hair @ OP is pretty tragic, too. Even for a dyke.

I'll stop now, promise.

Imagine the hellish frustration of having millions of dollars and multiple homes and not being able to eat, drink, smoke and fuck who ever you want?

My TOP 5, because 10 would be too whorish, choises for hottest player are:

1. F. Cerundulu- because he's up an coming, 2 of my favorite things

2. David Ferrer, he's retired but I can't stop thinking about making him grunt.

3. Borna Coric because, DAMN!, no explanation necessary

4. Tiafoe, though I'm afraid he would send me to the ER

5. Roberto Agut Bautista- he seems so sweet and I'd love to meet his horses and I think he's a friend of Ferrer's

How about you?

choices

[quote]Imagine the hellish frustration of having millions of dollars and multiple homes and not being able to eat, drink, smoke and fuck who ever you want?

What are you talking about? They can fuck anyone they want. As for the rest, they can eat, drink or smoke anything legal. Cigarettes, alcohol, fast food.

Kyrgios tweeted this:

"@NickKyrgios

Ehhhh not really lol, I run on bananas and coke cola in 5 set battles. And my record in them speaks for itself. Maybe players should just stop taking shady sh*t 😂 look yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and say yep I did it right. Not hard."

What's with players being deprived if they can't consume 'shady shit'?

R182, I don't know all of them, and mostly am familiar with higher ranked players - my hot list:

1 Rublev, 2 Fritz, 3 Zverev, 4 Tsitsipas, 5 Musetti

R182

Current:

1. Jack Draper 2. Pedro Cachin 3. Arthur Fils 4. Francisco Cerundolo 5. Tallon Griekspoor

All Time:

1. Feli Lopez 2. Stefan Edberg 3. Jan Michael Gambill 4. Carlos Moya 5. Tommy Haas

R185, A. Zverev or M. Zverev?

So choise, R182.

Alexander Zverev - never heard of an M. Zverev.

Sure, Nick K, you're the paragon of "doing it right".

My top 5 in no particular order: FAA, Arthur Fils, Juan Pablo Varillas, Laslo Djere, Skander Mansouri. Honorable mention: Monfils, Mackie, Popyrin, Antoine Hoang, Pablo Carreno Busta

[quote] Alexander Zverev - never heard of an M. Zverev.

Mischa Zverev is Alexander’s brother, a former pro player himself and relatively high ranked in his day.

M. Zverev is Mr. Congeniality to A. Zverev's Mr. Hyde.

Carlos and I have been having a relationship throughout the 2023 season.

You laugh but I know a Federer fan who almost seems to believe they are or will be together.

Holé

Gauff was also with Mouratoglou for awhile. NOT that I'm implying anything...

Then shut up—

Please—he was an informal adviser for a few months in early-mid ‘23.

Like dozens of promising jrs over the last 20 years…years ago she trained on clay at his academy near Cannes / Nice.

R182 has horrible taste.

Goodness. Someone is certainly sensitive about the sainted CoCo. That's English for learn to take a joke you fucking prig.

Is Ben ok? He normally tweets most days but hasn't tweeted in two weeks.

I presume you mean Rothenberg, but this Ben looks more than ok.

My top 2

1. Papa TsiTsi Fly

2. Goran Ivanisevic (Novak's coach)

That's it.

I like masculine daddies. No man under 50 does a thing for me.

Ivanisevic surprises me - I think he's a bit gross now.

And then.

Serena was the most tested athlete in the history of sports.

They came to her home in the middle of the night, like burglars, fucking goons!

R201 the joke is you…

….there was no humor to take in. Thanks for playing

Had they found anything on serena , these lab testers would be singing it from the rooftops because they would have enjoyed nothing more than bringing down a black star athlete

Simona was thirsty for wins and doped up to achieve it. She should look in the.mirror if she wants someone to blame amd stop blaming others

[quote]Had they found anything on serena , these lab testers would be singing it from the rooftops because they would have enjoyed nothing more than bringing down a black star athlete

I don't think they would have, especially considering that the WTA and ATP were in charge of antidoping, and then the ITF (now it's been moved to the ITIA). She was a huge star and routinely got big ratings. It would have been bad for tennis. That's why so many tennis 'journalists' and former players are suspiciously a bit quiet about this or are sympathetic, bigging up the defenses. They know that Halep is the tip of a very big iceberg and don't want what happened to cycling to happen to tennis.

Fritz is hot to DLers because he's horny.

R211 is talking of its ass.

The white Tennis world would NEVER EVER protect Serena. They were/ still are too pissed that Serena, a BLACK WOMAN became the greatest living Tennis player in history.

Even this thread / DLers are proving my point by slinging mud at Sernea when Simona Halep is the one who doped up.

Tennis is a business and the bottom line is money. Did Serena bring in the crowds, sponsors and ratings? Yes, she did. Doesn't matter if you're black at that point - if you're a star and making money, that's good for their bottom line. Coco Gauff too.

See r225 is proving my point. Slinging mud at Serena and poor little Coco Puffs when SIMONA HALEP IS the one doped up

Meant R215 not R225

R217 That's not what I was saying at all - re-read what I was saying.

Serena wa shooed by her home crowd. Venus and Serrna were constantly belittled by players, umpires, crowds, anchors, spectators. It was hell for them.

Venus and Serena had different coaches

Venus had the class. Serena was an ass.

I don't know why but I've never really been into the Davis Cup. Supposedly the crowds are dire there and top players have been swerving it too.

Do you guys actually watch women's tennis? Serena is, and was, LAUDED by everyone, everywhere. As she should! She's the GOAT.

This narrative that Big Bad Tennis Ogres had it out for her because she's black is ridiculous. She's done more to make tennis grow than anyone and the Big Bad Tennis Ogres know this.

Sure, some idiot racist fans were horrible to her and Venus a thousand years ago at Indian Wells. Which sucked and was an extreme embarrassment. And advertising took longer to come around to her, but that's in large part because she's not a beauty. But by 2010 or so? She was in every other commercial.

R219, Venus is one of the most beloved tennis players all over the world. She's like Rafa.

Serena is more like Novak. Not everyone loves her and for good reason: She's had some bad moments on the court. She earned some of those boos. Again, like Novak.

F&F.

Sernea

Serrna

Venus' first endorsement deal with Reebok was the biggest ever (at the time) for a female tennis player

R223 stealth racist post

Will druggie.Simona Halep every return to competition?

Or return to every competition. Or never has she ever. Whatever.

By the time Halep's drug ban expires she will be too old to return in top form, the current top girls a la Iga and Sabalenka will be on their 5th or perhaps more, Grand Slam titles, if they remainn healthy...

This clip has it all; arrogant Novaxx, Simpleton Nadal, Idiot Fouler and Know it all Gilbert. Wait for the end "Of course the women around here want to know if he has a girlfriend, he does, but he keeps it on the down low"

This was the year What'sHerCara moved from "friend" or "friend of the family" or "his sister's friend" to girlfriend. The announcers had the green light to say girlfriend.

Nadal had the last laugh at RG

What year was that. I want to see that match. BG alluding to Novak using smelling salts - was he using these dmellibg salts so far back then ?

Ruuuuuuuuuune loses to Monteiro in the Davis Cup.

The Brat is DONE!

R234 it was 2006 when Novak was 19.

r234, Are you serious? It was sarcasm, as if to say, "Novak, are you unconscious? Do we need smelling salts to wake you up because what you say happened did not happen?"

I can't find a handy place to see the Davis Cup scores. Google gives me a great place when I type in a player's name but not for Davis Cup.

Who cares about Davis Cup?

R238, you can find them here. Eurosport also has them.

For years Davis Cup has been this thing they’ve told us is really important but doesn’t feel like it.

Thank you, R240!

Djokovic playing in Davis Cup - wow! He just beat Davidovich-Fokina, and Misery Murray beat some Swiss guy (Riedi). Stan over Norrie, Ruusovuori over Gojo - not that I understand what's going on with the "sets" which don't mean what they usually do ??

Oh wait - they do mean what they usually do lol. I'm just not sure to their formatting.

The RuneLoons in deep denial. If you bother to play the Davis Cup you really don't want to lose - your country's rep is on the line..

Bratty hasn't won a match since Wimby - 4 losses on the bounce: all to players outside the Top 40.

No access to MoTo's Magic Juice is taking a toll?

R237 you fucking imbecile, do you even fucking watch tennis?! Because if you did you would notice Novaxx sniffing some sort of magic sniffer bullshit almost every match. Fuck off

^ I think It's time for your medication

r245, reality is your friend. It was a metafor. A direct quote from Gilbert " Are you kidding me? When the trainer came out, buddy, do you need some smelling salts? You want to incite Rafa? I think the next time he plays..."

Are you so delusional that you think that he's huffing banned substances during matches on live tv? Grow up and calm the fuck down, it's tennis for fuck's sake.

Speaking of tennis corruption...

A Washington Post investigation of a vast match-fixing ring, and how the changing nature of gambling has corrupted tennis, is based on dozens of interviews with players, coaches, investigators, tennis officials and match fixers. The Post obtained tens of thousands of the central match fixer’s text messages, hundreds of pages of internal European law-enforcement documents, and the interrogation transcripts of players.

The maestro: The man who built the biggest match-fixing ring in tennis.

Read part two:

The unraveling: How a small-town police officer took down the largest match-fixing ring in tennis

Share this article Share 1. Gambling on tennis has exploded in recent years, increasing to roughly $50 billion annually. About a quarter of that sum is wagered on matches within the sport’s lowest tier, many of them so obscure that they aren’t televised and offer meager prize money, often just over $2,000 for a tournament’s winner. Match fixers have found opportunity at the sport’s lowest level to bribe players who struggle to earn a sustainable income.

2. With 47,000 matches a year in 65 countries, the International Tennis Federation proved particularly vulnerable to match-fixing. Because of the emergence of “spot betting,” in which gamblers can bet on a point or a game, rather than a contest’s outcome, players are now able to work with match fixers to throw a component of some of the least-watched matches, while still defeating their opponent.

Sargsyan inside Belgium's Haren Prison on Aug. 24. (Sebastien Van Malleghem for The Washington Post) 3. The ring, based in Belgium, built a roster of more than 180 professional players from more than 30 countries who would fix matches, or parts of matches, investigators said. A lawyer representing professional tennis said it was the biggest in the history of tennis. The man behind the ring, Grigor Sargsyan, traveled around Europe to keep his roster happy. He paid the players with envelopes full of cash at Paris train stations; he took them out to fancy dinners; he bought an engagement ring so one player could give it to his girlfriend.

ADVERTISING

4. Even after Sargsyan’s arrest and conviction, professional tennis continues to receive about 100 alerts of irregular betting each year, an indication of fixed matches. That’s more than in any other sport. The ITF has extended its contract with Sportradar, a Swiss company that provides real-time data on obscure tennis matches to gamblers around the world, even after a 2018 internal review cautioned the tour against the impact of that contract on match-fixing syndicates.

5. Law enforcement agencies around the world have grown increasingly concerned about the link between sports gambling and organized crime. The FBI and Interpol have each formed units to combat match-fixing. The United Nations has gotten involved, calling organized crime “a major and growing threat to sport.” On the tennis tour, the sport has hired a team of investigators who interrogate players and seize their phones when they suspect that athletes are throwing matches. It was that team of investigators — and one particularly dogged Belgian police officer — that eventually took down Sargsyan’s ring.

Daddy Fritz on the runway at Hermes fashion show.

Okay, participating in a fashion show is a lark. I get it.

But first maybe prove you’re a legitimate top ten player. His performance at the majors has been a let down.

Daddy looks hot there

Taylor fritz is the most overrated player in ATP tour

All the top girls have dropped our of the Guadalajara Open. Quite surprising since it is a 1000 event. The likes of Iga, Pegula, Rybakina, Sabalenka, Muchova, Coco etc have all dropped our . What gives...

Exhaustion, worries of dysentary and knowing that they have to go to China. Ugg.

From Vox, Excellent explainer about salaries featuring adorable Hubie.

Fritz’s Indian Wells trophy is looking like an anomaly.

Hell, Norrie has had much more Grand Slam success and I don’t think of him as a serious contender for any big title.

Perhaps Taylor Fritz is following the Casper Ruud career model.

There's an article about Alcarez in the Wall Street Journal (with, of course, lots of photos).

Federico Coria displays his credentials to join The ATP Big Penis Caucus

R257, only Ruud has advanced much further in majors.

Fat Sock and his trashy, Instaho wife are having a Sockling.

Daddy looks HAF @ R249

Pour on your readers, please.

Or put them on—but get some clarity.

The poster who wrote “pour” was thinking of a cocktail. Hope you’re not trying to stay sober.

The poster who mistyped pour corrected the error, well before your lame joke.

The no-fun-zone has entered the chat at R266.

Fun requires humor—you displayed none.

Do they wheel you out at parties to chase the guests home? Hope your day gets better, or you encounter better lighting.

Why do you keep making lame replies. Give it up.

Girls, girls, you're both Haleps!

To be fair he's American. They have to build him up.

^Fritz I mean. It's not his fault

Meanwhile, Novaxx withdraws from Shanghai.

One less MAGA in tennis! The Lesser Coco (Vandeweghe) has just retired!

Van De Weghe and Danielle Collins got to the doubles final in San Diego but lost to the Czech doubles supremo team of Krejcikova and Siniakova. Not that bad of an end, really, even if it was a loss.

Krejcikova also won the singles in San Diego, beating Sonya Kenina.

Hard to understand what happened with Coco V’s career. Injuries?

Yes, I know her game is rather one-dimensional but she made it to the semis of the US Open… then nada.

Shirtless Carlitos practicing.

Is this where we talk about Hopman cup?

R278 Carlitos should single-handedly make Nude Tennis a thing.

El Peque team or G-Unit team?

Guido Pella retired.

I always thought he was HAWT.

Pella

Pella

Will he now go work at his family’s window company?

Huge fan of Barbora 's game. Glad she is back to winning form

Does she have an underground mall?

Barbora made a comment (earlier this year?) that she thought she was among the current Big Four with Swiatek, Sabalenka and Rybakina.

Unfortunately (I like her), she’s far from that.

It must be said about Halep, she’s been struggling to compete with big hitters for a while.

Hard to see her contending against the likes of Sabalenka and Rybakina.

Thus the reason I buy into the idea that she doped: her main weapon is endurance. She’s a backboard against bigger hitters (most of the top players), so needs to be equipped to wear down her opponents until they make errors. So the crime seems to make sense game-wise, even if it doesn’t align with her character as we knew it.

[quote] among the current Big Four

There only ever has been one Big Four.

Yeah, I would not consider there to be anything like a Big 2, Big 3 or Big 4 in the WTA at the moment. Swiatek has 4 slam titles but pretty much everyone else only has one.

I feel like all the other girls had/ have ( now more than ever) the potential to beat Iga. Silly to say but it almost seem like they were intimidated by Iga and allowed her to outplay them. They couldn't figure out her game. Only Ry akina and Sbalenka seem to have figured her out. Krejicova almost always outplayed her. Now as soon as Iga started losing to the likes of Pegula, svitolina, near loss to Bencic at Wimbledo and Muchova at French, and Coco.. the girls will not fear her game next season.

I suspect iga will slide way way down in the ranking next year. Probably top 10 but most likely around the bottom half

Poor dear Iga. She seems mentally overwhelmed in her pressers. She's only 22.

And what the hell happened to Caroline Garcia? When she won the WTA final, or whatever it was, I thought she was ready to take the lead. Then, flop city. She's 29 though - I don't know what happened earlier in her career (new to following the sport -- Serena and the 3 male goats annoyed me so I tuned out)

For those interested, this week’s Tennis Podcast starts with a good discussion of the Halep case, informed by discussions with experts.

I don’t agree with the expected Iga slide.

She has a great game. Doesn’t have the power of Sabalenka or Rybakina, so if they are on and not making too many errors (big if), they will always be a tough out, but she has a host of other tools.

R292, Garcia is closest being out of Top Ten. She won a handful of tournaments last year,has performed poorly this year. Right now she is losing to a noname Russian chick at the Mexico Open(Abierto de Guadalajara)

Garcia is so frustrating! She has wicked talent and should be contending for majors.

Seems to be between the ears.

more eye candy pls

Minister of Happiness has found an easy opponent

Who’s that R298?

It’s doubles hunter.

R299 Ons

Thank you, R301.

Ohct-oh-puus.

grrrr

Maga face

Peppa!

Pig.

Jon Wertheim devoted his si.com column to the Halep ban.

There is this:

“…objectively, this is a lot of forensic detail and a rough set of facts for Halep and her defense team. Her lawyer, Howard Jacobs, is tops in class. But it will be a challenge to overcome this fact pattern…”

Her team claims that two members of the tribunal were prepared to exonerate her before they learned her identity, and they plan to argue this in their appeal. As he says, this strains common sense, noting that these experts are putting their reputations on the line.

I would add that she’s an extremely well liked player and I think the vast majority of tennis fans were shocked by her positive test, so it’s hard for me to swallow the notion of two experts who have it out for Simona. I would think the identity thing could only hurt is the subject was someone who had a physique or level of power that raised obvious questions.

HawTTT @ R304

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Sexes, the tennis match in which I played and defeated ex-tennis-champion-turned-hustler Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome.

We played in front of a worldwide audience of 90 million, and the match became the most watched televised sports event of all time.

The victory was about so much more than tennis. It became one of the defining moments of the women's movement, one of the most impactful moments in sports, and one of the most important days of my life.

We have come a long way since 1973, and I have enjoyed watching today's women athletes live out the dreams of my generation.

But we are not done yet.

The work continues today, and each one of us can help.

Let's keep going for it.

Daria Saville feels that Maria Sharapova might be training to make a comeback

The original Coco, CoCo Vandeweghe, is on Tennis Channel commentating during the Ons/Trevisan match at the Guadalajara Open Akron.

R311, I assume she's only exercising a lot to get her pre-baby body back. She's too bloody old at 35 to come back.

Vandeweghe is a moron. She just said Ons got “lacksadaisical” [sic] in the second set.

Earlier she misattributed “Closing Time” to Oasis.

Nobody needs Sharapova back.

Coco Vandeweghe seems like she would fart a lot unapologietically and laugh about it. I also assume she can stink up a bathroom Gary Morton style

Gotta love King (happy fiftieth anniversary, btw!) and Rennae Stubbs.

Coco and Bethany could probably clear a movie theater, R316.

Is this where we talk about Asian swing?

Tsitsyass

^^^^

Είχα χτυπήσει αυτό!

Wuby can't keep his hands off the boys at the 'Lover' Cup...

Wuby wants that Norwegian sausage!

Mackie in Chengdu

Who is Otto Virtanen, and how have we missed him?

....

....

Azarenka always seems to have a Rockstar vibe about her in press conferences

Yes, on court she often looks like she got high and went on romp in Steven Tyler's clothes closet

^whoops, meant to say 'in her pressers'

R322 Rublev looks drunk and Ruud looks uncomfortable with the whole situation.

Why does martina Trevisan sound like she is getting fucked ?

Is this where we talk about Laver Cup?

Soon, R333, soon.

R328 really? I always find her borderline nerdy and dorky.

Now it’s the place where you talk about the Laver Cup. Happy Friday.

Shelton stepped it up in the tiebreak. Good for him.

Fils is the real deal. I expect his ascent to be rapid.

Thank you, Laver Cup apparel designer.

Has Shapo appeared in white shorts?

God, Laver Cup is so dumb.

Vanity Piece. Come, kiss the ring.

Mopsy!

Wow a navel! Thanks for that?

....

Sweet Tommy

Daddy

R345 swoon

I wonder if Shelton's boobs out gesture at the end of his match with Fils was a yank at Djokovic.

What is the link between novax and boobs

The link's in the link, R349.

A shame Djokovic isn’t there but I don’t think he’s felt welcome in prior years

He shouldn’t be.

What uncomfortable viewing- that match between FAA and Monfils

Why? ^

FAA seems wound up so tight while Monfils is letting it all hang out. And I do mean all.

Rotcher.

Wublev team or Daddy Fritz team?

I think we should permanently retire "Cheryl" for good and instead rename that persona "Margaret Court."

My pussy stinks.

On another note, Del Potro turns 35 today. (a.k.a., Nate's favorite age number, if you know what I mean).

as long as I have a face, Del Potro has a place to sit

@ R357

tough choice, but Ima say Daddy Team

Sweaty and shiny legs.

Hoo.be team.

Daddy in a 2nd set TB

Boy, Team Europe is weak.

No Djokovic, Alcaraz, Medvedev or Zverev.

For Laver Cup to be a major event, they have to find a way (a place in the schedule that works well, perhaps most importantly) to attract the very best.

Davidovic-Fokina seems like a nice guy but, come on.

Is Shapo there this year?

the yearly schedule is way too long, I can see why the top players don't play it

Laver Cup is dumb and shouldn’t be a thing.

Team Europe may have been shit on court, but they're certainly bringing The Gay Stuff off it...

How is Rublev in the Europe team if he officially doesn't have a country?

It's like the Olympics where they put all the Russians in their own team and make it obvious that it's Russia. Even the Refugee Olympic Team are separate to the Russians. I've always thought that if they wanted to start making the Russians take things seriously they should incorporate their team with the refugees. The racist Russians would definitely not have liked that.

As for Rublev, either he's a very straight but slightly awkward person who is comfortable with doing this because he isn't attracted to men. Or he's gay.. I don't know which it is.

It's clear that Rublev was attempting a spontaneous ass transplant.

Casper looking adorable

Mopsy and Felix get it done

I think we'll quietly hear the end of Laver Cup within five years. It was Roger's baby, and if he and Rafa aren't able/willing to play, it's dead. Rog could have played doubles and not embarassed himself. Is Rod Laver even at the venue?

Yes, Laver is at the venue, looking very Father Time. Makes me wonder whether he'll see the Cup's demise or vice versa.

I’m glad to see we’re talking about Laver Cup.

Well, this is where we talk about it ;)

I don’t know. I think Laver Cup could/should be a fun event. I value it much more than Davis Cup or BJK Cup.

They could include women and, if they’re able to attract the stars, it could be really fun. (I like the team atmosphere and think it brings out the best in some.)

But the likes of Hubie will not keep anyone on the edge of their seat.

I much prefer it to NextGen.

Davis Cup and "BJK" Cup are also dumb.

Why is no one talking about Sakkari’s first win in 4 years and only second WTA win ever. Good for her! Hopefully a major weight off her (beautiful, athletic) shoulders!

What about the Wightman Cup and the Maureen Connolly Cup?

None of these cups mentioned in the thread were or are dumb. It’s just a question of relevance as the tennis world changes.

Fortunately they’re reverting to the traditional Davis Cup format after the current sponsorship ends.

I abhor the name Billie Jean Cup. She’s received so many well-deserved accolades, but this too should revert.

[quote] only second WTA win ever

What’s remarkable is that it’s in WTA.

I was considering going to Laver Cup this year, but with the top talent not there, it was not worth it. I do love Vancouver though.

No one’s talking about it because no one was there to watch. No one wanted to play. She beat Caroline Dolehide in a 1000 final?! That’s not a good look for the WTA…

R381 I meant to post about Maria's win last night but fell asleep. Good for her. She has been struggling last few months, this win should provide a boost of confidence.

R386, 9 out of the Top10 didnt play. Also,.Caroline played very well throughout the tournament.

They have major league pickle ball now?

(Roll eyes)

Je suis lassé de ces polémiques incessantes et futiles. Certaines personnes semblent s’enflammer pour des broutilles. Je suis agacé par ceux qui portent des jugements hâtifs. Certains pourraient penser que, parce que je souris et que je m’amuse, je ne suis pas sérieux. Certes, ma vision est peut-être différente, mais je m’efforce toujours de respecter les directives qui me sont données.

À 37 ans, j’essaie simplement de profiter au maximum de chaque instant. Lorsqu’on m’a proposé de participer à la Laver Cup, j’ai été honoré. Avec mon classement actuel, en dehors du top 100 à cet âge, j’ai même cru à une plaisanterie. Mais je prends cette opportunité très au sérieux, pour l’événement, pour mon équipe et surtout pour moi. Voyager jusqu’à Vancouver et quitter ma famille à nouveau n’est pas la chose la plus simple. Mais, malgré tout, je continue d’exercer mon métier avec passion et sincérité, comme je l’ai toujours fait. Et, sans langue de bois, je dois admettre que je suis très bien rémunéré pour cela et que les conditions sont exceptionnelles.

Je sais, certains diront que je n’ai rien accompli, que je suis un clown… Mais la vérité, c’est que je suis heureux et épanoui. Je tiens à préciser que la Laver Cup est un événement fantastique, et je compte profiter pleinement de la fin de mon week-end. Let’s go Team Europe, let’s catch up Team World 💪🏾!

Uh ma'am, this is a Wendy's

That must be from Monfiles, R389. I'm not going to labor through the translation word for word, but basically he's saying that he's tired of the tempest in a teapot about his qualifications to play in the Laver Cup and that he was honored to be invited. He first took it as a joke since he's 37 and out of the top 100, but he's still serious in his dedication to the sport and the event even though it was difficult to leave his new family for the event. He's also quite happy with how well he was compensated and for the nice reception/conditions/quarters. He knows some think of him as a clown who hasn't done much in his career, but he feels happy and fulfilled even so.

Monfils*

Well that's life. g.e.m.s.life.

He’s cool by me.

I'm a big FAA fan, yet very surprised by how much of a stick he got up his ass and misread the room because of Monfils' very brief sit-down moment of fun. This is the Laver Cup, not Wimbledon.

Here's the context including Monfils' remarks translated.

FAA takes LC so seriously yet he has yet to pass then 3rd round of a tournament since Nov 2022

For me the only eye candy at Laver Cup this year is Casper Ruud and Daddy Fritz.

For me Casper and Fritz are the least of the plentiful eye candy.

What r399 said!

Is this where we talk about the Japan Open?

FAA doesn’t seem to understand the spirit of these events. They are glorified exhibitions.

The crowd wants to see high-level play, and see the players showing their personalities.

But I like FAA and think he’s going through a rough period.

Fun watching Shelton and Tiafoe playing doubles.

Don’t know what Ben’s ceiling is but he’s going to continue to rise.

FAA is a joke

Mopsy and Big Foe!

I'm long Mopsy, too, R403.

Embarrassing that Laver Cup was decided with three matches to go. Organizers’ worst-case scenario.

They had some sort of glitch when they tried to announce Berlin as the next host city of Laver Cup.

Awwwww

LOTS of DL boyfriends

Poor Tommy. The only player on his team to drop a match.

Well at least he can say he was part of the winning team.

So CocoPuffs is taking a long break it seems. No show at Guadalajara, No show at upcoming Japan Open...

Good for Coco. At this stage of her career, she shouldn’t overdo it.

And I bet Brad wants to work on some things. Do it after her first taste of Majors success.

Felix made it to the 4th round of this year's AO, R397. In 2023 he's also made it to the semis in Doha and the quarters in Indian Wells, all of which are beyond the third round.

FAA has those 3 upcoming ATP 2022 wins to defend. His ranking is going to crash through the floor.

Joining Shapo already there. Though Felix might turn it around. He's been down this road before.

Fat Sock baptized and "born again"

Sock says goodbye to common sense. Oh well, at least his wife's happy. Enjoy the Trump rally...

Oh no!

Nobody saw either of those things coming, r417 and r419.

Cigars... the perfect complement to the trashy and boorish Laver Cup. Thank fuck it's over.

A face like a bulldog chewing a wasp…

Rybakina has withdrawn from the Toray Pan Pacific Open.

Is this also called the Japan Open? R423

Is this where we talk about it?

My goodness r419 even by the standards of today’s disposable relationships that was one brief encounter.

Is Rybakina having a mental health crisis? She was furious that she wasn't seeded and couldn't skip a round like two women ranked lower than her but who bothered to show up at Guadalajara, which I think only had one player out of the top 10. An embarrassment for the WTA. And Ryba gets punished.

Oh pretty girl, calm down and take your medicine. Those girls had to work last week and you could just lay around and eat grapes and take performance meds, or whatever you do when you're off.

Bored AF and scrolling through the Challenfer scores - as you do - and come across another ATP hottie who seems to have flown under the radar of the DL Gays & Tennis HunkHunters.

I present Andrea Pellegrino - winner of the Challenger in Bad Waltersdorf, Austria.

Guns 'N Trophies

He’s a tall drink of (Pellegrino) water.

Is this where we talk about Zavarovalnica Sava Llubljana?

I follow the Challenger events often and secure my hottie faves....only to sometimes watch one of you lovely folks discover the same player and claim him as yours.

The Challengers can be a real treasure trove of gorgeous guys...but...too many camera long shots and lack of focus on shirt changes, often breaking away to ads or plopping that huge stat graphic. That graphic is annoying enough because it blocks out the handshake at the end of the match, and lingers after a set while the hotties are shirtless.

Damn it all, at ALL levels, sex sells...so SELL the fuck out of it!

[quote] often breaking away to ads

Jardiance.

[quote] That graphic is annoying enough because it blocks

As does the Jardiance fatso woman.

Is this where we talk about the Ningbo Open?

R431 who is that?

I like the WTA's new 'performance byes'. I think it will definitely encourage players who won or did well in a tournament to play the next one and that can only be good for fans and the game. It's not a secret that Rybakina hates being a tennis player and wanted to quit before she won Wimbledon so I think that's the real reason behind her discontent. Her coach is known for being abusive but I think they're in a relationship so that isn't a healthy situation either.

She needs a "gratefulness diary". Dear Elena, if you're listening, buy one and every morning get up and list all the things you're grateful for -- winning Wimbledon, your Kazakh nationality, your beautiful face and long limbs - you could be a model! Find a hot guy to pay for things and stuff, and retire!!

Yeah, Rybakina is an odd one. Seems mild-mannered on court but has made some heated remarks off-court that come across as pretty entitled.

Sascha and Karen win in China

It's Ratface around here.

Svee is finally in On running shoes. All that buttering up by Federer (he has a stake in the company) seems to have worked. She isn't playing well though.

FL fave Wolfman through qualies into the main draw in Beijing

thicc

more Wolfman

Legz back in action

Thunder Thighs Wolfman!

Weird looking with that Crayola bright blue monochrome outfit, the small cap, the long curls and little mustache. It's a choice.

It’s a mullet monster

So glad Iga 's game is shit

Nuno Borges had a good win over Kukushkin today, with the entire crowd against him.

HCFMH

Thank you taking the time to post the eye candy. I know it takes time to find good pics of 🔥 players. I especially like the swarthy ones.

R449, who are some of your favorites? Carlitos? Giron?

Is this where we talk about the China Open?

Yes, R451 but the discussion must be in Mandarin.

Good day for my boys in China today - The UGOAT (finally defeating Sonego at the third attempt this year), Etcheverry, Foki, and Demon all winning.

Here's Tomas Martin looking exceptionally pretty.

Giron beat Stan in 3 tiebreak sets. Great win for Marcos.

Looks like Demon got under Misery's skin

oh, dear

Isn't he too old for this?

Im assuming Murray retires next summer after Wimbledon and the Olympics.

I was watching the tail end of the Murray match. He had three match points he couldn't convert, at least two on his serve in the final set tiebreak. Also, he is now 0-5 against DeMinauer.

Misertaur

More Challenger Tour eye candy....

Part 2

Good spots R461.

I very much approve of Machac's short length - hope it catches on.

Btw his opponent, Constant Lestienne, was sporting a huge bulge when he collapsed to the floor on winning last week's Challenger in St-Tropez - and no, it definitely wasn't a ball in his pocket. I've clocked it many times before.

Beijing has some good matches tomorrow.

Legz Team or FAA Team?

Our Tommy Team or Med Team?

Sascha Team or Lil Diego Team?

FAA team (Legz for eye candy though I won’t have a chance to watch.)

Kind of indifferent but I’ll lean Med team.

‘Lil Diego team (A. Zverev for eye candy).

How can I watch the Tokyo Open? Anyone able.to provide a link?

Is this where we talk about Tokyo Open?

Hate to bring everyone’s mood down a notch or two, but the Peng Shuai question refuses to go away (or at least, we shouldn’t let it).

Is Peng Shua still missing?

Yes! Iga lost.

Jarry drives Citybus off the road.

Will TitsyFLOP even qualify for the ATP Finals at this rate?

bye Tommy :-(

Legz!

Titsy and FAA

[...]

Iga is done. The other girls have figured out her game. No variety. The fear factor is gone, girls are no longer intimidated. She is struggling to win matches against qualifiers. Her opponent in China is Sorribes Torno. I predict a r1 exit for Iga in China

In happier news, glad to see Sakkari doing well

R476 knows a lot about tennis!

r475, Not suprising at all, coaches are bought and sold on the open market. Who would you choose? I'd pick the star billionaire. I was shocked to hear how little the coaches earned. I think, the video on the player salaries said , starting at 70K, plus expenses. And, of course, there would be a lot of freebees from sponsors and bonuses for wins.

Didn't idiot Osaka fire a coach who wanted a raise after she won 2 straight slams with him? Is this the same guy?

[...]

The idea that Iga is done for is ludicrous.

She’s in a bit of a temporary trough.

There is no evidence this is permanent.

She’s dead, Mr. Finch. Let the dead bury the dead…

Carlitos and brother.

el hermano es mas guapo

Domicakes overcomes Giron to win The Battle Of The Huge Asses in Astana!

The UGOAT turns back the clock and repeats his Halle 2021 final win over Wubey in a 3-set thriller in China. Great quality match.

Beijing matches tomorrow:

Carlitos Team or Lore Team?

Legz Team or (not so) Young Grigor Team?

TME Team or Cute Casper Team?

Lil Nipper Team or Il Gingio Team?

Lore, Young G, TME, Nishioka Teams

Shitsumon shite itadaki arigatōgozaimasu!

Old Grigor gives Ruuuuuuuune a good spanking in straight sets. Holger was sent to bed with no supper, and is looking vulnerable at #8 in the ATP Race. I'll be delighted if both he and Stefanos miss the cut!

I'm getting a little confused, but more angry that events, except for challengers, seem to be run awkwardly, finals every damned day of the week. I need stability with all events ending on a Sunday, and new rankings announced Mondays.

I'm getting a little confused, but more angry that events, except for challengers, seem to be run awkwardly, finals every damned day of the week. I need stability with all events ending on a Sunday, and new rankings announced Mondays.

Well hung otter,Tomas Machac, overcomes Big Jack D to win the Orleans Challenger.

Love the way he rolls up his shorts to make them even shorter.

The nicknames Chinese fans have granted some of the top ATP players: - Tsitsipas is 'Princess Sissi' (long blond hair) - Alcaraz is 'Duck' (for Psyduck in Pokémon) - Medvedev is 'Long-Arm Monkey' (gibbon) while Rublev is 'Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey' - Sinner is 'Milk Roll Cake' (there's a famous Taiwanese cake brand called Yannick) - Ruud is 'Headmaster's Good Student' (trains in Nadal's academy) - Rune is 'Nene' (which, unrelatedly, means underwear in Chinese) - Djokovic is 'Chicken', with his rivalry with Alcaraz sometimes dubbed 'Chicken and Duck'

bye Legz :-(

Cute Casper

Woon.

Wuud.

R493 -Fucsovics is 'Brother Toilet'

The mind boggles.

Rublev gave it his all, poor thing lost

Don't like the look of Humbert he looks and moves like an asshole

Carlitos looks in top form, wished Novaxx was in this tournament so we could witness him being g whipped by Carlos. Probably why Novaxx skipped the Asian swing ,he knows Carlos would come for revenge. Coward

Jessica is burnt out, won't be surprised if she bows out of China open early

Cross fingers that iga losing her match against Sorribes Tormo tonight

Hoping SheHulk wins this tournament

When Asian swing stop?

What went wrong for Serena in that US Open match against Andrescu ? Had only dropped one ser the entire tournament to lose in straight sets to an unseeded teenager?!?!

Coco Puffs got the movie star welcome in China

Sorribes Tormo

[...]

R493 - they're very funny! But why do Chinese fans call Holger Rune "underwear"? I think diapers would be more apt.

You've never seen Humbert play before, R498? He's never shown any assholery in any of the many matches I've seen him play.

R505 I agree. Of all the players on tour, Humbert is probably one with the least 'asshole' traits. I've never seen him be disrespectful towards an opponent, an umpire or a crowd. He can get down on himself, and I've seen him direct looks and comments to his team, but all pretty mild compared with most other players. He's a bit of a fist-pumper, but probably for the same reasons Sinner does it - a natural introvert who has to work to pump himself up.

Quinween Zhen was embarassed by Rybot

Have I got something wrong - the same Kudermetova who won the Japan Open on Sept 30 is playing in the Round of 32 in the China Open on October 3?

Yes r508, why is that a problem? So is Pegula

Yes, and they wouldn't be playing if they didn't get one of the new performance byes. This means that more top players will be playing tournaments.

Carlitos Team or Il Gingio Team?

Med Team or Sascha Team?

Carlitos

Med

Carlitos team.

Med team.

r7, How quickly we forget. He was watching Shark Week on tv when Stormy arrived and he talked about how much he hated them. There was a magazine with his picture on the cover and she spanked him with it, before shoving his shitake dick inside her, for ninety seconds.

From the Guardian: “He knows he has an unusual penis,” Daniels writes. “It has a huge mushroom head. Like a toadstool …

“I lay there, annoyed that I was getting fucked by a guy with Yeti pubes and a dick like the mushroom character in Mario Kart ...

His anti-vax stance seems to be authentic at least. It still blows my mind that he forfeited two potential slams for.. that. What an idiot.

R514 is lost

Keeping it unanimous so far for Carlitos and Med teams.

OOPs, sorry to have subjected you to that vulgar image

I like upsets so Ginge and Sascha (and anyway, he's cuter)

I really like Jannick

Jannick who?

Gay GOATdrian Mannarino faces off with Lezface Korda in the Astana final.

If Adrian wins he'll move up to within one place of his highest ever ATP raking (22). Quite the season for the Old Timer.

Get Up Coco!

Go Gaydrian!

OMG GOAT.

Second title of the season for Adrian. Korda virtually unbreakable all week, but Mannarino took it apart in the second and third sets - broke him 4 times!

Absolutely awesome tennis.

Il Gingio whips Carltos's pants down and whoops his ass - 7-6, 6-1

That's gotta sting!

Sinner beats Alcaraz 7-6(4), 6-1. Wow, I really thought that this was going three sets. I was impressed with the way in which Sinner won the first set. He pummeled Alcaraz's second serve to win the tiebreaker. I hope this is a good sign that Sinner is learning to play the big points better. Would love for a Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry to really heat up over the coming years.

ll Gingio!

I don’t know. It also might be a case where one player raises his game for the big matches and the other does better in the smaller tourneys.

OMG! One of my upsets came through!! Unfortunately cutey bad boy Sascha lost to the octopus - or I should say Long-Arm Monkey (thank you R493). The Chinese are worse than Datalounge with using nicknames.

Sinner now leads their head-to-head 4-3.

Alcaraz and Sinner have met twice at Slams; they've each won once.

Seems pretty evenly matched.

'Cutey bad boy'?

Seek help!

Zverev is about as cute as he is even-keeled.

He is a changed man

Zverev does nothing for me. Too thin.

Neither does Alcaraz, tho. Those teefs and weird nips and low hairline, kinda cro-magnon.

I think Sinner is the skinniest one.

Something so sexy about Jannik

Yeah Skinner is corpse-like. I don't understand where guys like that get the stamina. But long distance runners are super-thin, too.

Anyway I like thiccer mins.

oops, Sinner I mean

Sinner is Spikey Dee.

What's considered attactive in China these days? Do they really have the hots for the pale, bony, thin guys with sharp facial features and dead eyes (Zverev and Sinner)?

R530, why would Medvedev (former World #1 and current #3 and U.S. Open RU) beating Zverev be an upset? Or do you know anything about tennis?

I love the expression "pants down" and think it should be a literal ending of each match.

R538 Freudian slip

Taking a page from the A. Zverev Guide to Self-Control....

R542, I believe that R530 was referring to Sinner beating Alcaraz.

Is this where we talk about the Shanghai Masters?

This is indeed where we talk about the Shanghai Rolex Masters.

Hi Tennis people.

Please max this thread out and use a different picture for the next one.

That woman is thoroughly unpleasant to look at even briefly while scrolling.

Totally agree with r549

Who's our hottest guy? That should be the lead picture.

Taylor Fritz? Casper Ruud? (I'm staying with the top 10 - or at most top 20 - I know there are some crazy hot no-names)

I think we need to cast the net far and wide for 'cover hotties'. We get deluged with pics of Rune, Fritz, Alcaraz et al in every thread. Not complaining about that - people can post what they like.

But let's have some variety and 'fresh meat' in the OP pics!

I wish this thread would fill up faster. I'm sick to death of looking at that pic of homophobic bigot Margaret Court.

Fritz is hot? Maybe among the cataract set.

Marcos Giron should be the next thread’s lead photo.

^ from behind, pls!

Fritz is not hot, he's super gross to me. I don't get it.

But DL-ers love straight men for some reason.

new thread for when this one fills up

Please get your eyes and head examined. Slump-shouldered Fritz is not remotely attractive.

Fritz’s billowy tennis chemises are so funny.

OP of the new thread was quite quick to post Giron as the new cover boy. I'd have gone with Fils.

^ Il a soif!

Il Gingio over Med in two TBs

Avec moi tout le monde ont soif.

R563 looks like winner and runner-up in a Spindly Legs competition.

The pic of Sinner and Meddy is interesting as Dannil is 6'6" and Sinner is 6'2" but they look to be the same height.

Men lie about their height like women lie about their weight. And they never say they're shorter.

So Meddy lies?

Sinner still hasn't finished puberty. He's probably grown a few inches since his height was last reported.

I heard through the grapevine that Sinner has a black girlfriend. I was shocked, he doesn't seem like the type

Pray tell, R569, what "type" is that?

I doubt Meddy lies about his height, he's pretty self-conscious about being gangly (he hates when people call him octopus, except Rubie because that's his boy) so I can't imagine why he would choose to add even more height to his already incredibly tall frame (for a tennis player). What's amazing about Meddy is that he is so fast for being so tall.

Wublev

R570 the type which dates Black women? I'm not alluding to anything bad in saying that. I'm just saying some guys look like they date Black women a la Justin Timberlake/ Kevin Federline looking type. Sinner is a pale, red haired, gangly, nerdy looking type. I'm just surprised that's all

Just shut up 573. Fall into the grave you’ve dug for yourself and keep quiet.

Hmmm

Someone in comments says she's sitting on her mama.

Who is that she is sitting on?

Misery crashes out 1st round in straights Shanghai to Safiullin

from Laver Cup

....

Is Grumpy Gramps Murray going to call it a day at Wimbledon next year? Hopefully.

Murray joined fellow vets Wawrinka, Fognini, and Gasquet, all ousted in the first round. The only remaining player over 35 in the draw is late bloomer Mannarino, who's got a first round bye.

JJ Wolf's mullet has evolved to the point where it's basically now a generic ladies' 'Big Hair' bouffant 'do from the 80s.

Fortunately, Pedro Cachin is looking super hot and sexy down the other end of the court to distract from it.

Sad news. Perennial ATP hottie, Pedro Sousa, retires today.

Wolfman looking like an 80s rock star

No he doesn’t.

A. Fils

Mon Fils looked good today too.

baby got back

a reminder as we close in on 600

All the Dl fave top girls are in the final 8 of the China Open

Peppa!

CocoPuffs!

Rybot!

She-Hulk!

Iga forehead??

Jesus —end it already

Mary

and

Joseph!

Are we done yet?