Any tennis fans here in Panama City? I've been glued to Wimbledon these past few weeks. Pretty interesting stuff to me and I don't know why..I don't play though I would like to. I once lived in London for 10 years and going to Wimbledon became a habit. I guess watching that ball bounce back and forth is more interesting than a lot of things and the game has become so powerful it's pretty cool to watch those gals playing that "big Babe" tennis? And if you're competetive, most anything that has a winner and a loser could catch your interest. Some say tennis is balletic and pretty to watch...I think I like it because it's two gladiators alone in a huge stadium fighting it out, one on one...to the end. Some of those better men's matches go on for 4 and 5 hours-that's pretty intense. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has an idea why watching a tennis ball go over a net is so popular. I'm also amazed at how different it is when played on clay versus grass or hard courts...once again, I don't play. But I DO know a lot about the game and everyone who plays it...wonder why?

I'm new at this but I'm trying to start a new thread...this is a second attempt at this topic but I think the first time it was buried? Hopefully this second attempt has got it "sewn in!"

Well, I am a tennis fan. But I am not much into the women's tennis you understand. Tennis has gone down hill where women's tennis is concerned due to the Williams sisters. But the other women players are starting to learn how to beat them. I prefer men's tennis. Would rather watch Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer than anyone. Great players. Pete Sampras practically ruined tennis. Very rarely do you see any of the long rallies anymore. Just one ace behind another on serves. Game over. That has ruined tennis.

Venus was beaten at the French Open long before the finals and Serena hasn't played for over a year due to an injury. Amelie mauresmo, who won the French Open is a pure serve and volley player-one of the few left and she managed to beat most of the top 10 players on her way to victory. The tennis associations took note of the dull tennis when Sampras was serving and serving his way to victory. The balls are heavier now, even the grass at Wimbledon has been changed to slow the game down and it's working. LONG volleys were a part of every match and Rafael Nadal made it all the way to the finals playing his clay court game. There's a great deal to enjoy on both sides of the tennis world if you ask me?

I try to pull for Andre Agassi when I know he is playing but his playing days are over! He just cannot compete with the players of today! And of course, he is retiring after the U.S. Open. And Andy Roddick was always one I used to cheer for, but as young as he is, he just doesn't seem to be much of a competitor anymore. The one woman player I did watch some was Maria Sharapova! You just don't have the quality of players anymore like you did way back. No Billie Jean King's, no Chris Evert's. No Jimmy Connors, no Bjorn Borg's.

Well, we'll just have to see what Andre has left in him for the Open this year. It would be great to see him go out with a big win...you never know. In the meantime, lots of new players are taking over the limelight, some better than others. The Nadal/Federer thing just may get more and more interesting, but alas, Federer doesn't have too much personality (though he's a great ambassador for the game, blah, blah, blah). McEnroe still manages to put plenty of spark into every match (both Patrick and particularly John) as they sit with Mary Carillo and spar-ya gotta love that? And wait, before you turn around that Maria Sharapova may be winning everything, once she gets her shots under control-she's pretty interesting and definitely dedicated. Then BAM, there's a new star you never heard of taking the limelight. Let's hope it happens soon...Andre will be SORELY missed. Do we have to wait for his son or daughter to be on the scene?
I'm still a fan no matter what...I think.

I like to watch the antics of Jonas Bjorkman. He does a funny on court imitation of John McEnroe skipping on the tennis court! McEnroe got mad at the imitation that time and said he didn't skip like that, but he did. I would say Nadal will get better and better. He has the upper hand over Federer as long as it isn't on grass. If he could just play more on grass maybe he could start beating Federer on grass also. Federer is tough!

Yeah, I've seen Jonas do his impersonations before and they're spot on and hilarious...good for a laugh. I can't recall anyone doing that sort of thing before, off camera I imagine it happens a lot. What it's like to be inside that tour would really interest me. I guess it's fun if you're a top player but must be hard to make it if you're barely getting by, plus the game is so mental that without that mental edge, you probably can't even beat your own mother. That mental side really shows up when someone ranked 200 or so in the world plays a top 10 player and has nothing to lose so they hit out and stay loose. Sometimes it works and that's why we sometimes see those big upsets the first week of a major. It's a game of inches in more ways than one. Anyone have anything to say about the automatic line calling they'll begin using this year at the US Open?

I think it should have been done a long time ago, the players are questioning too many calls made by the judges. Here is what the official U.S. Open website says about the electronic line calling technology.

"Electronic line calling is a revolutionary development for the game of tennis," said NASDAQ-100 Open Chairman and Co-Founder Butch Bucholz. "As good as the line judges are having the ability to back them up with state-of-the-art technology is great for the game and for the players. As a player, all I ever wanted was perfect conditions so I would have a chance to beat the other guy straight up. To know that the call will be correct every time will put players' minds at ease."

I know that the technology of making the line calls is new, but does anyone really know how it works? I think John McEnroe was instrumental in having the technology developed, but I have no idea how it works? Must be pretty complicated...anyone have a clue?