NHL P’off GOY: NJ –130 over TB (NJ 3-1)
MLS GOY: LA –118 over Colorado (LA 2-0)
CWS GOY: CSUF –120 over LSU (CSUF 8-2)
WNBA GOY: LA –2 over Minnesota (Minny 74-72, after LA blew the biggest ½-time lead in WNBA P’off history of 17 points and a 21-point lead 1 minute into the 2nd 1/2)
2003 Tennis Record: 5-1 +10.75 units (4-0/+11.25 units on Women’s action)
In the 2nd set of Friday’s Justine Henin-Hardenne/Jennifer Capriati I started pulling really hard for JH-H even though it looked as if that would never happen. JH-H was down 1 set and 5-2 in the 2nd set, but managed to pull out that set. She then fell behind 5-2 in the 3rd set – and won that one, too.
As soon as JH-H won the match she was ecstatic and celebrated. SO DID I! Because she won I now have my 2003 Tennis Play of the Year!
JH-H’s match didn’t end until about 12:40A (EDT) Saturday morning. It was a 3+ hour match that was every bit as mentally grueling as physically – and speaking of the latter – anyone who saw the match saw JH-H really struggle at the end. After winning she said she had cramps. I can believe it – but I also think there is more to it than that. I think she is hurt with more than cramps – and it will show Saturday.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the net we get Kim Clijsters – who has yet to lose a set in this tourney. Clijsters has yet to win a major, losing in the 2001 and 2003 French Open finals – the latter to JH-H. I think we get a really focused effort here from Clijsters to win Major #1 and show why she should be ranked #1 in the world (she shouldn’t be – Serena should be #1 – but let Clijsters come in with a “chip”). I also think Clijsters is playing for something else, too – boyfriend Lleyton Hewiit – who got eliminated Friday at the Open as well as revenge for the French Open finals of a few months ago.
So far, JH-H and Clijsters have met 13 times with Clijsters holding an 8-5 lead. But that should be looked in more detail. The two split their only 2 grass meeting and JH-H has a 3-1 advantage on clay – and that makes sense. JH-H’s game is more of a return game – and that is the type of match that is played on clay. Put the match on a fast surface – like a hardcourt – and now Clijsters holds a 6-1 lead in that. I will grant you JH-H won their last hardcourt match on 7-28 in San Diego – and after Clijsters won the 1st set 6-3. For the most part the JH-H/Clijsters matches on the hardcourt have been very one-sided in favor of Clijsters and I sense it will be the same here.
In this match we have a very fresh and rested Clijsters (her match against Davenport ended a LOT earlier than JH-H’s) playing a tired and not 100% JH-H on a surface Clijsters dominates in H2H battles.
I think Clijsters wins this match VERY easily in 2 sets. I’ll say she wins 6-3, 6-3 but I think it might be even easier than that. The ONE thing that really scares me here is the fact I put it at no better than 50/50 JH-H even finishes the match and thanks to the stupid rules most offshore books put into place – if JH-H quits before she officially loses – what would have been an easy winner now becomes “no action” (and for the record – this “quit before it’s over and the bet is no action” rule is STUPID for the only time someone quits is when they know they can’t win – if JH-H is up 6-0, 5-0 I don’t care if she has 2 broken legs – she’s not quitting – while in reverse – she would!). I made this wager at “Ewinner” where they are one of the few books that still has it as long as 1 ball is served – the match HAS action.
Kim Clijsters –180 (over JH-H) in Saturday’s Women’s U.S. Open Finals as my 2003 Tennis Play of the Year
MLS GOY: LA –118 over Colorado (LA 2-0)
CWS GOY: CSUF –120 over LSU (CSUF 8-2)
WNBA GOY: LA –2 over Minnesota (Minny 74-72, after LA blew the biggest ½-time lead in WNBA P’off history of 17 points and a 21-point lead 1 minute into the 2nd 1/2)
2003 Tennis Record: 5-1 +10.75 units (4-0/+11.25 units on Women’s action)
In the 2nd set of Friday’s Justine Henin-Hardenne/Jennifer Capriati I started pulling really hard for JH-H even though it looked as if that would never happen. JH-H was down 1 set and 5-2 in the 2nd set, but managed to pull out that set. She then fell behind 5-2 in the 3rd set – and won that one, too.
As soon as JH-H won the match she was ecstatic and celebrated. SO DID I! Because she won I now have my 2003 Tennis Play of the Year!
JH-H’s match didn’t end until about 12:40A (EDT) Saturday morning. It was a 3+ hour match that was every bit as mentally grueling as physically – and speaking of the latter – anyone who saw the match saw JH-H really struggle at the end. After winning she said she had cramps. I can believe it – but I also think there is more to it than that. I think she is hurt with more than cramps – and it will show Saturday.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the net we get Kim Clijsters – who has yet to lose a set in this tourney. Clijsters has yet to win a major, losing in the 2001 and 2003 French Open finals – the latter to JH-H. I think we get a really focused effort here from Clijsters to win Major #1 and show why she should be ranked #1 in the world (she shouldn’t be – Serena should be #1 – but let Clijsters come in with a “chip”). I also think Clijsters is playing for something else, too – boyfriend Lleyton Hewiit – who got eliminated Friday at the Open as well as revenge for the French Open finals of a few months ago.
So far, JH-H and Clijsters have met 13 times with Clijsters holding an 8-5 lead. But that should be looked in more detail. The two split their only 2 grass meeting and JH-H has a 3-1 advantage on clay – and that makes sense. JH-H’s game is more of a return game – and that is the type of match that is played on clay. Put the match on a fast surface – like a hardcourt – and now Clijsters holds a 6-1 lead in that. I will grant you JH-H won their last hardcourt match on 7-28 in San Diego – and after Clijsters won the 1st set 6-3. For the most part the JH-H/Clijsters matches on the hardcourt have been very one-sided in favor of Clijsters and I sense it will be the same here.
In this match we have a very fresh and rested Clijsters (her match against Davenport ended a LOT earlier than JH-H’s) playing a tired and not 100% JH-H on a surface Clijsters dominates in H2H battles.
I think Clijsters wins this match VERY easily in 2 sets. I’ll say she wins 6-3, 6-3 but I think it might be even easier than that. The ONE thing that really scares me here is the fact I put it at no better than 50/50 JH-H even finishes the match and thanks to the stupid rules most offshore books put into place – if JH-H quits before she officially loses – what would have been an easy winner now becomes “no action” (and for the record – this “quit before it’s over and the bet is no action” rule is STUPID for the only time someone quits is when they know they can’t win – if JH-H is up 6-0, 5-0 I don’t care if she has 2 broken legs – she’s not quitting – while in reverse – she would!). I made this wager at “Ewinner” where they are one of the few books that still has it as long as 1 ball is served – the match HAS action.
Kim Clijsters –180 (over JH-H) in Saturday’s Women’s U.S. Open Finals as my 2003 Tennis Play of the Year
