Federer did played well also to erased four matches losing steak to Murray. I am not sure if there will be a let down in final against Djokovic–you will know in a couple hours.

In the last two tournaments after the triumph at Wimbledon, I think Federer has a concentration power issue. Last week, in Montreal, he slipped his match away against Tsonga. Yesterday, although he played well against Murray, you could see that if he is up 40-0, or 40-15, he has problem closing out the game. It is just a little tiny point that I saw from Federer’s play. His serve in the big point, no deny, still help him to get our from crisis.

Will be interesting to see how Federer can handle very tough situation again. Roddick lose that edge in the last four matches that he lost ( He was up in each of them)

Well, if you just have twin babies and just achieved your career goal, this could happen. Lacking concentration during tennis game could cost you the whole match. As a viewer, I just feel upset to see that because you work so hard for the whole match, and then you just throw the match away. Hard to believe, but that happens all the time. Elena Dementieva has lost two tight matches in last month or so. Two matches including one semifinal match in Wimbledon which could put in her the tennis history. I just feel so bad that’s all.

If you look back ten years ago, when Hingis played against Graf in French final, that match completely changed Hingis’s career from a real deal grand slam winner to a no deal upsetting runner up. Hingis got into several grand slam finals since then and never won against (including the tough loss in Australian Open 2002 against Capriati).

I think lacking on concentration could happen to anyone, it is just how you control it not to happen again. Is that right?

As the viewer, I never understand why the interviewer even bother asking such as “what do you think you are going to do against certain A or certain B player?”. Most players would never tell you anyway what they are going to do. From what I see, most players, except Federrer, or Murray, have one dimensional games, and they wait for their momentum to arrive and then try to hit a lot of winners without thinking about two or three shots ahead. Ana Ivanovic is a good example, the Serb who relies very much on her serve and forehand, does not know what to do if those weapons do not work in particular moment. You could say that she is not a crafty, since most of amateur players can hit slice or drop shot better than her.

Adjusting to circumstance is the key for tennis success, I believe. If you make a lot of errors, try to put more spin and if you become a passive player in that match, try to hit different ball everytime. See, that’s why I never understand how players could say they are going to play their games, since every ball could come differently. Also, how the ball come to you is depending on what your opponents do as well. One reason I like to watch the old tennis matches is that they teach me how to adjust your games if it doesn’t work and also they teach how to positioning on the court which is tough to learn from watching the modern matches.

I think it is hard to judge whether some people actually have their games, or just adjusting to circumstance. I guess for me, I have no games, I just wait and see what person in opposite side does well, or bad, and then go from there. Probably, this is “playing my games” means by professional players

Actually, there are other categories for volunteering that people can choose including security, drivers, ball persons, and even volunteer coordinator. I chose to do this one because it was indoor (well, you know how hot it can be in Washington DC during the summer). I got a chance to see several players including Andy Roddick, Fernando Gonzalez or Juan Martin Del Potro hanging in the player lounge.  During the time they do not practice, they normally watch television, or use the internets. Amazingly, none of them reads any book.

To work as a volunteer, I had to get to the stadium or the hotel where players stay at 8 p.m. and started my shift there. You can choose other time slots as well, but I choose early, so I can watch them practice or play the match later in the day.  I also meet new friends who work as volunteer as well.

What amazing about Legg Mason tennis classic is that the stadium is located at Rock Creek Parks, which is a huge park in the middle of the city. At the site of the tournament, there are also green clay courts available, so , I took a chance and hit some balls there as well. As you may know, clay court is rarely found in the U.S. and is expensive to rent the court, so this was my golden chance to play on it.

I like playing on clay, because I have more chances to get the ball back and I like the feeling of slicing my feet on the ground. One of many benefits of playing on clay is that is doesn’t hurt your joint that much comparing with playing on the hard court. I just wish there are more clay courts available everywhere.

I also had a chance to watch the single and double finals of the tournament. I can’t believe it was 97F heat and players still survived playing those matches. Juan Martin Del Potro, a defending champion was able to defend his title, he defeated Andy Roddick 3-6 7-5 7-6. This is another tough loss for Roddick after the Wimbledon Final. During the trophy presentation, the trophy presenter attempted to make a joke to Roddick saying something like it should not hurt as much because it was not Federer. Well, his joke didn’t work, and everyone looked confused of what he tried to say. Roddick himself was also confused, he said later that ”  I am not sure what he wanted me to do, crying on his shoulder??”.

I personally think Roddick played a good match, but he should attack more on Del Potro’s backhand, since it was not good on that day at all. –Good luck on the next one, it could be U.S. Open final

1. Postpro-addicts
If you are John McEnroe, or Martina Navratilova, I would suggest they belong to this category. Although they were the best in their prime , after their retirements they came back, retired again, and are still around every corners of the tennis world. I admire them about the love and passion of tennis. These addicted players have high egoness, which is not bad at all. They are highly respected in their professional career but may struggle with their own personal life.

2. Nonpro-addict
I would suggest to break this caterory down into two subcategories: amateur addicts and viewer addicts
Amateur addicts, like myself, love to play tennis in regular basis. I am sure we all share the same doubt–that is what if we were a professional player. We like to create our imagination there are people out there watching us play. Most of us are tennis shopaholic–meaning that we could spend most of money on tennis gears, including clothing, headband, or bag. For me, I could wear different tennis outfit, walking around and see if someone thinks I am a professional player. Wake up, nobody does ^-^
Viewer addicts, like many audiences on national television or at home, they love to watch, but they can’t play.  These group of people can be very knowledgeable about players and the game of tennis, but they do not have a chance to play by themselves.

Which one are you?  Probably you know yourself the best

Well, if you one day you accidentally come across my blog, here is something you should keep in mind

1. I would like to apologize if I use my broken English in writing this blog. Although I am (was, or whatever) a graduate student that use English in regular basis, I am never proficient in it. Well, who care the writing center is not going to be here and correct my writing

2. I write this blog from my point of view, it could be somehow against someone, well, I mean to. There is no apologize on that. The first amendment of the U. S. Constitution allows me to have freedom of speech (I don’t think I am protected by that since I am not the citizen ^v^)

3. This blog might be boring for you. I don’t know, I always try to find anyone to have a tennis conversation with me but never be successful. Well, I think I am just going to talk to the blog and hopefually someone would find it is interesting.

4. There are many tennis blogs that posted picture out there, I am not sure if I have a lot of guts to repeat of what they have done