Tennis

Serena Williams: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

Serena Williams Takes Aim Offside

What she said:

"You’re out of control. You’re a hater, and you’re just unattractive inside."

Serena Williams ‘transfers epithets’ ,accusing chair umpire, Eva Asderaki,  of abuse in an ironic tirade, scarily reminiscent of her 2009 US Open semifinal blowout  against Kim Clijsters.

What she really meant:

“That has a lot to do with you docking me the game. Yeah!”

What she definitely didn’t:

“I don’t really mean all these things. I suffer from selective amnesia ; you ought to take a cue from me. ”

Andrew Flintoff: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Freddie Flintoff ‘Cocks a Snook at the IPL’

What he said:

“Just been confirmed India don’t want to be here! I reckon they’d play in drizzle in the IPL for millions not at Lords though.”

Andrew Flintoff joins the legion of English cricketers who believe that the Indian cricket team surrendered their No.1 status on the altar of Mammon.

What he really meant:

“I’m not too keen on our chaps not willing to return to the field when D/L loaded the game our way. But you don’t want to me to tweet that, do you?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I wonder if I could get one of the IPL franchises to vend Freddie Flintoff branded paraphernalia?”

Magnifique Novak Djokovic wins battle royale, US Open title

Magnifique.

In a veritable slugfest lasting a little over four hours, Novak Djokovic trumped the defending champion Rafael Nadal—6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1—at Flushing Meadows on Monday, Sept. 12,  2011.

The No.1 seed had an answer for everything the Mallorcan threw at him—from his top-spin forehands, ripped backhands, deceptive serves and breaks of service.

If Nadal would break the Djoker’s service, Djokovic would come roaring right back with his incisive return of serve. The Spaniard was outlasted, out-rallied and outplayed by the Serb on his own terms—from the baseline.

The US Open is his fourth major and leaves only the French Open to complete a career Slam.

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Q & A With Serena Williams (Humour)

MakeTimeForSports touched base with 2011 US Open runner-up Serena Williams after her loss to Sam Stosur.

1) What do you think is the reason for your loss to Sam Stosur?

The chair umpire had it in for me, of course.

2) Don’t you think that you tried to intimidate your opponent?

What, that little shriek? I yell like that when I see chocolate cake too.

3) You say you can’t recall what you said on court?

Yeah, like I rehearsed.

4) You’ll catch yourself on YouTube….

Yes, isn’t that super-cool???

5) Do you have a real, good excuse for your on-court behaviour?

Hmmm.. how about ‘I was testing my lung power’?

Disclaimer: The character(s) are real but the interview is fictional.

Quote of the day:
The most common of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true. It is the chief occupation of mankind. – H. L. Mencken

Mahendra Singh Dhoni: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Mahendra Singh Dhoni laments the Ugly Side of Cricket

What he said:

We just saw the ugly side of cricket. Whichever team has the upper hand, doesn’t want to play. Whichever team is not on winning side, will stick around and even play football. That’s what people do and that’s what both sides did.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is frankness personified when he airs his opinion that the Ducksworth-Lewis method of deciding the 4th ODI against England—affected by rain—was detrimental to the spirit of the game. The ODI ended in a tie as decided by the controversial methodology.

Dhoni added:

If you have a day game, you need different guidelines and principles to follow. If you put it under lights, it doesn’t look nice.

Some of the guys were confused. Some thought we had won it. Most of us thought it was a passing shower and we would be able to get back on the field.

Once inside the dressing room, we saw the final sheet of paper. After looking at it, it was apparent it was a tie and none of the side had won the game.

This is not the first time. We were close to winning the first game also. But as I said, you can’t control the weather.

What Dhoni really meant:

“It doesn’t say much for us  if we loiter in the dressing room when the game has swung our way.”

What Dhoni definitely didn’t:

“We caught the Djokovic-Federer semi-final and unanimously agreed with Roger Federer’s post-match sentiment: ‘That’s why we all watch sports, isn’t it?  Because we don’t know the outcome and everybody has a chance, and until the very moment it can still turn.  That’s what we love about the sport, but it’s also very cruel and tough sometimes.’”

2011 US Open: Sam Stosur wins maiden Grand Slam title

When Samantha Stosur took on Francesca Schiavone in the 2010 French Open final, she was the favourite. That was not the case in her final match-up against Serena Williams at the 2011 US Open.

Serena dropped nary a set on her route to the final. Stosur, on the other hand, let many an opportunity to close matches early slip through her nervous fingers.

However, it was the Australian, much like Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon against Maria Sharapova, who exhibited nerveless character in the role of underdog. She was calm, composed and assured in her demolition of the 13-time Grand Slam champion.

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John McEnroe: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

John McEnroe Cannot Be Serious

What he said:

"She can’t even throw her racket down hard enough. Got to work on that."

John McEnroe joins the band of experts proffering advice to women’s No. 1 , Caroline Wozniacki, during her straight sets capitulation to Serena Williams in the US Open semi-finals.

What he really meant:

“It’s funny how everything seems wrong (to others) when you’re not winning.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Why doesn’t she just yell at the linesman or referees my famous line: ‘You cannot be serious.’ I waive all copyrights.”

Andy Roddick: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Andy Roddick Talks Money

What he said:

“13% of total revenue?  I’ll let you write your story.”

Andy Roddick does not shy from articulating that players feel that they need a bigger say in how tournaments are run (and how much money they receive).

What he really meant:

“You have the facts and figures. Go figure.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“If the players received less money, then maybe Arthur Ashe could put up a new roof and quick.”

Andy Roddick: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Andy Roddick Is Baffled

What he said:

"I’m baffled, I’m baffled. Why are we out here?"

Andy Roddick is none-too-pleased with having to take the court on a wet day in Queens, New York.

Roddick, in his interview later, clarified:

I was surprised the second time we got called out.  We walked back there and it was wet, so I couldn’t quite figure out why we were called out.  I even said it’s coming from under.  It’s not something you can dab a towel on and make it go away.  I watched the monitors, and they were dabbing towels on it the entire time. Then they called us back out, and we walked right over it and it was wet.  I could not believe what I was looking at.  I mean, puts us in a little bit of an uncomfortable position, too, because obviously, you know, we want to play and stuff.  But it’s still there, dude.

What he really meant:

“We should be chiming ‘Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head’ instead.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I love wet balls.”

Andy Roddick: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Andy Roddick Negotiates At The US Open

What he said:

"I have been trying to tell people that talent normally wins in negotiations."

Andy Roddick believes it’s time players banded together to form a union. This would ensure that commercial interests do not override players’ welfare.

What he really meant:

“Tournaments aren’t money spinners when they lack star players.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Negotiations are as easy as serving aces.”