Tennis

Samantha Stosur: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

Sam Stosur Violates The Code

What she  said:

“Yeah, I guess it’s a new thing I’ve got next to my name now.”

Samantha Stosur has a fresh appendage against her name. The Australian No. 1 was referring to a code violation she received for an audible obscenity in her match against Maria Kirilenko in the fourth round of the  US Open.

Stosur said:

I never had one.  The only disappointing thing to come out of the match.  I’m not proud of it, but I guess I released whatever I had to release and moved on.

Yeah, I guess I’m trying as hard as I can out there and don’t want to leave anything out there.  You don’t want to get a code violation or do something wrong, but if that’s what you have to do to release it and be able to play the next point well, then so be it.

What she really meant:

“Samantha, the Code Violator—how does that sound?”

What she definitely didn’t:

“I’m ‘Sam the  Mouth’. Catch me if you can.”

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

Serena Williams Cuts the Crap and Does the Crip

What she said:

“I walk out there, do the Crip walk and try to intimidate them.”

Serena Williams jokes that she tries to be as formidable with her on-court behaviour as with her tennis. Williams was responding to Ana Ivanovic’s claim that she is intimidating to her opponents.

What she really meant:

“If Petkovic can dance, I can do the Crip walk. Which, do you think, is more scary?”

What she definitely didn’t:

“I’m cutting a rap album soon. It’s called ‘Gal Wars At Flushing Meadows’”

Caroline Wozniacki: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

Caroline Wozniacki is no Balboa

What she said:

“I prefer not to knock out anyone.  I’m a nice girl, so…  Or I like to think so.”

Caroline Wozniacki enlightens us that she considers herself to be a ‘nice girl’ and thus would not ever knock anyone out. Perhaps, that explains why she does not have a major to her name yet. Here’s hoping that Wozniacki can prove that nice girls don’t  have to finish last.

What she really meant:

“Nice girls can box too.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Just call me Rosy Balboa from now on.”

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

What she said:

“I love McDonald’s, I really do, but I’m not going to be able to eat it.  I always have left overs.  I’m left over queen.”

Serena Williams is quick to point out that, unlike Rafael Nadal, she has something healthier to eat in the wee hours of the morning—should any of her matches end that late.

What she really meant:

“Just to let you guys know ,I don’t overeat. I have leftovers—always.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“After gobbling all those bananas and energy bars on court, I’m still famished?”

Tommy Haas: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"You know, if you count up all the months I’ve missed due to injuries or surgeries that I’ve had, I’m probably 29 years old really."

Tommy Haas is not that old—according to him. The German was responding to the question that he’s perhaps better because of the time he spent off court in his prime.

What he really meant:

“I really think I can do a minor Agassi star turn here.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I can get the mirror to lie to me—daily. Some days, better than others.”

Andrea Petkovic: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

"If I feel like dancing, I dance. If I don’t feel like it, I don’t. I don’t care what other people say about me, so I guess that’s being me."

German Andrea Petkovic can dance but will or will not prance on court—whether you like it or not.

Petkovic said:

“Well, I just try, you know, to    I’m obviously very emotional, and I just try to live my emotions even if it’s negative.  Sometimes it’s positive.  I am I’m very free minded when it comes to this.”

What she really meant:

“Dancing under the New York stars—that’s my prerogative.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Just call me twinkle toes. I’ve no left feet.”

Roger Federer: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“No, I haven’t.  I might read it.  I don’t know.  I haven’t come across it yet.  He hasn’t given me one yet.  (Laughter.) If he doesn’t, I’ll go buy one.  That’s not the issue.  (Laughter.) No, I haven’t had the time yet.  I don’t know if it’s gonna happen soon.”

Roger Federer has not yet read Rafael Nadal’s biography “Rafa: My Story” co-written with John Carlin.

What he really meant:

“I would have if he had said nasty things about me. Then these questions would have been unavoidable.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Why are you asking me a silly question like this? It’s Rafa’s book, not mine.”

Carlos Berlocq: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"This guy is from another planet."

Carlos Berlocq was served a double bagel by No. 1 seed, Novak Djokovic in his second round match at the US Open. The Argentinean recovered somewhat to take two games off the Serb’s serve but was unable to hold serve himself. The final score: 6-0,6-0, 6-2.

Djokovic learned that he cannot please everyone despite running away victor in 90 minutes.

"One of the guys actually on the way out said: ‘Hey, listen, I paid 100 bucks. You’re staying an hour and a half on the court. That’s a lot to pay for a ticket. Give me something so I get back home with a happy face. Give me a racquet or something."

What he really meant:

“Gravity has no effect on Novak—this year.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“If Novak only had pointy ears, I’d have no trouble terming him Spock (of Star Trek).”

Christina Mchale: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

“And, yeah, it feels like you’re on an airplane.”

Christina Mchale compares her experience in a CVAC Pod to being on an aircraft. The pressurised egg has evoked intense curiosity in the press corps after Novak Djokovic attributed (and then denied) his success this year ,partly to  his utilization of the technology that simulates altitude training.

The rest of the conversation:

Q.  The pressurized air?
CHRISTINA McHALE: Uh huh.
Q.  You did it the same place that Novak did it, the same house?
CHRISTINA McHALE:  Yeah.
Q.  How long were you in it?
CHRISTINA McHALE:  I mean, it’s like little sessions.  I don’t even remember, like seven minute sessions.
Q.  When I get off an airplane I feel terrible.
CHRISTINA McHALE:  I didn’t do it enough to be able to give you like an expert opinion on it.  I don’t know.

What she really meant:

“I’ll just fly more often if that works. I have to, anyway.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Now, I wonder if I can get CVAC to serve meals while I’m in there.”

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

What he said:

“I’m convinced being a tennis analyst is the easiest job in the world. Because whatever the person does, if it works, you just say, ‘That’s what’s good,’ and if it doesn’t work, you guys just go, ‘He should have done the other thing.’ I’m pretty convinced that I could be a tennis analyst when I’m done."

Andy Roddick, take a bow. The 2003 US Open champion launched into a tirade against tennis analysts, terming them arm-chair experts.

Roddick claimed:

“It just doesn’t take much thought. If I’m grinding, and I’m winning, you guys are like, ‘He’s reinvented himself,’ and if I’m playing like crap and pushing, it’s, you know, ‘He’s horrible and needs to hit the ball.’ Everybody’s an expert, but I’m better than most of them have been."

Nobody’s arguing with the former champion. Very few analysts have won Slams or as many tournaments as Roddick has.

Hats off for telling it like it is.

What he really meant:

“Sports analysis is easy. You’re right if the player’s wrong. You’re still right if the player’s not.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m done reading my copy of ‘How To Take Criticism With a Smile’. I’d love to lend it to you guys—now (that I’ve had my say).”