Wk.2- Bare Bones Backspin (The Caveman Cometh III)

(presented by "guest" writer Carl)



Grrrr, Carl angrier than usual now that see that Todd is STILL using old high school photo of Carl that used first time Carl fill in here. Carl told him last time that Carl no like it.

CARL MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!!

(crash! bang! clunk! thud!)

Someone going to pay one of days... and it not Carl.

*WEEK 2 CHAMPIONS*

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (Premier $600K/hard court outdoor)
S: Elena Dementieva def. Serena Williams 6-3/6-2
D: Black/Huber d. Garbin/Petrova

HOBART, AUSTRALIA (Int'l $220K/hard court outdoor)
S: Alona Bondarenko def. Shahar Peer 6-2/6-4
D: Chuang/Peschke d. Chan/Niculescu


PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Elena Dementieva/RUS
...Elena beat four Top 20 players. Beat Serena in final after doing in SF last year. Elena defend Sydney title. Maybe face Justine 2nd Round Oz. Carl not like this fact. Someone going to pay. Carl making a list.
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RISERS: Alona Bondarenko/UKR & Aravane Rezai/FRA
...Alona take down #1 seed Medina-Garrigues and #2 Shahar Peer in Hobart final. Win first WTA singles title since September '06 in Luxembourg. Carl have friend in Luxembourg who take care of people who use old pictures when told not to. Carl no warn unless mean it. Aravane defeat Pennetta in QF (Carl no hold against her, though... he just re-watch U.S. Open match with Zvonareva to feel better, and wait for chance to drag Flavia back to cave by hair. Carl like Flavia. Hope she like Carl.). She take Serena to three in Sydney semifinal. Aravane lose 6-3/5-2 lead against Serena, then say she "not impressed" by American effort. Bad move, Aravane. Serena like Carl... she never really forget, she just act like does when hammer come down.
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SURPRISES: Vera Dushevina/RUS & Kirsten Flipkens/BEL
...Dushevina qualify in Sydney and defeat Dellacqua and Vesnina. Reach QF. She play Dementieva 1st Round Oz. Flipkens no play as good as other Belgians last week, but qualify in Sydney and win over Wozniak to make QF. She and three other Belgians in same quarter of Oz draw. Kirsten play Justine 1st Round. Poor, Kirsten.
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COMEBACK: Shahar Peer/ISR
...Shahar reach Hobart final. She first with two SF results in '10. Lose to Alona, but beat Rogowska and Dokic along way. Not sure if will win Aussie fans. No care, though. They no stupidly blame her for things she no have to do with. Carl mad at wooden club for breaking when hit French cousin Arnaud over head for talking strange, but Carl no blame tree. Carl no sure if same thing, but no care. Carl have plenty of clubs. Carl no warn unless mean it.
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VETERANS: Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
...team win Sydney. Two titles already in 2010. Twenty-nine together in careers. Not sure can beat Venus and Serena, though.
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FRESH FACE: Zhou Zi-Miao/CHN
...Carl no know if Zhou win $25K ITF final in Pinggou this weekend, but do know it second straight challenger final already in 2010. Good enough.
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DOWN: Jelena Jankovic/SRB & Vera Zvonareva/RUS
...Jelena lose in 1st Round Sydney to Szavay. Carl no like that she lose, but he glad she no look like she could knock out Carl in dark alley when he not looking this year. Vera ankle still hurting. She retire after six games in Sydney 1st Round. Carl think Carl could beat Vera in long race, and Carl drag knuckles as runs. Carl's club bigger than racket, too.
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ITF PLAYER & JUNIOR STAR: ??
...Todd say he give in Daily Backspin on Monday. Carl believe when see.
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1. Syd F - Dementieva d. S.Williams
...6-3/6-2. Serena only play in these events because have to. She joke in ceremony that she confused what to do since no finish second much in her career.

(grunt/laugh?)

Carl like Serena! But he like better if she more like Carl and no make idle threats. Real ones more effective. Hope Todd listening.
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2. Syd SF - S.Williams d. Rezai
...3-6/7-5/6-4. Carl hear Todd say Rezai "mouth writing check she can't cash." What a "check?"
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3. Syd 1st - Azarenka d. Lisicki
...3-6/6-2/7-5. Sabine 75 unforced errors even make Carl's head hurt.
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4. Syd 2nd - Azarenka d. Date-Krumm
...6-1/5-7/7-5. Date-Krumm almost half as old as Carl, and she qualify and defeat Petrova, and nearly Azarenka. Should Carl think she chance to be shocker of tournament in Melbourne?
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5. Hob F - A.Bondarenko d. Peer
...6-2/6-4. Carl never know when Alona going to play well for entire tournament. Kind of like he no know when big bear from valley going to be hungry and Carl have to sleep in upstairs cave.
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6. Syd 2nd - Cibulkova d. Kuznetsova
...7-5/6-2. Svetlana using second coach, says she no know supposed to report someone trying to fix match, getting criticized by Fed Cup coach, barely defeat Kleybanova in 1st Round and then lose in two here. Is she distracted? She face Anastasia Rodionova in 1st Round in Oz. Disaster possible?
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7. Hob 1st - Errani d. Oudin
...3-6/6-3/7-5. Oudin no win, but Carl like good fight against eventual semifinalist. Carl inspired to shave "believe" into fur on back.
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8. Syd QF - Dementieva d. Safina
...6-2/6-3. Carl no like Safina chances anytime soon.
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HM- Syd 2nd - S.Williams d. Martinez-Sanchez
...6-1/6-2. See, Aravane. Like Carl said, Serena act like she no remember. But she does. Maybe MJMS now glad that she off Serena radar, at least. Serena list almost as long as Carl's, I bet.
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*PRE-AUSTRALIAN OPEN AWARDS*
=TOP PLAYERS=
1. Kim Clijsters, BEL
2. Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA (Veterans)
3. Elena Dementieva, RUS
4. Justine Henin, BEL (Comeback)
5. Yanina Wickmayer, BEL (Riser)
HM- Alona Bondarenko, UKR (Surprise) & Shahar Peer/ISR
=FRESH FACES=
Zhou Yi-Miao/CHN & Laura Robson/GBR
=DOWN=
Vera Zvonareva/RUS & Samantha Stosur/AUS
=JUNIOR=
An-Sophie Mestach/BEL
=BEST MATCH=
Brisbane Final - Clijsters def. Henin 6-3/4-6/7-6(6)

**MOST TITLES - ACTIVE DOUBLES TEAMS**
[both players active]
32...Lisa Raymond/Rennae Stubbs
29...CARA BLACK/LIEZEL HUBER
20...Lisa Raymond/Samantha Stosur
16...Serena Williams/Venus Williams

**CAREER DOUBLES TITLES - ACTIVE**
68...Lisa Raymond
59...Rennae Stubbs
53...CARA BLACK


All for now.



NEXT: Australian Open preview & Day 1 Daily Backspin