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Australian Open Title DefenseAustralian Open Title Defense
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J-man
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i don't think serena can defend her title at AO. i think she will get as far as the round of 16, that's all.
safin has not played in a while and there is a good chance of losing in early rounds to the like of unseeded players.
nadal i think will be a big threat with federer. nadal is defentily a quarter or semifinalist at AO.
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PSALT
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I don't think either one can defend their title. Both will be rusty at the aussie Open. Rd 32 exit for Serena maybe earlier for Safin
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Agassi2000
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| PSALT wrote: | | I don't think either one can defend their title. Both will be rusty at the aussie Open. Rd 32 exit for Serena maybe earlier for Safin |
I agree with you. I think Serena will only fall when she has to play a high seeded player. So I see a 4th round exit for her, assuming that she plays a top 10 player (if its Petrova or Shnyder though, she has a chance).
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J-man
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| Agassi2000 wrote: | | PSALT wrote: | | I don't think either one can defend their title. Both will be rusty at the aussie Open. Rd 32 exit for Serena maybe earlier for Safin |
I agree with you. I think Serena will only fall when she has to play a high seeded player. So I see a 4th round exit for her, assuming that she plays a top 10 player (if its Petrova or Shnyder though, she has a chance). |
yeah i think we can all agree that we don't think that ethier 2005 champion can defend his/her's title at AO.
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Agassi2000
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Hey j-man, it says you're now an 'early round competitor'  .
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J-man
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| Agassi2000 wrote: | | Hey j-man, it says you're now an 'early round competitor' . |
ohh yeah, leading the pack 
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beachjm
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I don't think Serena or Safin will defend their titles. I'm not expecting big things from Serena (4th rd-Quarters at best) due to injuries/lack of interest in the sport.
Safin is a wildcard if he gets a favorable draw. But he's been injured and missed so much time of late. Could get to the Quarters because this is his best surface. Also, could be an early loser. Depends on his physical/mental shape.
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J-man
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| beachjm wrote: | I don't think Serena or Safin will defend their titles. I'm not expecting big things from Serena (4th rd-Quarters at best) due to injuries/lack of interest in the sport.
Safin is a wildcard if he gets a favorable draw. But he's been injured and missed so much time of late. Could get to the Quarters because this is his best surface. Also, could be an early loser. Depends on his physical/mental shape. |
i agree. i think venus has a better chance at AO than serena
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beachjm
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Does anyone know what kind of shape Safin is in? It was too bad he couldn't play a few matches at the end of the year. When he did so well in '04 at the AO out of nowhere, he was able to play a few matches at the end of '03. I think he went like 0-7 in those matches but at least he got some match play. This year he doesn't have that going for him. I saw some pictures of him in Shanghai but I haven't heard much about his training or health. Still wouldn't want to draw him early. He's so tough on that surface.
With Serena, I think it all comes down to how she looks. If she's relatively lean/muscular, you know she's put the time in the gym and on the court. If she looks like she did at Wimbledon, forget about it. I though she looked a little better at the U.S. Open but probably still a little too heavy for her to be at her best.
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J-man
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if serena is a little more leaner coming in to AO she might have a chance. but if she is still alittle "husky" than i can't see her getting past the round of 16 if that
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beachjm
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I agree with that. Nothing is sadder than seeing a great athlete letting their weight or health go down the tubes. Although I think in Serena's case, her ankle was so messed up for a lot of '05 that it was hard for her to work out. That's how she probably gained the weight. She still could have done some workouts in the water. Great for cardio, low stress. Her fitness will be a major question/issue in '06.
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J-man
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| beachjm wrote: | | I agree with that. Nothing is sadder than seeing a great athlete letting their weight or health go down the tubes. Although I think in Serena's case, her ankle was so messed up for a lot of '05 that it was hard for her to work out. That's how she probably gained the weight. She still could have done some workouts in the water. Great for cardio, low stress. Her fitness will be a major question/issue in '06. |
well more reason to lose weight serena. your ankel is hurt and all that extra weight your carrying around isn't healthy for your ankle (and you movement on the court)
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Agassi2000
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| J-man wrote: | | if serena is a little more leaner coming in to AO she might have a chance. but if she is still alittle "husky" than i can't see her getting past the round of 16 if that |
Apparently both the sisters are gonig to australia and training hard before the AO. Hopefully we will see a fresh serena there, looking to prove herself a threat again. Of course, I never do believe that you can count a williams out at any event.
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J-man
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| Agassi2000 wrote: | | J-man wrote: | | if serena is a little more leaner coming in to AO she might have a chance. but if she is still alittle "husky" than i can't see her getting past the round of 16 if that |
Apparently both the sisters are gonig to australia and training hard before the AO. Hopefully we will see a fresh serena there, looking to prove herself a threat again. Of course, I never do believe that you can count a williams out at any event. |
yeah i wouldn't count them out. but if she comes "husky" then i'm counting her out. also venus at wimbledon, another reason why we can't count them out
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leftys_rock
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are either of them playing warm ups cuz i think in an article it said that they werent....a warm up is a good idea for them tho....to get some practice after they barely played matches at the end of the season....
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J-man
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| leftys_rock wrote: | | are either of them playing warm ups cuz i think in an article it said that they werent....a warm up is a good idea for them tho....to get some practice after they barely played matches at the end of the season.... |
what do you mean "warm up"?? like a charity event or something??
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leftys_rock
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no like the little tournaments before the AO like the womens hardcourt event next week...the little tournaments are just to get players used to the surface and stuff.....like sharapova was going to use that one as a "warm up" but she had to pull out.....
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J-man
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| leftys_rock wrote: | | no like the little tournaments before the AO like the womens hardcourt event next week...the little tournaments are just to get players used to the surface and stuff.....like sharapova was going to use that one as a "warm up" but she had to pull out..... |
ohhh, yeah like gold coast. hmm, maybe there planning to take it easy with those injuries they had and are practing at home.
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leftys_rock
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thats true but it would still be a nice idea to get used to playing others in "real game" situations....cuz after a months break it would be nice getting a tournament under ur belt before a GS like AO....and plus its really warm down there so they should be getting used to the climate....
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Agassi2000
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| leftys_rock wrote: | | thats true but it would still be a nice idea to get used to playing others in "real game" situations....cuz after a months break it would be nice getting a tournament under ur belt before a GS like AO....and plus its really warm down there so they should be getting used to the climate.... |
They are going down a few weeks early to train and adjust to australia. Especially for serena, I think that is their best choice. No point in risk of injury!
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leftys_rock
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that would be a good idea for s. williams but i heard that she wont be playing a warm up at all before the AO.....she really should considering how little she played last season....
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J-man
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| leftys_rock wrote: | | thats true but it would still be a nice idea to get used to playing others in "real game" situations....cuz after a months break it would be nice getting a tournament under ur belt before a GS like AO....and plus its really warm down there so they should be getting used to the climate.... |
yeah very true.
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leftys_rock
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cuz the only thing s. williams is playing before the AO is some exibitions and i really dont think thats enough of a warm up....hingis won today....have to see how she does later tho....
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J-man
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| leftys_rock wrote: | | cuz the only thing s. williams is playing before the AO is some exibitions and i really dont think thats enough of a warm up....hingis won today....have to see how she does later tho.... |
well serena willams is proably just playiing exbitions (as i have stated before) because of some of her injuries. her father proably just wants her to take it easy in'till AO. but there are some pro's and cons to this. pro's would be that she takes it easy and is well rested for AO. cons, she is not getting big match play in, which can really hurt a player. she might come into AO a little rusty and might struggle with some matches come AO
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leftys_rock
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yeah hopefully she wont be overweight before the AO cuz she looked really bad at wimby after she didnt play the FO....
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J-man
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| leftys_rock wrote: | | yeah hopefully she wont be overweight before the AO cuz she looked really bad at wimby after she didnt play the FO.... |
yeah i said the same thing. if she comes to AO husky shes not going to win or even come close
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leftys_rock
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yeah cuz for wimby and the USO, she lost early....
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fererrodf
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Well Serena has been just playing the exhibition or just going straight to Aus Open without much practice and it has paid off - she won it twice.
Some players would prefer some matches practices while others like serena and venus would rather train on the tennis courts and head straight to the open.
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Agassi2000
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| fererrodf wrote: | Well Serena has been just playing the exhibition or just going straight to Aus Open without much practice and it has paid off - she won it twice.
Some players would prefer some matches practices while others like serena and venus would rather train on the tennis courts and head straight to the open. |
I agree. They rarely play warm up tournaments before majors, and still usually do very well.
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dav6789
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I think it isnt very good timing for the A.Open. They have 2 weeks (5 tournaments) to get ready for it. This sometimes lowers the quality, as most players go there, not having played for 2 months.
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fererrodf
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We seriously don't know their training styles or their body. I'm sure they've their reasons for opting not to play regular tourneys and play a few exhibitions to get a few matches going to get the feel of it.
I don't know but they usually do things not regular tennis pros will do. However, they've proven that whatever they do still ends up winning tourneys and slams. That we cannot deny.
I'm thinking their bodies are their greatest nemesis. They seem to have gotten more injuries and spending less time on court. Whether they are favourites for the tourney, in my opinion - no. But never never count them out of any tournaments.
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leftys_rock
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thats true...its just too bad that there are too many injuries already....
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Maria
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| beachjm wrote: | | I agree with that. Nothing is sadder than seeing a great athlete letting their weight or health go down the tubes. Although I think in Serena's case, her ankle was so messed up for a lot of '05 that it was hard for her to work out. That's how she probably gained the weight. She still could have done some workouts in the water. Great for cardio, low stress. Her fitness will be a major question/issue in '06. |
Amen!
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J-man
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| fererrodf wrote: | We seriously don't know their training styles or their body. I'm sure they've their reasons for opting not to play regular tourneys and play a few exhibitions to get a few matches going to get the feel of it.
I don't know but they usually do things not regular tennis pros will do. However, they've proven that whatever they do still ends up winning tourneys and slams. That we cannot deny.
I'm thinking their bodies are their greatest nemesis. They seem to have gotten more injuries and spending less time on court. Whether they are favourites for the tourney, in my opinion - no. But never never count them out of any tournaments. |
you can never count the willam sisters out of any tournment because they could surprise you. it's just that they can't just win on intimadation anymore. they need to acually put alittle more effort into their tennis carrer if they plan to be at the top of the game
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x.doublea
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That's really accurate. Before, they could win matches because they were the William Sisters- they won basically everything. Now, players like Sharapova can keep up with their best and they aren't as good as they used to be. The old William Sisters would have never lost in the first and third rounds of any Grand Slam tournament.
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J-man
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yeah exactly no matter what the GS
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x.doublea
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Didn't both of them make all four grand slam finals in succession?
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leftys_rock
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probably, but i dont remember what year.....but now, it isnt happening....they arent as intimidating to their opponents anymore, because their opponents is walking out thinking "i have a chance to beat her"....
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J-man
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that's the confidence underdog players need, to contend with higher ranked players
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x.doublea
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They would also have more confidence if they witness or hear about players beating the Williams Sisters week after week.
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leftys_rock
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yeah, those early round losses by the williams sisters probably gave the lower ranked players hope.....just keep up with the power and you can beat them....
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x.doublea
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I think off-speed shots work well against the Williams Sisters.
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leftys_rock
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yeah, if you borrow pace off of their shots, then you have a chance to beat them.........thats what pironkova did.......she countered venus's high power shots with her own.....thats how she won......
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J-man
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and if you hit with topspin and keep them off balance you will also have chance
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leftys_rock
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yeah, you can just wait for the unforced error from them.....
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J-man
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yeah espically in long rallies. you get really nervous because you know that their going to fire one long or in the net
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leftys_rock
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most of the people that are baseline bashers have a pretty high unforced error count.......
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J-man
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yeah espcially on the womens side it seems
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leftys_rock
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yeah......even davenport has a pretty high number of unforced errors if shes slightly off her timing......
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leftys_rock
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and then in the AO final, mauresmo had 5-0 with three winners......but she also had like 2 unforced errors......that was impressive........and then if the williams sisters were playing, there would be like 40 unforced errors and like 30 winners........
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J-man
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yeah i know. they make alot of winners but also alot of unforced errors 
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leftys_rock
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yeah....and if the unforced errors get out of control, then theyre in for a long day at the office.......
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J-man
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i think you mean a short day at the office
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leftys_rock
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lol, it depends.....its a long day at the office if their opponent also has their share of unforced errors.....its a short day if their opponent is having a blow out day....
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J-man
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that makes sense
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leftys_rock
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like venus williams' first round bust was a REALLY LONG day at the office and then she got fired.....
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J-man
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yeah. priknkova (sp?) really lost her nerves and really started to hit her shots as venus made more unforced errors
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leftys_rock
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yeah, i was surprised at how hard pironkova was hitting venus' shots back even if venus hit what seemed to be a winner.....
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J-man
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it was funny because prinkova was grunting in her warm up
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leftys_rock
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yeah...it was a pretty loud match out there on vodafone......incredibly vocal...
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x.doublea
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Wow, grunting in the warm-up. Even Seles and Sharapova don't do that. she must have been trying to prevent Venus from 'warming up'.
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leftys_rock
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i guess shes just getting into the match situation...
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x.doublea
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She must be pretty serious, then.
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leftys_rock
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yeah..........i guess that prepped her for the long match that ensued........
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x.doublea
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That means she treated the warm-up as part of the match. Pretty intense.
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leftys_rock
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yeah.....she seemed to be thinking she had a chance to win, and she did...
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x.doublea
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That's really what you call match preperation. Too bad she lost the next match.
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leftys_rock
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yeah, that would have been quite a good run had she won....
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x.doublea
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She probably ran out of gas.
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leftys_rock
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yeah, that match would have taken a lot out of her.....
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