TENNIS PLAYERS (Off-Court Shenanigans)

[Deuce]

We obviously must keep in mind that over the past year, everyone has played a reduced schedule because of the virus situation. And so comparing Osaka's schedule in the midst of a pandemic to Serena's schedule when there was no pandemic is beyond comparing apples to oranges.

[3mlm]

Depends on how much Naomi wins. While Serena received some criticism early in her career for not playing as many tournaments as other players, she became the "face of women's tennis" after she won enough slams even though she continued to play fewer tournaments than most players.

But as it stands right now, before her stated reduction in schedule, she actually plays less than Serena did then. And now she's saying she'll be playing even less than what she was. If she keeps winning Slams, maybe not a big deal. But I wouldn't say that's great for the face of the sport. If Naomi was playing a Halep like schedule and said she was reducing it, then that would be one thing. But that is not her starting point at all.

Until the 2020 WTA season, Naomi played as many or more tournaments than Serena usually has: 2019, 17 tournaments; 2018, 20 tournaments; 2017, 22 tournaments; 2016, 22 tournaments; 2015, 18 tournaments (9 ITF, 9 WTA/Slams); and 2014, 15 tournaments (11 ITF, 4 WTA), when she was 16 until October.

I don't think she's planning on reducing tournaments played from the 4 she played in 2020 or even necessarily from the 17 in 2019.

Most players played fewer tournaments in 2020 than usual, including the top players. Barty 4, Halep 6, Kenin 10, Svitolina 10, Pliskova 9, Serena 6, Sabalenka 12, Andreescu 0, Kvitova 7.

I'm waiting until we see her reduced schedule before I make any judgments about it.

And, by the way, Halep only played 17 tournaments in 2019, too, and 6 in 2020. That's 2 more than Naomi over that period of time.

[JazzNU]

All I can say is that I'm mystified by this reply and I'll leave it at that.

[Suliso]

This is Clara Burel, but I'm posting it more for the magnificent cat. Most players with pets prefer dogs.

[ponchi101]

I would have posted it because of the magnificent cake

[the Moz]

I love the cat's face

[ti-amie]

I'm a cat person. That is a magnificent cat.

I had no idea what that was on the table for a minute.

[JazzNU]

I had no idea what that was on the table for a minute.

Still not 100% certain what it is.

I am not a cat person at all. Highly allergic to them. This particular one kind of looks like it might put me in the hospital.

[ti-amie]

I had no idea what that was on the table for a minute.

Still not 100% certain what it is.

I am not a cat person at all. Highly allergic to them. This particular one kind of looks like it might put me in the hospital.

It looks like a Persian, a long haired breed. If she got it from a breeder they're very expensive.

[ponchi101]

The thing on the table is a "profiterol" cake. Soft dough balls filled with pastry cream (or other forms of 1,000 KCal/Spoonful fillings), bathed in chocolate and cream, on top of a phyllo dough.
They are delicious.

[ti-amie]

The thing on the table is a "profiterol" cake. Soft dough balls filled with pastry cream (or other forms of 1,000 KCal/Spoonful fillings), bathed in chocolate and cream, on top of a phyllo dough.
They are delicious.

And I could only dare a spoonful. Sigh.

[JazzNU]

A Persian? Absolutely not. Those are TERRIBLE for allergies and asthma.

That dessert looked more like a croquembouche than a cake to me.

[JazzNU]

Speaking of pets, if you watched the Muguruza vs. Kalinskaya match, especially if you were on the match during the heat rule break, then you may have seen a dog near the court and stands. That's Anna's dog that she apparently travels with most of the time when she's on Tour. His name is Kobe.

[Deuce]

Just once, I'd like to see a player bring a big, drooling Rottweiler or Pit Bull to their match - just to break the silly, superficial trend of using 'cute little dogs' as an attention-getting fashion accessory.

I love dogs - and cats, and all other animals. And I hate seeing them used as 'decorations' in this way.
They certainly don't belong at tennis tournaments.

[ponchi101]

Why stop there? Bring a parrot on your shoulder
I agree with you.