It is on :yahoo:

Hopefully THE match of the tournament, they have produced some fantastic clashes in the past, here's hoping this one can be an all time classic as well :clap:

It is SO tough to call, Serena has gotten better with every match, and there's every chance she could improve still more, Justine has been looking good also, but not invincible, but Im sure she'll up her game as needed as well. Hopefully it will go to three sets, but who will come away the winner? :shrug:

To me it's about mentality more than tactics, they can go toe to toe on clay, it's about who wants it more and who comes out the more focused and ready to win. Both are human, both can get nervous, so who knows.....

I say Justine in two or Serena in three :)

Gotten better?

SW, yet another Americanism...! :devil:

Maybe it's all of those Hollywood films that you watch ;)

p.s. I'm backing JHH btw :P

How is gotten better an americanism? :wacko: Sorry I really don't see that one :shrug: If it is an americanism then it's been in our culture since before I was born :P

Btw no handing out prizes for guessing who Im backing :D

Oh really? You know that it was around in our culture before you were born? :P

That is impressive.. I'd be interested to know of your basis for this..

Just that it's always been around as far back as I can remember...therefore I assume it's coming into our language occurred before I did :unsure:

Anyway stop hounding me you philologist you roflmao

2.Grammar Grammatical differences between British and American English are minimal. Perhaps the main one is the American use of the past tense where British English would use the present perfect tense. An American might ask, Did you collect your ticket yet? where a British person would ask, Have you collected your ticket yet?

The present subjunctive is used more in American English than in British English, for example He proposed that she remain in charge. A British person would be more likely to use He proposed that she should remain in charge.

A few verbs are different: American English has snuck where British English has sneaked, and dove where British English has dived. And everybody knows about gotten, which for most senses of get is an alternative to got as the past participle of get in American English, although its use is criticized by some Americans.



It has definitely been around before you (and me too), but moreso in the American usage e.g. Laurel and Hardy "That's another fine mess you've gotten me into Stanley"

But American it is.. I don't know if people used it much here until not that long ago :)


I'll hold on the pedantry re: language.. ! :P I like the word Philology :)

Ahh I see, it has become so embedded in our language that gotten sounds better than got to me. Also yes "dove" is another obvious one, that doesn't sound right to me at all!

I tend to use got for the present tense, and gotten for the past tenses, that's the way it works best for me :)

English is an absolutely ridiculous language anyway, what other languae would have 5 different present tenses roflmao

well, the thing about English is that it is so elastic.. and it soaks up so many phrases from other languages, that it is probably the language that evolves the most quickly, especially as it it now such a common language in all countries.

Your usage of got v gotten is probably partly due to you hearing it more, i.e. more in the common vernacular, therefore more familiair and 'sounds' right..

At a rough guess, I 've heard it used more frequently only in the last 5-10 years.. Which will make you very young if my guess and your previous point is correct! :lol:

Re: JHH and Serena (I realise that i've hijacked your thread), I think that if both women are in decent physical shape, then recent form will not count for much.

I think that it will all boil down to who wants it more and who can deliver on the day..

What's that phrase used more and more in sport now too.. whether Serena or Justine is "prepared to 'step up to the plate" Another bloody Americanism!!! :angry: roflmao baseball :rolleyes:

On paper the match looks very close-both look to be in great form-but i reckon the French crowd my turn ugly and that could have an impact-they see Justine as an honorary French, Serena's only human and may be affected.
Too close to call, and i love em both, so i don't mind who wins.

Its just JH now petalp, she's ditched the hubby's name roflmao

This is so tough to call. If Serena is on, she could hit Justine off the court and just serve Henin off the court. If it becomes a clutch match, i can see serve becoming a decisive factor as was in miami, where Justine faltered serving for the match.

Justine though has the clay-court ability to really cause a lot of issues for Serena. An encouraging sign for Justine is that Serena still hasnt been moving that well. Better than the majority of the draw, but i still feel Justine could expose it, especially with the backhand cross-court or the forehand down the line to Serena's backhand( where she looks most vulnerable movement wise).

It's going to be tough, tension-filled and a shot-making fiesta( if they play well of course). I cant see the winner being a straight-sets winner.

Let the god's decide as it were ;)

Yep I agree, movement will be quite an edge for Justine, she moves so much better on clay than everyone else, even Venus probably. Serena tends to slide during the point, almost, but Justine has that extra second where she is able to slide into the point and be in a better position, particularly on the backhand sides as you say :)

Though SW19, when Serena is on, movement suddenly isnt an issue :lol:

She'll use so much forward momentum and i think Serena should try and target the net against Henin. She's such an intimidating presence up at net, and tough to pass with a relatively larger wingspan at 5'10.#

A match to look forward to :D

Ah yes..:doh: thanks dl! roflmao

Definitely :D Serena needs to move forwards and push Justine back, back, back :lmaao:

Dont worry Petalp, at least you're not Annabel croft who announced her as 'Justine henin Hardenne' to the crowd in dubai this year :rolleyes: :doh:

Annabel Croft! Shouldn't she be presenting on LivingTV or something roflmao

It is the Williams motto, up the court, up the court, up the court :D

Serena is a better volleyer than she lets herself believe sometimes, so it'll be a good tactic for her :)

Ironically, Justine's weaker side to defend is the backhand corner. Harder to defend with the backhand grip when pushed deep.

All we have to do now is email this to Serena and she'll be quids in roflmao

If Serena plays her best, I see her winning in two easy sets.

Unfortunately, I don't think she'll quite "step up to the plate" :P and will go down in 3.

Lets hope she resembles your avatar in terms of her resolve :P

roflmao

Maybe add that as an additional note to Williams snr's dossier for serena to read.. ;)

At least it'll be a constructive change to the riot act that he seems to read to either sister if things don't go quite to plan.. ;)

Ah yes.. thought someone might say that! :lol:

I know petalp, he wasnt exactly supportive of venus the other day :rolleyes: roflmao

Serena wont take any of that shit i'm sure roflmao

Remember when he said after Serena lost at Wimbledon "Serena is in the worst shape of her life...I don't know why she even bothered turning up"

Shut up Richard! :rolleyes: roflmao

Absolutely dl!! roflmao

To be fair, she really was though :lol:

However, he could've have some tact. Kick a girl when she's down roflmao

the winner of this match wins the tournament...henin in 3 tight sets.

I keep getting mixed feelings on this match....one minute I feel Justine will pull out all the stops in 2 sets.

But then I just keep minding those stomach cramps and thinking the game will be real, real, real close :o

Either way its gonna be exciting :D

hope to see Justine progress.Pity she and Serena are already meeting in the QF as it's a bit like a final avant l'heure..

Here's what Sam Smith had to say:

If Henin is going to win it has to be in two sets, otherwise it's Serena's match

BBC Sport's Sam Smith

Source: BBC Tennis

Im surprised Sam said that :o But I hope she's right :pray: Im so nervous :hide:

That's all I got to say ... I'm just so

Please bring out your magic Justine, PLEASE :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray:

Is that what you call it - exciting? :yikes:

I call it nerve-wrecking

Exciting in the sense that if she wins then we could be looking forward to another potential final. :whistle:

But you are right it is really nerve-wracking :wacko:

Im going to go for Serena here as Im a fan and it goes without saying.Besides revenge is a dish best served sweet and nothing would be sweeter for Serena to beat her here at her "home".

But if logic were to prevail it looks as though we gotta give Justine the slight edge!

Credit to you Dark that is a very honest assesment B)


Im guessing its gonna all come down to fitness. How good a shape to reckon Serenas in?

why did the french crowd boo serena after their last match here? serena's not the one who cheated, lol

I think Serena will win 6-4 6-4.

Henin is seen almost as a French player even though she's from Belgum, the French crowd are extremely unfair to players who oppose their own.

Shame the scoreline wasn't as close as all these polls on the internet....

As I said,if logic prevails,which it did,Justine would win!

:ok: :cheers: :gchampion:

right again eh? roflmao