Adventures in Zagreb

[johnyandell]

Aaron and I arrived yesterday and immediately went over to the arena and ran into our old friend Jeff Salzenstein who had just won his first match in the qualies.

The 3 of us went out for an incredible fresh fish dinner at a local restaurant--crisy baked white fish with a name I can't prounounce caught the same day in the Adriatic Sea. Potatoes and local greens on the side. Fantastic--and inexpensive!

Wish Jeff luck in the qualies today!

Andy Murray and Joachim Johannson dropped out but we are still psyched to film Ljubicic and Baghdatis and Younzy and Verdasco and a few more.

We'll post some of the first footage later in the Forum. If you haven't checked it out, there is a new Zagreb article in Notes on the Tour.

[johnyandell]

Salzy Update



Our man Jeff won his second qualie match yesterday, defeating a Croatian player 3 and 5. Here's a Quick Time of his serve.

The good news is, one more match and he is in. The bad news is that he tweaked his groin.

He'll tee it up in about 2 hours and we'll see how that goes.

On an unrelated note, I took communion in that incredible cathedral in the picture in the Zagreb article yesterday (Sunday).

Not really. I'm a Unitarian/Buddhist/Libertarian, but it was amazing to wonder around Zagreb on a brilliant cold Sunday morning. And to see that cathedral packed for Sunday services. There was a feeling of community that you won't get in the big cities in the states that's for sure.

I may have been the only American. If you have ever wished you could just transport yourself into the middle of another culture to feel it directly, I'd recommend Zagreb--at least in winter.

There is a certain elegance and refinement about the people on the street--they dress in overcoats and scarfs and their best shoes and walk and talk among themselves.

They sing along in the square to a group of young musicians playing traditional folk songs.

It was a privilege and a Tennisplayer.net bonus!

[johnyandell]

Baghdatis Speaks

Marcos Baghdatis is here and won his first match, although some people in the press asked him about the break he gave away in the second set that forced him to finish in the tiebreaker (tough crowd).

Marcos is quite charming in person and seemed happy to be in Zagreb (something about the Croatian women...).

Aaron filmed the press conference and here are some highlights!

[johnyandell]

Here are a couple of early clips! Thomas Johansson's compact two-hander, and Fernando Verdasco's very modern forehand!

[crosscourt]

You certainly make Zagreb sound appealing. Could we have a photo or two?

cc

[johnyandell]

Search it on google images.

[crosscourt]

I'll take that as a "maybe".

[johnyandell]

You take incorrectly. Sorry I am a little too busy to do your travel research for you. But there are probably hundreds of great pictures out there for a few clicks.

[johnyandell]

Ivan Ljubicic after his second round match win:

[crosscourt]

I wasn't being serious, and I would have thought that was clear. Apologies if it wasn't. Feel free to delete my posts from this thread.

[ruymendes1]

John sometimes is rude with us, specially when someone asks for instructions tips without a tape of the strokes.
Coulb be more easy going.
Otherwise, he has done the best tennis instruction site.

[johnyandell]

Yes I probably could be more easy going, but I doubt the site would be the same. I try to respond politely, but I find people often ask inappropriate and/or demanding questions or make strong assertations that are not factual. So you often do see my honest responses. Maybe I missed something here but when someone just posts a direct request I take it at face value.

[crosscourt]

Actually, I was being serious about the pics of Zagreb. JY having posted about the town and so on I would have liked to see a pic or two of the Tennis Player crew on site. That would have been at least as interesting as a couple of dire player press conferences. Having asked and been rejected, rather brusquely, my follow up e mail was intended to be humorous. Again apologies if it wasn't.

It may be that the rudeness of JY's response here mirrors some rather terse responses on the thread about arm extension. This may be what he is referring to when he mentions "strong assertations that are not factual". There seems to be a disagreement between us there about the strength of a book by Cross in which some aspects of the physics relating to tennis are discussed with what I am told -- no physicist myself, but I know some very good ones -- are varying degrees of skill and authority.

To recap, I don't want anyone else to do my holiday research; I would like to see pics of the crew in Zagreb, but only because of the attractive way in which their presence in Zagreb was raised by JY; and finally if you want to run a sight for public subscription, it's as well to be demanding of yourself but also a little tolerant of the subscribers. Nothing is improved by rudeness.

cc

[lukman41985]

Dire player press conferences?

[johnyandell]

Crosscourt, I guess you'll just have to live with it, and your misunderstandings. What you may like and ask and post can be determined when you have your own site. I guess you think we have nothing better to do than indulge your whims. I should be flattered that we make what is actually difficult seem so easy. People who don't sense where the boundaries are often accuse others of rudeness when they are rebuffed.