Greetings, everyone. We're on the go this Easter weekend, but I wanted to provide a place for you to gather, chat and call the matches for the rest of today and tomorrow. We'll be back to business as usual on Monday.
Last night, we attended a Good Friday service here in game-rich Andes that was so well planned and done that our eight-year old, Luke, paid attention the entire time and enjoyed every moment of it. That, of course, had a lot to do with the swordplay and generally gory bits of the Good Friday narrative (what with loping off the ears of Roman centurions, the flogging of Jesus, all those spears, chains, and shields). The narrative readings from the Bible by a variety of folks were interspersed with singing of a verse or two from seven or eight different hymms. We especially liked a classic but, to us, unfamiliar, spiritual: He Never said a Mumbalin' Word. . .
Anyway, ongratulations to Irinia Falconi and Tim Smyczek for earning the French Open wild cards. Check out the video interview with Smycek here. At 23, it's unlikely that Smyczek will be the savior of American tennis, but he earned the wild card fair and square, beating out Donald Young in the critical final match. Falconi is 20, and will be making her third straight appearance in a main draw at Roland Garros.
It looks like the big men's final this week (Barcelona) will be a replay of last week's battle between Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer. Those of you who wish to be excused are free to go; no permission slip or note from your parents required. The WTA matches in Fez and Stuttgart might be a bit more compelling this weekend, and a hat tip to Julia Goerges for cracking the Top 30 with her upset of Sam Stosur in the Stuttgart semifinals. Of course, Nadal's current clay-court winning streak can't last forever. I don't think. . .
-- Pete