swedesrule
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Olympics
I know that in the olympics i really SHOULD go for Australia, but since I really can't stand them and my favourites have done SO well I thought I'd post this article...
Has anyone else been following??? I'd LOVE for sweden to win the gold but I could handle Switzerland getting it too - I feel kinda sorry for Federer with Nadal taking over number 1.
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Swedish Surprise By Tennis Week
Friday, August 15, 2008
Thomas Johansson and Simon Aspelin © Getty Images
They are the two oldest men remaining in the Olympic field and today 34-year-old Simon Aspelin and 33-year-old Thomas Johansson accelerated the aging process with an exuberant effort today.
The Swedish pair survived an epic four hour, 46-minute clash to subdue France's Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra, 7-6, 4-6, 19-17, to guarantee themselves an Olympic medal.
The Swedes, who overcame 13 double faults, will play for the gold medal against Switzerland's Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka, who topped the top-seeded Bryan brothers, 7-6(6), 6-4.
The result broke the three-day record for the longest three-set Olympic match set by Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione.Hewitt and Guccione held off Argentina’s Agustin Calleri and Juan Monaco, 4-6, 7-6(4), 18-16 in a marathon match that established a record for as the longest three-set men’s match in Olympic history (in terms of total games played) and equalled the longest set (in games played) in Olympic history.
Clement and Llodra will take on the Bryan twins in the bronze medal match that is a rematch of 2007 Wimbledon final won by the French duo.
The French team broke Aspelin for a 16-15 lead and served for the match. Clement was serving staring down a break point when a rapid-fire exchange ensued. Aspelin tested both Frenchman at net by lashing an inside out forehand that Llodra somehow handled, scraping a volley off his hip. Aspelin fired a forehand right at Clement's eyes, but the Frenchman stood his ground and blocked back a volley. Aspelin tested Llodra again, but the lefthander angled a volley winner to save break point.
Two points later, Clement was handcuffed by an Aspelin shot; his volley found the top of the net as Sweden earned a second break point. Clement narrowly missed an ace on his first serve and on the second Aspelin ran around his forehand and hit a backhand return crosscourt that Clement could not handle to break back for 16-all at the four hour, 27-minute mark.
Clement pushed a forehand volley wide to give the Swedes their second match point after 4 hours, 45 minutes. Swiping sweat from his nose Clement cracked a serve down the middle and attacked net. Aspelin tossed up an angled lob, a leaping Clement snapped off an overhead but could not control Aspelin's reply ending a grueling match and leaving Swedish fans dancing in front of their seats.
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16/Aug/08, 16:34
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swedesrule
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Re: Olympics
 Federer/Wawrinka d Johansson/Aspelin 6-3 6-4 6-7 6-3 in almost 3 hours...
Congrats to Switzerland for the gold but i really did want Sweden to win (incase you didn't know...LOL)
I'm REALLY proud of them getting Silver - to me it shows to people that Thomas wasn't a "one-slam wonder" as people have tended to call him (or perhaps its Magnus' superior coaching skills that helped them to get to the final???  )
Christina
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17/Aug/08, 2:24
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flipfanatic
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Re: Olympics
Yes, you should be proud Christina, well done. It was a top field 
I don't feel sorry for Federer loosing no 1 as it was inevitable and Nadal is deserving of it after what he has achieved this year. I do feel sorry for Federer in that he has had a horrid year and can't win anything. It's such a surprise. I can't help feeling that he hasn't taken the time to rest and heal his body after that illness he had in January. I think it was eventually diagnosed as Glandular Fever.
Val
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“It’s in my heart to give it one more go” - Mark
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18/Aug/08, 7:52
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