Game, Set, Match: The Sony Ericsson Open

If you have read my blog for a while now, you know that I love tennis. I love to play it (although my serve sucks). I love to wear tennis clothes (they are very forgiving, even with the spandex). I love to watch other people playing tennis (and heckling my friends playing at Bayview Park). So when the nice people at IMG contacted me and asked if I wanted to come watch some of the Sony Ericsson Open, it did not take me long to respond with my available dates.

This is such a great event. There are a number of different courts with matches going on at all times. There are lots of different food and drink concessions. Bacardi mojitos? Check. Veuve Cliquot champagne? Check. Burritos. Sushi. Burgers? Check. Check. Check. I get to hang out with Key West people, Hollywood people and meet some new ones along the way. It is all good fun.

Oh, of course, and then there is the tennis. I saw Rafa beat Kei Neshikori (awesome). I saw Maria Sharapova screech her way to a beat down of Li Na. The screeching is really out of control. As someone who often shouts while playing tennis (generally an expletive after a missed serve, or some other screech after a crappy shot dumped into the bottom of the net), I can understand the whole screaming/grunting thing. I really can. But honestly, it was too much. When I told FKGuy which match I was watching, his reply was “I hope they give out ear plugs in the media booth“. Unfortunately for me, they did not.

Allyson lounging in the cozy media seats

Can you hear Maria screeching in this picture?

Allyson looking at skele-toes and making friends

Me and The Rog. Well, a version of him, anyway. I doubt the real Roger hung around after his loss to Andy Roddick.

I would really enjoy a chocolate this big.

2 of the 3 Loud Women arriving at the Sony Ericsson

Rafa, clearly saying “You played well. I wish you would have made it easier on me.”

Allyson hanging with the ballkids, er “ballpersons”

I watched the beginning of the Novak Djokovic vs. Richard Gasquet match, and while I typically root for whoever is on the opposite side of the net from Djokovic, at the end of the first set he looked like he had run out of steam. He should have won the first set, or at least taken it to a tie break, but nope, he gave up. He ended up losing to Djokovic 7-5, 6-3. I’m kind of glad I didn’t see the whole second set.

The Sony Ericsson Open is a really fun event. From the first days of watching tons of matches and practices up until the more seasoned players in the quarterfinals – with some upsets along the way – it is a lot of fun. If you are with someone who loves tennis and you are just in it for the clothes, fear not, there are plenty of clothing vendors, footwear vendors and really cool, $500 tennis bag vendors.

Did you go this year? What did you think? Leave a comment and let me know!