The Deuce Club, 10.2

By Jackie Roe, TW Social Director

Evening, TWibe! It's good to be back on a normal schedule again, following weeks of traveling and battling illness. Is everyone enjoying the Asian swing? (I've been trying to keep up, but the time difference isn't helping my cause. The minute I feel like I've caught up with the action, it's already tomorrow!)

Today's Deuce Club will cover a hodgepodge of topics - trying to keep y'all on your toes.
 
To begin, I've been meaning for weeks now to feature the newest member of (adored TWiber) Jenn's family. On August 14, Jenn and her husband Paul welcomed baby Cameron into the world. That's mother and son to your right - have you ever seen anything more precious?! A couple of weeks back, I asked Jenn if she wanted to include some comments with the pic, and she sent me the following:

I feel incredibly lucky to have my second little guy. I remember when I got pregnant (after 2 years of trying) and I loved being able to share the news with my TW friends, and now its very cool to share the news about the baby. TW really is a great community and I feel like I have so many new friends because of it. We are doing well, although I am exhausted (the 24 hour feeding schedule is brutal, and this is Paul's busy season with USC football so he is working long hours and weekends), but his timing coming into the world was perfect because I got to be home to watch every moment of the US Open since the 1998 USO after I took the California Bar. Now both of my kids have been nursed, burped, changed and put to bed to GS tennis coverage (with Adrian it was the European clay court season and RG). *

Congratulations, Jenn, and keep us posted on all those important baby milestones!

Which reminds me... Right around when the first pic of Charlene and Myla Federer was released, Black Matt linked to pics of his own twins, and someone - perhaps Black Matt himself? - suggested we devote a DC to TWibe kid photos. This seems as appropriate a post as any, so if you're a parent and have a few pics you'd like to share of your kids, whether current or from back when they were lil' Cameron's age, feel free to do so in the Comments. Or you can even show us your own baby pic. Now that's an idea!

Moving along ...

Today marks the one-year anniversary of my very first DC post as your Social Director. I can't believe how time flies. I remember being anxious at the start, wondering how my posts would go over and how I'd stretch my ideas so I'd have something fresh for you each week. Turns out I had little to worry about; you've been a dream audience, more receptive to these DCs than I could've ever imagined. And as for those ideas - the list is a mile long, and I'm now more concerned with checking them off than thinking them up! I'm immensely grateful to the TWibe for making this such a positive and rewarding experience, and I look forward to making it to October 2, 2010. (If Pete'll still have me.)

Next on the agenda:

In yesterday's "The Dirty Two Dozen" post, Pete recapped the 2009 season for several players, with a focus on the Slams, now that all four are behind us. He and I are on the same wavelength, as I've been meaning to do a Slam wrap-up since the USO ended.

I considered asking y'all to present slogans for each of the Slams - and you're more than welcome to! - but then decided to keep it simple. Let's discuss our favorite Slam of 2009, instead. Which of the four did you enjoy the best and why?

My favorite might actually be Roland Garros. I surprised myself with that one since traditionally it's the Slam I pay the least attention to, mostly because of the shoddy television coverage here in the States. Not to mention, until just a couple of years ago, I never really "got" claycourt tennis, always preferring grass or hards. (Now I'm fascinated by it - how it requires adjustments in tactics, movement, patience, and expectations. Riveting stuff.) Of course, the fact that RG was the bane of my favorite player's existence for many a season contributed to that lack of attention, too.

This year, though, I was completely swept away by the tournament. Kuznetsova, my favorite WTA player, came from well under the radar to win her second (and ever elusive) Slam. It was like a big "Take that!" to all those who deemed her too much of a headcase to achieve such heights. As for the men, well, we all know how I feel about that result. (And for those who don't - my favorite player is indeed Mr. Federer.) But it was how everything went down that lingers in my memory. The overwhelming crowd support, the tears  ... and of course, the meaning of it all. Another "Take that!" event, for sure.

To me, the tournament can be summed up in one word - redemption.
 
That's enough from me. Now I want to hear about your favorite 2009 Slam (and I hope I don't get too much flak for picking RG - there are plenty of you who wish those two weeks didn't happen!). AO vs. RG vs. Wimbledon vs. USO ... which one will come out on top?

Have a terrific weekend, everyone!