Courtside at the XKI Tennis Grand Slam

[Barry]

COURTSIDE at the

10000 Islands Tennis Grand Slam

Welcome to the Grandstands at the beautiful Taco Island Tennis Complex in 10000 Islands!

This is THE place to meet, greet, and enjoy the company of all the fans and players that are participating in the last tournament of the 2015 Cross Regional Tennis Season.

It is here that you can boast or complain about your tennis players’ magnificent victories or miserable performances. Or, if you like, you can sit back and watch all your fellow fans turn green with envy over the attractive headgear you’ve purchased for just this occasion.

Of course, you should also take this opportunity to have a fun time and friendly discussions with your fellow fans – especially those with the big chapeaus that always seem to sit right in front of you.

So again, Welcome, Good Luck, and most of all, Please Enjoy your stay with us in 10000 Islands!

[Celestial Maple]

Anastasia Hemmings has arrived in early noon to Taco Islands Marina on board her old & petitlish yacht 'Sambuku'

Ambassador Hemmings was traveling with a small & somewhat estrange Delegation from Coeur de Celeste.

Among her friends was Dame Suzie Laruuu who recently lost her fortune and resorted to working as a Reporter for "Chic O Matic Tennis Hardcore" Magazine.

Well the party has arrived mostly to support Donald Rostartch ranked 25th in Men. The only Celestian to enter the tournament.

It seems that Rostratch was matched against Mousecop Fudge from the Hydroponic Nation and will have to win his fellow Wysterian in order to pass the qualification round.

[Herzil]

Daniella Libmilch has arrived a week ago to Taco Island & been training over the past week and though she has
entrance to the 1st round as being on the top 10 seed list, some critics stated her training was "for her own good".

It seems that The Octo National Games 3 weeks ago have left some experts in confusion over her ability to level and maintain proper serves.



In an article at Sanhedrin Gazette it was stated that:

"Experts hope Libmilch weakest spot in the last month will be resolved quickly before her 1st round at 10,000 Islands GS.
It seems her need to play safe serves have caused her to compete in the last few weeks without a first serve.
She was caught more than once using 3/4 speed serves on both her first and second deliveries, just making sure she can
avoid having to use her weak 2nd serves.
And though she won a single & a mix doubles, it’s been far from smooth".

[The Tributational Territories]

Mmm...can't wait for the matches to start!

[The Three Moons]

Claris Fontaine was caught touring Taco Isle Lavish Shopping district with none other than hubby number 4.

The two didn't waste time once landing at Taco Airport and marched str8 from their hotel to the city hall to inquire about building laws and other real estate investments.

With Fontaine entering at the last moment to the games, it would seem that she has her head some place else...

When a reporter asked the couple about the issue, Fontaine said : "Its never the wrong time to search for investments. Afterall, if I will lose the tournament battle, I should at least go home with keys to a taco mansion"

[TheBruce]

Simon Boyd was in tough again, with a first round matchup against 24th seed Edward McGinnis. Another test of his experience and character in the face of adversity. Another tournament of getting asked those questions of trophies and number one rankings from years gone by. Does he have enough in the tank to do it all again? He’d tuned the media whispers out long ago, but after the last few tournaments he’d turned to meditation to banish it from his own head. There was no way the formerly number one ranked player from the Green and Pleasant Dominion was going to go easily to pasture.

[Matilda Love]

Devil Hearts own Dr Tennis here, reporting the latest in Exclusive Ball's Eye View

We had a very exciting turn of Devimanian Tennis fortune with Carrie Turner winning in the first rounds against Claire Vo of Ater Nox.

*Dr Tennis meets TB Ball courtside for another exclusively exclusive interview*

Dr Tennis:
I understand you had a close up and personal view of the rackets our two players played out for us today?

TB Ball:
Yes.

*pause, Dr Tennis waits for elaboration*

Dr Tennis:
Ah, you must have some close ups on some slick moves!
*grins encouragingly*

TB Ball:
*scowls and rolls around the court groaning*

Dr Tennis:
*look of medical concern mingled with desperate disappointment as the good Dr realises his exclusive interview has no future yet again*
Migraine?

TB Ball:
*whimpers*

*Dr Tennis prescribes bed rest and paracetamol*

Well thats it for today's exclusive interview.
We look forward to tomorrows competition.
This is Dr Tennis, reporting exclusively for Devil Heart.

*wanders off despondently trailing a tennis racket behind him*




Exclusive picture of Carrie Turner chasing TB Ball resulting in a massive migraine for Ball

[The Three Moons]

Although confident by her strokes, Claris Fontaine stood rather confused when the game against Mindy Spears
where she won her opponent 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.

The first set was rather hard with Spears gave an heck of a fight to take her down. Never the less she didn't loose her grip and swift the game away from spears.
Rest on her laurels might explain the 2nd set where she was off guard, allowing Spears to sneak and take the set.

Fontaine coach was already grumpy half way through the second set but couldn't do anything.
rest assure Fontaine was reminded of her mistakes after the game and stated later to a reporter she will be on guard from now on
consider she has a match against the season rank 1 tomorrow morning

[Barry]

Rumors are swarming, like Barrarabian Bed Bugs on a bacon and cheese taco, that a couple former XKI judges for the Wysterian Olympics and Islanders Beach Championship, may be retained to act as chair umpires in the later rounds of the 10000 Islands Tennis Grand Slam.

Although XKI tennis officials refused to confirm or deny the stories, it appears that Mortimer G. Hornsnapple III has definitely been approached to man the chair by the end of the week.

Mr. Hornsnapple is notorious throughout The Islands as a middle-aged beachcomber and surfing dude, who's an heir to a Multi-Billion dollar Sea Shell & Snail Collection. When reached for comment, the internationally infamous judge snorted and replied curtly, “Tennis? You kidding me? I don’t know nothin’ about no tennis. Now give me a soccer ball or basketball to watch flying around and you’d have my attention!”

This seemed to be a clear rejection of his participation by Mr. Horsnapple.

However, the second subject of the judging rumor, Captain Lethbridge, was much more ambiguous.

Captain Lethbridge, the owner of XKI’s most famous underwater restaurant "The Captain's Table" and who has never been seen outside his diving suit, was much more ambiguous and evasive when queried about officiating the tennis tourney. When approached while shopping for fresh Blue Water Bacon Fish at the Taco Island Fishy Supply Shoppe, the only reply that could be heard through his helmet was, “muffle, garbled, muffled, muffle, garble, garbled!”

Although certainly emphatic, the Captain’s intentions are still not known or, at least, understood.

Hopefully this matter will resolve itself in the very near future.

[The Three Moons]

Although Fontaine lost the match and as a result the tournament...she did leave Taco Island with a lavish Tree Villa she bought with her husband



Her coach stated that Fontaine will be going on an extremely long Sabbatical - or at least till hubby number 4 money will run out.

[Herzil]

Baroness Anett De Pompidue, Herzil Minister of Culture has arrived just today with her husband.



Even though the two are on a family - official tour to several regions, they were able to clear several days in order to enjoy the scenic view of Taco Island and The Grand Slam.


At 11am they were able to witness Daniella Libmilch Gazelle Dance ,
a famous walk the tennis player usually do before she is ready to hit the final blow....and as Libmilch promissed, She indeed took down her rival Fridbjorg Rinde (Shy Guyia) 6-3, 6-3

Tomorrow she will be facing against an Hard Cookie.....Lt Cdmr. Jadzia Dax (Trecdom)

Tennis Experts in Sanhedrin, stated that Libmilch might have some difficulty with Dax Volley as the player really loves the net
but that shouldn't keep Libmilch from giving a great fight, especially with Dax being as short and low stamina as she has demonstrated in previous games.

[Celestial Maple]

Dame Suzie Laruu sat puzzled throughout the match between Donald Rostartch & Dmitry Abakumov.

If it wasn't for her Jewelry center piece - - waking up during a very noisy serve from Dmitry that hit one of the ball boys, she would have never have waken up from the boredom that was casted during that hour....


After the match, Dame Laruu continue to the local Tiki bar where she met Mortimer G. Hornsnapple III, and the two exchanged notes on snails, octopus and other rich people collection of meaningless stuff

[TheBruce]

“Khan! Khan! Khan!” was heard from the crowd after his latest victory. Khan McNally had trained hard for another long run to the championship and hopefully this time was his time.

He couldn’t help but notice several of the fans chanting his name wore strange red shirts with a silver arrowhead on their left breast and wore matching black pants.



Natasha Chan was having a strong tournament in the 10000 Islands, but the real test came tomorrow against Annemign van der Wolde of Shy Guyia. After some time soaking her arm in a bucket of ice and on the massage table it was a good meal, and watching videos of her opponent with her coach, before turning in for the night.

[Herzil]

Ida Spachtel, writer of the Tennis column “Your Ball, My Court” who was among the audience , couldn't contain her outrage during the 2nd set when Mortimer G. Hornsnapple III storm naked to the Tennis Court and crossed the court with a mini surfing board to his loins.

That caused Libmilch to stomp in shock - paralyzed she ignored a low ball from Lt. Dax and lost the game - brining it to a long 7:5 which she won eventually.


Ida Spachtel stated after the game, that brining Hornsnapple as chair umpires, might prove to be an accident waiting to happen.

When Spachtel was asked about The Quarter Finals where Libmilch was going to face Chan, she said:

"  We all know how Fierce Chan but that she has seen some growing determination by Libmilch.
she continue saying that while Libmilich was relactunt to go all the way in recent tournaments, always giving her rivals the benefit of the doubt - she has indeed
matured in her game technique in the last two months and now - it seems, willing to risk going to the edge in order to win. "

[Celestial Maple]

Dame Suzie Laruu was experiencing some "DeJa Oooo" she could only explain as vision from out of space during the match between McNally and Rostartch.....

First she thought it was due to the weird Snail Fungus she found while strolling the beach but moments later ...when the vision didn't fade, she decided to ask the couple next to her in the vip booth...

It seems the vision was in fact true.... a fan dressed in Fossil Humanoid outfit was holding a white board, screaming and cursing at Donald Rostartch.

After the two match loses, Dame Laruu resorted to the Tiki Tiki Bar for drink of Mimosa

[Herzil]

Libmilch exhausting herself didn't lose her spirit throughout the match with Natasha Chan.

While she were able to master almost all her serves with just 1 error during 3rd set,

She did fell short while countering Chan on-the-line shots.

Never the less - and though she lost - Libmilch 9th ranked in Women acknowledge her disadvantage with Chan and parted in coutous style



According to her coach, Libmilch will stay for the duration of the XKI Grand Slam tournament the remaining Wysteria players

[Celestial Maple]

[Dame Suzie Laruu was caught in mid day light putting a bets on Semi Finals, a rather unusual behavior by an ex Lady of the Court.


Suffices to say she didn't hold back saying: This bet might prove to be the best Un Politically correct thing that happened in the Semi Finals.

Her remark came to backup the two Wysterians in Both Men & Women fighting each other to enter Finals.

[Herzil]

[The Three Moons]

A Petit delegation of mostly members of the Government Ivory Order in The Three Moons, has arrived to Taco Island to enjoy the last two matches.

Even though the The Matriarchy Government has reserved one of the Courtside suits (seats) and the ability to use the famous Taco Tennis Center Lounge....



They never really used it as the TTC was occupied with other more pressured matters.

Never the Less The Official delegation has arrived -- finally and were getting ready to enjoy the two epic battles

[Celestial Maple]

Not to be too Judgy but the Semi Finals left Dame Suzie Laruu who is usually in an outmost supreme mentality - in some odd mood

While sitting during (2) Khan MacNally vs (4) Konstantin Efrapatis, she tried to stir away from the extremely unsophisticated outfit Efrapatis has wore to the match
an Extreme combination of Green Yellow and Tulip colors....the type that shouts out loud "we are part of an Favorable Ice Cream Party".

It seems she wasn't the only one to express her feelings....


Connie La-Faruk, a writer for the sport column in a local Taco Newspaper - couldn't keep her mouth close (literally)


The Shocking cloth even reached an Homeless in Taco Streets that while waiting for food at the local hostel, had to witness the atrocity of cloth and simply ran outside in fear....

About a Kilometer away he stopped a local police officer and asked him....
as if unable to grasp the year compare to the cloth....


last, Efrapatis grandfather was sitting several feet from Dame Suzie Laruu and when Efrapatis entered the tennis court, what was earlier a raise of a fist in proud, sank into dismay and disapproval



he later stated: " I could have been proud of him if it wasn't for that outfit...that didn't even match"

[Celestial Maple]

It was half way though the 1st set when Dame Suzie Laruu found herself laughing out loud....and out of control...(after several drinks of Apple Tini one might add)
A typical checking by the judges of an interesting cross spin by Natasha Chan, turned out to be amusing with an out of the bloom Rerun Video:




On the other side of the Tennis Center, several fans were busy loosing their marbles as their favorite Tennis Player Wysteria, was running on court like a ping pong trying to re take control of the game.

One of them, Frenchska Constansa Jivera Johnson couldn't hold herself any longer and burst into tears....
After the win of McNally, she stated: It was such an awful experience I pictured my own self running from one side to the next on high 20cm Platform Shoes.....it was simply awful


Of course not all had such a blue mood. For example McNally brother and sister showed
....... Excitement....

......& Infuriating Joy .....

when their brother shot the final shot at his rival, taking the point and the match.

[The Three Moons]

Archmage Latisha Faluu and other delegation members were excited over the outcome of the Men Category, even tough their own player from TTC, didn't reach the finals.

While some members stayed for the ceremony and the happy hour party
Others prefered to leave, but not before suggesting Mcnally to skip the border control by joining them - using a portal back home.

[TheBruce]

Victorious Khan McNally seen giving the championship trophy his customary teeth marks.



Was it real gold?

[TheBruce]

For Natasha Chan it was a bittersweet end to a great run by the Dominion tennis star, as an injury in the finals prevented her from taking the championship.

[TheBruce]

Thanks to Barrarabian Butlers and the 10000 Islands for hosting the latest Cross Regional Games Event, and for all the work by the Games Committee!