Tennis Thread - Grand Slams & The Tour

Discussion in 'General Football & Other Sport' started by I Blame Pozzo, May 28, 2018.

  1. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    I have invested 3 minutes but can't see a way to "Like" Mark's input given he hasn't posted. Could you pass on my "like" to him please ?
    It may take a few years before people really appreciate his achievements when you consider what went before and what will probably come after. That's Andy, not Mark.
     
  2. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    I shall indeed,although being a very chatty chap,it will be difficult to get a word in edgeways.Not least as I will probably be in agony with the treatment!
    I think Murray divides opinion as a person but even his fiercest critics would be churlish to suggest that he hasn't had a brilliant career.
    As I posted earlier in the thread,my only regret for him is that he wasn't braver in coming forward more frequently.
    He is three times the forecourt player that ND is,yet he came in far less. I do believe he would have won more and certainly quicker, had he had the courage to come to the net.
    Ah well,too late now.
     
  3. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Murray close to going two sets down against RBA.
    Edmund out in straight against Berdych,possibly still unwell/injured.Possibly just playing a better version of himself.
    Norrie in trouble v Taylor Fritz.
    Evans through in straight.
    Watson and Dart out easily but Sue Boultewr's girl,Katie had a fine win in three against Makarova.
     
  4. Knight GT

    Knight GT Predictor extraordinaire 2013/14

    Like him or not you have to give him some credit in this match this morning. Two sets down and barely able to walk. Now 2 sets all and still not able to walk. I've always liked the guy and his desire to win which is maybe why he comes across as a bit dull. It looks like we nay have a bit of a wait until the next decent British player comes along
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2019
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  5. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Incredible competitor.
     
  6. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    An incredible match. Bautista Agut is 22 in the world. He beat Djokovic in the Qatar ATP final only 10 days ago. He's an extremely good player, and Murray is playing like this against him.

    An amazing performances from Murray, even if he ends up losing, it's been a fantastic performance from him, considering the extent of his injury.
     
  7. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

  8. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    I'm surprised he didn't come to the Vic to let our medical team have a quick look. Might have been something they could have fixed. Ah well.....
     
  9. GoingDown

    GoingDown "The Stability"

    Murray - 'I'll do my best to come back, there's an op I can have that might mean I can... '

    2 minutes later:-

    Video montage with players saying goodbye forever plays.
     
  10. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Operation?
    I believe the only option remaining is a hip replacement and I'm not sure he wants that at 32 or nearly.
    Will take wild cards into Masters Series and Queens etc and end it at Wimbledon I would anticipate,best case scenario.
     
  11. GoingDown

    GoingDown "The Stability"

    That's what he said earlier after his match.
     
  12. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Is it worth the hassle though to just lose to probably some average bloke in 3 sets?

    Mind you today was an impressively strong showing against a really tough top 20 players...

    Probably showed he has the general fitness.

    Shame for Edmund - loses all his ranking points from the run to the semi final last year.

    Mind you again he had a top 10 player up against him in reality.
     
  13. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    He will certainly have the hip operation, whether he intends to carry on or not. The only thing is timing. He wants to play one more Wimbledon, and of course he'll get a wild card if he requires it.

    The only question is, will he wait until after Wimbledon or will he have the hip replacement now.

    There's no certainty after the op whether he would be able to play again at a competitive level, so this is why he's deliberating over when to have this done. If he has it now and it doesn't give him a new lease of life, his chance to play at Wimbledon one more time is over forever.

    He's got a live his life after tennis, without pain, so a hip replacement will at least give him the opportunity to live a normal life.

    It's a tough choice, but the way he played today must give him reason to carry on. If he's still that competitive with one leg, think how high he could be with two. Federer, Djokovic and Nadal are still the players to beat and Murray is part of that Golden Age. He's only 31, not 36, so he still has 2 or 3 years left at the top after the operation, if it is successful.
     
  14. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    I don't understand this.
    The only reason I can think is that he rushed his rehab and the operation did not have time to work.
    This will mean another year out.
    Even if he had won today and I expect he was playing on adrenalin,given the coverage and his predicament,he would be shot for the next round.
    He knows,given the level he is capable of,that his body will not withstand the demands of a major event or the Masters Series,when he is required to play on consecutive days.
    By stopping this year he may not need a replacement hip for another ten years.They only last for fifteen I believe.
     
  15. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    It sounds like he should retire now to me before he does himself more damage.

    If he wants to say farewell at Wimbledon, I am sure that Wimbledon would facilitate a centre court farewell for him without him having to actually play, and possibly even give him the honour of presenting the mens championship trophy this year? The only draw back to presenting the trophy might be that it would possibly deflect attention away from whoever wins, but would that player really mind, especially if it is someone like Nadal, Fedderer etc?

    Even if he did not present the trophy, I am sure some sort of centre court farewell is definitely not out of the question IMO!
     
  16. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Did something I rarely do and got up at 12.30am to watch Tsitsipas v Troicki.
    Tsitsi in four,supported by approximately one hundred and fifty versions of the seven stages of Holebas!
    They had some good tunes and the players treated the crowd to some good tennis. Troicki played some superb up the line backhands in the second set but Tsitsi prevailed with his trademark élan!
    Good efforts by Katie Boulter and Dan Evans but both lost in straight sets.
    Konta plays Muguruza tomorrow.
    Rafa has returned to his sleeveless shirts,this time in a washed out Loon orange.
     
  17. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Yes I considered this at length before deciding to give it a miss.
    Did Troicki get an ice pick that made his ears burn ?
     
  18. PhilippineOrn

    PhilippineOrn First Team

    Am I listening to you on TS right now?
     
  19. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Looks like Dan Evans did well against Federer taking him to 2 tie breaks although maybe Roger was in 2nd gear?

    Murray's 1st round opponent had a another 5 setter - probably going to be knackered for his 3rd round tie.

    Not heard so much about the heat so far compared to last year or is it just too early to say that!?

    IBB:

    Do you agree with Andy Murray on this?

    Not the first time he has had a go at the LTA either.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/46889072
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2019
  20. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    Unfortunately being competitive and driven enough to be one of the very best, is rarely compatible with being an affable, humble person who is likely to win the hearts of the British Masses.

    I like Murray a lot and his dry sense of humour is often misinterpreted by people, more accustomed to Henman's comfortable Home Counties boyish grin.

    He's achieved wonders for British tennis. Slams, Olympic gold and a Davis Cup - all things I believed were genetically out of the reach of Brits, as I grew up on a diet of Andrew Castle and Jeremy Bates as our great white hopes.

    Whether he's finished or not, he's one of the UK's greatest living sportsmen IMO and I have nothing but respect for him and the career he's had.
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2019
  21. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    He's spot on. We've the potential to have a well funded, well developed grass roots programme, but instead, in my experience competitive tennis is confined to those elite enough to be able to afford private club membership and have parents prepared to dedicate half their lives to ferrying their younguns to far away facilities in all weathers,
     
  22. hornmeister

    hornmeister Tired

    Agreed. LTA hasn't been fit for purpose in 25 years.
    Old boy network like the FA.
     
  23. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    You were,I'm always Gladys Protheroe. Safer incase I stray from my attempts to be measured!
    At the risk of droning on and on until I froth at the mouth and fall over backwards,mostly yes!
    The LTA now is in a terrible state.
    Roger Draper had a plan ten years ago to build but he lost his way,despite funding Murray to the tune of 5m for Gilbert,who he ditched after 8 months and then had to be paid off as Gilbert didn't want to work out his contract.
    Michael Downey never really settled and Scott Lloyd has inherited a car crash of an executive with too many non tennis people on it (NEDs?) coupled with a safeguarding case that has removed the president* from his post for the last 8 months.
    This has caused The AELTC,especially Gill Brook ( wife of the chairman) to wage a very loud and non too subtle war against the governing body.The relationship between the LTA and AELTC has always been delicate.I would say it is now broken.
    The LTA Coucil,made up of volunteers who elect the president,have always been a mixture of good,solid tennis people (ex players,Herts had a councillor for years who was a DC player) and free loaders who just want the kudos and Wimbledon tickets.
    One such Essex fraud was known to have been asked which venue he would like to attend on the last day of County Week. He asked what the refreshment arrangements were. One had a buffet the other a 3 course meal. He choose the latter!
    There have been at least three councillors ( one recently from Herts) who have never spoken or undertaken any tasks at council meetings! Perhaps the Twain?Lincoln quotation was their mantra?!
    The LTA today is over staffed with IT and bean counters. Most of the very competent tennis people have been removed so it is no surprise that most of their schemes are nonsense.
    Best not to rely on them for funding as in our own project at Hoddesdon.
    A shame really as there are still a few well intentioned people in there. They are decreasing by the month however!
    * A Herts man and from a family where all 5 of them have played for the county and the youngest boy made the DC squad a few years back.
    I'm off for a lie down as our membership sec had a meltdown last night and stormed out of the meeting!
    It's never tennis that is the problem,just some of the blasted people in it!
    Come on Tsitsi!
     
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  24. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Serena doing a fine job of securing the title for the worst outfit of the AO.
    This year she is mostly dressed as a watermelon,surpassing even her cat woman outfit at Roland Garros for Zig Zig Sputnik levels of absurdity!
    You have to commend her.Most people with a backside the size of Monaco would endeavour to conceal it. Not Serena.
    However if she's reading this, Mr IBB typed this,not me!
     
  25. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    Love the idea of Serena Williams scouring the Watford Forum between matches and practice. Would she put Gray straight back on the bench for the Burnley game?
     
  26. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Stranger things have happened!
    Tsitsi through against the Georgian Basilashvilli in four to play probably RF.
    A resurgent Tomas Berdych is into the last 16 having defeated Diego Shortman in 4.
    Ash Barty going well for the Aussies,as is Alex Di Minaur.
    Konta played as well as I've seen her v Mugaruza but lost in 3 tight sets.
    The Babolat Aero range is now in pleasingly WFC yellow,rather than the previous yellow/dayglo green blend.
    My rep was bemused that I was happier with the cosmetics because of football!
    Soppy tart!
     
  27. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Tsitsipas ging toe to toe with RF.
    Both playing with great fluidity.The young Greek is the heir apparent it would seem.
    RF wins first set 13/11 on tie break.Some half wit calls "out" on a Tsitsi forehand on final point and he is distracted.
    If Tsitsipas can block and chip his ros with greater strength and alter his ball toss to the right he will win multiple big titles.
     
  28. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Another 5 setter for Cilic and RBA then !

    Thought Berdych might give Nadal more of a match.

    Collins and Tiafoe the next big hopes for the US?
     
  29. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Did more than that - won in 4!

    Great performance.

    And got a winnable 1/4 final too.
     
  30. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Hail Tsitsi!
    Heir apparent seizes the moment.
    I had to leave at 2-1 in sets for a match v Welwyn but I'm delighted he won.
    It was a spectacular match.It must have been like facing his younger self for RF.
    Can he back it up? Quite possibly. he has beaten Joker,Zverev and another top tenner in a Masters Series last year and plays the sort of brave,all court tennis that is hard to contain.
    He is as fast as Hermes and as resourceful as Odysseus.
    Too soon to win this year I think but stranger things have happened.
    Who does he play next wfc? I must say I didn't look past RF for him!
     
  31. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Great win too for Ash Barty.
    Good to see a proper tennis player beat a ball striker and a cheat too.
     
  32. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Come on Tsitsi!
     
  33. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Through to the semis - can he beat Nadal (probably)?
     
  34. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Just watching it back now as slept through and missed it live!
    Nadal is looking flawless so far, so you'd think not.Nevertheless, it's been another breakthrough for him.
     
  35. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Pliskova beats Serena from 5-1 down in 3rd.
    Dan Evans starts a fight about doubles players and Murray Major takes the bait. Should make for an interesting dinner table at the next Davis Cup tie!
    Pouille beats Raonic and Nishikori retires against Djokovic.
    Tsitsi takes on the machine that is Nadal,in his Loon kit,at 8.30am tomorrow.
    Come on Tsitsi!
     

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