Tennis Thread - Grand Slams & The Tour

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

  1. NathWFC

    NathWFC First Team

    What an unbearable watch this is. Horrific. This isn't tennis.
     
  2. Meh!

    Meh! Pre-Dictator

    I think it's quite intriguing now. A war of attrition. Who will buckle first.
     
  3. Meh!

    Meh! Pre-Dictator

    3 hour last set!!! Geez!
     
  4. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    I was convinced that,after the Isner/ Mahut match they put a ceiling on the fifth set,at 20 all. Clearly I was wrong.
    Saw the last eight games and thought Anderson spoke very well afterwards
    He can only hope that Joker and Nadal go to five,over tonight and tomorrow.
    Joker breaks in 'the vital seventh',superb level so far.
    Good effort from Jack Draper* to reach the Boys' Final.
    *RD/Ub ( sorry can't recall which of you knew Roger) that's Roger's son.
     
  5. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    This is why I have given up watching tennis.

    I loved watching McEnroe and Connors. Edberg, Cash. Even Henman.

    WTF has happened? Something needs to be done.

    It’s almost - though not quite - as tedious as F1.
     
    HappyHornet24 likes this.
  6. Meh!

    Meh! Pre-Dictator

    If it wasn't the first semi and everyone was desperate to see the next one, I think it would have been received much better. People were just getting itchy for Djokovic Nadal.

    Well done to Jack.
     
  7. Meh!

    Meh! Pre-Dictator

    Second semi is much better. I'm even missing love island for it.
     
  8. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Can you be more specific Keighley. In what way has the sport become tedious ? I would agree with you. I watch less and less tennis every year. I barely watch any womens tennis. It on grass is so repetitive. Baseline to baseline hitting. And the mens game in todays match you had two giants utilizing the serve. The serve is still far too dominant on grass. I do still watch the QF's onwards in the mens game. We have been lucky that we have had Federer, Murray and to a lesser extent Nadal and Djokovic as they are baseliners and del Potro would have been there too but for his wrist injuries. The first two could have played in any era wooden rackets and all. Federer in particular with his astonishing range of strokes.

    As with many other sports subtlety seems to have been eschewed in favour of power. The artistry of manipulating an opponent around the court with drop shots, volleys has vanished and lobs given the size of the modern player are all but gone. I would not mind seeing wooden rackets reintroduced with a smaller sweet zone. A player like Federer would still be the champion but many of the other big servers who are reliant on very few strokes would soon struggle.
     
  9. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    I think you have answered your own question. Power trumps artistry. Serve and volley is far more interesting than serve - return - out.
     
  10. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    I’m watching last night’s Gardener’s World.
     
    Meh! likes this.
  11. Meh!

    Meh! Pre-Dictator

    Nice amount of rain hitting WD25 tonight. Garden proper needed it. The sunflowers and peonies really needed it.
     
  12. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    Pissed down here in Brizzle.

    Envious of your peonies. I can’t get mine to bloom.

    Fnarr fnarr.
     
    Last edited: Jul 13, 2018
  13. Manatleisure

    Manatleisure Squad Player

    Think you do Djokovic a disservice. He's not all about big serves he's regarded the best returner ever so imagine what he'd do with the old wooden rackets.
     
    wfcmoog and I Blame Pozzo like this.
  14. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Kevin Anderson will be glad for a day off after his win today !

    But not sure Nadal or Djokovic will be happy about having to come back tomorrow..potentially.
     
  15. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    I think you make some fair points and I do despair of the female game,that's why Kasatkina is so refreshing and Ash Barty.
    The girls in this country,to a large degree are taught to hit 'hard,harder,hardest,winner or miss.It is very one dimensional and is copied from the big academies in the US.
     
  16. Knight GT

    Knight GT Predictor extraordinaire 2013/14

    Not a drop here in Bracknell despite the weather warning
     
  17. GoingDown

    GoingDown "The Stability"

    First time on Centre yesterday and the match and atmosphere was horrific during this match. I hear the commentators tried to sell it as some classic, the punters there certainly did not agree.
     
    NathWFC likes this.
  18. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    I was glad they managed to see a fair chunk of the Djokovic Nadal match to make up a bit for it!

    Mind you just think if you'd gone the ladies semi finals - all over by 4.

    Thankfully there was the doubles involving a few Brits to watch if doubles is your thing.

    My folks went to a semi final (ladies) day when the Williams' were at their peak - they said good job it rained otherwise the matches would have been over by 3!
     
  19. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    Is Isner's greatest talent to match his opponent very closely? Because it is a bizarre coincidence that he has been involved in both of the longest sets ever.
     
  20. wingco

    wingco Reservist

    You have to feel for Anderson. He knows deep down that the final is already well underway, and he's merely there to make up the numbers.

    Gender equality is brought into focus again. Anderson will take home the same amount of money as Kerber, despite essentially playing 31 sets to her 10. How is that fair?
     
  21. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    He should be paid less on the grounds that he provides less (fewer?) entertainment.
     
  22. wingco

    wingco Reservist

    He did beat Federer, playing exceptionally well....and I would say that his matches would have been watched by a greater number than Kerber's.
     
  23. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    Then he should have his pay deducted for beating the only watchable tennis player left in the tournament.
     
  24. Happy bunny

    Happy bunny Cheered up a bit

    You shouldn't have asked Silva to lend it to you, then
     
  25. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Lukaku v Phil Jones and Hazard v Delph..

    Got to fancy the Belgiums for this as they seem stronger.
     
  26. Manatleisure

    Manatleisure Squad Player

    Is this on centre Court or no 1 court. ;)
     
  27. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Opps!

    Djokovic finally wins 10-8 in 5th.

    Nadal missed a few chances to break .
     
  28. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Well done Kerber!

    Straight sets win.
     
  29. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    A compelling match between Joker and Rafa,long enough to give a glimmer of hope to Anderson.Could Thunderbirds go? Probably not.
    I'm pleased Kerber won,although if Serena had hit her with one drive volley I think she would be in little pieces on CC!
    An unusual sight I thought I witnessed:Sir Geoffrey Cass,a former president of the LTA appeared to be sitting in the Williams box!
    Compton twinned with Cambridge?
     
  30. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    I’ve got my hand up.

    I met the boy Jack a couple of times & recall his prowess.

    Sounds a decent effort.
     
  31. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    I flew over Compton today!
     
  32. HappyHornet24

    HappyHornet24 Crapster Staff Member

    My sentiments entirely. I remember, as a little girl, the whole family watching the Wimbledon finals and finding them gripping. Now, as it has become so much more about power and big serves, tennis leaves me cold. And, with the World Cup this year, I have to be honest and say Wimbledon has passed me by entirely; really couldn't give two hoots.
     
  33. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Safest way to view it I expect.
    Keighley I almost always agree with your posts and in truth this one had escaped me until HH24 replied.
    On this occasion I think you are only seeing half the picture.
    Like all sports,equipment has evolved.In tennis it is the advancement in string technology that has made the biggest difference.
    Philippoussis could serve at the same speed with a wooden racket as a graphite but the return of serve has been helped hugely by the better strings.That is why serving and volleying only really lives in doubles.
    When you have a match up similar game types it is always going to be attritional,in any sport.The contrast in styles makes sport thrilling I think. Defence v attack,baseline v all court etc.
    There are always dull matches in any sport and longevity doesn't always mean quality.
    There are some very exciting young players coming through on both tours,as I've mentioned before.
    Take a look at Tsitsipas,my tip for next number 1 in the men,Shapovalov,Tiafoe and many others. Kasatkina and Barty play with touch,variety and feel on the WTA.
    I believe tennis to be the most demanding sport,technically,tactically,emotionally and mentally,to compare it to F1 where the machine is king is beneath you sir!
    However I do concede I am biased.
     
  34. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    Fair enough, and well argued. I can’t get over the fact that I just don’t enjoy watching the sport as much as I once did, though - and I am inclined to attribute that to the fact that it all seems to be about power today, rather than finesse and artistry. It is possible, though, that other factors may explain my indifference - perhaps I don’t find the players as interesting as personalities as I once did.

    In days gone by I wouldn’t have dreamed of not watching the final on TV. I won’t be doing that today, and haven’t done for a while.
     
  35. Happy bunny

    Happy bunny Cheered up a bit

    I like team sports. Really enjoy doubles but don't bother with singles unless there's some plucky Brit within reach of glory.

    I always enjoy IBB's tennis posts, though - I'm learning a lot of interesting stuff, and without having to run around with a racquet in my hand in this weather!
     

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