Tennis Thread - Grand Slams & The Tour

I've got to admit I'm not the biggest fan of tennis but every once in a while I'll dip into Wimbledon, and my honest opinion is the Djokovic v Agut semi final is one of the most tedious matches I've ever seen.

I detest baseline rallys as they're so boring and that's all this match is - baseline rally after baseline rally - one was 45 shots. The crowd are out of the

Oh for the lost art of serve and volley tennis.

Which is why I want Roger Federer to win, he mixes it up.

 

Literally no debate any more about who the GOAT of tennis is. The level Federer is at at almost 38 is absolutely insane.

 

Does anyone have a spare room for a short while ?

 

The string technology has ended constant serve and volleying,making the return of serve so potent.
That and the fact that the courts are slower than Roland Garros and the bounce is so much better.

You may be correct and Rod Laver is far too modest to disagree but remember he lost five years of his career,so 20 major titles possibly,when he turned pro.
The most dominant player lots of older people would say was Lew Hoad,beat Ashley Cooper ,himself later a winner,6-1 6-2 6-2 at Wimbledon.
Looked like a Greek god with shots like a thunderbolt from Zeus!
I'm hoping Halep wins today,that her mobility can withstand Serena's power.

 

Outstanding from Halep.
A triumph of footwork over force.
Faultless on the biggest stage.
Huge performance.
Virginia Ruzici has aged better than Nastase!

 

Been watching the cycling.

Did I miss the willowy Virginia?

 

I agree to an extent Smudger.

I would differ in that grass is now NOT grass,but green hard courts. The strings give the brutality,plus the 'end of range' control that Djokovic and Halep amongst others,display.

Williams has never had the greatest mobility but as you say,tremendous power. The serve is so dominant in any game that she has always been able to set up one or two strike tennis. Her age and injuries now suggest she cannot continue with this. She also has poor technique on her volleys,a residual effect of the number of drive volleys she plays.
Matsusevich is representing Kent,Mr IBB's county. I keep meaning to ask about him but as he's been living in the pipe in the water closet in the seeds dressing room at The AE this fortnight,I keep forgetting!
I shall discover all that needs to be known about the blond lad!

 

Unless she has taken up cycling, yes.

 

I didn’t spot her in the peloton.

A delight, as always, to listen to David Millar.

 

Is she still willowy?

Or now more oaky?

 

Sounds like a public school initiation ceremony.

Character building.

 

At least the independently minded Margaret Court retains her place atop the GS winners table.

 

If that means religious bigot,then yes!

 

Yes Smudger he's Russian.

 

Both brilliant finals.
Poor Mahut was tagged at least half a dozen times,once just above the eye.
Very nasty.

 

The "I could take a point off serena williams debate" is interesting.

I think I find the incredulity at it and comments like "love to see you try as the ball flies at 1000kph through your skull" more embarrassing than the 8% who feel they could do something.

 

Honestly just **** off Djokovic. Hate the ****.

 

Don't think he did as Djokovic choked badly a few times,especially at 4-2 up in fifth.
Exciting but not a great match.
Djokovic is a great match player,triumphed when only playing at 6/10.

 

Federer blew it, simple as. There is little excuse at 40-15 on your own serve with two Championship points. Extremely depressing.

 

I've been a Novak fan since about 2007. So all I can say is...
Get in Champ!

 

Who would have thought that a Wimbledon Final, decided by a tie break at 13-12 in the 5th set, would be overshadowed by another sporting event on the same day? But it was.

 

I know!! Who could ever imagine Uganda would beat Scotland at netball. What a time to be alive!

 

Felt sorry for Federer. Will he get another chance to win Wimbledon? He just played the tie-breaks badly, and once Federer had two Championship points on his serve Djokovic played smart by just keeping the ball in play. Federer had to either find a winner or a big serve but could do neither. I had a feeling had Djokovic got two match points he would ruthlessly finish the job, which he did.

Ironically Federer actually had the better match stats. Federer won more games and got more points than Djokovic. He also had a better first serve return, more Aces and more winners. He was clearly the better player overall. Tennis is just crazy like that, where you can do better than your opponent in every area of the match, yet still lose.

Djokovic...……..……………….. Federer
74% First-serve points won 79%
10... Aces...…….………………..25
54... Winners ......................94
204 Total points won...…... 218
29 Total games won...……... 36

 

The women at the club have gone into mourning and their and the general genuflection towards Federer is rather over the top.
Some of the crowd yesterday,as ever,have clearly never hit a tennis ball as they were sighing and groaning,not realising that the ball was going in due to the topspin.
Either that or they were drunk!

That makes six of us that favoured ND yesterday!