Tennis Thread - Grand Slams & The Tour

Interesting.
Agent Roy and I were talking about Smith yesterday at the club.

Seems to me and others that he's on borrowed time as DCC.

Norrie seems to have been injured/off form for most of the year. Edith is coming to the end as a singles player. Salisbury has clearly fallen out of favour and Draper now has huge expectations on his shoulders.

I would guess they are trying to persuade Murray to take over, ironically from his first coach,if you exclude Judy.

 

Mr IBP has been a consultant on this,given he and Roger Draper managed to achieve planning permission from Ken for the NTC.

Interesting case.

Draper junior injured again.

 

Not for a number of years or did you mean just in Japan?

Rain in Shanghai holding matters up somewhat.

 

Pity they don't get rid of Fergus Murphy.
Puffed up sap of an umpire.

 

Sad but inevitable.
Best ever on clay,no one will get close to that.

Extraordinary first point by Djokovic in the tue break. Approaches and fails to stay behind the ball, instead goes to the middle at the net.

Sinner goes line.

Djokovic's decision making off court has long been poor but that was baffling. I would be disappointed if our development players made that error.

 

One to watch.
Justin Engel,17 from Germany.
Has just won his maiden tour match in Kazakhstan.
Ranking currently career high of 458 but will be top 100 soon on today's performance.

 

The Saudis are taking hold of tennis now.
Won't be long ...

 

Humbert marching on in Paris to the delight of the crowd.

 

And seems to have played Japanese,Chinese opposition so far.

That will end in the final. Either Leyla Fernandez or Dina 'Polka Dot' Schneider.

 

Impressive effort from Paolini playing singles and doubles in Riyadh.

Shnaider giving Boulter a lesson at present.

 

1&2.

Shnaider was playing in Hong Kong.

Boulter mainly in the South China Sea!

Get ball in court Katie!

 

After a dazzling start and leading by a set and 3-0 Krecjikova runs out of steam v Swiatek.
A 'crowd' in Riyadh of approximately 500 people,most of whom appear to be player support staff and tournament officials.

If we're forced to have such a prestigious event in such a dubious location can they at least manage to fill the place?

 

Pegula all over the place with the altitude and loses weakly to Coco, something she's never done on hard apparently.

 

Townsend and Siniakova in good form in the doubles.

Set and two breaks up against Perez and Melichar -Martinez.

 

Zheng v Gauff in the final of the singles.
Crowds have picked up thank goodness.

 

Gauff wins the battle of the cranky serves with some real dogged persistence and resilience.
Behind on three occasions she stormed the third set tie break.
Zheng's toss is a shambles and her racket arm not a lot better.

Only a matter of time before she needs shoulder surgery.

 

What happened?
Baby Fritz is extremely irritating and gets under many a skin.

 

Just wanted to post a few words about Rafa, as this week will be his last as a professional. Most likely he will only play doubles, unless maybe Spain win the tie early and they give him a dead rubber singles.

I know we all have fun here debating who is the GOAT and yes even I concede that Novak should hold that honour as he’s won the most slams (although Rafa might have overtaken him had he not missed so many because of injury), and I know others chose Roger as he was the first of the trio to start winning slams and has an elegance unmatched on the court.

I, however, have always been a Rafa fan because for me he embodies everything I love about sport, a total competitor, a fighter, never knows when he’s beaten etc BUT also a class act off the court, a true sportsman, a very decent human being. In terms of numbers Novak wins, but some of Rafa’s slams have been truly stunning…he beat Roger in his own backyard in that classic Wimbledon final, he won an Australian final from two sets down, he dominated one particular slam like nobody else has ever managed, sometimes winning it without losing a set all tournament. Witness his demolishing of Roger in one Paris final, losing only four games. He’s been an unbelievable competitor, a true great on the court and a gentleman off it, part of a wonderful era of men’s tennis.

You deserve your retirement, but we will miss you.

 

A lovely tribute from Roger.

Unexpectedly Rafa played in the singles today and, unsurprisingly considering how little he’s played this year, was beaten in straight sets.

Disappointing for our ladies, especially after winning the first match in their semi-final.

 

Novak has a new Coach.

Sir Andy!