The Tennis thread

[Krazy8]

Federer is a gentleman. Djokovic is a jocular little imp. Nadal is a drugged up ape. Murray has the personality of a dead toad and the likeability of a wasp.

Stevencc is a combination of all four.

 

[Carver]

he has bad-mouthed Murray a few times in the past, which left a sour taste in the mouth

Do you have any proof for this?

 

[Stevencc]

Probably not, he spat it out.

 

[Aber gas]

Federer isn't as bad as his wife, but he has bad-mouthed Murray a few times in the past, which left a sour taste in the mouth, and there is an arrogance behind the nicety that is off-putting. Can't help but like his playstyle though so I can partially forgive him for that; but imo, Murray, Djokovic and Nadal are more humble people off-court.

I'm not going to lie, I'm extremely disappointed. I was expecting rumours of slave holdings, whisperings of potential rivals being disappeared, support of enforced work for orphans or a penchant for kicking tramps.
He thinks Murray is a bit of a uppity c*** and is a bit arrogant.

 

[Super_horns]

Shame for the crowd that escalated so quickly as the 1st set was so competitive but Muguruza has really overpowered s Williams who just had no answer in the 2nd set.

 

[Carver]

Good to see Williams get beat but what a quick final that was, maybe in womens tennis the final should be a five setter.

 

[Veggie Legs]

Federer isn't as bad as his wife, but he has bad-mouthed Murray a few times in the past, which left a sour taste in the mouth, and there is an arrogance behind the nicety that is off-putting. Can't help but like his playstyle though so I can partially forgive him for that; but imo, Murray, Djokovic and Nadal are more humble people off-court.

Glad it's not just me who's not a big fan of Federer, I find the constant love-in a bit nauseating.

 

[SALTIRE]

Glad it's not just me who's not a big fan of Federer, I find the constant love-in a bit nauseating.

Yeah that's another thing, it's all a bit bilious. And the Swiss fans that follow him in particular are utterly dreadful. Mind you Djokovic has the same with the Serb support. Nothing either player could do about that of course, but it doesn't help the like ability of both.

Shame Williams couldn't do the job against another ott grunter today, always liked Venus, she carries herself with class at all times unlike her sister.

 

[Super_horns]

Today has shown the great advantages of the roof - they have been able to finish a long Men's Double finals and the ladies doubles whereas in the past both would have been carried over.

 

[Super_horns]

Not a great time to have an injury when your playing Federer on his favourite court!

 

[Pagnell]

Federer. What a fucking legend. I can't believe I doubted him and thought he'd struggle to win further slams. The best tennis player ever, it will be some time before someone comes close.

 

[Super_horns]

Going to be tearful in the interview with Sue I feel!

 

[Krazy8]

Head and shoulders above everyone else these last two weeks, very impressive.

Get a couple more and he might overtake Rafa as the greatest ever

 

[Pagnell]

Head and shoulders above everyone else

You could have just ended it there.

 

[Benji]

I think Federer could become one of the all time greats.

 

[Super_horns]

Well at least one Murray won Wimbledon!

 

[Leewilson]

Name, points, mens, womens
Kim Murray's Mounds 1364 722 642
The Living Geckos 1262 768 494
Wilson's wonders 1222 763 459
Double Fault 1204 718 486
Baker's Ballers 1120 657 463
Mark F_SW19 1076 783 293

The women won it for KMM.

 

[St. Juste]

Tennis is getting boring now with all these big servers getting so many aces. They should make it that you only have one chance of a serve to score a point, no second chances to have a serve if you miss the first.

The only thing I agree with him on is how boring tennis is quickly becoming with so many big serving players,
.

Really don't see this narrative at all - there are quite a lot of them yes but they aren't the best players. None of the big four, who have dominated tennis in recent years, are big servers. Indeed, in the top 10 there is only two - Cillic and Raonic have serving as a dominant part of their game. The others are far more rounded players.

Murray would have beaten Querrey 19 times out of 20 on grass - he's a far better player - and was winning the match before his injury overcome him.

Federer, the greatest player of all time, does not have serving as the dominant part fo his game.

Konta's situation really isn't analogous to Bedene though. Konta was still a child when she left Australia and by the time she took British citizenship she wasn't even in the world's top 200. She's spent a significant part of her life, including some of her childhood, here and much of her tennis education will also presumably have taken place in Britain. Her background isn't Australian - her parents are Hungarian - so not sure why people would particularly regard her as Australian, rather than British. In a couple of years time she'll have spent as long living in this country as she did in Aus.

She was 14 when she left Australia, and she went to Spain not the UK. I think people develop some kind of national affiliation between birth and 14.

Which part of her childhood did she spend here? A short period when she was 15?

She started on the senior tour at 17, very little of her pre tour tennis coaching took place in the UK. Rooney broke through at Everton at 16, had he then moved to Real Madrid at that age would he become Spanish?

I think both Hungary and Australia would be more appropriate countries for her to represent - and she will be 29 before she has spent as much time in the UK as Australia (and that is as a frequently touring pro tennis player, who is rarely at home anyway).

This isn't a criticism of Konta, she has clearly followed her professional and financial interests. Nothing wrong with that. But it's a further indication of sport becoming increasingly centered in the richest countries who can offer the best benefits and support - it's a dangerous precedence that is being set.

Also, Federer is clearly the best tennis player of all time, the only outstanding question - is he the best sport person of all time? I would say that yes, he is. The Federer - Murray rift is overplayed.

 

[Pagnell]

I'd say the ability to read and regularly return a big serve whilst having a good, reliable serve yourself far outweighs having a big serve. Which is why Federer, Murray and, going back a bit, Agassi are so good to watch. Their returns are/were so good it basically negates the primary weapon of players who regularly serve over 130mph. I know Cilic was off his game yesterday but that was in large part down to Federer taking his serve out the picture. And without that serve the Croat goes from being a great player to merely decent.

The problem with a lot of players with big serves is that they come to rely on it too much. As soon as the serve is returned with any quality they become second favourite for the point.

 

[SALTIRE]

Well a Murray still won Wimbledon this week with Jamie picking up the mixed doubles again, this time with the legendary Martina Hingis alongside who always wins doubles slams.

 

[Carver]

Really don't see this narrative at all - there are quite a lot of them yes but they aren't the best players. None of the big four, who have dominated tennis in recent years, are big servers. Indeed, in the top 10 there is only two - Cillic and Raonic have serving as a dominant part of their game. The others are far more rounded players.

Murray would have beaten Querrey 19 times out of 20 on grass - he's a far better player - and was winning the match before his injury overcome him.

Federer, the greatest player of all time, does not have serving as the dominant part fo his game.

I know that the BIG FOUR are not renowned as big servers, but there are so many of these other big server guys in tennis now it is worrying. Not just in men's but in women's as well, Venus Williams is so fucking boring to watch it and it was annoying that guys like Querrey and Muller got far in Wimbledon at the expenses of Nadal and Murray. Initialy you would think GREAT! someone different but turns out they are awful to watch and I'd rather see another Djokovic v Nadal/Federer final than watch some 7foot robot serve aces all afternoon.

That's not tennis, I do not get why so many train to be big servers when the successful BIG FOUR play differently and have more to their game.

 

[Pagnell]

I know that the BIG FOUR are not renowned as big servers, but there are so many of these other big server guys in tennis now it is worrying. Not just in men's but in women's as well, Venus Williams is so fucking boring to watch it and it was annoying that guys like Querrey and Muller got far in Wimbledon at the expenses of Nadal and Murray. Initialy you would think GREAT! someone different but turns out they are awful to watch and I'd rather see another Djokovic v Nadal/Federer final than watch some 7foot robot serve aces all afternoon.

That's not tennis, I do not get why so many train to be big servers when the successful BIG FOUR play differently and have more to their game.

You talk about this like it's a new phenomenon. Big servers in tennis is nothing new. And the Williams sisters dominating as a result of serve speed and strength certainly isn't.

 

[Carver]

You talk about this like it's a new phenomenon. Big servers in tennis is nothing new. And the Williams sisters dominating as a result of serve speed and strength certainly isn't.

It just shows that outside of the big four tennis players are shit in comparison.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

Really don't see this narrative at all - there are quite a lot of them yes but they aren't the best players. None of the big four, who have dominated tennis in recent years, are big servers. Indeed, in the top 10 there is only two - Cillic and Raonic have serving as a dominant part of their game. The others are far more rounded players.

Murray would have beaten Querrey 19 times out of 20 on grass - he's a far better player - and was winning the match before his injury overcome him.

Federer, the greatest player of all time, does not have serving as the dominant part fo his game.



She was 14 when she left Australia, and she went to Spain not the UK. I think people develop some kind of national affiliation between birth and 14.

Which part of her childhood did she spend here? A short period when she was 15?

She started on the senior tour at 17, very little of her pre tour tennis coaching took place in the UK. Rooney broke through at Everton at 16, had he then moved to Real Madrid at that age would he become Spanish?

I think both Hungary and Australia would be more appropriate countries for her to represent - and she will be 29 before she has spent as much time in the UK as Australia (and that is as a frequently touring pro tennis player, who is rarely at home anyway).

This isn't a criticism of Konta, she has clearly followed her professional and financial interests. Nothing wrong with that. But it's a further indication of sport becoming increasingly centered in the richest countries who can offer the best benefits and support - it's a dangerous precedence that is being set.

Also, Federer is clearly the best tennis player of all time, the only outstanding question - is he the best sport person of all time? I would say that yes, he is. The Federer - Murray rift is overplayed.

What did she do between 15 and 17? Presumably spent it in the UK? And beyond 17 (when she was very lowly ranked) - presumably the same.

Why shouldn't she be the best arbiter of who she should represent?

 

[St. Juste]

I know that the BIG FOUR are not renowned as big servers, but there are so many of these other big server guys in tennis now it is worrying. Not just in men's but in women's as well, Venus Williams is so fucking boring to watch it and it was annoying that guys like Querrey and Muller got far in Wimbledon at the expenses of Nadal and Murray. Initialy you would think GREAT! someone different but turns out they are awful to watch and I'd rather see another Djokovic v Nadal/Federer final than watch some 7foot robot serve aces all afternoon.

That's not tennis, I do not get why so many train to be big servers when the successful BIG FOUR play differently and have more to their game.

I'm not really convinced there is any more than there has been in the past. Top 100 tennis has more than a few players below 6 foot. Nishikori is 9th in the world, has been 4th, and is only 5 foot 10.

As pointed out, only 2 of the top 10 have big serving as the dominant part of their game - to be a great player you have to have so much more. They also struggle on clay courts.

As pointed out, Querrey would lost to Murray 19 times out of 20 on grass - Murray is a far superior player, and has traditionally done extremely well against big servers. The only reason he was knocked out was due to a bad injury. I actually quite like seeing Muller knocking Nadal out, a guy in his mid 30s competing against tennis' most physical ever player in a punishing 5 set game? It was excellent to watch.

It just shows that outside of the big four tennis players are shit in comparison.

Comparison to what? The past....

Hmm, not sure I'd agree with that.

What did she do between 15 and 17? Presumably spent it in the UK? And beyond 17 (when she was very lowly ranked) - presumably the same.

Why shouldn't she be the best arbiter of who she should represent?

Yeah, presumably stayed in the UK for 2 years. Which would also make me Brazilian I guess, and American, and Chinese, and Trinidadian. You have national affiliation by the age of 15.

The reason why she shouldn't is obvious, athletes are self interested like anyone else. Would you allow them to auction off their representation to the highest bidder?

Murray would be a much richer man if he was American, Nadal could crack the South American market by being Brazilian.

The Phillipines is not a great market for Pacquiao but China? Would be fantastic for his bank balance.

 

[Stevencc]

No, you're definitely Scottish!

 

[SALTIRE]

Djokovic has took the rest of the year off to heal his injury.

Wonder what Andy will do with his jippy hip?

 

[Super_horns]

Murray out of the Montreal Masters - wonder if like Djokovic we won't see Murray in action again this year?

 

[Super_horns]

This must be one of the weakest last 8 draws at a Masters event in some time!

Federer v Bautista Agut
Zverev v Anderson
Schwartzman v Haase
Mannarino v Shapovalov

 

[SALTIRE]

Zverev has won four titles this season. Hope he can win a Masters too.

Not looking good for Andy for the US Open imo.