Tennis

[Inver]

Ah well Mr Murray seems to be managing ok ....but OMG Nadal goes out ....hopefully opens up a window for Andy.

[poppyshake]

Big shock but then there's always one (and I was hoping it would be Sharapova ) Lukas Rosol was brilliant and it does indeed open up Andy's half of the draw .. it's all good .. unless you're Rafa. This result may well get Andy into the final (not that I'm jumping guns or anything ) .. that would be very exciting.

[Roland Butter]

This result may well get Andy into the final (not that I'm jumping guns or anything ) .. that would be very exciting.

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ....!!!!!!!!!!

[Karsa Orlong]

I'm just happy Nadal's out - cannot stand the bloke.

[Ben]

I love Nadal. Poor Nadal. Whereas that bloody winging giant man - I'm glad to see the back of him!

[poppyshake]

I like change so glad to see Nadal go. The thought of the finals being a combination of Federer/Nadal/Djokovic doesn't enthral me (though I hate one sided finals too and that's always a danger when someone lower down the ranks makes it through.) It will only have, at best, one of those three in it now and that's all to the good.

In my ideal world Jo-Wilfred Tsonga would feature

I seriously cannot watch Sharapova .. even as background I had to turn it off yesterday because the screeching got to me. She looks unbeatable so will probably make the final .. I won't be watching it but then I seldom do all the way through, because when did you last see a really thrilling womens final to compare with Nadal/Federer 2008?

[Ben]

I like Tsonga too, he's always so happy.

 

Put her on mute? I agree, the men's finals are always much more thrilling. 2008 final still stands as one of the greatest games of tennis I've ever seen. I suppose the last great ladies' final was Lindsey Davenport and Venus Williams back in '05, but you always seem to get a better battle in the men's matches.

[pickle]

I only wish they would show more of the doubles which is truly terrifying to watch particularly the mens. The womens game I am a bit bored with and have been for years, I have to admit, Sharapova looks like she might go all the way though this year.

 

I am a bit devastated by Nadal going out but it was a brilliant match and the other guy deserved to win it, as Nadal himself said, which IMO is the sign of a true champion when you can admit defeat but still get back up and be positive not blame it on neferious injuries like so many others do.

[Ben]

the other guy deserved to win it, as Nadal himself said, which IMO is the sign of a true champion when you can admit defeat but still get back up and be positive not blame it on neferious injuries like so many others do.

 

This. Nadal's a gentleman and it was great to see him so gracious in defeat when some of the others can be complete idiots.

 

Also, get in Rodger Federer! From two sets down, 4-6, 6-7, he showed true champion spirit to come back, battle through a tough fourth-set decider, then take the last in emphatic fashion. I was worried for a moment that he was going out, but I think he really intends to see this one through to the end.

[poppyshake]

I like Tsonga too, he's always so happy.

He has a million dollar smile and I like the way he plays. I feel quite sorry for him though because I want him to win .. or at least get to the final (will depend on Andy) and as such he stands no chance

Put her on mute? I agree, the men's finals are always much more thrilling. 2008 final still stands as one of the greatest games of tennis I've ever seen. I suppose the last great ladies' final was Lindsey Davenport and Venus Williams back in '05, but you always seem to get a better battle in the men's matches.

Yes I remember Lindsey vs Venus .. I enjoyed that one but boy did I hate all the Williams vs Williams finals .. they always felt quite flat.

I only wish they would show more of the doubles which is truly terrifying to watch particularly the mens. The womens game I am a bit bored with and have been for years.

Yes, they used to show lots of doubles .. they even used to show those great senior matches where you'd get the likes of Nastase or Bahrami or someone having a joke. I don't like the Bryan brothers much though .. can't be doing with all that chest bumping .. so glad to have missed any of that. I know you can probably watch a lot of it on-line and so probably they only put main matches on TV. Next week .. when there are less matches to get through .. perhaps we'll see more doubles

[poppyshake]

Also, get in Rodger Federer! From two sets down, 4-6, 6-7, he showed true champion spirit to come back, battle through a tough fourth-set decider, then take the last in emphatic fashion. I was worried for a moment that he was going out, but I think he really intends to see this one through to the end.

Oh man you've depressed me I like Rafa and Roger but enough is enough and I'm not terribly keen on Novak either .. although I did like his grass eating antics last year. It reminds me of Pete Sampras ... great and all that but move over .. I've seen your face too much now Roger's game is particularly beautiful to watch though ... he's so elegant.

[Ben]

Oh man you've depressed me I like Rafa and Roger but enough is enough and I'm not terribly keen on Novak either .. although I did like his grass eating antics last year. It reminds me of Pete Sampras ... great and all that but move over .. I've seen your face too much now Roger's game is particularly beautiful to watch though ... he's so elegant.

 

I only say it because he's hell-bent on winning back his No. 1 spot and breaking the record for the most weeks held at the top. I know it gets a bit dull with them dominating the game all the time, but he's just sensational and elegant like you said, that I couldn't begrudge him what would probably be his greatest achievement. Plus, I don't like Djokovic, so really I'd prefer to see Rodger reign.

[poppyshake]

Okay .. let him attain his greatest achievement but then can he please off I wonder who'll be the next dominant player after Novak?

 

Oh and I must put it on record here, as is seems the best place (and I hope I'm not being too much of a traitor) that I cannot understand why men and women get equal prize money in the slams .. it seems absolutely bonkers to me and unfair. I don't know how many hours Djokovic played at Wimbledon 2011 but it was undoubtedly loads more than Kvitova .. if they get equal prize money then they should all have to play best of five but let's face it the women couldn't hack it .. and I couldn't hack it either .. it's bad enough seeing them batting the ball at the baseline for three As we've already said the finals speak for themselves .. the womens, in general, are not entertaining and you hardly ever feel that they've given blood sweat and tears .. which you generally always do with the mens.

And then there's the noise! .. I'd be deducting ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££'s for that .. Sharapova would owe me by the end of the match

[Inver]

I put Sharapova on mute....why do they have to do that..... so annoying...no way could I sit and watch her game live there, would do my head in. I hoped Djokovic was going the same was as Nadal today and then Fed was in trouble too...thought things were well going Mr M's way there for a minute.

[Ben]

*shrugs* Murray should have to prove himself against one of the elite three if he's to win Wimbledon otherwise his victory will be downgraded. Of course he'll have still won the competition, but there'll always be that idea of 'he's only won it because the others were beaten in earlier rounds.' Plus I don't think Djokovic was ever really in trouble yesterday. Federer was, but he battled through it like a champion.

[Karsa Orlong]

This. Nadal's a gentleman and it was great to see him so gracious in defeat when some of the others can be complete idiots.

 

Shame he wasn't so gracious on court when Rosol was moving around on the baseline. Nadal complains to the umpire and then deliberately bumps into Rosol as they return to their seats. Fine being a good sport afterwards when he can't do it during the match. Shame no-one complains to the umpire about his incessant fidgeting, pushing his hair around his ears or how many times he has to bounce the ball before he decides it might be just about the end of his allotted time to serve. Ugh. Good riddance to him!

 

Now Federer, on the other hand, is a genius

[poppyshake]

Shame he wasn't so gracious on court when Rosol was moving around on the baseline. Nadal complains to the umpire and then deliberately bumps into Rosol as they return to their seats. Fine being a good sport afterwards when he can't do it during the match. Shame no-one complains to the umpire about his incessant fidgeting, pushing his hair around his ears or how many times he has to bounce the ball before he decides it might be just about the end of his allotted time to serve. Ugh. Good riddance to him!

Nadal does get very whingey on court when things don't go his way and he also get's ratty and employs gamesmanship (taking ball bouncing to ridiculous levels and receiving illegal on court coaching etc) ... also he likes to give his opposition 'the look' but he does entertain .. apart from last years final, that felt a bit flat. I'm glad I don't have to watch him pull his shorts out of his bum any longer .. that drives me nuts.

Now Federer, on the other hand, is a genius

Yeah but it's all a little bit too boring .. he doesn't even sweat! It's lovely to look at but when he's on fire it's all a bit 'going through the motions' .. I never get excited by him .. apart from the Nadal/Federer final 2008. Even last year when Tsonga beat him .. a five setter but all the excitement was generated by Tsonga ... imo Also, whenever he is interviewed, he has got that air of 'yes, I am brilliant aren't I' about him and the clothes are rubbing me up the wrong way .. all those gold bits and pieces and things with RF all over them .. it smacks of bad taste and too much money.

 

I'm glad we've avoided a Nadal/Federer final because although 2008 was sublime my heart quails at the thought of it ... Federer and Djokovic will probably meet up in the semis ... so at least one new player will reach the finals now it could be Andy, it could be Jo-Wilfred .. it might even be Lukas Rosol but it will be very welcome especially if they are competetive. If it's a one way Djokovic fest then it's going to be really, really boring .. he's only won it once but I'm bored of him already

[Karsa Orlong]

Yeah but it's all a little bit too boring .. he doesn't even sweat! It's lovely to look at but when he's on fire it's all a bit 'going through the motions' .. I never get excited by him .. apart from the Nadal/Federer final 2008. Even last year when Tsonga beat him .. a five setter but all the excitement was generated by Tsonga ... imo Also, whenever he is interviewed, he has got that air of 'yes, I am brilliant aren't I' about him and the clothes are rubbing me up the wrong way .. all those gold bits and pieces and things with RF all over them .. it smacks of bad taste and too much money.

 

Ha, yeah, I know some people feel that way about him. Doesn't bother me in the slightest. He's the greatest player I've ever seen - definitely on the decline now, and unlikely to win another slam - but still the greatest. If you can call that boring ... well it's not his problem! I'll take his style over Nadal's streetfighter any day

[poppyshake]

*shrugs* Murray should have to prove himself against one of the elite three if he's to win Wimbledon otherwise his victory will be downgraded. Of course he'll have still won the competition, but there'll always be that idea of 'he's only won it because the others were beaten in earlier rounds.'

Well you need a bit of luck in all sport but tbh if the big three get beaten before the final then they're not that good are they? .. and whoever beats them will still have to be faced. I agree if they're injured or pull out for any reason but if they get beaten .. then they're not at their best. Roger and Rafa both look beatable .. Rafa has been and I honestly think Novak will put an end to Roger if someone doesn't do it before but of course .. things change and players can play themselves in.

[poppyshake]

... now it could be Andy, it could be Jo-Wilfred .. it might even be Lukas Rosol but it will be very welcome especially if they are competetive. If it's a one way Djokovic fest then it's going to be really, really boring .. he's only won it once but I'm bored of him already

.. it won't be Rosol

[Ben]

Brought down to earth a little bit this afternoon. He can go home delighted though, I'm sure.

[Ben]

I'm pretty sure that was one of the greatest things I've ever seen on a tennis court. That's what I love about tennis, history just keeps happening. Congratulations Andy Murray on staying focused and coming through in an absolutely brutal fourth set more against the clock more than the player at the other side of the net.

[chesilbeach]

I wouldn't say it was the greatest things ever, Ben, but it was gripping and a very determined win from Murray. Dead chuffed they had the common sense to let him play that final game despite it being past 11pm!

[Ben]

Was it last year or the year before that tennis the same players went for days playing can't remeber they names?

 

Fair comment Claire, I just got excited that's all. Laura, that was Mahut and Isner, now that was amazing. Final set in that match was like longer than any other match or something stupid. They had something similar today but not as long, 17-15 to Cilic in the fifth against Querrey this evening. Actually it's been a pretty amazing day of tennis; a woman earlier got the first ever Wimbledon 'Golden Set' - winning an entire set without losing a single point.

Edited June 30, 2012 by Ben

[poppyshake]

Mahut and Isner .. that was phenomenal. They were on a collision course to meet in the second round this year (can't help but think that was on purpose ) but Isner unexpectedly went out in the first round.

 

I missed most of it but well done Andy ... heading in the right direction