Tennis Thread - Part 2

Lois Gilbert · June-10th-2007, 06:01 PM

over a 1000 on tennis thread part 1... so it's that time

Jon Abbey · June-10th-2007, 06:20 PM

crawjo said on the other thread:

"I want to see Nadal beat Federer in the finals of Wimbledon or the US Open. I want the rivalry to go further than clay."

don't hold your breath, Federer's more likely to win the French before Nadal beats him in any of the other majors.

moneyp · June-10th-2007, 06:30 PM

Lois could probably make a lot more money if she made this a sports site.

Paul B · June-10th-2007, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

...don't hold your breath, Federer's more likely to win the French before Nadal beats him in any of the other majors.

Agree. Federer still has many great years ahead, and he'll take the French sooner rather than later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyp

Lois could probably make a lot more money if she made this a sports site.

No doubt.

Jon Abbey · June-10th-2007, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

Agree. Federer still has many great years ahead, and he'll take the French sooner rather than later.

just to be clear, I'm far from convinced this will actually happen. assuming Nadal stays healthy and motivated, he's five years younger than Federer is. I just think it's even less likely that Nadal will break through at Wimbledon or the US Open, I was surprised he even made the Wimbledon finals last year.

crawjo · June-10th-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

crawjo said on the other thread:

"I want to see Nadal beat Federer in the finals of Wimbledon or the US Open. I want the rivalry to go further than clay."

don't hold your breath, Federer's more likely to win the French before Nadal beats him in any of the other majors.

Yeah, I know, that's just what I want to see happen. At the moment I don't see any other players who are going to challenge Federer on grass or hard court surfaces, and it would be awesome to have a rivalry that could extend to all four majors.

I tend to think that Federer will one day break through at Roland Garros. Nadal isn't going to win the French Open every single year. He'll get an injury or get upset or maybe Federer will find a way to beat him directly. Roger has a few more cracks at it while he's still in his prime.

Lenny D.Guitarist · June-11th-2007, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawjo

Yeah, I know, that's just what I want to see happen. At the moment I don't see any other players who are going to challenge Federer on grass or hard court surfaces, and it would be awesome to have a rivalry that could extend to all four majors.

I tend to think that Federer will one day break through at Roland Garros. Nadal isn't going to win the French Open every single year. He'll get an injury or get upset or maybe Federer will find a way to beat him directly. Roger has a few more cracks at it while he's still in his prime.

Crawdaddy,
I can't add much to your insightful post except thank God that we have such a rivalry. Shades of Borg/ McEnroe, McEnroe/ Lendl, Connors/ McEnroe and Agassi/ Sampras.

Rob Damen · June-25th-2007, 12:56 AM

I've been gone a few weeks, so I missed saying much about the Roland Garros finals.

Anyway ...

Is there any real drama to Wimbledon?

Does anybody believe anyone other than Federer's going to win?

I can tell you I don't buy the hype about Roddick. Federer owns him, I don't care if Connors is in his corner or not. If the guy even makes the semis, Federer will spank him like he has the previous two slams.

I think Nadal's a better choice. He's got a psychological edge on Federer having not only beaten the Swiss, but forcing him to miss his usual stop in Halle after the pounding in Paris. Not to mention an 8-4 career edge. He ended Federer's harping on that overhyped victory in Germany that most sensible people knew had no true meaning in Paris.

Having said that, I'm going to go against general convention ... I think there's a better chance Nadal beats Federer at Wimbledon than Federer beats Nadal at the French. After three convincing wins in Paris and knowing that Nadal's almost five years younger than Federer (as Abbey correctly notes) it ain't happening. As for winning the Roland Garros crown, Federer can do it, but he needs somebody to beat Nadal. But I suspect as he gets older, he'll be vulnerable to more people than just Nadal on clay.

Nadal's problem at Wimbledon is the reverse of Federer's. It's the rest of the field that's his problem more than Federer. I saw enough in that match last year where I do believe Nadal can beat him, especially if he can take two of the first three sets, something that nearly happened in last year's final. Plus, Nadal has been successful against Federer off of the clay. But for a bad hiccup in their second match in Miami, Nadal could easily be 3-1 against Federer on hard courts, 0-1 on grass.

Plus, there's a big story that's not being covered in any Wimby preview out there, and it's that Nadal's within 2,000 points of Federer, which is half of what it was at the beginning of the season. There's a chance, chance, chance ... Nadal could be No. 1 by the end of the season.

Ah, hell, nevermind ... Federer will take his fifth straight.

Cheers,

Rob

Daniel · June-25th-2007, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Damen

Plus, there's a big story that's not being covered in any Wimby preview out there, and it's that Nadal's within 2,000 points of Federer, which is half of what it was at the beginning of the season. There's a chance, chance, chance ... Nadal could be No. 1 by the end of the season.

but nadal caught up during the clay court season. i'd be surprised if federer doesn't extend his lead during the rest of this season.

gonzo · June-25th-2007, 04:39 AM

federer/serena williams

Rob Damen · June-25th-2007, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel

but nadal caught up during the clay court season. i'd be surprised if federer doesn't extend his lead during the rest of this season.

Actually, Nadal began gaining serious ground on Federer during the early hardcourt season in Miami and Indian Wells, when the Swiss lost to Canas twice early and Nadal won IW and made it to the quarters in Miami. That was the biggest swing in points between the two.

In fact, the clay season was mostly a wash as Nadal and Federer defended most of their points from 2006. The only major gain Nadal acquired came in Rome when Federer lost early to Volandri and the Spaniard repeated his performance from last season. But Federer picked up some points (150) upon beating Nadal in Hamburg. Other than that, all the other scores were the same from year to year. The clay season was arguably a stalemate.

It should also be mentioned that Federer lost all of his points when he didn't defend his title in Halle, while Nadal repeated his quarterfinal performance from Queen's Club, meaning Nadal gained points making the difference just over 2,000.

For the second half of the season, the only major points Nadal has to defend come at Wimbledon. After that, it's all gravy for Nadal as he didn't win a title for the rest of the season, meaning he can gain a ton of points on Federer regardless of what Federer does. And since he's already ahead of him in points acquired to this point of the season, all Nadal has to do is improve his marks from last year to gain ground, while Federer must repeat his marks to remain No. 1.

While Federer has been dominant these last few years, it's clear Federer is the weakest he's ever been heading into Wimbledon during his run. A slip at Wimbledon combined with a significant advance by Nadal at AELTC could put Federer in serious trouble.

Cheers,

Rob

Daniel · June-25th-2007, 02:37 PM

well there we go

Uli · June-26th-2007, 10:33 AM

Most dramatic game so far: #23 in set 5 Henmann/Moya. Henmann wins match in following game by capitalizing his second matchball by a double fault of Moya.

moneyp · June-26th-2007, 12:31 PM

Both Pam Shriver and the sideline reporter are consistently referring to Venus Williams' first round opponent, Kudryavtseva as "The Russian." I don't think either of them have said her actual name once.

stonemonkts · June-26th-2007, 12:33 PM

I never could get how that clumsy doofus had a pro tennis career to begin with....thank God for doubles partners, I guess.

moneyp · June-26th-2007, 12:39 PM

Incidentally, "The Russian" is wiping the floor with Venus. 6-2, 2-1 so far and dominating on serve. They might want to learn her name before the next match.

Uli · June-26th-2007, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonemonkts

I never could get how that clumsy doofus

I cringe everytime he sez Nadoal.

Jon Abbey · June-26th-2007, 01:46 PM

tuning in late to the Venus match, but it looks like the linespeople have totally lost control, random and awful calls. Venus got really screwed on a break point at 4-4, she should have been serving for the match.

Jon Abbey · June-26th-2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyp

Incidentally, "The Russian" is wiping the floor with Venus. 6-2, 2-1 so far and dominating on serve. They might want to learn her name before the next match.

can they just go with "The Russian who couldn't close it out in the first round"?

Paul B · June-26th-2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel

well there we go

Indeed; don't know how we lived without Rob's commentary these past few weeks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonzo

federer/serena williams

Federer/Henin.

moneyp · June-26th-2007, 07:15 PM

Djokovic/Sharapova!

Rob Damen · June-26th-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uli

Most dramatic game so far: #23 in set 5 Henmann/Moya. Henmann wins match in following game by capitalizing his second matchball by a double fault of Moya.

Too bad it ended on a double fault ...

And too bad Henman faces such derision from his country's press.

Henman's often involved in Wimbledon's best matches from year to year.

If this is his last run at Wimby, I know I'll miss him.

Cheers,

Rob

mjb · June-27th-2007, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyp

Both Pam Shriver and the sideline reporter are consistently referring to Venus Williams' first round opponent, Kudryavtseva as "The Russian." I don't think either of them have said her actual name once.

I saw a repeat of some of this match this morning with no sound but captioned. Ms. Williams was a set and 0-2 down.

The remarkable use of "this Russian", "a Russian", "this Florida based Russian", "her Russian compatriot" was perhaps even more risible.

As were the lop sided attempts at excusing her because "Venus is not being helped by the sun going in and out," and "the wind is not helping to keep her serve in."

Thank goodness she won or else the commentators might have been reduced to abject silence.

Daniel · June-27th-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

Federer/Henin.

yes

Uli · June-28th-2007, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Damen

Too bad it ended on a double fault ...

And too bad Henman faces such derision from his country's press.

Henman's often involved in Wimbledon's best matches from year to year.

If this is his last run at Wimby, I know I'll miss him.

Cheers,

Rob

Yeah you don't see his classy type of serve/net game often these days.

Hey, he is heading for another 5th set against Lopez right now. Hope you have a chance enjoy this, Rob.

Jon Abbey · July-1st-2007, 05:33 PM

pretty easy tourney for King Roger so far, Haas withdraws from their quarterfinal tomorrow, so he gets the winner of Ferrero-Tipsarevic to get into the semis.

Jon Abbey · July-1st-2007, 05:35 PM

that also puts him two matches ahead of Nadal heading into the last week.

Jon Abbey · July-2nd-2007, 03:16 PM

wow, impressive win by Serena, coming back from some serious cramps. Nadal in the 5th set now, looking better and better for King Roger to reign yet again.

Daniel · July-2nd-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

Haas withdraws from their quarterfinal tomorrow,

uh oh better put an * by this championship for roger

Jon Abbey · July-2nd-2007, 06:04 PM

well, if it was tied at 2 sets all and the tennis commissioner tossed Haas for wearing an illegal t-shirt, then that might be a better comparison.