The Tennis Thread

[bruhnaldo]

Someone on facebook posted how "Hey everyone in case you haven't noticed Wimbledon is on and hurr durr an American is involved and i can hear freedom with every service :drool:"

So I hope Isner has failed miserably.

[mugbull]

Isner’s a far, far better player than Kevin Anderson, though I agree this Djok/Nadal match might as well be the final

EDIT: By better i mean on the eye

[ItalAussie]

So the thing about men's tennis is that it's just as unhealthy at the moment as women's tennis. It's just disguised by the fact that the three good players that people pay to see can stomp all over the draw, even five years past when they should really be able to do so. The fact that Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic are able to largely dominate the circuit really is an indictment on where the sport is at, even if it's popular. Hopefully the young players coming through at the moment will wind up being able to do something about it eventually.

[ItalAussie]

Also, what a waste of time big servers are. Congratulations, you can't get broken. You can't do anything when you're not serving though, can you?

My solution: take away second serves in tie-breakers, or any post 6-6 game. See how they fare when they don't get a second bite at the cherry.

[niko_cee]

I'd stop 'Rafa' grunting like twat first.

Ah joy, another interminable 70 shot baseline rally.

It's a slippery slope when you start thinking of ways to improve tennis. Might as well make the whole thing tiebreakers and get it over with asap (or can the whole thing). Hasn't the tiebreaker thing been suggested, actually?

[mugbull]

Also, what a waste of time big servers are. Congratulations, you can't get broken. You can't do anything when you're not serving though, can you?

My solution: take away second serves in tie-breakers, or any post 6-6 game. See how they fare when they don't get a second bite at the cherry.

I would just get rid of the 2nd serve altogether

[ItalAussie]

I'd stop 'Rafa' grunting like twat first.

Ah joy, another interminable 70 shot baseline rally.

It's a slippery slope when you start thinking of ways to improve tennis. Might as well make the whole thing tiebreakers and get it over with asap (or can the whole thing). Hasn't the tiebreaker thing been suggested, actually?

I feel like finding a way to deal with players who rely on big serves and nothing else is the equivalent of implementing the offside rule. There's a problem there that risks strangling the game if allowed to continue unabated. You're not just "improving it for the kiddies".

[randomlegend]

There's a problem there that risks strangling the game if allowed to continue unabated.

The ace-machine mongs ever actually win anything though, do they? The players with more to their game are always the ones at the very top (Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Del Potro, etc). I know they all have good serves themselves, but they aren't John Isner.

[ItalAussie]

The ace-machine mongs ever actually win anything though, do they? The players with more to their game are always the ones at the very top (Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Del Potro, etc). I know they all have good serves themselves, but they aren't John Isner.

Nah, the really good players can beat them. They (Isner, Cilic, Anderson) are pretty good at strangling anyone at a lower level than that though. Roddick would have won a lot more if he wasn't a contemporary of Federer.

[randomlegend]

Eh, until they start being actually dominant at the top I don't think it's an issue which requires a 'fix'. I'd see it as comparable to pace merchant footballers who do really well up to a certain level where they get found out by more technically skilled and rounded players.

[Reg]

The drama and tennis of Nadal-Djokovic just now. :drool: That was fantastic.


So the thing about men's tennis is that it's just as unhealthy at the moment as women's tennis. It's just disguised by the fact that the three good players that people pay to see can stomp all over the draw, even five years past when they should really be able to do so. The fact that Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic are able to largely dominate the circuit really is an indictment on where the sport is at, even if it's popular. Hopefully the young players coming through at the moment will wind up being able to do something about it eventually.
Disagree strongly, there was nothing wrong with Nadal and Federer dominating last year because they were playing incredibly. Federer at the Aus Open and Miami last year was some of the best tennis I've ever seen. McEnroe reckoned Nadal played the French last year better than he ever had before.

Zverev and Thiem and probably others will be great players. They won't be as dominant as the big three but that's okay.

[randomlegend]

Just watched the women's final with my mum. Turns out she absolutely despises Serena Williams which was quite entertaining.

[mugbull]

Eh, until they start being actually dominant at the top I don't think it's an issue which requires a 'fix'. I'd see it as comparable to pace merchant footballers who do really well up to a certain level where they get found out by more technically skilled and rounded players.

A month ago i checked and there were 7-8 servebots in the top 20, depending on whether you’d count Del Potro (probably not, he has a lot to his game). I don’t think it matters if they’re winning slams or not, it’s pretty absurd.

[Yevrah]

Outside of the ludicrously long final set matches (and there's a quick fix for that anyway) I don't see a problem with big servers, it's a part of the game they just happen to be very good at, but it's just as legitimate as any other.

[mugbull]

I just think it makes the game less interesting, it doesn't matter if you have good technique, speed, stamina, mental game, if you have a Karlovic/Isner/Anderson serve you're guaranteed to win about 45% of games, and very often the full 50%.

[Shindig]

But Karlovic can't move so it balances out.

[Yevrah]

I just think it makes the game less interesting, it doesn't matter if you have good technique, speed, stamina, mental game, if you have a Karlovic/Isner/Anderson serve you're guaranteed to win about 45% of games, and very often the full 50%.

But that's subjective, and while many might agree, there are other areas that border on tedium. As Niko mentioned, some of the 50 shot rallies between baseliners aren't much fun either.

[mugbull]

Of course it’s subjective, everything is subjective. The baseline rallies require a lot more skill and athleticism than servebotting, at least

[ItalAussie]

Outside of the ludicrously long final set matches (and there's a quick fix for that anyway) I don't see a problem with big servers, it's a part of the game they just happen to be very good at, but it's just as legitimate as any other.

Sit down and watch every game of a five-set match between two of them. Once you've cleaned up the blood from your eyes bleeding, see if you still hold that opinion.

If a tactic is damaging enough, you have to find a way to fix it. That's why we have the offside rule. I'm not saying that big servers who are just barely competent at any other aspect of the game are currently a blight on the sport. But they do make their matches unwatchable.

[Yevrah]

Sit down and watch every game of a five-set match between two of them. Once you've cleaned up the blood from your eyes bleeding, see if you still hold that opinion.

If a tactic is damaging enough, you have to find a way to fix it. That's why we have the offside rule. I'm not saying that big servers who are just barely competent at any other aspect of the game are currently a blight on the sport. But they do make their matches unwatchable.

I've seen loads of their matches and I still hold that opinion. Sometimes they're great, but sometimes they're a bit of a slugfest.

And comparing the impact of big serves to the impact of not having the offside rule is laughable. If the latter didn't exist football would be totally broken - are you saying tennis is?

[ItalAussie]

I actually have a sneaking suspicion that it is, and it's only the outrageous brilliance of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic that has stopped us noticing before now. But we'll see when they're gone.

But yes, I do think that being good at one single skill within tennis really shouldn't be enough to win a match. If it is, then the game is - to some degree - broken. If you have a fantastic drop shot, you can't ride that to a Grand Slam final.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

6-2, 6-2 in the first two sets.

They should have just given Djokovic the title after the semi finals.

[Yevrah]

I actually have a sneaking suspicion that it is, and it's only the outrageous brilliance of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic that has stopped us noticing before now. But we'll see when they're gone.

I can't recall exactly when it was or exactly how they did it, but in the mid-90's ish this debate was raging and they did something to the pressure of the balls and or stringing of the rackets to reduce the effectiveness of the big serve. So they'll probably do so again if it ever gets too bad.

[Reg]

6-2, 6-2 in the first two sets.

They should have just given Djokovic the title after the semi finals.
At least Anderson made a fight of it in the third set. I love to see Djokovic back. Already looking forward to the US Open - hopefully he, Nadal and Federer will all be at their best.

[Spoonsky]

Anyone watching US Open?

Awesome match right now between Nadal and Khachanov.

[ItalAussie]

Nadal match was fantastic. He's nailed on to win the thing now.

[Ian]

The shot around the post from Federer. :cool:

[Gray Fox]

I didn't watch but apparently Serena Williams has just had an almighty meltdown in losing the final. Was 2-6, 3-1 down and got some kind of signal from her coach. Umpire has given it as a code violation, so she's gone mental and a few points later smashed her racket. Umpire gives away a point this time.

She's then gone even more off the rails and called him a thief and launched abuse at him after every point. Umpire then gives her opponent a full game. She's cried and called for the referee and cited sexism. Lost that 3-1 lead in the 2nd and ended up losing the match.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sexism? Was the other player a man?

[Gray Fox]

She claimed that men are allowed to get away with what she got called for, all the time.

[Lewis]

As the person here who knows least about tennis, I feel that I am best placed to write a gender/race article about this.

[Lewis]

Hang on. The other one is Asian. This just got difficult.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Write it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Williams was given a first code violation after Ramos judged a gesture from coach Patrick Mouratoglou to be coaching - which is allowed on the WTA Tour but not during Grand Slams.

Williams insisted she had not received any tactics from Mouratoglou, telling the umpire she would "never cheat to win and would rather lose".

The Frenchman later admitted to ESPN that he had been coaching from the box.

"I was coaching but I don't think she looked at me," Mouratoglou said.

"You are a liar. You will never be on a court of mine as long as you live. When are you going to give me my apology? Say you are sorry," she told him.

:harold:

[Pepe]

Hang on. The other one is Asian. This just got difficult.

Asians don't count as minorities.

[Giggles]

She's a fucking mentalist :D


https://youtu.be/yHYHDP1a0BI

[Byron]

She's always had this bubbling under the surface as well. I recall she had a fine for similar in a match against Clijsters.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've already seen a thinkpiece saying the umpire can't deal with being spoken to sharply by a woman.

If you dissent the official in sport you literally never have the moral high ground.

[Shindig]

Her dad coached her like that through most of her early slams. Also, way to ruin your opponent's first major title.

[Lewis]

Asians don't count as minorities.

I've sourced (made up) an anecdote about Tim Henman ordering an omelette from a Chinese, so they do in tennis.

[SvN]

Jesus Christ. How can anyone watch that and defend her? I've seen a fair few tennis players have already backed her and screamed sexism.

[Shindig]

Also, I felt most of the boos came up as soon as she played the gender card.

[Giggles]

She's a pro at turning on the waterworks anyway.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jesus Christ. How can anyone watch that and defend her? I've seen a fair few tennis players have already backed her and screamed sexism.

In America, for some reason, they need dominant sporting heroes who do no wrong. It's very difficult for them to deal with it when those stars turn out to be humans with faults (ref: Woods, T)

Also the current political climate means that a prominent black person can do more or less anything and get on the right side of the opinion columns.

[Giggles]

In America, for some reason, they need dominant sporting heroes who do no wrong. It's very difficult for them to deal with it when those stars turn out to be humans with faults (ref: Woods, T)

Also the current political climate means that a prominent black person can do more or less anything and get on the right side of the opinion columns.

She's not playing the black card at all, she's whipped out the woman card for this one.

[Shindig]

Now she has the daughter card.

[Jimmy Floyd]

She's not playing the black card at all, she's whipped out the woman card for this one.

Doesn't matter what card she's actually playing, it just matters who she is.

I only just found out she's a Jehovah's Witness, blimey.

[Spikey M]

All celebrities are part of a mental cult these days.

[ItalAussie]

That was appalling, and Serena has form. Her meltdowns in matches against Clijsters (2009) and Stosur (2011) were equally spectacular.

This isn't to say that there wasn't any reason for her to be aggrieved - it's almost never called, and most coaches are doing it constantly. It is an issue that probably should be addressed more broadly, to be honest. But there's absolutely no excuse for threats, or any of the other petulance. It's something that should be addressed after the match, not during. But let's be honest, the real anger was that she knew the ship was sinking and she couldn't save it. Osaka was all over her from point one.

[ItalAussie]

Hang on. The other one is Asian. This just got difficult.

Half Japanese, half Haitian. That's a thinkpiece in itself.

[ItalAussie]

Also, the crowd were awful, although that's par for the course for the US Open. The boos during the trophy ceremony while Osaka was holding back tears were terrible to watch. Which is especially crap given Osaka just became the first ever Japanese Grand Slam winner - it should be a really special moment.

They hate Djokovic there too, which will be interesting tonight.

[Pepe]

I've sourced (made up) an anecdote about Tim Henman ordering an omelette from a Chinese, so they do in tennis.

Apparently, she is a black-japanese American citizen. Add some gender fluidity to the mix and you've just created the super-poc.

[Pepe]

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/09/a-heart-breaking-grand-slam/569704/


To see Williams’s comeback after a traumatic birth stymied over seemingly minor infractions seems unnecessary and malicious. To see the devastation that those penalties wrought on two women of color at the top of their sport, during what should have been a joyous time, is heartbreaking.


Superstar athletes are rarely as generous, or as classy, or as outright talented as Serena Williams was on Saturday.

:lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

New York sports fans are fucking scumbags. This doesn't ever change.

That year they hold the Ryder Cup at Bethpage will end golf. Nearly had a diplomatic incident last time it was there. Yankees fans are all lippy cunts. I don't know about concussionball or lamppostball but I imagine it's the same.

[Jimmy Floyd]

On another note, why is 'coaching' banned? What's the issue with it? Every other sport allows it, as far as I know.

[John]

Serena Williams is an out and out arsehole. She will always immediately cite either racism or sexism the moment something doesn't go her way.

[Shindig]

On another note, why is 'coaching' banned? What's the issue with it? Every other sport allows it, as far as I know.

Seems like such an iffy thing to police, too. If they want it gone, abolish the idea of player boxes.

[Dan]

Okay, can someone explain to me why every professional & most of the tennis associations are crucifying the umpire for (as far as I can see) correctly enforcing a rule, while Serena is being praised as some sort of hybrid of Princess Diana & Ghandi for having a massive childlike strop & verbally abusing an official?

I don’t think I’ve seen a single person outside of here saying anything other than umpire bad, Serena good.

[Shindig]

I believe they moan she got a code violation instead of an initial warning for the coaching. Thing is, the umpire's done the same on the men's side of the game. It gives me the impression he's just strict. He's also in his final year so might've just fancied it.

The reaction to this is like when people moan about the referee ruining a game because of a correct red card.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's mental that the WTA have sided with Serena.

[Pepe]

Fight the power by siding with the multimillionaire superstar of the sport over some lowly umpire.

[Pepe]

I hope that everyone siding with her will also side with Neymar the next time he chimps out over a call not going his way.

[Queenslander]

Righto then sheila's umpire sheila's problem solved.

[Shindig]

They've got women umpires.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Hughes

[Reg]

But let's be honest, the real anger was that she knew the ship was sinking and she couldn't save it. Osaka was all over her from point one.
That was the key to it, I agree. Something that'll probably get lost to history as everyone rages about it.


On another note, why is 'coaching' banned? What's the issue with it? Every other sport allows it, as far as I know.
Lots of people in tennis like the idea of it being an individual's sport, the player having to work it out for themselves, etc. The WTA tour (non-Grand Slam women's events) allow coaching, though.


They hate Djokovic there too, which will be interesting tonight.
What did you make of it? I didn't think they against Djokovic really, more just wanting a long match in the standard tennis stadium way. Perhaps having Federer to cheer for brings out the worst in them.

[ItalAussie]

What did you make of it? I didn't think they against Djokovic really, more just wanting a long match in the standard tennis stadium way. Perhaps having Federer to cheer for brings out the worst in them.
The rancour stems from a match against Roddick a few years ago.

Seems to have faded. They love Del Potro there of course, but the vicious hate is gone. It was just a pity it was so straightforward.

[Ian]

Mahow tribute act Andy Murray retiring soon, then.

[Shindig]

Aye, he just keeps going under the knife. Shame but at least he got to experience some serious highs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The day I have always dreamed of, when Britain has no serious grand slam challenger again, is finally upon us. That said I see we have someone ranked 14th, away with you ffs.

[Reg]

Why do you crave that, Jim?

Hopefully Murray can have one last crack at Wimbledon. Sad seeing him cry, especially when he's said he wanted his kid to remember him being a tennis player.

Never been a big fan of the guy but what a trophy collection he's managed considering the era.

[Yevrah]

I remember the days when getting to the 3rd round was seen as a triumph for Britain, and the second week some kind of miracle.

[Spikey M]

We should ban Mahow to coincide with the retirement.

[Giggles]

I've managed to hear him fucking blubbing 3 times today already without even wanting to.

[-james-]

Murray taking it to a decider from two sets down. :cool:

[ItalAussie]

The day I have always dreamed of, when Britain has no serious grand slam challenger again, is finally upon us. That said I see we have someone ranked 14th, away with you ffs.

He lasted about twelve minutes in this tournament, so you're in luck.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why do you crave that, Jim?

Culture war. To be fair, COME ON ANDY receded with his injuries and the true enemy is now Roger Federer, whose destruction is now my life's goal, ideally in a grooming scandal.

In short, the blushing Wimbledon housewives must end. Sue Barker must be drowned along with any pets she has. Tennis for tennis's sake must return.

[Kikó]

The young Greek lad looked pretty special against Fed today. Could finally be seeing the old drug mob on the way out.

[Yevrah]

Tell me more about the drug mob....

[Disco]

They're being supplanted by younger players with better drugs.

[Spikey M]

Thank fuck my kids (will) rollerskate.

[Kikó]

Tell me more about the drug mob....

Sorry I meant vegan diet.

[niko_cee]

"Gluten free"

[mugbull]

In just about every sport and matchup I support the underdog against the “established winner” (probably why I support Spurs), but Federer is the singular exception. I want him to win every single match up, no matter how much I actually like his opponent. And I like Tsitsipas a lot, but watching Fed lose the other day was a tragedy. Seems like he’s gonna close out this year by just “having fun” and then retire after the Laver Cup. What an era it’s been.

[Jimmy Floyd]

As a top professional athlete on a 'plant based diet', how many beans and pulses must you have to shove down your neck to take in the required proteins? They must fart their way through quite a few wives.

[mugbull]

Are you talking about Djokovic? He's a string bean.

[ItalAussie]

Nadal and Djokovic just seem so far ahead of the pack right now. There's got to be at least five more years of this. Those semifinals were utter demolition jobs.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1129044981988188160

:lol:

[mugbull]

He walked off too, lol

[niko_cee]

He's definitely the best thing in tennis now.

[Reg]

He made a podcast appearance and did not hold back. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/48293200

The Rome quarters are looking tasty.

[ItalAussie]

Ash Barty is in the final of the French Open, which is pretty cool.

She's a dual-sport rep as well. She took a break from tennis and played the first season of the WBBL (cricket) representing the Brisbane Heat.

[Shindig]

That doesn't sound like an appropriate cricket abbreviation. Konta did alright. Hopefully she can keep that up.

[ItalAussie]

Barty's semifinal was a bit ludicrous, as well.

Up 5-0 in the first set, and lost it. Down 3-0 in the second and won it 6-3. Went down a break in the third, pulled it back, and then took six match points over two games to put Anisimova away.

You have to think that Anisimova (age 17) is going to be a pretty serious talent. Barty's opponent in the final, Vondrousova (age 18) has also come out of nowhere. I saw her when I was looking at the odds after the second round, and she was about eighth-favourite. I'm assuming someone knew something, because I've never heard of her before this tournament.

[Shindig]

Yeah, I'll wait a few months to make sure these teenagers don't turn out to be another Cesil Karantancheva.

[mugbull]

I really want Djokovic to beat Thiem tomorrow and then finish off Nadal on Sunday

[Ian]

Is Serena losing to an actual child the biggest tennis upset ever? It's probably even be up there in sporting upsets as a whole, right?

[Disco]

Wrong one.

[Baz]

Caroline Garcia lost. :wtf:

[Ian]

Wrong one.

Ohhh. I didn't even know Venus was still going so I saw Williams in the headline and assumed.

[Disco]

Racist.

[Gray Fox]

You'd get a good 30 minute rant out of Serena for that post alone.

She is a Mother!

[Smjffy]

A 15 year old beats her idol on her debut at Wimbledon. 5 time champ Williams.

That's poetic.

[Ian]

Racist.

Worse. Williamsist.

All renderings of the word 'Williams' look the same to me.

[Reg]

Murray and Serena teaming up for the mixed doubles.

I was at Eastbourne a couple days last week and saw Murray, playing with Melo in the men's doubles, and he had a bit of a shocker. But he and Serena should win. That pairing in mixed doubles is like Brazil's senior side turning up at the U17 World Cup.

[Yevrah]

Is Murray playing doubles because he loves tennis, to get match fitness to get back into singles or both?

[Gray Fox]

Because he's not ready for singles yet and can still claim a title at a major now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/48868080

Tomic fined his full £45k 'winnings' for lack of effort.

From the highlights in that article he didn't run once.

He really doesn't give a single shit about the sport.

[niko_cee]

Wouldn't he have got half of it for not turning up? Seems a bit vindictive.

I dearly hope Kyrgios can beat Nadal here, with a maximum amount of antics. He actually makes tennis almost interesting.

[randomlegend]

I want to like Kyrgios, but he's actually just a cunt.

[Shindig]

It's one thing to find yourself good at a sport you've no passion for, it's another to continue turning up and collecting the cheques. I've got no patience for him.

[mugbull]

He’s a dumbass and a dick to umpures, but there’s a difference between his cuntishness and that of Courier or Hewitt or Rosol

[Queenslander]

I want to like Kyrgios, but he's actually just a cunt.

How is he a cunt?

[Shindig]

Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that, mate.

Wawrinka is banging 18 year olds.

Didn't even apologise.

[Queenslander]

Is that it?

Didnt that happen a few years ago?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's fairly clear that he's a massive cunt.

The new breed of male Aussie players are dicks.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gauff might be the real deal.

Real test for her against Halep next round.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/48896366

Italian Fabio Fognini apologised after being heard to say: "I wish a bomb would explode on this club" during his Wimbledon defeat by Tennys Sandgren.

:D

[niko_cee]

I hope they're going to dock this Italian joker's winnings after this shitshow.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Murray and Serena teaming up for the mixed doubles.

I was at Eastbourne a couple days last week and saw Murray, playing with Melo in the men's doubles, and he had a bit of a shocker. But he and Serena should win. That pairing in mixed doubles is like Brazil's senior side turning up at the U17 World Cup.

Third round exit...

The Brazilian national team should hold off on the U17 World Cup entry.

[Giggles]

I know fuck all about tennis but isn't doubles meant to be some sort of specialist thing as opposed to just putting two good singles players together?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yes which is why Jamie Murray is a doubles specialist but horseshit when it comes to the singles game.

Reg should have known better.

[mugbull]

Doubles players are often better technically, but worse (or nonexistent) athletes

[Reg]

It's true that it's a different sport and most doubles players are specialists (most of the time because they weren't good enough for pro singles), but Murray's won the Davis Cup and Serena's won many slams in doubles. It's not like they're doubles amateurs. Going out to the no.1 seeds is the best way I suppose.

[ItalAussie]

I want to like Kyrgios, but he's actually just a cunt.

Pretty much. That whole crew is a little bit awful. I think Kyrgios may legitimately have something slightly wrong with him.

You have to younger: de Minaur seems like a good kid, without a gigantic chip on his shoulder.

[Reg]

I've seen practically none of de Minaur, what's his potential d'you reckon ItalAussie?

Re: Kyrgios, it occurred to me that it's odd how in tennis spitting can seem abhorrent, when I would never think anything of it if a footballer spat on the pitch (Kyrgios spat on court three times v Nadal). Maybe it's partly because it was him, and how he behaved that match (particularly the blatant cheating when he was jumping left and right like a melon between first and second serves of Nadal, and his attitude towards the umpire).

[phonics]

Kyrgios clearly has some sort of personality disorder, not a serious one where he'll kill himself but every time he's at peace with himself he sabotages it.

[ItalAussie]

I've seen practically none of de Minaur, what's his potential d'you reckon ItalAussie?

I don't see him staking out a decade-long spot in the top ten, but he could settle in the seeded range and have the odd good tournament run.

Tennis is a bit weird at the moment though, so who knows. Raonic and Thiem are the only players under thirty to have played in a Grand Slam final. This tournament threw the age stats into a mix when Zverev, Tsitsipas, and Thiem all went out in the first round. So much for the future.

[mugbull]

Federer - Nadal is juicy

[Ian]

Federer. :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Nadal's feet :sick:

[mugbull]

Its blisters fam. You get them all the time if you’re playing sports

[Shindig]

They run literal miles.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This crowd is shit.

[Yevrah]

How in the fuck does Djokovic have more career prize money than Federer?

[mugbull]

Prize money has only been going up, and Djokovic has been more successful than Fed over the past 10 years

[phonics]

How in the fuck does Djokovic have more career prize money than Federer?

Federer was winning before there were a million Gulf-Sponsored tours.

[Yevrah]

Genuinely didn't realise it had gone up that much.

[Shindig]

I feel like Federer was slower to peak than Djokovic but I'm probably wrong on that.

[SincereTheRebel]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/48868080

Tomic fined his full £45k 'winnings' for lack of effort.

From the highlights in that article he didn't run once.

He really doesn't give a single shit about the sport.

Thats brilliant.

[niko_cee]

I feel like Federer was slower to peak than Djokovic but I'm probably wrong on that.

Didn't he beat Sampras at Wimbledon as a 16 year old or something?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Didn't he beat Sampras at Wimbledon as a 16 year old or something?

19.

He was then beaten by THE GOAT Henman.

[phonics]

I feel like Federer was slower to peak than Djokovic but I'm probably wrong on that.

Nah he just always looked like a 35 year old man.

[Shindig]

Federer won his first major at 23. Djokovic at 20. Although Djokovic had to wait 3 years to really string them together. Federer took his first and kept going.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Djokovic took 3 years to win his second Grand Slam though whilst Federer then won 3 out of 4 the very next year.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Federer won his first major at 23. Djokovic at 20. Although Djokovic had to wait 3 years to really string them together. Federer took his first and kept going.

Fed was 22 (although a month before his 23rd) when he took Wimbledon.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Djokovic:

https://i.imgur.com/e7be7D3.png

Federer:

https://i.imgur.com/xQhArG2.png

[Shindig]

Yeah, we covered it. :D I don't think Federer's been so heavy on his schedule as the others. I wonder how much the calender's changed since Federer started winning.

[Shindig]

Saw the highlights of the women's final. That was quite good from Halep. Serena was trying to make the court big but everything was ran down.

[Spikey M]

Serena just looks so fucking big. I get that it gives her THE POWER but has she always been that big? It's no wonder she was struggling to get about.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

She bulked up when she learned that Boydy likes them thiccccc.

[Gray Fox]

Is it even a Serena final without her having a breakdown and making it all about her?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Some of Fed's forehands in that tiebreaker were shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Flying out of the gates for the second set though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fed has been the better player over all 3 sets yet 2-1 down :moop:

He can't let the next set go to a tiebreak.

[mugbull]

Federer’s serves are what’s keeping him in this

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Novak seething at the crowd support for Federer :drool:

'Mon Roger.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

His head's completely gone.

Glorious.

[mugbull]

His head's completely gone.

Glorious.

Have you never seen Djokovic play?

[Offshore Toon]

Does Federer get better support than Murray at Wimbledon?

[niko_cee]

Yeah, because people who go to Wimbledon are complete twats.

[Spikey M]

Especially Andy Murray.

[Offshore Toon]

Federer is incredibly likeable, though. Tennis doesn't feel like a sport where countries are really represented. Like F1, it's more about the individual.

[Offshore Toon]

It feels like Djok has got this.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If it goes to a tiebreak (which it will) unless Fed pulls it out here, then Djokovic has it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bullshit.

Not a fan of a final set tiebreak in the final.

[phonics]

Bit of a shame it ended with Federer doing the quivalent of hitting a penalty 800 yards over the bar.

[Waffdon]

Good to see Djok put the drug cheat in his place.

[SvN]

Bullshit.

Not a fan of a final set tiebreak in the final.

Same, I reckon it will be reverted within a few years.

[Byron]

Did they bring that in because of Isner-Mahut? Not a fan really

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Did they bring that in because of Isner-Mahut? Not a fan really

No.

Anderson/Isner last year was the final straw.

Anderson going to the final on the back of a 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 26-24 semi-final just completely killed the final because he could barely move.

They should leave the 12-12 tiebreak in for earlier rounds but just let them keep going in the final.

[Yevrah]

I'm all for the tie-breaks and 12-12 seems a decent point to decide that anything after that is retarded and we should really stop now.

Federer had his chances and he didn't take them, which was a real shame.

[Reg]

Djok :cool: Mental strength of a lion/bear/giraffe.

Four off Federer's slam total now. I think he'll match it (but Federer could still win more...)

[Byron]

Djokovic booted out of the US Open for striking a ball in anger and (accidentally) hitting a line judge in the throat.

Must be all the gluten in his diet.

[phonics]

Those two posts back to back is hilarious.

[Shindig]

All that hard work getting Covid, down the drain.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Novak :harold:

[Shindig]

By the sounds of it he had a massive sulky game, fell over and then chimped again.

[Lewis]

The linesman dived. Pathetic.

[Queenslander]

Ooofff

https://i.ibb.co/1fTpn34/FB-IMG-1599434424588.jpg (https://ibb.co/RpcMS1J)

[Shindig]

The dumbest side of the court to do that but the shot was so tame. :D

[Ian]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/54364557

There's one thing that us Brits are is too fair in my opinion.

He definitely voted Leave, didn't he.

[Shindig]

More likely he's on the coke again.

[Reg]

Could be an epic French Open final today. Nadal v Djokovic, edit - 2pm UK time!

[Kikó]

Competitive first set.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Did Novak forget his special breakfast bar this morning?

[Reg]

ATP Finals have started today and finish next Sunday. The first singles match in a few minutes should be good - Thiem v Tsitsipas.

BBC have the afternoon singles each day (~2pm) as well as the final. Amazon have everything.

[Ian]

1387758939534675972

I like this.

[SvN]

That's superb

[Kikó]

That's true professionalism to your craft right there. Great bit of insight.

[Shindig]

Stuff like that is awesome. The psychology at play not to go for it on every serve, too.

[Ian]

Stuff like that is awesome. The psychology at play not to go for it on every serve, too.

Oh yeah, and it sounds like it totally worked if Becker was really going home saying Agassi was reading his mind. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/57514145

Sure thing, m8.

[Baz]

They’re all fucking at it.

[Manc]

There aren't many sights in sport better than seeing Andy Murray playing at full tilt.

[Shindig]

He's a treasure.

[Yevrah]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/57514145

Sure thing, m8.

Is the drug testing harder in the Olympics?

[Kikó]

Murray was superb fighting back yesterday. I wish his hip hadn't fucked him as he's a joy at times.

Really turned it around after the 3rd set, managed to unlock any stiffness and get into a rhythm which looked like his old best. Hope it can continue a bit longer.

[Shindig]

It kind of winds me up that, of the top players in this era, he's the one that got seriously crocked. I know Nadal and Federer's had injury problems but not to the tune of taking years out of the game. Speaking of which, Serena Williams is done.

[Kikó]

And Venus.

[ItalAussie]

It kind of winds me up that, of the top players in this era, he's the one that got seriously crocked. I know Nadal and Federer's had injury problems but not to the tune of taking years out of the game. Speaking of which, Serena Williams is done.

Del Potro would have a few more as well, you'd think.

[Reg]

One of the worst finals I've ever seen, but pleased for Barty.

[ItalAussie]

Enjoyable final. Barty is a genuinely good person, which is nice. It's good to see her competing at the sharp end of slams.

Pliskova seems quite pleasant as well - I do hope she does eventually break through and win a slam, but was firmly supporting Barty here.

[Queenslander]

Barty is one of our best Queenslanders.

[Kikó]

She looks a bit like Nicola Sturgeon.

[Reg]

Expecting straight sets but think today's final could still be a good watch. Maybe if Berrettini can take the first set, likely on a tiebreak if anything, then he'll have a shot.

[niko_cee]

Probably want Djokovic to cruise it (ugh) to limit any idea of this being a good day for Italy.

Like one of those hallowed Sundays where England sometimes lose both types of rugby, cricket, maybe an F1 GP and some football on the same day.

[Manc]

I see Becker's gone for the Foden trim.

[Manc]

Has a Wimbledon crowd ever got behind Djokovic?

[Boydy]

Who's the commentator who just said "Mama Berrettini... here from Rome... the capital". :D

Was it Becker?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Berrettini :cool:

[Kikó]

We have a final!

[Shindig]

Last time I checked he was 5=2 down. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This feels like it could be one of those sets where Djokovic destroys him 6-0 or 6-1.

[Kikó]

He's broken him again when he's serving for the set.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's not lying down.

[Manc]

Has a Wimbledon crowd ever got behind Djokovic?

This may as well be in Rome.

[Yevrah]

Jinx no doubt incoming, but watching Raducanu now on Amazon, she's serving for the first set in the US Open quarter-finals.

[Yevrah]

She did it. Looks like an absolutely cracking player.

[Dquincy]

Watched the 2nd set; a deserved win. Amazing that she is playing that well at 18 years old.

Don't think she's dropped a set yet. Madness.

[Lofty]

In the final :eyemouth:

[Dquincy]

Just watched the replay. Absolutely amazing 👏🏼

Don't know much about this 19 Yr old that's she's playing in the final, but she must be decent.

[Waffdon]

In the final :eyemouth:

She’s won every single set so far without dropping more than 4 games :D

She’s also fucking stunning :wub:

[Dquincy]

She’s won every single set so far without dropping more than 4 games :D

She’s also fucking stunning :wub:
How old are you? Is 18 too much of an age gap??

[Waffdon]

Only 5 years.

[Dquincy]

Call off operation yewtree. Stand down.

[SvN]

I don't really follow tennis much thesedays, but the draw looks to have been very kind to her. Loads of no-marks, then seeds 11 and 17. Her opponent in the final, on the other hand, has beaten the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 16th seeds.

[Shindig]

There’s definitely a power vacuum that’s giving any woman a shot. Serena’s knackered, Osaka’s sad and that leaves it wide open.

[niko_cee]

What is it about women's tennis that makes it so open? I know this is kind of exceptional [is she the first qualifier to ever make a slam final?] but the field always seems much wider. Relative nobodies are always popping up and winning things. Is it 3 sets versus 5? Is it a physical thing or a matter of women having babies at various points in their careers? Has the dominance of three players in the mens' game for god knows how many years just been a weird blip?

[Yevrah]

Yeah, she's the first qualifier in either the Men or Women's game to make a slam final.

I don't know much/anything about Women's tennis, but from what I've seen so far she looks genuinely very good and far too good to be a flash in the pan (if that's even been suggested). She seems absolutely top notch at playing the big points.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

She is the fist to make a slam final.

"Eight qualifiers—five men, three women—had reached Grand Slam semifinals before in the Open Era, but none of them ever went any further:

~ John McEnroe at 1977 Wimbledon (lost in semifinals)
~ Bob Giltinan at 1977 Australian Open [December] (lost in semifinals)
~ Christine Dorey at 1978 Australian Open (lost in semifinals)
~ Filip Dewulf at 1997 French Open (lost in semifinals)
~ Alexandra Stevenson at 1999 Wimbledon (lost in semifinals)
~ Vladimir Voltchkov at 2000 Wimbledon (lost in semifinals)
~ Nadia Podoroska at 2020 French Open (lost in semifinals)
~ Aslan Karatsev at 2021 Australian Open (lost in semifinals)"

[Shindig]

Naturally, I hopped on to sporcle to see some of the numbers. I definitely see the big four in the mens being a blip. In the 2010's only four grand slams escaped them. :| The Women's game always seemed to have one or two dominant forces. Whether it's the Williams sisters, Graf, Navratilova.

I do wonder if there's a mental thing going on. Say what you want about Serena dragging her career out but she still has the drive to compete. Navratilova kept going until she was beating people in wheelchairs (probably). As probably the most individual of individual sports, it takes really special people to chase numbers. Competition probably breeds it, too. Got nothing left to prove, well this fella's over here threatening your numbers, etc. Then you've got the women that retire young (I err ... think) like Hingis and Clijsters.

[niko_cee]

Has a slam final ever been contested by two unseeded players before?

[Yevrah]

I don't know for definite, but I'm gonna guess yes. Shinners?

[Shindig]

A quick skim says we've never had a final contested by unseeded players.

[Yevrah]

Funny not more has been made of that then.

[Manc]

What time is the final?

[Yevrah]

Around 9pm UK time tomorrow.

[Waffdon]

11pm tomorrow according to the bookies

[Yevrah]

C4 have this now, with their show starting at 8.

[Dquincy]

Tennis on C4? :sick:

Amazon Prime for me. Tim Henman is on Prime and is a don.

[Yevrah]

Turns out they're just broadcasting the Amazon feed.

[Dquincy]

I don't really follow tennis much thesedays, but the draw looks to have been very kind to her. Loads of no-marks, then seeds 11 and 17. Her opponent in the final, on the other hand, has beaten the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 16th seeds.
Agree with this. Fernandez has played the better opponents for sure.

Of course I want Raducano to win, but this other lass looks a level above.

[Yevrah]

Well you can only beat what's in front of you and Radacanu has smashed everyone she's played.

[Waffdon]

She’s clear favourite as well

[Dquincy]

The presenter just said Virginia Wade last won the US Open in 1997. :D She'd have been 57 yrs old.

[Dquincy]

The umpire is pretty hot.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Crowd wanting Fernandez to win :harold:

[Kikó]

Well you can only beat what's in front of you and Radacanu has smashed everyone she's played.

If only you thought about England like this 🥲

[Yevrah]

If only you thought about England like this ��

:D If only we smashed teams.

Cracking start.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Radders would shit on prime Serena.