The Tennis Thread

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Davis Cup on BBC now, Ward holding his own against Fognini, early days though

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MiniMan64 said:

Good because judging by the 1st/2nd round results at Queens we need all the help we can get!

well at least they both won a round, against a guy who had just got the last 16 of RG and a former top 10 player so both decent wins but yes your comment still stands!

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BlackLabel said:

I'm not able to watch - just checking the scores. So he lost the 3rd set 6-1 and now 3 love down in the 4th. The BBC online commentary is suggesting that he's injured? Rubbish parts of his body again I assume?

Oh and Venus Williams is currently trailing a Japanese lady who is pushing 44 years old

Edited by BlackLabel on Monday 25th August 19:49

you have never heard of the legend that is Kimiko Date Krumm, shame on you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimiko_Date-Krumm

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DeltonaS said:

BlackLabel said:

Had heard the name before but I'm not a massive follower of the ladies' game so didn't know her background. That's some story - to come back after a 12 year break is remarkable and to still be in the top 100 at her age is some achievement.

Says a lot about womens tennis as well....

I was only teasing...

when Henin and Clijsters retired I pretty much stopped watching with any regularity, their matches were brilliant however

so any thoughts on the who is going to win US Open, men of course?! difficult to tell this year, Murray not looking great, Djoker distracted, Fed is old, Stan is unpredictable...will we have a new champ?

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eps said:

JNW1 said:

eps said:

Murray beats Tsonga in 3

Next up Novak..!

Although he hasn't been wining tournaments I think Murray has been showing signs of regaining some form during the North America hard court season and I wasn't surprised to see him beat Tsonga (although in fairness Jo has had better days!). Djokovic is obviously a much more difficult test in the next round and personally I think the winner of that match will go on and win the event; more than likely to be Novak but I wouldn't dismiss Andy's chances altogether!

Agreed, Novak is the first proper test.

this is indeed encouraging, iirc this is the first time since he won Wimby that he has beaten a top tenner and Tsonga has been playing very well, Tsonga won Canadian Masters beating Djokovic, Murray, Dimitrov and Federer so for Murray to straight set him is a really good sign

I think he has a good chance here, Djoker has not had the best hardcourt season but Murray will have to be on fire for this match

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Ryanodine said:

Well, Tsonga was me outside pick for the tournament. He's let me down.
The favourites to make semis are Fed, Djoker, Berdych and Wawrinka. Does anyone see any upsets?

I can't see 'the clown' beating Fed but I can see Nishikori beating Wawrinka, Cilic has a chance although Berdych is playing well and Andy could do it, but your choices are the favourites

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BlackLabel said:

Robbo66 said:

Stans backhand....the 8th wonder...

What a brilliant match too.

That 3rd set tie break was class.

Well it's just gone 2 sets all - think Stan wins this now.

And it looks like Murray's match won't be starting until at least 3am UK time.

Edited by BlackLabel on Wednesday 3rd September 23:49

I got a prediction right, Nishikori wins!

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Ryanodine said:

chippy17 said:

I got a prediction right, Nishikori wins!

That was a good pick. I thought his marathon against Raonic would have accounted for him.

Predictably, Murray was beaten by Djoker. I didn't see this match, did a lack of fitness relative to Djoker catch up with him?

very rare that I get it right so thought I would enjoy!

I did not see the Murray match so cannot comment but as he said afterwards and the scoreline would suggest it he got tired. I find this odd as he always was one of the fittest, if not the, on tour

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psgcarey said:

BlackLabel said:

Good call.

Tbh I didn't think Nishikori had the physical strength to go 5 sets given his history with medical time outs, retirements and injuries. I hope he is turning a corner here - he does have Michael Chang is his corner so no doubt that helps.

Nishikori has a 10-2 career record in 5 set matches. I guess if he can survive 4 minutes without getting injured he can survive 4 hours.

yes he does have health issues, esp with his feet! But he is one of the most talented players on tour and to me a GS winner in the waiting, if he can stay injury free, he is great to watch and his movement is superb

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Justices said:

Double arse! I had more than a few pennies on La Monf in 4 sets and he didn't convert those two match points to win in 4!!!!!!!! Then it all fell apart..

wow I did not think he would get THAT close to the win, I had Fed in 4! You have to feel for Monfils always so close, this will take some getting over

Justices we must talk, things have developed!! Email me if you are around, I am in town this weekend...

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Justices said:

Murray added Bjorkman to his team eh.. ha!

Good choice.

yes interesting, good guy Bjorkman and hell of a player, perhaps wants a volley guru for Wimbledon!

can he win at Indian Wells? one of my fave tournaments

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RichB said:

I always thought Greg Rusedski held the record for the fastest serve and he would have been after Rosco Tanner. I don't know if Tanner's is an unofficial speed or what but certainly Wiki and everything else both now and then said 149 was a record.

"Rusedski held the record for fastest serve at 149 miles per hour until Andy Roddick broke it."

although clocked on radar it is not official but Sam Groth hit this, 263kph!!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqmy9oxEJig

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Murrays superior gamesmanship won him that match 😉

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jbudgie said:

BlackLabel said:

Wow, look how different the former Wimbledon champ Bartoli looks.

Is that the John Inverdale version ?

she is not a well woman, hope she is ok!

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BlackLabel said:

anonymous said:

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bbc said:

Bartoli added that she needs gloves when she uses her mobile phone as the virus has caused severe electro-sensitivity.

She's watched too much Better Call Saul

Whatever it is I hope she gets better.

I think that photo was from a while ago but still

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JNW1 said:

BlackLabel said:

Slam number 3 for Stan.

Absolutely and well played Wawrinka, fully deserved; with his weight of shot he's a threat to anyone when he finds his rhythm and I think that win last night means he's still won every Grand Slam final he's played in which is a decent record in itself!

Not wishing to take anything away from Stan but I wasn't quite sure whether Djokovic was 100% either physically or mentally throughout the tournament. However, his habit of calling the trainer when things are going against him in a match is getting a bit tiresome; rightly or wrongly it just gives the impression of a tactic to try to throw his opponent's concentration so nice to see it didn't work last night!

not only in slams, he has played 11 finals and won 11 finals!

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anonymous said:

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the only issue I have between say Kyrgios behaviour and say Mac is the tanking, a bit of bad behaviour at least gives the sport a bit of colour but tanking, sorry totally out of order and makes him a complete tt!

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anonymous said:

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I would say no way is he playing better than his peak, on the forehand side and serve he has lost a bit, he has sacrificed this for a more stable backhand, his backhand has improved but when we was at his peak he had the speed to run around it!

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BlackLabel said:

Well played Muller - now watch him get knocked out in straight sets in the next round, that's what usually happens to players who knock Nadal out of Wimbledon early.

Muller is not a Rosol or a Brown he is a tough match player with consistent results, his seeding tells you all you need to know, ranked 26 in the world seeded 16...

having said this he is playing Cilic next and cannot see him winning that as Cilic is red hot right now but he has a chance