The Tennis Thread

[Willy Nilly]

Mens tennis looks brutal.

I can't help but think that there is just too much professional sport.

[JagLover]

Sampras retired at 32
Becker retired at 31

Federer is unusual in keeping going as long as he has.

[Cheburator mk2]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Dimitrov... still on a roll... also I have noticed that now he keeps winning matches, which he would have lost 12mths ago...

[bexVN]

A lot of injuries in the top set, surely they need a serious look at how much they are expected to play to keep their ranking /points up throughout the year, especially given just how physical the sport is now.

Keeping fingers crossed for Murray.

[Leithen]

Murray has had surgery on one hip - here's hoping it works.

[mattyn1]

I did not even know he was any good at music!

[The jiffle king]

Well done Kyle!!! Great match and mentally very focused. He's played a lot of sets but looks strong... Hope he continues to play well

[JNW1]

The jiffle king said:

Well done Kyle!!! Great match and mentally very focused. He's played a lot of sets but looks strong... Hope he continues to play well

Yep, great effort from Edmund, will do his confidence and ranking the world of good (not to mention his bank balance!).

Given the players left in the tournament you'd say Federer has to be the favourite but both Cilic and Berdych have beaten him in Grand Slams before so major title number 20 is by no means a given....

[Blackpuddin]

If there was some way of quantifying achievements across all sports to find the best ever sportsman, Federer would surely be right up there, if not at the very top. Incredible athlete, technically flawless and unbelievably enduring over such a long period at the very highest level. I can't think of anybody better.

[chippy17]

well Cilic just too strong for Kyle, not sure how injured he was but movement seemed restricted

must admit I thought Berdman would give Fed a harder time as he had been playing so well

I can't see Chung beating Fed, so assuming Fed in final I think it is all up to which Cilic turns up, US Open 2014 Cilic or Wimby 2017 Cilic!

[Leithen]

It would be brave to bet against Federer.

[NRS]

Or stupid!

Blackpuddin said:

If there was some way of quantifying achievements across all sports to find the best ever sportsman, Federer would surely be right up there, if not at the very top. Incredible athlete, technically flawless and unbelievably enduring over such a long period at the very highest level. I can't think of anybody better.

He'd be up there, but of course there is the question about Nadal. You could compare him to others (for example Bolt) who basically won anything important from 2008 until 2017 except for 1 DQ (false start) and a 2nd. Difficult to say who is better in that regard when it's very different comparisons.

[languagetimothy]

NRS said:

Or stupid!

Blackpuddin said:

If there was some way of quantifying achievements across all sports to find the best ever sportsman, Federer would surely be right up there, if not at the very top. Incredible athlete, technically flawless and unbelievably enduring over such a long period at the very highest level. I can't think of anybody better.

He'd be up there, but of course there is the question about Nadal. You could compare him to others (for example Bolt) who basically won anything important from 2008 until 2017 except for 1 DQ (false start) and a 2nd. Difficult to say who is better in that regard when it's very different comparisons.

Except that Federer has to spend several hours on court in heat running forwards backwards and sideways chasing and hitting a ball in a specific direction and with the right depth, and spin do it again a couple of days later... for two weeks, many times through the long ATP Season.
Bolt... eight seconds in a straight line. Medal medal...

Not knocking Bolt... but you might have guessed I'm a tennis player.

[NRS]

languagetimothy said:

Except that Federer has to spend several hours on court in heat running forwards backwards and sideways chasing and hitting a ball in a specific direction and with the right depth, and spin do it again a couple of days later... for two weeks, many times through the long ATP Season.
Bolt... eight seconds in a straight line. Medal medal...

Not knocking Bolt... but you might have guessed I'm a tennis player.

I can understand that - it's not a comment on the skill etc. It was more referring to achievements and being the greatest sportsman. Federer obviously is awesome, but he had an issue beating Rafa, whereas you could say someone Bolt never had anyone like that. Was it because the competition was a bit poorer and there was no equivalent of Nadal - or just he was that good? Who knows. Of course tennis is very different - but at least if you have an off period for a set you can make up for it. In running if you make a mistake for many people there would be no possible recovery as it's such narrow margins.

That's just one example - it's basically impossible to do IMO, as even within a sport people will often have different views, let along across sports!

[BlackLabel]

Another superb performance by the GOAT. A bit dissapointing that Chung quit a slam semi final over a blister. One minute he’s walking and moving fine, the next he just gives up.

[JagLover]

BlackLabel said:

Another superb performance by the GOAT. A bit dissapointing that Chung quit a slam semi final over a blister. One minute he’s walking and moving fine, the next he just gives up.

When you think of some of the other top players battling on with major injuries, that would be made worse by playing, quitting a grand slam semi final due to blisters is rather strange.

Almost a sort of cowardice because he wanted an excuse for how badly he was getting beaten.

[psgcarey]

NRS said:

Or stupid!

Blackpuddin said:

If there was some way of quantifying achievements across all sports to find the best ever sportsman, Federer would surely be right up there, if not at the very top. Incredible athlete, technically flawless and unbelievably enduring over such a long period at the very highest level. I can't think of anybody better.

He'd be up there, but of course there is the question about Nadal. You could compare him to others (for example Bolt) who basically won anything important from 2008 until 2017 except for 1 DQ (false start) and a 2nd. Difficult to say who is better in that regard when it's very different comparisons.

What about the bloke the court they're playing on is named after. He wasn't too shabby.

[chippy17]

JagLover said:

BlackLabel said:

Another superb performance by the GOAT. A bit dissapointing that Chung quit a slam semi final over a blister. One minute he’s walking and moving fine, the next he just gives up.

When you think of some of the other top players battling on with major injuries, that would be made worse by playing, quitting a grand slam semi final due to blisters is rather strange.

Almost a sort of cowardice because he wanted an excuse for how badly he was getting beaten.

agree, it wasn't the second round of a 250 so to quit like that was gutless imo, Fed was playing quite well but his serve was only at 30% approx and Chung was still getting mauled, perhaps Chung saw that...

[BlackLabel]

Looks like this will be another slam for Federer where he doesn’t even drop a set all tournament.

[Blackpuddin]

BlackLabel said:

Looks like this will be another slam for Federer where he doesn’t even drop a set all tournament.

I'd say so. Fed has been very fortunate with his body which seems perfectly designed for tennis and which with the odd rare exception has been exceptionally durable and brilliantly looked after.