The Tennis Thread

[Leithen]

A bit off closing the roof if it was hotter / more humid yesterday?

[BlackLabel]

Cilic playing some lovely stuff now - 1 set all.

[JagLover]

Interesting stat that Federer spent about an hour less on court reaching the final than Halep, and she was playing best of three sets tennis.

[NRS]

Blackpuddin said:

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.

The way he plays seems to put it under a lot less stress than the other top players. Impressive.

[JagLover]

NRS said:

The way he plays seems to put it under a lot less stress than the other top players. Impressive.

http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/story/_/id/22066810/australian-open-blueprint-old-man-roger-federer-success

There is also some analysis I watched on Eurosport about Federer, who has always been an attacking player, is now even more aggressive in keeping the points short. He only has been winning 40% of points when playing behind the baseline, but been winning by keeping the points short.

[bexVN]

NRS said:

Blackpuddin said:

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.

The way he plays seems to put it under a lot less stress than the other top players. Impressive.

He did have some worrying back issues a few years back though and he had to work his way back in, he does still struggle at times but I am sure his style of play has helped keep him playing as well as he has for as long as he has. He is less bulk than some other players as well.

[JagLover]

I thought this was a genuinely interesting interview

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/roger-fe...

Independent said:

Did he think it might be possible for him to match Court’s tally? I don’t think so,” Federer said. “I didn’t think 20 was ever possible to be honest. I think it’s too far. It’s not something I’m looking at. I’ve never thought about it to be honest. Those numbers are surreal. They’re amazing. I’d be very happy if it stays at 20

Interesting reaction as, with Djokovic and Murray in long term decline, he must surely be the favorite for both Wimbledon and the US open.

Personally, despite all the talk about him being the best he has been, I think he is covering up deficiencies in his game brought about by age by being ever more aggressive. There is no plan B and so only a small dip in form will mean he won't be challenging for grand slam titles.

[NRS]

Bit of a shock today!

[chippy17]

Is there anyone who can stop Nadal on clay??

Truly astonishing how he has been mauling opponents recently, I see a repeat of last year across the whole clay court swing...I realise he has always dominated this surface but at least he had some competition in days gone by, seems noone is really that close at the moment

[BlackLabel]

Rafa is having another incredible season on clay and has just won his 11th Barcelona Open title - he’s now won 46 straight sets on clay.

[JagLover]

US open now on Amazon prime, which is handy as I already have it.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/apr/19...

[AlexRS2782]

Kyle Edmund deserves a mention for knocking Djokovic out yesterday. He's certainly hitting a decent run of form and another couple of decent results will probably move him into the top 20.

[Skylinecrazy]

Djoko isn't the player he was though unfortunately.

Really enjoyed following the tour more this year, lots of young talent finally filtering through after years of average players..

Chung, Coric, Shapalalov and Tsitipas to be top 20 in the next few years.

[MiniMan64]

Murray and Novak seem to have broken their bodies playing at the level they have and Roger and Rafa are very much in their twilight years.

Men's game seems to be swinging wide open.

[BlackLabel]

French Open starts at the weekend.

Rafa looking a bit more human in recent weeks - Thiem beat him in straight sets in Monte Carlo, Fognini took a set off him in Rome and Alexander Zverev almost beat him in the final in Rome (a rain break saved Rafa).

That said he’s still, understandably, huge favourte at Roland Garros.

[BlackLabel]

Lots of entertaining matches today - Berdych, Nishikori, Zverev and Dimitrov all involved in 5 setters. Berdych lost, the other three won - Dimitrov was lucky that his opponent (the young American Jared Donaldson) started cramping which essentially ended that contest.

[DeejRC]

Loved this :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-44310821/tennis...

[BlackLabel]

It’s semi finals day.

I see Cecchinato has an interesting background - convicted for match fixing yet got off on a technicality.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/06/08/sports/marco...

[BlackLabel]

Thiem throwing the kitchen sink at Nadal here yet it looks like he’ll end up losing in straight sets. It’s amazing that Nadal can still play at such a high level after all these years.

[BlackLabel]

A big day for Murray today as he returns after the hip injury.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/44498652