*Official* Tennis Thread

[ohtani's jacket]

But surely the 'best GS run' he had was Wimbledon 2007. Had his throne legitimately challenged by his arch rival, and for the first time ever, looked like he was going to lose. He then saved break points throughout the fifth set and won like a champion does.

That may be true of the final, but the toughest challenge he faced in the run to that final was the scheduling and even then he got a bye through to the quarters.

Federer himself said, "I can't remember a five set match that I've played that was so moving. It feels great to come through hard matches like these. It is more emotional, more satisfying. And I still feel fine."

Maybe I'm getting carried away because of everything that happened in the last year, but for the longest time it seemed like Federer couldn't get a break on Del Potro's serve. Then as Federer started getting it to 30 points and deuce, before finally breaking and rattling off seven games in a row (or whatever it was), Del Potro broke back.

Del Potro's serve abandoned him in the fifth set, but when he broke back to level, who would've thought that 2008-09 Federer would break back straight away?

One of the differences between Sampras and Federer is that up until recently Federer never had those career defining five set matches. And aside from Wimbledon in 2007, he hasn't been able to win them in the finals stages. If he'd lost in the semi, people would've stuck the boot in like never before. He wasn't as close to losing the match as he was against Haas, but imagine if Del Potro had consolated that break point in the 5th, with Federer serving to stay in the match? Ugly.

Anyway, this RG has been all kinds of epic. I've been watching tennis for more than twenty years and I can't recall a more exciting RG.

 

[vogue]

...have the womans final on...but on mute as i cant stand the attendant noise that goes with every other stroke....hope I may see some decent tennis...who knows...

 

[Jono]

That may be true of the final, but the toughest challenge he faced in the run to that final was the scheduling and even then he got a bye through to the quarters.

Federer himself said, "I can't remember a five set match that I've played that was so moving. It feels great to come through hard matches like these. It is more emotional, more satisfying. And I still feel fine."

Maybe I'm getting carried away because of everything that happened in the last year, but for the longest time it seemed like Federer couldn't get a break on Del Potro's serve. Then as Federer started getting it to 30 points and deuce, before finally breaking and rattling off seven games in a row (or whatever it was), Del Potro broke back.

Del Potro's serve abandoned him in the fifth set, but when he broke back to level, who would've thought that 2008-09 Federer would break back straight away?

One of the differences between Sampras and Federer is that up until recently Federer never had those career defining five set matches. And aside from Wimbledon in 2007, he hasn't been able to win them in the finals stages. If he'd lost in the semi, people would've stuck the boot in like never before. He wasn't as close to losing the match as he was against Haas, but imagine if Del Potro had consolated that break point in the 5th, with Federer serving to stay in the match? Ugly.

Anyway, this RG has been all kinds of epic. I've been watching tennis for more than twenty years and I can't recall a more exciting RG.

All fair points.

Issue is moot if he loses tomorrow though

 

[vic_orthdox]

To those who follow the tennis more than I:

In Soderling, are we seeing the emergence of a guy who will threaten to win Grand Slams, or a bloke on a hot streak/clay specialist?

 

[Simon]

Hot streak, has the ability to perform on all surfaces, make the second week on the odd occassion. He'll never play another slam final again.

 

[Jono]

****'s sake Svetlana. Has a chance to serve for the first set and bottles, being broken to love.

You have a final between a perennial choker, and someone who has gotten stage fright in Grand Slam finals before. It'll be a battle to see who doesn't throw it away

To those who follow the tennis more than I:

In Soderling, are we seeing the emergence of a guy who will threaten to win Grand Slams, or a bloke on a hot streak/clay specialist?

Hot streak, but he's still capable of being a top 15 player (denying that would be silly). Has always been able to beat many top 20 players, just been inconsistent.

 

[Jono]

****'s sake Svetlana. Has a chance to serve for the first set and bottles, being broken to love.

You have a final between a perennial choker, and someone who has gotten stage fright in Grand Slam finals before. It'll be a battle to see who doesn't throw it away

Haha, and on que, Safina serving to stay in the 1st set is broken.

All about holding their nerve here, and neither seem capable of doing it atm.

 

[Simon]

*Women's tennis players in being mentally fragile shock*

 

[vogue]

...managed to last this far...will have to miss the next set...wish i could say it had been worth the watching...but not really...it will be a battle to see who doesnt throw it away as was said earlier...

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Championship point now for Kuznetsova.

 

[Jono]

*Women's tennis players in being mentally fragile shock*

This from a Haas fan

Could name many men's players to bottle it this year's French Open too. It just doesn't happen in Grand Slam finals much, because Nadal and Federer happen to always be in these finals, and they're two of the best pressure players to ever grace a tennis court.

Just off the top of my head alone, Gonzo was 4-1 up in the 5th set last night, and lost it. Del Potro double faulted break point in the 5th down immediatley after having broken back yesterday. Haas lost from 2 sets to love up, including having break point against Federer. He capitulated into nothingness in what was pretty much an embarrassing last 2 sets. Safin came back from 2 sets down and was being a break up in the 5th set, yet lost the match against a nobody. Acasuso lost a set from being 5-1 up, as did Starace.

Could keep going if you like.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

She's done it with a double!

Good on her. Made something of herself after the modelling career didn't work out.

 

[Jono]

Good on her. Made something of herself after the modelling career didn't work out.

Well done Svetlana. Deserved champion after the battles she went through to get to the final.

Svetlana was paying 3.00 at one stage. Hopped on just thinking Safina would do what she's done so far in Slam finals, and she did.

Hope Safina eventually gets a Slam though, seems like a nice person.

 

[Anil]

i just find myself increasingly disinterested in women's tennis..

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

i just find myself increasingly disinterested in women's tennis..

It doesn't help that a women's final hasn't gone to three sets since Wimbledon 2006.

 

[Jono]

i just find myself increasingly disinterested in women's tennis..

You don't like the Williams though, so there's not much for you.

I found the women's French Open draw quite entertaining. Kuznetsova fought hard against many good players, and Sharapova played some interesting matches too (her match with Petrova was damn entertaining).

Not sure what you want from women's tennis. If you purely dislike two of the top 5 players in the world, and I'm presuming you don't like Ivanovic, Jankovic, Safina, Sharapova and Svetlana (as they play the type of tennis you have said don't like)... you ain't going to enjoy it.

I don't mind people's criticisms of women's tennis, so long as they aren't hypocritical and ignoring the fact that the same ones exist in plenty of men's tennis as well. Choking/mental weakness and solely relying on power exists in men's tennis too.

It doesn't help that a women's final hasn't gone to three sets since Wimbledon 2006.

Hmm, interesting stat, but Federer won many Slam finals fairly easily for a 3 year period. Anil was definitely not complaining then.

I think sometimes women's matches going the distance can be misleading. Venus vs. Serena Wimbledon 2008 was a better/closer battle than Safina vs. Azarenka quarter final (for example) which went to 3 sets.

 

[biased indian]

same here...but for me have lost interest in tennis....

but will watch the mens final tommorrow and hopefuly Roger will win it

 

[biased indian]

And leander wins another grand slam title ..good to see he still have the fire in him

 

[Jono]

same here...but for me have lost interest in tennis....

Any reason why?

In my opinion, men's tennis now > men's tennis from 2004-2007.

Comfortably too. Whilst we've lost talents such as Safin and Hewitt (and to a lesser extent, Nalbandian) from being consistently top 10 performers, the current group of young players are excellent.

Can't think of a stronger top 5 in recent memory, and the top 20 is in a very healthy state.

Women's tennis has seen better times, but I absolutely love men's tennis right now.

EDIT: I had the top 10 rankings from May 2004 to May 2009 written out, but I accidentally clicked an ad and lost it all Cbf doing it again, but there were names such as Canas, Coria, Gaudio, Grosjean, Robredo, Ljubicic etc. that were coming up.

Compare that to this top 10:

Nadal
Federer
Djokovic
Murray
Del Potro
Roddick
Simon
Verdasco
Tsonga
Monfils

The next 10 aren't super strong (Davydenko, Gonzalez and Nalbandian (when at his best) the only real out and out guns, hopefully Cilic and Wawrinka get there soon) but better than 4 years ago as well.

Much more even field currently IMO.

 

[pasag]

This tournament has been riveting and I haven't watched one match yet.