*Official* Tennis Thread

[Matt79]

Bit late, but have to say I'd prefer the current system rather than a fifth set tie break. Stamina and determination to hang in there are attributes we want in our champions.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Federer and Nadal are rather different. I heard Federer stays in some plush 15,000 pound a week place in the Wimbledon village, while Nadal stays with the same family in a townhouse every year, but I don't think you can say one is more modest than the other.

What are you basing that on? Interviews? Press conferences? Their behaviour on the court? If that's the case, then Nadal has gotten stroppy plenty of times.

The way Federer reacts to hawkeye is NOTHING compared to the way Roddick reacts.

As for Federer's crying, I didn't like it, but at the time he was broken to his core and probably thought he'd never break Sampras' record.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Federer and Nadal are rather different. I heard Federer stays in some plush 15,000 pound a week place in the Wimbledon village, while Nadal stays with the same family in a townhouse every year, but I don't think you can say one is more modest than the other.

What are you basing that on? Interviews? Press conferences? Their behaviour on the court? If that's the case, then Nadal has gotten stroppy plenty of times.

The way Federer reacts to hawkeye is NOTHING compared to the way Roddick reacts.

As for Federer's crying, I didn't like it, but at the time he was broken to his core and probably thought he'd never break Sampras' record.

I've never been under any illusions about Nadal being something of a dick; the sleeveless teeshirts and the constant bicep pulls every fecking time he hits a winning shot put me right off straight away. Plus, and it's oviously not his fault, but the upturned nostrils give him an unfortunate rodentine countenance, which doesn't help either.

Did think Fed had a touch more class about him tho, so it's disappointing to see the feet of clay is all.

 

[honestbharani]

Er what? It was clearly Roddick, you could see his mouth move saying 'five times' etc and Federer turned around and addressed him directly.

You should probably take your own advice and 'loosen the hell up about Federer'. I wasn't suggesting he's a complete arsehole, just that he gets far too much gushing praise for being gracious in victory, which isn't at all difficult. The fact that some others aren't isn't really relevant.

well, it wasn't from when I saw it. But the coverage was pretty pathetic here anyways.. so I will take your word...


Even then, to me, it reflects worse on Roddick than on Federer, who was clearly trying to be nice and say something good and consoling to him and Rod reacts like this...



And Jono, abt Nadal, didn't he have a lot to say about Soderling once before and a couple of other mid card players? I am not sure but I do seem to remember him saying some stuff about 3 or 4 of his opponents...

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

And Jono, abt Nadal, didn't he have a lot to say about Soderling once before and a couple of other mid card players? I am not sure but I do seem to remember him saying some stuff about 3 or 4 of his opponents...

Soderling blatantly mocked Nadal on court, you'd expect Nadal to have something to say about him.

 

[Anil]

sportsmen at that rarified level are never humble...neither nadal nor federer are...and of course they don't need to be...

 

[Jono]

And Jono, abt Nadal, didn't he have a lot to say about Soderling once before and a couple of other mid card players? I am not sure but I do seem to remember him saying some stuff about 3 or 4 of his opponents...

Firstly, none of the players like Soderling, and Soderling himself has admitted he doesn't hang around with any pros in the locker room because he doesn't get along with any of them.

Secondly, Soderling made a complete fool of Nadal at Wimbledon 2007. Nadal didn't like it. What's that got to do with Nadal being arrogant about how good he is?

One shouldn't confuse anger with arrogance. Arrogance is making an excuse for a loss, or boasting about their achievements.

Nadal lost to Murray at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament final in Rotterdam, despite being on one leg and not being able to move. When the media asked him to talk about the injury, he refused to, not wanting to take away from Murray's win.

People can claim Nadal is aggressive, brash, ruins tennis because of what he wears and the fact he dares to show of his muscles, and whatever else. But he has never come off as arrogant in interviews or press conferences IMO. I can't recall anyway.

Anyone remember French Open 2006 when Nadal was up 6-4 6-4 against Djokovic, and Novak retired hurt? Novak then claimed he felt he was the one with the momentum and playing better. Nadal just shrugged his shoulders, when most players would have laughed at Novak.

The way Federer reacts to hawkeye is NOTHING compared to the way Roddick reacts.

I dispute that heavily. His performance after the 4th set of Wimbledon was one of the biggest blow-ups over a computer ever.

Any Roddick's blow-up over hawkeye during this year's final looked ****ty as well. But he never had a 2 minute whinge to the umpire about it, and claimed "it was killing him today".

 

[Uppercut]

Firstly, none of the players like Soderling, and Soderling himself has admitted he doesn't hang around with any pros in the locker room because he doesn't get along with any of them.

Secondly, Soderling made a complete fool of Nadal at Wimbledon 2007. Nadal didn't like it. What's that got to do with Nadal being arrogant about how good he is?

One shouldn't confuse anger with arrogance. Arrogance is making an excuse for a loss, or boasting about their achievements.

Nadal lost to Murray at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament final in Rotterdam, despite being on one leg and not being able to move. When the media asked him to talk about the injury, he refused to, not wanting to take away from Murray's win.

People can claim Nadal is aggressive, brash, ruins tennis because of what he wears and the fact he dares to show of his muscles, and whatever else. But he has never come off as arrogant in interviews or press conferences IMO. I can't recall anyway.

Anyone remember French Open 2006 when Nadal was up 6-4 6-4 against Djokovic, and Novak retired hurt? Novak then claimed he felt he was the one with the momentum and playing better. Nadal just shrugged his shoulders, when most players would have laughed at Novak.

Yeah, completely agree with this. You gotta look at his reaction to Federer bursting into tears after the Aussie Open too. Nadal's one sportsman I would find impossible to dislike.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Any Roddick's blow-up over hawkeye during this year's final looked ****ty as well. But he never had a 2 minute whinge to the umpire about it, and claimed "it was killing him today".

Dude, go search youtube and you will find Roddick having more than a 2 minute whinge to the umpire.

 

[superkingdave]

Is that the one where the umpire asked his line judge whether he made a call, the line judge says no, walks away and the umpire tell Roddick 'he was lying'?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Dude, go search youtube and you will find Roddick having more than a 2 minute whinge to the umpire.

haha, that's legendary stuff

"I'm gonna speak very slowly so you can understand me."

Then again, there's this from the beloved Scot. Dear me.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Some of the reactions to Federer's win pose an interesting question -- now that he's broken the record, will we start to see a Federer backlash? If he keeps winning GS, won't people get sick of it? No.16 and beyond aren't going to mean as much as the first 15.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

How exactly does Newport have ATP status? If they can't attract any names, surely it is pointless. I know it is bad luck with the draw, but Fish's withdrawal means one of Ram, Falla, Mello or Groth with make a quarter.

 

[Simon]

Cant expect much after Wimbledon, most of the top players probably wanted to rest, theres some big tournaments coming up in the next 4-5 weeks.

 

[Jono]

Some of the reactions to Federer's win pose an interesting question -- now that he's broken the record, will we start to see a Federer backlash? If he keeps winning GS, won't people get sick of it? No.16 and beyond aren't going to mean as much as the first 15.

Hmm, this can go either way.

For one, there have been some (not many, but some) who have jumped off the Fed. Either because it was getting too boring, or for his behaviour. Others may just be glory hunters of course.

That being said, when he was winning absolutely everything 2004 - mid 2007, I've never seen such a dominant player loved as much. So maybe they'll just keep loving him, because he's so classy and good to watch.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Cant expect much after Wimbledon, most of the top players probably wanted to rest, theres some big tournaments coming up in the next 4-5 weeks.

+ Davis Cup this weekend.

I suppose we're missing some big names there too, though. Think Verdasco might be the highest ranked to play.

 

[Uppercut]

Hmm, this can go either way.

For one, there have been some (not many, but some) who have jumped off the Fed. Either because it was getting too boring, or for his behaviour. Others may just be glory hunters of course.

That being said, when he was winning absolutely everything 2004 - mid 2007, I've never seen such a dominant player loved as much. So maybe they'll just keep loving him, because he's so classy and good to watch.

The thing about Federer is, I always want him to lose every time I watch him play despite thinking he's a really decent bloke. I think a lot of people feel that way and sometimes it spills over into dislike.

 

[Jono]

The thing about Federer is, I always want him to lose every time I watch him play despite thinking he's a really decent bloke. I think a lot of people feel that way and sometimes it spills over into dislike.

Yeah true, but the weird thing is, I don't think this was the case in 2004-07, when he was much more dominant, barely losing sets.

Now its common for Federer to drop a set to a nobody every now and then, and obviously has lost a lot more matches in 08-09 than he did previously.

In fact I reckon he probably lost more matches in 2008 than he did from 2005-2007.

 

[honestbharani]

Hmm, this can go either way.

For one, there have been some (not many, but some) who have jumped off the Fed. Either because it was getting too boring, or for his behaviour. Others may just be glory hunters of course.

That being said, when he was winning absolutely everything 2004 - mid 2007, I've never seen such a dominant player loved as much. So maybe they'll just keep loving him, because he's so classy and good to watch.

I think OJ argued my case here better than me...


I don't watch tennis as fervently as you guys seem to do here.. I catch the big ones and follow it when I can in newspapes and sportscentre.. That is about it.


But from whatever I have seen, I have never had a problem with Federer's behaviour... Obviously, he wasn't great back in Australia but everyone is entitled to make mistakes... I distinctly remember some sportscentre stories sometime back when Nadal was having a go at his opponents in press conferences... I don't think either man is exactly more well behaved than the other... And I want to see Federer win as many as he can because I still think he is easily the best I have seen in the game.

 

[Jono]

Australian Brydan Klein officially suspended and fined a **** load for his racial slur last month.

Australian Junior tennis champion suspended over slur

Obviously has anger problems. Apparently pissed off Phillipousis during the qualifying stages of an Aust Open before. Showed him a "lack of respect"