*Official* Tennis Thread

[Burgey]

Two handed backhands should be banned tbh. Greatest single blight on tennis.

If you cant play a shot one-handed you should GAGF.

I knew it wouldn't take long for a Jono "you disagree with me therefore you're stupid" comment to come out.. Dude, you're in for an interesting career..

 

[Jono]

That's unfair, I'm making arguments, and you're replying, and I'm replying to yours.

I'm the one being balanced tbf. You're coming here and describing Nadal's game as ugg boots. Can imagine you doing that in the court room as well

I hardly think taking a "Federer is the only good thing in tennis" line of argument is going to be appreciated by most long-time tennis fans as well.

 

[Burgey]

Hop into court and say to an opponent or a judge who disagrees with you on something "that's stupid"..

But seriously, I don't dislike Nadal, I admire him. But for me it's like watching an AB ton vs a Greg Chappell ton.. Both excellent technically but one easier on the eye..

Or perhaps more relevantly, if I have a choice between watching a Julia Gillard press conference or a Kate Eliis one, i mean, you know...

 

[Jono]

I'm not really saying you have to like Nadal. If people dislike Nadal because he wears long shorts, or used to wear muscle tops, or he picks his arse, or he takes too long in between points, that's their own view. I may think it's petty, but I can see what they're getting at.

I just think you're way off on Nadal's playing style. His forehand passes from off the court aren't AB like. Nadal doesn't play a robotic defensive game. He plays a style which results in beating their opponent into submission. He's completely different from Hewitt, Djokovic or Murray.

And I don't think I've called any of your arguments against Nadal's style of play stupid. I just think that if you honestly feel that Fed is basically the only good thing for the game (which is how some of your or Anil's posts read at times, and I don't really think that's disputable) than I think you're being harsh on some of the game's best players.

If you just get upset when Fed doesn't perform like it's 2006 again, then fine. But get used to it tbh

 

[vcs]

Well some of us are used to watching attacking tennis (since the early '90s, which is the time I've been watching, very few players who had major success outside clay played a defensive style of play) and Nadal, Djokovic and Murray can hardly be described as players with an aggressive mindset. I don't feel that I have to like their style of play to be a true tennis fan. Sure some of their athleticism is awe-inspiring but it doesn't entertain me like a Federer, Sampras, Agassi or even Clijsters. That's just how it is.

I also know that there are fans who find Federer's style boring and Nadal's style ultra-exciting. But I'd bet my house that they are in the minority.

 

[Jono]

Haha Clijsters. Right, so all the other women's players who just go for winner after winner and make unforced errors half the time are rubbish, but Clijsters, who does the same, is better to watch than Rafa.

Well, your loss.

In the mean time, if Zvonareva pulls this off tonight she goes to #2 in the world. Huge.

 

[Jono]

I also know that there are fans who find Federer's style boring and Nadal's style ultra-exciting. But I'd bet my house that they are in the minority.

What a pointless statement. I never once said Federer's style is boring, in fact I've admitted that he is constantly in the best match-ups (Fed/Rafa, Fed/Soder, Fed/Berdych, Fed/JMDP) so bringing this up just screams of a straw-man argument if I've ever seen one.

Problem with die hard Fed fans, can't accept that some people may enjoy both styles (as well as other players).

 

[vcs]

Haha Clijsters. Right, so all the other women's players who just go for winner after winner and make unforced errors half the time are rubbish, but Clijsters, who does the same, is better to watch than Rafa.

Well, your loss.

In the mean time, if Zvonareva pulls this off tonight she goes to #2 in the world. Huge.

LOL, you're crazy if you're comparing Clijsters to your Kvitovas and Petrovas. You couldn't be more off the mark.

Yeah, I find Clijsters better to watch than Rafa, hang me.

 

[vcs]

What a pointless statement. I never once said Federer's style is boring, so bringing this up just screams of straw-man.

I never said you did that, just wanted to acknowledge that there are people in the other camp too.

Federer used to be called boring by plenty of people in 2006-07 when he was cruising to titles hammering everybody but Nadal on clay.

 

[Jono]

Federer used to be called boring by plenty of people in 2006-07 when he was cruising to titles hammering everybody but Nadal on clay.

No, not the case at all. Unless you're talking about some random casual fans.

People said the tennis scene had become boring because the Slams were predictable. No one ever didn't like watching Federer's style.

Just like some cricket fans (mainly not the die-hard ones) thought Australia's dominance of cricket from 2000-2005 was boring. Doesn't mean they didn't think Gilchrist and Warne were awesome to watch.

 

[Jono]

Yeah, I find Clijsters better to watch than Rafa, hang me.

That's all right. At least you get to see one of your favourites in a final

 

[vcs]

I also love watching Davydenko when he's on song. Basically, I love players who look to take the ball on the rise consistently on quick surfaces but there don't seem to be many left at the top of the men's game.

 

[vcs]

That's all right. At least you get to see one of your favourites in a final

23 semis and 10 + 8 finals + 16 Slams lessens the blow somewhat. I think I can live with it.

 

[Jono]

If Fed fans think I'm annoying, I can't imagine what Clapo is going to do to you all when he gets here

 

[Burgey]

No, not the case at all. Unless you're talking about some random casual fans.

People said the tennis scene had become boring because the Slams were predictable. No one ever didn't like watching Federer's style.

Just like some cricket fans (mainly not the die-hard ones) thought Australia's dominance of cricket from 2000-2005 was boring. Doesn't mean they didn't think Gilchrist and Warne were awesome to watch.

95-05 tbh

 

[Johnners]

FTR, agree with everything Rafa, I mean, Jono, has said. I love watching Fed play, but y'know it wouldn't hurt to admit once in a while that perhaps the other guys playing at their best can beat him without something being wrong.

But yeah, in other news...

Sucks that he's going to be on the backfoot immediately after that marathon effort against rat features

 

[Jono]

No doubt that all the people that whinge about women's tennis players earning the same money as the men's game whenever Serena destroys someone in a Slam final will not be hypocrites and admit that this final was just as bad.

This wasn't much longer, if at all, to Serena vs Safina Aust Open 09 or Serena vs Zvonareva Wimbledon 2010.

 

[vcs]

Kimmie.

Incredible to win two Slams and other tournaments after having a kid.

Jono, it seems good Slam finals in women's tennis come about every couple of years if we're lucky. I thought the Aussie Open final this year was pretty fantastic.

Clijsters must be ruing her loss to Zvonareva at Wimby, missed a great opportunity to make a final there. How many more chances is she going to get?

 

[Johnners]

Didn't watch because I knew it'd be a terrible final tbh.

 

[Jono]

Kim's so nice. Such a humble girl.

The WTA's Rafa