*Official* Tennis Thread

[Ruckus]

Is there really any need for every commentator and pundit in tennis to constantly refer to Roger Federer as "the great man"? I cringe every single time.

Has more merit to it than calling Tendulkar that. Federer is much further ahead of the competition (career-wise) than Tendulkar is imo.

 

[Jono]

Yeah Rafa was serving like a beast at the 2010 US Open and has never reached those heights again. Jim Courier was analysing his grip and showing how he has gone back to an angled grip when serving rather than a flat grip for more power, which he temporarily used at the 2010 US Open (where he was unbeatable).

Hopefully he ups his serve.

Do I think Fed can beat Rafa? Yeah I do, and he'll also be favourite with the bookies. But has hasn't beat Rafa in a 5 set match since Wimbledon 2007. That is a long time between drinks.

 

[Jono]

Has more merit to it than calling Tendulkar that. Federer is much further ahead of the competition (career-wise) than Tendulkar is imo.

Tendulkar is not solely called the great man though. Ponting, Warne and Lara have all been constantly called that.

 

[blahblahblah]

Yeah Rafa was serving like a beast at the 2010 US Open and has never reached those heights again. Jim Courier was analysing his grip and showing how he has gone back to an angled grip when serving rather than a flat grip for more power, which he temporarily used at the 2010 US Open (where he was unbeatable).

Hopefully he ups his serve.

Do I think Fed can beat Rafa? Yeah I do, and he'll also be favourite with the bookies. But has hasn't beat Rafa in a 5 set match since Wimbledon 2007. That is a long time between drinks.

oh, sad then he himself had made changes avoiding him to serve well

 

[Ruckus]

Tendulkar is not solely called the great man though. Ponting, Warne and Lara have all been constantly called that.

Yeah that's true, but Tendulkar has been called that far more consistently. I'm sure players like Nadal have been called similar things at some point as well.

On Fed/Nadal, I actually think that if Fed can play the same level of tennis that he has been, he'll fairly comfortably beat Nadal...I'd probably say in 4 sets. He just looks in a different league atm.

 

[Jono]

Fed never plays at the same level of tennis against Rafa that he plays vs. his other opponents that he plays prior to coming up against Rafa. Simply because when they go head-to-head it pretty much takes form out of the picture, Fed can only play as well as Rafa lets him (and vice versa of course).

See Australian Open 2009.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Has more merit to it than calling Tendulkar that. Federer is much further ahead of the competition (career-wise) than Tendulkar is imo.

Dude, Sachin is "The Little Master".

 

[_Ed_]

Ferrer is so awesome.

 

[Johnners]

Novak injured (well, certainly seems to be) - be immense if he wins it from here tbh.

I'm surely not the only one to have noticed that he did something to his leg when he was serving for the first set? It's like the commentary team has completely missed it :s

 

[Johnners]

Novak injured (well, certainly seems to be) - be immense if he wins it from here tbh.

I'm surely not the only one to have noticed that he did something to his leg when he was serving for the first set? It's like the commentary team has completely missed it :s

Hmmm maybe premature....seriously thought he'd screwed his knee the way it's jarred a couple of times whilst sliding.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Haven't been following it too closely, but can someone explain to me how Rafa is behind even Murray in the odds to win the tournament, even before this round?? Is it simply because he has to play Fed, who he has the wood over??

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Haven't been following it too closely, but can someone explain to me how Rafa is behind even Murray in the odds to win the tournament, even before this round?? Is it simply because he has to play Fed, who he has the wood over??

British bookies? Unibet (Swedish) has Nadal at lower odds than Murray. I suppose it comes from not having won anything on HC last year.

Would probably put something on Nadal beating Federer tomorrow though. The odds seem awfully tempting.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Nah, this is in Australia though.

 

[Anil]

if it is azarenka vs sharapova, some eardrums are going to be shattered...

 

[Burgey]

There's a heap of great players, but Nadal vs Federer is the Frazier vs Ali of tennis. Their styles just make for so many top matches.

 

[Jono]

My God anyone who doesn't like watching Rafa is an idiot. Two unbelievable winners to break, including one from the freaking stands almost!

 

[Burgey]

I don't like him because Jono does.

And that ugly sneer. Almost Costello-like.

And he dresses like a Eurotrash douchebag.

And he picks his arse all the time.

Decent player though.

 

[Jono]

If Fed can dictate more points on his forehand he still should take this. Big if though.

(No Gambhiring)

 

[benchmark00]

As if anyone should listen to your thoughts on tennis given your position in the predictions thread.

 

[_Ed_]

And he picks his arse all the time.

A valid point, and one even the most devoted Rafa fans cannot deny.

It's unpleasant viewing.

I don't have anything against him apart from that.