*Official* Tennis Thread

[vcs]

Nadal vs. Djokovic today.

The rivalry has been one-sided in recent years, but Rafa is in good form right now, and Djokovic isn't, so he needs to win this one to swing things back his way.

 

[vogue]

Nadal takes first set quite easily. Djokovic starting to up his game towards the end of the set. Nadal playing well has to be said.

 

[vcs]

Djokovic breaks back and this is looking like a tasty contest now.

He's really the only one with a chance of beating Nadal on this surface.

 

[vcs]

And Rafa breaks right back.. some brilliant tennis there especially the passing shot.

 

[vcs]

Great win that for Rafa.. what a champion. Djokovic did play better in the 2nd set but Nadal too good on the day.

 

[Anil]

well, don't see anyone stopping rafa at the french (except maybe his nemesis roger federer )

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Another title for Rafa. It means he's now back in the top 4 with the French a week away. Everyone else seems to be misfiring and there's still no obvious young pretender. It's going to be interesting to see what Federer can do having missed most of the clay court season.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Sir Andrew is 30 today, Novak will be 30 next Monday. The big 4 are all over 30 and there's still sod all out there in terms of the next great champions.

 

[harsh.ag]

Sir Andrew is 30 today, Novak will be 30 next Monday. The big 4 are all over 30 and there's still sod all out there in terms of the next great champions.

Might have become a little spoiled, LT.

 

[vogue]

Sir Andrew is 30 today, Novak will be 30 next Monday. The big 4 are all over 30 and there's still sod all out there in terms of the next great champions.

You don't rate Zverev?

 

[grecian]

Might have become a little spoiled, LT.

Is it really being spoiled expecting someone under 30 to be any good, Next-gen are appalling. Dimitrov, Raonic, Nishikori.

You don't rate Zverev?

He has potential, as do Coric, NK and a few others, but lets not anoint a kid who has won only 3 250s so far. and hasn't been past the third round of a slam. He's 2 tall anyway, gonna find movement hard if he carries on playing the best players, injuries bound to follow if he doesn't change his style too, we'll see though.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Maria Sharapova has done enough to at least guarantee entry into the Wimbledon Qualifying Tournament. If she reaches the Semi's in Rome she'll be ranked high enough to gain direct entry to the main draw. Still relying on a Wild Card to make the French.

 

[Anil]

federer withdrawing from the french

 

[vogue]

federer withdrawing from the french

Disappointing.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

No wild card at the French for Maria. Not surprised. She then pulled out injured from the Italian Open so can't now get automatically into the Wimbledon draw.I think she could be driven out and possibly retire within a year.

 

[vcs]

Disappointing.

Very much so. Absolutely escapes me, Federer's reasoning behind putting all his eggs in the Wimbledon/US Open basket. He had nothing to lose on clay FFS. Fewer threats as well, with Murray being terrible and Djokovic way below his best.

Just go out and swing freely as he did in the first 3 months and see where it takes him. I don't think it would be enough to beat an in-form Rafa at the French, but he'd have a chance to take it to 5 if he played with the same free mindset and executed properly, IMO.

 

[vogue]

Very much so. Absolutely escapes me, Federer's reasoning behind putting all his eggs in the Wimbledon/US Open basket. He had nothing to lose on clay FFS. Fewer threats as well, with Murray being terrible and Djokovic way below his best.

Just go out and swing freely as he did in the first 3 months and see where it takes him. I don't think it would be enough to beat an in-form Rafa at the French, but he'd have a chance to take it to 5 if he played with the same free mindset and executed properly, IMO.

He has missed most of the clay court season though..perhaps he's playing cautious as grass is his first love. An age thing maybe? Still ...disappointing not to see him there.

 

[harsh.ag]

French Open and Wimbledon are too close for someone like him, I guess.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Very much so. Absolutely escapes me, Federer's reasoning behind putting all his eggs in the Wimbledon/US Open basket. He had nothing to lose on clay FFS. Fewer threats as well, with Murray being terrible and Djokovic way below his best.

Just go out and swing freely as he did in the first 3 months and see where it takes him. I don't think it would be enough to beat an in-form Rafa at the French, but he'd have a chance to take it to 5 if he played with the same free mindset and executed properly, IMO.

More likely to hurt his knee on clay.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

The French Open is a real slog. If Fed doesn't think he can win it it makes perfect sense to prepare for Wimbledon instead.