*Official* Tennis Thread

[Anil]

Haha looking at the way Nadal is steamrolling Nishikori it's probably for the best.

he went through and you will get your fedal in the semis...but regardless of whether nishikori gives him a workout or not (joking of course), nadal will win their encounter...after all this is clay and it is roland garros, federer during his peak years was regularly getting crushed by nadal here...

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Men’s Semi with a combined age of 70 probably hasn’t happened very often.

 

[Anil]

Goes through anyway.

Beating at the hands of Nadal awaits, but.. I've got to remind myself that him getting this far on clay at 38 is a massive unexpected bonus. Will be glad if he avoids a straight sets loss.

unless nadal is injured or something, i am predicting a straight sets loss for federer...but yes getting to the semis on his toughest surface at 38 is a big achievement...

 

[Lillian Thomson]

If, as most are expecting, he loses in straight sets, the French won’t have taken too much out of him for the grass court season where he has a better chance of winning. I don’t expect him to win Wimbledon, but it’s not as impossible as the French.

 

[vcs]

TBH I don't expect him to beat Nadal or Djokovic over 5 sets at any Major anymore. Power and movement has declined from 2017 levels fairly noticeably. Those two don't seem to show much of a physical decline at all, despite all the predictions that their more physical style of play will eventually catch up with them. They do have more injury breaks, yeah.

If he's at his best he can beat the other guys in the field with a mixture of wiles and experience, but those two over 5 sets even at Wimbledon will be a tough ask (bearing in mind the grass plays pretty slow over the 2nd week). I can see him beating them in a best of 3 sprint at Masters Series events, on quick HCs.

 

[Anil]

the "young guns" all fire blanks...i expect novak and rafa to continue their dominance at the majors, more the former than the latter...

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Rafa is more vulnerable at Wimbledon, especially in the early rounds. He's not the same certainty for the Semis as he is elsewhere. At this distance it's hard not to see Djokovic winning Wimbledon.


Back to the French Open. In theory Djokovic has quite a tough draw possibly having to beat 3 of the top 5 seeds from the quarters on.

 

[Cabinet96]

Today will be a washout which will be a boost to Rafa's chances in the final.

 

[vcs]

That would be a shame. It might be a repeat of the Australian Open final, in reverse.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

If they play Thursday and Friday and get Saturday off they should be okay.

 

[Anil]

djokovic is incredibly fit, i don't think it would be a game changer unless both of his matches end up being exhausting 4-5 hour long five setters...more likely he will beat zverev in straights and thiem in 4 and will have plenty left in the tank against rafa...

 

[vcs]

This is so awesome...

https://twitter.com/tancredipalmeri/status/1135824308746510337

 

[Anil]

yeah puts it all in context...

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Another interesting line up in the Ladies Semi's.

Barty v Anisimova
Konta v Vondrousova


The lack of great players makes the Grand Slams interesting in one way, but makes for some very mediocre Champions.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

All four Semi-finals today. The Ladies well and truly relegated from the Centre Court.
The top four seeds in the Men’s, but with little anticipation of close matches.

 

[_Ed_]

For Barty to reach this level, after giving up the sport to dabble in a bit of WBBL cricket, is astonishing. Remarkable athlete.

 

[morgieb]

For Barty to reach this level, after giving up the sport to dabble in a bit of WBBL cricket, is astonishing. Remarkable athlete.

What was crazy about her making the BBL level is that her cricket experience was 100% in the backyard, never played it properly growing up.

There's a few weird stories in the WTA (Sevastova for example) of players coming back as better players after very long absences, but still a wonderful story. If she wins (and she probably should) she's #2 in the world and very close to #1.

 

[OverratedSanity]

This is going to be quick and painful

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Barty coming back is not all that surprising. At the current standards Martina Navratilova might be tempted. Rafa struggling a bit with the wind (of the weather variety).

 

[vcs]

Hope that's the last of Federer-Nadal matches. **** all this.