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*Official* Tennis Thread

vcs

vcs

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That's too bad. I wouldn't put a penny on Federer these days at best-of-3 events, though I wish he'd sort it out.

I like Gulbis a lot too, but he made the mother of all chokes and still found himself on the winning side. It might have destroyed him mentally if he had lost this one. :laugh:

I think he has big, big potential, but it's still a tossup whether he can deliver on it. His shot selection and composure leaves a lot to be desired.
 
Jono

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
No doubt. I had gotten into the "bet against Fed at the right time in Masters" when I got on Baghdatis to beat him.

But then I lost money on him against Berdych (who would have thought Berdych was no longer a ****** though?) and now this. I sensed Gulbis would take a set to be honest. Didn't think he'd win, simply because I didn't think he could play to that level for over 2 hours against Fed.
 
Jono

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
By the way, do you feel Fed's intensity is only slightly off, rather than he doesn't care like some say? I mean, if you've seen his face when he lost to Benneteau last year, Davydenko twice, Baghy, Berdych and now Gulbis, he obviously cares. He let out the mother of "COME ONS" when he took the 2nd set against Berdych. Yet went on to choke the third set away.

Probably has to do with him having kids, and obviously a slow decline, but how anyone can only be unstoppable for the Grand Slams is amazing.

That being said, he's only played like 5 matches in 3 months or something. That will make anyone rusty.

I figured Fed wanted a good showing at Rome though because he would want to build up some clay court practice.
 
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Jono said:
No doubt. I had gotten into the "bet against Fed at the right time in Masters" when I got on Baghdatis to beat him.

But then I lost money on him against Berdych (who would have thought Berdych was no longer a ****** though?) and now this. I sensed Gulbis would take a set to be honest. Didn't think he'd win, simply because I didn't think he could play to that level for over 2 hours against Fed.
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Yeah, despite his best efforts to choke it away and handing away that 5-4 game for free, you've got to give Gulbis huge credit for the way he served over the last two sets. I don't think he was ever troubled apart from that one game where he was awfully tight trying to serve it out. The fundamentals of his game are amazing, serve, return, huge forehand, excellent backhand, decent defensive skills with room for improvement. Better weapons on paper than Soderling, IMO. It's whether he can up his mental game to stay with the top guys.
 
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Jono said:
By the way, do you feel Fed's intensity is only slightly off, rather than he doesn't care like some say? I mean, if you've seen his face when he lost to Benneteau last year, Davydenko twice, Baghy, Berdych and now Gulbis, he obviously cares. He let out the mother of "COME ONS" when he took the 2nd set against Berdych. Yet went on to choke the third set away.

Probably has to do with him having kids, and obviously a slow decline, but how anyone can only be unstoppable for the Grand Slams is amazing.

That being said, he's only played like 5 matches in 3 months or something. That will make anyone rusty.

I figured Fed wanted a good showing at Rome though because he would want to build up some clay court practice.
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I agree, he still hates losing even in these events. But it takes a lot less self-belief for guys to think they can win two sets off him than three at a Slam, and there is less time for them to choke as well. Also, he's simply not as good as he used to be between 2004-06, week in, week out. He can't turn on his form in tight situations like he used to. Again, that's natural when players pass their prime. He has to pick his moments, and those are the Slams.

The kids and personal stuff probably play into it as well, but I think he's still hungry.

This loss will hurt him and his prospects on clay, no doubt, because he's in danger of going into the French with very little match-play since the Australian Open. It's not at all far-fetched to imagine another couple of early-round losses for him in this kind of form, and suddenly it all looks very dicey going into the French.
 
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Jono

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
Jono said:
The Italian crowd are pretty awesome when Volandri is playing. There's a few dickheads obviously, but when Volandri beat Gasquet in that 3 set match, and they chanted to The White Stripes Seven Nation Army in the background it was an awesome atmosphere.
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They're doing it again 3 years later!

Seven Nation Army chants with Volandri taking it up to Gulbis!

Italians know how to get behind their man, that's for sure.
 
SirBloody Idiot

SirBloody Idiot

Cricketer Of The Year
Think Federer is playing too little tennis these days, but until it starts hurting him in Grand Slams I'm not sure that'll change.

Pretty nice little match between these two. Love watching Gulbis play, whilst the Italians are finally filling up these stands.
 
Jono

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
Volandri just saved a match point. Well more that Gulbis went for the line and missed.

Crowd will blow up if Volandri gets up from here.
 
P

Pothas

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Verdasco beats Djokovic again, surley he has a great chance of coming second in the French open this year.
 
Jono

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
God Verdasco is awesome on the red dirt right now.


I am becoming a bigger fan by the day.

He was 2.65 vs. Novak (2.9 last time they played). I learnt my lesson this time and had a bit on Verdasco. Paid off for me :)
 
ohtani's jacket

ohtani's jacket

State Vice-Captain
Whether Federer cares or not, he's going to break Sampras' record with zero fanfare whatsoever. It's strange having a World No.1 who loses in the first and second round.
 
Jono

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
Verdasco can't serve out sets to save his life.

Led 5-1, now down 5-6. Joke.

Both playing for the chance to lose to Nadal 6-0 6-1
 
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Dydl

Dydl

International Debutant
Just watched Henin's semi against Peer. Clinical, absolutely clinical. It'd be an interesting final if Stosur were to get through as well. Two in-form players.
 
Jono

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
Got on Henin to win the tournament at $4.5 :cool:

She was that high even without Serena or Clijsters in the draw. I think it was due to the fact she hasn't played on clay a while, and she broke her pinky finger prior to the tournament. But it hasn't affected her so far.

Think I'll hedge my bet now, because Stosur (provided she wins her semi) is in form. Whilst I expect Henin to win, ya never know.
 
SirBloody Idiot

SirBloody Idiot

Cricketer Of The Year
Jono said:
Verdasco can't serve out sets to save his life.

Led 5-1, now down 5-6. Joke.

Both playing for the chance to lose to Gulbis 6-0 6-1
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Totally agree. :ph34r:

Dydl said:
Just watched Henin's semi against Peer. Clinical, absolutely clinical. It'd be an interesting final if Stosur were to get through as well. Two in-form players.
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A real test of where Stosur is at. If she can beat Henin or at least push her, it will give her huge confidence heading into Roland Garros. As it stands, I reckon she's a huge chance of going deep again this year based on how well she's been playing. Henin is a different game, though.
 
Jono

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
Stosur would have been better off coming up against Henin earlier I reckon, where she was a bit rustier. After getting past Jankovic and Peer she'll be tough to beat.

Not impossible though.
 
Jono

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
Lol SBI, Nadal broke first game :p

Gulbis will be lucky to win 5 games in total here I reckon.
 
SirBloody Idiot

SirBloody Idiot

Cricketer Of The Year
Quite refreshing, though, that in a world of tennis players looking after their appearance Gulbis hasn't been near a comb since the 90s.
 
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