*Official* Tennis Thread

[Jono]

Oh I like the look of Samantha Crawford. She was on an outside court so didn't see her beat Bencic in straight sets but that was obviously impressive. Now can see her vs. Petkovic, and she has so much talent. One to watch.

 

[Niall]

Poor Rafa, didn't even play that badly and smashed by Novak. A sense of helplessness about him towards the end, something his opponents felt so often when he was at his peak on clay.

 

[grecian]

Poor Rafa, didn't even play that badly and smashed by Novak. A sense of helplessness about him towards the end, something his opponents felt so often when he was at his peak on clay.

Oh c'mon, didn't play that badly? This is a multiple grand-slam champ who kept hitting the ball short into Novak's hitting zones. Djokovic is magnificent ATM but that performance from Rafa was poor for him. Mentally he looks shot against Nole, might be better just to go for his shots.

 

[Jono]

Yes he needs to stop trying to rally with Novak and try and paint the lines. He'll still lose but he won't lose like that.

 

[vcs]

Yeah, Federer has had some success with that over best-of-three set matches a couple of times, but it's still not enough to beat him in the big matches. Obviously, Wawrinka's done it a few times as well in Slams.

He really has a big shot at the Calendar Slam and setting some unprecedented records for consecutive Slam wins, there is no Achilles heel for him right now. At least Federer in his prime had Nadal on clay.

 

[Jono]

Even Berdych was 1 point away from being a double break up in the Doha semi, and he did that going for his shots. Sure he ended up losing in straights, and even if he converted that break point for the double break he'd have lost, but it shows that taking the ball early and going for big shots is the only way to really be in the game (unless Novak plays poorly or whatever)

 

[vcs]

A fully healthy Del Potro if he continued on his trajectory from 2009, would probably be a decent matchup for him on these slow hardcourt type surfaces which are so prevalent these days. He could generate huge power from both wings.

 

[Jono]

yep came close to knocking him off at 2013 Wimbledon with one knee

 

[Jono]

Fed vs. Missile Raonic always a good contest. Pushed him in the Brisbane final last year.

Takes the first set, and against a Fed who has played 4 matches in 4 days and with a bit of flu, he really should win.

 

[Jono]

BOOM! Break in the second from the Missile. Finish him now.

 

[Jono]

Well deserved.

4 matches in 4 days with flu all too much for Fed.

 

[Spikey]

safe to say Fed was the real winner here

 

[Jono]

safe to say Fed was the real winner here

Nah, the world is:

"Hopefully in 2016 we can learn to love each other a little more & the world becomes a safer place." - Milos Raonic in the aftermatch of the final

 

[vcs]

It's almost unfair to expect Federer to keep up his insane standards as he approaches 35... but c'mon old man, one more Slam! Just one.

 

[Anil]

asking too much of him...

 

[harsh.ag]

Wish this year they would have a very fast surface in the US Open. Given up hope for the others.

 

[vcs]

asking too much of him...

Doesn't seem likely, he probably missed his chance in 2014/15. Three Slam final losses to Djokovic and that one against Cilic on the occasion he wouldn't have had to face him. Still, hope springs eternal... he keeps rekindling the fire with random wins against Novak here and there.

 

[Jono]

Yeah that US Open was a lost opportunity for him, because Nishi was buggered come the final. But Fed can't back up 5-setters anymore and when he played Cilic he was coming off 5 setter from Monfils. Problem was him having to come back from 2 sets down vs. Monfils in the quarter final. Stuffed him.

 

[grecian]

Who is the most charming Oz tennis player, Tomic or Krygios?

 

[Jono]

The Kokk