*Official* Tennis Thread

[Anil]

do you guys think he will break roger's major record?

 

[Jono]

Yes but I thought Rafa would so I'll probably be wrong again. Only needs one injury and everything changes - though his body looks like it is better attuned to his gamestyle.

I guess what he has that Rafa doesn't is he is genuinely head and shoulders better than anyone else. During Rafa's 2010 and 2013 peaks he so much better than #2 compare to what Novak is right now.

 

[vcs]

Federer himself had the chance to put a big dent in his hopes at Wimbledon 2014 and 2015, and US Open 2015, but it wasn't to be. Now I can't see anyone stopping him, and it'd be fully deserved. I thought Sampras was unlucky his record only lasted 7 years, looks like Federer's won't last even that long Insane.

 

[Jono]

Federer himself had the chance to put a big dent in his hopes at Wimbledon 2014 and 2015, and US Open 2015, but it wasn't to be. Now I can't see anyone stopping him, and it'd be fully deserved. I thought Sampras was unlucky his record only lasted 7 years, looks like Federer's won't last even that long Insane.

Murray in the 2015 Aus Open too. He went to absolute water when Novak started limping and looked like he couldn't move. Went from a break up in the third and official favourite to losing 10 straight games or some ****.

 

[Jono]

God damn it Nishi you had him

 

[Lillian Thomson]

First set to Murray. Interesting (albeit only vaguely) to note that Murray is 29 today, Djokovic 29 next week and Nadal 30 in a couple of weeks. With no obvious young pretenders around it's possible that by the French Open next year the top four or five could all be over 30.

 

[Jono]

"it's too ****ing dangerous to play" - Novak to the umpire. Lol at the mic picking it up so clearly.

This court is **** tbh. Rome need to do better. Surface breaks way too easily.

Anyway this is Muzz's best chance of beating Novak in a long time.

 

[Jono]

Man Murray trying to hang tight but Novak is locking down his backhand. Just not making errors

 

[Jono]

Novak has been testy all week but he's on the verge of blowing up here. So angry

 

[Jono]

This is hectic! Murray is so close now

 

[Cabinet96]

Novak hasn't had a great clay court season. Maybe it will dampen expectations for the French a little bit (it probably won't).

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Bloody hell, what a way to win it.

 

[Jono]

Yessssssssssss! Great win.

Imagine if Murray won a French Open before Novak Inconceivable two years ago. Now not the most ridiculous thought.

 

[vcs]

Really impressive the improvement Murray has shown on clay in the last couple of years, as well as Djokovic on grass. After the '90s era of surface specialists, it's quite a revelation how the great players these days are uniformly good everywhere. Or are the surfaces more homogenized these days?

 

[Jono]

Muzz speaking a bit of Italian and then asking if he is right so good

 

[Jono]

Really impressive the improvement Murray has shown on clay in the last couple of years, as well as Djokovic on grass. After the '90s era of surface specialists, it's quite a revelation how the great players these days are uniformly good everywhere. Or are the surfaces more homogenized these days?

These guys are just better - play most if not all the clay tournaments which Sampras and Agassi weren't doing. They practice more and care more. The best are the best on every surface, great for tennis.

 

[Kylez]

Really impressive the improvement Murray has shown on clay in the last couple of years, as well as Djokovic on grass. After the '90s era of surface specialists, it's quite a revelation how the great players these days are uniformly good everywhere. Or are the surfaces more homogenized these days?

The courts are undoubtedly more homogenised in modern times but there's no doubt that Murray has stepped up his clay game in the last year or two. I've liked what I've seen from him recently and he's definitely a live chance in Paris.

The French Open should be a great contest this year. Obviously it'll be between Murray, Djokovic and Nadal, however I give Nishi an outside chance too. Don't think the 'Stanimal' will firing many shots this year.

 

[Anil]

Really impressive the improvement Murray has shown on clay in the last couple of years, as well as Djokovic on grass. After the '90s era of surface specialists, it's quite a revelation how the great players these days are uniformly good everywhere. Or are the surfaces more homogenized these days?

the surfaces are definitely more homogenized these days, no doubt about it but it's not like every tom, dick and harry is playing well on all surfaces...this is also about a set of brilliant all-court players, the likes of which we have never before seen in the open era, i am referring to fed, rafa, novak and to a lesser extent murray...

 

[Jono]

Murray hadn't won a clay court tournament before 2015 right? What a turnaround Now he's won Madrid (last year) and Rome (this year), and beaten Rafa (last year and this year) and Novak (this year). Not to mention pushed Novak to 5 at last year's French Open.

 

[morgieb]

Murray hadn't won a clay court tournament before 2015 right? What a turnaround Now he's won Madrid (last year) and Rome (this year), and beaten Rafa (last year and this year) and Novak (this year). Not to mention pushed Novak to 5 at last year's French Open.

Yep. He's declined on hard courts IMO but clay has turned from Murray's worst surface to probably his best.