Roddick Chokes as Americans Head for Exit at Wimbledon

Awesome wrap on the day’s action. Gimelstob got off easy. Some of the tastier quotations in here:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2008/06/new_dc_athlete_has_a_kournikov.html

Scroll down to the comments for enlightening information on a homicidal DUI in the family from the same brother Gimelstob wants to see ‘nail’ Anna K.

June 26th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

Andy choked so badly today I cannot remember the last time he did that, if ever. He is usually very strong mentally. It’s very sad to see because he so badly wants to win Wimbledon but I fear he wants it too much and so now he’s choking against players he should have beaten in straight sets. Such terrible luck for him. I hope he can recover from this devastating loss in time for the summer hard courts. Von, are you okay? Commisserate with me!

June 26th, 2008 at 10:26 pm

He choked against J.Johansson at USO. I think he’s choked against Hewitt many times (definately once at the AO). Possibly Federer also. He choked against Verdasco on clay in one match. He was given Game, Set, Match but checked the line and awarded the point to Verdasco on match point (great sportsmanship)… except he ended up losing the match and looking stupid. He also choked against Acasuso at RG when he led two sets to love.

Maybe the early loss to Muller at the USO too could be argued as a choke.

June 27th, 2008 at 1:05 am

so, look how many times roger chokes against nadal. if the “great one” can choke, why can’t andy?

June 27th, 2008 at 1:20 am

Jane, Von, Sean, Dan, Sardine, Ra, and, all others who have been nice to me here,

I did not want to disappear like Zola. I will be gone for sometime. I will be on my vacation from tomorrow morning. I will not be posting anything while I am in San Diego. I cannot promise but will try to drop a line or two during semis and finals. I will be missing you, guys.
Take care,

June 27th, 2008 at 2:35 am

Bon Voyage Shital – look forward to your return.

June 27th, 2008 at 3:51 am

Seems like the word choke is being overused here.
The scoreline does not indicate a classic choke. Roddick may have gotten tight on some key points but the classic choke is when your’e way ahead in a match and you have a mental meltdown and can’t put your opponent away. That is not what happened. Tipsarevic was in control the entire match and DID put Roddick away.

June 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am

Vulcan,

I agree that it wasn’t a “choke” in the way that word is typically used – squandering a lead. As you say, Roddick tightened up in key moments and made costly errors. He was never ahead and then totally blew it. Although I am not sure Tipsy was “in control” the enitre match, after that break in the second set he definitely had momentum.

June 27th, 2008 at 10:09 am

To JCF:

Why should A-Rod look “stupid” for overruling a winning matchpoint in opponent’s favor? Don’t know about you, but in my opinion, what he did was nothing but commendable… Better to lose fair and square than to win following a wrong baseline call (or something like that), isn’t it? There’s just no shame in losing like that…

June 27th, 2008 at 10:14 am

Roddick says he choked and we still have people saying he did not? Maybe you guys can even convince him he has a career slam already and he is the best all-courter ever? That was a choke job if ever there was one.

Federer chokes against nadal on clay. nadal choked in last year’s wimbledon final, and 05 miami final and Djokovic choked in last year’s us open final. EVERY person chokes when placed under the microscope for as long as a duration as pro-athletes are under. No shame in accepting Roddick choked.

Infact I would say even Djokovic choked the day before. He was a legit threat to both nadal and federer and just raised the stakes higher for himself by trash-talking federer and safin brought his big-game, djokovic stank up the joint. When last did a Grandslam champion and potential great like djokovic serve 10 double faults in 3 sets?

June 27th, 2008 at 10:32 am

Skorocel:

Maybe you can read properly before your comment? JCF said “Roddick lost the match “and ended up looking stupid”. not that his overturning the call was stupid.

June 27th, 2008 at 10:40 am

Sorry, but just because Roddick says he choked that doesnt mean that that is what really happened according to the conventional definition of the word. As Jane said that definition involves squandering a lead. And more importantly it is squandering a lead due to a sudden mental block which usually occurs because someone is overwhelmed by the realization of what it is they are about to accomplish. This is also why the word is usually applied to the situation where a lower ranked player is about to upset a much higher ranked player but cannot pull of the upsed due to a sudden mental block which causes their game to head south. I think the proper description of what happened is that he got tight on a few key points which is much more common.

June 27th, 2008 at 10:47 am

Vulcan
Spot on. Its inappropriate for us to be literal here (as Roddick was being), the connotations are what matter. There is a difference between squandering a point and squandering a lead. Matches are often won on a few key points, which does not imply a choke from the opponent. I personally thought it was a well fought match, it didnt really seem that Tipsy was in control or that Roddick choked. He played rubbish in key points which settled the match. Besides the third round match of a tourney he has the final of hardly sets the stage for a choke does it?

June 27th, 2008 at 11:00 am

Roddick chocked or not, I think Tipsy deserve some credit for playing well and his fighting spirit.

June 27th, 2008 at 12:40 pm

headline we will never see on tennis-x

“Federer wins again, boredom restored”

June 27th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

Alex,

I agree that Tipsy deserves credit; that rolling stab dive he made was pretty cool. He played well. So did Andy, except for some bad errors when it mattered. It was a good match.

June 27th, 2008 at 1:04 pm

Roddick played a good match except for his inability to convert at the appropriate times, especially in the first set, thus taking it to a tiebreak. In the second set he became agitated by something Tipsy was doing, lost his concentration, made two wild forehand shots and got broken. After that it was all downhill in the third set even though he held serve for most of that set. In the 4th set he held serve, but again could not convert on his chances to break Tipsy, and again made some wild forehand errors. The tie-break was as usual, sudden death, which he lost. This set could have gone either way, but Tipsy won.

Tipsy should be commended for holding his own and playing a good match. He showed mental toughness on the crucial points, thus capitalizing on his window of opportuity.

I’d call a choke similarly to what Soderling did in the 3rd set in his match with Federer. He was up 5-2, got broken and just choked the set away. Another occasion of a choke was manifested in the match with Fed v. Hidalgo Ramirez, who choked away his 5-1 lead.

Maybe Roddick choked, but I don’t see it that way. He got nervous on some crucial points which began with his agitation at Tipsy and Tipsy’s camp. Maybe too, his lack of match play could have been another reason he was rusty and did not play as well as he should have. He alone knows the answer. I’m just sorry that he didn’t or couldn’t go deeper into the tournament.

____________
Jack:

You need to stop reprimanding people for their statments. You’re having a field day on the other threads and are doing exactly that which you accuse others of doing. Your abusive statements are uncalled for.

June 27th, 2008 at 1:17 pm

Jane,

Yes it is. It’s a enjoyable match to watch(maybe except the fact that the losing player’s fans would like their player to win it). Now just hope Tipsy and Safin goes further in this tournament.

June 27th, 2008 at 1:18 pm

so, look how many times roger chokes against nadal. if the “great one” can choke, why can’t andy?
———-

shush now. “the great one” only loses because of mono. He’s had it since 2005.

June 27th, 2008 at 1:35 pm

Von:
“In the second set he became agitated by something Tipsy was doing, lost his concentration”

Was it that the wind was too strong at the moment and tipsy waited a while b4 resumed his serving? That’s what I thought though I am not sure but it’s clear that Roddick was agitated a little at that moment.

June 27th, 2008 at 2:35 pm

Alex:

“Was it that the wind was too strong at the moment and tipsy waited a while b4 resumed his serving?”

I’m not sure as to what the problem was, to be precise, but it concerned something which Roddick felt Tipsy was doing, which aggravated Roddick. Andy also complained to the umpire, who probably did not feel any type of action was necessary. Roddick is not one to calm down after such problems — he implodes to his detriment, thus causing his mental lapses and his inability to get back on course. He’s almost Safin-like in his self-destructive behavior which causes the implosion. A very bad trait, albeit it’s his disposition, but one which needs some serious soul searching and remedial action.

June 27th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

Shital: Have a WONDERFUL vacation. You deserve it.

Dear All
Poor Andy. I felt really sorry for him. He was at set point and couldn’t convert. He will be beating himself up about this for a long time. As for Roddick’s complaints, another forum mentioned he was complaining about Tipsy’s grunting. I didn’t think it was that bad.

The Brit press is calling Tipsy a“bizarre-looking intellectual” who was a “strange sight in his dark-rimmed glasses, black beard, and nose strip.”

He sort of reminds me of the Peter Sellers character in Lolita called Clare Quilty.

June 27th, 2008 at 3:36 pm

I was comedic in a post on a prior thread in which I stated that Tipsy was pretty scary when he opened his eyes ever so widely. Additionally, when he did that, especially when he converted and broke Roddick. His wide-eyed pleasure and countenance, coupled with his dark-framed glasses made him appear menacing — it was a very weird facial expression.

June 27th, 2008 at 3:46 pm

Rising old stars!? Hewitt, Ancic, Safin. It’s kinda cool.

June 27th, 2008 at 4:05 pm

Well Ancic and Safin aren’t though yet so maybe counting my eggs too soon…but even so.

June 27th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

An all time classic choke job by Roddick. That 2nd serve return on set-point was so sissy-like. He made Jankovic or any other choke-stars from the WTA look like mental giants.

Good for him he ducked out before the semi-finals. Otherwise, Rafa would have humiliated him like he did to Federer at Paris. Federer and Roddick should get mental strength classes from Rafa.

Vamos Rafa!

June 27th, 2008 at 4:08 pm

Safin and Ancic are through – very very awesome! Keep going guys!

June 27th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

The Safin Seppi match was awesome! Go Safin go!

June 27th, 2008 at 4:42 pm

Roddick says he choked and there are a couple of morons trying to explain he did not? That would have been so funny if it were not downright foolish. Stupidity has no limits.

June 27th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

Wow, what a great tennis day. Good job by Safin and Ancic; Ancic being one of my secret dark horse picks. Today both guys proved that it’s not about grinding out the match but by using talent and finesse they can ovewrride the beat-the-point to-the-death strategy of the grinders.

Safin has demonstrated more patience in this tournament, which has proven to be very rewarding. I’m very happy for him. Watching him play made me realize how much I’ve missed his past dominating presence on court. He’s such an imposing figure whose game is so beatiful to watch. One other strategy that he has incorporated into his game successfully but which he dislikes, is that of getting up to the net, and one which is paying great dividends. I would love to see him make a good run here and to prove his critics wrong. As one poster so aptly put it: “A guy can dream can’t he?”, well I’ll say, a gal can dream can’t she?

Ancic’s net play was awesome. He made an unsuccessful dive at net, but it was just great to see him make the effort. I would also like to see him go through to the SFs. He has suffered so much from his mono bout plus injuries, that in some way I think he deserves to attain some good results and to take back control of his tennis career..

June 27th, 2008 at 4:47 pm

“To JCF:

Why should A-Rod look “stupid” for overruling a winning matchpoint in opponent’s favor? Don’t know about you, but in my opinion, what he did was nothing but commendable… Better to lose fair and square than to win following a wrong baseline call (or something like that), isn’t it? There’s just no shame in losing like that…”

I agree Skorecel. He had a straight sets win in the bag. He let the guy have the point (he didn’t have to) probably because he was confident that he still would have won anyway. But to let that kind of lead slip… and then lose in the third set, imo is a bit embarassing. I think he had 0-40 on Verdasco’s serve, and already had a break. Verdasco was given the point, then managed to hold, break, hold, break, and then win the third set where Andy just seemed to have gone away.

June 27th, 2008 at 4:48 pm

tipsarevic’s grunting was very loud and he would do it on certain points so as to upset his opponents rhythm..those serbs are known for gamesmanship including the new IT girl ana – squeaky shoes- ivanovic

June 27th, 2008 at 4:52 pm

I’m amazed at the name calling by some of these posters who can only express themselves by so doing. I hope it is rewarding to all of you.

This type of behavior is a classic exapmle of why I make comparisons about other players. When I see the statements that emanate from fans of other players, making crude remarks about another player, it awakens a desire to speak out about the gross injustice that I see exhibited, and this causes problems. Isn’t there a happy medium instead of the tunnel vision? There should be objectivity not subjectivity.

June 27th, 2008 at 4:55 pm

Sean Randall:

I should have responded to you earlier but got caught up with other comments.

You state you saw Roddick and Blake play like garbage which caused them to stink like garbage. Sean, there are many times that I have seen your persistent bias exhibited towards selective players with a certain amount of ferocity in your statements, while you let others off the hook with a much milder form of chastisement. I don’t know how you look at it but in my mind it’s selective injustice and unfair bias. However, you’re entitled to your opinions.

This year, we’ve seen so many upsets and garbage style playing from those selctive players you like, and whose match play can only be described as garbage. However, I’ve not seem you employ the use of the same cruel headlines as those you attach to the players against whom you’re biased. Perhaps a reality check would be in order.

June 27th, 2008 at 5:06 pm

Only Federer and Nadal still alive among the top-8 players in the world, and we are only in the 2º/3º round.

Definitely grass is different. It is different from clay and different from hardcourt.

You can still play great on it playing serve-and-volley, as Haas, Ancic and Stepanek are doing this year.

Btw, Verdasco played great today, I’m impressed. This guy is very talented, I don’t know why he has never made anything big.

The tournament is getting quite interesting. Federer will be in the final, but we still don’t know who will get there from the botton-half of the draw.

I say again that Nadal will probably not be there.

June 27th, 2008 at 5:18 pm

I ask everyone: what two players will be in the Final?

June 27th, 2008 at 5:58 pm

Sean Randall:

“Von, selective bias? Who have I not criticized? Federer? Nadal? I’ve taken plenty of shots at them.”

Yes, you have criticized them but not with the same severity and harshness as you’ve done with Roddick and Blake. I mentioned the following in my post to you, which expresses my concern, viz:

“Sean, there are many times that I have seen your persistent bias exhibited towards selective players with a certain amount of ferocity in your statements, while you let others off the hook with a much milder form of chastisement.”

I’m just concerned with the harsh manner the headlines and comments are worded. However, you have the tight to your opinions and to write as you see fit.

June 27th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

Sorry typo, last para. 2nd line, ‘tight” s/b “right”.

June 27th, 2008 at 8:01 pm

“Yes, you have criticized them but not with the same severity and harshness as you’ve done with Roddick and Blake.”

He hasn’t? They’re better, that’s why. Not just better — they achieve more. In fact, there’s actually less to criticize. Most specifically, when it comes to this moment, right now, Sean’s right. They all played like garbage.

June 27th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

Von, well said. It’s no secret that Sean/tennis-x play favorites and the American players are their LEAST favorite while letting their boy Federer off the hook so often. Their bias is so infuriating. Look at their front page polls. When was the last time it wasn’t about Federer?

matt: “I ask everyone: what two players will be in the Final?”

matt, it looks like another Roger/Raffa final (yawn) is in the works. As for the women I’d like to see Safina or Jankovic.

June 28th, 2008 at 4:09 pm

TD – Peer knocked out Safina today unfortunately – I prefer the latter. Don’t know what kind of harbinger this is for Safin, hopefully not any kind at all.

June 28th, 2008 at 4:35 pm