Preview: Federer, England Kick Off Grasscourt Season

Go Sabine!

June 9th, 2013 at 11:34 pm

oh wait! Where is Novak Djokovic? Isn’t he playing Halle or Queens??

June 9th, 2013 at 11:36 pm

Roger has some points to be gained here. He is much behind in the race to WTF. Already Roger can only go down from here as he already won Wimbledon and Cincinnati last year. I am not sure whether he will be able to recreate his magic in Wimbledon this time around. Considering his present level of form, that looks unlikely. But I wish him all the best.

June 10th, 2013 at 1:52 am

Isn’t he playing Halle or Queens??
No, he will not play a warm-up event on grass like last year. And so Nadal.

June 10th, 2013 at 2:24 am

Fed is playing at Halle last time I checked. Has he changed his mind?

June 10th, 2013 at 4:26 am

federer will drop 450 points after olympics date so even if wins wimbledon it’s possible ferrer and nadal will both overtake him and he’ll drop from the top 4.
if he doesn’t make wimbledon final, seems pretty likely.
he says he doesn’t care too much about ranking. he’ll start to care when he’s drawing top-4ers in the QF.

June 10th, 2013 at 4:59 am

Roger your beloved grass is waiting for you. Go and kick your opponents ass.

June 10th, 2013 at 5:37 am

James. Joker is playing Noodles, oops sorry, Boodles.

June 10th, 2013 at 6:08 am

Just saw these two nice interviews with Andy and Delpo at Queens. Fortunately they both seem fine. Great to have them both back.

Delpo

http://www.lta.org.uk/fans-major-events/LTA-summer-grass-court-events/Aegon-Championships/Video-Audio/

Andy

http://www.lta.org.uk/fans-major-events/LTA-summer-grass-court-events/Aegon-Championships/Video-Audio/?yo=000055394713-62194486&cat=Pre-tournament&autoStart=1

p.s. anyone doubting the importance of the Olympics to the top players should watch Juan Martin describe what it meant to him.

June 10th, 2013 at 6:10 am

Nole has not been playing a grass warm-up since 2011. I think Federer and Djokovic are the only guys to win Wimbledon without a grass warm-up in the last 10 years. Has anyone other than Federer, Nole or Borg achieved this?

June 10th, 2013 at 8:03 am

Olympics is a tournament whose importance has been heightened because Federer was one of the top male players to acknowledge it.

In 90s, Sampras couldn’t even be bothered to play it. Even when Agassi won, his career was in the dumps. The honor roll of past olympic champions is a list of 2nd rung players. Agassi, the tennis player was in the dumps when he got to play the olympics.

2008 was the 1st time tennis was played in a venue that was a regular on the tour. Rafa had already won Beijing once, so it was not an obscure tournament in a city like Athens, Atlanta or even Sydney, where most tennis stars have never played before.

2012 was special because Wimbledon, the greatest event on the tennis calendar was hosting the olympics.

Olympics in tennis is awkward. Do other sports recognise tennis gold medal as equivalent to the 100m gold? I dont think they do. Does even the ATP care for it? It gives 750 points – technically even inferior to a masters series. If you average it over 4years – it is worth less than a 250.

Hard to convince anyone Olympics means a lot in our sport. Yes, the winners like Massu or Rosset might want to claim it is the greatest thing in the tennis world, but surely that is far-off from the truth.

June 10th, 2013 at 8:16 am

It doesn’t matter what you or I think about the Olympics, it’s the players themselves. It’s not about points or prize money, it’s about something that can’t be quantified. They would play regardless of points and already play without prize money. That says something.

Agassi and Graf are on record as saying their winning gold medals are their most treasured memories. Djokovic and Delpo fell to their knees in tears merely winning bronzes, Federer’s emotional response at making the Gold medal match – those reactions speak volumes. Try to spin it any way you like. I suspect you’d be singing a different tune had the outcome of the Gold medal match been different.

On another note, it’s so wonderful to see tennis back on grass. The courts at Queens are second to none.

June 10th, 2013 at 8:38 am

“Olympics is a tournament whose importance has been heightened because Federer was one of the top male players to acknowledge it.”

poppycock!

June 10th, 2013 at 8:38 am

@the DA: the Olympics is up there. For this present bunch, IMO it’s right behind winning a slam. Rafa, Novak for sure would pick it over a WTF. Same with Andy, and I think even Fed would. It’s a rare achievement, you only get a chance once every 4 years in the biggest sporting event the world has known. And it’s prestige is only rising with every and each passing event. Those who are knocking it only doing so by being blind to the players desire to win it and regard for it. Look at Fed: he’s 31 and he states he want to play Rio 2016: pretty much sums up how highly he regards it.

June 10th, 2013 at 8:57 am

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2013/06/05/how-roger-federer-makes-71-million-a-year/

So proud of my Fed!

June 10th, 2013 at 9:14 am

squirrel, that’s very good for tennis too.

June 10th, 2013 at 9:16 am

@ brando – yep, you nailed it.

June 10th, 2013 at 9:19 am

@squirrel,

Most execellant post. A link every tennis fans should read.

Money talks, BS walks.

June 10th, 2013 at 9:41 am

@Squirrel: Thanks for the link : who would have thought that Fed would be such a expert in selling himself – I mean his name, or whatever he sells- to the big companies? 10 year contracts-mmmmm….. Not just the love of the game that’s keeping him around eh…….. Keep fattening your bank account fed with these deals, as Rafa, Novak, Muzza and a fair few others are diminishing your pay on court!

June 10th, 2013 at 10:17 am

^he sold himself? He earned it!

June 10th, 2013 at 10:24 am

If the players really thought olympics was the 5th slam, they should convince the ATP to award 2000 points to it.

If you cannot quantify it, then it is only an opinion. Danny has more proof than DA saying ” I can feel what the players feel”. Sorry, unless you are a pro-tennis player with multiple slams that doesn’t cut it.

Squirrel:

Federer is the greatest icon tennis has ever had. The guy makes more endorsement money than double of both nadal and djokovic’s endorsements combined. This is when he is well past his peak years of 2004-07. Salute to the Fed. He could have quit tennis like Borg did when he lost to Jmac. Instead Fed showed how Champions fight every adversity. It has netted him 5 additional slams, 20+weeks at no.1 and he has surely surpassed Borg’s iconic status in the game.

June 10th, 2013 at 10:25 am

Joker smashed half a dozen racquets after he was ousted in the 2012 Olympics. Emotions much.
All the players yearn for a medal, be it bronze, silver or gold. It’s not as if the Olympics comes round every year, it comes round every 4 years which makes it all the more exciting, akin to the World Cup.

June 10th, 2013 at 10:35 am

Simon. The Olympics is an ITF event I believe. Correct me if I’m wrong but don’t think the ATP have any say in the ranking points. As I said, correct me if I’m wrong.

June 10th, 2013 at 10:39 am

Federer and Haas are playing doubles together today at Halle, though they have a tough draw, against Melzer-Petzschner in the first round. It’s on at 1pm EDT.

June 10th, 2013 at 10:41 am

Don’t know if Tennis Channel will have it, but I’ll be watching the LS Hunter stream (can’t link to it – comment never posts when I try to share it)

June 10th, 2013 at 10:42 am

“than DA saying I can feel what the players feel”

That’s not what I said at all. Players are on record expressing what they feel. Nice try. Must spin better.

“they should convince the ATP to award 2000 points to it.”

Why? To validate it to your satisfaction? If the points were that important, it’d be done by now. Again, it’s just your opinion. The importance the players place on attending and their emotional reactions speak for themselves.

June 10th, 2013 at 10:45 am

Sorry, I should have written 11am EDT for the Fed-Haas dubs.

June 10th, 2013 at 10:48 am

@ Giles – yep. It’s just another disgruntled Fed fan. If he’d won the gold the same poster would be arguing about the importance of Olympic gold to anyone who tried to disparage it.

June 10th, 2013 at 10:51 am

‘The importance the players place on attending and their emotional reactions speak for themselves.’: THIS! Rafa missed USO, AO, WTF in his layoff. When asked which tourny was the biggest disappointment for him to miss without hesitation he said: the olympics. Why? He cited the honour of playing in such a event, the rarity of it, the passion of the players competing at it etc. Just look at world no.1 Novak Djokovic’s reaction when he lost the bronze match, not gold, he was in tears, inconsolable, breaking racquets in dismay that he didn’t win a medal for his country. Can you honestly see him reacting likewise if he lost in a MS final or a WTF final- I highly doubt it! Players do NOT wish for a GS due to the 2,000 ranking points. LOL. It’s due to the honour of winning one, the prestige, the history of it. Likewise with the Olympics: ranking points is meaningless and irrelevant, but the honour, prestige of it: PRICELESS!

June 10th, 2013 at 10:58 am

So, according to some Fedbots, Fed is the greatest icon tennis ever had because of the size of his endorsement portfolio. So to them Maria Sharapova is the greatest on the women’s side, I mean, that candy revenue stream is nothing to be sniffed at, right?

June 10th, 2013 at 10:58 am

PS: the prestige of winning the olmpics is gaining undeniably with each and every passing event. When the winners roll call reads of STEFFI GRAFF, SERENA WILLIAMS on the women’s side, ANDRE AGASSI, RAFAEL NADAL, ANDY MURRAY on the mens side: you bet your last dollar on future generation of tennis players wanting to join that exclusive club! To try and knock it’s growing prestige, importance to the players in their desire to have a great resume is just absolute and utter folly. Even ignorance when considering that the players cannot already state enough how prestigious it is to compete in such a event let alone win it!

June 10th, 2013 at 11:04 am

“It’s due to the honour of winning one, the prestige, the history of it ”

Precisely. Nole stated that his highest priorities for 2012 were Olympic Gold and RG, in that order. Federer is willing to hang on until 2016 to try again.

June 10th, 2013 at 11:06 am

@Nadalista, I agree with those that Roger Federer currently is the biggest tennis icon (Rafa Nadal isn’t that far behind him). However, money is not and should never be the criteria for your iconic status. If Rafa were a Brit or dating Shakira, he’d have left every other tennis player in the $$ department. That still would not have made him above Roger’s 17 GS.
Serena is a big champion and far ahead of Maria Sharapove, but guess what? Masha earns more money than any other female athlete in the world. So is she the biggest female sporting icon? Hell No! She’s just a glamorous girl who happened to win a few tennis GS.

June 10th, 2013 at 11:09 am

@James, Nadalista: excellent posts.

June 10th, 2013 at 11:12 am

Those Fed fans questioning the importance of the Olympics gold should ask Roger Federer what he thinks of it. I wouldn’t be too surprised if he’d rather an olympic singles gold over another Slam. He’s 32 but really wants to have another shot at the Games gold in 2016. That says a lot, no?

June 10th, 2013 at 11:13 am

@the DA: exactly. It’s a huge, huge prize that all the top players wish for, and pursue. Knocking it’s importance really shows nothing other than being blind to the reality of it’s prestige for the players. IMHO: Andy winning the gold at Wimbledon of all venue, trumps anything he could do possibly achieve in the game such as winning WTF, outside of winning a slam. I believe for the players, after a GS it’s the next one they desire most to win. It’s a win that goes beyond the sport due to the uniqueness of the event.

June 10th, 2013 at 11:17 am

Fed & Haas 3-1 up in the first set

June 10th, 2013 at 11:23 am

Olympic golds got relevance last 2 editions, or we can say after Agassi won it. It doesn’;t have pedigree due to not being relevant in the past.
But yes, nowadays is somehting the players desire a lot, being able to represent their country and all. So, for the players maybe higher than WTF, but for the tennis comunity as whole, past and present, I still don’t think so. Maybe with bigger names winning it in the future this may change, We already have, Nadal and Murray as Olympic winners and if this players, the actually best in the world win next edition, the importance will get higher in history books.
But as of now is debatable.

June 10th, 2013 at 11:27 am

My 8 year old son is happy that the French Open finally got to play the american anthem when Serena won. He says he is happy to move on to grass court season where american men have a chance since they all “stink on clay, especially red clay in Europe.” LOL.

June 10th, 2013 at 11:28 am

COngrats to Vixz who won the bracket challenge. My mother “GrandmaJoan” came in second.

So do we like Global Tennis site? Try somewhere else or stay for Wimbledon? I will do more PR want a much larger tennis x turnout for Wimbledon!

June 10th, 2013 at 11:32 am

@Kimberly I do like the little stories you post about your son. Did he dress in Rafa outfit for the final?

June 10th, 2013 at 11:56 am

No he only wore Rafa for the semi. He dressed in Miami Heat clothes on the Sunday as he hosted his second of two birthday parties on Sunday (one a tennis tourney the other a pool party) so he wore a bathing suit and a Miami Heat Jersey. He didn’t think Nadal needed him as much as the Heat did on Sunday.
#onechampiondefended
#cantheheatdothesame

June 10th, 2013 at 12:05 pm

^^^ Aww. Sounds like a very intelligent kid.

June 10th, 2013 at 12:07 pm

Fed and Haas lost their doubles match.
#NotGoodEnough

June 10th, 2013 at 12:22 pm

Thanks Kimberly! Beginner’s luck. Congrats to you and your family on a strong surge at the end, and to your son on his birthday. He sounds like a very astute 8-year-old!

I liked the GTN site once I got my picks to stick, which seemed to take a while. Apart from that it was pretty user-friendly. Looking forward to the Wimbledon bracket…

June 10th, 2013 at 12:31 pm

hehe…quite a bizarre photo of Rafa at EuroDisney:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1_10151656919304920_1016891181_n.jpg

June 10th, 2013 at 12:40 pm

Giles, Melzer-Petzschner (2 time grand slam champs, including Wimbledon 2010) were a tough first round draw. I saw part of the match and those guys did much better at net and communicating than Fed and Haas, who both went for the same shot (Fed’s forehand and Tommy’s backhand) several times.

June 10th, 2013 at 12:49 pm

Not sure if anyone has posted this yet, but I guess Ljubicic (a.k.a. the bald bomber in conty’s lexicon of great tennis nicknames) is Raonic’s new coach!

June 10th, 2013 at 12:58 pm

@RZ and Giles, ‘those guys did much better at net and communicating than Fed and Haas’ – not surprising for a first-time partnership. I like the idea of F & H playing doubles together, though; I hope they continue.

June 10th, 2013 at 12:59 pm

RZ. Am sure it must have been a tough first round. Didnt watch match as it wasn’t covered on TV but just saw the score.

June 10th, 2013 at 1:01 pm

@Jane – I saw that. his game was not unlike Raonic’s – big serve, first strike tennis. I think it’s a smart move. Ivan can be funny on twitter. He got involved today with gossip that Sharapova would make a surprise visit to Queen’s to watch Grigor.

June 10th, 2013 at 1:10 pm

Oh wow, I just saw that Raonic meets Monfils in the 1st round tomorrow. Gotta see that one.

June 10th, 2013 at 1:19 pm

Looks like we might have a Roger-Rafa showdown in the quarters at Wimbledon. The wimby draw would be one of the most anticipated one with Rafa being ranked No 5.

June 10th, 2013 at 1:47 pm

^^^ We don’t know that for sure.

June 10th, 2013 at 1:48 pm

Rafa not playing Halle means he will not have had any preparation for Wimbledon. I wonder if he will play a couple of Exos in the Hurlingham Club in London.

June 10th, 2013 at 1:55 pm

@James

“squirrel, that’s very good for tennis too.”

Definitely yeah,wonder if another tennis player can crack the top 10 in that list of highest-paid athletes..

June 10th, 2013 at 2:11 pm

@Brando

“Keep fattening your bank account fed with these deals, as Rafa, Novak, Muzza and a fair few others are diminishing your pay on court!”

Exactly,haha!

June 10th, 2013 at 2:12 pm

@nadalista,

re; 10:58 post

obviously you did not read the whole article, if at all. additionally it was not written by fedbots.
*sigh*

#queenofrafabotbabes
#stilltoohighonrafajuice

June 10th, 2013 at 2:14 pm

Viz – Definitely true, especially as compared to M&P who’ve played together regularly for a few years now. Fed and Haas looked like they were having fun out there together, which is good. I’d like to see them continue to play together too.

June 10th, 2013 at 2:19 pm

I am sorry, but the endorsements is only 1 way of cutting at things. Federer has 4 laureus awards, 10 ATP fan favorite awards – has been the fan favorite since 2003. Has been voted by peers for Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award – winning it more times than Edberg himself.

I know you rafabots don’t want to digest the truth, but Federer is Messi and Beckham – both it’s greatest player and icon – much like Woods is for Golf. For women’s tennis it is 2 different people, Serena is the greatest active player, Maria is the greates tennis and Women’s Icon/brand. Federer has more than Serena’s achievements (who has more achievements than nadal and co) and Maria’s endorsements [who has more endorsements than nadal and co].

It is a tough pill for federer haters to swallow, but remember this – does federer get booed at the venue of his greatest achievement like nadal did at Philippe Chatrier? No. Does Federer get his integrity questioned by an ex-champion of the tournament he dominates? [Yannick Noah].

Federer actually gets support even against home players like the WTF semi-final where the Londoners supported Fed more than murray and even booed murray at one point. Similarly, the aussies love Fed more than Hewitt. I can go on, but every one except rafabots who live in a world of denial, everyone can see the truth. The tennis writers and experts do and they are the one who decide tennis history.

June 10th, 2013 at 2:38 pm

@Simon, Federer is also more popular in Basel than any other player.

June 10th, 2013 at 2:46 pm

DA, Raonic and Nishikori are playing dubs in Halle! Won their first match.

Also, I just noticed Dimitrov lost the first set at the club of the Queen.

June 10th, 2013 at 2:51 pm

Oh – and ask the players the most important tournament routine. Federer would value Basel title and had he never won it, he might want to play that till he is 35 or 35 too – Does that make it bigger than the Year End Championship or Masters series – which have more importance in our sport?

If it is for the prestige and honor of playing for your country, is there a vast difference between a singles Gold and Doubles Gold? Surely becker’s doubles gold is no inferior than Massu’s singles gold?

Please, murray fans are the least qualified to call anyone disgruntled – the guy is perennially a 4th wheel to the top 3. Only fans more disgruntled must be ferrer or almagro’s who choke even worse than murray does. Please get back to Federer fans after murray comes even close to overtaking Nole, forget Rafa and Roger.

Giles: ITF handles the points for Olympics, but the ATP has a strong say in it. The ATP is after all, the players’ association. I am sure they will achieve the greater points to olympics medals, but there are a lot of issues – not least of which is Olympics is about the amateur spirit of the sport, while tennis is the very epitome of Pro-sport. I mean Olympics has soccer too, but surely everyone knows the real deal is World Cup and the Euro/Copa america in the next rung and the Champions League followed by EPL and La liga or Serie A.

June 10th, 2013 at 3:05 pm

“Londoners supported Fed more than murray and even booed murray”

fed fans are very ardent and lack a bit of class. what else is new?

“I can go on”

please don’t. we’ve had enough shilling for one day. thanks.

June 10th, 2013 at 3:08 pm

@James :

Too bad Rafa has to whine at his own home tournament in madrid where Serena called him a wuss for chickening out of the blue clay.

Try getting Mr. Knees to overtake Maria’s popularity. You can start with getting rid of the OCD rituals that make Baroli look like a regular person.

June 10th, 2013 at 3:10 pm

@Jane – I saw that. dimitrov still has a DF problem. He shouldn’t have lost that first set. still, Maria is there so maybe he’ll pull through this.

June 10th, 2013 at 3:12 pm

@ DA:

Right, Murray is the epitome of class. His fans are being cited by the Vatican for sainthood.

I wouldn’t have to educate you, if murray fans were so dense and ignorant of tennis.

June 10th, 2013 at 3:16 pm

Don’t think Grigor started the match with the correct amount of respect for my man dudi sela. Not watching – following score only.

June 10th, 2013 at 3:23 pm

@ simon – I don’t recall his fans ever booing an opponent of his for merely changing a racquet. Perhaps you can remind me or provide an example?

“Murray is the epitome of class”

He has never sworn at an umpire or directly at an opponent. Nor has he told the family of a player to be quiet. He berates himself. Not worthy of a sainthood, no.

June 10th, 2013 at 3:26 pm

@Simon, it seems Rafa Nadal has 11.7 million fans on Facebook and 4.5 million followers on Twitter. For a guy who was out of action for 7 months, he’s pretty popular, no? Or maybe something is wrong, I don’t know. Or maybe millions of tennis fans don’t think like you?

June 10th, 2013 at 3:28 pm

“Londoners supported Fed more than murray and even booed murray”

Last Wimbledon final, I thought the British crowd supported Murray more than Federer. Or maybe we didn’t watch the same match.

June 10th, 2013 at 3:32 pm

James,
I don’t think Simon (the tx poster not, Gilou Simon) means to say Nadal is unpopular by any means.

There were some Rafa fans having a distinct go at Federer further up this thread. I gotta say touche’ to Simon.

I don’t have the stomach for discussing or hashing over anything edgier or more in-depth than the score of the dimitrov v sela match. :D

June 10th, 2013 at 3:35 pm

Dimitrov nearly blew it but seems to have righted the ship.

June 10th, 2013 at 3:38 pm

Not yet DA.

Going to a tie-break in a sec.

That will teach the up-start to mess with the dude.

June 10th, 2013 at 3:40 pm

Poor Dude. Really is unfair. Sela works so hard but …

Congrats Dimitrov

June 10th, 2013 at 3:47 pm

Somehow Grigor squeaks through. I suspect it will be maddening to be a fan of his in the coming years. I liked how the cameras kept panning to the ball girls (obviously fans of his) who looked so anxious he might be knocked out. hehe

June 10th, 2013 at 3:48 pm

Ye, Grigor has it all.

Still wondering if he will find a way to live up to all that. Not sure.

Nishi and Raonic are more level headed imo than Grigor.

June 10th, 2013 at 3:52 pm

@contador, Rafa fans having a go at Federer is as wrong as Fed fans having a go at Nadal, which is what Simon did. Neither Rafa nor Roger are perfect. They both have their flaws. Yes, even the Swiss great. But I don’t wanna get into it now…

June 10th, 2013 at 3:56 pm

“Nishi and Raonic are more level headed imo than Grigor.”

imo too.

June 10th, 2013 at 3:58 pm

I admit to liking to stand back and read it when posters have a go, James. It is juvenile of me.

Simon and Skeezer are important here in keeping a score.

June 10th, 2013 at 4:18 pm

I’d make a very bad moderator, lol…

Every poster is different – not clumping Simon and Skeezer together but they both will come out swinging in their individual ways. There are plenty of Anti Feds here atm.

What would all this be like on a sports blog if everyone were perfectly civil? ;)

June 10th, 2013 at 4:25 pm

Here are all the ball girls who screamed for Dimitrov:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BMbFfWxCYAA4IVm.jpg

Apparently he high-fived all of them as he walked past. Wonder if Maria will have a quip about it over dinner.

June 10th, 2013 at 4:32 pm

My buttons can be pushed too James – but I like to change what those buttons are frequently. That way those who are tempted to troll me go begging much of the time. lol it is a good plan

I grew up with brothers :D

June 10th, 2013 at 4:33 pm

Contador:

Do not worry. There will always be balance. James is trying the usual rafabot trick like when he kept mum on his fellow rafabot steve27’s racist joke on serbians.

No one said Rafa is not popular. Just that Federer is way ahead of him. Just like with the slams, weeks at no.1 and year end championships.

If you accept Federer is

a) the GOAT
b) the Greatest tennis star

without making smartazz or backhanded comments like James or other rafabots, everything will be fine.

I still don’t get why murray’s fans try to get into these top 3 discussions. They should stick to other under-achievers who serve as door-mats for the success of the top 3 like ferrer, almagro, berdych, and the likes.

June 10th, 2013 at 4:36 pm

lol, Simon

I consider myself lucky to agree and sign to your terms of a) & b).

Would not want to be on the other side from you :D

Any fan can have a dog in the fight. I mistakenly name “rafa fans” when it is more on the scale from those whom are mildly anti-fed and can be pushed into the fight, to the ornery ones who cannot pass teasing sometimes= me, to those vehemently anti-fed and will initiate and hunt for a fight = the ones with a big salt shaker looking for an open wound or two…lols….

June 10th, 2013 at 4:46 pm

Oh and there is another level on the extreme end:

Federer fans———-nadal fans——–anti-feds——— ___O

O= those who are too madly in love and have left reality for fantasyland and beyond anti-fed the skin is too thin to be a barrier to salt from the salt shaker.

not enough room, but of course the continuum continues on the other side of federer extending to anti-nadals and beyond to another O. That is how I see it. It could make a good cartoon too, if I was more artistic and talented ;)

June 10th, 2013 at 5:04 pm

“try to get into these top 3 discussions”

discussions about the top 3? is that what you call the above? lol

June 10th, 2013 at 5:14 pm

If I could start a thread, something that posters can do on other forums, I would start one about typical fanbases and have a diagram.

Sorry volley, I got off topic doodling on the subject.

The tennis matches for the day at Halle and Aegon are done but tomorrow;s line up looks better.

June 10th, 2013 at 5:29 pm

contador, when i said the above i wasn’t referring to your post but the fulminating screeds by simon.

“I would start one about typical fanbases”

i wish you could. i have plenty to say about fanbases, especially the fedfans. oh what stories we could swap.

June 10th, 2013 at 5:39 pm

I guess Simon won’t be questioning Nadal’s popularity again. Cool.

June 10th, 2013 at 5:45 pm

I know. A thread like that on a sub-forum can be very good in a number of ways. It gives posters of all fanbases a place to discuss and get shall I say, Creative.

Not that Nole fans are pro-fed, I know a good many perhaps most, aren’t, aren’t you a Nole fan, volley?

June 10th, 2013 at 5:50 pm

i’m more of a tsonga fan although i appreciate nole’s game. i know it’s unfashionable but i like a few players and haven’t hitched myself to any top 3 bandwagon.

June 10th, 2013 at 5:55 pm

thanks, volley.

One more question and you can tell me, none of my business, but are you a French speaker? Did you post a link to a French article? Might have been mat4’s article.

June 10th, 2013 at 6:04 pm

a very poor french speaker nowawdays. i need the help of google-translate more and more. alas.

June 10th, 2013 at 6:12 pm

I can get by reading French but speaking it is limited to single words and some expressions/phrases. It helps when live-streaming sports here in the US to have French, Italian, or Spanish – to me Italian is the easiest to follow when listening. Anyway, back to tennis…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cw-x5MokrM

This is a bit of today’s doubles match : Hass -Federer or Melzer – Petzschner fans.

Federer I must say looks really good now with the haircut slightly grown out and I am loving the freedom I feel seeing him without that headband! Hoping he keeps hair like that and no headband for a while :D

June 10th, 2013 at 6:33 pm

Andy Murray appears to support the 2-year ranking system:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jun/10/andy-murray-dan-evans-aegon-championships

June 10th, 2013 at 7:55 pm

@Viz

That is a complete misrepresentation of what he said. The article was based on an interview he gave to the BBC earlier in the day where he merely described how the ranking system compares to golf. Here is the exact passage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=DSFlazipl4Y#t=650s

As you’ll see he does not “call for a 2-year ranking system” at all. This is very disappointing coming from a paper like the Guardian. Probably too late to stop the controversy from blowing up. No wonder he’s so wary of journalists.

June 10th, 2013 at 8:07 pm

@the DA: that’s why I said ‘appears’ – I suspected something might have been lost in translation (but was too lazy to look for the source). Thanks for the link.

June 10th, 2013 at 8:25 pm

How long do the tennis blues last after such a dull (my opinion) end to Roland Garros?

Less than 48 hours to go from eeyore to tigger with all this and more coming soon:

http://theboodles.com/book-tickets/index.html

Nole is confirmed there. ^^

conty’s picks for tomorrow: *** denotes giant tennis for Margot
* denotes must see
Halle

Raonic over LaMonf in 3 * also ***
Kamke over Kubot in 3
Struff (ger) over LMayer (arg) who is Stuff? big bruiser youngish
German. ***
Melzer over Ghedin in 2
Gulbis over Baghdatis in 3 *
Kohlschreiber over Berlocq in 2
_______________________________________________________

Aegon aka Queens

Querrey over Bedene in 2 ***
Delpo over Malisse in 3 (tricky match though) ***
FLopez over Berankis in 2
Becker over Tomic in 3
Benneteau over Mannarino in 2
Zemlja over Edmund in 2 (who is Edmund?)?? no idea.
Rosol over Groth in 2
Eminem ober RHarrison in 2 (Harrison – please go into tennis commentating! )

Istomin over Kuznetsov (Ruskie one) in 2
De Schepper over Ram in 3 ***
Cilic over Dodig in 2 ***
Benoit Paire over Kudla in 2
Dolly over Giraldo in 3
Llordra over Andujar in 3
Mahut over RWilliams in 2

Hewitt over Dimitrov in 3 *

June 10th, 2013 at 8:31 pm

@Viz – it’s all good. It just annoyed me when that story appeared. A controversy at this time isn’t ideal; now he’ll have to spend time defending himself over something he never said. grrr

June 10th, 2013 at 8:35 pm

@volley

I can respect that you like Tsonga. although a Fed career fan, we all need to get ready soon as fans for other players. Just Tsonga got good younger. Like him too.

Will Rafa be the last young guy to come on the scene and make such an impact? i remember when Roddick played him on indoors Clay in a DC match and Rafa won at a tender young age. When i saw him blowong winners by Roddick, it was like, who is this guy?

June 10th, 2013 at 8:40 pm

“just wish Tsinga got good younger”

June 10th, 2013 at 8:46 pm

Contador, the end was dull, so do you think they should have reseeded nadal? The absence of Murray and Delpo detracted from the tournament along with berdych losing early and fed playing a bad quarter and tspnga abad semi.

I think they should have reseeded him. I think they were worried it would open a can of worms but if there were ever a case to make an exception at that tournament this was it,

June 10th, 2013 at 8:58 pm

Edit to June 11 schedule in Halle:

How could I leave out Jerzy !??

Jerzy Jankowicz over Petzschner in 3 * also ***
gotta see jerzy * giant tennis ***

Stebe aka Steve over Jimmy Wang in 2 (welter weights)

June 10th, 2013 at 8:59 pm

@Kimberly

No. It was dull to me but I am sure the Spanish fans and Nadal fans had a relaxing day.

Did you read my comment about the Wimbles draw to you on another thread?

June 10th, 2013 at 9:02 pm

I like when tournaments stick with ranking – actually the points ranking for the year 2013 race would be more accurate and that would have put Nadal 1st or 2nd seed anyway.

June 10th, 2013 at 9:05 pm

I thought he should have been seeded 2 or 1. I thought it was not fair to him nor to Djokovic who shouldn’t have had to play him in a semi final.

So the seeding for Wimbledon will be
Djokovic
Murray
Federer
Nadal
Ferrer

Or are we guessing?

I can never predict grass court season. I don’t even really understand the game like I do hard and clay asi have never personally experienced a grass court bounce!

June 10th, 2013 at 9:18 pm

I mean rafa took time off so I guess he got what he deserved but I thought it was unfair to Novak, who has earned a little protection by being the number one ranked player by a lot to have to play the seven time champion and favorite in the semi. I guess we all got the match we wanted and it was every bit as special as anticipated but it felt like it should have been Sunday.

June 10th, 2013 at 9:21 pm

Well, I like that Ferrer made it to the Final of a GS for the 1st time.
So there are drawbacks and pluses. Djokovic in the final – might have altered the outcome but that is debatable.

I wrote to you, K, that GSN is not conducive to bracketeer chat but I am neutral about changing back to Tennis Channel. Thinking I will do a bracket on TC anyway. just like games.

It felt like Djokovic should have won. But don’t make me go back to being a sore loser ; ) onwards and upwards.

June 10th, 2013 at 9:28 pm

On the Wimbles seeds we are guessing until the results of Halle and Queens are known, technically – who knows if it makes any difference in reality though lol, wimbledon organizers will do what they want!

June 10th, 2013 at 9:32 pm

http://tennisabides.com/2013/06/10/tennis-power-ranking-2013-roland-garros-means-nadal-rises/ My post-Roland Garros power ranking – I am glad to see Haas and Federer playing doubles in Halle

June 10th, 2013 at 10:32 pm

@ Kimberly – maybe we could do a Tennis Channel or GSN bracket for WTA Wimbles?

WTA Queens June 11 * denotes a player I know
Tune-up for Wimbledon WTA bracket

Dellaqua vs Hantuchova*
Watson* vs Czink
Riske vs Paszek*
Vekic vs URadwanska*
Hlavackova* vs Puchkova
MSanchez (USA) vs Cepelova
Dolonc vs Bartel*
Moore vs Mladnovic
Nara vs Konta
Schiavone vs Tatishvili
Hampton vs Keys*
Putintseva vs Wickmayer*

(Could not find the schedule of play for Nurenburger)

June 10th, 2013 at 10:35 pm

Ofc, I know Schiavone!

June 10th, 2013 at 10:36 pm

Hard working people rest. Lazy people work all the time.

– Proverb from the HR library

June 10th, 2013 at 10:51 pm

Federer is to this point a shadow of his usual form let alone his form when he was in his prime. Still, the past two events he’s gone 8-2 (an improvement from the earlier portion of 2013). Maybe a win in Halle and he is 12-2 heading into SW19.

June 10th, 2013 at 10:58 pm

QF Wimbledon

Djokovic
Berdych

Nadal
Ferrer

Federer
Tsonga

Del Potro
Murray

This is my ideal qf in Wimbledon.

June 10th, 2013 at 11:01 pm

That looks realistic Steve 27

But I would swap out Ferrer for a darker horse ; maybe Delpo for someone else too.
_________________________________

@ Viz

The pictures from the Tour de Suisse are incredible – it was not sunny today but the rain-soaked roads makes the race a bit more exciting on the descents. But roads in Switzerland are more like autobahns than the goat paths in Italy – which are way more fun.

June 10th, 2013 at 11:15 pm

Contador, it’s on TV tonight so I plan to watch a bit. Those roads/conditions looked suicidal.

Steve 27 I like your picks – that sets the stage nicely for a Murray-Nadal final, which is what I want! I might put Kohlschreiber in there instead of Delpo or Ferrer though. Or even Haas…

June 11th, 2013 at 12:45 am

Stevie 27 says

“QF Wimbledon”

“Nadal
Ferrer”

“This is my ideal qf in Wimbledon.”

ROFL!
Would you like whip cream on top of that also ma’am? You sure you don’t wet dream of that being the final also? Oh man….ROFL! (Make sure he stays away from bananas, btw, bad ju ju)

June 11th, 2013 at 12:59 am

If Nadal is seeded 5, he could draw Roger for a quarter finals clash. Doubt it’ll be Nole or Andy. It will be interesting if Roger and Rafa clash again on grass. It could give Roger more confidence to face Rafa on this surface than any other. That could make it interesting.

June 11th, 2013 at 1:17 am

Viz, I desire an unprecedented final between Rafa and Andy, would be electrifying!

June 11th, 2013 at 1:19 am

freezer, did not you listen to Humble Rafa?, some cats are looking for you!
lol

June 11th, 2013 at 1:20 am

Andy’s worst nightmare, as the Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2338833/Andy-Murray-face-Rafael-Nadal-Roger-Federer-Novak-Djokovic-Wimbledon.html

June 11th, 2013 at 1:26 am

http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/10/an-era-of-greatness-but-no-grand-slams/

June 11th, 2013 at 1:38 am

@Steve 27
Oh Lol, just read Simon’s comments that Andy’s fans are “disgruntled” and “know nothing about tennis.” Whose rattled your cage BTW?
And now that “nightmare” scenario….
And all b4 breakfast…….
Hits gin rather earlier than usual….;)

June 11th, 2013 at 1:52 am

RT @christophclarey: “#Nadal in El Pais: “People often get it wrong about me. They say, “What he likes is winning.” What I like is competing”

RT @christophclarey: “El Pais: So you refuse to lose #Nadal: It’s not refusing to lose. It’s refusing to throw in the towel.That’s what makes me happy in the end”

RT @christophclarey: ” @PatrickMcEnroe I think that sums him up Patrick, truly “

June 11th, 2013 at 1:59 am

Margot, who is Simon?
I expect a big tournamnet for Andy in Wimbledon. Perry’s shadow should strengthen him rather than weaken him.

June 11th, 2013 at 2:19 am

Simon thinks that Maria Sharapova is the biggest female tennis icon. I don’t know what people think of that. To me it sounded like a piece of cr@p.

June 11th, 2013 at 2:24 am

James, Who cares what these people think?
Serena 16 majors 2 Career slam 3 WTF Gold medal
Masha 4 majors 1 carrer slam 1 WTF
Silver medal
Head to head 14 2

Tell me, is it necessary to explain who is the best?

June 11th, 2013 at 3:06 am

Wimbledon can change the order of the seeded

The Committee of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club, has a week to decide on the order of seeds in their tournament 2013, to its list of seeded Wimbledon usually use their right to modify the order of ATP rankings, according to the results on grass: Normally, the previous year. Nadal is a two-time champion at the All England finalist and three times. “Wimbledon adores Nadal, but any decision falls to the Committee,” he told AS Philip Brook, executive director of the English tournament.

June 11th, 2013 at 3:11 am

@margot – “Whose rattled your cage BTW?”

I like the visual of a cage, it’s very apt (remembers the monkey house at London Zoo). He comes here to flail around whenever Fed suffers what he considers to be an unjust loss (Murray at Shanghai & AO, Nadal at IW) and insults the players as well as their fans. Or whenever Rafa achieves another milestone. He’s a little nicer to Nole but then, unlike Rafa & Andy, he has a losing H2H. Ho hum.

June 11th, 2013 at 3:52 am

@steve 27 – Like you and Viz, I think a final between Andy & Rafa would be tremendous. Especially as he and Rafa haven’t played post-Lendl.

As far as the Wimby seedings go, I saw someone use the formula that the Committee adhere to and as it stands the seedings would go:

Djokovic
Murray
Federer
Nadal
Ferrer

However, there is a rumor they might make an exception. I hope it’s true. As much as that sets up a nightmare scenario for Andy, it could equally apply to Nole and Roger.

June 11th, 2013 at 3:57 am

Eternal optimist -but now its becoming utterly delusional…

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20130610/roger-federer-second-half-expectations.ap/

June 11th, 2013 at 5:50 am

Monfils not only has a startling new hairdo but is flummoxing Raonic at the moment. Leads 5-3. I didn’t expect him to play this well.

June 11th, 2013 at 6:37 am

After taking the 1st set Monfils breaks Raonic straight away. More misery for Milos.

June 11th, 2013 at 6:48 am

Great and funny posts from all you people.

Simon 2:38:
Yannick Noak cuestioned Rafa’s integrity, and his countryman Michel Llodra appeared then to say something like this man Noah’s head doesn’t run very well…

About Olympics again (sorry), I think too that Wawa-Fed doubles gold medal has the same “sporting value” than a tennis single medal.

And I repeat that I find very difficult to be at the same time the Goat and a true gentleman, and Roger got this. The other side: he sometimes avoids getting involved in controversy when the fairest would be to go into it.

June 11th, 2013 at 7:00 am

Monfils beats Raonic 6-4 6-2, breaking his serve 3 times…on grass. Gael was really toying with him, hitting drop shots on some serves.

June 11th, 2013 at 7:17 am

Poor Milos. Really did not think laMonf would be so good on grass.

June 11th, 2013 at 9:57 am

I love these two – Marcos and Ernie :D

June 11th, 2013 at 10:07 am

And grass court tennis…

June 11th, 2013 at 10:10 am

Me too; they are quite different but both very enjoyable to watch, and the grass is a nice change.

Is that roof retractable? Wow, those Germans must have some cash dollars. ;)

June 11th, 2013 at 10:11 am

There is hardly anywhere to rival Monaco

June 11th, 2013 at 10:12 am

Yes. And in sheer beauty too.

Gulbis is in serious mode today.

One thing these two have in common – great smiles.

June 11th, 2013 at 10:15 am

I know. Very nice on the eyes. Happy EG is not throwing a tantrum, still looking fit – makes me proud of him, jane. But I hold my breath; can it be true?

June 11th, 2013 at 10:20 am

Who knows contador; I wish for more consistency every time I watch Ernie. I’d love to see him have a good run somewhere. Did I read you saying you’re picking him to win here?

June 11th, 2013 at 10:23 am

There used to show pictures of Ernie’s dad. But it is nice to not see him. I wonder if there isn’t a situation something like Tomic and his dad. Not the same ofc, but the story of the coffee.

Set point Gulbis after only 30 minutes! he got it.

June 11th, 2013 at 10:24 am

First set in the bag.

June 11th, 2013 at 10:24 am

Yes…I back EG. But Baghdatis could catch fire again any time, guessing. Both have the talent.
Their h2h was all Baggy until the last time they met and Ernie got the win.

June 11th, 2013 at 10:27 am

Very clever of Ernie to go for the body serve on bp. But can he hold? Baggy is digging in here…

June 11th, 2013 at 10:32 am

Lordy lord, I love that serve, jane. Such an easy motion – he makes it look so simple, the serve. Oh but Marcos showing his talent too. Attacking tennis is Gulbis…

June 11th, 2013 at 10:36 am

Yes, 2 great serves in a row from EG: first the body one and then the one out wide, that barely clipped both lines. He’s gifted.

June 11th, 2013 at 10:37 am

Hey James, I didn’t mean to be so harsh on you. Was just having trouble with my stream and wanted to see this match. Not in the frame of think about Nadal just now – not when good tennis is on!

June 11th, 2013 at 10:39 am

yea, gifted. baggy too. Baggy is a new dad, right? Maybe he is still adjusting? dunno

June 11th, 2013 at 10:41 am

The thing I like seeing most is a confident Gulbis.

June 11th, 2013 at 10:45 am

Baggy would be a good dad, I suspect. He seems like a “warm” type. Yep, he too has talent and a strong/flat serve.

June 11th, 2013 at 10:45 am

SportLemon chatango makes tennis X seem so mellow and nice lol

and more lol… there goes the racket very bad…

June 11th, 2013 at 10:53 am

Baggy with the break; your prediction of Ernie in 3 still could hold, but he can’t be overcooking his forehands like in the last game.

June 11th, 2013 at 10:53 am

2nd set to marcos. this is what I expected :D

Have to go, Jane. I’ll check back in less than an hour but fingers crossed for EG – he could use more confidence and the points!

June 11th, 2013 at 10:59 am

Gulbis forehand is technically flawed. His backhand on the other hand is a beauty. Since I am on this thread I will restrain myself from talking about Nadal and actually try to discuss grass court tennis.

June 11th, 2013 at 10:59 am

gulbis flying eagle forehand, i cringe every time he goes to strike it.

June 11th, 2013 at 11:00 am

Baggy really pushing; Gulbis staved off those 3 bps – can he hold? Early goings in the third, but precarious.

June 11th, 2013 at 11:08 am

See ya contador – Hey ya Kimberly.

Long game!

June 11th, 2013 at 11:11 am

Baggy doesn’t get the break; Gulbis does.

It’s interesting how often that happens. One guy misses his chance and the very next game the other guy breaks. Momentum? Confidence?

June 11th, 2013 at 11:19 am

did the rain stop at Queens?

June 11th, 2013 at 11:19 am

Hi Jane! How are you. Always find grass season the place to expect the unpredictable because its so short. As I said last night I have never played on grass and I just don’t understand the formula for success.

June 11th, 2013 at 11:20 am

Gulbis seems to be running away with it. Contador looking to come good on the Gulbis in 3 prediction.

June 11th, 2013 at 11:21 am

Pretty well Kimberly, thanks. Still raining at Queens. Yes, agree: EG seems to have momentum now. Looks like contador was right.

June 11th, 2013 at 11:25 am

Im so proud of our Brit guys and gals,they all seem to love playing the GC season,great win for Dan Evans against a player ranked world no 76,dissapointed but proud of James Ward beaten in a 3 set tie break by Ivan Dodig,great win too for Heather Watson,looking forward to seeing Andy back again tomorrow,although im wary about his game against Malisse,after what happened last year,i want Andy to have a good run hear at Queens to set himself up nicely for Wimbledon,go Andy.

June 11th, 2013 at 11:34 am

Congrats to EG, and good call contador. Hope EG can go further.

June 11th, 2013 at 11:35 am

I think Gulbis is not a very good person but I love his game and his talent. Imagine what one could do with David Ferrer mindset and determination and Gulbis raw material.

June 11th, 2013 at 11:38 am

Dissapointing that the matches hear at Queens, keep getting interupted because of the rain,they keep showing repeats of yesterdays matches,im watching a repeat of the final between JWT and Murray in the final two years ago,great match though.

June 11th, 2013 at 12:01 pm

Woops meant Mahut not Malisse in my earlier post,Delpo is playing Malisse,Delpo won the 1st set on a tight tie breaker,but took the 2nd set 6-1,hes absolutely out playing Delpo,up a break in the 3rd set now,playing very consistent and beautiful tennis.

June 11th, 2013 at 2:36 pm

@contador, no problem. I probably deserved it ;

June 11th, 2013 at 5:23 pm

@skeezer—have u ever played on grass? Has anyone here? I would be very interested to here some input on it. There is only one grass court in Miami and I have never had the motivation to book it when there are so many great clay and hardcourts. But I should, just to try it.

June 11th, 2013 at 5:30 pm

The Delpo/Malisse match was of very high quality,i have never seen Malisse play that well in a long time,both players going for their shots been aggressive,Malisse was the slightly better player IMO,and Delpo was a touch lucky to get the W in the end.

June 11th, 2013 at 5:39 pm

Malisse always plays well in Queens. I remember one year he beat Novak I think. Or was it Murray? It was the year they all crashed out (Rafa, Novak, Murray and then I think Querrey won the tourney?) Or am I hallucinating this happened?

June 11th, 2013 at 5:49 pm

I just looked it up. It was Novak at Queens. Surprisingly, Novak and Malisse have only played twice their head to head is 1-1 and both matches went to a decider. I think that was the year where he played really bad though, right up until the USO when he almost lost to troicki but then began his ascent to the top beating Fed in the semi.

I remember Nadal lost to Feliciano Lopez that same tournament. (Brad Gilbert called it a Mulligan) and I think Roddick lost to Dudi Sela. I don’t remember who Murray lost to.

June 11th, 2013 at 5:55 pm

Piqued my own interest. Fish beat Murray.

June 11th, 2013 at 5:57 pm

Brando Says:
@Squirrel: Thanks for the link : who would have thought that Fed would be such a expert in selling himself – I mean his name, or whatever he sells- to the big companies? 10 year contracts-mmmmm….. Not just the love of the game that’s keeping him around eh…….. Keep fattening your bank account fed with these deals, as Rafa, Novak, Muzza and a fair few others are diminishing your pay on court!

June 10th, 2013 at 10:17 am

Brando, what has happened to your posts recently? You never used to be this bitchy about fed. Everyone who plays tennis at a high level is making money through their own talent and they deserve it.

In fact, it was Fed who argued for the lesser known players who get paid a pittance for entry, that they should get a rise in fees in order to pay for their travel expenses, hotels, physio, etc., and couldnt afford to, it’s thanks to fed that this was sanctioned, at wimbledon of all places. So no need for that.

June 11th, 2013 at 8:11 pm

RT “@andy_murray
sometimes you have to be away from something to realise how much you love it… cannot wait to get back on the match court tomorrow!!!”

June 11th, 2013 at 11:27 pm

DA, I missed the first set but I am watching now. (Came over to the grass thread as too much snark on the other one…)

June 12th, 2013 at 11:05 am

@Jane – ah okay. He seems to be in good shape. That slippery court is making me very nervous for both players. Good that they stopped.

June 12th, 2013 at 11:12 am

They’ve stopped again, are “brushing” the court. It’s not really raining much apparently, but slippery.

June 12th, 2013 at 11:12 am

I didn’t know a brush helps to dry a court. Learn something new every day.

June 12th, 2013 at 11:15 am

Ah, that’s it – leaving court again. The weather forecast is not good either. : / Sounds like they are replaying Hewitt beating Dimitrov. I was kind of surprised by that, but not entirely. Just thought Dimitrov might do well on the grass.

June 12th, 2013 at 11:21 am

Dimitrov played terribly this morning, especially his movement. He couldn’t even slice without an error. Hewitt played well but he didn’t have to try hard.

June 12th, 2013 at 11:23 am

Oh thanks for the update DA. Maybe I won’t’ bother watching. What’s happening at Halle? I think Fed would be next – against Stebe?

June 12th, 2013 at 11:27 am

He’s on in about 10 mins.

June 12th, 2013 at 11:28 am

Leyton really rolled back the years with that match against Grigor,such a talented and up and coming young player,Leyton reminded me of why he won Wimbledon all those years ago,playing such fantastic tennis,hes won the Queens trophy 4 times so he a very acomplished GC player,hes one of the players outside the top 4 of the older generation i really enjoy watching,shame he lacks that consistency,such a fighter thats unfortunatly lost a step which happens with age,i would love to see him have another good run at Wimbledon.

June 12th, 2013 at 11:30 am

Tennis x hippy chic; you have a quite a different review of the match from the DA!

June 12th, 2013 at 11:32 am

Fed’s already up a break.

June 12th, 2013 at 11:46 am

Jane with The DA in that Leyton played well,but Grigor allowed him to though,didnt show up.

June 12th, 2013 at 11:51 am

They’re back on court. Andy leads 2-1, on serve.

June 12th, 2013 at 12:05 pm

And now they’re off again. It’s really raining now. Ah, the British summer.

June 12th, 2013 at 12:11 pm

I missed them coming back on the court as had to talk son to school. Too bad about the rain. Wasn’t Margot going this week? Hope she gets some decent weather and gets to see Andy play some.

Anyone watching Fed’s match? Stebe’s not too bad though he makes quite a few errors. Fed returning pretty well it seems, maybe not getting n as many first serves as he’d like.

June 12th, 2013 at 12:20 pm

^ addendum: Fed’s chip BH return works best on grass, yes?

June 12th, 2013 at 12:20 pm

I switched over to that. yes it work really well on grass. But what a contrast in courts. It looks bedraggled compared to the lush courts at Queens. I remember Roddick used to say they were the best grass courts in the world.

June 12th, 2013 at 12:26 pm

Jane at Queens theres a repeat now going on of the Rafa/Nole final in 2008,i dont get the Halle tournament where i am,the grass looks bald,compared to what it does today,but im guessing it was due to wear and tear on the surface,as it was the end of the tournament,both players look so different,Rafa with his short sleeves and pirate shorts,and Nole had more meat on his bones.

June 12th, 2013 at 12:28 pm

Thanks for the heads up alison; I remember that was a high quality Rafole final.

DA, i agree about the Halle court; I noticed that yesterday during the Gulbis/Baggy match. I wonder why that is? Upkeep? Less rain? Because of the roof? Queens always looks so lush! Would be lovely if the sun would just shine a little bit more.

June 12th, 2013 at 12:37 pm

^ oops sorry, I mean “Hippy chic.”

June 12th, 2013 at 12:37 pm

Fed’s return worked well this match, especially on second serves.

June 12th, 2013 at 12:43 pm

Bit of a wobble at the end but Fed makes it through quite easily.

June 12th, 2013 at 12:50 pm

Play cancelled for the day at Queens. :(

June 12th, 2013 at 1:58 pm

Jane you can still call me Alison if you want to,i dont mind honestly:)..

June 12th, 2013 at 3:36 pm

@Madmax:

LOL, chill out.

It’s just a tongue in cheek post: a nothing comment.

Of course Fed has earned all the advertising deals out of his standing in the game- by merit.

I don’t blame him.

June 12th, 2013 at 3:47 pm

First… I’m a cynical bastage…

but..

Another tongue in cheek hypothetical… Is there any room to assume Fed’s altruistic efforts to grant lower ranked players more money to attain proper physio and trainer services, creating a higher density of parody among the up-and-coming players, a covert angle to protect some of his more gaudy records?

More parody equals less domination, no?

June 12th, 2013 at 4:22 pm