Not bad for first trying MM & MM bond . I got the feeling this MM zeal can bring a bang @ Wimby.

June 12th, 2014 at 1:18 am

Who is Peter Gojowczyk?? He beat Milos in Halle.
What’s up with that? Milos is supposed to be one of the young guns that’s gonna make it big….whoa…not yet! Maybe he has a health issue, I think more do than don’t as of late.

June 12th, 2014 at 1:19 am

Okiegal.
Milos has no health issue but only FO blue, hehehe and our man will make his baby step later, hope It will be a steady step .
Vamos, Rafa!

June 12th, 2014 at 1:29 am

Me too Me tan….lol! Our guy did good, no??

I hope he gets to steppin to the Halle finals….but also want him to be good and rested for Wimby……VAMOS!!

June 12th, 2014 at 1:38 am

Lovely to see Andy playing so well. Variety of shots which continue to entertain us and uphold the spirit of proper tennis. Best of luck to the AM partnership.

June 12th, 2014 at 3:44 am

Purcell, the amazing thing is that there are still people who say Andy is boring. One on the ATP forums has just said so, using the tired, tired crack about watching paint dry.

As you and I and real tennis fans know, Andy hardly plays the same shot twice running, in a rally, but no, he’s “boring”. These people are like the adolescents posting on boxing forums who think a win doesn’t count unless there’s a knockout and, preferably, lots of blood.

By the way, Tomic, who’s struggled lately, took Stepanek to two tiebreaks, which suggests Andy’s next opponent is not in devastating form.

June 12th, 2014 at 5:51 am

Colin: looking forward to seeing Andy play again especially against Steps who’s also good entertainment value, whatever the surface.

June 12th, 2014 at 6:14 am

i can see immediate improvement in andy since hiring the wta player. the wimbledon champion won a match on grass.

reality check: my dog could coach andy murray to a queen’s victory and even a wimbledon victory.
murray is one of the best grass court players on the planet.

so let’s not make his 2014 grass season about a wta player. she has nothing to do with his current level and any future benefit he gets from her will be immeasurably small at this point in his career given his game is firmly established.

the only time mauresmo could possibly have helped him was before he won his GS’s, since mauresmo was a choker for most of her career but turned it around. but that conversation could have happened over dinner and didn’t need a coaching contract.

June 12th, 2014 at 7:09 am

Guys, Federer just dropped the first set in a TB to Sousa (who has never won a grass court match). Sousa’s playing well but Rog is looking really rusty. He didn’t convert any of his 7 BP opportunities. Still early yet but disconcerting.

June 12th, 2014 at 7:24 am

Don’t worry, Roger leads at second set. He will get trough. It is just warming up. 😄

June 12th, 2014 at 7:37 am

the DA, This is a tough match by the looks of it. Did not expect Fed to be so rusty, cannot surely be nerves. Who is Sousa?!!!!

Ah, now we have to say, what will be, will be. He certainly needs more match wins under his belt. Halle is a tournament he has played many times.

May be he was up with the kids the night before. I saw an interview where he said he was very tired a couple of nights. Not good news if he is to take this tournament this seriously.

June 12th, 2014 at 7:39 am

@madmax – He has righted the ship and taken set 2. Should be okay. I’ haven’t seen him this rusty on grass in a loong time.

June 12th, 2014 at 7:45 am

@the DA, you just don’t have faith, hehhehe. He is in charged now.

June 12th, 2014 at 7:51 am

The maestro is in the next round and that only counts. He can only imrpove from now on. Potentially Ivo in the next round. Tough one. But him and nishikori and nadal in the final would be confidence booster if he wins them all.

June 12th, 2014 at 8:12 am

Assume that Rafa goes trough. Philip Kohls is waiting for Rafa and he is good on the grass court and he will be right person to test Rafa.
Wait and see!

June 12th, 2014 at 8:18 am

Rather terrible first set from Fed despite good serving. Initially excellent play by Sousa. Good job his game dropped off or Fed would have been out. Lovely exchange at net and wait for it…..Sousa and Fed equal first in lustrous locks department. Breathtaking slow motion shots of Fed.
Yeah, Karlovic….great bloke.
Roll on Andy.

June 12th, 2014 at 8:25 am

Thanks guys for the update. Did not have a live stream, so been reading your comments.

Wow! Fed. Did not expect him to lose the first set, though it was v close indeed. End result is the one I wanted! He really does sail close to the wind sometimes though.

Apart from the first set, did you think it was fed’s footing, position? Could he not read his opponent’s shots? You say he was serving well? I will read the write up when it’s posted soon enough.

June 12th, 2014 at 8:38 am

With Fed lately it has always been break-point conversions.He was 0/5 for break-points in the first set. At least it didn’t get as bad as that MC match he played against Tsonga.

June 12th, 2014 at 9:31 am

i’m surprised sousa took a set. i saw him play in indian wells and didn’t think much in terms of being a threat to the top 10.

June 12th, 2014 at 11:45 am

Murray is really struggling. He’s totally distracted by Worm making sexy-eyes at Judy and Amelie.

June 12th, 2014 at 11:48 am

So, Gulbis and Raonic already knocked out, and today the first big name: Andy Murray.
Grass is taking names and kicking butt. Kei, Fed and Dog barely escaped. Rafa, welcome! Lets see what you got this week.

June 12th, 2014 at 11:58 am

I’m happy that Murray is playing well on grass. He def. has a shot at defending his title at Wimbledon…well, with a little luck that is.

Also, even if Roger was a little rusty today, he’s always dangerous on grass. I believe he’ll be more than prepared for Wimbledon.

Between the World Cup and tennis, I’m excited for all the sports the next few weeks!

June 12th, 2014 at 12:16 pm

Josh,

I live in Rio and the atmosphere is insane. Although few are a bit scared due to people not happy with the event and corruption behind it if it’s going to be some manifestation.
Living work in 30 minutes, downtown is deserted already.

It’s a big event in Brazil as I think we are the most loving soccer nation that it, but I’ll rather be in London in 2 weeks time:-)

June 12th, 2014 at 12:28 pm

Saw score and Nadal is down a set already. All top dogs having problems today. so far Wawrinka is leading 4-2 but will see.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:29 pm

Totally perplexing loss by Andy today. He had 8 set points…yes 8…and couldn’t convert. He looked listless in the 1st set and just plain flat in the 2nd. Steps is a very tricky player, especially on grass. I’m not too concerned. I think he’s still pooped from the RG run. This will give more time to bond with Amelie.

Anyway, Andy only wins Queens in the odd years 2009, 2011, 2013 ;P

As I type this Dustin Brown has taken the 1st set from Rafa.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:30 pm

I said the new surface would shake up the snow-globe of the tennis world, but I didn’t expect all this carnage.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:34 pm

Jess Says:
With Fed lately it has always been break-point conversions.He was 0/5 for break-points in the first set. At least it didn’t get as bad as that MC match he played against Tsonga.

——-

This has been an ongoing issue with Federer for a very long time now. His inability to convert a deccent % of his break point opportunities has been the main area was his game has shown cracks over the past 5 years. I think back to the Wimbledon final with Roddick. Even by 2009, this was a problem and it had been a problem as far back as 2008. Federer plays a timing game. If he loses a step or his reflexes slow by a hair, his game still looks nice but he doesn’t get the results. Same thing happened to Sampras.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:36 pm

4-0 Brown 2nd set.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:38 pm

Irritating that Andy couldn’t close out that fist set.
A win would have been more helpful than usual at queens, but then a loss is no big deal.
He might just need the down time more than usual anyway.
Yes, a nice reality check.
Misery loves company Rafa is serving to avoid a loss, & bagel.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:40 pm

Will Brown now realise just who he is playing against?
Probably wont matter.
Nadal has had a few of these recently.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:43 pm

Anyone watching Nadal match, is he just not in the mood for grass (new grass, too fast), playing bad or seems another issue.

I thought he could lose but bagel menas he can’t even hold serve and this is grass and his slice adv serve is always tricky.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:43 pm

GSM
Well done I suppose,
He’s quite fun to watch Brown
Bet he wishes it was Wimbledon first round instead lol

June 12th, 2014 at 12:44 pm

It could happen to any of them on a fast GC
Although its usually happening to Fedal these days.
I think the only way anyone can beat Nadal (apart from Novak) is to shoot from the hip and hope for your `one good day`.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:46 pm

wow. that was over quickly. nice win for dustin. transition tricky for nadal by the sounds of it.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:48 pm

Dustin Brown can tell his grandkids he beat legend, 2-time Wimby winner, and world #1 Rafa on grass.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:53 pm

Once Wimbledon starts it will be an entirely different scenario. And 5 set matches are much harder to be consistently `inspirational` in.
Fortunately for the top seeds.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:54 pm

Wow, this Brown guy came inside the baseline very quickly to return that first serve…….scary good! He looked very impressive……but where is this dude deeper in the tourneys? Has he won any titles? He was fun to watch, I will admit. On to the practice courts and then Wimby!! This outcome was no surprise to me.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:54 pm

This loss has to put at least some doubts in Rafa’s mind regarding Wimbledon. 6-4 6-0 is a serious dustin’ by Dustin. Have to believe Rafa hasn’t acclimated himself yet. There isn’t much time.

No worries though. I’m sure Humble Rafa will come up with some clever rationalization for this loss. Something about cows or other livestock. I just can’t wait to hear it.

The grass season is short. Too short given that a slam is played on it. It would be nice to see a 4 or 5 week grass court season with both the clay and hardcourt seasons giving up a week. Even next year’s three week change doesn’t seem like enough.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:56 pm

how come nadal now sucks on grass, earlier in his 20’s he use to make all grass court finals.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:56 pm

Rafa losing today isn’t a big deal, or a shock. Did anybody really expect him to do well at Halle? I feel he’s definitely a long shot to win Wimbledon too.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:59 pm

4 or 5 weeks before Wimbledon is what i meant.

June 12th, 2014 at 12:59 pm

`how come nadal now sucks on grass, earlier in his 20′s he use to make all grass court finals…`

Channel slams are for the young uns.
Rafa has definitely been under a lot more pressure at this point of the year than in the past.
Because Rafa won RG I would be very surprised if he won Wimbledon this year.
You have to hand it to Borg and his 3 channel slams
Amazing particularly given the increased difference of the surfaces back then.

June 12th, 2014 at 1:05 pm

Not really. Nadal has only made it past the quarter finals once in a grass tune up event.

June 12th, 2014 at 1:11 pm

Got his money and got out if Dodge. LOL!

June 12th, 2014 at 1:13 pm

Oh my gosh, Andy got beat. Not surprised by Rafa losing early, certainly not the first time, but I am a little shocked about Andy. Steps can be a force at times if he gets all ramped up. Dustin my go on and win Halle as pumped as he is right now beating #1.

#fickletennis

June 12th, 2014 at 1:13 pm

^^^^may go on……

June 12th, 2014 at 1:14 pm

Yes Frankie, quick 750,000 pounds, eh?

June 12th, 2014 at 1:31 pm

In a way glad Rafa was knocked out. The man needs some serious rest. So on to Manacor he goes, ready for some R & R and World Cup!
Vamos Champ!

June 12th, 2014 at 1:42 pm

NID. Dull exposed once more as a one-dimensional moonballing slow court pusher, who is unable to play on real tennis surface. It’s hilarious how out of place Dull looks on grass. It’s a shame that Wimbledon grass is way slower than this – Dull might actually fluke a win or two there.

June 12th, 2014 at 1:55 pm

Yes Ash. Looks very out of place, poor one dimensional player who has TWO Wimbledon titles.
Vamos Rafa!

June 12th, 2014 at 2:24 pm

Dolgopolov vs Dmitrov tomorrow.

Tsonga also out, and Cilic out. Both grass tourneys have been gutted by seeds going out.

June 12th, 2014 at 2:42 pm

HAHAHA @Ash

Rafa has won wimbledon twice and has been to the final 5 times. I am not really a fan of Nadal but to say he is one dimensional really shows that you know little about tennis. A career slam is not an easy thing to achieve. Ask Sampras. Ask Nole. Ask McEnroe.

June 12th, 2014 at 2:43 pm

kjb, don’t forget Lendl who would have killed for Rafa’s grass game.

June 12th, 2014 at 3:06 pm

*peeks in*

*shakes head*

*ducks out*

June 12th, 2014 at 3:29 pm

^*Yeah well thats what I was doing during Clay season*

I see Rafa has celebrated his FO victory by losing to another first rounder(err..second rd here but his first match).
Lol.

June 12th, 2014 at 4:00 pm

SG1, you quote the wrong score for Brown vs Rafa. The second set was not a bagel, it was 6-1.

June 12th, 2014 at 4:01 pm

GOAT my a$$ Rafa fans! GOATS don’t keep losing in the first round of tournys. Which lucky top 200 player gets to take Nadal out at Wimby?

June 12th, 2014 at 4:02 pm

TIT. This is one Rafa fan you are not going to rile. Am still on Cloud NINE! In the meantime I will leave you to vent and stew!
Vamos Rafa!

June 12th, 2014 at 4:14 pm

Thanks

June 12th, 2014 at 4:52 pm

colin,
He was up 5-0, but yes the breadstick it became.

June 12th, 2014 at 7:19 pm

Funnily enough, one of the best things in Andy’s match was a point he lost. Doing his usual “get one more ball back” schtick, he slipped at the side of the court and took an undignified sprawl. He rolled over and got up with a sheepish smile.

Only a few short weeks ago, he’d have shouted – not in pain but alarmed – and then sat there feeling bits of himself to see if there was damage. I think he’s stopped worrying about his back.

Now he needs to get the serve sorted out. Please do that, Andy. Please!

June 12th, 2014 at 7:47 pm

@Colin
Amelie was taking notes……..here’s hoping!

June 14th, 2014 at 2:42 am