The Tennis Thread

[Mustard]

Istomin knocks out Djokovic!

Mazing game. I was watching with the sound off. I didn't realise he was a wildcard

 

[nightgoat]

Mazing game. I was watching with the sound off. I didn't realise he was a wildcard

117 apparently. Kyle Edmund must really be kicking himself now.

 

[Mustard]

117 apparently. Kyle Edmund must really be kicking himself now.

Edmund never looked like winning tbf

 

[aliyid]

What a result, never saw that one coming...

Really opens up that quarter now. Gasquet & Dimitrov will be looking at that semi final place now but I wouldn't be surprised if this opens up the door for a youngster like Thiem to have a breakthrough

 

[aliyid]

Dan Evans following on from last week and how having the match of his life against Cilic. Problem with players like Cilic is they will battle to the end.

Edit: forget that, what a result.

He played really well and to come back from a set and a break behind against #7 ranked player is an awesome achievement. People always said Evans had talent just lacked the heart and application well I don't know what happened to him over the Autumn break but he's made a flying start to 2017

 

[Gbspurs]

What a result, never saw that one coming...

Really opens up that quarter now. Gasquet & Dimitrov will be looking at that semi final place now but I wouldn't be surprised if this opens up the door for a youngster like Thiem to have a breakthrough

As long as the end result is Murray lifting the trophy I don't really mind! I would love nothing more for Murray to complete the career slam this season, best chance he will ever have I suspect.

He played really well and to come back from a set and a break behind against #7 ranked player is an awesome achievement. People always said Evans had talent just lacked the heart and application well I don't know what happened to him over the Autumn break but he's made a flying start to 2017

Who knows but it's a big message to the players that are told at young ages that they won't make it. It shows the impact Andy Murray has had on those around him, Murray was always talented but it's taken supreme amounts of hard work to get where he has and it seems to be rubbing off.

 

[nightgoat]

As long as the end result is Murray lifting the trophy I don't really mind! I would love nothing more for Murray to complete the career slam this season, best chance he will ever have I suspect.

It doesn't really have any bearing on Murray until the final, he still has Wawrinka, Nishikori and Federer in his side of the draw.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

It doesn't really have any bearing on Murray until the final, he still has Wawrinka, Nishikori and Federer in his side of the draw.

Knowing Murray as I do (hardly at all) he won't be getting too carried away with the likes of those still to be negotiated. He must be favourite, but it's hardly a shoo-in.

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

He played really well and to come back from a set and a break behind against #7 ranked player is an awesome achievement. People always said Evans had talent just lacked the heart and application well I don't know what happened to him over the Autumn break but he's made a flying start to 2017

He's been on an upward curve for a year or so now. In my opinion, all the Davis Cup stuff with Murray opened his eyes up to how hard Murray works and the intensity he has in training each and every time, plus his overall consummate professionalism. I think Dan will always enjoy a drink shall we say, but I noticed a difference in his general demeanour during training sessions and a marked improvement physically

 

[tototoner]

Great result for Murray but he must keep his focus and concentration now.

 

[aliyid]

I think Dan will always enjoy a drink shall we say, but I noticed a difference in his general demeanour during training sessions and a marked improvement physically

Oh yes, I don't think it's much of a coincidence that he plays doubles with Kyrios (well that was before he sulked off).

I'm just happy that he appears to be moving more towards the 'fight your way to victory' style of Murray rather than the bravado and arrogance of Kyrios. Loved the fact that Murrays first question after coming off was "Did Dan win?" (LINK)

 

[Gbspurs]

It doesn't really have any bearing on Murray until the final, he still has Wawrinka, Nishikori and Federer in his side of the draw.

When it comes to Murray and the Austrailian open, the thought of him not getting the final is hard to imagine.

 

[nightgoat]

When it comes to Murray and the Austrailian open, the thought of him not getting the final is hard to imagine.

People said that about the US Open last year.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Our players are doing so well, nice to see Brits a force to be reckoned with.

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

People said that about the US Open last year.

It's far from a given that Murray goes on to win, but I think at the US he was physically spent from a long 2 years with Davis Cup and deep runs in all tournaments and it all caught up to him. He seemed to re-energise toward the end of the year so I think he's in a better position this time around.

Will be gutted if Wawrinka were to somehow win, Murray needs to pull away from him on the Majors front because he's been a much much better player

 

[Mustard]

Dan Evans is on fire!

Great game by him. Superb to watch.

 

[aliyid]

Dan Evans is on fire!

Great game by him. Superb to watch.

Tsonga up next... Could be one step too far but he's playing all the seeds from his section of the draw and nobody can say that he's caught an easy run of games.

Federer is looking good against Berdych (Fancied Berdych to win that one)

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Rog was a bit good. If he carries on like that he could win this thing.

 

[aliyid]

Rog was a bit good. If he carries on like that he could win this thing.

Makes the game look so easy, his movement, control and placement are incredible. It's why I always put him ahead of Nadal & Djokovic in any GOAT discussions.

If he was in the bottom half of the draw I'd say he has an outside chance but I'm not sure he'll have the fitness levels to cope with playing Nishikori then Murray then Wawvrinka back to back before the final.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Makes the game look so easy, his movement, control and placement are incredible. It's why I always put him ahead of Nadal & Djokovic in any GOAT discussions.

If he was in the bottom half of the draw I'd say he has an outside chance but I'm not sure he'll have the fitness levels to cope with playing Nishikori then Murray then Wawvrinka back to back before the final.

We will see! I'd quite like a 5 setter between Rog and Kei, because in that form I don't know that I'd bet on Andy to beat him.

As for the GOAT I'd put Federer above Nadal and Djokovic on aesthetics alone; grace and technique v. supreme athleticism and animal aggression. But whether I'd put him above Laver I don't know, and some say Pancho Gonzalez was even better than him, so I usually steer clear of the comparisons!