The Tennis Thread

[aliyid]

Decent battle between Djokovic and the Russian qualifier. Looked like Novak was going to steamroll him at start of the 2nd but battled away and nearly pulled it back.

Never seen him before this week but looks decent

 

[ralvy]

I'm very excited about tonight's final. I'm fully rooting for Nole, but I also think Medvedev has enough to beat him.

Should be a great match in Djokovic doesn't suddenly starts feeling that injury again.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

I'm very excited about tonight's final. I'm fully rooting for Nole, but I also think Medvedev has enough to beat him.

Should be a great match in Djokovic doesn't suddenly starts feeling that injury again.

He hasn't shown much sign of the injury in the last couple of matches, so if it stays that way I think it could be a close game. I have Djokovic as favourite, but not in less than 4 sets, and it could go either way.

 

[aliyid]

He hasn't shown much sign of the injury in the last couple of matches, so if it stays that way I think it could be a close game. I have Djokovic as favourite, but not in less than 4 sets, and it could go either way.

Yeah think Djokovic should win but Eurosport did a great mini piece on Medvedev before the semi where they showed just how low the ball stays on his shots making him that much harder to defend against.

Should also note that Medvedev has beaten Djokovic in three of their last four meetings so may give him a little bit of belief.

Looking forward to this one

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Have to say it's looking a bit dodgy for Medvedev!

Edit: That was a bit of a stuffing. Disappointing.

 

[yusrisafri]

Djokovic too good.

You know a lot of people say Federer is the greatest of all time. But Nadal is on par with him in grand slams, and has a better head to head record.

Djokovic is closing in with 18 now, 2 to go and very much reachable, AND has a better head to head record to Roger as well.

I used to think he was untouchable at the very top of the ranking as the greatest, but not anymore.

I think Djokovic will claim that mantle.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Djokovic too good.

You know a lot of people say Federer is the greatest of all time. But Nadal is on par with him in grand slams, and has a better head to head record.

Djokovic is closing in with 18 now, 2 to go and very much reachable, AND has a better head to head record to Roger as well.

I used to think he was untouchable at the very top of the ranking as the greatest, but not anymore.

I think Djokovic will claim that mantle.

Hmm. Depends on the definition of GOAT I guess. Is it just statistics?

 

[wooderz]

Yeh Roger is the greatest player... Novak is just a dick. Sorry, I know Novak's stats will make him number 1, but I can't stand the guy

 

[yusrisafri]

W

Hmm. Depends on the definition of GOAT I guess. Is it just statistics?

What else is there to determine GOAT? Surely stats has to be the deciding factor. His head to head with these 2 are poor. He used to be able to claim the mantle by winning the most Slams, but he cant hide his weakness behind the no of slams anymore.

 

[ralvy]

Djokovic too good.

You know a lot of people say Federer is the greatest of all time. But Nadal is on par with him in grand slams, and has a better head to head record.

Djokovic is closing in with 18 now, 2 to go and very much reachable, AND has a better head to head record to Roger as well.

I used to think he was untouchable at the very top of the ranking as the greatest, but not anymore.

I think Djokovic will claim that mantle.

Nole already is the greatest IMO.

I think Roger lacked enough ambition to be the GOAT. There was a period of time, between 2008 and 2010 I think, in which he kinda seemed bored with tennis and which maybe he could have used to ratify that GOAT status people at the time were so desperate to give him.... but he didn't, and then Rafa learned how to win majors outside of clay, and Nole came of age, and Roger quite simply got left behind by these two.

Now Novak Djokovic simply seems to be unstoppable. Truly amazing mental strength and physical condition, making him one of the very best athletes of all times.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

What else is there to determine GOAT? Surely stats has to be the deciding factor. His head to head with these 2 are poor. He used to be able to claim the mantle by winning the most Slams, but he cant hide his weakness behind the no of slams anymore.

Personally I think style, character, off-court as well as on-court comportment also come into it, though the number of major and other tournament wins must of course play a big part.

There again, what about players from the past who did not have the same opportunities and longevity of today's? No entourage; no gluten-free diets, no scientific training regimes that allow them to run forever and extend their careers. Do statistics tell it all?

Rod Laver won a calendar grand slam, then turned pro and missed 21 of them, came back and won another calendar grand slam. He ended up with 11 majors, but how many might he have won had he not those chances? He won 8 Pro-Slam titles - they had 3 a year, with no Australian tournament - which puts him on 19 ... Federer has won 103 tournaments; Connors won 109; Laver won 200

I think the GOAT in tennis is the same as in most other sports; a great discussion but ultimately it's down to opinion.

All I can say is that I know who I think is the most naturally talented player I've ever seen, and the one I would choose to watch. But that's just me!

 

[wooderz]

Personally I think style, character, off-court as well as on-court comportment also come into it, though the number of major and other tournament wins must of course play a big part.

There again, what about players from the past who did not have the same opportunities and longevity of today's? No entourage; no gluten-free diets, no scientific training regimes that allow them to run forever and extend their careers. Do statistics tell it all?

Rod Laver won a calendar grand slam, then turned pro and missed 21 of them, came back and won another calendar grand slam. He ended up with 11 majors, but how many might he have won had he not those chances? He won 8 Pro-Slam titles - they had 3 a year, with no Australian tournament - which puts him on 19 ... Federer has won 103 tournaments; Connors won 109; Laver won 200

I think the GOAT in tennis is the same as in most other sports; a great discussion but ultimately it's down to opinion.

All I can say is that I know who I think is the most naturally talented player I've ever seen, and the one I would choose to watch. But that's just me!

and it's not Novak, am I right?

 

[Arnoldtoo]

and it's not Novak, am I right?

You are right. Having played and coached the game for many years I can appreciate how Novak's positional preparation is absolutely amazing and his metronomic shot production is phenomenal, point after point, hour after hour, but to me he is a perfect machine (that sounds more unfair than is intended!) Federer is an artist, graceful and almost beautiful to watch. For me he's the best, most natural talent I've ever seen, but it's an opinion that can't claim to be right where someone else's is wrong.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Great win for Dan Evans!!

Just beat Djokovic in Monte Carlo, in straight sets!

 

[spurs mental]

Great win for Dan Evans!!

Just beat Djokovic in Monte Carlo, in straight sets!

Any win over Djokovic is great in my book

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Any win over Djokovic is great in my book

I know what you mean, but I first saw Dan playing as a 15 year old in a tournament in Sutton. Who'd have thought that kid would go on to beat the world #1 and one of the best of all time!

 

[ajspurs]

I know what you mean, but I first saw Dan playing as a 15 year old in a tournament in Sutton. Who'd have thought that kid would go on to beat the world #1 and one of the best of all time!

Yeah such a good win, really happy for the guy as I know he's had a lot of personal issues throughout the years too. Nice of him to not even celebrate until after the handshake too, I always notice those small things haha

 

[aliyid]

Catching up on the replay at the moment (3-4 in first) and he’s playing some good stuff.

Lots of grip on his slice backhand and a few delicate little drop shots coming off the forehand side too.

 

[ralvy]

Catching up on the replay at the moment (3-4 in first) and he’s playing some good stuff.

Lots of grip on his slice backhand and a few delicate little drop shots coming off the forehand side too.

I agree. Djokovic obviously wasn't having a good day, but I think he also was counting with his rival making more unforced errors, but Evans was just too consistent today with his slicke backhand.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

I agree. Djokovic obviously wasn't having a good day, but I think he also was counting with his rival making more unforced errors, but Evans was just too consistent today with his slicke backhand.

Over-confidence leads to complacency, and not only in tennis.