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The Tennis Thread

aliyid

Well-Known Member
Dec 28, 2004
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As for the next gen, that final step - to competing with and beating the big 3 - is a big one to take. But the likes of Zverev, Tsitsipas, Medvedev, Kachanov, De Minaur, Shapovalov ... they're pushing their way upwards. And don't forget that Sascha beat Federer and Djokovic in winning the O2 end of season bash; still needs to go deeper in the majors though.

I can see them overtaking Federer this season (but then I've thought that for a while!) but Rafa is still looking good and Djokovic is looking ridiculous.
Think they’ll start collecting some of the Masters series titles this season now that Fed & Rafa are both focusing on the majors.

Heard a scary stat the other day after the semi finals that no player born in the 1990’s has won a major. That’s a whole generation hitting what should be their peak without a single Major between them :wideyed:
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,338
54,974
Think they’ll start collecting some of the Masters series titles this season now that Fed & Rafa are both focusing on the majors.

Heard a scary stat the other day after the semi finals that no player born in the 1990’s has won a major. That’s a whole generation hitting what should be their peak without a single Major between them :wideyed:

Zverev's already won 3 Masters 1000 titles, beating Djokovic and Federer in two of them. Time he kicked on, especially under Lendl. But yes, I agree, and can easily see Tsitsipas winning one this year.

I guess the 1990's generation was led by Dimitrov, Raonic ... difficult to think of any more to be honest! Even Cilic is 30. Thiem is 25 and may still reach the heights.
 

BSJ93

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2013
465
670
Was lucky enough to get to Aus this year. It has been on my bucket list for a few years and in my eyes it is probably the best Grandslam that I've been too (lucky enough to go to Wimbledon most years and I've been to Roland Garros twice).

They got so many things right from the tennis to the entertainment. They put on live music in the evenings (with some big bands/artists like Bastille/David Craig) and those with ground passes are able to grab a few drinks and go along after work with a few friends to chill. Despite all the extras around the grounds, the tennis is still hugely appreciated and lots of people go just for that (you can get a ground pass for £30 online and entrance takes about 5 minutes max). Tickets for the Rod Laver arena are also relatively easy to get as the majority of them aren't offered in a ballot via their national tennis association, so anyone can go and buy (I was able to pick up semi & quarter final tickets for half the price that Wimbledon costs a few days before the event and sat about 10-15 rows back).

Djokovic is playing like an absolute monster. I know he doesn't have the backing or flair that Federer and Nadal has but he really is a great player. Although people complain that he plays percentage tennis, it's a lot harder than people give it credit for. He's a crazy athlete and is able to pick the best shot that is available to him in a split second - which is an art in itself. Genuinely think he's on for all the slams this year. We're just lucky that we've been in a generation where we have all three of them. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll see any of the newer guys win a slam this year.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,562
Nobody's been in this thread for a while!

Just watched Casper Ruud thrash Berrettini in straight sets to set up a meeting with Federer in round 3. The biggest tennis match a Norwegian has been in since Ruud's dad Christian reached world number 39 in the 90s.

I don't think Ruud has a hope against the Fed at this stage of his career but he is a massive prospect with an incredible forehand, it'll be a match well worth watching on Friday.
 

Krule

Carpe Diem
Jun 4, 2017
4,534
8,686
Don't watch a lot of tennis to be honest. My favourite game was a long time ago....Borg vs Gerulaitis in the 1977 Wimbledon semi final. Never been surpassed for sheer effort in my opinion....both players giving absolutely everything . If any of you younger tennis fans haven't seen it then do try to watch it. Here's a good clip...

I do however have the greatest respect for Federer.....a true master of the sport.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,338
54,974
Don't watch a lot of tennis to be honest. My favourite game was a long time ago....Borg vs Gerulaitis in the 1977 Wimbledon semi final. Never been surpassed for sheer effort in my opinion....both players giving absolutely everything . If any of you younger tennis fans haven't seen it then do try to watch it. Here's a good clip...

I do however have the greatest respect for Federer.....a true master of the sport.


I was there. The other semi was Connors v. a qualifier called McEnroe.

It was a good day!
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,562
Ruud tried his best, played a good first half hour and can count himself a little unlucky not to take the third set, but it was a cruise for Federer really. Nine straight games for Fed at the end of the first and through most of the second set decided the match.

It was a decent watch, but I was maybe a little unrealistcally hoping for a little more from Ruud after the way he blitzed his opponents in the first two matches. Just shows how much better someone like Federer is when he's on his a-game, which he certainly was for large parts of it.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,338
54,974
Yeah, that was predictable.

Djokovic / Thiem, I think, not so much. Novak in 4. Probably.
 

Sandros Shiny Head

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
4,794
8,765
Such poor organisation today, Novak just walked off with one drop of rain and they just followed him. Now play is called off with the weather at its best
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,338
54,974
Such poor organisation today, Novak just walked off with one drop of rain and they just followed him. Now play is called off with the weather at its best

He was losing.

It's the sort of thing that stops him being as popular as his talent deserves.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,338
54,974
Massively important first game for Thiem today. He's serving at 3-1 and for me, if he loses that, he loses the match.
 

Bensonrecon

Well-Known Member
Apr 4, 2015
392
1,377
Blind, deaf and limbless waiters could give you faster service than Djokovic. I could never be in the chair for one of his matches "Have you ever played tennis?" Yes Novak I have, have you ever served the ball without bouncing it a hundred times first?

Did laugh earlier when I saw someone tweet, "Djokovic hits a serve into the net and looks up at the sun, does he want it turned off. "
 
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