The Tennis Thread

[Timberwolf]

Not sure I can recall ever seeing a sportsperson with such undeniable star power at such a young age.

I watched the quarter final against Bencic and was instantly in awe of how cool Raducanu was. She's the epitome of zen out on the court - just pure, cold-blooded focus point after point. Then against Fernandez at times it felt like I was watching a film portrayal of a tennis final - Emma almost seemed too well-cast for it to be real.

She talks, plays and carries herself like someone 10 years older. It's truly remarkable. She's already made history but I would honestly be surprised if she doesn't go on to be one of the biggest starts in British sport...ever. She really has got it all.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

This is the big thing for me. We spoke a few months ago on this thread about the lack of big players / characters in the women’s game.

On one side it shows the strength in depth but also there are no stand out exceptional players. This could be a huge opportunity to step into the void left by the likes of Serena, Clijsters, Henin, etc… There have been quite a few first time winners over the past couple of years, can she establish herself at the top of the game?

Since 2010 there have been 23 different major winners in the women’s game:

• Serena Williams
• Angelique Kerber
• Kim Clijsters
• Victoria Azarenka
• Li Na
• Maria Sharapova
• Petra Kvitová
• Garbiñe Muguruza
• Naomi Osaka
• Simona Halep
• Francesca Schiavone
• Samantha Stosur
• Marion Bartoli
• Flavia Pennetta
• Jeļena Ostapenko
• Sloane Stephens
• Caroline Wozniacki
• Ashleigh Barty
• Bianca Andreescu
• Sofia Kenin
• Iga Świątek
• Barbora Krejčíková
• Emma Raducanu

Compare that to the men’s side where there have been just 7

• Djokovic
• Federer
• Nadal
• Murray
• Wawrinka
• Čilić
• Thiem

Sue Barker spoke about how many teenagers had won a grand slam in the last few years and were talked about as being the next ⭐️

For whatever reason (personal life intrusion/spotlight/social media) this simply hasn’t happened

Hopefully Raducanu can handle all that’s to come. Good luck to her, she’s going to need it!

 

[WannaDanceWithUdogie]

Unbelievable, what a performance. She is my age and i'm sat here getting angry at tottenham hotspur and ranting on a forum on a weekly basis while she does that.. where did it all go wrong?

 

[JCRD]

Novak just isn't doing it at this final. I want him to win. Create history. Best mens tennis player in my view... And fuckinf love it when he smashes rackets.

 

[ajspurs]

That incident on the break point with the sound system going off was massively unfortunate. Medvedev is just so strong on his serve though. Love how he's quick between points, just wants to get on with things.

 

[SpursTillIDie1882]

Come on Medvedev!!!???

 

[hughy]

Always had an irrational hatred for Djokovic, and I can't even really explain why. He just annoys me as a human.

However I reluctantly acknowledge that he is probably the greatest player of the 3 modern icons. Particularly considering the fact that he had to make up so much ground on Fed, and Nadal to a lesser extent, while those two were at their peak.

We're blessed to have witnessed these three battle it out for the last 10-15 years.

 

[ajspurs]

Shame as I wanted to see more of a contest, never thought it would be Djokovic letting me down in that respect though! Missing so many shots he would normally put away.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Surely Federer is the greatest ever. Genius and an artist. Wouldn’t cross the road to watch Djokovic. A bit like Sampras!

 

[SpursTillIDie1882]

Surely Federer is the greatest ever. Genius and an artist. Wouldn’t cross the road to watch Djokovic. A bit like Sampras!

FEDS is defo the G.O.A.T of tennis hands down in everyway

 

[JCRD]

He has totally checked out... Ouldnt get going and Medvedev has been super

 

[ajspurs]

Bit harsh on Medvedev there with the crowd not being silent whilst he serves for the championship.

 

[BSJ93]

Bit harsh on Medvedev there with the crowd not being silent whilst he serves for the championship.

A minority actively booing before his first and second serves too, real bad.

Fair play to the lad, that last game was some way to see it out.

 

[ajspurs]

A minority actively booing before his first and second serves too, real bad.

Fair play to the lad, that last game was some way to see it out.

Yeah I thought I heard boos too, not good really, he ended up just having to serve through the noise. Good for him though in coming through, winning and then still applauding the same fans who put him off in the most important service games of his career.

All makes me really excited for next year when Nadal and Thiem are back from injury!

 

[ajspurs]

Medvedev saying his celebration was an L2 + left, think that's a FIFA reference there

 

[13VanDerBale13]

I feel sorry for Novak but glad he’s overwhelmed with the reception he got.

Only a matter of time until he gets #21.

Classy interview from Medvedev too ??

 

[yusrisafri]

Federer and Nadal must be smiling quietly somewhere....and probably Rod Laver must be somewhat relieved too

 

[JCRD]

Novak will do it next year - hopefully anyways. Was a good final but was good to see mens and womens with different winners

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

FEDS is defo the G.O.A.T of tennis hands down in everyway

Nah. That’s a big call and can’t really agree with it. Had the advantage of racking up a large volume of Slams before Nadal/Djokovic/Murray got to their primes to make an incredibly tough top four.


Philipoussis
Safin
Roddick
Hewitt
Roddick
Agassi ( last ever Slam final )
Bagdhatis
Roddick
Fernando Gonzalez

all 9 Slam wins when only really Nadal had started coming to prominence during the latter part of that list. I stopped that list at the point that a 20 year old Djokovic faced Federer in his very first Slam final. There was a definitive weak point in men’s tennis where Sampras and Agassi were coming to an end and Federer began his ascent . That’s one off being half of Federer’s Slam haul.

Then you look at Nadal’s number being helped by a vast dominance of one surface and then you look at Djokovic’s role call of opponents in all his Slam wins and the answer becomes clearer. He’s not the sexiest of choices but his unparalleled consistency, his all round proficiency across all surfaces, his recovery and defence abilities within rallies, and the pure non wasted energy and motion of everything he does, makes it a relatively clear answer to me in his favour.

 

[ajspurs]

Laver Cup on Eurosport now for anyone wondering. Team Europe look ridiculously strong but still a few nice potential match-ups.