The Tennis Thread

[Arnoldtoo]

Didn't he do well in a tournament on clay prior to the French, only to go out in the first round?

Yep. He beat Djokovic in the Rome 1000 final for his first Masters win, then bombed in Paris to Verdasco (couldn't remember who he lost to; had to look that up!)

His best performance in a major was Wimbledon last year - round 4 - yet he's at #4 in the world. When he gets his act together in the majors - and I'm sure he will - he's a good bet for #1 in the next couple of years. I hope so, anyway. It'd be nice to see a new face at the top.

 

[aliyid]

Heads up for any tennis fans, Kyle Edmund is up against Fognini this morning on Eurosport & ITV4.

Should be a great game, both players in the top 20 with very different styles. Edmunds raw power vs Fognini’s clay court expertise.

Any other surface I’d back Kyle but have a nagging feeling Fognini may edge it on clay

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Heads up for any tennis fans, Kyle Edmund is up against Fognini this morning on Eurosport & ITV4.

Should be a great game, both players in the top 20 with very different styles. Edmunds raw power vs Fognini’s clay court expertise.

Any other surface I’d back Kyle but have a nagging feeling Fognini may edge it on clay

Depends which Fabio turns up, I think. With Kyle you know what you're going to get, but Fognini can be unbeatable or the exact opposite. When he loses interest I'd fancy myself to get a point or two!

 

[aliyid]

Depends which Fabio turns up, I think. With Kyle you know what you're going to get, but Fognini can be unbeatable or the exact opposite. When he loses interest I'd fancy myself to get a point or two!

He’s stepping his game up this year, would love to see him make the second week.

Still amazes me every year how empty the crowds are at the French

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Hmm. From 3-1 to 3-6. Needs to get some momentum back.

 

[aliyid]

Always more difficult to hit through somebody on clay and Fognini’s movement has been much better so far.

Best thing about Kyle though is he rarely drops his head and keeps fighting

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Fabio drops 16 points in a row, as only Fabio can. (Maybe Kyrgios.)

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Managed to win the set, but this still all depends on Fabio.

 

[aliyid]

Mental strength is such a huge part of the game at the top level. Loads of very good players like Fognini, Kyrios, Monfils, etc... but they can’t seem to put it together consistently enough

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Serving to stay in the match. I've got a bad feeling about this game. Needs the first point ...

Edit: Bugger

 

[aliyid]

Serving to stay in the match. I've got a bad feeling about this game.

Like you said at the start, so much of it depended on Fognini. When he turned it on he was too good and when he was a bit off Edmund had him. He always had that extra gear he could go up to though

 

[BSJ93]

Soo happy for Halep, showed some serious mental strength to come back from a set and a break given her previous record in finals.

Today has the potential to be a cracking game, I think the first set will be vital.

 

[aliyid]

Soo happy for Halep, showed some serious mental strength to come back from a set and a break given her previous record in finals.

Today has the potential to be a cracking game, I think the first set will be vital.

Was so sweet seeing her turn to Stephens at the end and reminding her to lift the trophy above her head

Would love to see Thiem win this but always tough to bet against Rafa on clay

 

[Arnoldtoo]

First set gone. Methinks that's torn it for Thiem.

 

[aliyid]

First set gone. Methinks that's torn it for Thiem.

Scoreboard pressure is a scary thing but he’s shown in that first set that he’s got a game that can make him sweat.

Saying that Nadal hasn’t really had to step up a gear yet and we know he’s got a few more gears to go if pushed

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Scoreboard pressure is a scary thing but he’s shown in that first set that he’s got a game that can make him sweat.

Saying that Nadal hasn’t really had to step up a gear yet and we know he’s got a few more gears to go if pushed

He has, but he's got to play out of his skin for 3 sets out of five.

The next three, to be exact!

 

[BSJ93]

Number 11 for Nadal, absolutely insane achievement.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Murray returns at Queen's.

First round: Nick Kyrgios !

 

[BSJ93]

He did well to get a set but from the HL's, it didn't look as though Kyrgios got out of second gear and was toying around with him a fair bit - just pushing the ball around.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

He did well to get a set but from the HL's, it didn't look as though Kyrgios got out of second gear and was toying around with him a fair bit - just pushing the ball around.

He looked better than I thought he would tbh. Kyrgios was always a big ask - the guy lost in a 3rd set tie break to Rog last week. It probably would have been 2 sets if Kyrgios hadn't lost it in set 1, but a good workout.

Murray's talking about maybe missing Wimbledon now - depends on how his body reacts - but he looks like he might get back to something like his old form. #1? I doubt it. But good to see him playing so well.