Wimbledon 2010 thread

[Arnoldtoo]

He's British. He happens to come from Scotland. He probably comes from a region of Scotland that is disliked by another region of Scotland. He may even come from a part of Dunblane which is disliked by another part of Dunblane for all I know. I find the tribal elements of it all a little sad.

His ability to inspire to other British tennis players - and if he's not Golding's hero I'd be amazed - is what's important to me.

 

[spurs mental]

Cracking tie break in the second set between Djokovic and Berdych. Some great tennis being played.

 

[spurs mental]

And Berdych takes the 2nd set in a tie breaker. Some great stuff being played. Djokovic losing the plot a bit at the break.

 

[nidge]

And Berdych takes the 2nd set in a tie breaker. Some great stuff being played. Djokovic losing the plot a bit at the break.

Isn't that what Djokovic does best though?

 

[spurs mental]

:shrug: I think so, don't know really. :lol:

He was hard done by in that tie breaker though, hit a great lob and it was called out, challenged it, and it was in, and even though Berdych played it, and missed, the point had to be replayed.

 

[Marty]

Berdych absolutely deserved the win, Djoko was hard done by in that tie-break but he did win the replayed point after an almost equally brilliant rally.

But honestly, I have never seen Djokovic play well. He always seems to crumble when it matters, apart from that Aussie Open win which I didn't see any of. I have never seen the top-4 player he clearly has in him, otherwise he wouldn't be ranked that high.

 

[haxman]

Choker.

 

[Marty]

Yup, Murray's just as bad as Djoko when it comes to that.

Knew when he was broken back in the third that it was game over.

 

[haxman]

He got unlucky with that net cord, but should have had the 2nd set wrapped up before that. At 1-1, you never know. it was always going to be difficult at 2-0 though.

 

[Raxscallion]

For me, Andy Murray is Scottish today and he'll be Scottish tomorrow.

I wish Murray well as I quite like him, but I won't be supporting him just because we both carry a British passport.

Y'know what? He came to my attention because I'm half scot half english and he carries a British passport.

I like him because he's a hugely talented player, plays a real variety of shots (I love that drop shot when it comes off) and most of all because he's passionate. After being suffocated with Tiger Fucking Tim for so long, it's great to see a UK player getting proper fucking angry now and again.

Nadal's also hugely talented and seems to be a genuinely nice guy too of course.

 

[Azazello]

Y'know what? He came to my attention because I'm half scot half english and he carries a British passport.

I like him because he's a hugely talented player, plays a real variety of shots (I love that drop shot when it comes off) and most of all because he's passionate. After being suffocated with Tiger Fucking Tim for so long, it's great to see a UK player getting proper fucking angry now and again.

Nadal's also hugely talented and seems to be a genuinely nice guy too of course.

Murray's talented alright and a much better player than Henman ever was, and I hope it won't be too long before Murray wins a Grand Slam. I'll be happy for him when he does.

I hope the Czech bloke wins but I expect Nadal to be Wimbledon champion on Sunday - stout performance from Murray, but it sounded like Nadal had a bit too much for him today.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Henman was a fixture in the top ten best players in the world for best part of a decade. By any standards apart from those of the very very best that is a bloody good record. He never won a major - never made a final - but it's not easy to do. The guy never got the respect he deserved, except from those within the game.

Murray is better, no question. He's got the game to win a major if he gets it right. But he's still got to do it. Yesterday was decided by a very few points, but on the ones that really mattered, Rafa was better. With Berdych breaking through (will he last?) and Del Potro coming back, and Soderling getting his act together, there are more candidates to win the majors, and it won't get easier for Murray. Rafa's going nowhere unless his knees give up, and Djokovic is always a dnager if his head's right. And in the next couple of years another one or two will emerge.

This year's US Open is going to be interesting. Murray needs a kind draw.

 

[joey.leone]

Rafa showed the hallmarks of a true champion, played his best tennis at the most crucial moments. The fact that Andy had won more points overall up until midway through the 3rd set indicates that. Very fine margins.

I look back to the net chord in the tie break, changed the face of the match for me.

I really hope Andy wins a slam, He can do it, just a shame he is playing in the era of two of the greatest ever players to play the game.

For me, his first serve has to be more consistent overall, and he needs to beef up a little bit more. I still think he can be out hit sometimes.

 

[Raxscallion]

Murray's talented alright and a much better player than Henman ever was, and I hope it won't be too long before Murray wins a Grand Slam. I'll be happy for him when he does.

I hope the Czech bloke wins but I expect Nadal to be Wimbledon champion on Sunday - stout performance from Murray, but it sounded like Nadal had a bit too much for him today.

There's little doubt that Rafa's a better player, but a big factor (IMO) was Murray's nerves. For the first two sets he was very very tense. He wasn't playing as he can, because he was freezing up and hesitating at crucial moments. Once he'd gone 2 sets down he got pissed off and started playing far more naturally. It was all flowing far more. His arm was following through on his shots whereas before it was all a bit more staccato. It was at this point that he broke Nadal to love.

Like I said, Nadal's the better player, but there's really not much at all between them. Psychology rather than ability was the deciding factor in their match in my opinion.

Henman was a fixture in the top ten best players in the world for best part of a decade. By any standards apart from those of the very very best that is a bloody good record. He never won a major - never made a final - but it's not easy to do. The guy never got the respect he deserved, except from those within the game.

But he was dull. Dull as a player, and dull as a personality. "Tiger Tim" was the most ridiculous nickname ever, unless the tiger was this one:

 

[Arnoldtoo]

There's little doubt that Rafa's a better player, but a big factor (IMO) was Murray's nerves. For the first two sets he was very very tense. He wasn't playing as he can, because he was freezing up and hesitating at crucial moments. Once he'd gone 2 sets down he got pissed off and started playing far more naturally. It was all flowing far more. His arm was following through on his shots whereas before it was all a bit more staccato. It was at this point that he broke Nadal to love.

Like I said, Nadal's the better player, but there's really not much at all between them. Psychology rather than ability was the deciding factor in their match in my opinion.

I agree with all that. Once he thought the match had gone - and at 2 sets down he must have done - the tension left him for a while, until it became possible again.

I think Berdych will be similar today. Looking at how he tightened up at the end of the second against Djokovic he needs a few more big occasions before he can overcome the nerves.

For Nadal, when it gets tight he goes for it, and dominates the point. That's a special talent.

But he was dull. Dull as a player, and dull as a personality. "Tiger Tim" was the most ridiculous nickname ever, unless the tiger was this one:

He cultivated dull for the press certainly, but there are many reports from within the game that he really wasn't like that. And he was a tougher cookie than he was painted by the papers. The 'tiger' bit I imagine embarrassed him as much as it would you or me.

 

[haxman]

I agree with all that. Once he thought the match had gone - and at 2 sets down he must have done - the tension left him for a while, until it became possible again.

I think Berdych will be similar today. Looking at how he tightened up at the end of the second against Djokovic he needs a few more big occasions before he can overcome the nerves.

For Nadal, when it gets tight he goes for it, and dominates the point. That's a special talent.

Spot on. The best sports people thrive under pressure - Stephen Hendry in snooker was a great example - it brought the best out of him, and they used to say he had opponents beaten before the match even started, such was his mental strength.

Murray can get there, he just needs to believe that he can win a major, when he does, I'm sure more will follow.

 

[Mullers]

I switched off the TV, no one except Federer comes back from 2 sets down against Nadal. Disappointing final.

 

[chrissivad]

and he didn't come back

Nadal wins again

 

[Arnoldtoo]

And on to the US Open ...

Nadal never made it beyond the semi's and still with lingering knee trouble which the US hard courts exacerbate, Federer looking more vulnerable, Del Potro not back in time, Djokovic still trying to convince himself he's world no.2, and apparently failing ... Is Murray the favourite? (Sorry, 'favorite'.)

 

[Coyboy]

I never get my head around why it matters what tennis players are or were like as people off the court. Henman may have been dull, Murray may be dour who cares- they were or are great tennis players.