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The Tennis Thread

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
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We don't seem to have one, and there must be some fans on SC. So it's here for all things tennis.

First up, today sees Andy Murray taking on Rafa in Rome. Anyone expecting an upset? Rafa is looking a little vulnerable on clay this year, losing sets and occasional matches to players he normally wipes away, so is Murray in with a shout?
 

Gbspurs

Gatekeeper for debates, King of the plonkers
Jan 27, 2011
26,945
61,824
We don't seem to have one, and there must be some fans on SC. So it's here for all things tennis.

First up, today sees Andy Murray taking on Rafa in Rome. Anyone expecting an upset? Rafa is looking a little vulnerable on clay this year, losing sets and occasional matches to players he normally wipes away, so is Murray in with a shout?

Looks like it.
 

joey.leone

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2005
2,079
1,590
Rafa's back. Hopefully Andy can regain his timing from the first set. His bh is undoubtedly the best in the game when its firing on all cylinders. Such a fluid motion.

Nice idea for the thread btw, its about time we had one. :)
 

spursandbarca

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2008
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Needs a coach.

Needs to keep being aggressive no matter what.... Got the break to go 4-2 up. Nadal raised his level and Murray became passive again
 

BSJ93

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2013
465
670
Can't say I follow much outside the Grand Slams - been to Queens the last few years but other than that, I can't say I watch much outside of the GS.

I really do enjoy playing it though. Recently joined and started to play for Bush Hill.


Heard Murray put in a good shift today. Sky sports reporting his best game on clay?
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,335
54,970
That was one hell of a match. If Murray plays like that there are only a few people who could beat him on clay. Rafa's one of them unfortunately! I haven't seen sustained brutal hitting like that in a long while.

Murray does need a coach, and he needs a decent draw in the French.

Two good semis today, and with Rafa tired - he must be by now - it will be interesting to see how Dimitrov does.
 

joey.leone

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2005
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Needs a coach.

Needs to keep being aggressive no matter what.... Got the break to go 4-2 up. Nadal raised his level and Murray became passive again

Yes and no. He needs a coach yes. But I think its unfair to say he purely went passive, you could see he was completely spent, and this is the first time he has played at this intensity or level since his come back from surgery. I personally feel it was his aggression that ultimately lead to his loss, a lot of his UE's came from attempted winners.

Overall I see a lot of positives from this match for Murray, physically and mentally its a big boost for him moving into RG and of course, Wimbledon. He's getting there.

Nadal, well, just an absolute physical freak as usual. Never say die.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
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Is Djokovic favourite to win the French now? Must be, I'd say.
 

joey.leone

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2005
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Is Djokovic favourite to win the French now? Must be, I'd say.

I would have to agree. When he plays like that, he is scary good. I would not be surprised if Nadal finds another few levels at the French though, despite his 'struggles' on clay this year. I think Murray could get to the quarters, as long as he stays clear of players like Berdych and Raonic.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,335
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I would have to agree. When he plays like that, he is scary good. I would not be surprised if Nadal finds another few levels at the French though, despite his 'struggles' on clay this year. I think Murray could get to the quarters, as long as he stays clear of players like Berdych and Raonic.

It depends so much on the draw for Murray, if he's going in as #8 seed. If he gets Nadal or Djokovic in the quarters then he's out, assuming he gets that far, which he has the game to do. He's got the flakiness to go out in round 2 as well though!

I'm going for a Nadal Djokovic final, with Novak to win in 4.
 

joey.leone

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2005
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It depends so much on the draw for Murray, if he's going in as #8 seed. If he gets Nadal or Djokovic in the quarters then he's out, assuming he gets that far, which he has the game to do. He's got the flakiness to go out in round 2 as well though!

I'm going for a Nadal Djokovic final, with Novak to win in 4.

I know Murray can be flaky but that is mainly in Masters and 500's etc. In grand slam play he has made at least the quarters since the US Open 2010. I expect him to get into the second week, but I will be worried if he draws a big hitter in the early rounds.

I actually think he'd match up better to a Nadal or Djokovic in the quarters than a Federer or Wawrinka. When he is at the top of his game I believe he can beat Nadal or Djokovic on clay, based on the most recent clay court performances against both. Even in the French semis 2011 he could have beaten Nadal if he had played the important points better, he had a bad break point conversion that day. He pushed Djokovic incredibly close at the Rome masters that year too, during Novak's unbeaten run.

Back then, it was mental fragility that would get the better of him. Now I am most concerned by his physical endurance, until he is fully recuperated.

Overall I would agree with your prediction though, but it would not surprise me if Nadal came back stronger.

My dark horse is Raonic, I reckon he is a good bet for the semis at least. If Nishikori is in good health I can see him having a good tournament too.

Its going to be exciting. :)
 

spursandbarca

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2008
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Raonic has a serve and nothing else.. He wouldn't even beat Ferrer or Robredo in a best of 5 set on clay...
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,335
54,970
Raonic has a serve and nothing else.. He wouldn't even beat Ferrer or Robredo in a best of 5 set on clay...

That's a bit unfair - he's no Karlovic! If the serve's going well he's going to win it on any surface, and clay gives him a chance to get into rallies on the other games. He's got a decent forehand and relatively good volleys. I can't see him getting past one of the big guns, but he's a good bet for the quarters, draw permitting; i.e. if had avoids the real (but lower ranked) clay specialists.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,335
54,970
I think this is a bloody good idea ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/27496927

Sponsoring a wider group of young players to play Futures tournaments. I've known / seen a lot of talented players here who haven't had the chance to find out how good they could become because of financial constraints.
 

Mullers

Unknown member
Jan 4, 2006
25,914
16,413
Hmm well on one hand I think they should get subside if other sports people get it on the other hand having to be more economical with their money is by no means a bad thing. There isn't any real need to stay in a hotel for 61 pound a night. That's not what I would call hardship, have a listen to some of the old wrestlers and where they used to stay when they were on the road wrestling for a pittance.
 

InOffMeLeftShin

Night watchman
Admin
Jan 14, 2004
15,104
9,113
I think this is a bloody good idea ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/27496927

Sponsoring a wider group of young players to play Futures tournaments. I've known / seen a lot of talented players here who haven't had the chance to find out how good they could become because of financial constraints.

Can't say I agree Arnold. Most of the junior tennis players in UK have everything handed to them on a plate. They now have a top class facility at the LTA centre in Roehampton, they get LTA funding for a number of years without particularly challenging targets that need to be reached and the result is that the players don't have the fire in the belly that kids coming from other countries have. In addition to this I can tell you that some of these promising kids are getting pretty substantial sponsorships from racquet and apparel companies.

I don't think it's such a bad thing that they have to tough it out for a while and realize that once they turn pro things aren't just handed to them on a plate. There is always a way to play in these tournaments around the country at cost, I've had the likes of Jamie Baker and others sleeping on my sofa at tournaments in the past and they've slummed their way around tournaments.

You can see it at junior tournaments these days that the US and UK kids really think they've got it all already and some of the kids from other countries just want it much more.

If there is a change in the way things it is done, it shouldn't be sponsoring players to play in futures, it should be adjusting the tournaments prize money structures and maybe having more external sponsorship for the tournaments themselves so they can give prize money to those having success at that level.
 

Arnoldtoo

The thinking ape's ape
May 18, 2006
35,335
54,970
Interesting draw at the French. Given that it's a major, it could be a lot worse for Murray. If he plays (really) well I can see him losing in the semis to Rafa.
 

joey.leone

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2005
2,079
1,590
Interesting draw at the French. Given that it's a major, it could be a lot worse for Murray. If he plays (really) well I can see him losing in the semis to Rafa.

Golubev will be a tricky first round meeting, but I think Murray will do the business in 4. If it goes by seeding, a 4th round meeting with Gasquet, and then a QF with Wawrinka. That is tough, Murray can take heart from the fact he has beaten Gasquet twice at the French, but I dont fancy the potential Wawrinka match at all, bad match up for Andy on clay.

Rafa has a potentially tricky second match against Thiem. That would be quite a good match imo. Potential 4th round match between Raonic and Nishikori too.
 

joey.leone

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2005
2,079
1,590
Nishikori out in straight sets, Bit of an upset there unless he was hampered by his back like in Madrid.

Ward currently giving a good account of himself against Robredo. 5-4 Ward going with serve atm.

Edit: First set Ward! He let a few set points slip but managed to clinch it on his 4th. He played some really nice points there, and with that, rain stops play.
 
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BSJ93

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2013
465
670
Shame about Ward, looks like Nadal's was as convincing as ever.

Saw this floating around the web;



Props to them both, haha!
 
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