The Tennis Thread

[Guest]

6-1 Federer in the fourth and we're going to a fifth.

 

It sure would be nice if I could watch this.

 

EDIT: And Federer picks up a break to start the fifth. del Potro might be running out of gas.

[shnsajax]

6-1 Federer in the fourth and we're going to a fifth.

 

It sure would be nice if I could watch this.

 

EDIT: And Federer picks up a break to start the fifth. del Potro might be running out of gas.

 

Both matches today have sounded great. I hate working with no tv.

[Marco4]

We're live on interactive here.

 

3-3 in the fifth. Federer looks like he's in control, but del Potro's hanging in there.

[Guest]

We're live on interactive here.

 

3-3 in the fifth. Federer looks like he's in control, but del Potro's hanging in there.

 

Another break for Federer to 4-3.

 

I'm impressed that del Potro got the first break back to even it at 3. I figured Federer would cruise at that point.

[Guest]

Well I'm an idiot. I just realized (on match point) that on the matchtracker from the French Open telecast, that I could at least listen to a radio broadcast of the event.

 

Congrats to Federer, now finish this out.

[shnsajax]

Federer wins the 1st two sets. Soderling put up a good fight in the 2nd, but I almost think he is going to get blown away here in the 3rd.

[kujay]

That goof that rushed the court and gave Federer is a good scare was far more interesting than that match. Soderling was either out of gas, totally overmatched, or both.

[Guest]

I got to watch the first set but the DVR recording screwed up at 2-1 in the second set so that's all I saw.

 

Congrats to Federer and this erases any doubt that he's better than Sampras. Same number of majors plus the fact that he was very good on clay as well.

[Soul]

Congrats to Federer and this erases any doubt that he's better than Sampras.

 

+1

 

 

Congrats, Roger.

[shnsajax]

Congrats to Federer and this erases any doubt that he's better than Sampras.

 

+1

 

 

Congrats, Roger.

 

Made the finals in 15 of the last 16 majors, unreal. I think the question is, can he get to 20 majors before his career is over?

[Guest]

Congrats to Federer and this erases any doubt that he's better than Sampras.

 

+1

 

 

Congrats, Roger.

 

Made the finals in 15 of the last 16 majors, unreal. I think the question is, can he get to 20 majors before his career is over?

 

I doubt it. I think 16-17 is his peak. He's going to be 28 in August and has to deal with Nadal, Murray and Djokovic, all of whom are four-five years younger than he is. Federer probably has 2-3 good years left in him and I'm not sure he can win, on average, every other major over that time (6 out of 12) to reach 20.

[shnsajax]

Congrats to Federer and this erases any doubt that he's better than Sampras.

 

+1

 

 

Congrats, Roger.

 

Made the finals in 15 of the last 16 majors, unreal. I think the question is, can he get to 20 majors before his career is over?

 

I doubt it. I think 16-17 is his peak. He's going to be 28 in August and has to deal with Nadal, Murray and Djokovic, all of whom are four-five years younger than he is. Federer probably has 2-3 good years left in him and I'm not sure he can win, on average, every other major over that time (6 out of 12) to reach 20.

 

I'm giving him 5 years, thats where I get that number but yes its going to be very tough. Wimbledon and the US Open are still great chances for him. I just think based on his style of play and health he has the potential to stick around and even reinvent himself.

[Guest]

He certainly could get there and if Nadal is out for a few months, Federer will definitely be the clear favorite at Wimbledon and the US Open. It really depends on how those other guys (Murray and Djokovic) progress. If they keep getting better, it will be tough for Federer but if they're already at their best, then he could get to 20.

[Soul]

Congrats to Federer and this erases any doubt that he's better than Sampras.

 

+1

 

 

Congrats, Roger.

 

Made the finals in 15 of the last 16 majors, unreal. I think the question is, can he get to 20 majors before his career is over?

 

I doubt it. I think 16-17 is his peak. He's going to be 28 in August and has to deal with Nadal, Murray and Djokovic, all of whom are four-five years younger than he is. Federer probably has 2-3 good years left in him and I'm not sure he can win, on average, every other major over that time (6 out of 12) to reach 20.

 

I'm giving him 5 years, thats where I get that number but yes its going to be very tough. Wimbledon and the US Open are still great chances for him. I just think based on his style of play and health he has the potential to stick around and even reinvent himself.

 

I keep wondering if Nadal's knees are going to hold up. They bothered him a few years ago during a championship match @ Wimbledon, and now I hear they are bothering him again. Nadal might be young and a fantastic tennis player, but knee problems are never a good sign. Roger appears to still be in pretty good health.

[shnsajax]

Congrats to Federer and this erases any doubt that he's better than Sampras.

 

+1

 

 

Congrats, Roger.

 

I doubt it. I think 16-17 is his peak. He's going to be 28 in August and has to deal with Nadal, Murray and Djokovic, all of whom are four-five years younger than he is. Federer probably has 2-3 good years left in him and I'm not sure he can win, on average, every other major over that time (6 out of 12) to reach 20.

 

I'm giving him 5 years, thats where I get that number but yes its going to be very tough. Wimbledon and the US Open are still great chances for him. I just think based on his style of play and health he has the potential to stick around and even reinvent himself.

 

I keep wondering if Nadal's knees are going to hold up. They bothered him a few years ago during a championship match @ Wimbledon, and now I hear they are bothering him again. Nadal might be young and a fantastic tennis player, but knee problems are never a good sign. Roger appears to still be in pretty good health.

 

I thought over a year ago that Nadal would already be starting to break down and that Djokovic would be Federer's main threat which I was off on. Nadal really impressed me this past year, and I was trying not to like him.

[Guest]

Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon.

 

I'd assume they're going to reseed the tournament since there's no way they can start without a No. 1 player. Good news for the field, of course.

[shnsajax]

Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon.

 

I'd assume they're going to reseed the tournament since there's no way they can start without a No. 1 player. Good news for the field, of course.

 

I was coming here just to post this. Federer can pass Sampras a whole lot easier on grass now.

[Guest]

It looks like I'm wrong - they will continue without a No. 1 seed.

 

According to the Wimbledon website:

 

Nadal's absence will cause a reshuffle in the men’s singles draw. Number five seed Juan Martin Del Potro replaces Nadal at the top of the draw. The 17th seed James Blake moves to line 65 to take Del Potro's position. Nicolas Kiefer moves to line 56 to take Blake's position and lucky loser Thiago Alves takes Kiefer's position on line 61.

 

Seems odd that they would do something like this rather than just reseed everybody starting with Federer at No. 1.

[SpongeWorthy]

Speaking of Rafa, the NY Times Magazine has a nice, long feature on him this week. It's a good read: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/magazine/21nadal-t.html

 

Although not nearly as good a read as the David Foster Wallace piece he did on Federer which is maybe the best sportswriting ever: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sports/playmagazine/20federer.html?pagewanted=all

[Guest]

Speaking of Rafa, the NY Times Magazine has a nice, long feature on him this week. It's a good read: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/magazine/21nadal-t.html

 

Although not nearly as good a read as the David Foster Wallace piece he did on Federer which is maybe the best sportswriting ever: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sports/playmagazine/20federer.html?pagewanted=all

 

Just got done with both of those. Like you said, the Nadal one was good but I really enjoyed the Federer piece.

[bukie]

It looks like I'm wrong - they will continue without a No. 1 seed.

 

According to the Wimbledon website:

 

Nadal's absence will cause a reshuffle in the men’s singles draw. Number five seed Juan Martin Del Potro replaces Nadal at the top of the draw. The 17th seed James Blake moves to line 65 to take Del Potro's position. Nicolas Kiefer moves to line 56 to take Blake's position and lucky loser Thiago Alves takes Kiefer's position on line 61.

 

Seems odd that they would do something like this rather than just reseed everybody starting with Federer at No. 1.

IMO, the big winner here ends up being Andy Roddick, who just got del Potro instead of Nadal in his quarter, and will now be able to avoid all of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic until the finals.

[Guest]

It looks like I'm wrong - they will continue without a No. 1 seed.

 

According to the Wimbledon website:

 

Nadal's absence will cause a reshuffle in the men’s singles draw. Number five seed Juan Martin Del Potro replaces Nadal at the top of the draw. The 17th seed James Blake moves to line 65 to take Del Potro's position. Nicolas Kiefer moves to line 56 to take Blake's position and lucky loser Thiago Alves takes Kiefer's position on line 61.

 

Seems odd that they would do something like this rather than just reseed everybody starting with Federer at No. 1.

IMO, the big winner here ends up being Andy Roddick, who just got del Potro instead of Nadal in his quarter, and will now be able to avoid all of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic until the finals.

 

He's still got Murray, but they wouldn't meet until the semifinals (if both survive), but yeah, he's definitely the biggest beneficiary.

 

I guess Murray could be added in there as well because he avoids Nadal, Federer and Djokovic until the final as well and he's probably a bit better than Roddick at this point.

[Vanilla Ice]

This is probably Roddick's best chance to win a major for the rest of his career.

 

I like Federer to beat Roddick in the finals, though.

 

EDIT: Of course, I have picked Murray to win three of the last four majors, so he'll probably win now.

[Guest]

This is probably Roddick's best chance to win a major for the rest of his career.

 

I like Federer to beat Roddick in the finals, though.

 

EDIT: Of course, I have picked Murray to win three of the last four majors, so he'll probably win now.

 

It's probably his best chance but I'd still be surprised if he even gets to the final. I'd pick Murray to beat Roddick in the semifinals if he even makes it there (Roddick was bounced in the second round, the quarters and the third round in the last three years).

 

We'll see. Roddick hasn't made a final since 2006 and has only made four in his career (the U.S. Open win and three losses to Federer) so even with a favorable bracket, I'm not too confident in picking him to make it.

[Vanilla Ice]

This is probably Roddick's best chance to win a major for the rest of his career.

 

I like Federer to beat Roddick in the finals, though.

 

EDIT: Of course, I have picked Murray to win three of the last four majors, so he'll probably win now.

 

It's probably his best chance but I'd still be surprised if he even gets to the final. I'd pick Murray to beat Roddick in the semifinals if he even makes it there (Roddick was bounced in the second round, the quarters and the third round in the last three years).

 

We'll see. Roddick hasn't made a final since 2006 and has only made four in his career (the U.S. Open win and three losses to Federer) so even with a favorable bracket, I'm not too confident in picking him to make it.

I know I know. Part of it is that I pick Murray every time and wanted to mix it up.

 

But, Roddick has been playing a lot better lately. I never would have expected him to get to the fourth round at the French. Won a bunch at the Queen's Club before having to retire. Took Federer to three sets at the last two tournaments that Roddick played before the French. One was on clay and one was on hard. Couple that with a surface that favors him and a pretty easy draw, I wouldn't be too surprised to see him make the finals.