Tennis Thread

[soccer10k]

Djokovic is about to become only he third man to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time.

 

And of course right after I post that, Murray gets a break back and then holds. Novak with another chance to serve for the title.

[shnsajax]

Really happy for him, well deserved.

 

 

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[shnsajax]

So how many major's does Djokovic finish his career with? Also while he is better, Murray's career really feels like another Roddick in the making.

[soccer10k]

So how many major's does Djokovic finish his career with? Also while he is better, Murray's career really feels like another Roddick in the making.

 

There's a decent chance he gets to 18, right? He's 29 and while Federer only won 1 after turning 29, he also had Nadal in his prime and an up and coming Djokovic behind him. Novak doesn't have anyone like that. Federer is old, Nadal is broken, Murray isn't good enough to seriously challenge him and Wawrinka isn't consistent enough. While Nadal looked like a decent bet to top Federer, everyone knew he would break down sooner rather than later and the injuries were always the biggest question. Novak doesn't have that.

 

Barring injury, he'll be the heavy favorite to win at least the next six majors (two this year plus all of next year). It reminds me of the Federer from 2004-07 except without someone like Nadal who would dominate one surface. There aren't many young guys in the top 20 (only four are 25 or younger).

 

I bet he gets to the 18-20 range only because there aren't any obvious candidates to challenge him in the next couple years and he's healthy.

[Ryne Ween]

Granted I'm biased because I hate the way Novak plays the game. But let's not crown him. I can recall Nadal torching Novak in the 2013 USO. That was Nadals 13th at a time when Novak had 5-6 and they are less than a year apart in age. You'd never have guessed where they stand now.

 

I agree. I don't know who will mount a challenge. The best hope now is Nadal (who was in form and I think would have given Novak a true challenge). Kryrios or Thiem are the two young promising players.

 

Mostly Novak is winning on strong mental makeup and fitness. He's able to play a style that grounds down his opponents. He's coverinng the court very well and he is not wearing down. His baseline game is incredibly consistent, his defense is insane, and his ability to square back basically any serve is otherworldly. But in a low bounce fast court era he would not have thrived like he is now. A guy like Sampras would destroy him with lower tennis and tactics. It's a shame Pete isn't around to stop the Novak freight train.

 

At this point I still bet we will see a drop in no cams form or fitness before he wins 18.

[soccer10k]

With Nadal already out of Wimbledon, it got me thinking...

 

More likely to win another Slam, Nadal or Federer? I could go either way but I think I'd bet Roger. He's made 3 finals and 2 semis since Nadal last made a semi (2014 French). I definitely see the argument for Nadal in that his ceiling on clay is higher than any for Roger but the injuries are too much for me. The difference is Roger basically loses to Novak now (last three majors he lost to Djokovic) so if he can get lucky and have someone else knock Novak out, he could sneak in and get one.

[Ryne Ween]

Well basically I think Nadal because he will play in 10 more slams. And Fed realistically only has this last chance. But I don't rule roger out because he is still by far the second best grass player right now.

 

Something about Novak bothers federer. He converted like 1 of 30 break points in the USO final last year. It's weird because federer rolls Murray who plays similiar.

 

Maybe the all England club will speed up the courts and give him a chance.

[soccer10k]

Down goes Djokovic.

[bukie]

So now if it's not a Federer-Murray final, it'll be a bit crazy.

[bukie]

John Isner at it again at Wimbledon, currently 7-7 in the 5th set vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

[soccer10k]

Great comeback by Federer today. Cilic had a huge chance at 3-3 in the third and up 0-40 on Federer's serve but Roger won 5 straight points to hold. Cilic also had 3 match points in the fourth set as well.

 

Also, loved this line from ESPN's story about the match:

 

Federer has always been a player with a marvelous feel for finesse. But there have been occasions when power players -- most notably, Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro and Cilic -- have overwhelmed him near or at the end of Grand Slam events.

 

So apparently Rafael Nadal is a power player now.

[bukie]

Figures that the first time in 15 years the top two men's seeds bow out before the finals, and all it's going to accomplish is yet another Nadal-Federer final.

[soccer10k]

Well that was certainly a fun match. Didn't think Roger was going to do it when he fell down 2-0 in the 5th, since he's tended to peter out in the fifth in recent years.

[cl smooth]

Federer in the finals at Wimbledon and up 2 sets to 0. Made his opponent (Cilic) break down and cry during the middle of the 2nd set. Even at 35 (edit: i said 34 by mistake), dude is a machine. Edited July 18, 2017 by cl smooth

[apete6]

Federer didn't lose a freaking SET at Wimbledon at age 35. He is to tennis what everyone thought/wanted Tiger Woods to be for golf.

[soccer10k]

The bottom half of the draw has a bunch of guys left who have never made a major final and made a combined 1 major semifinal. Murray (2nd) pulled out while Zverev (4th), Cilic (5th), and Tsonga (8th) all lost already. Isner at 10 is the highest seeded player and Querry is the only one to have ever made a semi. Meanwhile, the top half has the best four players left by seed plus Del Potro and Monfils, who both have at least as many QF and more semis than everyone still alive on the bottom half combined.

[bukie]

Three American women in the semifinals of the US Open (Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens, Coco Vandeweghe), and a 4th playing now that is the favorite to win her quarter (Madison Keys). Could be the first all-American semifinal since 2004, even more impressive since Serena Williams isn't one of them.

[soccer10k]

Three American women in the semifinals of the US Open (Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens, Coco Vandeweghe), and a 4th playing now that is the favorite to win her quarter (Madison Keys). Could be the first all-American semifinal since 2004, even more impressive since Serena Williams isn't one of them.

 

It's even more rare than that. First time since 1985.

[jersey cubs fan]

did they move this out of flushing or something? because this is the least i've heard about the US Open since coming to NY.

[Wilson A2000]

Wimbledon has started and Roger Federer has left Nike clothing for the Japanese brand Uniqlo. Federer was getting $10 million a year with Nike and Uniqlo is giving Roger $30 million over 10 years. Fed had been with Nike since 1994 and this deal would double his career on-court earnings. While Uniqlo might not seem to be a huge company in the US, I think they are about 75% the size of Nike.

 

https://www.gq.com/story/roger-federer-uniqlo-sponsorship-deal/amp?__twitter_impression=true

[SpongeWorthy]

is there any precedent for someone having a kid and coming back to the top of her (globally popular) sport? i feel like you hear something about it every olympics or something but I can't remember for sure

[soccer10k]

Kim Clijsters had a kid in 2008 and came back to win 3 majors. She was also a decade younger than Serena when she came back and won those majors though.

[jersey cubs fan]

is there any precedent for someone having a kid and coming back to the top of her (globally popular) sport? i feel like you hear something about it every olympics or something but I can't remember for sure

One of the Misty-May Treanor / Kerri Walsh combo had children before winning one of their Olympic gold

[soccer10k]

Isner-Anderson going about as expected. Only 5 total breaks, three of the first four sets went to tiebreakers and they’re 18-18 in the fifth set. Approaching 6 hours on the court.

[cl smooth]

Serena Williams is breaking down mentally during the women’s us open final. This is hard to watch.

 

She was penalized for breaking her racket and calling the referee a “thief.”