57 replies to this topic

[Liberty]

Any tennis fans out here?

With Wimbledon just around the corner, what do you guys think about the mens draw?

Herculean task for Roger and Rafa [need to beat 3 of the BIG FOUR to win the title]

Tough for Murray [to beat 2 of the big four]

Relatively smoother for Djokovoc [easy ride to the final where he'll meet a very exhausted guy]

 

I'm rooting for Roger Federer as always. What a fantastic win it will be if the maestro rediscovers his grass court magic to do the unthinkable - beating Nadal, Murray and Djokovic in the same tourney 

 

In the womens section, doesn't look like anyone can stop Serena. Another true tennis great.

I love it when the 30+ guys and gals show the younger ones they're still a force to reckon with.

[Moneychoice]

Presumably your last line is also a direct quote, and applicable to, your own personal life?

Personally I really don't like Djokovic......stems from an arrogant comment he made about 18 months/24 months

ago that Murray doesn't belong in the top 4 as he doesn't have that kind of talent.

Of course since then Murray has grown enormously.....especially in the Gym department. I can't

believe how much muscle he has added. ....and then of course he added Ivan Lendl as his coach!!

Masterful move. Mr Taciturn has now fixed Andy's wandering mind and the silly tantrums.

Would LOVE to see the final being between Andy and Djokovic !!!!!!

Win or lose Andy will give him the game of his life.....if for no other reason than Andy remembering that

ugly comment made by Djokovic.

[Vis]

So the Wimbles is here again……..

My Sis makes sure she gets the second week off work just so she can gorge herself with Wimbly.
That's when this normally mild-mannered girl transforms into the Tennis Monster !

 

 

 

 

"Quiet, he's winning !"
"Who is ?"
"My Favourite of course !   Ssshhh !"

Lol, talk about change !
Hoo Boy, better lay low for a while…..



Me, I prefer to watch the Womens matches, as they are more of a game than the Mens.
With the Men's games, It's mostly just a matter of Wham, Bam, Game Over, gerroff the Court.
There's one Bloke I do like to watch though, And that's this one….

 

 

 

 

 

We could do with a few more players like that…..
After all, It's only a game….. A bit of fun doesn't hurt, eh?

 

 

 

 

 

[Liberty]

Hehe, moneychoice, you could say that [about the 30+ guys doing well]

Yes, I dislike the lack of respect towards great achievers by boisterous and arrogant comments by the younger lot.

I especially love Roger Federer because I think he is largely responsible for upping the ante in the game of mens tennis after the Sampras-Agassi generation faded away. No amount of superlatives could sum my admiration for this man. Beautiful game, perfect attitude, impeccable on and off the court, respects the traditions and history of the game, a perfect role model.

He almost single-handedly attracted many new fans to the game and pulled back others who had started dropping out after Sampras left. Rafael Nadal played his part in serving as the ideal foil to the elegance and grace of the Swiss. As Nadal and even Djokovic have admitted, they wouldn't have been the great players they are today if it weren't for Federer who raised the level of the game so much. It took them a few years to hound him and finally catch up. Even the next lot [Tsonga, Ferrer, Berdych and co] have really begun catching up with some top class play.

 

About Djokovic, yeah, he does seem kinda arrogant at times. I believe it's just this new modern "in thing" for youngsters to be brash in the name of confidence. It's in all fields these days. I do not like unnecessary attitude and humility really attracts me. [Hehe, maybe it's 'cause I have seen that in ample measure in my family. My father has been an international sportsperson, and recipient of the highest sporting honour conferred upon a sportsperson by the government of India...and he won it at age 19 :) And I have never seen him boast about his accomplishments ever.] Other Indian sporting heroes of mine are Sachin Tendulkar [cricket] or Vishwanathan Anand [chess].

 

That's why I dislike this brazen "attitude" by many today.

 

Coming back to Federer, I think he even had a profound effect on the behaviour of many players. "How can I behave such and such when the greatest player today is so humble?"

 

Hehe, well, Murray certainly did reply to that Djokovic comment in the perfect way at the US Open final last year

He definitely has the talent, and has been the only guy to consistently beat the top 3 over the past few years. After his US Open victory last year, and the mental block gone, he should be joining the party now.

 

What is amazing is how the grip of the top 3 [especially Roger and Rafa] have had on the grand slams and the masters 1000s over the past many years. It's remarkable how they have maintained their level of play and not allowed anyone to break into this elite winners club. Federer is clearly on the decline, which is natural, but still in the world's top 4. That says a lot about his class.

 

I do not really like Serena's attitude but I'm a fan of her determination and achievements on the court. She deserves respect for her comeback to the top after the illnesses she had in recent years.

 

Normally I like the underdog to win, but when it's Roger Federer, I'm always rooting for him. Hope to see something spectacular from the legend this English summer

[Liberty]

And some controversy on the sidelines.

 

 

Ouch!

Bet the journos would keep digging on this when Serena has her press conference next.

[Moneychoice]

Jeepers what a forum we have.

The leeway to get somebody like Liberty to really let loose with his passions and likes!!!!!.........Love it.

 

You know of course WHY Roger Federer is the person that he is??

.......His mother is a South African!!!!

 

Carlo is going to like what I have to say next.

My favourite Tennis player is Jo-Wilfred Tsonga.....aka..."Ali."    I really, really enjoy him. His tennis.his attitude and

particularly.....his humuor.   Can you imagine if he got himself an Ivan Lend to be his coach/life skills teacher ?!

He has everything.....but then he climbs onto his own back with self derision over silly and stupid issues and loses the plot.

Do you know how many times I have tried to find the telephone number of the stadium where he is playing?????

Just to "shout" at him to tell him to stop his nonsense!!!!!!!!!!!

Liberty.....you got any contacts.....I want to be his coach!!!!

I used to be a 1st league player up to the age of 35.......so I have the basics. C'mon get your Dad to do something for me......

.......ha ha ha ha 

 

I see you enjoyed knowing the background to the needle between Murray and Djokovic.

 

......ah, and then Sachin.  You guys are going to have to create a Deity around that man.

......excuse my ignorance (India is one of the places I have NOT been to) ....but where the hell does Sachin drive his red Ferrarri??

[Liberty]

SHOCKING! Nadal beaten by Darcis in round 1!!     

 

http://www.atpworldt...dal-Darcis.aspx

 

Boy, oh, boy. I'm backing Roger, but hate to see such an awesome player like Nadal exit this way.

Last year, it was later revealed that the defeat to Rosol had something to do with his knees. I hope he doesn't have to take another long layoff.

Sorry for Darcis as probably nobody believes he lost to a fit Rafa.

Roger better use this to his advantage now. He really messed up a great chance at the French.

 

PS: Hehe, nice one to give the credit to South Africa, moneychoice

[Moneychoice]

Ouch and today Rafa lost again at Wimbledon in the 1st round to a no-name brand!!

[Liberty]

So many injury withdrawals 

Cilic, Azarenka, Stepanek, Darcis, Isner!

I hate it when they make grass look like the villain.

Grass is the original surface and requires true class to compete on.

It's already just a 2 week grasscourt season.

Pity they have slowed it down further to accommodate the commercial interests of corporates with TV commercials and force longer rallies and matches.

Miss the serve and volley finesse of yesteryears.

[Liberty]

Sigh, what a week!

Two days and the casualty list reads - Rafa, Roger, Vika, Isner, Maria, Tsonga...

Guess your sis could save some of her leave at work in week 2, eh, Vis?

Hardly any of the biggest names left in the draw.

Feel terrible for Roger, but must say that was some refreshing display of serve and volley tennis by Stakhovsky.

I do not remember the last time I saw someone go at the net more than 90 times with such gusto.

[Vis]

Well, I was reading the news and i saw this headline:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk...tennis/23074912

 

Sis is ballistic !

WHAT!?  HOW?

 

Lol, she is considering not watching the tennis next week in protest.

(hooray, no constant shushing & Quiet!, haha)

Somehow, I don't think it's going to be like that though.......

Ah, well.....

 

 

 

But even more amazing is this other article about Federer:

 

http://www.dailymail...cond-round.html

 

Honestly, what is the problem with orange soles?

Would they blind the other player if he caught sight of them?

Even Sis is concentrating more on the colours now.

"Ooh, she's wearing pink knickers, you can see them through her dress! Quick, Ban her!"

And the number of players who have other colours in more obvious places like sleeves, shorts and dresses is popping up in nearly every match you see.

 

Who decides what colours can and cant be worn, and where do you draw the line?

If you can't have a colour on the soles of your shoes, then why can you have colours on your shirt or whatever??

Ridiculous.....

 

 

Ok folks, I've had my rant for today, lol

 

 

 

Now then, who is likely to win this year then?

And with all the walkovers and injuries so far, It's gonna be a funny old Wimbles this year......

 

Best of luck to whoever it is.

Cheers.

[Vis]

Sigh, what a week!

Two days and the casualty list reads - Rafa, Roger, Vika, Isner, Maria, Tsonga...

Guess your sis could save some of her leave at work in week 2, eh, Vis?

Hardly any of the biggest names left in the draw.

Feel terrible for Roger, but must say that was some refreshing display of serve and volley tennis by Stakhovsky.

I do not remember the last time I saw someone go at the net more than 90 times with such gusto.

 

Haha, I've just read your post, Liberty.

No mate, leave is booked months in advance, she has to have it.

But it's not gone down well at all....  The only player she wanted to win has been knocked out.....

[Moneychoice]

Can only be the English that can get THAT pedantic!

 

As to who is going to be the winner......maybe we are heading to a Djokovic <  Murray final.

Then again once this no-where man rot of the routing of the seeds has started....who's to

say that there is yet an end to it all?

[Vis]

Hmm, I think Djokovic may be her next pick then, as she can't stand Murray, lol

[Liberty]

I surely can imagine her agony. 

It's just not the same when your star players are out, especially on days 1 and 2.

Good thing for me is I can cancel my leaves. Have a relaxed management

 

The orange sole thingy was indeed amusing. It's the sole, after all! 

These things can get into a player's mind as small bugs.

Interesting article about all these guys slipping and tripping on the fresh grass were wearing Nike footwear. Hmmm, just some more controversy fodder.

Though guys like Isner and Tsonga said that they had niggles a week before.

 

And as expected, Mr. Stakhovsky just goes out in the next round to a much lesser player.

Melzer has 14 wins and 17 losses this season. [grrrrrr!] Sigh.

 

In the womens draw, the lesser said the better. 

 

I might tune back in at the semis or finals stage 

[Moneychoice]

As you know I can't wait for the Murray/Djokovic showdown!!!!!!!!!!!!

......Might just take my six shooter with to the viewing room!

......Definitely will be wearing the cowboy hat.

[Vis]

Oh, I might watch the semis & finals, it all depends on who gets through.

If there's any grunters or screamers in there, that really puts me off, lol

I wanna see a good game, not a grunting contest....

 

MC, don't bring that six shooter round here, Sis is likely to use it on Murray if he wins....

[Liberty]

Murray's the only reason to keep the Brits interested in this one.

Robson also progressed, I see.

Djokovic vs Murray should be a fitting finale, but still a week to get there.

Great to see Kimiko Date Krumm compete against Serena. She's a real inspiration, just like Williams herself, or Tommy Haas who's also playing very well.

 

Vis, I never really understood the grunters myself.

I would think they would conserve so much energy spent on their vocal cords if they didn't grunt. Energy that could be used on their strokes.

It's annoying more times than not.

[Moneychoice]

.....ah!!! but aren't the grunters also the screamers in the bedroom?

 

I'll have to ask Rory McIlroy about his girlfriend, Caroline Wosniacki......

.....oops can't get hold of him, he missed the cut in Ireland on Friday night.

The two must as a result of early departures from their respective tournemounts,

now be enjoying each other's company.......away from the phones and the media!!

[Moneychoice]

......and anotherone bites the dust.

Serena knocked out.....what a disaster happening at Wimbledon this year.

......and also the Brits' little darling, tearfully out.....Laura Robson.