The Tennis Thread

[funkydan]

That's hardly an indication of a crap player. Do you know how hard it is to break the serve of someone like Nadal? That's like saying Spurs played crap against an on form Man U because the game ended 0-0.

Lot's of other players have difficulty holding their own serve against Nadal. By his own admission, it was the best Nadal has played so far this tournament and Murray was clearly knackered from the epic five setter the other day.

The moody Scot did alright. He improved in the third set and he got as far in the tounament as any British player has for years. And he's only 21.

You've misread what I said: I never said he was a crap player. Of course I realise how hard it is to break Nadal's serve but that is what it would have taken to have beaten him! That's why I said Nadal is in another league from Murray....for now hopefully. And I acknowledged on the previous page that Murray was exhausted from Mondays massive match, but unfortunately lacked the stamina to compete with the same power yesterday.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Federer has had to adapt his game recently due to the opposition, but when he emerged he was very much a classic serve and volley player. You could argue Sampras wasn't a classic serve and volley style because he was capable of dominating from the baseline - each player had/has a very strong all round game and use what is necessary.

I'm not quite convinced on Djokovic yet. Undoubtedly an awesome player who is always getting better, but I still feel he falls short of the other two at the height of their game.

Great point. Pete Sampras was actually a baseline-type player as a junior, only changing his style to serve and volley in the very early years of his pro career. I always feel that his play on the baseline never really got the credit that it deserved, but that was probably down to his serve and volley game being probably the best that Men's Tennis has ever seen.

Have to disagree about Djokovic. He is definitely up there with Nadal and Federer - until recently, he was on course to replace Nadal as the world #2 in the rankings. On a hard court, I'd probably take an in-form Djokovic over an in-form Nadal as the Spaniard's game isn't so effective on the faster-playing hard courts: he hasn't been past the last eight at the US Open, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (another talent for the future) battered him in the Aussie Open semi-final earlier this year and quite a few other players like James Blake have winning head-to-head records against Nadal on hard courts.

Like a lot of others, I do feel that Murray's best chance of major success will probably come at either the US Open or the Aussie Open.

[Number45]

Anyone watching/watched the last set of the Clement/Scheuttler match? It's been nail-biting stuff, constantly to-ing and fro-ing.

Watching it on the iPlayer at the moment while they're off court for the rain.

[Shoju]

Great point. Pete Sampras was actually a baseline-type player as a junior, only changing his style to serve and volley in the very early years of his pro career. I always feel that his play on the baseline never really got the credit that it deserved, but that was probably down to his serve and volley game being probably the best that Men's Tennis has ever seen.

Have to disagree about Djokovic. He is definitely up there with Nadal and Federer - until recently, he was on course to replace Nadal as the world #2 in the rankings. On a hard court, I'd probably take an in-form Djokovic over an in-form Nadal as the Spaniard's game isn't so effective on the faster-playing hard courts: he hasn't been past the last eight at the US Open, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (another talent for the future) battered him in the Aussie Open semi-final earlier this year and quite a few other players like James Blake have winning head-to-head records against Nadal on hard courts.

Like a lot of others, I do feel that Murray's best chance of major success will probably come at either the US Open or the Aussie Open.

Gonzalez also thrashed Nadal at last year's Australian Open. He's dominant on clay and is getting better and better on grass but has still yet to make an impact on the hard courts. Has he even made the quarters at the Aus or US opens yet?

From what I remember Becker, Stich Sampras, Rafter, Kraijeck and Ivanisevic all retired within a few years of each other and there haven't been serve and volley specialists at the top of the game since.

[Number45]

No mention of Edberg in that list. He was always my fave.

Ah, I did love those days in tennis. For all I knew the tennis calendar consisted of Queens Club and Wimbledon. How Sky and the internet have changed things.

[Largo]

During the Serena vs Jie (damn shes nice) match, the camera often cut to Serenas dad for the ol reaction pic etc, anyway couldnt help notice that he was blatently decked out with Stargate Worlds apparel, baseball cap, jumper etc. Strange i thought.


Well worked with me anyway i checked their website after the match..

[Nu-Eclipse]

Gonzalez also thrashed Nadal at last year's Australian Open. He's dominant on clay and is getting better and better on grass but has still yet to make an impact on the hard courts. Has he even made the quarters at the Aus or US opens yet?

As I mentioned in my last post, Nadal got to the semis at this year's Aussie Open where he was soundly beaten by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (who also can serve-volley a bit), who then went on to lose to Novak Djokovic in the final. Also, Nadal has failed to get beyond the quarters at the US Open.

[Pilotwings]

Fukin raging that Safin lost that 2nd set tie break.

I want Federer beat! I'm bored of his dominance on grass

[Anpanman]

During the Serena (damn shes nice) vs Jie match, the camera often cut to Serenas dad for the ol reaction pic etc, anyway couldnt help notice that he was blatently decked out with Stargate Worlds apparel, baseball cap, jumper etc. Strange i thought.


Well worked with me anyway i checked their website after the match..

Fixed your post

[Paulos G]

Uh. May. Zing. Scenes. I hope you guys are watching the final. Incredible stuff!

[Pilotwings]

Please win NAdal

[Kieran76]

I am. Go RF!

[Paulos G]

Go RF!

Seconded.

[Pilotwings]

Go RaFa!

Fixed it for you guys so people understand what you mean

[Paulos G]

Heh.

GO ROGER!