The Tennis Thread

[Nu-Eclipse]

I'll always bat for the like of Nadal and Sampras as my all-time faves and many others will bat for Federer, but I think that Novak Djokovic, for all of his many detractors, has ended the Tennis GOAT debate pretty conclusively - the numbers don't lie and the records and his longevity are really really hard to argue against at this point.

Unless he has a spectacular physical decline in the next year or two, I can genuinely see him ending his career with 30 major wins.

[Anpanman]

I like Novak - a lot, I hope I can see him play before he retires. Personally don't think he will get to thirty though I hope he at least gets another one.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I like Novak - a lot, I hope I can see him play before he retires. Personally don't think he will get to thirty though I hope he at least gets another one.

Frankly, he looks like he'll win several more before he's done. If he doesn't get to 30 slam wins, he'll get close. He "only" has to repeat a three-slam year twice to get there.

Alcaraz and possibly Medvedev aside, there's nobody else to challenge him and even those two can't do it consistently enough to deny him.

But we'll see.

[Anpanman]

I take your point, but the way I see it is that every GS Novak is getting older and at his age he will probably regress every so slightly, certainly every year there will be a fall-off whereas Alcaraz is getting stronger.
Novak is the fittest tennis player we've ever seen - I think but even he can't last forever. If we were having this discussion five years ago then I would say getting to thirty is almost nailed on.

The men's game at the moment is riveting.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I take your point, but the way I see it is that every GS Novak is getting older and at his age he will probably regress every so slightly, certainly every year there will be a fall-off whereas Alcaraz is getting stronger.
Novak is the fittest tennis player we've ever seen - I think but even he can't last forever. If we were having this discussion five years ago then I would say getting to thirty is almost nailed on.

The men's game at the moment is riveting.

That is why I said it will obviously depend on if he physically declines in the next year or two - something that doesn't appear to be the case. Also, he is clearly prioritising his schedule for the slams and Masters 1000 events so he doesn't have a heavy workload. With his fitness, a slight regression may still be enough to win 1-2 majors a year.

Bottom line is that he still the best in the world right now and Alcaraz and Medvedev, as good as they are, are not at his level of consistency. 30 slams may not be nailed on but it isn't impossible so I wouldn't be surprised if he actually did it.

[Anpanman]

Congratulations Sinner wins AO, wife picked Sinner from the start. Medvedev played a cracking first set but long matches previously took their toll.

Kyrgios has been excellent as a colour commentator, his on court interview with Djokovic the other day was top drawer.

Djokovic also gets my award for the best kit.

[Anpanman]

Watched Stan and Murray last night, good match but you can see Murray is near the end, Stan looked much more like his old self.

Very nice moments at the end from both of them.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Bounced due to recent thread duplication.

[fallenangle]

Thanks for directing me to this thread, I did a quick search and didn't find this existing one.

I'll just repeat what I said there in that closed thread and then continue, if that's OK.

I'm mainly interested in the womens' game to TBH as I find the mens' five set serving contest slogs tedious in the extreme. The women often get it over and done with in under an hour but when it does become epic length it is usually a genuinely interesting watch.

The Eastbourne, Devonshire Park tournament is on TV (BBC) this week and often provides clues as to who is on form for Wimbledon. In the women's games all three top GB players, Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Harriet Dart are all looking good. In the singles if there is going to be any GB interest in the later stages of Wimbledon I'd expect it to come from one or more of them rather than any of the GB men.

Emma Raducanu in particular is back on form, beating another former US Grand Slam winner Sloane Stephens yesterday in just two sets with the second one being particularly impressive and good watch.

Currently keeping an eye on Katie Boulter's match at Eastbourne taking on the powerful Jelena Ostapenko. Going fairly well so far at 5 - 4 in the first set and a decent well matched contest too...................and, finally, KB has the first set.

EDIT
KB made hard work of it but finally beat her 6-4 7-5; tough match against a world class player ranked 19 places higher than her.

[Anpanman]

I saw some of Raducanu today, played well. I like Pegula though.

Prefer the men's game but I will say this (perhaps same with most sports), the women's game live is very entertaining.

[fallenangle]

All three GB women I mentioned earlier had excellent results yesterday against genuinely higher ranked opponents.

Apparently it is the first time since 1978 at Eastbourne they've had three GB women in the quarterfinals. Not seen the end of the Raducanu match yet as the BBC cut off broadcast coverage after to two sets to give us the lead up to the Euro football games in the afternoon/evening.

Do we really need 45 - 60 mins of that for every game? I don't think so and shifting the coverage of it to the BBC iPlayer and sticking with the tennis broadcast as it involves GB players would be a more appropriate solution.

I doubt all the GB women will get through the quarterfinals at Eastbourne but I think there is a decent chance, looking at the opposition, two possibly but it will be tough for all of them.

https://www.lta.org.uk/fan-zone/rothesay-international-eastbourne/news/three-british-women-make-quarter-finals-in-eastbourne-for-the-first-time-since-1978/

Thursday Later Edit

One out (Harriet Dart) as I thought might be the case; fairly easily beaten unfortunately so now only two GBW remaining.

Even Later Edit

Didn't go well for any of them as I was afraid would happen.

However Harriet Dart is through to the womens' doubles semi-final with another Brit: Maia Lumsden and on the mens' side GB has a semi-finalist in the singles: Billy Harris and Neal Skupski in the final of the mens' doubles.

[charlesr]

Women's tennis seems all over the place, with people dropping in and out of the rankings like crazy.

[fallenangle]

More evenly matched than the mens' game? Currently no one dominant player and even a top seed can get beaten by a much lower ranked player. You're never sure what you're going to get which is one of the things that often make it a more interesting watch for me than the mens' games.

There was COVID which affected the ranking from 2022 onwards but there is also a flu like illness of some sort that has going around some of the big tournaments recently. Most of the GB womens' team have have had it and Katie Boulter was forced to pull out of the Birmingham tournament about ten days ago because she had it too.

When a whole load of players are randomly under performing because of illness the theory is that with 'only' three sets it amplifies that unpredictability. Not sure I'd go with this but it is a theory I've seen proffered in more than one place.

EDIT

Billy Harris had a very good go in the mens' Eastbourne semi-final but lost 4-6, 6-4, 4-6. Enjoyable watch what I saw of it perhaps because it is a three set for men tournament as for the women.

But Greg Skupski (GB) and Michael Venus (NZ) did win the mens' doubles to add to their recent Queens Club title - genuine possibility of a good Wimbledon run so some British interest there at least.

[fallenangle]

Wimbledon started and amongst other quite good matches Emma Raducanu did away with a decent Mexican who was playing well above her lower ranking so it certainly was not an easy walkover.

That took place on Centre Court with the crowd well sprinkled with minor and major celebrities of all sorts.

EDIT

All three expected GB women through to the next round; particularly good match with Katie Boulter and a former Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria who gave KB a real workout.

Only downside is that she's now going to meet Harriet Dart in the next round on Thursday. So one GB player is going out of Wimbledon whatever happens.

But if it is as good as their match at the recent Nottingham tournament encounter which lasted an epic 3hrs+ it is going to be well worth watching.

05.07.24 EDIT

It was indeed well worth watching. Perhaps not the best tennis, KB was making far too many unforced errors, but it turned into another three hour, three setter. The last set in particular and the subsequent tie break were greatly entertaining.

The result was surprising and deserved but TBH I doubt Harriet Dart will go much further as the next match is against Wang Xinyu. She is the player who, against ranking beat, number five seed Jessica Pegula.

06.07.24 EDIT

Emma Raducanu yesterday playing even better than she did at Nottingham and Eastbourne beat another ranked player. Looks like she is the best bet for any GB success on the womens' side at Wimbledon unless Harriet Dart can rise to occasion in her next match.

ER will also be playing in the mixed doubles alongside Andy Murray - that could be an entertaining and potentially Wimbledon winning combo.

07.07.24 EDIT

Raducanu had to pull out of the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles with Murray because of a possible injury to her wrist.

In an entertaining game Harriet Dart missed a huge opportunity to progress after winning the first set when in the second set she was only one point away from match point. But she choked, lost the second set and then the third.

Pity but with her weak second serve she was going to be found out either in this round or the next by one of the higher ranked players who are more consistent in all areas.

08.07.24 EDIT

Raducanu was beaten in the 4th round singles by the barely known Lulu Sun. It was a good match which went to three sets but Raducanu always looked second best TBH. She also pulled a medical timeout at one point having slipped on the grass earlier in the game. That is never a good sign with her.

13.07.24 EDIT

Perfect example of why I prefer the women's game, particularly the doubles and, a particular favourite of mine in this case, one of the best doubles and single players of all time: Martina Hingis. Playing alongside another former world class great: Kim Clijsters in the Women's Invitation Doubles (from about 6hrs 6mins):-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0j5hhvk/wimbledon-centre-court-day-11

Took a bit of effort finding the final of the WID as the BBC iPlayer indexing is appalling and this match was hidden away on Court 12. TBH not a great contest, over and done with in about 45mins as the Hingis/Clijsters pairing were just too good for their Aussie opponents (from about 11.05). Charming cup presentation at the end too :-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0j5hktz/wimbledon-court-12-day-14

[Anpanman]

Enjoyed reading your updates, thanks for taking the time to write them.

My opinions on the Brit women, Dart for me is just not good enough, far to weak at the moment & has to improve measurably to give it a good go.
Pleased with Raducanu, thought she had a good showing, pity she wasn't at full strength against Sun, fingers crossed she can improve further at the US.

My top marks go to Sonay Kartal, what a player she is to watch, the first set against Gauff was top notch entertainment, Kartal can certainly hit the ball, I'm sure she almost de-skinned it a few times - wow!
The wheels came off for her in the second set sadly, I'm hoping she gets get some good advice and improve some, I'm going to keep an eye out for her.

Men's final was how I thought it might go, Alcaraz is getting better and blew Djokovic away.

The coverage on the BBC is poor, for a 'non advertising' broadcaster we keep getting interrupted by BBC iPlayer adverts and snippets of what's coming up, never had that before. Then of course we have the channel changes and leaving one match to go to another.