Wimbledon '09

[marty21]

Bogdanovic continues his fine tradition of losing in the 1st round,surely this should be the end of awarding him another wild card ever again
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8115694.stm

he'll need to qualify next time, 8 wild cards on the trot, and no wins

he has almost been ranked in the top 100 before, that's the only way he'll get into another wimbledon, he seems to lack bottle in big matches - he doesn't play davis cup any more because he froze there as well

good win for baltacha, it should put her in the top 100, and means she'll qualify for the US open as well

Anne Keothavong left her press conference in tears, after they were fairly mean, about letting down the british public - only a tennis match as Becker said, no one died

 

[Gingerman]

British Tennis needs more tennis fathers from hell like Damir Dokic
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2003/apr/06/tennis.features1

 

[slaar]

Federer's on fire in the second round, meanwhile. Imperious...

 

[N_igma]

Hewitt playing some tennis here. He's always going to be a threat.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Yeah that's quite a shock - wasn't Del Potro third fave?

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Anyone think Murray might be victim of an upset today?

 

[butchersapron]

Anyone think Murray might be victim of an upset today?

Nopre, he'll pout in his best perf of whole tournament today then go out. I hope to see some angry tennis.

 

[N_igma]

Yeah that's quite a shock - wasn't Del Potro third fave?

5th seed but technically first as he took Nadals place iirc.

ETA: Dude why did you change your name?

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Yeah it wouldn't quite fit the British pattern to flop today. He'll get our hopes up first...

 

[Leafster]

Hewitt playing some tennis here. He's always going to be a threat.

Yeah that's quite a shock - wasn't Del Potro third fave?

I watched Hewitt on Tuesday. He didn't quite have the fizz on court he used to but after a slightly shakey start he regained his focus and polished off Ginepri pretty easily.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Yay, Laura Robson won her doubles game.

 

[goldenecitrone]

Stroll in the park for Murray so far. Looking good.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Yeah, impressive how he held his nerve to take the 2nd set.

That guy's brinksmanship with the 'cheating' allegations clearly didn't work...

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Hewitt's come to sit amongst the normal spectators.

 

[slaar]

I love Hewitt. Didn't he also beat Nadal in a warm-up game last week? He could go all the way to the semi-finals quite easily. Then he's on course to meet Murray if all goes well I think...

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

He's a far better player than Henman, but he's nearly as tedious as a person, isn't he...

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I love Hewitt. Didn't he also beat Nadal in a warm-up game last week? He could go all the way to the semi-finals quite easily. Then he's on course to meet Murray if all goes well I think...

Yeah. Would be nice to see some surprises in the semis.

What was the last really big semi final upset at Wimbledon?

It always feels as if the upsets tend to come early on, and it's quite rare to get a major upset in the semis and so.

 

[slaar]

He's a far better player than Henman, but he's nearly as tedious as a person, isn't he...

Yes. But at least he's a winner. I can deal with the lack of personality.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

True.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Definitely going to be much much bigger tests for him next week. Still, I remember Henman having 'heroic five set victories' against this type of player...

 

[butchersapron]

Call me a cheat eh? Bye Bye

 

[slaar]

Yeah, he's not lost a service game yet this year at Wimbledon, is serving beautifully, has loads to come on the groundstrokes as he builds confidence through the rounds and has, if he and Federer make it to the final, beaten him 4 in a row. Feeling good about this.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Call me a cheat eh? Bye Bye

It's good indeed to see that kind of ruthlessness from a British player

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Yeah, he's not lost a service game yet, is serving beautifully, has loads to come on the groundstrokes as he builds confidence through the rounds and has, if he and Federer make it to the final, beaten him 4 in a row. Feeling good about this.

I still am 50/50 about whether he'll win the whole thing. On the one hand, he's got the talent to do it, and he has, as you say, beaten Federer tons of times. On the other, the pressure when it comes to that semi or final...

 

[slaar]

6-2, 7-5, 6-3 with a stunning break to finish and first match point clinically dispatched.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Good stuff.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

He's a genuine contender – that's enough, isn't it? Henman never was really – you always knew Sampras had his measure. I think Federer will win because he's the best, but Murray won't choke, I don't think. My guess – Murray will win majors, but his first win will come in the US Open.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I know it's enough. I think it's great.

Just wondering whether British 'nearly man' syndrome will still come into play.

Hmm, actually, it's only really English players which seem to suffer that - while the Celtic nations produce fewer good players in general, the ones they do produce tend to have that actual extra bit. Calzaghe, etc...

 

[DexterTCN]

He did that with surprising ease.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I know it's enough. I think it's great.

Just wondering whether British 'nearly man' syndrome will still come into play.

Hmm, actually, it's only really English players which seem to suffer that - while the Celtic nations produce fewer good players in general, the ones they do produce tend to have that actual bit. Calzaghe, etc...

Yeah, I don't see that mental fragility in him. He doesn't want to win Wimbledon for the fans or for the nation. He wants to win it for himself. To be fair to Henman, I didn't think he was particularly a choker – he performed best at Wimbledon after all. I just don't think he was quite good enough.