The real Tennis thread.

[Tricycle Rider]

So on the men's side the French Open final turned out to be a dud (didn't see all of the 3rd set, but I'm sure Ruud gave it all he had), but I did at least enjoy the women's final.

It's probably too soon, but any thoughts on Wimbledon next month? It's obviously a different surface, should I be expecting something more or different from the men?

 

[Red Rick]

So on the men's side the French Open final turned out to be a dud (didn't see all of the 3rd set, but I'm sure Ruud gave it all he had), but I did at least enjoy the women's final.

It's probably too soon, but any thoughts on Wimbledon next month? It's obviously a different surface, should I be expecting something more or different from the men?

Djokovic hasn't lost at Wimbledon since 2017, soooo.... What players can threaten him changes a little bit, but he's gonna be the overwhelming favorite there. Especially now that the record is broken and the pressure should be off.

Unironically think Murray should be a top 5 threat at Wimbledon this year.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Usually spends time listening to the radio RG which can be great fun, but the tournament just didn't get off the ground. And the Joker continues. Well done to him.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Crazy to think how greater the big threes career would be if one or two didn’t exist to pillage off each other.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Crazy to think how greater the big threes career would be if one or two didn’t exist to pillage off each other.

30 GS at least. I can count 4 or 5 RG that Roger lost because of Rafa and I'm only counting RG.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Djokovic hasn't lost at Wimbledon since 2017, soooo.... What players can threaten him changes a little bit, but he's gonna be the overwhelming favorite there. Especially now that the record is broken and the pressure should be off.

Unironically think Murray should be a top 5 threat at Wimbledon this year.

So unless the young'uns step up I should be looking forward to a geriatric Wimbledon on the men's side (no ageism involved, I'm old enough to be Djoko's and Murray's mother!)...

Well. there's always strawberries and cream to look forward to while watching Wimbledon. So at least there's that.

 

[Red Rick]

So unless the young'uns step up I should be looking forward to a geriatric Wimbledon on the men's side (no ageism involved, I'm old enough to be Djoko's and Murray's mother!)...

Well. there's always strawberries and cream to look forward to while watching Wimbledon. So at least there's that.

Problem is the young'uns universally suck on grass. And the best of the young'uns, Alcaraz, hasn't had a good Wimbledon yet.

Honestly in 2021 and 2022 Djokovic won it without even looking good

 

[SHAD0W93]

They should make Novak play with his opposite arm in order to liven the competition up.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Problem is the young'uns universally suck on grass. And the best of the young'uns, Alcaraz, hasn't had a good Wimbledon yet.

Honestly in 2021 and 2022 Djokovic won it without even looking good

Long gone are the days when you could win Wimbledon at the age of 17 like Boris Becker did way back when...

Why do you suppose the young'uns aren't so good on grass right now?

 

[Red Rick]

Long gone are the days when you could win Wimbledon at the age of 17 like Boris Becker did way back when...

Why do you suppose the young'uns aren't so good on grass right now?

Various reasons.

But I'm not gonna blame young players for not learning to volleying cause volleying is overrated, and I'm just gonna blame shot tolerance. Most young players don't deal that well with harder flatter incoming balls which is what happens when a ball skids off grass. This also correlates a bit with returning ability. Djokovic is no longer the fastest guy on Tour, but his shot tolerance is still unparalleled.

There's this idea that grass is for big servers but it's for players that are great serve+returners, with baselining being slightly less important. Hardcourt requires all 3, and clay has less emphasis on serve+return but I also think it's getting more important on clay. And most young players these days grow up standing far back on return. No u25 player has both a good serve and good return.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

well, I just hope to hell that the scottish bastard can perform. I will be spending time watching you... , please don't mess it up too quickly.

 

[BullsFan22]

Wimbledon has been Novak’s second best GS after Australia, so he’s the big favorite there. I don’t see anyone challenging him, especially mentally. Alcaraz hasn’t been great on grass. Maybe Sinner, Medvedev, Khachanov….The new generation just isn’t good enough. I mean, Djoković lost to the likes of Kohlschreiber and Melzer at Roland Garros. Now he’s easily beating Ruud, a top 10 player that’s 11 years younger.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Melzer caused lots of guys trouble on clay. Like a slow grinding machine.

 

[Red Rick]

well, I just hope to hell that the scottish bastard can perform. I will be spending time watching you... , please don't mess it up too quickly.

Mury is gonna be British come July.

 

[Red Rick]

Wimbledon has been Novak’s second best GS after Australia, so he’s the big favorite there. I don’t see anyone challenging him, especially mentally. Alcaraz hasn’t been great on grass. Maybe Sinner, Medvedev, Khachanov….The new generation just isn’t good enough. I mean, Djoković lost to the likes of Kohlschreiber and Melzer at Roland Garros. Now he’s easily beating Ruud, a top 10 player that’s 11 years younger.

Doesn't really make sense to compare to the Djoko of 2009-2010 and 2017-2018 at RG.

That said there's a very specific clay thing where Djokovic I beleive is undefeated at RG against righties with a 2handed backhand excepting a retirement in his first RG against Coria.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

 

[BullsFan22]

Doesn't really make sense to compare to the Djoko of 2009-2010 and 2017-2018 at RG.

That said there's a very specific clay thing where Djokovic I beleive is undefeated at RG against righties with a 2handed backhand excepting a retirement in his first RG against Coria.

Why not? He wasn’t injured in those losses, and he was a big favorite in those matches. He was 22/23, now he’s 36 and beating 25 year old that’s likely at the peak of his powers.

 

[Red Rick]

Why not? He wasn’t injured in those losses, and he was a big favorite in those matches. He was 22/23, now he’s 36 and beating 25 year old that’s likely at the peak of his powers.

Djoko is most definitely better now than 2009-2010. Yes his physicality is worsez but he makes up for it so much in ballstriking, serving, anticipation, tactics and mentality

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Gasguet, the human backhand, just made his 600 win on the tour. He joins a significant club.
Well done, monsieur, maybe I get to see one or two swings come Wimbledon.

 

[BullsFan22]

Djoko is most definitely better now than 2009-2010. Yes his physicality is worsez but he makes up for it so much in ballstriking, serving, anticipation, tactics and mentality

It doesn’t hurt that his only legit opponent at RG was Alcaraz, and he had an injury early in the 3rd and the match, for all intents and purposes was over after that.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

The first round of Wimbledon is (or was) underway earlier, it looks like half the matches had been suspended due to rain.

Stay tuned, matches to resume tomorrow!

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Does Wimbledon not have a roof for centre court?
Edit: Nevermind, they do have one roof.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Judging by the number of posts in this thread I take it it's still raining at Wimbledon?

 

[Red Rick]

*** hate the Wimbledon curfew more than Planche de Belles Filles

Mury Goat.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

*** hate the Wimbledon curfew more than Planche de Belles Filles

Mury Goat.

Are you writing names like ilmaestro or do you mean someone else?