Tennis

[Captain Nemo]

Stosur chokes again, WTF?
Ferret, got anything....?

[Ferrins]

My mums picks are Garbine Muguruza and Novak.

[Captain Nemo]

My mums picks are Garbine Muguruza and Novak.

I meant on Stosur's demise....

[Ferrins]

Ask Andy he is a Stosur fanboy.

[AndyP]

I was spared the torture of it this time. I wonder if she got ahead in that second set.

[Captain Nemo]

Well she certainly didn't give it (head that is)!

[3Puttpete]

She was 2-0 up wasn't she?

[TheNuclearOne]

Pretty sure she served at 4-3 in the second. Having said that the Screamer is a reknowned fighter and was always going to keep fighting. She was also about 15-2 or something over Sam head to head.

[Ferrins]

Stosur played great tennis to get to the 4th round and had the favourite up against the ropes a set and point for 5-3 and then completely lost her concentration. Then as it started going pear shaped she rushed. Rod Laver tried to help her by telling her if things are going wrong to slow down. Lawrence it was a bit like fighting a game fish to the side of the boat then losing it.

[AndyP]

Same old story then.

[Captain Nemo]

I saw some highlights on Fox, looks like the Screamer picked her game up a LOT in the 3rd, went for some shots and they came off beautifully....
Open title no for the rug munchers, the men not so.....

[Ferrins]

Great win for Nadal! Can't stand the prick but he is an amazing competitor.

[goughy]

What is it about clay that turns other players to jelly? It seems such a specialised surface. What's the difference?

Not saying Nadal can't play other surfaces. But it seems he has a clear advantage on clay. Same as other like Kurten had as well.

[Ferrins]

Cross a marathon runner with a prize fighter and throw in a bit of fighting co^k.

[PeteyD]

Black Eyes?

[TheNuclearOne]

What is it about clay that turns other players to jelly? It seems such a specialised surface. What's the difference?

Not saying Nadal can't play other surfaces. But it seems he has a clear advantage on clay. Same as other like Kurten had as well.

Clay court tennis is definitely very specialised.

Movement is a huge one. You've obviously seen players sliding into just about every shot? Anyone can slide into a shot, but timing the slide to stay balanced enough to put a good free stroke on it while also finishing in a solid enough position to recover well back to the next shot is an art. Time spent on clay courts will clearly be an advantage, moving on clay efficiently is a learned skill.

The surface is also noticably slower, with much higher purchase and grip for spin. This will make big topspin shots rear up high, which Nadal can make happen all day long. Players usually play well further back in rallies, it's hard to stay on top of the baseline. This also brings in the drop shots you see so often, as well as angles and the like. The slower surface helps those with big free swinging topspin strokes as they have more time to set up and belt away. Kuerten is a good example. Their big wind ups can get found out on the faster lower surfaces, very difficult to time. Players want to serve volley or attack the net a bit can be blown away as the opponent has plenty of time to wind up and pound the ball past or over them. You have to come in on more crafty shots or simply when the opponent is down and out.

On top of all that it's an absolute battle of attrition and concentration. Rallies are much longer than on hard courts and it's a real gruelling affair. Guys like Borg, Nadal, Lendl, they are kings at it. Back in Borgs day, it was more of a grind 'em down rallying all day, Lendl was a combination of solid patient rallying and pounding the ball when it was in the slot for him. Wilander was a bit more the Borg style, much less power than Lendl. Borg was amazing in that he could adapt to grass so brilliantly, he'd ramp up the serve a bit, come in a bit, play more forward and shorten his swings off both sides.

Nadal is super on all surfaces now too, he got better and better on them as his record shows. He is beyond belief on clay tho, especially at the French. He's easily the greatest clay courter in history, man or woman. I made a case quite some time ago that he is pushing toward challenging for the title of being the greatest tennis player in history barring injury concerns. The first 2 articles i looked at today have been all about Nadal being on the verge of poitentially becoming the greatest ever. If he can grab hold of some more of the other slams, Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australian, look out. The Joker is the biggest stumbling block, he's mostly just a bit better than Nadal on the hard courts i think.

[Captain Nemo]

Stosur chokes again, WTF?Ferret, got anything....?

And she's gone again, first round. Maybe she needs to come home and head to Ferrets camp for some soul searching!!!

[Captain Nemo]

Roger Rasheed tipped Matesovic to win his match at very good odds ($2.90 I think)?
Also liked Groth to cause an upset.

[goughy]

So par for the course?

[Ferrins]

Thoughts on Ken Rosewall Wimbledon add with Wally Masur.

[coalesce]

Kyrgios giving it a good go against Gasquet at Wimbledon. 2 sets all...

[Ferrins]

Got to like her
Bouchard was asked yesterday how she thought she would handle all the attention if she were to become a Wimbledon champion, but of Sharapova megastar dimensions rather than Kvitova proportions. The young lady’s answer told the inquirer everything they needed to know.

“First and foremost I focus on the tennis,” she said. “Whatever comes with it I take in [my] stride. I know it’s part of the job. I appreciate everything that comes with it. But I know if I don't perform on the court then there’s not much off court.

“So I really try to focus on my job, because at the end of the day I'm a tennis player. I go to work every day and I work on my tennis. As long as I do that, I'll take anything that comes with it.”

[coalesce]

Could be an epic game brewing at the US Open between Murray and Djokovic. 4-4 in the first set with 2 breaks of service each...

[AndyP]

Go 'Anyone that plays Murray'!

[coalesce]

I get why some English people don't like Murray (because of comments he once made about the England football team), but why would Aussies not like him?

Apart from that he is dour and miserable...