The Tennis Thread 2013

[polak]

What an awesome day at Roland Garros!
Two fun matches, the womens match was a lot more intense as I actually like Sharapova (Her legs just don't quit in person btw...) and watching Rafa put on a clinic and seeing Wawrinka snap was awesome as well.

Rafa and Djoko should be great! Hope whoever wins smokes Tsonga if he advances. God the crowd at this place made me HATE all French players.

[GirlySports]

what makes the french so bad? I've been to US Open but never to the French Open.
A co-worker of mine went to Australian Open and loved it.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

what makes the french so bad? I've been to US Open but never to the French Open.
A co-worker of mine went to Australian Open and loved it.

The French were way better Davis cup fans than Spain. Mostly because they actually showed up.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by polak

Two fun matches, the womens match was a lot more intense as I actually like Sharapova (Her legs just don't quit in person btw...)

How does the old saying go? Pics or it didn't happen?

[NBC]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

I won't pay the slightest attention to WTA until Serena gets an actual rival that isn't cowering in her skirt whenever they have to face each other. Yeah I know Serena's the undisputed goat, etc. but unless you're American or a Williams fan, I think she's actually killing womens' tennis. It's not even pretty to watch, no finesse or touch needed, every match is like spectating the clubbing of a baby seal.

You're bang on Jack. I've disliked the WTA for a number of years (10+) now as it seems to be nothing more than women trying to blast huge serves and run around their forehands. Traditionally women's tennis was played differently to the men's game. It was more focused on variation, angles and for lack of a better word, guile. Now it has all the hallmarks of the Nick Bollettieri school of 130mph serves and thunderous forehands.

You get these poor girls who can maybe sustain that kind of play of a set, maybe a set and a bit, but then, inevitably the wheels come off and the scoreline ends up looking like what we saw the other day with Jankovic and Sharapova. The Williams sisters are the two who have been able to consistently play like this over the past decade - Venus less so now. Strength and fitness are the two things that differentiate the men's game from the women's. You get the odd one (Williams) who has the right combination of the two to be able to play this type of game. Most others do not but they have to if they want to compete and win in the new WTA.

Women's tennis was so much better (Especially to watch) back in the days of Navratilova, Mandlikova, Evert and Austin.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

what makes the french so bad? I've been to US Open but never to the French Open.
A co-worker of mine went to Australian Open and loved it.

See below for an earlier post.

Originally Posted by NBC

Playing a Frenchman on a show court at Roland Garros is not an easy task. Highly vocal and partizan crown make it extremely difficult.

I also find it interesting that the French Open organizers heavily favour their countrymen by putting them on the show courts, regardless of who else is playing. When I went a few years ago, They had Gilles Simon, Marion Bartoli and Paul-Henri Mathieu on Philippe Chatrier (centre) and had Federer, Venus Williams and Djokovic on Suzanne Lenglen. Number 10 seed Andy Murray was put out on some ridiculous outer court.

Very odd.

The favouritism shown to French players at Roland Garros is obscene. You would never put the world no.1 on anything but centre court at the US or Wimbledon or the Australian, but the French will do it just to have one of their top 50 guys play some no name on the main show court. This only happens at the French. And the crowds when a French player is on is something to behold. Vocal, aggressive, loud, disrespectful (to the opponent) - again only at the French.

I've been to 3 out of 4 Grand Slams and the behaviour of the crowds when one of their own is playing and of the tournament organisers is shocking.

[polak]

Exactly. I will never support another French player after my experience being in Paris during the Simon match and at Roland Garros during the Tsonga match.

[NBC]

Lovely setting though isn't it polak? On a bright sunny day Roland Garros comes alive with vibrant colours, lovely greenery and the red clay courts look impressive and ominous for everyone not named Nadal.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by NBC

You're bang on Jack. I've disliked the WTA for a number of years (10+) now as it seems to be nothing more than women trying to blast huge serves and run around their forehands. Traditionally women's tennis was played differently to the men's game. It was more focused on variation, angles and for lack of a better word, guile. Now it has all the hallmarks of the Nick Bollettieri school of 130mph serves and thunderous forehands.

You get these poor girls who can maybe sustain that kind of play of a set, maybe a set and a bit, but then, inevitably the wheels come off and the scoreline ends up looking like what we saw the other day with Jankovic and Sharapova. The Williams sisters are the two who have been able to consistently play like this over the past decade - Venus less so now. Strength and fitness are the two things that differentiate the men's game from the women's. You get the odd one (Williams) who has the right combination of the two to be able to play this type of game. Most others do not but they have to if they want to compete and win in the new WTA.

Women's tennis was so much better (Especially to watch) back in the days of Navratilova, Mandlikova, Evert and Austin.

i think you will enjoy Errani later today, she has a lot of variety in her game. Might even trouble Serena a bit.

[NBC]

Girly my dear, that presumes that I will be watching today - which I won't.

I just don't find the WTA interesting enough anymore.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by NBC

Girly my dear, that presumes that I will be watching today - which I won't.

I just don't find the WTA interesting enough anymore.

Just saying that you may find players like Radwanska, Errani and Stosur more interesting because they don't simply bash the ball.

oh dear, WTA scoreline, 6-1, 2-6, 5-3 still going! It's taken 2 and a half hours to play 23 games.

[NBC]

This current match pretty much sums up the WTA. Wild ground strokes, double faults, break points galore and unbelievably ridiculous grunting. The turnaround by Azarenka in the 2nd and the recent crumbling of Sharapova late in the 3rd are painful things to see. Who knows how this is going to turn out. It'll be lost on some horrible double fault no doubt.

[GirlySports]

I agree. I hardly watched this match (just have it in the background). Vika and Maria are just ball bashers. I have a feeling that Williams-Errani will be more entertaining if Errani can hang in there.

[GirlySports]

sheesh, that first set took 10 minutes.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Unlike the men this is certainly not the golden era of womens tennis. Boring matches and non-stop grunting from the top players is not a big draw. If there wasn't always the possibility of a Serena meltdown I probably wouldn't watch.

[Mango]

Well, that was an easy day at the office.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Unlike the men this is certainly not the golden era of womens tennis. Boring matches and non-stop grunting from the top players is not a big draw. If there wasn't always the possibility of a Serena meltdown I probably wouldn't watch.

The only thing melting down at Roland Garros today is Errani's racket.

Good grief was that complete and utter domination.


Has Serena ever played this well before? She is a machine right now.

[polak]

Originally Posted by NBC

Lovely setting though isn't it polak? On a bright sunny day Roland Garros comes alive with vibrant colours, lovely greenery and the red clay courts look impressive and ominous for everyone not named Nadal.

Yeah it's a very nice grounds.
The clay court is just beautiful too. Love the outside of Chartier and all the greenery that covers it. Awesome venue.

[fundmark19]

I also find it painful to watch the women. The odd time you get some good tennis but long rallies are few and far between.

On a side note I only now just realized what Senator Clay Davis' name came from!

[NBC]

Originally Posted by Mango

Well, that was an easy day at the office.

All for the same prize money too. Not that many on the ATP would admit it but it surely must irritate them.

46 minutes. Grand Slam semi final. This isn't right.