The Tennis Thread

[MyNameIs]

Although I was rooting for Lisicki on Saturday, I was so happy to see Bartoli win too. I'm generally not a fan of hers, but there was something so endearing about her win. She played a good match. Stayed focused. Knew what she had to do and did it. Lisicki was the opposite of that. Unraveling from the get go. Hopefully Lisicki can use this experience and push forward. She should have more chances in the future. Congrats to Bartoli.

Congrats to Murray too. The final was tough because I can't stand either of those two (both so arrogant!), it was quite obvious Andy really wanted it and he gave it his all out there. Djokovic just didn't know how to be in that position. Must have been odd for him to be so overpowered. Plus, hopefully this will put to rest the whole "no Brit has won blah blah blah..." The better match was between Del Potro and Djokovic on Friday. Wish Del Potro had pulled that one out.

 

[Not Plain Jane]

Funny, I don't find either of them arrogant. Taste is suck a fickle thing.

Totally agree with you about this though:

The better match was between Del Potro and Djokovic on Friday.

That match was quite incredible, one of the best of the year for sure. Excellent quality. They played in such a sporting fashion too, being close friends off the court. It was wonderful to watch on so many levels. Likely, too, it explains Djokovic's "off" game on Sunday to some degree. I read a funny tweet that called Del Potro "Murray's accomplice" since he tired out Fed before the Olympics final in the longest match there, and then he tired out Novak before this final in the longest semi in history at Wimbledon. Indeed, I think both the runners-up, Lisicki and Djokovic, were a bit spent by the time the finals rolled round as they both played through the tougher draws and were more taxed, as a result, both mentally and physically.

But that's how it goes sometimes and the winners were nonetheless deserving.

 

[YoninahAliza]

Incredibly proud of Murray's win, the whole of Britain must still be celebrating! It's been a long time coming that's for sure! Wish I could have watched the match, of course something as epic like this happens when it's like the first time in years I haven't watched the finals, but I was stuck in a car driving home from Pennsylvania. Will also be a bit nice to not have to hear commentary about how its been over 70 years since the last British person won, at next years Wimbledon.

 

[Scott]

i don't really find either arrogant myself. novak certainly is a more gregarious personality but he's very gracious otherwise. his parents in the stands sometimes can be a bit too involved but generally novak carries himself with some dignity.

and andy is slightly more reserved. it's understandable how many can misinterpret that as arrogance but he does seem like a nice guy for the most part.

btw,talking about delpo....there is a reason why he's my favorite....not to mention he's delicious! but i hope this means we'll see delpo making another push to add another major to his own credit like andy did. i would love it if he got back to that very elite status with those four guys. it's funny how his and petra kvitova's career have kind of mirrored one another being so up and so down....although delpo certainly had an excuse with the wrist in 2010 and 11,but generally they've had a very similar path the last year or so.

 

[Scott]

i am so shocked right now. never would i have expected bartoli to make such a decision not only on the heels of her breakthrough major but also with all the massive changes she's made in her career this season. it's unbelievable. i really hope she's not being hasty.

 

[VogueDisciple93]

I was also shocked. But if the pain is as great as she says it's best she leaves a champion. What a season it has been.

 

[Not Plain Jane]

On the plus side, she went out on a high and on her own terms. I wish her the very best happiness going forward!

 

[Not Plain Jane]

i don't really find either arrogant myself. novak certainly is a more gregarious personality but he's very gracious otherwise. his parents in the stands sometimes can be a bit too involved but generally novak carries himself with some dignity.

and andy is slightly more reserved. it's understandable how many can misinterpret that as arrogance but he does seem like a nice guy for the most part.

btw,talking about delpo....there is a reason why he's my favorite....not to mention he's delicious! but i hope this means we'll see delpo making another push to add another major to his own credit like andy did. i would love it if he got back to that very elite status with those four guys. it's funny how his and petra kvitova's career have kind of mirrored one another being so up and so down....although delpo certainly had an excuse with the wrist in 2010 and 11,but generally they've had a very similar path the last year or so.

Agree with everything - would love to see Delpo doing well again.

 

[Scott]

true and i respect the decision she's made. she was on espn earlier and she definitely seems happy and almost relieved on the decision. so seeing that as opposed to how emotional she was when she was in her presser,has changed my mind a bit. and maybe to an extent the evolutions,the push she made this season and going into wimbledon was the purpose for her in retrospect. i still would have liked to see her finish the season and perhaps as she's in the top 10 and likely would have qualified,announce this as she lena dementieva did in that moment. but you know steffi graf retired very much in a similar way....she won her final major at RG got to that final against lindsay at wimbledon and played only one tournament after that in san diego and it was there following a match retirement that she announced she was walking away.

it's funny looking at my comment soon after wimby and saying that about petra....seeing her since wimbledon has kind of fueled that comparison for me as petra looks so much fitter since wimby and is moving so much better.

 

[Scott]

what an odd day for coaches,no? hours after maria dismissed jimmy connors after only a single match together,sam stosur has just announced that she and her long-time coach dave taylor are splitting after six years. peculiar timing coming off her first title since the open and some improved tactics and just before the final major of the year,one aforementioned which she won. of course,two b2b losses to kvitova(who i know sam is itching to beat finally)and halep this week and perhaps in the grand scheme after everything she's been through during the course of the last couple years now since winning the open,perhaps it's a needed change? evidently fed cup captain alicia molik will be filling in i'm assuming till she finds a regular coach. hopefully somebody that challenges her but is able to get her to be more consistent and present in matches.

 

[Not Plain Jane]

Yes, it was weird. I thought the Sharapova / Connors partnership might not work - two very strong personalities.

I was rooting for Federer to finally get a win over Nadal tonight, just to spice up that rivalry prior to the USO and make everything look a little more intriguing. I am already rather tired of the Nadal "comeback" story. Hopefully Delpo, Berdych or Isner have something to say about him winning. Delpo is certainly due a Masters title!

 

[maxlinden]

Sugarpova

 

[Not Plain Jane]

Apparently Maria's now out of the US Open - shoulder injury or some such.

 

[anaa lpz]

Yes, the shoulder again. I'm really worried.

 

[Scott]

bursitis in her shoulder to be exact which is inflammation in the joints. i was pretty surprised when i heard that after she just coming back from the hip and knee injuries from wimbledon....i thought it would a recurrence of one of those. certainly had to have happened whilst practicing for the open because there was nothing really that would indicate the shoulder at cincy last week. and i know maria is very protective about that after everything she went through so certainly understandable. i hope she gets well.

btw,on another note,she was photographed the other day practicing with her dad yuri. i seriously hope that's not a permanent or long-term arrangement because unless he has changed,i don't think i can take another bout of his obnoxious behaviour from the stands.

 

[maxlinden]

Hopefully this opens the door for a brand new champion. Still rooting for Serena

 

[Scott]

hopefully so....vika definitely seems to be the second favourite after beating serena last week but it's also worth pointing out that both stosur and kvitova are in vika's half of the draw and sam just beat vika to win carlsbad,exceptionally well....and kvitova she's gaining some ground this week at new haven moving into the final,so hopefully that can give her some confidence going into the open. and kvitova has not played vika since their little 2011 rivalry so that could be interesting if the projections hold true. stosur meanwhile will have to beat kvitova for there to be another chance meeting with vika and sam just lost to kvitova again a couple weeks ago.

caro seems to have picked up her game the past couple weeks....even looks like she's improved in some areas of her game particularly in her positioning and her forehand. and she beat kvitova last week and knocked off sloane stephens last night so her prospects look interesting on that side where she and errani are. errani on the other hand has not had as strong a summer as she probably would have preferred....certainly considering how great her year has been pre-wimbledon. i don't have high hopes for her at the open but you never know being a major with her.

serena on that top half does have a tricky first round against schiavone. she and frankie just played one another a few weeks ago at toronto and was actually tougher than anticipated.

another interesting first round encounter is venus against kirsten flipkens....venus making her comeback a few weeks ago actually played and lost to flipper in a tight three setter so i'll be keen to see if it goes the same way this time. and both she and sloane stephens are in serena's half.

 

[maxlinden]

Woaw, Woaw, Woaw! Did you see it? Victoria duval is the reason I love the slams, the upsets. That was the best match thus far.

Vika and Serena played so aggressive in their first round matches, I would be shocked if they both didn't make it to the finals

 

[Not Plain Jane]

Wow, I think Venus' screeching is worse than Sharapova's.

It's horrible watching - i.e., listening to - her versus Zheng.

 

[Not Plain Jane]

Awww, it was sad to see James Blake go out like that. Such a nice man, who has endured a lot.

Interestingly his opponent, Karlovic, also had a tremendously tough year, and he was very gracious to leave the court and let Blake have the last word.