The Tennis Thread - Part 2

[Sakuraba]

Match point for Djokovic off a tape ball!

Unreturned serve up the T from Stan! Deuce 2

Match point #2 for Djokovic, Wawrinka tried to change directions with his backhand and overlooked it.

Thunderous backhand down the line from Stan! Holy crap what a shot! Deuce 3...

Advantage Stan with a slap backhand coming behind a great wide serve...

Backhand into the net from Wawrinka, deuce 4

Three tape balls in that rally and Wawrinka finishes with another clean winner. He's winning the forehand to forehand exchanges. Ad Stan...

Long backhand off great return from Djoker, deuce 5...

Backhand into the net, match point #3...

Awesome point to finish, Djokovic with a nifty short crosscourt pass.

This match had gotten VERY boring and routine, but that last game was AMAZING.

 

[Sakuraba]

...and Djokovic rips his shirt off... Does he really wonder why he never has any crowd support?

 

[Sakuraba]

Almagro up two sets to love on Ferrer. One set away from me being a happy camper.

I think Nightwing must have had a heartache during the Djokovic/Wawrinka match. He said "holy ****" and vanished

 

[Nightwing 52]

^ Hahaha.

I'm still reeling it from it. That first set shocked the tennis world and I credit Novak for being the warrior he is and guttting it out. Even as a big Djoker fan at times I was rooting for Stan, I mean how could you not? The guy was playing like a top 5 player and the match of his life. Not to mention that BACKHAND. Yes he's often seen as being in the shadow of Fed and he is. But the way he played..it was like he stepped out of that shadow. And you couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy when it was over.

Unfortunately in tennis there can't be two winners. But even though Novak won Stan also won a lot of people over and showed he could level with the best in the world right now. Had he won I wouldn't have been disappointed. He played like a champ. I must've watched highlights over 10 times. Just outstanding stuff and the match of the tournament (so far).

And the only heartattack I'm gonna have is from Almagro. Holy major brain cramp, Batman.

 

[Nightwing 52]

Now hold your serve Nico and stay focused. If there's one guy who deserves this, it's him.

 

[Nightwing 52]

Maaaaaaaaaaaan.

 

[Nightwing 52]

This is incredible and not in a good way. I'll shed man tears if Almagro doesn't win this. Man tears! Dude just wasted so many chances and couldn't hold his nerve. Instead, he just decides to blast the ball. Ferrer is a human wall. Get enough balls back against him and he WILL miss eventually. Just a complete downward spiral for Nico..I almost don't want to watch anymore.

Again l've said before - I like Ferrer. I just don't want another Ferrer semi.

 

[Nightwing 52]

Ferrer wins. Beyond pissed at how Almagro let it slip. Somewhere Djokovic is smiling.

 

[Sakuraba]

I turned it off when Almagro failed to serve it out and then was broken again for the set. I'm surprised to see that it went to a fourth set tiebreak.

Oh well, when Djokovic was asked about the semi and he said Ferrer was one of the most respected guys on tour, that was his way of saying Ferrer's a doormat.

 

[Sakuraba]

Serena/Stephens is 4-4 in the third set baby! Haven't watched to this point so I have no analytical theories.

The point were Serena was broken to get back on serve, Stephens used a slice to force a weak Serena topspin forehand, then she hit a great angle on her backhand to force an error from Serena.

Stephens just hit a SUMLIME half volley that I was sure she would screw up.

 

[Sakuraba]

Serena destroys a couple of second serves, but SS gets the second one back on break point and rips a forehand winner for deuce.

The slice is such an underrated weapon against Serena. She can't attack a good slice in any way, deep or short, middle or to the lines, she'll hit a weak topspin shot ever time that is ripe to be ripped.

Stephen's holds. Serena is serving to stay in the match!

 

[Sakuraba]

I'm so glad to have Cliff Drysdale on the call and not the wretched Chris Fowler.

Double match point as Serena Williams foot work is failing her again.

Serena sends a few lame backhands into the net to finish this thing! That was pitiful.

You feel great about Stephens, she's beaming.

 

[Nightwing 52]

Just...wow. Even with injury Serena tried her best but obviously wasn't herself. Sloane on the other hand was firing rockets and using her slice to great effect. Granted Serena basically handed her the match at the end but again Sloane didn't let the injury time out or breaks of serve get her down. She hung in there.

Watching the Serena fans on twitter flip the **** out was also highly entertaining.

 

[Sakuraba]

You know, if you follow this thread you know I love Serena. She's a throwback with her personality. She is an outspoken brat in the Federer Era of polished gentlemen. (Though in Federer's credit, he's just really good at disguising his cheap shots on rivals.)

But for all of the talking heads that continue to build her up as the greatest player ever, and they all do on ESPN, why hasn't she won more Slams? That is the ultimate measuring stick of players. Why does she get put out early at so many Slams before she gets "focused, determined" or whatever in the summer?

Chris Evert might just be the most ignorant analytical mind in tennis history, but as a player she almost never missed a Slam semifinal. She didn't get put out in the 1st round by some local club player. Graf didn't miss a lot of semis in her lengthy prime years. The greats don't! There isn't a lot of parity in women's tennis, never has been. The top players should dominate. They aren't just determined, they were legitimate all court players. A game for all seasons.

So when June rolls around and we start to hear the news that Serena "has that look in her eyes and she's super determined" lets remember that the speed of the courts has picked up quite a bit and that always helps Serena to focus. And win.

 

[Sakuraba]

Just...wow. Even with injury Serena tried her best but obviously wasn't herself. Sloane on the other hand was firing rockets and using her slice to great effect. Granted Serena basically handed her the match at the end but again Sloane didn't let the injury time out or breaks of serve get her down. She hung in there.

Watching the Serena fans on twitter flip the **** out was also highly entertaining.

That last service game was some of the least inspiring tennis I've ever seen from Serena. I've seen a lot of nervous tennis from her, but not just packing it in like that.

 

[Sakuraba]

Watching Serena's post presser. She's so naturally entertaining, and she's being a good sport. The press are trying so hard to get her to say that she lost because of the injury, but she is not taking the bait

 

[Nightwing 52]

Found it funny when she thought she was being asked about her retirement from the game only to realize the question was about if she thought about retiring from the match.

Murray already putting on a clinic against Chardy. Don't think we'll see a repeat of their last encounter...still early though.

 

[Sakuraba]

How much does Tom Rinaldi get paid? I want his job. Travel to the Slams, conduct a few short harmless interviews, and get to sit courtside so every half hour Darren Cahill can ask you how much the wind is blowing.

 

[Sakuraba]

OMG, Judy Murray! It's Andy Murray with Andre Agassi's hair extensions.

 

[Nightwing 52]

How much does Tom Rinaldi get paid? I want his job. Travel to the Slams, conduct a few short harmless interviews, and get to sit courtside so every half hour Darren Cahill can ask you how much the wind is blowing.

OMG, Judy Murray! It's Andy Murray with Andre Agassi's hair extensions.

 

[Sakuraba]

I'm not trying to be mean or say that Judy Murray is ugly, I'm really not, but Jesus she looks absolutely identical to her son.

Kim Sears however, is ridiculously hot.

 

[Nightwing 52]

Word.

Berdych and Novak have some nice lookers too.

And I dunno why but I wanted to see Chardy upset Murray. Not looking like it'll happen though.

 

[Nightwing 52]

Novak really loves Gangnam Style. I mean really.

 

[Nightwing 52]

Game. Set. Match. Murray. Pretty much a cakewalk. Good run for Chardy but Murray was just on his game like crazy. Bring on Fed/Tsonga.

 

[Nightwing 52]

Second set goes to Tsonga! Amazing first two sets - Jo's bringing the heat to Fed.