The Tennis Thread - Part 2

[Frico]

Dimitrov holds serve to solidify the break for 5-2. A LOT of grinding rallies with Dimitrov winning the majority of them. Also serving brilliantly. This match can definitely be a win for Grigor. Almagro hasn't had a good hard court season aside from his quarters run at the Aus.

 

[Frico]

New page.

In hindsight, I'm actually glad Djokovic didn't play Raonic in yesterdays final. Because they're more than likely going to play one another for the first time in the Serbia/Canada Davis Cup semi - so it'll be a lot more compelling.

Also, good god. I just found out Tomic lost to Robby Ginepri in the first round of qualies in Cincy on Saturday and there are two factors to that. Either Ginepri was playing REALLY well or Tomic was very tired. Probably the latter. Why I say that is because he played a friendly night match against Lopez on Friday in Toronto - which mean he would've had to get on a flight that same night with barely a days rest.

Ginepri though is no pushover (former USO semi-finalist) but he just went through surgery like two weeks ago and obviously ranked at #252. Goffin beat him pretty easily yesterday to qualify for main draw.

Three good matches to look forward to today: Blake/Janowicz, Almagro/Dimitrov and Goffin/McDonald. Some of you might be asking "Who's McDonald?" Well he might just be one to look out for. Mackenzie McDonald (USA) beat BOTH Mahut (#79) and Steve Johnson (ranked #100 yesterday but now #128 in todays new rankings) in qualies for Cincy. What's amazing is he's only 18, 5'8" and doesn't even have a ranking. Yet he's into his first Master's 1000 event. I'm sure they'll show his match with Goffin.

Brian Baker looks like he was never injured. Just beat Istomin.

 

[Frico]

Dimitrov fails to close out the set and Almagro now holds at love for 5-5. Errors are just pooring now from Grigor. Remember, was up 5-2. -_-

 

[Frico]

Dimitrov really stepped it up in the tie break and now takes the first set. Good that he didn't crack after giving up the double break but Almagro is now imploding. If that pattern keeps up Grigor should advance to round two pretty comfortably.

 

[Frico]

Almagro hits a low and short ball allowing Dimitrov to get up to it and hit a beauty/difficult backhand down the line to set up match point. Then closes the match out with yet another ace (hit a lot of them today). Great win for Grigor. If we're blessed by the tennis gods we'll get Dimitrov/Nadal in round three.

 

[Frico]

Terrible from Janowicz, just...terrible. Blake wins 6-1 7-5.

 

[Sakuraba]

Those are atrocious losses for two players that are supposed to be the future.

I know I gave Dimitrov crap for losing to Hewiit in Queens, but damn, at least Hewitt is still fighting hard against quality opponents and has maintained plenty of skill on grass. Ginepri and Blake haven't beaten anyone of note in YEARS.

 

[Frico]

^ Yep.

Looks like we won't be seeing Murray/Gulbis2 as Youzhny beats him 7-5 6-3.

 

[Frico]

Dimitrov playing absolute MONEY tennis against Baker. Up 5-2.

 

[Frico]

Dimitrov breezes past Baker to set up a potential (most likely) clash with Nadal. They had a great match on clay - eager to see a repeat on a hard court.

 

[Frico]

WOW, Sloane! Massive win for her.

Fed takes the first set 6-3 against Kohlshreiber - cruising.

 

[regwec]

I totally have a crush on Stephens, too.

 

[Frico]

I don't believe it - Bartoli in tears announces her retirement from the game. After winning Wimbledon she goes out on a high note.

 

[Sakuraba]

That was surprising. Not that I follow much of the WTA rumor mill the last three or four years since that tour went to hell, but wow. I didn't realize she had such difficulties. I had issues with stress fractures for years which prevented me from practicing like I should have, so I can only imagine what it's like when tennis is your livelihood, practicing and playing for much of the year while your entire body breaks down.

I see Federer switched back to his Pro Staff 90. It's a big change in feel. I played the Pro Staff 85 for a long time out of ego, but I finally realized I am not at a level where I can win matches with it. So I switched a few years ago to the Yonex VCORE 89 and it felt right. Playing with the oversized heads, I just could never get the feeling that the racquet was an extension of my arm, the maneuverability wasnt there.

All that said, I've been playing with a Dunlop Aerogel 200 that I picked up for $40 at a pro shop, had he strung with some cheap Black Widow mono string at 52lbs, and it is my new racquet. At 95 sq. inches it has the feel of a midsize but is much more forgiving on slight miss hits, easy access to spin, great control at the net. It was a fluke play test/purchase and I love it!

 

[Frico]

I've been playing with the Babolat Aeropro Drive for about two years now.

Bartoli simply said her body couldn't do it anymore and that she was having pain everywhere after 45 minutes of play. She's had a long career and achieved her dream as well as doing things her own way. It's only fitting that she went out on her terms and at her highest point.

STACKED day today in Cincy!!!

Djokovic/Goffin
Federer/Haas
Nadal/Dimitrov
Isner/Raonic
Murray/Benneteau

 

[Frico]

Djoker takes the first set 6-2 already and hitting the ball so clean. Goffin with too many errors - had a much better showing against Djoker at Roland Garros. Still a decent baseliner with clay probably being his best surface. Just being outpaced atm.

 

[Frico]

Wow, Tsonga withdrew from the USO due to his knee. Might be out another 5 months.

Djoker up 3-0 in the second.

Edit: I smell a bagel coming.

 

[Frico]

Yep, Djoker takes it 6-2 6-0. Beatdown. Cahill mentioned Djoker had zero errors in the second set but from the get go Novak was picture perfect.

Fed/Haas next!

 

[Frico]

Cahill: Federer or Haas, who do you see winning that one?

Djokovic: Sorry I can't hear you!

LOL.

Djoker plays the winner of Raonic/Isner. Should be interesting either way with whoever wins. Isner is playing his best tennis right now - best I've seen from him in a long time. And Raonic obviously wants to keep his momentum going now that he's cracked the top 10.

IF Fed loses today to Haas he'd drop to #7 in the world. Also, they're playing the Bond theme as Fed is warming up. Smooth.

 

[Frico]

Not too surprising that Isner takes the first set in a tiebreak but Raonic doesn't look 100%. Not going after his serve at all.

Haas up 5-1 against Fed, missing forehands like crazy.

 

[Frico]

Haas up 6-1 and now a break in the second and Raonic up 2-0 in the second set against Isner.

Stop the madness!!!

 

[Frico]

Haas was up 4-3 now it's 4-4, Raonic was up 4-1 now it's 5-4 Isner, Jankovic had a 2-0 lead against Sloane and now it's 2-2.

As I said, madness!

Edit: Fed holds for 5-4 and Isner just closed out Raonic 7-6 6-4 setting up a match with Djoker.

 

[Bim]

Isner wins, has a ticket to meet Djokovic. Federer takes it 7-5 in the second set. What the heck is going on with Roger though!? He really doesnt look like himself today. It's like he has no legs under him.

 

[Feenix]

I don't believe it - Bartoli in tears announces her retirement from the game. After winning Wimbledon she goes out on a high note.

I hope she's retiring mainly because of her physical issues and not because of the way people treated her after she won Wimbledon. I couldn't believe what people said about her, that she didn't deserve to win because her opponent was better looking.

 

[Frico]

Isner wins, has a ticket to meet Djokovic. Federer takes it 7-5 in the second set. What the heck is going on with Roger though!? He really doesnt look like himself today. It's like he has no legs under him.

I think this is the most I've seen Fed miss forehands. All out of sorts but Haas is playing really good ball as well.

I hope she's retiring mainly because of her physical issues and not because of the way people treated her after she won Wimbledon. I couldn't believe what people said about her, that she didn't deserve to win because her opponent was better looking.

I'm thinking it really is due to physical issues as she really didn't seem all too phased by the comments when asked about it during her Wimbledon presser. But yeah, Twitter especially opened up my eyes to the hatred out there. Really, just speechless as some of the stupid and hurtful things people were writing to her.