The Tennis Thread - Part 4

[Iceman]

Damn, there's the 3rd break and 5-0. Could be over very soon.

 

[raisethe3]

Championship point!

 

[Iceman]

Venus saves 2!

 

[Iceman]

Good challenge again! Was a very late one but she looked sure. That wins it!! Congrats Garbine!!!

 

[raisethe3]

^^Agreed, looks like a late challenge. I knew it was out, so its the right call.

How does those people who called her 1-slam wonder feel now? SMH.

 

[Iceman]

Was that big thing? At her age and the way she played first time I always thought she'd be a good player going forward. It's a good time to be a female player near the end of the Williams' reign and there will be many chances for major wins.

 

[regwec]

Yay Garbi!

 

[terry78]

Venus and Serena are like the implacable opponents when it comes to this game, and they always will have my support as its fun as hell to watch them beat people into the dirt. But it can get boring I confess.

 

[Iceman]

Wonder how much longer Serena has left to add to her haul.

 

[regwec]

Interesting opinion piece on Federer (and the rest) and doping. I have long felt sure that Federer is cheating, but the refusal by sports media to suggest that his periodic total physical regenerations and power-ups are anything other the blessings of nature is something that irks me.

I'm sure I will be shouted down on this, but I find the case reasonably compelling.

 

[aNarcHy2day]

This is a murder!

 

[DarthSkywalker]

#19. t:

Not one set dropped. Astonishing.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Federer wins his 19th Grand Slam. So happy for my idol.

 

[Iceman]

Congrats to the Fed!! A whole championship with no sets dropped! Shame for Cilic who looked injured. Seems to have been quite a few injuries to big players in the last couple of rounds.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Interesting opinion piece on Federer (and the rest) and doping. I have long felt sure that Federer is cheating, but the refusal by sports media to suggest that his periodic total physical regenerations and power-ups are anything other the blessings of nature is something that irks me.

I'm sure I will be shouted down on this, but I find the case reasonably compelling.

It would be nice to have some, what is the word... ah yes, evidence.

 

[Hunter Rider]

The Fed in full flow is Tennis at it's best! The GOAT adds #19 and a record 8th Wilmbledon!

 

[Kaleb]

Congratulations to the greatest of all time.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

He should have played with the watch on.

 

[regwec]

It would be nice to have some, what is the word... ah yes, evidence.

The opinion piece to which I linked gave ample grounds for suspicion, which is what I have. If the evidence that Federer is a drugs cheat was in the public domain, we would be speaking about him in the same way as Michael Phelps, rather than lauding another freak victory.

I felt so bad for Cilic. Both finals have been poor contests and a bad advert for the sport.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

The opinion piece to which I linked gave ample grounds for suspicion, which is what I have. If the evidence that Federer is a drugs cheat was in the public domain, we would be speaking about him in the same way as Michael Phelps, rather than lauding another freak victory.

I felt so bad for Cilic. Both finals have been poor contests and a bad advert for the sport.

It gave nothing of the sort. Also, what do you mean about Michael Phelps? And who called this victory freak? He was the favorite.

 

[Iceman]

Both the guys I wanted to win did but a shame the finals weren't more competitive matches.

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

Simply the greatest.

 

[regwec]

So sorry, I was thinking of Lance Armstrong. I need some performance enhancing drugs for my memory.

By "freak" victory I was referring to the broader context and not his predicted and ultimately cheap victory over an opponent who folded.

I found the article to be cogently argued, but you are entitled to disagree. I hope you are right. Even though I dislike Federer and certainly hope that he is exposed if he is cheating, I wouldn't wish that on his fans who support him in good faith.

In brighter news, many congratulations to Martina Hingis for her victory in the mixed doubles with Jamie Murray.

 

[regwec]

Both the guys I wanted to win did but a shame the finals weren't more competitive matches.

This is the big news for me. Too many matches now are not competitive, or don't go the distance, or are marred for some reason. Maybe I have rose tinted glasses, but I don't remember this being the case in the men's draw five or so years ago (the women's has long had problems with poor finals in which the likes of Bouchard, Lisicki, and even Muguruza have completely folded). It leaves the finals feeling dampened.

 

[Iceman]

Really glad to see Hingis win again!

The women's game feels too short sometimes for me so when someone has an advantage it can be over before the other person has a chance to react. Lose a close first set tie break when things are looking good and then get broken in your first service game of the next set and you already have one foot out the door.

This tournament saw a lot of injuries and retirements to key players as well as some just losing their way midway through a match which does take away some of the fun for me. Both finals and Muguruza's semi were too one sided.