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Missing Sir David Gray on here, he would have had the thread started long before now. Hope he's back some time.
My wife and I had tickets for Court 1 on Friday but we're both down with a sickness bug with no sign of much improvement so had to cancel. Absolutely gutted.
Anyway, Alcaraz has just started and looking forward to Murray v Peniston this afternoon.
Spoiler alert. That bellend Djokovic wins.
Shock. Not like you to come on and slag him off.Quote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
Hope he wins, your outrage will be epic.
Alcaraz could be the guy to stop him though. Superb player, and improving on grass court
Love watching Sabalenka, all that raw power, these screams and facial expressions. Hope she wins it.
Easy win for Murray. Tsitsipas or Thiem next.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hiber-nation
hope he’s keeping well
Putting sentiment aside, is anyone else really surprised murray is favourite to beat Tsitsipas today?
Maybe I’m just so out of touch these days but I’d have guessed the Greek would have been about 1/5!!
I’ll be wrong as usual and another good win for Murray incoming 😁
I think it'll be a good game, but I wouldn't have Murray as favourite.Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeRussell
I guess the bookies are pricing in the fact that Tsitsipas had a long one yesterday, whilst Murray had a day off? Plus the fact that grass isn't traditionally the Greek's favourite surface.
I'd say he did very well to beat Thiem yesterday, and will be a very tough prospect for Murray.
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Yeah you could be right, and he’ll have the whole crowd onside too. As I say I haven’t seen nearly as much as I usually do and didn’t realise his game was so long last round… just expected the Greek to be a fairly short favourite!Quote:
Originally Posted by McSwanky
Very surprised to hear that. The Andy Murray of today, capable as he still is of playing tennis most mortals can only dream of, is no way favourite for this match.Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeRussell
I’m glad it’s not just a case of me being daft!Quote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
Stunning win for Liam Broady. He's always had the talent, just never nailed it down.
Katie Boulter also going well.
Looks like Andy and the Greek are set in for the night. A right battle.
1 set each, gripping stuff! 👏
2-1 Murray, he took a terrible fall on the penultimate point. Match continues tomorrow.
What an athlete Andy Murray is. Talent, skill, will to win, effort, commitment all off the scale
I'm no sure this break suits Murray , He had his opponent on the ropes !! Sisipass now regroups and goes again tomorrow and if he comes out hitting as hard as he did in the 1st set it's game on ! Still in the balance for me
By the way Murray rolling back the years , Absolutely brilliant ..Metal hip and 36 years old , Scotlands greatest ever sportsman
Not only Scotland's but Britain's greatest ever IMHO.Quote:
Originally Posted by HibbyAndy
It was vintage stuff and wonderful to see how passionately the crowd got behind him. As you say, he was thriving on the late night atmosphere and the break came at a better time for his opponent - although Andy may need some recovery time from that fall.
Last night was sporting theatre of the the highest order. Murray played unbelievably well, so did Tsapitas (he looked like a real talent). What a pity it had to stop, you had the feeling Murray was going to prevail in a fourth set. I suspect things may pan out a bit differently today though.
Soorr puss moaning and groaning.
Murray loses his serve in the 5th set, can't see him recovering from that.
Murray loses 3-2 to the 5th seed. Fine effort but, not quite good enough.
What a contribution, looking forward to seeing more.Quote:
Originally Posted by Betty Boop
Disappointing, really thought Andy was going to do it. But a lot of folk (esp the bookies surprisingly) seemed to have forgotten Tsistipas is 5 seed with a fantastic serve and forehand.
Norrie out too.
He certainly had the momentum last night. Felt he had to win it in four tho as in the end it came down to nothing more than the 12 year age gap as you would never have known one player was fifth seed and the other unseeded.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hiber-nation
Great effort by Andy.
I was kind of biting my tongue as was sure I’d be the only one who found him a bit much at times 😂Quote:
Originally Posted by Betty Boop
Couldn’t help thinking that a few individuals would be up in arms at the way oor Andy goes on sometimes if it had been the Serbian machine.
Still some effort to see him back playing at this level with a hip replacement.
Yeh, you can see the frustration of not quite bring able to rekindle the brilliance of his peak years due injury/age boils over. He's so beloved of the Wimbledon crowd tho and has done so much for British sport that the vast majority will forgive him a few expletives.Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeRussell
He's also remains great box office unlike the Serbian automaton, who played out his perfunctory grind-fest over Wawrinka in front of a barely half-full arena. Any other champion taking to the court for the Friday night slot would pack the place out.
Eubanks v Tsitsipas going the full five sets. Really good game.
That Alcaraz berrettini match was superb. Alcaraz definitely going to win quite a few majors in his career.
Superb comeback from Jabeur there.
We can say what we want about Djokovic’s personality. Absolutely phenomenal tennis player.
Would be nice to see Alcaraz take the title but Novak will absolutely deserve it if he claims another.
Hope Jabeur goes on to win the female’s.
Fantastic final in the wheelchair doubles.
A masterclass from Djokovic well in control so far.
He just lost the 2nd set and has just had his service broken twice in the 3rd.Quote:
Originally Posted by Betty Boop
And then disappeared for 7 minutes......
Again.
I was wondering whether an extended toilet break, feigning injury or the 'magic bottle' would come first.
I'm sure I said so far.Quote:
Originally Posted by ekhibee
Love Alcaraz, but go on Novak
GOAT without a doubt !
Djokovic is severely unlikeable. Think he will win now but hope not.
He'll never be the goat for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibeg
Too many suspicious breaks/injuries at crucial times.
Just can't take to him
100%Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
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Amazing game of tennis. Really hope Alcaraz wins. Haven't wanted someone to win so much since Murray.
:agree:Quote:
Originally Posted by 007
Lots of people can’t take to him.Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
The talent however is undeniable,
How many others have won more grand slams ?
Doesn’t mean you have to like him. Federer was a better winner and a better loser.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibeg
So does that make him the GOAT because he is likeable ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jones28
What a game, unbelievable watch. Alcaraz is some talent. Important for Tennis him coming through.
I think a lot of people would argue Federer is the GOAT.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibeg
I know, but I disagree, it’s a forum :greengrin
Brilliant player, unusual foe a Spaniard, who are brought up as base liners.Quote:
Originally Posted by LaMotta
He will dominate in years to come
Hope Novak has at least one more in him to surpass Rafa
Djokovic already ahead of Rafa I thought? 23 to 22 Major wins.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibeg
What a player Alcaraz is . Don't think you'll see anyone hitting so many winners against Djokovic in a grand slam final . He's got a dangerous combination of power and accuracy and his backhand is almost as deadly as his forehand .
:not worthQuote:
Originally Posted by Trinity Hibee
He is for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jones28
Djokovic will always have a question mark against him
Not so sure Tennis has a clear GOAT.
Nadal is better on Clay than anyone else has ever been on any surface IMO. Roger and Novak probably better all rounders, although suffered less injuries than Rafa.
Honestly been a pleasure to watch all 3 in their peak years.
Todays final was exceptional. CA could win many, many titles.
Oops :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by LaMotta
I can only really imagine Sinner competing against Alcaraz in the next few yearsQuote:
Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES
It is almost unbelievable that CA has only played on grass 4 times, yet beats Novak to win Wimbledon
The lad is exceptional
For me for a sport like tennis it’s not just down to numbers, but like you say it’s a forum where we all have opinions!Quote:
Originally Posted by hibeg
Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
What question mark ?
Was anything said before COVID, genuine question ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jones28
Guys like Connors, McEnroe, Nastase we’re not exactly likeable
They were all numbers 1s in tennis for a reason.
They had a will to win which lesser players couldn’t match
It’s a very hard sport to reach the pinnacle
Great to see the tide turning at last. Could Alcaraz be the one to equal Laver's record?
Sinner and Rune will keep improving too. Exciting times ahead.
And yet Federer did so, and I’d suggest Nadal did it as well, with a hell of a lot more charm on the court than ND.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibeg
No question he’s on of the all time greats - I think Nadal, Federer and Djokovic will be remembered as three giants of the game.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hibeg
yeah, lots said about his overnight transformation from a guy who couldn’t last 5 sets into a superhuman with stamina to spare
then there’s the regular lengthy toilet breaks, convenient injuries, delays asking for the doctor, that only occur when his opponent has momentum and/or on top
Imo, the man is a cheat - everyone is entitled to their opinion though
Interestingly one of the pundits today said he always seems to come back after a toilet break somehow refreshed, which sounded like he was suggesting something dodgy was going on.Quote:
Originally Posted by McD
You did. I didn't say you hadn't.Quote:
Originally Posted by Betty Boop
Tennis fans know the score and they know Djokovic is, always has been, and always will be a grade A tool.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty Boy
He could win 30 Slams and never be regarded as the greatest. There's more to that accolade than trophy tallies and he can't hold a candle to Federer or Nadal when it comes to all-round on and off court class. As you say, his gamesmanship is always distasteful, while you'd never see Rafa or Roger smash their racket in those circumstances. His suffocating, grinding style works for him but it's a turn-off for those who want to be entertained.
Throw in his moronic behaviour during Covid and his 'gluten-free diet' inspired transformation from brattish 'injury' prone loser to near unbeatable automaton and it's not hard to see why he's arguably the least popular sports champion of all time.
For many his career highlights were his disqualification from the US Open and his deportation from Australia.
Well done Alcaraz.
Sums it up perfectlyQuote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
Talking to a tennis coach who said Federer was technically the perfect player in the game.
But that doesn't make him the top achiever.
That's Djokovic, warts and all, and he's not finished by a long chalk.
The US final should be a cracker if it's the same guys.
I’m not his biggest fan (always been a Nadal man) and was right behind Alcaraz yesterday, but I think that’s an extremely bitter and pathetic way to sum-up the achievements of a player like Djokovic. Covid stance aside, I think he gets a pretty over-the-top rough deal. And his trophy haul is absolutely immense.Quote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
He was as gracious as ever in his post-match interview and seemed to have plenty of support from ‘tennis folk’ during and after the final, despite playing a young and likeable upcoming star.
I don’t get why people get so upset about him going to the bog for 5 minutes. I often take double that to have a *****.
If anything ever comes out about him taking illegal substances to enhance his performance or fitness, I’ll lose my respect for him like I would any other sportsman. As it is, he deserves all his success and more praise than he receives.. for me.
There's no bitterness on my part. As you say he's racked up a stack of trophies doing things his way. I just think he's a tw*t of a bloke and I also find his style of play (which is focused on sucking the life out of his opponent) plus his gamesmanship when things are going against him deeply unattractive. So much so that I stopped watching matches involving Djokovic a couple of years back. Prior to that I'd only really watch a full match involving him when he was playing Andy Murray.Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeRussell
A one-off excessive toilet break would be fine but it's a common 'tactic' of his at key moments (almost succeeded yesterday too) as is calling for the trainer to deal with 'injuries' which just happen to occur when his opponent has the momentum.
There's no 'rough deal'. He brings his unpopularity on himself.
I agree. I can only think of Seb Coe and Phil Taylor as sportspeople (non-football) that I've disliked more.Quote:
Originally Posted by He's here!
Agree completely.Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeRussell
However , for the last couple of years, it seems we are the only two on the forum who are of the same opinion :aok:
I think people just love the pantomime 'goodies and baddies' scenarios in sport. Djokovic is quite a typical winner I'd say, willing to do whatever it takes to gain an advantage.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibeg
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As I mentioned earlier I no longer watch his matches live as I find him so repellent. We had a few days away this week tho and I took the opportunity one lazy, rainy afternoon to check out the final properly, safe in the knowledge he got beat. What was really noticeable was that he was made to look his age by Alcarez. Almost as though he grew old before our eyes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hiber-nation