Wimbledon this year, and tennis in general

[Simster]

Has men's tennis ever been as exciting as this? We are witnessing one man who is touted as the greatest tennis player who ever lived, another who is apparently the greatest tennis player of the day, and incredibly neither player can be sure of winning it, thanks to the presence of the brilliant Djokovic (unbeaten in 2011 until last month) and an increasingly consistent Murray buoyed by home support. And then you've got players like Soderling, Del Potro, Malisse and this Aussie kiddie Tomic, who would probably all be top 4 players themselve if they had been playing at another point in history.

Even in the days of Connors/McEnroe, Lendl, Sampras and Agassi, there were rarely more than 3 or 4 players who could consistently challenge for top honours.


What a shame women's tennis is so shithouse, tempered by the presence of a few absolute hotties I suppose which is not much consolation for female tennis fans I suppose.

 

[Durlston]

Agree about the standard of play being very high at the moment in the mens but I think the womens Grand Slams are exciting because it's not easy to pick a winner. I think anyone of the quartet of Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, Sabine Lisicki or Petra Kvitova all stand a chance and are decent young players.

 

[Falkor]

I think Shara will win the womens sadly.

As for the mens im not sure, i think Nadal if he is fit, if not Djok will win

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Has men's tennis ever been as exciting as this? We are witnessing one man who is touted as the greatest tennis player who ever lived, another who is apparently the greatest tennis player of the day, and incredibly neither player can be sure of winning it, thanks to the presence of the brilliant Djokovic (unbeaten in 2011 until last month) and an increasingly consistent Murray buoyed by home support. And then you've got players like Soderling, Del Potro, Malisse and this Aussie kiddie Tomic, who would probably all be top 4 players themselve if they had been playing at another point in history.

Even in the days of Connors/McEnroe, Lendl, Sampras and Agassi, there were rarely more than 3 or 4 players who could consistently challenge for top honours.


What a shame women's tennis is so shithouse, tempered by the presence of a few absolute hotties I suppose which is not much consolation for female tennis fans I suppose.

I've said on here several times recently that I think the current mens top 10 is probably stronger than at any tme before - that I can remember, anyway, and I loved the Borg era. Certainly Rafa and Fed are above every one else, Djok and the Jock are just behind, but the others are fantastic players too. The quaity of tennis is quite amazing at times, I don't think you can appreciate on TV just how hard they are hitting the ball and how fast they move around the court.

Shame the same can't be said of the womens game, it's not so good at the mo - I now find it practically unwatchable anyway now, with the ridiculous grunting .... something the authorities should have stamped on ages ago - pure sportsmanship.

 

[Gazwag]

Sabine Lisicki

She has had a brilliant tournament, putting out Li Na was a great achievement, she was 15:40 down facing two match points and served 4 unreturnable first serves to win that game. That effort is one of my most memorable from this year. All of this and this time last year she was having to learn to walk again after a bad injury. Shame she german really.

She also has a very good chance in the doubles teamed up with Stosur

 

[Marc1901]

Federer will win Wimbledon this year, he just looks a class above everyone else.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

- pure sportsmanship.

Gamesmanship

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Gamesmanship

Of course, I was caught between unsportsmanship (that didn't sound right, especially for the ladies) and Gamesmanship (which once I'd said it 5 times in my head, didn't sound right either). Trust Lilly Law to pick it up - I'll come quietly gov.

 

[Billy the Fish]

I watched Lisicki vs bartoli yesterday and thought it was decent enough entertainent. Agree about the grunting though, sharapova really takes the piss and I can only stand about 2 minutes of watching her

 

[Colossal Squid]

I just turned on the telly to catch the latest Wimbledon goings on and yet I find Bargain Hunt on BBC1 and live coverage from the House of Commons on BBC2.

Where's the tennis?

And for what it's worth I'm going with Fed to equal Sampras' record this year

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I just turned on the telly to catch the latest Wimbledon goings on and yet I find Bargain Hunt on BBC1 and live coverage from the House of Commons on BBC2.

Where's the tennis?

And for what it's worth I'm going with Fed to equal Sampras' record this year

The mens doesn't start til 1.

 

[shaolinpunk]

I just turned on the telly to catch the latest Wimbledon goings on and yet I find Bargain Hunt on BBC1 and live coverage from the House of Commons on BBC2.

Where's the tennis?

Coverage doesn't start until midday each day.

I've been thoroughly enjoying it this year

 

[Falkor]

Yeah think the programme starts at 12.30 mate, need to go get my son from Nursery at 1 so going to miss the first half hour.

 

[willyfantastic]

the quality of mens tennis atm is phenominal.

i also dont think people realise just how difficult it is to make a go of being a professional tennis player. it really must be the hardest sport to break into, which makes watching the game so much better when you can appreciate just how good they are

 

[Mo Gosfield]

Agree with all you are saying about the Mens game....quality in depth. I have watched tennis since the 60's and this is so good right now. Fed and Nad get in my all time top 5 ( + Laver + Borg + Sampras ) and they are playing at the same time!
The womens game, however, is an embarrasment. I find it unwatchable. The screaming has gone beyond a joke and fans should now vote with their feet and stop going. It is going to kill the womens game and the authorities just ignore it.

 

[Gazwag]

The screaming has gone beyond a joke and fans should now vote with their feet and stop going. It is going to kill the womens game and the authorities just ignore it.

In some ways the time wasting has gone the same way in the men's game but the umpires are too scared to give a point penalty. Nadal and Del Potro the other night were averaging 26 seconds each between the end of one point and the start of the next

 

[Simster]

Fed smashing Tsonga at the moment - he's raced into a 3-0 lead in the first set.

 

[SirElliotBennett]

Federer 3-0 up after 6 mins

 

[Simster]

Tsonga fails with a break point that would have taken it to 3-2 but instead it's business as usual and 4-1.

 

[Sheebo]

Tsonga is no mug - Thought this one would be closer than it is so far...!