Grand Slam Tennis ( updated )

[Mikey1874]

On 13/09/2023 at 17:06, I P Knightley said:

Meanwhile, we've got a Davis Cup match going on and you can watch it on the BBC Sport website. 

 

Jack Draper won his DC debut match against Kokkinakis. I only saw the last few games but he closed it out very well. 

 

Wee Dan Evans is leading De Minaur with a break in the first set. 

 

What I don't get is that Leon Smith is also planning to use Evans in the doubles. If he wanted Evans for the dubs, he could have used Norrie in the singles. He's also got Murray in the squad who's a really good, intelligent doubles player and probably more valuable for that than for singles these days. Of course, Smith could also have called up Lloyd Glasspool (a quite successful dubs specialist) or Joe Salisbury - 3 time US Open dubs champ. Salisbury may have excused himself due to recency of his US final but it all seems a bit odd. 

 

Kyle Edmund there on the team bench. Horrid to see his struggles since injury. Coulda been a contender. 

 

Evans got back into doubles team when he moaned about it. 

 

Fair play delivering though. 

[I P Knightley]

I'm no coach but my heart couldn't take Murray in another singles match. Not when Draper is playing well. 

Norrie has the yips and shouldn't be asked to play in a pressure match. 

I'd have Draper and Evans for singles and pair Skupski with Murray in the dubs.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Saba. On the red carpet . Wow 

 

 

 

[PortyJambo]

On 15/09/2023 at 21:56, I P Knightley said:

I'm no coach but my heart couldn't take Murray in another singles match. Not when Draper is playing well. 

Norrie has the yips and shouldn't be asked to play in a pressure match. 

I'd have Draper and Evans for singles and pair Skupski with Murray in the dubs.

Norrie playing singles today instead of Draper in a tie they have to win to qualify. Not the choice I would have made either. Draper and Evans are the form players as you said. 

[I P Knightley]

40 minutes ago, PortyJambo said:

Norrie playing singles today instead of Draper in a tie they have to win to qualify. Not the choice I would have made either. Draper and Evans are the form players as you said. 

And Evans being asked to return for the dubs v Mahut & Vaseline. I'm not convinced!

[I P Knightley]

Evans wins his singles but Norrie making a meal of his tie. The few shots where I've seen him give away unforced errors have been wild. The guy seems to be battling mentally.

 

It'll come down to the doubles, I really can't see Norrie recovering from losing the first set.

[Mikey1874]

I was going to say earlier Britain would win easily. 

[JudyJudyJudy]

Jealous much ? I thought he was meant to be a “ gentleman. “ ? 
 

https://firstsportz.com/tennis-news-rafael-nadal-breaks-silence-on-novak-djokovic-winning-24th-grand-slam-title-by-calling-it-greater-frustration-for-serbian/?fbclid=IwAR2Jij2c0bdYsqkzQwPD84_PThFWaMiO2NOt4w0pfxBbzLboBU14LkEorAY_aem_AU07oUS_g-2rqYslD4bJgPq_L0MULl4B-wjXm_AmcD8TQqPZdg40fFwrlJ52QeHjiq4
 

 

 

[Ulysses]

I'd like to see the original Spanish, TBH.

[I P Knightley]

16 minutes ago, Ulysses said:

I'd like to see the original Spanish, TBH.

Creo que Djokovic lo vive de una manera más intensa. Para él, hubiera sido una frustración más grande no conseguirlo.

[Ulysses]

4 minutes ago, I P Knightley said:

Creo que Djokovic lo vive de una manera más intensa. Para él, hubiera sido una frustración más grande no conseguirlo.

 

That's pretty ****ing original alright.   

[Malinga the Swinga]

On 17/09/2023 at 13:09, PortyJambo said:

Norrie playing singles today instead of Draper in a tie they have to win to qualify. Not the choice I would have made either. Draper and Evans are the form players as you said. 

I thought choice of single players was strange but explained as if Murray/Draper been selected, they would have had to play first and as Evans playing in doubles, he wouldn't have had much of rest after playing second singles game.

Something to do with rankings deciding order of play.

Would have put loads of pressure onto singles games so captain made choice to give safety net.

[I P Knightley]

9 hours ago, Ulysses said:

 

That's pretty ****ing original alright.   

It's a long time since I've been accused of being a cunning linguist. Copy & paste is the best friend I've got  

[JudyJudyJudy]

Very funny 😄 

 

https://x.com/pavyg/status/1707442022393463224?s=46&t=Uyg6zS_aUfEwlXY6vOoxzQ
 

 

[Mikey1874]

He's back

 

 

[JudyJudyJudy]

1 hour ago, Mikey1874 said:

He's back

 

 

Oh I like boom boom ! Good to see he’s back in the game 

[rudi must stay]

On 28/09/2023 at 22:50, JudyJudyJudy said:

Very funny 😄 

 

https://x.com/pavyg/status/1707442022393463224?s=46&t=Uyg6zS_aUfEwlXY6vOoxzQ
 

 

 

His Djokovic is very good. His Federer terrible

[Nookie Bear]

4 minutes ago, rudi must stay said:

 

His Djokovic is very good. His Federer terrible

 

I can't actusally picture (?) Roger's voice.

 

The Jamie Murray at the end is tremendous btw

[redjambo]

Emma Raducanu: British star says 'provoking' questions have contributed to turnover of coaches

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/67166854

 

[I P Knightley]

3 hours ago, rudi must stay said:

 

His Djokovic is very good. His Federer terrible

 

I saw him in the Fringe a couple of years ago. He was pretty good, although impressionists dragging out a one hour show is always a tough gig. He's better suited to a sketch show. 

 

 

42 minutes ago, redjambo said:

Emma Raducanu: British star says 'provoking' questions have contributed to turnover of coaches

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/67166854

 

Which I read as being, "all these coaches find me to be a nippy wee cow." I could, of course, be wrong. It could be that the coaches get fed up with her interfering and overbearing dad. 

[PortyJambo]

I like having a look at the live ranking regularly at https://live-tennis.eu/en/atp-live-ranking and checking over the lower level tournaments to see who's maybe up and coming. I noticed at the end of last week that a guy, Jacob Fearnley, who's been at college in the US (TCU, same as Norrie went to) won what looks like it might have been one of his first lower level ITF tournament entered at Edgbaston, beating Kyle Edmund (remember him!) in the final. 

 

From Googling him, he's from Dalkeith and went to Merchiston before going to the US for college. I'll probably keep an eye on his results now, just because he's local. We could do with a next Andy Murray...

[JudyJudyJudy]

The man who would be king , falling yet again . Novak almost guaranteed year end number 1 . 👍

[I P Knightley]

On 25/10/2023 at 14:26, PortyJambo said:

I like having a look at the live ranking regularly at https://live-tennis.eu/en/atp-live-ranking and checking over the lower level tournaments to see who's maybe up and coming. I noticed at the end of last week that a guy, Jacob Fearnley, who's been at college in the US (TCU, same as Norrie went to) won what looks like it might have been one of his first lower level ITF tournament entered at Edgbaston, beating Kyle Edmund (remember him!) in the final. 

 

From Googling him, he's from Dalkeith and went to Merchiston before going to the US for college. I'll probably keep an eye on his results now, just because he's local. We could do with a next Andy Murray...

I practically live on that site when tournaments are in play. Fearnley's not a name I know but will keep an eye out. 

 

Meanwhile, the wifies are playing their finals tournament in Cancun in a stadium that was knocked up in about three weeks. Quite a few grumbles from players about the poor quality of the court surface and the stadium is open to the elements so they've had rain delays and, last night, it looked quite windy - you could see a bit of ball movement on the lobs. Sparse crowds, too.

 

2 of them won their first matches 6-0 6-1 (Gauff and Sabalenka) but there have also been a couple of more competitive matches going on. Last night, Pegula beat Sabalenka in straight sets. with Saba looking as grumpy as hell.

 

All on Prime Video. 

[rudi must stay]

How is Radnuka doing 

[JudyJudyJudy]

1 hour ago, rudi must stay said:

How is Radnuka doing 

Shite

[I P Knightley]

1 hour ago, rudi must stay said:

How is Radnuka doing 

You mean Britain's number 8 women's tennis player, Emma Raducanu?

 

She's doing a fair amount of PR work and has probably changed her coach twice since you posted.

 

Expects to be competing again (at tennis) in the new year.

[neilnunb]

1 hour ago, JudyJudyJudy said:

Shite

 

 

She sends her regards

 

 

[JudyJudyJudy]

Just now, neilnunb said:

 

 

She sends her regards

 

 

Tell her I’ll see her on the Paris catwalk next spring 😎

[neilnunb]

1 minute ago, JudyJudyJudy said:

Tell her I’ll see her on the Paris catwalk next spring 😎

 

 

Who will you be tucking? 😉😁

[I P Knightley]

Some scenes from yesterday's matches.

 

In Paris, Grigor Dimitrov saw off Medvedev but during the match, Medders had a mini-meltdown which involved him throwing down his racquet. The crowd started booing him and he waited for them to stop before his next service. The umpire gave him a time violation for this, which seems a bit mean but also very funny. At the end, when he was going off, Medvedev gave the crowd the middle finger, which seems perfectly justified to me. He was asked about this in the press conference and said, "I just checked my nails, it's nothing more than that. Why would I do that to this beautiful crowd in Paris?". You've got to love him for that.

 

Then, over in Cancun, Coco Gauff is playing Iga Swiatek in what's expected to be a titanic tussle. Swiatek takes the first set 6-0 Then, when Gauff is a break up and serving at 15-0, she puts in 4 double faults on the trot. I'm not sure I've ever seen a pro putting in four double faults; I'm not sure I've ever seen a serious tenniser do it; after the second one, you'd start to think "under", just to get the ball in play. Anyway, Gauff choked and lost in straight sets.

 

All true and if you don't believe me, you can look it up on Prime Video.

[JudyJudyJudy]

10 minutes ago, I P Knightley said:

Some scenes from yesterday's matches.

 

In Paris, Grigor Dimitrov saw off Medvedev but during the match, Medders had a mini-meltdown which involved him throwing down his racquet. The crowd started booing him and he waited for them to stop before his next service. The umpire gave him a time violation for this, which seems a bit mean but also very funny. At the end, when he was going off, Medvedev gave the crowd the middle finger, which seems perfectly justified to me. He was asked about this in the press conference and said, "I just checked my nails, it's nothing more than that. Why would I do that to this beautiful crowd in Paris?". You've got to love him for that.

 

Then, over in Cancun, Coco Gauff is playing Iga Swiatek in what's expected to be a titanic tussle. Swiatek takes the first set 6-0 Then, when Gauff is a break up and serving at 15-0, she puts in 4 double faults on the trot. I'm not sure I've ever seen a pro putting in four double faults; I'm not sure I've ever seen a serious tenniser do it; after the second one, you'd start to think "under", just to get the ball in play. Anyway, Gauff choked and lost in straight sets.

 

All true and if you don't believe me, you can look it up on Prime Video.

Yes read about both . Med is fab . Good on him . Gauff is completely over rated . 

[Nookie Bear]

20 minutes ago, I P Knightley said:

Some scenes from yesterday's matches.

 

In Paris, Grigor Dimitrov saw off Medvedev but during the match, Medders had a mini-meltdown which involved him throwing down his racquet. The crowd started booing him and he waited for them to stop before his next service. The umpire gave him a time violation for this, which seems a bit mean but also very funny. At the end, when he was going off, Medvedev gave the crowd the middle finger, which seems perfectly justified to me. He was asked about this in the press conference and said, "I just checked my nails, it's nothing more than that. Why would I do that to this beautiful crowd in Paris?". You've got to love him for that.

 

Then, over in Cancun, Coco Gauff is playing Iga Swiatek in what's expected to be a titanic tussle. Swiatek takes the first set 6-0 Then, when Gauff is a break up and serving at 15-0, she puts in 4 double faults on the trot. I'm not sure I've ever seen a pro putting in four double faults; I'm not sure I've ever seen a serious tenniser do it; after the second one, you'd start to think "under", just to get the ball in play. Anyway, Gauff choked and lost in straight sets.

 

All true and if you don't believe me, you can look it up on Prime Video.

 

I'm thinking Sabalenko used to be more than capable of doing this. Will check it out on prime later as nothing better than a bit of drama.

 

Sounds like Coco is having a reaction to the stress and excitement of winning the US. Hopefully she recovers her poise for next season.

 

As for Medvedev, he is just hilarious.

[I P Knightley]

19 minutes ago, Nookie Bear said:

 

I'm thinking Sabalenko used to be more than capable of doing this. Will check it out on prime later as nothing better than a bit of drama.

 

Sounds like Coco is having a reaction to the stress and excitement of winning the US. Hopefully she recovers her poise for next season.

 

As for Medvedev, he is just hilarious.

Sabadabadoo has been a proper grump at these finals. I think she's the one who's been most mouthy about the organisation of this event. Martina was on the presentation team last night and, without naming names, basically told the moaning players to shut up and get on with it. She pointed out (quite forcibly) that, when she was playing, she and some other players were actively involved in the management of the event. Basically 'put up or shut up." Martina's awesome.

 

I like that presentation team. When Marcus then goes to bring Dani Hantuchova into the conversation on something to do with the winning mentality or similar, she replies, "Don't know why you're asking me; you've got Martina Nav-flipping-ratilova here, the greatest tennis player there's ever been!!" She's great, is Dani. She'd make someone a lovely wife.

[Nookie Bear]

1 minute ago, I P Knightley said:

Sabadabadoo has been a proper grump at these finals. I think she's the one who's been most mouthy about the organisation of this event. Martina was on the presentation team last night and, without naming names, basically told the moaning players to shut up and get on with it. She pointed out (quite forcibly) that, when she was playing, she and some other players were actively involved in the management of the event. Basically 'put up or shut up." Martina's awesome.

 

I like that presentation team. When Marcus then goes to bring Dani Hantuchova into the conversation on something to do with the winning mentality or similar, she replies, "Don't know why you're asking me; you've got Martina Nav-flipping-ratilova here, the greatest tennis player there's ever been!!" She's great, is Dani. She'd make someone a lovely wife.

 

Dani is amazing. In fact, almost without exception, the commentary on tennis is first rate with Rob Koenig the Main Man for me.

[Mikey1874]

1 hour ago, I P Knightley said:

Some scenes from yesterday's matches.

 

In Paris, Grigor Dimitrov saw off Medvedev but during the match, Medders had a mini-meltdown which involved him throwing down his racquet. The crowd started booing him and he waited for them to stop before his next service. The umpire gave him a time violation for this, which seems a bit mean but also very funny. At the end, when he was going off, Medvedev gave the crowd the middle finger, which seems perfectly justified to me. He was asked about this in the press conference and said, "I just checked my nails, it's nothing more than that. Why would I do that to this beautiful crowd in Paris?". You've got to love him for that.

 

Then, over in Cancun, Coco Gauff is playing Iga Swiatek in what's expected to be a titanic tussle. Swiatek takes the first set 6-0 Then, when Gauff is a break up and serving at 15-0, she puts in 4 double faults on the trot. I'm not sure I've ever seen a pro putting in four double faults; I'm not sure I've ever seen a serious tenniser do it; after the second one, you'd start to think "under", just to get the ball in play. Anyway, Gauff choked and lost in straight sets.

 

All true and if you don't believe me, you can look it up on Prime Video.

 

I'm surprised there aren’t more runs of successive double faults. Can understand it can happen. 

Edited November 2, 2023 by Mikey1874

[I P Knightley]

2 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

I'm surprised there aren’t more runs of successive double faults. Can understand it can happen. 

These guys train to take 5-10% off their first serve if they're feeling yippy and then to dolly in a feeble second serve (with a bit of kick) if the first hasn't worked.

 

Gauff just went a bit mental last night, probably a little put off by the gusty conditions. Still - massively unexpected from the most recent grand slam event winner.

[I P Knightley]

Now it's Djoko's turn to take on the Paris crowd. A break up in the third and serving for 5-3, he serves a double fault to give up the break and then starts giving it large to the crowd, who then start booing him. I hadn't heard anything in the lead up to it that would have triggered him. I think they're now shouting at him in the middle of his service action.

[JudyJudyJudy]

5 minutes ago, Jim_Duncan said:

He coped well with it. The Parisian crowds are wankers. 

I recall years ago they had that swizz Miss Martina In tears just cause she served an under arm serve against misery guts Graf 

[JudyJudyJudy]

Well

done the king 

 

 

[Day@theraces]

Near enough to guaranteeing 400 weeks as world number 1. I might look back at the posts after the Wimbledon final for a giggle.

[JudyJudyJudy]

29 minutes ago, Day@theraces said:

Near enough to guaranteeing 400 weeks as world number 1. I might look back at the posts after the Wimbledon final for a giggle.

Good idea ! I might too 😂👍

[JudyJudyJudy]

Well done Paris master . The man is incredible 

[JudyJudyJudy]

Turin ATP finals start this weekend ! Good luck Novak 

 

 

( some need a help with their fashion !😂

[PortyJambo]

Jack Draper, coming back from another injury which saw him drop out of the top 100, is in his first ATP final today (Sofia Open) after winning a Challenger event last week. If he wins then he'll be back in the top 50 and well on his way to getting back to his previous high. As I've said before, he has the talent to be a top 10 player...if he can avoid further injuries.

[JudyJudyJudy]

lol 😂 

 

 

[I P Knightley]

1 hour ago, JudyJudyJudy said:

lol 😂 

 

 

There's usually a theme for the pre tournament photo. I'd have expected something Roman but this is random and weird. 

[I P Knightley]

54 minutes ago, I P Knightley said:

There's usually a theme for the pre tournament photo. I'd have expected something Roman but this is random and weird. 

Which would have made a lot of sense if the tournament were in Rome

[Mikey1874]

Andy Murray has as many coaches as Raducanu

 

 

[JudyJudyJudy]

The greatest 

 

Even spoke fluent Italian in his winners speech 

 

 

God bless you

 

 

 

[JudyJudyJudy]

https://x.com/istok/status/1723604388302700556?s=46&t=Uyg6zS_aUfEwlXY6vOoxzQ