Wimbledon 2013 June 24-July 7

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Janowicz takes the first set 7-5 against Kubot!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

While you keep trying to push him? :ninja:

:lol:

Nah, I'll just get a feather from the roof to distract him again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Verdasco channeling the spirit of Nadal.

Set point!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And a double fault give it to Arteta 6-4!

:haha:

:doh:

[Marc Overmars]

Arteta takes it on a double fault.

Muzza. :doh:

[LDG]

Come on 'Tets :bow:

Scots :pal:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muzza breaks and leads 2-1 in the second set.

[Marc Overmars]

He's back! :dance:

[Syn]

Fuck you tennis Arteta. Know your place you fucking chancer.

[LDG]

Fuck you tennis Arteta. Know your place you fucking chancer.

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a berk.

Two break points for Tets.

[Marc Overmars]

Oh noes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Woeful from Muzza. It's 3-3!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nadal gets to 3000 rpm 67% of the time. :wacko:

Nadal's elder brother does it 37% of the time, which is still quite considerable.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a shot.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muzza's mind. :rose:

[Syn]

Tennis tets' time is surely now. Full head of hair boy needs to take the second set before Murray fakes injury and gets the wounded soldier effect.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

This is dreadful. Two break points for Arteta.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Verdasco flukes it to break and will serve for the second set!

[Marc Overmars]

Massive fluke from Arteta.

Fuck sake.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a rally. :blink:

[Marc Overmars]

What a point!

[LDG]

What a point that was :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Three break points for Muzza.

[LDG]

Just realised my iplayer is about two minutes behind everyone elses :(

[Marc Overmars]

3 break points for Muzza. :dance:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two remaining.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

One remaining. Weak return off a second serve.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brilliant from Nadalsco. Deuce.

[Marc Overmars]

Deuce. :(

[LDG]

Wow!

Arteta :bow:

Deuce!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ditch the backhand slice FFS.

[LDG]

Spin on that from Tets was unplayable :o

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Verdasco takes the second set 6-3!

2-0.

[Marc Overmars]

Arteta goes 2 up.

Scots. :doh:

[Kano]

come on muzz ffs.

he'll get the next set.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Janowicz takes the second set against Kubot 6-4.

2-0.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Murray is playing like a pubber.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two break points for Muzza.

[Marc Overmars]

Muzza breaks. :popcorn:

Fergie. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He breaks and leads 2-0 in the third set.

[Kano]

delpots could beat him with no legs at the moment.

[LDG]

delpots could beat him with no legs at the moment.

Shut up Zimm :rolleyes:

[Kano]

:lol:

he got dem weaponz

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Shut up Zimm :rolleyes:

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120814185819/zimwiki/images/7/72/Art_Zimyelling.png


Zimm as in Zim?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muzza is serving for the third set at 5-1.

[Cripps_orig]

Berdych :doh:

Had his chances but bottled it.

Del Potro :bow:

Hope he wins the semi

Ferrer :lol:

Stick to being the Everton of tennis.

No idea who the polish pubbers are.

As for the main event, Muzza :doh:

Although he's just won the 3rd set

Come n Muzza.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muzza takes the third set 6-1, on to a fourth. :popcorn:

[The Wengerbabies]

Verdasco :rose:

Murray will win now. Passion, grit, determination, pride, blood, sweat and tears.

[Cripps_orig]

Might try this 3D thing out tomorrow

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No advertising on the BBC, we don't like any of that round here.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Verdasco equals his tally from the third set.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Break point for Tobasco!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ballooned forehand. Deuce.

[Munchies]

Just got on, Verdasco got hair like Arteta

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Adv. Verdasco.

[Kano]

francesco ritti bitti :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Muzza saves a 2nd break point

[Munchies]

This BBC stream is quite good :good:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Deuce again.

[Munchies]

Adv twat

[Cripps_orig]

Brilliant point

[Munchies]

Wow

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muzza holds. Verdasco going for a double shot. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Janowicz is serving for the match!

[Cripps_orig]

Fergie :bow:

[Munchies]

Fergie time :bow:

[Munchies]

40-0 Verdasco

[Munchies]

Looked at Andrew Castle's record, he was a bit shit wasn't he :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Comfortable hold for Verdasco.

Muzza needs to stay in it for now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Janowicz wins against Kubot 7-5 6-4 6-4! :bow:

[Munchies]

Murray's gf :bow:

Murray's mum :good:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Janowicz and Kubot swap shirts. :wacko:

[Cripps_orig]

Fabianski beats Sir Ches

[Munchies]

Easier game this time.

[Cripps_orig]

Murray holds to love

[Cripps_orig]

For the good of tennis, we need Muzza to win this

[Munchies]

Spanish better than us in tennis aswell ? Oh I'm suprised :coffee:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Murray's mum :good:

:blink:

[Munchies]

:blink:

:lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-30.

Uh oh.

[Munchies]

30-0 Verdasco

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spanish better than us in tennis aswell ? Oh I'm suprised :coffee:

Verdasco is the eighth best ranked Spanish player I think. I daren't think who the eighth best ranked player for us is.

[Munchies]

30-30

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Break point for Arteta!

[Munchies]

Break point.

Massive.

[Munchies]

Break point for Arteta!

:haha:

My first thought when I saw him

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Deuce. :lol:

[Munchies]

What a forehand !

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a shot down the line! Adv. Verdasco.

[Cripps_orig]

Muzza saves a break point with an ace

[Munchies]

nvm backhand :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Deuce. Muzza clutch on serve.

[Munchies]

Think he'll get it now.

[Munchies]

FFs this crowd be quiet ffs

[Munchies]

Murray will win this match now

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muzza holds, 3-3.

[Syn]

Murray's gf :bow:

Murray's mum :good:

Lol just lol.

[Munchies]

Game Point for Artekkers

[Syn]

Muzza needs to channel his inner Murray here.

[Cripps_orig]

Break point Muzza

[Munchies]

That should be the set right there

[Cripps_orig]

Muzza breaks!!!

Trophy is coming home

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Castle is a dick. Yeah let's not tell the crowd not to call out during points, it's Verdasco's fault for being Spanish after all.

[Cripps_orig]

Castle is a dick. Yeah let's not tell the crowd not to call out during points, it's Verdasco's fault for being Spanish after all.

This

Whatever happened to impartial commentators?

[Cripps_orig]

That is brilliant from Murray.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muzza to serve it out.

[Cripps_orig]

Murray serves for the set at 5-4

[Syn]

This

Whatever happened to impartial commentators?

Stfu dickhead. Listen to the Spanish commentary before having a go at andrewbhai.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Three set points for Muzza.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And he takes the fourth set 6-4. On to a fifth.

[Cripps_orig]

2-2 it is

Not to go all Lawro here but I predict whoever wins this set will win the match

[Cripps_orig]

Stfu dickhead. Listen to the Spanish commentary before having a go at andrewbhai.

They aren't impartial either hence my question

[Syn]

They aren't impartial either hence my question

Tyranny of the majority, muzza.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Match of two halves says Henman.

Hope for him joining the Boy's Club yet.

[Munchies]

If I had money to burn, I'd bet on verdasco now

[Marc Overmars]

Muzza. :bow:

He is a tank.

This Arteta/Deco hybrid has got nuffin.

[Munchies]

Boris Becker stfu fat ****

[Cripps_orig]

Muzza dive :bow:

[Özim]

Murray's girlfriend has got a big forehead doesn't she?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Murray's girlfriend has got a big forehead doesn't she?

Female Gervinho.

[Özim]

Female Gervinho.
Spot on :lol:

[Munchies]

Vidic is in the building

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Castle talking about tennis is bad enough, talking about any other sport is kill me now stuff.

[Munchies]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/03/article-2354947-1AA4F9BC000005DC-583_306x423.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/03/article-2354947-1AA54DC7000005DC-896_634x458.jpg

:lol:

[Özim]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/03/article-2354947-1AA4F9BC000005DC-583_306x423.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/03/article-2354947-1AA54DC7000005DC-896_634x458.jpg

:lol:
:lol: Funny nose too

[LDG]

Vidic is into building

Didn't think he was polish?

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/03/article-2354947-1AA54DC7000005DC-896_634x458.jpg

:lol:
http://ftl1.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/worf.jpg

[Munchies]

http://ftl1.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/worf.jpg
http://i1.dailyrecord.co.uk/incoming/article1716148.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Gervinho-1716148.jpeg

[McNamara That Ghost...]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/03/article-2354947-1AA4F9BC000005DC-583_306x423.jpg



http://defytheeconomy.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/pob.jpg?w=300&h=279

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Castle reminding us of there are four Slams.

I had forgotten.

[Munchies]

Castle reminding us of there are four Slams.

I had forgotten.

In which he done fuck all in during his career.

[Cripps_orig]

Ffs need this match to finish asap

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

http://defytheeconomy.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/pob.jpg?w=300&h=279

http://mcgarnagle.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/vlcsnap-00048.jpg

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a second serve. :blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

In which he done fuck all in during his career.

Semi-finals of the mixed doubles was a caption BBC brought up for him in the past. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Verdasco mind controlled by Nadal again.

3-4, Muzza to serve.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-30. Uh oh.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

30-30, bad backhand from Verdasco.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muzza holds, it's 4-4.

[fakeyank]

How did Murray get that girl!?! :drool:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muzza is serving to stay in the match, 4-5.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How did Murray get that girl!?! :drool:

She's his mum.

[Özim]

How did Murray get that girl!?! :drool:
Went to a Star Trek convention and looked for the girl with the smallest nose.

[Munchies]

That Hair :bow:

[Munchies]

Why does the server tend to win the game ?

[Cripps_orig]

Muzza holds to love

5-5

[McNamara That Ghost...]

5-5.

[Marc Overmars]

Man this is tense. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Why does the server tend to win the game ?

In all likelihood they get to dictate where the point goes in the first place.

[Marc Overmars]

Why does the server tend to win the game ?

I'm not a tennis expert but I would have thought that was obvious. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Muzza not happy about something

[Rors]

He's cracking up...

[Munchies]

I'm not a tennis expert but I would have thought that was obvious. :lol:

I know, but it always seems once the serve is returned, that its the same as any other :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Break point Muzza

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Break point for Muzza. Fluked one on the line in that point.

[Munchies]

Break point.

If he gets it, game done.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He breaks and will serve for the match.

[Marc Overmars]

Muzza breaks!!!

[Özim]

Murray about to beat some nobody in 5 sets.

[Cripps_orig]

Muzza to serve it out

Biggest balls in tennis by a mile

[Rors]

Muh

[Özim]

These nobodies always bottle it when they get close.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Sir Alex time :lol:

[Rors]

"Sir Alex time". Close enough Bozza.

[Munchies]

Lol at all those on the hill, you have to pay £20 don't you ?

[Özim]

Forehead getting excited.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muzza wins 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-4 7-5!

Ballbashing god Janowicz next for him.

[Marc Overmars]

Muzza wins!! :bow:

What a player.

Wimbledon is coming home.

[Munchies]

Who does he play in the semi ?

Edit: Thanks ^^

[Özim]

Murray wins it in 5 sets against some bloke noone has ever heard of. Only surprise is he lost 2 sets to this chump.

[Cripps_orig]

Muzza :bow:

As good as it gets in tennis

Verdasco :bow:

Played his part in a great match

He'll be top 10 again if he plays like this more often

[Özim]

Who does he play in the semi ?

Edit: Thanks ^^
Another nobody.

[Syn]

Never in doubt.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nobody tougher than Muzza one on one says Castle. :lol:

Shut up.

[Munchies]

Wimbledon is all a con anyway, overpriced tickets.

fuck it.

All those on the hill having to pay £20 :haha:

[Özim]

Wonder if the other bloke is signing "Bottler" as his autograph?

[Cripps_orig]

Murray wins it in 5 sets against some bloke noone has ever heard of. Only surprise is he lost 2 sets to this chump.

Not a big tennis fan?

Everyone's heard of Verdasco

[Cripps_orig]

Castle in speaking sense shocker

Hes right no one is tougher than Muzza.

[Munchies]

Murray is playing this guy in the SF

http://cdn23.se.smcloud.net/t/photos/thumbnails/195204/jerzy_janowicz_dostal_pegueota_rcz_640x480.jpg

[Özim]

Not a big tennis fan?

Everyone's heard of Verdasco
I know loads about tennis, have been watching in since 80's, Verdasco is a nobody though, shame the top players got knocked out really.

[Özim]

Murray is playing this guy in the SF

http://cdn23.se.smcloud.net/t/photos/thumbnails/195204/jerzy_janowicz_dostal_pegueota_rcz_640x480.jpg
He'll never sell that Ferrari with those glasses on.

[Cripps_orig]

Define nobody.

He'll never win a slam but he's a good player who's been top 10

And yet you've never heard of him?

[Özim]

He's been top 10 once upon a time but he's never been anything to ride home about, he's one of those players just lacks the bottle to win stuff. It's what separates a top player from a nobody, this guy is 54 in the world.

Good show by him but from the 3rd set you knew he'd lost it, Murray was awful for 2 sets though.

He really bottled some big shots has to be said, shots the better players would make.

[Marc Overmars]

I'd never heard of this Arteta bloke but to say players outside the big 4 are nobodies is a bit harsh. It's like saying every footballer who is not Messi or Ronaldo is a bit shit.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Despite what he is saying, i think he did underestimate Verdasco here.....looked totally mentally unprepared...when Murray was playing in the fifth the spaniard was just going for it both barrels on his serving....


Both he and Djokovic are playing similar players in the semis, tall....powerful servers.....aggressive

[Özim]

I'd never heard of this Arteta bloke but to say players outside the big 4 are nobodies is a bit harsh. It's like saying every footballer who is not Messi or Ronaldo is a bit shit.
It's more than that really it's the lack of real bottle, winning when there's no pressure is easy, but these guys just lose it as soon as they have a chance. This guy is 54 in the world though which isn't great.

[Özim]

Despite what he is saying, i think he did underestimate Verdasco here.....looked totally mentally unprepared...when Murray was playing in the fifth the spaniard was just going for it both barrels on his serving....


Both he and Djokovic are playing similar players in the semis, tall....powerful servers.....aggressive
Djokovic has a much harder match, Del Potro is top 4 material, a powerful player with big shots who's just been unlucky with injuries.

He thrashed Ferrer on one leg today.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He's been top 10 once upon a time but he's never been anything to ride home about, he's one of those players just lacks the bottle to win stuff. It's what separates a top player from a nobody, this guy is 54 in the world.

Good show by him but from the 3rd set you knew he'd lost it, Murray was awful for 2 sets though.

He really bottled some big shots has to be said, shots the better players would make.

I don't think he bottled them, think it was the opposite - he went for the opporunities but with not a huge amount of control. Having said that, Murray went on to full on retrieval mode so missed the chance to just drop it shot whilst he was chasing side to side from the back of the court.

He's a much better player than 54 in the world but for some reason he did mentally go to pieces in 2010. Changed his racquet though really, which seemed to have helped so maybe he can get back to 20 something.

[Özim]

I must admit I can't stand it when a player gets into a winning position and totally lacks the winning mentality to carry it through, Gasquet is another one (albeit a ridiculously talented one), just no friggin bottle.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Djokovic has a much harder match, Del Potro is top 4 material, a powerful player with big shots who's just been unlucky with injuries.

He thrashed Ferrer on one leg today.

Janowicz is a young player tbf and it's his first slam semi-final, so an unknown quantity at that stage. It'll be tiebreak city with Murray I imagine.

[Marc Overmars]

It's more than that really it's the lack of real bottle, winning when there's no pressure is easy, but these guys just lose it as soon as they have a chance. This guy is 54 in the world though which isn't great.

Isn't Del Potro the only guy outside the big 4 to win a slam in recent memory though? Even that was 4 years ago so it shows the level required. Maybe they do lack bottle as you clearly need to have balls of steel in Tennis, but it's not a stick I would use to beat them with too harshly though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I must admit I can't stand it when a player gets into a winning position and totally lacks the winning mentality to carry it through, Gasquet is another one (albeit a ridiculously talented one), just no friggin bottle.

If they were all mentally strong then there would never be true greats.

[Özim]

I don't think he bottled them, think it was the opposite - he went for the opporunities but with not a huge amount of control. Having said that, Murray went on to full on retrieval mode so missed the chance to just drop it shot whilst he was chasing side to side from the back of the court.

He's a much better player than 54 in the world but for some reason he did mentally go to pieces in 2010. Changed his racquet though really, which seemed to have helped so maybe he can get back to 20 something.
Verdasco had some shockers in the last few sets, some simple shots a better player would have put away ended up in the net. His forehand also went awry, it's like his game went to pieces.

Murray didn't play well in the first couple of sets but Verdasco was making much less errors until he went 2 sets up.

[Özim]

Janowicz is a young player tbf and it's his first slam semi-final, so an unknown quantity at that stage. It'll be tiebreak city with Murray I imagine.
Yeah he is, be interesting to see what he does, I'm not expecting much though tbh.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yeah he is, be interesting to see what he does, I'm not expecting much though tbh.

Well he did beat Muzza in Paris Masters last year so at least he knows he can beat him.

He looked completely bewildered after his win today though, Kubot was waiting for him for ages, so not sure that's a great sign!

[Özim]

Isn't Del Potro the only guy outside the big 4 to win a slam in recent memory though? Even that was 4 years ago so it shows the level required. Maybe they do lack bottle as you clearly need to have balls of steel in Tennis, but it's not a stick I would use to beat them with too harshly though.
Yeah he is, but that's because he's got such a big game, huge shots, huge serve and a nice touch, really top class. To be fair Berdych is pretty good too and is Soderling....those guys are capable of winning one.

It bugs me when a player gets in a winning position and then his game changes, it's like they don't care enough to win and lack a killer instinct.

[Rors]

Janowicz is a young player tbf and it's his first slam semi-final, so an unknown quantity at that stage. It'll be tiebreak city with Murray I imagine.

I was hoping I'd be able to make this visual gag...Ah well :

http://www.tekyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/QbertNES.jpg

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Djokovic has a much harder match, Del Potro is top 4 material, a powerful player with big shots who's just been unlucky with injuries.

He thrashed Ferrer on one leg today.

I disagree completley....despite not dropping a set i think Del Potro is a bit out of his depth here...he won the US Open purely because Federer crumbled mentally in the final......Federer was getting upset at how long Del Potro was taking to serve and how he was waiting to the last second to challenge. I think Del Potro is too cumbersome to give Djokovic a problem and i think using the Olympic semi final as a guideline is very misleading. It would be better to look at their head to heads in previous grand slams where Djokovic has dispatched Del Potro with ease.....if anything i'm much more surprised that Djokovic got past Berdych with such ease.
Janowicz for me is an up and coming player and has excellent court coverage for someone his size, and if Murray plays anywhere near as badly as he does in the first two sets against Verdasco he will definitely lose.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Verdasco had some shockers in the last few sets, some simple shots a better player would have put away ended up in the net. His forehand also went awry, it's like his game went to pieces.

Murray didn't play well in the first couple of sets but Verdasco was making much less errors until he went 2 sets up.

He went for the big shot when he made those key misses, hitting them in is what got him to 2-0 so he's bound to try and red line it. Nobody ever keeps a high level for five sets though.

[Özim]

If they were all mentally strong then there would never be true greats.
Not true, it's just that when other players get in winning positions when it matters they never carry it through (early rounds don't count as top players aren't always on the ball then, sometimes takes a bit of time to get into a tournament).

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I was hoping I'd be able to make this visual gag...Ah well :

http://www.tekyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/QbertNES.jpg

:bow:

[Özim]

Well he did beat Muzza in Paris Masters last year so at least he knows he can beat him.

He looked completely bewildered after his win today though, Kubot was waiting for him for ages, so not sure that's a great sign!
With all due respect to the Paris Masters, it's not a Grand Slam and sometimes the top players lack a bit of focus in these.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not true, it's just that when other players get in winning positions when it matters they never carry it through (early rounds don't count as top players aren't always on the ball then, sometimes takes a bit of time to get into a tournament).

Yes and if they did carry it through from those positions, they'd probably be the top players in the world but not everyone can be that. You point out that he is ranked 54 so obviously, he has failings that a No.1 is not going to have.

[Özim]

I disagree completley....despite not dropping a set i think Del Potro is a bit out of his depth here...he won the US Open purely because Federer crumbled mentally in the final......Federer was getting upset at how long Del Potro was taking to serve and how he was waiting to the last second to challenge. I think Del Potro is too cumbersome to give Djokovic a problem and i think using the Olympic semi final as a guideline is very misleading. It would be better to look at their head to heads in previous grand slams where Djokovic has dispatched Del Potro with ease.....if anything i'm much more surprised that Djokovic got past Berdych with such ease.
Janowicz for me is an up and coming player and has excellent court coverage for someone his size, and if Murray plays anywhere near as badly as he does in the first two sets against Verdasco he will definitely lose.
He destroyed Nadal in the semis, Del Potro is the real deal just look at how he played today....he blew Ferrer off the court on one leg!

Djokovic is a class act and he may well beat Del Potro, but Del Potro is certainly a much bigger threat than that other guy Murray is playing.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

With all due respect to the Paris Masters, it's not a Grand Slam and sometimes the top players lack a bit of focus in these.

No of course not (they haven't met in a Slam) but it should, in theory, at least give encouragement to know they can beat the person they are facing.

[Özim]

Yes and if they did carry it through from those positions, they'd probably be the top players in the world but not everyone can be that. You point out that he is ranked 54 so obviously, he has failings that a No.1 is not going to have.
They might beat a few top players, they might not necessarily win the competitions. It's the fact these guys don't seem to deliver in big games against big players.

Today he had a big chance, 2 sets up and he could have turned the screw, instead errors started appearing in his game and he seemed to take his foot of the gas....that's the usual things the lesser players do, no killer instinct.

[Özim]

No of course not (they haven't met in a Slam) but it should, in theory, at least give encouragement to know they can beat the person they are facing.
Maybe but it's a very different situation, there's more pressure and it means a lot more which usually means they totally bottle it.

Boris Becker won when he was 17, he didn't win everything but he was mentally strong enough to win big tournaments and beat big players...it's something you either have or don't have.

I always think it's a shame when the top players get knocked out early and thus we're denied a chance to see them pitting their wits against each other. Would have liked to have seen Murray against Nadal, would have made for a much better semi. Invariably when they do lose the guys that beat them get knocked out in the next round proving it was a total fluke and that the player they were up against just had an off day.

As it is it's probably a walkover for him (Murray).

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They might beat a few top players, they might not necessarily win the competitions. It's the fact these guys don't seem to deliver in big games against big players.

Today he had a big chance, 2 sets up and he could have turned the screw, instead errors started appearing in his game and he seemed to take his foot of the gas....that's the usual things the lesser players do, no killer instinct.

He's doing exactly what you'd expect someone that is talented but of a relatively low ranking to do. And then you have to consider that the top players know what to do tactically (even though it's sometimes unseemly) over the course of five sets to get through, year in year out. In Murray's case it was chase everything down and see the unforced errors occur.

[Özim]

He's doing exactly what you'd expect someone that is talented but of a relatively low ranking to do. And then you have to consider that the top players know what to do tactically (even though it's sometimes unseemly) over the course of five sets to get through, year in year out. In Murray's case it was chase everything down and see the unforced errors occur.
Precisely which is why having these guys in the quarters is pointless, they never really stand a chance. Players in the quarters should be the real deal and should be able to beat a top guy on their day.

If everyone was fit we'd have the likes of Djokovic, Murray, Nadal, Berdych, Soderling, Del Potro, Tonsga all of which could beat each other in a big match, it makes for less predictable results in the quarters.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

He destroyed Nadal in the semis, Del Potro is the real deal just look at how he played today....he blew Ferrer off the court on one leg!

Djokovic is a class act and he may well beat Del Potro, but Del Potro is certainly a much bigger threat than that other guy Murray is playing.


Nadal was still unfit when he played Del Potro in the semi finals, he had tendonitis in his knee and he could barely move around court so of course someone with the same pace on the racquet as Del Potro was going to triumph.
And even if Del Potro might have gone on to challenge for big honours after his 2009 US Open win he was out for ages with that injury to his hand and has come no where near a grand slam challenge ever since. In fact i think this is his first semi final in four years.

[Rors]

Precisely which is why having these guys in the quarters is pointless, they never really stand a chance. Players in the quarters should be the real deal and should be able to beat a top guy on their day.

If everyone was fit we'd have the likes of Djokovic, Murray, Nadal, Berdych, Soderling, Del Potro, Tonsga all of which could beat each other in a big match.

But nowhere is it written that the first week of a Grand Slam should just be a tune-up for the big players and everyone should lie down for them, simply because if they do lose their conquerors will probably go out next round too. It is an "open" Championship after all. That's like saying because Hereford didn't go on to win the FA Cup in 1972 they shouldn't have bothered beating Newcastle...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Maybe but it's a very different situation, there's more pressure and it means a lot more which usually means they totally bottle it.

Boris Becker won when he was 17, he didn't win everything but he was mentally strong enough to win big tournaments and beat big players...it's something you either have or don't have.

I always think it's a shame when the top players get knocked out early and thus we're denied a chance to see them pitting their wits against each other. Would have liked to have seen Murray against Nadal, would have made for a much better semi. Invariably when they do lose the guys that beat them get knocked out in the next round proving it was a total fluke and that the player they were up against just had an off day.

As it is it's probably a walkover for him (Murray).

I don't see the point in mentioning Becker. As great as an achievement as it was at 17, it loses context for this argument when you see the players he had to beat to win the title.

Perhaps it will be a walkover for Murray, perhaps it won't - him being given a five setter to combat doesn't really dissuade you from coming down on a player thus I don't see it as making much of a difference. It's Janowicz's first time at this level, everyone had to have their first time at some point, so calling him a 'nobody' seems overly harsh. Del Potro was annihilated by Federer when they first met in a Slam but it was much closer in the next meeting at the very next Slam and again in the US Open of that year, when he eventually won

It's possible Janowicz could become a mental flake like many others but to cast him aside because he has never been here before. As I say, harsh I reckon.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Precisely which is why having these guys in the quarters is pointless, they never really stand a chance. Players in the quarters should be the real deal and should be able to beat a top guy on their day.

If everyone was fit we'd have the likes of Djokovic, Murray, Nadal, Berdych, Soderling, Del Potro, Tonsga all of which could beat each other in a big match, it makes for less predictable results in the quarters.

If everyone was fit. That's an ideal scenario which is just not going to happen with how overtly physically demanding the game has become.

You can't say Verdasco bottled it and then say he never really stood a chance. Makes no sense!

[Özim]

Nadal was still unfit when he played Del Potro in the semi finals, he had tendonitis in his knee and he could barely move around court so of course someone with the same pace on the racquet as Del Potro was going to triumph.
And even if Del Potro might have gone on to challenge for big honours after his 2009 US Open win he was out for ages with that injury to his hand and has come no where near a grand slam challenge ever since. In fact i think this is his first semi final in four years.
Yes largely due to injuries, he's very injury prone sadly for him, if he hadn't been he'd have featured a lot more.

He's one of 5-6 players who are capable of winning a slam, Djokovic, Federer, Murray, Berdych and Soderling being the others (and Tsonga if he ever gets his head together).

The rest of them, I doubt they have a chance in hell.

He's got a huge server, huge groundstrokes and a nice touch at the net and can beat anyone on his day due to the nature of his game....the way he dismantled Ferrer today should show you that. Thrashing him with an injured leg in 3 sets, if that doesn't prove it I don't know what will.

[Özim]

If everyone was fit. That's an ideal scenario which is just not going to happen with how overtly physically demanding the game has become.

You can't say Verdasco bottled it and then say he never really stood a chance. Makes no sense!
He never stood a chance because he lacks the bottle once in a winning position, that's what these lesser guys do when it matters.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He never stood a chance because he lacks the bottle once in a winning position, that's what these lesser guys do when it matters.

If he never stood a chance, then he didn't 'bottle' it', as it was never in his grasp. What was expected to happen, happened.

[Özim]

But nowhere is it written that the first week of a Grand Slam should just be a tune-up for the big players and everyone should lie down for them, simply because if they do lose their conquerors will probably go out next round too. It is an "open" Championship after all. That's like saying because Hereford didn't go on to win the FA Cup in 1972 they shouldn't have bothered beating Newcastle...
If you're going to beat one of the big guys then it's early on in the competition when they get caught cold, these guys need a bit of time to adapt to grass, that was all too evident with Nadal.

It's not an excuse really, it's just that the top players get better as they get further into the championship due to having more game time under their belts.

[Özim]

I don't see the point in mentioning Becker. As great as an achievement as it was at 17, it loses context for this argument when you see the players he had to beat to win the title.

Perhaps it will be a walkover for Murray, perhaps it won't - him being given a five setter to combat doesn't really dissuade you from coming down on a player thus I don't see it as making much of a difference. It's Janowicz's first time at this level, everyone had to have their first time at some point, so calling him a 'nobody' seems overly harsh. Del Potro was annihilated by Federer when they first met in a Slam but it was much closer in the next meeting at the very next Slam and again in the US Open of that year, when he eventually won

It's possible Janowicz could become a mental flake like many others but to cast him aside because he has never been here before. As I say, harsh I reckon.
He went on to win more in the following years, including beating Stefan Edberg a top top player and one of the best grass court players. The point was though the guy had qualified was unseeded but still upset some big players.

The players with a chance are usually those that are talked about in the game, we're talking about the likes of Dimitrov here, who might not have delivered but is talked about as a future number 1 (like Federer and Sampras were before they became top class), don't think this Polish guy has even been mentioned.

[Özim]

If he never stood a chance, then he didn't 'bottle' it', as it was never in his grasp. What was expected to happen, happened.
He never stood a chance because he has no bottle, he was 2 sets up and had he had any he'd have probably finished it off. He bottled it due to lack of bottle.

Too much bottle in that sentence to be fair....I saw Wenger on his way to the bottle bank....

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He went on to win more in the following years, including beating Stefan Edberg a top player and once of the best grass court players. The point was though the guy had qualified was unseeded but still upset some big players.

The players with a chance are usually those that are talked about in the game, we're talking about the likes of Dimitrov here, who might not have delivered but is talked about as a future number 1 (like Federer and Sampras were before they became top class), don't think this Polish guy has even been mentioned.

Yeah he did, as he benefited from having that kinder run where he reached that of being a Slam champion - he achieved that affirmation at 17. Verdasco is obviously not at that level, he's now 29, just like say Henri Leconte was never going to be a high level player either but obviously talented. 22 is still damn young in this era of tennis though.

If you don't think Janowicz has been talked about, you can't have been watching much of the 500s/1000s on Sky recently. It's going to take Dimitrov a while to get it together, a) it always does for someone with that many shots to choose from and b) possibly distracting life with Sharapova.

[Syn]

If he never stood a chance, then he didn't 'bottle' it', as it was never in his grasp. What was expected to happen, happened.

don't use logic.

In other news: http://ir0.mobify.com/project-mobifyme/288/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/thumbnail_570x321/2012/04/dawson_crying.jpg

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He never stood a chance because he has no bottle, he was 2 sets up and had he had any he'd have probably finished it off. He bottled it due to lack of bottle.

Too much bottle in that sentence to be fair....I saw Wenger on his way to the bottle bank....

Why criticise him then? How dare he be exactly as was anticipated!

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I have heard Janowicz mentioned as a potential for the future a number of times

But also when you look at it, does endorsement really matter......look at how many times Raonic and Tomic have been mentioned in the last two years....and neither has really stepped up to the plate.

Also Federer was always muted as a potential future champion, but until 2003 it was always felt that he might not have the right temprement to go all the way because he was prone to lose his head in big matches....and that his five set victory over Sampras in 2001 might only ever be a one off.

And look at much hype Safin, Hewitt and Roddick got and none of them came close to challenging the Federer supremacy.

[Özim]

I have heard Janowicz mentioned as a potential for the future a number of times

But also when you look at it, does endorsement really matter......look at how many times Raonic and Tomic have been mentioned in the last two years....and neither has really stepped up to the plate.

Also Federer was always muted as a potential future champion, but until 2003 it was always felt that he might not have the right temprement to go all the way because he was prone to lose his head in big matches....and that his five set victory over Sampras in 2001 might only ever be a one off.

And look at much hype Safin, Hewitt and Roddick got and none of them came close to challenging the Federer supremacy.
All 3 you mention won grand slams and were number 1's so they may not have come close to Federer (who has) but they had some notable achievements and did well at Grand slams on the whole.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I think it's also unfair to say Verdasco bottled it, he was two sets up because Murray looked mentally unprepared and was not trusting himself to be aggressive and allowing the spaniard to push him back further and further.....with the exception of the third set Verdasco was pretty much playing at the same level for the entire match....you have to remember that he was only two sets up because Murray had evaporated when 0-40 up on Verdasco's serve and a combination of tame returns and unforced errors gave Verdasco the chance which he took.
For me someone who bottles it is someone who through fear and mental weakness does not play as well as he should....and i think Verdasco in the fifth set especially just went for it.......if he had bottled it he wouldn't have gone for it on his second serves the way he did. In the fourth set he also put Murray under tremendous pressure on his serve.....those last two sets were absolute dog fights for Murray.
There is a whole other level between players like Djokovic and Murray and players like Verdasco etc....and i think that class gap showed in the end....and to claim anything else is massively disingenuous.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

All 3 you mention won grand slams and were number 1's so they may not have come close to Federer (who has) but they had some notable achievements and did well at Grand slams on the whole.

The point being is that these players were considered the elite of the generation to come after Sampras and Agassi, where as Federer was considered a possible contender was never spoke about in the same manner as the three i've mentioned (especially not Safin and Hewitt). Despite his inability to serve volley Roddick was considered a player who would dominate on grass, and the Hard court grand slams would be divided up between Safin and Hewitt.
They won five grand slams between them compared to Federer's 17.....yeah they did reasonably ok but the point still stands...hype means nothing.

[Kano]

not all this delpro nonsense again :lol:

[LDG]

not all this delpro nonsense again :lol:

He's got no legs, you know.

[Özim]

not all this delpro nonsense again :lol:
No don't worry that's been put to be now after a one legged Delboy hammered David Ferret! :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

One legged player beats carrying an injury 'comparitively shit' player.

Well done him!

[Kano]

He's got no legs, you know.
doesn't need 'em. weapons.

[Özim]

doesn't need 'em. weapons.
Innit

[Özim]

What's with the bouncing movement and breathing, hope he doesn't do this during the Murray match? :lol:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaKeA_hCnJg

[Cripps_orig]

Bartoli and the other one are out on court

[cricketsi]

What's with the bouncing movement and breathing, hope he doesn't do this during the Murray match? :lol:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaKeA_hCnJg

Not even waiting to get back to the locker room to have a wank and doing it in front of the interviewer is a little bit rude, tbh.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bartoli had a power nap during the rain delay for her match against Stephens. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Two break points for Bartoli.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

She breaks and leads 2-0 in the second set.

Flipkens is letting Belgium down.

[Cripps_orig]

Bartoli breaks

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nipples everywhere.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fantastic shot down the line on the run from Balotelli. Two more break points.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bartoli takes it on the second of them and will serve for the first set, 5-1!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bartoli takes the first set 6-1!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bartoli is up a break in the second set, 1-0.

Flipkens. :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-0. :lol:

[LDG]

Nipples everywhere.

:o

I missed this :(

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Probably for the best on this occassion. More worthwhile for the second match I would say.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Flipkens gets one of the breaks back. 1-3.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bartoli breaks again. :lol:

4-1 in the second set.