Tennis Thread

[Mac76]

Novak through to the third round, he was given a decent game but not really under that much threat

[Mac76]

Meanwhile the BBC switch away from Rune v Wild, which was looking a good match, to Swiatek's match and there's not even any play as one of the players is getting treatment...

[Mac76]

On the plus side, in the other match, which began a bit boringly, Norrie's found his A game and after trashing Draper in the first-set TB he's playing him off the court in the second

[Mac76]

Good fightback by Raducanu to make it one set all

[Mac76]

Raducanu out, outclassed in the third set :rose:

[Letters]

Should have played in the doubles with Murray tbh :sulk:

[Mac76]

Should have played in the doubles with Murray tbh :sulk:

Yes it looks as though that would been more sensible, she clearly wasn't up to competing in the singles

[HCZ_Reborn]

Pity that the seedlings means that Sinner and Alcaraz aren’t kept apart till the final

[HCZ_Reborn]

Pity that the seedlings means that Sinner and Alcaraz aren’t kept apart till the final

Academic now anyway

[Mac76]

Blimey :O

mind you I'm on his side, f**k the Wimbledon crowd

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/clwygl4ldzgo

[Letters]

Nah. He can fuck off.
Djokovic is clearly the GOAT, but he's not likeable.

[Mac76]

Nah. He can fuck off.
Djokovic is clearly the GOAT, but he's not likeable.

unlike lovely Wodger ofc :rolleyes:

[Letters]

Yes.

I don't know if he banged your sister or something but you are the only person I know who has an issue with the fella.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Nah. He can fuck off.
Djokovic is clearly the GOAT, but he's not likeable.

I don’t think Djokovic comes across like a bad guy. Couple of times he’s been a bit of a dickhead (like when he held a players gathering and gave loads of them covid…well done genius) but I think it’s just that Federer and Nadal are much more loved by the crowd…and I think it largely comes down to the Tennis. Djokovic is a fantastic defender, his court coverage is exceptional but unless he’s playing Nadal the Tennis is not quite as enjoyable as the style of the other two.


I always felt the Wimbledon crowd were fully behind whoever Sampras played in the final, and Sampras was a dull player to watch.

[Mac76]

Yes.

I don't know if he banged your sister or something but you are the only person I know who has an issue with the fella.

My issue was he was a smug sly git, and yes I know others who agree, but it's less of an issue now his track record is being steadily ground further into the dust by Djoko

[HCZ_Reborn]

My issue was he was a smug sly git, and yes I know others who agree, but it's less of an issue now his track record is being steadily ground further into the dust by Djoko

These others? Are they in the room with us now? :lol:


Let’s be honest with ourselves, the opinion that Roger Federer was as you put it a “smug, sly git” is a pretty idiosyncratic one


Djokovic has more grand slams, but I don’t think he will be as well remembered as Federer or Nadal.

[Letters]

Fed only has 20 grand slams. What a loser!

No-one is ever going to question that him, Djokovic and Nadal absolutely dominated this era of tennis. I did consider Federer the GOAT but that surely has to be ceded to Djok now. Nadal I'd find trickier to place, he has more grand slams than Fed but aren't a lot of them in the French? I'm not saying they don't count but implies he dominated on one surface more than others.

[Mac76]

Nadal I'd find trickier to place, he has more grand slams than Fed but aren't a lot of them in the French? I'm not saying they don't count but implies he dominated on one surface more than others.

Nice try but grand slams are grand slams, Federer is an also-ran compared to Rafa and Djoko, whatever the pathetic, fawning Wimbledon rentamob might want to believe

[Letters]

:haha:

Holy shit. You're a weirdo, mate :good:

[Mac76]

you're desperately trying to argue that Wodger's fewer GS's are worth more than Rafa's and I'm the weirdo? :shrug:

[Letters]

No I'm not.
Try reading what I actually said rather than putting it through your insane Federer hating goggles you inexplicably wear :good:

[Letters]

5th Deuce in the first game.
Djok serving. Alcaraz making him work for it

[Letters]

5th break point :popcorn:

[Letters]

14 minutes for the first game.
Alcaraz breaks!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alcaraz break Djokovic first game!

[Letters]

Alcaraz gets a second break!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Double faultovic is back :bow:

[Letters]

Set point

[Letters]

Alacaraz wins the second set point. 6-2

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alcaraz. :bow:

[Mac76]

Good start by Alcaraz, outplayed Djoko, will be interesting to see how he tries to fight back in thr second

[Letters]

Alcaraz breaks at the start of the second!

[Mac76]

Bloody hell, Djoko all over the place , Alcaraz devastating

[Mac76]

Then Alcaraz double faults :lol:

[Mac76]

3-2, Djoko's best serve game so far but he needs to break back at some point

[Letters]

Djok broken again! 5-2 second set

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Getting hammered. :lol:

[Mac76]

Djoko off his game and Alcaraz superb, making unbelievable shots

[Mac76]

Ebery time i praise Alcaraz he double faults :lol:

[Letters]

Holds to take the second set 6-2

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Alcaraz is pummelling the poor old man.

Not that Djokovic has come from two sets down before....

[Mac76]

Alcaraz leading 6-2 6-2 holy sh*t

[Letters]

Ooh. Hang on. Djok holds and is now 0-30 on Alcaraz’s serve

[Letters]

Alcaraz holds in the end.

[Letters]

Holy shit. That shot from Alcaraz was insane

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz leading 6-2 6-2 holy sh*t

It’s really not that surprising, Alcaraz is the best player in the game currently and as brilliant as Djokovic was…he’s 37. You don’t stay at that level forever

[Letters]

Djok holds, but only just

[HCZ_Reborn]

Solid hold there from Djokovic

[HCZ_Reborn]

Djokovic playing better on Alcaraz serve, more aggressive going for his second serve.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Djokovic takes Alcaraz to deuce on his serve, Alcaraz needs to get a first serve in

[HCZ_Reborn]

Break point Djokovic but Alcaraz produces a monster serve to save

And another one for game point

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz eventually holds with an Ace, but Djokovic giving notice that he’s still in this match

[Letters]

Alcaraz holds, 3-3. Djok made him work for that one

[HCZ_Reborn]

Djokovic holds to love and puts the pressure immediately back on Alcaraz

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz holds to 15, both men’s first serves are unplayable

[HCZ_Reborn]

Three break points for Alcaraz

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Outrageous from Alcaraz.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz breaks and will serve for the championship

[Mac76]

Djoko broken again :rose:

[Letters]

Alcaraz breaks.

He is so good. He’s so fast, he can get to shots that other players can’t get near

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Djokovic is looking a slouch around court in comparison which is ridiculous

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Alcaraz breaks.

He is so good. He’s so fast, he can get to shots that other players can’t get near

His name sounds good in your ear

But when you say it, you mustn't fear

Cause his name can be said by anyone.

[Letters]

3 Championship points

[Letters]

Double faults :lol:

[Letters]

Deuce! :doh:

[Letters]

And now break point :blink:

[Letters]

And he’s broken. From 40 love up. Wow :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Djokovic breaks back after Alcaraz fluffs it

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Djokovic breaks back from 40-0 jesus

[Letters]

Djok holds fairly easily

[Mac76]

Alcaraz has already beaten him in a Wimbledon final, surprised he was so nervy

[Letters]

Oh now Alcaraz decides to hold.
6-6. Tie break

[Letters]

Alcaraz gets a mini break

[Letters]

Alcaraz gets a mini break

Oh wait. No he doesn’t.

:getcoat:

[Letters]

Fantastic drop shot
Another Championship point

[Letters]

Alcaraz wins.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alcaraz beats Djokovic 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-4)! Defends Wimbledon, his second!

Second slam in a row! Fourth overall at 21. He's fucking good

[Letters]

Djok stays on 7 Wimbledons,
Federer has 8

Federer :bow:

[Letters]

Kate in the presentation committee
DILFs :bow:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Would have been interesting to see Alcaraz and Nadal play eachother in their prime, as Alcaraz is much more like Nadal with his aggression but then the pace at which he hits shots is more than Nadal could deal with (with the exception of on clay)


Disgruntled Djokovic fan has referred to him on Wikipedia as Carlos Alcaturd :lol:

[Letters]

I was thinking it would have been a better final had Djok been a few years younger. Well, ideally 10.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I was thinking it would have been a better final had Djok been a few years younger. Well, ideally 10.

I think five years younger would maybe do it.

[Mac76]

Deserved win, Alcarez played some amazing shots, at least Djoko made a match of it at the end

[HCZ_Reborn]

Deserved win, Alcarez played some amazing shots, at least Djoko made a match of it at the end

Yep…took the match to Alcaraz and really attacked his second serves in that third set. I think what made it so difficult for him is that Djokovic whilst no slouch tends to wear his opponents down (he will probably go down as the best returner in the game) but the sheer pace and aggression with which Alcaraz played never allowed him to settle. The only player I’ve seen unsettle him that much was Stan Wawrinka with the awesome pace and power of his back hand.

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/crkm8gr3ey7o

Old man Djok :console:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alcaraz went out too.

No Slam for Djokovic for the first year in ages.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Djokovic is done in terms of being at the level he was, he’s 37….it’s just how it is

Alcaraz going down in straight sets is a bit of a shocker though

I would imagine that makes Sinner the favourite, however the US open is a bit of a strange one. In that out of all the slams you’re more likely to get a left field winner in the mens game (by left field I mean players who haven’t won other slams) Cilic, Thiem, Medvedev.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sinner winning two slams and Alcaraz winning two slams would set up a fantastic rivalry going forward

I maintain Alcaraz is the better player and I don’t think it close, but it’s no reflection on Sinner….Alcaraz would have been going toe to toe with Federer, Djokovic and Nadal in their prime. He’s exceptional

[HCZ_Reborn]

Jack Draper through to the semis to play Jannik Sinner


Also one of Tiafoe or Fritz will be the first American to make the men’s final of the US open since Andy Roddick in 2006

[Mac76]

I don't think we can expect Alcaraz or Sinner to be as consistent over a long period as Djoko or Nadal (or yes, ok, the Smug Swiss too i suppose, up to a point :sarcy:)

it would actually be good f it was more of a free-for-all for a while maybe

[HCZ_Reborn]

I don't think we can expect Alcaraz or Sinner to be as consistent over a long period as Djoko or Nadal (or yes, ok, the Smug Swiss too i suppose, up to a point :sarcy:)

it would actually be good f it was more of a free-for-all for a while maybe

I don’t think it will be a free for all, I don’t see any of the current players being anywhere near the level of Alcaraz or Sinner.

Barring a big shock, Sinner is going to win the US open. And going forward it’s likely going to be one of those two, and in the rare event that neither of them do you might get Djokovic pick up one more or Medvedev possibly.


I don’t really ever recall a time when Men’s tennis was a free for all barring say the individual grand slam (in the 90s, Sampras dominated but never came anywhere near winning the French open). There’s always a slight transitional phase that might last a year but that’s it, 80s went from Borg to McEnroe to Lendl, and along with Lendl, Becker, Edberg and Wilander quite seamlessly…

Alcaraz has already proven that he can win majors on all three surfaces (though if you want to be technical, the hard court at Flushing meadows is different to that at Melbourne in terms of bounce…but that’s not enough to say that they are different surfaces)


It would be good if two or three players managed to get to the level of Alcaraz and Sinner (although that implies that those two are at the same level and they aren’t) but I don’t see any young player emerging….although you’ve had plenty of young guys look like they might emerge but never make it - Zverev, Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime, Tiafoe etc

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sinner as predicted beats a spirited Draper 7-5, 7-6, 6-2

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sinner beats Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to become the US open champion.

[Letters]

Nadal to retire at the end of this season

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/ckgv9n5jj8jo

[Letters]

(Updated the thread title to just Tennis Thread - it was Wimbledon 2024)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Murray will coach Djokovic. :wacko:

[Letters]

:lol: I saw that. Weird.

[Letters]

Murray will coach Djokovic. :wacko:

Seems to be working.

Old man Djok beats Alcaraz to get to the Australian semi-final!

[HCZ_Reborn]

This stands as being the only Grand Slam tournament that Alcaraz has not won

He’s never got past the 1/4s in fact. It’s a bit like how for Djokovic the US open was a bit of a struggle for him at times because although they are both hard court surfaces, two different types of hard court which makes the bounce very different.

The final now looks like Djokovic vs Sinner (so basically the 2023 winner vs the 2024 winner)

[Letters]

And after all that Djok had to retire during the semi-final.

Old man Djok :rose:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Australian open final, Sinner the Tyrolean is on his way to retaining his AO crown having taken the first set. Zverev is the nearly man of Tennis, a lot of promise in his younger days but given the prominence of his career, this is only his third GS final and in the previous two he managed to throw away a two set lead and a two sets to one lead respectively.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sinner now two sets to the good, despite a promising break opportunity for Sinner early on…this one went to a tie break

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sinner breaks in the third set, leading 5-2 and just needs to hold serve once to retain his title

[HCZ_Reborn]

Which he does. Sinner wins 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 and takes his second Australian open and third Grand Slam in all

Catching up with Alcaraz who has four to his name

Routine win in the end, I note that this was probably an easier win for Sinner than against Taylor Fritz at Flushing meadows

If he doesn’t end up getting banned from the sport for two years. There will be a hell of a rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz

[HCZ_Reborn]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/c2kqyw418zqo

Speaking of which, the two face each other for the first time in a Grand Slam final

Given the recent record, I’d be amazed with anything other than an Alcaraz win. I think Alcaraz is the better tennis player, and is in better form with Sinner maybe a tad rusty after that two month ban.

Although Sinner hasn’t dropped a set in this tournament so far, and made short work of Novak Djokovic.

I like both these players so don’t really mind that much who wins, Alcaraz is the more entertaining player to watch between the two, but Sinner arguably the more consistent.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sinner takes first set 6-4 after being a break down

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz a break down in the second set, needs to pull the iron out of the fire here (if he’s able to)

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz breaks back when Sinner serving for the second set. On serve

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sinner wins the tie break to take a two sets lead

[HCZ_Reborn]

Topsy Turvy third set, currently on serve but Sinner broke first, then Alcaraz won three games in a row to go ahead, and Sinner has just broken back whilst Alcaraz was serving for the set.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz breaks again to win the third set 6-4. Alcaraz has arguably had the momentum in the last hour or two. Breaking the Sinner serve four times.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sinner serving for the title but cannot hold serve and it’s 5-5 in the 4th set

[HCZ_Reborn]

Could regret saying this, but as Alcaraz takes 4th set on a tiebreak. I think Sinner has missed his chance to win

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz breaks in fifth set, kind of inevitable really. Sinner really had to finish this match off inside four sets

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sinner breaks back, and we are into I believe a 10 point tiebreak to decide the championship

One hell of a contest this has been

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz opens up a 4 point lead in the decider

[HCZ_Reborn]

Make that 7 points. What a damp squib

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wow Alcaraz in that match tie-break was flawless really.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz wins the French Open - 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6. A match that lasted just over 5 and a half hours

Alcaraz won the deciding tie break 10-2 (frankly Sinner did well to take it that far, looked dead on his feet in the 5th set)

Whilst I still think Alcaraz is the better player, on a different day Sinner could have beaten him. I hope they meet again at Wimbledon

[Mac76]

Wimbledon :bow:

Kartal beating Ostapenko

Norrie 4-2 in the first set vs Agut

:popcorn:

[Mac76]

Norrie won first set, lost the second, one up in the third

[Mac76]

Norrie 2-1 up now

they should end it there, I'm all for GS tournos to be best of three

[Mac76]

Medvedev out :lol:

[Mac76]

a British player called Oliver Tarvet is through ... but I think they just said he'd face Alcaraz in the next round :rose:

[Mac76]

Norrie loses his serve

[Mac76]

Norrie breaks back - it's on

[Mac76]

6 games all, tiebreak - if Norrie wins he takes the match

:popcorn:

(ps I realise no-one's reading this but IDC :lol:)

[Mac76]

Norrie wins, good effort after a dodgy set or two

[Mac76]

over to Alcaraz, who won his first set but losing a second-set TB 3-6...

...make that 4-6

[Mac76]

Alcaraz loses the second set to Fognini :faint:

[Mac76]

Alcaraz serve broken ... :popcorn:

[Mac76]

Alcaraz wins third set, 2-1 up now

[Mac76]

Alcaraz broken again

[Mac76]

Alcaraz broken again 2-5 down in the fourth

[Mac76]

2-2 in sets now, Alcaraz looking a bit frayed but could still get his act together for the fifth

[Mac76]

Alcaraz 2-0 up in final set

[Mac76]

5-0 up now

Fognini :rose:

[Mac76]

5-1 it's on

[Mac76]

Alcaraz wins, good match

[Letters]

:wacko:

Old man Djok loses the second set having absolutely hammered Muller all set.
Djok had 6 set points and plenty of break points and bolloxed up the lot.

They’re closing the roof now.

[Letters]

Djok now called for.a doctor :popcorn:

[Letters]

Djok carries on and finally gets a break - via a double fault.
Djok talking to the doctor again though

[Letters]

And now Muller is having a timeout!

[Letters]

Djok then cruised to the 3rd set

[Letters]

Djok has two breaks in the 4th. Serving for the match

[Letters]

Serves it out with a minimum of fuss to love

[Mac76]

That match was interesting for a while but Djok just wore him down in the end with experience and by toughing out whatever was wrong with him

I thought Muller was good but there was one particular shot - a kind of swooping shot (i don't know the name of tennis shots!) trying to find an area just inside the line to his left hand side - which he just got wrong all night

[HCZ_Reborn]

Hoping for another Sinner-Alcaraz final tbh

Alcaraz can be a bit all over the shop at times, but at his best he is simply unplayable (and I think the most entertaining player in the mens game)

[Mac76]

Norrie through, beat the no.12 seed

[Letters]

Diallo serves to win the 4th set. 2 sets each. Good match, this.

[Letters]

Fritz breaks in the 5th :popcorn:

[Letters]

Fritz to serve out for the match.

[Letters]

Two match points.

[Letters]

Fritz takes it. Good match. Great effort by Diallo.
I'm loving these late night matches under the roof.

[Mac76]

Fritz takes it. Good match. Great effort by Diallo.
I'm loving these late night matches under the roof.

...except it really annoyed me the other night when a guy hit a high lob, a legitimate tennis shot, and it bounced off the roof and so he loses the point - i mean wtf is that about?! - sure, replay the point but to lose a point because you played a legitimate shot is a completely BS rule

[Letters]

...except it really annoyed me the other night when a guy hit a high lob, a legitimate tennis shot, and it bounced off the roof and so he loses the point - i mean wtf is that about?! - sure, replay the point but to lose a point because you played a legitimate shot is a completely BS rule

:lol: Really? I didn't see that. Yes, that is a bullshit rule, they should just replay.

[Mac76]

Yeah I was thinking it was during the Djokovic match though i think you saw that so maybe not

[Letters]

Yeah I was thinking it was during the Djokovic match though i think you saw that so maybe not

Ah. I didn't see all of that match and sometimes I am not giving it my full attention tbh.

[Mac76]

Ah. I didn't see all of that match and sometimes I am not giving it my full attention tbh.

Ok it probably was then

[HCZ_Reborn]

Good game between Rublev and Alcaraz

Despite being a set down, Alcaraz seems comfortable enough to try and mix it up on his serve

Rublev looks like a little bit of a 70s throwback in the style of Guillermo Vilas

Neither player really threatening the others serve, first set resolved on a tiebreak

[HCZ_Reborn]

And just as I say that Rublev throws in a terrible service game handing Alcaraz the break

[Mac76]

Norrie through in hard-fought match vs Jarry, plays the winner of Rublev - Alcarez, let's hope Rublev can do it, one set each atm

[Letters]

Alcaraz wins in 4. Anyone know why they're playing today? They used to only do the middle Sunday if they'd had a lot of rain in the first week.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz wins in 4. Anyone know why they're playing today? They used to only do the middle Sunday if they'd had a lot of rain in the first week.

So had to look this up, but basically as of 2022 the Sunday rest day has been abolished. So where as it was absolutely only an occasional thing, it’s now an every year thing

[Letters]

Right :good:

Interesting. Wonder why they did that. I know Sunday is less of a "day of rest" these days.

[Mac76]

Right :good:

Interesting. Wonder why they did that. I know Sunday is less of a "day of rest" these days.

Seriously you didn't know that?

It's the same with Test cricket, quite a few years ago they got rid of the Sunday rest day because it, like, made sense for people to watch at the weekend when they're not working (and yes IK quite a few people do work at the weekend but still)

[Letters]

Seriously you didn't know that?

You do seem frequently bewildered that people have different levels of interest about things, and therefore knowledge about them, than you.
The middle Sunday of Wimbledon was always a day off, they only ever played that day if it had tipped down all the first week and they'd got massively behind.
From what HCZ says that only changed a few years ago, it's rare these days I watch that much Wimbledon, so no I didn't know that.
Why is that such astonishing news for you?

I have actually watched more of Wimbledon this year than I have for years, but it's rare I watch much more than the final.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yeah the finals aside I have switched off from Tennis last few years

Mac showing his age with the cricket comparison, the Sunday rest day in test cricket largely went out in the 1980s

[Mac76]

You do seem frequently bewildered that people have different levels of interest about things, and therefore knowledge about them, than you.
The middle Sunday of Wimbledon was always a day off, they only ever played that day if it had tipped down all the first week and they'd got massively behind.
From what HCZ says that only changed a few years ago, it's rare these days I watch that much Wimbledon, so no I didn't know that.
Why is that such astonishing news for you?

I have actually watched more of Wimbledon this year than I have for years, but it's rare I watch much more than the final.

ok, I think you're taking it too much to heart, I wasn't having a go, I just was surprised, as you were the other day when I hadn't heard about Jota until late in the day, I didn't know it was rare for you to watch Wimbledon either

[Mac76]

Yeah the finals aside I have switched off from Tennis last few years

Mac showing his age with the cricket comparison, the Sunday rest day in test cricket largely went out in the 1980s

what's wrong with being older? I hope you're not being discriminatory ;)

[HCZ_Reborn]

what's wrong with being older? I hope you're not being discriminatory ;)

Against you?

Always :)

[Letters]

ok, I think you're taking it too much to heart, I wasn't having a go, I just was surprised, as you were the other day when I hadn't heard about Jota until late in the day, I didn't know it was rare for you to watch Wimbledon either

I kinda wish I watched more - hence making more of an effort this year. Most years it just passes me by.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I kinda wish I watched more - hence making more of an effort this year. Most years it just passes me by.

I don’t think you’ve missed much truth be told. Last few years of Djokovic dominance and recent changing of the guard.

In the men’s game I don’t think there’s anyone going to come near Alcaraz and Sinner. Alcaraz impressed me yesterday, in the second set you would never have guessed he was a set down if you’d just started watching, using his service game to mix things up and get comfortable with drop shots etc, he can go off the boil at times but he never panics.

Sinner is more of a machine, he got to the French open final without dropping a set and something he could easily do again here. But I just think Alcaraz has far more variety in his game

That and he’s got endurance, he’s only ever lost one five set match from 14 and that was before his first GS win. Sinner was a break up in the third set but couldn’t get the job done and Alcaraz wore him down. Exceptional mental strength

[Letters]

I enjoy it when I watch it, and the men's game has got a lot better since the awful serve-volley days.
I saw a video about that, I think they changed the balls and they certainly changed the surface to make the ball bounce higher and slower and that helped a lot.
You get significantly more rallies now which makes the game more interesting.

[Mac76]

I kinda wish I watched more - hence making more of an effort this year. Most years it just passes me by.

yeah in the first week there's so much of it that it's easy to think there's plenty of time, but it quickly whittles down and you realise you've missed half the tournament or more, so the last few years I've sought to get into it earlier, not watched tons this year but seen some good matches so far

[Letters]

Djok lost the first set 6-1 :blink:
Won the second though and just broke at a very good time in the 3rd. Serving for the set.

[Letters]

Which he does. Great rally.
Djok 2 sets to 1 up.

[Letters]

What a rally! Djok was in trouble at 4-1 down in the 4th but then held and broke back. Djok 4-3 down but on his serve in the 4th.

[Letters]

Djok breaks again! From 4-1 down to 5-4 up. Serving for the match.

[Letters]

Which he does with a minimum of fuss. Djok through in 4 sets.

[Letters]

Sinner 2-0 down in the first set.
First time he’s been broken all tournament

[Letters]

Goes with serve after that, Dmitrov takes the first set!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sinner in serious trouble, broken to love in the first game of the second set, including a double fault

[Letters]

Yeah. Weird. Calling for the trainer now.
Something not right with him

[Letters]

Dimitrov shits his pants when serving for the 2nd set.
Sinner breaks.
Game on!

[Letters]

I say that. Dimitrov is now 40-0 up on Sinner’s serve!

[Letters]

And breaks! He’ll serve for the set again!

[Letters]

Made a meal of it but Dimitrov takes the second set.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sinner looking all over the place, but Dimitrov produced two or three excellent return shots on the Sinner serve

Hard to say whether Sinner is actually injured or whether the elbow/shoulder thing is more in his head

Hard to argue against Dimitrov deserving this two set lead

[HCZ_Reborn]

Made a meal of it but Dimitrov takes the second set.

Dimitrov was meant to be the next big thing, over ten years ago part of the new generation along with Dominic Thiem, Milos Raonic, Pablo Carreño-Busta and Nick Kyrgios

Dimitrov had the ability just not the consistency

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

And Dimitrov is injured. And looks done.

Is it unfortunate or self fulfilling?

[HCZ_Reborn]

I know he had a couple of awkward falls, but he wasn’t the one I expected to be retiring injured (edit…done his pectoral muscles, all that serving out wide)

In fact help me out here, has anyone retired injured from a match after being two sets up?

[Letters]

Oh! I’ve been watching something else, flicked back to see how it was going and saw Sinner had gone through and couldn’t imagine how that could be. Weird.
Shame.

[Mac76]

terrible shame, feel really sorry for the guy and it would have opened up the field Sinner had gone out

[HCZ_Reborn]

Norrie vs Alcaraz

Norrie broken in third game after having four break points on the Alcaraz serve

Never watched Norrie much, he has a very unusual racquet grip

[Letters]

Saka and Timber there :bow:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Saka and Timber there :bow:

Saka gets about, he was in New York the other week. Fair play to him, probably the longest sustained period of time he’s had off for two years

[Mac76]

Norrie loses second set 6-3

:rose:

[Letters]

Norrie is trying to make a game of it but Alcaraz is at a different level

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz seems to have perfected the serve volley technique, hasn’t got Sampras’ speed but got the placement

[Letters]

His drop shots are fantastic

[Mac76]

4-2 Alcaraz - it really is over now

[Letters]

5-2 now.

[Letters]

Match point :popcorn:

[Letters]

Saved. Only delays the inevitable

[Letters]

Norrie holds. Alcaraz to serve for the match

[Letters]

Which he does with the minimum of fuss

[Mac76]

Norrie did his best, Alcaraz is just too gooe

[Mac76]

The Djokovic match is interesting - he lost the first set 7-6, won the second 6-2, broke Cobolli early in the third but Cobolli's now evened it up 2-2 :popcorn:

[Letters]

Just turned over to see set point.
Djok takes the 3rd set 7-5

[Letters]

Going with serve so far in the 4th

4-4

[Letters]

Djok breaks! He’ll serve for the match

[Letters]

Djok had 2 match points. Both saved. Had a bit of an awkward fall

:popcorn:

[Letters]

Djok is ok. Advantage him and 3rd match point

[Letters]

Which he takes.
Djok into the semis

Edit - apparently his 14th Wimbledon semifinal.
That’s pretty mental.

[Mac76]

Good effort from Cobolli, Djok just keeps on going though

[HCZ_Reborn]

I find the BBC commentary on Alcaraz odd, it’s like they are talking about a plucky newcomer that’s only been around this year. Not a player who is only 22 yet has five grand slams under his belt let alone vying for a third successive Wimbledon Crown, and seems to have perfected serving on the grass of SW19

Even if Sinner gets past Djokovic I don’t think he has a chance. US open could be a different story but on current form I don’t see anyone getting close to Alcaraz

[HCZ_Reborn]

Which he takes.
Djok into the semis

Edit - apparently his 14th Wimbledon semifinal.
That’s pretty mental.

Yep 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025


2007 retired injured against Nadal

2010 lost in straight sets to Berdych

2011 beat Tsonga

2012 lost to Federer


2013 beat Del Potro

2014 beat Dimitrov

2015 beat Gasquet I think

2018 beat Nadal


2019 beat Bautista-Agut


2021 don’t know didn’t watch much of Wimbledon that year, I know he got to the final and beat Beretinni


2022 Beat Shapovalov


2023 Beat Sinner although could have the years mixed


2024 Beat some other Italian guy


2025 playing Sinner, given Sinner is lucky to even be in the semis after being outplayed by Dimitrov I fancy it will be a seventh straight final (no Wimbledon in 2020)

[Letters]

Alcaraz takes the first set. With serve so far in the second

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz takes the first set. With serve so far in the second

Fritz has a good serve for this surface, won’t be easy to break. But I think Alcaraz will manage it when he needs to

[Letters]

Gosh! Fritz has 3 set points on Alcaraz’s serve

[Letters]

And takes the first one to win the set. One set all!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Gosh! Fritz has 3 set points on Alcaraz’s serve

You really don’t want to be double faulting at 0-30 on your own serve, when serving to stay in the set

Still should make it less of a precession, more of a spectacle

[HCZ_Reborn]

For greater context, there hasn’t been an American male grand slam winner in 22 years since Andy Roddick won the US open

The last American to reach a Men’s singles Wimbledon final was again Roddick in 2009

When you consider the domination of players like Sampras, Agassi, McEnroe, Connors etc it’s a long time

[HCZ_Reborn]

Fritz serving first in this set as the previous two, both players begin the set with comfortable holds

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz breaks so I jinxed Fritz :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Alcaraz gets the double break and takes the third set 6-3 and leads 2 sets to 1

Long way back for the American

[Letters]

For greater context, there hasn’t been an American male grand slam winner in 22 years since Andy Roddick won the US open

The last American to reach a Men’s singles Wimbledon final was again Roddick in 2009

When you consider the domination of players like Sampras, Agassi, McEnroe, Connors etc it’s a long time
Wow! Really?
That’s an incredible stat. When I was young the Americans were quite dominant with some of the people you mention.

[Letters]

4th set goes to a penalty shootout :popcorn:

[Letters]

Fritz was 4-1 down and then won 5 points in a row to get a set point.
Alcaraz saves it. 6-5. Still set point but on Alcaraz's serve

[Letters]

Alcaraz wins that one too so 6-6 :popcorn:

[Letters]

Alcaraz now has a match point on Fritz's serve

[Letters]

Which he wins. Fantastic effort by Fritz but ultimately Alcaraz was just better.

[Mac76]

Djok v Sinner now :popcorn:

[Mac76]

Sinner breaks Djok's serve in the 3rd game

[Mac76]

Sinner wins first set 6-3

[Letters]

Sinner breaks to take the first set.
This could be a procession.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Sinner breaks to take the first set.
This could be a procession.

Hope so, well don’t care if it’s a procession or not but definitely want a Sinner-Alcaraz final

Sinner despatched Djokovic quite easily at the French open.

[Mac76]

Sinner two games up in the second set

[Letters]

Sinner breaks, 2-0 up in the second set.
Old man Djok :rose:

[Letters]

Hope so, well don’t care if it’s a procession or not but definitely want a Sinner-Alcaraz final

Sinner despatched Djokovic quite easily at the French open.

I like Djok - well, he’s not that likeable at times, but I have warmed to him and I definitely respect and admire him. But his time has clearly passed and Sinner vs Alcaraz will be the better final.

[Mac76]

Sinner two sets up

[Letters]

Dinner with 2 set points.
Takes the first one with an ace.
6-3, 6-3

[Letters]

Dinner :lol:

[Mac76]

:lol:

Meanwhile Djok getting treatment, probably not in the very best shape but it's more that Sinner's just that much better I think

Could he quit the match maybe?

[Mac76]

Djok fighting back with an early break

[HCZ_Reborn]

I like Djok - well, he’s not that likeable at times, but I have warmed to him and I definitely respect and admire him. But his time has clearly passed and Sinner vs Alcaraz will be the better final.

Unlike someone else we know on here, I’ve always been a big fan of Roger Federer…thats really why I really took against Nadal (although I immensely respect his achievements, especially at Roland Garros). Djokovic?, I first remember watching him about 18 years ago when he reached his first semi at Wimbledon….he was clearly playing whilst injured (had revolting blisters on his feet) but got past players like Hewitt, Baghdatis etc in Marathon matches.


Ear marked him as a player to watch, but even after his first Australian open win. Felt like he wouldn’t ever quite meet his potential, and struggled with injury etc.

Then came 2011 when he was just unplayable, everything you threw at the bugger he’d return

He’s had his peaks and troughs but he outlasted Nadal by being last man standing and he was able to maintain physical fitness to the point where at 38 he’s still reaching the business end of tournaments (the only player doing that back in the day was Jimmy Connors)


So yeah I have no great love for him but no great dislike either, but mainly I don’t want him to win because I want Federer’s 8 Wimbledon titles to stand alone (although Alcaraz could just as easily challenge that). He played in some fantastic matches, the best of those in my view being the 2012 Australian open final which was a punishing match of almost six hours…at the award ceremony neither he or Nadal could even stand.

Even though he beat Murray, I did kind of think “good for him” when he completed the career grand slam at the French open

[Letters]

Yes. I had to miss a bit, came back and Djok is 3-0 up!
And has a break point

[Mac76]

Yes. I had to miss a bit, came back and Djok is 3-0 up!
And has a break point

And now it's 3-1, you need to take a break from it again :lol:

[Letters]

Oh Djok. Sinner breaks back.
And now Djok is going full “old man yells at cloud”.