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IceEnclosure · Jul 6, 2008, 02:33 PM

I've never participated in any tennis threads around here, although I love playing and also enjoy watching a good match.

This is great!

Currently deep in overtime!

macdude · Jul 6, 2008, 03:11 PM

The ball/towel boys/girls seem like robots. The whole inferiority thing they have to do with the players is a bit strange.

lavar78 · Jul 6, 2008, 04:26 PM

A great match with a disappointing finish. Roger just blew so many chances. He showed the heart of a champion, but he didn't make the shots he needed.

Peter · Jul 6, 2008, 05:16 PM

such an amazing match.
best game i've seen for ages

ajprice · Jul 6, 2008, 05:51 PM

I'm going to make a new username and call it GoRafa. Anyone who can wipe the smug grin off Federer's face is fine in my book. Here's to Nadal winning everything going for the next five years or more.

lavar78 · Jul 6, 2008, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by ajprice

I'm going to make a new username and call it GoRafa. Anyone who can wipe the smug grin off Federer's face is fine in my book. Here's to Nadal winning everything going for the next five years or more.

Good luck with that one. He'll never win the US or Australian unless they slow them down like they did the grass.

Apple Pro Underwear · Jul 6, 2008, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by lavar78

Good luck with that one. He'll never win the US or Australian unless they slow them down like they did the grass.

He's 22... in the next year or two you will see him adjust. I think he will adjust based on the fact his skill is at a high level and he is capable of such a feat.

Would you bet that he'll never win the other 2... ever?

villalobos · Jul 6, 2008, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by Apple Pro Underwear

He's 22... in the next year or two you will see him adjust. I think he will adjust based on the fact his skill is at a high level and he is capable of such a feat.

Would you bet that he'll never win the other 2... ever?

I am hesitant to revive once again the thread about the supposed "best player in tennis history"....

villalobos · Jul 6, 2008, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by lavar78

A great match with a disappointing finish. Roger just blew so many chances. He showed the heart of a champion, but he didn't make the shots he needed.

Actually, if it had not been for the first rain delay, the game might have been over real early. Nadal was the better player today.

Spliff · 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by lavar78

A great match with a disappointing finish. Roger just blew so many chances. He showed the heart of a champion, but he didn't make the shots he needed.

Agreed. If Federer hadn't made double the unforced errors that Nadal did, he would've easily beaten Nadal.

lavar78 · Jul 6, 2008, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by Apple Pro Underwear

He's 22... in the next year or two you will see him adjust. I think he will adjust based on the fact his skill is at a high level and he is capable of such a feat.

Would you bet that he'll never win the other 2... ever?

I'd be willing to make that bet. There are two many dangerous players for him. Roger and Rafa have clearly been the best two players on clay and grass for the past 3 years. On hard courts, there are two many people who can attack him and put the points away. Between the noise, the speed of the court, and the crowds, I can't see him winning the US Open ever (and I doubt he'd even get to a final). He has a better shot at the Australian because it's so early in the season, but I wouldn't bet on it. His last two matches in those tournaments featured Ferrer and Tsonga blowing him off the court.

rickey939 · Jul 6, 2008, 11:34 PM

Instant Classic.®

lavar78 · Jul 6, 2008, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by villalobos

Actually, if it had not been for the first rain delay, the game might have been over real early.

The first (in-match) rain delay helped Federer, but I think the second one helped Nadal.

Nadal was the better player today.

What kind of comment is that? He won! That obviously makes him the better player.

There were patches where Roger played about as well as I've ever seen him. Then again, there were plenty of patches where I was screaming things like "Slice the return!" or "Why the hell are you approaching to his backhand?" It's the same as always. Nadal is like the Energizer bunny. Federer can only beat him by playing at a sustained level just shy of perfect. He has to be extremely aggressive without making too many unforced errors. As anyone who plays tennis can tell you, that's not an easy task. Well, there's always the U.S. Open. Nadal will probably take the #1 ranking some time in September and I doubt Roger will be able to get it back until after the Australian.

Randman · Jul 6, 2008, 11:58 PM

Men's tennis is so bleh these days. As great as they may be, there's no life in it. Gimme the days of McEnroe and Connors, thank you very much.

lavar78 · Jul 7, 2008, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by Randman

Men's tennis is so bleh these days. As great as they may be, there's no life in it. Gimme the days of McEnroe and Connors, thank you very much.

Wait, you aren't serious, are you?

ajprice · Jul 7, 2008, 03:50 AM

Originally Posted by lavar78

Nadal is like the Energizer bunny.

Hehe

.

Sig changed in honour of the 'Energizer Bunny'

Arty50 · Jul 7, 2008, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

Men's tennis is so bleh these days. As great as they may be, there's no life in it. Gimme the days of McEnroe and Connors, thank you very much.

Don't you mean Borg and McEnroe?

Also, McEnroe called yesterday's match the greatest he's ever seen. Which is pretty high praise from someone who was involved in what many previously called the greatest match ever: Borg v McEnroe at Wimbledon.

Randman · Jul 7, 2008, 04:23 PM

I dunno. The late run Jimmy made at the US open was pretty epic. This was a great tennis final but overall that side of the sport is really hurting for storylines, imo.

lavar78 · Jul 7, 2008, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

I dunno. The late run Jimmy made at the US open was pretty epic. This was a great tennis final but overall that side of the sport is really hurting for storylines, imo.

How much do you watch? That just seems like a really strange comment from someone who watches men's tennis with any sort of regularity. There are nothing but storylines: Federer and Nadal threatening to break a record at almost every tournament, Djokovic breaking through and challenging the top 2, huge runs by young French phenoms (Tsonga and Monfils), American tennis in decline (despite having two top-10 players), Spain's resurgence (7 of the top 25), Safin playing great tennis again... Hell, the drama between Federer and Nadal alone is amazing. Mathematically, an injury is the only thing that will keep Nadal from taking over the #1 ranking at some point this year. Seeing how Roger responds and whether he can break Sampras's record is captivating IMO.

Shaddim · Jul 7, 2008, 06:06 PM

Best match? Not in my opinion. My favorite is the `89 French Open.

Arty50 · Jul 7, 2008, 06:27 PM

I have to agree with lavar78, there is a lot of amazing tennis being played right now. I'm far from a diehard and don't watch many matches, but there's been some serious competition the past year.

Not so long ago, Federer was considered invincible; but that aura has been stripped away now. While mono definitely affected his Aussie performance, I don't know if you can argue that it hurt him at Wimbledon. He's been well for quite a while now.

I think it's just another classic case of Americans not caring because none of our players are very significant right now.