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Game, Set and Match - the Tennis Thread

la vie en rougela vie en rouge Purgatory Host, Circus Host
in The Circus
New balls please.

Comments

  • Celtic KnotweedCeltic Knotweed Shipmate
    edited January 18
    Just spent a chunk of the morning listening to 5 Live coverage of the Australian Open. Pleased to hear 3 British players getting through, although I did wonder for a while!

    What does anyone else think about Venus Williams getting a wildcard entry? It sounded to me as though she was playing to that level, so a fair call. Do wonder how much she'll play over the rest of the season though...
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    edited January 19
    It's not unheard-of for (presumably) retired Greats to get a wild-card into a Grand Slam; I really can't remember how long it is since Venus was playing at the top of her game (or how old she is*), but I wish her well (unless she's playing a Brit, obviously ...) :mrgreen:

    * edit: just Googled, and she's 45. That would have been in the Serious Oldie category a few decades ago!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    edited July 1
    *bump*

    Talking of oldies* - Novak Djokovic (39, and the seventh seed) has just given a masterclass to Stefanos Tsitsipas (27).

    It was all over very quickly, but there was some excellent play.

    * I remember years ago a commentator (probably either Dan Maskell or John Barrett) saying of a competitor in the main draw "well, he is 36", as though that was over the hill.
  • Barnabas62Barnabas62 Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    edited July 1
    Probably Ken Rosewall? He was a losing finalist at Wimbledon at the ages of 35 and 39. Won the Australian Open in two successive years. aged 35 and 36.

    Some player he was. Lovely to watch. Not a big man but hugely talented. .
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Now I think about it, I think it was Mark Cox.

    I can't remember if this came up last year, but what do people think about the removal of human line judges?

    It seems to me that if the players have to rely on human senses, why don't the linesmen?

    Or am I just being a Luddite?
  • CaissaCaissa Shipmate
    Glad the line judges are gone. Players deserve accurate calls.
  • Barnabas62Barnabas62 Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I think it’s better. Sad to think there will never be another McEnroe. “The ball was on the line! Chalk flew up!!”

    (I was a big fan.)
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Well done Mr Fery! I only came in at the last set, but that was some excellent tennis.

    It must be a while since I watched an evenly matched fifth set: I'd never seen a final set 10-point tie break before!

  • Barnabas62Barnabas62 Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    A real Ferytale!

    (I’ll get my coat)
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    :mrgreen:
  • Celtic KnotweedCeltic Knotweed Shipmate
    What a match! Djokovic stressing all his fans once more. That's the first time I've watched a 10 point tiebreak - usually I'm trying to do something else, so am listening to radio commentary instead.

    Auger-Aliassime looked pretty good as well. Hope to see more of him.
  • Barnabas62Barnabas62 Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Absolutely amazing! Another 10 point 5th set tiebreaker and a match lasting five and a quarter hours. I thought the Ferytale match would take some topping, but this topped it by some distance.

    We’d better make the most of it. Djokovic is unique.
  • sionisaissionisais Shipmate
    I’m constantly amazed at the stamina of the leading tennis players. Are they for real?
  • TheOrganistTheOrganist Shipmate
    Arthur Fery has just beaten Flavio Cobolli 6-4 7-6 6-0 to set up a semi-final against Alexander Zverev. Unbelievable.
  • Barnabas62Barnabas62 Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Arthur Fery is a very good player!

    I suppose the odds are on Zverev in the semifinal, but you can never be sure with Zverev that he’ll play his best I think he’ll need to.
  • sionisaissionisais Shipmate
    Oh, the joy of tennis played on the right surface!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    TheOrganist wrote: »
    Arthur Fery has just beaten Flavio Cobolli 6-4 7-6 6-0 to set up a semi-final against Alexander Zverev. Unbelievable.

    Indeed! That wasn't just winning - it was what David would have called "comprehensive stuffing"!

    Well done Mr Fery! 🎾
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