The Tennis thread

[SALTIRE]

Get in!!! Djokovic does it!

 

[mistermagic]

Not overly surprising considering that Djokovic is in the form of his life and that Nadal looked far from impressive against Sock. Would have enjoyed 6-0 instead of 6-1 in the last set but oh well.
Can't see Murray being too much problem in the semi. Hopefully Tsonga can make the final and beat Wawrinka (and then get demolished by Djokovic).

 

[Master D]

There we have it then. The King is dead, finally.

This year is looking like the 'Grand Slam' for Djokovic. Nobody has done that since Laver.

 

[Leewilson]

Djokovic will beat Murray but I fancy him to give Djokovic far more of a game than Nadal did today.

Credit to Murray, he's just beaten a superb clay court specialist and bossed him for most of the match.

 

[SALTIRE]

Andy does it!!! Finally! He always makes life awkward for himself but he's through, phew!

 

[SALTIRE]

Djokovic will beat Murray but I fancy him to give Djokovic far more of a game than Nadal did today.

Yeah I agree with that Djokovic will win but Andy is playing well and could perhaps cause one or two problems.

 

[Liam Fitzpatrick]

Djokovic will win 6-3 4-6 6-2 6-3

 

[SALTIRE]

Djokovic will win 6-3 4-6 6-2 6-3

Yeah it'll either be in three or four sets to the great Serb. I'd fancy our Andy more at Wimbledon but it's still been a great tournament either way for the Brit.

 

[Master D]

The usual trajectory is a close 1st set and a probable tie-break. Both players playing great tennis and Murray probably playing better and might even win the set. Then Djokovic takes control in the 2nd set. Finally Murray collapses completely in the 3rd set (and 4th if he was to win that 1st set tie-break). Djokovic in straights for me though, I'll go 7-6, 6-3, 6-1.

 

[Munkiki]

Nadal and Ferrer both lose comfortably. Fantastic. I think if Tsonga beats Wawrinka, Rafa drops out of the top 10.

Re: Djokovic-Murray, I'll go Novak in four 6-7 7-5 6-3 6-0

 

[The Iron]

I agree with the above posts that Murray will give Djokovic a tough first set and then Djokovic will get stronger and stronger as the match goes on, and in the end it will be a comfortable victory for the Serb.

 

[SALTIRE]

Murray has had a terrific career and if he quit tomorrow he could be delighted with the way its went. However, you have to feel a bit for him in that when he came on the scene Nadal and Federer were at their peak and though he could compete with them in the smaller three setters, he couldn't match them for a long time in a slam (I'm actually still unsure if he's ever beat Nadal in a slam to this day!?!). Djokovic then decided to change things and tighten up the faults in his game back then and joined those other two to dominate the tour year after year. Things changed for Murray when Lendl came in and for a while he could take them all on and win, but so far its only been shortlived, then Federer starts to wane, and now Nadal's injuries and time are catching up with him, but Djokovic just continues to get stronger and stronger.

Moving forward I still think Murray who is now at full fitness and approaching his peak once more, can compete for slams, particularly Wimbledon, but I see for many more years Djokovic domination, and Andy being an also-ran in the vast majority of those years. I hope I am wrong, and Andy could win another three or four slams, but I think its becoming increasingly doubtful that this will be the case.

 

[Krazy8]

Murray has had a terrific career and if he quit tomorrow he could be delighted with the way its went. However, you have to feel a bit for him in that when he came on the scene Nadal and Federer were at their peak and though he could compete with them in the smaller three setters, he couldn't match them for a long time in a slam (I'm actually still unsure if he's ever beat Nadal in a slam to this day!?!). Djokovic then decided to change things and tighten up the faults in his game back then and joined those other two to dominate the tour year after year. Things changed for Murray when Lendl came in and for a while he could take them all on and win, but so far its only been shortlived, then Federer starts to wane, and now Nadal's injuries and time are catching up with him, but Djokovic just continues to get stronger and stronger.

Moving forward I still think Murray who is now at full fitness and approaching his peak once more, can compete for slams, particularly Wimbledon, but I see for many more years Djokovic domination, and Andy being an also-ran in the vast majority of those years. I hope I am wrong, and Andy could win another three or four slams, but I think its becoming increasingly doubtful that this will be the case.

The emergence of some very talented young players could add a another aspect aswell. Coric, Kyrgios, Zverev, Kokkinakis etc all have the potential to gategrash the top 10 within a few years (if their careers continue to rise as they have been anyway) whilst Raonic, Nishikori and Dimitrov all have age on their side.

I imagine the likes of Ferrer, Berdych, Tsonga etc will slowly drop off over the next couple of years and, although I think Murray will stick around longer than them, Djokovic looks like he could dominate during this "transitional" phase.

 

[Leewilson]

Really, Murray should be aware that on clay against Djokovic, he can't play a tough 4/5 setter and win. So if I was him, he should go out their ultra aggressive because the one way he wins this match is if he outhits Djokovic. Very tough to keep that up in a best of 5 setter mind but it's the only tactic I can see him using that sees him win at present.

 

[Leewilson]

(I'm actually still unsure if he's ever beat Nadal in a slam to this day!?!).

Sure he beat Nadal in the US Open semis in one of the earlier years where he then lost in the final (probably to Federer).

 

[Super_horns]

Well done Andy but think Djokovic will win

 

[Krazy8]

Sure he beat Nadal in the US Open semis in one of the earlier years where he then lost in the final (probably to Federer).

Yeah that's right, the first final he got to was after beating Nadal in the semis. He also beat him in the australian open when Nadal retired whilst trailing by 2 sets, although I have no recollection of this whatsoever

 

[Master D]

Really, Murray should be aware that on clay against Djokovic, he can't play a tough 4/5 setter and win. So if I was him, he should go out their ultra aggressive because the one way he wins this match is if he outhits Djokovic. Very tough to keep that up in a best of 5 setter mind but it's the only tactic I can see him using that sees him win at present.

He should be big enough and mature enough by now to know that trading endlessly with Djokovic from the baseline is not going to go well for him. Djokovic through his sheer elasticity will win the majority of those rallies. I don't there's anything specifically he can do to beat him right now, the Serb is basically faultless and has an answer to whatever is thrown at him and he is a man on a mission this year. Djokovic seems to struggle in really hot weather, maybe that's Murray's only chance! Goes without saying that Murray needs to win the first set to stand any chance.

After he beat Djokovic to win the US Open, the H2H record was 8-7 to Djokovic. It is now 18-8 and Murray has lost 7 matches in a row to him. As said before, he's so unlucky to be in this era but at least he can say he won his slams in this great era and the fact he beat Djokovic to earn them.

 

[Super_horns]

Safarova takes first set against Ivanovic.

Dream Team latest:

Overall:

Team Points

1st SteKrazy 1114 (Djokovic and Williams left)
2nd Mark's French Stars.. 1107 (Djokovic and Safarova left)
3rd Baker's Boys 1101 (Djokovic left)
4th RedStuff 1090 (Djokovic/Murray and Williams left)
5th Wilson's Wonders 1054 (Djokovic)

We are 28th overall in the team mini-league.

Mens:

1st RedStuff 660
2nd Baker's Boys 651
3rd Wilson's Wonders 647
4th SteKrazy 644
5th Bristols Elite 638

Ladies:

1st Mark's French Stars.. 506
2nd SteKrazy 470
3rd Baker's Boys 450
4th RedStuff 430
5th Wilson's Wonders 407

This is the leader overall:

http://tffdreamteam.com/frenchopen/user.php?user=dester

 

[SALTIRE]

I stopped looking at mine at the beginning of the week!

 

[Master D]

If Serena loses this then Mark has it in the bag doesn't he?

 

[Super_horns]

If Serena loses this then Mark has it in the bag doesn't he?

Yes but not getting too excited!

 

[Master D]

Serena comes back again, what an amazing player she is.

 

[SALTIRE]

Ivanovic blew it again I see, not like her...

 

[The Iron]

It's going to be a good while yet until Murray and Djokovic take to the court, with Tsonga and Wawrinka at 1-1 in sets. Thunderstorms are forecast for later in the day, so a few rain delays are possible if that happens.

 

[SALTIRE]

And it looks scorching also. Both matches will be tortuous.

 

[The Iron]

I think the hot conditions will suit Murray more than Djokovic, so if Murray can win the first set it will be very interesting.

 

[SALTIRE]

Wawrinka is a brave player. He should win this now and Tsonga looks beaten

 

[DarkSithLord]

Got a feeling Tsonga aint done yet.... I expect Stan to tense up and the French Crowd will inspire Tsonga.

 

[SALTIRE]

Perhaps but I think Wawrinka is looking the stronger now even if he is struggling this game. That backhand is sooooo good.