2011 Wimbledon (Part 2)

[matt_897]

I have no idea why people rate Del Potro so much. If it wasn't for that one USO title he'd be just another spud who's won a couple of 500 tournaments.

People talk about him having the game to beat the top players but his H2H against them is not very good. A couple of hardcourt wins vs a whole lot of losses, even before his injury layoff.

One of the more overrated players of recent years IMO.

Ah, had a very good end to 2009 with the US Open victory and then played well at the WTF, lost in the final there i believe. He was arguably one of the best players in the world before the injury struck at AO 2010. Hasn't been the same since but the talent is there no question. Harsh statement there.

Rafa is out for 6 weeks with a fracture in his foot.

Won't be seeing him till the US Open i would imagine, Djokovic to try and extend that lead further.

Saw the first 2 sets last night, confirms what has been happening all year. Novak is the one to beat with such a great all-court game, offensively and defensively.

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

Wasn't the best final last night, but I don't think the result was a massive surprise. IMO, Nadal really didn't do anything special the whole tournament, if Murray didn't capitulate he wouldn't have been there. Djokovic on the otherhand had to play pretty well to beat Tsonga. Honestly, Novak should've won the FO.
Also unless something goes completely wrong (touch wood it doesn't), Bernie will be a champion. I can't wait.

Great to see Barty win last night. Also gotta love her absolute lack of celebration after winning, if you didn't know the score you would have no idea she won. Good on her, obviously knows that her work is not done.

 

[Caesar]

Ah, had a very good end to 2009 with the US Open victory and then played well at the WTF, lost in the final there i believe. He was arguably one of the best players in the world before the injury struck at AO 2010. Hasn't been the same since but the talent is there no question. Harsh statement there.

He's got 21 losses for 6 wins against the current top 4, and I'm pretty sure all (?) of those have been on hardcourts.

Perhaps 'spud' was a bit harsh but it seems like everyone has put him on a massive pedestal after that USO run a couple of years ago. Don't get me wrong - it was great - but outside of those two weeks he's done nothing to indicate he's any better than any other top ten player.

 

[crowsarethebest]

Nadal just couldn't penetrate Novak. The ball just could not get past him. Novak is a ****ing freak at retrieving ball after ball. He's basically taken the term counter-puncher to a new level. He's got the ability to hit the winners but his retrieving skills are on another planet. Ridiculous movement and anticipation. Rafa just kept going for more and more, which is why he produced alot of uncharacteristic errors. Also he was hitting very very short on the bigger points, showing how tight and nervous he was, and he was camped like 3m behind the baseline. Many of his shots landed inside the service line... At the moment Djokovic is definitely Rafa's bitch.

 

[Hodgepodge]

Nadal just couldn't penetrate Novak. The ball just could not get past him. Novak is a ****ing freak at retrieving ball after ball. He's basically taken the term counter-puncher to a new level. He's got the ability to hit the winners but his retrieving skills are on another planet. Ridiculous movement and anticipation. Rafa just kept going for more and more, which is why he produced alot of uncharacteristic errors. Also he was hitting very very short on the bigger points, showing how tight and nervous he was, and he was camped like 3m behind the baseline. Many of his shots landed inside the service line... At the moment Djokovic is definitely Rafa's bitch.

Counterpunch is right, but unlike a lot of counterpunchers he has some pretty good offensive strokes. Rafa's spin doesn't seem to bother him either.

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

This is a bit off topic, but why is there a pineapple on top of the gent's trophy?

 

[Caesar]

I was once told that the pineapple was a symbol of prestige in early modern England, due to the fact that it was imported at great expense from the southern hemisphere and generally only owned/eaten by the ultra rich. I don't know how true that is, or whether it's the real explanation for why it sits atop the trophy.

The Wimbledon trophies are pretty nutty. Under the pineapple is a guy wearing a helmet, and the women's trophy is covered in figures from Greek mythology.

 

[Power King]

I have no idea why people rate Del Potro so much. If it wasn't for that one USO title he'd be just another spud who's won a couple of 500 tournaments.

People talk about him having the game to beat the top players but his H2H against them is not very good. A couple of hardcourt wins vs a whole lot of losses, even before his injury layoff.

One of the more overrated players of recent years IMO.

He did it when he was 20/21. Lots of time to further improve his game had he not been injured, and thus I'd say his h2h against the current top 4 would be even better than what it currently is. He hasn't even hit his prime.

His downside is that he's not an all-courter.

 

[Hodgepodge]

He did it when he was 20/21. Lots of time to further improve his game had he not been injured, and thus I'd say his h2h against the current top 4 would be even better than what it currently is. He hasn't even hit his prime.

His downside is that he's not an all-courter.

Nobody's an all courter anymore.

 

[Caesar]

Well there's obviously Federer, and you'd probably classify Tsonga and Gasquet as all-court players. There's a few around still.

The slowing of grasscourts and elimination of carpet from the ATP Tour has meant that it is no longer very rewarding to play an allcourt game. Sadly, unless you are a good defensive baseliner then regardless of your other talents it's pretty hard to get consistent success at the top level these days.

 

[matt_897]

Nobody's an all courter anymore.

Huh? The top players are actually all all-courters, meaning they can volley well and finish the point off at the net well. Now that Djokovic has improved their voleys, the big 4 can all do it comfortably, it's just now with the game it is most of the points are played from the baseline, doesn't mean they aren't all courters.

 

[Caesar]

Huh? The top players are actually all all-courters, meaning they can volley well and finish the point off at the net well. Now that Djokovic has improved their voleys, the big 4 can all do it comfortably, it's just now with the game it is most of the points are played from the baseline, doesn't mean they aren't all courters.

I wouldn't really describe those guys as all-courters. Nadal and Murray can do competent cleanup at the net but if they tried to play serve and volley they would get picked to pieces because they don't have the skills. Djokovic is much better than the other two - particularly with his transitions - but again, he doesn't like playing at the net.

Most top players have some skills everywhere. I mean, S&V players like McEnroe, Edberg and Cash had good, sometimes even great groundstrokes but that didn't make them allcourters.

A true all-court player is equally comfortable anywhere on the court. You can't say that about many players in the modern game.

 

[Hodgepodge]

Federer, Murray, Tsong are a few of your all courters. Some of these all courters just look like they would've been serve/volley types in another era.

 

[Drummond]

I don't get it though, why be a true out and out 'all court player' in a generation that clearly doesn't require you to be? People pass so well these days, and the courts are slower, so it's no wonder why people don't S&V with regularity.

 

[red+black]

Any final comments before we lock it up?

 

[Drummond]

Ok I'll go. I think Kvitova has the potential to absolutely dominate this tournament, as in be a 4-5 times winner. She's still young and will only get better, and her game is so suited to the grass, so why not?

 

[Chris_2593]

Lock it while TP is red carded.

 

[johnnypanther]

Pfft they are just silly aussie supporters. You would think as the father/mother whatever you would have a bit more class about you. Do you see any other tennis coaches or families going round wearing national tshirts and barracking like a bunch of ferals lol

Do you have any real understanding of european and south/latin american passion?

 

[red+black]

How about we close with some pics?