2013 Australian Open - Week 2

[LukeParkerno1]

Their season-ending London meeting was intense stuff. The only decent match, between the two, I could recall.

On a side note, anyone notice that whenever Andy is losing, he tends to grab random parts of his body? It's as if he's insinuating that he's injured and wants to give up.. it gets quite frustrating at times. Commentators have picked up on it as well, a number of times...

It was still boring at the London meeting, hardly any decent shots, it was better than usual but still boring. Murray was worse with his 'injuries' before, Lendll has made him stop it, but I agree needs to cut it right out.

 

[bato]

It was still boring at the London meeting, hardly any decent shots, it was better than usual but still boring. Murray was worse with his 'injuries' before, Lendll has made him stop it, but I agree needs to cut it right out.

To come to think of it, I think it may have been in Shanghai? I remember the score-line was very close and set points/match points were fought off well by Novak.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

To come to think of it, I think it may have been in Shanghai? I remember the score-line was very close and set points/match points were fought off well by Novak.

Would not even remember to be honest, I hate the bore fests these matches are!

 

[bombermick]

We'll all be crying when Fed does decide he's no longer a challenger and retires. He's the only one - apart from the unpredictable Tsonga - who plays an attacking game. Who is not afraid to attack the net.

Tennis badly needs Jo-Wilfred to step up and step up now.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

We'll all be crying when Fed does decide he's no longer a challenger and retires. He's the only one - apart from the unpredictable Tsonga - who plays an attacking game. Who is not afraid to attack the net.

Tennis badly needs Jo-Wilfred to step up and step up now.

Stepanek is another that approaches the net. I would hardly call Fed someone who loves going to the net though!

 

[estibador]

Although most dislike him, I want to see Soderling come back. He could shake the top players.

I'm starting to realise most on BF dislike most players.

Tough gig being a tennis player. You show emotion, people don't like you. You act like a robot, people don't like you. You play up to the crowd, people don't like you. You ignore the crowd, people don't like you. Etc, etc...

 

[JackNah_8]

Stepanek is another that approaches the net. I would hardly call Fed someone who loves going to the net though!

Compared to the other players Federer at least tries to change his game or come to the net. Once Stepanek and Federer retire, it's very unlikely we'll see another player coming to the net.

I still have some hope in Tsonga.

As for Nadal, I wonder how busted his knees are, and whether he will be the same player. Wait and see.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Compared to the other players Federer at least tries to change his game or come to the net. Once Stepanek and Federer retire, it's very unlikely we'll see another player coming to the net.

I still have some hope in Tsonga.

As for Nadal, I wonder how busted his knees are, and whether he will be the same player. Wait and see.

He isn't a natural serve and volleyer though, mind you, you can't nowadays with those racquets they use! He usually comes in off a big forehand, similar to Nadal actually, both are competant net players but neither would voluntarily approach the net regularly. Tsonga I agree, but he is French, he chokes.

 

[juzzo]

I'm starting to realise most on BF dislike most players.

Tough gig being a tennis player. You show emotion, people don't like you. You act like a robot, people don't like you. You play up to the crowd, people don't like you. You ignore the crowd, people don't like you. Etc, etc...

Players have got it easy, try being a commentator

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Well done Djokovic

 

[puntnut]

To come to think of it, I think it may have been in Shanghai? I remember the score-line was very close and set points/match points were fought off well by Novak.

Yep, Novak saved something like 6 match points in the 2nd set tiebreak. It was amazing to watch and as expected Murray fell away after that..

 

[Mint Condition]

Stepanek is another that approaches the net. I would hardly call Fed someone who loves going to the net though!

Don't forget Federer was a serve and volleyer early in his career. I mean he beat Sampras at Wimbledon in 2001 playing that way (to break Sampras's ridiculously long winning streak at Wimbledon).

So he's pretty comfortable at the net it's just that the changes in the game (slower, more homogenised courts, improved racquet and string technology etc) made it necessary to develop more from the baseline. Early in his career Hewitt used to dominate him...then he figured out he could beat him playing mainly from the back of the court. The rest is history. You can't win playing serve and volley tennis anymore. It'd be nice to see more guys playing an all court game though.

 

[bombermick]

Don't forget Federer was a serve and volleyer early in his career. I mean he beat Sampras at Wimbledon in 2001 playing that way (to break Sampras's ridiculously long winning streak at Wimbledon).

So he's pretty comfortable at the net it's just that the changes in the game (slower, more homogenised courts, improved racquet and string technology etc) made it necessary to develop more from the baseline. Early in his career Hewitt used to dominate him...then he figured out he could beat him playing mainly from the back of the court. The rest is history. You can't win playing serve and volley tennis anymore. It'd be nice to see more guys playing an all court game though.

It's scary to think how dominant Fed would still be if courts weren't slowed down. Even Nadal wouldn't get close to him at Wimbledon. Tsonga plays an attacking, all-court game but he has to strike now as he's already 27.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Sucks that it's not on anymore. Not as bad as when the Olympics finish, but still a little empty.

 

[blackcat]

see Kevin Spacey at the final with his, ahem, Oscar Wilde companion?