OT: Pro Tennis Thread

[10spro]

Djokovich looked strong today versus Raonic! Looks like it will be the finals for him.

Bouchard continues to be the big story among the women. How far can she go?

Does Monfils have a chance against Murray? Muzza seems to be gaining his stride as well.
The French crowd will surely enjoy this one. Maybe Monfils can FINALLY fulfill some of his
potential in this one, but I would be shocked if he bested Murray.

It'll go the distance me thinks and he definitely has a chance if he serves consistently well. The Genie in a bottle is a darling and as I was telling you last week, keep an eye on her. The winner of that semis wins the title in my opinion.

[rhymes450]

Surprised but glad in a way that Berdych didn't do better. Gulbis is more of a showman and in some ways tennis needs that. He's not favourite but if his serve and backhand are firing and the forehand holds up, it could be an interesting semi with Djokovic.

Great tournament for Muguruza. She looks like she'll be mixing it with the best for a few years to come. Bouchard did great too against a very good claycourter. Should be a great match with Sharapova.

Hard to know about Murray and Monfils, both with counter-hitting mentalities but I'd have to go for Murray based on what I've seen in this tournament so far.

[10spro]

Great tournament for Muguruza. She looks like she'll be mixing it with the best for a few years to come. Bouchard did great too against a very good claycourter. Should be a great match with Sharapova.

Funny thing is, Eugenie's grew up idolizing Sharapova's game as both are mentally tough. Bouchard did a great job today taking the ball early and cutting down Suarez' s heavy topspin a notch.

It should be a three setter against the Russian.

Agree on Muguruza, she's got game. Cut down on the unforced errors and she'll be in the mix among the top twn in a couple of years. Who was the louder grunter?

[JackB1]

think Monfils has a shot against Murray?

[10spro]

think Monfils has a shot against Murray?

His backhand down the line was sooo good against Lopez. If he serves well and is consistent with his game today he's got a shot. Mr shotmaker needs to be patient with Murray and not let his emotions get the better of him. Because when he's on, watch out.

Andy is playing rather well considering he just came back from surgery and should advance to the semis. But I expect a tight match.

[rhymes450]

Strange match between Monfils and Murray...almost a game of 3 halves. Murray looked out of it physcially and mentally at the end of the 4th but Monfils just collapsed in the 5th, with maybe both expecting the match to carry over into tomorrow. It's been a great tournament for Murray and shows that he's clearly one of the "big 4" on any surface and not just one of the chasing posse but Rafa just looks too tough a hurdle in the semis.

Nadal has clearly come a long way since the beginning of the clay-court season and it's hard to see either Murray or Gulbis coming between the match of the season on Sunday.

[JackB1]

Was amazing how easily Murray dispatched of Monfils in the 5th. It was like Murray said enough!

[JackB1]

Bouchard and Shreikapova battling it out!

[10spro]

Eugenie got a great future ahead of her. A hard fought match where Sharapova's had to go for the lines as the nerves of steel Bouchard had a really good chance to bring the second set to a tie breaker but had a couple of loose points.

In the final set, Bouchard just couldn't find her first serve and Sharapova's return of serve put a lot of pressure on her game. Surprisingly I thought the crowd was really cheerful towards Bouchard after the match was over, an acknowledgement of how well she played in Roland Garros.

[JackB1]

Eugenie got a great future ahead of her. A hard fought match where Sharapova's had to go for the lines as the nerves of steel Bouchard had a really good chance to bring the second set to a tie breaker but had a couple of loose points.

In the final set, Bouchard just couldn't find her first serve and Sharapova's return of serve put a lot of pressure on her game. Surprisingly I thought the crowd was really cheerful towards Bouchard after the match was over, an acknowledgement of how well she played in Roland Garros.

Yes, Sharapova was dialed into smashing her second serves. She needs to work on a less predictable 2nd serve and getting her first serves in more.

Let's hope Bouchard continues her upward climb and doesn't do a "Melanie Oudin" (one great run and goodbye) routine

Murray vs Nadal should be interesting. So tired of watching Rafa beat everyone up on clay. His style is so unappealing to me.

[rhymes450]

I think Bouchard is going to be around for a while. Very mature for her age and nice sense of humour in the interviews:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ra7hT0yeZI

Sharapova is a one tough competitor. She got bullied around in the first set of her three last matches, ran into big problems with her serve again today but still manages to be the last one standing and outhitting her opponents in the end. Haven't seen much of Simona Halep but Wilander described her as the Djokovic of the women's game due to the quality of her ball striking and movement, which is a fair compliment, and she took a set off Maria in the final of Madrid so who knows.

Murray will have to be very aggressive over a long period, without making too many mistakes, and that might be hard to sustain. I think Rafa is playing pretty well now and might even get better. Looking forward to seeing what Gulbis can pull out of the hat, if anything, to make things uncomfortable for Nole.

[10spro]

Eugenie Bouchard will be the next darling for the WTA. She's got the smarts and her mental strength is well beyond her young 20 years.

Let's not forget she also reached the semis at the other GS in Melbourne losing to the eventual champion. She reminds me of a young Chrissy Evert when she started, nothing seems to bother her even when she's down in the score, in fact she starts playing more aggressively.

She'll being the top 8 by the US Open in my view.

[JackB1]

Wow....Murray looks like a no show so far. Rafa is tearing through Murray like a knife through butter.

[JackB1]

I hope someone can challenge Rafa in the final. This is getting boring.

[rhymes450]

Nadal played a great match, served great, hit his forehand amazingly well and even allowing for the fact that Murray looked a bit lacklustre, maybe after his five-setters en route to the semis, it was a very impressive performance from the 8-time champion. Djokovic seemed to hit a bit of a physical wall during what was beginning to look like a routine win and turned into a tough test against Gulbis. He'll want to be in better shape on Sunday if he's to take out Rafa on clay over 5 sets and win a career slam. If anyone's got the game to do it it's Djokovic. All set up for the match of the season.

[10spro]

RG is such a physically demanding tournament that both Nadal and Djokovic were struggling in the later stages of the match. Often when two heavyweights meet in the GS finals, some compare it to a top heavyweight boxing match where the players go after each other punch for punch.

Djokovic's cross court backhand just kept missing today while Nadal's wide serve to his backhand set up for easy winners when he was in trouble. But to be honest, something was bothering the Mallorcan player when he as up 4-2 in the 4th set and Djokovic finally managed to break his serve. I thought at that point that Djoko was going to bring it to a fifth setter.

But this is where Nadal mental toughness came into play, he kept digging and finding the strength to keep him going despite what was bothering. Heck at one point when he wanted to pump his fists, he tumbled awkwardly as if he had too many beers to drink.

Djoko wasn't 100% either and he missed a lot of shots after setting up for the kill in the last two sets. He was visibly emotional and wanted this one badly.

Credit to Nadal for owning this tournament, what nine times? That's unbelievable.

[rhymes450]

Amazing feat to win RG 9 times out of 10 starts. Since 2011, the feeling has been that Djokovic could do it "this year" but Nadal keeps on keeping on...Both Federer and Djokovic have been quoted as saying that Rafa at Roland Garros is the ultimate challenge and he keeps proving them right. They both looked pretty tired at the end but a fifth set would have been very interesting to watch.

[JackB1]

RG is such a physically demanding tournament that both Nadal and Djokovic were struggling in the later stages of the match. Often when two heavyweights meet in the GS finals, some compare it to a top heavyweight boxing match where the players go after each other punch for punch.

Djokovic's cross court backhand just kept missing today while Nadal's wide serve to his backhand set up for easy winners when he was in trouble. But to be honest, something was bothering the Mallorcan player when he as up 4-2 in the 4th set and Djokovic finally managed to break his serve. I thought at that point that Djoko was going to bring it to a fifth setter.

But this is where Nadal mental toughness came into play, he kept digging and finding the strength to keep him going despite what was bothering. Heck at one point when he wanted to pump his fists, he tumbled awkwardly as if he had too many beers to drink.

Djoko wasn't 100% either and he missed a lot of shots after setting up for the kill in the last two sets. He was visibly emotional and wanted this one badly.

Credit to Nadal for owning this tournament, what nine times? That's unbelievable.

Nadal is the most mentally tough player I have ever seen play. Every other top men's player loses it from time to time...Fed, Murray, Djoko, etc. all fall apart now and then.
When was the last time you can remember Rafa "falling apart"? Doesn't happen. Dude is quirky, but he's relentless out there. I thought Djokovich was coming back there in
the 4th, but Rafa kicked it into overdrive and said "NO".

BTW......do we really need to see Djokovich puking in super slow mo?

[rhymes450]

Nadal with his back to the wall has saved a set point to avoid going 2 sets down against Rosol at Wimbledon in a repeat of the match of two years ago when Rosol caused the upset. At 1-1, things are looking better for Rafa but it doesn't look like it's going to be easy.

[JackB1]

Nadal with his back to the wall has saved a set point to avoid going 2 sets down against Rosol at Wimbledon in a repeat of the match of two years ago when Rosol caused the upset. At 1-1, things are looking better for Rafa but it doesn't look like it's going to be easy.

Wow. Wonder why he has so much trouble with Rosol?

[10spro]

This is the best time of the year for me. Wimbledon, the WC, NHL draft coming up...Nadal had problems in his first round too before he dispatched his opponent in four. The book is pretty much open on him at the big W. Attack his second serve, serve well yourself and keep the points short.

There always a tough adjustment from clay to grass for a lot of people and more so for clay specialists like himself. I wouldn't bet against him ever in any tournament but I didn't pick him to go past the fourth round. In fact, I think this is the year and perhaps the last year that Federer has a good chance of going far.

The ball bounces so low on grass, your timing is not the same and you literally have to be on your toes during rallies.

Nadal served pretty solid in the end, winning his match.

[JackB1]

This is the best time of the year for me. Wimbledon, the WC, NHL draft coming up...Nadal had problems in his first round too before he dispatched his opponent in four. The book is pretty much open on him at the big W. Attack his second serve, serve well yourself and keep the points short.

There always a tough adjustment from clay to grass for a lot of people and more so for clay specialists like himself. I wouldn't bet against him ever in any tournament but I didn't pick him to go past the fourth round. In fact, I think this is the year and perhaps the last year that Federer has a good chance of going far.

The ball bounces so low on grass, your timing is not the same and you literally have to be on your toes during rallies.

Nadal served pretty solid in the end, winning his match.

Yes grass is the fastest surface and clay is the slowest, so it makes sense for a clay specialist like Nadal to struggle a bit on grass.

[rhymes450]

This is the best time of the year for me. Wimbledon, the WC, NHL draft coming up...Nadal had problems in his first round too before he dispatched his opponent in four. The book is pretty much open on him at the big W. Attack his second serve, serve well yourself and keep the points short.

There always a tough adjustment from clay to grass for a lot of people and more so for clay specialists like himself. I wouldn't bet against him ever in any tournament but I didn't pick him to go past the fourth round. In fact, I think this is the year and perhaps the last year that Federer has a good chance of going far.

The ball bounces so low on grass, your timing is not the same and you literally have to be on your toes during rallies.

Nadal served pretty solid in the end, winning his match.

Yes grass is the fastest surface and clay is the slowest, so it makes sense for a clay specialist like Nadal to struggle a bit on grass.

I think the way grass courts play depends a lot on the weather and the state of wear of the court and Rafa is probably more vulnerable in the early rounds. As the tournament goes on, the courts will be more worn and if the weather isn't humid, the dryer courts and lack of lush grass will mean a higher bouncing ball, which will suit Rafa better. I'd expect him to be more difficult to beat as this goes on.

[wco81]

Rafa has won Wimbledon and US Open, hasn't he?

I don't think he can be called just a clay specialist. How many previous clay specialists have won the other majors, which are all on faster surfaces?

[rhymes450]

Rafa has won Wimbledon and US Open, hasn't he?

I don't think he can be called just a clay specialist. How many previous clay specialists have won the other majors, which are all on faster surfaces?

He's won Wimbledon twice and been to a further 3 finals, which is a pretty outstanding record. The 1st-round losses in the last two years are the exception rather than the rule. I think he's looking very good to make the quarters now, where he's likely to bump into Raonic or Nishikori, both of whom are dangerous but neither of whom will start favourite against Nadal.