Tom
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Post by Tom on Jun 19, 2021 11:16:07 GMT 1
Andy was asked in his post match interview why he still wanted to continue and said its because he loves playing tennis and got emotional. Personally I'm not fussed about whether he can win GS titles, those days are gone, just having him out there winning matches is enough, it's happened so little for a long time now. And tbh it wouldn't surprise me if he retired at the end of the year, so got to enjoy him while he's still around. I agree, just seeing him play a bit at Queens today against Berrettini (before he lost) shows he's still got that wow factor and is still a joy to watch, probably better now the expectation for him to get to the latter stages of a tournament isn't as high.
Saying that, I've always said he should play doubles if he wants to prolong his career. Maybe not the route he wants to go down but you'd think it will ease the pressure off that hip.
Yeah I've imagined him finishing his career as a doubles specialist, ideally with Jamie, for years. One of the Bryans, think it was Bob, had the same hip surgery and he was an inspiration for Murray coming back, so there's a link there too. He'd only do it though if he thought he could win titles. Mark Petchey who's been back working with him was asked about him during the French Open potentially playing in the mixed at Wimbledon and apart from saying atm he sees himself as a singles player he also said if he was in the draw he'd be in it to win it. I hope its something he considers, but think he would do it as a commitment for a period of time rather than a one off, and if Jamie isn't available who would he partner? To my surprise Heather Watson has reached the quarter finals of Birmingham for the first time! Playing today after no singles were played yesterday at all. Also this was the first time since 2005 that 4 Brits reached R2 of Queens (Evans, Murray, Norrie and teenager Jack Draper). The 2005 quartet were Henman, Rusedski, Murray and Delgado. Got fond memories of 2005 as it was the year I properly got into British tennis and Murray was the main reason for that. Proves that there is life after Murray on the men's side after all...something which for a lot of the last few years I've not been convinced about. We've also got Kyle Edmund to return from injury later in the year. Berrattini went on to beat Evans in the quarters yesterday and Norrie beat Draper in an all British QF. Still to know who he plays in the semis today as they only completed one set of the final QF last night.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Jun 19, 2021 11:30:21 GMT 1
Couple of big Wimbledon announcements in the last couple of weeks. First, there's been speculation for at least the last couple of years about long term plans to buy the golf club site and move qualifying there so that everything is on site and it seems its now happening but more extensive than I thought. 39 new courts (guess some may be practice courts) with an 8000 seat show court with a moveable roof. They want to start construction next year and completed by 2026 with qualifying moving there in 2028. Does make me keen to go to the qualifying before it leaves Roehampton as I've thought about going to the qualies for years. And today saw an announcement that came out of nowhere. From next year there will be no rest day on the middle Sunday so play on 14 days! All because of better grass court maintenance. Further news on the development. The local council are trying to put a stop to it as it would mean closing the road which goes through the middle of the site for 3 weeks every summer.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 19, 2021 12:05:54 GMT 1
Don't know what to make of Dan Evans - I'm personally not keen on players who have served suspensions for drug taking.
He had a pretty good clay court season and then flopped ar Roland Garros.
It was unfortunate he was up against the #1 seed in the Queen's quarters and it was a pretty tight match the first set going to a 7-5 tie break.
Yes, there's some life after Andy but while there was a genuine chance he could actually win a Slam none of the current crop have a mission!
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Jun 19, 2021 17:38:05 GMT 1
Mixed day for Watson. Beat the 3rd seed Donna Vekic (ranked 54) 6-4 6-2 in the quarters before losing in the semis 6-3 6-3 to the 2nd seed Ons Jabeur (ranked 24) in the semis.
It was 2nd seed Denis Shapovalov (ranked 14) who Norrie faced in the semis, and he won 7-5 6-3! Watched it, an amazing performance, not sure whether his Queens run will make enough difference in Wimbledon's grass court formula for him to be seeded, but if he's not he'll be unlucky as he 100% would have been if the rankings hadn't been frozen/semi frozen because of the pandemic. He may have been seeded at the French too. He's been the best British player in the last 12 months.
Evans is having a strange period, doing well in tour events but then doing nothing in the slams. But he hasn't done as well as expected so far on the grass. OK losing in the quarters this week to the top seed was fine but he lost in the Nottingham Challenger QF last week where he was the top seed which was a shock. Maybe he's saving his best run for the big one...
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Jun 20, 2021 16:15:20 GMT 1
Norrie lost the final to Berrettini 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3. A bit disappointing, a couple of bad service games, one in the opening set and another in the deciding set, cost him. Still, not a bad week for someone who had never won a match at Queens prior to this year! He'll also climb to 34 in the rankings, which with players like Nadal being injured will be enough for him to be seeded at Wimbledon.
Berrettini becomes the first player to win Queens on their debut since Becker in 1985.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 20, 2021 16:53:54 GMT 1
In a way I'm glad he lost - the match was close enough to give Cameron some confidence but imagine the presuure the British media would have put on him had he won - I would have feared he couldn't cope with it.
Great he will get a seeding at Wimbledon.
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Post by Panda on Jun 20, 2021 17:12:58 GMT 1
not sure whether his Queens run will make enough difference in Wimbledon's grass court formula for him to be seeded I might be imagining it but didn't Wimbledon announce they were dropping the seeding formula and just following the world rankings?
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Pablo
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Post by Pablo on Jun 20, 2021 23:46:55 GMT 1
In a way I'm glad he lost - the match was close enough to give Cameron some confidence but imagine the presuure the British media would have put on him had he won - I would have feared he couldn't cope with it. Great he will get a seeding at Wimbledon. To be fair, Cameron always been in the limelight ever since his debut appearance at the Davis Cup I think to replace Andy Murray whilst he was injured (can't remember which year exactly). I don't think him winning today would have made a difference, especially as the media have different sporting priorities at the moment.
Just a quick note on Berrettini, I saw him play Federer on the ATP Finals in person at the O2 Arena in 2019. He definitely looks as if he's bulked up physically and more power into that serve.
I don't know what to make of Evo either. Looking back on his career now, he was like what Alex Bogdanovic was - had potential but just lacking in commitment. But kudos to him for acknowledging the issue and turning it around. He is 31 now so arguably at the peak of his game?
I suppose playing singles is what he's comfortable with and what he's used to throughout his career. Hopefully he can qualify for tournaments on merit rather than relying on wildcards.
Maybe Andy is waiting for that opportunity to play with Jamie, I mean Jamie's performance since reuniting with Bruno Soares again hasn't been spectacular so who knows?
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Post by Panda on Jun 24, 2021 0:51:51 GMT 1
Seedings for Wimbledon confirmed today: MEN'S SINGLES WOMEN'S SINGLES
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Pablo
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Post by Pablo on Jun 24, 2021 1:59:34 GMT 1
Have these pics been photoshopped or something? All the men look like they're fresh out of prison and not the best mugshot of Isner too.
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Post by Panda on Jun 24, 2021 2:09:25 GMT 1
They're the head shots from the ATP website.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Jun 24, 2021 10:54:50 GMT 1
not sure whether his Queens run will make enough difference in Wimbledon's grass court formula for him to be seeded I might be imagining it but didn't Wimbledon announce they were dropping the seeding formula and just following the world rankings? I was going by what Sue Barker had said during the coverage that day, which turned out to be wrong. I think they corrected things the following day.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Jun 24, 2021 11:05:39 GMT 1
In a way I'm glad he lost - the match was close enough to give Cameron some confidence but imagine the presuure the British media would have put on him had he won - I would have feared he couldn't cope with it. Great he will get a seeding at Wimbledon. To be fair, Cameron always been in the limelight ever since his debut appearance at the Davis Cup I think to replace Andy Murray whilst he was injured (can't remember which year exactly). I don't think him winning today would have made a difference, especially as the media have different sporting priorities at the moment.
Just a quick note on Berrettini, I saw him play Federer on the ATP Finals in person at the O2 Arena in 2019. He definitely looks as if he's bulked up physically and more power into that serve.
I don't know what to make of Evo either. Looking back on his career now, he was like what Alex Bogdanovic was - had potential but just lacking in commitment. But kudos to him for acknowledging the issue and turning it around. He is 31 now so arguably at the peak of his game?
I suppose playing singles is what he's comfortable with and what he's used to throughout his career. Hopefully he can qualify for tournaments on merit rather than relying on wildcards.
Maybe Andy is waiting for that opportunity to play with Jamie, I mean Jamie's performance since reuniting with Bruno Soares again hasn't been spectacular so who knows?
On Evo, been thinking about him being at his peak quite a bit recently, men's players peak later these days but it's generally never older than early 30s so don't think he's got more than another year or two left at his peak. I think he's got the potential to be top 20 so hope he gets there, if he'd done better at the slams recently he might have got there already.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Jun 24, 2021 11:11:47 GMT 1
On the Wimbledon seedings, first time since 1978 (Buster Mottram, Virginia Wade, and Sue Barker) that we've got 3 players seeded.
Exciting day in store in Wimbledon qualifying (where play has been extended until tomorrow after no play was possible on Monday due to rain). Will update later.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 24, 2021 11:21:31 GMT 1
Would be funny if Djokovic and Federer were drawn in the same quarter.
Konta claiming her tendon is still bad.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Jun 24, 2021 11:37:11 GMT 1
Would be funny if Djokovic and Federer were drawn in the same quarter. Konta claiming her tendon is still bad. I believe Konta. She pulled out of Eastbourne this week which is her home event and also pulled out of the doubles at Nottingham once she'd reached the latter stages in singles. I'm feeling more and more that she's going to be managing it for the rest of her career. She's played sporadically in the last year and the problem is still there. I also think she's being cautious and saving herself for Wimbledon though, which seems sensible. Had she not had as many matches at Nottingham then she may still have played at Eastbourne.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Jun 25, 2021 9:49:47 GMT 1
Interesting to discover that Jamie Baker is the tournament director for the qualifying event. Given that the British men playing were mainly current or recent juniors (including one current junior that i've been aware of for at least 7 years) i was amazed that we had 2 men playing in the final round yesterday! The final round is best of 5 which is something i like. Here's a summary below.
Anton Matusevich 454 (career high) lost to (10) Zapata Miralles 125 (career high 122 last week) 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 in just under 3 hour
Matusevich is a 20 year old and he's from Kent so is someone i've heard interviewed and read about from when he was playing in the juniors. He's described himself as an entertainer, hadn't seen him play before but as this was on Court 11 the televised court i got to see him for the first time and what a match it was! Quick match for a 5 setter and it felt like it. Can see what he means about being an entertainer, he hit quite a lot more winners than ZM. Andrew Castle said pre match that he had top 100 potential, not quite sure about that, but certainly expecting him to get a wildcard into the main draw next year.
Arthur Fery ranked outside Top 1000 lost to (8) Griekspoor 124 (career high 120 last week) 4-6 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 in about 3 hr 15.
I may like the five set matches but i've always thought it was unfair scheduling them the day after best of 3 set matches, although this year i guess it made sense given that there's rain forecast today. I remember a few years ago (2017 IIRC) Jay Clarke went into the final round having won both his matches in straight sets and then lost his final match from 2 sets up. He did get a wildcard into the main draw the following year, but unlike him and Matusevich i don't see Fery getting one next year unless something dramatic happens as he won't be ranked high enough.
Katie Swan plays in the final round this morning, but given the rain forecast who knows when it will be completed.
The draws for Wimbledon are done at 10am, will post the Brits R1 matches shortly.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 25, 2021 11:12:17 GMT 1
Great win for Katy Swan yesterday to make the final round of the qualifiers.
She beat the #6 seed American Caty McNally 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-5.
Really good to see a British player hang tough.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Jun 25, 2021 12:36:47 GMT 1
Wimbledon draw Men Jack Draper v Djokovic! Depends on your point of view but for me this is a great draw. Wasn't expected to win a match anyway and gets the experience of playing the defending champion and world no 1 on Centre Court. Dan Evans v Feliciano Lopez Not the best draw for Evo... Murray v (24) Nikoloz Basilashvili Jay Clarke v Gerasimov Cam Norrie v Pouille Laim Broady v Cecchinato Women Konta v Siniakova Sam Murray-Sharan v Cirstea Didn't realise that Sam Murray was now married. 2nd slam in a row that Cirstea has faced a Brit. She beat Konta at the French Open. Emma Raducanu v Q Fran Jones v (20) Coco Gauff Ouch! Jodie Burrage v Davis Didn't actually realise that Burrage had received a wildcard. Heather Watson v Q Harriet Dart v (13) Elise Mertens Ouch! Katie Boulter v Q Don't know why but the BBC Red Button aren't showing the Wimbledon qualies today Will update Swan's match later but she's won the first set 6-0 against Rodionova and a break up in the 2nd There's a few possibilities there of an all Brit match, or even another qualifier i think! Though of the Brits i'd rather she played Raducanu where i don't have a preference for the winner rather than Boulter or Watson where there would be pressure on them and i was hoping they would win their opening match anyway. Though really i'm just glad Boulter is in the draw after missing 2019 through injury and her elbow injury in Nottingham which i feared might put her out of Wimbledon.
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