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Post by rubcale on Jul 3, 2010 18:56:37 GMT 1
Day 11 yesterdayDidn't think Murray played badly and definitely didn't deserve to lose in straight sets. Was unlucky to lose the 2nd set and should have won the 3rd from a break up. (10) Sachie Ishizu bt (8) Laura Robson 7-5 7-6(7-5) An absolutely awful performance from Laura whose 1st serve % was well below 50 and at one point in the 1st set was actually in the 20s, and her groundstrokes simply weren't working either, the 2 strongest aspects of her game. She still should have won the 2nd set though, had 2 SPs when serving for it at 5-4 and what should have been another SP in the TB at 5-5 became a MP after she was fooled by a lucky net cord, but even then she should have chased it down. For the first time I actually saw petulance too as she threw her racket down at the end after losing. Laura Robson was a shocker, same as so many Brits at this Wimbledon not being able to convert winning situations. Don't know what to make of AndyM. He has protected his #4 ranking and I doubt he has ever played better and lost but the worrying aspect is yet again he can't come through on the big points. One break point in the first set and it was lost. Interesting that his 1st serve percentage was 70%+ - you wouldn't have expected him to lose it. Nadal outplayed him at 5-6 in the second set tiebreak but the failure was in Andy not getting his first serve in. Then he led 4-2 in the third set. The last three games were embarrassing with unforced errors - he even had a point for 5-5. Interesting that in the whole match the points score was 98-91. But I wonder if the Centre Court is jinxed for Brits in the latter stages? In the second set with Andy leading 4-3 Nadal was 15-40 on serve. Somebody's mobile went off and it clearly cause Andy to muff his shot.
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Post by rubcale on Jul 1, 2010 18:19:22 GMT 1
Don't know how Serena won theat first set - she was playing poorly today.
No matter whar happens now Federer will be the world #3 next week. First time he has been out of the top 2 for 8 years.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 30, 2010 18:09:33 GMT 1
Looks like the Murray-Tsonga match is going to be a long nail-biter - the BBC will be rubbing its hands with glee.
Good news for Murray if he makes the semi is that Nadal is almost home against Soderling.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 29, 2010 12:08:15 GMT 1
The way Murray is playing and his current attitude should be too much for Tsonga.
However, he's going to have to re-discover his first serve percentage again or he's in trouble - it was woeful yesterday.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 28, 2010 12:01:47 GMT 1
Murray's superlative returning can handle big servers - it's the agressive hard-hitters he can't react against in time. He had a great chance of the semis where he has to hope Nadal has beaten Soderling. Soderling would blow him off court whereas he has a good chance against Nadal.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 27, 2010 12:00:00 GMT 1
Delighted to see Ghana reach the quarters - it would be great and by no means impossible if they were to beat Uruguay.
England will go out when Frank Lampard misses a penalty today.
LOL John Terry is 8-1 fav to be the first Enland player to cry if they do get beaten!
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Post by rubcale on Jun 24, 2010 18:17:06 GMT 1
What a load of cr*p from the BBC.
Mahut being forced to do an interview with John Inverdale after just losing the match and 11 hours of tennis , being dragged to the scoreboard etc.
Classless.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 23, 2010 19:04:28 GMT 1
Still bashing each others heads off at 42-42.
Despite this I still agree that the final set should be extended rather than decided on a tie-break.
It hardly matters who wins anyway. This is a match in the bottom half of the draw and the winner will have to play again tomorrow - he's no chance!
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Post by rubcale on Jun 23, 2010 12:12:49 GMT 1
The tragedy of the ladies is that a few of them had winning leads........
AndyM is unpredictable but if he was able to serve as well as he did in the second and third sets yesterday he is definitely a threat...................
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Post by rubcale on Jun 21, 2010 18:14:44 GMT 1
Federe didn't win this Falla LOST it - he tightened up and couldn't take his chance when serving at 5-4 in the 4th. But then the good players make it hard to win that last point against them.
Baltacha's defeat was painful - she served for the match at 5-4 in the second and looked well on top, then double-faulted and it was all downhill.
It's hard to believe Laura Robson is just 16 but she played quite well losing the second set tie-break 7-5 after recovering well from 4-5 with Jankovich to serve for the match. Unfortunately lack of experience played a big part - too many double faults although she had some good first serves and she is just that bit slow getting to the ball but it was a great experience for her and she can hold her head up high.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 21, 2010 10:33:44 GMT 1
Great news that Graham McDowell has become the first British player since Tony Jacklin 40 years ago to win the US Open finishing one shot ahead of Ernie Els.
He held his nerve together well in the final round.
After he shot a couple of bogeys in the final holes of his third round I thought he was crumbling and wouldn't do it. I didn't think the unknown Dustin Johnson would hold on to his lead but expected someone like Phil Mickelson or Els to come through.
This must mean McDowell will play in the Ryder Cup?
Have to laugh the way his name is pronounced McDOWell to rhyme with cow - it's a common enough name in NI but anyone I know pronounces it to rhyme with DOH!
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Post by rubcale on Jun 21, 2010 10:24:16 GMT 1
Let's hope Centre Court won't faze Laura.
On paper Jankovic should be much too strong but it's not her best surface and she can be flaky. If the crowd can just inspire Laura............................
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Post by rubcale on Jun 19, 2010 18:27:11 GMT 1
As Diana Ross would say "Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right".
Surely fans have the right to make their feelings known at the end of a game?
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Post by rubcale on Jun 19, 2010 12:11:36 GMT 1
With th e points for reaching the quarters at Eastbourne Elena Baltacha will be up to around #52 or 53 in the world.
She had a good first set against Stosur and then went to pieces. Unfortunately her illness and constant injuries mean she doesn't have the stamina she might.
If AndyM can rediscover any of his old form he has a decent draw. Querry in last 16 is beatable in that Andy plays well against big servers with little else in their game.
A quarter against Verdasco is a different matter - another powerful big hitter................
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Post by rubcale on Jun 19, 2010 11:59:02 GMT 1
Does naybody really want to put themselves through the torture of watching on Wednesday.
Many talented individuals who just can't seem to produce their best as a team.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 19, 2010 11:56:17 GMT 1
As a Chelsea fan I hate to say it but Frank Lampard while superb at club level just doesn't translate into international terms. You could nearly count on one hand the number of times he has turned in a good performance for England.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 18, 2010 12:21:54 GMT 1
It's hard to judge from opening games.
England should win tonight to keep the door open but in all honesty I wouldn't put any money on it.
It could be a very tense and nerve wracking evening.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 15, 2010 12:16:51 GMT 1
Great news that Heather Watson qualified yesterday for the main draw at Eastbourne.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 13, 2010 18:42:11 GMT 1
Thanks for your great posts once again Tom. Personally I think British players should only get wild cards if they are on the up or showing signs of potentially getting ranked higher. If they are in their late 20s and not showing signs of getting any better then they don't deserve one. Total agreement.
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Post by rubcale on Jun 13, 2010 18:41:27 GMT 1
Big shock Roger Federer getting beaten by Lleyton Hewitt in the Halle final.
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