The Grandstand’s Ricky Dimon and Steen Kirby of Tennis East Coast preview and pick four of the best men’s singles matches on Thursday at Wimbledon. Included in the action is an All-England Club rematch between Rafael Nadal and Lukas Rosol.
Lukas Rosol vs. (2) Rafael Nadal
Ricky: Nadal has endured only one Grand Slam upset loss more famous than his 2012 Wimbledon ouster against Rosol. After losing to Robin Soderling at the 2009 French Open, Nadal avenged it one year later by taking Soderling to the absolute woodshed in the same event’s final. Now he gets another shot at Rosol, who may not have the same benefit of facing a hobbled opponent with a closed roof. The grass is not yet chewed up, which will help the Czech. Nadal, though, woke up to win thee sets in succession against Martin Klizan after dropping the opener. All too familiar with the danger in front of him, the world No. 1 will not start so slow on Thursday. Furthermore, as bad as Nadal has been on grass since 2012, we cannot forget that he once reached the title match in five consecutive trips to the All-England Club. Nadal 7-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Steen: The Wimbledon rematch is upon us. Nadal looked shaky against Klizan in round one. He won in four sets as the Slovak collapsed, but his movement and error count looked suspect and he especially struggled with the low ball. Rosol knows how to beat Nadal (he has done it before, of course) but I think his ball-bashing two years ago was a once-in-a-career performance in terms of how long he was able to keep up such a high level of play. I’m almost certain Rosol will take a set, but Nadal will find a way to win this match unless his body fails him. Nadal 3-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2.
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(15) Jerzy Janowicz vs. Lleyton Hewitt
Ricky: People are actually taking Janowicz to win this? I don’t see it. The 2013 semifinalist has been in positively dreadful form this season. In fact, his only decent match win since Rotterdam in February is over Jarkko Niemonen at the French Open. Janowicz needed five sets on Tuesday to get past Somdev Devvarman, which is a borderline terrible result on grass. Meanwhile, there is life yet in Rusty. He has not played a whole lot this season, but Hewitt is well-rested and by all accounts healthy. The former Wimbledon champion is comfortable on grass and extremely comfortable against big servers. Count on him breaking down another one–especially one who double-faulted 19 times in round one. Hewitt 6-4, 7-6, 6-3.
Steen: The 2013 semifinalist slipped past a player he had lost to before (2009 U.S. Open qualies) in Devvarman, but he still showed weaknesses in his game. Hewitt beat another Pole, Michal Przysiezny, in four sets. The veteran Aussie knows this surface and he knows how to get into Janowicz’s fragile state of mind. The 15th seed might be able to outhit Hewitt at some points, but I don’t think he can keep it together right now to beat the 2002 champion, who makes you fight for every point. Consistency will win the day for Hewitt, even without being in the best of form. Hewitt 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
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(13) Richard Gasquet vs. (WC) Nick Kyrgios
Ricky: The first set of Gasquet vs. Kyrgios in their Davis Cup collision earlier this season was awesome. It was played on clay and in France, so Gasquet inevitably took complete control after surviving the opener in a tiebreaker. Kyrgios will have a better chance of sustaining success on grass by keeping points short and Gasquet has to still be somewhat rusty after missing almost all of the clay-court season with a back problem. That being said, the Frenchman gained confidence with a runner-up showing in Eastbourne and he tested his back even further by going five on Tuesday against James Duckworth, whom he completely dismantled in the last two sets. Gasquet 6-4, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.
Steen: I have a feeling the young Kyrgios has a great chance to get a signature Grand Slam win in this match. Gasquet struggled for two sets against journeyman James Duckworth and may be fatigued, while Kyrgios looked fine in his round-one victory over Stephane Robert. The up-and-coming Aussie is capable on this surface and he has the mental fortitude to win this if he serves well and keeps Gasquet defensive the whole match. Kyrgios 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3.
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Adrian Mannarino vs. (23) Tommy Robredo
Ricky: I generally side with whichever player has the surface advantage when there is not a great discrepancy in talent, but it just too hard to pick against a veteran fighter like Robredo against a largely unproven opponent. Mannarino reached the fourth round last year, but holy cow he had favorable draw. Robredo has never advanced past the third round, but he reached the last 32 in 2013 while beating an accomplished grass-courter, Nicolas Mahut, in the process. Robredo 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6.
Steen: Robredo has had a below-average season by his standards and he has never been a great grass-court player. Mannarino, meanwhile, gets a sizable part of his yearly points and prize money during the grass-court swing and his game is built for this surface. The Frenchman is rounding into form and Robredo dropped a set (with a breadstick) to Lukas Lacko in round one , so Mannarino in four is my pick as long as he keeps points short and finishes them quickly, avoiding rallies with the terrier Robredo. Mannarino 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
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I take issue with Steen’s description of how Rafa looked in his match against Klizan. First, I do not think his movement was suspect. Or did Steen miss when Rafa slipped and fell on the grass twice, only to get up and win the point? I thought that Rafa seemed more comfortable on the slick grass this year. As far as Rafa being shaky, well we know that he never plays his best in the early rounds here. I do not think that Rafa’s UE count was suspect at all. It was to be expected, given how little he has played on grass.
Finally, I don’t think Klizan collapsed. Rafa will make his opponent pay physically, but the score indicates that Klizan still managed to make it competitive. I think that match was great preparation for Rosol. Is it possible for Rosol to get a set? Yes, but I expect Rafa to come out ready and focused to get this win. In this instance, I agree with Ricky’s preview.
As for the other matches, I pick Hewitt over JJ in three or four sets.
Gasquet in four sets.
Robredo in four sets.
I agree with your picks and analysis NNY ! your description of rafa’s performance is apt
who ya got?
Nice previews ricky, esp of the Nadal match, Ricky !
haha ya i BET you like that one!
Who’s gonna pave the way for your Fed pick now Ricky?
#WaffleHaus
#DuckingQuestion
pretty sure this question was already asked
#WhosOnSecond
Your answers were Karlovic and then Rosol the former eliminated and the latter was a joke as you confirmed your original pick of Nadal in three above.
Ducking the question. Answered nothing.
#YoureWelcome
why does the question have to have an answer?
#DoYou
No answer is an answer in and of itself.
This is why.
#YoureWelcome
Nadal in 3, Hewitt in 5, Gasquet in 3 and Mannarino in 4. Also intrigued by Monfils v Vesely where I think Jiri has a good shot at the upset.
Rafa actually beat Rosol in Doha in straight sets in January, 62 76. In fact, Rafa was very rusty in Doha. This is what Rafa had to say about his match against Klizan:
“When I’m playing on clay,” Nadal said, “I don’t have to think a lot about what I have to do when I am in semifinals of Roland Garros, because I have all the things come together and automatic, no?”
“Here, you know, you need to adjust the movement,” he continued. “You need to adjust the rhythm. You need to find the right feeling on the speed of the ball. You need to find the right places to serve because the serve is so important. So all the things that you need to keep doing—and in the beginning things are not going that easy—after a few matches you are able to win and play with the right tactic.”
I will take his word more than that of Steen, thank you very much.
Vamos Rafa
The chances of Rafa and Rosol meeting in the 2nd round twice at Wimbledon are remote without human intervention. This smells of a fix to me by Wimbledon. They have form in this, drawing Isner vs Mahut in the 1st round the very next year after the marathon match, just to put on a side show:
2011 Wimbledon
Great Britain Grass R128 Isner, John
7-6(4), 6-2, 7-6(6) Stats
2010 Wimbledon
Great Britain Grass R128 Isner, John
6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 70-68 Stats
Andy Murray’s cushy draw is not by chance either. Drawing a newly out of college student who James Ward has a 3:0 h2h against is a fix to give Andy a leg up. The World #1 plays a former World #30 in the first round and the real World #5 plays Goffin………please!
All these things point to the fact that the draw is more than just a coincidence.
I watched the draw ceremony of FO.
Apart from the top 2 seeds whose position in the draw is already decided, I think it’s very tough to fix position of the other seeds in the draw.
I watched the FO draw ceremony online once and apart from the seeds, the rest seemed to be computer generated and the speed with which the names were inserted into the draw suggested to me that it had already been done in advance, they were just going through the process.
That’s exactly what I’m saying.
Easy to rig a draw for top 2 seeds.
Very difficult (almost impossible) to fix the other seeded players
and the moon landing was filmed in a hollywood studio and George Bush blew up the twin towers….
Less than 8% probability over two years.
#YoureWelcome
Combined with the Isner Mahut double, probability of both less than 1%.
Fed has avoided Rafa’s half at FO last four. Fed has avoided Nole’s half in last five non clay slams. Probability 0.2%
Nole was in Feds half in 13 non clay slams in a row, a 0.01% chance.
Draws are fixed.
Anyone who believes otherwise is naive.
Fed in 4!
Rafa in 3!
Hewitt in 4!
Kyrgios in 4!
Robredo in 4!
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/482071569624465408/photo/1
abhirf, Mahut has never been seeded, Rola is not seeded nor is Goffin or Rosol, you can put them anywhere in the draw, anywhere.
But Muzz is seeded no, so is Fed, Stan, Berdych, Raonic, Nishi, etc..
I was talking it in terms of Muzza’s perspective.
Unseeded players can be adjusted in any half. that’s why I said the draw for the Top 2 and unseeded ones can be fixed (for early rounds) , not so easily for the seeded players.
I did not say seeded players’ positions in the draw were fixed.
but you said about Muzza getting Goffin, Rola etc
Muzza is a seeded player, no.
I don’t really say much about draw rigging but I think that Rafa meeting Rosol in the 2nd rnd against is a fix. But that is not part of any anti-rafa propaganda or something ! it’s just that tournament organizers know such a match will attract much bigger viewing. Some of my friends who pro-fed /anti-rafa/pro-novak are already posting links on my facebook wall that Nadal will be taking on 2012 conqueror lol …so its a good way of creating extra buzz but its not fair !
Meanwhile, Murray gets a cake walk.
Wimbledon has been known to do fishy things with draws in the fast
#SharkBait
An interview with Boris Becker
How are you in your working relationship with Djokovic?
– … It’s not something I like to talk, you know. I must be careful: it is a relationship of trust. He trusts me, I trust him. I can say that Novak is a hard worker. Always wants to progress and try both, so hard … sometimes passes too (“going for too much”). The word that best describes him is ‘perfectionist’.
-Come up with Rafa Nadal, who now faces Lukas Rosol in the remake of that famous duel of 2012, this resounding victory Rosol …
– It was two years ago? Does One? How time flies … In any case, the scenario is different, they have returned to play this year (in Doha), are already known. It will be a new party. Rafa arrives in good shape and has tried to prove on grass after winning the final of Roland Garros on a great show because Novak did his best and gave everything he had. I can say that Rafa Nadal learns faster than anyone: with or without grass.
– Did you see Rafa on debut against Klizan? What did you think after the initial defeat of 2013 against Darcis with those insecurities knee?
-Klizan is a good player. I thought it was a tough debut for Rafa: even harder than it was at the end. But Rafa has come here better prepared than others, was adapted to the new situation as he knows how to do … and here’s the result. It never ceases to fascinate me.
“I can say that Rafa Nadal learns faster than anyone: with or without grass.”
THIS !
Uncle Toni on Rafa
“When Rafa is healthy, grass is good for him. People say that Rafa can’t play well here, but maybe that’s because those people have a small memory,”
“He made the final in 2006, 2007 and 2008, then he didn’t play in 2009, and then he made the final in 2010 and 2011. He made five finals and then we had problems with the knees.”
“Two years ago, we had many problems when we arrived here. At every practice, Rafa couldn’t go down with his knees. His mentality also wasn’t good then for that reason,”
“Now he is moving well, and he doesn’t have a lot of pain, and it’s another game. I know that we can lose. But this time we can play.”
“I’m always nervous when I’m watching Rafa play. It’s more difficult for me because, as well as being his coach, I’m his family. With tennis, it always feels as though you have the water up to your neck. You’re always afraid.”
“Playing against Rosol again isn’t a big motivation. The motivation is the tournament,” his uncle said. “Rafa is the No.1 in the world, and the No.1 should have some confidence when he plays everywhere. Maybe the confidence isn’t the same as when he plays at Roland Garros, or at the Australian Open or the US Open, but I think and I hope that Rafa will have a good tournament.”
Djoker’s team sounds like some kind of top secret agency. What have they got to hide about his preparations. Boris always sounds as if he daren’t let out some secrets.
hahahah that’s true lol…its funny
Arm Sock leading Jack Sock.
Anyone remember Nadal vs Verdasco AO 2009 when Nando played the best tennis I have ever seen him play and Rafa only just got the win in the 5th set? Has Nando ever produced that level of tennis again? Errrrrrrr, no.
Get your revenge Rafa.
Vamos
Rafa’s on court. Vamos, Rafa!
Vamos ! Guys, please keep me posted ! I am in office and cant leave before 1.5-2 hours… will be catching live scores so will appreciate some analysis on rafa’s game
ESPN is really hyping this match. They interrupted live coverage to show a special segment on Rafa’s struggles at Wimbledon the last 2 years and what today’s match means to him, blah blah blah.
lol…i hope rafa wins in 3 sets an SHUTS THEM ALL UP
rafa serving first, did he choose that or did rosol put him to serve first?
Rafa has started with ‘colm’,winning his first game easily. Rosol only put one ball in play.
a love game to start with…rafa drawing errors from Rosol
what’s rafa’s return positioning?
All players now put Rafa in to serve if they win the toss except Djoko and I think Fed.
It’s looking good. Rosol is tryin to go for his shots, so far he is not succeeding.
Rafa is receiving close to the baseline.
thanks
Rosol is making a lot of errors.
omg!! Dejavu
DAMN….looks like rafa was QUITE nervous in that game….first set gone
I am not watching and I don’t know how to interpret this….I am nervous now
rafa MUST get a break early in this set…please rafa
Serious question. What the hell has happened to Nadal’s serve. Serving directly in to Rosol’s hit point is obviously a terrible strategy. Just like 2 years ago, Rafa giving Rosol the opportunity to look incredible at tennis.
Has to find some first serves and find some better angles on the 2nd serve. Have to wonder what rafa’s season would have looked like if the back problem didn’t arise, affected him all season and serve is still below par.
Rosol 16/18 on first serves….looks like rafa is unable to read that big serve …. this can happen to rafa….he adapts as the match goes on…it will happen…
I’m not worried …. yet
rafa has won ONLY 18% of return points so far….
No way Rafa is winning this. Serving terribly and Rosol is serving at near 90%
oops
I am very worried. Rafa seems to have gone into his shell.
nooooooooooooooooooo
not this year 🙁 🙁 pleaseeeeeee… Rosol’s level MUST drop ! a break here or rafa is gone…..
Rafa’s low confidence + Rosol’s high confidence is killing Rafa.
Oh please Rafa.. get a hold of yourself… not Rosolled again, please
Week 1 curse
Would be happy if Rafa holds serve till the end of the second set from here.
Come on Rafa!!
Wish Rafa gets a break here with Rosol struggling with serve. For all his struggles at Wimby, he deserves a lucky break
what is the score???? something wrong with live scores
oh 4-3 rosol serving…BREAK PLZZZZ
0-30 !!! rafa hit a forehand winner VAMOSSSSS
yes, live scores not working today… it’s an added frustration !
And Mr Rafa makes his own luck
VAMOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
did he break? live scores showing squat! 🙁
YES, VAMOSSSS RAFA 🙂
Whohoooooooo. already better than last year
rafa has 7 winners to only 1 UE in set 2….. is rosol playing really well??? his low risk game paying off big time?
40-0 and rosol wins two points with two winners ! is he taking big cuts on ROS?
Rafa’s second serves coming in at 95-100 mph and Rosol going for broke while returning. It was almost three in a row. The last FH just sailed long
btw, how pumped was rafa when he got the break back? feedback?
Come on Rafa! You can do this!
yes! come on !!!
rosol has won 47% pnts on 2nd serve….I hope his first srve % drops here
tie brk will be a big task !! break here and please calm us down rafa !! HELP HIM ROSOL !!!
Rosol is absurdly dominant on his 1st serve ! :@
30-30 rafa hits a forehand winner as per the live scores….come on
TB 🙁
rosol fav in the TB 🙁 come onnnn rafa
3-3 …. MINI BREAK PLZZ !!!
having a veryyyyyyy bad feeling…5-4 rosol !!! shit
5-5
Df on set point !!! Woo hoo Rafa is back
WOOOOOOOOHOOOOO !!! no complaceny though….he almost lost the set…. now play with more authority rafa ! you are RAFA and he is rosol ! COME ON! DO IT !
Woo hoo! Massive choke from Rosol to give Rafa the set! I’ll take it!
Now Rafa go after this guy and show him who’s boss!
I couldn’t breathe throughout this tb. Some gutsy stuff from Rafa.
LOL…exactly ! how did rafa save set pnt NNY? I only know he hit a forehand winner…I WANT TO GO HOME
I almost stopped breathing !!!
God bless Uncle Toni standing up on set point to encourage Rafa.
long way to go yet… Rafa needs to make him move from side to side as much as he can
Guys, i have not been watching since the first few games in the first set……..i was so disappointed to see Rafa lose the first set, he started so well! But glad that he won the second and is getting a good workout! Glad i didnt get to see the tie-break, i woul dhave crapped myslef! This game is too close for my liking!
What do you guys make of Rafa’s play after winning the second? Cant see match, only scores
Break Rafa, break!!!
Rafa breaks!!! How is he playin gpeople, tell me, tell me!!! Nadline, where are you!!!!
Mona,
Rafa is playing really well right now. Serving smart with good placement and ROS is also very good. Rafa is putting the pressure on Rosol.
Hope Rafa can win this now!! Time for me to head for work 🙁
YESSSS!!! VAMOSSSSS RAFA!!!
Rafa gets the break! I notice that Rosol is hitting the ball hard, but without purpose. That’s his game, hit hard, harder, hardest. But I think that Rafa is getting a better read on his serve and also Rosol is missing more first serves.
Come on Rafa!
Thank you Native for that! Lets jsut hope he keeps it up, putting pressure on Rosol, that is! Rafa must NOT lose his intensity!!!!
The difference here is that Rosol is playing a healthy Rafa.
Now Rafa HOLD YOUR SERVE!
Shame, Monfils lost a five setter.
Shame, Gasquet lost in a five setter! I really thought Gasquet was going to pull this one out. Its never over really till the last ball is bowled….wow!! This Wimby has a lot of journey men!
Rosol held serve. Now it’s really simple for Rafa. He has to hold his serve two more times to get the third set.
I don’t know what it is about Rafa that makes Rosol play well. He hasn’t done anything of note since he beat Rafa here two years ago.
Rafa is serving so well now! Won the third set with a love service game.
I also love seeing Rafa step up to and inside the baseline with his ROS.
One more set Rafa and you will be moving on to the third round!
Vamos!!! Rafa up two sets to 1!!! Love it, now crank it up, Rafa!!!
I want Rafa to finish this in four sets. No five setter this time!
The good thing is people are making Rafa work hard for his matches….if he wins here, I think he would have gotten the perfect prep for the second week! Vamos, Rafa!!!
Rafa breaks again!!! Now consolidate, Rafa!! Does Rafa have his hands firmly around Rosol’s neck?!!
Keep up the intensity, Rafa do NOT waiver, not one bit!!!
Mona,
I agree 100%!
Rafa, just hold your serve and this match will be over.
On ESPN they switched to the Gasquet match, so I am following it on ESPN3.
ESPN vultures, when they saw that Rafa will win they changed to the highly interesting Gasquet match ….
…..and Gasquet lost it! So many are invested ina Rafa loss…….its just mind boggling! You will hear all the “experst” after the match!
Is that Fed’s mum sitting next to Pippa Middleton watching Rafa? If so, then Fed’s mum is a Rafa fan.
It just goes to show that Fed’s mom knows good tennis when she sees it…….lol!!!
Come on, Rafa!!! Send this guy packing!!!
Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!
Vaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmooooooooooooooooooossssssssss!
VAMOS!!!!!! VAMOS, VAMOS!!!!!!!!! Rosol, who?!!!!!!
nerve-racking stuff
Uffffff, only now they refreshed the live score , VAMOSSSSSS RAFA
Thx for the workout Rosol now you can take your holidays
https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/statuses/482176654367002624
So glad Rafa played first, I’m made up for the rest of the day!
Thx Augusta 🙂 indeed, this is a thorn taken out off Rafa’s side .. we’re approaching week 2.. who’s next ?(Raonic?)
Rafa plays Kukushkin next.
Now Wimbledonhave got the show they wanted, they can lay off Rafa now and let the Murray’s and Djokers play the big hitters and let Rafa have his turn with the Blaz Rola’s in the draw.
That was a guttural roar from Rafa when he won. You could see what it meant to him. I think this win is going to give Rafa a ton of confidence and good feelings. He is in the third round. He made it over the hump!
His reaction after the match was wonderful to see! But what a nerve wracking one it was!
You don’t have to look further than the combined games lost to see the two players with the tougher draws. Wimbly gave cuppycake draws to Muzza and Fed to maximize chances for their dream final.
Well done Rafa. Is Ricky still staying with his Fedpick?
#NoAnswerIsAnAnswer
#RiggedDraws
#Evian
@hawkeye,
I would love to know what Ricky thinks of Rafa’s chances now. Kukushkin is not going to beat Rafa.
https://twitter.com/ATPWorldTour/status/482175770035748864
The ESPN commies said near the end of the match that Rafa did not have any UE’s from the second game of the second set! Wow!
Rafa had to lift his game in this match and that will be good for him moving forward. This win was huge. I thought Rafa served brilliantly and also his ROS was so good. I am just so happy for Rafa.
Heading into his last service game, he’d only lost one point on his serve in the last set.
#Phenomenadal
https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/status/482178446861549568
#GOAT
#HUM3LE
what do we know about this Kukushkin (is he a racist?) (sorry… easy joke)
hahahahahahahahaha 🙂
I just checked Rafa’s H2H against Kukushkin. They’ve played twice before. Rafa crushed him in Monte Carlo in 2012 6/1 6/1, and also play him in Bangkok in 2010 on indoor hardcourt. Won that one easily, too, 6/2 6/3. I never take anything for granted, but I’m guessing that the next match will be easier than the two he’s already played.
Yet another Dimon homer pick about to bite the dust.
#JoWilly?
#OrWontHe
He did. OK. Good.
Someone with the twitter handle “Trolland Garros”.
Hillarious!
(Go get him Gussie!!!!)
Ricky’s prediction for the 4th round
Gasquet over Karlovic in 4
😀
Priceless!
#FindWaldo
Now Stanisfluke struggling to make the transition from grass to clay losing a set and struggling in the second round (just like Nole).
Federazzi commies all quiet.
thx jpacnw!
the feed on Wimbledon’s page didn’t work for me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz7KX6c5a9M
Such a shame Shireling.
Just back home. Watched Rafa while I was out to lunch. Now suffering from a tension headache plus too much wine.
The first two sets were nerve racking, no? but once he was in the groove it was a joy to see Rafa gaining in confidence and playing like the Rafa of old. It would have been nicer still if he’d done it in straight sets but Rosol was playing like a man possessed for a set and a half.
The BBC in their wisdom kept skipping to other matches during the changeover so only saw one set of stats. I was worried about Rafa’s 2nd serve at the start but he got better and better.
I’m sure everybody is breathing a sigh of relief that one’s out of the way 🙂
Can anyone tell me where to find the stats from completed matches?
http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/scores/results/day11.html
Thanks. Thought you would have the answer 🙂
I get so emotionally involved it’s hard for to be objective which is why I like to track how Rafa’s game is progressing by looking at the stats.
Today’s look pretty good!! Bodes well for the rest of the tourney.
ed251137 says:
June 26, 2014 at 3:42 pm
‘Now suffering from a tension headache plus too much wine’
LOL
The bad thing about watching it outside is that if you do it with people who aren’t tennis freaks, they look at you as if you’re nuts… it’s happened to me now and again, lol, they don’t get what the fuss is all about.
Yeah, I don’t “go public” when watching Rafa.
Only my closest family get to witness that.
Apparently I was cursing quite loudly on a few occasions during the RG final according to all reports. (I was not aware.)
My husband watches Rafa upstairs and leaves me to it. He simply doesn’t get it. 🙂
I don’t blame him!
Fortunately my better half is almost as bad (less the colourful language)!
(I think I scare our dog sometimes.)
My old dog (that’s not a euphemism for a husband…really…my old dog) looks at me like she just wants me to be quiet. My cat runs under the bed.
My mom threatens to kick me out and my significant other stays away……..he’s a Federer fan by the way!!
I wouldn’t want to be in the same room as a fedfan while Rafa was playing
My father in law, my boss and a close coworker are fedfan’s but they know not to mess with me! They will LOSE!!!! 🙂
hawkeye63 says:
June 26, 2014 at 3:51 pm
LOL to that too 🙂
https://twitter.com/alex_willis/status/482184999366840320
Here’s the footage of it. It was no accident, either.
http://youtu.be/mjXh_pDl-TM
now, I bet that’s what made him close it out .. you just don’t touch Rafa’s bottles !
Matosavic deliberately knocked Rafa’s bottles over during their match at Monte Carlo last year. Rafa laughed off the incident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl_kFnw0SD8
Willy vs Wang in the 3rd round.
You can’t make this stuff up!
(especially abhirf)
#Copyright
wtf was that about?
I didn’t believe it in the first picture but on the video he clearly knocks a bottle down… ????
Willy vs Wang, heheheehe
Rissole was paying back Rafa for the ‘bumping’ incident at the changeover during their last Wimby match.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FnBi__R4Fs
https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/statuses/482156611818250240
Serena finished her match 61 61 before Rafa and Lukas finished warming up. It’s a joke.
New Rafa stat making the twitter rounds. He’s 2-0 when an opponent knocks over his water bottles.
If Rosol can play like this why does he save it only for Rafa.
My iPad keeps changing Rosol to aerosol. 🙂
^^^^ha,ha
And so it should!he he!
https://twitter.com/SI_Tennis/status/482204011563855872
Awww, two of my favs on the women’s side. At least one will go through. Probably Genie.
https://twitter.com/Lukas_Rosol/status/482204557947461632
https://twitter.com/Lukas_Rosol/status/482204729188286464
Isner took his first set in a 19/17 tiebreak. Looks like the 2nd set will probably go to a tiebreak too.
Rafa’s post match interview.
http://youtu.be/GoT4VVN0fAI
Isner and his tiebreaks need to just go away.
they are a snooze-fest aren’t they? how many sets has he won without breaking serve?
@hawkeye,
Amen!
why? that was pure entertainment.
Are those posts genuinely from Rosol? if so, he’s a true and utter moron, no way around it
Yeah I have my serious doubts that account is legit but @ESPNtennis has been retweeting them so it has to be for sure, no?
Vamos yet-another-over-30-yr-old Muller.
#SoftDraw
I did expect Rafa to lose the first set…fighting 2012 demons in his head and déjà vu effect all did some damage…but once Rafa was able to overcome that phase and entered the “positive amnesia” stage he came out strong and indestructible in the real sense…I love how U.T was supporting Rafa…beautiful to see how these two are close…
Vamos Rafa!
Pro-Fed people NEVER forget to mention Rafa’s losses!!! 😆
Via @Wimbledon
Federer makes his way onto Centre Court for his 2R clash with Gilles Muller, who beat Nadal here back in 2005
I know. They seem to think that saying a player beat Rafa gives them kudos.
🙂 in 2005 Rafa was 19 :), how old was Muller?
Team Nadal
https://twitter.com/Rafaholics/status/482208984250601472/photo/1
Amazing serves from Muller, its going to be a tough match
why is play suspended? lack of light, rain?
rain
Lack of youth.
#ForNadline
ah, ok, funny that for the other matches they don’t say anything in the live score
Must’ve started worrying about Fed’s match being too close…
https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/status/482227419848663040
#2012AllOverAgain
Mueller has won 4 of 40 return points.
Classic weak era player.
#WashingtonGenerals
Bring the hate!!!!!
Nah, I’ll leave that to you when Fed, with little competitive play going in, goes down to Rafa in the semis.
Tennis fans in CC is delighted!!!! what a show
I fell asleep.
Muller’s a chump. Just 4 for 48 pts won on ROS for the match. That’s only three more than I’d get.
#SeniorsTour
http://www.changeovertennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/RosolWaterBottlewatermarked.gif
Now Fedbutt is advocating 10 secs between points! He really should leave the stage right now.
Old whining men should stay at home.
No he didn’t advocate it.
#FalseAccusations
Gamesmanship.
20 seconds is an antequated rule. About half the players exceed it. Both McEnroe and Courier routinely exceeded 20 seconds.
Not once did they mention Stakovsky beatingRoger in the 2nd round last year, instead they went on and on about Muller beating a 19 year old Rafa in 2005.
Federazzi commies figure they can just flap their gums to another Federer slam.
#WishfulThinkingOutLoud
Federazzi just talk, talk, talk. Unfortunately, they are not going to be able to talk Fed into winning another slam. On the other hand, Rafa always does his talking with his racket.
Sorry Fed, Rafa’s still in it!
Ricky, now that rafa is past Rosol and doesn’t have to play karlovic who is your tip to win? I have a murray-nadal final and think nadal just
Mikhail Kukushkin
^^^^
That’s hilarious!
Most Humorous Post of the Week!
poor Ricky! Constantly being nagged for his karlovic pick.
Ricky’s answers show he realizes his Fed pick was flawed from the outset.
However, expect to see shot clocks on court should Fed and Rafa meet in the semis.
Poor Fed, nothing to laugh about for 10 minutes yesterday/
Rafa’s racquet does all the talking. Fed just flaps his gums. Getting quite sad. He needs to just go away for the good of the game.
#Gamesmanship
#Classless
Fed? Classless?
Then Rafa is probably Super Classless.
The above post from “abhirf” is too dull for a witty and thoughful response.
Please do not reply as this is an automated response.
#Yawnfest
Good match from Fed.
Rafa-Rosol was a good match. Was much more clean and strategic than his previous match. Rosol played better than the top 20 guys when they play the big 4 in slams. Was good to see him handling the pre match expectations.
Jo Willy did it again! poor him. Toughest draw, then has to play on all days. Hoping that he finishes his match today and gets good rest for his R16.
Kudos to Kyrgios!
it’s Tsonga’s own fault for going 5 sets with people like Melzer and Querrey
aww.. c’mon Ricky.. Melzer and Querrey are no push overs on grass. Even you had Melzer beating Jo in 5 sets no.
He is definitely not playing his best this season. His draw didn’t help him either.
Ricky is fickle. Picks Rafa over Rosol, then picks Rosol over Rafa before switching back to Rafa again.
Still feeling confident in your Fed pick Ricky? 🙂
#NoAnswerWillDo
abhirf@June 27, 2014 at 3:09 am
—Rosol played better than the top 20 guys when they play the big 4 in slams. Was good to see him handling the pre match expectations—
My condolences to the Fed fans after Rosol did not meet THEIR EXPECTATIONS!
@Gussie-
My sympathy to you for Rosol not being able to meet your expectations.
Also my condolences for your fellow Rafans for Rosol exceeding their expectations!
abhirf ( at 8:58 am),
What??? I expected Rafa to win – and he won! I had no other expectations!
augusta ( at 8:27 am)
And we (Fed fans) expected Rafa to win the match. We had no other expectations.
Don’t know which expectations are you talking up about.
^^ augusta ( at 8:27 am).. i meant 8:39 am..
On another note, Rafa has celebrated his wins so far as if he has won the title!
Rosol celebrated as well!
Hmm.. his antics are definitely noticed. Was sipping drinks after the match as if there was still a set of tennis to be played and walking off the court as if he was the winner..
and waved to the crowd right after the handshake
#Weird
#Confused
#Vexed
Wierd Player!
Probably trying to garner more footage and fame!
abhirf, Rafa’s 1st ans 2nd round matches are probably the toughest matches he’s going to play at Wimbledon this year, hence the celebrations.
Not the 1st Rd, but yes probably the 2nd Rd will be his toughest till the final.
What abhirf? Yo have him reaching the final already ? 🙂
Ricky will kill you, he still has Rafa losing in 3rd round to Kukushin
BTW whenever Fed has beaten Muller in a slam, he has won the title. Reporters told him the same yesterday 🙂
@Ricky was joking in case you didn’t get it already. 😉
Given that Rafa has to face some nobodies till SF, he will make it there where he will be facing Stan ( or Fed). With his matchup advantage I think he will not have much trouble against them and will advance to the final.
As for Fed winning the titles when he beats Muller, if it happens I will be a happy man. But all streaks have to come to a halt. Don’t know whether this streak will remain alive or not.
Raonic/Nishikori will be a challenging quarter final
If you say so.
let’s wait over Nishikori’s fitness. I made too early an assessment of him for FO.
Raonic hasn’t troubled Rafa really in the past, I don’t expect him to make it big this time. Maximum he will get is a set. His match won’t be as physically tough as it could turn against Kei.
Let’s see whom he faces (or whether he doesn’t has to face either)
We will see.
Nishikori’s fitness has a question mark but if he is fit now, he will be a very tough opponent. His aggression from the baseline is tough to handle and he moves quite well.
Raonic, well, he can be a tough customer no grass. Such a big serve and then he has developed a dangerous DTL backhand and more aggressive ROS. His forehand can also be destructive on grass. Movement will be an issue for him .
Fed’s path will likely be easier. Lopez is expected to take Wawa down if the two meet. Even if wawa wins, he has never proven himself to be a good player on grass so we should not assume that wawa will be very tough just because wawa played really well on hard courts or clay.
The chances of a Nadal-Fed semi are pretty good. Btw, i don’t think the match up problem will be that bad on grass. The bounce is much more manageable for fed’s backhand. he will be getting a lot more backhand around waist height or midway his shoulders and waist. The backhand slice also becomes more vicious on grass and on grass rafa does not have that much time. On clay he sets up and explodes.
I don’t think the match-up problem is that big on grass. Not at all…
nadline10 says:
June 27, 2014 at 11:55 am
If you say so.
And what is that supposed to mean ? :S
@vamosrafa,
“The chances of a Nadal-Fed semi are pretty good. Btw, i don’t think the match up problem will be that bad on grass. The bounce is much more manageable for fed’s backhand. he will be getting a lot more backhand around waist height or midway his shoulders and waist. The backhand slice also becomes more vicious on grass and on grass rafa does not have that much time. On clay he sets up and explodes.
I don’t think the match-up problem is that big on grass. Not at all…”
^^ umm, that’s just the technical part of it, no.
What about the mental part. You forget that no. 🙂
Mental part is not a factor. Just another myth, a convenient excuse propagated by the federazzi.
^^ It’s all between the ears.
you were the one advocating that theory in the early part of the season for Rafa, no. (To explain his losses)
If the mental part didn’t play any role , then Big 4 wouldn’t have been so dominant.
Myths are spreaded only by Rafans.
is there a better competitor than Nadal in the world of sports right now? if you have any in mind, please state….
There are a few of them in Cricket. (More in the past)
They are at par if not better.
^ Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn, Michael Clarke.. just to name them.
Abhirf, I watch cricket . plenty of it. The names you have mentioned are great competitors but none of them is as fierce as a competitor as Rafa. Even shane warne thinks rafa is the best competitor in all sports !
MS. Dhoni is also a great competitor…but again, rafa’s spirit is indomitable. The thing about rafa is that even when he is not finding his best, he finds a way to win. I don’t you can so that for Kohli or De villiers . They are extremely talented batsmen but playing in poor form and still winning on sheer will is NOT done on a consistent basis !
Kohli is not so talented as he is toted to be. He was technically weak but never let his weakness get the better of him by his indomitable spirit and his confidence.
As for winning matches, they have won many matches and saved many too single handedly for their team.
Cricket is a tough game in one aspect – You just can’t do much when you are going through a poor form. Their are 11 different players you have to deal with, instead of just one as in tennis. So it just comes down to never giving up anytime and keep trying and working throughout your poor form.
What about the spirit of Anil Kumble.. I haven’t seen a better competitor than him in my whole life. Still remember the match when he played with broken jaw and still bowled successfully.
Ryan Harris.. the fast bowler.. constantly plagued by his injuries.. yet see him almost always delivering his best for his team..
John McEnroe on Nadal’s win:
“How do you teach will, desire, not to quit in any circumstances? you don’t see this often, once every 10 years if you’re lucky. Nadal has made other guys better trying to compete with him. In the definition of ‘where there’s a will there’s a way’ he’s the picture you’re going to see.”
What else do expect from the Rafan boy JMac.
Would give it Rafa though. Great competitor with great will.
#Respect
^^^^^Back in 2008 on TT, at the very height of a Federazzi debate claiming GOAT status for Federer, I wrote “he may or may not eventually be anointed the GOAT but beyond all possible doubt Rafa is the GREATEST CHAMPION OF ALL TIME.”
Six years later he continues to surpass all expectations and to amaze us with his indomitable courage.
One day at a time guys, Mikhail Kukushkin next
Shirling: Kukushkin will be a good practice day for Rafa. R4 will demand more effort. Both Vesely (another pesky Czech player!) and Kyrgios are hell bent on living up to their ‘star of the future’ reputation: whichever of the two gets to meet Rafa will be playing their guts out with nothing to lose.
#What’sNew
Waiting for the article to pop up, what chances do you give Simon against Novak, do you think he can snatch a set?
I’d like to think he will (he’s by far my favourite Frenchie)
Can’t quite make up my mind where Djokovic is at. Unless Gillou is carrying an injury (which he so often is) we will have a better idea after this match. I think he is doing just enough to get through the early rounds which gives the impression he is not on top form. Saving his best for next week.
I am surprised people like Ricky have Rafa losing to Kukushin now that Karlovik is out but not an element of doubt on Fed, Novak, Murray losing to any of their 3rd/4th/QF opponents .
Sad state.
sanju, ricky is JOKING ! lol….he will pick rafa to win over kukushkin in 3 sets
You really believed Ricky for his word. Calm down he’s just joking.
Muzza has Grigor to deal with in his Qf.
Nole will have to get past Jo in 4th rd.
Fed will have to deal with Stan in QF’s.
They all can lose those matches.
Ricky is just trying to garner some more hits on his threads with his picks. With the no. of Rafa followers here, it’s easy to garner those hits by sprucing up the talks about Rafa then say Muzza or Fed or Nole.
And a lot of the hits are contributed by you and Hawkeye 🙂
^ that’s one of the rare occassions, no.
BTW, you missed Gussie who may not be too happy about it, no. 😉
Get past Stanifluke. On grass!
Priceless.
#CuppyCakeQuarter
#Rigged
abhirf@June 27, 2014 at 12:58 pm
—BTW, you missed Gussie who may not be too happy about it, no—
Do you mean about amount of hits? I am here to support Rafa!!! I don’t compete with anybody in hitting&clicking!
Gussie and I are on the same page on that one!
I just wouldn’t add superfluous posts just to get my numbers up.
That would be childish.
@augusta, that’s what everybody is here to do. Cheer for their player.
Now that’s the @abhirf I’m talkin’ ’bout. 🙂
Rafa was clearly tight yesterday. He won the match out of pure will. Coming up with maybe best winner of the match when he was SP down in 2nd set was gutsy, remarkable
btw, on:
ed251137 says:
June 26, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Ed, the video is indeed titled as Matosevic knocking down the bottles but the commentators (in Spanish) make no reference to it, I guess they just didn’t realise live .. I have to say that Spanish commentators, for the most part are pretty crappy… I especially dislike Corretja .. he goes on and on about technicalities and stuff and just ignores whatever is going on on court
ed251137@June 26, 2014 at 4:54 pm
I think Rafa laughed also after he was told that Rosol knocked his bottle down!
Matocevic’s case:
SI, Apr. 17, 2013: ¤¤ Rafael Nadal laughs off opponent knocking over his water bottles ¤¤
http://tennis.si.com/2013/04/17/rafael-nadal-monte-carlo-masters-water-bottles/
(to be continued in Reply)
Pictures of smiling Rafa after Marinko Matosevic knocked over his water bottles, at the Monte Carlo Masters 2013 (Rafa is looking towards his box):
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BrILXvmCUAA0Yoy.jpg:large
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/482460613986512896/photo/1
Guy Forget is the same. Verbal diarrhoea. I’ll refrain from reprising what I think of a certain English commentator 🙂
When told that Djokovic was the favourite for RG last year, this was what Rafa had to say:
“I don’t care at all,” he said through a translator. “Frankly, what words could I find to tell you? I mean, what else can I say? I try and play my best tennis, and the least of my concerns is to know if I’m favoured or not. These are words that will be carried away by the wind.”
“…. these are words that will be carried away by the wind.” = EPIC
(thx Augusta for the photos, it seems that if they can’t beat him at tennis at least they want to knock down his bottles… a bit pathetic if you ask me but harmless at least)
Rafa looks determined to win which is unlike the last 2 years.
He played very well at the end of yday’s match.
This Rafa will be tough to beat.
he needs to continue like this for the next 2 games. Once he reaches the 2nd week, he will be unstoppable
@atul,
I agree with you all the way! 🙂
it’s amazing what confidence can don, Rosol has probably never played better in his life
Rosol has an adrenalin rush when he plays Rafa.
Raonic’s Wimbledon record
Wimbledon A A 2R 2R 2R 3R 0 / 3 3–3 50%
I think people should check the records before proclaiming Raonic a whiz kid on grass.
Nadline, go check Rosol’s wimbledon record as well and post it here !!! Rosol was such an easy match right?
It’s not so much about the past records in some cases. Raonic is improving fast and on this surface, if he is having a crazy serving day, he can cause troubles to rafa. Nobody here is saying Rafa will lose to Raonic. But if you think it will be a cake walk, then it does not make sense actually.
Where exactly did I mention Rafa? You might as well say everyone with a big serve is a danger.
There is a consistent upward trend you posted nadline.
Don’t pretend that Raonic is not the greatest 5-8 seed threat to Rafa on grass (over Berdych, Ferru and Stanisfluke) which is why he was intentionally (as opposed to randomly) placed there.
I could have looked at the draw quarters without the Top 4 and easily figured out where the Top 4 were.
I’m not even thinking about Raonic. Rafa has to win 2 more matches to get to the Qtr F.
I don’t think I have made a single comment about the prospects of Rafa playing Raonic her, not a single one. If you find any, I’d be grateful if you could quote it.
Why else would you mention Raonic.
#Obvious
your ‘If you say so’ was posted right under my ‘ Nishikori/Raonic will be a challenging qtr final’.
anyway, past records for young players are not so relevant
As far as I know, Rafa is only in the 3rd round he still has to win 2 matches to get to the Qtr F. I don’t believe in counting my chickens before they are hatched I just take it one match at a time. Who knows who is going to make the Qtr F. In other words you are assuming that the next two rounds are a WO for everyone else.
‘everyone else’ being anyone other than Rafa, Kei and Milos.
In the meantime Djoko won the first set and up a break in the 2nd..
Am guessing Ricky was simply too bored with today’s OOP to do a Wimbly Day 5 picks.
Don’t blame him.
Only match of interest is BabyFed vs. Dolgo.
There is a Day 5 picks – it’s been up for some while!
Some of us are watching Simon 🙂 The outcome is NID but he is giving Djokovic a hard time. He’s doing that irritating ‘how did I lose that point’ routine far too often for my liking.
Thanks ed. It wasn’t under the Match Previews tab but I see it now.
Simon vs Novak is boring beyond measure………….oh good, there’s Fog vs Anderson.
Yep, BabyFed is playing very well here.
Hewitt is up against it and Tsonga is a-Tsinging today
Jo Willy beating Wang.
#CouldntResist
#OverTheLine?
Poor Fed. He can see the Rafa-train steaming towards him in his rear view mirror so, panick-stricken he resorts to tugging onto Aerosol’s (the other name for Rosol, according to @nadline10) whines about Rafa’s time between points. The Umpire so nothing wrong, the Referee saw nothing wrong. You lost, Aerosol, bugger off, buzz off, get lost, scram!
As for Fed, here’s a list you should hand over to the tournament organisers to hamstring Rafa before your match against him:
Stop ALL grunting;
Reduce time between points to 5 seconds;
Make playing with one’s left hand illegal;
Ban 2 handed BH.
Bald patches not allowed on court
This is the least they can do for you, after all, they failed miserably to put worthy opponents in his path to stop him so far…………
^^^^That’s a cracker ritb 😀
rafaisthebest (at 1:37 pm),
—Stop ALL grunting—
Fed accused Rafa of SELECTIVE grunting.
Sports World News on Jan 25, 2014: ¤¤ Multiple media sites reported that Federer complained TWICE to umpire Jake Garner about Nadal’s grunting during the second set [at the 2014 AO].
Asked whether Nadal’s grunting bothered him, Federer said, “Not when he does it every point, but it goes in phases — one point he DOES and one point he DOESN’T; that’s what I was complaining about.”¤¤
😆
http://www.sportsworldnews.com/articles/8856/20140125/new-roger-federer-rafael-nadal-rift-federer-accuses-nadal-of-deliberate-grunting-during-australian-open-semifinal-video.htm
Fed has also intermittently grunted in his matches.
Well, well……….
https://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/482517652393693184/photo/1
Soft quarter draws make Fed and Muzza look good. Fed especially is used to this.
What has Murray done to impress anyone?
JMac and Courier along with many players past and present routinely exceed the 20 second rule in majors.
Nothing new.
This only has to do with Rafa becoming GOAT. Federer is fading and desperately clinging on with his obvious gamesmanship.
He needs to just go away now.
If Gillou’s 1st serve hadn’t gone AWOL this match would’ve been an uphill battle for Djokovic.
The commies say Heather Watson lost yesterday because the atmosphere was flat because the Rafa/Aerosol match had sucked the energy out of the crowd. They made the same comment about the Tsonga/ Ferrer SF at RG last year that the crowd was not cheering Tsonga on because the Nadal/Djoko match had sucked the energy out of the court.
They say it’s always an anti-climax for anyone to follow a Rafa match.
Oh Geez. Novak has just taken a nasty fall. Trainer coming out. He’s in pain.
The Simon/Djoko match is so dull I think I’ll watch Li Na and the girl with the long name.
Is Djoko playing gamemanship in the middle of Simon’s serve, or does that ‘rule only apply to Rafa.
Indeed commies, what has Djokovic done to merit this drama? He did not hit the ground with the shoulder he is clutching, even the commies are bemused. What’s up?
Gamesmanship.
They showed the fall in slo-mo again and sorry, I cannot see what happened to the shoulder?? As the commies are saying, the real concern was his reaction, not the fall because it did not look that bad.
Just try to repeat the fall for yourself and see what happens.
Note that Gilles is not hovering and demanding a diagnosis.
Sure Suarez wishes this was Rafa taking an MTO, would definitely swing the opprobrium off his way towards Rafa………….
Ah, you beat me to it.
I was going to say maybe Nole bit someone causing him to flop to the ground.
#Vampires
They are all lining up their excuses now they’ve seen Rafa’s still in the draw………….
https://twitter.com/The_Changeover/status/482525737967435777
According to the Federazzi ATP Rule Book, Djoker should have waited until it was his turn to serve before taking an MTO.
nadline10 (at 2:12 pm)
The Federazzi Rules don’t apply to Federer.
At the 2012 Wimbledon, Fed took a MTO in the middle of the first set, BEFORE Malisse’s serve. He left court for 7 minutes.
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/482530948651954176/photo/1
Foggy bottomed out.
i know you all think i am a cynical old bag but I have never seen anyone put on such an am-dram performance whenever he has a twinge of pain. He always rolls around in apparent agony and then pulls agonised faces when the medics come to him.
“i know you all think i am a cynical old bag ……”. You have another bag in company, moi. Thing with Djokovic is he’s such an attention junkie, hard to take him seriously either way………..
All that moaning and groaning and writhing on the ground…please. He took method acting classes with the world cup soccer players. it’s just a delaying tactic. Once he got his massage, the seemed perfectly fine.
We already knew that…………
RT @Mike_Dickson_DM : “The way that Djokovic carrying his bags over both shoulders suggests there’s no harm done from that nasty tumble.”
And Sue Barker is cooing that Novak ‘bravely’ battled on.
Sue Barker should just. Go. Away.
Li Na is out…bottom half of the draw looking very nice.
Shoulder injuries can be tricky. Last year when Darcis fell, he continued to play lights out tennis. Then he didn’t play again for almost a year and also needed surgery. There would’ve been no reason for Novak to engage in delays. He was 5 points away from completing the match in straight sets. It very well may turn out to be nothing more than a very painful fall, but I don’t think he was engaging in gamesmanship.
True.
I think Novak is a bio engineered cyborg, he probably dislocated his shoulder and then needs a bit of acting in order to get time to auto mend and re-shuffle all the sinews and other bits … the grimaces are just for show.
Andrew Castle says Novak has not been impressive even though he is many people’s favourite for the title.
Jerzy wins in 5. Does a big time lawn mower move to celebrate.
Kohlschreiber in the SF.
😀 😀 😀
Hey Ricky, who ya got should Rafa beet Fed in the semis? 🙂
#NoAnswerIsAnAnswer
#FindWaldo
Q. You said he changed his tactics. What do you feel from your side changed about the way he was playing?
LUKAS ROSOL: I don’t want tell this. I don’t want to answer this question. For next match, I need to work on it.
Q. But did you…
LUKAS ROSOL: I recognize it. I recognize it and I had no answer. For the next match when we play him I’m going to do something special.
#OooohhhhScaaaary
^^^Bluff!
Next time he plans to knock over two water bottles instead of one.
Rosol vs Rafa along with Isner Mahut will probably become a biannual Wimbledon tradition now just as Federer avoiding Nadal’s half in the French Open has become.
Hopefully not. It’s time Aerosol goes back into his shell. He hibernates in between playing Rafa at Wimbledon. I think Rafa has had enough of him now.
Is it me or does Aerosol delusionally think Rafa is his rival? Next time? How does he know there will be a next time? Is he on Tour just to play Rafa? If he is not careful he will find himself back on the Challenger circuit having been “waiting” to play Rafa. What an idiot.
You know, I blame the journo Federazzi for Aerosol’s poor mental attitude. They were desperately waiting for someone, anyone, to stop the Rafa train, and Aerosol seemed to be that………….
Rafa’s match is the 1st on CC court tomorrow.
Weather forecast: no rain until 4pm
http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=uk7dayx7;page=2;ct=9616~London%20Borough%20of%20Ealing;sess=#forecast
Did Berdy and Cilic play today and who won?
Abhirf and Hawkeye:
My comment ‘And a lot of the hits are contributed by you and Hawkeye’ was simply a reference to the amusing ding dong between you two the the other day.
There was no way I was suggesting either of you were indulging in superfluous posts for the sake of it.
I didn’t mention Gussie because she is more than a poster on this site. She is Tenngrand’s honorary News and Picture editor. And IT expert to boot.
#ApologiesAllRound
‘
[polldaddy poll=8150802]
[polldaddy poll=8152611]
Rafa vs. Kuku – https://tenngrand.com/2014/06/28/wimbledon-r3-previews-and-picks-nadal-vs-kukushkin-federer-vs/
Don’t worry @ed, we didn’t took it seriously, anyways 🙂
That’s a relief ?
ed251137 says:
June 27, 2014 at 10:01 pm
“I didn’t mention Gussie because she is more than a poster on this site. She is Tenngrand’s honorary News and Picture editor. And IT expert to boot.”
:star:
😆
Good to see Cilic stepping up.
Beats the Birdman in straights.
One thing I wanted to say, is that people sometimes give too much credence to how the top players look in the early rounds. That has not traditionally been an indicator as to how they will do in a slam.
How many times has Fed looked invincible against the nobodies who he faces in his early rounds, only to lose to the first decent player he meets?
I don’t necessarily think that Novak looking unimpressive in the early rounds, means that he can’t get to the final or win Wimbledon.
The goal is to get through the tricky early rounds and get into really good form for the second week.
GREAT POINT !! it is amazing how people are saying that Andy looks invincible and that Djokovic looks not so great and that Federer is back as he mae only five UE against Muller ! The early rnds are NOT a good indicator.
With Rafa we are quite used to biting our finger nails in the early rounds and seeing Master Classes from Federer. With Andy you never know what you’re going to get. It’s not so much a case of Novak being underwhelming to date – more a question of how he is reacting when he being pushed. This might simply have been due to underestimating Steps and Gillou and he was taken by surprise but he was clearly getting very rattled.
Having said that I’m fairly sure he’ll reach the SF (in spite of having to ‘battle’ with yesterday’s shoulder injury 😉 ) However he is looking a heap less cocky than usual.
Even these players just want themselves to get into the 2nd week of a slam and improve from thereoff.
When asked what he thought of Nole’s shoulder injury, McEnroe said Djoker must have been watching too much football. 😛
haha..