The Generic Tennis Thread
- Thread starter belboid
- Start date
Lord Camomile
Yipchaa!
Given the gov stance, would be slightly surprised if Wimbledon did.
Might depend on how the public reacts.
T & P
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Wow. Alcaraz wins the Miami ATP 1000 tournament aged 18. Truly feels like the next Nadal 
And unlike so many other pros in the early part of their careers, he comes across as a humble, cool headed decent kid. During yesterday’s semi final he actually conceded a point at 6-5 down that the umpire had ruled in his favour, as he was close to the ball and saw the call was wrong (and it indeed was, as shown in the TV replay). How many pros have ever done that, certainly those with a shot of winning their match?
And unlike so many other pros in the early part of their careers, he comes across as a humble, cool headed decent kid. During yesterday’s semi final he actually conceded a point at 6-5 down that the umpire had ruled in his favour, as he was close to the ball and saw the call was wrong (and it indeed was, as shown in the TV replay). How many pros have ever done that, certainly those with a shot of winning their match?
oryx
Sitting on the bok of the day
Yes, been watching him this week and today. He's going to be huge! (Well he already is...Wow. Alcaraz wins the Miami ATP 1000 tournament aged 18. Truly feels like the next Nadal
And unlike so many other pros in the early part of their careers, he comes across as a humble, cool headed decent kid. During yesterday’s semi final he actually conceded a point at 6-5 down that the umpire had ruled in his favour, as he was close to the ball and saw the call was wrong (and it indeed was, as shown in the TV replay). How many pros have ever done that, certainly those with a shot of winning their match?
).
oryx
Sitting on the bok of the day
Indeed. While Djokovic loses to Rublev on his home turf...Alcaraz wins another ATP tournament, and will be world No. 9 from tomorrow. He was won every final he has made, and in straight sets. Astonishing
I meant to post on this thread a few days ago about the Wimbledon ban for Russian and Belarusian players. I have read and thought about it quite a bit and am still undecided whether I support it or not.
On the one hand it seems unfair as there is no evidence of any of them being Putin supporters (AFAIK) and Rublev and Pavlyuchenkova have actually made anti-war statements. Which could not have been easy bearing in mind Putin's treatment of any opposition stance, and the effect this might have on them or their families back home. Also tennis is an individual sport and when playing in non-team events, players are effectively playing for themselves and not for their country (it's the player who wins the points & prize money obv, although there is a measure of glory for their home country and their fans, especially with a Slam win).
On the other sending a message to Putin, and the lives of millions of Ukrainians, is more important than Medvedev, Rublev etc.'s chances of winning a slam. By far. But will it be effective?
What do other tennis fans on here think?
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Rublev is the one who wrote 'no war please' on the camera?
Yeah, tough on him. That was a courageous thing to do.
Yeah, tough on him. That was a courageous thing to do.
T & P
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I think the ban is wrong too, as far as tennis players are concerned at least (as opposed to team sports such as football). And letting players who speak up against the war play at Wimbledon, as some have proposed, would be forcing them into a position they might not want to take if they have family in Russia. Putin is already painting vocal opponents as traitors to the state.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I'm pretty conflicted on it. I don't like the ban, and I agree over your point about saying 'speak out against the war'. Rublev's already done that, though. He quite possibly is already in trouble for it - at the very least his card will have been marked.
On the other hand, I do understand why Ukrainian or Polish players demand a ban.
It would be powerful if Medvedev in particular spoke out. But is it fair to demand it?
On the other hand, I do understand why Ukrainian or Polish players demand a ban.
It would be powerful if Medvedev in particular spoke out. But is it fair to demand it?
oryx
Sitting on the bok of the day
Yes, while I'm conflicted about the ban, I don't think expecting players to condemn the war is going to work, when AFAIK even calling it a war carries a substantial jail sentence.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Elina Svitolina has been forthright in praising Wimbledon's actions. She's out of action at the moment, but would it be fair on her or those like her to have them face up to a Russian opponent?
It's one of those where I can see merit in both sides of the argument. Like so much about this war, I just don't know. There's no good answer.
It's one of those where I can see merit in both sides of the argument. Like so much about this war, I just don't know. There's no good answer.
oryx
Sitting on the bok of the day
Russians who denounce war 'should play Wimbledon'
Russian and Belarusian players who speak out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine should be allowed to compete at Wimbledon, says Elina Svitolina.
www.bbc.co.uk
Svitolina has said some of the Russian and Belarusian players haven't exactly been sympathetic towards her. Again I'm conflicted about this - it could be a lack of sympathy for a perceived 'enemy'
or it could be, perhaps justified, paranoia that expressing empathy for a Ukrainian colleague could somehow get back to the Russian state.There is no good answer with this, you're right. One thing that will be interesting (for want of a better word) is whether other tournaments will do what Wimbledon plans to do.
Leafster
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I can't decide whether I'm in favour of the ban or not. I think it's fair to ban Russian and Belarusian teams from the Billie Jean Cup, Davis Cup etc. But I'm less sure about the individual competitions. The Russian and Belarusian players are in a tricky position if they speak out against the war. However, Ukrainian players like Illya Marchenko and Sergiy Stakhovsky (although he's retired and now fighting in the war!) seem to be strongly in favour of the ban.
rekil
to menny cranks
Alcaraz wins another ATP tournament, and will be world No. 9 from tomorrow. He was won every final he has made, and in straight sets. Astonishing
He just beat Nadal.
oryx
Sitting on the bok of the day
Astonishing, given that I thought he was fairly likely to retire after that ankle injury!
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Alcaraz feels like the player we've all been waiting to arrive for the last ten years. Looks the real deal.
T & P
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Truly the passing of the baton
T & P
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As a general observation, has anyone else noticed that if a British player is not involved and the tournament in question is not a grand slam, most newspapers in this country don’t seem to employ a dedicated tennis correspondent and/or pay the necessary fees to the news agencies to access and publish match reports until the next day?
The hottest name in tennis right now, Alcaraz, beat Djokovic today. It’s now early morning Sunday, and most newspapers don’t even report the story, and the most recent news is him beating Nadal the previous day. Of all the papers, only the Express has a dedicated tennis correspondent team that publishes up to date match reports.
The Guardian’s top of page article is dated 6 May. Wtf?
The hottest name in tennis right now, Alcaraz, beat Djokovic today. It’s now early morning Sunday, and most newspapers don’t even report the story, and the most recent news is him beating Nadal the previous day. Of all the papers, only the Express has a dedicated tennis correspondent team that publishes up to date match reports.
The Guardian’s top of page article is dated 6 May. Wtf?
oryx
Sitting on the bok of the day
I find The Guardian especially poor for tennis.
Leafster
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Yeah, Tennis reporting in the UK seems poor in general.
The BBC website is particularly annoying. If a Murray brother or Emma Raducanu stubs a toe they report it almost immediately but any other British player barely gets a mention. Quite often, mentions of other player's performances end up being tacked onto the end of a report about a Murray brother or Emma Raducanu.
For instance, Neal Skupski is in the doubles final in Madrid with Wesley Koolhof today. He's only leading the ATP Doubles Race at the moment (with Wesley) but he's not called Murray so they don't think it warrants a report.
There's definitely a delay in posting reports of non-Brit matches too and then they only seem to be for the 'big' names.
The BBC website is particularly annoying. If a Murray brother or Emma Raducanu stubs a toe they report it almost immediately but any other British player barely gets a mention. Quite often, mentions of other player's performances end up being tacked onto the end of a report about a Murray brother or Emma Raducanu.
For instance, Neal Skupski is in the doubles final in Madrid with Wesley Koolhof today. He's only leading the ATP Doubles Race at the moment (with Wesley) but he's not called Murray so they don't think it warrants a report.
There's definitely a delay in posting reports of non-Brit matches too and then they only seem to be for the 'big' names.
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
A decision well made
www.theguardian.com
Wimbledon stripped of ranking points over ban on Russian players
Wimbledon has been effectively reduced to an exhibition event after men’s ATP tour said it had ‘no option’ but to act
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Yep no choice really. Whatever the rights and wrongs of this, and I incline towards thinking Wimbledon is wrong but can see the other case, I think Wimbledon has acted in a poor manner by announcing this as a unilateral decision rather than working to produce a common position. Comes across to me like British elitist arrogance.
oryx
Sitting on the bok of the day
Yeah, just been watching. Looks like a bad sprain or ligament tear at least. Very sad - I can't see him being able to play Wimbledon.Sickening on-court injury suffered by Zverev. Awful to see. Hopefully nothing broken but what a terrible and way to go out
T & P
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A journalist asked Nadal in the post match press conference an interesting question: if a genie apparated to him and offered him the choice of winning on Sunday or losing but getting a healthy foot, what would he choose?
Without a moment’s doubt Nadal chose the foot. And then added so he could play sports with his mates for fun well into the future long after he’s retired (rather than so he can rack up as many trophies as possible). I believe him as well.
Without a moment’s doubt Nadal chose the foot. And then added so he could play sports with his mates for fun well into the future long after he’s retired (rather than so he can rack up as many trophies as possible). I believe him as well.
oryx
Sitting on the bok of the day
not sure exactly what's wrong but it sounds like a chronic and incurable condition.Much as I like Ruud, I think Nadal will beat him quite easily on Sunday. Anyone else see the Ruud/Rune handshake (and headshake!)?
T & P
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I was only made aware of this in the last couple of years, but basically they discovered very early on he had a foot genetic problem, and to mitigate it he had to wear a special shoe, which is what fucked up his knee for many years. So there was nothing wrong with his knee, but the prosthetic in his shoe that allowed him to play at the highest level in his teens and twenties with a dodgy foot messed up his knee good.
Much as I like Ruud, I think Nadal will beat him quite easily on Sunday. Anyone else see the Ruud/Rune handshake (and headshake!)?
Not it seems as if the foot issue has come to a head, and apart from playing with pain which surely he is, it’s only a short amount of time before it’s curtains for him.
Amazing career though, still playing at the highest level older than plenty of healthy players.
oryx
Sitting on the bok of the day
I hope he wins tomorrow. Ruud is thirteen years younger - his time will come.
