Wimbledon Day 7, Monday 8th July

Even when Federer has a blip, he looks like Bambi on ice. The fact Federer could be done and dusted in under 90 minutes is extraordinary for the start of week 2. Couldn't wish for that.

One of the more comfortable formalities I've seen in a while. Could ask more than that for that start of week 2.

Fed perplexed that 130mph serves not going through as aces. Goes to show what a mudpit these courts are.

Raonic dragged into a 5th. Gawd.

Federer really had a dig at the courts there, that wasn’t even coded.

Looks like Djokovic will face Goffin in the QF, and probably Agut in the SF.

What a sad indictment when essentially a clay courter puts out a more fast court specialist. Fucking tragic.

I hope more players similar to Federer really dig out Wimbledon over this. 

Annoys me more the commentators not saying more on it. McEnroe if anything the only one lamenting the courts.

Pisses me off that players from the past are being classed as nobodies because they didn’t win Slam after Slam after Slam

There was a time that to do RG / W double you had to win on slow red clay and two weeks later play on fast lush green courts at Wimbledon. The Spanish high ranked players moaned like Hell about seeding because they were decimated by the first Wednesday. Sampras won 7 Wimbledon’s and made one RG semi.

The season swung through the year with totally different styles to watch and different players having dominant phases. Australian grass, European red clay, more grass, American hardcourts, indoor carpet. Almost different sports.

Now we watch the same tennis on differently coloured courts played by the same players in the same style.

There was a time winning a Slam was a monumental achievement. Even those one time winners it was a big deal. Purely because it was as you say beating the best on those relative surfaces. Winning Wimbledon having to play true grass court specialists for example was considered a big deal. See when I recall Agassi winning Wimbledon in 1992, that was huge. There was no way with that game at that time he should've won it. It feels more and more it doesn't take the best tennis to win a Slam. I never had an issue even with clay specialists. After all outthinking a rallyer was impressive. As with Hardcourts or Carpet. 

This Wimbledon has shown it won't be the best or bravest tennis that wins out. Just more who can stand at the end!

The big question is has the Big 3 cheapened the Slams?

If there had been some faster slams Federer would probably be sitting on around 25 now.

If if if if

If doesnt exist

legendkillar wrote:Fed perplexed that 130mph serves not going through as aces. Goes to show what a mudpit these courts are.

It;s disgraceful and make this championship so boring and predictable so far. I know the FO was poorly organised, but this so far is even less of a spectacle. Being able to bash the ball like Nadal is of huge help whereas before grass was rewarding sharp aggression.

naxroy wrote:If if if if

If doesnt exist

Have you got critical thinking and analytical skills or have you just got drooling praise for top players?

Tenez wrote:

naxroy wrote:If if if if

If doesnt exist

Have you got critical thinking and analytical skills or have you just got drooling praise for top players?

You answered your own question. Just drooling praise.

summerblues wrote:Three players yet to drop a set:
Bautista-Agut (lost 25 games)
Nishikori (31)
Raonic (38)

Three in-form players.  We should be looking for next Sunday's champion in this group.

Raonic is now out and Nishi dropped a set.  Bautista-Agut the only one this tournament still with a clean sheet.  Lest we forget, he also has two wins over Nole from earlier this year.  Maybe with a bit of luck, we may get to enjoy an all-Spanish Wimbledon final?

Goffin at 28 the youngest quarterfinalist.  

The Big Three, average age 34, don't need to break sweat and only two of their 9 sets even get to 6:3.

QF opponents for the Big 3 look at least somewhat respectable:

1.  Nishi is not much of a grass court player but he has played to his seeding at least, so he is a worthy QF opponent in that sense.

2.  Goffin too is ok for a slam quarterfinal.  His ranking is lower than his abilities and he just made the final in Halle, so nothing wrong with him being here.

3.  Querrey obviously overall the weakest one, but his game is better suited to Wimbledon and in fact between Goffin, Nishi and him, he is the only one who had previously been to a SF here, and reached at least QF twice.  So he is not totally out of place here either.

Obviously, all heavy underdogs but hopefully Querrey and Goffin can put up some resistance.  For Nishi vs Fed I just hope the match will not be too long and draining.  If Nishi is to win, I'd rather he does it in quick three sets than in five.

A bit of trivia:

Federer had never beaten both Rafa and Nole in the same slam. I do not see him doing that now at almost 38 years of age either.

Nole accomplished a similar feat once - at 2011 USO where he beat Fed in SF and Rafa in final.

Rafa accomplished it three times - but all three were before Nole became the phenomenal Nole we know now.  In each of 2006, 2007 and 2008 RG, Rafa beat both Nole and Fed.

Tenez wrote:

legendkillar wrote:Fed perplexed that 130mph serves not going through as aces. Goes to show what a mudpit these courts are.

It;s disgraceful and make this championship so boring and predictable so far. I know the FO was poorly organised, but this so far is even less of a spectacle. Being able to bash the ball like Nadal is of huge help whereas before grass was rewarding sharp aggression.

I agree with that. I know the FO copped a lot of flack. Granted Wimbledon not hampered by scheduling issues, but fuck me the conds have been absolutely shocking. Seeing Raonic unable to hit through Pella was cruel in a way. Plus the way they've schedule Gauff's matches. They have been an absolute embarrassment the organisers.