Love Overend quote," Federer brings out the best in Tsonga, perhaps he should be his coach"!
Tsonga playing well but I would never write Fed off until the last ball is played.
I find the arguments that a player lost but.....they were injured, quite frustrating.
Whereas they may well have had a problem, it completely takes away the moment for the winning opponent.
It implies that actually we can't evaluate the match properly as this can only be done when both players are in the ideal fitness state that exists somewhere.
She lost that match but somehow, it doesn't quite count because she was injured.
Injuries of all types are an ongoing part of being a professional.
Just about EVERY pro AT ALL TIMES has some sort of niggle or worse.
A mate of mine did a charity event with Jaco Eltingh just after he retired from the tour and when asked what it was like no longer being a pro, Eltingh replied, 'It's just great to get up each day without something hurting'.
The great Roy Emerson used to say if you walk onto the court for a match, then you are fit.
Of course, stuff happens in a match and I'm not suggesting for one second that Williams or any other player is feigning injury but it is part of the process; something to be dealt with.
If a player wins a match, then he / she won it; they didn't go through to the next round because their opponent was injured.
I know that the demands of the digital age 24 hour media require players to give answers to endless questions and when an injury clearly affects a player in a match, it's an obvious topic to ask about but I like it when the injured player, as most of them do, will not use the injury as a factor to justify their defeat.
PS To me, the relative quite about Andy Murray through this tournament is a testament to his outstanding level of performance. I just hope all the people who went on about him when he had ups and downs in previous Slams, as if this was part of his performance DNA or even British player DNA, are taking a moment to enjoy his top class tennis (thus far, of course).
with respect TM I have to disagree, much as it pains me to do so
There's a world of difference between beating a player because you're better than them and beating a player because they've hurt hurt their back/pulled a hamstring/injured an ankle.
Andy has beaten Rafa twice in GS, but there's a vast (IMO) difference between his USO win in 08 and his AO win in '10. Of course the records just list the result as a win, but it is different if you're playing an injured opponent.
Amelie's AO win against Justine is (perhaps unfairly) tainted due to the latter's retirement, compared to Amelie's win in Wimby final of the same year
PS I just hope all the people who went on about him when he had ups and downs in previous Slams, as if this was part of his performance DNA or even British player DNA, are taking a moment to enjoy his top class tennis (thus far, of course).
With due respect tennisman, but no, thanks. Also let's just say that he had a very easy ride so far in that all his opponents are mainly lightweights.
hmm if he gets off to a good start in this set, this could be over soonish
Could be, but all it takes with Tsonga is a few good games to turn things around, just like Wimby 2011 - I'm sure both players will be thinking about that too! I'm just never sure these days whether Fed will be able to close out a match like this or not
Could be, but all it takes with Tsonga is a few good games to turn things around, just like Wimby 2011 - I'm sure both players will be thinking about that too! I'm just never sure these days whether Fed will be able to close out a match or not
I'm still hoping for Tsonga win, he's the only player who makes me smile win he plays on his game.
hmm if he gets off to a good start in this set, this could be over soonish
:eek: Keep the faith, Mike. That little break will boost his confidence. Love watching Tsonga. Even if I've had 90 mnutes sleep in the last 24 hours.
Not often I disagree with you tennisman, but watching it, it was obvious she was in pretty bad pain and was very subdued.
I'm really glad Sloane won, but not because I was being very anti-Serena and really wanted her to lose, but because I didn't enjoy watching someone with so much pain carry on. Sloane thoroughly deserves to get the W, but against a fully fit Serena the score might have been slightly different.
Soane played damn good tennis at times, but I still think a fully fit Serena would now have a semi- final place.
That doesn't negate her win, but it does provide a background to the win and cant be compared to something like the match on at the moment when both are blazing at full guns.
Sloane was not winning against a fit Serena. No way
Aza's to lose imho
She was leading in the second set before Serena got injured though. Fair enough saying that but if you watched it Serena wasn't injured as bad in the final set she was hitting powerful shots, not 100% but no one will know
Comments
Yay JW takes the second set.
Tsonga playing well but I would never write Fed off until the last ball is played.
Whereas they may well have had a problem, it completely takes away the moment for the winning opponent.
It implies that actually we can't evaluate the match properly as this can only be done when both players are in the ideal fitness state that exists somewhere.
She lost that match but somehow, it doesn't quite count because she was injured.
Injuries of all types are an ongoing part of being a professional.
Just about EVERY pro AT ALL TIMES has some sort of niggle or worse.
A mate of mine did a charity event with Jaco Eltingh just after he retired from the tour and when asked what it was like no longer being a pro, Eltingh replied, 'It's just great to get up each day without something hurting'.
The great Roy Emerson used to say if you walk onto the court for a match, then you are fit.
Of course, stuff happens in a match and I'm not suggesting for one second that Williams or any other player is feigning injury but it is part of the process; something to be dealt with.
If a player wins a match, then he / she won it; they didn't go through to the next round because their opponent was injured.
I know that the demands of the digital age 24 hour media require players to give answers to endless questions and when an injury clearly affects a player in a match, it's an obvious topic to ask about but I like it when the injured player, as most of them do, will not use the injury as a factor to justify their defeat.
PS To me, the relative quite about Andy Murray through this tournament is a testament to his outstanding level of performance. I just hope all the people who went on about him when he had ups and downs in previous Slams, as if this was part of his performance DNA or even British player DNA, are taking a moment to enjoy his top class tennis (thus far, of course).
There's a world of difference between beating a player because you're better than them and beating a player because they've hurt hurt their back/pulled a hamstring/injured an ankle.
Andy has beaten Rafa twice in GS, but there's a vast (IMO) difference between his USO win in 08 and his AO win in '10. Of course the records just list the result as a win, but it is different if you're playing an injured opponent.
Amelie's AO win against Justine is (perhaps unfairly) tainted due to the latter's retirement, compared to Amelie's win in Wimby final of the same year
hmm if he gets off to a good start in this set, this could be over soonish
With due respect tennisman, but no, thanks. Also let's just say that he had a very easy ride so far in that all his opponents are mainly lightweights.
But Sloane had broken Serena before the injury and was 4-3 30-0 up in the set. Sloane played some good tennis
Could be, but all it takes with Tsonga is a few good games to turn things around, just like Wimby 2011 - I'm sure both players will be thinking about that too! I'm just never sure these days whether Fed will be able to close out a match like this or not
I'm still hoping for Tsonga win, he's the only player who makes me smile win he plays on his game.
He also seems like a nice guy
Not often I disagree with you tennisman, but watching it, it was obvious she was in pretty bad pain and was very subdued.
I'm really glad Sloane won, but not because I was being very anti-Serena and really wanted her to lose, but because I didn't enjoy watching someone with so much pain carry on. Sloane thoroughly deserves to get the W, but against a fully fit Serena the score might have been slightly different.
Soane played damn good tennis at times, but I still think a fully fit Serena would now have a semi- final place.
That doesn't negate her win, but it does provide a background to the win and cant be compared to something like the match on at the moment when both are blazing at full guns.
Even if you don't win - keep Fedbot out there as long as possible and tire him out. Makes it easier for Muzza
Aza's to lose imho
She was leading in the second set before Serena got injured though. Fair enough saying that but if you watched it Serena wasn't injured as bad in the final set she was hitting powerful shots, not 100% but no one will know
Very erratic. May beat Maria but not both Maria and aza if you get me
But Azarenka wasn't impressive against Jamie-Leigh Hampton - only just squeezed through
Go Tsonga!