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The Tennis Thread (Part 31)
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Jenny1986
27-07-2016
I could be talking rubbish here, but for me I don't see the Olympics as hugely important in tennis because I don't see tennis as a national sport. They aren't out there representing their country week in week out. Which is what most of these other sports are all about. In the olympics, if Rafa played Andy, i'd still want Rafa to win, that can't be right at the olympics can it? Yet I wouldn't feel bad about it. It's why I can't get excited about DC.

That said I love the Olympics as an event so i'm still into the tennis there.
anyonefortennis
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Lisa.B:
“

It was supposed to.
”

OMG how embarrassing. One third of the roof complete. Are any of those roofs finished?
tartan-belle
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by smude:
“I think the players enjoyed being in London which was quite user friendly. I think Rio is not such an exciting prospect. I think Zika is a factor and the unpredictability of the country. I am suprised Raonic isn't there but not so much Berdych who has a new wife with whom he will want children.”

Milos isn't going because as most people on here surmised, he wants to have a big go at the USO, get a M1000.

Berdych - can we not assume he/his wife can have/want children? Because not everyone can/have difficulties in doing so.
lyn2
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by amelia_lee:
“Haha, no Cherry, I'm not that way, I don't care if Roger has a lot of them, yeah he does, but so does Novak, who is also great too.

I've always thought they were valuable as a title before Roger, the big names have won it. You only play your very closest competitors, you cannot win by only playing people under the top ten.

I've also always thought the same about Olympic's for tennis before Roger. Roger has a gold anyway, in tennis, I just don't think it is that valuable a title, it's nice, but it's not one of the biggest ones for the sport, case in point Nicolás Massú won in 04 and Fish was the silver and of course the great Swiss of Marc Rosset has a gold.

A lot of the biggest names have won the finals, Fed and Novak, Andre, Sampras, Becker, Hewitt, Edberg, Lendl, Mcenroe, Conners, Borg. It's one of the big titles, even if it is heavily sponsored.”

You missed a trick there Amelia - you could have said the reason he doesn't rate them is because Andy never does well there.
tartan-belle
27-07-2016
Just seen the articles people on here have linked to re: Rio

All it takes is one Gilles Simon-esque thing to happen and before you know it, someone will be threatening to sue...
Mike Teevee
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Jenny1986:
“I could be talking rubbish here, but for me I don't see the Olympics as hugely important in tennis because I don't see tennis as a national sport. They aren't out there representing their country week in week out. Which is what most of these other sports are all about. In the olympics, if Rafa played Andy, i'd still want Rafa to win, that can't be right at the olympics can it? Yet I wouldn't feel bad about it. It's why I can't get excited about DC.

That said I love the Olympics as an event so i'm still into the tennis there.”

Yes there are, just not in the exact same way as they do in Davis/Fed Cups or Olympics.

We wouldn't hear so much about how long it's been for an Aussie to win in Melbourne, a French player to have won Roland Garros or until recently a Brit to win Wimbledon. Granted they don't have a team uniform week to week, but they are representing their countries.
lyn2
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by tartan-belle:
“Milos isn't going because as most people on here surmised, he wants to have a big go at the USO, get a M1000.

Berdych - can we not assume he/his wife can have/want children? Because not everyone can/have difficulties in doing so.”

Berdy's statement kinda confirms it.
anyonefortennis
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by tartan-belle:
“Just seen the articles people on here have linked to re: Rio

All it takes is one Gilles Simon-esque thing to happen and before you know it, someone will be threatening to sue...”

I wouldn't stand under the quarter roof if I were him. It will probably collapse on him.
Jenny1986
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Mike Teevee:
“Yes there are, just not in the exact same way as they do in Davis/Fed Cups or Olympics.

We wouldn't hear so much about how long it's been for an Aussie to win in Melbourne, a French player to have won Roland Garros or until recently a Brit to win Wimbledon. Granted they don't have a team uniform week to week, but they are representing their countries.”

Maybe it's just me then, because I ignore bib completely. As soon as they start talking about that I tune out. I don't see tennis players as representing their country in the way athletes do in athletics. It might be a minuscule difference but I just see people doing their job, some I like some I don't. Maybe i'm in a minority on that though.

If Andy played Rafa in the Wimbledon final I would want Rafa to win, I don't feel that way about other sports where I support team GB.
Mike Teevee
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Jenny1986:
“Maybe it's just me then, because I ignore bib completely. As soon as they start talking about that I tune out. I don't see tennis players representing their country in the way athletes do in athletics. I just see people doing their job, some I like some I don't. Maybe i'm in a minority on that though.”

Like I said it's not in the exact same way, but they are representing their countries.
Jenny1986
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Mike Teevee:
“Like I said it's not in the exact same way, but they are representing their countries.”

Yes I agree with that, the small difference just makes me see tennis differently. It's more of an individual sport, maybe it's like golf in that respect.
Cherry-choc
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Jenny1986:
“The Olympic bids are a mystery to me, they got chosen in 2009. Why give the Olympics to Rio knowing they were hosting the World Cup in 2014? The world cup decision was made in 2007, so they knew. Where is the money coming from to host the 2 biggest events in the world? If the infrastructure isn't there, why choose them? It makes sense to somebody I guess, i'm sure the people living in favela's are thrilled about it.

It's not as bad a Qatar and the 2022 world cup, which is just madness.”

I don't doubt that many brown envelopes are exchanged for the right to host these things. The Salt Lake City bribery for the 2002 Winters was exposed, but I'd wager that it's just the tip of the iceberg.

Originally Posted by amelia_lee:
“Haha, no Cherry, I'm not that way, I don't care if Roger has a lot of them, yeah he does, but so does Novak, who is also great too.

I've always thought they were valuable as a title before Roger, the big names have won it. You only play your very closest competitors, you cannot win by only playing people under the top ten.

I've also always thought the same about Olympic's for tennis before Roger. Roger has a gold anyway, in tennis, I just don't think it is that valuable a title, it's nice, but it's not one of the biggest ones for the sport, case in point Nicolás Massú won in 04 and Fish was the silver and of course the great Swiss of Marc Rosset has a gold.

A lot of the biggest names have won the finals, Fed and Novak, Andre, Sampras, Becker, Hewitt, Edberg, Lendl, Mcenroe, Conners, Borg. It's one of the big titles, even if it is heavily sponsored.”

Well your closest competitors are there, but in many cases they are simply happy to be there with the glitzy walk-ons and aren't motivated to actually do well. Or their bodies are ready for the offseason. Murray's basically been playing like a top 20 player there for a fair while now, so how much would a win over him there mean? Bobbins.

Tbh, the WTF may hand out oodles of money and 1500 points to the winner, but I'd consider it less prestigious than certain Masters. Rome, Monte Carlo, Paris, Cincy are all higher up the food chain for moi.

Originally Posted by Lisa.B:
“Pretty much my thoughts on the WTFs too.

I dread to think what financial mess will be left on this chart after Rio.”

Not the first time we've been on the same page

Quote:
“She needs to work on her fitness and conditioning. It was a similar story with the back injury earlier in the year, which wasn't helped by Belinda trying to play through the pain barrier. She's still getting used to her adult body I guess.
Yeah I'm guessing it'll be Hingis/Timea and Hingis/Stan now.”

Yes, fair point. BB isn't especially conditioned, but it seems in this day and age you need to be. Worth it to recover from injuries quicker and potentially avoid injuries in the first place. Aga can pass for a mummy for much of the year as she's constantly bandaged up in some area.

Originally Posted by tartan-belle:
“Milos isn't going because as most people on here surmised, he wants to have a big go at the USO, get a M1000.

Berdych - can we not assume he/his wife can have/want children? Because not everyone can/have difficulties in doing so.”

Yes, Milos eventually abandoned the Zika excuse. Wish he'd been honest from the start.

And I can imagine the Czech flash...wanting kids, absolutement. Who wouldn't want to have Ester's babies?

Originally Posted by lyn2:
“You missed a trick there Amelia - you could have said the reason he doesn't rate them is because Andy never does well there. ”

I walked into that one, didn't I. I think Andy's made a couple of WTF semis, but usually doesn't get out of the groups. Some years he's been injured, or had other priorities like the DC.

Tbh, the crowd feels more Western European than it does British - I remember vividly when Andy played Roger there that the crowd were 70% behind Roger, and that must be deflating on home soil. Andy smashed his racket in that match and got roundly booed. Just wouldn't happen at Wimby. The Swiss Fed fans must be buying up tix en masse knowing that they'll also see Stan.

Originally Posted by Jenny1986:
“Yes I agree with that, the small difference just makes me see tennis differently. It's more of an individual sport, maybe it's like golf in that respect.”

Golf is still a privileged, white sport for me with a strong American bias. Feels that way even post-Tiger.
Lisa.B
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Jenny1986:
“Maybe it's just me then, because I ignore bib completely. As soon as they start talking about that I tune out. I don't see tennis players as representing their country in the way athletes do in athletics. It might be a minuscule difference but I just see people doing their job, some I like some I don't. Maybe i'm in a minority on that though.

If Andy played Rafa in the Wimbledon final I would want Rafa to win, I don't feel that way about other sports where I support team GB.”

I see what you're saying, but I'm the same with athletics and swimming, there'll be non-GB competitors in Rio that I'll be supporting above 'our own' as it were.
Jenny1986
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Lisa.B:
“I see what you're saying, but I'm the same with athletics and swimming, there'll be non-GB competitors in Rio that I'll be supporting above 'our own' as it were.”

Maybe it's because tennis is the sport I actively follow, so I know players beyond their nationalities. Whereas most other sports I'm more casually interested and fall into 'yay team GB mentality'. When you have your favourites, it's hard to switch off just because it's suddenly all about one nation against another.

BTW, did you see the little gift I posted yesterday?
Lisa.B
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Jenny1986:
“Maybe it's because tennis is the sport I actively follow, so I know players beyond their nationalities. Whereas most other sports I'm more casually interested and fall into 'yay team GB mentality'. When you have your favourites, it's hard to switch off just because it's suddenly all about one nation against another.

BTW, did you see the little gift I posted yesterday?”

Yep it's different with the sports you're actively keen on and get to know the characters and personalities beyond just a casual once every few years way. I find it just as difficult in Fed Cup when I'm trying to support players on different teams within the same match-up!

Had to go back and find it.

Originally Posted by Jenny1986:
“I'm sorry I couldn't resist. I will make it up to you somehow.

How about This”

Oh yes that was definitely worth going back for.
Jinga
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Jenny1986:
“I could be talking rubbish here, but for me I don't see the Olympics as hugely important in tennis because I don't see tennis as a national sport. They aren't out there representing their country week in week out. Which is what most of these other sports are all about. In the olympics, if Rafa played Andy, i'd still want Rafa to win, that can't be right at the olympics can it? Yet I wouldn't feel bad about it. It's why I can't get excited about DC.

That said I love the Olympics as an event so i'm still into the tennis there.”

I think that trying to win an Olympic gold in singles was certainly a big deal for Fed, as he spent so many years saying he was going to play at least until the Rio Olympics. There has to be a reasonhe kept saying that. I have a feeling, though, that when he said it initially, he didn't expect to go without a Slam title for at least four years - and that was the only thing that was missing from his resume.

I personally think that winning Olympcs gold should be the pinnacle achievement of your sport - and it cannot be for tennis or golf. However, I get the impression that for the top players - Nadal, Novak, Andy, Federer and Serena - that Olympics tennis is hugely important. I think the team aspect is a novelty for them and it inspires them. This Olympics is complicated by poor infrastructure and the Zika virus - I guess we'll see in four years time how the top twenty react to the Olympics then. I'm sure now that Fed would choose to win a Slam over a shot at Olympic gold, but Novak, at the height of his career and winning so many Slams, might value the Olympic gold more this year (than winning the US).
Jenny1986
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Lisa.B:
“Yep it's different with the sports you're actively keen on and get to know the characters and personalities beyond just a casual once every few years way. I find it just as difficult in Fed Cup when I'm trying to support players on different teams within the same match-up!

Had to go back and find it.



Oh yes that was definitely worth going back for. ”

I hope i'm forgiven for my Virginia Wade comment now.

We may see interest in the Olympics increase if they reintroduce ranking points for Tokyo. I don't buy the Zika excuse in many cases. At least Milos has decided to be honest about his reasons now. He has momentum at the moment, if he feels he can carry that into the US Open then fair enough. Prestige isn't always enough, or they don't think the olympics has prestige in tennis, I don't know.

Random question, is there a rule on skirt length? They are showing a replay of Broady's match and her skirt doesn't even cover her arse.
Jenny1986
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Jinga:
“I think that trying to win an Olympic gold in singles was certainly a big deal for Fed, as he spent so many years saying he was going to play at least until the Rio Olympics. There has to be a reasonhe kept saying that. I have a feeling, though, that when he said it initially, he didn't expect to go without a Slam title for at least four years - and that was the only thing that was missing from his resume.

I personally think that winning Olympcs gold should be the pinnacle achievement of your sport - and it cannot be for tennis or golf. However, I get the impression that for the top players - Nadal, Novak, Andy, Federer and Serena - that Olympics tennis is hugely important. I think the team aspect is a novelty for them and it inspires them. This Olympics is complicated by poor infrastructure and the Zika virus - I guess we'll see in four years time how the top twenty react to the Olympics then. I'm sure now that Fed would choose to win a Slam over a shot at Olympic gold, but Novak, at the height of his career and winning so many Slams, might value the Olympic gold more this year (than winning the US).”


Yes I agree with what you say here, I wonder what they could do to make the olympics at least level with slams. Beyond ranking points and an automatic induction into the Hall of fame or something, I have no idea.

Bib I think is a good point, perhaps it is easier to want a gold medal when you have won slams already, or are at least in the top tier of players. Although Andy is the perfect example of doing it the other way round. The inspiration he got from the Gold medal was plain to see.
Lisa.B
27-07-2016
The removal of the ranking points definitely killed what goodwill Olympic tennis had been building up, that and the other known issues.

Still whoever is left and going to Rio, the draw ceremony will be at 3pm our time on the 4th August.
amelia_lee
27-07-2016
Jesus Christ!!! Thanks for that link Lisa, but my god it's depressing.
London Olympics made nil, cost the country 10 billion and us 4.4 billion and it made nothing in return. I'm speechless.
amelia_lee
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by lyn2:
“You missed a trick there Amelia - you could have said the reason he doesn't rate them is because Andy never does well there. ”

Haha, well you never know Lyn.
I may not have posted it, may have thought it though.
dduk
27-07-2016
Konta breaks first against King. Not liking the camera angle on court 9, but hey, beggars can't be choosers, at least the match is getting tv coverage.
amelia_lee
27-07-2016
Well your closest competitors are there, but in many cases they are simply happy to be there with the glitzy walk-ons and aren't motivated to actually do well. Or their bodies are ready for the offseason. Murray's basically been playing like a top 20 player there for a fair while now, so how much would a win over him there mean? Bobbins.

Tbh, the WTF may hand out oodles of money and 1500 points to the winner, but I'd consider it less prestigious than certain Masters. Rome, Monte Carlo, Paris, Cincy are all higher up the food chain for moi.

Copied and pasted you Cherry as couldn't deal with the editing the post!

I don't really see it like that, yes they are tired, but then they are tired in Paris, which you rate highly, I never do as many either pull out or seem to lack effort if they know they have the WTF coming up. Paris masters is always a tired place to see.

But, just because it is at the end of the season doesn't mean it doesn't count. i always find the quality of tennis to be much lower at the US open compared to the Aus open.

We can't base the worthiness of a title on how Andy plays! Roger has managed to pull out some pretty decent performances at the end of year, Novak too.

Are we saying it's bobbins because of his lack of energy? Should that extend to other players all over? A win is a win, they are all tired, it's when they lift their game that counts.
tartan-belle
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by Lisa.B:
“The removal of the ranking points definitely killed what goodwill Olympic tennis had been building up, that and the other known issues.

Still whoever is left and going to Rio, the draw ceremony will be at 3pm our time on the 4th August.”



Originally Posted by amelia_lee:
“Jesus Christ!!! Thanks for that link Lisa, but my god it's depressing.
London Olympics made nil, cost the country 10 billion and us 4.4 billion and it made nothing in return. I'm speechless.”

At least London paid it off quickly and the various stadiums are being recycled in some way.

La Monf also continues his good run against Pospisil and is up a set.
dduk
27-07-2016
Konta made hard work of that first set. Hope she improves in the second set.
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