Love, Balls and Courting: Tennis V

skatesindreams

skatesindreams

Well-Known Member
Messages
30,696
twinsissv said:
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS! Two! Four! Six! Eight!
Roger Federer, You're just GREAT!
:cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2:
Click to expand...
Meredith said:
I'm so happy for Roger. I've enjoyed watching him since his first Wimbledon.
Click to expand...

Amen, to all the above.
It was wonderful to see Roger so moved; and everyone so happy for him.
He's a wonderful role model for his sport.

I'm sure that my late father; who taught me to love tennis, is applauding, as well.
 
peibeck

peibeck

Simply looking
Messages
30,982
More cheers for Fed here.

What a year it's been. Last year so many considered Roger and Rafa past their prime, and now it's Andy and Novak who have seemingly lost their way and the "old guys" are now 1 & 2 in the world again.
 
V

Vash01

Fan of Yuzuru, T&M, P&C
Messages
55,458
aftershocks said:
Venus has Sjogrens Syndrome guys, an autoimmune disorder with symptoms that include profound fatigue, joint pain, and extensive dryness of the eyes and mouth: https://www.sjogrens.org/home/about-sjogrens

Obviously, Venus has dealt with this illness for a number of years and she's found a way to manage it with a workable training regimen and whatever treatment methods are available. It's absolutely Venus' amazing and indefatigable force of will that has allowed her to continue playing competitive tennis, and winning! It's simply astounding that Venus made it back to the recent Australian Open final (of course she lost to her sister Serena, as has happened quite often in slam finals). This was a golden opportunity for Venus at Wimbledon with Serena not playing. But how many of us actually expected Venus to soldier all the way to the finals? At the age of 37 for Venus to make it to another Wimbledon final while battling her illness, the media, and prying questions about the recent car accident is rather miraculous. I was rooting for Venus to win another Wimbledon, but apparently it was asking too much for her to win against the young, talented, very game and very hungry Muguruza, especially after losing that close first set.

I'm sure it's extremely disappointing and disheartening for Venus not to have been able to lift her game for the second set. And yet, she was able to grace us with her smile and carry herself like the champion she is and will always be. Tennis is obviously a tough mental and physical game. Venus knew she needed to win the first set. Venus not winning that first set after being ahead gave her younger opponent a huge burst of confidence. As Muguruza said, "I grew up watching Venus play ... she's a role model." So many players who have been on the tour during the magnificent reign of the Williams sisters, have bitten the dust a long time ago.

All the players on the women's side over the past 20 years have looked to the Williams sisters in order to learn what it takes to play like a champion and to win. Everyone wants to beat them both. Few have accomplished that feat. Congrats to Muguruza on obtaining her first Venus rosewater dish by beating Venus -- something many others have tried and failed to do! Mucho respect to Venus Williams who has held the lovely champion's trophy that is so aptly named, five times. :respec: If not for Serena, Venus would have won many more Wimbledon titles and Grand slams. Meanwhile, Serena has won Wimbledon 7 times, and has achieved a record 23 Grand slam titles (after surpassing Steffi Graf's 22 Grand slam wins). And it's Venus who has been Serena's inspiration, motivation, and role model. After winning the French Open in 2016 and now Wimbledon, it will be interesting to see how many slams and how many Wimbledon titles Muguruza will win in her burgeoning career. This Wimbledon is a good start. And of course both of her Grand slam victories were won against each of the Williams sisters, who are tough to beat.

Additional questions: Will Serena have a boy or a girl? How will Serena fare when she returns to the tour? Will Venus be able to make it back to another Grand slam final? No matter what, the Williams sisters' life accomplishments are already beyond legendary.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with your whole post. Congrats to Venus for making it to the Wimbledon final despite her physical and emotional distractions. I hope she can continue to play at a high level, regardless of whether or not she wins a major again.

I am wondering how motivated Serena will feel at this point in her life? However, it is never good to underestimate the heart of a champion. Just look at Roger Federer. I think she will want to make a comeback and win again.
 
Meredith

Meredith

what a glorious day!
Messages
2,104
I was surprised and pleased to see Martina Hingus. I have not not paid attention to mixed doubles at all!
 
skatesindreams

skatesindreams

Well-Known Member
Messages
30,696
She has been competing in/winning Mixed Doubles for quite some time.
I believe she appreciates her "second career" success; even more than she did, years ago.
 
aftershocks

aftershocks

Banned Member
Messages
17,317
Yep, it's nice for Hingis to have come back and found a way to play and to win in doubles, both Women's doubles and Mixed doubles. Congrats to her! Indeed, I believe she cherishes and appreciates her comeback success in tennis even more than those early days in her career when she was #1 in singles for a time and battling to stave off the juggernaut of the Williams sisters. :)

Cool to see so many past champions still playing and winning after all these years, including Roger, Rafa, Serena, Venus, and Martina H. I fondly recall exactly twenty years ago this September when Martina Hingis played the young gazelle, Venus Williams, in the finals of the U.S. Open, inside the newly built Arthur Ashe stadium, no less. This was their 3rd head-to-head meeting at which Martina prevailed for the third time. Venus broke through to win at their 4th meeting at a tournament in Sydney, in 1998. Of their 21 head-to-head matches, they almost break even, with Martina surprisingly coming out on top at 11 wins to 10 for Venus. The last singles match they played against each other was in 2006, a Rome QF with Martina winning in a 3-setter: 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 Fascinating.

Head-to-head against Serena, again surprisingly, Martina almost breaks even, with Serena prevailing at 7 wins to 6 for Martina. And interestingly, Serena and Martina only met in QF (6), SF (5), and F (2).

Martina's overall stats are also impressive because tennis is a tough mental and physical enterprise with many challenges that can keep even great players from winning. That's what makes Roger's, Venus', Rafa's and of course, Serena's continued championship presence at the top of the game so very awe-inspiring. Martina Hingis has won 5 Grand slam singles titles vs 7 runner-up placements. That includes 3 Australian Opens, 1 U.S. Open, 1 Wimbledon, and runner-up at the Australian Open 3 times, at the French Open twice, and at the U.S. Open twice. But all of this activity took place from 1997 to 2002, after which Martina failed to reach the singles finals in Grand slam tournaments, but not for want of trying.

In addition, Martina has won 12 Grand slam Women's doubles titles vs 3 runner-ups; and she's now with this latest win, 6 and 0 in Grand slam Mixed doubles championship wins! Her Women's doubles activities in Grand slam finals took place from 1996 to 2002, and then from 2014 - 2016. She won her first Grand slam Mixed doubles title in 2006 with Mahesh Bhupathi, at the Australian Open. She returned to winning Grand slam Mixed doubles titles in 2015 and 2016 with partner, Leander Paes. She won the Wimbledon Mixed doubles title this year with her latest partner, Jamie Murray of Great Britain. In Women's doubles Grand slams, Martina has lately won with Sania Mirza of India. Over her career, Martina has also played Women's doubles Grand slams with Flavia Pennetta, Anna Kournikova, Mary Pierce, Jana Novotna, Mirjana Lucic, Natasha Zvereva, and Helena Sukova. In 2016 at the Summer Olympics in Rio, Martina won the silver medal in Women's doubles with Timea Bacsinsky. Martina's overall career stats including Grand slams, WTA circuit & other tournaments: 43 titles, 25 runner-ups; and Women's doubles career: 60 titles, 22 runner-ups (not including Mixed doubles, Olympics, or team events).
 
S

Seerek

Well-Known Member
Messages
5,781
It's totally up in the air who the #1 women's seed for the US Open will be.

Karolina Pliskova's reign at #1 may actually not last past this summer, since she has champion points from Cincinatti to defend. Likewise, Simona Halep has to defend champion points from Toronto.
 
aftershocks

aftershocks

Banned Member
Messages
17,317
Pat Cash interviews Bjorn Borg who has a 13-year-old son who loves tennis and is good at it. Fun to hear Bjorn and see him happy in his 60s. He comments on the fact there's so much money in tennis that there's lots of parents pushing their kids who don't actually want to play tennis. That's sad, but not new.

Of course Borg, and all the tennis greats say Roger Federer is the greatest of of all. True.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IHOQfI_FxY

And here's some Roger vids:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsRTCVVt-R0 Roger tribute with various highlights 2017 and thru the years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmwOPGKpAeQ Roger's Wimbledon match point and full awards ceremony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKzeakSHfsg Garbine & Roger at Champions dinner

:D Novak & Serena dancing at 2015 Champions dinner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cALSht4P0Tg

Serena & Andy Murray announced at 2016 Champions dinner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbU-c1yoBow
 
Last edited:
quartz

quartz

scratching at the light
Messages
20,012
danafan said:
Huge upset at Rogers Cup in Montreal - 18 year old Denis Shapovalov beats Rafael Nadal in a thrilling three set match! The winner Shapovalov made on match point was a spectacular shot!
Click to expand...
That was so much freakin' FUN!!! And I luuuurves Rafa; but to see this kid, who I have never heard of, WIN, in such a spectacular fashion - THAT, is just pure underdog glory. This is exactly the sort of sports thing I adore!! :cheer2: :cheer: :cheer2: :cheer: :cheer2: :cheer: :cheer2: :cheer: :cheer2: :cheer: :cheer2: :cheer:

(And I may have drank three very big huge glasses of wine while watching that! :nopryde:)
 
C

chantilly

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,014
It's quite exciting to be a Canadian fan of tennis these days even despite the disappointments of Bouchard in particular and Raonic.
There's another female coming up too.
Can't wait to see shapavalov at the us open.
 
oleada

oleada

Well-Known Member
Messages
43,434
Azarenka is missing the USO series due to baby daddy drama ... looks like an ugly custody battle already :(
 
Last edited:
Jimena

Jimena

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,306
Oy. Poor Vika.

I'm glad there are some up and coming youngsters moving up in tennis. I like Zverev a lot and he seems very thoughtful and mature for a 20 (!!!!!) year old. Shapovalov reminds me too much of Lleyton Hewitt physically and in court demeanor at the moment. I need to get over it before I can appreciate him.
 
T

tylersf

Well-Known Member
Messages
494
Throughout the years, the USA has a huge junior development program that churns out dozens of physically talented juniors. However, what seems to be lacking with US players these days is the mental toughness that past American champions (Evert, Connors - especially) possessed.
True, there is more competition these days, but the USTA program has great funding, resources and facilities that have the potential to turn out champions. What is happening?
Eastern European countries with fewer resources are churning out top players in droves.
 
T

twinsissv

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,784
aftershocks said:
Pat Cash interviews Bjorn Borg who has a 13-year-old son who loves tennis and is good at it. Fun to hear Bjorn and see him happy in his 60s. He comments on the fact there's so much money in tennis that there's lots of parents pushing their kids who don't actually want to play tennis. That's sad, but not new.

Of course Borg, and all the tennis greats say Roger Federer is the greatest of of all. True.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IHOQfI_FxY

And here's some Roger vids:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsRTCVVt-R0 Roger tribute with various highlights 2017 and thru the years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmwOPGKpAeQ Roger's Wimbledon match point and full awards ceremony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKzeakSHfsg Garbine & Roger at Champions dinner

:D Novak & Serena dancing at 2015 Champions dinner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cALSht4P0Tg

Serena & Andy Murray announced at 2016 Champions dinner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbU-c1yoBow
Click to expand...
Ahhhh...Bjorn. Still my Swedish heartthrob after all of these years. :swoon:
 
Lacey

Lacey

Well-Known Member
Messages
12,364
Maria Sharapova, back from the two year ban that was reduced to 15 months, must have spent a lot of her off time designing. She is playing a third round night match at the US Open. She is wearing an all black outfit that has leather, lace and sequins, and is completed by black visor, black armband, black socks and sneakers, and ha ha, a blue tennis racket. GAH.
 
skatesindreams

skatesindreams

Well-Known Member
Messages
30,696
Lacey said:
She is wearing an all black outfit that has leather, lace and sequins, and is completed by black visor, black armband, black socks and sneakers, and ha ha, a blue tennis racket. GAH.
Click to expand...
She wore similar outfits, prior to the suspension.
 
aftershocks

aftershocks

Banned Member
Messages
17,317
Wow, compilation of "Top Ten 'Insane' Tennis Code Violation Disqualifications," including when Denis Shapovalov accidentally hit an umpire in the eye with a tennis ball. Like Denis said later, he learned from the experience about how better to manage controlling his emotions on court.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_XgWAXB1TI
 
aftershocks

aftershocks

Banned Member
Messages
17,317
I think the fawning, over-hyping media should have been more low key in their questions to Denis Shapovalov post his third round match and second round win over Tsonga. I think 'Shapo Luv' or 'D-Po' as I will nickname him is the real deal, and he's an exciting young player to watch. This has been a huge experience for him at the U.S. Open, which I think he will learn from. Indeed, D-Po's train has left the station, and it's an aerodynamic express model. But no hype of out-sized proportions is necessary. He needs a bit more maturing and seasoning before being asked to speak for his generation of players, although he is very well spoken, articulate and humble. Kudos to D-Po, but SMH at some of the construction and tone of questions asked of him prior to his match with the talented Pablo Carreno-Busta. Too much over-thinking about his overall prospects in this tournament is not what got Shapo Luv as far as he got in the first place. He did not play as loose in his match with Carreno-Busta -- and obviously he was unable to gain any momentum losing especially the first two sets in tiebreakers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCc_ClupQFM before D-Po's match with C-Busta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSwCoc8Q-60 D-Po after loss to C-Busta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tlOEKEsvHw Carreno-Busta's press conf.

And some of the press questions to Venus after one of her matches! :rolleyes: Venus, as always, is so regal in her demeanor. She slam-dunked some very weird questions. What a classy champion, and a classy lady Venus is!!! :respec:

Actually, I can't find the press conference in which Venus was asked too many questions about Serena, and the birth of Serena's baby and whether they had spoken to each other, and whether it was by phone or by text, and whether or not they used emojis! :rolleyes: Venus responded to that last oddity: 'No, we use the English language."

Here's the press conference after Venus' match with Navarro where interesting questions were asked (maybe the wacko questions were edited out?):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BngbfboJ4B8
I love Venus' answer to the question about Arthur Ashe!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Top
Do Not Sell My Personal Information