Love, Balls and Courting: Tennis V

[Hindernisse]

I did not know that Tommy Haas was still on the tour... I thought he retired ages ago

 

[Lorac]

Congrats to Federer for wining a 9th Halle title with a win over Alexander Zverev that took just 53 minutes. He has improved as the week went on and must feel he is in good form for another run at the Wimbledon title.

And congrats as well to Petra Kvitova who has just won the Edgbaston title in only her 2nd tournament back since her near career ending injury. Well done to her and she must be considered amongst the favs on the women's side for Wimbledon.

Currently watching the Queens final between Cilic and Lopez Into the 3rd and deciding set here!!

ETA: Feliciano wins it on the 3rd set tie-break which was a close fought affair.

The oldies are doing us proud at the moment!!!

 

[twinsissv]

Hip! Hip! Hooray! It's thirty-five year older's day!
Twin Power wins again for Dad!
Simply being 'deliciano' helped Feliciano!

 

[twinsissv]

Whoa. Halle, what a championship...match? Huh?

Wow! AEGON, What a championship match! Yippee!

 

[allezfred]

So I see we're all excited for Wimbledon....

Shows how long since I've watched tennis that there is now a British woman in the Top 10 in the world!

 

[oleada]

I hope Vika has a great comeback slam and Roger wins another one.

Sad that Kvitova couldn't build in her warm up success...

 

[elka_sk8]

Really horrific knee injury for Bethanie Mattek-Sands today. I hope it's not as serious as it looked.....

 

[skatesindreams]

How terrible for her!

((((Bethanie Mattek-Sands))))
Wishing her the best possible treatment; and a full recovery.

 

[skatingguy]

Here is Mattek-Sands injury - this is a potential career ending - it's very bad - her knee cap is not where it's supposed to be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvgL--DQWJ0

 

[Seerek]

At least as far as singles go, I'm afraid you're right. Bethanie has had an unlucky string of injuries over the past few years.

She put together an excellent last 12 months, winning those doubles majors with Safarova and the Rio gold in mixed with Sock.

 

[topaz]

Such a shame about BMS(Bethany Mattek Sands) injury. She is giving a facebook live update tomorrow. I'll update everyone.

I'm happy for Venus and Vika. Vika is still fighting to shake off the rust but her competitiveness has been on display. Heather W was a tough competitor today and next up for Vika is Simona Halep. I actually think this is a winnable match for Vika. Halep is going to face a mentally tough player but Halep in the past has struggled with big hitters. I like Halep but my girl Vika I would like to go far. In Vika's 2nd round match, at the beginning of the match, before her first serve someone in the crowd shouted "Come on Mom".

Konta looked good today but her section of the draw is going to be a serious test for her. Next round match between Ostapenko vs Svitolina. Part of thinks the winner of the match should make it the finals. Kerber is getting ready to be tested, we'll see if her confidence is back to the level it was last year.

Rafa has looked incredible. I've never seen him play this well on grass maybe ever. This is better than 2009. The topspin angles he's displaying with his strokes is unbelievable.

Bernard Tomic was fined $15k for his comments after his recent loss and his racket maker Head dropped him.

 

[oleada]

Here is Mattek-Sands injury - this is a potential career ending - it's very bad - her knee cap is not where it's supposed to be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvgL--DQWJ0

I am not squeamish but that injury is just awful and Bethanie's screams are just horrific.

It sounds like it could be career ending and she was playing so well lately, too. Hope she can recover.

 

[topaz]

Also, Daniela Hantuchova announced her retirement today.

 

[skatesindreams]

I would appreciate that. Thank you.

Such a shame about BMS(Bethany Mattek Sands) injury. She is giving a facebook live update tomorrow. I'll update everyone.

 

[topaz]

Bethanie Mattek Sands update:

Dislocated patella(knee cap) and ruptured patella tendon. Devestating
https://www.facebook.com/BethanieMattekSands/videos/1775148092501762/

 

[skatesindreams]

I was afraid of this.

I'm glad that she will consult more specialists.
Wishing Bethanie the best possible result/recovery.

 

[Lorac]

Bethanie Mattek Sands update:

Dislocated patella(knee cap) and ruptured patella tendon. Devestating
https://www.facebook.com/BethanieMattekSands/videos/1775148092501762/

Apparently she heard the tendon pop just as she prior to her planting her foot and twisting which of course meant the knee had no support and just dislocated!! So painful but at least she has her sense of humour and a lot of support and love from those around her. I doubt we will see her play singles again at top level but hopefully she can come back to doubles at some point next year.

 

[Jimena]

And Nadal is out in 5. Wow.

 

[skatesindreams]

And Nadal is out in 5. Wow.

What an amazing match; and incredible day of competition.

 

[danafan]

Amazing display of tennis from Muller and Nadal! Muller never lost his cool. Even in his post match interview.

 

[Seerek]

Interesting. Simon Reed got to call the Gilles Muller/Rafael Nadal match (I thought they usually assign him the Court 2 and smaller courts).

 

[danafan]

Interesting. Simon Reed got to call the Gilles Muller/Rafael Nadal match (I thought they usually assign him the Court 2 and smaller courts).

Okay I knew I recognized that voice, thank you!

 

[Lorac]

And Nadal is out in 5. Wow.

Muller played amazingly well. He started brilliantly by going 2 sets up but when Nadal came thundering back to win the next 2 I thought Muller would fold in that 5th set. How wrong I was. He was cool, calm and un flustered especially as the crowd was overwhelmingly pro Nadal. Mullers service game was rock solid and he had the advantage of serving first in that titanic final set. Apparently the length of that final set - which went to 15-13 - was longer than the entire Federer match . So congrats to Gilles for one of the wins of his career.

 

[OnyxRose81]

Murray went out to Querrey (ugh) and Djokovic retired against Berdych. Novak apparently has a recurring elbow injury since last year and is thinking about taking the year off. I think that would be the right thing to do. He obviously has been physically ailing for a while, along with admitted personal issues. AO is his best major so he should come in fresh and reinvigorated. It worked wonders for Fed. Murray should seriously think about doing the same for his hip.

 

[skatesindreams]

I hope that Federer can continue his excellent play, on to the Finals; and the title!

 

[Meredith]

Thinking of my Canadian neighbors as I watched the Fed match just now. I like Fed's competitor & look forward to seeing more of him in the future.

 

[Lorac]

Murray went out to Querrey (ugh) and Djokovic retired against Berdych. Novak apparently has a recurring elbow injury since last year and is thinking about taking the year off. I think that would be the right thing to do. He obviously has been physically ailing for a while, along with admitted personal issues. AO is his best major so he should come in fresh and reinvigorated. It worked wonders for Fed. Murray should seriously think about doing the same for his hip.

Both Novak and Andy are expecting their second babies later on this year as well. Taking time to heal would make perfect sense as they could then spend time wirh their new babies and just enjoying themselves and relaxing from the exhausting travelling schedule a top flight tennis player endures. Shoulder/elbow injuries (Novak) and hip injuries (Andy) need plenty of rest and physio to heal properly. Novak has also had some personal issues at his own admission though hopefully they are sorted (though I do hope the baby isn't a 'save the marriage' one as they don't really work but that's an aside). Federer and Nadal showed taking a bulk of time off to heal works. Yes you lose ranking points and won't be number 1 but as you age and become more susceptible to injuries or reinjuring old injuries then a careful management of your shedule is needed.

I hope that Federer can continue his excellent play, on to the Finals; and the title!

He is without doubt the favourite and won't have a better opportunity to win his 8th Wimbeldon title. He has been playing superbly - yet to lose a set. He was pushed in the final set he played yesterday but as he shown champions step up on the big points. In the tiebreaker he went a double break down but then just stepped up with 2 sublime forehands - one which he literally bent round Raonic on the line which landed slap bang in the middle of the line. Gorgeous shot.

And finally who would have thought the final Brit standing would be a lady. Johanna Konta takes on Venus Williams today in the 2nd semi - which I really wish was final as these two are my favourites and I don't really know who to cheer for. But to be honest any of the final 4 would be a great winner of the title for different reasons. No work today so I can enjoy both matches.

 

[oleada]

I am really hoping for a Garbiñe/Venus final. Garbiñe is so great to watch when she is on and Venus is easy to root for. Now watch them both lose

 

[Lorac]

You're already half way there oleada as Garbine just smashed Magdelena in their semi 6-1, 6-1. The other semi currently in it's early stages going on serve!!

 

[millyskate]

Andy Murray http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-40589164/andy-murray-corrects-journalist-s-casual-sexism