Very much agree. And I think James Blake has a chance to be one of the better commentators with a few more years of seasoning.Back to the McEnroe discussion - his analysis is entirely limited to the mental side of the game and he shows no ability to break down the Xs and Os of tennis in the way other analysts do. Martina is good, but I think Jim Courier on Tennis Channel is my favorite. He points out subtle things that are going on that I would have never otherwise noticed and he's got a good voice and personality.
It's bad enough that you root for this monster, but do you have to first name him too?Novak steals another set, another sloppy service game by Shapo at 5-5 and then he serves it out. Total points for the match are 72-70 Novak but the only score that matters is 2-0 Novak.
He's young, but yeah, he is, and he's been much better about that so far during this tournament. Not today, though.I’m just one of those casual fans who watches the ends of grand slam events but this guy seems like a bit of a headcase
It seems like Djokovic has won a million big matches like this, where he doesn't play all that well but grinds out enough of the key points until his opponent cracks. I'm not sure if Djokovic is the greatest player ever, but he's certainly the mentally strongest player ever. He just does not beat himself.Novak steals another set, another sloppy service game by Shapo at 5-5 and then he serves it out. Total points for the match are 72-70 Novak but the only score that matters is 2-0 Novak.
Thanks. It’s a shame because he’s playing great and coming so close but just missing and then cut to him yelling at the umpHe's young, but yeah, he is, and he's been much better about that so far during this tournament. Not today, though.
Heh, it’s just shorter to type.It's bad enough that you root for this monster, but do you have to first name him too?
That's what Djok is for. My go-to when texting with my friend about how much we hate him.Heh, it’s just shorter to type.
LOL. It was certainly one of Novak's more entertaining matches this Wimbledon.Novak wins in straight sets, impressive win for Novak on a day he was outplayed for the first two sets.
Novak.
Novak.
Novak.
Was there for the semis. Thought Sabalenka would annihilate Pliskova at first but she calmly absorbed the power and steadily took control of the match. Showed almost no emotion at all while doing it. I think Barty is the favourite but only just - Pliskova has game and she’s motivated. I can easily see her pulling it off.I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that Barty will annhiliate Pliskova tomorrow - losing no more than 5 games in a straight-sets thumping. (I hope I'm wrong...I don't particularly care who wins, but I'd quite like to see a close match.)
My prediction is based on the gut feeling that the Pliskova we saw on Thursday won't be the Pliskova we see today. I'm guessing that her 6-0 6-0 loss to Swiatek in the Rome final has left scar tissue that will be on display during today's even bigger final, and that she might crumble under the pressure of the occasion. But a) again, I hope I'm wrong, and b) there's no guarantee that Barty will play her best tennis in the final either. We'll see.Was there for the semis. Thought Sabalenka would annihilate Pliskova at first but she calmly absorbed the power and steadily took control of the match. Showed almost no emotion at all while doing it. I think Barty is the favourite but only just - Pliskova has game and she’s motivated. I can easily see her pulling it off.
Your prediction looking spot on so far. First 12 points of the match all to Barty.My prediction is based on the gut feeling that the Pliskova we saw on Thursday won't be the Pliskova we see today. I'm guessing that her 6-0 6-0 loss to Swiatek in the Rome final has left scar tissue that will be on display during today's even bigger final, and that she might crumble under the pressure of the occasion. But a) again, I hope I'm wrong, and b) there's no guarantee that Barty will play her best tennis in the final either. We'll see.
Haven't been following Barty's career closely. Is she subject to nerves a major tournaments?Pliskova has indeed come out more or less as I was expecting (and feared) she might. The difference is that Barty got to 4-0 and suddenly woke up to the fact that she was in a Wimbledon final herself, and her level of play dipped significantly. But she still had enough to take the first set, 6-3.
I'm not sure how much of it is down to nerves, but Barty has mostly underperformed at the Slams:Haven't been following Barty's career closely. Is she subject to nerves a major tournaments?
If this is a comment about Barty not showing nerves...well, I've seen plenty of nervous tennis from Barty today.Not today.
No, it was about her underperforming.If this is a comment about Barty not showing nerves...well, I've seen plenty of nervous tennis from Barty today.
The last time it happened, the Sox had only won two World Championships this century.A third set!
Agreed. The fact that she is in a third set after how this match started is amazing.I don't think either woman is playing anything close to their best tennis. But no matter how this works out, I'm pleased for Pliskova - she's shown some grit that I feared she might not be capable of showing, and win or lose she can hold her head up high after this.