Tennis 2019: Plus ça change...

BigMike

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What happened? Did Roger get hurt? I see his serve largely abandoned him, but can't watch

Apparently not as Fed Rushes out to a lead in the 3rd, before he hits another game where his serve goes wonky. Roger saves on the 5th game in the set after a horrible service game, with amazing rallies. Roger up 4-1 in the Third
 
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hittery

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I missed the second set, so I'm not sure what happened, but he looks fine right now, just broke Nadal for 3-1 lead in the third.
 

BigMike

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There is the break for Roger in the 4th. Up 2-1 now. If the serve holds up he looks good
 

BigMike

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I'm not crazy about a Djokovic-Federer final. Would much rather see Rafa there. But this just isn't his surface.
Why? On this surface that is the best possible matchup. Rogers best surface, and Novak's second best. It's far more likely to be a competitive match if it is Federer vs Djoker
 

Catcher Block

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Federer accidentally challenged the in call on Nadal's serve at deuce, even though Federer had successfully returned it and won the point.

The challenge confirmed the serve was in, and Federer lost the point. Hadn't seen that before.
 

hittery

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No doubt -- it's just a personal preference. I can't abide Djokovic's endless ball bouncing and I've never warmed to Fed.
 

BigMike

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Roger with win #101 at Wimbledon. Will play for lucky 102, 103, 21, and 9
 

InstaFace

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So uhhh....what is it you enjoy about tennis?
perhaps underdogs? only time each year that Federer's an underdog is if he plays Rafa at RG. Or she just has a lot of other faves, and he didn't happen to grab her eye in quite the same way. I know lots of tennis fans who respect Fed, what he's done for the game and how he's served as an ambassador, but who aren't Fed fans. Same with Tiger and golf.
 

InstaFace

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Every commentator has remarked during this tournament that the grass this year is very slow - playing almost like clay. Hence Nadal perhaps, but also part of the reason Halep had such an edge once it got to groundstrokes today.
 

Ed Hillel

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Halep is unbeatable today. Serena’s made some errors, but she wasn’t winning no matter what.
 

BigMike

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I cant tell if Serena is playing poorly or Halep is on fire. I just want her to get those two majors.
Halep is on fire, but honestly right now but Serena is getting by on pure power, experience and heart. She is far overmatched these days in areas like speed, and conditioning. This was even true against true Journey woman player Riske earlier in the week. Serena survived that on power and experience (Riske mentally folded in the 3rd)

Bravo Simona
 

BaseballJones

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Serena's lost her last three grand slam finals, and 5 of her last 7:

2016 Australian, to Angelique Kerber
2016 French, to Garbine Muguruza
2018 Wimbledon, to Angelique Kerber
2018 US Open, to Naomi Osaka
2019 Wimbledon, to Simona Halep

In these losses, she's taken only one set (in the 2016 Australian).
 

BigSoxFan

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Halep is on fire, but honestly right now but Serena is getting by on pure power, experience and heart. She is far overmatched these days in areas like speed, and conditioning. This was even true against true Journey woman player Riske earlier in the week. Serena survived that on power and experience (Riske mentally folded in the 3rd)

Bravo Simona
Yup. Serena is almost 38. She just can’t move the way she used to. The power still plays but not enough against someone with power and speed like Halep. Wonder if she might retire after US Open.
 

jon abbey

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Serena's lost her last three grand slam finals, and 5 of her last 7:

2016 Australian, to Angelique Kerber
2016 French, to Garbine Muguruza
2018 Wimbledon, to Angelique Kerber
2018 US Open, to Naomi Osaka
2019 Wimbledon, to Simona Halep

In these losses, she's taken only one set (in the 2016 Australian).
Serena's last six sets in a Major final 3-6, 3-6, 2-6, 4-6, 2-6, 2-6
 

johnmd20

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In the doubles match, one of the guys took an absolute bullet to his forehead.(122mph overhead slam, although it did bounce at least) He's already got a humongous welt on his forehead and it's been only 10 minutes. The adrenaline is probably carrying him through right now but he's going to be in absolute MISERY tomorrow.
 

Apisith

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Djokovic is a wall and typically eventually breaks down Fed’s game. Let’s hope Fed serves really well tomorrow and finds a way to break Djokovic a few tunes.

In ‘14 Fed was competitive but Djokovic still dominated from the baseline. Fed’s serve wasn’t as good as it was in the SF against Murray. Djokovic’s serve was also pretty amazing that day.

‘15 was a dominant Djokovic performance. His serve was brilliant and Federer didn’t really have a shot.

Djokovic will land everything at Federer’s feet, Roger needs to find a way to end points quickly enough but not net rush stupidly like he did in ‘15 US Open, which was really winnable.
 

Ed Hillel

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In the doubles match, one of the guys took an absolute bullet to his forehead.(122mph overhead slam, although it did bounce at least) He's already got a humongous welt on his forehead and it's been only 10 minutes. The adrenaline is probably carrying him through right now but he's going to be in absolute MISERY tomorrow.
It, uhhhhh, got worse.

Throat and then next point the nutsack. Woody Harrelson reaction an all-time gif.
 

BigMike

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Djokovic is a wall and typically eventually breaks down Fed’s game. Let’s hope Fed serves really well tomorrow and finds a way to break Djokovic a few tunes.

In ‘14 Fed was competitive but Djokovic still dominated from the baseline. Fed’s serve wasn’t as good as it was in the SF against Murray. Djokovic’s serve was also pretty amazing that day.

‘15 was a dominant Djokovic performance. His serve was brilliant and Federer didn’t really have a shot.

Djokovic will land everything at Federer’s feet, Roger needs to find a way to end points quickly enough but not net rush stupidly like he did in ‘15 US Open, which was really winnable.
Yeah, it is interesting how little they have played each other in recent years. Federer injured his knee the morning before the match he played Djokovic in 2016 in Australia. They have oinly played each other twice since. Once was a 6-4, 6-4 win for Djokovic last July in Cincinnati. The. other was a pretty epic 3 set match in Paris last November where Djoker survived a couple bRoger has to have a big service dayrutal tiebreakers in a 7-6. 5-7, 7-6 match

Roger has to have a big service day, where he stays consistent. Avoid those sleepy times like he had on Friday where his game just disappears for 3-5 games. And convert his break chances
 

CFB_Rules

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In the doubles match, one of the guys took an absolute bullet to his forehead.(122mph overhead slam, although it did bounce at least) He's already got a humongous welt on his forehead and it's been only 10 minutes. The adrenaline is probably carrying him through right now but he's going to be in absolute MISERY tomorrow.
That's Nicolas Mahut, of note for being on the wrong end of the longest match ever at Wimbledon that finished 70-68 in the 5th set.

I'm guessing Wimbledon doesn't have a ton of great memories for him.
 

BigMike

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That's Nicolas Mahut, of note for being on the wrong end of the longest match ever at Wimbledon that finished 70-68 in the 5th set.

I'm guessing Wimbledon doesn't have a ton of great memories for him.
Yeah this is pretty close to the end for Mahut. He announced after his 3rd round loss to Delpo in Paris that it was his last singles match there. Maybe he can squeeze another year or two in doubles. He had picked up more than 10 Million in career earnings. He does have a career grand slam as a doubles player
 

hunter05

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I like Djokovic. Love Federer. I would love to see him get another Wimbledon title. A 5 set classic would be nice.