2014 Monte Carlo Masters Semifinal: Djokovic v. Federer

[Fiero425]

1974 French open started on june 3rd and Wimbledon on june 24th,

one week gap with only one grass tourney anywhere inbetween at Nottingham.

But Queens has been around for over a century! My mind just can't wrap itself around having all this activity after FO, playing Queens with a sat. final to allow winner at least a day! I just don't remember this much movement, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised, came across Nicolás Massú inthe stats under Olympic gold medalist in '04 S & D; I have no memory of him at all! My sleep apnea must be getting worse when I can't even picture a top 10 player with that kind of resume! I pride myself on going way back, maybe 40 years to pull matches and even individual points to relate, and to lose a whole player, I'm dying! uzzled :nono :huh: :cry

I was going by the Wikipedia page 1974 tennis grand prix (5th edition)..:idea:I noticed queens was not there and maybe the 1974 wikipage was incomplete but I checked the winners roll of honour for queens since 1890 :idea: and indeed the tourney was not held in 1974/75/76 for whatever reason.

I don't think I saw Queens on tv until the early 80's! In the 70's you always had odd upsets including Jimmy Connors to some nobody! Players didn't try too hard, using it strictly for grasscourt practice! It got big with players like Becker, Edberg, and Lendl making the final or winning around then! When Ivan was desperate to win Wimbledon in '90, I think he took off 10 weeks around then and even skipped the FO for the 1st time! He was magnificent in the warmup, taking final over Becker, but it just wasn't enough! He never could be a true grasscourt player no matter the amount of practice! He wasn't going to beat Becker, Edberg, or other more adept players on that surface in best of 5!

 

[Kieran]

Seriously, your exclamation key is begging for mercy...

 

[lindseywagners]

It is funny that not a single vote was cast for the actual result of this match.

I never understood why everyone bothers guessing the results of these things. What's the point (ego gratification, I suppose), unless you're gambling on the match?

 

[Fiero425]

Seriously, your exclamation key is begging for mercy...

:cry uzzled :ras: :wow: :nono :sleepy: :violins:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It is funny that not a single vote was cast for the actual result of this match.

I never understood why everyone bothers guessing the results of these things. What's the point (ego gratification, I suppose), unless you're gambling on the match?

Oh, you are missing out on all the fun.

You can say, "see you all, I told you so", when your guess succeeds (about 1% of time).

The rest of the time (about 99% of time) , you hope that nobody notices (or remembers if they notice or gracious enough not to mention it even if they remember) that you were miserably off.

This is much better than gambling. Only gain, No losses.

Finally, in case you get it right 2% of the time, you can call yourself a "resident expert". :clap

 

[brokenshoelace]

Finally, in case you get it right 2% of the time, you can call yourself a "resident expert". :clap

...in which case you get called out for getting a prediction wrong by...someone who also got the prediction wrong.

PS: Did anyone really call himself "resident expert" or am I missing something?

 

[jhar26]

The FO could be a case of "opportunity knocks" for players other than "the big four." Nadal is by his own incredible claycourt standars struggling at the moment, Djokovic has that wrist injury which will inevitably interfere with his preperation, Federer might be with Mirka at the clinic and we all know about Murray and clay. So Wawrinka might win two in a row, or Ferrer or Berdych a first. Even that Italian fruitcake has a shot if he can keep it together (although we know that he won't).

.....but when all is said and done it will nevertheless probably be Rafa again who has the last laugh. :s

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ao3TqlIsHk[/video]