2017 Wimbledon Championships - Men

[GameSetAndMath]

Lost in all this is how did Andy, Roger and Milos look today? I see Dominic and Sasha both bowed out to their elders.

Being a true Fedfan, I did not see him play even for a minute today, despite being glued to TV.

But, Fed seems to have had a routine straight sets win. But, in the third set he coughed up a break (when he was already up).
But, then he immediately broke back and served for the match and won.

 

[Busted]

This is hardly ground-breaking prognostication, Busted. But yeah, Rafa struggles on grass. I saw him as the second favorite, although picked him to be upset by Cilic in the Draw Challenge because of Rafa's "grass problem."

Hard not to see this as his last real chance at Wimbledon. I could see him opting out next year, like Roger did clay this year, to improve his chances at the US Open and second half hard courts.

Right now Rafa needs to just shrug it off and prepare for a return to hard courts. This isn't a huge loss for him - it doesn't tarnish his legacy, improve the legacy of his competitors (Roger and Novak), or bode poorly for the rest of the year - he's still playing the best he has in four years. Life moves on, and his sights are set on the US Open and WTF.

I didn't say it was a "groundbreaking prognostication" - but...a lot of so-called experts were already talking a Fedal final just because Nadal had won the FO on CLAY again. And I can't see Nadal skipping Wimbledon next year IF HE'S HEALTHY - especially if he wins another FO. Every Slam played is another chance to get closer to Roger's 18 Slams - and you know Nadal wants to catch Roger at 18 very badly. Problem is - they only play 1 Slam on clay.

Also, I never said the loss "tarnished his legacy" but it DOES prove the point, yet again, about Nadal's limitations off clay. Yes, he's got 5 Slams off the red dirt - but you can't tell me that he doesn't want more. There are always going to be people who say he's a clay courter who occasionally wins on other surfaces (raising my hand), so any Slams he wins off the dirt goes a long way toward burnishing his legacy and GOAT claims even though the losses don't tarnish them.

 

[Denis]

First of all congrats to Gilles Muller. Huge win especially considering the 2-0 set up situation and the numerous bps he faced in the fifth.

I actually feel for some of the Rafa fans here, but he's had a great year so far and will soon be no 1 again.

As for how this will play out: it might not be that great. Muller is obviously toast unfortunately which means that cilic and Murray will battle it out for the final spot. I like Nadal more than those two and I fancied Djokovic chances against Nadal more than Murray. Overall still pleased that Muller got this heroic scalp.

 

[Busted]

Who really cares about what the fans can see when it comes down to altering the schedule of play? I'm sure Novak would have rather played on Court 2 if it meant he could get his match in today.

Tell that to the thousands of people who dropped $75 on a ticket to see seeds play 3 matches. I guarantee you - people would ask for partial refunds if a match was moved. I know I would.

 

[Denis]

Who really cares about what the fans can see when it comes down to altering the schedule of play? I'm sure Novak would have rather played on Court 2 if it meant he could get his match in today.

I agree with this. They got to see Nadal Muller which is already a classic.

They should simply put it in the terms and conditions of the ticket.

 

[kskate2]

Tell that to the thousands of people who dropped $75 on a ticket to see seeds play 3 matches. I guarantee you - people would ask for partial refunds if a match was moved. I know I would.

Not if you could move with the match. Some people would get a chance to see Center Court that otherwise may never get there.

 

[mrzz]

2. You can't ask the fans to move from court 1 to CC because it is exactly the same fans who paid to see Rafa's match also.

That is the main point. I guess that Kskate was thinking about starting Djokovic match on CC after the end of Nadal´s match, given artificial lights (there is none on court 1, right?).

 

[Denis]

Tell that to the thousands of people who dropped $75 on a ticket to see seeds play 3 matches. I guarantee you - people would ask for partial refunds if a match was moved. I know I would.

And how are those thousands of people going to see the match now? Are they going to give them a cc ticket for the next day and remove them for the ladies QF? They won't show up unless they don't have jobs

 

[Denis]

That is the main point. I guess that Kskate was thinking about starting Djokovic match on CC after the end of Nadal´s match, given artificial lights (there is none on court 1, right?).

Those fans ain't seeing Djokovic in the first place anyways.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

That is the main point. I guess that Kskate was thinking about starting Djokovic match on CC after the end of Nadal´s match, given artificial lights (there is none on court 1, right?).

Yes, there are no lights on court 1.

The trouble with moving the match to CC after the end of Nadal's match is two fold.

1. They consider this as a natural surface tournament. Unless, there are extraordinary situations, they don't want to
play a night game with roof closed. This is not the type of tennis that Wimbledon wants to promote.
2. By the time Rafa's match ended it is already 9 p.m. To move the fans it will take an hour. Also, there is a curfew
imposed by the Wimbledon village according to which you cannot play matches after certain time in the night.
I believe it is 10 p.m., but don't remember the deadline exactly.

 

[Fiero425]

First of all congrats to Gilles Muller. Huge win especially considering the 2-0 set up situation and the numerous bps he faced in the fifth.

I actually feel for some of the Rafa fans here, but he's had a great year so far and will soon be no 1 again.

As for how this will play out: it might not be that great. Muller is obviously toast unfortunately which means that cilic and Murray will battle it out for the final spot. I like Nadal more than those two and I fancied Djokovic chances against Nadal more than Murray. Overall still pleased that Muller got this heroic scalp.

This will be an instant classic going into the rotation on ESPN and TCC to fill time when needed! Poor Rafa and his fans! :lulz2:

 

[Carol]

Thanks Rafa for give us that great recital of tennis even that you lost but fighting until the last ball and credit to Muller who played better at the end, congrats !!!!
Now waiting to the HC where I'm sure it will be very interesting

 

[kskate2]

Yes, there are no lights on court 1.

The trouble with moving the match to CC after the end of Nadal's match is two fold.

1. They consider this as a natural surface tournament. Unless, there are extraordinary situations, they don't want to
play a night game with roof closed. This is not the type of tennis that Wimbledon wants to promote.
2. By the time Rafa's match ended it is already 9 p.m. To move the fans it will take an hour. Also, there is a curfew
imposed by the Wimbledon village according to which you cannot play matches after certain time in the night.
I believe it is 10 p.m., but don't remember the deadline exactly.

The curfew is actually 11pm, but they just weren't going to do it so the issue is really moot now. And honestly GSM these are extroardinary circumstances where you have one singles match left to be played and you don't have a plan to get it on tonight. They had no backup plan it seems. They knew at 7:00 the Nadal/Muller match was going long and didn't really come up with a plan to deal with Novak's match.

 

[Denis]

Nadal won more points than Muller (198-191). He had an aweful bp conversion rate 2/16(!), really clutch stuff from GM.

 

[Denis]

Also notable that in terms of speed GM served at the same speed as Rafa first and second serve. Rafa served 23 aces compared to 30 from Muller.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Nadal won more points than Muller (198-191). He had an aweful bp conversion rate 2/16(!), really clutch stuff from GM.

In the final set, both of them had equal chances. They both had five opportunities. Rafa did not convert any of them. Joe converted one of 5.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Thanks Rafa for give us that great recital of tennis even that you lost but fighting until the last ball and credit to Muller who played better at the end, congrats !!!!
Now waiting to the HC where I'm sure it will be very interesting

Rafa can keep his head high. Even though he lost he played well. Unlike in prior years, when he was blown off the court, this year
he played well at Wimbledon and even in the match that he lost. His serve has improved considerably compared to recent past. He will
be a force to reckon with in the NA hard court season and will be in the running for YE #1.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Congrats to Muller. When Rafa gathers momentum as he did today , winning the 3rd and the 4th, I am sure no one gave Giles a chance. Composure was key today. He is 2-1 against Nadal at Wimby now. Not too shabby. Too bad he will loose in straights next round though...

 

[Moxie]

I didn't say it was a "groundbreaking prognostication" - but...a lot of so-called experts were already talking a Fedal final just because Nadal had won the FO on CLAY again. And I can't see Nadal skipping Wimbledon next year IF HE'S HEALTHY - especially if he wins another FO. Every Slam played is another chance to get closer to Roger's 18 Slams - and you know Nadal wants to catch Roger at 18 very badly. Problem is - they only play 1 Slam on clay.

Also, I never said the loss "tarnished his legacy" but it DOES prove the point, yet again, about Nadal's limitations off clay. Yes, he's got 5 Slams off the red dirt - but you can't tell me that he doesn't want more. There are always going to be people who say he's a clay courter who occasionally wins on other surfaces (raising my hand), so any Slams he wins off the dirt goes a long way toward burnishing his legacy and GOAT claims even though the losses don't tarnish them.

People will always think what they like, and some like to think of Nadal as only a clay-courter. 5 Slams is already rarefied air, by any account, unless you're grading on a ridiculous curve. And he has the career slam. He's done exceptionally well on clay, yes, but to insist that he's really just a clay courter who occasionally wins off clay is downright silly, IMO.

 

[Moxie]

Because of tradition, I'm sure it's some obscure policy that only SW19 possesses. Other slams would have made provisions to get his match played tonight.

Actually, Wimbledon does hold matches to be moved as a general practice, though Djokovic/Mannarino wasn't one of them. In 2013, at the USO, with a storm coming, they didn't move Djokovic-Ferrer SF to squeeze it in before the storm, and it had to push into Sunday, moving the final to Monday. Everyone thought that was pretty dumb. At least Wimbledon was waiting to see if the Nadal match would finish.