2018 Wimbledon Championships - Men

[brokenshoelace]

Different year, different draw. With this draw last year he probably would have made the QF at least.

I agree that he was playing decent last year. His return game was awful and that's what cost him the most against Muller.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The Novak - Milos match got suspended at one set all and with a score of 5-6 (with Novak to serve) due to bad light. The supervisor came and told them that the conditions are sub-optimal, but if both of them want to play, they will let them play one more game, but not the tie-breaker. The players decided not to play that one game also.

Where was this supervisor in 2008, when I needed him?

 

[monfed]

Nice to see fakervic twin brother is helping Fed by removing botnic. I guess his twin brother is a better human being.

 

[El Dude]

I don't get calling this version of Federer "average." It just seems that "some" Fedfans are personally offended if he isn't playing like its 2006. I mean, I for one have been greatly heartened by what I've seen so far at Wimbledon. He looks better than he did at Stuttgart/Halle, and probably the best he has all year. If he gets that first serve in more frequently he's going to be virtually impossible to beat, unless he becomes Pusserer if he faces Novak or Rafa in the final.

 

[Carol]

Not doubt about Federer's serve has been impressive these days but nothing else

 

[DarthFed]

Only for Federer's fanatics but not for the rest of the world. Today ESPN and TC are talking a lot about that match

They couldn't show highlights without showing a bunch of Fed's ridiculous errors. The final point was a nice microcosm of the match for Roger.

 

[MartyB]

Not doubt about Federer's serve has been impressive these days but nothing else

Have you actually watched his matches? I highly doubt it making that kind of a statement.

 

[monfed]

And my future glory too

Nice to meet you Carol, I'm from India.

 

[kskate2]

Results from the Wimbledon Championships - London, England, Gent's Singles Round 3 matches on Friday
(1) Roger Federer d Jan-Lennard Struff 63 75 62
(8) Kevin Anderson d (25) Philipp Kohlschreiber 63 75 75
(9) John Isner d Radu Albot 63 63 64
Gael Monfils d (11) Sam Querrey 57 64 64 62
(22) Adrian Mannarino d Daniil Medvedev 64 63 46 57 63
(31) Stefanos Tsitsipas d (Q) Thomas Fabbiano 62 61 64
Mackenzie McDonald d Guido Pella 64 64 766

Round Of 64
(4) Alexander Zverev d Taylor Fritz 64 57 670 61 62

 

[kskate2]

2018 Wimbledon Championships: Day 6, July 7 - Order of Play

 

[El Dude]

Not doubt about Federer's serve has been impressive these days but nothing else

 

[Moxie]

The real good tennis followers are Federer fans, not a bunch of girls drooling over Rafa's muscles and/or Sampras fans latching onto anyone who was a threat to Federer.

Oh, jeepers...not that story again.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Scouting Report on Alex De Minaur:

General Info:
19 yrs old, 5'11", 152 lbs, turned pro 2015. right handed, two handed back-hand, current singles ranking is 80.
Spent 2015 and 2016 in futures and challengers. He started making appearances in GSs from 2017.
Came into prominence when he reached SF at Brisbane and F at Sydney this year. But, this is his first Wimbledon.
He won Nottingham challenger, but did not have to face anyone inside 100. His favorite surface is grass.

Game:

1. He is not a big server like Isner, Raonic, Karlovic or even a younger version of them. But, his service is not
a liability either. He has a decent serve.

2. His net play is quite competent. However, he does not come in too often like Brown or Herbert or Mischa.
Having said that he is not a predominantly baseline guy like Novak, Chung, Coric etc.

3. He has a very good forehand that can finish points. His backhand is sort of liability. He would have
very few winners on the BH side. Moreover, when pressed on the BH side, often has a tendency to
hit a short ball which can be pulverized by the opponent. He tries to avoid playing lot of BH shots.

4. His primary strengths are two things: aggression and speed. He has a basic aggressive mentality
and is on aggression whenever he can (kind of like the opposite of Andy Murray mentality). He plays
defense only when it is absolutely necessary. He has pretty good speed and hence his court coverage
is quite good.

5. Intangibles: He is too young and fearless. He may not even know that he is not supposed to beat Rafa.
However, he has not even played against this caliber of opponents. In Eastbourne, soem one like
Kukushkin beat him up badly 6-1, 6-2 in the first round. As H2H is 0-0, there will be a surprise element
for both players. When asked in the presser about Alex, Rafa replied "I know him, he is young, he is good
and he is dangerous".

6. The bookies give Rafa 90% chance and Alex 10% chance. I give Rafa 70% chance and Alex 30% chance.
Hence, I did not project this match in the upset thread. I project it only when in my estimated there is
at least 50% chance. I think Alex De Minaur will be able to beat Rafa in the future, but right now is
not quite ready.

7. But, make no mistake. While Alex De Minaur may not (and most probably will not) win, he certainly fits
the generic mold of players against whom Rafa will be uncomfortable playing on grass, especially in the first week.
Hence, I expect this match to be interesting to watch. So, I will be watching it from beginning to end (or at least until
the minor lingering suspense is over).

p.s. Feddies take heart and wait patiently. JMDP will beat up Rafa in QF. But, unfortunately no one to stop Rafa from maintaining his #1 ranking even after Wimbledon.

 

[britbox]

Pressers/Snippets

(1) Roger Federer d Jan-Lennard Struff 63 75 62



(9) John Isner d Radu Albot 63 63 64



Gael Monfils d (11) Sam Querrey 57 64 64 62



(31) Stefanos Tsitsipas d (Q) Thomas Fabbiano 62 61 64



(4) Alexander Zverev d Taylor Fritz 64 57 670 61 62

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Roger's in great form apparently. And, he's playing better than last year. That backhand is looking amazing. In the highlights it looks 2006-ish.

Wow.

Roger is having this late career sublimity. And, I as a Roger fan, couldn't be happier.

It's crazy to think the guy who had his knee banged up just a couple years back is now the best player on 2 courts.

 

[Front242]

Not doubt about Federer's serve has been impressive these days but nothing else

If it came down to only serve then why don't Karlovic, Isner, Raonic and Kyrgios, for example, have 20 slams even between them? Think everyone and their dog knows that doesn't make much sense. It's mostly Federer's aggressive play that is making him still able to win big titles at this age.

 

[monfed]

Alex De Minaur is an Australian and traditionally Australian sportsmen are tough mentally. So if Alex has that Aussie spirit he will upset dull.

 

[MartyB]

Alex De Minaur is an Australian and traditionally Australian sportsmen are tough mentally. So if Alex has that Aussie spirit he will upset dull.

That's wishful thinking I'm pretty sure Nadal will be victorious. After this match it gets dicier for him. But I believe he will retain his ranking until the US Open.

 

[Front242]

De Minaur is a bit young I reckon to cause a major upset.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Alex De Minaur is an Australian and traditionally Australian sportsmen are tough mentally. So if Alex has that Aussie spirit he will upset dull.

That's wishful thinking I'm pretty sure Nadal will be victorious. After this match it gets dicier for him. But I believe he will retain his ranking until the US Open.

I'm an OZ, so nominally I should expose more "wishful thinking" that monfed does. But I don't. I'm aware of the reality surrounding me (90% Nad reported by GSM), despite my wishes. I'm a sport fan but I'm also a guy who, despite holding a degree in different discipline, does understand stats.