2018 Wimbledon Championships - Men

[GameSetAndMath]

That is tall servers. A big server like Roddick would definitely prefer a very low bounce since he naturally isn't going to have the same height on the ball as guys close to 7 feet tall.

In this discussion of big servers and tall servers, another key point mentioned by Roger got lost. He also said that apart from the big servers, the court favors baseliners (like Rafa and Novak). What is in the brackets is not said by him explicitly.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

It’s good seeing Djokovic back in the mix and looking energetic and ambitious again. I like the fire! I hope it translates into some slam titles.

 

[lob]

First I wouldn't say Rafa is likely to break the slam record but if this pathetic Wimbledon falls the wrong way than yes it is very possible. And the slam race is the biggest thing by far. Time at #1, total tourament wins, YEC, MS are all big but very secondary.

Objectively speaking, unless he is injured, Rafa will catch Fed in slams. He is among the favorites in the next 8 slams with at least 2 almost locked in. Moreover he has the option of semi retiring and only playing the clay tour to pick up RG for the next 5 years.

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[monfed]

I'm glad Fed's match is first on Court 1. If it rains he could go 2 days if he doesn't finish off Kandy in 3 sets.

 

[DarthFed]

Objectively speaking, unless he is injured, Rafa will catch Fed in slams. He is among the favorites in the next 8 slams with at least 2 almost locked in. Moreover he has the option of semi retiring and only playing the clay tour to pick up RG for the next 5 years.

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That assumes perfect health and continued pathetic competition. A lot can change and quickly. That's why I mention the next 7 months a lot lately for Fed. The competition figures to suck badly for at least that period of time especially if Djoker isn't totally back yet. Fed really needs to win 2 of the next 3 to probably keep the asshole at bay. Eventually even Rafa will get old/bored to win RG every year especially if a decent young player finally emerges.

 

[MartyB]

Objectively speaking, unless he is injured, Rafa will catch Fed in slams. He is among the favorites in the next 8 slams with at least 2 almost locked in. Moreover he has the option of semi retiring and only playing the clay tour to pick up RG for the next 5 years.

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I'm always astonished at how one can predict the future with such certainty. No one knows what will happen but a gap of 3 slams is not that easy to match and yes even with RG..And every time Fed wins another slam it just makes it that much tougher. I'll say it again the turning point for this all came down to last years AO. When Fed came back in the final set and took that slam it altered tennis history and he beat Nadal 4 consecutive times that year and rather handily.

 

[MartyB]

That assumes perfect health and continued pathetic competition. A lot can change and quickly. That's why I mention the next 7 months a lot lately for Fed. The competition figures to suck badly for at least that period of time especially if Djoker isn't totally back yet. Fed really needs to win 2 of the next 3 to probably keep the asshole at bay. Eventually even Rafa will get old/bored to win RG every year especially if a decent young player finally emerges.

I'm in agreement over the next 7 months but I also think next year will be pivotal in all of this as well. Plus I'm going out on a limb here and predict that Nadal will not repeat as winner of the US Open. I'll say it again here no one can predict the future and how many slams these guys will win for sure. There are odds but health and a potential resurgent Djokovic, Murray makes this even harder for both Fed/Nadal.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Also, there is the assumption that Rafa’s knees will hold up. I say he is one injury away from retirement.

 

[monfed]

There are three main issues with saying Nadal will fall short -

1) Cake draws. This is the main thing that people don't like to mention but damn just look at his draws specially the first week. Challenger level. Slam after slam after slam. Just doesn't end. And this is mere observation.

2) Obsessed with slam record so won't stop till he basically can't move anymore.

3) Has RG on lockdown for god knows how many more years. 2 seems minimum but I don't think anyone can put a max limit to it.

When you combine these three along with slowed down bouncy surfaces with heavy balls, he can continue to win slams out of the blue. These are the main reasons why even at 32 with the most physical playing style possibly ever, he will always be tailgating Federer.

 

[Jelenafan]

I remember the bruhaha about Borg always playing on center court back in the day.

 

[Moxie]

I remember the bruhaha about Borg always playing on center court back in the day.

Welcome back, @Jelenafan! That's a throw-back re: Borg. It's funny how much people complain about court assignments. I was thinking that, given there is a chance of rain in the afternoon, they put the surely longer ones on CC, where there's a roof, and Roger v. Anderson on Court 1, which shouldn't go too long, and then figured, well...Isner v. Raonic...whatever. (Sorry, @herios.)

 

[Busted]

I remember the bruhaha about Borg always playing on center court back in the day.

I just saw that Roger is on Court 1, so i guess that means Djokovic has been whining about tournaments playing favorites with Roger again. Is Johnny Mac going to have to do another video telling Nole that Roger is the tennis cash cow, that the most expensive seats are for Center Court and that people paying the big money want to see Roger. People get miffed when they've paid big bucks for Center Court and find out Roger's on outside court. I know I would - especially since tickets for the final 3 rounds are more expensive than the earlier round. I looked up ticket prices for tomorrow - Center Court - $192.15. Court #1 - $139.14. If I had a Center Court ticket - I'd be pissed that all I got was Djokovic and Nadal...not offense to Nole fans...

 

[Busted]

Welcome back, @Jelenafan! That's a throw-back re: Borg. It's funny how much people complain about court assignments. I was thinking that, given there is a chance of rain in the afternoon, they put the surely longer ones on CC, where there's a roof, and Roger v. Anderson on Court 1, which shouldn't go too long, and then figured, well...Isner v. Raonic...whatever. (Sorry, @herios.)

Since Nole and Nadal are more likely to play longer matches - that's exactly why I thought they'd be on outer courts....so the organizers can spare their precious grass the churning up those two are likely to give it.
I'm only kind of kidding about that...

 

[Moxie]

Since Nole and Nadal are more likely to play longer matches - that's exactly why I thought they'd be on outer courts....so the organizers can spare their precious grass the churning up those two are likely to give it.
I'm only kind of kidding about that...

Those four, actually. Nishikori won't be sparing the grass, and Del Potro won't be trying to, though he will, more than the other 3.

 

[Busted]

Those four, actually. Nishikori won't be sparing the grass, and Del Potro won't be trying to, though he will, more than the other 3.

True dat. Don't know the organizers are thinking. If\when Roger wins his match he'll have to play Raonic or Isner and tap dance he way around the big divots those guys are going to leave in the court...

 

[Moxie]

True dat. Don't know the organizers are thinking. If\when Roger wins his match he'll have to play Raonic or Isner and tap dance he way around the big divots those guys are going to leave in the court...

The divots are going to be on Court 1 around the service line. Center Court is going to get that much more worn down around the base-line. And then Darth will complain that it's like a clay court. :lulz2:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Welcome back, @Jelenafan! That's a throw-back re: Borg. It's funny how much people complain about court assignments. I was thinking that, given there is a chance of rain in the afternoon, they put the surely longer ones on CC, where there's a roof, and Roger v. Anderson on Court 1, which shouldn't go too long, and then figured, well...Isner v. Raonic...whatever. (Sorry, @herios.)

I expect Novak-Special K match to be much shorter than Roger - Anderson match. Special K seems to be seriously injured and the only reason he won is because Gulbis got injured more than him as he fell down during the TB.

But, I have no complaints about the court assignment. However, if I had actually purchased CC ticket, I would have serious issues with it.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Tignor has become like an employee who does minimum work with no personal involvement.

Even at the QF stage instead of predicting all four matches, he continues with the theme followed at the earlier rounds and uses his "three to watch" model. Anyway, he took the easy route and predicted that big three will win and left the trees match in limbo.

 

[Moxie]

I expect Novak-Special K match to be much shorter than Roger - Anderson match. Special K seems to be seriously injured and the only reason he won is because Gulbis got injured more than him as he fell down during the TB.

But, I have no complaints about the court assignment. However, if I had actually purchased CC ticket, I would have serious issues with it.

I'd seriously be surprised if Novak v. Nishi is shorter than Roger v. Kev. We'll see.

 

[Moxie]

Tignor has become like an employee who does minimum work with no personal involvement.

Even at the QF stage instead of predicting all four matches, he continues with the theme followed at the earlier rounds and uses his "three to watch" model. Anyway, he took the easy route and predicted that big three will win and left the trees match in limbo.

You worry too much about bookies and other predictors. It doesn't really make a good god damned bit of difference what they say at this point. In 24 hours, the next round will be done, no matter what anyone, including Tignor, thinks. And then we can go on to the next fretting. I know we all look for opinions to reinforce our hopes, but it really is just a load of palaver. We're at the business end of the tournament, and it'll just happen as it does. Don't look for sportswriters to calm your nerves. We'll all be chewing our fingernails at this point and until the end.