ATP World Tour Finals

Mary

Pro Tour Champion
Joined
Jun 19, 2016
Messages
361
Reactions
219
Points
43
and oops -- andy botched THAT set point wide -- seems like HE got too excited on that shot or over-energized bunny. lol.

for some reason -- i find this match CUTE. why is that? some-one - honestly give me your take -- as i can't put my thumb on why i have that impression...lol
hehe -- well said - MARY .

REMEMBER THE 'EPIC" that that win by rafa -- for his first wimbledon - in the way it built up for 3 years?

FIRST - his FIRST year ON GRASS - he was just a 'challenger' that was defined by most as ''he will never win wimbledon -- "

to 'he will never get PAST the FIRST WEEK".
then he reached FINALS...but was sort of outclassed by roger..

the SECOND TRY -- ''he will never get past the first week -- it was a FLUKE last year -- " and he got to finals but lost a TIGHT 5 SETTER -- WHERE the MISSING LINK WAS a BIG first serve ...

THE thrirde and successful try --

roger himself even quipped "i'd be surprised if he mde it to the second week" kind of putdown...

and THIS TIME RAFA worked on his SERVE to complete the '''transformation" -- (volleyes had already improved so much they already were in some part BETTER than roger's in the PREVIOUS year) ..

AND won THAT one.

remmeber that sequence over the years..? that was so funny in its own way.

It was a great Wimbledon and Rafa was a joy.

We here always slip into this thinking that players can't play on grass but in fact most do pretty well. The one who really struggled was Ivan! Odd that he is again with Murray.

Just off to check how that is going....
 
  • Like
Reactions: teddytennisfan

teddytennisfan

Multiple Major Winner
Joined
Oct 1, 2015
Messages
3,166
Reactions
498
Points
113
It was a great Wimbledon and Rafa was a joy.

We here always slip into this thinking that players can't play on grass but in fact most do pretty well. The one who really struggled was Ivan! Odd that he is again with Murray.

Just off to check how that is going....


in those years -- in wimbledon above all

ROGER WAS THE ''nobility -- to the manor born". and not a hair out of place..

RAFA was the FARM BOY -- DIRTY AND SMELLY from washing the cows...

and the farm boy had a plan...he sweated like a BULL and turned the court MUDDY ...

he got the nobleman COME OUT AND WRESTLE IN THE MUDDIED GRASS.....

and we know what happens when that is.....between them, lol.

lol.
 

Mary

Pro Tour Champion
Joined
Jun 19, 2016
Messages
361
Reactions
219
Points
43
in those years -- in wimbledon above all

ROGER WAS THE ''nobility -- to the manor born". and not a hair out of place..

RAFA was the FARM BOY -- DIRTY AND SMELLY from washing the cows...

and the farm boy had a plan...he sweated like a BULL and turned the court MUDDY ...

he got the nobleman COME OUT AND WRESTLE IN THE MUDDIED GRASS.....

and we know what happens when that is.....between them, lol.

lol.

Wasn't too keen on Roger's off white blazer though!
 

teddytennisfan

Multiple Major Winner
Joined
Oct 1, 2015
Messages
3,166
Reactions
498
Points
113
technically KEI IS the better player today -- but mentally the DUMB STUPID ONE. LOL. HE actually has phantoms in his head -- that mostly we didn't know were there.


he plays FRIGHTENED -- as i always thought. and only his superb technic has allowed him to even get THIS far IN RANKINGS...

and conclusion -- personality-wise -- nishikori is weaker than his TECHNIC .
 

teddytennisfan

Multiple Major Winner
Joined
Oct 1, 2015
Messages
3,166
Reactions
498
Points
113
this is a well-deserved WIN by ANDY once this is over because -- playing less well THAN kei --

HE FIGHTS. kei deserves to lose because he has no belief in himself AND, IMO, he has NO business walking around like that as if he lost every point he WON.

major ATTITUDE adjustment kei needs.
 

Tennis Fan

Major Winner
Joined
Dec 14, 2013
Messages
1,171
Reactions
429
Points
83
Rafa is one of the greatest players and loveliest personalities I have ever seen in tennis. When he first came onto the scene he was a breath of fresh air. I was lucky enough to see his first Wimbledon win over Roger and its is a treasured memory. This tournament feels like something very special is missing without him and the whole game is poorer without him. I loved the way he was in London, saw him buying pasta in a supermarket once and he said he cooked for his family and team himself!!

I may have missed it but has he settled the court case he was taking out against the French ex sports minister? I was so pleased he answered back and was willing to act on it. He did a great interview with the UK Times recently, sounded very positive about next year.

This is exactly how I feel about Rafa. It's his personality and character that draws me to him.

On a side note: We were talking about Novak yesterday and the way they're piling on him and today on TTC on Center Court I really saw what you were talking about. They had a press snippet on Novak and the first thing the interviewer asked him had to do with him slapping a ball on court. They showed the "slap" and it was nothing extraordinary, it was quite tame TBH. And Novak said, "You guys are always nitpicking. Am I the only one who gets frustrated on court?" He really let them have it, but they continued to pile on. Then when it went to the commentators they played up his "frustrations" this year.

Seriously? The man won two majors this year and they're acting like he didn't win a thing. It's so ridiculous and unfair. If anyone else had won two majors would they be describing his "downward spiral' in this way? This is what I don't like; the bias and unfairness they level at some players. It's sickening. He not only won 2 majors but he finaled in the other one and that still isn't good enough? And always with the caveat, "Not up to his usual standards" as if anyone goes on a trajectory and stays there and never comes down.

What bothers me about Novak though is that he wears his heart on his sleeve. You can see that this nitpicking irritates him. He should do like Nadal and not pay them any attention whether they praise or downplay him. They're not going to be fair and no matter what he does they're going to try to minimize it. Novak should know that by now. I wouldn't pay those guys any attention at all. The only one that tries to be decent is Annacone. The rest of them are walking, talking puppets. Jimmy Arias is the worst. He seems to have major resentment against the top guys. He sounds and acts like a frustrated has-been.
 

Tennis Fan

Major Winner
Joined
Dec 14, 2013
Messages
1,171
Reactions
429
Points
83
and oops -- andy botched THAT set point wide -- seems like HE got too excited on that shot or over-energized bunny. lol.

for some reason -- i find this match CUTE. why is that? some-one - honestly give me your take -- as i can't put my thumb on why i have that impression...lol

I wish I could help you Teddy, but that match was anything but cute to me. It was scratchy from the beginning to the end. They both seemed unusually nervous and the tennis never got better; it was just a matter of getting through it. Not one of their best matches. Kei and the breakpoints lost had me rubbing my eyes. Andy losing that first set? Mind-boggling. Hope this helps, LOL.
 
  • Like
Reactions: teddytennisfan

Tennis Fan

Major Winner
Joined
Dec 14, 2013
Messages
1,171
Reactions
429
Points
83
HAHA...that was a bit much -- like 'rubbing it in" to the world "'i'm the most elegant dresser"...

PLUIS teh shoe with wimbledon number whatgever it was BEFORE he took it. lol.

It was over the top. I'm glad he never wore it again.
 

Carol

Grand Slam Champion
Joined
Jan 10, 2015
Messages
9,225
Reactions
1,833
Points
113
in those years -- in wimbledon above all

ROGER WAS THE ''nobility -- to the manor born". and not a hair out of place..

RAFA was the FARM BOY -- DIRTY AND SMELLY from washing the cows...

and the farm boy had a plan...he sweated like a BULL and turned the court MUDDY ...

he got the nobleman COME OUT AND WRESTLE IN THE MUDDIED GRASS.....

and we know what happens when that is.....between them, lol.

lol.

Hey teddytenisfan, many times the clothes don't make a gentleman, there are other details which can tell you better about it :yesyes:
 
  • Like
Reactions: teddytennisfan

Mastoor

Major Winner
Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Messages
1,723
Reactions
470
Points
83
Wow, Murray what a running for 3 hours 20 minutes at the end of the season. I wonder where all that fuel comes from. Will he be able to run as much against Wawrinka?

Goffin instead Monfils. Monfls obviously didn't want to do favour to No1e so he withdrew. Nole may struggle against Goffin who's there obviously for 200,000 if he wins.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mary

Mary

Pro Tour Champion
Joined
Jun 19, 2016
Messages
361
Reactions
219
Points
43