Early Grass Talk - 2019

[GameSetAndMath]

They extended the grass season as apparently players complained saying it was too quick of a transition from clay to grass. So, you would think that players will be very eager to participate in the grass warm-up tourneys. But, I don't think that is the case at all. Of the top 11 players, as many as six of them (Rafa, Novak, Thiem, Special K, Fog and Isner) are not playing in even one warm-up tourney.

The situation seems much like when the players complain about lengthy calendar, but yet choosing to play in exhos.

Full of contradictions.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

For fans in USA, the entire coverage of Wimbledon will be provided by ESPN/ESPN2 including even the early rounds of first week.
In the second week, both ESPN and ESPN2 will be in action on the first three days. The semifinals and finals will be carried by
ESPN on the last four days.

Here are the full details.

Wimbledon TV Schedule
The 2019 Wimbledon TV schedule on ESPN and ESPN2.

ESPN is airing additional Wimbledon coverage this year, with coverage now beginning at 6:00 AM ET (up from 7:00 PM) during the first week of play. As usual, ESPN2 will air matches during the second week of play.

ALL TIMES EASTERN.

Wimbledon TV Schedule
Start End Net(s) Round
Monday, July 1
6:00a 4:30p ESPN First Round
Tuesday, July 2
6:00a 4:30p ESPN First Round
Wednesday, July 3
6:00a 4:30p ESPN Second Round
Thursday, July 4
6:00a 4:00p ESPN Second Round
Friday, July 5
6:00a 4:30p ESPN Third Round
Saturday, July 6
8:00a 5:00p ESPN Third Round
Monday, July 8
6:00a 4:00p ESPN2 Round of 16
Court 1, outer courts
8:00a 4:00p ESPN Round of 16
Centre Court
Tuesday, July 9
8:00a 2:00p ESPN2 Women’s quarterfinals
Court 1
8:00a 4:00p ESPN Women’s quarterfinals
Centre Court
Wednesday, July 10
8:00a 3:00p ESPN2 Men’s quarterfinals
Court 1
8:00a 4:00p ESPN Men’s quarterfinals
Centre Court
Thursday, July 11
8:00a 1:00p ESPN Women’s semifinals
Friday, July 12
8:00a 2:00p ESPN Men’s semifinals
Saturday, July 13
8:00a 3:00p ESPN Women’s final
Sunday, July 14
9:00a 3:00p ESPN Men’s final

 

[Moxie]

They extended the grass season as apparently players complained saying it was too quick of a transition from clay to grass. So, you would think that players will be very eager to participate in the grass warm-up tourneys. But, I don't think that is the case at all. Of the top 11 players, as many as six of them (Rafa, Novak, Thiem, Special K, Fog and Isner) are not playing in even one warm-up tourney.

The situation seems much like when the players complain about lengthy calendar, but yet choosing to play in exhos.

Full of contradictions.

I don't think that's exactly a contradiction. The time between RG and Wimbledon had been awfully short, and the players want to be well-prepared for Wimbledon, which can include well-rested. The ones that will be missed are Rafa, Novak, and maybe Thiem, but they all went deep at RG, and played a lot on clay. Novak has often played W without a tune-up, so that's not new. Rafa is conceding to age and knees and so saving himself. I doubt most would have noticed Fog not playing a tune-up. Isner would be the surprise, but who's to notice, really? The good news is, there is at least a little bit more of a grass season, which was at least part of the point, right?

 

[Carol]

He isn’t good enough to beat Nadal in RG, he is good enough to beat Novak not at his best (thiem nearly lost that match) or do you think he played the best version of Djokovic?
Novak was better in RG than in Roma, and despite his low level in Roma he took a set from Nadal.
All this indicates, what Toni Nadal officially told the press, he and his team could be very happy not to play against Novak.
He got an easy win and he saved energy for Wimbledon. Couldn’t went better for Nadal.

Well, remember that Nadal lost in MC, Barcelona and Madrid which means he wasn't played so well, but he played better in Roma and not even at his best level (it doesn't matter he "gave" one set to Novak) anyway he gave him a good lesson

 

[herios]

They extended the grass season as apparently players complained saying it was too quick of a transition from clay to grass. So, you would think that players will be very eager to participate in the grass warm-up tourneys. But, I don't think that is the case at all. Of the top 11 players, as many as six of them (Rafa, Novak, Thiem, Special K, Fog and Isner) are not playing in even one warm-up tourney.

The situation seems much like when the players complain about lengthy calendar, but yet choosing to play in exhos.

Full of contradictions.

There are others who take full advantage of these weeks. Among them, all 4 finalists from today will play next week.
Matteo Berrettini in Halle, Felix and Adrian Mannarino in London, Thompson plays in a Challenger.

 

[Jelenafan]

Well IIRC I said it earlier, you actually need 5 to 6 weeks between Roland Garos and Wimbledon. It’s always been by far the fastest turnaround between two Majors when it was only a couple of weeks; and while an additional week is better, it’s still not much.

I’m still hoping some day there will be a bonafide grasscourt season, even a Masters on grass, in my lifetime.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Just deal with what is, fellas. I have got kind of used to the system all these years.

 

[Front242]

Well, remember that Nadal lost in MC, Barcelona and Madrid which means he wasn't played so well, but he played better in Roma and not even at his best level (it doesn't matter he "gave" one set to Novak) anyway he gave him a good lesson

LOL at "gave". No he didn't. Novak "took" one set from him.

 

[don_fabio]

Tsitsipas on big4 dominance in Wimbledon, it is more of a click bait article, but still, he says he is responsible to go out there and bring down the dominant guys.

This is why I think that match with Wawrinka was special in RG, not only because of level of play and how close the match was, but I saw the greek fighting not only to win another match, but even more to play against Fed again (or any of big 3). He seems so fired up to bring them down and his confidence really grown big since the beginning of the year.

http://www.tennisnow.com/News/2019/June/Tsitsipas-Big-Four-Wimbledon-Dominance-is-Boring.aspx

 

[Carol]

LOL at "gave". No he didn't. Novak "took" one set from him.

LOL wowwwwwwww

 

[Moxie]

LOL at "gave". No he didn't. Novak "took" one set from him.

You didn't watch the match. In this case, Nadal played a terrible service game late in the 2nd, and then Djokovic held to take the set. He really kind of did "give" Novak that set. That's not even really a fannish point...it was pretty clear. I should think it would make you happy. Novak was pretty poor most of that day, though he was better in the 2nd.

 

[DarthFed]

You didn't watch the match. In this case, Nadal played a terrible service game late in the 2nd, and then Djokovic held to take the set. He really kind of did "give" Novak that set. That's not even really a fannish point...it was pretty clear. I should think it would make you happy. Novak was pretty poor most of that day, though he was better in the 2nd.

And Novak gave Nadal 2 sets. I saw the match, he was pretty atrocious throughout I agree.

 

[Moxie]

And Novak gave Nadal 2 sets. I saw the match, he was pretty atrocious throughout I agree.

Fair enough...he did give Nadal the first and 3rd. All Rafa had to do was show up. (I'm not being sarcastic.)

 

[DarthFed]

Tsitsipas on big4 dominance in Wimbledon, it is more of a click bait article, but still, he says he is responsible to go out there and bring down the dominant guys.

This is why I think that match with Wawrinka was special in RG, not only because of level of play and how close the match was, but I saw the greek fighting not only to win another match, but even more to play against Fed again (or any of big 3). He seems so fired up to bring them down and his confidence really grown big since the beginning of the year.

http://www.tennisnow.com/News/2019/June/Tsitsipas-Big-Four-Wimbledon-Dominance-is-Boring.aspx

We will see. As of now he hasn't done anything but I have hopes. He now has some pretty decent weapons, I was pretty surprised he didn't handle a washed up Stan. Bad loss. Only other concern is overplaying.

 

[Front242]

You didn't watch the match. In this case, Nadal played a terrible service game late in the 2nd, and then Djokovic held to take the set. He really kind of did "give" Novak that set. That's not even really a fannish point...it was pretty clear. I should think it would make you happy. Novak was pretty poor most of that day, though he was better in the 2nd.

Actually, I did watch the match. It was shit and not just cos Novak lost it but because he was clearly physically drained and couldn't play at all. Only adrenaline won him that second set. I also don't agree that Nadal "gave" (to use Carol's terminology) Novak the 2nd set. Novak clearly played much better (wouldn't be hard) in set 2 which clearly made Nadal wonder whether he was gonna actually make it a match and with the ensuing pressure came the poor service game. That makes it more about Novak winning the set rather Nadal losing it.

Either way who gives a shit. It was a rubbish match. I just found Carol's "gave" terminology as annoying as her "mono". She brings it on herself. Without stupid posts no one would be bitching.

 

[Moxie]

Either way who gives a shit. It was a rubbish match. I just found Carol's "gave" terminology as annoying as her "mono". She brings it on herself. Without stupid posts no one would be bitching.

Carol can make biased posts, but as I said, I don't think she was wrong that Nadal rather gave the away the 2nd set. I can see where you'd be sensitive, though, since you yourself are always scrupulous about not saying biased things, or using stupid terminology/insinuations.

 

[Carol]

My "biased posts" are because the posts from Front and DarthFed are a lot more biased and stupid as haters they are. Hope strongly that Nadal can do a great Wimbledon and if he would reach the final and Federer will be there (I doubt he will) I would love to see Rafa beating him again.
Now you can say anything about "my biased post", you are welcome B-)

 

[Moxie]

My "biased posts" are because the posts from Front and DarthFed are a lot more biased and stupid as haters they are. Hope strongly that Nadal can do a great Wimbledon and if he would reach the final and Federer will be there (I doubt he will) I would love to see Rafa beating him again.
Now you can say anything about "my biased post", you are welcome B-)

I know that you combat their bias in your own way, as I do in mine. It does make me laugh when they take the bait. But we've had this discussion before. Don't get mad at me. I backed you up in what you said. In any case, Front is showing his own bias by pretending to be "holier than thou."

 

[DarthFed]

My "biased posts" are because the posts from Front and DarthFed are a lot more biased and stupid as haters they are. Hope strongly that Nadal can do a great Wimbledon and if he would reach the final and Federer will be there (I doubt he will) I would love to see Rafa beating him again.
Now you can say anything about "my biased post", you are welcome B-)

Yes, Nadal is known for so many strong Wimbledon's over the years. I think it's too late for you to lay down the crack pipe...keep puffin away

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa talked up his chances at Wimbledon in the presser after RG. Uncle Toni meanwhile released a statement saying Ralph can indeed win Wimbledon this year. The whole camp seems to be up beat, not just Carol.

However, if I feel that Rafa's chances at Wimbledon depends a lot on the draw. If he can avoid all big servers/hitters, he can indeed reach second week and once he reaches second week anything can happen.

I don't think Rafa can beat Roger in Wimbledon even at this time. However, there is a possibility of Roger getting upset early (to a big server or big hitter) and in that case Rafa might have a path to the trophy that does not go through Roger.