Early Wimbledon Talk

[Front242]

I saw the weather numbers at Queen when Young faces Cilic ,in the 90s.. is it that warm at night or does the damp cooler temps roll in. Still to be able to not compete for practice court time and training facilities is a lot easier for the KOC to hang back in Mallorca.

Cooler at night most of the time and this week is mid 20s at best but 34C/93F last Weds in London. Was in the low high 20s C / low 80s F much of last week over there at night. Pretty damn hot for night time. Sweating like Michael Jackson in the kids playground This week is more pleasant. Thing is, London being a big city with no sea breeze to cool things down means it'd feel much worse playing tennis than in Mallorca.

 

[Front242]

Roger bh didn't look so juiced up today versus the young Russian who didnt hold his composure against his 14 year older senior. If today's match was against a top ten player lets say maybe like Goffin, Fed may not have made it too the finals. Fed may not be able to get away with this level of play versus Sasha

Fed tends to play to the level needed to beat his opponents much like Djokovic. No point killing yourself out there running down every ball trying to make the score 6-2 6-2, especially on grass. A few quick points and it's just one guy holding serve and onto the next. If he's playing a better opponent, he shifts up a gear or 3.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Fed tends to play to the level needed to beat his opponents much like Djokovic. No point killing yourself out there running down every ball trying to make the score 6-2 6-2, especially on grass. A few quick points and it's just one guy holding serve and onto the next. If he's playing a better opponent, he shifts up a gear or 3.

This is true Front,,Rafa also does the same thing too.. dial it down a few levels against the bottomfeeders

 

[the AntiPusher]

Cooler at night most of the time and this week is mid 20s at best but 34C/93F last Weds in London. Was in the low high 20s C / low 80s F much of last week over there at night. Pretty damn hot for night time. Sweating like Michael Jackson in the kids playground This week is more pleasant. Thing is, London being a big city with no sea breeze to cool things down means it'd feel much worse playing tennis than in Mallorca.

actually the warmer temperatures at nighttime is better for most tennis playing especially for older players recovering from nagging injuries

 

[Carol]

Having a good serve is when they don't need to kill theirselves, it's the best advantage like Rafa also did in all the clay season

 

[Front242]

actually the warmer temperatures at nighttime is better for most tennis playing especially for older players recovering from nagging injuries

For sure but they'd probably prefer warm to roasting hot. I'd consider mid 20s (25C / 77C) perfect for playing tennis. Playing in the 30s (celsius) or 90s Fahrenheit is a bit unpleasant to say the least over 5 sets.

 

[the AntiPusher]

For sure but they'd probably prefer warm to roasting hot. I'd consider mid 20s (25C / 77C) perfect for playing tennis. Playing in the 30s (celsius) or 90s Fahrenheit is a bit unpleasant to say the least over 5 sets.

Very true

 

[lob]

I do think Roger remains the overall favorite, but it isn't overwhelming. He isn't slaughtering guys, and there are lots of dangerous players out there.

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This ^.

I'd go further. As yet, a 36 y.o. cannot be made the favorite at a Wimbledon. The old man managed to win a best of 5 tournament after half a decade of futile attempts and it was hard as hell. Three five-setters and a certain amount of good luck. He has a team, a better racket and a few new weapons but they can't make it 2007. It's still 2017.

Tsonga, Berdych, Stakhovsky, Raonic. He walked in as the favorite into all those matches and he was younger. He had better not forget that nothing to lose mentality which brought back that feeling of victory.

 

[the AntiPusher]

This ^.

I'd go further. As yet, a 36 y.o. cannot be made the favorite at a Wimbledon. The old man managed to win a best of 5 tournament after half a decade of futile attempts and it was hard as hell. Three five-setters and a certain amount of good luck. He has a team, a better racket and a few new weapons but they can't make it 2007. It's still 2017.

Tsonga, Berdych, Stakhovsky, Raonic. He walked in as the favorite into all those matches and he was younger. He had better not forget that nothing to lose mentality which brought back that feeling of victory.

This

 

[El Dude]

Holy Toledo! My internet goes down for a few hours, and Fedal wars are in high gear. And why not? Roger won AO, Rafa RG...the heavy weight card is back on top. Like it or not...the Greatest Show on Earth.

I actually find it rather tiresome, especially when it falls to the level of "Superman is more badass than the Hulk," like a couple of 12-year old boys fighting over their favorite superheroes.

There are interesting discussions to be had about Fedal, but unfortunately the noise drowns out the signal, and of course it is very hard not to be drawn into the squabbles.

 

[Front242]

This ^.

I'd go further. As yet, a 36 y.o. cannot be made the favorite at a Wimbledon. The old man managed to win a best of 5 tournament after half a decade of futile attempts and it was hard as hell. Three five-setters and a certain amount of good luck. He has a team, a better racket and a few new weapons but they can't make it 2007. It's still 2017.

Tsonga, Berdych, Stakhovsky, Raonic. He walked in as the favorite into all those matches and he was younger. He had better not forget that nothing to lose mentality which brought back that feeling of victory.

He wasn't physically in great nick against Raonic given he fell flat on his face out of nowhere and then took the rest of the year off but no excuses with the other losses. Fully fit he probably would have won last year. The title that is.

 

[Moxie]

I actually find it rather tiresome, especially when it falls to the level of "Superman is more badass than the Hulk," like a couple of 12-year old boys fighting over their favorite superheroes.

There are interesting discussions to be had about Fedal, but unfortunately the noise drowns out the signal, and of course it is very hard not to be drawn into the squabbles.

If you read again, by The Greatest Show on Earth, I meant the actual Federer and Nadal. The Fedal internet wars is another story...often boringly repetitive, and occasionally irresistible.

 

[Moxie]

This ^.

I'd go further. As yet, a 36 y.o. cannot be made the favorite at a Wimbledon. The old man managed to win a best of 5 tournament after half a decade of futile attempts and it was hard as hell. Three five-setters and a certain amount of good luck. He has a team, a better racket and a few new weapons but they can't make it 2007. It's still 2017.

Tsonga, Berdych, Stakhovsky, Raonic. He walked in as the favorite into all those matches and he was younger. He had better not forget that nothing to lose mentality which brought back that feeling of victory.

Interesting thought: a 36 y.o. can't be the favorite at Wimbledon. Except, who's even co-favorite? Cilic? Murray and Djokovic? Nadal?

 

[El Dude]

I agree that a 36 year old cannot possibly be the favorite at Wimbledon this year.

36-year olds on the ATP tour as of 1st day of Wimbledon: Jurgen Melzer, Victor Estrella Burgos.

But a 35 year old can. Roger Federer is 35, turning 36 in August.

(I know, I'm being a smartass)

 

[Front242]

For now he's still only 35. Not 36 till August

 

[GameSetAndMath]

If there is one tournament where age would play less of a factor, it is Wimbledon. Aggressive tennis, just a break here and there and short matches (timewise), even if they go to five sets.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Despite Sasha's heroic this week at Halle, I still put more stock on Kyrgios than Sasha at Wimbledon (assuming Kyrgios is healthy). I think Sasha has better chances on hard courts. Based on surface prowess, as I said before among the young crop, I would say clay suits best to Thiem, grass suits best to Kyrgios and HC suits best to Sasha.

 

[atttomole]

But Roger is not just any other player. His tennis is imperial, and no doubt he is the most talented player to ever play the game. However, he has become more vulnerable with age, but several times he has been able to put himself in a position to win grand slam titles, notwithstanding the age. I also think a half-fit Roger could have won Wimbledon last year against Murray.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Here are the latest odds after the warm-up tourneys of second week are over.

Everybody with 1% or more chance is listed below.

The odds listed below are the highest available for each player listed among various betting houses.

1. Federer 5/2
2. Andy 4
3. Rafa 5
4. Novak 13/2
5 Raonic 16
6. Cilic 20
7. Sasha 22
8. Kyrgios 25
9. Grigor 28
10. Stan 33
11. Thiem 40
12. JMDP 50
13. Tsonga/Nishikori 80

The odds seem fairly on the mark. It is not very clear as to whether JMDP will even play at Wimbledon.

 

[the AntiPusher]

But Roger is not just any other player. His tennis is imperial, and no doubt he is the most talented player to ever play the game. However, he has become more vulnerable with age, but several times he has been able to put himself in a position to win grand slam titles, notwithstanding the age. I also think a half-fit Roger could have won Wimbledon last year against Murray.

I would, still,take a young Sampras or Safin during his first USO title being more talented