Wimbledon Preview Talk

[Kieran]

I think Nole will be fine, but I agree about the big hitters. Let's face it, it's a big hitters surface. Blokes like Berdy should be doing much better there. Interesting views of Michael Chang on the difference between his day, and now:

“The mentality is very different,” Chang says. “I think when I was out playing, the big servers, the super volleyers, the super chargers had a little bit more of an edge because of the way grass worked for playing back then. But nowadays guys are playing from the back of the court on grass as if it's a hard court or clay court sometimes, and the ball's bouncing a lot higher and bouncing very true. The courts are not as fast as they used to be so no one's serving and volleying that much. So everyone's is in the same boat.”

Chang continued: “For somebody who plays from the back…they have to come in on a decent ball. You can't get away with a slice and a chip and a bluff kind of tennis. If you hit that kind of shot now and the ball sits up, you're toast at the net. It doesn't matter if it's on grass.”

 

[brokenshoelace]

^^ Seems like a fairly obvious take. Chang never struck me as the most interesting guy in the world anyway.

 

[El Dude]

^^ Seems like a fairly obvious take. Chang never struck me as the most interesting guy in the world anyway.

Do you have to be contrarian about everything, Broken? Crikey.

 

[brokenshoelace]

^^ Seems like a fairly obvious take. Chang never struck me as the most interesting guy in the world anyway.

Do you have to be contrarian about everything, Broken? Crikey.

No, that's Cali's job.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Two more wild cards announced. Brydan Klein of GBR and Matthew Ebden of AUS got them.
Now, only one more is left.

Also, they have awarded wild cards to all British Players in top 200. Hopefully, they would not go down further and give it to some deserving young foreign player.

Only two British players are in the main draw by virtue of direct entry. One is obvious. Interestingly, the British #2 is Bedene, who was not born in GBR, and who was not allowed to represent GBR in DC as he has already played representing some other country.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

By playing in Wimbledon 2015, Roger would be in sole possession of the record for lonest consecutive appearances in GSs for both sexes. He is already in sole possession of the said record for Men. But, he is tied with Ai Sugiyama at 62 right now. Wimbledon 2015 will be his 63rd consecutive grand slam appearance starting from 2000 AO. :clap

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

typical LTA..wasting a load of wildcards on freeloaders, johnny-come-zero's and balloonheads.

 

[BalaryKar]

Going out bold and calling it right now: "Nole does not make the semis"

 

[Kirijax]

Going out bold and calling it right now: "Nole does not make the semis"

That IS bold! Your reason? Post French Letdown Depression Syndrome? Also not known as PFLDS!

 

[BalaryKar]

With Wawrinka winning the slam for a second time, thats now 3 out of last 6 slams bagged by non-big 4. Before FO final, Nole was projected as the MACHINE that can't be broken down. Expect Wawrinka's dismantling of Nole to rub on others and boost their confidence too. People, and the players especially, know that Nole can be beaten.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The top 32 players who will be seeded are now set in stone (but not yet the ordering of them).
Youngsters Thiem, Sock and Kyrios all will be seeded. So will Kohly.

The dangerous floaters (who are capable of creating an early upset) are the following IMO.
Seeded players are not eligible to be designated as dangerous floaters.

1. Lukas Rosol
2. Nicolas Mahut
3. Dog
4. Dustin Brown.

 

[Front242]

Dustin Brown underperformed imo last year losing to Baghdatis. Hope he gets a good draw and does better this year. Pretty entertaining guy to watch.

 

[DarthFed]

With Wawrinka winning the slam for a second time, thats now 3 out of last 6 slams bagged by non-big 4. Before FO final, Nole was projected as the MACHINE that can't be broken down. Expect Wawrinka's dismantling of Nole to rub on others and boost their confidence too. People, and the players especially, know that Nole can be beaten.

Aside from 2011, Nole's always been beatable at slams. 2015 is not over yet of course but this year is now the 4th in a row that it's seemed that Djokovic would dominate the slams, possibly win 3 or even 4, etc. So far he's only won 1 per year, but still has two cracks at making this an excellent year.

We've seen him rebound from tough losses at the French in particular. Both years he won Wimbledon came on the heels of tough losses to Fed and Rafa in 2011 and 2014. With that in mind I expect Nole to make at least the semis but want to see the draw first. Anyone can be vulnerable to big hitters on grass.

 

[Front242]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOXp7AhCAPQ[/video]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRhJgDAagFY[/video]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOOIvQ1RjVo[/video]

 

[Fiero425]

With Wawrinka winning the slam for a second time, thats now 3 out of last 6 slams bagged by non-big 4. Before FO final, Nole was projected as the MACHINE that can't be broken down. Expect Wawrinka's dismantling of Nole to rub on others and boost their confidence too. People, and the players especially, know that Nole can be beaten.

Aside from 2011, Nole's always been beatable at Slams. 2015 is not over yet of course, but this year is now the 4th in a row that it's seemed that Djokovic would dominate the majors, possibly win 3 or even 4, etc. So far he's only won 1 per year, but still has 2 cracks at making this an excellent year.

We've seen him rebound from tough losses at the French in particular. Both years he won Wimbledon came on the heels of tough losses to Fed and Rafa in 2011 and 2014. With that in mind I expect Nole to make at least the semis, but want to see the draw first. Anyone can be vulnerable to big hitters on grass.

That's what makes Nole "great" IMO because he is the most vulnerable of the Big 4; often going on walkabouts and giving other players chances to beat him! The last couple years, he's come through admirably; consistently making 1/4's, semi's, and finals, actually punishing players with finishing bagels who have the nerve to challenge him! :snicker :angel: :dodgy:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

We've seen him rebound from tough losses at the French in particular. Both years he won Wimbledon came on the heels of tough losses to Fed and Rafa in 2011 and 2014. With that in mind I expect Nole to make at least the semis but want to see the draw first. Anyone can be vulnerable to big hitters on grass.

Those losses in 2011 and 2014 relatively easy to deal with as they are to Fedal. This year, I think the inability to grab the RG title would sure affect him psychologically. So, I would say that he is definitely not winning WImby. But, I will not be bold enough to predict that he won't make SF like the other poster did.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The top 32 players who will be seeded are now set in stone (but not yet the ordering of them).
Youngsters Thiem, Sock and Kyrios all will be seeded. So will Kohly.

The dangerous floaters (who are capable of creating an early upset) are the following IMO.
Seeded players are not eligible to be designated as dangerous floaters.

1. Lukas Rosol
2. Nicolas Mahut
3. Dog
4. Dustin Brown.

Sorry folks, I jumped the gun a little bit. Kohly missed the cut narrowly. He would be the most dangerous floater of all. However, Tsonga appears to be doubtful for Wimbledon with some abdominal injuries. If he withdraws Kohly will be the beneficiary and will be seeded.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Injury watch list for Wimby 2015.

1. Tsonga
2. Monfils
3. Kei

These players may drop out if their injuries are serious. I am thinking that Kei retired today more as a precaution of not hurting himself before GS and so I expect him to play. Tsonga withdrew from grass warm-up tourneys in all three weeks and so I think it is probably serious. Monfils also retired in Halle. Don't know the severity of the condition.

 

[Kieran]

We've seen him rebound from tough losses at the French in particular. Both years he won Wimbledon came on the heels of tough losses to Fed and Rafa in 2011 and 2014. With that in mind I expect Nole to make at least the semis but want to see the draw first. Anyone can be vulnerable to big hitters on grass.

Those losses in 2011 and 2014 relatively easy to deal with as they are to Fedal. This year, I think the inability to grab the RG title would sure affect him psychologically. So, I would say that he is definitely not winning WImby. But, I will not be bold enough to predict that he won't make SF like the other poster did.

I'm not sure if the defeat to Stan will be a big problem for Novak, given that he has a long time to absorb it (which can work against him too, granted) but I wonder how his training is going, and whether he'll play an exo somewhere next week, just to get a facsimile of match conditions on grass. It's a long break and I would have thought he'd need some kind of matches to prepare for Wimbledon...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

We've seen him rebound from tough losses at the French in particular. Both years he won Wimbledon came on the heels of tough losses to Fed and Rafa in 2011 and 2014. With that in mind I expect Nole to make at least the semis but want to see the draw first. Anyone can be vulnerable to big hitters on grass.

Those losses in 2011 and 2014 relatively easy to deal with as they are to Fedal. This year, I think the inability to grab the RG title would sure affect him psychologically. So, I would say that he is definitely not winning WImby. But, I will not be bold enough to predict that he won't make SF like the other poster did.

I'm not sure if the defeat to Stan will be a big problem for Novak, given that he has a long time to absorb it (which can work against him too, granted) but I wonder how his training is going, and whether he'll play an exo somewhere next week, just to get a facsimile of match conditions on grass. It's a long break and I would have thought he'd need some kind of matches to prepare for Wimbledon...

Training would not be a problem as he usually does not play before Wimby in warm-ups. But, just like before he plays in some exhibition mathes (boodles) in London the week before Wimby.

The point is not so much about loss to Stan (this particular person). The loss would be difficult to overcome, even if it were against say Tsonga or Monfils. The point is that he almost had the trophy on paper and missed it. In case of previous RGs 2011 and 2014, it was not clear whether he had it on paper to begin with.