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The 2017 In Between Grand Slam Thread

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24567…19

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    #32
    yerwanthere123
    Registered Users, Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,290 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Chivito550 wrote: »
    That's a question I meant to ask too. As a country we enjoy watching tennis, more so than many sports that we have actually succeeded in. Why does this interest not get translated to success on court?

    I remember this being discussed in a previous thread before, and I think the consensus was pretty much due to a lack of interest in the sport in this country. There really isn't much beyond the two weeks of Wimbledon. Lots of other factors contribute as well such as lack of facilities, extremely expensive tennis club membership etc. Another big one is the poor weather in Ireland means that most tennis courts in this country are Savanna. These play extremely fast and are totally unrepresentative of most of the surfaces in other countries, meaning that the few who do try to make it as a pro player in Ireland find it difficult to cope with the physicality of the game when they travel abroad.

    I'm sure we will have a player some day who'll make some waves, we're pretty much the only Western European country to make zero impact on the sport in recent decades.


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    #33
    josip
    Registered Users Posts: 13,639 ✭✭✭✭josip


    I suspect that a lot of sports people with good hand eye co-ordination will end up playing either hurling or golf?


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    #34
    Jan_de_Bakker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,403 ✭✭✭Jan_de_Bakker


    Chivito550 wrote: »
    That's a question I meant to ask too. As a country we enjoy watching tennis, more so than many sports that we have actually succeeded in. Why does this interest not get translated to success on court?

    You think ?
    Most Irish people I meet couldn't give a hoot about tennis.
    It's also a rich mans sport in Ireland - clubs are very cliquey and closed to outsiders (execeptions of course - like Mt Pleasant - great club)

    Have silly rules like whites only - absolute nonsense, non marking soles should be the only request.

    99% of courts are Savannah - is this good for an aspiring pro to practice on ?

    Get a few decent tennis centers built with indoor hard courts ... with the odd clay/grass court.

    Govt can part fund it, there's plenty of money for other sports centers.

    Did I see St. Annes in Raheny are removing some courts to put up astro turf 5 aside football pitches ?
    I could be wrong here, but if it's true is it any wonder ?
    one of the few decent public courts we have and being replaced ...


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    #35
    Chivito550
    Registered Users Posts: 7,694 ✭✭✭Chivito550


    Jan_de_Bakker wrote: »
    You think ?
    Most Irish people I meet couldn't give a hoot about tennis.
    It's also a rich mans sport in Ireland - clubs are very cliquey and closed to outsiders (execeptions of course - like Mt Pleasant - great club)

    Have silly rules like whites only - absolute nonsense, non marking soles should be the only request.

    99% of courts are Savannah - is this good for an aspiring pro to practice on ?

    Get a few decent tennis centers built with indoor hard courts ... with the odd clay/grass court.

    Govt can part fund it, there's plenty of money for other sports centers.

    Did I see St. Annes in Raheny are removing some courts to put up astro turf 5 aside football pitches ?
    I could be wrong here, but if it's true is it any wonder ?
    one of the few decent public courts we have and being replaced ...

    Any chance the tennis authorities could push for indoor tennis centres out at the National Indoor Arena complex in Abbotstown? There's a new 200m banked indoor athletics track, gymnastics arena, National Aquatic Centre, they are about to start building a cycling velodrome and a full sized indoor rugby pitch. There's other stuff out there too. If Tennis Ireland has any ambition should they not be looking to be part of this?


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    #36
    yerwanthere123
    Registered Users, Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,290 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Got a nice email this afternoon; an offer of Wimbledon centre court tickets for the women's semi finals :cool:


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    #37
    CassieManson
    Registered Users Posts: 693 ✭✭✭CassieManson


    yerwanthere123 wrote:
    Got a nice email this afternoon; an offer of Wimbledon centre court tickets for the women's semi finals


    From the Wimbledon ballot?


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    #38
    yerwanthere123
    Registered Users, Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,290 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Yup! Very early too, I thought it's usually around March before they're rolled out.


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    #39
    Rob2D
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 2,449 Mod ✭✭✭✭Rob2D


    Does this count as news? :p:p:p

    etxlko.jpg

    Stupid Wilson and their cash grabs.........I may have to buy a couple :pac:


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    #40
    RosyLily
    Registered Users Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭RosyLily


    Sky and Discovery have come to an agreement so Eurosport stays with the Sky package.


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    #41
    Jan_de_Bakker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,403 ✭✭✭Jan_de_Bakker


    Rob2D wrote: »
    Does this count as news? :p:p:p

    etxlko.jpg

    Stupid Wilson and their cash grabs.........I may have to buy a couple :pac:

    Nice stick - small head on it tho, but a great sweetspot id imagine!!


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    #42
    Chivito550
    Registered Users Posts: 7,694 ✭✭✭Chivito550


    Anyone else been having tennis withdrawals this week?


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    #43
    walshb
    Registered Users Posts: 54,595 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    Chivito550 wrote: »
    Anyone else been having tennis withdrawals this week?

    I'm still sort of in a daze at both Federer winning his 18th slam after a 5 year drought and the quality of his tennis in Australia.

    What stood out more than anything was the accuracy and precision and power on his BH. I always felt that he got overly criticised for this shot. The reason being that he was so damn good in all areas that people had to pick some weakness. The truth is that his BH on form is better than anyone's in history.

    You always here about Gasquet's and Stan's BHs. But that is as much to do with the fact that it's their real weapon as opposed to it being the best. Both very good, but not as good as Roger's. Roger doesn't have a real weapon. His presence and genius is his weapon. Their BHs are a little too predictable and deliberate and "forced." Roger's just happens. Just flows effortlessly. It is a deadlier shot


    The final score was close, but a bit flattering to Nadal. Nadal threw everything he had, and was very very brilliant. It just shows how good Roger was. I can only think of a peak Nole being a winner against Sunday's Federer, but I am not convinced he beats Roger.


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    #44
    walshb
    Registered Users Posts: 54,595 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    Am I back to being as big a Fed fan as years gone by? No. But my already massive view on his greatness as a tennis player has gotten a little more massive. No doubt that he is the GOAT as regards ability with a racquet. Nobody close.

    Take Johnny Mac who is lauded as being a genius. Tennis wise looks ugly and boring when compared to Roger.


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    #45
    Rob2D
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 2,449 Mod ✭✭✭✭Rob2D


    Jan_de_Bakker wrote: »
    Nice stick - small head on it tho, but a great sweetspot id imagine!!

    Best stick ever made IMO. Nothing serves better that's for sure. I own 2! :pac:
    walshb wrote: »
    Take Johnny Mac who is lauded as being a genius. Tennis wise looks ugly and boring when compared to Roger.

    Mac has incredible skill with a racket, what planet are you on?! Just looks ugly because it's all natural talent; you can't teach that.

    Best hands ever IMO. Plus an uncanny ability to read people. He is a genius............He's an idiot but he's a genius.


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    #46
    walshb
    Registered Users Posts: 54,595 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    Rob2D wrote: »
    Best stick ever made IMO. Nothing serves better that's for sure. I own 2! :pac:



    Mac has incredible skill with a racket, what planet are you on?! Just looks ugly because it's all natural talent; you can't teach that.

    Best hands ever IMO. Plus an uncanny ability to read people. He is a genius............He's an idiot but he's a genius.

    With the ugliest ground strokes in history!

    Next to Fed he looks as dull as dishwater.


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    #47
    Floppybits
    Registered Users Posts: 7,533 ✭✭✭Floppybits


    Davis cup this weekend. Just watching Evans play some young Canadian guy, a lefties with a one handed back hand. He looks handy good backhand but Evans has too much for him.

    No Murray or Raonic in this tie.


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    #48
    Jan_de_Bakker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,403 ✭✭✭Jan_de_Bakker


    Rob2D wrote: »
    Best stick ever made IMO. Nothing serves better that's for sure. I own 2! :pac:



    Nice, I used to have a pro staff 6.1 ... lovely sweetspot, but too many mis hits for my liking - you must play at a decent level ?
    you have a USTA ranking ?

    at best I play at 4.5 ...


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    #49
    Rob2D
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 2,449 Mod ✭✭✭✭Rob2D


    Jan_de_Bakker wrote: »
    you must play at a decent level ?

    LOL, no just club level.
    Jan_de_Bakker wrote: »
    you have a USTA ranking ?

    How would I have an American ranking in Ireland? :pac:


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    #50
    Jan_de_Bakker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,403 ✭✭✭Jan_de_Bakker


    Rob2D wrote: »
    LOL, no just club level.



    How would I have an American ranking in Ireland? :pac:

    Its the only decent global ranking system...


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    #51
    yerwanthere123
    Registered Users, Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,290 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Big drama at Fed Cup tonight, Denis Shapovalov defaulted for hitting chair umpire with the ball. Gave him a fine thump too!


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    #52
    Rob2D
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 2,449 Mod ✭✭✭✭Rob2D


    yerwanthere123 wrote: »
    Big drama at Fed Cup tonight, Denis Shapovalov defaulted for hitting chair umpire with the ball. Gave him a fine thump too!

    Oh man I just saw it there! Hahahaha :D 12K fine seems a bit much though.....

    At least it wasn't as bad as poor Edberg did way back :(


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    #53
    yerwanthere123
    Registered Users, Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,290 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Rob2D wrote: »
    Oh man I just saw it there! Hahahaha :D 12K fine seems a bit much though.....

    At least it wasn't as bad as poor Edberg did way back :(

    When you take this into account, I think the 12K is more than justified.

    Video here of the incident.

    Just an unfortunate incident all round, and hopefully Shapovalov will learn from it.


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    #54
    Rob2D
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 2,449 Mod ✭✭✭✭Rob2D


    No way is taking 12k from a young lad trying to make his way on the challenger tour justified. He didn't even mean it!

    We've all thrown balls/rackets in the past. You can't help it sometimes.


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    #55
    walshb
    Registered Users Posts: 54,595 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    Rob2D wrote: »
    No way is taking 12k from a young lad trying to make his way on the challenger tour justified. He didn't even mean it!

    We've all thrown balls/rackets in the past. You can't help it sometimes.

    Didn't mean it? That has eff all to do with it. He did a very stupid and dangerous thing and he's lucky he didn't get a lifetime ban....


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    #56
    yerwanthere123
    Registered Users, Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,290 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Rob2D wrote: »
    No way is taking 12k from a young lad trying to make his way on the challenger tour justified. He didn't even mean it!

    We've all thrown balls/rackets in the past. You can't help it sometimes.

    It's definitely justified, he got off very lightly, and he's very lucky he didn't get a ban. The umpire had to have surgery!

    https://twitter.com/tomtebbutt/status/830626674588975104


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    #57
    Jan_de_Bakker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,403 ✭✭✭Jan_de_Bakker


    yerwanthere123 wrote: »
    It's definitely justified, he got off very lightly, and he's very lucky he didn't get a ban. The umpire had to have surgery!

    https://twitter.com/tomtebbutt/status/830626674588975104

    Jesus ! didn't realize it was so bad :(

    I feel sorry for the player though, it was a clear accident.

    He can learn from this.


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    #58
    yerwanthere123
    Registered Users, Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,290 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Yep, all things considered Shapovalov got off very lightly indeed.

    Really pleased to see Dimitrov and Zverev win titles over the weekend. This is impressive:
    https://twitter.com/YoungTennisGuns/status/830796534430175232


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    #59
    mickmackey1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,288 ✭✭✭mickmackey1


    Looks to me like he smashed it in the general direction of the umpire with zero consideration of the consequences. Should be banned for as long as it takes Gabas to get back umpiring.


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    #60
    yerwanthere123
    Registered Users, Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,290 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Sinéad Kissane getting panned on Twitter for this silly article she wrote about Serena Williams
    https://twitter.com/sineadkissane/status/832890830293762048


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    #61
    RosyLily
    Registered Users Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭RosyLily


    I rolled my eyes so hard reading that. Trying to make a story out of nothing. Why not bring this up the first time Serena posed for the magazine? Or write the article about the other female players who appeared? If Serena posing in her swimsuit "sabotages the equality battle" then we haven't come very far.


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