Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all! We have been experiencing an issue on site where threads have been missing the latest postings. The platform host Vanilla are working on this issue. A workaround that has been used by some is to navigate back from 1 to 10+ pages to re-sync the thread and this will then show the latest posts. Thanks, Mike.
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

2020 In Between Grand Slam Thread

12357

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 2,898 ✭✭✭Girly Gal


    2008 definitely the best final, even though I was rooting for Federer. Goran winning in 2001 is my favourite winner.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,309 Mod ✭✭✭✭mzungu


    For both quality and drama you can't go much further than 2008 Fed vs Nadal.

    Ivanisevic vs Rafter was a great fairytale.

    I'm surprised 1992 Agassi vs Ivanisevic was not in there. That was a good final.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,695 ✭✭✭Chivito550




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,809 ✭✭✭Hector Savage


    mzungu wrote: »
    For both quality and drama you can't go much further than 2008 Fed vs Nadal.

    Ivanisevic vs Rafter was a great fairytale.

    I'm surprised 1992 Agassi vs Ivanisevic was not in there. That was a good final.

    as a 14 year old kid in 1992, I had never heard of Ivanisevic and like everyone was up for Agassi that day, but Goran had left some impression on me and always supported him from then.
    Dissapointing 3rd round exit in 93, horrible boring loss in 94 final to Sampras, but the 1998 final loss to Sampras was absolutely devastating.

    5 sets, he had set points in 2nd set to go 2-0 up.

    Tragedy of a game.

    So it was so deserved when he finally won it in 2001..


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,898 ✭✭✭Girly Gal


    as a 14 year old kid in 1992, I had never heard of Ivanisevic and like everyone was up for Agassi that day, but Goran had left some impression on me and always supported him from then.
    Dissapointing 3rd round exit in 93, horrible boring loss in 94 final to Sampras, but the 1998 final loss to Sampras was absolutely devastating.

    5 sets, he had set points in 2nd set to go 2-0 up.

    Tragedy of a game.

    So it was so deserved when he finally won it in 2001..

    Remember the 92 final, the crowd wanted Agassi to win as he was the latest tennis heartthrob and cheered when Goran made any mistake. Was hoping Goran would win just to shut up the crowd, felt really sorry for him in last set as the occasion clearly got to him. Sampras was then in his way for rest of 90's and was absolutely delighted he won in 2001, would love to have seen Rafter win one too (at least he'd won US open).
    The 2001 final was special for so many reasons, last and best chance for both guys to win Wimbledon, regardless who won or lost people would be happy for the winner and sorry for the loser. The carnival atmosphere as it was played on the Monday.
    Would love to see a slam final again like that without the big 3 just to bring something different to the game and freshen things up a bit.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,695 ✭✭✭Chivito550


    Girly Gal wrote: »
    Remember the 92 final, the crowd wanted Agassi to win as he was the latest tennis heartthrob and cheered when Goran made any mistake. Was hoping Goran would win just to shut up the crowd, felt really sorry for him in last set as the occasion clearly got to him. Sampras was then in his way for rest of 90's and was absolutely delighted he won in 2001, would love to have seen Rafter win one too (at least he'd won US open).
    The 2001 final was special for so many reasons, last and best chance for both guys to win Wimbledon, regardless who won or lost people would be happy for the winner and sorry for the loser. The carnival atmosphere as it was played on the Monday.
    Would love to see a slam final again like that without the big 3 just to bring something different to the game and freshen things up a bit.

    2001 for me over 2008. There will never be an atmosphere like it for a Wimbledon final again.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,898 ✭✭✭Girly Gal


    Chivito550 wrote: »
    2001 for me over 2008. There will never be an atmosphere like it for a Wimbledon final again.

    Don't think 2001 will be repeated again, the circumstances were just perfect, 2 popular players who both had gone close without winning and it was really the last chance for both, also the final being played on Monday meant that fans who wouldn't normally have gotten to be at the final got to go and this really changed the atmosphere. The only downside for me was I missed the early part of it due to work.


  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,007 Mod ✭✭✭✭whiterebel


    Watched the 2009 final yesterday from BBC replays. How unlucky was Roddick? Didn't drop a service game until the last one in the fifth. Much as I'm a Fed fan, I wouldn't have minded Andy taking that one. His nerve on serves was something else, blasting down 130mph+ serves when under real pressure, and serving his way out of trouble. I wonder if he had had the benefit of someone like Edberg coaching him would he have had the game to take Wimbledon? Volleying really let him down. Fed hit 50 aces in that match too, and over 100 winners. BJK and Ann Jones before it. I had forgotten we used to use white tennis balls, and I didn't realise the T2000 was around in the 60s. Such a gentle game for the ladies back then, Jones won with a powder puff serve. It looked like BJK was going to flatten her after an easy first set, but Jones came back well. Oh, yes, and no seats in the ladies final for the players. Get your own drinks.....Nadal would have a sh*t fit without someone to hold his towels!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,809 ✭✭✭Hector Savage


    And I just found ...



    almost in tears watching ... the emotion .... amazing


  • Advertisement
  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,533 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Apparently China won't be hosting any international sport events for the rest of the year, which pretty much decimates the WTA for the rest of the year post RG, and a few ATP events too. I dont think the US Open will happen at this stage either, so RG might look pretty stupid if they insist on pushing on with their plans, particularly with spectators in attendance.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,429 ✭✭✭Sheridan81


    I didn't realize until now that back in the old days married women used to have their HUSBAND'S name up on the scoreboard! Forename initials and all. Jesus Christ. Was it arranged so John Lloyd got to win a slam?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 716 ✭✭✭CassieManson


    Sheridan81 wrote: »
    I didn't realize until now that back in the old days married women used to have their HUSBAND'S name up on the scoreboard! Forename initials and all. Jesus Christ. Was it arranged so John Lloyd got to win a slam?

    Yes its funny to look back at the old matches, the players didn't move around the court nearly as much as they do now. The current players must be so much fitter. Also the coke machine under the umpires chair was a bit strange. And no sweaty towels being handed to the players by ballboys during play.

    And the little tight shorts worn by Borg etc!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,429 ✭✭✭Sheridan81


    And I just found ...



    almost in tears watching ... the emotion .... amazing

    I watched every match of his 2001 run in full on BBC Red Button back then. I think it was the win over Roddick that made me believe he could do it.

    I watched him get beat easily by Cristiano Carratti a couple weeks before at Queens and John Lloyd and Sue Barker were saying how sad it was to see a great player struggling at the end of his career!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,809 ✭✭✭Hector Savage


    Yes its funny to look back at the old matches, the players didn't move around the court nearly as much as they do now. The current players must be so much fitter. Also the coke machine under the umpires chair was a bit strange. And no sweaty towels being handed to the players by ballboys during play.

    And the little tight shorts worn by Borg etc!

    Greg Rusedski started that towel ****e in Wimbledon 1995 !!!

    It was a weird new thing back then and the commentators would laugh about this Canadian/Brit and his funny habits.

    Now they ALL do it....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 56,618 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    So many great great finals at SW19

    My personal favorite is 2001 Goran.....just sheer joy...

    My fav ever slam final is 2017 Oz final....Roger's greatest single match IMO; not necessarily that he played his absolute best ever tennis, but more who he beat, what it meant, and the manner of the win...to come back from the brink of defeat against a colossus like Nadal.....epic....

    I would not be surprised if this is Roger's most special and influential win.........and that his 2019 SW19 loss when so so close to SW19 number 9 is his most painful match.

    2012 Oz final is probably the best match I ever saw.....

    2015 FO final another brilliant match. Stan was on fire....second fav slam final.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 56,618 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    whiterebel wrote: »
    Watched the 2009 final yesterday from BBC replays. How unlucky was Roddick? Didn't drop a service game until the last one in the fifth. Much as I'm a Fed fan, I wouldn't have minded Andy taking that one. His nerve on serves was something else, blasting down 130mph+ serves when under real pressure, and serving his way out of trouble. I wonder if he had had the benefit of someone like Edberg coaching him would he have had the game to take Wimbledon? Volleying really let him down. Fed hit 50 aces in that match too, and over 100 winners. BJK and Ann Jones before it. I had forgotten we used to use white tennis balls, and I didn't realise the T2000 was around in the 60s. Such a gentle game for the ladies back then, Jones won with a powder puff serve. It looked like BJK was going to flatten her after an easy first set, but Jones came back well. Oh, yes, and no seats in the ladies final for the players. Get your own drinks.....Nadal would have a sh*t fit without someone to hold his towels!!

    Stunning match that.

    I really wanted Andy to win. He came so close.

    Fed's serving that day was off the charts. His serve won him the match....


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,533 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    No posts in over a month :eek:

    WTA returned last week, Fiona Ferro became the first tour champion since March after winning Palermo. Everything seems to have gone ok so far, now over to Prague and Kentucky to see how some bigger names handle playing in the current conditions.

    ATP won't be playing again until 'Cincinnati'... which will be held in New York this year preceding the US Open.


  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,007 Mod ✭✭✭✭whiterebel


    ND confirms he’s playing S&W, and US Open.


  • Registered Users Posts: 695 ✭✭✭lostcat


    whiterebel wrote: »
    ND confirms he’s playing S&W, and US Open.

    He was kind of dammed if he did and dammed if he didn't publicity wise I suppose, particularly after the adria tour fiasco.

    A lot of other players attending will have played a good bit more tennis than him in the past month or so. He will be the favourite, but things don't always go his way in the US Open, there may well be a new slam winner here.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,898 ✭✭✭Girly Gal


    lostcat wrote: »
    He was kind of dammed if he did and dammed if he didn't publicity wise I suppose, particularly after the adria tour fiasco.

    A lot of other players attending will have played a good bit more tennis than him in the past month or so. He will be the favourite, but things don't always go his way in the US Open, there may well be a new slam winner here.

    Hopefully a new winner, Novak knows this is a great opportunity to add another slam, don't think it was ever really in doubt that he would play from his point of view, It was others who cast doubt on it, has Nadal confirmed if he's playing or not?


  • Advertisement
  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,007 Mod ✭✭✭✭whiterebel


    Nadal is not playing.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,533 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    whiterebel wrote: »
    Nadal is not playing.

    Players are almost pulling out on a daily basis, I must try find the current entry list to see who is/isn't playing. I think Djokovic, Murray, Thiem, Medvedev and Tsitsipas are still entered though.

    Andreescu isn't playing either, but not sure the pandemic would've made much of a difference there anyway, seems to be injured on an almost permanent basis.

    Meanwhile, Serena lost to Shelby Rogers in Lexington, who really knows where she's at now. The Gauff hype train continues, into the SF's with two quality wins over Sabalenka and Jabeur.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,533 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Nice win for Andy over Zverev :cool:


  • Registered Users Posts: 695 ✭✭✭lostcat


    Nice win for Andy over Zverev :cool:

    It was, especially since the courts seem to be playing very fast which should have suited Zverev.

    Peoples form is understandably a bit all over the place - Zverev was fairly uneven, Thiem was very poor in his match and Djokovic has a creaky neck.

    Nice to see a 'proper' tournament back though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,941 ✭✭✭dominatinMC


    lostcat wrote: »
    It was, especially since the courts seem to be playing very fast which should have suited Zverev.

    Peoples form is understandably a bit all over the place - Zverev was fairly uneven, Thiem was very poor in his match and Djokovic has a creaky neck.

    Nice to see a 'proper' tournament back though.
    Whilst it's a welcome return, I just can't get excited about the tournament, or some of the upcoming tournaments either. I'm not sure if it's due to lack of crowds, and the resulting zero atmosphere, or if it's the reduced field but I'm a bit ambivalent towards it all at the moment.


  • Registered Users Posts: 695 ✭✭✭lostcat


    Whilst it's a welcome return, I just can't get excited about the tournament, or some of the upcoming tournaments either. I'm not sure if it's due to lack of crowds, and the resulting zero atmosphere, or if it's the reduced field but I'm a bit ambivalent towards it all at the moment.

    Maybe they could pipe in some 'drunken crowd shouting' background noise for the US open to give it a more authentic feel?

    It is a bit stanger than watching, say, football, which I think is maybe more to do with the fact that a football match has more continuous acton and a lot more people to point a camera at during down time.

    watching players wandering around at the change of ends looking for their towels is mildly amusing however.
    The field (at least on the mens side) isn't reduced by that much, only Nadal really is missing (Federer is injured/recovering from surgery).

    im hoping that prople will find a bit of form this week and we will have a US Open of consistent quality.


  • Registered Users Posts: 695 ✭✭✭lostcat


    lostcat wrote: »
    im hoping that prople will find a bit of form this week and we will have a US Open of consistent quality.

    I'm obviously talking about the quality of post here, rather than the tennis(.....looks around for Hector Savage et al.....)


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,309 Mod ✭✭✭✭mzungu


    No doubt there will be some rustiness in the first few rounds. Great to have it back, though.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,533 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Must admit it's quite jarring watching with no crowds. Thought we'd be somewhat used to it with some of the soulless Chinese WTA tournaments, but to have literally no reaction to players hitting winners is just too odd. Hope the US Open can think of something novel to make up for it.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    No crowds probably will suit ND at the moment lol!

    Aside from the anti-vaxxer thing I don't think that he's necessarily a bad lad - just really knows how to put his foot in it.


  • Advertisement
  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,533 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    The Bryan Brother have finally retired at the age of 42. The most successful doubles pairing of all time, a bit sad for them that they didn't get to go at the US Open like they'd originally planned. They've always seemed like decent fellas too so I hope they have a very happy retirement.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,429 ✭✭✭Sheridan81


    David Mercer died. RIP.


  • Registered Users Posts: 695 ✭✭✭lostcat


    Djokovic gets out of jail against Bautista-Agut in the semi. He was 5-2 up with the break in the third set, Bautista-Agut broke back and ended up up serving for it as 6-5 but was broken himself. Djokovic ran away with the tie-break. Looked like the heat or something was getting to him in the end, his serve went awol for the third set and wasn't pristine throughout (maybe the neck isn't perfect yet?)

    Bautista-Agut played quite well until he had to serve it out, he could go a long way in the US Open.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,233 ✭✭✭✭MisterAnarchy


    Sheridan81 wrote: »
    David Mercer died. RIP.

    Wow, I didnt realise that he was 70.
    Sad news, I always liked him, especially with Frew Mc Millan on Eurosport.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,533 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Great to see Azarenka win another big title, even if it was via a walkover. Hope she plays well at the US Open. Sabalenka in R2 could be very tough.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,533 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123




  • Registered Users Posts: 695 ✭✭✭lostcat


    Djokovic ties Sampras for career weeks at No 1 this week, at 286. He will retain No 1 next week no matter what happens in Rome so will move to second place on his own. Federer leads the way at 310 weeks.

    I'm not sure what the remainder of the season looks like after the FO so hard to say what he has to do to hold it to the end of the year. There are 16/17 weeks left in 2020.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 716 ✭✭✭CassieManson


    lostcat wrote: »
    Djokovic ties Sampras for career weeks at No 1 this week, at 286. He will retain No 1 next week no matter what happens in Rome so will move to second place on his own. Federer leads the way at 310 weeks.

    I'm not sure what the remainder of the season looks like after the FO so hard to say what he has to do to hold it to the end of the year. There are 16/17 weeks left in 2020.

    Did they keep counting during the break?


  • Registered Users Posts: 695 ✭✭✭lostcat


    Did they keep counting during the break?
    they didn't, they paused it pretty early into lockdown, started again a couple of weeks ago.
    Its a messy year however, following the restart of the season, everyone can opt to keep their points from the equivalent tournament last year or take this years points if they fare better. Hence Nadal will hold onto his US Open winning points from 2019 even though he didn't attend this year. Thiem will obviously gain a good few as he performed better than last year, etc.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,233 ✭✭✭✭MisterAnarchy


    Tennis seems to be going down the "woke" road alot lately.
    Murray now calling for the Margaret Court Arena to be renamed .
    https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/12073772/andy-murray-thinks-margaret-courts-name-should-be-removed-from-australian-open

    "Every statue and street and building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And that process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped.”
    1984


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,533 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Tennis seems to be going down the "woke" road alot lately.
    Murray now calling for the Margaret Court Arena to be renamed .
    https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/12073772/andy-murray-thinks-margaret-courts-name-should-be-removed-from-australian-open

    "Every statue and street and building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And that process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped.”
    1984

    Not wanting tennis stadiums named after virulent homophobes is hardly "woke". If Court had been as racist as she is homophobic then the name would've been changed a long time ago. It'll happen eventually though, mind. And I think trying to make links to 1984 is... tenuous at best.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,449 ✭✭✭Rob2D


    This Musetti kid is scary good........


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,533 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Delighted to see Schwartzman in his first Masters final, and with a win over Nadal to boot too, hope he can take the title now. Bit of strange loss by Nadal, especially with their prior h2h, perhaps feeling the lack of match play at the moment. I still think he's winning RG though.

    Halep seems to have come out the blocks firing, will probably win her second title since the tour resumption against Pliskova tomorrow. Encouraging to see both Muguruza and Azarenka playing well this week too, the latter in particular after just losing a grand slam final. Halep, Muguruza and Azarenka are the form players heading into RG... probably meaning none of them will win it.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,309 Mod ✭✭✭✭mzungu


    Delighted to see Schwartzman in his first Masters final, and with a win over Nadal to boot too, hope he can take the title now. Bit of strange loss by Nadal, especially with their prior h2h, perhaps feeling the lack of match play at the moment. I still think he's winning RG though.

    Halep seems to have come out the blocks firing, will probably win her second title since the tour resumption against Pliskova tomorrow. Encouraging to see both Muguruza and Azarenka playing well this week too, the latter in particular after just losing a grand slam final. Halep, Muguruza and Azarenka are the form players heading into RG... probably meaning none of them will win it.

    Nobody beats Diego Schwartzman 10 times in a row. :pac:

    Surprising as that result is, Nadal will (hopefully) be a different animal altogether at the FO. Lack of matchplay definitely was a factor, but some may begin to fancy their chances against him in Paris.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,148 ✭✭✭✭josip


    With Djokovic's Italian Open win, can Nadal or Thiem still overtake him to year end No. 1 and what would they have to do?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 695 ✭✭✭lostcat


    josip wrote: »
    With Djokovic's Italian Open win, can Nadal or Thiem still overtake him to year end No. 1 and what would they have to do?

    After the FO there is a limited enough calendar left. Djokovic has alreadygained a few points this week by bettering last years result.
    Thiem can add points at the FO by willing it, Djpkovic can add points by making the final, Nadal can't add (or loose) any points.

    What Djokovic has to do after that will depend on if Thiem or Nadal opt to play a 500 that they didn't play last year such as Vienna. Djokovic could then opt to play that too, of course.
    Presuming that the WFT goes ahead, Djokovic had a bad one last year so could add enough points in that alone to ensure he keeps the No 1 to year end.

    From what I read elsewhere, if Djokovic gets to the FO final, or wins 3 matches at the WTF, he can't be caught no matter what anyone else does.

    its nearly as complicated as no more than 6 people from no more than 2 households....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,148 ✭✭✭✭josip


    lostcat wrote: »
    ...
    From what I read elsewhere, if Djokovic gets to the FO final, or wins 3 matches at the WTF, he can't be caught no matter what anyone else does.


    A FO Final doesn't seem impossible given that Nadal and Thiem will be on the other side of the draw


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,941 ✭✭✭dominatinMC


    josip wrote: »
    A FO Final doesn't seem impossible given that Nadal and Thiem will be on the other side of the draw
    Nadal will be on the other side, we don't know where Thiem will end up. Draw on Thursday will decide that. And dare I say it, that could also determine who ends up winning the French. Whoever has to play Thiem in semis will be too gassed for final (if wins) or goes out in semis


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,148 ✭✭✭✭josip


    Nadal will be on the other side, we don't know where Thiem will end up. Draw on Thursday will decide that. And dare I say it, that could also determine who ends up winning the French. Whoever has to play Thiem in semis will be too gassed for final (if wins) or goes out in semis


    I thought the FO uses world ranking to determine seeding?


  • Registered Users Posts: 695 ✭✭✭lostcat


    These will be Nadals least favourite conditions ever at the FO, cold, dampish and slow.
    I didn't see his match against Schwartzman but I saw the first set of Djokovic against him, it looked really hard to hit a winner and there were very few handy service games.
    I'd give Thiem or Djokovic every chance against him. I can see all of them getting dragged into a couple of long matches along the way, but I dont see winning this as a gimme for Nadal at all


  • Advertisement
Advertisement