2022 In Between Grand Slam Thread

That’s a bit ridiculous. Azarenka was taking part to raise money for Ukraine ffs. So how long is Azerenka and other players from Belarus and Russia going be punished in this way for something none of them have any control over ?

Somewhere glasso is smiling tonight. Alcaraz number 1, hard court slam winner before clay, raducanu down in the 80s. Only high WTA seeds in final the only blemish?😁

Folks, I'm lucky to have tickets for the Laver Cup on the final day Sunday. Would anyone know what time it usually finishes on the day? Says all the matches are day sessions but there's potentially four to be played. Could possibly book flights for 10pm instead of staying another night (London ain't cheap). Cheers.

End of an era, and a bright, shining, illustrious one at that. As another poster said, we all knew this announcement was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier when it does arrive. Without getting too philosophical, nothing makes you feel older than the fading of your childhood/adolescent idols.

Been many debates on here, and elsewhere, about the GOAT. And whilst statistics may not be in his favour now, I think we can all say that Federer was a genius, who elevated tennis to another level, and transcended the sport. Will be sorely missed, but I'm just grateful we got to witness this era in all it's glory.

As others have said, the greatest natural talent ever, and the greatest all round player ever. But in a way, I think that was his downfall. Nadal and Djokovic spent most of their career adapting to each other and Federer, working on modifying and improving their game as they saw necessary, to find weaknesses in their opponent.

But as we often saw, Federer often lost to these two, being hurt in the same areas by them, but seemingly not changing anything. He fully believed his natural game was enough to win the day out, that the game would be played on his terms, and not modified to suit the opponent. That "real tennis" should be enough.

I think due to how natural he played, it was alien to him to lower himself to playing at times like Djokovic or Nadal, the refusal or inability to do it dirty as times, to dig in to the point you've nothing left to give. He often struggled when the tennis went out the window and it became a battle of attrition. I think people mistake that for being weak mentally, his style just doesn't allow him to play like that.

In saying that no one beat the "weaker players" with such ease, his consistency unmatched really, and doing it with such little effort.

I think his talent is really shown when you break the game down. If we're to talk about who has the best serve, forehand, backhand, volley, who's the best on quick or slow surfaces, clay or hard court, Federer would be in the top 3 greatest ever across the board in every facet of the game. I don't think any other player could say that. I think that's the real indicator of raw talent.

I think he brought the game to another level globally. I've never seen a sportsperson with such dogmatic supporters, but he brought the game to worldwide interest that I don't think existed before. People wanted to see him, and how he played so gracefully. Aesthetically no one has ever played the game so beautifully. The only thing in tennis more beautiful than Federer playing is the Gasquet backhand ha.

I always disliked him for some unknown reason, but that drove my interest in the game, wanting to see him lose. The big 3 don't have fanboys, Federer does and the rest are "anyone but Federer". Outside of seeing Federer being beat and his slam count being overtaken, I daresay people have much interest in Nadal or Djokovic relatively. But that in and of itself is an indictment of Federer's greatness. He drove the global interest in the game to new levels!

Federer's knee must be completely shot, he's only going to play 1 doubles game with Nadal in the Laver cup.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/sep/21/roger-federer-hopes-to-bow-out-tennis-doubles-alongside-rafael-nadal-laver-cup

Med has had some stinker of a season really. I wonder if that AO match Vs. Nadal broke him mentally. Although relatively young still, I think next year is make or break for him.

Hopefully she gets a good run of form together and finish the year well, she should also get a little rankings boost too.

Just tuned in.... I know not a thing about it, but it's all a bit.... odd?

The court looks tiny, and sounds dodge. And Federer/Nadal are the most unnatural looking doubles pair I've ever seen!

Playing dirty is fine, all above board, but the greats never resort to it

Federer is a class act, total legend of the game.

Not sure who thought it would be a good ides to wrap this up with a live concert. But they should be fired.