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The 2014 In Between Grand Slam Thread

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,667 ✭✭✭✭MisterAnarchy


    I see Wimbledon is moving back a week next year ,nice one ,they finally saw some sense.
    3 week break between the French Open and Wimbledon is badly needed.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭RosyLily


    I wonder will Tennis Ireland think about putting on a tournament during the extra week next year. Maybe a Challenger or 250. Many players would be around Europe at the time. Throw their hat in the ring now before we end up with the Sunderland Open, or something like that.:pac:

    Just an idea.:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,667 ✭✭✭✭MisterAnarchy


    RosyLily wrote: »
    I wonder will Tennis Ireland think about putting on a tournament during the extra week next year. Maybe a Challenger or 250. Many players would be around Europe at the time. Throw their hat in the ring now before we end up with the Sunderland Open, or something like that.:pac:

    Just an idea.:)

    Maybe something for you to organise next year RosyLily ? :p

    The_Monkey would be eager to act as a chaperone for his idol Nadal I am sure

    On a serious note are there many grass courts left in Ireland ?


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,546 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    RosyLily wrote: »
    I wonder will Tennis Ireland think about putting on a tournament during the extra week next year. Maybe a Challenger or 250. Many players would be around Europe at the time. Throw their hat in the ring now before we end up with the Sunderland Open, or something like that.:pac:

    Just an idea.:)

    We can dream :) Bizarrely enough though, the WTA recently announced a new grass-court tournament in Majorca, of all places. Will be played alongside Birmingham as a Wimbledon warm up from 2016.

    I wonder is it too early to suggest that Cibulkova has gone back to her pre-2014 form? She hasn't done much since March, her clay season was a disaster (although she was unlucky to run into Stosur twice) and now losing to Shvedova. We'll have to wait and see I guess.

    Surprised Genie lost, but being fresher for Wimbledon will hardly be a bad thing. Good to see Muguruza winning on grass, would be exciting if she brought her form to Wimbledon :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭RosyLily


    Maybe something for you to organise next year RosyLily ? :p

    Off to copyright the Rose Open! Patent pending!:pac:

    Not sure if there's many grass courts. Could always jointly hold a tournament, a la Rogers Cup.


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  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,937 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    I think they're moving one of the current grass events into the extra week, are they not?


  • Registered Users Posts: 418 ✭✭Henry9


    I think they're moving one of the current grass events into the extra week, are they not?
    It's unlikely to be left vacant.

    Back in the day some players used to come to Dublin to practice in Carrickmines, their courts were very highly regarded.

    IIRC the Goal events with McEnroe, Wilander and Co used to be on leading up to it too, so they probably overlapped. I think they were in Fitz though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 56,868 ✭✭✭✭walshb




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,298 ✭✭✭✭flazio


    Great win for Keys. :) Great game.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,546 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Jesus, Kerber's record in finals is just 3-8 now.


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  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,937 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    James McGee just missed out on qualifying for Newport this week. Lost in the last round of Q, again. 7-5 in the TB. He keeps getting so close :(

    James Clusky is in the doubles in Bastad with Kukushkin. They start on Tuesday, I think.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,546 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Ah no, poor James. He'll qualify for a main draw soon I hope :)

    I hate when Wimbledon ends, I find the wait until things get going again incredibly long. A lot to look forward to over the summer. Anyone have any wild predictions they wanna make?!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭RosyLily


    FEDERER TO WIN US!!!!

    :o


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,937 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    I'm looking forward to a little break now, at least from the big events. Rogers Cup isn't until August, that's the next "big" one.

    Quite a few clay tournaments going on this week. So weird that people will go back to the clay after the grass when it's about to be hard courts again. I suppose some of them want to rack up a few points away from the bigger events. Personally I hate the clay and I'm glad to see the back of it.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,937 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    Louk Sorensen has made it into the main draw at Stuttgart via the lucky loser system. Plays Igor Sijsling.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,937 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    Sorensen won his R1 match today against Sijsling in Stuttgart.

    Clusky lost his doubles match in Bastad.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,185 ✭✭✭✭Rjd2


    Strange win for Sorensen sadly, some very odd betting movement on that match. Sjisling opened up about 4/11 and then was odds against, most bookies closed the match in the afternoon.

    Last time I looked it had taken 300k match betting and over 50k matched on 2-0 Sorensen, which shockingly was the final score.

    Injured, or something more suspicious.

    :eek:


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,546 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Louk lost today anyway, although did take Bautista Agut to three sets.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,389 ✭✭✭irishguy1983


    I'm looking forward to a little break now, at least from the big events. Rogers Cup isn't until August, that's the next "big" one.

    Quite a few clay tournaments going on this week. So weird that people will go back to the clay after the grass when it's about to be hard courts again. I suppose some of them want to rack up a few points away from the bigger events. Personally I hate the clay and I'm glad to see the back of it.

    I love August and the I'll never forget last August as a Nadal fan.

    I love it due to the matches being on around 8/9 in the evening although I miss some with them being on so late. Friday and Saturday nights are special in August with quarters and semis on :)


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,546 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Elle magazine did a piece on Sloane Stephens. She doesn't come across well at all.

    http://www.elle.com/life-love/society-career/sloane-stephens-profile


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 612 ✭✭✭smurfs5




  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,937 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    Elle magazine did a piece on Sloane Stephens. She doesn't come across well at all.

    http://www.elle.com/life-love/society-career/sloane-stephens-profile

    People never come across well in those types of "interviews". It's like they don't think what they say and do is going to be reported unless they're actually having a face to face question and answer type interview.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,937 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    smurfs5 wrote: »

    I like that attitude that some of the young players have. As the article says there's a fine line between confidence and arrogance but I think it's what's missing from some of the older players when it comes to facing the "big 4". They've lost to them so many times that they don't really believe they can win when they go up against them. Whereas the younger players, or some of them anyway, actually do believe they can win and you see the difference in the performances. Sure, they don't always win but they put in better performances than the older guys do.

    On the WTA side you see the likes of Bouchard with the same attitude. She gets a bit of stick for it but if you think about it these people have been playing tennis since they were 4 or 5. They've committed their entire childhoods to the sport so by the time they get to 19/20 and are on the big stages they should be feeling like they belong there otherwise what's the point of the last 13/14/15 years?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,185 ✭✭✭✭Rjd2


    Elle magazine did a piece on Sloane Stephens. She doesn't come across well at all.

    http://www.elle.com/life-love/society-career/sloane-stephens-profile



    She comes across as pretty annoying, and a little hyper, but they are not the worst characteristics in the world and she will grow out of them. She is still pretty young to be fair.


  • Registered Users Posts: 260 ✭✭Bykobap




  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,546 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Rjd2 wrote: »
    She comes across as pretty annoying, and a little hyper, but they are not the worst characteristics in the world and she will grow out of them. She is still pretty young to be fair.

    Well yeah she's quite young, but she should still know better at 21 imo. And the autographs thing was extremely petulant.

    Meanwhile, a nice surprise seeing Bernard Tomic in the Bogota final.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,937 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO



    Meanwhile, a nice surprise seeing Bernard Tomic in the Bogota final.

    It seems like dropping out of the top 100 and being dropped by IMG gave him a kick up the bum. We'll see how long it lasts though.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,546 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Nice win for Woz today. Amazing to think she's been around this long, winning a title for a seventh straight year! Great to see Mona win a title also. She probably won't win a match for the rest of the Summer, but hey, she's got Bastad! :pac:

    Nice, random win for Tomic also. Certainly made the most of his wildcard. Would be cool if he started to turn things around... but I'm not holding my breath.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,937 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    Nice win for Woz today. Amazing to think she's been around this long, winning a title for a seventh straight year!

    It was her birthday the other day and I was a bit surprised to see she was only 24, I think, it kind of feels like she should be hitting 30 by now.
    Nice, random win for Tomic also. Certainly made the most of his wildcard. Would be cool if he started to turn things around... but I'm not holding my breath.

    He actually looked like he cared this week. Would be great to see it continue but who knows.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,265 ✭✭✭youtube!


    He actually looked like he cared this week. Would be great to see it continue but who knows.[/QUOTE]



    I reckon he is getting big inspiration from the successes of Nick Kyrios.

    He certainly looked more focussed this week than I ever seen him, you gotta make allowances for his wackjob of a father too who really hasn't helped his career.

    To me I reckon Tomic would be top 10 material if he puts it all together and keeps his discipline, I also reckon in the back of his mind he sees himself as better than Kyrios which he isn't right now but could be capable of in the future, all good for Aussie tennis either way!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,185 ✭✭✭✭Rjd2




    He actually looked like he cared this week. Would be great to see it continue but who knows.



    He also had a very kind draw as well, Karlovic his toughest opponent, not exactly a super power on clay.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 725 ✭✭✭CassieManson


    Nice win for Woz today. Amazing to think she's been around this long, winning a title for a seventh straight year! Great to see Mona win a title also. She probably won't win a match for the rest of the Summer, but hey, she's got Bastad! :pac:

    Nice, random win for Tomic also. Certainly made the most of his wildcard. Would be cool if he started to turn things around... but I'm not holding my breath.

    Nice to see both Caroline and Rory back to their winning ways! Seems like they both perform better without each other!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭RosyLily


    Frederik Nielsen is in Dublin today. Tweeted:
    "The weather here in Dublin is really good. Today had been brilliant. It obviously still has to rain to remind us we're in Ireland anyway..."


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,937 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    ^ The Irish Open is on this week. Not any huge names but tickets are free if anyone feels like seeing some tennis.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭RosyLily


    Damn! If only I was nearby.:(


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,265 ✭✭✭youtube!


    Rjd2 wrote: »
    He also had a very kind draw as well, Karlovic his toughest opponent, not exactly a super power on clay.


    Claro is a hard court. I know some websites have it down as a clay but not the ATP one.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭RosyLily


    James McGee is in the top 200 for the first time in his career. Now at #193.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,937 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    Another tennis/sports couple have broken up. Kirilenko and Ovechkin have ended their engagement. She keeps Retweeting articles about it, seems to have been her decision. They were pretty cute together. He was always at her matches in hockey off season, carrying her bags at training and fist pumping like a loon when she won.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,546 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Kirilenko: "“It is not a secret for anybody that Sasha has certain habits and particulars of behavior that I did not consider worth tolerating anymore."

    Oh dear.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭RosyLily


    Neil Harman? Roger Rasheed tweets some good stuff. Can't think of anyone else tbh!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 725 ✭✭✭CassieManson


    RosyLily wrote: »
    Neil Harman? Roger Rasheed tweets some good stuff. Can't think of anyone else tbh!

    Don't use twitter myself but Tomas Berdych is supposed to be hilarious on twitter.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,546 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Perhaps the least surprising news of the Summer, Sloane and Paul Annacone have "parted ways".

    Translation: Paul got sh*t sick of her bad attitude.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭RosyLily


    Good coach like Annacone is wasted on a player like Sloane imo. She's talented yeah, but doesn't seem to care about improving herself. Maybe that Aussie SF appearance will end up being a fluke.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,546 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Ajla Tomljanovic will play for Australia now. Surprising. I thought in order to play for another country you have to have a connection to it, be it even a tenuous one. Tomljanovic is born and raised Croatian.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭RosyLily


    That's odd. She was the highest ranked Croat woman. She's being coached by Dave Taylor...only Aussie connection I can see.

    Neil Harman has deleted his Twitter account after the whole plagiarism scandal. Was the most followed tennis writer.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,150 ✭✭✭Johnmb


    Ajla Tomljanovic will play for Australia now. Surprising. I thought in order to play for another country you have to have a connection to it, be it even a tenuous one. Tomljanovic is born and raised Croatian.
    You just need a passport. If Tennis Australia managed to cut some corners for her and get her one, she's eligible to play for them as far as the ITF are concerned.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,546 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    The WTA kicks back into gear tomorrow, really looking forward to see how Muguruza will fare over the Summer. It's unfortunate that she faces Cibulkova in the first round of Stanford.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 612 ✭✭✭smurfs5


    Since things are pretty slow on the news front at the minute, can anyone advise me some good tennis related people to follow on Twitter? I currently follow Ben Rothenberg, Victoria Chiesa and Courtney Nguyen amongst others. Victoria Chiesa is hilarious actually, I love her tweets!

    Kevin Mitchell is the Guardian's tennis writer and Barry Flatman is the Sunday Times's. They're both worth following- their tweets are good to read, especially during the tour events and Slams but they'll tide you over during the break.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,546 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Muguruza beats Cibulkova, no real surprises there. Garbine can go very far in this draw imo.

    Sad for Cibulkova to fall at the first hurdle in defending her title though. Out of the top ten too.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,937 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    Normal service resumes for Lisicki. Loses in R1 at Stanford to Ivanovic. 7-6 6-1.


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