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Post by harry24 on Jun 17, 2009 3:44:26 GMT
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Jun 17, 2009 14:26:04 GMT
I just ordered Wertheim's book about last year's final. I should have it by this weekend so I'll be all set for all Wimbledon, all the time starting next week.
I haven't taken a really close look at the seeds but I see two that I do not agree with: 1) Verdasco and Simon shouldn't have switched places--I know Gilles hasn't been playing well but I think grass will do better by him than it will Fer. 2) Venus should be the #1 seed. I think Dinara would have been just fine and dandy with a #2 seed with Venus at #1.
What would have been interesting would have been if Rafa hadn't won last year--what would the seeding committee have done then? (and let me clarify--I'm very happy Rafa won last year and I think he has shown that he has been a strong #1 from last summer through now. I just think it would have been an interesting dilemma for the seeding committee if he had lost to Roger a year ago because he would still have been a strong #1 in the rankings.)
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Post by acre on Jun 17, 2009 20:42:26 GMT
I too looked at the seedings today. I don't really have an opinion/care about the Verdasco-Simon swap. They bumped Safin up from #23 to #15, based on his semi last year, but I highly doubt he'll live up to it. He hates grass and appears to be double extra unmotivated in his last year on the tour. I bet Rafa would still be #1 even if Roger had won last year, don't you think? It was his third year in the final after all, and even if it was 3-0 for Roger there's too little between them on grass to reverse the seeding.
I definitely agree about the women though. No way should Safina be seeded #1, I'd also put Venus there, but would even accept Serena, Venus, Safina. But the Williams 1 and 2 for sure. Hmm, truly noone, not even Serena, has earned the right to be seeded before Venus at Wimbledon. She's the queen.
Sharapova's seeding I think should possibly be even higher than #24 - sure she's ranked 5x? and coming back from injury, but seriously, she's a top 5 player at worst, and as fierce a fighter as anyone on the tour. The women's 1-2-3 seeding reinforces my belief on what they'd do with the Rafa-Roger seeding if last year had gone differently.
One article I saw today(in addition to harry24'2 post above) said that Rafa would be making his final decision on his fitness Friday. That's all I've seen about that, and I sure would like more info - I'm impatient to know the result. Would suck very very badly if he wasn't able to defend. And though I badly want Roger to reclaim W, now that he's won the French I won't mind as much if he doesn't. I've lowered my expectations, and can be satisfied with one slam a year for him and that's all wrapped up.
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Post by chocula on Jun 17, 2009 21:43:35 GMT
Just got a look at the seedings and Safina is #1. I'm totally shocked. I just knew it would be Venus, Serena, Safina, and I wouldn't have to sweat Venus and Serena being on the same side of the draw.
I mean, what does Venus have to do to get a #1 seeding. I read somewhere that the Men's Seedings includes a combo of their current rank, and their performance on grass the last 2 years. If the women had anything close to that, Venus would be hands down the # 1 player since she won it the last 2 times and is ranked #3. Since 2000, she's won it 5 times and been in the finals twice.
Even Serena has won it twice and been in the finals twice.
I think Safina is a great player but last year she was stopped in the 3rd round at wimby and the year before in the 2nd round. Has anyone not made it passed the 3rd round and been seeded #1? She just has to have the worst wimby record ever for a #1 Seed.
It's no wonder my friends who don't follow tennis closely get so confused by the sport. Every time they watch Wimbledon, one of the Williams sisters wins. Now I have to explain to them that someone who has never so much as sniffed the 2nd week is the #1 seed.
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Post by falafaclese on Jun 18, 2009 0:05:51 GMT
If I did my math correctly, if the women used the same seeding system as the men, Venus would be number one and Serena would be number two. That seems to make more sense. I never knew why they use a different system for the women. Of course, with the men's system, Sharapova wouldn't have come anywhere near the 35-spot boost she got this year, since her performance at Wimby in the last two years hasn't been stellar. Generally I'm always a little skeptical about the smooth draws she seems to get in the majors, but in spite of the humongous boost she got, I'm kind of okay with it given her history, and how she's bounced back since her return. Plus she's less likely to do catastrophic damage to the draw as a seeded player.
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Mpol
3rd Round
Posts: 444
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Post by Mpol on Jun 18, 2009 2:17:06 GMT
I want Venus to win this baby again. I also want to see her do well and win other majors. I don't know why she hasn't been a big contender, of late. She has done well in them before. She just hasn't been in form, outside of Wimby.
I want Roger to win the men's. Take out the 15th, and have had won the most of all time.
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Post by roseha on Jun 18, 2009 3:03:34 GMT
I would love that. I don't know what will happen though. I'm not concerned that Roger is number 2 seed, because the draw is way more important, often the number 2 seed will get more breaks than the number 1 just by chance. And I think Roger's confidence must be greatly improved.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Jun 18, 2009 16:48:34 GMT
Awww, cute. (I picked it up from DtL.) I'll even excuse the Bryan brothers because I liked their move of putting their racquets behind their backs but that grin of Marat's steals the commercial. Makes me want to play on grass--but if you don't feel the need to identify the brothers, Marat or Gulbis I don't think adidas needed to make a point to identify Laver of all people.
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Post by curlywhirly on Jun 18, 2009 16:58:17 GMT
I think Sharapova's seeding is patently unfair and shows favoritism.
To my knowledge, Wimby has shuffled the seedings of players who were already seeded due to rank but they have never just given a seeding to a player who isn't ranked high enough for one. Pova is ranked 59. I don't care that she won the event; that was 5 years ago and her last two results were 4r and 2r. So somebody who actually earned a seeded position was bumped down for someone who really hasn't done jack on grass for the last two years. And if memory serves, former champ Mauresmo wasn't ranked high enough for a seeding last year and accordingly was not granted one by the All England Club.
Pova is certainly top 5 on grass, but she does not deserve a seeding. Someone else was robbed of their place for her.
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Post by admin on Jun 18, 2009 18:34:30 GMT
I don't really mind about 'pova being seeded, she'll almost certainly go further in the tourniment than 90 per cent of those ranked 35-60. Her lack of ranking is an injury thing not a lack of form. In other news, Monfils is out. That injury from Queens is worse than though and a lucky loser will take his place. Rafa, I think is due to announce his participation or lack of, tomorrow. We'll also get the draw tomorrow. Crap. Rafa lost in his exhibition match to Hewitt and looked troubled by his knee doing so. He's playing Wawrinka tomorrow.
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Post by falafaclese on Jun 18, 2009 18:53:09 GMT
I think Sharapova's seeding is patently unfair and shows favoritism. To my knowledge, Wimby has shuffled the seedings of players who were already seeded due to rank but they have never just given a seeding to a player who isn't ranked high enough for one. Pova is ranked 59. I don't care that she won the event; that was 5 years ago and her last two results were 4r and 2r. So somebody who actually earned a seeded position was bumped down for someone who really hasn't done jack on grass for the last two years. You know, you've made me rethink my opinion on the issue. I don't think I gave much weight to the fact that someone (it looks like it was either Alona Bondarenko or Daniela Hantuchova) got bumped so she could have a seed. You're right, it shouldn't have been done. If she had done better in the couple of tournaments she has played since she came back, it might have gotten her up there, but since she didn't, 35 spots is a hell of a jump. After all, why not bump up Nicole Vaidisova who, believe it or not, has at least made it to the Wimby semis quarters the last two years? Does anyone know why the Wimby women's seedings are so loosey goosey?
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Post by amarathe on Jun 18, 2009 22:13:40 GMT
The reports indicate that he moved poorly. If this were a non-slam, he'd certainly withdraw, but he may try to tough it out. If Nadal withdraws, Murray is the only player I could see beating Federer on grass. No one else has the grass game to stop Federer.
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Post by admin on Jun 18, 2009 22:33:24 GMT
I really don't think he's going to play. Even if he does, he's not in the shape to win or challenge for it. I'm going to cry if Federer cruises to victory over the next two weeks Dimitrov is really being pimped out over here recently. I've heard and seen more of him this past fortnight than i ever have up until now. Kiss of death of course, he'll probably go out first round. I think it's a bit too soon for him to do anything, maybe once he gets stronger, in a year or two. Speaking of the next generation, a bit of a shock in the qualifying rounds today. Tomic is out, losing to Edouard Roger-Vasselin. And they gave him a terrible profile photo too, the ignominy of it all! Which reminds me, they may be more fun to be had with Wimbie profile photos, hope they aren't using the same ones as the French.. Anyways, Taylor Dent is also through to the main draw. I'm pleased for him, he's had to work hard to come back from injuries. 10am is draw time tomorrow. Probably will be late as these things always seem to be. I think it is online live coverage if anyone wants the drama a of play by play drawing!
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Post by harry24 on Jun 19, 2009 1:40:47 GMT
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Post by admin on Jun 19, 2009 9:35:16 GMT
Rafael Nadal has been drawn in the same half of the draw as Andy Murray, while Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are the other half of the draw.
Ladies draw has started and Venus Williams is in the same side of the draw as Dinara Safina.
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