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Post by mooncreek on Jul 7, 2013 14:19:56 GMT
The very last game from Andy was the only convincing service game of the set. Everything looks worrisome if you're a Novak fan.
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lt
Semi Finals
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Post by lt on Jul 7, 2013 14:31:19 GMT
This is the kind of match where you want the camera where we've got it or are sitting on the baseline--it's all about the angles and not the speed of the ball.
I want to go back and watch that Rafter/Sampras final (although can I have Pat win this time?). I want to see some pure net play.
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Post by francienolan on Jul 7, 2013 14:35:02 GMT
I missed something, Fala pointed out first point of confusion what else did Mo do?
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Post by oopssorry on Jul 7, 2013 14:35:19 GMT
I was just coming to post similarly, about longing for grass-court tennis. Roland Garros on Centre Court today. 1-all in the second set after an eternal 70 minutes...
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Jul 7, 2013 14:52:11 GMT
Oh no, that's not what I was saying. This is waaaaayyyyyy better than watching that pure power game that was so painfully boring at Wimbledon for so many years. I just want to see Pat Rafter in action again. It took the defensive style and Roger getting to the top to make me look at Wimbledon as the greatest GS again.
Speaking of, it always makes me laugh when they talk about serve-and-volley and wonder what Pete is thinking. He wasn't serve-and-volley (until later in his career), he was serve-and-stand-there.
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Post by oopssorry on Jul 7, 2013 14:55:56 GMT
Ha! Missed that one, lt. I tuned out the years of pure power, but some short serve-volley creativity would go a long way for me right now. And, I think, for the players! The two primary defenders could do with a watch of some of the old matches as well.
And I don't think of the Sampras era as the true grass-court nature of tennis. More like the real estate bubble of tennis: a conflation of odd factors that changed people's assumptions - but shouldn't have.
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Post by acre on Jul 7, 2013 14:56:20 GMT
Indeed I miss the faster grass and classic grass court play. I get why they slowed it down, some of those Pete-Goran matches could also be dull as hell - blink and you miss the point, even a whole game. But it's gone too far for my taste. Until Fed every single one of my fave men were serve and volleyers, and even when I initially fell in love with Fed he came to the net more than he does now.
I want Djok to win, almost all of me wants that except .... I don't know if I can take another year (years??) of them all going on about Brits and Wimbledon. Gah. So if Andy wins I will be happy too, for him just as a Slam win, but especially the huge delight, elation, relief he will feel at winning Wimbledon. The nation going nuts will be fun too. But just as a tennis match I'm all for Djok.
Hah, the Wimbledon final as "just a tennis match". Not so.
ETA: I'm with you lt I never thought of Pete as a classic serve and volley guy at all. I'm talking JMac, Edberg, Becker, Rafter, even like Leconte, etc.
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Post by harry24 on Jul 7, 2013 14:58:56 GMT
Me too! Rafter and Roger were my Agassi, lt, in that they brought me back into fandom for tennis again. And it wasn't Rafter's looks that got to me (although they were delightful bonus!); it was his bold and thrilling s&v game. I also loved that he reached such heights late in his career. I just wish he had won one of those Wimby finals.
Back to 2013, once again Murray-Djoker is enjoyable, but not thrilling, a la Rafa-Roger or Rafa-Djoker.
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Post by skyz on Jul 7, 2013 14:58:58 GMT
Could this be over in 3? I miss Pat Rafter, too. Wanted Pat to win Wimbledon so badly.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Jul 7, 2013 15:03:19 GMT
I would seriously want to fly to London just to see that.
I prefer this because I just don't like Rafa's game. It's a great game but it is too flummoxing to his opponent to be enjoyable to me.
At the time I didn't! How idiotic was I? I have no clue why I didn't love Rafter when he was playing (pure stupidity looking back at it). I think my real love for serve-and-volley came with watching Max. I realized just what I was missing.
btw: francie, I really like Kim's dress so good choice by you!
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Post by oopssorry on Jul 7, 2013 15:11:02 GMT
I prefer this to any Rafa match as well - but am pining for the era when my family and I used to guess the strategy from the server as he was tossing the ball. Something about that.
It was Agassi and Pete that drove me away for a spell. And I remember you being such an Agassi fan, lt, that I keep that quiet. I hate him a little bit more for turning me on Steffi. I loved her, but don't really anymore.
Back in 2013, c'mon, Andy!
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Post by mooncreek on Jul 7, 2013 15:13:15 GMT
I don't seem to remember their Olympic match looking like this.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Jul 7, 2013 15:15:54 GMT
Another thing I feel like an idiot for is actually liking that era--and one of the reasons I loved Andre is that he broke up that pure offensive game style. But, looking back, he was way too defensive. I like how offense/defense has evolved to these more well-rounded players. I know everyone talks about Andy and Novak as being pure defense but I don't think so--they aren't acting like backboards, they get almost everything back, but their offense is darn good too.
Getting a real kick out of the clothing differences between the people who are watching at Tower Bridge and the people who came out to Wimbledon (even the Henman Hill folk). I go to tennis matches dressed much more like the Tower Bridge people, I can't imagine dressing up to sit and watch a tennis match.
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Post by acre on Jul 7, 2013 15:17:20 GMT
Gosh I hope this isn't 3 and done. That would be so disappointing, and dull, and just not up to the caliber of these guys and their general excellence. Me, I want 5, but come on, at least 4! These are the 2 best tennis players in the world, let's see a level of competition that reflects that.
I don't think of these guys as mostly defensive at all. Maybe Andy a bit, but Djok is a highly aggressive/offensive player, the fact that it's usually from the baseline doesn't change that.
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Post by chestylarue on Jul 7, 2013 15:24:20 GMT
Gosh I hope this isn't 3 and done. That would be so disappointing, and dull, and just not up to the caliber of these guys and their general excellence. Me, I want 5, but come on, at least 4! These are the 2 best tennis players in the world, let's see a level of competition that reflects that. Agree totally. I have to say how much I have enjoyed this Wimbledon. Was sad to see some of the big names go but I adored the Delpo/Nole semi final (even though it wasn't "traditional" grass court tennis match and my fellow lost) and am thrilled for Marion and her awesomeness in dealing with some of the shallow comments about her looks by the media. Andy is my dog in this fight- but even though Nole is not my fave- I have such respect for him that I would like for it to go 4 at least. Count me in as another one who loved Rafter. It was such a shame that someone had to lose that wonderful 2001 final between him and Goran. That match seems to be forgotten when the greatest Wimbles men's matches are talked about nowadays. Just goes from Borg/McEnroe to Fedal. |
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