Wimbledon '13: Point by Point Coverage

[lt]

I was actually angrier by what McEnroe said about Isner than about Darcis.

Yes, I was hating on that as well. Isner might be a soft-spoken guy who doesn't get all worked up about things but that does not mean he doesn't care or give 100% at all times.

Brad mentioned that Kim had tweeted him that Wimbledon regulates the length of the nubs on the shoes in order to maintain the courts as long as possible. Time for Wimbledon to stop caring about that. All these knee injuries all come from the courts.

[falafaclese]

Wow. It's a bloodbath out there. I know they are not all a product of slipping on the grass, but after seeing all those falls I feel like something needs to be done to improve the safety for the players. Evidently TPTB made some rules changes in the past few years to protect the grass (according to Kim Clijsters), and the game is just too athletic and punishing these days to value the court over the players.

Good for Dustin Brown! That match was a pleasure to watch because he was able to really play a lot of old-school grass court tennis, and some really flashy, physical points. I was not expecting him to shut it down like that in the 4th set.

Eugenie Bouchard just summarily defeated Ana Ivanovic.

[falafaclese]

Woz is currently icing her left ankle after slipping and falling on the court.

[harry24]

Woz is currently icing her left ankle after slipping and falling on the court.

Fala, I'm starting to get worried that you're going to endanger your recovery just by watching Wimbledon. I hope you're wearing your deepest spikes.

[falafaclese]

Please! As soon as I recover from this, I'll be wearing spikes 24/7. I'm having flip-flop spikes made for the shower.

[mooncreek]

I am so worried for Petko right now.

[acre]

Yikes, this is not a healthy Wimbledon, it's carnage out there! Sad that one of the biggest(if not the biggest!) events is having so many walkovers, defaults, people playing but just not up to par. This should be a showcase for tennis, not a demolition derby.

I have no idea how much it is related to the (new?) surface and equipment rules, how much to scheduling, how much it's just a freak happenstance. I do know I discount almost all that JMac has to say, he's such an idiot. He would love it if players were practically coming to blows out there, he thinks people behaving like assholes is exciting. Look at his own career, he hasn't much changed. Also, he's always eager to give people the worst motivations, he's basically just full of contempt for people.

I didn't bother to start taping until a little while ago (well, only a couple hs after play began), but I enjoy Tsonga, and expect to enjoy Fed, assuming the injury/upset bug isn't actually contagious!

ETA: Oh good, the screamers are on now, should be done by the time Fed comes up. Plus, I'm not actually watching, though I think I'll have to check in just to see how bad it really is! Not long though.

[mooncreek]

You knew it was only a matter of time: Jo caught the bug. Knee issue leading to Gulbis getting the lead. To be fair, if an upset bug is going around, Ernests was bound to get involved.

These edits are coming too quickly. Add Shvedova to the list. Kvitova gets the walkover.

[lt]

Evidently TPTB made some rules changes in the past few years to protect the grass (according to Kim Clijsters)

Cliffy just said that the All England Club has come out with a statement and that they have never dictated anything about the nubs on the shoes. So Kim gave Brad some bum information and Brad gave it to the viewers and I gave it everyone here. How rumors become fact. . .

Oh no, Tsonga just retired. That makes me so sad.

Darren just said something very interesting and adds to the reason we need a longer grass court season with more warm-ups: it isn't the grass itself, it's that the players are so used to what happens to their movement on hard and (at this point in the season) clay that they aren't moving the way they need to for grass. I agree with that. I look at the Olympics last year, this is the same grass they used last year and by the time Wimbledon was done and the players had gotten adjusted to grass the play in the Olympics was more confident.

[acre]

Yeah, Gulbis has a lot of talent, but things didn't go his way until Jo hurt himself, and then it was a retirement, not actually an upset. But yes Gulbis has it, when he has it together he's so good. Wow this sucks, this could have been such a fun match, and more important, I hope Jo is okay.

And Pova is down a set to someone who's even louder than she is. Though I don't expect her to lose, she is tough as hell.

ETA: Oy, a set and a break!

[falafaclese]

Jun 26, 2013 15:48:51 GMT lt said:

Evidently TPTB made some rules changes in the past few years to protect the grass (according to Kim Clijsters)

Cliffy just said that the All England Club has come out with a statement and that they have never dictated anything about the nubs on the shoes. So Kim gave Brad some bum information and Brad gave it to the viewers and I gave it everyone here. How rumors become fact. . .

That's so strange, because I thought I remembered a discussion by the commentators a couple of years ago about the dimples. I thought it was that, but I must be wrong, because if the All England Club were lying it'd be easy to prove.

Jun 26, 2013 15:48:51 GMT lt said:

Darren just said something very interesting and adds to the reason we need a longer grass court season with more warm-ups: it isn't the grass itself, it's that the players are so used to what happens to their movement on hard and (at this point in the season) clay that they aren't moving the way they need to for grass. I agree with that. I look at the Olympics last year, this is the same grass they used last year and by the time Wimbledon was done and the players had gotten adjusted to grass the play in the Olympics was more confident.

That makes sense. I would love to see stats on how many grass court matches the retiring players have played this year versus the rest of the field; although I don't remember there being this many slips ever even during the first week of Wimbledon.

I hope the remaining players are doubling down on the footwork drills in practice.

[oopssorry]

I'm with Darren. Longer grass season. Divide into quarters - clay, grass, two hard (only because it seems that's what the forces lead towards). Personally I'd take thirds with one for each surface.

Wow, Pova.

[mooncreek]

The ladies' side is even weirder if Sharapova does lose: Kvitova is the favorite to make the final?

The one upset you thought would happen today doesn't look to be: Tommy Robredo up a set and 4-love on Nicolas Mahut.

I see his point about the grass season when it comes to Azarenka and Sharapova but not everything that's happened today is about lack of play. Tsonga, Cilic and Wozniacki did have a lot of grass play. Isner's and Darcis's are freak injuries.

[roseha]

What, Sharapova too?

Hope Jo will be okay!

tiki, welcome back from me too! You always add so much humor here!

[mooncreek]

I'm just imagining the decibel readings in this last game. My throat is hurting watching them (that I was squealing a lot regarding Dustin Brown earlier doesn't help).