TENNIS THREAD- WIMBLEDON 2017 : Week 2 -quarter finals, semi finals and beyond...

[Raahh]

Thought we would need a new thread soon .

I think the problem is that he won the French in a year when Rafa had retired from the tournament. So that's always going to be there - the niggling thought that he only won because Rafa wasn't there. And that's why there's a hesitation before including him in GOAT discussions.

The Rafa/Roger Wimbledon final of 2008 on the other hand - two titans of the game battling it out in gladiatorial combat. That's what people remember.

I don't remember a single Djokovic match unless Murray was at the other end of the court claiming his first Wimbledon title

But the Murray/Djok final 2013 was rubbish- Djok's semi final was the match of the tournament against Delpo, and he turned up against Murray like a zombie.An he's a fit man. I've alway's found that final suspect. But a least it stopped people saying it's been 70- odd years since a British winner. .

Tomorrow, I am hoping to get to watch at least one match without interruptions.

Hopefully.

I really like Muguruza, so I'm hoping she does well. Rybarikova though is proving to be a tricky customer.

Sorry, Raahh - Rybarikova to win.

Won't comment on the other match in case I jinx it.

Round where I live we are all holding our breath.............

Really sad for Andy - he looked in a lot of pain and I think the court was quiet because I am guessing if you were there, you could see it even more explicitly than we could. I really hope he takes time to heal because love him or hate him, he's the first UK no1 for generations and such a strong role model.

Also loving the way he calls out the blatant sexism that seems to always be there in the Tennis world. I remember him pushing for Amelie Mereusmo (sorry, that's probably horribly spelt) to receive equal pay asher male coach counterparts as she was just as good... don't think it changed anything though

Really looking forward to Jo's match tomorrow.. although I am really split as I would love Venus to go all the way..

I think that Jo will struggle today as Venus seems fitter and better than ever.
Federer now for the mens do we think? He looks unstoppable.

Gah, I avoided social media all day yesterday so I could "enjoy" Andy's match without knowing the result.

It was excruciating at the end.

They are being positive about Konta on TV today - it would be nice to see her win, but i still feel they may be underestimating the other ladies left !
What will they call Henman Hill/ Murray mound if its packed out for Jo's match? nothing much rhymes with a K !

Konta Knoll?

Jo's erm... nope. Got nothing.

Konta's Kastle

Konta's Knoll

Like it, it sounds a bit hobbit-y.

(I'm still wanting Muguruza to win, in the absence of Halep- they've been my tips from the start- sorry Jo). I like Jo, but there are players I like watching more.

raahh, i thought Kastle, then i had a nightmare about Andrew Castle. not keen on him although when he was with Sue on the tv the other day he didnt seem as bad as he does when you can t see him, if that makes sense! At least he will stop waffling on about AM now.

Konta Knoll sounds good though.

so glad that Andy made that comment about the American players - he does seem to have form for making the interviewers look silly sometimes!

I didn't think of Andrew

Just took Raahhdog out for a quick walk before it gets much hotter. Seems it was still too warm, and he plonked himself under a tree. And refused to move. Doesn't do extremes of weather, my dog- rain/wind/sun of any kind. Likes it just dull.

Interviewers don't need much help to look silly this year, it seems.

Did any of them ask Murray or Djok if they will be back next year, like Persad did to Rafa? Bet they didn't.

I didnt see the interviews , but i bet they didnt ask AM if he will be back!

Poor dog Raahh, i hate hot, humid, weather too. Meant to be hot here sunday ( essex ) and dreading it already. I have struggled this summer, massively. Other people seem to love it.

Go, Jo!

Pretty ambivalent about the other match - I like Muguruza but feel I ought to support the unseeded underdog. Rybarikova although someone I dimly recall as a junior years' ago isn't someone I knew much about before this competition. She wins some incredible points considering she's endured both wrist and knee surgery and a 7 month lay off.

I'm not great with the heat, makes my glasses sweaty on my nose, and my curly hair go like cotton wool. So, I sympathise with Raahhdog. But he won't poo in the garden, only 'out' out, so it was a needs must walk .

On the topic of injuries, though, as a Rafa fan, I know only too well the heartache of seeing your favourite player injured-I've agonised over his bloody knee for years . His press conference when he pulled out of RG last year, when he has been playing so well, and looked to be back to his best form was so sad. Especially knowing how much he wanted to be be in Rio, too- which was nearly a bit of a gamble that could have been costly to his wrist.

So, I hope Murray takes time with his hip. There's no point rushing his recovery.

And to be fair- since Roger and Rafa have won mos things between them this year, it's only fair one of them takes over at number one for a b

*bit

Why so many more injuries these days, is it the rackets they use, the amount of tours they do, just more competitive? Not a huge tennis fan ( apart from wimbledon) so i dont follow other slams etc and never played, but it seems much worse now with people getting things wrong with them than it was 40 years ago! Its a tough sport.

It is a lot more physical than it used to be, I think- and they play more. Years ago, too, the clay specialists would avoid Wimbledon, it was almost expected. Borg bucked that trend, and Chris Evert, by being great on clay and grass- which is hard. And why what Nadal has achieved is actually no mean feat, for someone who is not a natural on grass.

They were discussing it yesterday, I think, that whilst there is a break after the tour finals, it's not a 'rest' as in order to be ready for the next tournament, training can't stop. Most sports have a much bigger break. Like you have a football 'season', Tennis is pretty much 11 months solid.

And all he surfaces are very different and affect different bits of the body, so if knees are your achilles heel so to speak, then grass is no great. Clay is kinder, because you can slide about.

Gordon Reid just lost in the wheelchair singles , which is a shame.

Billie-Jean has Wimbledon coloured glasses

Dh helps coach my daugher's under 12's football team. All the other (boys) teams are named after types of wind (typhoon, hurricane etc) the club want to call them the Buzzards , which I think is rubbish, so I've been googling.

I have come across the 'Willy-willy', which is a tropical cyclone in Australia. Dh thinks it's probably inappropriate for a girls team .

Ooh, good challenge there.