Tennis Thread..The US OPEN final approaches...

[Raahh]

New thread before the Rafa/Delpo thread starts...

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it backs up our theory that Marin gets forgotten, doesn't it?!

Raahh
It does! Sorry Marin!

Just seen on Instagram that Delpo's birthday cake included a fondant version of himself and Cesar, as in the photo Jane posted the one from magi's holiday
I love social media! How else could I ever find out this pointless stuff?!

Right, that's enough faffing around - taking DS for a bike ride now that it's finally stopped raining...

Team Europe could have done with a doubles specialist in their team. Playing Roger (and any of the others to be honest) in all three doubles when he rarely plays the format was unlikely to work.

Yes definitely. I suppose it evens things out a bit overall - as team Europe are much better really.

Jack Sock is a great doubles player isn't he? It's odd how he's had such a bad year in singles but done so well in doubles. I wonder if it just helps psychologically having someone on court with you, who is on your side? Whereas in singles, once you get into a rut, only you can get yourself out of it??

He is. My thoughts on the singles was he had a great 2017 and thus the pressure on him in 2018 was greater and he didn't handle it so well? He's quite unusual in still playing both at a high level. Trying to think who we have in Europe at a similar level and at the moment I can only think of Herbert and Magic as coming close.

The Federer- Isner match is so dull.

I just caught the end of the doubles earlier. Poor Sascha must be annoyed with himself.

Well Mahut can be magic sometimes

What happened?

Yes true ferrier, that's the downside of having a good year in tennis isn't it - the pressure's on to repeat it and defend points. It must be hard not to think of it like that.

Yep - even Rog can't make this match interesting.

Kyrgios v Djokovic should be good. Djok has never beaten him before.

I read that Zverev's concentration wasn't the best ferrier

This match seems to be picking up a bit now I have to say.

Wow shot from Fed at MP down

Agreed. Federer hitting some amazing shots at mp down and then to break the serve.
If only we could eliminate all the service winners it would be a pretty good match!

Come on Roger!

Oh that was a bit close to the line! Well done Roger. Go Team Europe!!

Yes! Because to be fair to Isner, he was playing pretty well during the rallies - he hit some great volleys. But I think he had to win it on that match point - just couldn't see him coming back from that.

Did you think Isner hit great volleys? I thought they were mostly pretty rubbish! I may be biased though! I always think he's a bit wild. When he hits he either makes the winner or he misses. There's no middle ground which is why the rallies are so short.
I thought they both looked tired at the end and that probably helped Roger more than Isner as it enabled him to just get his racket on a few more serves.

LOL at Mac saying he's an admirer of Roger Federer but right now he hates his guts!

Haha Mac makes me laugh

I thought Isner hit a few nice volleys in that match yes - end of the second set and in the tiebreak. He is a bit all or nothing though, for sure.

Yay! Well done Team Europe 🇪🇺

I left when Zverev went a set down. He did well to claw it back. Europe won a lot of their rubbers on tie breaks so it was a lot closer than last year.

I wonder how they choose the playing order. There must be something which determine a repeat of the juiciest match ups from the year?

Good to see Kyle up there with the best. I'll bet he was soaking it all in.

Yes I stopped watching after the first set as well. I've just seen some clips of Roger "coaching" Zverev - in German

So Djokovic and Kyrgios didn't play then? No Davis Cup-style pointless match when the tie is already won? That I agree with.

Yes great experience for Kyle, Tiafoe I bet. I quite enjoyed it all tbh, even though it felt quite staged, but it was fun.

It did feel staged, a bit like an exhibition match, but it also looked like they were putting their all into it - the sheer delight from Roger when he managed to sneak the match with Isner for example.

Where's the Roger - Zverev clip? Would like to see that.

Here you go ferrier There are loads of other clips on the Laver Cup timeline as well, some good ones.

Coach Roger

Yes I agree the players were definitely taking it seriously. I saw that Kelsey Anderson, wife of Kevin, tweeted that the players are genuinely trying hard (I don't know if there were snide comments after Kevin beat Novak, which is awful if so) but I think with players of that quality, they're so competitive - I can't believe there'd be a situation where they wouldn't give everything. And as you say, even from the looks on their faces etc, it looks like they're playing to win.