Tennis Thread: Australian Open 2019 & onwards..........

[magimedi]

Hope it's OK for me to start a new thread - could not believe we'd burned out on the last one.

Am looking forward to seeing highlights of the Fed/Tits match later.

I can never fit Christmas cracker hats on either! They always rip!!

Is anyone picking Keith to beat Novak? I'm thinking he definitely won't... Surely he'll be out of gas, for one thing? Still... you never know...

Fizzy you did well not to see the score, I'm always too weak and end up looking! I think I'm going to miss Thursday too unfortunately (crosses fingers for being snowed in).

Private Djok did not look confident against Medvedev, , but Novak has this habit of looking half ill lately. But Nish has played so many long matches...

Plus, I'm not convinced by all the commentators thinking Djok has looked vulnerable since the beginning. I think it's a ploy. I think that really he is their (second) favourite for the title . (They really wanted Federer, obviously). They never really want Rafa.

But, despite never really being a Keith fan, I did warm to him a bit at Wimbledon where he played well on his least favourite surface (until he played Djok- and he still took him to 4 sets), and he's had a great run so far.

I'm definitely saying Raonic to beat Pouille. - so I've just jinxed him, haven't I?

Pouille is such a dark horse isn't he? He's never been past the first round before and here he is in the QFs! I saw a bit of his match against the Aussie whose name I can't remember - and he played well but can he beat a big serving, serve volleying Milos??

What I would like to see is either Keith or Raonic take out Djok. I do want Rafa to win the whole thing (they mentioned the "winning all the slams twice" thing on the radio today! First time I've ever heard it mentioned!!). But if he can't, there would be something good about one of them winning it. It'd be so unexpected.

I would actually quite like Raonic or Nish to win, if Rafa doesn't.

They have both been through a lot, and are of that 'generation' that had a lot expected of them. None have really delivered, Dimitrov won the WTF, and that's it. Not sure where Cilic fits in - he's the same age, but doesn't seem to be of the same 'group'. But he does have a slam. Delpo is also the same age- but has been around, it seems, longer.

I'm waffling, and confusing myself, now.

I know how you feel Raahh

Raahh I started typing something about the "lost generation" too, and it made no sense, so I deleted it

Your post did make sense, and I agree. Look what Goran did with Cilic, coaching him to the USO. Can he do the same with Milos?? Maybe that's the limit for those guys (no offence to them) a one off, brilliant Slam - a bit like when Richard Krajicek won Wimbledon?!

Speaking of Delpo (kind of ) he was doing some sleeveless practising in Tandil today as per Instagram. Bring on 20 Feb at 8pm or whatever it was (I haven't got it in my diary or anything, honestly!).

Private I think Milos has been very unlucky with injuries, Dimitrov has always (to me) a bit inconsistent. He seems to ebb and flow- some years he was great, then big dips. He is still a bit younger than Nish and Cilic though, and Raonic is only just 28.

Some just seem to have been around forever.

I do think some have missed the boat. Players like Goffin- a lot of potential, a really good player. But he hasn't quite made it.

But Stan got a slam quite late, so there's always time.

Oh, yes, Delpo's very specific date with destiny!

I do think though - probably said this before - that those guys should keep plugging away, because maybe not this year, but next - or the next - there is going to be a window of opportunity to nick a slam. Maybe. Unless Tsitsipas just starts winning everything in sight.

I think they could, Private because I think Federer is going to either retire in the next year- or suffer so many losses he will earlier to safe face and Rafa may follow soon after, though I don't want him to. He might make the Olympics.

Djok is fitter- though wobbly mentally- so it will allow a bit of an 'interim period' even if it's only a slam or 3 before the Tsitsipas generation take hold properly.

Nish will definitely want to be there for Tokyo next year.

I can't see Roger retiring before Tokyo. And yes Keith will definitely be there, surely? Maybe Andy could play the doubles with Jamie?!

Old Muzza Magi reckons the surprise retirement will be Rafa - he'll announce it at Roland Garros.

Private he probably won't retire (I think he is signed a new management deal to 2020, I remember him announcing it in 2017, after the AO, and thinking it a bit optimistic, given his previous years health problems, tbh). It's fine when you can pick and choose when you play I guess- but as Pat Cash said the other day- it's catch 22- you also need to be match fit, and he's now showing that maybe he isn't.

Magi No chance of that. He's looking better than he has for a while- and I think after last year, he will be eager to go back to Wimbledon.

Funnily, Fed said before the US open , he wanted Rafa, Djok, and Murray on board for the Laver Cup. Well that won't be happening now . And is a bit arrogant. Why should they jeopardise their fitness/chances in 'proper' tournaments for a chance to play in his vanity project?
At the time, because it will be held in Geneva, it was seen as a massive flag that that will be where Fed will announce his retirement.

magi!! You should have ended that post like on Crimewatch: "don't have nightmares" !!!

I don’t think Rafa will retire this year (fingers crossed) - he talked quite openly after his match today about changing things like his serve to look after his body and prolong his playing career.

I agree there’s been a bit of a lost generation with dimitrov, nishikori, raonic etc - on the good old tennis podcast they were saying that Goran thinks that he should have won more slams than he did and is now hopefully going to help raonic get a slam.

I don’t think that Djokovic has been that convincing but not sure if kei can pull off another win - the long matches must take a toll on him at some point?

I’m not sure how I managed to not look at the score today Private - not sure that I’ll be so restrained on Thursday - a snow day would be good

Fizzy spookily, I am just listening to the podcast now and they just said the bit about Goran as I was reading your post!

I think Mac said in the documentary last year, that when Borg retired early, he was angry, and he lost a bit of focus- because Borg was his focus.

He implied the same would be true of Rafa and Federer, but I disagree- because they have been playing against each other a lot longer. And experienced prolonged periods when the other wasn't there.

Also- Djokovic. He has been just as successful. Not as popular. But just as successful.

It's like the Mac/Borg/Connors triumvirate all over again .

Last year I was afraid that Rafa would retire especially as he was so emotional at the French Open but if he keeps up his present form I can't see him retiring yet. God I can't bear the thought of it

Jane it won't take much, to injure him, I know , it's how he plays. He has never made any excuses for that. It's not pretty, and no-one really thought in the beginning it would win much

But he has obviously worked on his serve, which must have been difficult, because it's never been a natural part of his game.

Yes, Mac and Borg barely played each other did they, compared with the rivalries between Fed/Rafa/Djok - didn't they only play about 15 times??

I'd never thought of Djok as the Connors of today though, it's true! Although I can't imagine Jimmy drinking green juice and consulting gurus etc

I was looking back at some some stuff (all this 10 year challenge stuff ) and Rafa's parents split up just after his Aussie open win in 2009.

I remember reading his autobiography, and he was really shocked because he didn't see it coming. 2008 was his break though year- number 1, Wimbledon, Olympics, it was massive. It's no wonder things fell apart a bit in 2009, physically (his knee problems started) and mentally.

My mum loved Connors, I must admit, I'm too young to love him , but I do too. I remember his match against Pernfors at Wimbledon. It's still one of the best matches I've ever watched.