Tennis Thread: Countdown to the Return of Delpo at a Very Specific Time

[JaneJeffer]

New thread for February. Happy St. Brigid's Day everyone

private that is shocking. This has happened to Grigor before- a run of good results, and then a big crash. He's not really done much since his tour final win, has he?

Of course, I do not want Grigor' s match against Rafa to be when his fortunes change!

No me neither, but he's just one of those players where you think, he shouldn't be where he is right now. Well based on results he should but not based on skill!! If you know what I mean!

Private I know, it's really odd. I'm not even sure whether he's been injured. If it's just a total loss of form, and bad results.

I've been thinking about Busta Gut- after the way Djok squeaked through yesterday, I bet Busta wishes he had drawn him, instead of Rafa, and he might have made it a hat trick of wins over him!

Yes - he's like Djok's nemesis!! If you were a player, you'd be gutted to draw Rafa early in a clay tournament wouldn't you - I think I'd have given up before I even stepped on court!

I love how dominant he is- but I've been reading a lot of rubbish about how how he's been faking his injuries apparently . People really don't get the difference surfaces make to players, and how they are affected. Even Federer- he avoided clay because it affected his back, sliding and low bounces, the lack of 'cheap' points on serve, it all adds up.

Rafa's able to play now- probably still in pain, and he's done it many times before, because clay is easier on his knees. I remember him winning the 2012 RG in agony, and dosed up on painkillers. It was little wonder he ended up losing early at Wimbledon, and then finally getting surgery.

I love Rafa.

(I might have had a drink- it's been stressful week)

a drink sounds like a good plan Raahh

Yes people are idiots saying things like "fake" injuries etc. Why would he, for a start?! He has nothing to prove. And it's so true about the different surfaces. It's probably just the difference is more noticeable with clay because it's such a distinct season among so many hard court tournaments (plus a bit of grass)

I wish they played IW and Miami on clay.

They should play them all on clay

I read on the ATP site about the number of points he has accrued over the years on clay- he is untouchable. I think the only person who can compare to him on the surface is Chris Evert.

And no one has dominated any other surface the way he has done on clay, Fed is beatable on grass, Djok is beatable on hard courts.

I'm rambling. It's keeping my mind occupied (and stops me mithering the dog )

I read a really good article about Rafa and Chris Evert and their clay records, I'll try and find it. She was unbeatable on it for years.

I really do think they should play more on the other surfaces though, just to save the players' joints if nothing else!

They should keep grass though. And maybe dung I'm sure I've mentioned this before but Tim Herman won a tournament on that once - he said dung was his best surface as he was unbeaten on it

This is it
Evert Nadal

Dung

I can't imagine clean cut Timbo on dung

You know, Billie Jean is ever so sniffy about clay, it one thing that makes me like her less- but nearly all her titles came on grass, since all but RG were at the time. I think she did win RG once.

Spme of Chrissie's records on clay make Rafa's look small fry- but it's all relative because players were so selective in where they played then, but it doesn't diminish her achievements.

I do love a good statistic

Yes! I think that's the one I read - I love it.

So many people are very odd about the clay season, like it's not 'real' tennis.

But I personally lovely rallies. I LOVE Wimbledon, don't get me wrong, but I never loved Sampras. I hate big serves that are just that.

Delpo, for example, is more than just a big serve . Rafa's match with him at Wimbledon last year more than proves that.

Raonic, I like, he is more than just a big serve.

Can't quite get my head round that Dimitrov stat, did he have a lot of points to defend from last spring or is he really that bad?

Love the word mithering Raahh you don't hear it much, at least not in Hampshire You carry on drinking if you want, I say this as someone who has had far too much red vino this evening.....!!

*love

Have never heard BJK talk about clay I don't think - v interesting! She was such a serve volleyer wasn't she, no wonder she didn't win much on clay! Maybe she just hated it?!

Chrissie was the opposite and yet she still won Wimbledon a few times with a baseline game - that's pretty amazing really. Same for Rafa obviously

I'm jealous of you both with your drinks! The only alcohol we have in is green ginger wine leftover from Christmas I do like it... but not in April!

But I'll join you in spirit

I can't get my head around that Dimitrov stat. Has he had a lot of points to defend from last spring or is he really that bad?

I love the word mithering Raahh . You don't hear it much, certainly not in Hampshire! And carry on drinking if you want - I say this as someone who has had a bit of red vino tonight......!!

PS can I just add I am not calling Rafa a baseliner what I meant was, he's brilliant on clay but he's adapted to grass, same as Chrissie did. And I find that better than just taking the same approach everywhere and not being able to vary your game. I was never a fan of lendl, and I know he never actually won Wimbledon but he did try to play a different type of tennis there, I always kind of admired him for that (grudgingly)

Apologies, posted a second time because I got an error message the first time and post didn't show. But now it is! Absolutely nothing to do with the vino, Girl Guides honour

Now I'm rambling and I haven't even had any booze

We believe you kazza

Private BJK was in a bit of a mood really last Wimbledon- it was after the Kerber win over her obvious favourite Serena, and it stuck in my mind because the whole interview was set up because whoever booked the guests, expected Serena to win. I remember BJK making a comment about clay and and then they showed a list of her wins- which proved why she didn't like clay much

Bit like Sampras really - his clay record is abysmal- He's Pistol pete. So his fans big up up that that's what 'real' tennis is. And clay is rubbish.

loons.

Kazza I'm a Mancunian through an thorough and we mither everyone .

I did sort of, when I was feeling charitable feel slightly sorry for Lendl at Wimbledon because everyone knew how desperately he wanted to win it and how he really tried to serve and volley (back when that was usually what you had to do to win Wimbledon). Although, I never really liked him and, of course, was always rooting for the delectable Stefan