Wimbledon 2011 - Make your Pics!

[lestatar]

^ lol...

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by captkjaneway

Nice to see the Williams brothers through..........

Do you feel better about yourself now, and the wonderful contribution you just made to society?

The Williams sisters do, every time a little girl in Africa gets to go to school for the very first time, thanks to their philanthropy (Serena, specifically). How about Venus who is an ambassador for the WTA.

Of course as people keep hating on these women in particular, they keep playing their game, and doing what they feel they need to do to get where they want to be.

[Nyssa]

I just got to watch the end of the Li, Na v Lisicki match. How fantastic!
This reminded me why I love this game. I like both women, and would have been happy with either one winning even though, unfortunately, either one of them can give Venus & Serena a tough match. . Li, Na has had a fantastic year and was very close to continuing her winning streak. I hope she remembers that through this loss.
However, its congratulations to Lisicki for snatching Victory from the jaws of Defeat.

[siraks]

forgot to post this earlier, poor raonic. oh well another year since he's so young.
i won't cheer for anyone just catch the ending on the weekend.
enjoy the tennis.

[captkjaneway]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

Do you feel better about yourself now, and the wonderful contribution you just made to society?

The Williams sisters do, every time a little girl in Africa gets to go to school for the very first time, thanks to their philanthropy (Serena, specifically). How about Venus who is an ambassador for the WTA.

Of course as people keep hating on these women in particular, they keep playing their game, and doing what they feel they need to do to get where they want to be.

So they pay for every single girl to go to school in Africa? Wow the things you learn on here!

Personally, I stopped watching women's tennis once the deft of touch and technique of the game was replaced by grunting, pumped up power players and my opinion is that the game has suffered due to this.

But hey, I guess if you believe they should be on a pedestal then, who I am to comment?

The winky thing, did indicate the remark was in jest by the way.....

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by captkjaneway

So they pay for every single girl to go to school in Africa? Wow the things you learn on here!

Personally, I stopped watching women's tennis once the deft of touch and technique of the game was replaced by grunting, pumped up power players and my opinion is that the game has suffered due to this.

But hey, I guess if you believe they should be on a pedestal then, who I am to comment?

The winky thing, did indicate the remark was in jest by the way.....

Okay..... every little girl that is offered a place in the schools that Serena's foundation has built.

My comment has nothing to do with putting them up on a pedestal, they are human beings not sculptures. My comment is about remembering that since they are human beings, they should be treated as such. There are many people with "public" lives that I dislike, (in tennis it would be Justine Henin-who retired again, and Jelena Jankovic) but I would not sit around and make mean spirited remarks about them just for the sake of being mean spirited.

[captkjaneway]

Wow again! You have never said a bad word against anyone ever - even in jest?

Your halo dazzles me

[lestatar]

Man, I hate to say I was right about Na Li......But I was. She will likely be a 1 Grand Slam wonder, but she will forever be the first Chinese to win one.

Fed meanwhile crushed his second round appetizer and he looks to be getting in form. Joker looking good too.

Too bad about Hewitt. I always liked that guy's tennis, but his best days are behind him. A great 5 setter against Soderling [who is gotta be feeling pretty good about Wimby right about now].

So...GO SHARAPOVA

<still sick, but tennis makes my tail wag>

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by captkjaneway

Wow again! You have never said a bad word against anyone ever - even in jest?

Your halo dazzles me

You really like empty generalizations don't you? I've never seen a halo, I just don't go out of my way to nasty things about people who have done nothing to me. I would have to join the politics/religion thread for that side to come out - which is why I avoid it. As for being in jest - I obviously didn't find what you said to be funny and I commented on it. So is life, we all have our opinions.
I'm dropping this particular conversation now. Have a nice day.

Originally Posted by lestatar

Man, I hate to say I was right about Na Li......But I was. She will likely be a 1 Grand Slam wonder, but she will forever be the first Chinese to win one.

Fed meanwhile crushed his second round appetizer and he looks to be getting in form. Joker looking good too.

Too bad about Hewitt. I always liked that guy's tennis, but his best days are behind him. A great 5 setter against Soderling [who is gotta be feeling pretty good about Wimby right about now].

So...GO SHARAPOVA

<still sick, but tennis makes my tail wag>

I'm sorry you're still sick Les. I hope you feel better soon.

Sharapova's experience will probably see her through, but right now a combination of Robson's tenacity and more than a few unforced errors by Shazza, has her down 0'3 0-15. She is double faulting like crazy right now (3 in a row).

[Nyssa]

Sharapova came back to win the set. 7(7)-6(4)

[lestatar]

^Thanks Nyssa - summer colds SUCK.

Indeed, Maria came through and for sure, her experience and tenacity helped out alot.

Robson played a great great match though.

You ever hear of Boris Becker's famous line? Specifically about the 5th set at Wimbledon but he later expanded on his philosophy.

Basically Becker said that in his experience, at the highest levels of tennis, at the most critical points, it is not so much the actual tennis that counts the most. It is the nerve of the player, the deep in the chest guts, the undeniable will to win and an unshakeable belief in themselves that ultimately matters.

I have always found this bit of pop psychology interesting and very applicable not just to tennis, but to any competitive endeavor.

This is what separates Michael Jordan from LeBron James. Fed and Nadal from Murray and Joker [though Joker is fast working on that]. etc, etc, etc...

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by lestatar

^Thanks Nyssa - summer colds SUCK.

Indeed, Maria came through and for sure, her experience and tenacity helped out alot.

Robson played a great great match though.

You ever hear of Boris Becker's famous line? Specifically about the 5th set at Wimbledon but he later expanded on his philosophy.

Basically Becker said that in his experience, at the highest levels of tennis, at the most critical points, it is not so much the actual tennis that counts the most. It is the nerve of the player, the deep in the chest guts, the undeniable will to win and an unshakeable belief in themselves that ultimately matters.

I have always found this bit of pop psychology interesting and very applicable not just to tennis, but to any competitive endeavor.

This is what separates Michael Jordan from LeBron James. Fed and Nadal from Murray and Joker [though Joker is fast working on that]. etc, etc, etc...

Sounds true to form.

I think Murray has that fire, but has just not been able to make it work for him. Hopefully he will -sooner than later.


Venus' match ended so quickly, I missed it and had to reverse on my DVR. She beat Martinez-Sanchez 6'0, 6'2 (and that's with losing one service game.

I'm sorry to see Roddick is out. I watched his press-conference. He has grown and matured so much over the years. I really like his straight-forwardness with the journalists, especially when it comes to some of the stupid questions thrown at him.

Up next Andy Murray, and then I think my tennis will be done for the day! "Go Murray, Go!"

[lestatar]

^ don't hate me but I am soooo not a fan of Roddick. Never have and never will be.

I played competitive tennis in junior high, high school and for a year at NYU and been a tennis fan for...well, for more years than you are prolly alive.

Roddick was always a 1 gear kind of player. Ginormous serve but not enough real firepower or consistency or tactical skills to fill out his game. In many ways, I found Roddick to be the poster boy of what went started going wrong with men's tennis a number of years ago - almost mindless crushing of the ball on every attempt. No finesse whatsoever. Though in fairness, he has gotten better in recent years on this score.

This is primarily the reason why I am such a Fed fanboy, not just because of his technical skills, but also for his creativity on court [something he will have to rely more on from now on].

But the nail in the coffin for me with Roddick was his brief time with tennis demigod Jimmy Connors. That relationship only lasted a couple of years and I read that rumours abounded that Roddick was not necessarily open to some of the things Connors was suggesting over their time together. No one knows what happened, but even Connors influence was not enough to push Roddick to another Slam though Connors' presence did seem to lift Andy's game for a while.

My take is: when a guy like Jimmy Connors speaks, I think I would listen and listen pretty hard.

And now, losing in the 3rd round at Wimbledon, a surface that actually can favor Roddck's game? Granted, Lopez played probably the best match of his Wimbledon life against Roddick today but Lopez also out served Roddick and out-volleyed him as well.

Gonna be real tough for Roddick to ever win another Slame. Still, 1 is more than 99% of the players will ever have.

not a rant, just nice to talk tennis once in a while

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by lestatar

^ don't hate me but I am soooo not a fan of Roddick. Never have and never will be.

I played competitive tennis in junior high, high school and for a year at NYU and been a tennis fan for...well, for more years than you are prolly alive.

Roddick was always a 1 gear kind of player. Ginormous serve but not enough real firepower or consistency or tactical skills to fill out his game. In many ways, I found Roddick to be the poster boy of what went started going wrong with men's tennis a number of years ago - almost mindless crushing of the ball on every attempt. No finesse whatsoever. Though in fairness, he has gotten better in recent years on this score.

This is primarily the reason why I am such a Fed fanboy, not just because of his technical skills, but also for his creativity on court [something he will have to rely more on from now on].

But the nail in the coffin for me with Roddick was his brief time with tennis demigod Jimmy Connors. That relationship only lasted a couple of years and I read that rumours abounded that Roddick was not necessarily open to some of the things Connors was suggesting over their time together. No one knows what happened, but even Connors influence was not enough to push Roddick to another Slam though Connors' presence did seem to lift Andy's game for a while.

My take is: when a guy like Jimmy Connors speaks, I think I would listen and listen pretty hard.

And now, losing in the 3rd round at Wimbledon, a surface that actually can favor Roddck's game? Granted, Lopez played probably the best match of his Wimbledon life against Roddick today but Lopez also out served Roddick and out-volleyed him as well.

Gonna be real tough for Roddick to ever win another Slame. Still, 1 is more than 99% of the players will ever have.

not a rant, just nice to talk tennis once in a while

1. I don't hate people for disagreeing with me.

2. I completely understand what you're saying about Roddick's game and I agree on some your points (specifically "almost mindless crushing of the ball on every attempt. No finesse whatsoever."), although in his defense, I do think he has tried to make changes over the last 2 or 3 years. He will, however, go back into default mode when he feels his back is against the wall. I just like his attitude adjustments over time. Like I said, he has really gown & matured.

Segueing into Fed: Roddick's press-conference is a great example as to why I like him over Fed. Roddick felt the he played a great game, but admitted straight out that he was outplayed by Lopez. Roddick gave credit where credit was due. Fed would never do that. He might begrudgingly compliment his opponent, but would then have a slew of excuses as to why he didn't win. He can not seem to say many nice things about fellow players without throwing in some backhanded remark - except (for now) in the case of Nadal. This is coming from a former Federer fan. I missed his early days, (as I was away from tennis for a while) but sometime around early 2008 ,Fed caught my attention and I was hooked. Like you said it is his technical skills and creativity on court - things of beauty. My fandom was short lived. I just don't like the way he presents himself after the match.

[lestatar]

^fair enough! And I was just winking about the hate part...didn't figure you would, but my mind clouded by antibiotics so forgot the smiley.

Its funny. I don't hate Roddick. As an American I actually cheer for him and especially admire his generally strong committment to Davis Cup.

I think for me it really is kind of wasted talent in some ways. The guy is one of the best tennis players in the world, but he has some really inexplicable meltdowns and losses, especially in Slams. Sure, like Patrick Ewing and others who came up when Michael Jordan and the Bulls were king, Roddick has been cursed to be around tennis at a time when 2 of the greatest players ever are dominating.

True Roddick's interviews are very frank and often funny and I especially like them when he is self-effacing. But sometimes I get the feeling he is just trying to be clever. Yes, he does always credit his opponents [usually] and yes, Fed's post match interviews are a bit less effusive for his foes. Still, Fed's reputation within the tennis community is beyond reproach - he has never won SI's sportsman of the year but he has been nominated many times.

Fed's interview style is very European IMO and also, yes, a bit self-centered, a quality I think is essential for true sporting greatness. Indeed, he does give credit to his opponents when he loses/is beaten, but I think its all a mental game he plays with himself and his peers. The players all know what is said in the interview room.

For so many years Fed simply dominated. Period. His record of consecutive GS Semi appearances will never be duplicated, nor will the record of Singles Slams [Nadal might get close, but perhaps not again on grass or hardcourtt, especially with Fed and now surging Joker and Murray]. A huge part of Fed's invincibility was completely deserved, solely on his on court talents. But also, Fed plays the off court game so well. During his 5+ years of winning everything, pretty much uncontested, most of his opponents were already defeated before they even hit the court.

Part of that comes from the level of self-assurance and confidence Fed reveals during his interviews. He must appear unshakeable in his belief in himself to maintain his edge against the field. Everyone does it - like most things on the tennis court, he just does it better than most.

Yes, last couple of years, there have been cracks in Fed's interview demeanor. But he no longer has anything to prove does he? He is now looking to absolutely cement his place in history beyond a doubt by trying to rack up more Slams and bring the total to a completely unmatchable number.

eh...don't mean to to turn this thread into a personal tennis/Fed fanboy soapbox.

Let's just see some awesome tennis at SW19!