Wimbledon Day 12 - Ladies Final

Well here we are. 128 ladies at the start and now we are down to the final 2.

Canada's new star Eugenie Bouchard takes on former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

Also we have Men's and Ladies Doubles today with the Bryans v Sock/Pospisil and Vinci/Errani v Bobas/Mladenovic.

And today's trivia is an easy one, well it will be when you think about it.

If Bouchard wins today she will become the 3rd woman's Slam winner in the Open Era who's surname begins with 'B'

Can you name the 2 women who have won a Slam in the Open Era who's surname begins with 'B'?

One came to mind straight away simply because she's a rare commodity - a Slam Champ from Britain. Step forward Ms. Barker.

Struggling with the other .....

Correct

I am surprised you are struggling with the other

Short-term memory lapse !!

Bartoli.

A whole twelve months ago .......

Correct. I nearly forgot she won it too.

How about another one. More difficult.

Kvitova is only the 3rd woman from the Czech Republic to have a Slam in the Open Era.

Can you name the other 2?

Novotna and Navratilova?

Ah, wait, was Martina a US citizen before she won her first?

I'm watching a boys semi-final. This Tatlot guy looks more ripped than Murray and Monfils.

Novotna is correct.

Navratilova was indeed a US citizen when she won her first Slam.

It was interesting listening to Pat Cash yesterday (amazingly!)

He was suggesting that Wimbledon should look at their grass mix and think of speeding the courts up to avoid the baseline looking like a cricket wicket.

Do you think Cash has a point?

different, strenghtened grass type behind the bassline is what he was saying wasn't it? makes sense, could become too dangerous in the latter stages, only takes one knee blow out.

legendkillarV2 wrote:It was interesting listening to Pat Cash yesterday (amazingly!)

He was suggesting that Wimbledon should look at their grass mix and think of speeding the courts up to avoid the baseline looking like a cricket wicket.

Do you think Cash has a point?

Yes and no. I'm not wanting a return to Goran v Pete in the 90s but just a shade quicker would be nice because it's conceivable someone could slip and be seriously injured on the dusty patch at the back (yes I do realise players can be injured on untouched grass too). Either that or use astro-turf.

TSJ not all grass tennis was like the 90's

Check out the 80's!

I would most welcome a change in court speed.

Of course But there weren't players like boring Milos in the 80s (or at least ones that were successful as far as I'm aware). If the court speed only was changed then we would see a return to the 90s. More would have to be done (racquet head, balls, strings etc) to see the 80s style tennis re-emerge I think.

I think there would be a mix to be honest.

It is only Raonic who has refined power.

Shot makers like Dimitrov, Dolgopolov and Fognini might have a chance if it changed.

It's not so much speed as bounce. A lower bounce would give volleyers a chance as the baseliner wouldn't have all day to get under the ball.

That would hurt immobile powerhouses too, who can't get down to low shots so well.

Am counting on you today Genie to stem my losses........

I had money on Rafa (my favourite for the title), money on Dimitrov (my outsider for the title) and even put money on Raonic (I know, I know ....) to win his SF yesterday ; my theory with the latter being that all their previous meetings had involved TB's, Raonic had been blasting everyone off the court, and I just had a hunch that he might get lucky for once v the ageing maestro.

I put my faith in you when you were 7/1 Genie, so please ..... do your stuff  

lk, I have to answer to your trivia question but as I had to look it up (never heard of her) I'll let someone else get it.

Even if she loses 3 GS's with 2 semi's and a finalist in only 2nd year as a pro is a great accomplishment.

Lags72 I hope your heart survives the final   

With the way modern racquets, and more importantly, strings, are, a return to nineties grass would be more near suicidal, wouldn't it? The grass is plenty fast, as is, Tsongas first serve was untouchable (against the greatest returner in the history of humanity, no less), in the third set vs Djokovic, and Krygios was equally impressively in his Nadal match... besides, didn't ten players retire last year in the first week when the grass was fresh? Seems a flawed argument to me.

The roof is shut. There's rain about. So what do Wimbledon do? They open the roof. Those who make these ridiculous decisions need to be named and shamed.
Oh, it's an outdoor tournament, they say. Yes it is. But now they have a facility that means the players don't have to keep going on and off. SO USE IT. It's hardly rocket science.

Actually, I disagree with that. If it's a low prospect of rain I'd rather they kept it open where possible and go off for 1-2 short breaks. This is the final, no other matches to play, so let's not have an indoor tennis final for an event that is outdoor.

Have to say Bouchard is not unpleasant on the eye...haven't really noticed her before but now I see what's got BB reminiscing about Evert, lol. Anyway I'm picking her to win.

I think the crowd are more than willing to get behind Bouchard in this match so she needs to do something early on to lift them. Going down an early break will not help.

Ouch - Lisicki v2?

kvitova got too much power

Oh dear, allez Bouchie!

Great hold. Not much she can do whilst Kvitova is mullering the ball so her best bet is just to hold and see if her opponent's level drops.

She'll do it - don't mess with French Canadians!

Before the match I wondered if Eugenie was in for a hiding.  

At first I was afraid, now I'm Petra-fied.

Warning: That joke may have be stolen.

5:2, only Maple syrup is good from Canada and How its Made TV show   

The Special Juan wrote:Before the match I wondered if Eugenie was in for a hiding.  

At first I was afraid, now I'm Petra-fied.

Warning: That joke may have be stolen.

OUCH!!

Jahu wrote:5:2, only Maple syrup is good from Canada and How its Made TV show   

First the G-man now this...

But I eant Bouch to win, see she broke back

Eugenie needs the rain. Now.

Rain is on it's way in North London...

She is totally outmatched. Kvitova is striking the ball like prime Serena   

This is looking ugly for the Mighty Bouch...

Yeah this looks like a hiding.

Anyway even the pert Bouchard bottom twitching to receive serve is not enough to keep me interested in women's tennis - this is a seriously dull final. OFF TO THE PUB I SAY.

Emancipator has cursed Eugenie BOOOOOOO00000uchard   

So impressive from Kvitova. Still daylight robbery though

Meh poor Eugenie

pummelling

Can she avoid the ignominy of a bagel?

Even her 1st served got hammered back. this is ABUSE!!!

I liked Bouchard, but the media hysteria has somewhat put me off. I get it - she's a pretty, blonde commercial dream who was named after a princess and likes stuffed animals. Can I hear a little bit more about other players too?

And she likes Justin Beiber!!!!

Would anyone be able to do anything against THIS Kvitova??

What potential Kvitova has. Shame she seems a bit of a volatile headcase. A real underachiever.

Hlavackova
Barthel
Venus (match of the year, granted)
Peng
BZS
Safarova
Bouchard

That's a nice a route as you could have hoped for. She's taken advantage and all credit to her.