WIMBLEDON 2018

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Draw being done now. Fed has Lajovic in first round, Murray plays Benoit Paire. Cilic in Fed's half and Djoko in Rafa's half. Delpo is in Rafa's quarter, while Kyle Edmund plays Aussie qualifier Alex Bolt in first round.

Henman Bill wrote:I suppose it's too late for Struff puns?

Absolutely not. It's never too late to stut your Struff.

lags72 wrote:Don’t see much of a future for the tennis forum now, sadly.

If even ‘manic Monday’ at Wimbledon can’t generate interest, then I’m really not sure there’s any value in posting. Shame ..... it used to be so active at Slam time

Would be interesting to know viewing figures and other measures of tennis' overall popularity at the moment. I'm a bit bored with it - hardly watched any tennis this year. Federer again, Nadal again, younger players failing again. Where's the interest? The women's game is probably more interesting at the moment.

Bit surprised that delpo has not seen Simon off yet. Quite impressed with Anderson yesterday. His play and movement has improved enormously. Monfils was his usual, and infuriating, mixture of the sublime and the very ordinary. There were two brilliant shots to help him break for the third set but he really is the most maddening of players. Fraid to say that Bartoli was right when she spoke of Gael and Kyrgios wasting their talent.
It looked as if Fed was not treating his match, or his opponent, with enough respect after that whirlwind first set yesterday. It was almost as if he wanted to get into awkward situations to see what it was like. He'll surely be more focused against Anderson.
I can see Rafa winning the whole thing. He rarely loses quarters or semis in GS, although a semi against a fast-improving Djoko could be interesting.
Serena might have done well even if most of the top seeds had not gone out. It could be a repeat of her 2016 final with Kerber. I'm taking Williams, Bertens and Kerber to make the semis. Cibulkova v Ostapenko could go either way. Ostapenko still looks so young you'd think she was playing in the junior event. But she does give it a mighty crack and seems quite fearless.

Ostapenko and Kerber thru to semis. Osta hit a series of spectacular winners. Must be a nightmare to play as she seems to reel off huge shots from anywhere on the court.
Kerber needed numerous MPs to beat a plucky Kasatkina and almost paid the price for being too tentative on the big points. But this was a big win for the German who is having a good year after her troubles in 2017.
Simon was another who saved multiple MPs today before going down to Delpo in a fourth set tiebreak. Doubt whether Delpo in present form will pose too much of a problem for Rafa but perhaps I'm being unwise in writing off the Argentinian.

Serena thru in three after Giorgi took first set mainly down to one poor service game from Williams. Can't see anyone beating Serena with Goerges next to try after a blistering finish to her quarter against Bertens for whom it was....curtains. (well, someone has to say it).

this will be won by mrs ostapenko

Enjoyed watching the highlights of womens quarter-finals yesterday. Kasatkina is a great player to watch - lots of angles and spins. Really hope she does well in the future as she adds a lot to the tour. Ultimately Kerber proved too solid, and that bit better on the big points. Ostapenko vs Cibulkova was good fun too. Some of the winners that Ostapenko hits are outrageous and *if* she can keep the accompanying errors down to a minimum she has a chance of winning the title. Serena has improved with every match, but I don't think she'll find it easy from now - Gorges is playing with confidence and serving as well as Serena, whilst a free-flowing Ostapenko or match-tough Kerber won't be pushovers in final.

Onto the quarter-finals, I have been v impressed by Nishikori this year - the way he handled Kyrgios and Gulbis, both dangerous opponents was excellent. Whilst grass isn't his favourite surface, the conditions may well be suiting him and he will give Djokovic a tough match - I expect Djoko to prevail in 5 sets.

Nadal v Del Potro - Not sure if Del Po is affected by an injury but he doesn't look right this tournament and doesn't seem to be firing on all cylinders, and I don't therefore see him winning more than 1 set against Nadal, who is thriving in the conditions and looking v comfortable this year. Nadal in 4 sets.

Anderson is probably having his best tournament since US Open last year but given his record of not winning a set against Federer, I think the closest he'll push Fed to is a couple of tie-breaks in a tight 3 setter. Federer in 3 sets.

Raonic v Isner - anyone who enjoyed watching the serve-fests of the 1990s at Wimbledon (Sampras/Martin/Ivanisevic et al) will like this one and it goes without saying that whoever returns the best will win here. Raonic has the better grasscourt record, and in the all-important tie-breaks I can see him lifting his game that bit more to win those key points. Raonic in 4 sets.

This Federer guy's a bit useless today - took him 25 minutes to win the 1st set. Meanwhile, Djokovic has won 1st set 6-3 against Nishikori - managed to raise his game and Nishikori also got bit tight at key moment 3-4 to get the break.

EDIT: ** Breaking news ** Anderson has broken Federer's serve at start of 2nd set!

Kevin Anderson wins the third set after he broke Federer in the 11th game. He the saved 3 break points at 0-40. Anderson showing real grit

This quarterfinal between Federer and Anderson seems to be panning out the way the Wimbledon 2011 quarterfinal did; I hope not, but it seems that way

Anderson wins the fourth set 6-4. Squeaky bum time

I would still back Federer from here. Very interesting though. Novak's gradual improvement continues and he is getting there slowly but surely.

Roger could do with some Sampras-esque serving right about now

Sudden death for Anderson now

Sudden death for Roger, as a break conceded by him could be decisive in Anderson's favour

Well its finally woken up on here today! Just needed the imminent threat of Federer losing to Anderson to get things livelier.

Was v impressed with how Anderson closed out that 3rd set - real determination. As I type its 0-30 on Anderson serve and the South African needs to get more 1st serves in now.

Roger simply cannot seem to find a way to break the Anderson serve. Something's gotta give here....

Meanwhile, Nadal is a set up on Del Potro, going on serve in 2nd set. Del Potro has been better than the match against Simon - there have been a few flashes of brilliance, but still too many errors to properly challenge Nadal.

Poor old Isner and Raonic - was never the most enticing of the quarter-final matches and by the time they take to the court after Federer v Anderson a lot of the Court No. 1 crowd will have left to try and watch the England v Croatia World Cup match.

And the break is conceded by Roger, as I feared it would. It seems to be all over now, bar the shouting

Federer is out

I fear Anderson thinking this is it, and we end up with pony Raonic in a one sided final...again.

Big Kev the greatest performance of his career. Broke Federer's mind and broke his heart

Well well Well. Kevin Anderson Beats Roger Federer 13-11 in the 5th set after over four hours. Great performance by him considering he was two sets to love down and he never faltered on the comeback trail. He showed guts and determination that you don't normally associate with him.

Canter? Bury.

Nadal v Del Potro shaping up to be an interesting contest now. Nadal double-faulted on setpoint in the tie-break, with Del Po ultimately prevailing, and he's come out with more sense of purpose in 3rd set, mixing it up more, with bit of serve-volley.

Had a feeling it would not be Fed's Wimbledon this year. Shades today of his second-Wednesday defeats at SW19 to Berdych and Tsonga - the latter also after Rog was two sets up.
Rafa was looking good against Delpo until a rare DF on set point handed the tiebreak to the Argentinian.
Any thoughts on Andy Murray's punditry? Seems quite astute. Must say I never saw him as a guy who could - or would want - to do commentary.

Great effort from Anderson. Must have been very difficult with the vast majority of the crowd supporting Federer (in a fair manner). Anderson though just kept his cool and didn't flinch even when down on his serve. Federer looked very tired in the last couple of games.

Del Potro 2 sets to 1 up though Nadal a break up in 4th set. You'd think that Del Potro needs to win this set to beat Nadal - can't see him outlasting Nadal in 5 sets in this match. Someone somewhere must be watching Raonic v Isner - currently at 1 set all. I'm watching the football on TV and Nadal Del Potro on I Player on the laptop - who says men can't multi-task...

In the end Nadal prevailed in 5 sets against Del Potro. That 5th set was epic - both players coming up with some amazing shots, especially during that marathon 3-4 game on Nadal's serve - really worth seeking out the highlights or replay on I Player on this one.

Elsewhere a slightly surprising result with Isner coming through in 4 sets against Raonic. Considering their serving prowess both Isner and Anderson have underachieved over the years at Wimbledon, so big opportunity for both players here. However, we are in the age of the returner rather than big server, and whoever wins out of Nadal and Djokovic has to be a big favourite for the final.

Shame for Delpo but Nadal is on a different level at present. Delpo getting closer and hopefully in New York he can add another major. 

Can't wait for Nadal - Djokovic should be a barnstormer. Nadal the favourite but Djokovic is edging his way back to relevance

Congrats to Anderson, Nadal, Djokovic and Isner on SF at W2018.

No doubt Anderson and Isner have improved. Reckon some of it is down to not having to meet the Big Four so frequently and getting much further in tournaments and so gaining confidence.
Rafa v Djoko is mouthwatering, although I'm taking Rafa to win. Don't know whether Anderson's epic will have taken too much out of him.
For the women today, Serena should beat Goerges easily. Ostapenko-Kerber is all on O's racquet. If she fires more in than out she'll win, as she is a ferocious hitter.

Well done to Rafa first and foremost. However, Del Potro you have to feel greatly for. Is it just me or does he seem to lose so many epic long drawn out matches narrowly. He seems to give so much but just doesn't quite get the end result. Still, given his catalogue of injury woes, it is miraculous he is where he is.

So Kerber v Williams it is and the German will be hoping that Serena does not duplicate her near-faultless display in the 2016 Wimbledon final. Kerber was playing really well then, but could not get anywhere near the 120mph+ bullet serves.
  Now for the men. Djoko does seem to be showing signs of his old best form, but surely this is Rafa's year for another Wimbledon crown, no? If Anderson is physically OK I'm taking him to beat Isner, giving us a repeat of the USO final.

IMO, Isner will beat Anderson, but the Djokovic-Nadal clash is promising for high quality Tennis. The first set should be the key in the Djokovic-Nadal affair. Djokovic has a better BH than Del Potro.

laverfan wrote:IMO, Isner will beat Anderson, but the Djokovic-Nadal clash is promising for high quality Tennis. The first set should be the key in the Djokovic-Nadal affair. Djokovic has a better BH than Del Potro.

Delpo is no longer able to really hit through his BH yet even so he took a playing-well Rafa to five sets. Djoko's footwork is better than Delpo's, too, but I'm still taking Rafa to win. He rarely loses GS semis. By my reckoning he has won the last SIXTEEN Slam semis he's played and has never lost a Wimbledon semi. Shows that he tends to get better and better as GS tourneys progress.
Because of the dry conditions at SW19 this year Rafa is able to stand well back behind the baseline. Watching some of his match against Delpo I was thinking this could almost be a clay-court match, so much topspin and bounce was Rafa getting. A possible factor is that rain could hit Wimbledon later today. If they close the roof that could help Djoko.
Am still going for Anderson in the other semi, although that Fed match needed a huge physical and emotional effort by the South African.

thunderstorms expected today as the afternoon advances

not good news for rafa

My take on the men's semis is that I see Kevin Anderson beating John Isner in perhaps four sets. Anderson has that bit more experience at the business end of slams and is just that fraction better (in my opinion) in all aspects of the game compared to Isner. The real threat to him is whether he can handle having beat Federer the other day and not think it is job done before it actually is today.

In the other semi I have to go for Rafa. He is just a level up on Novak for me in terms of where he wants to be at this time. However, Novak is almost at the point of being back to his very best - not quite - but almost. I still see moments when Novak can mentally lose it and is the belief fully returned? This match will tell us. Rafa to win in tight sets which could go 3, 4 or 5 sets long).

Anderson took a very tight first set in just over an hour though Isner had multiple chances to break serve in the third game. On serve in the second set so far in what has been a surprisingly watchable match.

You kind of feel Isner must win this second set. 4-4 still on serve.

Isner wins the second set tie-break to level it up at one set all. They have been on court for a few minutes short of two hours and you would feel Isner has to feel the fresher given Anderson's marathon match against Federer. That could be key.

This has quite a while to go yet.
I predict Djokovic to beat Nadal today. His form has been ominous. Looks sharper both on serve and return. Swinging it further in his favour is the fact the roof will be closed, creating indoor conditions that Nadal has never been fond of.

A sloppy service game from Isner sees him broken for the first time at Wimbledon. Anderson serves for the set at 5-3.

And just like buses you wait ages for a break and two come along together. Isner breaks back and Anderson will be kicking himself. That could be the pivotal moment right there. Anderson leads 5-4 on serve.

The third set also goes to a tie-break.

A very tight tie-break this and becoming an epic at 8-8.

Isner takes it 11-9 to lead two sets to one with almost three hours played. Isner goes favourite for his first slam final.

Cmon Isner. Hope he finishes it off now.

Anderson! What chances he had. Can't believe that Isner is probably going to get to a GS final, where he will be eaten alive by either Rafa or Djoko.

He isn't done yet. Anderson breaks Isner in the 4th set and leads. Some fantastic return winners there from Kevin Anderson.