Wimbledon 2022

First topic message reminder :

Serena Williams has been granted a wildcard and will play

Almost a perfect performance by Tan who made Boulter look like a club player up against a pro.

Tan looks seriously under-ranked but I think she'll have to get a lot of first serves in if she's to do real damage. The second serve will get punished.

Amanda Anisimova comes from a set down to ultimately outclass a very one dimensional Coco Gauff 6-7 6-2 6-1

2019 Wimbledon champion Simona Halep powered into R4 but easing past Magdalena Frech 6-4 6-1. The Romanian star may well be one of the favourites

Sonego didnt look to me like a threat for Nadal, but seing how uncomfortable Nadal has been on the surface these first two rounds, I think the spaniard has to improve quite a lot in order to get past the italian

Lets not forget that he (Sonego) has won 2 titles (one on grass) and has been 2 times finalist (one on grass)

Swiatek lost. Grass clearly her weakness

Swiatek is out. She was so bad in her first two matches that I thought she would improve. But Cornet is a wily old competitor and took her out.

Broady put up a good fight against De Minaur. But the Briton hasn't really got a big enough game to trouble the top guys. He's certainly gutsy, though, and the Australian had great difficulty serving it out.

Gauff was strangely passive in the bits of her match I saw - merely scrapping to get everything back and hoping her opponent would miss.

Cornet is a tough competitor on the grass - she takes it early and moves well. I also recall over the years she has been something of a giantkiller (e.g. beat Serena in her prime) so a dangerous player. Was a bit disappointed in Swiatek - looked a bit desperate at times with some odd shots - I think she was rushed off the ball by Cornet's aggressive hitting.

Regarding Broady I have a minor claim to fame - I once played (and lost!) against him in a team doubles match when he was a junior - he was playing a little bit below his level to be fair - his team drafted him in to win a crucial match near end of season against our unfashionable club. Nice to see he had a good run this Wimbledon - he's worked hard on the tour over the years and deserved his spell in the limelight.

I'm currently watching Tsitsipas v Kyrgios - inevitable first set tie-break. Kyrgios getting irate and upset unnecessarily. I think he can actually beat Tsitsipas here if he keeps his level of serving up, but probably lacks the mental focus to do so.

I know there were some that thought Sonego could trouble Rafa. But the Italian took just 10 pts in the first set, with Nadal winning it 6-1.

Nobody else watching Kyrgios v Tsitsipas? This one has really heated up - Kyrgios just levelled at 1 set all, and been complaining to match umpire about Tsitsipas not being defaulted for hitting ball into the crowd (think it narrowly missed hitting a spectator). Crowd also getting involved booing Tsitsipas after he came back out for start of 3rd set.

MrInvisible wrote:Nobody else watching Kyrgios v Tsitsipas?  This one has really heated up - Kyrgios just levelled at 1 set all, and been complaining to match umpire about Tsitsipas not being defaulted for hitting ball into the crowd (think it narrowly missed hitting a spectator).  Crowd also getting involved booing Tsitsipas after he came back out for start of 3rd set.

I am.  I'm actually warming to Kyrgios now, he normally gets on my t*ts but he does provide magnificent sh*thousery-styled entertainment.

Kyrgios's antics and backchat to umpire look like they really got to Tsitsipas earlier who had another point violation for hitting a ball in anger against scoreboard, and belted a ball at Kyrgios in rally. Kyrgios serving for set now at 5-3.

Kyrgios, amid much ballyhoo, has taken a two sets to one lead over Tsitsipas.

For all the bad behaviour, Kyrgios really has the most sublime talent. Some of his shots are quite incredible.

Rafael Nadal hammers Lorenzo Sonego 6-1 6-2 6-4. Ironically Sonego is actually a good grass court player and was previously as high as #21 in the world. Nadal simply way too good.

Kyrgios took it in the 4th set tiebreak after an extraordinary match full of incidents, bad behaviour and...some incredible tennis.

Tsitsipas served better and played better in the 4th set and managed to engineer some BPs and set points against the Kyrgios serve.

The tiebreak swung to and fro with SPs and MPs before Kyrgios hit an outrageous drop shot to clinch it.

I'm going to have to defend Kyrgios on this occasion; Tsitsipas should have been defaulted and that would have been the result if the roles were reversed.

It's one thing to say that he should have been defaulted but that doesn't mean Kyrgios should have called for the same.

Interesting to see so many baseline winners, and some of them not even near the lines. The court looks like it's playing slightly on the fast side this year?

Stefanos Tsitsipas branded Nick Kyrgios a ‘bully’ and claimed the Australian ‘has an evil side’

Kyrgios branded the Greek ‘soft’ and went on further to claim Tsitsipas has no friends on the tour.

Crazy scenes.

Former Wimbledon champs spanning 60 years - from Laver and Angela Mortimer in 1961 to Djoko in 2021 - were on Centre Court to mark the 100th anniversary of the court.

One or two absentees but a good gathering including Federer who said he hoped to be back at SW19 next year.

Later, Heather Watson lost her first set inn 28 mins, while Ostapenko is about to go out having had two MPs in set two.

Watson lost, Norrie a set up and the eagerly-awaited Alcaraz-Sinner clash has not really got going due to Alcaraz having a bit of a 'mare so far.

The first set has gone to Sinner 6-1 and he's also a break up in the second, with the Spaniard's serve, in particular, misfiring.

Jannik Sinner beats Carlitos Alcaraz 6-1 6-4 6-7 6-3
Sinner’s pure ball striking was the difference. He was able to rush Carlitos.
First quarter final at Wimbledon for Jannik...first of many I’ll be brave and predict.

Sinner reminds me of Berdych a bit

Pleased that Alcaraz made a fight of it. Very exciting finish to the third set and the Spaniard within a point of getting it back on serve at the end.

Thought, on the bits I saw, that Alcaraz was a bit naive at times. There were some ill-judged drop-shots and some poor shot selection.

Let's just hope that Sinner can give Djoko something of a match in the next round.

Djokovic and van Rijthoven one set a piece. Djokovic 6-2 the opener. van Rijthoven the second 6-4.

Djokovic takes the third set 6-1, he lost two points on serve in that set. van Rijthoven seems to have punched himself out.

I have been surprised with van Rijthoven progress to date.  Entered as a wildcard, is ranked #104 in the world - his best ranking.  Never previously ranked high enough to even make the qualifiers except for this year - beaten in qualifiers at Australia Open and French Open.  Has been playing on the Futures / Challenger circuit.  To date has only played 11 matches on the ATP circuit.

ps he is 25 years old turning pro in 2015, so youth is not an excuse for his previous absence on the ATP tour.

Djokovic wins 6-2 4-6 6-1 6-2. van Rijthoven faded away after emptying the tank in set 2.
Djokovic seemed to be feeling a bit off as the match went on.

Is it just that I am so out of touch with tennis these days, or is anyone else looking at tomorrow's order of play on Centre, 1 and 2 and going "Who are these people?"

Anyone reckon that Sinner can do much against Djoko? Obviously Novak will be favourite but I was impressed with Sinner yesterday, although there were times when Alcaraz made it too easy for the Italian.

Kyrgios served so well against Tsitsipas that you feel he could comfortably get to the semi, as long as he doesn't self-destruct.

You have to reckon that waiting for him there will be Rafa, for whom the draw has opened up.

I wasn't really looking forward to Wimbledon after hearing about the no-ranking-points decision. But, first, nearly everyone has turned up, and, secondly, they have all been playing with an intensity.

Be interesting to get opinions on whether so many would have played if it had been any of the other slams where no points were awarded. OK, the money - and lots of it - is still on offer at SW19 but IMHO the special nature of Wimbledon has lured the players in a way that no other tournament could.

JuliusHMarx wrote:Is it just that I am so out of touch with tennis these days, or is anyone else looking at tomorrow's order of play on Centre, 1 and 2 and going "Who are these people?"

Certainly feels a bit like that - isn't Halep the only GS champion left in the women's draw (which of course was slightly more affected by the absence of Russian and Belarus players than the men's side)?

Obviously on the men' side we still have Djokovic and Nadal plus Kyrgios who has previously had some good run at Wimbledon and Norrie as the last remaining Brit (of sorts). Otherwise it again seems a bit of a collection of all sorts.

The lack of ranking points is a bit of a joke - the likes of Liam Broady and van Rijthoven getting to the fourth round but not getting any rankings boost and consequent entry to better tournaments is a major thing, probably moreso than the effect at the very top. 180 points would have pushed Broady to just inside the top 100, and potentially into the automatic qualifying spots for the USO, and The Orange Baron would have jumped into the low 70s rankings.

De Minaur, who could face Kyrgios in an all-Aussie q-f, takes the first set v Garin 6-2.

Wimbledon still counts as a slam for the records and still has enormous amounts of prize money and prestige as well as expenses to hand out.  Ultimately professional tennis players want to "earn" money and lots of it.  Hence all tennis players will play if they can, if they are fit enough, if they haven't been banned.  Some players with injury issues who are not that particularly good on the grass may have decided to skip it.

ps Did other British tournaments ban Russian and Belarussian players? I am thinking of Queens, Eastbourne, Nottingham ...

Kyrgios thru in five.

Appeared it was a more low key disciplined Kyrgios who won his match today. Great opportunity for him now to reach the semis with a quarter final against Garin who came through a v physical 5 setter against De Minaur

I'm not sure if Kyrgios is physically up to outlasting Nadal in projected semi final - though if he serves very well he may have an outside chance.

Kyrgios looked as if he'd given up at the end of the 4th. He was 0-1, 0-30 in the 5th but suddenly got his act together, hit two aces, held serve and won five games in a row to go thru.

As I write, Rafa looks as if he will go to a 3rd set tiebreak after being two sets and a break up.

Rafael Nadal beats Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4 6-2 7-6. The Spaniard got tight serving for the match at 5-3 in the third. Eventually winning the tie break, despite Botic saving 3 MPs. For two and a half sets, Nadal was magnificent. Nadal faces Fritz in the quarterfinals.

Simona Halep destroyed Paula Badosa 6-1 6-2. Was a fantastic performance from the Romanian.

Amanda Anisimova was far too good for Harmony Tan seeing off the Frenchwoman 6-2 6-3.

Halep vs Anisimova winner must be favourite to win the title.

Rafa made rather heavy weather of it at the end but he came thru.

JN - Yes, Halep played well, but Badosa was awful. I lost count of the number of times she whacked it over the baseline.

Halep will need to get a lot of first serves in if she's to win the whole thing. Her second serve is extremely punishable.

Djokovic - Sinner
Goffin - Norrie

Kyrgios - Garin
Nadal - Fritz

I think Sinner had the most impressive path to the quarterfinals (considering rivals)
Djokovic looked strong in all matches but in the first.
Nadal started really weak, but he is getting better.
Kyrgios is a real threat.
Neither Goffin or Norrie stand a chance against Djokovic (in he gets past Sinner, which is to be expected)
Fritz is in the zone, but lets not forget his highest ranked rival was 51

The great players get better as the tournament progresses, they have extra gears and resources of physicality to draw upon.  However as they get older they may collapse physically at a certain point.  Maybe Djokovic last year at the US Open although he blamed a sort of mental fatigue / collapse.  However it seemed to start at the Olympics semi-final because before then he had been imperious (first three slams of the year).  Nadal at the French Open - if Zverev didn't turn his ankle I think Zverev could have done something significant. In that case it just seemed that Zverev had elevated himself rather than Nadal collapsing - although it seemed clear that Nadal could run out of steam if up against someone of supreme fitness belief and capability (Zverev in that case) - Nadal has clearly lost something compared to his more youthful self.

No name Bertie wrote: ... Nadal has clearly lost something compared to his more youthful self.

Agree, but dont you think he has also added some other capabilities to his game over the years? he is not so fast, he cant cover so much court, he gets tired earlier...

but also he has better serve, better backhand, more variety to his overall game, he doesnt just defend and tries to shorten up points by being more aggressive (also making more UE)

Can Sinner do anything against Djoko today? Probably not, as I'm expecting Novak to be on top form and for the Italian to perhaps be a notch or two below his level against Kyrgios.

News thru that Kyrgios faces common assault charge in Australia. Could make for a lively press conference after his next match.

The Goffin-Norrie match is hard to predict. Goffin is only down the rankings due to injury last year and is far more GS experienced than Cameron.

But the Belgian did have a very long match in the previous round and will have to contend with a partisan crowd.

I'm expecting Jabeur to win today - she could go all the way here.

I think all the great players have had to adapt (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic), but maybe more so Nadal and possibly Djokovic because of their originally highly physical and intense approaches. We know that Nadal seems to have been a work in progress in terms of knee failure and repair - although it is said the knee issues arose from the congenital feet issues. Players like Del Potro and Laura Robson never overcame chronic injuries that beset them early in their career, while Nadal created workarounds. Murrays chronic injury essentially ended his top level tournament winning career.

Sinner has to serve at 65-70% just to avoid getting destroyed.

Sinner, after a slow start, has warded off a double-break point and now serves for the first set at 5-4.

Djoko looks a tad anxious but a long way to go yet.

Jannik Sinner comes from 1-4 down to take the opening set 7-5. Some big hitting from the Italian. But Djokovic over using the drop shot and some wild hitting towards the back end of the set.
Raucous crowd favouring Sinner so far, Djokovic not overly amused…

Sinner breaks 2-1 heavy ground strokes bullying Djokovic

Djokovic’s forehand is in absolute tatters at the beginning of the second set.

Sinner with the double break 5-2. Djokovic brain scrambled here.

Sinner lead by 2 sets to love - 7-5 6-2

sirfredperry wrote:Sinner, after a slow start, has warded off a double-break point and now serves for the first set at 5-4.

Djoko looks a tad anxious but a long way to go yet.

Not important now, but sinner was the 4 in that 5-4 in first set

Sinner saves BP 1-1