Pinches the second set!
Thanks for the tip, Lex. Probably can't do that at work, mind.
― Michael Jones, Friday, 27 January 2017 10:27 (seven years ago) link
I can't believe Dimitrov won that set after all that lmao
― lex pretend, Friday, 27 January 2017 10:30 (seven years ago) link
this kind of feels like a Fedal match already, right down to the part where Nadal just wore Dimitrov down with sheer will.
― Roz, Friday, 27 January 2017 11:39 (seven years ago) link
Only reading the blow-by-blow and, yeah, from 5-5 in the t-b, Dimi dominates two rallies and loses both.
― Michael Jones, Friday, 27 January 2017 11:41 (seven years ago) link
tbh I've felt like more rallies have been about Nadal dominating and Dimitrov scrambling - his defence has been spectacular at times
― lex pretend, Friday, 27 January 2017 11:43 (seven years ago) link
i was only able to watch for ~15 minutes or so before having to come to work but dimitrov might have to sellout for more winners imo
― johnny crunch, Friday, 27 January 2017 12:10 (seven years ago) link
This is a bit like 2009 - Nadal in epic slugfest vs Verdasco with Fed already safely in the final with 24 hours' to spare. But Nadal showed no sign of fatigue on the Sunday on that occasion - it was Fed who fell away.
Except Dimi is going to win the whole thing, right?
― Michael Jones, Friday, 27 January 2017 12:43 (seven years ago) link
That was the most mentally strong set I have ever seen Dimitrov play
― lex pretend, Friday, 27 January 2017 12:44 (seven years ago) link
20min into set five and they're still in game two. :0
― Michael Jones, Friday, 27 January 2017 13:01 (seven years ago) link
it's quite brilliant atm
― lex pretend, Friday, 27 January 2017 13:04 (seven years ago) link
How the hell did Dimitrov win that point?! Or that one!
― Roz, Friday, 27 January 2017 13:04 (seven years ago) link
As much as I hate the "live odds" thing, it was funny to see Dimi become slight favourite for the first time in the whole match at 3-4 15/40. Gone by deuce.
― Michael Jones, Friday, 27 January 2017 13:32 (seven years ago) link
Fucking hell.
― Roz, Friday, 27 January 2017 13:35 (seven years ago) link
That net cord
― lex pretend, Friday, 27 January 2017 13:38 (seven years ago) link
Have we come so far for friggin' Nadal to win anyway.
― Eats like Elvis, shits like De Niro (Tom D.), Friday, 27 January 2017 13:39 (seven years ago) link
Sigh
― Roz, Friday, 27 January 2017 13:45 (seven years ago) link
Receptionist had Eurosport on. Saw the last game. Aargh.
― Michael Jones, Friday, 27 January 2017 13:47 (seven years ago) link
Outstanding match. The final won't be half as good or as competitive, I bet.
― oh, boy, .GIF! That's where I'm a Viking! (edwardo), Friday, 27 January 2017 13:48 (seven years ago) link
;_;
― Eats like Elvis, shits like De Niro (Tom D.), Friday, 27 January 2017 13:49 (seven years ago) link
Annoyance tempered by slight relief as I had money on Nadal. Weird to say that was the most mentally strong match I've ever seen Dimitrov play when he lost in the end anyway but he surprised me many times during it.
So the TBT Slam gives us the first ever Slam with Serena/Venus AND Federer/Nadal finals...
― lex pretend, Friday, 27 January 2017 13:50 (seven years ago) link
not sure why it only just occurred to me once this ended that I should've gone down to watch the end in my gym or breakfast café
prob the 4 names the casual tennis fan or even just the casual sports follower knows best still standing
― johnny crunch, Friday, 27 January 2017 13:52 (seven years ago) link
xp after Wimbledon 2008
― lex pretend, Friday, 27 January 2017 13:52 (seven years ago) link
60 Grand Slam titles between them. o_O
― Roz, Friday, 27 January 2017 14:09 (seven years ago) link
On the one hand, this is kind of a boring matchup for anyone who has been an avid follower for the past two decades and has already seen these matchups time and time again.
On the other hand, the fact that we're getting this again in a Slam final given the ages of everyone involved is mind-boggling.
Also, congrats to Mattek-Sands and Safarova.
― ornate orchestral arrangements (DJP), Friday, 27 January 2017 14:22 (seven years ago) link
[eyes emoji] and Mattek-Sands' dodgy attempt to get a TUE that she's refusing to talk about though
http://au.eurosport.com/tennis/australian-open/2017/roger-federer-banishes-doubts-over-his-form-with-classy-showing-on-and-off-the-court_sto6023867/story.shtml (scroll down)
― lex pretend, Friday, 27 January 2017 14:31 (seven years ago) link
haha I hadn't heard about that
― ornate orchestral arrangements (DJP), Friday, 27 January 2017 15:04 (seven years ago) link
as far as I can tell, she hooked up with a doctor with a very shady record on drugs and attempted - twice - to get an illegitimate TUE for a steroid that the ITF passed but WADA knocked back immediately
― lex pretend, Friday, 27 January 2017 15:08 (seven years ago) link
lol @ no comments for this
still a great achievement. how much longer can it go on?
― Check the BNM Pitchfork track review, it says Weezer too (imago), Saturday, 28 January 2017 10:07 (seven years ago) link
I was on Twitter!
23 Slams won under four US presidents, amazing. Serena's the indisputable GOAT now. The Court record is meaningless and anyone bringing it up only does so to minimise Serena's achievement.
Sad for Venus because she's less likely to get a chance like this again - but she's proved she can still be a threat when her health and the court speed permit. I wonder where Serena's motivation goes from here? She's put so much into chasing these records but neither does she look ready to quit.
― lex pretend, Saturday, 28 January 2017 13:11 (seven years ago) link
Girls' champ Marta Kostyuk is the first 14yo junior Slam winner since Laura Robson, Wimbledon 2008.
Their speeches were adorable. Venus is an international treasure. The Court "record" will be not a record for much longer.
― oh, boy, .GIF! That's where I'm a Viking! (edwardo), Saturday, 28 January 2017 13:44 (seven years ago) link
Margaret Court's record 'meaningless'? Her opinions are abonimable, and her tennis was played in a different era but on the page the records are remarkable.
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 28 January 2017 14:54 (seven years ago) link
Anyway, its wonderful that Serena finally did it - I think everyone was in doubt for a total of about 10 mins about it.
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 28 January 2017 14:57 (seven years ago) link
Not exactly looking forward to tomorrow - it'll be weird seeing these two again. Pretty unique tho'. You'd think Nadal but because they are both coming back its a tough one to predict.
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 28 January 2017 14:59 (seven years ago) link
Court won a bazillion AO titles when barely anyone played the event
― groovemaaan, Saturday, 28 January 2017 15:13 (seven years ago) link
On paper you might discount 1960, 61 but did hardly anyone play in 62 where she also won the French and US open titles?
Also winning consistently throughout the decade and a calendar slam in 1970 with a doubles at the Aus and US open too - I mean its just mind-boggling.
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 28 January 2017 15:20 (seven years ago) link
On serve so far: Nadal seems a bit more dominant but no one taken to deuce yet.
#oneLastEffort come on Fed!
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 January 2017 08:56 (seven years ago) link
First great great rally from Fed - 2BPs
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 January 2017 09:01 (seven years ago) link
Gets it!!
Great BH for 2 SPs
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 January 2017 09:11 (seven years ago) link
Aces out!!
Nadal breaks at the first opportunity - might be in for the long haul
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 January 2017 09:24 (seven years ago) link
Nadal fully in control in the 2nd - a flurry of BPs
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 January 2017 09:35 (seven years ago) link
1-1 set all, as soon as Fed won the 1st set he also lost the 2nd.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 January 2017 09:57 (seven years ago) link
one.more.shot - into the net for a BP rafa
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 January 2017 10:02 (seven years ago) link
LOL serve
as in 2nd serve ace!! now a GB for quite a hold.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 January 2017 10:03 (seven years ago) link
GP
he saved all the 4 BPs against him with aces...wins it with a BH
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 January 2017 10:04 (seven years ago) link
amazing little half-volley FH winner from Fed - BP!!
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 29 January 2017 10:08 (seven years ago) link