I'm jumping the gun on this thread because of breaking news:
http://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/19396482/french-open-does-not-extend-wild-card-entry-maria-sharapova
― PJD PDJ DPJ (DJP), Tuesday, 16 May 2017 17:31 (seven years ago) link
I have a very erudite tweet about this:
Yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo- (1/500) pic.twitter.com/RnCf9jvh8N— deX! (@djperry1973) May 16, 2017
― PJD PDJ DPJ (DJP), Tuesday, 16 May 2017 17:32 (seven years ago) link
Hahaha
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 May 2017 17:37 (seven years ago) link
was just looking for the rolling thread to post that and the other big RG news, which is that federer is skipping the french to focus on grass/hardcourt season
― k3vin k., Tuesday, 16 May 2017 17:38 (seven years ago) link
I hope Nadal stays healthy because right now it looks like the men's title is his to lose.
― PJD PDJ DPJ (DJP), Tuesday, 16 May 2017 17:41 (seven years ago) link
So, can she get into the qualies with a decent run in Rome this week? (I expect her to lose to Lucic-Baroni today...starting right now, in fact).
― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 16 May 2017 17:41 (seven years ago) link
I don't think so? According to the ESPN/AP story, her ranking is too low and I'm inferring that to mean she can't get into qualies no matter what she does this week.
― PJD PDJ DPJ (DJP), Tuesday, 16 May 2017 17:43 (seven years ago) link
I assume the qualies start May 22? So perhaps the cut-off was this week (i.e. WTA ranking at May 15). I'm not even sure if Roland Garros has a 128-draw women's singles qualification event (a la Wimbledon), which would mean direct entry down into the early 200s.
She's already 1-3 down to L-B...
I guess she's got a reasonable stab at making it into Roehampton. That's going to make getting in a bit trickier... (it's free and usually you can walk straight in; might be a circus with her there)
― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 16 May 2017 17:56 (seven years ago) link
by "getting in", I mean, as a spectator...
― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 16 May 2017 17:57 (seven years ago) link
"But while there can be a wild card for return from injury, there can’t be a wild card for return from doping.”
Well, if we want to get into semantics we can discuss what being a doper means in this case -- the CAS ruled that "under no circumstances" could Sharapova be considered "an intentional doper".
It is certainly further punishment after punishment has been served. WC would be given to a champion and current threat otherwise.
Ultimately it's their choice, though, and we move on.
The haters continue to confirm their hatred of her has never been about principle or rules, though, just glee after a long personal dislike:
@BenRothenberg 30m30 minutes agoMore One WTA player just now couldn't stop smiling after I told her Sharapova decision:"99% of players are against her, just afraid to say that."
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 16 May 2017 17:59 (seven years ago) link
surprised fed is skipping it, was just thinking how sad for rafa idve been if fed beat him there considering all factors building to it
― johnny crunch, Tuesday, 16 May 2017 18:02 (seven years ago) link
nadal could still def lose to someone @ this, but probably will not; novak looked bad v rafa in madrid
― johnny crunch, Tuesday, 16 May 2017 18:04 (seven years ago) link
draws are out
paire is good on clay, that is somewhat crazy for nadal in rd 1
― johnny crunch, Friday, 26 May 2017 15:13 (seven years ago) link
I appreciate the headline.
http://deadspin.com/these-players-will-not-beat-rafael-nadal-a-largely-poi-1795560392
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 May 2017 17:22 (seven years ago) link
Kvitova held her opening serve :D :D :D
I mean she's just playing Boserup but I'll take it.
― oh, boy, .GIF! That's where I'm a Viking! (edwardo), Sunday, 28 May 2017 09:12 (seven years ago) link
Petra wasn't too bad!
Kerber, on the other hand, was dreadful. Haven't seen a top-ranked player serve that badly since, uh, the last time Kerber lost in the first round at this tournament alst year.
― oh, boy, .GIF! That's where I'm a Viking! (edwardo), Sunday, 28 May 2017 12:42 (seven years ago) link
ferrer 13-11 over dy in the 5th
― johnny crunch, Monday, 29 May 2017 18:05 (seven years ago) link
Konta out vs Hsieh. I blame Nastase.
― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 30 May 2017 11:31 (seven years ago) link
olivo had been really impressive v tsonga, not fluky
― johnny crunch, Tuesday, 30 May 2017 19:28 (seven years ago) link
has not had; will see if he can close it tmorrow
― johnny crunch, Tuesday, 30 May 2017 19:29 (seven years ago) link
or tnight !
― johnny crunch, Tuesday, 30 May 2017 19:46 (seven years ago) link
wau jo
― johnny crunch, Tuesday, 30 May 2017 19:54 (seven years ago) link
Olivo's finished off Tsonga on his 4th matchpoint in today's first and only game!
― willem, Wednesday, 31 May 2017 11:02 (seven years ago) link
wtg Renzo!! I like this kid
― johnny crunch, Wednesday, 31 May 2017 12:05 (seven years ago) link
Just scrolling back 10 weeks or so, Renzo O has...
Lost in Lyon qualies (but made the main draw, losing r1, presumably as lucky loser)Lost in Rome qualiesLost r1 Aix-en-Provence ChallengerLost r1 EstorilLost r1 BarcelonaLost r1 Monte Carlo (but came thru qualies)Lost in Houston qualiesLost in Miami qualiesLost r1 Irving Challenger
Talk about a breakthrough!
― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 31 May 2017 12:26 (seven years ago) link
This fell off New Answers, so just a little bump...
Good to see Carreno-Busta see off Raonic on his 7th m-p after four hours plus so he can be shredded inside 90min tomorrow by Nadal. Rafa really is posting 2008-style wipeouts. Thiem-Djokovic tomorrow too - hard to call. Halep looking very good, but Svitolina toiled epically vs qualifier. Murray found his form. Kei just got bageled by Verdasco.
― Michael Jones, Monday, 5 June 2017 12:08 (seven years ago) link
Kei just got bageled by Verdasco.
yea this is crazy
― johnny crunch, Monday, 5 June 2017 12:22 (seven years ago) link
thiem/nadal part 4 ^_^
― johnny crunch, Wednesday, 7 June 2017 11:33 (seven years ago) link
Wow, after losing 16 06 in Rome, Thiem beats Djokovic 76 63 60
― willem, Wednesday, 7 June 2017 11:37 (seven years ago) link
nadal/thiem 4 matches in ~ 40 days
4/30 Barcelona finals - Nadal 64 615/14 Madrid finals - Nadal 76 645/19 Rome quarters - Thiem 64 63
― johnny crunch, Wednesday, 7 June 2017 11:48 (seven years ago) link
Svitolina loses to Halep from 6-3 5-1, bageled in the decider.
Murray getting the runaround from Kei, double-break early on.
― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 7 June 2017 14:58 (seven years ago) link
what channel is this on in the US? i can't find it
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 7 June 2017 16:29 (seven years ago) link
Tennis Channel
― PJD PDJ DPJ (DJP), Wednesday, 7 June 2017 16:38 (seven years ago) link
so lame that the quarters of a major isn't on national tv
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 7 June 2017 17:11 (seven years ago) link
Thankfully, ITV4 have it in the UK. Between that and the election fallout, "working from home" isn't turning out so well today.
Bizarre tie-break between Murray and Wawrinka - 9 of the 14 points went against the serve, both continually failing to finish rallies from winning positions. Looks a bit windy.
― Michael Jones, Friday, 9 June 2017 12:18 (seven years ago) link
Oh, and the crowd are totally not into Murray. Roars for Stan, barely a ripple when Murray took the breaker.
― Michael Jones, Friday, 9 June 2017 12:19 (seven years ago) link
― k3vin k., Wednesday, June 7, 2017 1:11 PM (two days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
semis barely also ! nbc doesn't want to preempt the today show so coverage only starts @ 11 est iirc
― johnny crunch, Friday, 9 June 2017 13:13 (seven years ago) link
cant watch but stan looks to have taken control o_o
― johnny crunch, Friday, 9 June 2017 13:16 (seven years ago) link
re-break! going home to catch the remainder.
― willem, Friday, 9 June 2017 13:26 (seven years ago) link
It's pretty high-grade stuff. Murray just won't fold, despite the ridiculously clean clubbings Stan is landing in the corners. Murray's defence is as good as I've ever seen. 4-4 in the 3rd.
― Michael Jones, Friday, 9 June 2017 13:47 (seven years ago) link
damn yeah murray has rounded into form so nicely this tourney, impressive
― johnny crunch, Friday, 9 June 2017 14:07 (seven years ago) link
What a game.
― willem, Friday, 9 June 2017 14:38 (seven years ago) link
5th set! Epic match.
― willem, Friday, 9 June 2017 15:06 (seven years ago) link
Double break for Stan to make it 3-0. Almost 100% winners, amazing level.
― willem, Friday, 9 June 2017 15:22 (seven years ago) link
rip andy
― johnny crunch, Friday, 9 June 2017 15:30 (seven years ago) link
Incredible. 6-1.
― willem, Friday, 9 June 2017 15:39 (seven years ago) link
that drop attempt at 0-4, 30-40 by andy was the white flag
― johnny crunch, Friday, 9 June 2017 15:47 (seven years ago) link
andy/stan are p even really, stan just better in big spots
Definitely.Winners/UE:Andy 36/36Stan 87/77Stan raised his ratio in the 5th from 1/1 to 2/1 and that was it, basically. That, and he hit most of his balls so deep
― willem, Friday, 9 June 2017 16:06 (seven years ago) link
Also, wow:https://www.reddit.com/r/tennis/comments/6g1h0x/jelena_ostapenkos_average_forehand_speed_is/
― willem, Friday, 9 June 2017 16:16 (seven years ago) link
I look forward to watching the replays of both of these matches
― PJD PDJ DPJ (DJP), Friday, 9 June 2017 18:21 (seven years ago) link
Watch Rafa - Thiem first...
― willem, Friday, 9 June 2017 18:57 (seven years ago) link
Anyone watching the final? Halep was nearly walking this at 3-0 up inthe 2nd
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 14:27 (seven years ago) link
And Ostrapenko has turned it completely around with some sheer aggression and power, now 4-3!!
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 14:28 (seven years ago) link
Ostrapenjo to serve to level this final!!
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 14:34 (seven years ago) link
Momentum swings in this match giving me whiplash. Feels like it's all on Ostapenko's racket though, as impressive as Halep's defence has been.
― Roz, Saturday, 10 June 2017 14:36 (seven years ago) link
Yeah its how many lines she is hitting..
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 14:36 (seven years ago) link
Extraordinary rally and win for 3xset points.
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 14:37 (seven years ago) link
Closes it with a gorgeous angled winner - onto a final set!
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 14:38 (seven years ago) link
Just toying with Halep's serve - two BPs
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 14:43 (seven years ago) link
ooh net cord
omh Ostrapenko lets it go at the net - and it was in!!
now adv Halep and gets through that - early in the set, could be huge.
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 14:44 (seven years ago) link
Everytime I think Ostapenko's out of it, she's hit another brilliant winner.
― Roz, Saturday, 10 June 2017 15:03 (seven years ago) link
Halep had a break but now back on serve, pouding the court to level up. Experience might be the difference but not sure so far.
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 15:04 (seven years ago) link
xp - yeah.
Halep's defeding just struggling to keep up: 0-30 down
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 15:05 (seven years ago) link
breaks!
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 15:08 (seven years ago) link
Holy shit, that ridiculous net cord.
― Roz, Saturday, 10 June 2017 15:09 (seven years ago) link
Just powerless Halep, just hitting the ball back and hoping the Ostrapenko goes over the line and that's not gonna happen.
One game away.
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 15:11 (seven years ago) link
15-30
30-40, 1st CP!!
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 15:12 (seven years ago) link
done it!!
astonishinh hitting, creamed it off the park!
That was just incredible. Ostapenko so aggressive, so fearless. Her first tour title!
― Roz, Saturday, 10 June 2017 15:20 (seven years ago) link
and a great final too. Rafa-Stan have their work cut out to match this tomorrow.
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 15:24 (seven years ago) link
Love it when a new country gets a grand slam winner: go Latvia!!
― xyzzzz__, Saturday, 10 June 2017 15:30 (seven years ago) link
Lol screw you Ernests Gulbis.
― Roz, Saturday, 10 June 2017 15:38 (seven years ago) link
What's the feeling for Rafa-Stan?
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 11 June 2017 12:50 (seven years ago) link
Stan broken for the first time.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 11 June 2017 13:52 (seven years ago) link
Nadal is a fountain of sweat.
― Jeff, Sunday, 11 June 2017 13:56 (seven years ago) link
This Nadal FH is totally doing the job rn
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 11 June 2017 14:00 (seven years ago) link
1st set.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 11 June 2017 14:01 (seven years ago) link
This final can finish pretty quick at this point. That BH better start firing up soon.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 11 June 2017 14:11 (seven years ago) link
Top stuff fron Nadal - just unplayable.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 11 June 2017 14:12 (seven years ago) link
er..
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 11 June 2017 14:31 (seven years ago) link
that was to the 99mph FH from Nadal, Stan held tho'
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 11 June 2017 14:32 (seven years ago) link
He's got two service games to break back Nadal.
Two sets up, hasn't been able to string those winners.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 11 June 2017 14:45 (seven years ago) link
Utterly dominant - BH or FH, and outlasting in the rallies. No free points.
Breaks in the 3rd
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 11 June 2017 14:53 (seven years ago) link
Nothing as fkn joyless as a Nadal pummeling I can tell ya.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 11 June 2017 14:54 (seven years ago) link
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, June 11, 2017 10:32 AM (twenty-three minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
this shot was so beautiful
― johnny crunch, Sunday, 11 June 2017 14:56 (seven years ago) link
there's only been what, one deuce this entire match?
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Sunday, 11 June 2017 15:04 (seven years ago) link
make that two
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Sunday, 11 June 2017 15:06 (seven years ago) link
Mentally gone - double break
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 11 June 2017 15:16 (seven years ago) link
Happy for Rafa, even though that was a mostly boring final. I do love the quirks that the different surfaces add to tennis. I guess other sports have differences between grass and artificial turf, but in team sports you don't get the kind of exaggerated distinction of having a player who's basically unbeatable on one surface and vulnerable on others.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 11 June 2017 21:35 (seven years ago) link
Very curious to see what Rafa does on the grass, seeing as - even in his 2012-14 near-pomp - he was capable of losing to anyone on the surface. At his 2008 peak, he was as tough on grass too.
Here's a thing... is it actually possible Nadal could be #1 mid-way through Wimbledon? With the tournament pushed back a week this year, Murray will be dropping 2500 points (Queens + Wimb) by July 10. If he loses early at Queens, and Nadal reaches a final or wins a title (is he playing anywhere? Halle? Eastbourne? Queens?), Nadal could be top of the rankings by the second Monday - at least for seven days. I guess there's no official ranking list published mid-event (though there are still Futures and Challengers going on, so the calendar keeps ticking over).
― Michael Jones, Monday, 12 June 2017 15:01 (seven years ago) link