Anyone for tennis??

[nickster_uk]

Wimbledon 2007 has just started and there's no better time for grass court tennis then when Britain is being hammered by non-stop rain and floods!

I'm not a huge tennis fan myself but I do enjoy watching the occasional game and Tim Henman's 5 set thriller win against Carlos Moya was very exciting to say the least.

Poor Tim has put up with some stick over the years from the British press for not winning Wimbledon but I think he can hold his head up high after making the semis 4 times....not forgetting that two of those loses were against the legend that is Pete Sampras and another was against the then number 1 seed Lleyton Hewitt.

Anyway, my money for this years tournament is on Roger Federer who could bag a 5th consecutive tournament which is pretty awesome....not sure who'll win the ladies, will have to watch a bit more before I make my decision

[bry623]

If you were an American you'd say WimbleTon.............

I don't watch, but if Maria Sharapova is in the finals...........

[sagittar]

my guess is maria won't reach the final this year with all these injuries, and henman's win over moya is pretty ordinary since moya is not a grasscourt player by nature as a matter of fact henman should have won in 3 straights ..

[nickster_uk]

Fair point....Henman is past his best by about 4 years so he is no way a contender but he still has his moments.

[sagittar]

i agree and i think he's one of the best players who haven't won a grandslam if not the very best, maybe it's a final shot here presuming that grass courst is perfect for his aggressive net play style ..

[nickster_uk]

....and that everyone else in the men's tournament falls ill???

[sagittar]

especially any of them with tremendous passing shots skills
aka ( fed , nadal ) :)

[nickster_uk]

It would be nice if he could finish his career on a high like that but the best players are just far too good compared to his current game. If he makes the second week, i'd be very surprised....happy but surprised

[sagittar]

he could reach the second week , nothing that he hasen't done before but i don't think he can keep up after that plus i woud hate very much to see fed's attempt to equal borg's feet of 5 consecutive wibmy's titles gets shattered because Tim got a sudden leap of faith :)

[nickster_uk]

Hahaha nicely put

[Kalim]

2 years back, Henman had a massive chance to win. But something just didn't click for him. While he did have all the potential to win it, each time it came down to quarterfinals in majors championships, he just couldn't produce the quality and the form needed to get through or win.

That's the difference between the guys who win and don't, simply put. No way the potential, but if you can produce the quality when required.

A bit like Ronnie in snooker/pool really. Although Ronnie was just too good to get challenged enough and concentrate.

Don't say Jimmy White please.

[Zazula]

I really enjoyed watching Roland-Garros, and especially the men's final; but at the end of the day, it felt to me as if Federer was kinda "afraid" to beat Nadal in the King's of Clay realm. In Wimbledon (and everywhere else, too) I believe it's as Nick put it: Federer's tour de force.

[Zazula]

_
Men
Quarterfinals

Rafael Nadal (2), Spain, def. Tomas Berdych (7), Czech Republic, 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-2.

Roger Federer (1), Switzerland, def. Juan Carlos Ferrero (20), Spain, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Novak Djokovic (4), Serbia, def. Marcos Baghdatis (10), Cyprus, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (9), 6-7 (3), 4-6, 7-5.

Richard Gasquet (12), France, def. Andy Roddick (3), United States, 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3), 8-6.


Women
Semifinals

Venus Williams (23), United States, def. Ana Ivanovic (6), Serbia, 6-2, 6-4.

Marion Bartoli (18), France, def. Justine Henin (1), Belgium, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1.


News coverage: http://www.nytimes.com/pages/sports/...mbledonresults


P.S. For your brys, only :

[Zazula]

For Venus Williams, From No. 23 to a Title

Venus Williams Wins 4th Wimbledon Title


Now, in Men, it's business as usual: Again, the last men standing are Nadal and Federer.

[Zazula]

Can't brag, for it was way too easy to foretell:

Federer Wins His Fifth Wimbledon Title in a Row

[bry623]

But Nadal owns him on clay.

[Zazula]

Yeah, that's what I said, too; not only does Nadal own Federer on clay, but he is somehow depriving Federer from even the mere ability to just imagine/visualise winning him - at least this is how it looked at the French Open earlier this year.