Running tennis thread 2016 / 2017

[BTExpress]

Meanwhile, too . . .

Azarenka is poised to move into the Top 5 after completing the rare Indian Wells-Miami double championship. Unconfirmed reports have her muttering a "Screw you, Ragu" under her breath at her news conference Saturday.

 

[Gator]

And, according to the man who should have been SI's Sportsman of the Year, the Miami Open won't be leaving Key Biscayne. He cites "some reliable sources."

 

[Gator]

A group in Philadelphia is looking to post a historical marker to honor tennis great Bill Tilden, who was a dominant player in the 1920s and 1930s. Except the powers that be in that city said no, citing the fact that Tilden was arrested twice -- and served jail time -- for diddling teenage boys. Who could blame them for denying the request? Well, for one, Frank Deford.

Not a good look for Mr. Deford here. "Should those two arrests outweigh everything he did as a tennis player? It just seems like a certain amount of charity and forgiveness would play into this."

Good ol' Frank also wrote this: "Joe Paterno was a football coach all of his long, adult life. Like all coaches, after a while, keeping your players eligible is second nature. When his old assistant was in trouble, that must've kicked in. Joe Paterno kept Jerry Sandusky eligible. If he has a legacy, that's it."

Jesus Christ.

Bill Tilden: A US Tennis Hero, but With a Morals Clause

 

[Gator]

Federer pulls out of French Open. Wonder if this is the beginning of the end. Maybe he'll try to get healthy for one more go-round at Wimbledon and retire after the US Open. Injuries have been a major issue for him this year.

Roger Federer: Former world number one withdraws from French Open

 

[BTExpress]

Well, that sucks. Even healthy he was going to be hard pressed to get past the quarters anyway. But it's time to savor every chance we get to see him now.

 

[Rainman]

Djokovic won his first French Open today, giving him a total of 12 Grand Slam titles. He's also the first man to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time since Rod Laver in 1969.

So the question is, at 29 years old, how many more can he win?

Federer has 17. Nadal and Sampras have 14. Will he catch them?

I think he has a pretty good chance. With Federer and Nadal no longer being serious contenders, Novak is so far ahead of the rest of the competition, and I could easily see him winning at least 2-3 Grand Slams per year for the next few years.

 

[BTExpress]

Looking forward to seeing Djokovic win the Golden Slam (calendar Grand Slam plus Olympic gold) and then seeing some American swimmer or gymnast win SI's Sportsperson of the Year award.

 

[studthug12]

Women's tennis is awful right now. Almost every match has at least one or two that returns are in the air for 3 or 4 seconds. I think soft hitters give Serena much more trouble than Azarenka, Sharapova. Last two losses in Finals to soft hitters.

Disappointing name that I thought could have forged name into men's ranks is Tsonga. Dude has some crazy tools but never puts entire tournament together (or 95 percent of time). Plus now injuries. A shame he likely won't ever win GS.

 

[Gator]

Wow ... did not see this coming. Seems a little harsh, considering the drug (which she has taken for 10 years) was banned in December, a month before she tested positive.

 

[HanSenSE]

Likely the first of many for Russian athletes, whose doctors appear to have studied better living through chemicals.

 

[Football_Bat]

The stage is set for Djokovic and Murray to dominate men's tennis for the next 3 years at least. Wawrinka could push them for a while, but he's 31.

The rest of the contenders are relative no-names, but keep an eye on Dominic Thiem of Austria. He's 22 and on the rise.

 

[BTExpress]

Thiem is fabulous, although I suspect he'll be the next Berdych (all kinds of tools, makes quarters and semis of majors, but . . . )

 

[Gator]

If healthy, Djokovic will roll past Federer's all-time majors haul. He won't have much competition outside of Murray for at least a few years. And both were 29 when they collected their 12th GS.

 

[BTExpress]

Sam Querrey with the stunning upset of the Djoker. It's Murray's Wimbledon to lose now.

This also means Nicholas Mahut --- most famous for being on the losing end of the 70-68 fifth set against Isner a few years ago --- has a very winnable match to make it to the quarterfinals.

 

[Gator]

Sam Querrey is one of the nicest guys you'll meet. Happy to see him enjoy the spotlight, even if it's for another round or two.

 

[Songbird]

DJEXIT

 

[BTExpress]

That's the first time I can recall watching a match where a player ran out of challenges, and it absolutely came back to bite them in the ass late in the match (Djokovic ball called out, making it 0-30 in a game he would be broken; replay showed ball in).

 

[da man]

Would love to see Roger win one more major before he hangs it up. His chance of that just rose considerably.

 

[da man]

That's the first time I can recall watching a match where a player ran out of challenges, and it absolutely came back to bite them in the ass late in the match (Djokovic ball called out, making it 0-30 in a game he would be broken; replay showed ball in).

Would be broken? You mean "was broken." [/annoyingeditor]

 

[Lugnuts]

Roger. Must. Get. This. Done.

C'MON !!!!!!!!!!!