The Championships-Wimbledon

Amazing number of upsets in the early rounds as Thiem, Tsitsipas, and Zeverev all were knocked out in the first round. Then Wawrinka in the next. 2018 Finalist, Kevin Anderson-given the #4 seed, was taken out today. And the big news is 15 year old Coco Gauff in the third round. I watched her beat a girl from a club where my son used to play in the US Juniors (Caty McNally-who made it into the main draw only to lose), and she seemed to have the goods to be a top player, and now she seems to be on the brink of being the superstar lots of coaches said she would.

I tuned into yesterday's match against Polona Hercog when it was announced on BBC news that she was facing two match points and defeat - just because I'd missed her last two matches and wanted to see what the fuss was about.

By the end of the match, the whole of my household was sitting watching her. That girl has a real tennis "brain" and a truckload of fighting spirit.

Infinite Chaos said:

I tuned into yesterday's match against Polona Hercog when it was announced on BBC news that she was facing two match points and defeat - just because I'd missed her last two matches and wanted to see what the fuss was about.

By the end of the match, the whole of my household was sitting watching her. That girl has a real tennis "brain" and a truckload of fighting spirit.

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Yeah that showed me a lot. The talent is there and the never say die spirit is there. Nadal, after thoroughly crushing Jo-Willy, had some very good advice for this young girl. Advice I hope she heard and follows. Some other interesting results include journeyman Tennys Sandgren taking out the mercurial 12th seed Fognini, and the classy Jo Konta beating the mentally fragile but far more gifted Sloane Stephens. The real upset was Allie Risk of the USA beating 13th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.

Its nice seeing Bethany Mattek-Sands back in contention in both mixed and women's doubles after the brutal injury she suffered at this tournament a couple years back

Turtle, I'm impressed with your tennis knowledge. Just wanted to run that by you even though we disagree with most other things.

I am not a tennis person, my in laws are and at ninety five they still watch avidly so I pick up quite a bit because I help my lady take care of them. Hope you enjoy.

Currently my antenna is messed up and all I get is three CBS stations and damn I miss watching tennis...

bongsaway said:

Turtle, I'm impressed with your tennis knowledge. Just wanted to run that by you even though we disagree with most other things.

I am not a tennis person, my in laws are and at ninety five they still watch avidly so I pick up quite a bit because I help my lady take care of them. Hope you enjoy.

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thanks much


when my late father was 16, he was a strong tennis player. In the summer (he attended a prep school in CT) he would play at a club in Cincinnati that was then the home of what became the Western and Southern Masters event-one of the strongest tennis events in the world. An older gentleman, who held a box to that event used to have my father hit with him. He told my father he was moving to Florida and he was giving up his box. My grandfather, bought seats from this older player and my family has had it ever since-through four subsequent venues. So I have been able to watch really good tennis for most of my 60 years. Back when tennis was less commercial, we'd have good players sit in our box. One of our friends had been on the ATP tour in the mid 70s and his family sat next to us, and players like Vitas Geruliatis and McEnroe would visit since this player had been Columbia's top player when Vitas was on the team and Johnny Mac would often practice with that team. years later, I have had Steffi Graf, Darren Cahill (Andre's coach at the time) and Tom Gullickson sit with us. You pick up lots of information causal fans never hear of from such sources.

GDViking said:

Currently my antenna is messed up and all I get is three CBS stations and damn I miss watching tennis...

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that sucks-ESPN is broadcasting live and the tennis channel has replays. I think NBC will host the finals next weekend though

TurtleDude said:

that sucks-ESPN is broadcasting live and the tennis channel has replays. I think NBC will host the finals next weekend though

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Good for you, that must have been very enjoyable. My lady's son teaches in jersey and on the side coaches and every year he takes a busload of kids to the open. The in laws retired from jersey to florida and chose a tennis themed place to retire where they held their club championship for several years. When they lived in jersey they religiously went to the open. I'm hoping to catch an event to see just how hard these players hit the ball. One thing I will say for tennis fans. Most have a favorite but in general they just cheer good tennis even if it's not from their favorite.

Looks like the chariot is going to be again a pumpkin soon, but I expect the once and future princess to one day be queen of the Wimbledon court.

Another tennis fan here, mostly on the mens and mixed sides. Played local USTA for many years until the local "politics" got ugly (ok, and motherhood intervened, LOL).

Actually got my anti-tennis hubs AND his visiting BFF (who hates! sports) to watch the Gauff v Hercog match where Coco came from two match-points down to pull it out. And I had to question why I was watching a womens match.

Hmmm. American in it? Check. Few DFs and UEs? Check. Point Construction? Check. Slice? Check!!

Grunting? Nope.

There's your real reason.

Ready to see how the Big Three Boys (cause they're all younger than me)...handle their quarters.

AO is my fav and I'll get up super early to watch the last match [sic] standing.

égalité ain't deuce,
~s¢

bongsaway said:

Just wanted to run that by you even though we disagree with most other things.

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Sports...like politics...can bring us together or drive us apart. [We're an AU household. War Eagle! F the Tide.]

I've lurked here awhile, finally joined, and recognize both your addies. Glad to see something nice said and acknowledged by two (often) venerable foes.

Food, on the other hand, almost always brings us together. I have a great marinade recipe to share. Is there a cooking/recipe forum? JK

SomeCents said:

Sports...like politics...can bring us together or drive us apart. [We're an AU household. War Eagle! F the Tide.]

I've lurked here awhile, finally joined, and recognize both your addies. Glad to see something nice said and acknowledged by two (often) venerable foes.

Food, on the other hand, almost always brings us together. I have a great marinade recipe to share. Is there a cooking/recipe forum? JK

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Thanks for the comment. I agree with your choice of college football, as far as the tide is concerned. I'm a gator fan myself. I do however like the way au has been playing football the past few years.

bongsaway said:

Thanks for the comment. I agree with your choice of college football, as far as the tide is concerned. I'm a gator fan myself. I do however like the way au has been playing football the past few years.

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/thread hijack atm

I grew up with ACC bball, then married a Yankee-come-SEC/AU grad. Now, we really follow UR Div I-AA FB (ok, so I know they've changed the division name/type). We've met the kids, many of whom could/would not otherwise attend college [not good enough for IA nor could they afford a "1" A school, at any of the NCAA descriptions]. They are motivated, respectful, appreciative. Sadly, my personal experience at/in a real "major" sport college program has me very jaded. They take advantage of those kids in a "major" way.

The minor schools....maybe not so much...at least here in SpiderLand. They use their endowment to fully fund ALL their "sports" (including the womens side) and it's one of the ways they can gloat of their (lack of) post-grad "debt." Don't have the time tonight to find the online links...but they're there.

Sorry, TD....for the tennis thread hijack.

[/hijack]

Dare I say: Go DJoker!?!

Hewitt is long gone. Loved his BH DTL...and the lob to go with it. (His ex: Kim, though, is in the Ladies Invitational Dbls. I thought her excellent at net, when she came in, and always tenacious. And...she is one of my post-birth-mom heroes!)

SomeCents said:

/thread hijack atm

I grew up with ACC bball, then married a Yankee-come-SEC/AU grad. Now, we really follow UR Div I-AA FB (ok, so I know they've changed the division name/type). We've met the kids, many of whom could/would not otherwise attend college [not good enough for IA nor could they afford a "1" A school, at any of the NCAA descriptions]. They are motivated, respectful, appreciative. Sadly, my personal experience at/in a real "major" sport college program has me very jaded. They take advantage of those kids in a "major" way.

The minor schools....maybe not so much...at least here in SpiderLand. They use their endowment to fully fund ALL their "sports" (including the womens side) and it's one of the ways they can gloat of their (lack of) post-grad "debt." Don't have the time tonight to find the online links...but they're there.

Sorry, TD....for the tennis thread hijack.

[/hijack]

Dare I say: Go DJoker!?!

Hewitt is long gone. Loved his BH DTL...and the lob to go with it. (His ex: Kim, though, is in the Ladies Invitational Dbls. I thought her excellent at net, when she came in, and always tenacious. And...she is one of my post-birth-mom heroes!)

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Actually I noted earlier, I'm a casual fan only because the folks around me are avid tennis folks. I recognize most of the names and do watch a bit of any championship. Other than that, like I said, casual fan.

Didn't get to watch the womens Final today (had to pick the kiddos up from Camp). All descriptions make it sound like a demolition. Halep must've been in The Zone.

Really looking forward to tomorrow's mens final. #1 vs #2. Two long-time favs. I'll be rooting for both.

Am not that avid of a tennis fan but in today's women's final it appeared Serena lost rather than Halep won. If that makes sense.

It is always kind of sad to see a once star athlete began to feel that aging process. But Serena looked 37 and Halep looked 27.

TurtleDude said:

that sucks-ESPN is broadcasting live and the tennis channel has replays. I think NBC will host the finals next weekend though

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NBC hasn't hosted the finals in years. It's been ESPN for a while now.

Crosscheck said:

Am not that avid of a tennis fan but in today's women's final it appeared Serena lost rather than Halep won. If that makes sense.

It is always kind of sad to see a once star athlete began to feel that aging process. But Serena looked 37 and Halep looked 27.

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she just had a baby so you probably should give her a break!

Bucky said:

she just had a baby so you probably should give her a break!

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Am not trying to be harsh on her at all. It is just a fact that there is a big difference from 27 and 37 years old. True there are exceptions with some athletes such as Tom Brady at 41.

Having a baby is also a factor in changing her body. But I am willing to bet if she just had the baby and was 27 years old she would have smashed Halep.