2010 Tennis Thread (Grand Slams, ATP World Tour, Davis Cup)

[lechepicha]

:nanner: Roger beat Rafa in the YEC final :nanner:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/28/1947094/federer-knocks-off-nadal-to-claim.html

yes!!!! :thumbsup:

like I (and the general concensus) said, Roger was stronger than Rafa this sunday.
Except for a mediocre 2nd set, Roger played very very good, like he did all week long.
He deserved to win, no doubt about that. I mean, a 6-1 in the decider says a lot...

Rafa ended a streak of 7 consecutive finals won. :eek:

Career: 66th title, 5th year-end-championship (share record with Lendl and Sampras)
Season: 5th title, 4th in the last 3 months!, and 3rd in his last 4 events!.
Head-to-head: improve to 8-14 (6-4 in non-clay) and it's his 2nd win over Rafa in their last 3 matches

He is, without a shadow of doubt, the best player in the world in the last months, and that is a great news for the 2011 season: the tour doesn't seem THAT rafa-istic anymore, right ?

 

[Lungzyn]

Too bad the final set couldnt be closer, but Rog was God-moding for most of the first and third sets. Nadal couldnt touch his first serve, so when it went missing in the second set he made sure to take his chance. Falling away in the second set has been a problem for Fed recently, he should try to fix that somehow come next season.
The lower bounce(a whole foot lower on average compared to FO clay?) helped Feds backhand hold up and even dominate. Maybe Nadal needs a plan B in that kind of situation.
Anyway it was obvious even from the first point when Roger smoked a quick winner that he would be very difficult to beat today. He is the HC-GOAT after all.
On Nadals side, he can be proud of reaching his first WTF final, and beating guys who have given him trouble on HC like Murray, Djokovic and Roddick(I guess). Indoor HC is his worst surface but the signs show he is improving.
While Roger had the last laugh, overall it has been the year of Nadal, with more Grand Slams and MS1000 titles than anybody else.

Looking foward to next year, with the return of Del Potro(watch out Fedal ) and all the Grand Slams up for grabs again (and me going to a WTA/ATP tournament ) :hatsoff:

p.s - Bryan Bros behind the scenes WTF vlog is good to watch
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bryan+bro+vlog&aq=f

 

[lechepicha]

While Roger had the last laugh, overall it has been the year of Nadal, with more Grand Slams and MS1000 titles than anybody else.

True, BUT, Federer's motivation now is sky-high...

http://espn.go.com/sports/tennis/bl...d/5860042/federer-motivation-remains-sky-high

Looking foward to next year, with the return of Del Potro(watch out Fedal ) and all the Grand Slams up for grabs again

Delpo won't be in the top-field for some months, so...i wouldn't expect that much (breaking the roger/rafa duopoly, that is)

Doha is gonna be awesome, with a very likely Fedal final (the 3rd and 4th seed as today are Tsonga and Kolya... a walk-in-the-park for both)... cant' wait to it!

I think that the 2011 main thing is going to be the no.1 spot, since Rafa has A TON (let me say that again: A TON) of points to defend, and Roger and almost nothing to defend until Wimbledon (with the exception of Oz)

 

[Lungzyn]

It will be interesting to see how Fed goes next year, it looks like his slump is over with Federror not showing up once at the WTF. Like Nadal said post match

He played unbelievable

Some thanks to Annacone maybe : 25-9 before Fed hired him, 35-4 since :hatsoff:

Where did Mardy Fish go though? He pretty much disappeared after Cincinnati. Injury or something? :dunno:

 

[lechepicha]

It will be interesting to see how Fed goes next year, it looks like his slump is over with Federror not showing up once at the WTF.

hopefully the evil twin of Roger won't show his face again on 2011.

Some thanks to Annacone maybe : 25-9 before Fed hired him, 35-4 since :hatsoff:

MAYBE? TOTALLY.
Actually, in my today's 14:52 post, i run out of time of edition, and i wanted to post:
"thank God Paul Annacone showed up in Roger's life"

with Annacone, Roger has played 8 tournaments: 6 finals (with 4 titles), and 2 EXTREMELY close SFs (2 match points in one, 5 in the other). That's something that Rafa himself would envy. Truly remarkable.

I hope that Roger-team think that Paul would be helpful in the 2011, and keep him.

Where did Mardy Fish go though? He pretty much disappeared after Cincinnati. Injury or something? :dunno:

after losing to Roger in Cincy final, he made the R16 in US Open, losing badly to Nole. Then won two valuable points against Colombia in Davis Cup, and then retired in R16 in Beijing, due injury on left ankle. Then he withdrew of Shanghai and Paris.

hopefully, he will be ready for January, and continue his excellent form.

 

[lechepicha]

Nadal earns high marks for historic 2010

http://espn.go.com/sports/tennis/bl.../5863049/nadal-earns-high-marks-historic-2010

Rafael Nadal (A)
Roger Federer (B) , Tomas Berdych (B)
Robin Soderling (B-)
Andy Murray (C+) , Novak Djokovic (C+) , Marin Cilic (C+)
Andy Roddick (C) , Nikolay Davydenko (C)

Cilic over A-Rod ? hmmm...
Berdych over all except Roger and Rafa ? hmmm...

 

[lechepicha]

More to come from Fed-Nadal rivalry

http://espn.go.com/sports/tennis/blog/_/name/bodo_peter/id/5865796/more-come-fed-nadal-rivalry

If Nadal had pulled off the win, it would have put an exclamation point on his career year and left us with one unfair but inevitable question in the backs of our minds: Does Roger still have it?


very true.

good thing Roger could make this one!

and would make the one in Quatar in 6 weeks (mark my words...)

 

[lechepicha]

Golden era: Federer and Nadal show shines on

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/golden-era-federer-and-nadal-show-shines-on-2147835.html

It is Andy Murray's misfortune - and fortune - to be part of probably the most glorious spell in the game's history

 

[Lungzyn]

Andy Roddick had the highest selling artwork at the WTF auction.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Te...-Tennis-Auction-Raises-Money-For-Charity.aspx
Ended up higher than both Fed and Nadal. After Djokovic there was a drop off...

$127,755 raised in total :clap:

 

[lechepicha]

Andy Roddick had the highest selling artwork at the WTF auction.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Te...-Tennis-Auction-Raises-Money-For-Charity.aspx
Ended up higher than both Fed and Nadal

that's surprising.

who in the world would prefer having an A-Rod portrait instead of a Roger/Rafa ?

Brooklyn Decker, maybe ?

Stefanky, probably.

Oh, wait, i know! THIS guy:

http://www.moviehole.net/200816454-stifler-is-done-tells-scott



proof:

http://www.virginmedia.com/sport/tennis/galleries/tennis-lookalikes.php?ssid=8

 

[lechepicha]

Ten thoughts about 2010

http://espn.go.com/sports/tennis/blog/_/name/tennis/id/5870723/ten-thoughts-2010

1. Nadal's 2010 season does not compare to Roger Federer's 2006 campaign, and it's not even close. They both won 3 Grand Slam tournaments, but in 2006, Federer also reached another Slam final, won 4 Masters, made 2 more Masters finals and claimed the YEC. If you thought Nadal was unbeatable in 2010, consider that Federer had half as many defeats and won 21 more matches (92-5 versus 71-10).

Strongly agree. The Roger 06 version was the greatest tennis animal ever to walk the earth. Ever.


4. Someone besides Federer or Nadal will win a Slam in 2011

Also agree. I think Nole or Murray will finally win his 2nd/1st major title. Of course, that only can happen in Oz and NY. France and England are Roger/Rafa territory.


8. Don't forget about Marin Cilic. He trailed off after the clay season, but Cilic traditionally starts off strong and should be primed for another big January.

Agree. Like i said before, he's playing like SHIT since March, but he's VEEEERY young (22) and has all the potential in the world to make his way to the top. He's just like Delpo, but less focused.

 

[lechepicha]

Monfils won the 1st rubber in the Davis Cup final against Tipsarevic

It was 6-1, 7-6, 6-0.

Ouch.

Awesome atmosphere. Amazing intensity. Loud as fuck.

If Nole doesn't win over Simon, there will be a mass-suicide in Belgrade tonight... :anonymous

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

that's surprising.

who in the world would prefer having an A-Rod portrait instead of a Roger/Rafa ?

Brooklyn Decker, maybe ?

Stefanky, probably.

Oh, wait, i know! THIS guy:

http://www.moviehole.net/200816454-stifler-is-done-tells-scott



proof:

http://www.virginmedia.com/sport/tennis/galleries/tennis-lookalikes.php?ssid=8

lol/..

Maybe him, or maybe Channing Tatum?:

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=channing tatum&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

:elaugh:

 

[lechepicha]

well, Nole won, as expected.

They're 1-1 now. Tomorrow's doubles match will be a decider, IMO, since i assume that Nole wins over Monfils. Would be 2-2 then, and Tipsarevic/Troikci vs Simon decide the tournament. It Tipsy plays, Simon has the clear advantage. But if it's Viktor, it's more even.

Davis Cup rules!!! too bad a lot of top players don't play it...

 

[Lungzyn]

I tried to watch some of Djokovic/Simon but I was asleep most of the time. Tired of these bad time zones
It was cool to see all the top French guys together as a group (Tsonga/Monfils/Llodra/Clement) cheering on Simon. Looks like a really good atmosphere.

 

[rizwano]

wozniaki is the girl to watch in 2011. she did well this year. i think Roger and Rafa will be rivals again. hopefully, Djoko and Verdasco can up their game

 

[lechepicha]

The Federer-Nadal Rivalry, Rekindled

http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2010/11/29/the-federer-nadal-rivalry-rekindled/

great reading! :thumbsup:

 

[lechepicha]

Philippoussis wants Wimbledon return

http://www.clubcall.com/mens-tennis/philippoussis-wants-wimbledon-return-1129494.html

Former Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis is reported to be considering making a comeback to professional tennis in 2011

:wtf:

 

[lechepicha]

well, Llodra chocked big time, plus, Troicki played great in the net, so, Serbia is the champ.

http://www.daviscup.com/en/news/articles/serbia-crowned-davis-cup-champion.aspx

not deserved, IMO: USA was ARod-less, France was Tsonga-less, Czech was Berdych-less (he played, but after Wimbledon he sucked big time), Croatia was Cilic-less (same as Berdych)

so, they didn't had a single big-win.

But of course, history won't remember that.

Next year, if Rafa plays, Spain will be champs again (even if Verdasco keeps playing bad: Ferrer will be there).
Or maybe USA, if Fish stays healthy, and A-Rod focused.
Or maybe Russia, if Youzhny keeps playing great, and Kolya plays like in late-2009.
Or maybe Argentina, if Delpo returns hard and David stays healthy.

But NOT serbia. Unless Trocki explodes and becomes a solid top-20 player with a couple of titles. But until that, you need two big guns (in singles) to win the cup.


Roger who? oh yeah, they're NOT in the world group... :anonymous

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

You have to give the USA credit because they usually do put their best out there. I wonder how Fish, Isner, and Querrey will work into the mix with the Bryans. Since Querrey and Isner are so good at doubles, but the Bryans are the greatest doubles of all time. Roddick does have to stay focused either way.