Tennis: All Purpose Tennis Thread XV

[Hadoop]

Damn. Favourite tennis player and one of my favourite athletes of all-time. I predicted Roger would retire this year after the French Open but the news is still bittersweet. The GOAT debate will rage on, but I would assert that Roger Federer has had the biggest influence in terms of putting tennis into the forefront globally and making it the most-followed individual sport in the world today.

Personally it feels like the end of an era in professional sports as well, with Roger and Serena being the last transcendent athletes of my generation (they were both born the same year as myself) to retire.

P.S. Roger is still the GOAT for me

 

[Beau Knows]

I really hope Nadal plays in the Laver Cup, playing alongside his two rivals would be a good way for Federer to go out.

 

[MsMeow]

I will miss his gorgeous game and his class. Thanks for the memories, Roger!

 

[Novak Djokovic]

Expected but still feels a bit surreal. What a career and what a global influence Roger was/is.

 

[kihei]

Concerning the Davis Cup against Spain, Pospisil loses in three sets to RBA. Meaning Felix pretty much has to win against....Carlos Alcaraz. The kid doesn't even get a week off. No way Ferrero would allow that move unless he thought Carlos was fresh and ready to go. I mean, it's not like they haven't got a couple of other guys they could play.

 

[Tuggy]

Concerning the Davis Cup against Spain, Pospisil loses in three sets to RBA. Meaning Felix pretty much has to win against....Carlos Alcaraz. The kid doesn't even get a week off. No way Ferrero would allow that move unless he thought Carlos was fresh and ready to go. I mean, it's not like they haven't got a couple of other guys they could play.

Vasek gave it all he could. Tough loss.

Alcaraz certainly looks fresh. Running all over the court. Looking like it will be another tight match.

 

[Tuggy]

3rd set upcoming.

 

[Tuggy]

Felix takes the 3rd set!

Felix served tough and saved a bunch of break points.

Great match from him.

 

[MsMeow]

Felix takes the 3rd set!

Felix served tough and saved a bunch of break points.

Great match from him.

I did not expect a Felix win today!!! Amazing!

 

[Tuggy]

Great comeback win in doubles aswell!

 

[kihei]

That singles match was a demonstration of the tennis of the future. Both players playing aggressively as possible from inside the baseline willing to take the net at the first opportunity. Suits Carlos, and maybe it dawned on Felix that it suits him just fine, too.

 

[Tuggy]

Tough ask for Diallo to beat Djere and he didn't come close.

Felix up now. He just needs to win and they will advance I believe.

 

[Tuggy]

Felix did win in straight sets and Canada advances.

 

[kihei]

Maybe we should just convince Felix that every match he plays is a Davis Cup match and his troubles will be over.

 

[Beau Knows]

 

[Maverick41]

Glad to see that Roger gets his wish to play his last match alongside Rafa.
Hope they win.

 

[kihei]

Looking at early footage of the Big Four practicing together, Roger looks very creaky. Rafa may have to cover two thirds of the doubles court, not that he is likely 100% either.

 

[kihei]

Long time coming....finally a doubles match that I will watch.

 

[Megahab]

Federer and Nadal is my favourite friendship in the world.

 

[Cruor]

Apropos Federers' imminent retirement, we can do the counting stats like weeks or consecutive weeks as #1 or H2H, or number of titles but setting all of the GOAT-debate aside he will forever be the greatest in my mind just by virtue of how he played the game.

One reason is aesthetical, he made the game beautiful and rather than a science a work of art, at his best he moved like a ballerina out there on court. Second for me is his approach, he never wasted any time but got on with the point. He is the embodiment of what tennis should strive for.*

This is as good a time as any to post David Foster Wallace's essay on Federer:

Roger Federer as Religious Experience (Published 2006)

How one player’s grace, speed, power, precision, kinesthetic virtuosity, and seriously wicked topspin are transfiguring men’s tennis.

www.nytimes.com

*I might be wrong but I think he never forfeited a single match? He played through it all.

 

[MsMeow]

Apropos Federers' imminent retirement, we can do the counting stats like weeks or consecutive weeks as #1 or H2H, or number of titles but setting all of the GOAT-debate aside he will forever be the greatest in my mind just by virtue of how he played the game.

One reason is aesthetical, he made the game beautiful and rather than a science a work of art, at his best he moved like a ballerina out there on court. Second for me is his approach, he never wasted any time but got on with the point. He is the embodiment of what tennis should strive for.*

This is as good a time as any to post David Foster Wallace's essay on Federer:

Roger Federer as Religious Experience (Published 2006)

How one player’s grace, speed, power, precision, kinesthetic virtuosity, and seriously wicked topspin are transfiguring men’s tennis.

www.nytimes.com

*I might be wrong but I think he never forfeited a single match? He played through it all.

I agree on his approach. He just bounces the ball a few times and serves. No drawn out drama, and no grunting.

So it seems TVA is the only network carrying his match in Canada, unless you have a workaround.

 

[Jack Straw]

 

[Megahab]

I am not ready for this. Haven't feel this way since Gretzky's retirement.

 

[Vamos Rafa]

Does the Laver Cup count towards’ the players ATP rankings?

 

[kihei]

What a gutsy, gritty first-set from Andy, the stubborn Scot that he is. This could be his swan song, too.

Does the Laver Cup count towards’ the players ATP rarankings are not effecte

I vaguely remember reading that players rankings are not effected. So about 90% sure.