Topic: The Tennis Thread - Sponsored By Melt-downium

[Red-Soldier]

Surprisingly not that rare. Swiatek won the French last year and that was her first title.

Yep. 

All these facts are spoiling the hype 

[Dull Tools]

Yep. 

All these facts are spoiling the hype 

Still incredible. Do think it is less so for women than men as women tend to develop earlier and so the winners of grand slams tend to be younger.

[Yosser0_0]

It is similar but not quite the same as this is Radacanu's first-ever singles title. That must be a first?

Trust me, at the time Becker's title was a bigger achivement given the competiton, his age and nationality. I'd argue even by today's standards it is a greater achivement.

He was the youngest ever male Grand Slam singles champion at 17 years, 227 days

I've very pleased for Emma, it was a fantastic final and she throughly deserved her victory and I hope she wins loads more but I can't help thinking that we wouldn't be having these 'best ever' conversations if she wasn't British. The British sports media is hardly known for being balanced, just look at how the average England football team is hyped up. 

[elsewhere]

For those who follow her closely, can we say she will be in this stage many years to come? I jist don't want Raducanu to be like Ostapenko, Sloane Stephens etc the ones that gets a grand slam and disappear. Although her game has rare weaknesses, she is great at some things and good at some others compared to many others that we may call flash in the pan.

[Lastrador]

Trust me, at the time Becker's title was a bigger achivement given the competiton, his age and nationality. I'd argue even by today's standards it is a greater achivement.

He was the youngest ever male Grand Slam singles champion at 17 years, 227 days

I've very pleased for Emma, it was a fantastic final and she throughly deserved her victory and I hope she wins loads more but I can't help thinking that we wouldn't be having these 'best ever' conversations if she wasn't British. The British sports media is hardly known for being balanced, just look at how the average England football team is hyped up.

Not to take anything away from Emma, but a year ago a low ranked 19 old Iga Swiatek won the Roland Garros without dropping a set, beating way better competition on her way there, but Emma's title is the most unprecedented sporting achievement ever. Yes, Iga was a little more established on the circuit, but here run there was every bit as impressive as what Emma did, maybe even more so when you consider how she dominated the #2 ranked and former RG champion Halep. I can't imagine the level of hype she would have got if she was English and not Polish.

[Red-Soldier]

Trust me, at the time Becker's title was a bigger achivement given the competiton, his age and nationality. I'd argue even by today's standards it is a greater achivement.

He was the youngest ever male Grand Slam singles champion at 17 years, 227 days

I've very pleased for Emma, it was a fantastic final and she throughly deserved her victory and I hope she wins loads more but I can't help thinking that we wouldn't be having these 'best ever' conversations if she wasn't British. The British sports media is hardly known for being balanced, just look at how the average England football team is hyped up.

Apparently, she's going to be an all-time-great who will win 10 or more Grand Slams.

[Hazell]

Not to take anything away from Emma, but a year ago a low ranked 19 old Iga Swiatek won the Roland Garros without dropping a set, beating way better competition on her way there, but Emma's title is the most unprecedented sporting achievement ever. Yes, Iga was a little more established on the circuit, but here run there was every bit as impressive as what Emma did, maybe even more so when you consider how she dominated the #2 ranked and former RG champion Halep. I can't imagine the level of hype she would have got if she was English and not Polish.

Apparently, she's going to be an all-time-great who will win 10 or more Grand Slams.

Yeah, Swiatek's run in the French Open was terrific, thought she should have beaten Bencic in their match in this tournament, which meant she would have played Raducanu in the next round.

Thought Swiatek would have won another Grand Slam as well but I don't think she's been close since (?). Which is kind of the way women's tennis is at the moment, no one's really been consistent in getting to finals, Osaka aside. So yeah, who knows what's going to happen, Raducanu looks like she can be up there competing and hope she does but it's no gimme.

[Timbo's Goals]

Only time will tell I guess as to where she goes from here in the tennis pantheon. Hopefully the trajectory will continue on its upward path as the ingredients are all in place in every aspect.

But whatever happens I still maintain we’ve not seen owt like it before. The accompanying hype which many struggle with is simply inevitable when you get zero to hero, obscurity to supernova in little more than 48 hours.

What took place and the manner in which it was accomplished in what was for 99% of those witnessing it a relatively minuscule time period is just absurd and no amount of churlish naysaying has come up with any fairy tale remotely approaching it either on here or elsewhere.

Fact is for most folks without some degree of miserabilist axe to grind it was simply incredible to witness the events of that 48 hour period. As one guy said the ultimate grandiose aim of sport is to amaze and inspire and boy oh boy did Radacanu do just that - with a little bit of help from the little Canuck gem too of course.

 

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

I'm not really too much into tennis, but my God this guy Medvedev was a beast in the final.

[jillcwhomever]

Surprisingly not that rare. Swiatek won the French last year and that was her first title.

Did Swiatek have to qualify for it though? I think that's the most amazing thing about Emma, it's come from absolutely nowhere.

It seems like Kloppo is a fan too. From his press conference.

On whether he watched Emma Raducanu’s US Open tennis triumph…

I watched the game, the final, and it was absolutely impressive. It’s long ago that I watched a full tennis game, it’s long ago that I watched a full women’s tennis game, and I was really impressed by the power and the speed and the whole game. I think women’s tennis is obviously in a brilliant moment. These two girls were 18 and 19 and what they showed was massively impressive during the game and then we watched the interviews and the trophy ceremony as well and both girls, how they spoke, at 18 and 19 – that was inspiring, to be honest, maybe more than the tennis and that was already inspiring enough. But I was absolutely overwhelmed by the way the two girls presented themselves. Fernandez was obviously disappointed losing the game, rightly so, it was a really close game. Emma showed great respect for her. They knew and they hoped they would face each other in the future very often and be in many more finals – I wish that for them as well. It was just a great show of sportsmanship, of elite sport, how humble you can be when you are that young and already on the top of the world, even when it is only for a few hours but they were, obviously. It was really nice. That’s what you can take. About the tennis story I don’t know enough, but when you are 18 years old and able to win the US Open, it’s clear there is one thing that happened in the last 10 or 15 years and that is the hardest work because otherwise it wouldn’t happen. She is for sure a talent of the century but without hardest work, it’s not possible to be there. That she did that, and now she is there in that moment and you see her smiling during the game, that’s just the nicest thing I can imagine. I will watch women’s tennis for sure much more now again, than I did in the last few years.

[Timbo's Goals]

It seems like Kloppo is a fan too. From his press conference.

On whether he watched Emma Raducanu’s US Open tennis triumph…

I watched the game, the final... I was absolutely overwhelmed...It was just a great show of elite sport, how humble you can be when you are that young and already on the top of the world....She is for sure a talent of the century

Oh fer fuck sake Jurgen stop going overboard. Leave the fucking hyperboles to the fucking experts like me!!

  

[jillcwhomever]

Oh fer fuck sake Jurgen stop going overboard. Leave the fucking hyperboles to the fucking experts like me!!

  

I thought you’d try harder. 😀

[Timbo's Goals]

I thought you’d try harder. 😀

Ha ha. You know me Jill 

Seriously tho I’m delighted Jurgen watched. Probably under orders from Mrs Jurgen 

[Flaccido Dongingo]

Great to see another Canadian born, Romanian-Chinese British sporting success story.

[Gerry Attrick]

Great to see another Canadian born, Romanian-Chinese British sporting success story.

What are you trying to get at?

[Crosby Nick]

What are you trying to get at?

That it’s a pretty niche combination I think.

Unless I’ve missed an obvious other?!

[RedForeverTT]

Surprisingly not that rare. Swiatek won the French last year and that was her first title.

French Open woman’s are full of one slam wonders. Istapenko, if anyone remembers her

[Timbo's Goals]

Great to see another Canadian born, Romanian-Chinese British sporting success story.

Yeah. Whats happened to all those good old fashioned Ancient Brit, Celt, Anglo, Saxon, Pict, Irish, Viking, Norman, Germanic, Africano tennis heroes of yesteryear?

 

[Roger Federer]

French Open woman’s are full of one slam wonders. Istapenko, if anyone remembers her

I’d be very surprised if Swiatek is another one slam wonder though (if that is what you implied). She’s won three titles this year I think, and made the second week of every slam. Not quite matched the expectations but she’s still only 20 and has a very well rounded game. I think she’ll win a lot more in the coming years.

[Welshred]

Great to see another Canadian born, Romanian-Chinese British sporting success story.

Yeah its fantastic to see a great example of multi-cultural Britain isn't it?

[AndyMuller]

Pretty sure FD is Irish therefore hates anything Britain related.

[El Lobo]

I'm pretty sure she's English anyway, she's not been relegated to British yet

[RedForeverTT]

I’d be very surprised if Swiatek is another one slam wonder though (if that is what you implied). She’s won three titles this year I think, and made the second week of every slam. Not quite matched the expectations but she’s still only 20 and has a very well rounded game. I think she’ll win a lot more in the coming years.

Maybe not Swiatek, still very young. But Ostapenko looks like she couldn’t win a WTA event let alone another slam.

[Red-Soldier]

I'm pretty sure she's English anyway, she's not been relegated to British yet

Nope.  Wait until she's been crap for a few years, then she'll be British, then Canadian, Chinese and Romanian 

[BarryCrocker]

So Federer won $647k in prize money this year but still managed to earn $90m. Still the highest paid sports person  by about $25m (LBJ).

[Wild Romany Boy]

So Federer won $647k in prize money this year but still managed to earn $90m. Still the highest paid sports person  by about $25m (LBJ).

He is insanely marketable

[Red-Soldier]

A homecoming event for US Open champion Emma Raducanu will be shown live on the BBC on Friday.

The 18-year-old's historic win in New York this month ended Britain's 44-year wait for a women's Grand Slam title.




I shall be watching this cringefest with full Union Jack outfit on!

[Gerry Attrick]

Just stupid. I hope to God she doesn't, but if she breaks down mentally in a couple of years they'll be wondering where it went wrong with absolutely no self awareness whatsoever.

[sinnermichael]

Split with her coach.

[gerrardisgod]

Was always the plan, apparently. He’s not keen on the travel and wants to coach his own lad.

[OzBomber]

Vaccines have been made mandatory for Victorian professional sportspeople. No decision made yet by the federal government for international sportspeople, but it's looking more and more likely that the vaccine will be mandated for players at the Aus Open, or at the very least strong quarantine restrictions for those that aren't vaxxed.

It will be very interesting to see what the top players decide to do.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/no-jab-no-play-mandate-may-sink-djokovic-s-grand-slam-dream-20211001-p58wgr.html

[Crosby Nick]

Vaccines have been made mandatory for Victorian professional sportspeople.

WG Grace is said to be fuming.

[Gerry Attrick]

Indian Wells begins this week. You love to see it.

[Paul1611]

I've become a complete Raducanu fanboy!  Totally won over by her fearlessness, aggressive play and great personality!  Will be very interesting to see how she does post US Open.

[lionel_messias]

I've become a complete Raducanu fanboy!  Totally won over by her fearlessness, aggressive play and great personality!  Will be very interesting to see how she does post US Open.

Yeah I think we all are. I hope she is extremely well managed to cope with the fame coming her way. Her tennis is great, as is her smile and her cultural background could well be designed on a computer to maximise global appeal.

It is amusing to hear people like Tim Henman involved in advising her, when she's about to rocket to a level a Galaxy Far Far and away where he was at in his career!

[Persephone]

Vaccines have been made mandatory for Victorian professional sportspeople. No decision made yet by the federal government for international sportspeople, but it's looking more and more likely that the vaccine will be mandated for players at the Aus Open, or at the very least strong quarantine restrictions for those that aren't A bullshit film by a charlatan who unethically exploited his children's friends and lost his medical license for fraud.

It will be very interesting to see what the top players decide to do.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/no-jab-no-play-mandate-may-sink-djokovic-s-grand-slam-dream-20211001-p58wgr.html

This should be very interesting. I hope the Victorian government sticks to their rules and includes international players playing in their tournaments as well. Vax or no play, pretty simple. Mr 5G and whoever else doesn't like it doesn't have to play.

[DelTrotter]

Am amazed Clijsters can still be arsed with this, especially after all the injuries she's had over the years. I guess that's the competitiveness!

This is usually my fav tournament of the year outside of slams but just feels weird at the time of the season where half the tour aren't really bothered and are just waiting for it all to end. Hopefully Raducanu and Muzza win their matches later anyway.

[Paul1611]

I genuinely feel pained watching Murray now.  Trying to get back to where he was but its just not working for him.  Part of me wishes he'd just retire and be a figurehead for the youngsters coming through rather than stumble around in the 100's rank-wise being knocked put by the new breed of young things.

[TheShanklyGates]

Raducanu had an absolute horror show against Sasnovich. Error after error after error, nothing she tried worked. Couldn't buy a decent return or a point behind her second serve. Her body language was negative throughout. Really disappointing display.

[Red-Soldier]

Raducanu had an absolute horror show against Sasnovich. Error after error after error, nothing she tried worked. Couldn't buy a decent return or a point behind her second serve. Her body language was negative throughout. Really disappointing display.

Before the US Open, she hadn't won a match on tour.  Don't be surprised if it's the first of a few like that.

I remember when Kvitova won her first Wimbledon, she lost the next 10 or so matches.