Topic: The Tennis Thread - Sponsored By Melt-downium

[Ray K]

Legend doesn't even begin to describe him.

Kokkinakis wins the 2nd set on a tie break, nearly impossible for Murray to come back from here.

I did say nearly.

[elsewhere]

Andy "I have a big heart"

Interviewer "I think you have a big everything"

Andy "I don't think my wife would agree"

[JackWard33]

What a fantastic player Murray is. One of my favourite sportspersons if all time.

Same. He’s sensational in every way
You have to claw matches out his dying hands

[Machae]

Well played Murray, playing with a handicap too unlike that anti vax twat Djokovic who fakes it constantly

[amir87]

Will be a sad day when he retires.

[Nick110581]

Who did he play in all those finals he lost though, only ever faced the 3 greatest players ever

Not at his second Wimbledon.

He’s been unlucky.

[TheShanklyGates]

Who did he play in all those finals he lost though, only ever faced the 3 greatest players ever

Yep, he lost 3 slam finals to Federer and 5 to Djokovic. Also beat Djokovic for 2 of his slams and beat Raonic for his second Wimbledon in the only final that wasn't against Federer or Djokovic. Also numerous more semi final exits to the big 3. He'd probably have ended his career with double figures for slam wins if he'd been around 10 years earlier or 10 years later.

[Nick110581]

Yep, he lost 3 slam finals to Federer and 5 to Djokovic. Also beat Djokovic for 2 of his slams and beat Raonic for his second Wimbledon in the only final that wasn't against Federer or Djokovic. Also numerous more semi final exits to the big 3. He'd probably have ended his career with double figures for slam wins if he'd been around 10 years earlier or 10 years later.

Defo.

He admits he let himself down in a couple of Slam Finals though.

[Circa1892]

I think Murray did himself a fair bit of harm in the incredible run to get world no1. He played an insane amount of tennis and ultimately got the top spot from Djokovic at the o2 after being miles behind. Felt like he was consistently injured after that?

[Gerry Attrick]

It’s been said 10 million times but Britain won’t produce another like him. Maybe one as talented will pop up at some point but one with his talent and refusal to give in? No chance.

[Nick110581]

It’s been said 10 million times but Britain won’t produce another like him. Maybe one as talented will pop up at some point but one with his talent and refusal to give in? No chance.

He’s also not flashy.

Family man and down to earth too.

Legend.

[gjr1]

I think Murray did himself a fair bit of harm in the incredible run to get world no1. He played an insane amount of tennis and ultimately got the top spot from Djokovic at the o2 after being miles behind. Felt like he was consistently injured after that?

100% agree with that. He was never the same player IMO

[Andar]

One of his greatest ever victories. What an inspiration he is.

His forehand has far more punch to it this season, compared to how powderpuff it looked last season. Shame this is going to take so much out of him for the next round. Here is hoping he magically recovers or Bautista Agut plays well below his best.

The draw has really opened up in his quarter.

Popyrin vs Shelton
Wolf vs Mmoh
Murray vs Bautista Agut
Paul vs Brooksby

One of the above will end up in a semi-final.

[duvva 💅]

I think Murray did himself a fair bit of harm in the incredible run to get world no1. He played an insane amount of tennis and ultimately got the top spot from Djokovic at the o2 after being miles behind. Felt like he was consistently injured after that?

Yep felt that as well. At his absolute peak but the cost of getting there caught up with him almost as soon as got there. Such a shame as for that period he was as good as any of them

[Crosby Nick]

Guess he just wanted to say he’d been number one in the world. Winning more majors sounds better but easy for us to say. For him to say he was officially the best in the world in this era is quite something.

Feel quite emotional after all that! Will be a shame for him to not go further, especially with how it’s opened up but must be a tall order!

[Dougle]

Well played Murray, playing with a handicap too unlike that anti vax twat Djokovic who fakes it constantly

We'll see if Djokovic is faking it.
Well done Murray. Amazing grit and determination and talent. I hope he does win through another couple of rounds and has a decent run.

[Crosby Nick]

Djokovic got into an argument with a bloke dressed as Where’s Wally earlier.

[Machae]

We'll see if Djokovic is faking it.
Well done Murray. Amazing grit and determination and talent. I hope he does win through another couple of rounds and has a decent run.

Guy fakes all the time and usually when hes struggling against an opponent. You cant play with a hamstring strain, putting a bandage there wont prevent you from making it worse. Unless you can and everyone else in competitive sports are wrong

[Nick110581]

Guy fakes all the time and usually when hes struggling against an opponent. You cant play with a hamstring strain, putting a bandage there wont prevent you from making it worse. Unless you can and everyone else in competitive sports are wrong

They were wrong about the vaccine too remember. 🫢

[gerrardisgod]

Greatest ever British sportsman, by a mile.

[duvva 💅]

Greatest ever British sportsman, by a mile.

No argument from me on that

[mikey_LFC]

Greatest ever British sportsman, by a mile.

Certainly in the conversation.

Lewis Hamilton, Mo Farah, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Lennox Lewis, George Best, Daley Thompson, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor all have a shout too.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Certainly in the conversation.

Lewis Hamilton, Mo Farah, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Lennox Lewis, George Best, Daley Thompson, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor all have a shout too.

Some absolutely terrible shouts there, for various reasons

[mikey_LFC]

Some absolutely terrible shouts there, for various reasons

Care to expand?

My guess is you’d argue against the last two because you’d debate whether they are sports. They’re the best two ever at them, so that’s the only argument against including them.

Daley Thompson is undoubtedly the greatest all round athlete Britain has ever produced.

George Best is probably the best British footballer ever, so has to be in there.

Lennox Lewis might be a reach as he could be classed as Canadian, but if you take him as British then he’s our best Heavyweight boxer ever. Between him and Calzaghe for our best boxer ever but heavyweight is the glamour division so gets the focus.

Chris Hoy is quite possibly the best ever track cyclist. Bradley Wiggins is quite possibly the best ever all round cyclist.

Mo Farah is the greatest track distance runner of all time.

Lewis Hamilton is the most successful Formula 1 driver ever, and potentially the best.

Hard to argue any of those shouldn’t be in the conversation. Andy Murray is there too, as he’s by far our best tennis player of the Open Era.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

It was mostly said in jest you've come up with more reasons than I was going to!

But in addition, I don't think you can include darts or snooker players because so few other countries play, so it's much easier to win the biggest prizes. Just statistically, being the best tennis player in the World is a much, much bigger achievement than being the best darts player in the World.

The cyclists and Mo Farah will always have question marks against how legitimate their success was.

Lewis Hamilton - all about the car isn't it

[mikey_LFC]

Haha fair enough.

Others in the conversation are probably Jonny Wilkinson, Jimmy Anderson, Ben Stokes, Ian Botham, Joe Root, Alistair Cook, Steve Redgrave and AP McCoy, but I’d but these in a lower category (for now at least for those still going).

[gerrardisgod]

I genuinely don’t get that emotional with any sport (even us I can brush off) but a big win for Murray really pulls at the heart strings.

[leinad]

Haha fair enough.

Others in the conversation are probably Jonny Wilkinson, Jimmy Anderson, Ben Stokes, Ian Botham, Joe Root, Alistair Cook, Steve Redgrave and AP McCoy, but I’d but these in a lower category (for now at least for those still going).

Would you not have Jason Kenny in there?

[mikey_LFC]

Would you not have Jason Kenny in there?

I would. He escaped my mind somehow, but he’s definitely in the conversation. I’d always go Wiggins over Kenny and Hoy for the Tour de France success on top of all the golds, but he obviously deserves to be in with a shout as the most decorated Olympian. Another could be Max Whitlock.

[sinnermichael]

Norrie on the brink of going out here.

[Fordy]

Norrie on the brink of going out here.

What the fuck happened to him. Went 2-1 then seemed to play mega shit.

[gjr1]

Was about to ask if Murray was the last singles player standing but Dan Evans won I think

[Crosby Nick]

Was about to ask if Murray was the last singles player standing but Dan Evans won I think

Yeah, Evans’ match must have been about 4 hours shorter than Murray’s! He beat Chardy fairly comprehensively.

[Barneylfc∗]

Care to expand?

George Best is probably the best British footballer ever, so has to be in there.

George Best was also a massive scumbag, so that rules him out.

[JackWard33]

Athletes who play a team sport can ever be picked over those that play individual sports in these GOAT questions

[killer-heels]

Adam Peaty also gets into the conversation.

[elsewhere]

Hurkacz is so boring to watch

[elsewhere]

Who is this Korda kid? He's playing great.

[Crosby Nick]

Who is this Korda kid? He's playing great.

Son of Petr Korda of late 90s fame if you remember him. Think he was briefly world number 1, might have won an Aussie Open and possibly got done for doping.

Seb has two sisters who are professional golfers.

[Ray K]

Who is this Korda kid? He's playing great.

Son of former Aussie Open winner Petr Korda. Nepo tennis baby.