Weeks 26 & 27: Wimbledon men's main draw (grass)

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: Weeks 26 & 27: Wimbledon men's main draw (grass)

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

RJA wrote:
murray_2k9 wrote:
Compare Lleyton Hewitts attitude vs Wawrinka - he looked like he would crawl over hot coals and sleep on a bed of nails before he gave up his lead and he never really gave Wawrinka a look back in, resulting in a straights set win.
Lleyton Hewitt is a fantastic example for any budding young sportsman. We are talking about a guy who is 32 and whose best days were over 10 years ago. He is shadow of his former self and injuries have ravaged his body. He is a multi-millionaire, has a beautiful wife and three lovely kids. Almost anyone in his position would have retired and be living a comfortable life but not him. Every time he plays his passion and will to win remains unquestionable, however badly he is playing he fights for every single point like his life depends on it. He reacted to his win today with more enthusiasm and genuine joy than some players do on winning their first Grand Slam match. Sometimes I look at some talented youngsters, both British and otherwise, and think that if they had just 10% of Hewitt's desire that they would be twice the player they are.

Lleyton won me money today I backed him to win so my bank balance has lifted the gloom. I take your point to a certain extent although I believe that although Lleyton has never been classed as a true great despite his slam wins he does have the tennis brain coupled with guts in a way that can't be tought.

Ratty · County player

RJA wrote:
Sometimes I look at some talented youngsters, both British and otherwise, and think that if they had just 10% of Hewitt's desire that they would be twice the player they are.

I see your point, but I think it's wrong to assess someone's level of desire by their outward demeanour. Controlling emotions is absolutely essential for almost all tennis players if they want to achieve their maximum potential, and Hewitt-style behaviour is generally not a great idea.

And of course I can't readily think of a single current top player who behaves like Hewitt. They are all ice-cool.

-- Edited by Ratty on Tuesday 25th of June 2013 07:15:52 AM

steven · Tennis legend

L128: (WC) James Ward WR 219 lost to Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) WR 75 (CH 33 in 2010) by 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(11) 7-6(4)

L128: (WC) Kyle Edmund WR 385 lost to (24) Jerzy Janowicz (POL) WR 22 (= CH) by 6-2 6-2 6-4

(leaving Muzz to the other thread)

RJA · Hall of fame

A couple of people here seem to think I am judging Hewitt solely by his demeanour, they couldn't be more wrong.

If you look at the top 5 players I think they all possess just as much desire as Hewitt does, that is why they are up there at the top of the game. There are however some players who have far more talent than Hewitt does who would also be at the top of the game if they had his level of hunger to succeed.

And no Madeline, it certainly wasn't a dig at Andy in any way. I fully understand his response to winning the US Open.

-- Edited by RJA on Tuesday 25th of June 2013 10:28:19 AM

Spectator · All-time great

Very, very classy interviews from them both. Mr Ward, in particular, did a great job of not falling into any traps and of giving quite illuminating, as well as sensible answers. Best of luck to him over the summer; hope he does very well on the hard court swing.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

K/X serving for the match

Edit: at least one MP but not to be (yet). Broken back. 5-5

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Tuesday 25th of June 2013 02:01:47 PM

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

RJA wrote:
murray_2k9 wrote:
Compare Lleyton Hewitts attitude vs Wawrinka - he looked like he would crawl over hot coals and sleep on a bed of nails before he gave up his lead and he never really gave Wawrinka a look back in, resulting in a straights set win.
Lleyton Hewitt is a fantastic example for any budding young sportsman. We are talking about a guy who is 32 and whose best days were over 10 years ago. He is shadow of his former self and injuries have ravaged his body. He is a multi-millionaire, has a beautiful wife and three lovely kids. Almost anyone in his position would have retired and be living a comfortable life but not him. Every time he plays his passion and will to win remains unquestionable, however badly he is playing he fights for every single point like his life depends on it. He reacted to his win today with more enthusiasm and genuine joy than some players do on winning their first Grand Slam match. Sometimes I look at some talented youngsters, both British and otherwise, and think that if they had just 10% of Hewitt's desire that they would be twice the player they are.

I really don't think how players react outwardly after a win or loss is any indication at all of their desire to win. I don't know if you meant it as such, but the bolded part sounded like a dig at Andy's USO win reaction: in his case, the desire to win is extremely strong, but it is not in his nature to go overboard about it in public. Everybody is different in how much they show, but it doesn't mean they don't care. Andy showed more joy on hitting Lendl in the charity match - but then it wasn't nearly so important: he wanted to do it but wouldn't have been devastated if he had missed.

korriban · Challenger level

Madeline wrote:
RJA wrote:
murray_2k9 wrote:
Compare Lleyton Hewitts attitude vs Wawrinka - he looked like he would crawl over hot coals and sleep on a bed of nails before he gave up his lead and he never really gave Wawrinka a look back in, resulting in a straights set win.
Lleyton Hewitt is a fantastic example for any budding young sportsman. We are talking about a guy who is 32 and whose best days were over 10 years ago. He is shadow of his former self and injuries have ravaged his body. He is a multi-millionaire, has a beautiful wife and three lovely kids. Almost anyone in his position would have retired and be living a comfortable life but not him. Every time he plays his passion and will to win remains unquestionable, however badly he is playing he fights for every single point like his life depends on it. He reacted to his win today with more enthusiasm and genuine joy than some players do on winning their first Grand Slam match. Sometimes I look at some talented youngsters, both British and otherwise, and think that if they had just 10% of Hewitt's desire that they would be twice the player they are.
I really don't think how players react outwardly after a win or loss is any indication at all of their desire to win. I don't know if you meant it as such, but the bolded part sounded like a dig at Andy's USO win reaction: in his case, the desire to win is extremely strong, but it is not in his nature to go overboard about it in public. Everybody is different in how much they show, but it doesn't mean they don't care. Andy showed more joy on hitting Lendl in the charity match - but then it wasn't nearly so important: he wanted to do it but wouldn't have been devastated if he had missed.

Andy did have quite a large target area to aim for!!!!! biggrin

WD40 · Club Coach

Madeline wrote:
RJA wrote:
murray_2k9 wrote:
Compare Lleyton Hewitts attitude vs Wawrinka - he looked like he would crawl over hot coals and sleep on a bed of nails before he gave up his lead and he never really gave Wawrinka a look back in, resulting in a straights set win.
Lleyton Hewitt is a fantastic example for any budding young sportsman. We are talking about a guy who is 32 and whose best days were over 10 years ago. He is shadow of his former self and injuries have ravaged his body. He is a multi-millionaire, has a beautiful wife and three lovely kids. Almost anyone in his position would have retired and be living a comfortable life but not him. Every time he plays his passion and will to win remains unquestionable, however badly he is playing he fights for every single point like his life depends on it. He reacted to his win today with more enthusiasm and genuine joy than some players do on winning their first Grand Slam match. Sometimes I look at some talented youngsters, both British and otherwise, and think that if they had just 10% of Hewitt's desire that they would be twice the player they are.
I really don't think how players react outwardly after a win or loss is any indication at all of their desire to win. I don't know if you meant it as such, but the bolded part sounded like a dig at Andy's USO win reaction: in his case, the desire to win is extremely strong, but it is not in his nature to go overboard about it in public. Everybody is different in how much they show, but it doesn't mean they don't care. Andy showed more joy on hitting Lendl in the charity match - but then it wasn't nearly so important: he wanted to do it but wouldn't have been devastated if he had missed.

Madeline, if you reads that bit again, I think you will see that RJA said "first Grand Slam match" in other words the very first time a player wins his or her first round match at a Grand Slam

steven · Tennis legend

Had to chuckle at this from Wimbledon Twitter just now:

"A day after his big upset over #Nadal, Belgian Steve #Darcis chats (in fluent French) to media members #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/gNthJkBdP0"

It makes them sound amazed that Darcis speaks fluent French when actually, er, it's his native language biggrin (perhaps they don't realise that not all Belgians are Flemings)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

well, Ken Skupski and Malisse have just started their doubles. But already 2-0 down. (!)

I'm thinking of becoming an ARDENT doubles fan - it might be the only hope . . . . (Come on Laura and Tara - prove me wrong!!!!!)

jake270392 · Intermediate Club Player

Coup Droit wrote:
well, Ken Skupski and Malisse have just started their doubles. But already 2-0 down. (!)

I'm thinking of becoming an ARDENT doubles fan - it might be the only hope . . . . (Come on Laura and Tara - prove me wrong!!!!!)

To be honest... the reason why I love Wimbledon so much is because of the doubles and mixed doubles matches they show, so hoping we can do well and get quite a few pairs into the later rounds of the tourney!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes, I agree. I enjoy the doubles I get to see - it has a novelty value and shows a different side of tennis. (Still don't think it counts equally and the Aegon team funding policy is wrong but hey . . .)

And Jen and Xav are 4-3 up (on serve). Looking better !

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

One set, one set !

Ken and Xav 'nail' the first set TB 7-5