Entries - week 24- 12/06/2017

paulisi · Tennis legend

Entries - week 24- 12/06/2017

JonH · All-time great

This is where pro tennis beats golf hands down. This period of the season from clay in Paris through Wimbledon are the most exciting in my mind. Golf simply lacks structure but this part of the tennis season has so much meaning. It helps I love grass, best surface. Guys with good hands, reactions, innovation and skill come to the fore and yes power helps. Best test of tennis ability in my mind!

As evidence , the 1992 Wimbledon final between Agassi and Ivanisevic says it all for me - it sums up grass court tennis perfectly and the baseliner won! No other surface can offer that!

-- Edited by JonH on Saturday 3rd of June 2017 08:26:45 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

Certainly no other surface, particularly at that time, would have seen Goran so successful.

Thankfully, Wimbledon has been greatly slowed down via the grasstype and balls and the relatively really dire years ( IMO ) are in the past. Agassi won that final because he was simply the much much better overall player, not because it was the level of test between baseliner, or indeed in other cases all round players, vs serve / volloyers I like to see. Wimbledon matches were often borefests whereas proper tennis broke out elsewhere.

Still probably my least favourite Slam from a pure tennis point of view, but has closed in massively since the turn of the century.

Though of course being the GB slam adds so many other dimensions and interests.

JonH · All-time great

I guess that's all down to taste. I love grass tennis, even the big serve volley fests intrigued and excited me. I remember being at Wimbledon to see Kevin curren beating Tim Mayotte, it was 4 sets and not a rally over 5 shots but fascinating stuff. I guess there's a place for all the different styles in our game, what makes it so fascinating

indiana · Tennis legend

Not necessarily with some of the big serve / volleyers but I do see the point among the top players about grass and fast hard courts favouring good hands and reactive, innovative play.

Among the "big 4" that is mainly Andy and I do think the general slowing down of courts has ultimately probably significantly lessened his Slam share, though not that he's done too badly! His Wimbledon and say Cincinnati records are indicative of this as is just watching what he can come up with at times.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Wimbledon is my least favourite Slam, Aus and US favourite with RG after this. I do watch it mainly because I love the sport in general we are lucky to have so much coverage but that in a way is what annoys me, the saturation with Wimbledon is actually to the detriment of British Tennis as a whole due to the elite establishment that run it along with Queens.

For me the real tennis is hard court and that is where the best players rise to the top. I'm planning a trip to New York in 2018 and I ll have been to all 4 Slams for the bucket list.

JonH · All-time great

Jaggy1876 wrote:
Wimbledon is my least favourite Slam, Aus and US favourite with RG after this. I do watch it mainly because I love the sport in general we are lucky to have so much coverage but that in a way is what annoys me, the saturation with Wimbledon is actually to the detriment of British Tennis as a whole due to the elite establishment that run it along with Queens.

For me the real tennis is hard court and that is where the best players rise to the top. I'm planning a trip to New York in 2018 and I ll have been to all 4 Slams for the bucket list.

cool! I had that bucket list once but it sort of petered out at Wimbledon! Saving for house, paying a mortgage, raising a family, putting through university ( although oldest at Oxford doing PPE so v proud but expensive!) and running own business all got in way!

-- Edited by JonH on Sunday 4th of June 2017 09:34:31 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

Cool I enjoyed a few days at the US Open back in 2008, was at Andy's first Slam final vs Fed and his two day SF win over Rafa. Was a very good experience and I certainly found not as noisy as reputation. Certainly worth a trip including the New York sights too.

Have otherwise only been on outside courts at Wimbledon.

FriendofLouieG · Lower Club Player

Guess the Nottingham Challenger WCs:
My pick
- Cameron Norrie
- James Ward
- Marcus Willis
- Liam Broady

LordBrownof · Futures level

indiana wrote:
Cool I enjoyed a few days at the US Open back in 2008, was at Andy's first Slam final vs Fed and his two day SF win over Rafa. Was a very good experience and I certainly found not as noisy as reputation. Certainly worth a trip including the New York sights too.

Have otherwise only been on outside courts at Wimbledon.

Only missing Aus Open. Living in New York, I've had the chance to go to the US Open last few years and even in a players box once (randomly Mandy Minella, but that's another story!). US Open much more like a traditional sporting event, in regards to the setup and atmosphere. I've always enjoyed the night matches there, even if it can be a little tricky to get home at midnight. It also is the easiest, in my experience, to purchase tickets - including last minute. I've bought QF tickets on the day at a fairly reasonable price.

It's certainly a worthy inclusion on any bucket list.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes I had tickets for men's SF and final days, but on spec went out at the start of the second week and got into day and night in Ashe, just wandering up to one of many booths. Wasn't evidently a lot left for night but day was no problem. Perhaps much more internet related nowadays.

Constant · Lower Club Player

LordBrownof wrote:
indiana wrote:
Cool I enjoyed a few days at the US Open back in 2008, was at Andy's first Slam final vs Fed and his two day SF win over Rafa. Was a very good experience and I certainly found not as noisy as reputation. Certainly worth a trip including the New York sights too.

Have otherwise only been on outside courts at Wimbledon.
Only missing Aus Open. Living in New York, I've had the chance to go to the US Open last few years and even in a players box once (randomly Mandy Minella, but that's another story!). US Open much more like a traditional sporting event, in regards to the setup and atmosphere. I've always enjoyed the night matches there, even if it can be a little tricky to get home at midnight. It also is the easiest, in my experience, to purchase tickets - including last minute. I've bought QF tickets on the day at a fairly reasonable price.
It's certainly a worthy inclusion on any bucket list.

Only one i'm missing is US Open. It's on my bucket list and will be a few years away yet though now as next big trip is for the Japan 2019 rugby world cup.

Love the feeling of space at Aus Open. I felt crowded at French but was young then. Both my Wimbledon visits were rain effected (which actually made it easier to get into) and I did get onto BBC's highlights package pushing a pram through puddles chasing my daughter =).

adz1983 · Intermediate Club Player

US Open is missing from my career Grand Slam! I think the Aus Open is by far the best run event. So much space. Lots of stuff happening around the grounds. Lovely atmosphere. The Aussies really do know how to put on a fun sports event. Just come back from Roland Garros, was my first trip there for about 10 years. Seems so little has changed there in that time. Its tiny compared to the others, although they do seem to have more seating aorund the outside courts compared to Wimbledon. Wimbledon has the tradition and is certainly more staid than the Aus Open. There's always the added element of being able to back more Brits than at the other events. Really hope to get to US Open at some point so i can compare across all 4.

wimdledont · Challenger level

Watson, Robson, Moore, Boulter and Christie have all withdrawn/never entered Manchester, and are presumably wildcarded into Notts, either MD or Qs.

Lots of other withdrawals means Naomi shoule be seeded (6?), and that Gabi and Harriet should make the MD, in the absence of any SEs from Surbiton, and just about everybody with a ranking could make the Q draw, with QWCs coming from unranked entrants...

www.itftennis.com/procircuit/tournaments/women's-tournament/info.aspx

paulisi · Tennis legend

I suspect Sam Murray may get a wildcard as it is her local club.
Katy Dunne, Katie Swan and one other should get the wildcards.

I intend to be at Manchester most of next week.