Week 25 - ATP 500 - Fever-Tree Championships - The Queen's Club, London (grass)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Week 25 - ATP 500 - Fever-Tree Championships - The Queen's Club, London (grass)

the addict · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Guessing that scheduling Andy for Tues afternoon has more to do with the fact that Kyrgios is still in Germany, where he has just taken the 1st set off Federer.

Kyrgios lost to Federer today, albeit in a final-set tie-break.

flamingowings · All-time great

I am seeing Andy playing Queens as a way to assess his fitness. Practice only gets you so far. I still expect him to withdraw from Wimbledon.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

NB James was pretty diffident and lackadaisical in his match; I know he's always a bit 'blank' and blasé, and that's just his style, not necessarily what's within, but it's not pleasant to watch.

On top of which, when Bambi - who is held together with string and scotchtape - ran in like a mad thing, just about picked up James' excellent drop shot, at full stretch, and dinked it back over and then went skidding over, crashing to the floor quite heavily, James did nothing - barely asked how he was, just looked cross that the ball had back come over. It alienated the crowd (well, me definitely, and the others a bit) and was out of order.

John Millman, on the other hand, was the most fairplay, kindly guy I've seen. I'm a big fan of his now (decent tennis too).

Firstly, when Mahut took a heavy crash, catching his foot, and going flying, Millman could not have been more attentive, fetching towels, telling the umpire to wait, asking Nico if he needed a trainer etc. etc.
Maybe even more impressive was that in the 3rd set TB, when the match was down to the wire, Nico hit a mega serve, Millman's return was sailing wide, and just before it bounced a ball from another court came onto the other side of the court and the umpire called a let. Mahut started to remonstrate with the umpire but Millman just went 'your point' and moved to the next service box. It was very good of him, the right thing to do, and rewarded - coz he won

Priesty · Challenger level

flamingowings wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
L32: Stan Wawrinka (SUI) WR 263 (CH = 3 in January 2014) vs (WC) Cameron Norrie WR 79 (= CH)
L32: (WC) Jay Clarke WR 220 (CH = 219 in April) vs (5) Sam Querrey (USA) WR 13 (CH 11 in February)
L32: Nick Kyrgios (AUS) WR 24 (CH = 13 in October 2016) vs Andy Murray WR 157 (CH = 1 in November 2016)
L32: Ryan Harrison (USA) vs (7) Kyle Edmund WR 18 (CH = 17 last month)
L32: Adrian Mannarino (FRA) WR 25 (CH = 22 in March) vs (WC) Dan Evans WR 530 (CH = 41 in March last year)
L32: Nick Kyrgios (AUS) WR 24 (CH = 13 in October 2016) vs Andy Murray WR 157 (CH = 1 in November 2016)
Head to head
0-5

Andy has lost 2 sets to Nick in the 5 times they have met. Last meeting Wimbledon 2016, Murray winning 7-5, 6-1, 6-4. I remember that match, the 2nd set was a tank job. That said I think Nick has beaten Andy in the Hopman Cup or something like that.

Jay would have been better off playing Ilkley.

-- Edited by flamingowings on Saturday 16th of June 2018 11:54:27 AM

-- Edited by flamingowings on Saturday 16th of June 2018 11:59:29 AM

Have to agree about Jay, having watched him close up against Kamke the other day I am not at all convinced he is ready for this level of competition at this moment in time, but wish him all the best...

flamingowings · All-time great

I guess though, if the orgs give you a WC then how can you really refuse it? Shame though because Jay hasn't won a (singles) match yet and I doubt he will here.

Shhh · Challenger level

Coup Droit wrote:
NB James was pretty diffident and lackadaisical in his match; I know he's always a bit 'blank' and blasé, and that's just his style, not necessarily what's within, but it's not pleasant to watch.

On top of which, when Bambi - who is held together with string and scotchtape - ran in like a mad thing, just about picked up James' excellent drop shot, at full stretch, and dinked it back over and then went skidding over, crashing to the floor quite heavily, James did nothing - barely asked how he was, just looked cross that the ball had back come over. It alienated the crowd (well, me definitely, and the others a bit) and was out of order.

John Millman, on the other hand, was the most fairplay, kindly guy I've seen. I'm a big fan of his now (decent tennis too).

Firstly, when Mahut took a heavy crash, catching his foot, and going flying, Millman could not have been more attentive, fetching towels, telling the umpire to wait, asking Nico if he needed a trainer etc. etc.
Maybe even more impressive was that in the 3rd set TB, when the match was down to the wire, Nico hit a mega serve, Millman's return was sailing wide, and just before it bounced a ball from another court came onto the other side of the court and the umpire called a let. Mahut started to remonstrate with the umpire but Millman just went 'your point' and moved to the next service box. It was very good of him, the right thing to do, and rewarded - coz he won

Interesting read Coup, thank you

Oakland2002 · All-time great

The Milkman is Head and shoulders my favourite Aussie player, he got lots of very positive press when he finally hit the top 100 and got in the main draw at Wimbledon a couple of years back.

I think his sympathetic response to his opponents injury is not only the product of being a top bloke with a Christian upbringing but also the large amount of his career he has spent battling inuries. I say that as an evangelical atheist who quite likes the "just be nice bit of Christianity" which is much easier to say than do.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 16th of June 2018 08:17:49 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Ok, just me, and maybe unduly pessimistic, but having watched (in the distance) Andy practicing for the past two hours at Queens, I didn't think he looked anything like match fit.

But there were a lot of people watching more closely, so maybe they know better. (And, anyway, all that really matters is what the great man thinks himself)

But it was a pretty tame practice, IMHO, with Delgado for a chunk, and a lot of time spent just on serve, not much moving - when compared to how Dimitrov, Stan, Novak, all the others, were practicing, it was a lot more reserved.

NB For those who are interested in this sort of thing, Cam spent his hour or so practicing with Tiafoe, and Kyle was with Cilic (I think, long way away, but pretty sure). Didn't see Jay.

Thanks, CD. Rather sounds that Andy's not really ready, and he said he wasn't coming back unless and until he was ready.

Guess the Wimbledon urge has been too great and if he can test himself at Queen's with very little danger of a setback then fair enough I guess, let him find out on the match court ...

Mark1968 · Intermediate Club Player

Shhh wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
NB James was pretty diffident and lackadaisical in his match; I know he's always a bit 'blank' and blasé, and that's just his style, not necessarily what's within, but it's not pleasant to watch.

On top of which, when Bambi - who is held together with string and scotchtape - ran in like a mad thing, just about picked up James' excellent drop shot, at full stretch, and dinked it back over and then went skidding over, crashing to the floor quite heavily, James did nothing - barely asked how he was, just looked cross that the ball had back come over. It alienated the crowd (well, me definitely, and the others a bit) and was out of order.

John Millman, on the other hand, was the most fairplay, kindly guy I've seen. I'm a big fan of his now (decent tennis too).

Firstly, when Mahut took a heavy crash, catching his foot, and going flying, Millman could not have been more attentive, fetching towels, telling the umpire to wait, asking Nico if he needed a trainer etc. etc.
Maybe even more impressive was that in the 3rd set TB, when the match was down to the wire, Nico hit a mega serve, Millman's return was sailing wide, and just before it bounced a ball from another court came onto the other side of the court and the umpire called a let. Mahut started to remonstrate with the umpire but Millman just went 'your point' and moved to the next service box. It was very good of him, the right thing to do, and rewarded - coz he won

Interesting read Coup, thank you

Always nice when people just do the right thing in life...it's never that difficult. As for Wardy I guess he's going through the motions until he get's his annual Wimby WC and can walk away from the game with a bit of cash in his pocket - we'll see?

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
Ok, just me, and maybe unduly pessimistic, but having watched (in the distance) Andy practicing for the past two hours at Queens, I didn't think he looked anything like match fit.

But there were a lot of people watching more closely, so maybe they know better. (And, anyway, all that really matters is what the great man thinks himself)

But it was a pretty tame practice, IMHO, with Delgado for a chunk, and a lot of time spent just on serve, not much moving - when compared to how Dimitrov, Stan, Novak, all the others, were practicing, it was a lot more reserved.

NB For those who are interested in this sort of thing, Cam spent his hour or so practicing with Tiafoe, and Kyle was with Cilic (I think, long way away, but pretty sure). Didn't see Jay.
Thanks, CD. Rather sounds that Andy's not really ready, and he said he wasn't coming back unless and until he was ready.
Guess the Wimbledon urge has been too great and if he can test himself at Queen's with very little danger of a setback then fair enough I guess, let him find out on the match court ...

If this report on the Beeb site is anything to go by, Andy's not exactly expecting fireworks himself! wink

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:

Maybe even more impressive was that in the 3rd set TB, when the match was down to the wire, Nico hit a mega serve, Millman's return was sailing wide, and just before it bounced a ball from another court came onto the other side of the court and the umpire called a let. Mahut started to remonstrate with the umpire but Millman just went 'your point' and moved to the next service box. It was very good of him, the right thing to do, and rewarded - coz he won

Phil Mickleson, take note.

flamingowings · All-time great

Cam and Jay play tomorrow plus Kyle and Jamie in the doubles.

Will definitely be watching Cam and Jay and will try and report back.

-- Edited by flamingowings on Sunday 17th of June 2018 06:19:52 PM

JonH · All-time great

flamingowings wrote:
Cam and Jay play tomorrow plus Kyle and Jamie in the doubles.
Will definitely be watching Cam and Jay and will try and report back.

-- Edited by flamingowings on Sunday 17th of June 2018 06:19:52 PM

Just catching up, are you doing Queens Monday and Birmingham Tuesday? That sounds great! Do you have any other viewing plans later in the week/weeks ahead?

We have a full on project just started in London that is going to keep me busy and no time off available so going to just enjoy watching tennis from afar this season. Oh well.

flamingowings · All-time great

Hi Jon - I am indeed! All the way down from Scotland. Last year I had 3 days at the French in week 1. I think my next aim will be Madrid Masters plus 1 in UK. No further plans other than watching at home after this - this is my "big" holiday as it were.

Its not so much the cost of tournament tickets as everything else (hotel/travel) which makes it expensive. Gutted to miss Andy and Kyle but all in all, very pleased with the players I should see.

-- Edited by flamingowings on Sunday 17th of June 2018 10:19:52 PM