GBJ wrote:

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JonH comes home wrote:

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I agree with all the sentiments. I like the middle Sunday idea, the manic monday approach of all the last 16 matches always flattered to deceive; it always felt like it should be incredible but in reality never really produced epic matches and there was almost too much going on. So splitting the last 16 works better for me.
r
Re U14's, great - wonder if the other slams will follow suit and how big will that draw be, 64? and just singles?

Re Mixed - I am happy with 32; I actually believe mixed could and should be taken more seriously but to do that requires a change of approach from the authorities - make the event mean something in the context of a season, maybe a mixed ranking or some sort of year end event based on SLam results (obvious as that is where it is played), change the entry approach so it is more formal and structured to pre entries and not on site scrabbling around, boost the money as a consequence and get the ATP and WTA to work on publicising it together...the Thursday final I like; womens singles semis can be good or sometimes really dire and having it as part of that ticket package gives that day substance I believe...

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 I like what youre saying re mixed and hope something like this one day happens or even a more atp and wta promoted mixed team event that gains some real prestige in the game

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 Yes, the Hopman Cup getting an official status (and being continued) would have been a big help and replacement for that would be good.  There is no reason inherently why mixed shouldn't be prestigious. We saw from the Olympics how many of the mixed events from the Triathlon, through Swimming and Athletics relay events where exciting and no less important to the athletes. Yes, individual endeavour will always be paramount in sports, generally, or pure team events, but mixed doubles/mixed events are no lesser than mens and womens doubles, or shouldn't be. Badminton as a sport puts all 5 disciplines on a high footing and the events are taken very, very seriously     

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Wednesday 20th of October 2021 11:37:30 AM

indiana wrote:

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If and when the Slams and the players themselves indeed treat mixed doubles much more seriously I will then treat it more seriously.

Until then it's some often quite entertaining fare but of no great import and in tennis is quite a bit less than men's and women's doubles. 

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 Agreed re the last statement and agree re the first - that is my whole point I think you will find!

emmsie69 wrote:

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JonH comes home wrote:

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indiana wrote:

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If and when the Slams and the players themselves indeed treat mixed doubles much more seriously I will then treat it more seriously.

Until then it's some often quite entertaining fare but of no great import and in tennis is quite a bit less than men's and women's doubles. 

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 Agreed re the last statement and agree re the first - that is my whole point I think you will find!

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 Such a shame, from being in a position to really leading progression in sport, Tennis finds itself behind because they treat mixed as a filler.  Mixed sport is going to become far more prevalent and the Olympics showcased it well. The tennis authorities need to recognise that and act quickly.

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 Agreed

brendan wrote:

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The obvious problem of having enough mixed doubles to make it relevant is that there are so few tournaments in which both sexes play at the same time

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 If/when the ATP-WTA merger happens perhaps Mixed Doubles can become a regular feature at most tournaments.

Andy Murray has a good perspective on the mixed tournie changes


José Morgado Retweeted
Andy Murray
@andy_murray
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@TennisPodcast
I agree with the changes to mixed doubles making it a smaller draw but not moving final much earlier. I think if it started later due to the shorter draw you could make the sign in on Friday afternoon and it finished on Saturday/Sunday it would encourage more top players to play
11:31 AM · Oct 21, 2021·Twitter Web App
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Andy Murray
@andy_murray
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3h
Replying to
@andy_murray
and
@TennisPodcast
Top players who have lost early In singles would be more inclined to play mixed in this scenario I believe. Right now the sign in for mixed is on Wednesday morning I think..so only top singles players who have lost in the first round may decide to play.
Andy Murray
@andy_murray
·
3h
If you change that to Friday/Saturday sign in you increase that pool of players significantly. More top doubles players would play in this scenario too I think?Man shrugging

Interesting tweet posted mid Wimbledon this year but just been retweeted by Dustin Brown.

twitter.com/nicklester/status/1413113728460013572

It shows the percentage of points where serve/volley was used over the last 20 year in the Men's MD. The change is quite stark. Whether it's the nature of the grass, the type of balls or simply a change in the playing style of the participants, I'm not sure, but probably a combination of all three.

I do think the change is disappointing because one of the many endearing features of Wimbledon is that it offers something different.

Rosewall had the weakest serve imaginable, and yet put away beautiful volleys at the net. Difficult to do today I suppose. I remember his stunning run to the final in 74 when he kept bringing down one giant after another ( Passaral, smith , Newcombe ) from memory ?, with his extraordinary artistry, and at 39, ha. Remember what BJK said to come to the net is a beautiful thing !