Wimbledon - Week 2

[NDSUFREAK]

So who are your favorites for the coming matches? Men's and Women's.

[Grizalltheway]

Federer-duh. Plus, he just got a walkover against Tommy Haas, so he'll be well rested (but possibly a little rusty) from here on out. On the women's side, Serena is looking pretty strong, I'm hoping she can make a run at the title.xtwocentsx

[Grizalltheway]

Oh, and it needs to stop raining. :(

[NDSUFREAK]

It definitely needs to stop rainging, but that is the tradition of Wimbledon!!
It does look like Federer will have a easy ride to the finals with Roddick seeming to be the only one able to beat him (and that is at a long shot) I don't think either Williams sister will advance past this next round with Venus playing Sharapova and Serena playing world #1 Justine Henin-Hardine.

[Fresno St. Alum]

Maria Sharapova and somehow I hope Andy Roddick can win it.

[Grizalltheway]

Venus Williams defeats Sharapova 6-1, 6-3! Sharapova continues to be almost as overrated as Roddick. xnodx

[tribe_pride]

Venus Williams defeats Sharapova 6-1, 6-3! Sharapova continues to be almost as overrated as Roddick. xnodx

Yeah because both of them are so overrated. Let's see, she is the defending US Open champ and a former Wimbledon champ. She made it to the final of the Aussie Open this year and has done no worse than the round of 16 in a major in the last 3 years. She is also ranked number 2 and has been ranked number 1 in the world based on her performances. She is really so overrated.

As for Roddick. I don't know anyone who has compared him to Fed or Nadal so you can't say that he is overrated that way. Nobody will ever claim he is good at clay although he plays worse than he should for a player of his ability. He went through a long time when he slumped but since last wimbledon when he picked up Connors, he has played really well. He is 3 in the world. This is based on his play, not subjective rankings. Nobody thinks he is better than that.

[Grizalltheway]

Yeah because both of them are so overrated. Let's see, she is the defending US Open champ and a former Wimbledon champ. She made it to the final of the Aussie Open this year and has done no worse than the round of 16 in a major in the last 3 years. She is also ranked number 2 and has been ranked number 1 in the world based on her performances. She is really so overrated.

As for Roddick. I don't know anyone who has compared him to Fed or Nadal so you can't say that he is overrated that way. Nobody will ever claim he is good at clay although he plays worse than he should for a player of his ability. He went through a long time when he slumped but since last wimbledon when he picked up Connors, he has played really well. He is 3 in the world. This is based on his play, not subjective rankings. Nobody thinks he is better than that.


About Roddick, you obviously don't remember when he first got big and won the US Open, and how he was touted as the next Pete Sampras. His first round exit at the French proves that he is a one trick pony, he relies almost entirely on his big serve. As for Sharapova, I'll admit that she is a fierce competitor, but it just seems like she chokes when the stakes get high, her two grand slam victories excluded. I get the feeling that more Americans follow her these days than the Williams sisters, even though she's Russian.

[th0m]

I wonder why ;)

[Grizalltheway]

Gee, I can't guess xrolleyesx

http://cars.pictorials.us/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/Maria%20Sharapova%20(9).jpg

[tribe_pride]

About Roddick, you obviously don't remember when he first got big and won the US Open, and how he was touted as the next Pete Sampras. His first round exit at the French proves that he is a one trick pony, he relies almost entirely on his big serve. As for Sharapova, I'll admit that she is a fierce competitor, but it just seems like she chokes when the stakes get high, her two grand slam victories excluded. I get the feeling that more Americans follow her these days than the Williams sisters, even though she's Russian.

If you are talking about then, you are right. Over the past year or so, people have been a lot more realistic about him and he has lived up to those expectations. He plays really well on the Hard and grass and horrible on the clay. With Connors, he has gotten better on the volleys. Still not there yet though. Sounds like you have something against him.

As for Sharapova, you can't just say she chokes except for the 2 grand slams she has won. How many women have won 2 grand slams. She has also finished 2nd in the Aussie Open this year. All at the age of 20. 2 reasons why she is followed more than the Williams sisters. 1 - She is hot. 2 - The Williams sisters (or their father really) have made it hard to like them. If you watched Serena's match yesterday, she moved as well as she ever has. Who is going to buy that she had a tear of the calf muscle. Richard Williams is constantly on the tv making excuses, practicing gamesmanship, etc. They were annoying when they were younger but have gotten a lot more mature and easier to like now but their father who speaks for them makes it really hard to like them.

[spelunker64]

About Roddick, you obviously don't remember when he first got big and won the US Open, and how he was touted as the next Pete Sampras. His first round exit at the French proves that he is a one trick pony, he relies almost entirely on his big serve. As for Sharapova, I'll admit that she is a fierce competitor, but it just seems like she chokes when the stakes get high, her two grand slam victories excluded. I get the feeling that more Americans follow her these days than the Williams sisters, even though she's Russian.

Better talent than the last Russian hottie...

http://www.poster.net/kournikova-anna/kournikova-anna-photo-xl-anna-kournikova-6234273.jpg

[Grizalltheway]

If you are talking about then, you are right. Over the past year or so, people have been a lot more realistic about him and he has lived up to those expectations. He plays really well on the Hard and grass and horrible on the clay. With Connors, he has gotten better on the volleys. Still not there yet though. Sounds like you have something against him.

As for Sharapova, you can't just say she chokes except for the 2 grand slams she has won. How many women have won 2 grand slams. She has also finished 2nd in the Aussie Open this year. All at the age of 20. 2 reasons why she is followed more than the Williams sisters. 1 - She is hot. 2 - The Williams sisters (or their father really) have made it hard to like them. If you watched Serena's match yesterday, she moved as well as she ever has. Who is going to buy that she had a tear of the calf muscle. Richard Williams is constantly on the tv making excuses, practicing gamesmanship, etc. They were annoying when they were younger but have gotten a lot more mature and easier to like now but their father who speaks for them makes it really hard to like them.

I'll admit that Roddick has improved under Connors, but it just seems like before that he never really cared about improving his game, even he admits that he never devoted enough time to practice, he was just sort of living the tennis star lifestyle. I know he's not the only whiner on tour, but I hate the fact that he does it, especially with the challenge system now in place.
And yes, Richard Williams is obnoxious, but that shouldn't be a reason for Americans to root against them.xtwocentsx

[McNeese75]

And yes, Richard Williams is obnoxious, but that shouldn't be a reason for Americans to root against them.xtwocentsx

That is being wayyyyyyy to kind. xsmhx

[Gorilla89]

Gee, I can't guess xrolleyesx

http://cars.pictorials.us/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/Maria%20Sharapova%20(9).jpg


I used to be against ALL women's sports. But, this is quite the exception.xnodx

[tribe_pride]

I'll admit that Roddick has improved under Connors, but it just seems like before that he never really cared about improving his game, even he admits that he never devoted enough time to practice, he was just sort of living the tennis star lifestyle. I know he's not the only whiner on tour, but I hate the fact that he does it, especially with the challenge system now in place.
And yes, Richard Williams is obnoxious, but that shouldn't be a reason for Americans to root against them.xtwocentsx

I am liking the challenge system. Hopefully, it'll spread to all tourneys, all courts soon. Now, it's only on the main court of bigger tournaments.

I agree Richard shouldn't be a reason to hate the daughters but they seem to feed off of it (he is their father - can't really blame them). The fact though is that it is hard to think of them without their father since he speaks for them half the time. Serena even followed the match on Wednesday (where Richard iniitially said she had a tear of a muscle) by saying that she was only at 40-50%. BS. Henin just played better than she did. Serena was not slow in moving to the ball and a tear would not have let her move at all close to how she did. There is a reason Henin is 1 in the world. Quit making excuses and having daddy do it too. That said, Venus is a lot more likeable in my opinion.

[Grizalltheway]

I am liking the challenge system. Hopefully, it'll spread to all tourneys, all courts soon. Now, it's only on the main court of bigger tournaments.

I agree Richard shouldn't be a reason to hate the daughters but they seem to feed off of it (he is their father - can't really blame them). The fact though is that it is hard to think of them without their father since he speaks for them half the time. Serena even followed the match on Wednesday (where Richard iniitially said she had a tear of a muscle) by saying that she was only at 40-50%. BS. Henin just played better than she did. Serena was not slow in moving to the ball and a tear would not have let her move at all close to how she did. There is a reason Henin is 1 in the world. Quit making excuses and having daddy do it too. That said, Venus is a lot more likeable in my opinion.

I too am a fan of the challenge system, it fits very seamlessly into the game and is fun for the fans. It's only a matter of time before it saves the day on huge point that a linesman screws up. Venus it definitely more likable than Serena, especially with the way she completely uncommitted herself a couple years back.

[T-Dog]

Am I the only non-Cyprus citizen rooting for Baghdatis? I've been a fan for a couple years now because I'm a fan of good players from small countries where there the only good player.

Plus I like to say his name.

[Fresno St. Alum]

Roddick and Henin go down

[NDSUFREAK]

roddick.....up 2-0 in sets and 4-2 in the 3rdxnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x

[NE MT GRIZZ]

roddick.....up 2-0 in sets and 4-2 in the 3rdxnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x


....and LOSES the next three 6-7, 6-7, 6-8xnonono2x xnonono2x

[NDSUFREAK]

....and LOSES the next three 6-7, 6-7, 6-8xnonono2x xnonono2x

yeah, i knew that at that point. I guess I should've quoted fresno to make it more clear of how disapointing it was that he lost and he was up the much earlier in the match.

[Grizalltheway]

Hmm, I didn't see this match, but from what I heard Gasquet played an unbelievable last three sets and probably caught Roddick off guard. This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest upset of the tournament considering the way Roddick plays on grass.

[tribe_pride]

Hmm, I didn't see this match, but from what I heard Gasquet played an unbelievable last three sets and probably caught Roddick off guard. This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest upset of the tournament considering the way Roddick plays on grass.

True and as you said, I would give it to Gasquet winning as opposed to Roddick choking on this one. Didn't watch it but as one of my friends who was watching said, 93 winners and 23 aces versus 29 unforced errors and 4 double faults will win you a match anytime. Roddick's 60 winners and 22 aces versus 29 unforced errors and 4 doubles will win almost any match. From the sounds of it, best match of the tourney except for that doubles match that went 28-26 in the 5th. Gasquet probably put so much in this match that I could see Fed destroying him and same for Djokovick v. Nadal.

Venus with the easy win is my prediction.

[NDSUFREAK]

Hmm, I didn't see this match, but from what I heard Gasquet played an unbelievable last three sets and probably caught Roddick off guard. This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest upset of the tournament considering the way Roddick plays on grass.

gasquet played unbelievable to come back in those last 3 1/2 sets. Roddick went into the 3rd set tie break winning, count them, 18 straight tie breaks with a record of 24-3 throughout the year. He obviously then went on to lose 2 straight. BUT, the key thing in the come back was obviously the winners and his one handed back hand. He destroyed roddick going down the line with his back hand and roddick never seamed to learn from his mistake of hitting it there cross court with down the line open. Gasquet just couldn't miss that shot.

[Grizalltheway]

I think normally Federer-Gasquet would be a fairly entertaining match, both of them are great shot-makers, but I think Fed will be too well rested and Gasquet too tired for it to really be a close one.

[seantaylor]

Who's uglier? Venus or Forrest Whittaker?

[Grizalltheway]

Who's uglier? Venus or Forrest Whittaker?

Mauresmo (sp?) xnodx

[Grizalltheway]

Another Fed-Nadal final. Hopefully it'll be a good one. xnodx

[Grizalltheway]

Anyone not watching this match start doing so immediately! 2 sets apiece, Fed up 2-1 in the fifth. A classic in the making. xbowx xbowx

[Mountain Panther]

Anyone not watching this match start doing so immediately! 2 sets apiece, Fed up 2-1 in the fifth. A classic in the making. xbowx xbowx

Yeah this is a good one....especially since Nadal is playing hurt.

[Mountain Panther]

Who's uglier? Venus or Forrest Whittaker?

Venus is not ugly.

http://www.tennis.com/uploadedImages/Player_Profiles/WTA_Photo_Galleries/Venus_Williams/2006_12_08_vwilliams_profile_20.jpg