Tennis Player - Cryptic Clue Thread

[JuliusHMarx]

First topic message reminder :

Let's see how this pans out.

First person to get the confirmed correct answer gets to post the next clue. No need to give the number of characters in the name, but the clue must be for the first and last name (although variants of first name are allowed e.g. Andy or Andrew)

1. Delivered without Jay, a robot, without Cy.

[laverfan]

Michael Russ-ell (L=leads)?

[JuliusHMarx]

Nope. I love this clue!

[laverfan]

Russell something?

It could be Russman or Rasmussen? Not sure?

[JuliusHMarx]

Nope - have a close look at the clue.

[laverfan]

a man leads to Russ - Russ (ian?)

Stalin? Safin?

a man = I

[JuliusHMarx]

Nope - you're missing what is quite literally in front of you when you look at the clue. I'm mean, but I'm clever!

[laverfan]

Within 'this' - a man = s + a + man + 'th'?

leads 'to Russ' = to + russ = stosur?

Samantha Stosur?

(A man - must be HBs comment on WTA athletes leading to this )

I almost would feel sheepish, if this is correct. Thank you for making me 'look' again.

[JuliusHMarx]

Correct
Within thi (s - a man tha) t leads to Russ, in a roundabout away

[laverfan]

JHM... I am brain-cramped today. Can you please provide a clue?

[JuliusHMarx]

Sounds like I'm getting hitched to crazy oil brat.

[laverfan]

Mary-on Bart-oli (Brat oil)?

[JuliusHMarx]

Yes (marryin' sounds like Marion, rather than Mary-on)

[laverfan]

I kept thinking about Maid Marion and Robin Hood.

I have my work cut out if I want to graduate from the JHM School of Crosswords.

Let me think of a clue, JHM. (Will try my best - in Nadal's voice).

[time please]

These are brilliant - you are all seriously, laterally thinking wise, well endowed I have always wanted to be able to do cryptic crosswords but my brain just works in one direction only I think. Going to study this thread when I have some time and try but first page makes me feel very thick headed already!!!

All I can think of is Marat (sounds like married) and I can't make Safin fit at all except first syllable is the same as for Saddam

Told you I was rubbish

[JuliusHMarx]

These are brilliant - you are all seriously, laterally thinking wise, well endowed I have always wanted to be able to do cryptic crosswords but my brain just works in one direction only I think. Going to study this thread when I have some time and try but first page makes me feel very thick headed already!!!

All I can think of is Marat (sounds like married) and I can't make Safin fit at all except first syllable is the same as for Saddam

Told you I was rubbish

TP, it's often a matter of practice. Once you get used to the way clues are written, certain patterns emerge. E.g. 'Sounds like' or 'we hear' usually means a word that sounds like another one e.g. Marion = marryin'. Also a good clue will use past/present tense correctly e.g. 'getting hitched' = marrying, whereas 'get hitched' = marry.
Any word/phrase such as 'mixed up', 'crazy', 'jumbled' etc is usually an anagram.
'Within' or 'in' can mean one word inside another e.g. Sounds like a smell within a bandage = Soderling because 'oder' sounds like 'odour' and it's in 'sling' which = bandage.
It also helps, especially with names, if you can break the clue down into the part which gives the first name and the part which gives the last name e.g. 'Getting hitched'/'crazy oil brat'.

[time please]

These are brilliant - you are all seriously, laterally thinking wise, well endowed I have always wanted to be able to do cryptic crosswords but my brain just works in one direction only I think. Going to study this thread when I have some time and try but first page makes me feel very thick headed already!!!

All I can think of is Marat (sounds like married) and I can't make Safin fit at all except first syllable is the same as for Saddam

Told you I was rubbish

TP, it's often a matter of practice. Once you get used to the way clues are written, certain patterns emerge. E.g. 'Sounds like' or 'we hear' usually means a word that sounds like another one e.g. Marion = marryin'. Also a good clue will use past/present tense correctly e.g. 'getting hitched' = marrying, whereas 'get hitched' = marry.
Any word/phrase such as 'mixed up', 'crazy', 'jumbled' etc is usually an anagram.
'Within' or 'in' can mean one word inside another e.g. Sounds like a smell within a bandage = Soderling because 'oder' sounds like 'odour' and it's in 'sling' which = bandage.
It also helps, especially with names, if you can break the clue down into the part which gives the first name and the part which gives the last name e.g. 'Getting hitched'/'crazy oil brat'.

I shall practice away Julius - it is a great thread btw

[laverfan]

Clue - Buy one get one free sounds like a cocktail for the Greek conqueror.

(Bit silly... ). Hope TP can join and Newballs comes back.

[JuliusHMarx]

Alex 'BOGOFmolotov' Bogomolov

[laverfan]

Alex 'BOGOFmolotov' Bogomolov

Very good, JHM. Your turn.

[JuliusHMarx]

Break the lock? Sounds like they should be in Hustle.

[laverfan]

Burgle, pick, steal = Break the lock? It could also mean break the word 'lock' in parts.

They should be in Hustle = Capital H seems to indicate a noun?

Schuettler?

[JuliusHMarx]

Burgle, pick, steal - along the right lines - the right word would literally break the lock on the door.
Hustle is a UK TV show - google it to see what's it's about

[laverfan]

Explode, detonate, hammer, crack, crowbar, blow? Too many choices.

Still reading about 'Hustle' and tricksters, con artists, et al.

[JuliusHMarx]

It's another word for crowbar and also the verb of using a crowbar.

[newballs]

Longshot - Jimmy Connors

[laverfan]

Longshot - Jimmy Connors

Now I really feel sheepish.

[djlovesyou]

That's a good one.

[JuliusHMarx]

Longshot - Jimmy Connors

Yep

[newballs]

Means has got up in a roundabout way to go in other words to the restroom

[laverfan]

Loo, toilet, WC = restroom?

'Means' = Sean Moore?

[newballs]

LF restroom as in sounds like a boy's name

[JuliusHMarx]

Murphy Jenson (Gents-on?)

[laverfan]

JHM was quicker on the button.

[newballs]

apologies for the crappy clue.

Should have read is a boy's name rather than sounds like (one)

[laverfan]

apologies for the crappy clue.

Should have read is a boy's name rather than sounds like (one)

You do not have to apologise. I am still learning.

[laverfan]

Murphy Jenson (Gents-on?)

Your turn.

[JuliusHMarx]

Murphy Jenson (Gents-on?)

Your turn.

That wasn't the right answer, surely?

[newballs]

JHM you are indeed correct. It wasn't the right answer.

One of this current player's name is an alternative for a restroom and the other is what Lazarus was with a certain Messiah's help (in a roundabout way)

[JuliusHMarx]

John Rose (or something along those lines)

[newballs]

JHM getting warmer.

Change of tense and reordering should just about do it.

[JuliusHMarx]

John Isner (Risen)

[newballs]

Yep. John "5 set specialist" Isner it was.

[laverfan]

John Isner (Risen)

He does 'rise' above others at 6' 10".

[JuliusHMarx]

It's all wrong i.e. Santa lies!

[newballs]

Apparenttly it's an Americanised spelling of Eisner. Austrian family name originally meaning one who deals with ironware.

[laverfan]

Nicolas Almagro?

[newballs]

Klaus someone or other?

[laverfan]

Apparenttly it's an Americanised spelling of Eisner. Austrian family name originally meaning one who deals with ironware.

I thought it was derived from German Eichner.

[laverfan]

JHM... Is it Male or Female? Active or Retired?

I can think of Claudia Kohde-Kilsch as a derivative of Klaus.

[JuliusHMarx]

Male retired.

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