2013 Aegon Championships

by The Special Juan Sat 08 Jun 2013, 11:30 am

First topic message reminder :

It's my third favourite tournament of the year!!! Headlining the bill is Sir Andrew of Murray who will be hoping to do better than last year which we will not speak of. Second seed is Berdych. The third seed is DelPo who is making a long-awaited appearance at Queen's Club and the number 4 seed is grass court extraordinaire Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Amongst the other seeds are previous champions Sam Querrey and Marin Cilic and Federer-wannabe Grigor Dimitrov. Also, keep an eye on 12th seed Lukas Rosol as he has potential.

ualifying is currently underway with Feliciano "Deliciano" Lopez as the top seed. There are also a plethora of Brits in action including ex-British-number-2 Alex Bogdanovic.

The main draw isn't out yet unfortunately but I'll keep looking.

Draw: http://www.lta.org.uk/3G/Tournaments/AEGONChampionships/Draws/2013/MDS.pdf

by lydian Fri 14 Jun 2013, 3:53 pm

STOP PRESS: Old man advanced to the semi's today with win over Monfils at Halle Masters!

Tommy "Sanatogen" Haas
2013 Aegon Championships - Page 4 Artin_Elmayan

2013 Aegon Championships - Page 4 Artin_Elmayan

by time please Fri 14 Jun 2013, 3:55 pm

CaledonianCraig wrote:But what is the point time please?

Such a thread would only lead to what those leg-pulling posters hate (dare I say it) another era debate and then halfway through it all gets clear that nothing will be proven then posts start getting nasty so why bother?

Teasing is fine but going to the point of starting a thread knowing it will illicit a tone to take it down another 'era debate' well that is another thing.

Oh Craig, you can't be saying that because some people can't control their temper or have a tendency to be aggrieved or easily offended, then people who light up the forum with humour should self censor in case they offend!???

@lydian Laugh

by CaledonianCraig Fri 14 Jun 2013, 3:55 pm

lydian wrote:STOP PRESS: old man wins tennis match over Monfils at Halle Masters!

Heck. Looks like a former work colleague of mines. Laugh

by User 774433 Fri 14 Jun 2013, 3:58 pm

Good to see CC standing up against WUMmery.

by User 774433 Fri 14 Jun 2013, 3:59 pm

lydian wrote:STOP PRESS: Old man advanced to the semi's today with win over Monfils at Halle Masters!

Tommy "Sanatogen" Haas

lol

by time please Fri 14 Jun 2013, 3:59 pm

Red wrote:Good to see CC standing up against WUMmery.

Now look what you've done craig Wink

by The Special Juan Fri 14 Jun 2013, 3:59 pm

Oh dear, that's a bad, bad umpired decision.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:00 pm

time please wrote:
CaledonianCraig wrote:But what is the point time please?

Such a thread would only lead to what those leg-pulling posters hate (dare I say it) another era debate and then halfway through it all gets clear that nothing will be proven then posts start getting nasty so why bother?

Teasing is fine but going to the point of starting a thread knowing it will illicit a tone to take it down another 'era debate' well that is another thing.

Oh Craig, you can't be saying that because some people can't control their temper or have a tendency to be aggrieved or easily offended, then people who light up the forum with humour should self censor in case they offend!???

@lydian:laugh:

No I am merely trying to point out what such threads achieve. Nothing - except bitter posts when agreements can't be reached. Remember that people have complained in the past on here about the era debates/weak era/golden era stuff.

Having a gentle leg pull by the way is fine by me but there comes a time when it is taken further than that - in my opinion.

by lydian Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:02 pm

I demand a drug test on Haas right now....for Ilaris (rheumatoid arthritis), Flomax (enlarged prostate), Lucentis (ocular occlusion), Aricept (Alzheimers) and Spiriva (obstructive lung disease)!!!

by User 774433 Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:04 pm

When HE writes articles with just some top 20 H2H stats she gets abused and is labelled by writing 'drivel' by one mod, and the other mod is the only one who actually writes articles to try and genuinely wind people up.

Del Potro had a virus, and has now played many matches in quick succession including doubles and singles matches. The game is on his racket here I feel.

by lydian Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:06 pm

Portrait from Haas' younger playing days...
2013 Aegon Championships - Page 4 Tennis-1638

by time please Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:06 pm

Okay craig....perhaps leg pulling is bad - I've lost the will to live now Very Happy

lydian

- Tommy is a marvel and it's been wonderful to seeing him playing such vintage stuff. Whatever he is having, I wouldn't mind some!

by The Special Juan Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:06 pm

Question: If you were to strike up a conversation with Del Potro, do you call him Juan or Juan-Martin?

Laugh

lydian!!

by lags72 Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:09 pm

lydian - interesting comments from Hewitt's manager there, but I'm not sure there is much more to come in whatever remains of his playing career.

The manager might be taking his lead from Hewitt's own past assessment of his future prospects, and at times this has been wildly optimistic. Only the year before last, Hewitt was talking about qualifying for the WTF (am not making this up, it's on youtube somewhere I think ....)

I honestly believe that Hewitt's injuries - damaging though they have undoubtedly been - are too often cited for his lack of success in the last eight years or so. In reality, he has had long spells of being fit enough to get through to the latter stages of Slams and other events, only to fall when meeting players who were more talented/accomplished. He achieved great things at a very early age, but his game did not move on when others rose to prominence and I believe that was as much the cause of his very limited recent success as was his unfortunate series of injuries.

by User 774433 Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:09 pm

Haas is a great player, it's a pity he missed so many years due to the car crash followed by injury. Imagine how many slams he could have won?
It means that even at 35 he hasn't burnt out- because in terms of number of matches he hasn't played that many (compared to players similar to his age).
He's a fantastic talented player and really great to watch, make no doubt about it.

by lydian Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:10 pm

TP...you may appreciate this more than me...cough cough...a recent pic of Old Man Haas

2013 Aegon Championships - Page 4 Img_8561

It had to be from the waist up to avoid showing the support stockings he's wearing Laugh

Lags...I know, I know...but good to see these pre-Raphalite players doing well again Smile

by CaledonianCraig Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:11 pm

My point is that what Haas (more than Hewitt due to his ranking and consistent results) is doing is no different from what a number of 30+ aged players have done in the past by still being competitive at the top of tennis. Some, however, think this is some sort of a statement to the standard of tennis now when it is merely something that we have seen down the years in tennis.

In short, what I am saying, is stop seeing things that aren't there. It is not as if we have never seen 30+ players succeed in tennis is it?

by Dave. Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:11 pm

Think most people like the "old guard" having a run.

I'm of the opinion that the great players don't lose their greatness as they get older, but rather they play at the "great" level for less and less........if that makes sense!

by time please Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:11 pm

Would you call him Special though Juan? Cool

eh oop - Hewitt breaks in the third!

by time please Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:13 pm

lydian wrote:TP...you may appreciate this more than me...cough cough...a recent pic of Old Man Haas

It had to be from the waist up to avoid showing the support stockings he's wearing

Lags...I know, I know...but good to see these pre-Raphalite players doing well again

Thank you............and yes, I do! Very Happy

by CaledonianCraig Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:14 pm

Dave. wrote:Think most people like the "old guard" having a run.

I'm of the opinion that the great players don't lose their greatness as they get older, but rather they play at the "great" level for less and less........if that makes sense!

Makes perfect sense. It is the case in sports across the board as well - just look at the joyous scenes when Jack Nicklaus rolled back the years in his late 40's to win a Major.

by lydian Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:16 pm

lol TP...
Good point Dave

Hewitt's "Season Seas Over 50s Cod Liver Oil" kicks in and he goes 4-1 up Smile

by time please Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:18 pm

CaledonianCraig wrote:
Dave. wrote:Think most people like the "old guard" having a run.

I'm of the opinion that the great players don't lose their greatness as they get older, but rather they play at the "great" level for less and less........if that makes sense!

Makes perfect sense. It is the case in sports across the board as well - just look at the joyous scenes when Jack Nicklaus rolled back the years in his late 40's to win a Major.

And I absolutely agree with you both too, as, I think you will find, everyone on this thread. The leg pulling is because ....oh I haven't got the energy to explain anymore.................

by The Special Juan Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:18 pm

time please wrote:Would you call him Special though Juan?

eh oop - Hewitt breaks in the third!

I would, he's a special player indeed.

by lydian Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:19 pm

I saw "A. Murray vs B. Becker" on court next and thought they were about to wheel out a 45 year old from a local broom cupboard...I feared for Andy!

by time please Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:22 pm

lydian wrote:I saw "A. Murray vs B. Becker" on court next and thought they were about to wheel out a 45 year old...I feared for Andy!

wheeled out post luncheon, I presume! Wink

by The Special Juan Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:22 pm

I think DelPo's feeling the pace today but I imagine he'll have most of his fitness back for Wimbledon.

by time please Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:25 pm

Yes, in all seriousness it is very good to see him back and Hewitt moving him around the court is a quite stern test of his fitness atm.

by time please Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:26 pm

Well done Hewitt.....so sweet that his little boy has just joined him on court!

by HM Murdock Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:28 pm

We shouldn't be too surprised by Lleyton.

Although he is 32, most of his joints are only a couple of years old!

by bogbrush Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:28 pm

HM Murdoch wrote:
bogbrush wrote:Is the forum ready for me to write a long post about Lleyton Hewitt again?
A baseline player with game built around movement and good return?

Not really my kind of player.

You can get into a lot of trouble comparing those two players you know.....

by CaledonianCraig Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:28 pm

Well played Hewitt. He wore Del Potro down and showed up the Argentinian's limitations on grass. Next up Murray V Becker.

by The Special Juan Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:29 pm

HM Murdoch wrote:We shouldn't be too surprised by Lleyton.

Although he is 32, most of his joints are only a couple of years old!

by bogbrush Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:30 pm

lydian wrote:I saw "A. Murray vs B. Becker" on court next and thought they were about to wheel out a 45 year old from a local broom cupboard...I feared for Andy!

Lock up your daughters!

by lydian Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:31 pm

Run for your wives!!! lol

by bogbrush Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:32 pm

CaledonianCraig wrote:Well played Hewitt. He wore Del Potro down and showed up the Argentinian's limitations on grass. Next up Murray V Becker.

That's the thing about these transitional weak era physical wrecks; they've got too much guile for some current top tenners.

by time please Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:36 pm

right have to move now - c'mon Muzza!

by **laverfan** Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:38 pm

The Special Juan wrote:
HM Murdoch wrote:We shouldn't be too surprised by Lleyton.

Although he is 32, most of his joints are only a couple of years old!

Very soon we should see more robots join the slams. Laugh

PS: When is the release date for Federer v 2020 and Nadal v 2025?

by lags72 Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:39 pm

Yep.

Very unlikely to translate into much on the big stage, but even in a warm-up event it shows the old guard can still compete

by The Special Juan Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:45 pm

This is the Murray of old - just repeatedly playing the ball back and forcing his opponent into a mistake. And there's the break.

by lydian Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:50 pm

Will the real Becker please stand up...slowly that is, orthostatic hypotension is a real pain when you get older.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 14 Jun 2013, 4:50 pm

bogbrush wrote:
CaledonianCraig wrote:Well played Hewitt. He wore Del Potro down and showed up the Argentinian's limitations on grass. Next up Murray V Becker.
That's the thing about these transitional weak era physical wrecks; they've got too much guile for some current top tenners.

Hmm in this instance yes if you consider how much Hewitt loves grass whereas Del Potro loves it a little less so to be fair. Hewitt played a canny game and used all of his experience. Good luck to him and proves that you can still be competitive into your 30's.

by The Special Juan Fri 14 Jun 2013, 5:01 pm

If Kudla beats Tsonga then we shouldn't bother with the weekend matches Wink

by **laverfan** Fri 14 Jun 2013, 5:02 pm

CaledonianCraig wrote:
bogbrush wrote:
CaledonianCraig wrote:Well played Hewitt. He wore Del Potro down and showed up the Argentinian's limitations on grass. Next up Murray V Becker.
That's the thing about these transitional weak era physical wrecks; they've got too much guile for some current top tenners.

Hmm in this instance yes if you consider how much Hewitt loves grass whereas Del Potro loves it a little less so to be fair. Hewitt played a canny game and used all of his experience. Good luck to him and proves that you can still be competitive into your 30's.

As is Haas in Halle at 35+.

by lydian Fri 14 Jun 2013, 5:02 pm

CaledonianCraig wrote:Good luck to him and proves that you can still be competitive into your 30's.

Come on, beating a current young top 10'er is more than being a tad competitive.
Lord knows what you would say about nr. 32yo Fed and 35 yo Haas in Halle then...lol.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 14 Jun 2013, 5:21 pm

lydian wrote:
CaledonianCraig wrote:Good luck to him and proves that you can still be competitive into your 30's.
Come on, beating a current young top 10'er is more than being a tad competitive.
Lord knows what you would say about nr. 32yo Fed and 35 yo Haas in Halle then...lol.

Well can you think of a more accurate description? He is competing against fellow tennis pros is he not?

by The Special Juan Fri 14 Jun 2013, 5:37 pm

He's thrown in two really, really awful service games in this match so far. Not impressed.

by The Special Juan Fri 14 Jun 2013, 5:43 pm

Make that 3.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 14 Jun 2013, 6:13 pm

Yes a much more patchy performance from Andy today. It was one of those matches where he needlessly let his opponent into the match with some sloppy and a little too passive play. He started off really well but seemed to switch off and told himself the match was won long before it was. He really seems to love playing the game of brinkmanship. Murray won 6-4 7-6 but needs to up his level for a potential semi-final tomorrow against Tsonga.

by The Special Juan Fri 14 Jun 2013, 6:16 pm

Well he just about wins that match in the end. He played worse from when IC wrote that article onwards so he must be feeling the pressure Wink

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