Wimbledon - Day 1 OOP

First topic message reminder :

Centre Court Matches (1pm start): 
Victor Hanescu v Roger Federer [3] 
Kristina Mladenovic v Maria Sharapova [3] 
Benjamin Becker v Andy Murray [2] 

Court 1 Matches (1pm start): 
Maria Joao Koehler v Victoria Azarenka [2] 
Rafael Nadal [5] v Steve Darcis 
Lleyton Hewitt v Stanislas Wawrinka [11] 


Full schedule:
http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/scores/schedule/index.html

Match of the day: Hewitt v Wawrinka
Both players come in with grass court form; Hewitt after reaching the semi final at Queens, Wawrinka after reaching the final in 's-Hertogenbosch.
Hewitt's run at Queens included some wins against quality players. The fact that Hewitt has had a week in Wimbledon already while Wawrinka will only just arrive may work in Hewitt's favour, however Wawrinka has played well at both slams this year, and I don't expect Hewitt to stop him here.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 4.       

Other matches of note:
Baghdatis v Cillic, Verdasco v Malisse
James Ward plays Yen-Hsun Lu for a chance to play (probably) Murray in R2. Would like to see the local guy win that and get a chance to play on Centre in his career.

Come on - Nadal wants to win this for sure, if he can he will.  He's never going to say that he's got big knee problems beforehand.  IF he thinks he's up to playing he's going to give it a go and see what happens.

He's won Wimbledon twice, he's won Indian Wells this year (ending his drought of 2.5 years without a win away from clay).  If he's fully fit and functioning he's not going to go 2-0 and a break down.  If he loses it's pretty certain that there's a problem knee-wise.  It may be more a mental problem than a physical problem, but it's still a knee problem.

I'm never that bothered if players explain losses away by pre-match injuries - I count a loss as a loss, I'm not in the woulda coulda shoulda club - the names engraved on the cups tell the history of tennis.

Notice this isn't Nadal playing any better but Darcis making errors

shivfan wrote:Dustin Brown beats Garcia Lopez at three, three and three....

Yes!!! What a legend and a good win for the Jamaicerman.

Like I don't want to hear about Roger's back everytime he loses...

I honestly thought that Darcis would mentally fold eventually, but he played excellently to dig his way out of that hole. Can he really do this?

What is wrong with Rafa?!

Bad knees or not these drop shots are truly horrendous

Oh I suppose those missed drop shots are also because of bad knees

He's literally just hanging in

legendkillarV2 wrote:Like I don't want to hear about Roger's back everytime he loses...

Oh please LK,

Hardly anyone talks about Roger's back when he loses except if it's blindingly obvious that he's got a problem.

The difference with Nadal is that EVERYTIME he loses the knees are cited.

emancipator wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:I don't believe Nadal's injured for a second.  He can't be, he was moving fine during the FO and unless he's slipped in the shower, he's not injured.  I think today's just shown he doesn't have much confidence in his **** off of clay.  The decision not to play a warm-up tournament has come back to haunt him here.

Absolutely agree.

Why is there always an assumption that his knees are the cause of any defeat? He hasn't called the trainer and he's not exactly shy in doing that.

Are you watching the match? If his knees not bothering him, then I'm a chinaman. He's failing to pick up half volleys at the net (when he actually gets there) and has no sustained confidence in his left leg

emancipator wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:Like I don't want to hear about Roger's back everytime he loses...

Oh please LK,

Hardly anyone talks about Roger's back when he loses except if it's blindingly obvious that he's got a problem.

The difference with Nadal is that EVERYTIME he loses the knees are cited.

You and I know that is the biggest load of lovesacks!

It's not as though Darcis hasn't been good value for this, either. So frequently on this forum we've all bemoaned the lack of fight when lower ranked players step on court against the top of the game, but this guy's kept going for his shots and has demonstrated some real nerve throughout. No collapse yet, and now he's serving for the match. If he can keep his mind turned off for another few minutes...

To be fair, it looks more mental than physical, he's missed sitters at the net that he would get 19 times out of 20

Vamos...

Darcis deserves massive credit for high quality grass tennis he has produced this match.

emancipator wrote:

The difference with Nadal is that EVERYTIME he loses the knees are cited.

What by the Nadal camp? He lost his first match - I never heard it mentioned.

He lost to Murray at the back of 2011 - knees not mentioned again

Didn't he lose 6 on the trot to Novak - knees not mentioned once

Please stop disrespecting a great champ

banbrotam wrote:

emancipator wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:I don't believe Nadal's injured for a second.  He can't be, he was moving fine during the FO and unless he's slipped in the shower, he's not injured.  I think today's just shown he doesn't have much confidence in his **** off of clay.  The decision not to play a warm-up tournament has come back to haunt him here.

Absolutely agree.

Why is there always an assumption that his knees are the cause of any defeat? He hasn't called the trainer and he's not exactly shy in doing that.

Are you watching the match? If his knees not bothering him, then I'm a chinaman. He's failing to pick up half volleys at the net (when he actually gets there) and has no sustained confidence in his left leg

I'm not, I'll admit that. I know I sound like a prat at the moment and maybe I'm wrong.

Well done, Darcis...

legendkillarV2 wrote:Like I don't want to hear about Roger's back everytime he loses...

It's fine talking about knees and backs and wrists and what have you's, it doesn't affect the name on the cup.  What I don't agree with is speculation as to what the player would do without the injury or asterisks.  That sort of talk is bankrupt as tennis is a game which requires physical good health.  I add two caveats:

a. I am more relaxed if a player suffers a bad luck injury in the course of a match (although if it's due to being stretched out by his opponent that's not the same thing);

b. If you are using an H2H to try and predict how a future match will turn out you have to take into account a loss which may be explained by injury.

So - is Nadal's Wimbledon win 2008 to be considered in the light of Fed's 'mono' - not if you read the name on the cup it's not, nor is Fed's win in the 2010 Australian Open to be discounted on the basis that the defending Champion had knee problems when knocked out by Ferrer.

Anyway............................... Murray takes the 2nd set. He's not playing great tennis but neither is Becker.

barrystar wrote:Come on - Nadal wants to win this for sure, if he can he will.  He's never going to say that he's got big knee problems beforehand.  IF he thinks he's up to playing he's going to give it a go and see what happens.

He's won Wimbledon twice, he's won Indian Wells this year (ending his drought of 2.5 years without a win away from clay).  If he's fully fit and functioning he's not going to go 2-0 and a break down.  If he loses it's pretty certain that there's a problem knee-wise.  It may be more a mental problem than a physical problem, but it's still a knee problem.

I'm never that bothered if players explain losses away by pre-match injuries - I count a loss as a loss, I'm not in the woulda coulda shoulda club - the names engraved on the cups tell the history of tennis.

Really Barry? He's been two sets down at W twice before.

Maybe it's possible that he can be outplayed every once in a while.

What a phenomenal final game this is by Darcis, I'm so impressed. Two match points...

ChequeredJersey wrote:To be fair, it looks more mental than physical, he's missed sitters at the net that he would get 19 times out of 20

But if you suddenly realised that you've got one leg to play, it will become mental

Well won, well deserved. Ruined my week

Fantastic - hooooooooooooooooooooooooooray.  Am I pleased about that.

In one word........incredible.

The Special Juan wrote:Anyway...............................  Murray takes the 2nd set.  He's not playing great tennis but neither is Becker.

Think Becker is old enough and tough enough to hang in  - so any straights sets victory would be good

Darcis superb play. Loved the aggressive approach.

Nadal well you have to ask why play if your not 100%. Not sure when he took to the practice courts of Wimbledon, but that would've given the biggest indication whether physically he could manage the BO5 format.

I feel like my guts have been ripped out. Worse than Rosol last year

Unbelievable. What a last game again vs Nadal to close out.

Just unbelievable. You have to feel for Nadal. 

Not (one of) his supporters though.

Darcis take a bow. That was an immense performance by him. Played the game not the situation and played some blinding winners and made Nadal play that extra shot which he couldn't pull off. Mammoth shock.

Worried about what that means for the future

Amazingly Rafa loses some points, given that he reached the 2nd round last year

ChequeredJersey wrote:I feel like my guts have been ripped out. Worse than Rosol last year

 he'll be back, don't worry. Plenty of other players left in the tournament to watch and cheer on. I'm sad to see him depart too, but also delighted for Darcis. What a match he's played.

I have started whistling "the drugs don't work" for some reason...

Good answer by Darcis to the insulting and classless question about "was he targeting Nadal's injury"

barrystar wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:Like I don't want to hear about Roger's back everytime he loses...

It's fine talking about knees and backs and wrists and what have you's, it doesn't affect the name on the cup.  What I don't agree with is speculation as to what the player would do without the injury or asterisks.  That sort of talk is bankrupt as tennis is a game which requires physical good health.  I add two caveats:

a. I am more relaxed if a player suffers a bad luck injury in the course of a match (although if it's due to being stretched out by his opponent that's not the same thing);

b. If you are using an H2H to try and predict how a future match will turn out you have to take into account a loss which may be explained by injury.

So - is Nadal's Wimbledon win 2008 to be considered in the light of Fed's 'mono' - not if you read the name on the cup it's not, nor is Fed's win in the 2010 Australian Open to be discounted on the basis that the defending Champion had knee problems when knocked out by Ferrer.

 
I am in the camp of if your fit to take to court, then your fit enough.
 
Many players over the years have tweeked something or pulled something during a match. That is the key 'during' so if someone is 2 sets down and then struggles it shouldn't be made out that the whole match balanced on that factor.

I suggest to EVERYONE ... Nadal fans or Nadal haters other (jeep) that we keep things nice... this place is about to become a living hell.

I guess Roger does not have to worry about the prospect of facing his Nadal mental demons during Wimbledon 2013....

Oh well, Nadal is a 12-time grandslam winner and a holder of 8 French Open titles. No one can take that away from him

God I love this sport. 

Gutted for Rafa though. The longer it went on the worse his movement got. You have to wonder if this is something we'll have to get used to, Nadal struggling with injury and occasionally losing early.

Drug reference wind ups, the lot. Were all meant to be friends here, but i fear the worst soo seriously people, congratulate Darcis but be respectful to eachother

Think the draw in Rafa's half has become very interesting.

Darcis as I said deserves enormous respect. His net play was top.

banbrotam wrote:

emancipator wrote:

The difference with Nadal is that EVERYTIME he loses the knees are cited.

What by the Nadal camp? He lost his first match - I never heard it mentioned.

He lost to Murray at the back of 2011 - knees not mentioned again

Didn't he lose 6 on the trot to Novak - knees not mentioned once

Please stop disrespecting a great champ

What are you talking about?

Did I say the Nadal camp?

Have you listened to the commentary? All they've talked about is the knees. I'm obviously talking in general terms which includes pundits, media, fans etc.

Where is the disrespect to Rafa?

Anyone well done Darcis

Maybe he deserves a bit of respect.

Agreed Falzy. However I do take objection to be a Rafa hater. I most certainly am not.

As I say...I genuinely feel for him. But listening to the beeb now its all they talk about..his bloody Knees!!!!!!!

Darcy was amazing. Focus on that.

falzy21 wrote:I suggest to EVERYONE ... Nadal fans or Nadal haters other (jeep) that we keep things nice... this place is about to become a living hell.

Agreed. Darcis deserved his win and played some superb tennis to get there. Even if Rafa never wins another match on grass (unlikely) he can still be proud of what he has achieved in the past

falzy21 wrote:I suggest to EVERYONE ... Nadal fans or Nadal haters other (jeep) that we keep things nice... this place is about to become a living hell.

Agreed

But some Rafa fans invited this with their over confidence and indignant reaction to him been seeded five

Commiserations to Nadal fans on his loss.

Take a bow Steve Darcis.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Good answer by Darcis to the insulting and classless question about "was he targeting Nadal's injury"

I heard that. Was embarrassing. "Did you target his knees??!!"