Wimbledon Day 3

First topic message reminder :

GOATgate

Roger Federer has been told he cannot wear trainers with orange soles again at Wimbledon. The Swiss defending champion wore the trainers as he eased past Victor Hanescu 6-3 6-2 6-0 in the first round.

The official guidelines state that: "Including the warm-up period, players at Wimbledon must be dressed almost entirely in white."

Worthy of a DQ


Centre Court - 1.00pm

Flavia Pennetta (ITA) v Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [2]
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) [6] v Ernests Gulbis (LAT)
Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Roger Federer (SUI) [3]

No.1 Court - 1.00pm

Fernando Verdasco (ESP) v Julien Benneteau (FRA) [31]
Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) v Andy Murray (GBR) [2]
Petra Kvitova (CZE) [8] v Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)

No.2 Court - 11.30am

Dustin Brown (GER) v Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)
Petra Cetkovska (CZE) v Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) [9]
Michelle Larcher De Brito (POR) v Maria Sharapova (RUS) [3]
Kenny De Schepper (FRA) v Marin Cilic (CRO) [10]

HM Murdoch wrote:You what?!!!

3 days play and now Novak has the difficult draw?!

Amazing run by Fed that had to come to an end sooner or later. At least it came against an opponent playing a great game.

Wouldn't it just be awful if he went out tomorrow....

bogbrush wrote:

kemet wrote:As I said, all who mocked Nadal yesterday, maybe they mocked too soon...

What a horrible miss on Roger's backhand at matchpoint....

Abysmal error. At least make him hit a winner.

Tsk tsk, no need to start looking for fights.

What fight am I trying to pick?

That was shocking on matchpoint down. Once it got to a rally, I sensed the end result.

Sorry for all you Fed fans.. believe me I know how it feels
But he was outplayed by Stakhovsky who played the match of his life just like Rosol did last year. He couldn´t do a thing wrong.

Dont stop it hurting though does it

I guess it would be cool if Murray won now.

kemet wrote:As I said, all who mocked Nadal yesterday, maybe they mocked too soon...

What a horrible miss on Roger's backhand at matchpoint....

Abysmal error. At least make him hit a winner.

well it did take 10 years for this to happen and the guy is nearly 32 vs. inprime of Nadal so................ it happens

I'm a little shocked.. a true end to a long era in tennis.. Congrats to Stat though- he had nerves of steel and simply played amazing.

I'm not sure where Fed goes from here...

Hes gone before the second week for the first time in 10 years... ive gorwn up watching this guy cruise through early rounds... i dont know what to think

Maybe we shouldn't be too surprised as we all know it was going to end sometime soon. I think this is probably the beginning of the end for Federer. I don't expect to see him in another slam final.

CAS wrote:Sampras must have watched that and thought, "well if he could do that how well would I have done against Roger?"

Well to be fair we know he'd beat 2013 Federer. 2006 is a different matter.

We know what happened to Pete in 2001.

Meh doesn't hurt so much, Stak played the truer grass court tennis.

You have to keep these things in perspective - so sorry to see him go, but what a win for Stakhovsky who played magnificently.

World #5 Roger Federer. Never thought Id hear that.

Silver wrote:

bogbrush wrote:Well played Stakhovsky!!!!

Great to see grass court tennis.

Absolutely right. Magnificent match, if Federer has to have his record come to an end then I'm glad it was to a performance like that.

@kemet, do me a favour. Most of us were not mocking Nadal or his fans at all.

If it is does not apply, then why are you so bothered by it? I said for all who were mocking Nadal.

I never said everyone...

Wow!! I sit here with a smile on my face.

One of the truly remarkable streaks in sport comes to an end.

What a match from Stakhovsky. Played serve and volley throughout. Fantastic. Fed just had no answer.

falzy21 wrote:Hes gone before the second week for the first time in 10 years... ive gorwn up watching this guy cruise through early rounds... i dont know what to think

falzy I can tell you its best not to think. It hurts too much

This is the biggest set of collective upsets I've seen in the first two rounds at a slam. I'm glad that I picked Murray to win the whole thing now, think he should manage it from here.

Federer had his chances, didn't play a bad match at all (check the stats), and the run had to end one day. But what a wonderful level of play Stakhovsky showed, he deserved every moment of that reception. Congratulations to him

Haddie-nuff wrote:Sorry for all you Fed fans.. believe me I know how it feels
But he was outplayed by Stakhovsky who played the match of his life just like Rosol did last year. He couldn´t do a thing wrong.

Dont stop it hurting though does it

I'm honestly not hurting, at all really.

I've been prepared for this, I've spent so long lamenting his long and gradual decline punctuated by great moments that its almost a relief. Obviously not that, but there's no sense of shock in me at all.

falzy21 wrote:Hes gone before the second week for the first time in 10 years... ive gorwn up watching this guy cruise through early rounds... i dont know what to think

I'll second that. I can now sit back and enjoy Wimbledon.

If someone had put a performance in like that against him 3 or 4 years ago he'd probably also have lost.

falzy21 wrote:Im in tears... ive no idea what kind of tears they are...

Commiserations, Falzy. I have seen many a change-of-guard.

Just wow. Federer, Hewitt, Sharapova. 9 Wimbledons between them.

Does this give Jerzy Janowicz a chance now to make a name for himself?

Haddie-nuff wrote:Sorry for all you Fed fans.. believe me I know how it feels
But he was outplayed by Stakhovsky who played the match of his life just like Rosol did last year. He couldn´t do a thing wrong.

Dont stop it hurting though does it

Nice gestures Haddie , but lets be frank Fed looked completely out of power which made Sergy reaching for his strokes way too easy, while Sergy played a very good game this is the maximum out of the current Fed, all good things come to an end and so is his quarter final streak.

Wow....just wow. What a weird tournament this year.
Amazing volleying by Sergey, shows aggressive S&V can still cut it on the faster surfaces. Murray must be loving his half of the draw now.

I'm on the same page as you BB though I still think he'll get to 20 slams.

Falzy I thought you were a Nadal fan.

kemet wrote:As I said, all who mocked Nadal yesterday, maybe they mocked too soon...

What a horrible miss on Roger's backhand at matchpoint....

Abysmal error. At least make him hit a winner.

Perhaps if you take it this much to heart watching sport isn't good for you?

Stakhovsky actually played a brilliant ball to force the error and while I'm sorry to see Fed go, it was lovely to see such wonderful play and it's great for the sport to have these guys really step up and take it to the top players.

bogbrush wrote:

CAS wrote:Sampras must have watched that and thought, "well if he could do that how well would I have done against Roger?"

Well to be fair we know he'd beat 2013 Federer. 2006 is a different matter.

We know what happened to Pete in 2001.

CAS oh CAS, this Federer don't have any power in his hand not stamina in his legs , so comparing this Fed to his prime is silly.

laverfan wrote:

falzy21 wrote:Im in tears... ive no idea what kind of tears they are...

Commiserations, Falzy. I have seen many a change-of-guard.

Yes LF Stakhovsky is the new guard, I suppose it's better than Ferrer though

What an absolutely mental first 3 days...

I think its proved one thing at least .. and I did say it in my predictions that a dark horse could well come up on the outside and win this.
I dont think Andy or Novak can afford to sit back and count their chickens... I really dont. Anything goes in this tournament when they appear to be playing on an ice rink out there

laverfan wrote:

falzy21 wrote:Im in tears... ive no idea what kind of tears they are...

Commiserations, Falzy. I have seen many a change-of-guard.

Exactly what it feels like. Now for the next generation to stake their claim.

How many years before the 2013 Wimbledon winner gets the mighty *?

time please wrote:

kemet wrote:As I said, all who mocked Nadal yesterday, maybe they mocked too soon...

What a horrible miss on Roger's backhand at matchpoint....

Abysmal error. At least make him hit a winner.

Perhaps if you take it this much to heart watching sport isn't good for you?

Stakhovsky actually played a brilliant ball to force the error and while I'm sorry to see Fed go, it was lovely to see such wonderful play and it's great for the sport to have these guys really step up and take it to the top players.

I am disappointed, but life goes on.

Roger is an extremely wealthy man, unlike myself and I have my own goals.

So don't worry, I will get over it....

Biggest slam day i can remember either watching, or reading about in tennis history pages...

No * as long as they beat Djokovic.

When Rafa went out I lost a lot of interest in Wimbers... but after today I think its got really exciting... who next I wonder

I really don't think Federer's level was so bad today just that Stakhovsky played so brilliantly. He played the big points superbly and kept his head even under immense pressure. From what I saw Roger just never got to grips with Stak's serve. It was a match Stak deserved to win. For Federer it doesn't change much - still the greatest grass courter and player of all-time. Commiserations Fed fans.

Lets not rush the "change of guard" talk.
Federer lost to a 27-year old
Nadal a 29-year old
Tsonga a 25-year old
In RG Fed lost to a 28-year old JW

kingraf wrote:How many years before the 2013 Wimbledon winner gets the mighty *?

Not if Sergy Wins it

Can Fed still be the year end no1?

Haddie-nuff wrote:I think its proved one thing at least .. and I did say it in my predictions that a dark horse could well come up on the outside and win this.
I dont think Andy or Novak can afford to sit back and count their chickens... I really dont. Anything goes in this tournament when they appear to be playing on an ice rink out there

Very good point. And in fairness, I don't think either will. They're the ones who have been waiting in line for Roger and Rafa to merely do what every other mulit-slam winner used to do (occassionaly get knocked in the early rounds of a slam) and aren't going to blow it

invisiblecoolers wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

CAS wrote:Sampras must have watched that and thought, "well if he could do that how well would I have done against Roger?"

Well to be fair we know he'd beat 2013 Federer. 2006 is a different matter.

We know what happened to Pete in 2001.

CAS oh CAS, this Federer don't have any power in his hand not stamina in his legs , so comparing this Fed to his prime is silly.

I know this isn't Federer at his best, but Stakhovsky is no Sampras either. That was my point, Im not saying I agree with it but I bet you Pete thought it

CaledonianCraig wrote:I really don't think Federer's level was so bad today just that Stakhovsky played so brilliantly. He played the big points superbly and kept his head even under immense pressure. From what I saw Roger just never got to grips with Stak's serve. It was a match Stak deserved to win. For Federer it doesn't change much - still the greatest grass courter and player of all-time. Commiserations Fed fans.

No, Federer didn't play badly for what he is today. It's those of us who have Fed2006 lodged in our minds who look upon it with such gloom.

Btw kingraf, you mentioned you'd been following Stak's progress since 2010, so...congrats good day for you with Nando winning as well!

Well won Stakhovsky. I can't help but feel a little sad now

CAS wrote:

invisiblecoolers wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

CAS wrote:Sampras must have watched that and thought, "well if he could do that how well would I have done against Roger?"

Well to be fair we know he'd beat 2013 Federer. 2006 is a different matter.

We know what happened to Pete in 2001.

CAS oh CAS, this Federer don't have any power in his hand not stamina in his legs , so comparing this Fed to his prime is silly.

I know this isn't Federer at his best, but Stakhovsky is no Sampras either. That was my point, Im not saying I agree with it but I bet you Pete thought it

Well we don't have to speculate, we know what would happen if they met.

banbrotam wrote:

Haddie-nuff wrote:I think its proved one thing at least .. and I did say it in my predictions that a dark horse could well come up on the outside and win this.
I dont think Andy or Novak can afford to sit back and count their chickens... I really dont. Anything goes in this tournament when they appear to be playing on an ice rink out there

Very good point. And in fairness, I don't think either will. They're the ones who have been waiting in line for Roger and Rafa to merely do what every other mulit-slam winner used to do (occassionaly get knocked in the early rounds of a slam) and aren't going to blow it

No not if they have anything to do with it.. but try telling that to an inspired opponent.

CaledonianCraig wrote:I really don't think Federer's level was so bad today just that Stakhovsky played so brilliantly. He played the big points superbly and kept his head even under immense pressure. From what I saw Roger just never got to grips with Stak's serve. It was a match Stak deserved to win. For Federer it doesn't change much - still the greatest grass courter and player of all-time. Commiserations Fed fans.

Fed's level was ok, very much the same as Halle 2013, Sergy sense the blood that this is not invincible Fed any more and played him the right time with the right attitude and deservedly won, I am more jealous of his GF than his win over Fed.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Well won Stakhovsky. I can't help but feel a little sad now

Wanna be in our gang our gang our gang !!!!!!!

Haddie-nuff wrote:I think its proved one thing at least .. and I did say it in my predictions that a dark horse could well come up on the outside and win this.
I dont think Andy or Novak can afford to sit back and count their chickens... I really dont. Anything goes in this tournament when they appear to be playing on an ice rink out there

Becker and McEnroe both discounted that - grass has always been slippery and guys like Federer and Murray have kept their feet. Tsonga blamed the weather rather than the courts.

I do think that Stakhovsky's win, Darcis' win and to a lesser extent Dustin Brown's sends a signal to all the guys that it is possible to beat the top players and it must send waves of hope pouring into the non seed locker rooms!

What a chance for Murray now - from the worst half of the draw, it is not Djokovic who looks to have the more dangerous banana skins!

bogbrush wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:I really don't think Federer's level was so bad today just that Stakhovsky played so brilliantly. He played the big points superbly and kept his head even under immense pressure. From what I saw Roger just never got to grips with Stak's serve. It was a match Stak deserved to win. For Federer it doesn't change much - still the greatest grass courter and player of all-time. Commiserations Fed fans.

No, Federer didn't play badly for what he is today. It's those of us who have Fed2006 lodged in our minds who look upon it with such gloom.

Like I said though, Roger on his day could beat any player but now he finds an opponent he can't beat - 'Old Father Time'. It comes to all players at some point in their career. Commiserations again but Stak would have been a match for ANYBODY today.