Wimbledon Day 8 or 9

First topic message reminder :

There's some ladies on. I think I want Li Na to win this one, along with Lisicki and whoever. Maid Marion too.

JubbaIsle wrote:Forget it BB, you aint going to bring me down.

The rest of the world saw a different match to yours, and enjoyed the display.

Nail biting to the finish, unless you hate tennis so much you look upon it as a contemptible punishment, now Federer is out and have to purge your chagrin by ignoring the great tennis that's on offer.

Your loss, sadly.

He's not trying to bring you down, it's just his opinion. Think you're being unduly harsh to bogbrush there. It's not just black and white, you know.

I'm glad that Murray's through, but he certainly didn't deserve the win in many respects, and as a spectacle it was poor. The stats alone demonstrate that, as did the match that I personally saw. Good on him for coming through, but I hope the SF is much more entertaining.

Incidentally, I also disagree that this was Verdasco at his best. AO 2009.

John wrote:Shame Verdasco lost but in the end the unforced errors cost him. Murray just ran and defended, doing nothing much really. Hope Janowicz blows him away but can't see it. Djokovic for the title for me. I dread to think what Murray winning Wimbledon will do for his ego. Just can't stand him or his foul mouth. Surprised we weren't seeing the 'back' injury after the first couple of sets, usually brings that out when he's playing badly.

As for Andrew Castle, utterly dreadful commentator. Please go back to the rock you were hiding under and don't come out again. Shocking.

Del Potro much respect.

Is it true people from Newcastle are Scots with their brains bashed in?

Judging by your comments it's TRUE and as for the rock I'm sure it's probably the same one you crawled out of lol

bogbrush wrote:I must state that in a Djokovic / Murray final I'm supportive of Andy.

That's the second time you've said that! I'll have to eject you from the fan club if this continues.

Objectively, I'd be happy about any of the remaining 4 winning the title.

But after today...

I just can't take the hype and jingoism. I like Murray a lot but the perpetual hysteria machine that trails in his wake is becoming hard to take.

If he wins, I'll feel pleased for the man but I won't be able to watch TV or read a paper for a few weeks afterwards.

Sorry Andy fans, I'll be rooting for Jerzy on Friday.

HM Murdoch wrote:

bogbrush wrote:I must state that in a Djokovic / Murray final I'm supportive of Andy.

That's the second time you've said that! I'll have to eject you from the fan club if this continues.

Objectively, I'd be happy about any of the remaining 4 winning the title.

But after today...

I just can't take the hype and jingoism. I like Murray a lot but the perpetual hysteria machine that trails in his wake is becoming hard to take.

If he wins, I'll feel pleased for the man but I won't be able to watch TV or read a paper for a few weeks afterwards.

Sorry Andy fans, I'll be rooting for Jerzy on Friday.

So you want Murray to lose because you don't like the press? You remind me of me and the England football team

Chazfazzer wrote:Murray proved in that match that boring, defensive play comes out on top if you just run down every ball and wear out the attacking player

 
What like his performance agaisnt Federer in The Olympics?
 
Murray played poorly. So did Federer and Nadal against lesser opposition. Guess who's still in the event?
 
It's fantastic that you're into fairly one dimensional serve orientated players, like JJ, but there really is no need come out with unintelligent rubbish like this about others

It really gets to some that Andy and Novak have dared to look Fedal in their eyes and overtaken them. I question how any true Tennis fan can actually not think that Murray is a highly skilled player - not some pusher
 
Here's hoping that the next 20 slam finals involve the Top 2. The thought of you grinding your teeth down to the gums in disgust, would be far more entertaining than watching JJ

The Special Juan wrote:So you want Murray to lose because you don't like the press?  You remind me of me and the England football team

Exactly the same for me and the England team too! Although that's even easier because I don't like most of them as people but Andy seems like a nice guy.

Silver wrote:

JubbaIsle wrote:Forget it BB, you aint going to bring me down.

The rest of the world saw a different match to yours, and enjoyed the display.

Nail biting to the finish, unless you hate tennis so much you look upon it as a contemptible punishment, now Federer is out and have to purge your chagrin by ignoring the great tennis that's on offer.

Your loss, sadly.

He's not trying to bring you down, it's just his opinion. Think you're being unduly harsh to bogbrush there. It's not just black and white, you know.

I'm glad that Murray's through, but he certainly didn't deserve the win in many respects, and as a spectacle it was poor. The stats alone demonstrate that, as did the match that I personally saw. Good on him for coming through, but I hope the SF is much more entertaining.

Incidentally, I also disagree that this was Verdasco at his best. AO 2009.

Oh c'mon silver, here's BB's usual panning of a match that didn't live up to his standards and I criticise him for that. I'm sure he's man enough to take it as much as he dishes it out. But trying to spin an alternative reality out of the blues is just not good enough.

As to your opinion about Fernandos best, fair enough if you think that was a better year for him, but in the match he beat Andy, Murray was ill, quite ill, but still took him to 5 sets. But we're just picking at straws, today was as good as anything he's produced in the past, you say less and I say more, its in the eye of the beholder in the end.

sportslover wrote:

John wrote:Shame Verdasco lost but in the end the unforced errors cost him. Murray just ran and defended, doing nothing much really. Hope Janowicz blows him away but can't see it. Djokovic for the title for me. I dread to think what Murray winning Wimbledon will do for his ego. Just can't stand him or his foul mouth. Surprised we weren't seeing the 'back' injury after the first couple of sets, usually brings that out when he's playing badly.

As for Andrew Castle, utterly dreadful commentator. Please go back to the rock you were hiding under and don't come out again. Shocking.

Del Potro much respect.

Is it true people from Newcastle are Scots with their brains bashed in?

Judging by your comments it's TRUE and as for the rock I'm sure it's probably the same one you crawled out of lol

 

HM Murdoch wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:So you want Murray to lose because you don't like the press?  You remind me of me and the England football team

Exactly the same for me and the England team too! Although that's even easier because I don't like most of them as people but Andy seems like a nice guy.

And your thoughts on the Spanish F1 crowds, who have been openly racist to Hamilton in the past?

I do think it's a bit strange to except a nation not to be partisan about one of it's own. No wonder we're all so full of self doubt - given that apparantly boisterous cocky enthusiasm is obviously wrong

I blame Judy Murray, the Cricket Team and last years Olympics. We've obviously started to believe in ourselves, far too much as a nation  

kingraf wrote:Hair jokes aside, Verdasco lost it more than Murray won it. Real pity that my hair's soulmate is out...    

Not sure why you say that Kingraf ? First two sets Verdasco deservedly won through his more agressive approach. Murray won the third quite easily by going for more shots. Fourth and Fifth sets were very even. Murray had retreated into his shell a bit. However both players were very aware that the loss of a service game would very probably lose them the set. Apart from the two service games that Verdasco lost both players served really well when their serve was in danger. Murray serving second in both of these sets realy had to dig deep sometimes to hold on. The power Verdasco was putting into his second serves was impressive. So I wouldn't say Verdasco lost it more than Murray found a way it to win it.. He certainly didn't bottle it.

HM Murdoch wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:So you want Murray to lose because you don't like the press?  You remind me of me and the England football team

Exactly the same for me and the England team too! Although that's even easier because I don't like most of them as people but Andy seems like a nice guy.

Ironically Murray's nowhere near as hyped-up in Scotland than England. He gets a wee bit on the news and that's it (unless, of course, he wins the USO or something).

And @ the England team, I don't like the players, fans or media

Anyway, I'm away now. Have a good Wimbledon. socal and HM, if it comes down to a Murray/Djokovic final may the best man win and so forth. The way Djokovic has played so far he absolutely deserves it.

Was stuck at work during the match only catching the score every now and again.  Should I watch on I player or is it better left?

Oh give it a rest Banbro, he has an opinion, let him have it.

Life may or may not be unpredictable, but these days Games are becoming unpredictable. After winning The Champions Trophy Indian Cricket team lost two matches badly. Though it happens, but things are not going as it should go in Tennis. Tennis my favorite game same as cricket. The early exit of Rafal Nadal, Roger Federer, Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams came just as a shock. Today while watching the quater final between Verdasco and Murray, I was praying that this should not be an un-prediction and at last Murray Survived. There was tension all round the field and so was in my mind. Murray won the game 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-5. Though I am not a big fan of Murray but now I can hope an interesting final between World's best Djokovic and British best Murray. I am giving my prediction quite early and both have still to cross the semis, but I still have my fingers crossed.

Silver wrote:I'm glad that Murray's through, but he certainly didn't deserve the win in many respects, and as a spectacle it was poor. The stats alone demonstrate that, as did the match that I personally saw. Good on him for coming through, but I hope the SF is much more entertaining

.
 
  Eh! How on earth was that not entertaining when you had a former top tenner going for his shots and one of the world's best having to reach deep into his locker to hold on. What do you consider entertaining Tennis?
 

Incidentally, I also disagree that this was Verdasco at his best. AO 2009.

 
We can argue this point until the cows come home. One thing nobody can disagree, is that if Nando plays like this for 18 months, he'll be back at the O2 next year
 
I think people forget that the likes of Verdasco, Hewitt, Youzny and Haas no longer have anything to lose and on any given day can relive past glories
 
Well done to them all - as I've grossly underestimated all of them recently

carrieg4 wrote:Was stuck at work during the match only catching the score every now and again.  Should I watch on I player or is it better left?

I'd fast forward past the second set from 3-2 up with a break to the end of the set which he lost 6-3 a bit of a horror show on his service games.  

carrieg4 wrote:Was stuck at work during the match only catching the score every now and again.  Should I watch on I player or is it better left?

Watch on iplayer - my fellow Murray fan  

You'll probably be pleasantly surprised to find out that Andy hit far more winners than some on these boards would have you think

Calder106 wrote:I'd fast forward past the second set from 3-2 up with a break to the end of the set which he lost 6-3 a bit of a horror show on his service games.  

That was easily Andy's worst series of games since that Wawrinka match at US'10

Just in from work and caught the end of highlights just now after following the match on the BBC Sport website. Going by impressions Murray wasn't great whilst Verdasco was at a more consistent level throughout. Murray held in there and found a way to turn it around and win which is a plus point. On the whole disappointed he took it to the brink as I was expecting a more comfortable win but lets credit the part Verdasco played and for all we know this could be a renaissance in his career - time will tell. Murray won playing not at his best so I will take that as defeats can strike unexpectedly as Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer can testify to.

I'm not sure the whole match was seen Banbro in alot of these cases, maybe a bit here and there, but the tension was palpable, even on a TV screen. Crowd silent at key moments, all holding their breath, then the explosion when the point is finished and their man goes up 15-0.

Exciting for me, but then you can't see what I'm doing !

Thanks banbro and calder. I may brave it later.

CC..........Sporadic brilliant tennis, attritional see-saw exchanges and marathon points that didnt last long but seemed to go on for an eternity of agony. Nando was impressive, is FH took Murray out of the 1st 2 sets, it was that good.

Not sure how he won it, because Verdasco played solid throughout, just let down on a few key points.

He should take away a lot of confidence from this match and the rest of the tournie, I think it will herald a new renaissance for him.

Garry Richardson (bloke who did the interview) is getting torn to shreds on the BBC Sport message boards, and on twitter.

Apparently he was the no.1 trend in the UK for a while...

JubbaIsle wrote:I'm not sure the whole match was seen Banbro in alot of these cases, maybe a bit here and there, but the tension was palpable, even on a TV screen. Crowd silent at key moments, all holding their breath, then the explosion when the point is finished and their man goes up 15-0.

Exciting for me, but then you can't see what I'm doing !

I'm going to watch it again. Hoping that the thought of this, will send Chaz finally over the edge!!

JubbaIsle wrote:Forget it BB, you aint going to bring me down.

The rest of the world saw a different match to yours, and enjoyed the display.

Nail biting to the finish, unless you hate tennis so much you look upon it as a contemptible punishment, now Federer is out and have to purge your chagrin by ignoring the great tennis that's on offer.

Your loss, sadly.

Huh?

You said that was Verdasco's best tennis ever. I let you off lightly by disagreeing, I could have openly mocked such a daft comment or even more cruelly encouraged you to repeat it.

Then I told you he was tired from the 4th. I don't make that up; I'm in Canada again and their commentators weren't contractually obliged to have orgasms over Andy's tennis so pointed out the obvious to their viewers.

CaledonianCraig wrote:Just in from work and caught the end of highlights just now after following the match on the BBC Sport website. Going by impressions Murray wasn't great whilst Verdasco was at a more consistent level throughout. Murray held in there and found a way to turn it around and win which is a plus point. On the whole disappointed he took it to the brink as I was expecting a more comfortable win but lets credit the part Verdasco played and for all we know this could be a renaissance in his career - time will tell. Murray won playing not at his best so I will take that as defeats can strike unexpectedly as Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer can testify to.

While watching the last set, matches of Nadal and Federer were there in my mind. It was a splendid 3 and a half hour game. Murray broke the service of Verdasco in the 11th serve. I want to see a final between Murray and Djokovic, though both are still to cross the semis.

What is the drama here? Murray came back from two sets down to win against a player formerly in the top ten in the world and for all we know may return there in the future. That deserves credit - after all Federer has done the brinkmanship thing before but against lesser players such as Benneteau and Falla at Wimbledon. At the end of the day it is all about getting through to fight another day and Muzza done that playing at around 70% whilst going by opinion Verdasco played very well and certainly the best he has played since beating an ill Murray at the Australian Open a few years ago.

bogbrush wrote:

JubbaIsle wrote:Forget it BB, you aint going to bring me down.

The rest of the world saw a different match to yours, and enjoyed the display.

Nail biting to the finish, unless you hate tennis so much you look upon it as a contemptible punishment, now Federer is out and have to purge your chagrin by ignoring the great tennis that's on offer.

Your loss, sadly.

Huh?

You said that was Verdasco's best tennis ever. I let you off lightly by disagreeing, I could have openly mocked such a daft comment or even more cruelly encouraged you to repeat it.

Then I told you he was tired from the 4th. I don't make that up; I'm in Canada again and their commentators weren't contractually obliged to have orgasms over Andy's tennis so pointed out the obvious to their viewers.

You've brightened up my day no end.....Canadian tennis commentators, LOL!

You didnt say tired, you said physically done, which in context to the rest of the comment meant cream crackered, which was not true and utterly daft considering how they finished running all over the court at the end.

But hey, if you want to split hairs on every word people write, then you're wasting your time not mine.

Yup agree Verdasco used to be one of the best but now at present Murray finds himself much ahead of him, though I guess it was Verda's game clicked by Murray. Though Murray to worked hard after loosing the first two sets.

JubbaIsle wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

JubbaIsle wrote:Forget it BB, you aint going to bring me down.

The rest of the world saw a different match to yours, and enjoyed the display.

Nail biting to the finish, unless you hate tennis so much you look upon it as a contemptible punishment, now Federer is out and have to purge your chagrin by ignoring the great tennis that's on offer.

Your loss, sadly.

Huh?

You said that was Verdasco's best tennis ever. I let you off lightly by disagreeing, I could have openly mocked such a daft comment or even more cruelly encouraged you to repeat it.

Then I told you he was tired from the 4th. I don't make that up; I'm in Canada again and their commentators weren't contractually obliged to have orgasms over Andy's tennis so pointed out the obvious to their viewers.

You've brightened up my day no end.....Canadian tennis commentators, LOL!

You didnt say tired, you said physically done, which in context to the rest of the comment meant cream crackered, which was not true and utterly daft considering how they finished running all over the court at the end.

But hey, if you want to split hairs on every word people write, then you're wasting your time not mine.

Why you guys are having heated talks here?????Just cool down...Murray won a heart taking match. Verdasco played wonderfully and so as Murray, mistakes apart.

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

JubbaIsle wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

JubbaIsle wrote:Forget it BB, you aint going to bring me down.

The rest of the world saw a different match to yours, and enjoyed the display.

Nail biting to the finish, unless you hate tennis so much you look upon it as a contemptible punishment, now Federer is out and have to purge your chagrin by ignoring the great tennis that's on offer.

Your loss, sadly.

Huh?

You said that was Verdasco's best tennis ever. I let you off lightly by disagreeing, I could have openly mocked such a daft comment or even more cruelly encouraged you to repeat it.

Then I told you he was tired from the 4th. I don't make that up; I'm in Canada again and their commentators weren't contractually obliged to have orgasms over Andy's tennis so pointed out the obvious to their viewers.

You've brightened up my day no end.....Canadian tennis commentators, LOL!

You didnt say tired, you said physically done, which in context to the rest of the comment meant cream crackered, which was not true and utterly daft considering how they finished running all over the court at the end.

But hey, if you want to split hairs on every word people write, then you're wasting your time not mine.

Why you guys are having heated talks here?????Just cool down...Murray won a heart taking match. Verdasco played wonderfully and so as Murray, mistakes apart.

I think it is heated because bogbrush is a Federer fan unimpressed by Murray and Verdasco and Jubba is a relieved Murray fan defending him for coming back from the dead.

Djokovic looks every inch the champ doesn't he.

Cogen wrote:Garry Richardson (bloke who did the interview) is getting torn to shreds on the BBC Sport message boards, and on twitter.

Apparently he was the no.1 trend in the UK for a while...

It was a dreadful interview. I was surprised Murray didn't.  

spdocoffee wrote:Djokovic looks every inch the champ doesn't he.

Yup, he surely deserve the title here and there is no Nadal or Federer to challenge him. Though Murray will be playing between home crowd, but still I fell Djoko will list the trophy. We should not give early predictions, both need to cross the semis. 

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

spdocoffee wrote:Djokovic looks every inch the champ doesn't he.

Yup, he surely deserve the title here and there is no Nadal or Federer to challenge him. Though Murray will be playing between home crowd, but still I fell Djoko will list the trophy. We should not give early predictions, both need to cross the semis. 

Surely, the player who plays the best in the Final deserves it - not the player who plays the best up to but not including the semis?

CaledonianCraig wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

JubbaIsle wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

JubbaIsle wrote:Forget it BB, you aint going to bring me down.

The rest of the world saw a different match to yours, and enjoyed the display.

Nail biting to the finish, unless you hate tennis so much you look upon it as a contemptible punishment, now Federer is out and have to purge your chagrin by ignoring the great tennis that's on offer.

Your loss, sadly.

Huh?

You said that was Verdasco's best tennis ever. I let you off lightly by disagreeing, I could have openly mocked such a daft comment or even more cruelly encouraged you to repeat it.

Then I told you he was tired from the 4th. I don't make that up; I'm in Canada again and their commentators weren't contractually obliged to have orgasms over Andy's tennis so pointed out the obvious to their viewers.

You've brightened up my day no end.....Canadian tennis commentators, LOL!

You didnt say tired, you said physically done, which in context to the rest of the comment meant cream crackered, which was not true and utterly daft considering how they finished running all over the court at the end.

But hey, if you want to split hairs on every word people write, then you're wasting your time not mine.

Why you guys are having heated talks here?????Just cool down...Murray won a heart taking match. Verdasco played wonderfully and so as Murray, mistakes apart.

I think it is heated because bogbrush is a Federer fan unimpressed by Murray and Verdasco and Jubba is a relieved Murray fan defending him for coming back from the dead.

Federer is now not in the semis so we should not go behind him discussing his point. Murray is now in the semifinal so bogbrush better concentrate on the next game and hope it to be one of the interesting matches of Wimbledon. I hope a Djoko and Murray final. One of the most interesting after that of Nadal and Federer.

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

JubbaIsle wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

JubbaIsle wrote:Forget it BB, you aint going to bring me down.

The rest of the world saw a different match to yours, and enjoyed the display.

Nail biting to the finish, unless you hate tennis so much you look upon it as a contemptible punishment, now Federer is out and have to purge your chagrin by ignoring the great tennis that's on offer.

Your loss, sadly.

Huh?

You said that was Verdasco's best tennis ever. I let you off lightly by disagreeing, I could have openly mocked such a daft comment or even more cruelly encouraged you to repeat it.

Then I told you he was tired from the 4th. I don't make that up; I'm in Canada again and their commentators weren't contractually obliged to have orgasms over Andy's tennis so pointed out the obvious to their viewers.

You've brightened up my day no end.....Canadian tennis commentators, LOL!

You didnt say tired, you said physically done, which in context to the rest of the comment meant cream crackered, which was not true and utterly daft considering how they finished running all over the court at the end.

But hey, if you want to split hairs on every word people write, then you're wasting your time not mine.

Why you guys are having heated talks here?????Just cool down...Murray won a heart taking match. Verdasco played wonderfully and so as Murray, mistakes apart.

I think it is heated because bogbrush is a Federer fan unimpressed by Murray and Verdasco and Jubba is a relieved Murray fan defending him for coming back from the dead.

Federer is now not in the semis so we should not go behind him discussing his point. Murray is now in the semifinal so bogbrush better concentrate on the next game and hope it to be one of the interesting matches of Wimbledon. I hope a Djoko and Murray final. One of the most interesting after that of Nadal and Federer.

No chance of that as bogbrush is keeping his fingers crossed that both Djokovic and Murray lose before the Final.

CaledonianCraig wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

JubbaIsle wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

JubbaIsle wrote:Forget it BB, you aint going to bring me down.

The rest of the world saw a different match to yours, and enjoyed the display.

Nail biting to the finish, unless you hate tennis so much you look upon it as a contemptible punishment, now Federer is out and have to purge your chagrin by ignoring the great tennis that's on offer.

Your loss, sadly.

Huh?

You said that was Verdasco's best tennis ever. I let you off lightly by disagreeing, I could have openly mocked such a daft comment or even more cruelly encouraged you to repeat it.

Then I told you he was tired from the 4th. I don't make that up; I'm in Canada again and their commentators weren't contractually obliged to have orgasms over Andy's tennis so pointed out the obvious to their viewers.

You've brightened up my day no end.....Canadian tennis commentators, LOL!

You didnt say tired, you said physically done, which in context to the rest of the comment meant cream crackered, which was not true and utterly daft considering how they finished running all over the court at the end.

But hey, if you want to split hairs on every word people write, then you're wasting your time not mine.

Why you guys are having heated talks here?????Just cool down...Murray won a heart taking match. Verdasco played wonderfully and so as Murray, mistakes apart.

I think it is heated because bogbrush is a Federer fan unimpressed by Murray and Verdasco and Jubba is a relieved Murray fan defending him for coming back from the dead.

Federer is now not in the semis so we should not go behind him discussing his point. Murray is now in the semifinal so bogbrush better concentrate on the next game and hope it to be one of the interesting matches of Wimbledon. I hope a Djoko and Murray final. One of the most interesting after that of Nadal and Federer.

No chance of that as bogbrush is keeping his fingers crossed that both Djokovic and Murray lose before the Final.

Yup he could go for his choice but still I feel and not only me most of Tennis fans want an interesting final. Though I am not saying the other two will not let us leave our work and sit behind the TV sets.  

I think any final line-up now holds an interest.

Novak Djokovic is world No.1 and another slam win for him would put him on 7 and moving into the all-time greats category.

Juan Martin Del Potro winning would give him his second slam and cap a great comeback from a nasty injury.

Jerzy Janowicz would become a huge surprise winner (the first Pole men's slam winner) and signal a new name winning a slam from the younger generation.

Andy Murray would seal his second slam and become the first British man to win Wimbledon for well over 70 years.

Surely Semifinal is not going to be easy for Murray at least not mentally as whole of England want to see their lad to lift the trophy after a long time and Janowicz would be giving pleasure to fans back at home after being the first one to reach the semi final.

CaledonianCraig wrote:I think any final line-up now holds an interest.

Novak Djokovic is world No.1 and another slam win for him would put him on 7 and moving into the all-time greats category.

Juan Martin Del Potro winning would give him his second slam and cap a great comeback from a nasty injury.

Jerzy Janowicz would become a huge surprise winner (the first Pole men's slam winner) and signal a new name winning a slam from the younger generation.

Andy Murray would seal his second slam and become the first British man to win Wimbledon for well over 70 years.

The coming days are going to be interesting here.

I will keep my finger cross for Murray and Djokovic. It was my first visit here on this tennis forum and I find it interesting discussing with you people. Its late night here in India beyond 2 A.M. . Will catch you guys later. Good Night

Night sub - nice hearing from a level-headed poster.  

CaledonianCraig wrote:I think any final line-up now holds an interest.

Novak Djokovic is world No.1 and another slam win for him would put him on 7 and moving into the all-time greats category.

Juan Martin Del Potro winning would give him his second slam and cap a great comeback from a nasty injury.

Jerzy Janowicz would become a huge surprise winner (the first Pole men's slam winner) and signal a new name winning a slam from the younger generation.

Andy Murray would seal his second slam and become the first British man to win Wimbledon for well over 70 years.

Murray v Djokovic is perhaps the final I'd less like to see, a sense of been there, done that. But you're right, there's interesting stories behind everything and I think the semis has a nice balance of not being too predictable nor too random.

1. Murray v JMDP
2. JMDP v Janowicz
3. Djokovic v Janowicz
4. Murray v Djokovic.

Sorry Jubba, I was more referring to the AO semi than the Murray match! But fair enough, we'll have to agree to disagree - just thought your wording was a tad extreme re: BB. Verdasco did play well today, and was brilliant in spurts.

banbrotam wrote:

Silver wrote:I'm glad that Murray's through, but he certainly didn't deserve the win in many respects, and as a spectacle it was poor. The stats alone demonstrate that, as did the match that I personally saw. Good on him for coming through, but I hope the SF is much more entertaining

.
 
  Eh! How on earth was that not entertaining when you had a former top tenner going for his shots and one of the world's best having to reach deep into his locker to hold on. What do you consider entertaining Tennis?
 

Incidentally, I also disagree that this was Verdasco at his best. AO 2009.

 
We can argue this point until the cows come home. One thing nobody can disagree, is that if Nando plays like this for 18 months, he'll be back at the O2 next year
 
I think people forget that the likes of Verdasco, Hewitt, Youzny and Haas no longer have anything to lose and on any given day can relive past glories
 
Well done to them all - as I've grossly underestimated all of them recently

Agree with your second point, he'd be pushing the top 10 if he played like that all year. We've seen some great performances from the old timers (though Nando is still only 29, of course!) who used to be higher in the rankings, it's good to see that they can still wreak havoc on a good day for them. Verdasco's a dangerous player, and Murray handled it well.

As for the entertainment, I was probably slightly harsh in the immediate aftermath of the match - like HMM, the inane hype and BBC commentary have started to affect my enjoyment of Murray matches to a large extent. It was dramatic and engaging towards the end, but I honestly don't think the standard of tennis was too great for the most part. It's hard for me to put my finger on it, just one of those things banbro! Hopefully I'll warm to the JJ match a tad more. Well done to your man on winning through today.

Not too surprised to see my scepticism caricatured as some kind of hating.

Well done for coming back Murray, I'm just not buying into this 'best ever' Verdasco nonsense.

I never saw the match in its entireity so can't really judge and have only seen snippets of the match. Whether it was Verdasco at his best I wouldn't know but it is certainly the best he has played for a long time if you consider this was a slam quarter-final. It is fair to say it wasn't Murray at his best by a long way but he still found a way to win and that deserves credit.

I thought Verdasco played very well. I don't personally think it was his best ever. I think he played better when he beat Murray a few years ago at the AO, and in losing to Rafa at AO.

To be honest, for 2 sets its as bad as I've seen Murray in years. With the last 15-20 minutes of the second set maybe the worst I've ever seen Murray play.

He found a way though, he had no confidence to hit through the ball so just decided "I'm making no more errors" and played the percentages. It worked. Somehow, he's through. Massive credit to him for somehow turning a nightmare performance (for 2 sets) into a win.

I can't believe he survived, but I'm delighted he did. I only wish he'd topped it off by swinging at Gary Richardson for that appalling post match interview.

bogbrush wrote:Not too surprised to see my scepticism caricatured as some kind of hating.

Well done for coming back Murray, I'm just not buying into this 'best ever' Verdasco nonsense.

Unless you think that Verdasco was nowhere near his best, then it can't be that ludricous to say it was his 'best ever'

He was better against Rafa at the Aus09' SF - simply because Rafa was on fire at that time

I actually think he played better today than he did against Murray at that event. I've never seen him so consistent over a 3hr period since 09'

Given that he wasn't as consistent before or since until now, 'best ever' isn't the worst comment