Wimbledon Day 5

First topic message reminder :

Centre Court

Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1] v Gilles Simon (FRA)
Petra Kvitova (CZE) [6] v Venus Williams (USA) [30]
Andy Murray (GBR) [3] v Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) [27]

No.1 Court

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) v Na Li (CHN) [2]
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) [11] v Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) [21]
Marin Cilic (CRO) [26] v Tomas Berdych (CZE) [6]

No.2 Court
11:30am

Simona Halep (ROU) [3] v Lesia Tsurenko (UKR)
Jerzy Janowicz (POL) [15] 7-5 4-4 Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) To Finish
Michelle Larcher De Brito (POR) v Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) [4]
Jamie Murray (GBR) [14]
John Peers (AUS) [14]
v
Jamie Delgado (GBR)
Gilles Muller (LUX)

Come on Andy!

CaledonianCraig wrote:Great fighting spirit from Hewitt. Too many of these matches though he loses. Lets hope this is different.

Janowicz breaks early in the fifth set to lead 3-1. Is this to be another five set heartbreaker for Hewitt?

Dolgopolov takes the first set on a tie-break to lead Dimitrov 7-6.

Janowicz now in total control and nails another break and leads 5-1. Hewitt just hasn't been given a look in.

Hewitt clinging on by his fingernails trailing 5-3 in the fifth set with Janowicz serving for the match - again.

And the big Pole takes the win in five sets but big plaudits going to veteran Hewitt.

He's certainly a battler Hewitt, and all credit for his fighting spirit and continued motivation.

But it's a long, long time since the battles have ended in any meaningful victory on the big stage ; indeed the last eight years of Slam competition have yielded just ONE solitary quarter final appearance.

With a growing reputation as a TV pundit at the Aussie Open (he does come across well in the commentary box over there) you can't help wondering just how much longer he will want to put himself through the grinder.

Cracking match going on between Dimitrov and Dolgopolov. Dolgopolov leads 7-6 4-6 4-1.

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Kevin, how could you do that to me? Nothing would have made me happier than seeing Fognini dismantled on Centre Court.

Li Na going is no major surprise. She's not a grass courter at all whereas BZS is, and a serve-volleyer to boot.

Come on Doggy!!

Worried about Tsonga Murdoch? Grass is his best surface for me and he's potentially dangerous if he gets going but after the season he's had so far, I don't think Djokovic is in any real danger provided the shoulder holds.

Dolgo seals the third set and leads 7-6 4-6 6-2 with almost two hours on the clock.

What a great match dunk and dog are giving. Quality all the way

Kerber and Venus don't look like finishing any time soon...

Djokovic is really good at recovering instantly from nothing that originally looked like something (to the untrained eye). He's able to get crowd sympathy one minute, and then play at his absolute peak the next (gaining maximum hero points). He's got it down to a fine art. But.....it won't win him a slam. Slam titles are for big boys.

kneel_before_nadal wrote:Djokovic is really good at recovering instantly from nothing that originally looked like something (to the untrained eye). He's able to get crowd sympathy one minute, and then play at his absolute peak the next (gaining maximum hero points). He's got it down to a fine art. But.....it won't win him a slam. Slam titles are for big boys.  

And this forum is for adults.

Do grow up kbn. Please.

Its important that we tell the truth about Djokovic. Its been going on for far too long, and impossible to overlook/deny.

Watching the Djokovic match now myself, I agree with KBN, Djokovic seemed almost paralysed, the physio performs some lateral shoulder rotation, a painkiller here and he didn't skip a beat. Quite remarkable, and the physio in question deserves a raise.

Williams and Kvitova finally finish with the Czech winning 7-5 in the 3rd. Sir Andrew on next

kneel_before_nadal wrote:Djokovic is really good at recovering instantly from nothing that originally looked like something (to the untrained eye). He's able to get crowd sympathy one minute, and then play at his absolute peak the next (gaining maximum hero points). He's got it down to a fine art. But.....it won't win him a slam. Slam titles are for big boys.  

Djokovic has 6 big one, correct? If a player requires medical attention, they should be given that attention, correct? You do recall Fognini v Montanes.

Dolgopolov needs to be careful here. The fifth set may not favor him too much.

Dimitrov breaks and will serve for the fourth set.

Bad judgement, Dolgo, should have played the volley for a winner.

What a break from Dimi.

Cant decide who I want to win this   

kneel_before_nadal wrote:Djokovic is really good at recovering instantly from nothing that originally looked like something (to the untrained eye). He's able to get crowd sympathy one minute, and then play at his absolute peak the next (gaining maximum hero points). He's got it down to a fine art. But.....it won't win him a slam. Slam titles are for big boys.  

He is only copying the original faker!

laverfan wrote:Dolgopolov needs to be careful here. The fifth set may not favor him too much.

They both look dead on their feet. Dimitrov might drag himself through it and if so, what a result. L. Mayer in the next round too...

Dolgopolov has more firepower, and serving first.

kneel_before_nadal wrote:Dolgopolov has more firepower, and serving first.

but too volatile...

I like watching both of these guys.

Dolgopolov because of his no-nonsense, just get on with it, style of play

Dimitrov has that too - but he's the one who looks best-equipped to make it to top 5 level and challenge the established hierarchy.

Really hard to call this decider .......

He won't win it this year but I expect Dimitrov to be very, very close next year (barring injury of course).

Dimi has a break in the fifth. Dolgo?

To execute that high-risk tennis, you need a clear head and to play on instinct. Tension of a 5th set isn't very good for clarity.

Who is next for the winner of this?

Is grass a little faster this year?

Baguette has a good slice on him.

Dolgo given up though Dimi is flying

The Special Juan wrote:He won't win it this year but I expect Dimitrov to be very, very close next year (barring injury of course).

Yeah he should be able to make regular slam QFs next year. But guys like Berdych will probably still be better.

Dolgo done and dusted, IMVHO.

This guy's grunt is peeing me off. He only starts the grunt when the ball reaches the net after he's hit it!

Jahu wrote:Is grass a little faster this year?

Did you watch Giraldo v Granollers? It was pure baseline tennis in the fifth set.

That was a little special Andy

Breaks the Baguette!

Hahah Masters of Slice, superb match.

Well done Dimi.

that might be your tv

laverfan wrote:

Jahu wrote:Is grass a little faster this year?

Did you watch Giraldo v Granollers? It was pure baseline tennis in the fifth set.

LF, no I did not, thought watching DimiDolgo play fast, it seems like that.

Agut to take a set...

it didnt look fast in the novak simon match

Jahu wrote:

laverfan wrote:

Jahu wrote:Is grass a little faster this year?

Did you watch Giraldo v Granollers? It was pure baseline tennis in the fifth set.

LF, no I did not, thought watching DimiDolgo play fast, it seems like that.

I should have said the fourth set, not the fifth. The fifth was much better with Giraldo the more aggressive of the two.

Andy starting to hit a bit heavier now. Very good to see.

Breaks again.

naxroy wrote:it didnt look fast in the novak simon match

Even the Murray v Agut does not look fast, but it could just be the players. Federer v Muller did look and feel a bit different, though.

naxroy wrote:that might be your tv

You are funny, Nax.  

Andy takes the first set.

Baguette is going to need some firepower to get back into it.

The baseline is in some state. Imagine what it will look like a week on Sunday!

3 aces in a row. Lovely