Wimbledon Day 5 - "Maria - I'd like to Kudla!" "I Begu pardon?"

First topic message reminder :

Order of play

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/22713811

Massively tall order now, particularly serving second. Hard to see Heather breaking and holding.

Her best point was the one where she went for her fh, Serena wont give you a game when youre one from it, couple of dodgy forehands done for her

That feels pretty terminal for Watson.

If she manages to win - great, let's look forward.

If she loses it's worth nothing if she can't use this to build her confidence and press on from here - having been brought up on a diet of plucky Brits losing in the last set I am fed to the back teeth with hearing how well they did.

Anyway, it ain't over yet....

OK - well played Watson, you saw what a real champion does to stay in a match. If you can play like that vs. World No. 1 on Centre Court, you can do a damn site better than your current ranking. Do you want that? Show us.....

Marvellous effort by Watson. 

Not really a surprise, for me anyway, that she pushed Serena so close - probably a lack of big-match experience, and perhaps fitness, costing her on the final furlong.

Well thats enormously disappointing. For all the good she did to lose the final set going up a double break, and then being gifted another go is a problem, she may never get that chance again

Womens serves are ridiculously fragile, someone needs to teach them how to defend behind one

Such a shame. Think that would have been the biggest Brit induced upset at Wimbledon in living memory. Reminiscent of Barry Cowan's escapades against Sampras back in 2001. Expect Barry still dines out on that one.

She was great, Right up until she had the winning position, and she had that position twice. Its just that lack of killer instinct, the only brit ive ever seen have it is Andy. Heather needs to remember this the next time shes in the driving seat in a big match, and not make the same mistakes

temporary21 wrote:She was great, Right up until she had the winning position, and she had that position twice. Its just that lack of killer instinct, the only brit ive ever seen have it is Andy. Heather needs to remember this the next time shes in the driving seat in a big match, and not make the same mistakes

She needs to remember it when she's in the driving seat in the 2nd round in some two-bit tournament in the arse-end of nowhere when she's slept badly and is playing the #27 in the world with a niggle and without 15,000 cheering her on.

Duty281 wrote:Hurry up and batter this vile player, Heather.

Some things never change about this site....

That's why I'm happy when Serena wins...just to watch one more 606-er grind his teeth in hatred, and work his way towards a heart attack.

barrystar wrote:Better players than Heather Williams will have seen how the game plan of deep ground strokes, not necessarily with pace unsettles Williams.

Williams is very difficult to warm to with her shouting and aggression.

Like more than half of the male players, then?

Double standards....

temporary21 wrote:She was great, Right up until she had the winning position, and she had that position twice. Its just that lack of killer instinct, the only brit ive ever seen have it is Andy. Heather needs to remember this the next time shes in the driving seat in a big match, and not make the same mistakes

Agreed...Heather played well, better than I've ever seen her play before. But exciting losses don't push you up the rankings...wins do that. It's now up to Watson to play like this against lesser opposition.

All in all, an exciting match, and well done to Heather for making it into a contest.

shivfan wrote:

barrystar wrote:Better players than Heather Williams will have seen how the game plan of deep ground strokes, not necessarily with pace unsettles Williams.

Williams is very difficult to warm to with her shouting and aggression.

Like more than half of the male players, then?

Double standards....

Most players turn around and face away from their opponents when they do their fist-pumping and the like; Williams does it facing her opponent's end plenty of times.  I don't like it whoever does it, but the funny thing is when I am writing a comment about a match involving one player I don't list all the others who have the same habit that I don't like just to satisfy the likes of you that I'm fair.  I suggest you grow a thicker skin

To be honest, I'd let the old Shivster have this one.

He must be feeling a bit confused given his old line used to be 'British tennis fans don't give Heather Watson enough support and credit 'for obvious reasons' '

The bbc have lost it.  Inner has 3 break points and they cut it short to show winby2day. I've decided not to watch on account of there being tennis left.  John breaks btw

Also shiv I suggest you don't admit to coming on just to try and wind people up. They're not obligated to like serena otherwise they're some raging sexist.  It's nice to have someone intereste in the wta, but don't come on just to cause trouble please

shivfan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Hurry up and batter this vile player, Heather.

Some things never change about this site....

That's why I'm happy when Serena wins...just to watch one more 606-er grind his teeth in hatred, and work his way towards a heart attack.

Serena is a vile player.

A view I have held since she gave a line-judge a disgusting barrage of abuse and then didn't apologise afterwards. And that's just scratching the surface.

I'm not too keen on Serena's on court behaviour either - it can get way over the top at times.
Have always really liked Venus though - I think she's great.

Duty281 wrote:

shivfan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Hurry up and batter this vile player, Heather.

Some things never change about this site....

That's why I'm happy when Serena wins...just to watch one more 606-er grind his teeth in hatred, and work his way towards a heart attack.

Serena is a vile player.

A view I have held since she gave a line-judge a disgusting barrage of abuse and then didn't apologise afterwards. And that's just scratching the surface.

That time when line judge told the unoure she threatened to shove the ball down her throat, she went up and a used her again in front of the referee too! That was vile, no other played would ever have done that

temporary21 wrote:

That time when line judge told the unoure she threatened to shove the ball down her throat, she went up and a used her again in front of the referee too! That was vile, no other played would ever have done that

Well, there was that time that Lisicki threatened to crush that guy with her thighs if he didn't......oh wait, no...that didn't actually happen. Must stop (carry on) eating cheese before bed, such vivid dreams.

Probably a few reasons I'd give for the match being so close.

1. Watson was under no pressure to win as it was a no lose match.

2. The crowd helped her whilst unsettling Serena.

3. Serena hadn't played Watson before so unfamiliarity sometimes is not good.

4. Serena felt the pressure due to unexpected early exits in recent years at Wimbledon.

5. Serena played below herself and Watson above herself.

As others have posted here - Heather needs to kick on from here and should be going a lot deeper at tournaments than she has been of late. She can hide no more.

Poor old Isner - he's not up against Mahut now.

I just saw 5 mins of wimby2day.    Oh my god...

Thus far the match is looking just as even as Isner v. Mahut did at a similar stage.

They can't, can they..............................................?

10-10 suspension in the Clic-Isner match. Cilic must be kicking himself for not wrapping this up. Isner is a fighter, but not sure he's really much of a player. Great serve, yes, but poor movement and poor backhand.
Just hoping Cilic can win tomorrow cos at least he can give Djoko a bit of a match. No one else in that section of the draw before the semis can.

But like rod sick I suppose. It can't go that long because cilic is too good s returner.  The hopes of him giving Novak a match are looking very slim now

temporary21 wrote:But like rod sick I suppose. It can't go that long because cilic is too good s returner.  The hopes of him giving Novak a match are looking very slim now

They won't play until Monday though - so at least the winner can rest up