Tennis

[Torquay Gunner]

Draper on the comeback trail hopefully.  Cilic’s ball toss is very irritating.  It’s a two parter and seems to take ages. 

[leicsmac]

5 minutes ago, Torquay Gunner said:

Draper on the comeback trail hopefully.  Cilic’s ball toss is very irritating.  It’s a two parter and seems to take ages. 

Unfortunately he's (almost always) doing it inside the serve clock time. 

[leicsmac]

Well, I'm torn between thinking that was piss poor when it mattered from Draper or Cilic winding back the clock. 

 

Maybe a bit of both. 

[leicsmac]

And again it shows just how barren British tennis is in terms of consistent high level performances and how much of an outlier Murray was in that regard. 

[EastAnglianFox]

Cilic and grass.

 

Man seems to hit the ball so damn hard on this surface

 

You just know he’ll be out in 4 sets next round without anybody noticing 

[Torquay Gunner]

3 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Well, I'm torn between thinking that was piss poor when it mattered from Draper or Cilic winding back the clock. 

 

Maybe a bit of both. 

Yes probably right.  Draper had the impetus going into that 4th set, but never really looked comfortable.  Cilic of course has always excelled on grass. 

[Foxdiamond]

2 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

And again it shows just how barren British tennis is in terms of consistent high level performances and how much of an outlier Murray was in that regard. 

Yep. Probably another 70 odd years before a Brit wins it again. As for the women 48 years and counting. At least I'm old enough to remember Virginia Wade and Ann Jones. That Murray managed 3 slams in the company he was up against is to his great credit 

[martyn]

Don't think Draper has ever looked great on grass. Best performance was v Alcaraz at Queen's a while back where he was serve and volley and aggressive on the first strike.

 

He was tentative today, letting Cilic dominate from the back and never attacking the weak 2nd serve. Cilic was clever in the rallies and really exposed the backhand side of Draper.

 

Think if Draper is to win a slam, it'd be on a hard court, but that will be incredibly difficult with how Alcaraz and especially Sinner are on that surface.

[leicsmac]

13 minutes ago, Torquay Gunner said:

Yes probably right.  Draper had the impetus going into that 4th set, but never really looked comfortable.  Cilic of course has always excelled on grass. 

Exactly. Nightmare opponent for an early round, and so it proved. 

 

9 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Yep. Probably another 70 odd years before a Brit wins it again. As for the women 48 years and counting. At least I'm old enough to remember Virginia Wade and Ann Jones. That Murray managed 3 slams in the company he was up against is to his great credit 

Just shows how much of a difference there is between the nearly men and the greats.

 

 

[leicsmac]

8 minutes ago, martyn said:

Don't think Draper has ever looked great on grass. Best performance was v Alcaraz at Queen's a while back where he was serve and volley and aggressive on the first strike.

 

He was tentative today, letting Cilic dominate from the back and never attacking the weak 2nd serve. Cilic was clever in the rallies and really exposed the backhand side of Draper.

 

Think if Draper is to win a slam, it'd be on a hard court, but that will be incredibly difficult with how Alcaraz and especially Sinner are on that surface.

Agreed. 

 

His best chance in terms of opponents is on grass, but he needs to get better on that surface quick, if today is any judge. 

 

As an aside, it's rather funny how different tennis, cricket and football crowds are to each other. Imagine what it would have been like if Cilic had been talking after the match at a football crowd after beating the home favourite today. 

[Foxdiamond]

16 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Exactly. Nightmare opponent for an early round, and so it proved. 

 

Just shows how much of a difference there is between the nearly men and the greats.

 

 

The likes of Tim Henman and Roger Taylor come to mind

[leicsmac]

Just now, Foxdiamond said:

The likes of Tim Henman and Roger Taylor come to mind

And a whole host of other names, too. 

 

It's unfortunate that there doesn't seem anyone capable to tread in Murray's footsteps. 

[Torquay Gunner]

16 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

And a whole host of other names, too. 

 

It's unfortunate that there doesn't seem anyone capable to tread in Murray's footsteps. 

Hold on, Draper is only 23!  Plenty of opportunities to come. 

[leicsmac]

5 minutes ago, Torquay Gunner said:

Hold on, Draper is only 23!  Plenty of opportunities to come. 

You may be right. 

 

I think it's reasonably true though that the greats - or most other than the one Slam wonders - in history tended to make their presence felt before that, though. 

[Foxdiamond]

13 minutes ago, Torquay Gunner said:

Hold on, Draper is only 23!  Plenty of opportunities to come. 

Sincerely hope Draper manages to get at least one slam but apart from Murray so used to seeing our hopes fall away

[Fear Of The Fox]

Why the Monfils game is postponed? 

[StanSP]

1 hour ago, Fear Of The Fox said:

Why the Monfils game is postponed? 

Bad light. 

[Super_horns]

Shame for Draper .

 

Disappointing performance v a very experienced good grass court player ?

 

Hopefully be better for the Brits tomorrow.

[everton carr]

10 hours ago, leicsmac said:

Exactly. Nightmare opponent for an early round, and so it proved. 

 

Just shows how much of a difference there is between the nearly men and the greats.

 

 

Fairly average players win slams occasionally Thomas Johanssen and Richard Krajicek 2 that spring to mind

[leicsmac]

1 hour ago, everton carr said:

Fairly average players win slams occasionally Thomas Johanssen and Richard Krajicek 2 that spring to mind

And now we're outside the era of Fed, Nadal and Nole winning everything in sight, that could happen again. 

 

Unless Alcaraz and Sinner are good enough to step into that gap. 

[Super_horns]

9 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

And now we're outside the era of Fed, Nadal and Nole winning everything in sight, that could happen again. 

 

Unless Alcaraz and Sinner are good enough to step into that gap. 

Both showing signs of doing that potentially.

[Torquay Gunner]

2 hours ago, everton carr said:

Fairly average players win slams occasionally Thomas Johanssen and Richard Krajicek 2 that spring to mind

Johanssen most probably, but Krajicek does not deserve that description.  As well as winning Wimbledon and steam rolling a virtually unbeatable Sampras, he reached the semi finals of the Australian and French and quarters of the US in his career. He also held a positive win ratio against Sampras and I suspect few players achieved  that. 

[whoareyaaa]

17 hours ago, Foxdiamond said:

Yep. Probably another 70 odd years before a Brit wins it again. As for the women 48 years and counting. At least I'm old enough to remember Virginia Wade and Ann Jones. That Murray managed 3 slams in the company he was up against is to his great credit 

Norrie and Radacanu still in it, both playing today I think Radacanu is capable of winning it.

[Foxdiamond]

3 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

Norrie and Radacanu still in it, both playing today I think Radacanu is capable of winning it.

She might but guard against getting too hopeful

[Super_horns]

58 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

She might but guard against getting too hopeful

Playing the world number one today so be very tough for Emma .

 

Kartal looking good for round 4.