Tennis and Grand Slams

[Sordane]

I hope Federer gets out of this slump during the U.S. Open...

[OkeyDokey]

Anyone have a guess for the US Open winners?

I think it'll be a surprise all around.

Men:
I'm going with a total upset, Nadal out in round of 16 and Fed out in quarters. I think it'll be Murray this time. I want him to win Wimbledon badly... but I just don't know if the pressure of it will ever allow him to win

Women:
I'm going with Jelena Jankovic. She has a lot of fans in NY, the "Jelena Yankees" and that'll be good for her emotional game. She'll only win though if someone else can take out the Williams sisters before JJ would meet them.

[PLIMPY]

Anyone watching the Australian Open?

[Wab]

On and off. The first few days are really just disposal of the cannon fodder although Monfils was lucky De Bakker choked.

[JackFish]

I haven't had any time to watch it yet as I'm in the middle of exams, plus the time difference makes it difficult for me as they'll all on in the middle of the night

[jordmundt6]

Jankovic is out. It's been all chalk for the men in the upper seeds, but Giles Simon bounced back from a two sets-love deficit against Federer and pushed it five. We started with Federer as the "favorite" according to the talking heads and now half of them think he's wobbling. Talking heads can be really annoying. I take it Serena had to retire because of injury since we only have one Williams sister left. Did anyone else know that Kim Clijsters has or can fake a sense of humor in post-match interviews. I confess I never knew that. The only native Aussie left in the men's draw is some 19-year-old set to be crushed by Nadal in Round 3. Stosur's still around last I heard. Sharapova won her second round match.

I have to say the women's draw seems like a complete muddle.

[PLIMPY]

Originally Posted by jordmundt6

Jankovic is out. It's been all chalk for the men in the upper seeds, but Giles Simon bounced back from a two sets-love deficit against Federer and pushed it five. We started with Federer as the "favorite" according to the talking heads and now half of them think he's wobbling. Talking heads can be really annoying. I take it Serena had to retire because of injury since we only have one Williams sister left. Did anyone else know that Kim Clijsters has or can fake a sense of humor in post-match interviews. I confess I never knew that. The only native Aussie left in the men's draw is some 19-year-old set to be crushed by Nadal in Round 3. Stosur's still around last I heard. Sharapova won her second round match.

I have to say the women's draw seems like a complete muddle.

I agree that the women's draw is really a muddle. Especially since Justine Henin lost yesterday, Clijsters must be the clear favorite. But favorites often mean nothing in the WTA. I'm not sure I had ever paid attention to her interactions with the media before, but in the post-match interviews I've seen this week, Clijsters does seem to be personable and getting laughs.

Serena is not playing the Australian Open due to a foot injury (which started as some complicated story about glass falling on her foot in a bar or something) and I believe she had surgery. Venus is out now due to her injury as well.

As for the talking heads, Federer is not really any more or less likely to win than before. Nadal and Djokovic obviously have a good shot. I'd probably put Murray or Soderling in the second layer of possibles. It really depends on the day and how each of them plays.

[jordmundt6]

We're in the quarters and the women's draw is a MESS. Wozniacki probably has a walkover road to the Semis because Schiavone expended so much effort just making the quarters. The German Serb who benefited from Venus' injury watched Sharapova come out and lay an egg and STILL almost let the second set go from 5-1 to 5-4. She's primed for an epic collapse against Li Na. I have no idea who Clijsters is up against, but it really looks like Wozniacki will probably be facing the humorous Belgian in the finals. It's just odd.

[lilyrose]

Stan Wawrinka cruised past Andy Roddick, and has set up a clash with Roger Federer. Wawrinka's in fine form and I'm hoping the match will be very close. I've seen him play in the Chennai Open and he has a style so similar to Federer's (They won the Olympic Gold in doubles for Switzerland)! Stan's one-handed backhand might be the most artistic tennis shot I've seen

[lilyrose]

Since this thread is about grand slams, I'm wondering if people have a 'favourite' Grand Slam. If so, why do you prefer that particular slam?

[AldeberanBlack]

Wimbledon is my favourite.



Nadal out of Aussie Open.

[Wab]

Wimbledon.

[jordmundt6]

I think Fed still has three or four Slam titles in his quiver (but I may just be a delusional fan, who knows). Does Murray have a mental block about Slam finals? He got absolutely embarrassed out there. He looked almost as bad as
Wawrinka did against Federer. It doesn't seem to be a barmeter of his talent. Nerves? Pressure of all that history he has to change?

[Americanwizards]

Nadal is the man. He'll win the Frence Open again soon.

[TrueRavenclaw]

The Sony Ericsson open was amazing ;A; Many of my friends volunteered to be the ball kids. Im going to apply for next year XD

[Jigga]

I would love to see Gustavo Kuerten in this era. Nadal is playing in a weak clay era. Sure he is great but I he would not dominate like this if there were more competent clay court players. The only one is Ferrer nad he can't beat Nadal. Verdasco is more of a hard court player and players like Bellucci,Fognini and Monaco aren't threatening Nadal anytime soon.

[wolfbrother]

What an incredible match. To play with such intensity for nearly 6 hours, Nadal and Djokovic are simply machines. I got tired just watching them.

[jordmundt6]

No one commented on Nadal's victory in the French, halting the potential Joker slam or Federer looking positively mortal coming back from 2 sets down in the French? No comments on Wimbeldon so far? Not Nadal's second round loss to Rosol, not Federer's comeback against Benneteau, nothing? Strange.

[wolfbrother]

I expected Nadal to win the French, though I think if the match had continued on Sunday, Djokovic probably would have won. The heavier conditions suited him more.

As for Wimbledon, Rosol was simply on fire. The break for closing the roof probably helped him more than Nadal because the momentum was with Nadal. Unlucky for Nadal actually, Rosol out in straight sets to Kohlschreiber today. Looks like he caught him on the wrong day.

As for Federer, he's been mortal for a while now. Much more prone to get ambushed than when he was in his prime. Last match reminds me of FO'09. Rafa shocked by Soderling and the next match Federer has to come back from 2 sets and a break point down against Haas. I'm hopeful that he can go on to win this. His game matches up better to Novak's than Rafa's.

[AldeberanBlack]

I like the night matches at Wimbledon. Great vibe. Building a roof over Centre Court was an excellent decision.