Author Topic: Tennis 2018 (Read 13398 times)

Nearly Sane · « **on:** December 29, 2017, 11:34:53 AM »

So even before the start of the year we see the trend from last year in the men's game of injuries loom with Nadal and Djokovic both delaying their planned returns and questions being asked about Murray already.

For the women, the undoubted story is the return of Serena Wiliams

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2018, 01:52:14 PM »

And the questions about Murray were justified. I doubt that he will play much before the French Open.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2018, 07:00:17 AM »

Murray, and Nishikori, pulled out of Aus Open. With doubts over Djokovic and Wawrinka, and Raonic's loss to De Minaur looking that he was struggling, you could have the top five ranked players at last year's tournament injured.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2018, 07:18:01 AM »

And now Serena has pulled out. Probably not that much of a surprise but a disappointment for the tournament director.

jeremyp · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2018, 07:00:19 PM »

If this carries on much longer, I'd better dust off my racquet. I think I have a shot at Wimbledon.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2018, 11:58:55 AM »

And Djokovic out. An odd set of quarter finalists with a sort of normal service with Federer, Nadal, Dimitrov, Cilic, and Berdych but then three unseeded players with Sandgren being the one no one would have picked to get this far. Given the draw it means one unseeded player in the semi finals. I suppose given Chung's win at the young players end of year tournament his performance is understandable.

That only Kerber is a slam winner amongst the last 16 of the women is I suppose not that surprising but it still feels odd that so many of the contenders for the number 1 ranking haven't won a slam. It looks pretty open and a case could be made for any one left to win.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2018, 09:54:06 PM »

Mmm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/42776652

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #7 on:** January 24, 2018, 11:44:35 AM »

And an intriguing line up in the semi finals. Federer in his 43rd Slam semi final against Chung who played incredibly against Djokovic, and Cilic who has looked very strong against Edmund who must be pinching himself. You would suspect a Federer Cilic final but both Chung and Edmund will be feeling confident after their last performances.

For the women Kerber has looked the class act but both Halep and Wozniacki have improved through the tournament. The questions remain about their ability to shut out the nerves but both have the game to win. Mertens seems nerveless up to now but to beat Wozniacki and one of Kerber - Halep would be astounding.

That both Nadal and Djokovic have injuries again will beworrying for promoters of upcoming tournaments. Given that, I suspect, neither would have played Davis Cup,they would gave a little recovery time planned anyway but were Federer to do as he did last year and avoid the clay season, and with Murray unlikely to be fit for it, a loss of another of tgd 'Big Four' would surely have an impact.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2018, 04:59:11 PM »

So a new winner of a slam for women is guaranteed. Halep's match with Kerber was extraordinary. And yet Wozniacki seems to be playing better than ever.

And odd that the two younger challengers in the men's tourney faltered because of injury. Cilic has been the outstanding player but if Federer wins what words are left, 20 slams, 36, GOAT becomes almost a given.

Humph Warden Bennett · « **Reply #9 on:** January 28, 2018, 06:28:35 PM »

We are all rather gloomy following Halep's defeat.

(Well Mrs Bennett is, the rest if us are just going along with the mood)

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2018, 08:33:50 PM »

Two good finals with the women's being overall more interesting with a last set which could have gone either way. Halep will, if injury free, be a strong chance for the French but will need to be careful not to get worried about having a number of finals where she has come close.

Federer's reaction made me wonder a bit that he might be thinking this could be the last year. The question will whether he might get a chance to get to No.1 in the next few weeks. If Nadal is longer term injured then there is a chance in 5 weeks where Federer has less points to defend before a run of points.

jeremyp · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2018, 12:51:47 AM »

Is there any doubt that Federer is the greatest player in the men's game there has ever been?

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2018, 01:06:27 AM »

Quote from: jeremyp on January 29, 2018, 12:51:47 AM

Is there any doubt that Federer is the greatest player in the men's game there has ever been?

No, I would think. I think the only question that might be raised is his h2h with Nadal, but I don't think that weighs against the overall numbers. There are a couple of outliers in the figures with Jimmy Connors total wins in matches and tournaments but I think that is balanced by it being easier to win tournaments at the time and the lower class of opposition. Note I'm not talking about it being a weak era but the much higher number of matches and wins against top 10 opponents. Federey, Nadal and Djokovic have by far the highest number of matches and wins against the top ten, and Murray is 8th, and all their losses include their records against each other.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Era_tennis_records_–_men%27s_singles

Humph Warden Bennett · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2018, 02:20:14 PM »

Quote from: Nearly Sane on January 29, 2018, 01:06:27 AM

No, I would think. I think the only question that might be raised is his h2h with Nadal, but I don't think that weighs against the overall numbers. There are a couple of outliers in the figures with Jimmy Connors total wins in matches and tournaments but I think that is balanced by it being easier to win tournaments at the time and the lower class of opposition. Note I'm not talking about it being a weak era but the much higher number of matches and wins against top 10 opponents. Federey, Nadal and Djokovic have by far the highest number of matches and wins against the top ten, and Murray is 8th, and all their losses include their records against each other.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Era_tennis_records_–_men%27s_singles

Yep, I will go along with that, the only qualification being the perennial argument about what would Rod Laver have achieved if the rules at the time had been different?

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #14 on:** January 29, 2018, 02:46:55 PM »

Quote from: Humph Warden Bennett on January 29, 2018, 02:20:14 PM

Yep, I will go along with that, the only qualification being the perennial argument about what would Rod Laver have achieved if the rules at the time had been different?

Effectively that is the issue with any comparison with the pre Open era both for amateur and professional achievements. Arguably had Hoad, Rosewall, Gonzales played on the amateurs at that time he might not have got that. Add to that that 3 of the slams used to be played on grass, not that Laver couldn't play on all surfaces and arguably his record on clay is a stronger one than Federer, and you create more confusion in the difference.

Incidentally, below is a list compiled in 2012 from expert opinions which then places Federer and Laver 1st and 2nd. The main changes I think we might see since then is a rise for Serena Williams, Nadal, Djokovic and an appearance of Murray (whom I would suspect might be rated somewhere in the 40s), and Wawrinka (whom I would think be in the 70s).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_Greatest_of_All_Time

Humph Warden Bennett · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2018, 02:57:32 PM »

Thanks for that list.

I am reminded of reading Charlie Buchans Soccer Annual for 1969, in which the England team of 1939 were hypothetically pitted against the England team of 1968, the conclusion being that only Tommy Lawton would have seriously troubled the 1968 team.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2018, 11:00:42 AM »

So Federer playing in Rotterdam has chance to reach No.1 if he reaches the quarter finals.

And Serena Williams returned to competition in the Fed Cup

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #17 on:** February 13, 2018, 01:53:33 PM »

Edmund withdrawing from the Argentine Open means Murray will remain UK No. 1 for now. Though that will change in March. Nor sure when that was last the case.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #18 on:** February 15, 2018, 08:55:59 PM »

So slight miscalculation, Federer needs to get to the semi final to get the No.1_spot back so one more match.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #19 on:** February 16, 2018, 10:30:52 PM »

And he won

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #20 on:** February 18, 2018, 04:59:20 PM »

And won in the final too.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #21 on:** February 26, 2018, 08:33:53 AM »

Good tournament win at Delray Beach for Francis Tiafoe, Could well be a sign that he's kicked on from last year and could challenge in higher ranked tournaments.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #22 on:** February 28, 2018, 12:02:32 PM »

Nadal pulled out of the Mexican Open with recurrence of injury- if that extends into the clay season, he has a lot of points to defend.

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #23 on:** March 03, 2018, 08:40:28 AM »

Both Nadal and Wawrinka out of Miami and Indian Wells. Not going to be easy to come back to clay, if not fully fit

Nearly Sane · « **Reply #24 on:** March 05, 2018, 11:50:54 AM »

And Kyle Edmund is British No. 1. First time since 2006 that it isn't Murray

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Author Topic: Tennis 2018 (Read 13398 times)