homepage
  roll on christmas  
click here to find out more about ship of fools click here to sign up for the ship of fools newsletter click here to support ship of fools
community the mystery worshipper gadgets for god caption competition foolishness features ship stuff
discussion boards live chat cafe avatars frequently-asked questions the ten commandments gallery private boards register for the boards
 
Ship of Fools


Post new thread  Post a reply
My profile login | | Directory | Search | FAQs | Board home
   - Printer-friendly view Next oldest thread   Next newest thread
» Ship of Fools   » Special interest discussion   » The Circus   » Game, set, and match - The everlasting tennis thread

 - Email this page to a friend or enemy.    
Source: (consider it) Thread: Game, set, and match - The everlasting tennis thread
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Bravo Johanna Konta who has started the year at the Sydney International with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Agnieszka Radwanska.

Dan Evans has also notched up impressive wins, taking out the number 1 seed, Dominic Thiem, in the round of 16 and then Andrey Kuznetsov in the semi-final to reach the final of the men's tournament - 08:30 GMT tomorrow, he takes on Gilles Muller.

[ 14. January 2017, 08:11: Message edited by: Imaginary Friend ]

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
Imaginary Friend

Real to you
# 186

 - Posted      Profile for Imaginary Friend   Email Imaginary Friend   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Nice to see a new tennis thread for the new year. [Smile]

As a minor hosting note - as this thread often gets relatively small numbers of posts, I think I will change it to an 'everlasting' thread so it doesn't have to be restarted each year.

Imaginary Friend
Circus Host

--------------------
"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough

Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Thanks for that.

Dan Evans started well enough but the fight seemed to go out of him after Muller won the tie-break and he lost 7-6 6-2. Still, he made it to an ATP final, which can only be a good thing, and with a bit of luck he'll get a good run at the Australian Open.

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Not only are Murray, Konta and Edmund safely through their first round matches, but Dan Evans won in straight sets and Heather Watson knocked out the number 18 seed, local girl Sam Stosur!

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
I seem to be the only shippie interested in tennis. [Confused]

Well, if anyone else bothers to read this I hope you were able to see some of the match at the Australian Open between 27th seed Bernard Tomic and Dan Evans. It always had the possibility of interest thanks to Tomic's father, John, having turned down Evans a couple of years ago as his son's hitting partner saying Evans wasn't good enough. (Tomic senior stands out as being an unpleasant individual even in a sport where poisonous parents are common.)

Anyway, Evans walked out the winner 7-5 7-6 7-6 and now will face 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (seeded) in the 4th round.

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
Piglet
Islander
# 11803

 - Posted      Profile for Piglet   Email Piglet   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
quote:
Originally posted by L'organist:
I seem to be the only shippie interested in tennis. [Confused]

No, you're not - I can be utterly hooked on Wimbledon if I have the chance. The other tournaments don't usually float my boat quite as much, but I'm always interested in how they're going (and in particular how any Brits involved are getting on).

Glad to hear Mr. Evans is doing so well - I'd have thought that Mr. Tsonga would be quite a challenge.

--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006  |  IP: Logged
Chorister

Completely Frocked
# 473

 - Posted      Profile for Chorister   Author's homepage     Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
No, you're not - I can be utterly hooked on Wimbledon if I have the chance. The other tournaments don't usually float my boat quite as much, but I'm always interested in how they're going (and in particular how any Brits involved are getting on).


Ditto. Think I should follow Evans more closely from now on...

--------------------
Retired, sitting back and watching others for a change.

Posts: 34626 | From: Cream Tealand | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged
Piglet
Islander
# 11803

 - Posted      Profile for Piglet   Email Piglet   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Especially as the knighthood appears to have gone to Sir Andy's head. [Frown]

--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
So now the only player left in the singles as the Australian Open is Johanna Konta, Messrs Murray and Evans having fallen by the wayside. No disrespect to Evans but this was to be expected but Murray???

Luckily for Murray's ranking Djokovic lost so early in the tournament that he won't be overtaken by another player; Evans only has 35 points to drop and gains 180 so not only should he leapfrog the official British number 2, Kyle Edmund, but also overtake some highly regarded players and will find himself knocking on the door of the top 40.

In the women's draw Angelique Kerber lost but she's not in Konta's half of the draw: Konta's next opponent is Ekaterina Makarova against whom JK has a 100% record, but if she wins she faces the might Serena... [Eek!]

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
Tukai
Shipmate
# 12960

 - Posted      Profile for Tukai   Email Tukai   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Some of us in Australia follow at least the Australian Open, which is on now in typically changeable Melbourne weather - 20 deg one day, 38 the next!. With all local players now out of it - some like Stosur even in the first round - my own interest centres on Federer, still probably the most elegant player in the world.

--------------------
A government that panders to the worst instincts of its people degrades the whole country for years to come.

Posts: 594 | From: Oz | Registered: Sep 2007  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Johanna Konta fell to Serena Williams: frustrating because Konta has been so good up to now. I think she was overawed at facing her childhood heroine across the net.

Federer is in fine form, not only playing but in post match interviews. Next up for him is Wawrinka.

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
Barnabas62
Shipmate
# 9110

 - Posted      Profile for Barnabas62   Email Barnabas62   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Nadal is playing very well again, which I'm pleased to see. Roger versus Stan is a match I'm really looking forward to. These days, when on his game, Stan has got the necessary firepower to beat Roger. But I think Roger might win this encounter.

--------------------
Who is it that you seek? How then shall we live? How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

Posts: 21397 | From: Norfolk UK | Registered: Feb 2005  |  IP: Logged
Tukai
Shipmate
# 12960

 - Posted      Profile for Tukai   Email Tukai   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Federer did indeed win his semi-final against Wawrinka. It was worth watching . Federer, after winning the first 2 sets, started hitting "out" or into the net some shots that in his prime he would have put away for winners just "in". At the same time , Stan lifted his game and took the next 2 sets. But to my surprise the older man finished the stronger.

If Nadal wins his semi tonight, then both finals will be "back to the future" : Williams vs Williams in the womens, and Roger vs Rafa in the mens.

--------------------
A government that panders to the worst instincts of its people degrades the whole country for years to come.

Posts: 594 | From: Oz | Registered: Sep 2007  |  IP: Logged
bib
Shipmate
# 13074

 - Posted      Profile for bib     Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
The tennis has been compulsive viewing in my house. Federer's winning game was nail biting stuff, but he finished in his usual elegant fashion. The crowd obviously adores him. He now faces Nadal for the final on Sunday night. Meanwhile the Williams sisters will face off for the women's final tonight. I can see that I will be square eyed and hoarse by Monday morning.

--------------------
"My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring"

Posts: 1307 | From: Australia | Registered: Oct 2007  |  IP: Logged
Lucia

Looking for light
# 15201

 - Posted      Profile for Lucia     Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
There was no full match coverage of the men's final of the Australian Open on a channel I had access to in the UK but I've just been watching the highlights on catch up TV. Wonderful to see Nadal and Federer in full swing again. Just like old times!
Happy with the result as I wanted Federer to win a grand slam one more time. I can't believe he will have many more opportunities at his age.

Would love to see Nadal win the French Open again. That was always his special place!

Posts: 1075 | From: Nigh golden stone and spires | Registered: Oct 2009  |  IP: Logged
Piglet
Islander
# 11803

 - Posted      Profile for Piglet   Email Piglet   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
I didn't see the match, but when Sir Andy's out of it, I'm always glad to see Federer win - he seems like such a nice bloke.

Well done him!

--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006  |  IP: Logged
bib
Shipmate
# 13074

 - Posted      Profile for bib     Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
The men's final was one of the best tennis matches I have ever seen and I found it particularly enjoyable in that it was played by two of the gentlemen of tennis rather than petulant super brats. I have no time for players who abuse their raquets, argue with the referee or swear at all and sundry. Congratulations to Federer and to Nadal.

--------------------
"My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring"

Posts: 1307 | From: Australia | Registered: Oct 2007  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Dan Evans has moved up the ATP rankings to 45, two places ahead of Kyle Edmund.

In the women's list, Johanna Konta has dropped a place (because she got to a semi-final at the AO last year).

The Federer-Nadal match was nail-biting stuff to watch, even though I'd heard the result on the way home from church. And, as you say, both men were articulate and gracious on the podium afterwards; I do think the speeches might have been cut-down, poor old Rod Laver looked shattered.

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
WOW!

Johanna Konta has won the Miami Masters tournament: first Brit to win something like this since Virgina Wade in the 1970s.

She beat Caroline Wozniacki (former No 1) in the final in straight sets, having overcome Venus Williams in the semi.

Konta's ranking is going up to Number 7 on Monday. [Overused]

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
The tournament at Queen's Club in London has been one shock after another, with the first, second and third seeds (Murray, Warwrinka and Raonic) all going out in the first round, one after another.

Now Johanna Konta has gone in Nottingham

My tickets for Eastbourne next week look a good deal, with the likes of Djokovic and Gale Monfils being given wildcards for the men's draw and Konta and Radwanska in the women's.

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
Sipech
Shipmate
# 16870

 - Posted      Profile for Sipech   Author's homepage     Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Biggest tennis news of the day belongs (sadly) to Dan Evans, who has failed a drugs test.

I'd question whether cocaine could be regarded as performance-enhancing, but it's a sad state of affairs. I hope he gets the help he needs. [Tear]

Posts: 3791 | From: On the corporate ladder | Registered: Jan 2012  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Yesterday's two ATP finals were both exhilarating affairs.

In Halle Roger Federer took only 53 minutes to thrash Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-3. At Queen's Club in London Feliciano Lopez needed 3 sets to overcome Marin Cilic 4-6 7-6 7-6.

So thats 2 men winning major titles just short of their 36th birthday.

Most heartwarming thing to watch was Petra Kvitova winning in Nottingham 6 months after a knife wound from an intruder threatened to end her career. She looks like a good bet for Wimbledon, especially since Serena is out of the draw.

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
Sarasa
Shipmate
# 12271

 - Posted      Profile for Sarasa   Email Sarasa   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
I tunred on the TV yesterday just in time to see Heather Watson win her match. That was cheering.

--------------------
'I guess things didn't go so well tonight, but I'm trying. Lord, I'm trying.' Charlie (Harvey Keitel) in Mean Streets.

Posts: 2035 | From: London | Registered: Jan 2007  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
WOW! Just WOW!

Ok, so Aljaz Bedene was born in Slovenia but he has chosen to live in the UK and become a Brit. Playing the giant Ivo Karlovic he managed to go toe-to-toe for 4 sets, and then - finally! - the first break of serve came in the final game to see Bedene win, final score 6-7 5-7), 7-6(8-6), 7-6(9-7), 6-7(7-9), 8-6

Wins too for Heather Watson, Johanna Konta and Andy Murray.

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
For the first time in 20 years there are FOUR Brits into the third round at Wimbledon. Andy Murray and Johanna Konta - expected, given their respective seedings (1 and 6).

But Heather Watson putting out the number 18 seed? And then Aljaz Bedene too?

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Ok, so 2 Brits lost in round 3 - Bedene and Watson - but two are through to the second week.

Murray looked a bit iffy but Konta was in fine form.

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
Tukai
Shipmate
# 12960

 - Posted      Profile for Tukai   Email Tukai   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
quote:
Originally posted by L'organist:
For the first time in 20 years there are FOUR Brits into the third round at Wimbledon. Andy Murray and Johanna Konta - expected, given their respective seedings (1 and 6).

But Heather Watson putting out the number 18 seed? And then Aljaz Bedene too?

And also for the first time in 20 years there are zero Australians in the third round. Ah, well - back to the practice court. (or in Kyrios' case perhaps back to teh surgery.)

--------------------
A government that panders to the worst instincts of its people degrades the whole country for years to come.

Posts: 594 | From: Oz | Registered: Sep 2007  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Tennis news: Federer is showing the world that 36 (next month) isn't over the hill - although the early exits of Murray (1), Djokovic (2), Nadal (4) and earlier retirements 'hurt' have shone a light on the toll that top-class tennis exacts from its male players.

Not only is Venus Williams even older than Federer, she is also proof that a serious long-term medical condition (in her case Sjögrens Syndrome) is not necessarily a bar to being a world-class athlete; she faces the only Brit left standing, Johanna Konta for a place in the final.

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
ArachnidinElmet
Shipmate
# 17346

 - Posted      Profile for ArachnidinElmet   Email ArachnidinElmet   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Well sadly Konta is out too, but am sat watching TV keeping everything crossed for Heather Watson and her partner in the doubles. Last time I looked Jamie Murray was also still in the completion, in the other mixed doubles semi with Martina Hingis.
Posts: 1887 | From: the rhubarb triangle | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
ArachnidinElmet
Shipmate
# 17346

 - Posted      Profile for ArachnidinElmet   Email ArachnidinElmet   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Completion? no, competition. But they're both still in it, whatever we're calling it.

--------------------
'If a pleasant, straight-forward life is not possible then one must try to wriggle through by subtle manoeuvres' - Kafka

Posts: 1887 | From: the rhubarb triangle | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Roger Federer proves that 35 - well, nearly 36 - isn't over-the-hill. Masterful performance that would have blown anyone off the court. He moves up to number 3 in the world rankings, behind Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal.

Johanna Konta moves up 3 places to number 4.

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Kyle Edmund lost to Marin Cilic but he has made a massive leap forward in class over the past year which finally brought results at this year's Australian Open. Although injured he managed to make Cilic work for his win.

More good news is that there is a Briton in the semi-finals of the Boys' Singles for the first time in 5 years.

The Women's final, meanwhile, will be a showdown between the current numbers 1 and 2, Halep and Wozniacki, two of only a handful of players in the women's drawer who looked credible winners.

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338

 - Posted      Profile for L'organist   Author's homepage   Email L'organist   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
And Roger Federer becomes the oldest man to be Number 1 in the rankings at 36.

--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet

Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012  |  IP: Logged
Piglet
Islander
# 11803

 - Posted      Profile for Piglet   Email Piglet   Send new private message       Edit/delete post   Reply with quote 
Good for him - I remember when 36 was regarded as the beginning of Golden Oldie territory.

--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006  |  IP: Logged


 
Post new thread  Post a reply Close thread   Feature thread   Move thread   Delete thread Next oldest thread   Next newest thread
 - Printer-friendly view
Go to:

Contact us | Ship of Fools | Privacy statement

© Ship of Fools 2016

Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM 6.5.0

 
follow ship of fools on twitter
buy your ship of fools postcards
sip of fools mugs from your favourite nautical website
 
 
  ship of fools