Tennis anyone?

[Iota]

A talented young player with well- rounded skills ( especially footwork ) can be hugely entertaining, win or lose.

Check out Federer's early videos, or those of Yannick Noah, Michael Chang and Tracy Austin. 

I do have a fleeting memory of Tracy Austin and her ponytails bouncing around Wimbledon in her heyday, but didn't watch much tennis back then either. The only player that really excited me was McEnroe. As Federer did (of the ones you list) later on.

I thought that it was really cute/sweet that she was a big fan of Andy Murray, but that she was too shy to meet him.  I hope that he reaches out to her for at least a video chat.

PD

Yes, she did seem like a sweet sixteen-year-old when she was interviewed. On court she's a far more ruthless and authoritative figure though, but the crowd certainly seemed to love her still.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I do have a fleeting memory of Tracy Austin and her ponytails bouncing around Wimbledon in her heyday, but didn't watch much tennis back then either. The only player that really excited me was McEnroe. As Federer did (of the ones you list) later on.

Yes, she did seem like a sweet sixteen-year-old when she was interviewed. On court she's a far more ruthless and authoritative figure though, but the crowd certainly seemed to love her still.

Finally watching M.A. play (against Madison Keys) now.  Mirra was playing very well, but Maddy was playing well, lack lustardly(?) until finally finding her game in the second set.  Hope that it goes into a third set.

And, yes, I remember watching a young Tracy Austin (petite and with pigtails) playing on court.  By the way her son Brandon Holt has played in a couple of slams; alas, he was beaten in the quallies at Wimbledon this year.

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Finally watching M.A. play (against Madison Keys) now.  Mirra was playing very well, but Maddy was playing well, lack lustardly(?) until finally finding her game in the second set.  Hope that it goes into a third set.

And, yes, I remember watching a young Tracy Austin (petite and with pigtails) playing on court.  By the way her son Brandon Holt has played in a couple of slams; alas, he was beaten in the quallies at Wimbledon this year.

PD

That was a surprising ending to that match! 

Contemplating watching the live match between Swiatek and Svitolina this morning (my time); however, that means giving in for at least a short time and upgrading my cable service.

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Oh, my!  Great job by Svitolina in the first set (listening to the commentary whilst watching the match on No. 1 court).  Delay while they were closing the roof(s).  Good to see that she didn't lose her momentum going into the second set against Swiatek.

Meanwhile, I'm pleased to see that the American Jessica Pegula won the second set against the Czech player Vondrousova.

PD

[LKB]

Congrats to Marketa Vondrousova, Women's Singles Champion for 2023. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Congrats to Marketa Vondrousova, Women's Singles Champion for 2023. 

Well done by her!  Pretty amazing that she had only ever played 4 matches on grass prior to her tear through Wimbledon.

I did feel my heartstrings tugged at by what Ons was going through.  Sadly, I think that she was feeling the weight of not just the moment/event, but also what that would mean for many other people.  I do believe that she will manage to come through and win at least one slam before she retires.

PD

[Karl Henning]

Pretty amazing that she had only ever played 4 matches on grass prior to her tear through Wimbledon

A quick study!

[Irons]

Well done by her!  Pretty amazing that she had only ever played 4 matches on grass prior to her tear through Wimbledon.

I did feel my heartstrings tugged at by what Ons was going through.  Sadly, I think that she was feeling the weight of not just the moment/event, but also what that would mean for many other people.  I do believe that she will manage to come through and win at least one slam before she retires.

PD

Even

Well done by her!  Pretty amazing that she had only ever played 4 matches on grass prior to her tear through Wimbledon.

I did feel my heartstrings tugged at by what Ons was going through.  Sadly, I think that she was feeling the weight of not just the moment/event, but also what that would mean for many other people.  I do believe that she will manage to come through and win at least one slam before she retires.

PD

Even more amazing the first unseeded Wimbledon Woman's champion.

If ever a match has proved tennis at this level is played as much in the head.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Even
Even more amazing the first unseeded Wimbledon Woman's champion.

If ever a match has proved tennis at this level is played as much in the head.

Yes, I heard them mention that too (re seeding).

And, I agree:  it must be quite a battle both on the court against ones opponent and against ones self.

Looking forward to the men's final today [Raining hard here again today...no going outside for me at the moment!]

PD

PD

[Brian]

Well done by her!  Pretty amazing that she had only ever played 4 matches on grass prior to her tear through Wimbledon.

If the article I read was correct, Carlos Alcaraz had only played 12 matches on grass coming into this year. So it is a real year for the inexperienced! I'll be rooting for him here in a few minutes 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

If the article I read was correct, Carlos Alcaraz had only played 12 matches on grass coming into this year. So it is a real year for the inexperienced! I'll be rooting for him here in a few minutes 

I was cheering for him and pleased that he won.  The friend who watched it with me was cheering for Novak, but was impressed with the young tennis player's game.  Hard day for Novak as I know that he's itching to win more slams.  There's no way that you win that many slams and top events without the desire, drive and belief that you can do it.  I heard some of the post- match(?) interviews with the two.  Loved how Novak said that Carlos was a young and hungry player, but that he was also still hungry and said something like:  "Let the feast begin!". 

So glad too that the match improved in the second set.  By the end of the first, I was thinking that this will be over soon and a sad match to watch.  High quality playing in the end by both of them.

PD

p.s.  And Alcaraz won Queen's in his first attempt too!  Talk about coming from 0-60 in 10 seconds! In his on court interview too Novak said something about "I knew that you were good/dangerous on clay and hardcourt, but didn't know that you were also dangerous on grass." [Sorry, I forget the exact words.]  Did you enjoy the match, Brian?

[Brian]

Did you enjoy the match, Brian?

Goodness! After that first set, like you, I thought, this is going to be sad. Alcaraz was so jittery, so badly overpowering the ball and hitting it out of bounds...they weren't even getting to do volleys. I thought he was completely unprepared and it was going to be miserable.

Honestly, the mental fortitude that it took him to recover from that set was really amazing to me. The fact that he came out for the second set with his adjustments made - the TV guys said it was like he was learning how to play on grass live, point by point - but also the fact that he shook that first set off and obviously thought, somehow, "I can do this." Like he had taken Djokovic's biggest punch and thought, "I know how to beat that," and started punching right back. The next two sets were amazing to me, especially the 26 minute game that almost felt like a battle to the death.

Honestly, I spent the first half-hour of the match observing all of Djokovic's strengths (his insane defensive skill, his ability to return almost any "kill shot," his durability, the relentless way he stayed prepared for every point) and so for the second half of the game, watching Alcaraz slowly get into his head was astonishing. It was like watching the Terminator get defeated! Or a robot get deprogrammed.

[Irons]

I loved the fact that Djokovic passed (threw actually) his smashed racquet to his most vocal supporter in the crowd. A lifetime conversation piece if you hung it on the wall. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Goodness! After that first set, like you, I thought, this is going to be sad. Alcaraz was so jittery, so badly overpowering the ball and hitting it out of bounds...they weren't even getting to do volleys. I thought he was completely unprepared and it was going to be miserable.

Honestly, the mental fortitude that it took him to recover from that set was really amazing to me. The fact that he came out for the second set with his adjustments made - the TV guys said it was like he was learning how to play on grass live, point by point - but also the fact that he shook that first set off and obviously thought, somehow, "I can do this." Like he had taken Djokovic's biggest punch and thought, "I know how to beat that," and started punching right back. The next two sets were amazing to me, especially the 26 minute game that almost felt like a battle to the death.

Honestly, I spent the first half-hour of the match observing all of Djokovic's strengths (his insane defensive skill, his ability to return almost any "kill shot," his durability, the relentless way he stayed prepared for every point) and so for the second half of the game, watching Alcaraz slowly get into his head was astonishing. It was like watching the Terminator get defeated! Or a robot get deprogrammed.

Yes, that 26 minute plus game was amazing.  I was thinking at the time that whomever won that game was going to let out a roar and feel a surge of energy and confidence/strength.

I loved the fact that Djokovic passed (threw actually) his smashed racquet to his most vocal supporter in the crowd. A lifetime conversation piece if you hung it on the wall. 

He seemed to be delighted by the gift. 

Wonder whether or not he was fined by Wimbledon for dinging the tennis post?  I suspect so.

Just googled and read this:  "His angry reaction left a number of dents in the wooden post and he has since been fined £6,150 as a result of his hot-headed antics, according to the Daily Mail."  The above was from an article in the Express.

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Leo Borg won his first tour-level win on Tuesday.  If the name sounds somewhat familiar, yes, he's the son of Bjorn Borg.  He's 20 years old and is currently playing in Bastad, Sweden.  Hope that his mom and dad were there to see him win.  His live ranking now is about 437.

Alas, I missed seeing it.  They (Tennis Channel) is currently going between a couple of different events including one in Switzerland.

PD

[vandermolen]

I watched the Men's Final whilst on holiday and was really pleased that Alcaraz won. It was a great match.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I watched the Men's Final whilst on holiday and was really pleased that Alcaraz won. It was a great match.

On holiday at Wimbledon? 

PD

[vandermolen]

On holiday at Wimbledon? 

PD

HAHA
Watched it on the TV in our nice holiday cottage in Anglesey.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

HAHA
Watched it on the TV in our nice holiday cottage in Anglesey.

Rainy day viewing?

I'm glad that I stuck with it...though it does mean a lot of sitting.  Would love to visit Wimbledon sometime.

PD

p.s.  Alcaraz is currently playing in the Hopman Cup (which wraps up today).  Not much of a break between Wimbledon and when the H.C. started.

[vandermolen]

Rainy day viewing?

I'm glad that I stuck with it...though it does mean a lot of sitting.  Would love to visit Wimbledon sometime.

PD

p.s.  Alcaraz is currently playing in the Hopman Cup (which wraps up today).  Not much of a break between Wimbledon and when the H.C. started.

It was on in the evening over here - when we got back from hiking/visiting places.