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Post by speedysteve on Nov 3, 2014 9:06:57 GMT
Djokovic had no real problems against Ranoic. It was a good match though and exciting tennis. 6-2, 6-3. So Djokovic became the first ever player to defend his Paris title. Many of the great names have tried but never suceeded. Boris Becker had won it 3 times, but never back to back!
The ladies finished up in Sofia with Andrea Petkovic beating Flavia Pennetta for the title in a match that Petkovic had to turn around from 2-6 first set. Good tennis in the 2nd and 3rd sets!
So now there is a lull - until the ATP finals in London on the 9th (some 30 matches will be shown on TennisTV!
Until then I'll have to watch some old matches (some of the masters on Youtube are good fun - e.g. McEnroe VS Edberg in 2013) or catch up on some of the more minor motorsport I have backing up on hard drive
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Post by MartinT on Nov 3, 2014 9:37:42 GMT
Meanwhile, Caroline Wozniacki completed the New York marathon in less than three and a half hours.
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 3, 2014 11:14:46 GMT
Meanwhile, Caroline Wozniacki completed the New York marathon in less than three and a half hours.
</div> She is one fit lady! |
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 6, 2014 21:29:24 GMT
This weekend it's the Fed cup finals - Czech Rep VS Germany on Eurosport. www.fedcup.com/en/home.aspxKvitova (This years Wimbledon winner) leads the Czechs and Pliskova is in the Squad too. For Germany it's Petkovic and Kerber. Hard one to call! The men are in action in 15 days time in the Davies cup. Switzerland VS France. Should be the Swiss! |
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 7, 2014 21:22:51 GMT
ATP finals start this Sunday. BBC is actually showing it!!! Guess they'll wheel out Sue Baker. Murray in same group as Fed:) www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/29885432Me: I played this afternoon in gale force winds! Toss the ball up for a service a good 2ft the right more than normal and let the wind bring it back in. Drop shots are great with there's a side / head wind:) Curving the ball into the wind for a down the line pass, or curving it away from your opponent so the wind catches it and it just keeps on going. Don't get that fun indoors! |
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 8, 2014 23:40:25 GMT
Czech Rep did well against Germany - 2-0 up after first two singles matches! On a fast indoor court (chosen by the home team Czechs - Germany would have chosen indoor clay to suit their players / less suit the Czechs...) Kvitova romped away against Petkovic. Petkvovic did a little better in the 2nd, but not enough. In the 2nd match Kerber lost to Safarova in straight sets, in spite of having been ahead in the first set. It just seemed to run through her fingers. I played yesterday in stormy winds - practising against my hitting partner - He's a lefty with a strong forehand - my next league match is against a righthander with a less great backhand, so all my attacking backhands and inside out / over the top forehands were directed to my hitting partners forehand. I aim to be good at pummelling my opponents backhand come the match... Aim to get him tucked up and pushed back and then mash in the cross court wide to his forehand or just push his backhand until it breaks down. I've played him twice before and am 2-0 up, but he could get closer unless I keep him on his toes... I just bought some Dunlop Biomimetic S-GUT String 17g / 1.22mm strings (actually a multifilament) and another set of Head Rip Control.  Plan is to have the Head as mains and the Dunlop as crosses - That's a recommendation from Tennis Warehouse forum - worth a try on my spare frame... |
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 9, 2014 18:53:30 GMT
Murray lost his first match to Nishikori. The Japanese has had a stonking year. From a ranking of 17 to current 5th! He's played well and really matured.
Murray much now pretty much beat both Federer and Ranoic preferably in straight sets to go through.
I can't believe that the BBC won't show this evenings Federer match - Tight or what. Where is all the licence money going. Not on Tennis or Cricket that for sure!
I'll be turning to TennisTV for a further tennis fix!
The eight best ATP doubles teams are in town too - not a snifter of that on the Beeb!
Forgot to say I played club doubles today. Nice weather but only half the hitting Zzzzz
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 10, 2014 10:13:34 GMT
Federer cruised the 1st set against Raonic and then the latter played a little better and the former lost his 1st serve a bit... So the 2nd set was close with Roger twice losing a 40-0 up lead on his serve, to have to fight through multiple break points to hold. But, hold he did and the tie break went 7-0 to Roger?! Tennis is mercurial, if nothing else  The ladies FED cup was won by Czech 3-0 in the end. Close match Kvitova against Kerber. |
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 10, 2014 21:02:48 GMT
ATP finals: Djokovic made light work of the 1st set against Cilic 6-1. 2nd set is closer - lets see. Local BTA league (not quite the same ring to it is there I played my last BTA local league this evening under lights - Nice match I 6-1, 6-2. I've won that league 3 times in a row now - my head is starting to swell:) However, all the practise, fitness work and getting racquets, strings and tensions right is paying off;) |
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 10, 2014 21:14:03 GMT
Djokovic imperious - Cilic's improvement in the early part of the 2nd set was short lived - 6-1, 6-1.
Djokovic has beaten all the new young guns resoundingly in the last few months when they've met... Nishikori, Raonic and Cilic.
Looks like Fed - Djok. We'll see. Much tennis to go yet and it is a head game...
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 11, 2014 18:20:21 GMT
Federer cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Nishikori.
Federer just too solid. Nishikori too many errors, some forced some unforced.
Murray must be playing Raonic later on this evening.
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 11, 2014 22:14:06 GMT
Better from Murray.
Raonic doesn't learn from his mistakes in between or during matches.
Stan and Novak tomorrow is mouth watering.
Cilic and Berdych a little less so...
My racquet is now strung, Head rip control as mains blue spin poly on crosses
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 12, 2014 13:12:19 GMT
The Dunlop bio S-gut / multi strings arrived today. If I don't like the Pro supex blue gear ultra spin (what a name!), then I'll be cutting them straight out and trying the Dunlop bio;) Off for a hit in half an hour. "Lets go down to the tennis court, and talk it up, like yeah" |
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 12, 2014 18:12:29 GMT
The head rip control mains and blue gear spin polys played pretty well. The big 720sqcm racquet is a great power tool. Momentum on serve is great so its actually quite gentle on the arm.
So they stay for more hitting.
I won our set 6-3.
Cilic very lackluster against Berdych 6-3,
I think the 3 weeks rest before the finals has done him no favours...
Göran Ivansevic has tweaked his serve and he has had some arm probs. He needed the rest for elbow...
BTW Henman made it to the semis 2004 I think it was. His Best ranking was 4. He just never made a grand slam or ATP final...
Stan / Novak at 8
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 13, 2014 14:20:34 GMT
Well, Raonic is out - retired from the tournament. Quad injury. Ferrer parachutes in to play Nishikori this afternoon. This makes it a bit harder for Murray to qualify as Raonic is not there now to pinch games off the others... Murray permutations for semi-final qualification 1. If Federer beats Murray and Nishikori beat Ferrer, Federer wins the group and Nishikori qualifies second 2. If Federer beats Murray and Ferrer beats Nishikori, Federer wins the group and Nishikori qualifies second 3. If Murray beats Federer in two sets and Ferrer beats Nishikori, Murray wins the group and Federer qualifies second 4. If Murray beats Federer in two sets and Nishikori beats Ferrer in two sets, it will come down to the percentage of games won between Federer, Murray and Nishikori 5. If Murray defeats Federer in two sets and Nishikori defeats Ferrer in three sets, Murray wins group and Federer qualifies second. 6. If Murray beats Federer in three sets and Nishikori beats Ferrer in two sets, Federer wins the group and Nishikori qualifies second 7. If Murray defeats Federer in three sets and Nishikori defeats Ferrer in three sets, Federer wins the group and Nishikori qualifies second Lets see how the motor-mouse (as our family calls) Ferrer gets on. |
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 13, 2014 15:02:53 GMT
Yes, Ferrer / Nish very even. Nish gets a break of serve. Fer comes straight back at him!
They are all even on points! Best rallying tennis of the tournament so far...
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 13, 2014 15:07:29 GMT
Ferrer gets the 1st set |
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 13, 2014 15:46:36 GMT
Whoo-hoo. 1 set all!
First match to go the distance so far at the finals.
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 13, 2014 22:12:23 GMT
Hmm.
Pretty poor from Murray.
Good play from Federer. Federer only hit 40% of first serves! Could be even more devastating if that comes up to 60+. It will need to to beat Djocko.
Murray seemed jaded. Personally I don't think it's coaching.
Tennis is very much in the head.
Murray is not all there in his. His timing was not there enough to dare inject enough pace to worry Federer tonight or all week. Murray's first serve % was terrible. Many of the players seem to be struggling with serves %.
Where is the pistol Pete Sampras of tennis at the moment?
So Nishikori plays Djokovic in one semi. Federer plays Wawrinka, can't see Berdych Mmm making it.
Yes for all Nadal's ticks, bottle positioning, MTO's at strategic times and injuries popping up that require treatment and delay of doping tests.... He can take it to them.
However, this time round for me, if Federer gets his 1st serve % up he could well beat Djokovic. Assuming they make the final:)
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Post by jammy on Nov 14, 2014 2:19:40 GMT
Steve please dont take this the wrong way........But. Despite your (own) 70 odd posts, only 2 other members have bothered to reply. Have you ever considered possibly joining a Tennis forum for a bit more, eh, interaction...!!! Advantage Jammy - New Balls.     |
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