Wimbledon
 

Just watched Roddick choke hard. Was up two sets and a break in the third. Gasquet comes back and wins two tiebreakers to take it to the final set and wins 8-6.

Roddick was coming in with 18 consecutive winning tiebreaks. Guy is a headcase in big matches.

Its been downhill since mandy moore left

Federer up 2 sets to 1,but Nadal ahead 5-2 in 4th set.I can't believe Nadal has won more games than Federer (so far.)

I wasn't even watching this today.I figured it a done deal that Roger would blow past this guy on this surface.Even if Roger wins it,this is a surprise(that Nadal could even compete with him on grass.)

amazing tennis with these two, Nadal and Federer.
now in the fifth set.

That was great tennis.Nadal can't beat Federer on this surface.I am surprised he had a chance to.Twice Blew chances to break serve in the 5th set. Had him 15-40 2 different times.Federer finally found his game.I don't think Nadal will get that chance again.

nadal has pushed Federer farther each time.
After today there is no doubt that he can beat him on grass at some point.
I hope he doesn't because I like Federer better.
some of the rallies today were beyond belief how they kept painting the lines.

What a great rivalry and looks like on that will last a few years.

Federer was incredible in the fifth.

That match was simply amazing. As much as I hate to say it, I think today was saw the beginning of the passing of the torch. This match helped Nadal a lot more than it helped Federer from a competition perspective. Federer has that extra gear that he seems to be able to switch on when he needs and almost becomes super human. That 8 out of 9 point stretch he put on late in the 5th was some of the best shotmaking that has ever been seen. What a treat....Was really nice to see Borg there. He looked good all things considered.

Big props to Roger and the white suit....in a world of spoiled superstars it's nice to see people like Roger and Tiger show the amount of class they do.

What does that mean?

Well,you know...hair loss...skin damaged by sun....

Borg fell on some very hard times. Apparently tried to commit suicide ohhh about 15 years back? , money problems, girl problems... the works.

This was Nadal's big chance. This grass was playing like a hardcourt. Balls were bouncing very high (no low skidding which is a killer for 2 handed backhands) providing for long rallies, a perfect chance for Nadal. Federer had not been pushed and I dont think played particularly well all tournament. This Wimbledon might have had some of the longest rallies I have ever seen.

Having said all of this, I think Nadal is a killer competitor. I dont think he is as talented as Federer but the kid finds ways to win. He has clearly learned how to adapt. Lets hope he does not burn out because he is still very young. This kid is a very smart player for his age, hugely talented in the head category. He really had an ideal chance to do it this tourney with the way the grass was playing. Nadal is not as talented. Serve still needs to get better. His forehand adjusted very well this time around. I think Nadal is mentally tougher than Federer, especially after the French win. I thought Federer lost his will, he did not think he could win. Nadal always believes he can win.

Oh ok. I thought maybe he had some disease or something

Professor Pat,hows the summer going so far?

Besides getting slapped upside the head by Morton weilding a large fish... fine. How is it going at the MOuntain this year? Are you up?

NOW HERE THIS: RETAMA WILL BE RACING THOROUGHBREDS starting Sept.

And now to keep to task on the thread. Borg had the fastest lateral movement I have ever seen in Tennis. He would have made a great Swedish Short Stop.

Ok I will admit that I dont really know much about tennis except what I hear John McEnroe say but how can you say that #1 Nadal is not as talented as Federer and #2 Nadal is mentally tougher and always believes he can win when Federer almost always does?

Nadal looks to me to be as good as athlete as any tennis player I ever saw. The guy covers more court than anyone.

Oh my God.

Now it's tennis.





Paper,Rock,Scissors must be next.

Strokes my good man.

Serve: Federer
Forehand: Federer
Volleying: Federer
Backhand: Federer

I really dont think there is any stroke that Nadal hits better than Federer, its as simple as that. But he knows how to win, and yes he is a very agile on the court. And his temprament is a joy. The kid thinks he can beat anyone.

And Borg is by far the best mover I have seen. Quickest feet of all time. I have never seen a man hit so many passing shots completely off the court... He was amazing.

Morton have you realized many people on this board like sports? There is a whole "department" devoted to it. I suggested a Mortimer section but Thebs did not go for it. I like sports Morton. A bunch.

I'm not sure he isn't the best ever, Borg was great but this guy has it all. I was glad to see Venus win, the sisters still have game...American men are several steps behind.

OK, I get it.

Just been through the ringer since he quit playing...most of it financial....broke my heart when I saw he had one of his Wimbledon trophies for sale....I think he got things straightened out finally is everything is okay now...

One thing that is always interesting when you get into competitive tennis is the tennis player vs athlete.....Federer is the better tennis player, but Nadal is the better athlete...I don't agree that Nadal is mentally tougher though...Federer isn't able to throw it into that gear that noone has just because he has it, he can do it cuz he is tougher than everyone else....

Oh and you are free to frolick on about them as much as you wish.


I have nnnnnnnoo problem with that at all. I do reserve my right as a devotee of the Bill of Rights ( which has a wonderful memory) to merely express my opinion.



No jump back in there or you'll miss something.

Federer folded up tent against Nadal in the French this year. I saw it. I did not like it. He went down a step with that lack of will. He can beat Nadal on clay, he just does not think he can... at Rolan Garros anyway.

For the last 3 years (on Espn and on this site too) people been so sure Federer can beat him at the French.I have no idea why they think this.He is giving his best each year at that place,and this man is (at that tournament) superior.Nadal is the best clay player ever,and people refuse to give him credit for that.You obviously don't respect him yet,or you wouldn't keep saying he is gunna get beat by Federer there.There is no evidence whatsoever that Federer can beat him at Roland Garros.The only chance is if Nadal gets injured(which is always a decent possiblity,,i.e. 2004)

Who brought Nadal's clay winning streak to a close Scuds?
Federer can beat him on any surface because he is a better player.
But Nadal has the mental toughness edge, my take.

Nadal is definitely a great clay court player but I wouldn't call him the best just yet...just like I won't say Federer is the best grass player.

Check out Borg on clay Scuds. You are forgetting or never saw.

to me Nadal is the best I've ever seen on clay, and Roger is the best grass player for sure and also best overall player I have ever seen.

I'll go with Borg on both grass and clay surfaces, but Federer overall.

That guy was boring as watching eggs boil.Nobody has been better on clay than Nadal.He has won 3 French Opens in a row,and if he doesn't get injured,I think he could win even 6 or 7 in a row there.He is too good.

Borg won 5. Four in a row. When tennis was in its prime, the late 70's. Everyone played, a much larger % of people participated in tennis.

Borg was boring? You have got to be kidding...

Oh the fist pumping and the Ladies Capri shorts... I get it.

This is the prime (as far as I am concerned.) These 2 right here,right now ....this is the best it gets.

It really would be interesting to see what McEnroe and Borg could do with the rackets they have today. The ball just flies off of them. My first racket was a wood Jack Kramer. You had to hit it right in the middle. And if your strings were not gut you were at a severe disadvantage. The new rackets are much easier to control, much, much lighter, and my serve would have been very big for a short guy. You can get away with horrible mishits.

Roscoe Tanner seriously might have hit the hardest serves of all time with the rackets today.

Really the technology has changed the game so much. You could never hit a forehand over the net using a grip like they use today with the old rackets. I think Borg and a few other guys had a grip somewhat like they use today. But the game is really not the same because the ball is moving so much faster and its so much easier to hit hard with control.

so how do you take him over Federer on 2 of 3 major surfaces but say Federer is a better player?

Federer beat him in Hamburg....yes it's clay, but it's as close to hard courts without being on one as you'll ever find....just because it says clay doesn't mean it's Roland Garros. Can he beat him on clay? sure...Is Nadal in his head? absolutely.....will he ever win the French......I say he's got one maybe two more legit shots....

They actually did a side by side shot of Borg/Federer's forehands and the motion was almost identical.....I saw most of the greats from the 70's and 80's play in person several times and I personally thought McEnroe was the most talented...he had the best hands of anyone that has ever played period....the guy was a magician at the net.....

and he is a great announcer

that he is.....you know what I thought was really cool yesterday was the little stroll on centre court that Borg, Connors, and McEnroe took before the final....nothing more than a stroll down memory lane.....would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that one.....