Queens/Halle Thread

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

Thought I would get the ball rolling this week.

Queens is having an inspection at 12. If the forecast is correct, we might not get started until next week!

Not sure they are having the same problems in Halle though.

[laverfan]

This surely has to be the worse ever Queen's tournament, as there is no player with a Singles Grand Slam Major in their CV playing in this year's tournament.

There were some rumblings about UK Tax Laws and players displeasure regarding participation.

[lydian]

Nadal through in straights in Halle.

Tsonga just lost to Dodig! (final set TB)

Queen's organisers must be pulling their hair out after losing their 2 top seeds in the early rounds!

[Guest]

Nadal through in straights in Halle.

Tsonga just lost to Dodig! (final set TB)

Queen's organisers must be pulling their hair out after losing their 2 top seeds in the early rounds!

Plus all the Brit wild cards have been knocked out after facing their first overseas opponents.

[laverfan]

Bad game by Mayer to give Federer the first set at 6-4.

[Haddie-nuff]

Rafa made his usual slow and shakey start in the first set (though Lacko was serving well) and looked the better player in the first set. Rafa looked like he was unsure of his footing.. several UE from him...
However 2nd set was a different story and a visit to the bakery was called for.

(The court looks so much smaller than RG though I know it cant be

[laverfan]

Federer wins, second set 7-5. Mayer looked very uncomfortable on grass.

Raonic will be a different kettle of fish.

[lags72]

Federer will be relieved to come through - Mayer can be a tricky customer. In fact one of the few players to have enjoyed a spell with a positive H2H v Nadal ! (until last month ....)

Raonic is definitely on the verge of taking a big scalp, and I could be tempted to put a bob or two on the scalp being that of the grass King ......

[hawkeye]

There are no "big scalps" on the line in Halle. A loss before the final may be on the cards for both Federer and Nadal. Although I'm not sure if that's a sneaky feeling or just wishful thinking.

As someone who looks forward to this match up more than any other... I just don't want to see it here. Not on grass and not the week before Wimbledon. Don't really want either to lose as would like both to come into Wimbledon full of confidence. Wish they could both suddenly just remember they should really be somewhere else... Maybe the tournament director at Queens could poach one of them. I can imagine he might just be desperate enough to do it...

[laverfan]

... Maybe the tournament director at Queens could poach one of them. I can imagine he might just be desperate enough to do it...

... which would be a first, after both tournaments have already started.

[Guest]

... Maybe the tournament director at Queens could poach one of them. I can imagine he might just be desperate enough to do it...

... which would be a first, after both tournaments have already started.

It shows where the lack of brains come from

[lags72]

Federer has a contractual agreement to play Halle for the remainder of his career, so for as long as the two events continue to clash you won't be seeing him at Queen's.

Rafa was reportedly offered - and promptly accepted - $1.2 million to play Halle 2012, hence his switch from Queen's.

[laverfan]

... Maybe the tournament director at Queens could poach one of them. I can imagine he might just be desperate enough to do it...

... which would be a first, after both tournaments have already started.

It shows where the lack of brains come from

:roflmao:

[lydian]

I suspect HE wasn't serious with that point...

[CaledonianCraig]

I suspect HE wasn't serious with that point...

Are you suggesting she was on the wind-up?

[laverfan]

I suspect HE wasn't serious with that point...

Are you suggesting she was on the wind-up?

She was getting ready to serve, and the chair umpire called a time violation and illegal coaching penalty.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ah that Uncle Toni eh.

[Guest]

I suspect HE wasn't serious with that point...

I am not that convinced. After all she did witness something through someone else's eyes on another thread

[lydian]

lol...
I'm just referring to the poaching comment and it being out of time with Queens having started.

[Guest]

I think she is special.....

[hawkeye]

Ha ha! Some people don't understand the powers of wishful thinking by both me and the Queens tournament director... not to mention all the tennis fans who have forked out all that cash for a line up that they could have seen at the Nottingham challenger event...

laverfan

I feel really sad that you have joined in with the jibes.

[CaledonianCraig]

I feel really sad that you have joined in with the jibes.

Well you know the old saying 'If you can't take it, don't hand it out'.

[hawkeye]

Caladonian Craig.

I expect it from you as you are a Murray fan right through to the core. Your mission is to defend Andy from the likes of Tommy Haas. I can fully understand your emotions so bare you no grudges. As long as you don't make up stuff.

[CaledonianCraig]

hawkeye I guess this should put an end to your wish to believe Haas:-

http://www.iol.co.za/sport/tennis/nadal-defends-good-guy-murray-1.1319493#.T9pFNbV8B8E

[Guest]

The Queens director is going to have their work cut out to invite the top stars. When you have one of the biggest stars in Nadal pulling out due to tax reasons, it will only be a matter of time that others give it a wide berth.

[Guest]

CC



The irony!

[lydian]

Queen's just isnt the same anyway since they got rid of the red (Stella Artois)/green livery. Too much smurf-blue abounds now.

And who would call it the "AEGON Championships". I mean "AEGON"....hardly rolls off the tongue does it.
The grass season is pathetic...its got the biggest slam yet the worst pre-slam run-up.

[Tom_____]

This surely has to be the worse ever Queen's tournament, as there is no player with a Singles Grand Slam Major in their CV playing in this year's tournament.

There were some rumblings about UK Tax Laws and players displeasure regarding participation.

Yes its the main reason fewer and fewer top players avoid playing in events in Britain, especially sports like this where there are so few tennis tournaments in the UK outside wimbers.

E.g:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/tiger-and-the-1631m-tax-bill-how-british-law-may-scare-off-woods-from-ryder-cup-2048016.html

where they estimate Tiger woods would have to pay nearly £1million in tax to take part in the UK Ryder cup which paid no prize money.

Your effectively asking players to come to an event and even if they win, they will still make a big loss in tax from global endorsements. Its a bit ridiculous to tax that way imo, because the only thing it will achieve is less top sports stars in Britain. I don't blame them all for heading to Halle.


"It all started with tennis, and a series of decisions relating to foreign tennis players culminating in HMRC's 2006 victory in the House of Lords in the Agassi case. As a result, HMRC won the right to not only tax international sports stars on their UK prize money, but also on a proportion of their global endorsement income. So far, so fair – if we all have to pay tax on our income earned from activities in the UK, why should the sports stars escape it?
The issue is with the method of calculation. Prior to the tennis cases, the income taxed in the UK was often calculated according to the number of days spent in the UK over a year. However, HMRC successfully argued that the calculation should be based on the proportion of events played in Britain. Therefore if the Ryder Cup is one of 20 events a golfer participates in, he could be taxed in the UK on 5% of his global endorsement income.
The introduction of the 50% income tax rate in April this year has brought the issue into sharp focus, with Usain Bolt refusing to run at Crystal Palace and Sergio Garcia limiting his UK appearances, apparently for tax reasons.
The other problem with the rule is that HMRC can be persuaded to make exceptions to it, such as for the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley and the 2012 Olympics. No-one is denying that attracting such stellar events to the UK is good for the UK, but the question is where do you draw the line?"

http://www.thomaseggar.com/e-bulletin/the-sport-lawyer--personal-tax-in-sport

[hawkeye]

CaladonianCraig

Nadal is a diplomat and a gentleman but he even says "it's difficult to explain". The last thing he want to do just before arriving in London is to say anything about Andy apart from "he is really nice and he deserves to win a slam" (I'm sure he can remember Monte Carlo though). All the pressure will be on poor Tommy Haas.

[lydian]

Plus Halle has a roof.

At least the players are guaranteed some pre-Wimb grass tennis.

Whereas you take your chances with the UK summer by going to Queens....forecast for next 3 days isnt great.

[User 774433]

CaladonianCraig

Nadal is a diplomat and a gentleman but he even says "it's difficult to explain". The last thing he want to do just before arriving in London is to say anything about Andy apart from "he is really nice and he deserves to win a slam" (I'm sure he can remember Monte Carlo though). All the pressure will be on poor Tommy Haas.

You calling Nadal a liar???

That's nonsense BTW. Nadal and Murray are very good friends, I remember them having a match on FIFA and talking about it in their press conferences.

You say Nadal is being a diplomat about Murray as Wimbledon is approaching, but I have not heard Nadal say one bad thing about Murray ever, all throughout the years.

[CaledonianCraig]

Nonsense hawkeye and you know it. He needn't have said anything on the subject and besides he is currently in Germany and belittling what a German player has said so obviously this isn't a PR exercise as he has a few days to spend yet in Germany. Just admit it.....you've been busted.

[lags72]

Murray will rightly be delighted with that warm endorsement from Rafa.

And I'd say Mr. Haas best not make any more enemies, least of all Rafa. He's yet to take a set from him in five matches and will be hoping they don't meet again any time soon ........

lydian : surprisingly harsh from you there re Queens ....?

As for AEGON .... well the sponsors surely can't be blamed to wanting to splash their name ; and if it wasn't for them sponsoring it we might have not have the tourney at all in the current climate.

I've attended myself a couple of times (albeit several years ago in the Stella Artois days) and thought it was beautifully organised, with spectators treated well. The roll call of past winners isn't in any way shabby.

I agree that the tax issues are causing damage but in truth that's outside the control of either the ATP or the club (or indeed the sponsors).

[User 774433]

OK I have now decided.
For every anti-Murray article Hawkeye does I will do a pro-Murray article.

Just to keep some balance

[CaledonianCraig]

Much appreciated IMBL.

[lags72]

IMBL : Hope you haven't under-estimated the task you've set yourself there

When it comes to anti-Murray diatribes, I doubt there has ever been a more prolific writer than HE

[lydian]

lol lags...all tongue in cheek of course. Seems well ran like it was with Stella...guess the name and livery leaves me a bit cold but hey, at least Queen's has got good sponsorship to help keep the show on the road.

[lydian]

Yep I'd say HE is to Murray as AIR was to Federer...

[Tom_____]

CaladonianCraig

Nadal is a diplomat and a gentleman but he even says "it's difficult to explain". The last thing he want to do just before arriving in London is to say anything about Andy apart from "he is really nice and he deserves to win a slam" (I'm sure he can remember Monte Carlo though). All the pressure will be on poor Tommy Haas.

You don't think it might more sensible to think its difficult to explain simply because he is spanish and has limited english vocab?

[Seifer Almasy]

CaladonianCraig

Nadal is a diplomat and a gentleman

gamesmanship faking injuries and so forth say he is not.

[laverfan]

Yep I'd say HE is to Murray as AIR was to Federer...

But HE does try to diversify and write articles on players not named Murray.

[laverfan]

I feel really sad that you have joined in with the jibes.

My intention was not to make you sad, but just poke a bit of fun.

I can understand your dislike for a specific player, but such players can produce some very good tennis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=389qjONC7pw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtRWdLkigCg

[lydian]

AIR used to comment on others too. To be fair AIR was laugh out funny sometimes with his critique of Federer (The Basel Bungler and all that)...and HE is amusing too. I feel HE writes many of these things tongue in cheek...

But I'm afraid I'm of a similar camp to HE and BB...I also remember Murray as an 18yr old cramping on court and thinking this guy wont make it as a pro, far too unfit (although his choice to try to bodily become another Nadal since is a mistake IMO). I was kind of turned off by his laconic/lanquid body and verbal language, I didnt find him particularly engaging to watch or charismatic/interesting to listen to. But hey, each to their own...and I'm sure he's a bag of laughs off-court with Lendl. Its a shame he hasnt used his talents in the way I expected he would do...i.e. the 'Mecir Way'.

[laverfan]

Lu takes out Tipsy.

[laverfan]

Colonel takes out Sexanek. Federer's next opponent, if he makes it.

[lydian]

So the Quandry @ Queen's continues - thats the top 3 seeds out before the weekend!

[Guest]

Am I right in thinking Anderson is the last seed standing?

[lydian]

There's still Cilic-Bang (#6) and Nalbandian (#10)

Anderson is #9.

[laverfan]

Nalby almost did not make it. Now he has a good chance to make it past ERV.

[Josiah Maiestas]

nALBUNDYan on top of the vaseline, a cryptic message there surely?

[lags72]

Cilic will face off against Lu later on who just knocked off Tipsy. So two matches for Lu in the same day.

Meanwhile Nalby - who was close to falling in straights - is just into a third against Vasselin. So maybe a surprise chance for Nalby to go on and win his first title of any kind for a couple of years or so ...?

It's sure been a strange week

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