Olympic Day 3 Thread

[The Special Juan]

First topic message reminder :

Midday
Centre Court: Azarenka v Begu then Federer v Benneteau then Seppi v Del Potro then Wickmayer v Wozniacki

Court 1: Goffin v Monaco then Serena Williams v U Radwanska then Isner v Jaziri then Suarez Navarro v Clijsters

11:30 Start
Court 2: Roddick v Klizan then Errani v Venus Williams then Petzschner v Tipsarevic then Cirstea/Halep v Williams/Williams then Nishikori/Soeda v Federer v Wawrinka

Court 7: Martinez Sanchez v Hercog then Stepanek v Davydenko then Schiavone v Zvonareva then Hlavackova/Hredecka v Babos/Szavay then Medina Garrigues/Parra Santonja v Pennetta/Schiavone

Court 11: Tursunov v Lopez then Darcis v Giraldo then Pennetta v Pironkova then Cilic/Dodig v Cabal/Giraldo then Kas/Petzschner v Davydenko/Youzhny

Court 12: Cetkovska v Kerber then Lisicki v Jabeur then Bogomolov Jr v Almagro then Djokovic/Troicki v Brunstrom/Lindstedt then Tipsarevic/Zimonjic v Klizan/Lacko

Court 14: Cilic v Melzer then Soeda v Baghdatis then Kvitova v Peng then Nestor/Pospisil v Tecau/Ungur then Llagostera Vives/Martinez Sanchez v Peng/Zheng

Court 15: Gasquet v Haase then Kirilenko v Duque-Marino then Muller v Istomin then Shvedova/Voskoboeva v Petrova/Kirilenko then Berdych/Stepanek v Bracciali/Seppi

Court 16: Ito v Raonic then Lepchenko v Cepede Royg then Hantuchova v Cornet then Melzer/Peya v Lopez/Ferrer then Radwanska/Radwanska v Cibulkova/Hantuchova

Court 17: Zheng v Petrova then Soler Espinosa v Watson then Chakhnasvili/Tatishvili v Klepac/Srebotnik

Court 18: Hewiit v Stakhovsky then Robson v Safarova then Baltacha v Ivanovic then Simon v Dimitrov then Goerges/Gronefeld v Baltacha/Keothavong

Court 19: Erakovic v Wozniak then Vardhan v Kavcic then Bury/Mirnyi v Bhupathi/Bopanna then Haase/Rojer v Paes/Vardhan

Court 20: News to Follow

[laverfan]

Come on Federe, get the MB back.

[Guest]

Stan seems to be doing all the work for the swiss team.

[bogbrush]

On the subject of all the debate currently swirling around, I actually think it would be better to make tennis a doubles-only event at the Olympics.

Now THERE'S an idea!

[laverfan]

Come on Federer, wake up.

[laverfan]

Nicely done Kei. Gets the set.

[bogbrush]

Be much better for Fed to lose this.

[laverfan]

Seppi/Bracialli and Davydenko/Youzhny both up a set.

[barrystar]

On the subject of all the debate currently swirling around, I actually think it would be better to make tennis a doubles-only event at the Olympics.

Now THERE'S an idea!

Yes - it is a nice idea. Perhaps Bo5 doubles. It would suit much better the notion of playing for your country as a team than as an individual in an individual sport. However, the IOC would never go with that because the wider public would be less interested and there'd be less £££££££££££££££.

[laverfan]

BP, come on Fedrinka. Yes... they get it.

[laverfan]

Agreed Emanci, Stan is trying his best to drag Federer through this match.

[laverfan]

Well held, Stan.

[barrystar]

Well after holding from 15-40 down to consolidate they are showing every sign of wanting to win.

This tournament is likely to get horribly bunched up with the weather. If they win this match it may be a big advantage for Fed to have gotten to the last 16 in each tournament before the weather closes in.

[laverfan]

"FED"abulous.

[reckoner]

Nice bit of showboating from fed earlier when he shaped up for a smash and changed his mind

[barrystar]

Nice watching a match without the banality of commentary too.

[lags72]

On the subject of all the debate currently swirling around, I actually think it would be better to make tennis a doubles-only event at the Olympics.

Now THERE'S an idea!

Yes - it is a nice idea. Perhaps Bo5 doubles. It would suit much better the notion of playing for your country as a team than as an individual in an individual sport. However, the IOC would never go with that because the wider public would be less interested and there'd be less £££££££££££££££.

Glad others like the idea

I also happen to think that if the IOC/ITF focussed exclusively on doubles, then more "mainstream" Olympic watchers might see just how exciting & fun a good doubles match can be, and that interest in doubles tennis outside the Olympics could see a corresponding rise over time. So, a win-win. Sorted

[The Special Juan]

Personally I don't like doubles. There's no rhythm to it and all it seems to be is "batter the ball as hard and as fast at your opponents as possible". On saying that, mixed doubles is interesting especially when you get someone like Cibulkova trying to return an Ivo Karlovic serve....

[Guest]

Haha Annacone is there in Swiss gear.

[barrystar]

Well - they seem to have wanted that one. No lack of desire.

[laverfan]

Nicely done, Fedrinka.

[lags72]

Good match. Once they'd levelled at a set all, you could see that Fedrinka really did want to get the result ......

[bogbrush]

Yeah,Federer has no singles tomorrow, just an evening stroll at doubles (not saying opps are poor, just that doubles is no exertion).

[barrystar]

It's likely they won't get on, or if they do they won't finish, if the weather forecast is accurate.

[lags72]

Closing stages of that match : Third set, 5-3, 15-15, Federer receiving

His backhand return paints the far corner line for an outright winner. Don't believe I've ever seen one better from him - or indeed from anyone. And way more aesthetic than anything a double-hander could ever produce on such a ball ....

Fedrinka duo most likely to be stopped by the Bryans, if not before

[time please]

That backhand was brilliant lags - really sumptuous.

I had to go out during second set, but really enjoyed the match. Great to watch Nishikori too.

Didn't get to see TMF play Benneteau, but very relieved he managed to avoid slipping on that particular banana skin!

Is it just me, or was there more buzz about Wimbledon today? Great to see top players in doubles and the grass suddenly doesn't look so weird - perhaps Lk's advice taken and they got the flymo out!

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