Wimbledon Day 5 - "Maria - I'd like to Kudla!" "I Begu pardon?"

by **JuliusHMarx** Thu 02 Jul 2015, 8:43 pm

First topic message reminder :

Order of play

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/22713811

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 5:31 pm

HM Murdoch wrote:
bogbrush wrote:I hear from Petchey that Djokovic's serve is becoming one iof the best of all time.

Well of course it is! Nothing can be excellent any more, it has to leap straight to superlative; it can't be big, or even bigger. No, it must be biggest.

By the away, Djokovic's serve is really good.
There's an old Jerry Seinfeld observation about medicince that everything is "extra strength" now. You can't get normal strength anymore, it's off the market.

Same with Petchey's adjectives.

Novaks serve is very good, when you consider hes the type of player you dont typically see with one. Its like if Agassi had say, Henmans serve or Todd Martins serve, not the best but really good for someone like him

by bogbrush Fri 03 Jul 2015, 5:34 pm

That doesn't explain how Brown was treating Rafas serve with no respect.

by sirfredperry Fri 03 Jul 2015, 5:35 pm

JuliusHM - of course, for your day 5 title you could have made a play on Kyrgios (ity) killed the cat, or in this case he raoniced on Milos's parade.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 03 Jul 2015, 5:49 pm

Cilic takes the first set on a tie-breaker against John Isner.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Fri 03 Jul 2015, 5:59 pm

Watson breaks to lead the second set

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 5:59 pm

Same reason... its a clay court serve, it doesnt really have any bite on grass, again remarkable he won two with it.

Anyway Im taking the plunge 2night and watching this new after show... How bad could it truly be?

by bogbrush Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:01 pm

temporary21 wrote:Anyway Im taking the plunge 2night and watching this new after show... How bad could it truly be?

Worse than you can imagine.

by bogbrush Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:05 pm

Williams is being wasteful but Watsons doing well, competing and coming out ahead in one or two great rallies.

by Born Slippy Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:12 pm

CaledonianCraig wrote:I just wonder if the court conditions really are too slow for serve volleying here? I mean Dustin Brown pulled it off by sticking rigidly and robustly to the game plan. I just wonder if other players with a big enough serve should try using it more as well. They may find it to be more successful than they think.

They aren't. A top-notch serve volleyer would have a great chance to win Wimbledon. Personally, I think if you put 80s Edberg/Becker on there you would notice very little difference from the speed in the 80s. However, players simply aren't taught to play that way anymore.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:16 pm

Born Slippy wrote:
CaledonianCraig wrote:I just wonder if the court conditions really are too slow for serve volleying here? I mean Dustin Brown pulled it off by sticking rigidly and robustly to the game plan. I just wonder if other players with a big enough serve should try using it more as well. They may find it to be more successful than they think.

They aren't. A top-notch serve volleyer would have a great chance to win Wimbledon. Personally, I think if you put 80s Edberg/Becker on there you would notice very little difference from the speed in the 80s. However, players simply aren't taught to play that way anymore.

Yes that was similar to what Johnny Mac was saying in commentary. I suppose as well there are so few quick courts around employing that or teaching that skill would not bear fruit very often.

by bogbrush Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:24 pm

Blimey this is actually good!

by bogbrush Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:26 pm

Hats off to Watson, I never saw that possible.

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:27 pm

wow... a set all. What an effort that is

On the serve volley bit, great players will always be great players and would do well here. The concern would be going up against the top 4 now, would they still get away with it

by CaledonianCraig Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:28 pm

I get the kind of impression though that the third set may prove a physical and mental hurdle too far for Heather. I hope I am wrong.

by slashermcguirk Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:30 pm

Credit to Watson but have rarely seen serena play as badly as this. Like a hacker out there!

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:34 pm

Set all Isner Cilic too

by Born Slippy Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:35 pm

Watson's playing a phenomenal match. She's hitting the ball hard enough and with enough variety to keep Serena off-balance but has only made 4 UEs in the match - 2 if you don't count double faults.

by bogbrush Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:35 pm

Watson doesn't think it's a damn show, she thinks it's a damn match!

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:35 pm

Break for watson... means little agaisnt Serena but oh wow

by bogbrush Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:38 pm

Williams utterly rattled if she doesn't kill it quick.

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:40 pm

OOOH a double break though!

Two double faults...

If im honest, its still 50-50 but thats a huge chance

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:40 pm

this hold is really important, 3-1 could be 3-2 quick. However 4-0...

by slashermcguirk Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:42 pm

Game over now I reckon, double break. Hard to lose it now for Watson

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:42 pm

gee I dunno, looks nervy

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:49 pm

If Heather can hang on in this service game, I'm gonna start believing.

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:51 pm

That foray to the net wasn't all that convincing, but it worked.

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:52 pm

No bagel then.

by bogbrush Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:52 pm

Too bad.

Regroup.

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:53 pm

I'll settle for a breadstick.....

by CaledonianCraig Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:55 pm

I hate to say it but I think this match is slipping away from Heather. That 10 minute game when she dropped serve was the mental fillup Serena needed.

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 6:56 pm

Serena has to be heavy favourite from this position, but Heather still has a chance. Next game is crucial.

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:01 pm

That could be crushing for Heather.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:02 pm

Heather's depth on her groundstrokes are alluding her now and Serena taking command - back on serve at 3-3 in the final set. Is that some letters I see appearing on the stone effigy?

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:02 pm

Neesd to just keep going. Get it to 4 all and she might tank again

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:08 pm

I fear the jig is up now. Heather's had game points in 3 out of the last 4, but has come away with nothing. Big fat hypothetical, but if she'd taken all of them she'd be over the line now.

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:09 pm

Really dislike that celebratory squat thing that Serena does. Can't she fist pump like a normal person?

by barrystar Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:11 pm

Better players than Heather Williams will have seen how the game plan of deep ground strokes, not necessarily with pace unsettles Williams.

Williams is very difficult to warm to with her shouting and aggression.

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:13 pm

Ill chalk that one to autocorrect barry. Managed to get to 4-4... lets see

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:13 pm

Great atmosphere in da house!

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:13 pm

wow, no pace really works...

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:14 pm

wow, and tank Serena did

Heather WILL get a chance to serve for it

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:15 pm

Cripes! Heather will serve for it. Will be doubly impressive if she pulls it off after letting the double break slip.

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:16 pm

That first serve was tight!

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:16 pm

15-15

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:17 pm

15-30

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:18 pm

Deuce!

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:20 pm

Ace! 2 more of those please.

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:20 pm

5-5, oh dear, one day someone will have a serve that Serena cant just smack about

by temporary21 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:22 pm

I think that was it... Heathers done well but she didnt do enough at 5-4, you have to beat Serena, not negotiate her

by Aut0Gr4ph Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:23 pm

Heather actually served well in that game. Just couldn't get the length on her groundstrokes.

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