Wimbledon - Day 1 OOP

First topic message reminder :

Centre Court Matches (1pm start): 
Victor Hanescu v Roger Federer [3] 
Kristina Mladenovic v Maria Sharapova [3] 
Benjamin Becker v Andy Murray [2] 

Court 1 Matches (1pm start): 
Maria Joao Koehler v Victoria Azarenka [2] 
Rafael Nadal [5] v Steve Darcis 
Lleyton Hewitt v Stanislas Wawrinka [11] 


Full schedule:
http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/scores/schedule/index.html

Match of the day: Hewitt v Wawrinka
Both players come in with grass court form; Hewitt after reaching the semi final at Queens, Wawrinka after reaching the final in 's-Hertogenbosch.
Hewitt's run at Queens included some wins against quality players. The fact that Hewitt has had a week in Wimbledon already while Wawrinka will only just arrive may work in Hewitt's favour, however Wawrinka has played well at both slams this year, and I don't expect Hewitt to stop him here.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 4.       

Other matches of note:
Baghdatis v Cillic, Verdasco v Malisse
James Ward plays Yen-Hsun Lu for a chance to play (probably) Murray in R2. Would like to see the local guy win that and get a chance to play on Centre in his career.

I reckon Rafa will take this in 4 or maybe five.

He just needs to keep Darcis out there for as long as possible.

Did any body pick Darcis as the Djoker card in the Picking Game? , I kow Darcis would fight but didn't expect he would win a set.

The Special Juan wrote:One game away from seeing the reigning men's US Open champion!!

And Olympic Champion.

Does Nadal get any Rosol flashbacks and a twinge of fear, do you think?

Nadal tied for second with
Berdych and Wawrinka..

Rafa is rattled

ChequeredJersey wrote:Does Nadal get any Rosol flashbacks and a twinge of fear, do you think?

I want Darcis to win the match in 5, that would cause more mental demons than plain st. sets.

Darcis doesn't have that Rosol look about him.

He'll collapse soon enough.

If anything, thinking that he can actually win the match looks like it could put more pressure on Darcis and make him tighten up!

4 points from 0-30, thats a good sign for him

He's showing a lot of pride and no prejudice, Mr Darcis takes the first set!

Darcis has terrible conditioning..  be tough to outlast Nadal.

This actually prob helps Nadal in long run-- he needs the grass sets to get primed for the later rounds, but it is interesting how often he gets pushed by lesser players.

As Boris says, as a player like Nadal or Murray or Fed or Djoko, people will either collapse or up their game against you

Darcis is overthinking this, he needs to just play and forget the occasion

Darcis just don't have any power like Rosol, he is just relying on technique and will to win, sadly I guess that won't be enough.

Well saved Darcis

Nadal's first set lasted approximately the same time as Federer's entire match.

Dave. wrote:He's showing a lot of pride and no prejudice, Mr Darcis takes the first set!

Yes!! Ginny Wade approves!!

Nadal is doing this on purpose to make the grass dirty and turn it into clay before the harder matches later on. This is basically underhand cheating tactics

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Nadal is doing this on purpose to make the grass dirty and turn it into clay before the harder matches later on. This is basically underhand cheating tactics

You reckon he'll be on Court 1 for his 1/4 finals onwards then?

Ward broken, Lu has hit a hot patch and Ward needs this hold at 3-4 down...

I remember reading that Darcis had the best TB record of all players last year, or something to that effect - I only recall it due to the name being an unusual one! He's doing well so far though, good for him. Nadal in four all the same though, I'd imagine...

Gutted that I missed the picking game today, would've got Melzer (but dropped a Djoker on Haase, so it's not all bad!).

Is Darcis Stuart Broad's older, balding brother?

Found that comment really funny Joey Mas, I have no idea if its because its a decent WUM, or because the new resident Nadal hater is incredibly bleh.

It was quite funny tbf

kingraf wrote:Found that comment really funny Joey Mas, I have no idea if its because its a decent WUM, or because the new resident Nadal hater is incredibly bleh.

where've you been? Thought I wouldn't worry too much about JM, he hates Murray and Djokovic in equal measure...

He pronounced harass correctly! Rare sound

Steve Davis would do a better job than Steve Darcis

Nadal loses the first set! But for now though:

Come on Murray!

kingraf wrote:Found that comment really funny Joey Mas, I have no idea if its because its a decent WUM, or because the new resident Nadal hater is incredibly bleh.

Darcis will be tired after Nadal breaks him. Good tactics by Nadal to give away first set and get more practise, up to par with the surface

Can Darcis win, after Stevie nicks the first set?

JuliusHMarx wrote:Can Darcis win, after Stevie nicks the first set?

I like the references

When's Mona Barthel on?

Becker's started out well but if he carries on like that he'll be tired after the first set.

Awesome shot by Troicki in the TB to bring up match point against Tipsy! And that's the match...

Well that's Murray's path to the SF made slightly easier. Poor Tipsy though. I love his plastic glasses.

I'm worried for Rafa. He's not moving well, and if Darcy can keep points short, his fitness doesn't matter much!

The Special Juan wrote:Well that's Murray's path to the SF made slightly easier.  Poor Tipsy though.  I love his plastic glasses.

I don't know about that. Tipsy has been so woeful this year I think you'd be quite pleased to see him in your part of the draw. Outside the top 32 in the YE-race, he could find himself unseeded soon.

Dustin Brown takes the first set at three....

Silver wrote:Gutted that I missed the picking game today, would've got Melzer (but dropped a Djoker on Haase, so it's not all bad!).

You so far made only one selection right? so how come Djoker on Haase? and did that match finish already? coz I have my djoker on him.

Come on Darcis, give us what most of us want.

Ward takes the opener on a TB

the first set won by a Brit at Wimbers this year

ryan86 wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:Well that's Murray's path to the SF made slightly easier.  Poor Tipsy though.  I love his plastic glasses.

I don't know about that. Tipsy has been so woeful this year I think you'd be quite pleased to see him in your part of the draw. Outside the top 32 in the YE-race, he could find himself unseeded soon.

I agree with what you're saying but if Tipsy were to have made it that far he would have been playing quite well to get there. All he needs is a couple of match wins to get the confidence back I reckon.

Wardy takes the first set 7-6!!

Theres the break, 6-5 Nadal

JuliusHMarx wrote:Can Darcis win, after Stevie nicks the first set?

Nadal running away with the 2nd set.

Well done Ward. Muzza also a break up. Nadal still wobbling.

One of my favourite quotes in sports: Fatigue makes cowards of us all. Will Darcis' mind keep believing when his Body stops?

invisiblecoolers wrote:

Silver wrote:Gutted that I missed the picking game today, would've got Melzer (but dropped a Djoker on Haase, so it's not all bad!).

You so far made only one selection right? so how come Djoker on Haase? and did that match finish already? coz I have my djoker on him.

I meant that I would have wasted a Djoker on him if I'd made my picks last night! It finished earlier, sadly he lost to the Colonel in straights IC

Nadal's knee is utterly dominating the BBC commentary.

If Rafa takes the set, you do feel it's over

ChequeredJersey wrote:Is Darcis Stuart Broad's older, balding brother?

I know they look very similar.

silly Rafa