MrBraithwaite
Winger
Would be great if she beat Serena in the next four finals en route to doing the grand slam!
Then Williams retires in a huff
Then Williams retires in a huff
SMB Tennis thread (note there is a specific Wimbledon 22 thread)
- Thread starter The Bridge Lad
- Start date
Session
Midfield
Did you used to play a lot?
Safc_Number10
Striker
I have played local league and club stuff for about the last 6/7 years but after some bad form and defeats against players that I though I should have beaten I took quite a decent break. It's just for fun and personal interest and not as high as even University level players.
Session
Midfield
Cool. Is that Sunderland area? I've not played since I was at uni, although I wasn't near actual uni level.
chopsfc007
Striker
Good win for Evans @The Bridge Lad
The Bridge Lad
Striker
Indeed Chops lad. Saw bits and bobs and caught the last 20 mins. Was pleased when he eventually saw it out, think his 6th MP, as I was hoping it was done and dusted before my drive home from work.
Should pretty much seal the tie for GB now. Istomin really needed to win both of his matches and hope for a shock elsewhere.
Yeah, always going to be Istomin vs GB really, with a vague hope that they'd get something in the doubles (but GB have two of the better doubles players around). Got to feel a bit sorry for Karimov, he's done well in juniors but is yet to translate that to senior tennis.
The Bridge Lad
Striker
He's making a match of this to be fair to him. Pulled a set back and up a break in the 4th.
The Bridge Lad
Striker
It's certainly made a tie of it. A lot might have expected it to be 1-1 after day 1, but with Norrie and Istomin winning their matches. Now it's well in the balance and the doubles will play a massive part. Uzbeki's currently serving for the first set in the doubles at 5-4. You'd expect Istomin to beat Norrie so if the Uzbek's take this doubles then they will be huge favourites. If GB win the doubles then the Evans-Karimov match is massive and the latter will definitely be a live opponent after yesterday.
Pretty much 50/50 as it stands - not hugely important in the grand scheme of things with the new changes, but would have been nice to win with it being the final tie of the traditional format and of course for seeding for the new format next year.
Uzbekistan take the first set 6-4 (serving it out to love).
Pretty much 50/50 as it stands - not hugely important in the grand scheme of things with the new changes, but would have been nice to win with it being the final tie of the traditional format and of course for seeding for the new format next year.
Uzbekistan take the first set 6-4 (serving it out to love).
Safc_Number10
Striker
Oh I'm back with a win. 6-0 6-3 at Exhibition Park. Rather than being rusty after a long break it seems as though a few bad habits have disappeared and a hit really well. Eased up at start of second set and was 0-2 down. Brought it back to 3-3 and went on from there.
Just like golf I think, a break away does make you forget the bad habits for the first couple of games then they all come back. But I am sure you are a much better tennis player than I am
Safc_Number10
Striker
A commentator at the US Open said the most important 6 inches is between the ears, basically saying it's a mind game. Totally agree.
The Bridge Lad
Striker
Heather Watson about to get her WTA Quebec semi final match underway against Pauline Parmentier - she's chasing a first WTA final for 2 and a half years since she won Monterrey.
A great opportunity for the winner here as qualifier Jessica Pegula, ranked 227 coming into this, has just made the final.
A great opportunity for the winner here as qualifier Jessica Pegula, ranked 227 coming into this, has just made the final.
The Bridge Lad
Striker
The ITF brought in a new rule that the 5th rubber won't be played if the 4th was decisive, which it was, so I don't think they could have played even if both nations wanted to. Not a bad weekend for the Glasgow crowd - they've seen a big shock, Dan Evans coming back and playing very well, a competitive doubles match where Uzbekistan has a set point in the tie break to go 2 sets up, it went to a final day and GB ultimately came through. So they will be seeded in the February playoffs (assuming they don't get one of the two wildcards) and hopefully it's another home tie.
What's everyone's thoughts on the new changes / format? I know Marco isn't a fan along with most within British tennis but I'm actually quite intrigued as to how it goes now that it's been confirmed. I've never been a huge fan of BO5 tennis outside the latter stages of slams and an all in one type tournament might work well, especially if it goes to different locations each year. It will obviously have it's critics, there have been loads of good moments in Davis Cup history, young players will have been inspired growing up, but at least the home/away playoffs still exist and if this can get to anywhere near what the Ryder Cup is to golf then it may not be a bad thing. The Laver Cup is the closest comparison at the moment, but that's obviously more of an exhibition and 'Team World' isn't really something fans can get behind.
Session
Midfield
The Bridge Lad
Striker
Thing is, you've got a very finely poised DC semi final tie here between Croatia and USA. It's currently 2 rubbers each and in the deciding rubber its also 2-2 in sets between 2 of the better prospects in the men's game in Coric and Tiafoe, yet if you want to watch it here, you have to stream it on a bookies site as no TV companies or BBC online have bothered to pick it up. You'd think / hope someone would pick up the new format with it being condensed into one week and in Europe for at least the first 2 editions.
Coric has just broken so is in a good position - it's a bit lopsided as it is 6-7 6-1 6-7 6-1 3-2, so Coric has won 9 extra games but it's still very close.
