SMB Tennis thread (note there is a specific Wimbledon 22 thread)

MarcoG said:
Looks like Amazon Video's gonna be a necessity before long.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2...s-sky-to-win-exclusive-atp-tour-tennis-rights
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That can't be good for the sport in this country. Basically takes the more casual viewer (like myself) out of the equation. There will likely be a fair few flicking over the channels on a weekend and see the likes of Federer and Murray in a semi or final and sit down to watch whereas this won't happen now. Think everyone will miss out with this deal.
 


Better schedule tonight, bit disappointing that Muguruza vs Kayla Day has been chosen for the evening session so will be on at 3am our time as that looks the pick of the bunch tonight. It was originally going to be 7pm our time but has been rescheduled.

BT Sport 1 (Stanford, women)
7pm (UK) - Vikhylantseva vs Konjuh
9pm - Keys vs Dolehide
10.30pm - Sharapova vs Tsurenko
3am - Muguruza vs Day

BT Sport 2 (Washington, women)
7pm - McHale vs Bouchard

Sky Sports Action (Washington, men)
9pm - Raonic vs Mahut
10.30pm - A Zverev vs Thompson
12am - Bhambri vs Monfils (alhtough somebody reckons they will show Edmund vs Dimitrov at this time instead)
1.30am - Sandgren vs Krygios

Some good names in the men's side today, hopefully Zverev and Krygios both win so they will meet in the next round.
 
The Bridge Lad said:
Better schedule tonight, bit disappointing that Muguruza vs Kayla Day has been chosen for the evening session so will be on at 3am our time as that looks the pick of the bunch tonight. It was originally going to be 7pm our time but has been rescheduled.

BT Sport 1 (Stanford, women)
7pm (UK) - Vikhylantseva vs Konjuh
9pm - Keys vs Dolehide
10.30pm - Sharapova vs Tsurenko
3am - Muguruza vs Day

BT Sport 2 (Washington, women)
7pm - McHale vs Bouchard

Sky Sports Action (Washington, men)
9pm - Raonic vs Mahut
10.30pm - A Zverev vs Thompson
12am - Bhambri vs Monfils (alhtough somebody reckons they will show Edmund vs Dimitrov at this time instead)
1.30am - Sandgren vs Krygios

Some good names in the men's side today, hopefully Zverev and Krygios both win so they will meet in the next round.
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I'd be very surprised if they didn't show Edmund vs Dimitrov given you've got a British player just outside the top 40 against a top 10 player.
 
Arkle said:
I'd be very surprised if they didn't show Edmund vs Dimitrov given you've got a British player just outside the top 40 against a top 10 player.
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Yeah, oddschecker had the games i referenced listed as they are in the venues where they must have most of the rights, although it looks like Sky will have a bit leeway. I'll be going to bed around that time anyway but I'd be disappointed if i was going to stay up and they ended up showing the Monfils match.

Just been following wins for Lisicki and Bouchard, 2 players who i like, especially the former, but 2 who have had very poor years so good for those to get a bit form back with bigger tournaments coming up. I'll keep an eye on the men's stuff tonight, would have preferred Kyrgios to have been on before 1.30am mind.
 
Sharapova's return has been a bit of a let down really. Never really liked her but she's the biggest draw in the women's game other than Serena and Venus so it's good to have her back, but it's been a bit strange so far. Actually like her more now that weapons like Mladenovic and Cornet can't keep their mouth shut about her.

Kyrgios injured (again) as well. Can't see him doing much the next few months, getting dumped by Tomljanovic was the worst thing that could happen to him really. Should take a break and try to get his mind and body in good shape.
 
MarcoG said:
Sharapova's return has been a bit of a let down really. Never really liked her but she's the biggest draw in the women's game other than Serena and Venus so it's good to have her back, but it's been a bit strange so far. Actually like her more now that weapons like Mladenovic and Cornet can't keep their mouth shut about her.

Kyrgios injured (again) as well. Can't see him doing much the next few months, getting dumped by Tomljanovic was the worst thing that could happen to him really. Should take a break and try to get his mind and body in good shape.
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I'm not a huge women's tennis fan but I think the current crop has been working well without her, it's good that there's a fair few in their early twenties coming through. Might be better without her, but certainly in terms of exposure, Twitter followers, general interest etc she is still a big star.
 
Amount of injuries this year have been incredible. Djokovic & Wawrinka out for the rest of the year, Federer skipped the clay court season, Murray, Kyrgios, Nishikori, Raonic, Goffin, Carreno Busta & Cilic have all been suffering or are currently injured. All top 20 players at one point this year.

Even on the women's side you've had Serena, Azarenka, Kvitova, Sharapova, Halep, Randwanska and others miss part of the season for one reason or another.
 
Not great. More than likely to be the similar faces at Wimbledon reaching the latter stages again. Would be a massive blow if Murray was out as well as that would be 3 of the 5 realistic winners out before it's started. Can still get 100/1 for Berdych and 150/1 for Querey at some places.
 
Obviously 7.30-10pm is all about the lads, but there's a fair few good televised quarter final matches tonight in various competitions:

BT Sport 3, WTA Washington, 7pm-3am
7pm - Halep vs Makerova
8.30pm - Niculescu vs Georges
9.45pm - Lisicki vs Dodin
11pm - Petkovic vs Andreescu

BT Sport 2, WTA Stanford, 8pm-2am, 3am-5am
8pm - Muguruza vs Konjuh
9.30pm - Vandeweghe vs Pavlyuchenkova
12am - Keys vs Tsurenko
3am - Bellis vs Kvitova

Sky Sports Action, ATP Washington, 7pm-11pm, 12am-4am
7pm - Raonic vs Sock
9pm - Anderson vs Bhambri
12am - Zverev vs Medvedev
1.30am - Paul vs Nishikori

Pleased to see Lisicki getting a few wins under her belt, I missed her match yesterday as the rain delay meant it was on in the very early hours but she did struggle against a young Greece lass the round before, she is slight favourite here but we'll see how she gets on. Quite encouraged by this 17 y/o Canadian Bianca Andreescu, I've seen both of her matches and she has beat Giorgi and Mladenovic en route to the quarters and now has a wildcard in Toronto next week after Sharapova's withdrawal. Looks a promising talent.

Mugu vs Konjuh looks the pick of the matches in Stanford, although again, like Andreescu, it's good to see young CiCi Bellis doing well and reaching her second successive Stanford Quarter. She was favourite in both her matches so far and it will be interesting to see how she gets on against Petra who looked good in her first game yesterday. I'll record that one.

Zverev vs Medvedev looks good on the men's side, 2 very talented youngsters, at just about a watchable time.
 
The Bridge Lad said:
Obviously 7.30-10pm is all about the lads, but there's a fair few good televised quarter final matches tonight in various competitions:

BT Sport 3, WTA Washington, 7pm-3am
7pm - Halep vs Makerova
8.30pm - Niculescu vs Georges
9.45pm - Lisicki vs Dodin
11pm - Petkovic vs Andreescu

BT Sport 2, WTA Stanford, 8pm-2am, 3am-5am
8pm - Muguruza vs Konjuh
9.30pm - Vandeweghe vs Pavlyuchenkova
12am - Keys vs Tsurenko
3am - Bellis vs Kvitova

Sky Sports Action, ATP Washington, 7pm-11pm, 12am-4am
7pm - Raonic vs Sock
9pm - Anderson vs Bhambri
12am - Zverev vs Medvedev
1.30am - Paul vs Nishikori

Pleased to see Lisicki getting a few wins under her belt, I missed her match yesterday as the rain delay meant it was on in the very early hours but she did struggle against a young Greece lass the round before, she is slight favourite here but we'll see how she gets on. Quite encouraged by this 17 y/o Canadian Bianca Andreescu, I've seen both of her matches and she has beat Giorgi and Mladenovic en route to the quarters and now has a wildcard in Toronto next week after Sharapova's withdrawal. Looks a promising talent.

Mugu vs Konjuh looks the pick of the matches in Stanford, although again, like Andreescu, it's good to see young CiCi Bellis doing well and reaching her second successive Stanford Quarter. She was favourite in both her matches so far and it will be interesting to see how she gets on against Petra who looked good in her first game yesterday. I'll record that one.

Zverev vs Medvedev looks good on the men's side, 2 very talented youngsters, at just about a watchable time.
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Nice one mate, I'll watch a few of those after the football.
 
I've recorded the tennis to watch after the football (and half time) and Muguruza has just dominated Ana Konjuh 6-1 6-3 playing some great stuff. Her serve has massively improved now and I'd have no problem at all if she went on to dominate for the next few years which she may well do. She's good to watch, charismatic and comes across very well in interviews and the type you'd want to spearhead the sport.

I see Jack Sock beat Milos in straight sets what do people reckon of him? He's just 24, could he position himself to on par with regular QF and occasional SF players like Berdych and Cilic. The sport could do with a decent American man coming through, not really had one since Roddick.

Halep retired in Washington against Makarova, Georges through as well and Anderson-Bhambri has just gone to a deciding set (Anderson up an early break).
 
Men's semi finals now on in Washington:

Sky Sports Action, ATP Washington, 7-9pm, 12-2am
7pm - Sock vs Anderson
12am - A Zverev vs Nishikori

BT Sport 2, WTA Washington, 9-11pm
9pm - Makerova v Dodin

BT Sport 3, WTA Washington, 2-4am
2am - Georges vs Petkovic

BT Sport 1, WTA Stanford, 10pm-12am, 3-5am
10pm - Bellis vs Vandeweghe
3am - Keys vs Muguruza


Really looking forward to the Bellis - Coco match at 10pm (thought that might have been the 3am match). Bellis was absolutely superb last night against Kvitova, one of the best women's performance i have seen for a while. She is only 5 ft 7 so not the most powerful, but she is absolutely rapid across the court and some of her shot selections were incredible, She took 10 games in a row last night and beat Petra 6-2, 6-0. She's been on the tour a while now but is still just 18 and a half - massive potential. Not sure what to make of Kvitova though, whether it was just a confidence thing or if her game is still massively affected by that incident or if CiCi was just too good.

alexander said:
Just read in today's paper that Caroline's win yesterday was her 40th WTA win of 2017. First player to reach that figure this year. :)
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You seen the draw for the Rogers Cup next week mate? Stacked with all the top names

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Rogers_Cup_–_Women's_Singles

Caroline's potential path could be:
Bye - Qualifier - Vandeweghe (again) - Pliskova - Konta/Kerber - Muguruza

Plenty of big names in qualifying though which are currently going ahead now. I'm actually in Toronto next Thursday and Friday but didn't get tickets.
 
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The Bridge Lad said:
You seen the draw for the Rogers Cup next week mate? Stacked with all the top names

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Rogers_Cup_–_Women's_Singles

Caroline's potential path could be:
Bye - Qualifier - Vandeweghe (again) - Pliskova - Konta/Kerber - Muguruza

Plenty of big names in qualifying though which are currently going ahead now. I'm actually in Toronto next Thursday and Friday but didn't get tickets.
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Ooh, should be good. Sorry you couldn't get tickets.

Never quite liked the whole bye thing. Seems a bit of a waste to me.
 
alexander said:
Ooh, should be good. Sorry you couldn't get tickets.

Never quite liked the whole bye thing. Seems a bit of a waste to me.
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Yeah i know what you mean, if you reach the first round just get on with it and every plays the same amount of games in the tournament proper like the Grand Slams. Vandeweghe is currently in the Stanford semi final (about to start) and playing some really good stuff so she will be a tough ask again in a potential last 16 tie, but given how wide open the current WTA scene is you've got to expect tough matches throughout now.
 
The Bridge Lad said:
Yeah i know what you mean, if you reach the first round just get on with it and every plays the same amount of games in the tournament proper like the Grand Slams. Vandeweghe is currently in the Stanford semi final (about to start) and playing some really good stuff so she will be a tough ask again in a potential last 16 tie, but given how wide open the current WTA scene is you've got to expect tough matches throughout now.
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I always find it odd. They could start with 32 or 64 players, not 48.
 
Arkle said:
I always find it odd. They could start with 32 or 64 players, not 48.
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Yeah definitely. Watson is one game away from qualifying she plays the aforementioned pornstar named Maria tomorrow.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Rogers_Cup_–_Men's_Singles

I'd probably expect a Zverev / Nadal vs Roger final in the men's, most likely the big 2 but Zverev has been decent from the bits i've seen in Washington this week. Nadal can become #1 as well next week but not sure what the requirements are for that.
 

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