WIMBLEDON 2014

That return to finish the match <33333

So glad Becker is not doing commentary.

Not so glad Djoko is unlikely to win a slam while he is his coach.

Djokovic has done so much for the British public. Losing two Slam finals to Murray (one of those with a total flop performance) and taking Becker off our TV commentary

Hyped for Halep/Diyas tomorrow. Hoping that they play points like this again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh3O0LdoPtQ

All the while Tsonga was putting up a fight and getting the crowd going you just felt there was no way Djoko was going to allow this to a 3rd set so there.

sorry to a 4th

oh yeah Djokovic vs Tsonga matches have all been firmly in the Foregone Conclusion category ever since that RG heartbreaker.

Today...I think BZS has a shot at bringing Shitra out. She's playing so confidently and without any meltdowns, and she has a better record against Petra than she did against Li or Woz. If Petra couldn't deal with Flipkens' junk last year with an open draw ahead of her...same situation here.

Makarova played one of the best R1 matches against Date-Krumm, probably one of the best matches of the tournament, and she was on fire against Aga - much more impressed by both her form and her grass pedigree than Safarova. Plus, Makarova's the one who historically turns up at the Slams.

Wawrinka's been the one complaining loudest about the schedule (and rightfully so) but it'll hurt Lopez more - would've probably predicted Lopez for the upset but he's surely absolutely fried by now? Stan hasn't had much opposition so far.

Ugh, Raonic will probably get his first win over Nishikori here, blech.

Kyrgios will probably have a better career than any of the guys who've taken a set off Nadal this Wimbledon...I expect another annoying come-from-behind four-set win for Rafa.

Halep/Diyas will probably be fun but straightforward in the end for Simona. Peak Shvedova could challenge Lisicki on grass but we're a few years off that. Don't foresee any problems or drama for Ma$ha or Fed.

Also, still not used to Wawrinka officially going by Stan after a decade of being Stanislas on draw sheets. Such an obvious marketing thing. "Anglo audiences can't deal with a three-syllable foreign-sounding first name" blah blah blah

iirc Petra had sort of muddled her way to that QF last year and wasn't really in great shape, remember her clearly being ill in the match against Flipkens. think/hope she's less likely to let it slip this time

yeah, all of that makes sense. I just don't trust Petra one bit.

I hope Stan's rant fires him up for a Wimbledon title so that he can spend his victory speech complaining about the organisers.

Shvedova just hit The Worst Approach Shot Ever followed by jumping for a smash only to frame it and land it at her own feet

Back to Halep/Diyas

Halep comfortable at the mo.

Match should be effectively over in 10 mins if it carries on like this.

Diyas's game right now is too much of a lesser version of Halep's game. Very similar, just doesn't do it as well

Diyas had her on 30-30 but Halep was having none of it. 3-0 in the 2nd.

Shvedova 3-0 up in the 2nd so it looks like we are heading for a decider.

There was a terrific lob by S to bring 0-40 but Lisicki saves the 3BPs.

I said 'looks' but that was a huge save from Lisicki so...deep in the 2nd still.

Halep too steady

Really enjoying watching Halep play. Not exactly a grass court wonder but a lovely forehand that she seems to be able to put exactly where she wants. Tho obv Diyas not really giving her much in the way of obstruction.

(I have a few days off work and am watching as much tennis as humanly possible)

and indeed Lisicki breaks back

Course as soon as I say that she slams a forehand into the net and it's 2 break points :/

Yet another multi-deuce game goes Halep's way

And there we go with the bagel. No messing from Halep.

A Sober performance.

If Shvedova goes out => bad hour for Kazak tennis.

Hmm, what to watch. Not Ma$ha unless she starts losing. Not Fed/Boredo. Shvedova/Lisicki decider might be dramatic even if the quality is poor? Wawrinka/Lopez maybe...

Lisicki serving like Dementieva out here and Shvedova refusing to make her pay

Shvedova/Lisicki decider first for me. BP Shvedova and it was a laughable return. xp

Comedic territory now. Why is Lisicki serving at 63mph and 67mph? How did Shvedova fail to return them?

WHAT IS SABINE DOING?????? Stopping BP down????? Ivanovic pulled this shit at the YEC one year and I couldn't believe it was allowed mid-game, but apparently so

bizarre

I mean...I guess it is allowed, I've probably seen it when a player goes over and physically can't get up, they'll get treatment then and there. This is not the case with Lisicki right now, she just stopped and walked to her seat

*dons earplugs, switches to Centre Court stream*

Maria broken

...where affairs have commenced most propitiously

lol smash from Kerber.

follows with a df

Three UEs from Shvedova on resumption, Lisicki holds. RMDE

Kerber's forehand is weeeak

Her backhand is good tho

apols if this is already established knowledge

Utter collapse from Shvedova. It's not like she was playing well before but Lisicki is so damn shady for that MTO

Kerber's lefty FH DTL is her best shot, and awesome to watch. Her FH is much better than her BH

Shows what basing an opinion on two games of tennis can do! :x

Just think of me as an equivalent of the hordes of US posters on the World Cup thread ;)

oh she played a good FH DTL there, fine

Where is the collapse from Shvedova? Its on serve..

She went down 1-3, righted the ship, blew yet more chances in the last game. It's one of THOSE matches

lol at this feeble volley from Shvedova.

But I wouldn't call it a 'collpase'. Shvedova is erratic.

and clueless at the net.