*Official* Tennis Thread

[Jono]

Yeah she just couldn't beat Marion Bartoli in a Wimbledon semi-final when she was a set up and had a golden opportunity to face off Venus, but she's a million times better than Serena.

[Uppercut]

She's classier and more graceful though- it's the same reason everyone thinks Sachin Tendulkar's so much better than he is .

I like her. Easily the most watchable (for tennising reasons) women's tennis player I've seen. She's overrated, though.

[Somerset]

Originally Posted by Somerset

I wasn't able to see Pennetta's victory today but shes been incredibly impressive so far in this tournament - I was somewhat cynical about her taking the number one seed initially but with her performances I'd have to take that back and certainly make her favourite to win the tournament tomorrow.

I love making bold predictions.

[Hit_Wicket]

Robredo beats Murray in three to force a mixed doubles decider at the Hopman Cup.

Wonderful effort coming from behind after the Scot blitzed the first set.

[Dydl]

Originally Posted by Hit_Wicket

Wonderful effort coming from behind after the Scot blitzed the first set.

Wonderful effort from Laura Robson as well, very impressive victory.

They're a set down in the mixed doubles atm, and it's 4-4 all in the second. It's been a great tournament, whichever way this match ends. Great experience for Robson, in particular.

[SirBloody Idiot]

Originally Posted by Somerset

I love making bold predictions.

She had an awesome end to last season, and I think she'll do enough to inside the top ten this season.

Saw an awesome match with her last year against I think Zvonereva? Was in huge trouble and won.

[Dydl]

Congratulations to Spain, deserving winners. Great match-ups today.

I've just seen that Robson has earned a wildcard for the Aus Open, which is pretty exciting.

Can't wait for Henin vs Clijsters tonight, could be epic if Henin plays well, and Clijsters did lose a set 6-0 yesterday... Perfect set-up.

[ohtani's jacket]

Originally Posted by Jono

Yeah she just couldn't beat Marion Bartoli in a Wimbledon semi-final when she was a set up and had a golden opportunity to face off Venus, but she's a million times better than Serena.

C'mon, what about all the times Serena has failed? If Serena is so good, why does she only have four more grand slams than Henin despite playing against such weak competition? Obviously, Serena has dominated women's tennis more than Venus and Henin if you wanna play the numbers game, but if Henin has been a failure for not winning Wimbledon then Serena has got to be a career underachiever. Neither of which I think are true.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Dydl

Congratulations to Spain, deserving winners. Great match-ups today.

I've just seen that Robson has earned a wildcard for the Aus Open, which is pretty exciting.

Can't wait for Henin vs Clijsters tonight, could be epic if Henin plays well, and Clijsters did lose a set 6-0 yesterday... Perfect set-up.

Dont get all the Robson love tbh, hard to turn off the match yesterday as Peter Wilkins was blowing his load over her, every time she hits a winner or gets back a serve from the male player he goes off his chops.
Sure she might be a good player one day but right now she's pretty average and it's not like teen prodigies are a new thing in womens tennis even if she was one.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Uppercut

She's classier and more graceful though- it's the same reason everyone thinks Sachin Tendulkar's so much better than he is .

I like her. Easily the most watchable (for tennising reasons) women's tennis player I've seen. She's overrated, though.

Come on Uppercut that's an awful analogy. If Henin had the exact same number of (or more) Slams, had won Wimbledon, had at one stage held every Slam, and had a solid head to head record against Serena on most surfaces, then maybe your analogy would make sense.

Sachin has scored the most test runs ever, the most ODI runs ever, the most test centuries ever, the most ODI centuries ever, started when he was 16 and has been playing for 20 years.

Not even similar at all.

I hate it when they call Henin the female Federer. GTFO, Federer has won Wimbledon 6 times. Henin has 0.

Originally Posted by ohtani's jacket

C'mon, what about all the times Serena has failed? If Serena is so good, why does she only have four more grand slams than Henin despite playing against such weak competition? Obviously, Serena has dominated women's tennis more than Venus and Henin if you wanna play the numbers game, but if Henin has been a failure for not winning Wimbledon then Serena has got to be a career underachiever. Neither of which I think are true.

Tell me exactly what Serena has failed to achieve in her career. I'm not saying she's better than Stefi Graf, I'm saying she's better than Henin, who is a top player, but is no Sernea. Hasn't done many things that Serena is done. Oh but she has a one hand backhand, is small, and doesn't say much. So she's therefore better?

Why if Henin has underachieved does that mean Serena has also been a career underachiever? You didn't provide any argument for why that is the case. And even if she has, she's still done more than Henin.

And also, who is this weaker competition that Serena has beat? Henin played in the same damn era!

[Jono]

Simon, what were your thoughts on Berdych's tournament in Brisbane? Same old same old from him, or do you think he can take his game to another level.

Also at Robredo coming back and beating Murray. Which I kept watching!

And finally, hope Henin can get up over Clijsters. She was paying 2.30 and I jumped on. Will make up for what I lost on Federer last night.

[Jono]

Henin is broken by Clijsters after being a break up in the 3rd.

She's then broken again serving for the match.

What a surprise

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Jono

Simon, what were your thoughts on Berdych's tournament in Brisbane? Same old same old from him, or do you think he can take his game to another level.

Also at Robredo coming back and beating Murray. Which I kept watching!

And finally, hope Henin can get up over Clijsters. She was paying 2.30 and I jumped on. Will make up for what I lost on Federer last night.

Yeh hard to say with Berdych, he's still like a young Gonzalez can put in great performances but to expect 4-7 matches in a row consistently without throwing in a capitulation from him is a big ask.

Who knows though, new year could mean new player. He has the game to match it with the best but unless he improves consistentcy he'll remain where he is in the rankings.

[Jono]

Break Henin!

2 match points.

Take it.

Btw its annoying that Channel 7 can't even show a tennis tournament in Australia live on TV. ****ing hell.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Simon

Yeh hard to say with Berdych, he's still like a young Gonzalez can put in great performances but to expect 4-7 matches in a row consistently without throwing in a capitulation from him is a big ask.

Who knows though, new year could mean new player. He has the game to match it with the best but unless he improves consistentcy he'll remain where he is in the rankings.

His match against Baghdatis was amazing, and he held strong against Belluci who was playing well, so that was encouraging.

But he should have beat Roddick today. A-Rod wasn't playing well, and mentally wasn't in a good place. Yet he still lost.

Hard to see him making the top 10 unless he gets these wins.