Tennis Talk

[zippi]

The peculiar thing is - Novak doesn't seem to be at the very top of his game, but is still strong. It has coincided with a bit of a dip in Rafa's game and a complete reckoning of Roger's that may yet spell a complete stop of competing or at least a breather until the Aus.

 

The new generation still seem not to be anywhere close to meaningfully denting Novak's dominance. Not that I have anything against it - he's earned it through exceptional form where it counted.

 

I can see it becoming very boring very quickly though. Whatever's going on with all those promising Schwartzman's, Tzitzipas's, Thiem's, Zverev's, Medvedev's, Rublev's and others.

 

C'mon young'uns - step up and make it more interesting.

[metal beat]

WIMBLEDON CHAMPION 2021

 

    ASH BARTY

 

Well done Ash!!  Fantastic match and fantastic victory.

 

Pliskova made Ash work for it and was very good to fight back.     

Edited July 10, 2021 by metal beat

[mrbuzzardstubble]

Well done, Ash. I was getting a bit concerned, but in the end she pulled through.

Novak to win this evening. I hope the match is of a higher quality than the semis.

[mrbuzzardstubble]

10 hours ago, metal beat said:

 

Hi Keith

 

Roger could be out, period  

 

Joker is odds on to win another Wimbledon, equal 20 majors with Roger @ Rafa and be in line to go ahead of each of them with 21 majors at the US Open.  

  Most importantly he would be the first male since Rod Laver to score the Grand slam - all majors in one year.

  That would truly be amazing and something that may never be beaten.

 

  C'mon Ash.    Wishing you all the best to win the final tonight.

Rocket did it twice, in '62 and '69.

[oztheatre]

That was phenomenal, well done Ash Barty!! 43 year drought? incredible, such incredible placement so good.

[metal beat]

17 minutes ago, oztheatre said:

That was phenomenal, well done Ash Barty!! 43 year drought? incredible, such incredible placement so good.

 

Hewitt won in 2002.

 

Cash won in 1987

 

Evonne won in 1980.

Edited July 10, 2021 by metal beat

[oztheatre]

2 minutes ago, metal beat said:

 

Hewitt won in 2002.

 

Cash won in 1987

 

Evonne won in 1980.

 

Oh yeah I meant for womens tennis so 41 years.

[zippi]

Well done Ash Barty!!!!!!

 

Turning into a super champion to be reckoned with!!!!!

 

Also - another yet another yet another title for the amazing and irrepresible Dylan Alcott in the wheelchair singles. Top shelf mate!!!!!!

[cheekyboy]

7 hours ago, mrbuzzardstubble said:

Rocket did it twice, in '62 and '69.

 

Correct, in '62 as an amateur and again in '69 after the game went Open in '68. Laver was not able to play the Slams for over 5 years, so I think it's fair to assume he would have amassed a tally of Grand Slam singles titles to rival Roger, Rafa, Novak and Pete. There are a couple of other players who were likewise denied the ability to play the Slams during arguably their best playing years and that was Ken Rosewall and Pancho Gonzales, who were both ineligible for more years than Laver was.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

Edited July 10, 2021 by cheekyboy

[cheekyboy]

7 hours ago, mrbuzzardstubble said:

Well done, Ash. I was getting a bit concerned, but in the end she pulled through.

Novak to win this evening. I hope the match is of a higher quality than the semis.

 

Yep, Martin, I sat up till after 1:00 am to watch it too, but I was wondering why at the end of the second set. It was a great win for Ash and I'm proud of her effort like I'm sure all Australians would be, but the match was played by a pair of very nervous girls, Ash, fortunately a little less nervous in the end.

 

I also think Novak will win tonight and I'd like to see that from the point of view of it opening the door for him to create history at the US Open later in the year, but I won't be disappointed if Berrettini gets up.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

Edited July 10, 2021 by cheekyboy

[mrbuzzardstubble]

Well done, Novak. He didn't play to his usual high standard throughout the tournament, but due to the lack of real talent in mens tennis at the moment, still managed another Slam. With Roger just about done and Rafa on the slide, it's possible for Novak to add another 5 or 6 Slam titles to his name in the next couple of years.

I didn't watch every match but of the new faces I did see, young Canadian Felix Auger-Alissime struck me as a player with potential.

[oztheatre]

On 7/12/2021 at 2:48 AM, mrbuzzardstubble said:

Well done, Novak. He didn't play to his usual high standard throughout the tournament, but due to the lack of real talent in mens tennis at the moment, still managed another Slam. With Roger just about done and Rafa on the slide, it's possible for Novak to add another 5 or 6 Slam titles to his name in the next couple of years.

I didn't watch every match but of the new faces I did see, young Canadian Felix Auger-Alissime struck me as a player with potential.

 

Have to agree with this.. Novak wasn't really pushed that hard.. Only lost 2 sets thru the whole tournament. Good for his win, not so great for your own game unless other players push you to the limit and keep you on your toes. 

[oztheatre]

Quick and fond tennis memory. White city during the early 80's, . got to see an exhibition match with Newc, Laver, Marc Edmonson and Roswell in a doubles match. Us kids got to sit under the broadcast tower at the end of the court. Newc slams down an ace during the game and the ball whisks pass my head, Newc laughs and says 'Hey I nearly got ya'.  That's all, just a great memory of my childhood tennis heros  

[mrbuzzardstubble]

1 hour ago, oztheatre said:

Quick and fond tennis memory. White city during the early 80's, . got to see an exhibition match with Newc, Laver, Marc Edmonson and Roswell in a doubles match. Us kids got to sit under the broadcast tower at the end of the court. Newc slams down an ace during the game and the ball whisks pass my head, Newc laughs and says 'Hey I nearly got ya'.  That's all, just a great memory of my childhood tennis heros  

I was there about a dozen years prior. Newcombe, Roche, Emerson, Ashe, Ralston, Riessen, Gonzales and Stan Smith. Margaret Smith (Court) and a cute Evonne Goolagong who went on to win Wimbledon 6 months later. One memory I had was of a player sporting long hair which looked out of place in the strightlaced tennis world. My mates and I thought that was pretty cool. He was a Dane named Torben Ulrich and decades later I was watching a music doco and this guy was on it. Still had the long hair. Turns out he is the father of Lars Ulrich, the drummer for Metallica.

Edited July 13, 2021 by mrbuzzardstubble

[cheekyboy]

13 minutes ago, mrbuzzardstubble said:

I was there about a dozen years prior. Newcombe, Roche, Emerson, Ashe, Ralston, Riesen, Gonzales and Stan Smirh. Margaret Smith (Court) and a cute Evonne Goolagong who went on to win Wimbledon 6 months later. One memory I had was of a player sporting long hair which looked out of place in the strightlaced tennis world. My mates and I thought that was pretty cool. He was a Dane named Torben Ulrich. Decades later I was watching a music doco and this guy was on it. Still has the long hair. Turns out he is the father of Lars Ulrich, the drummer for Metallica.

 

Hello Martin,

 

I caught Torben Ulrich a couple of times during this Wimbledon on TV and he was coaching or supporting one of players, but I can't recall who it was now...............perhaps Hubert Hurkacz who lost in the semi final to Berrettini? 

 

I've spent a lot of time in several different capacities at White City over the years, going back to the mid '60s as a youngster playing and through to the mid to late '90s when my son was there with NSWIS. I haven't spent a lot of time there in the last 20+ years and I think several of the natural grass courts are now hardcourts and I believe the back paddock courts area is now a cricket field, right in front of the old clubhouse on New South Head Rd, which is long, long gone, sadly.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

[mrbuzzardstubble]

55 minutes ago, cheekyboy said:

 

Hello Martin,

 

I caught Torben Ulrich a couple of times during this Wimbledon on TV and he was coaching or supporting one of players, but I can't recall who it was now...............perhaps Hubert Hurkacz who lost in the semi final to Berrettini? 

 

I've spent a lot of time in several different capacities at White City over the years, going back to the mid '60s as a youngster playing and through to the mid to late '90s when my son was there with NSWIS. I haven't spent a lot of time there in the last 20+ years and I think several of the natural grass courts are now hardcourts and I believe the back paddock courts area is now a cricket field, right in front of the old clubhouse on New South Head Rd, which is long, long gone, sadly.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

Here's a doco on Torben. What an interesting character.

 

 

[oztheatre]

2 hours ago, mrbuzzardstubble said:

I was there about a dozen years prior. Newcombe, Roche, Emerson, Ashe, Ralston, Riessen, Gonzales and Stan Smith. Margaret Smith (Court) and a cute Evonne Goolagong who went on to win Wimbledon 6 months later. One memory I had was of a player sporting long hair which looked out of place in the strightlaced tennis world. My mates and I thought that was pretty cool. He was a Dane named Torben Ulrich and decades later I was watching a music doco and this guy was on it. Still had the long hair. Turns out he is the father of Lars Ulrich, the drummer for Metallica.

 

Heavy metal and tennis go ok together  

 

Do either of you gents remember William (Bill) Evans as a player? From memory he made the Davis cup reserve side at one point... long story short, they lived a few doors up and I grew up with his son playing culdesac and street tennis then saturday morning comps etc. Quarry rd I remember, not sure if still there today? And Castle hill CHSR, might be all homes today? 

[sir sanders zingmore]

4 minutes ago, oztheatre said:

 

Heavy metal and tennis go ok together  

 

Do either of you gents remember William (Bill) Evans as a player? From memory he made the Davis cup reserve side at one point... long story short, they lived a few doors up and I grew up with his son playing culdesac and street tennis then saturday morning comps etc. Quarry rd I remember, not sure if still there today? And Castle hill CHSR, might be all homes today? 

 

Pat Cash and Iron Maiden

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-adrian-smith-and-pat-cash-1201042.html

[cheekyboy]

1 hour ago, mrbuzzardstubble said:

Here's a doco on Torben. What an interesting character.

 

 

 

Yep, Torben was rather unique and a character with many diverse interests besides tennis.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

[cheekyboy]

1 hour ago, oztheatre said:

 

Heavy metal and tennis go ok together  

 

Do either of you gents remember William (Bill) Evans as a player? From memory he made the Davis cup reserve side at one point... long story short, they lived a few doors up and I grew up with his son playing culdesac and street tennis then saturday morning comps etc. Quarry rd I remember, not sure if still there today? And Castle hill CHSR, might be all homes today? 

 

Hello Richard,

 

You probably wasn't referring to me and I was born and raised on Lake Macquarie [Newcastle] but I did spend a lot of time playing tennis in Sydney. When you talk about William Evans, cul-de-sac and street tennis, as well as Quarry Road, I presume you're referring to parts of Sydney? If so, there are some current players by the name of Evans that now live in Glossodia, which is way out west of Sydney near Richmond/Kurrajong. The old patriarch of the family is fella in his 70s and I do think his name might be William [Will]. My brother is the same age as his eldest son, Will, at 50 and he has a younger brother, Greg, who be around 45. Young Will has a son around 20, Tom, who is a pretty handy player and won the Twin Towns Open men's event here in Tuncurry a few weeks ago, just before the Covid lockdown in Sydney started. 

 

So if your William Evans would be in his 70s now and might have ended up in the far west of Sydney, there's a good chance it's the same bloke. He is still kicking too, because I sat next to him and chatted with him briefly while we watched his sons and grandson play their matches.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

Edited July 13, 2021 by cheekyboy

[oztheatre]

1 hour ago, cheekyboy said:

 

Hello Richard,

 

You probably wasn't referring to me and I was born and raised on Lake Macquarie [Newcastle] but I did spend a lot of time playing tennis in Sydney. When you talk about William Evans, cul-de-sac and street tennis, as well as Quarry Road, I presume you're referring to parts of Sydney? If so, there are some current players by the name of Evans that now live in Glossodia, which is way out west of Sydney near Richmond/Kurrajong. The old patriarch of the family is fella in his 70s and I do think his name might be William [Will]. My brother is the same age as his eldest son, Will, at 50 and he has a younger brother, Greg, who be around 45. Young Will has a son around 20, Tom, who is a pretty handy player and won the Twin Towns Open men's event here in Tuncurry a few weeks ago, just before the Covid lockdown in Sydney started. 

 

So if your William Evans would be in his 70s now and might have ended up in the far west of Sydney, there's a good chance it's the same bloke. He is still kicking too, because I sat next to him and chatted with him briefly while we watched his sons and grandson play their matches.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

 

Thanks Keith, 

 

Yes, sorry, Sydney based tennis. I have a feeling this might be Bill's brother's family? I know Bill Evans passed.. must be 2 decades back now. Small world! I'm from kurrajong or bushfire land as we called it haha. 

 

Thank you!

[cheekyboy]

7 minutes ago, oztheatre said:

 

Thanks Keith, 

 

Yes, sorry, Sydney based tennis. I have a feeling this might be Bill's brother's family? I know Bill Evans passed.. must be 2 decades back now. Small world! I'm from kurrajong or bushfire land as we called it haha. 

 

Thank you!

Yep, I think we’ve got the same family. As they’re all tennis tragics and from precisely that western part of Sydney.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

[oztheatre]

7 minutes ago, cheekyboy said:

Yep, I think we’ve got the same family. As they’re all tennis tragics and from precisely that western part of Sydney.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

 

I think so Keith, small world.

 

There was also Rod Allen and his sister Stephanie Allen, she was a fantastic player. Rod Allen was a natural, he sadly passed away in 2013 in an accident at a party on cockatoo island. Was very sad, my Brothers best mate for decades. they all grew up playing tennis. Rod was the PR sports journo for the Western Sydney wanderers soccer team. Oakhill college produced some decent players, the fitzgerald family were very good and the youngest Greg was ranked in the top 10 in the state - I once took a set off him, my only claim to any type of tennis fame when nobody saw haha. Just dont ask about the last set because zero is not a number

[cheekyboy]

28 minutes ago, oztheatre said:

 

I think so Keith, small world.

 

There was also Rod Allen and his sister Stephanie Allen, she was a fantastic player. Rod Allen was a natural, he sadly passed away in 2013 in an accident at a party on cockatoo island. Was very sad, my Brothers best mate for decades. they all grew up playing tennis. Rod was the PR sports journo for the Western Sydney wanderers soccer team. Oakhill college produced some decent players, the fitzgerald family were very good and the youngest Greg was ranked in the top 10 in the state - I once took a set off him, my only claim to any type of tennis fame when nobody saw haha. Just dont ask about the last set because zero is not a number

Yep, the tennis community does often connect and make it seemingly a small world indeed.

I played a bit of tennis back in the ‘70s in the Blacktown area with Ellwyn McCabe, who owned the Tennis Ranch in Gladesville, so wondering if you knew Ellwyn, because he lived in Kurrajong too? Ellwyn was a pretty fair tennis player and got to around 200 in the world.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

Edited July 13, 2021 by cheekyboy

[oztheatre]

1 minute ago, cheekyboy said:

Yep, the tennis community does often connect and make it seemingly a small world indeed.

I played a bit of tennis back in the ‘70s in the Blacktown with Ellwyn McCabe, who owned the Tennis Ranch in Gladesville, so wondering if you knew Ellwyn, because he lived in Kurrajong too? Ellwyn was a pretty fair tennis player and got to around 200 in the world.

 

Cheers,

 

Keith

 

The family may know the name but I don't recall myself.

 

Australia has produced some great players and I really hope more kids get up off the ipads and phones after Ash Barty's win. They all need to play tennis, it should be compulsory : )