04/20/24
January 15, 2006
Roger Federer : is ready. Serena Williams might not be. The Australian Open starts tomorrow. Federer is already odds-on to win, before a ball is served. Rod Laver says he will be the next Slam man. The women's draw is more open, and includes the comeback of Martina Hingis, to take on Henin-Hardenne, Mauresmo and the Williams sisters.
Roddick at 11-1 would be a decent each-way bet (as he's not in Federerererererer's half of the draw.
posted by JJ at 05:59 AM on January 15, 2006
Roger Feder is the best tennis player I have ever seen play. He has absolutely no weaknesses. He is in fantastic physical condition and can just wait for his opponent to make a mistake. It is mesmerizing. It is a treat to watch a great volley player win in this era of "3 times over the net giant racket" ball. There have been better servers. I think Agassi in his prime was a better first return guy, but nobody has had Feder's combonation of weapons and lack of an attackable weakness. Only time will tell. I'm mean he is human, he has lost at least twice since 2003, including one final. Eventually he will lose a Grand Slam final...I guess!
posted by gronir_ hitrops at 07:22 AM on January 15, 2006
It is this simple, FEDERER is the most dominant athlete in sports today...BAR NONE! Yet only true sports fans know who he is. HOLLAH IF YA HERE MAY!
posted by DA ASSX3N at 11:55 AM on January 15, 2006
and he even married britney spears.......oh wait thats federline not federer. sry back to great tennis!
posted by Folkways at 11:56 AM on January 15, 2006
....I mean..AGASSI AND RODDICK, are my BOYS, but HEY! I am a TRUTH FAN first! YA HEARD MAY!
posted by DA ASSX3N at 11:58 AM on January 15, 2006
A tennis fan nicknamed DA ASSX3N is creating cognitive dissonence for me. So much I can barely type this comment. Must. Hit. Post. Now.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:58 PM on January 15, 2006
Roddick at 11-1 would be a decent each-way bet Agreed. I'm not sure if my local bookies do each way on the tennis, but will probably give odds on making the semi finals. I assume its different down at your local Ladbrokes. But Federer has already used up one of his losses this year - in the Kooyong warm up tournament last week. Remember he only lost four times in the whole of last year. The Australian Open is held so early in the year that there is a greater chance of upsets, as some players are yet to achieve full match fitness. And I think I sat next to DA ASSX3N at White City once.
posted by owlhouse at 03:13 PM on January 15, 2006
Federer is amazing, but I think that in future years you are going to see Nadal really challenge him, the kid has virtually modeled his game after Federer, and there is a chance that he's a step quicker. with no Nadal, I think that Federer is simply too fast, and covers too much court to be touched. Slam man indeed...
posted by everett at 04:49 PM on January 15, 2006
Some of Federer's key competition won't be there, so he'd be my pick for the money. On the women's side, I'm going with Mauresmo.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 06:13 PM on January 15, 2006
Wow, Venus' is in trouble...wait is this the live talk line for the Open? Pironkova serving for the match. Federer, is my pick to win them all, Grand Slam! I still miss the grass courts. Oh, Venus broke back. 3rd set, gotta watch.
posted by tselson at 10:00 PM on January 15, 2006
Wow, 7-7, 3rd set. Topspin on every shot!
posted by tselson at 10:29 PM on January 15, 2006
Match point! Game, Set, Match! 18 year old Pironkova outslugs Venus. Great third set. Should be a fun two weeks.
posted by tselson at 10:36 PM on January 15, 2006
Federer is amazing, everett, and on all surfaces. Nadal still has a preference for clay, I think, and would have to develop a more all-round game to challenge at Wimbledon, for example. And like tselson, I am enough of a traditionalist to like grass courts, too. They're much more fun to play on.
posted by owlhouse at 01:10 AM on January 16, 2006
Hmmm... Granted Nadal still plays better on Clay, but he's no Chang... the guy is the second best tennis player in the world, and he's still a baby. Even if he never beats Federer on grass, if he beats him everywhere else... All i'm saying is the guy is one step away from threatening seriously Federer's dominance.
posted by everett at 01:51 AM on January 16, 2006
Fanboys in a tennis thread? What would the LTA say?
posted by JJ at 05:45 AM on January 16, 2006
Tennis has fanboys to match any sport. Just ask goddam or chicobangs about the Creepy Blake People.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 03:23 PM on January 16, 2006
Right... I am not a Nadal fan, I actually think he's kinda whiny, you just gotta acknowledge his talent. I am though and through an Agassi fan.
posted by everett at 01:45 AM on January 17, 2006
Oh, and Andy Roddick and Lindsay Davenport might have a shout as well, before you US fans think I've forgotten.