@emilybee Roger is my favorite player of all time, but he is not the guy he was a few years ago. While everyone knows you lose your physical gifts a bit as you age, I think for most you lose some of your mental edge as well. It is really tough to always be someone’s career-making win. I think Roger really suffered from his lack of play in the lead up too.
I also think some other factors were at play out there today. A Wimbledon final is not like any other match you’ll ever play…It’s not just a Grand Slam, but in the eyes of most the unofficial world’s championship. It’s very tough not to be overwhelmed by the moment the first time you’re in that situation. Whether from just the impact of the moment or the difficulty of recovering physically and mentally from the Federer win Milos was not the same player he was earlier in the tournament.
Finally, I think Andy Murray has a game that is extremely well suited to beating Raonic. He is a very smart returner…giving a bit more ground behind the baseline so he could get into the point more successfully than Roger did on his return games. He is also amazingly fast, and like Djokovic has great balance when reaching a difficult ball and turning a tough defensive ball to his advantage. When you depend on being able to end points quickly as Milos does, facing someone who keeps getting balls you expect to win the point for you back in play you start going for too much and make errors. I urge every tennis fan to try to see these guys defend from behind the court. I think their speed and agility is the thing you don’t see on tv…and Murray’s is right at the top of the game in that department.
emily, Raonic served much better (and harder)against Federer. Also, Federer had a down day to be sure.
Anxiousmom, I enjoy varied games. I grew up idolizing Borg and Lendl. I also really liked Agassi and these days, I tend to support Djokovic. I really like watching players that make impossible shots frequently, so I have been spoiled with the likes of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal.
^ Raonic managed to hit an “impossible” forehand on a crucial point in the 4th. A 5th set for 35-year-old Roger after the Cilic marathon was always going to be an issue.
He was up 40-0 in 12th game of forth set and served two double faults. That is a choke. Now, I don’t know what would have happened if it went to a tie break but Roger has a pretty good tie break record.
I don’t think it’s Roger’s game that is doing him in in these big matches - he is still brilliant. It’s all mental.
The final, IMO, was pretty anti-climatic and honestly quite dull. There was never any moment in match that suggested Milos would win.
I did enjoy the mixed dubs final. Both guys were easy on the eyes and Farah has quite the pretty bum. And Nicholas and Pierre were equally lovely (as are Julien and Edouard) winning the men’s dubs. Especially enjoyed the man hug at the end! Allez les bleu!!!
Really, can the men get anymore boring? I need some of the young lads to step it up. The lost generation are just so boring. Watching grass grow is more exciting then watching them on court.
Djokovic vs Del Potro should be very entertaining first round match. When those two play, it usually goes to a deciding set. Del Potro is rusty, but then again, Djokovic is too.
Loved to hear the huge cheer when Spain’s Olympic team entered the stadium last night. Rafa looked very happy, I hope his wrist is fit to play three events. It seems excessive but maybe they are trying to get all the match play they can right now.
