WIMBLEDON

[VillaJ100]

imo wimbledon 2001 was the best speed. Slow enough for baseliners to win (agassi should have beaten rafter) but fast enough to still reward attacking play. People forget Agassi sv'ed at least 25% when he won wimbledon, it wasnt all baseline.
But yeah it should be tweaked up. even just changing the balls would help.

[Chederer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88VJbv3X6-4

check this out---this is what it should be like[/url]

[Yippie-Caiay]

Yeah, but the thing is that is hard to find a good serve&volley player nowadays, I still remember Ivanisevic,Sampras,Krajicek...., i mean if you make the court faster most of the players would still play from the baseline.
BTW when the court was FASTER players like Andre Agassi or Hewitt ( baseliners) got the title, so it´s no guranteed that Federer would win again if you make it faster, of course he´d have more chances.

its not only about federer and nadal..altough chederer said that they have slowed down wimbledon so that is easier for nadal, erase that...anyways he also said that how couldn't nadal be a "grass court specialist" if grass is not fast, and thats certainly true

[Rob ITST]

Although I liked the "old" Wimbledon better, I think the change was for a good reason.

The old courts were too fast, and it became all about serving. Wimbledon wanted only the best players to win. So when Ivanisevic could hardly win a match on any other court, came in as a wildcard, and won the whole thing, I think that really sent a message. Clearly he was not the best player in the world - probably not even top 50 material at the time - so by winning he kind of proved that Wimbledon was not a true measure of tennis greatness.

So I believe it needed to be slowed down, but I also think they went too far. Nadal winning against Federer at Wimbledon should be no more likely than Federer beating Nadal at Roland Garros.

[Yippie-Caiay]

So I believe it needed to be slowed down, but I also think they went too far. Nadal winning against Federer at Wimbledon should be no more likely than Federer beating Nadal at Roland Garros.

this is exactly what wimbledon should take as a point of reference, so i think that it shouldn't be speeded up to the point that only servers would win the title...it still has to find its speed

[emate007]

when Ivanisevic could hardly win a match on any other court, came in as a wildcard, and won the whole thing, I think that really sent a message. Clearly he was not the best player in the world - probably not even top 50 material

Great point.
I found Goran intensely satisfying to watch, but he had no business winning ANY major. He robbed my favorite SV guy Tim of British immortality after that timely rain delay... very sad.


Now they have to call it: murray mountain? wtf?
Should be officially renamed Murrays minge until he wins a major...

That might piss him off enough to finally end the British drought.

[jayl0ve]

I think it's been negligibly slowed down, all these old-timers reminiscing "ohh I remember the courts used to be like an ice rink!" are just, well....old

[SoundfSilence]

The old courts were too fast, and it became all about serving. Wimbledon wanted only the best players to win. So when Ivanisevic could hardly win a match on any other court, came in as a wildcard, and won the whole thing, I think that really sent a message. Clearly he was not the best player in the world - probably not even top 50 material at the time - so by winning he kind of proved that Wimbledon was not a true measure of tennis greatness.

I'm very surprised to read that from you Rob... How could you say by Ivanisevic winning was not a true measure of tennis greatness?

Lets look back at who he beat to win (what was arguably one of the best tennis matches played ever in history, in the final)

R128 Jonsson, Fredrik (SWE) 197 6-4 6-4 6-4 Stats
R64 Moya, Carlos (ESP) 22 6-7(6) 6-3 6-4 6-4 Stats
R32 Roddick, Andy (USA) 33 7-6(5) 7-5 3-6 6-3 Stats
R16 Rusedski, Greg (GBR) 40 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4 Stats
Q Safin, Marat (RUS) 3 7-6(2) 7-5 3-6 7-6(3) Stats
S Henman, Tim (GBR) 11 7-5 6-7(6) 0-6 7-6(5) 6-3 Stats
W Rafter, Patrick (AUS) 10 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7 Stats

I agree, he was not top 50, and by no way the best in the World. But in this tournament, he played like he was the best in the World! I watched everyone of those matches. Clearly this was legendary in itself, that he came from no where, as a wild card, and blew the likes of Moya, Roddick, Rusedski, Safin, Henman and Rafter in the most prestigious tournament of them all.

A very unfair statement to Ivanisevic...

i do agree Wimbledon was too fast, but totally disagree on the legendary Goran.

[VillaJ100]

Yeah but even though Goran was pretty washed up at the time the court helped but it was just a case of wanting it and needing it more than anyone else that year. I think 2001 grass should be brought back, or at least give Seaward the sack and employ that 'Dave' at queens club that Andrew Castle always goes on about on tv every year at queens. He knows how to keep and maintain a fast grass court. e ont see serve and volley because its pretty much dead, but we'l see moe attacking and net play which is good

[Moralspain]

Dr Cotorro, Nadal´s Dr, will decide on tuesday if Rafael can play Wimbledon 2009.
Nadal has a cronical tendonitis in his knees, as we all know, but since he played Miami this year, he has been dragging out an edema ( is this the correct word?)in his right knee, and that´s the main problem. We´ll see what happens.
How many points he will lose?. he started the season great but now, if he can´t go to Wimbledon plus the lost at Roland Garros, it´ll be a disaster.

[Samael]

2000 points to loose if he is not to play Wimbly.

[Rob ITST]

If Nadal doesn't play Wimbledon, and Murray and Djokovic do well, I think he can drop to number 5.

This sucks. The last 3-4 years have spoiled me - I almost don't even want to watch a Grand Slam final if it's not Rafa and Fed.

[Amazing Matheja]

Maybe we're just witnesses : that tennis is becoming like it was in the old days...When there was a lot of very strong players able to win important titles...Struggling with specifics weapons they each have...When there was Connors,McEnroe,Borg,and then Becker,Edberg,Sampras,Agassi,Muster,Courier,....All fighting for N°1 title,for important titles,records,....
HOW LUCKY WE ARE!!!

[Amazing Matheja]

Cause now we have Nadal,Federer,Djokovic,Murray,DelPotro,Struggling for N°1 title,To those guys we could add players like Nalbandian,Davydenko,Tsonga, struggling for important titles!!!...Lot of guys playing great tennis (for most of them)!!!

[Mike Rotchtickles]

Dr Cotorro, Nadal´s Dr, will decide on tuesday if Rafael can play Wimbledon 2009.
Nadal has a cronical tendonitis in his knees, as we all know, but since he played Miami this year, he has been dragging out an edema ( is this the correct word?)in his right knee, and that´s the main problem. We´ll see what happens.
How many points he will lose?. he started the season great but now, if he can´t go to Wimbledon plus the lost at Roland Garros, it´ll be a disaster.

Yeah that would be really tough on Rafa, he has worked so hard and played so many tourneys to get that no 1 spot.
This is not a nice thing to say but maybe this is the break that Fed needs to get back to the top of the rankings and grab that Wimby Slam if Rafa is not able to compete.