Wimbledon semi-final open thread and there are...
...days until Paul Girgash watches the Wolverines take the field to face the Gators.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Girgash
Also, the men's Wimbledon semi-finals are currently underway. Sam Querrey (USA) is facing Marin Čilić (Croatia) at this very moment. Roger Federer (edit: Switzerland) takes on Tomáš Berdych (Czech Republic) after ward. This is the first time an American male has been in the semi-final since Andy Roddick in 2009.
You mean they're not the same thing?
fixed, thank you
You'd think someone from the largest city in Austria would be able to keep his countries straight!
Sam takes the opening set. Let's be honest, though. The winner of this match is (likely) playing to lose to Roger.
Sam takes the first set.
I am completely baffled as to why Cilic got his 1st serve back after they had a couple of minute delay in the audience. Makes absolutely no sense.
It would be like something happening in football, then there is some type of incident with a ref getting hurt or any other outside factor, and them replaying the down.
Any time a point has to be replayed, or there is a "let" due to outside factors-ball rolling on the court is the most common, but a long delay would qualify as well-the point is replayed completely, starting with a first serve. I believe the reasoning is that once the point is interrupted, it's as if it never happened-so the new point starts with a first serve just as every other point does. The only exception would be if a second serve hits the net and still goes in-then the server is only awarded a second serve.
Probably more information than you wanted...:)
I understand why they do it, I still think it is a horrible rule.
The player made a mistake with a fault on his first serve, he should not be rewarded.
When the first serve begins. If there is any interruption between the first and second serve it is a let and they get to replay the point. It happens rarely in professional tennis, it occurs more in USTA or junior tennis where most don't take it the interruption as a let and continue with their second serve, but as a rule, they are allowed to retake their first serve. Lets happen, and occassionaly benefit one player over the other, just part of the game. You're not rewarding him for a fault, but you also don't want to punish him for something he had no control over.
The player is absolutely, 100 percent being rewarded for something outside of BOTH of their circumstances.
The first serve happened. The server messed up.
I don't buy that the player's mind is suddenly blown so bad that he can't get a second serve in.
He f'ed up, don't punish the other player.
This is one of those old-timey rules that will never evolve. Like golfers having to keep score.
Don't get blown by a time lapse or having to wait, why is "icing the kicker" a thing? The rule is hardly ever seen in professional tennis, just so happened to have one today. If a player faults his first serve, then a streaker or something runs across the court, or a bird/animal land on the court and there is a delay for a few minutes it could be pretty distracting. Idk if it's a great rule, but I get it.
Is not really a thing. It's some weird-ass idea that coaches think is effective.
Dude, just stop. Why should a server be punished for something happening outside of his control? Serving is very much a rhythm thing. It's not fair to expect a server to have to hit a second serve after being delayed. It is absolutely a good rule and should never be changed.
Be punished for the server screwing up?
You are rewarding someone for an event that took place which is NEUTRAL. The guy MADE THE MISTAKE, he's getting to go back and try it again. He is absolutely not being punished. He had his shot at the first serve, he f'ed up. Rhythm has 0 to do with rules. That's just a mindset of serving. Double faults rarely happen because they are generally pushed in at a 20-30 mph less speed. I'd have a hard time accepting that the dude would just freak out and send it sailing. They are pros.
It's a garbage, traditional, stuffy rule that gives someone a second chance for screwing up.
The returner isn't being punished. Lol
First serve- Substantially harder to deal with.
Guy gets chance at first serve. Fault.
Weird thing happens in crowd. Couple minute delay.
Guy gets another chance at first serve for no reason other than rhythm??
Tell you what. If i happen to miss a FT in my next rec basketball game, I'll tell one of my fans to have a pretend stomach pain and cause a minute distraction, and then ask for that FT back because I'm out of focus.
You obviously don't play the game at a competitive level. You just don't understand after multiple explanations. I'll leave it at that.
Querrey is frustrating to watch. Idk if it's because of of the pressure or what but he isn't hitting the ball deep, his approach shots have been pretty bad and it seems like any time there is a long rally Cilic runs his around the court then puts him away. His serve has been the only thing keeping him in this and idk if he can keep it up.
Got more out of his talent in this tournament than he has his entire career.
Definitely would not have even got a set off Federer, but he did awesome.
Talk about ridiculous fortune for Cilic. He literally had to play no one of any top level all the way through.
Yeah, I can't remember an easier path to a grand slam final that Cilic's here. Querrey, Muller, Bautista, Johnson. Who?
setting up for Roger. Well deserved.
This tournament is Roger's bread and butter. He will almost certainly win this thing on Sunday. That said, it would be amazing if he somehow loses the semifinal. It would be the first time in years (as far as I recall) that none of the big four are in the final. I both like and dislike that the big four dominate. It's fun watching them battle each other in the later rounds, but also gets stale because the majors are almost so predictable. It's a guarantee that at least one or two of them will get to the quarterfinals, if not the semifinals.
Obviously, it's not a surprise that 1 of the top 4 players in the game would reach the semis, no?
I think these tournaments play out a TON like march madness. There are always a handful of random players/teams that make it much farther than they should. This year, Querrey, Berdych (debatable, but still outside top 10), Muller, Mannarino, Anderson, those guys had no business getting as far as they did.
But typically, the cream always rises to the top.
Here we go Roger!
Great run from Sam to make the Semifinal. Is he the first American to make the Semi's since Roddick? Has to be, right?
I like Berdych's game but think Fed could steamroll him today.
First American to make ANY semi since Roddick in 09.
His journey is really odd. He's just been a very "decent" player his whole career, but seems to love Wimbledon.
I hope he can build on his momentum and put together a big US Open run. That surface is perfect for his game.
But he should not have to be the flag carrier for the states. Guys like Sock and others need to start actually living up to their potential.
Right? Asking for Andy Murray....
Berdych is making this a little more difficult on Federer than I expected him too. Never the less Fed is still up 2-0 after two tiebreakers and looks like he will go into the finals not having dropped a single set.
What an unprecedented, magical run for Roger this year. If you're a tennis fan, drink up every last match of Roger's this year because we're being treated to a second helping of the best game ever. And it probably won't last too much longer.
They had the quarterfinals match on at the gym yesterday and it was the kind of tennis that makes you just want to stay on the treadmill until the end. It was glorious to watch.
I went to Australia to go to the early rounds of the Aussie Open. I was in Sydney and scheduled to fly out after the semifinals. After the victory I cancelled my flight home, dropped my luggage at the airport, and headed back to Melbourne for the final. It was the best sporting event I have ever experienced. Magical, religious-like experience.
I think I need to book a flight to London right now...
Going to Wimbledon is on my bucket list. I have been to the Australian Open once and it was great, but Wimbledon is the Super Bowl of tennis.
Wimbledon is much more important to me than the Super Bowl :)
Granted, I like tennis as a sport much more than football. And certainly like ATP/WTA better than the NFL.
That's awesome! I've only been to lower-level Masters events, never a grand slam. Must be amazing. I'd like to try for the U.S. soon and ultimately go to Roland Garros. Can't imagine what it must've been like to be at that match in person. It was a near-religious experience for me watching Roger-Rafa on TV again after all these years. And for Roger to flip the script the way he did after it looked like a repeat of all the old losses to Rafa... Just amazing.
It was a dream come true. I actually just flew into OHare from a work trip...went to the ticket counter and tried to negotiate a one way ticket to London tonight. Starting price was $2k one way. Then I remembered I don't have my passport since I'm coming back from a domestic work trip. 2 slams in a year wasn't meant to be...
Yeah, Cilic has played Roger tight the last few years, but that was before the Rogerissance.
Roger's renaissance has been incredible to witness.