Tennis Season 2014

You’d have to say that is the biggest shock that a Jap has sprung in America since December 1941.

[QUOTE=“Il Bomber Destro, post: 1012390, member: 2533”]Are the big 4 in decline or are the chasing pack making ground?

Perhaps a bit of both but definitely more of the former. Nadal is losing his battle with injuries more and more as the years progress, Djokovic seems to be having some very peculiar problems with his stamina - some days he is like the marathon man and other days he looks to be badly out on his feet after one set - he particularly seems to struggle in the midday heat. Murray has regressed badly ever since he parted ways with Lendl. Federer seems to have more or less kept his form in check and has taken advantage of the drop in the others.[/QUOTE]

Its a bit of both. The aura has slipped and possibly gone for all 4 and the other Top 10 even Top 20 don’t fear them anymore. As you’ve said all the injuries are taking their toll on Nadal and he probably hasn’t long left. Murray’s year has been pretty much a right off after the lack absence due to his back injury. Novak has had a very poor US hardcourt season. Think its a combination of been jaded after so much tennis throughout the year, getting married and a kid on the way. Federer is rejuvenated under Edberg and playing serve and volley is prolonging his career. Five setters at 33 take a lot out of you do. That match against Monfils could tell against him yet. Reckon he’ll get past Cilic, but would give Nishikori every chance if Federer does make the final.

Federer in trouble here.

Big trouble now. If Cilic maintains this level, he’ll win it in three. Fed has no answer.

Cilic serving for the match.

What odds were Cilic and Nishikori before the start of the tournament? Nishikori has had some form this year and beat a lot of big guns on his way to the final. Cilic is a convicted drug cheat so I hope the Jap wins it.

2005 Safin v Hewitt Australian Open was the last grand slam final that didn’t feature either Messrs Federer, Nadal or Djokovic.

Hope the Jap wins this now.

Tennis, second only to golf as the most pointless ‘sport’ in christendom.

And before someone else points it out, dressing up your favourite dwarf in a garishly coloured uniform and sitting him upon your favourite horse to beat the shit out of it on the way to the knackers yard is not a sport at all. The horses do all the running and jumping and there is fuck all sporty about sitting in a saddle for 4 minutes walloping the bejaysus out of horsey.

Yeah, a real changing of the guard and its long overdue. The stranglehold that Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and to a lesser extent Murray have held over the game for the last decade has gone on far too long.

[QUOTE=“Batt the Ladd, post: 1012642, member: 1578”]Tennis, second only to golf as the most pointless ‘sport’ in christendom.

And before someone else points it out, dressing up your favourite dwarf in a garishly coloured uniform and sitting him upon your favourite horse to beat the shit out of it on the way to the knackers yard is not a sport at all. The horses do all the running and jumping and there is fuck all sporty about sitting in a saddle for 4 minutes walloping the bejaysus out of horsey.[/QUOTE]
Golf is out on its own by a long long way.

Ryder Cup notwithstanding

Always a danger one of these lads wouldn’t show up - definitely the case with Nishikori so far. He’d want to get his shit together pretty fucking soon. Cilic playing very well again to be fair to him though.

Cilic destroying nishikori. Nishikori needs to take a bathroom break at the end of this set and get his head together

Cilic serving for it at 5-3. Had a bit of a wobble in his last service game, but don’t expect any errors here.

Holds to 15 and we have a new Grand Slam champion. Two of them in one year, who’d have thought it?

In no report on TV have they mentioned Cilic is a recent drug cheat.

Cilic US Open Champion*

[QUOTE=“Scrunchie, post: 1014000, member: 1408”]In no report on TV have they mentioned Cilic is a recent drug cheat.

Cilic US Open Champion*[/QUOTE]
I’d have my suspicions that the only thing that distinguishes him from a lot of the top 20 is that he’s been caught.