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jethro's picture

Wimbledon 2008 Final

The rain has stopped, the sun is shining and it is Nadal, 2 sets to none and 4 games to 5, Nadal to serve. Roger needs to capitalise on Rafael's second serves. More importantly he needs to break his serve - and soon. Nadal double faults to give Roger deuce from a 40-0 start. Nadal plays wide and Roger misses down the line for Nadal's advantage. However a quick return of serve sets up a short ball that Roger puts away to bring back deuce. An ace brings up advantage for Nadal again, and then a forced error from Roger gives the game to Nadal. 5-5.

Photo Titled Nadal netplayRoger makes another unforced error to make it 15-15 and then double faults. However a successful challenge gives him another chance to bring up 40-15 with a nice overhead smash. He follows up with an Ace to bring up 6-5.

Nadal needs to win this service game to force a tie breaker, Roger needs to win to get the set. Faultless play from Nadal brings up 6-6 with a love game. Time for a tiebreaker.

jethro's picture

Sports fest

I have been absolutely spoilt for sport on TV this weekend.

Last night, Venus beat Serena in the Wimbledon ladies final and the Tour de France got away in 2008 for the first stage, a non prologue stage for the first time since 1967. A fascinating race as the breakaway group was reeled back in and the race won by Valverde in an almighty sprint.

b_06_fedNadal_01_reuters_t_melville Tonight I had a massive problem. 3 different channels broadcasting major sports events simultaneously. The Silverstone British Grand Prix, a very eventful race in the on and off again rain. Lewis Hamilton drove a very safe race to come out eventual winner. His tyre choice could have been questioned but proved the right combination in the end.

The second stage of the 2008 Tour de France was as interesting as yesterdays first stage and saw Thor Hushovd win in a close sprint.

Finally the men's Tennis. I didn't watch most of the first set, only switching over occasionally, but Roger Federer lost the first set to Nadal. The unthinkable continued with a second set taken by Rafael.

Roger came out firing in the third set knowing he needed an early break and to win 3 sets in a row. The last time Roger dropped the first two sets at Wimbledon was in 2002.

jethro's picture

Wimbledon 2008 Quarter Finals

I am really enjoying this years tennis at Wimbledon. Roger Federer is playing usual metronomic game and hasn't dropped a set as he has progressed now to a semi final with Safin. His game against Ancic tonight was just precision tennis, his usual style. He is on a 69 game or so winning streak. I thought Lleyton Hewitt Photo Titled Roger rampagehad been playing well but his 3rd round match against Federer was a foregone conclusion. Marat beat Lopez in a very tough game. Lopez lost it mentally at the end when the linesman made  call on a point that Lopez thought he had won and the umpire replayed the point. From there he threw it away and actually lost the match on a double fault. I think Marat will prove no problem to Federer. Safin is ranked 75, and not playing his best tennis while Federer is just working in his lounge room where he has won the last 6 tournaments in a row.

jethro's picture

I cant believe it - Federer lost - in 3 sets!

Serbian 20-year-old Novak Djokovic marched into a semifinal against Federer confident and took him down 3-0. I only saw the last 2 points, having turned on the telly expecting to see a good match - it was over almost immediately!

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