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Post by DBBN on Jul 3, 2013 15:11:31 GMT -5
Centre Court 1.00pm Start Time 1. Ladies' Singles - Semi-finals Marion Bartoli (FRA)[15] v. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL)[20] 2. Ladies' Singles - Semi-finals Sabine Lisicki (GER)[23] v. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)[4]
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Post by R. Black on Jul 3, 2013 16:10:22 GMT -5
Terrible Thursday.
Olive Oil needs to lose.
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Post by Wagasi on Jul 3, 2013 16:19:00 GMT -5
GrasskensSLAM. That should take Bimbly down a peg or two.
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Post by lexpretend on Jul 3, 2013 16:22:16 GMT -5
I see nothing wrong with this line-up. And I don't even see anything particularly weird about the players who are there - what's weird is the players who aren't. Any of these four plus Vika/Ma$ha/Serena would not raise an eyebrow.
This is Lisicki's second Wimbledon SF and fourth Wimbledon QF-or-beyond. She's a proven giant-killer and it's obvious from both her results and one's eyes that Peak Grassicki is formidable.
Radwanska is last year's finalist, a former Eastbourne champion and generally proven as a legit top 4 player. Again, it's obvious that grass suits her game.
Bartoli is a former Wimbledon finalist, a former Eastbourne champion and generally proven as a legit top 10 player with a giant-killing record at Slams (she's beaten both Serena and Justine on Centre Court). Again, her game suits grass; and even though her form coming in was bad, she's also many times in her career turned that around out of nowhere.
Flipkens is obviously the surprise/fluke SFist but her game is again perfect for grass, her big comeback has already landed her in the top 20 and she's certainly no worse than the many average players who have made Slam SFs: Werdel-Witmeyer, McGrath, Clarisa Fernandez, Likhovtseva, Dechy, Suarez, Wickmayer, Stephens. It's not like she's LDL or someone.
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Post by janie on Jul 3, 2013 16:22:34 GMT -5
Terrible Thursday. Olive Oil needs to lose. Who?
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Post by janie on Jul 3, 2013 16:32:26 GMT -5
I see nothing wrong with this line-up. And I don't even see anything particularly weird about the players who are there - what's weird is the players who aren't. Any of these four plus Vika/Ma$ha/Serena would not raise an eyebrow. This is Lisicki's second Wimbledon SF and fourth Wimbledon QF-or-beyond. She's a proven giant-killer and it's obvious from both her results and one's eyes that Peak Grassicki is formidable. Radwanska is last year's finalist, a former Eastbourne champion and generally proven as a legit top 4 player. Again, it's obvious that grass suits her game. Bartoli is a former Wimbledon finalist, a former Eastbourne champion and generally proven as a legit top 10 player with a giant-killing record at Slams (she's beaten both Serena and Justine on Centre Court). Again, her game suits grass; and even though her form coming in was bad, she's also many times in her career turned that around out of nowhere. Flipkens is obviously the surprise/fluke SFist but her game is again perfect for grass, her big comeback has already landed her in the top 20 and she's certainly no worse than the many average players who have made Slam SFs: Werdel-Witmeyer, McGrath, Clarisa Fernandez, Likhovtseva, Dechy, Suarez, Wickmayer, Stephens. It's not like she's LDL or someone. I agree and I think it's fantastic. What a dream come true, to have neither major screecher nor Serena around for this stage. Unfortunately the timing is bad for me and I might not get to watch a single point of tennis from here on out.
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Post by R. Black on Jul 3, 2013 16:55:10 GMT -5
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Post by DBBN on Jul 3, 2013 17:06:09 GMT -5
I see nothing wrong with this line-up. And I don't even see anything particularly weird about the players who are there - what's weird is the players who aren't. Any of these four plus Vika/Ma$ha/Serena would not raise an eyebrow. I agree, generally. As I said the other day, the people there aren't insane. It's that none of the three favorites are with 1-3 of them. And I mean...especially Maria and Vika, not overwhelmingly surprising. I think any SF lineup missing Serena would be considered "crazy." But no, these are four quality grass players. The three main contenders are grass-court title winners and former runners-up/SFist at Wimbledon. Flipkens is the outlier but she has won junior Wimbledon, made a grass-court final (10 days ago), and has a game that makes you say, YES, she should do well here. It's just...all four of them! At once! And it's LOL that Wimbledon is considered the most "important" tournament by casual-or-less fans and, once again, the women's Tour proves itself to be an absolute shitshow when it moves there.
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Post by DBBN on Jul 3, 2013 17:06:50 GMT -5
The line-up is fine, but I thought Hurley would go with the T-something Thursday title. LiNa yelled at me.
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Post by Old Hag on Jul 3, 2013 19:26:31 GMT -5
It's not that the players this far are that surprising, it's that the top 3 have been so dominant of late and it was unthinkable that anyone else would win the tournament.
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Post by Grarliner on Jul 3, 2013 22:28:45 GMT -5
I see nothing wrong with this line-up. And I don't even see anything particularly weird about the players who are there - what's weird is the players who aren't. Any of these four plus Vika/Ma$ha/Serena would not raise an eyebrow. I agree, generally. As I said the other day, the people there aren't insane. It's that none of the three favorites are with 1-3 of them. And I mean...especially Maria and Vika, not overwhelmingly surprising. I think any SF lineup missing Serena would be considered "crazy." But no, these are four quality grass players. The three main contenders are grass-court title winners and former runners-up/SFist at Wimbledon. Flipkens is the outlier but she has won junior Wimbledon, made a grass-court final (10 days ago), and has a game that makes you say, YES, she should do well here. It's just...all four of them! At once! And it's LOL that Wimbledon is considered the most "important" tournament by casual-or-less fans and, once again, the women's Tour proves itself to be an absolute shitshow when it moves there. Shitshow in what way ... I think quality-wise, all the matches in the quarters were decent. I ... am hopeful we'll see good SF matches too. The style contrasts indicate to me that both matches could be fun.
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Post by Grarliner on Jul 3, 2013 22:29:18 GMT -5
Oh, and Wickmayer made a GS semi? Where the hell was I?
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Post by R. Black on Jul 3, 2013 23:17:35 GMT -5
Pam Shriver couldn't believe it herself and the US Open crowd booed her, remember?
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Post by Old Hag on Jul 4, 2013 0:31:23 GMT -5
And it was Shitra's fault
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Post by Traveling Man on Jul 4, 2013 0:33:20 GMT -5
It's not that the players this far are that surprising, it's that the top 3 have been so dominant of late and it was unthinkable that anyone else would win the tournament. Agreed and pretty much what I was saying in the Terrible Tuesday thread. It's not just the Slams, but even everything outside has been dominated by the Top 3 (finalist spots too) that it seemed unfathomable that all three would be out. Even more surprising considering all three made it to the RG semis and two of them (Serena and Azza) are better on grass than clay. Not that I'm complaining - I can't stand the top three and wish this happened at every Slam. I'm really want a CAKE-Lisicki final. I hope this happens.
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Post by Lady on Jul 4, 2013 1:18:05 GMT -5
Oh, and Wickmayer made a GS semi? Where the hell was I? Wasn't that the same slam when Wozniacki was in the final (beating Wickmayer in the semis)? Comeback Kim slam win?
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Post by Grarliner on Jul 4, 2013 2:12:11 GMT -5
2009 USO - wow. I completely forgot Wicky in the SF. That was when I still thought she'd be good, instead of someone who might lose to Lucic-Baroni.
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Post by lexpretend on Jul 4, 2013 2:23:21 GMT -5
There are a lot of parallels between Wickmayer and Stephens, actually (apart from the hype). She was pretty young at the time of her SF but I don't think anyone thought Wickmayer would be good (as in, Slam champion) afterwards, she just got a lucky draw. Because you could SEE her game was not elite level, just as Stephens' isn't. And friendly seeding meant she got a few more Slam second weeks off the back of it. People thought she'd be a solid 10-30 player, which she was until slumping this year.
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Post by Grarliner on Jul 4, 2013 2:25:24 GMT -5
I wasn't thinking Slam champ but I thought she'd do better than she is now. I remember her AO 2010 match against Justine which was extremely high quality. Wick was playing like someone knocking on the door of the top ten. Boy, has that ever died.
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Post by lexpretend on Jul 4, 2013 2:27:57 GMT -5
I believe she's had a recurring back injury. But I think she was always going to be a run-of-the-mill type who could only occasionally be dangerous to top players, not one herself.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Jul 4, 2013 6:24:52 GMT -5
OMG! JNOC on TV! This Konjuh is good.
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Post by R. Black on Jul 4, 2013 6:32:12 GMT -5
And it was Shitra's fault And the Serbian sisters, of course.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Jul 4, 2013 6:41:14 GMT -5
Pam Shriver couldn't believe it herself and the US Open crowd booed her, remember? Wiiii ::)ckmayer of Belgium. That was the tournament where K-Bond double-bagelled Dulko in R4, right?
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Jul 4, 2013 6:41:49 GMT -5
I'm not sure if that's the rolling eyes smiley. It was supposed to be that.
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Post by lexpretend on Jul 4, 2013 7:32:44 GMT -5
Awesome point from CAKE. Pound the FH repeatedly, dropshot, lob.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jul 4, 2013 7:43:30 GMT -5
I just tuned in - how has this match been so far? Hope CAKE can finish this in two. I was really scared of this match.
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Post by lexpretend on Jul 4, 2013 7:45:29 GMT -5
Cake doesn't usually do things like volley well, play finesse shots well or hit winners on the run, and she's done all of those today AS WELL AS executing her usual strategy to perfection. It's a clinic. I don't even feel like Flipkens has been bad, she just hasn't been able to combat any of that.
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Post by lexpretend on Jul 4, 2013 7:45:54 GMT -5
Ali, no need to worry. This is Peak CAKE right now.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Jul 4, 2013 7:50:12 GMT -5
What is it with PEAK Bartoli and Wimbledon SF? I guess Pierce Brosnan is there again.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jul 4, 2013 7:50:40 GMT -5
Yes, having seen from 6-1, 1-0 I can clearly see that. Also the mannerisms and idiosyncracies just reinstill my love for CAKE.
Flipkens indicated she wanted the trainer - I wonder if the injury is hampering her or nerves that's allowing such a scoreline (besides PEAK CAKE).
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