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Tennis Anyone?

TimeODanaos
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There's got to be something in Canadian water these days - per head of population, it's just staggering. Oh - and where was Emma Raducanu - the other(!) teen sensation women's USO semifinalist - born? Yep, Toronto. Family emigrated when she was two, to give Great Britain a chance in the post-Murray era.

And - Djokovic cracks under pressure? Can happen. Before... Zverev? Tend to doubt it. Would like to see Medvedev get there - windmill strokes no coach could approve, and always a whiff of PR danger when he talks!
 
Archer
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TimeODanaos TimeODanaos
There's got to be something in Canadian water these days - per head of population, it's just staggering. Oh - and where was Emma Raducanu - the other(!) teen sensation women's USO semifinalist - born? Yep, Toronto. Family emigrated when she was two, to give Great Britain a chance in the post-Murray era.

And - Djokovic cracks under pressure? Can happen. Before... Zverev? Tend to doubt it. Would like to see Medvedev get there - windmill strokes no coach could approve, and always a whiff of PR danger when he talks!

Well, as much as Fernandez has jokingly attributed it to the maple syrup (which is indeed very good), it's pretty simple. A program was set-up by Tennis Canada for athlete development, and it has worked wonders. Having been involved in such efforts in another sport, it is no small task and they have done a great job.

The inspiration that earlier successes have had (Bouchard in 2014 and Raonic in 2016 most notably) have also driven a ton of interest in tennis in Canada. I saw a stat a few years ago that of all the mature tennis countries, Canada had the highest growth rate in participation, where most countries it was dropping. I'm sure other countries numbers are up during the pandemic but this was well before that.

Novak has talked a lot about the history of what he's trying to do, so this situation for him is a bit unique compared to the others. Winning the calendar year Grand Slam is huge, so big that the fact it would be his 21st major to take the all time lead is almost a footnote.
 
TimeODanaos
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Just before Leylah's match started, I noticed a fun article in The Economist. Probably can't quote for copyright reasons, but essentially some statisticians have studied thousands of Grand Slam points and found that elite players are unexpectedly prone to unforced errors caused by situation-driven anxiety (e.g. prior point blooper, break points). Broadly, statistically, the same apparently holds good for winners as losers - the former don't win because they are impervious to the error bug, which acts as an equalizer. It's because, well, they hit more winners. Same is observed in golf and basketball.
(Maybe it's happening to Sabalenka right now?)
 
Archer
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It’s almost as if that set was planned to prove that point! Fernandez stole that set!
 
Archer
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😁😁😁👍👍👍

Just going to point out that every time Leylah has won, Felix has followed up with a win! Let’s hope that trend continues tomorrow!
 
Archer
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So, watching the third Canadian still left in - Gabby Dabrowski who is playing in the women's double semi-final.

Maybe three Canadian finalists this year?
 
Waltesefalcon
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I tried playing tennis in high school because a girl I liked played tennis. I wasn't very good and gave it up when she started dating another guy. Then I started playing it in earnest about fifteen years ago and it formed an important part of my exercise routine for those fifteen years. Since I broke my ankle last year I've had to give it and basketball both up and am looking for something new to replace them.
 
Archer
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
I tried playing tennis in high school because a girl I liked played tennis. I wasn't very good and gave it up when she started dating another guy. Then I started playing it in earnest about fifteen years ago and it formed an important part of my exercise routine for those fifteen years. Since I broke my ankle last year I've had to give it and basketball both up and am looking for something new to replace them.

That's too bad about the ankle. Not sure what kind of mobility you have or what movements are not recommended, but we see a ton of people playing pickleball around here.

Much smaller court as 2 pickleball courts fit on 1 tennis court, and with a dead ball and dead racquet (paddle) it won't require the same sort of movement that tennis does - might be something to consider. Lots of people play doubles, which has 4 people packed into less than 1/2 of a tennis court, so again, not near the ground to cover as with tennis.
 
Mark020
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Padel is growing very fast where I live. Very similar to tennis!
 
Pierre1333
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If you hold your racket like you would gently hold a hammer then play one handed, you can play. That's advice i got when i hit puberty. Love this thread. Anybody out there enjoy serve and volley tennis?
 
TimeODanaos
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Waltesefalcon Waltesefalcon
I tried playing tennis in high school because a girl I liked played tennis. I wasn't very good and gave it up when she started dating another guy. Then I started playing it in earnest about fifteen years ago and it formed an important part of my exercise routine for those fifteen years. Since I broke my ankle last year I've had to give it and basketball both up and am looking for something new to replace them.
I took up pottery when I started slowing down, and cycling during lockdowns. Since I injured my knee (LCL) a few months back, the former has kept me sane. 👍
Edited:
 
Archer
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Well, Gabby’s partner appeared to blow out her knee in the semifinal, so hopefully she is okay, but that meant they had to retire.

Felix made some good headway in the second set, but wasn’t able to close out three set points, and the wheels came off from there.

Looking forward to tomorrow with Fernandez and Raducanu...it’s a toss up in my view, and I’m hoping that the much tougher draw that Fernandez had will give her the edge mentally.

Watching Novak and Sasha right now...
 
TimeODanaos
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FAA is only going to get stronger, and will be around the top for a good long time. And what a beautiful athlete to watch.
Djoker in 5? Let's see...
 
Waltesefalcon
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Archer Archer
That's too bad about the ankle. Not sure what kind of mobility you have or what movements are not recommended, but we see a ton of people playing pickleball around here.

Much smaller court as 2 pickleball courts fit on 1 tennis court, and with a dead ball and dead racquet (paddle) it won't require the same sort of movement that tennis does - might be something to consider. Lots of people play doubles, which has 4 people packed into less than 1/2 of a tennis court, so again, not near the ground to cover as with tennis.

Thanks @Archer . I've never even heard of pickleball but will look into it. Lately I've substituted walking the dogs for jogging, they really like that. I hike more, and I've taken up cycling again, which is something I haven't done much of since college. I also decided to take up archery again. I'm a year into recovery and still improving so who knows where I'll be in another year or two.
 
Archer
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TimeODanaos TimeODanaos
FAA is only going to get stronger, and will be around the top for a good long time. And what a beautiful athlete to watch.
Djoker in 5? Let's see...

You called it. 5 sets with the last being quite dominated by Novak.

He now is tied with Roger for the most major finals.

How about that 53 shot rally...incredible not only for the length but the quality.
 
Archer
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Mark020 Mark020
Padel is growing very fast where I live. Very similar to tennis!

Never heard of it so I watched a video. Seems to be a mix of tennis, pickle ball, and squash. Quite unusual...
 
TimeODanaos
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Archer Archer
How about that 53 shot rally...incredible not only for the length but the quality.
Still recovering from just watching!
Looking forward very much to the women's final. Just seen some video of the two playing juniors at Wimbledon, and it looks like it could be a real scrap, between imo similar styles. And they were juniors not that long ago - astonishing. It's a shame in a way the match has to happen on such a solemn day in NYC. Perhaps if we're looking to lighten the mood, we can remind ourselves this is the first GS final between players who not only can have no memories of 9/11, but were not even born then. And maybe GB versus Canada is a nice match-up too: reckon the crowd will split evenly, but good tempered whoever wins it. (Call me a wilting violet, but I never want to see something like that Osaka/Williams meltdown again!)
 
Mark020
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Archer Archer
Never heard of it so I watched a video. Seems to be a mix of tennis, pickle ball, and squash. Quite unusual...
Don't know pickle ball but it is indeed basically tennis on a squash court. Fastest growing sport in the Netherlands at the moment
 
Passover
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sonicosa sonicosa
Glad I started this thread! Thanks to everyone who has weighed in so far. I haven’t been out to hit since my lesson last Wednesday. That was the final lesson in the series, and the next round starts up in a few weeks. I’m hoping I can get out to play against the practice walls a few mornings over the coming weeks. I also noticed that the virtual portal for my apartment building has a section where you can post for interest in partners for golf, tennis, etc, so I might give that a try.

@imfagent449 That film you posted from the early 1900s was really cool to watch. I work in video production, so seeing a practical example of early high-frame rate recording was pretty awesome. I should actually share that with my team. I think they would enjoy it. I shared this film not along ago and it was a big hit.


Maybe a bit late but if someone is interested in the location of this: It was filmed in Wuppertal, a german town with a unique traspüortation system, the "Schwebebahn"

weil-die-mitgereisten-reporter.jpg
 
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