# Tennis 2013 Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 28, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410 "2012-12-28T18:38:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/441 "2013-08-25T22:28:00Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I would like to see how Serena would do against McEnroe … or some former named pro who is still playing semi competitively. It’d be fun to see. He would win for sure I think. If he wouldn’t, then Jim Courier(one step younger) would. Maybe she could beat jimmy Connors or Bjorne Borg. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/442 "2013-08-26T15:35:10Z")
And we’re under way! Li Na, Radwanska and Tomic are off to strong starts. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/443 "2013-08-26T15:54:15Z")
James Blake formally announces his retirement after the US Open. Good luck to him . ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/444 "2013-08-26T16:02:50Z")
Blake’s first-round match is against Ivo Karlovic, another cool guy who is probably also close to retirement. Blake always came across as a smart, level-headed person. He had some very tough breaks in his career but never seemed to get down on himself over whatever opportunities he missed and I think he kept playing these last couple of years just for his own enjoyment. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/445 "2013-08-26T16:31:19Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > James Blake formally announces his retirement after the US Open. Good luck to him > . Good for him. He’s a great guy. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/446 "2013-08-26T18:50:18Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I doubt he threw it. He was in his mid-50’s and king was about 30. Was Riggs in “John McEnroe” kind of shape at that point? I mean, McEnroe is a perfect example of staying in shape into your 50’s. > > I think McEnroe could beat Serena Williams right now in a 2 or 3 set match, by the way. > > Heck, they should do it. You are dreaming… seriously?? Not a chance. not a chance… he couldnt handle her power… ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/447 "2013-08-26T20:36:59Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Good for him. He’s a great guy. +1 ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/448 "2013-08-26T23:42:32Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I saw DelPotro play a few times in Cincinnati. IMO, he’s not nearly in the shape he needs to be in order to win the tournament. When he had to go 3 sets against Feliciano Lopez, he was toast by the end. (Or perhaps he was imitating Pete Sampras’ hangdog act.) > > I am going to bet on Murray to win, just because I want him to win again and because he has all the tools that he needs to in order to beat the big guys. I love watching his craftsmanship on the court. My longshot is Tursunov, who looked incredibly sharp in Cincinnati, as sharp as DelPotro looked before he won the US Open a few years back. I’d love to see Ferrer make a run for it, but the latter part of the hard court season hasn’t been kind to him, and he’s not getting any younger. > > On the women’s side, I am hoping for anyone to beat Serena. I’d love to see Kvitova or Li Na win, just because I like both of them. Petkovich was looking sharp, but I don’t think she’s up to taking on Williams or Azarenka yet. Well my men’s choice is a heart ruling my head. With the women I don’t like Serena much but she is so strong & powerful. I’ll make more sentimantal choices for the doubles Mahut/Lhodra for the men & Black/Erakovic for the women. & yay, its on live now at a civilised time when I can now go & watch Ferrer playing the new Australian hotshot! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/449 "2013-08-26T23:44:17Z")
> [@Chicagojeff](#): > > You are dreaming… seriously?? Not a chance. not a chance… he couldnt handle her power… I think you might be dreaming. While he isn’t as quick as he was, he is still male and still in great shape. I think he could whoop her easily. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/450 "2013-08-27T03:03:27Z")
Serena wiped the floor with Schiavone. & Serena’s outfit looked OK from the back, terrible from the front & side. Schiavone’s outfit was the best I’ve seen her in. They are replaying Venus’s match at the moment - like her outfit too, but I think you would have to be tall to carry it off ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/451 "2013-08-27T12:30:36Z")
Anyone else think that Slone Stephens doesn’t have the fire it takes to close matches? She was lucky in the first round…really lucky. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/452 "2013-08-27T14:00:16Z")
Verdasco loses to Dodig in a tight five setter. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/453 "2013-08-27T17:56:46Z")
It was very nice to see Venus win convincingly, too. I think the biggest upset was Kei Nishikori (11) losing- did anybody have him winning the title? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/454 "2013-08-28T12:42:43Z")
So what about Victoria Duval? Good match against Stour. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/455 "2013-08-28T15:10:32Z")
> [@eenerms](#): > > So what about Victoria Duval? Good match against Stour. That was a fantastic match. For Duval. 🙂 No, she played really well and was able to close it out, which probably wasn’t easy. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/456 "2013-08-28T18:37:20Z")
Andy Roddick asks Federer about the 2009 Wimbledon final. Roddick outplayed him for most of the match, but Federer got some key points and won it. [Roddick was impressed how reserved Fed was.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzP8-4D0o9w#t=114) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/457 "2013-08-29T03:42:53Z")
Go Jimbo! Blake and Karlovic are deep in the fifth set now- Blake was trailing but just broke to get them back on serve. I’ve never hooked my computer up to my TV before, but I have the US Open live stream going and it’s terrific. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/458 "2013-08-29T04:28:35Z")
Wasn’t meant to be. Blake won the first two sets but he couldn’t hang on. Karlovic won the tiebreak with an ace just after midnight. That’s a tough way to go out, but I think Blake will be just fine. He’ll be missed on tour. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/459 "2013-08-29T13:33:39Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Wasn’t meant to be. Blake won the first two sets but he couldn’t hang on. Karlovic won the tiebreak with an ace just after midnight. That’s a tough way to go out, but I think Blake will be just fine. He’ll be missed on tour. Sigh, I was rooting for Blake to win it:( ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/460 "2013-08-29T18:00:00Z")
Glad Stephens was able to get her confidence back and win convincingly. Sorry to see Venus lose, but good for Zheng. I really felt badly for her having to play in NYC v. Venus. I love when the crowd gets behind a player, but for audience members to be loudly cheering when the opponent double faults, or to yell out “Double fault!” before she serves…poor form, NYC. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410.md?page=24)