# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/161 "2013-06-06T17:25:05Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > A valid complaint about doing those “matches” at the same time, but Tsonga didn’t play today. The men are off tomorrow and they’ll play the semifinals will Friday. I was talking about the men’s semifinals on Friday. They scheduled Novak and Rafa to play the first match (1pm local time; 7am Eastern time), so that Tsonga could have the prime time slot. It’s their prerogative, of course, but what match do you think is going to draw better ratings? At 1pm, viewers in Europe will be at work and US/SA viewers will have to get up before dawn. I know I can tape it, but I’m almost always spoiled before I have a chance to go home and watch it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/162 "2013-06-06T17:27:16Z")
Ah, I see. It’s a tough call. I’m not surprised the French organizers want to put the French player in the primetime spot there. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/163 "2013-06-06T18:37:53Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I was talking about the men’s semifinals on Friday. They scheduled Novak and Rafa to play the first match (1pm local time; 7am Eastern time), so that Tsonga could have the prime time slot. It’s their prerogative, of course, but what match do you think is going to draw better ratings? At 1pm, viewers in Europe will be at work and US/SA viewers will have to get up before dawn. > > I know I can tape it, but I’m almost always spoiled before I have a chance to go home and watch it. Yahoo and so forth make it impossible to avoid spoilers. When I’m at work, I can’t access ESPN3 in the background, so…I bootleg the feed from websites. Sue me. I have ESPN at home and can do ESPN3, but my ISP at work must not include ESPN3 or something. > [@Marley23](#): > > Ah, I see. It’s a tough call. I’m not surprised the French organizers want to put the French player in the primetime spot there. Yeah, it actually makes a ton of sense for Tsonga to go primetime. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Stilettos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Red\_Stilettos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Stilettos)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/164 "2013-06-06T19:45:33Z")
Are we going to start truly acknowledging what Serena is doing?? Thirty match winning streak… 22-0 on clay… Going for her sixteenth Slam in her early thirties?? Steffi was done by 28… Serena is kicking ass into her thirties and is the overwhelming favorite for Wimbledon and the Open… I guess if you just pretend not to see that … maybe it’s not happening… ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/165 "2013-06-06T20:53:34Z")
> [@Red\_Stilettos](#): > > I guess if you just pretend not to see that .. maybe it’s not happening.. Nice talking to you, too. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/166 "2013-06-06T21:04:22Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Ah, I see. It’s a tough call. I’m not surprised the French organizers want to put the French player in the primetime spot there. Just so you don’t think I’m xenophobic, I have similar complaints here in the US. At my hometown ATP 1000 event, they always give the Americans the prime time slots. Which sucks because our pickings are so slim. So if you actually have to work, you are relegated to watching Blake and Querrey instead of Federer and Djokovic. Or Tsonga! (At least this year we have Mattek-Sands and Stephens to look forward to.) Personally, I think they should give the prime time slots to the highest ranking players regardless of what country they’re from. I mean, how many of us have favorite players who do not hail from our country? ---
**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:** [June 6, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/167 "2013-06-06T22:58:46Z")
> [@Red\_Stilettos](#): > > Are we going to start truly acknowledging what Serena is doing?? Thirty match winning streak.. 22-0 on clay.. Going for her sixteenth Slam in her early thirties?? Steffi was done by 28.. Serena is kicking ass into her thirties and is the overwhelming favorite for Wimbledon and the Open.. > > I guess if you just pretend not to see that .. maybe it’s not happening.. Do you mean that she dopes or is taking male hormones? And Roger Federer just got his 17th slam last year and he’s in his thirties. Mind you, I have no idea if Serena uses performance enhancing drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/168 "2013-06-06T23:02:41Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Do you mean that she dopes or is taking male hormones? Wha?? I think he’s saying she’s playing some of the best tennis of her career, which she is. And the timeline for men and women is a bit different; Serena is the oldest women’s #1 ever and is likely to keep extending that record for some time. She’s also far from the record for major titles, but she has won two majors in her thirties and looks like she’s going to win another one. Federer has won one so far. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Stilettos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Red\_Stilettos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Stilettos)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/169 "2013-06-07T01:46:23Z")
> [@Red\_Stilettos](#): > > Are we going to start truly acknowledging what Serena is doing?? Thirty match winning streak.. 22-0 on clay.. Going for her sixteenth Slam in her early thirties?? Steffi was done by 28.. Serena is kicking ass into her thirties and is the overwhelming favorite for Wimbledon and the Open.. > > I guess if you just pretend not to see that .. maybe it’s not happening.. For the record, I didn’t write this. My boyfriend (Chicago Jeff) posted without noticing that I was logged in. And, yes, he was commenting on how well Serena is playing, not making any allegations, other than perhaps she was being overlooked in this thread. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2013, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/170 "2013-06-07T13:13:34Z")
One set each, with Nadal up a break in the third set. Good match. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/171 "2013-06-07T13:30:43Z")
Third set was a Djoko throw away. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/172 "2013-06-07T13:58:04Z")
A little off the current topic, but I was surfing some wiki bios of some past tennis greats. Wiki says [Margaret Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Court) turned Pro in 1960 and it also says that she won won Wimbledon in 1963 and 1965, which was before Wimbledon allowed professionals to play in [1968](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Championships,_Wimbledon#Trophies_and_prize_money) Similar stories for the French, Australian and US Opens, she won several of these Grand Slams after turning pro in 1960 and before the these tournaments became Open to professionals. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/173 "2013-06-07T17:18:56Z")
I had to listen to it (yeah for [RolandGarros.com](http://RolandGarros.com)’s radio commentation) but I was still riveted to my seat. I thought for sure that Nadal was toast after going down a break in the 5th. What a rollercoaster ride. Looks like Tsonga is not on his game yet. Shame. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/174 "2013-06-07T17:39:05Z")
That would have been a great final. Djokovic bonked a couple of overheads and caught a bad break when he touched the net during the eighth game of the last set, but it was an extremely satisfying match. Tsonga was awful in the first set against Ferrer but now he seems to have found his footing. They may be going to a tiebreak. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/175 "2013-06-07T18:33:57Z")
Ferrer vs. Nadal for the final. Nadal should have a much easier time than with Djokovic. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/176 "2013-06-07T18:37:35Z")
During the Nadal/Djoko match, I was riveted. I wasn’t surprised when Rafa could not finish it out in the 4th, he gets nervous. Off topic haven’t seen the Umpire Mohamed Laylani, one of my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/177 "2013-06-07T19:06:47Z")
We could be looking at two really ugly finals here. It’s possible to imagine Sharapova putting up a good fight against Serena even though she hasn’t beaten her in forever, but it’s hard to imagine Ferrer pushing Nadal. I’d put the over-under at something like eight games for Ferrer. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/178 "2013-06-08T01:02:01Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Wha?? I think he’s saying she’s playing some of the best tennis of her career, which she is. And the timeline for men and women is a bit different; Serena is the oldest women’s #1 ever and is likely to keep extending that record for some time. She’s also far from the record for major titles, but she has won two majors in her thirties and looks like she’s going to win another one. Federer has won one so far. I apologize for misunderstanding it. I must have really read that wrong. My bad! ---
**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:** [June 8, 2013, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/179 "2013-06-08T13:27:18Z")
Sharapova serves first, goes down Love-40. Now she is UP 2-0 in the first set. Huh. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410/180 "2013-06-08T14:18:19Z")
Sharapova is making a point of serving bigger so Serena can’t wail away at her second serve. But Serena got the first set 6-4. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-2013-thread/645410.md?page=10)