# Wimbledon 2009 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 18, 2009, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155 "2009-06-18T11:22:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/141 "2009-07-02T23:58:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Somehow I failed to notice that all four of the top women’s seeds made the semifinals, which is apparently a Wimbledon first. This is an untrue statement. It happened in 2006, I believe. 🙂 ETA: [I was right](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Wimbledon_Championships_-_Women%27s_Singles#Draw). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/142 "2009-07-03T00:04:11Z")
And true in 2003. I’m not going further back; it happens regularly, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/143 "2009-07-03T00:10:16Z")
For the men, it hasn’t happened since Agassi, Sampras, Becker and Ivanisevich made the semis in 1995. That streak is intact still. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/144 "2009-07-03T10:09:06Z")
On a personal note, I learn this morning that I have a lot in common with Andy Roddick. He was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and survival was touch and go for a while. The similarities end there, mainly because he can play tennis rather well whereas I didn’t even reach the quarter finals at Wimbledon this year. Federer is 1-12 to beat Haas, but the clash of the Andys is naturally seen as a touch closer with Murray fancied to win at 1-3. In the womens’ final, Venus is the new favourite at 8-11 with Serena 5-4. One day I’ll explain the origins of this strange way of expressing odds but, at the moment, suffice it to say that it’s a long tradition which goes back to the early days of horse racing. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/145 "2009-07-03T12:52:22Z")
So far, Tommy “Burning down the” Haas is holding is own against Federer. 1st set tiebreaker ---
**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:** [July 3, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/146 "2009-07-03T14:27:16Z")
Well, Roger won and will play for his 15th Major title(20 or 21 total finals this makes, by the way?). That alone makes the final very interesting to me, no matter which Andy wins today. I’d like to see Roddick try to win another title, really going up against the main man who has prevented him from winning a few. I’d also like to see Murray try to be the first British guy to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/147 "2009-07-03T14:35:24Z")
Haas didn’t play that badly but Federer was imperious. Now, here we go. Before Murray, and since 1945, 3 British players have reached 8 semis between them but none of these efforts has resulted in any further progress. Murray’s first objective is to emulate the feat last achieved by Henry ‘Bunny’ Austin in 1938 by reaching the final. They are still warming up and already the crowd is shouting for Andy. ---
**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:** [July 3, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/148 "2009-07-03T14:50:42Z")
They are showing Nadal-Federer from last year in America, instead of Murray and Roddick warming up. Are they about to play? ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/149 "2009-07-03T14:58:25Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > They are showing Nadal-Federer from last year in America, instead of Murray and Roddick warming up. > > Are they about to play? Actually, the problem is that ESPN only had the rights to the first semi; NBC actively hates its viewers, and would rather show Andy-Andy on tape delay than pre-empt the morning shows. They did the same thing for the Williams-Safina match yesterday. ---
**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:** [July 3, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/150 "2009-07-03T15:09:38Z")
> [@MilTan](#): > > Actually, the problem is that ESPN only had the rights to the first semi; NBC actively hates its viewers, and would rather show Andy-Andy on tape delay than pre-empt the morning shows. They did the same thing for the Williams-Safina match yesterday. Unbelievable! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/151 "2009-07-03T15:16:08Z")
Yeah, plus, since the second match is on NBC, I can’t watch it from work on ESPN360. ---
**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:** [July 3, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/152 "2009-07-03T15:22:10Z")
Is it streaming anywhere so I can watch it now? ---
**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:** [July 3, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/153 "2009-07-03T15:24:00Z")
It is streaming, in…Spanish? [http://www.ustream.tv/channel/fenixtv-max](http://www.ustream.tv/channel/fenixtv-max) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/154 "2009-07-03T15:51:04Z")
For non-Spanish speakers, Murray has just levelled the match by taking the 2nd set. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/155 "2009-07-03T16:14:48Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I’d also like to see Murray try to be the first British guy to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry. I would like to see it too, if for no better reason than so that the commentators won’t constantly remind viewers that no British man has won at Wimbledon since Fred Perry. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/156 "2009-07-03T16:32:40Z")
Roddick just served for the 3rd set but didn’t succeed. He leads 5-4 with Murray to serve. This match is as tight as you like. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/157 "2009-07-03T16:52:24Z")
I’m stuck listening to this on Wimbledon Radio, but the British announcers sure made that tiebreak just as tense as if I had been watching in on TV. Roddick takes the third. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/158 "2009-07-03T17:25:06Z")
4-4 in the 4th. This is the best I’ve seen Roddick play in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/159 "2009-07-03T17:46:38Z")
Roddick takes the 4th set tiebreak to win 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6. I wish him well against Federer but he’ll be up against it. I think Roger is a shoo-in for the final, just as he would have been against Murray. Fred Perry is still the man. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155/160 "2009-07-03T18:02:53Z")
Poor Murray. I wonder if he will become this generation’s Tim Henman. Meanwhile Federer has entered a slam final for the record 20th time and of course if he wins he will win a record 15th slam. This is his sixth consecutive final since the Australian Open of 2008 and before that he reached 10 consecutive finals making it 16 out of 17 finals. To see just how amazing this is, compare it with Sampras at his peak from 93-98 after removing the French Open. That leaves 18 slams on grass and hard-court but he doesn’t even come close to matching Federer’s consistency missing the quarter-final four times. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wimbledon-2009/500155.md?page=9)