Wimbledon

[ardcarp]

Is Federer the Herbert von Karajan of tennis? I don't know why it strikes me thus. It's the admixture of Rolls Royce performance and a certain smugness, I think.

[Stanfordian]

Is Federer the Herbert von Karajan of tennis? I don't know why it strikes me thus. It's the admixture of Rolls Royce performance and a certain smugness, I think.

Hoya ardcarp,

An interesting post that you make. I see it quite differently. Federer seems so admirable as a player and a person. So silky smooth Federer looked as if he had hardly broken sweat. I detect no smugness. On the other hand Murray has unfortunate mannerisms and characteristics that threaten to get my blood boil, the swearing, the temper tantrums etc. I find especially tiresome the BBC cameras constantly focusing on his mother Judy and her almost permanently clenched fist (never his father) and his wife Kim with her curious bemused look. I don't know what it is about tennis that generates such strong emotions in me as I love football but never feel angry with players and managers in the same way.

[Dave2002]

Is Federer the Herbert von Karajan of tennis? I don't know why it strikes me thus. It's the admixture of Rolls Royce performance and a certain smugness, I think.

No. Federer is just superb.

[Roehre]

Hoya ardcarp,

I see it quite differently. Federer seems so admirable as a player and a person. So silky smooth Federer looked as if he had hardly broken sweat. I detect no smugness. On the other hand Murray has unfortunate mannerisms and characteristics that threaten to get my blood boil, the swearing, the temper tantrums etc. I find especially tiresome the BBC cameras constantly focusing on his mother Judy and her almost permanently clenched fist (never his father) and his wife Kim with her curious bemused look. ....

I couldn't have written this better myself.

Federer managed to get his picture on a Swiss postage stamp.

The Swiss are very, very reluctant to put a living person on a stamp, but his assisting good causes and his general generosity to charity are only second to his manners and his really nice personality (and speaking four language fluently and eloquently)

[P. G. Tipps]

Is Federer the Herbert von Karajan of tennis? I don't know why it strikes me thus. It's the admixture of Rolls Royce performance and a certain smugness, I think.

So true.

Federer in a class of his own and Murray hardly put a foot or hand wrong.

Whilst one can only gaze in awe at the sheer magnificence of Federer, Murray was in no way humiliated, He fought to the end and he is the best player the UK has ever produced by a country mile, There is still no one (not even Federer!) who can rescue a drop-volley like Murray ... no one in the world!

Hard luck, Andy ... and those who are not easily indoctrinated by a largely English nationalist press know you give much unheralded loads to charity too!

[slarty]

Whilst one can only gaze in awe at the sheer magnificence of Federer, Murray was in no way humiliated, He fought to the end and he is the best player the UK has ever produced by a country mile,

I beg to differ, it may have been a different era, but until Murray has at least come close to the record of Fred Perry in the 30's, he can not be considered the best we have ever produced. Perry is still the only Brit to have won the Grand Slam and that is something that Murray can only dream about.
He is very good indeed, but not quite "Carling".

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

No. Federer is just superb.

So was HvK.

[gurnemanz]

Federer/Mozart
Murray/Salieri

[Richard Tarleton]

Hoya ardcarp,

An interesting post that you make. I see it quite differently. Federer seems so admirable as a player and a person. So silky smooth Federer looked as if he had hardly broken sweat. I detect no smugness. On the other hand Murray has unfortunate mannerisms and characteristics that threaten to get my blood boil, the swearing, the temper tantrums etc. I find especially tiresome the BBC cameras constantly focusing on his mother Judy and her almost permanently clenched fist (never his father) and his wife Kim with her curious bemused look. I don't know what it is about tennis that generates such strong emotions in me as I love football but never feel angry with players and managers in the same way.

One has to feel (well I do) for the occupants of the players' boxes, under the relentless scrutiny of the cameras. Most have developed the habit of covering their mouths with their hands when they talk to eachother, as their asides can be read by lip readers. Boris looks as if he's sucking on a lemon. Some (Edberg, Uncle Tony, Lendl last year, Judy some of the time) hide under peaked caps, all behind dark glasses. The spouses, as opposed to the coaches, have to look inscrutable - the emotions Kim must be going through can only be guessed at. Both she and Mrs Federer have let their feelings be known in recent times only to have it all over the papers the next day. It's important they leave it to the coaches during the match. I think Kim does a pretty good job of covering up her inner turmoil - outsize dark glasses help. Give them a break, I say

As for Murray - being third best in the world isn't a bad achievement. Fourth until Nadal fell by the wayside as he appears to have done. He did magnificently today. And I don't begrudge Judy her fist-pumping - her other son's in a final, she's a lot to be proud of!

[Nick Armstrong]

Hoya ardcarp,

An interesting post that you make. I see it quite differently. Federer seems so admirable as a player and a person. So silky smooth Federer looked as if he had hardly broken sweat. I detect no smugness. On the other hand Murray has unfortunate mannerisms and characteristics that threaten to get my blood boil, the swearing, the temper tantrums etc. I find especially tiresome the BBC cameras constantly focusing on his mother Judy and her almost permanently clenched fist (never his father) and his wife Kim with her curious bemused look. I don't know what it is about tennis that generates such strong emotions in me as I love football but never feel angry with players and managers in the same way.

I'm with Roehre: you summarise my view too. Federer is pure class. At the same time I've always found it oddly difficult to warm to him, then again I was always a Nadal fan, ever since he appeared on the scene looking like Pepe from Asterix in Spain...!




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I can't bear the media frenzy over Murray (cf. Henman before). In short I'm much more inclined to watch the final now it's Roger v Novak.

[Serial_Apologist]

Personally I don't see what's entertaining about spoilt overpaid people banging a ball over a net and trying to stop their opponents banging it back while onlookers waste time and hard-earned incomes which could be spent doing yogic meditation, making the world a cleaner more beautiful place or fighting injustice, are instead stewing in an overheated hell hole on a combo of perpetual tenterhooks and overpriced strawberries and cream. Why doesn't the winner just take the cup graciously for goddsakes, retire and teach good manners or something useful, and give some other schmuck a chance?

[ardcarp]

In short I'm much more inclined to watch the final now it's Roger v Novak.

Should be a good one.

[Nick Armstrong]

Personally I don't see what's entertaining about spoilt overpaid people banging a ball over a net and trying to stop their opponents banging it back while onlookers waste time and hard-earned incomes which could be spent doing yogic meditation, making the world a cleaner more beautiful place or fighting injustice, are instead stewing in an overheated hell hole on a combo of perpetual tenterhooks and overpriced strawberries and cream. Why doesn't the winner just take the cup graciously for goddsakes, retire and teach good manners or something useful, and give some other schmuck a chance?

Another tennis fan, then!

[teamsaint]

Personally I don't see what's entertaining about spoilt overpaid people banging a ball over a net and trying to stop their opponents banging it back while onlookers waste time and hard-earned incomes which could be spent doing yogic meditation, making the world a cleaner more beautiful place or fighting injustice, are instead stewing in an overheated hell hole on a combo of perpetual tenterhooks and overpriced strawberries and cream. Why doesn't the winner just take the cup graciously for goddsakes, retire and teach good manners or something useful, and give some other schmuck a chance?

Classic error in there , I am sorry to say, S-A.

Many of the spectators are of course being paid to be there by the corporations while they soak up the sun and champers.

Tennis players.
One of the very few groups who manage to make top footballers look like nice down to earth fellas.

[Nick Armstrong]

Tennis players.
One of the very few groups who manage to make top footballers look like nice down to earth fellas.

They are all made to look like ordinary Joes by L Hamilton Esq. (and doubtless a few of his high-speed colleagues).

This is him looking like a bit of a dweeb (imo), with his discreet little blood-red runabout...