Tennis

[Ginger]

Men's tennis really needs a new generation of players. With Federer on his way out, I think he's leaving behind the weakest and most uninteresting field of players I've ever seen and I started watching in the 80s. I like Djokovic, but a Djokovic/Murray era is not going to cut it with me after McEnroe/Lendl, Sampras/Agassi, and Federer/Nadal.

[margojata]

And after so many years of dominance, what the hell happened to the American men?

Tennis desperately needs a "character", someone different and fun to cheer for. Like golf, it's loaded with white men - one you can't distinguish from another.

And can anyone else seriously watch the women play with all that screaming? It works on my very last nerve. At least the men can usually hold it until they actually start to get worn out.

[canuckcutie]

I like Tsonga & Djokovic because they both have personality. They are fun to watch.

I saw Murray play at the Rogers Cup a few years ago and he was so petulant and whiny that despite my British roots I find myself unable to cheer for him. Although if he doesn't win this year with Nadal & Federer out I don't know if he'll ever do it. Personally I'm rooting for Djokovic or one of the older journeymen types like Ferrer or Haas.

Well with Serena out it certainly opens the women's draw a bit.

[Deleted]

Congrats to Marion Bartoli :-) Obviously, I would have been happy if Sabine had won, because let's face, this is the only Slam where she can actually advance pretty far and this year would have been an awesome chance.
Anyway, I'm glad the media is somewhat covering the blatant sexism towards Bartoli. Those comments on her being less attractive than other players have been going on for years and I hope this will bring some attention to the issue of sexism in sports coverage but I doubt it. She's hardly the only tennis player or female athlete who gets hate for her looks. The fact that a BBC reporter felt it was ok to make on air comments on her not being a "looker" as he put it, says quite a lot.

[Witchie]

I was happy for Bartoli, but incensed at the remarks made about her.

I could care less about Murray. He's seemed whiny to me last year, so when I heard he was in the finale this year, I checked out. I was rooting for Djokovic, but again...didn't really care.

[GoldenFleece]

Glad Andy won just so we don't have to hear about the British Wimbledon drought anymore.

Twitter was going nuts over Kim Sears' hair. It did look especially photogenic in slow motion.

[margojata]

I like Andy Murray. He doesn't have the personality that people want him to have (like a charming Federer, or goofy Nadal), but I kind of like that. He seems extremely private and kinda dark, but he had a really lousy childhood, and sometimes that'll do it.

So was the BBC guy punished at all? That's horrible. None of our American crew said a word about looks. Get over yourself.

[canuckcutie]

The BBC guy should have been fired for those sexist remarks for Bartoli. I felt really bad for her when she lost in the final in '07 so I'm glad she got the chance to win it. She looked great at the winner's dinner. Sabine has a great personality & attitude so hopefully she gets another shot.

I agree that the only good thing about Murray winning is now the British press can stop bleating about the drought every year.

[carrier76]

New to watching tennis--1. how was Murray's childhood lousy, and 2. what happened with the BBC announcer?

[GoldenFleece]

Jul 8, 2013 22:28:12 GMT -4 carrier76 said:

New to watching tennis--1. how was Murray's childhood lousy, and 2. what happened with the BBC announcer?

1. Tennis mother alternately described as supportive or pushy, depending on who you ask. She admits that her involvement with tennis coaching led to her marriage falling apart, which happened the same year Murray survived a school shooting.

2. BBC announcer says women's champ Marion Bartoli was "never going to be a looker" and mused about how her father (also her coach) managed to encourage her with her tennis at 12-14 when she wasn't super tall (and hot) like a Maria Sharapova. In his apology the commentator's excuse was that he was just talking about her height/size and the reference to her looks was merely "clumsy".