Only just saw this thread. I read in the Guardian last week that the watching Brits adopted Conor Niland as one of their own, so he duly obliged and choked in a winning position!
After a set and two games Murray was a mile better than Nadal today. Then he double-faulted and missed a simple overhead. Nadal got his first break and it was game over from that point. The irony is that at the time I was defending Murray against my viewing companion's remark that he wasn't a closer. I was saying that not being as good as Nadal / Federer isn't a crime. However, today Murray had Nadal rattled in the first hour or so, and let him off the hook completely - mainly through sheer carelessness.
I have to say I enjoyed it. I loved how he collapses. No point going out pluckily and be a glorious failure but rather, he just collapses.
The final is going to be a whopper.
Nadal showed his class though and I think that he would have eventually ground Andy out in the second set at any point.
Even at the end of the first set you could see Murray starting to get salmon fever.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Two good finals and 2 well deserved champions. Did anyone else take as much enjoyment from watching the Sky Sports News presenters tying themselves up in knots trying to pronounce Kvitova?...Kivitova..Kitvitova...
I loved how everytime they got near Rafa they asked him about Andy Murray. FFS!
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Biggie coming up this weekend, Ireland vs Tunisia. Ireland should win, despite the "fans", but it won't be easy. Could be a chance of Sam Barry making his debut.
Heard it's a sell out, which is great seeing as we were expecting Britain. Ireland should have no problems but their top guy is fairly decent - top 300 player. Would be a major shock.
Sam hasn't been named in the official line up. May be down as the fifth man but barring injury I think he'll have to wait till next year
Spot on about Sam, I thought they'd throw him in the mix but the pressure is on. Tunisia are no mugs, but they're no Luxembourg either. It will hinge on the doubles. I can't see Ireland losing, then again.....
The biggest problem will be atmosphere. The oiks who follow tennis prefer to sit on their hands than raise them - need a bit of GAA into them, or some Ultras!
Last edited by Spudulika; 08/07/2011 at 9:45 AM.
Ireland 2-1 down against Tunisia. I think we've got one of the best tennis coaches in Europe as our DC captain, though I am going to ask him why he put Conor Niland in for James McGee. Still, if Conor does the business tomorrow (albeit against an in form opponent), Barry King should be able to bring home the win.
Just in case anyone's interested, Irish tennis is still alive (despite Wimbledon being over) and the National Academy out in DCU have been having quite a bit of success at all levels. Marta Sirotkina, a Russian who lives out in Tallaght and is coached by Garry Cahill at DCU, is representing Russia at the Universiade out in China. She and her partner are in the doubles semi-final and, don't hate her for this, the girl is a big Shamrock Rovers fan and apart from a Rovers pin she wears on her tracksuit, she an Irish flag sowed onto her tennis kit bag. She's due back in Ireland the end of next month.
SIrotkina came home with a bronze in doubles and is heading to Ireland after a tourney in Tashkent.
Conor Niland currently about to win the first set 6-1 in qualies for the US Open, decent draw but he can do it. Oddly the recently retired Louk Sorenson has unretired to play in the qualifiers.
Sorenson retired?
Best have a word with a member of this parish about that.
Yeah, there in May, before the French, he wasn't improving from his hip injury and said he was retiring - hence he wasn't in the DC team against Tunisia.Originally Posted by BonnieShels
Had no idea. Jaysus.
He was born with displaced hips or one leg shorter than the other, then with the hip injury it just got worse and worse. His brother was the same.
On a positive side, Conor won well last night. He could be set for a decent run in NY.
Great stuff.
Sorensen in action at the moment in flushing meadows - and he's a set up, 7-6 against his Spanish opponent.
Great result for Louk 7-6, 6-4 against opponent ranked 152 currently. What odds on himself and Niland making main draw? Looking at Conors side of the draw he's best ranked, while Sorenson has eliminated his highest ranked opponent already. Great days for Irish Tennis.
Good chance for both men to come through. Conor's at an age where he knows he has to let it happen, Louk has nothing to lose. Great days indeed!
Nilander through 6-2 6-3 this evening, will play Matwe Middlekoop from Holland for a place in the main draw.
This is another major win for Conor, according to GC he's never going to have a better chance to progress. Meanwhile Louk will have to be at his best. He's on the Grandstand court this morning, 10am, and will have to play later in the day to progress.
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