MY WIMBLEDON CHOICES
By Rosie Casals
Every year Wimbledon is full of surprises and upsets. You get to see new and old playera with some new talent emerging. I guess that’s true of most Grand Slams but for me Wimbledon has always been special!!
I think that the extra week will favor the older players, especially my favorite player and #1 pick Roger Federer. Yes he’s my pick to win it all. He’s the most improved player this year. Serve is going well, his backhand blazing and forehand has some great devastating moments. His serve and volley tactic I’m sure encouraged by coach Edberg has been very good and he will need that as well as first serves to win. A good draw and schedule will also help.
My second choice is Novak…he’s playing well and confident. His serve has become a weapon and you can see the Bois influence on his net play, which is much improved.
My 3rd choice is Andy Murray..He’s back to playing good solid winning tennis. His relationship with Amelia has been a good one and she’s brought out the best in him as I guess marriage has too. He’ll have to serve well and come to net more but he can do that and more. He handles the British pressure very well and if Roger doesn’t win it he’s my second choice.
Is there a “Wild Card”…yes and my pick is Nadal..yes he’s not had a good year but maybe uncle Tony beefed up his serve and volley game right after his loss at Queens.
Now for the women….ah, that’s a toss up….Serena certainly can win it since she really wants to win a Grand Slam. So I’m a little undecided whether the pressure is going to be too much for her. She’s funny about the pressure she feels in the early rounds so I think her winning depends on the first 2 rounds. I’m going to pick her as my # 1 choice.
My # 2 is Kvitava. She seems to shine in no other place but at Wimbledon.
My 3rd choice is Maria. I think she can win on grass. She’s serving better, she can volley my golly and she probably not counting on it as she had at the French.
My “Wild Card” is Safarova. She has the game to win on grass and has done well there. Semi’s last year?
Brouchard…we’ll she’s a little lost. I’d recommend that she seek Billie Jean King out. I know she can help her mentally…that’s where it’s at for Brouchard!!
(Federer art by Karl Rosenstock.)
Suggests Bouchard connect with BJK
Gaurang · June 29, 2015 at 2:51 am
Dangerous to leave Wawrinka out of the picks. If Wawrinka shows top form, then only an inspired Federer would be able to stop him. But Federer is no longer in his prime, so Wawrinka should be considered a contender for the title.
Scoop Malinowski · June 29, 2015 at 8:21 am
Stan’s letdown is expected by all I guess, hard to imagine him playing at that same level again, but if he does the title is his. Stan seemed happy and relieved with winning the FO, like that is enough for him. He does not seem to have that same perpetual hunger and desire that the other top players have, he only has it in flashes IMO. We’ll see.
Scoop Malinowski · June 29, 2015 at 10:51 am
Impressive win by Djokovic, handling PK. McEnroe sure seems to adore Djok, seems Djok is his favorite player of all time. Cool to see Johnny Mac giving Djok such respect. Nice win by Liam Broady, and Sock and Pop. Hewitt in a battle with Jarkko but ESPN not showing it, showing Maria vs. Konta. Bad decision, far more drama with Hewitt and Jarkko both playing their final Wimbledons. Kyrgios and Serena smoked through straight set wins.
Harold · June 29, 2015 at 11:09 am
Great sport where a combatant can get a deep thigh massage for 10 minutes in between sets, after getting blown out in the previous Coughs and whispers under my breath…gamesmanship
Dan Markowitz · June 29, 2015 at 12:39 pm
Great win for Nieminem deep into the fifth set with Hewitt. Nieminem 33, Hewitt 34, both supposedly retiring. Too bad Hewitt won’t be in Newport as Davis Cup is the same week.
Nieminem hit two gem shots late in match, a backhand chip a la Ken Rosewall from behind the baseline passing Hewitt at net cross court. And then at deuce in the final game on Hewitt’s serve, he hit a slapshot forehand on the run down the line for a complete winner. I’ll miss Hewitt, but he hasn’t been champion level for more than a decade now which is pretty weird for a player of his caliber. I mean even Johnny Mac got into a semis of a slam late in his career. Don’t know if it was the lack of a big shot in Hewitt’s case or just all the multiple injuries.
Stan has no shot to do well at Wimbledon with his big backswings.
Scoop Malinowski · June 29, 2015 at 4:55 pm
Only last year Hewitt beat Federer in three sets in the final of Brisbane, also beat Nishiori in three sets in the SF, and he won Newport singles and doubles last year, beating Dr. Ivo in the final. But since then it’s been a struggle for Hewitt. Like he used his last surge of greatness in Brisbane then Newport.
Scoop Malinowski · June 29, 2015 at 9:07 pm
Excellent essay by Pete Sampras today, a letter to his younger self…http://www.theplayerstribune.com/pete-sampras-letter-to-my-younger-self/
Gaurang · June 30, 2015 at 6:28 am
Amazingly well written essay by Pete Sampras. Hope he keeps writing more.
Scoop Malinowski · June 30, 2015 at 7:57 am
Really enjoyed that Pete article, have missed Pete from the scene for the last five years, he used to own Center Court, this article is one of the best things I’ve read all year. Pete really delivered some major insights, about sleeping pills, not taking care of his body, the pressure, the tragedy of losing his dear friend and coach, really personal and revealing. Always respected Pete and the way he went about his business, he was the Federer of his time.
Scoop Malinowski · June 30, 2015 at 8:33 am
Wow, Johnny Mac just said he thinks Alexander Zverev will win several majors. High praise from Johnny Mac, who also predicted Roddick would win about six majors after he won the US Open. But then along came Federer, Nadal and Djokovic and Murray.
Scoop Malinowski · June 30, 2015 at 10:13 am
Sock has been eliminated by Groth in four sets. Ivan Drago Groth is a lethal player especially on grass, tough draw for Sock. But a really big win for Groth who will surely gain a surge of confidence from this win. Watch out for Groth.
Scoop Malinowski · June 30, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Tough loss for Bouchard but she played a Heavyweight hitter who played a superb match. I saw Ying Ying Duan beat my friend’s daughter Jan Abaza in the first round of US Open qualies 2-3 years ago. She made main draw and impressed despite losing to a name player, with her huge power baseline slugging. Bouchard couldn’t deal with it and had no Plan B. Duan is a very dangerous HWT player, this was her first match at Wimbledon. I was told she was a converted volleyball player, a late starter in tennis.
EddietheEagle · July 1, 2015 at 10:47 am
Cutting edge comments there, Rosie. What about Buster Mottram?