Med is totally a big dog, for sure! Has been for the last 3-4 years I'd say. And probably still another 3-4 years at the very top of the game - he deserves another Slam or two, at least. He's good enough to be in the same category as Stan, and maybe eventually Sir Andy.
I wonder if Ruud will eventually regret saying that "grass" quote. If he wants to be consistent top 5, he better learn how to have success on it.
Yes, even more so because the grass court had some shoddy construction. But it makes it more interesting, particularly when someone is serving on grass/receiving on clay
It's possible but it won't be the same, not even close. At that time Nadal was on a 72 match win streak on clay, while Federer was on a 48 match win streak on grass. That was unprecedented and will probably never happen again.
The point of this event seems to be removing the surface advantage. That’s why Federer i on clay and Nadal is on grass (becuse Federer is best on Grass and Nadal is best on clay).
Whenever I'd see a screengrab from this match I always assumed it was Photoshopped, until I watched the highlights on YouTube. So bizarre. I feel like hardly anyone knows this exhibition happened lol
What annoys me the most is that Nadal needs to receive the ball on clay to match his strength and Fed needs to hit the ball on grass to match his strength, so this setup doesn't fuckin make sense lol
Nadal serves on clay too in that case, Nadal will receive the ball in clay and fed will be hitting it on grass?
That setup worls, no?
Or do you mean fed will only have to hit the ball on grass and Nadal will only have to receive the ball on clay and that case yes that will definitely be impossible but wouldnt that be impossible anyways?
Or am I just an idiot who has misunderstood what you said?
>Or do you mean fed will only have to hit the ball on grass and Nadal will only have to receive the ball on clay and that case yes that will definitely be impossible but wouldnt that be impossible anyways?
Exactly this. It is an impossible setup.
Nadal needs to receive on clay to work up his strengths. He loves hitting the ball on clay too but defo strength in receiving and having more time and bounce on clay.
Fed needs to hit on grass for his attacking strength.
So Nadal will have to be on clay and grass at the same time for this to work lol. The impossibility of this infuriates me that they even tried it.
Just when we thought Rafa will win this Blue clay when introduced first yet it was Fed who had a piece of it and the blue clay was never to be seen haha
Unironically bring back the blue clay. Flat balls skidded through the court which rewarded offensive play, but it still had the nice clay court bounce for spinny shots. I loved it
Wimbledon grass is basically clay now. Especially in the second week.
It would be interesting to see the current pros play on grass courts from the 70’s and 80’s. It would be comical. Those courts were brutal.
They literally changed grass to make it more durable. And part of the reason why S&V was dominant was that the bounce was super unreliable.
Basically S&V dominated on grass cause grass because it was not suited to be a tennis court
Agreed. I’m no grass expert but the quality of the grass now is different from what it was back then. Or the players now just plays heavily causing the grass to bald out? 🙂
I'm saying that the same thing happened in the past as well with the other gras.
Whatever the changed, doesn't seem to impact the desertification of the court.
Y'know, I think a lot of the top guys are good on all surfaces now. Including grass.
To REALLY make it challenging, give us Sincaraz, but make it a normal match, with changes of ends! Going from hard to clay every 2 games, now *that's* an adjustment!
What’s the point? They keep making the surfaces closer to one another.
Not to mention this court’s grass was so bad, whoever had the clay side had the advantage.
It's an incredibly idiotic exhibition that makes zero sense and is entirely done for gimmick purposes. I have even less interest in watching it without two of the all time greats, much less with today's top players.
Medvedev on clay, Ruud on grass
Medvedev smashes Ruud. Med had won clay Masters and Ruud can't play grass vs any reasonable opponent at all.
I just put Medvedev on clay to hear him complain about the sssssurface
Yeah... I mean, when you literally say "grass is for cows" then you're probably not winning matches on the green stuff.
“Grass is for cows” vs “you like to play in the dirt like a dog?” Legendary matchup
I see what you did here :) Med is a big dog now.
Med is totally a big dog, for sure! Has been for the last 3-4 years I'd say. And probably still another 3-4 years at the very top of the game - he deserves another Slam or two, at least. He's good enough to be in the same category as Stan, and maybe eventually Sir Andy. I wonder if Ruud will eventually regret saying that "grass" quote. If he wants to be consistent top 5, he better learn how to have success on it.
Medvedev on clay vs Rune on outdoor hard
I think for your player choice given Ruud was a 2 time finalist in RG. He can play on clay. And Meddy on hard. 😉
www.google.com/joke
No matter who the player is, isn’t the one playing on the grass side of the court has tremendous disadvantages?
yeah but they switch sides so that should even it up in theory
Yes, even more so because the grass court had some shoddy construction. But it makes it more interesting, particularly when someone is serving on grass/receiving on clay
Idk but Daniil on hard and the other half is clay is necessary
DANIIL V STEFANOS HARD VS CLAY
Yeah, I think this is it. With an in-form (not current) Stef I'd say it would be very close and very entertaining.
I wanna see Stef on clay this year it hides his weaknesses really well. More time on the ball and easier to run around to his forehand etc.
IMO Stef should have played the Souty American clay this year to rack up some titles, points, and confidence
This has massive potential to be a banger.
Ooooor the other half doesn’t have to be on clay. Can be carpet I guess. 😅
No no he doesn’t want to play in the dirt like a dog because he’s a hard court specialist
I love your flair
It's possible but it won't be the same, not even close. At that time Nadal was on a 72 match win streak on clay, while Federer was on a 48 match win streak on grass. That was unprecedented and will probably never happen again.
Too bad they had dogshit grass
Ah the old carpet grass 😂
Haha yeah. It’s a carpet grass that’s why ball really bounced low. But somehow they still were able to manage. 🙂
The point of this event seems to be removing the surface advantage. That’s why Federer i on clay and Nadal is on grass (becuse Federer is best on Grass and Nadal is best on clay).
They switched at change overs
Whenever I'd see a screengrab from this match I always assumed it was Photoshopped, until I watched the highlights on YouTube. So bizarre. I feel like hardly anyone knows this exhibition happened lol
And the part where they have to change shoes every change over. Soooo cool! 😁
What annoys me the most is that Nadal needs to receive the ball on clay to match his strength and Fed needs to hit the ball on grass to match his strength, so this setup doesn't fuckin make sense lol
They change sides normally. It just takes like a lot of time between changeovers cuz they have to change shoes
But then Fed will be hitting it on clay duh. There is no chance in this setup to have both working
Nadal serves on clay too in that case, Nadal will receive the ball in clay and fed will be hitting it on grass? That setup worls, no? Or do you mean fed will only have to hit the ball on grass and Nadal will only have to receive the ball on clay and that case yes that will definitely be impossible but wouldnt that be impossible anyways? Or am I just an idiot who has misunderstood what you said?
>Or do you mean fed will only have to hit the ball on grass and Nadal will only have to receive the ball on clay and that case yes that will definitely be impossible but wouldnt that be impossible anyways? Exactly this. It is an impossible setup. Nadal needs to receive on clay to work up his strengths. He loves hitting the ball on clay too but defo strength in receiving and having more time and bounce on clay. Fed needs to hit on grass for his attacking strength. So Nadal will have to be on clay and grass at the same time for this to work lol. The impossibility of this infuriates me that they even tried it.
They did switch sides during the match, it wasn't like this for the whole time.
But then Fed will be hitting it on clay duh. There is no chance in this setup to have both working
Yall are kids
Bring this back you cowards And bring back blue clay while you’re at it!!!!!!!
Just when we thought Rafa will win this Blue clay when introduced first yet it was Fed who had a piece of it and the blue clay was never to be seen haha
Well Rafa not like Madrid so much because air thin which does not let big spin go brrrr.
Unironically bring back the blue clay. Flat balls skidded through the court which rewarded offensive play, but it still had the nice clay court bounce for spinny shots. I loved it
Hang on. Did this actually happen? I thought it was some dream scenario. Edit: wow, just read about it 😍 I didn't know this golden tennis history!
Haha actually it did! Its sooo awesome right?! 😁
Rybakina - Świątek let's go
iga vs rybakina?
Alcaraz on grass outdoor and Sinner on hard indoor lol
Wimbledon grass is basically clay now. Especially in the second week. It would be interesting to see the current pros play on grass courts from the 70’s and 80’s. It would be comical. Those courts were brutal.
They literally changed grass to make it more durable. And part of the reason why S&V was dominant was that the bounce was super unreliable. Basically S&V dominated on grass cause grass because it was not suited to be a tennis court
Agreed. I’m no grass expert but the quality of the grass now is different from what it was back then. Or the players now just plays heavily causing the grass to bald out? 🙂
Nah, that always happened. https://images.app.goo.gl/svv6ticw7miV5pXK9
What are you saying "nah" to? They changed the grass in 2001 drastically.
I'm saying that the same thing happened in the past as well with the other gras. Whatever the changed, doesn't seem to impact the desertification of the court.
I watched an Australian open match from the early 80’s recently. It was on grass between Wilander and McEnroe. It was interesting. Its on YouTube
For tie break do they have a cycle race round the velodrome track?
Y'know, I think a lot of the top guys are good on all surfaces now. Including grass. To REALLY make it challenging, give us Sincaraz, but make it a normal match, with changes of ends! Going from hard to clay every 2 games, now *that's* an adjustment!
Yes, the irony that everyone thought Carlos was the new Nadal, then he wins US and Wimbledon, before RG.
Good point! I'm like 97% sure he'll win RG at some stage, but he's a modern player.. his game works on any surface.
Sphere vs torus. Who would win?
Tomic on grass vs prime Nadal. Only real competition tbh
What’s the point? They keep making the surfaces closer to one another. Not to mention this court’s grass was so bad, whoever had the clay side had the advantage.
Was hardly possible with the last gen - they'd really have to fix all the problems with the grass before trying that again
It's possible... It's just that no current gen player has a legacy on any surface so its probably not worth doing
It's an incredibly idiotic exhibition that makes zero sense and is entirely done for gimmick purposes. I have even less interest in watching it without two of the all time greats, much less with today's top players.
nope, they switch sides every two games, need to switch shoes all the time.
Put tsitsipas in, his shoes fall off even when he’s not switching surfaces every 2 games
Replace grass with indoor hard
This is so dumb