A new era for tennis?

[redsturgeon]

Out with the old guard, Federer gone, Nadal announces 2024 will be his last, and today Djokovic loses to a 20 year old.

Looks like Alcaraz may be around a long time.

Great final, I bet on Alcaraz to win.

John

[ReformedCharacter]

Out with the old guard, Federer gone, Nadal announces 2024 will be his last, and today Djokovic loses to a 20 year old.

Looks like Alcaraz may be around a long time.

Great final, I bet on Alcaraz to win.

John

I hope you got good odds. Didn't look too hopeful after the first set but great match to watch.

RC

[6Tricia]

I don't like watching Djokovic but am so glad I did, that 26 minute game before Alcaraz finally broke him was mesmerising!

Tricia

[Tedx]

The synchronized clenched static fist pump/gritted teeth/wild staring eyes from his crew sat in the box was also mesmerising.

#itsonlyagame.

[redsturgeon]

Out with the old guard, Federer gone, Nadal announces 2024 will be his last, and today Djokovic loses to a 20 year old.

Looks like Alcaraz may be around a long time.

Great final, I bet on Alcaraz to win.

John

I hope you got good odds. Didn't look too hopeful after the first set but great match to watch.

RC

2.7 on Alcaraz to win. I thought it was over after the first set but luckily he pulled it together. I thought the odds were too generous to turn down.

[CliffEdge]

Was it today? I missed it.

[servodude]

I guess there wasn't enough donkey milk on tap, or coins stuck to Djokovic?

[Mike4]

Was it today? I missed it.

Was what, today?

[Dod101]

I watched the final despite myself today and was delighted to see that Alcaraz won. I hope he is not a Radacanu.

The scheduling though for some of the earlier matches was surely ridiculous, having the big names play their games at times to suit mass television audiences and thus resulting in many matches being split in two halves and being played well on into the evening. Do other countries do this as well?

Dod

[CliffEdge]

Was it today? I missed it.

Was what, today?

I've forgotten. Can't have been important.

[doolally]

Was what, today?

I've forgotten. Can't have been important.

Is it today already?
doolally

[Mike4]

I've forgotten. Can't have been important.

Is it today already?
doolally

It's been today since yesterday.

[Dod101]

Is it today already?
doolally

It's been today since yesterday.

See the Decluttering thread

Dod

[terminal7]

Djokovic fined $8,000 (£6,117) for smashing his racquet against the net post during the final.
The money will be deducted from his runner-up cheque of £1.175m.

Now that's what I call a deterrent.

T7

[Lootman]

Djokovic fined $8,000 (£6,117) for smashing his racquet against the net post during the final.
The money will be deducted from his runner-up cheque of £1.175m.

Now that's what I call a deterrent.

I would call it a racket. That post cannot possibly have cost that much and looked barely damaged.

[Leothebear]

Djokovic will be back. He just needs to increase his ball bouncing before he serves. Needs to be nearer the 20 mark.

[Leothebear]

Djokovic fined $8,000 (£6,117) for smashing his racquet against the net post during the final.
The money will be deducted from his runner-up cheque of £1.175m.

Now that's what I call a deterrent.

I would call it a racket. That post cannot possibly have cost that much and looked barely damaged.

Indeed. Wimbledon should have recompensed him for a replacement racket. Fines are only a deterent for poor people. So why fine rich people?

[Watis]

I would call it a racket. That post cannot possibly have cost that much and looked barely damaged.

Indeed. Wimbledon should have recompensed him for a replacement racket. Fines are only a deterent for poor people. So why fine rich people?

Perhaps a tougher penalty would have been to require him to play the remainder of the match with the broken racquet.

Watis

[Arborbridge]

I don't like watching Djokovic but am so glad I did, that 26 minute game before Alcaraz finally broke him was mesmerising!

Tricia

I have this odd feeling about Novak. I really, really don't like him or his attitude, but when you hear him in interview, it's all quite different. He is probably a likeable fellow in and around normal life, but on court puts on his game face which looks a bit sneering.
I was put in mind of the Apprentice - you know how horrid they seem with the tension of the program but how pleasant they are when "out of the process".

I thought both ladies and gents winners and losers were very generous in their interviews. I'm quite a sentimental old thing, and I do like it when they give one another hugs afterwards! And everyone is allowed to cry these days - even Novak.

Which reminds me: how well the Princess of Wales carried out her duties. With Ons' defeat on Saturday, she went out of her way to console her with a bit of touchy-feely. Indeed, I thought we might have another Duchess of Kent/Novotna hugathon. What a shame we didn't.

Anyhow, just to end - the match itself was thoroughly absorbing and I'm glad I watched the contest unfold. As you say, that 26 minute game was special. (Some of the ladies matches were only 57 minutes in total)

Arb.

[Bubblesofearth]

I watched the final despite myself today and was delighted to see that Alcaraz won. I hope he is not a Radacanu.

Hardly, he's already won 2 slams, numerous other tournaments and is World no.1. Head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the next gen.

The scheduling though for some of the earlier matches was surely ridiculous, having the big names play their games at times to suit mass television audiences and thus resulting in many matches being split in two halves and being played well on into the evening. Do other countries do this as well?

Dod

I agree scheduling was farcical. If there is a particular match they want to suit tv audience they could do that by saying 'not before' for that match much as IIRC the French do at RG. Not really sure what the reason is, someone mentioned to suit hospitality guests which, if true, would be even more farcical.

BoE