2026 Men's Wimbledon Championships

[Kieran]

You mean like the WTA? Haha

Exactly! But I was too scared of @MargaretMcAleer to say it like that..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Exactly! But I was too scared of @MargaretMcAleer to say it like that..

Love you Kieran Yes beware of the lady from Sicily

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

The final of 2008 Wimbledon has already gone into the history books, widely considered the " Greatest Tennis Match Ever Played" because of its extreme drama, unprecedented shot making and the clash between 2 titans at their absolute peak of their rivalry. The 4 hour 50 minute epic marked a monumental passing of the torch in sport.

I am certain Kieran would 100% agree with me, and others ........................
It clearly out does your semis of 2001 and the final of 2001
BTW I remember watching the final of 2001, with my daughter aged 14, we were both big Rafter fans, she will be 40 this year, you must have a great memory back in 2001, you would have been young, seeing that you are now in your 30's btw
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I was 12 going on 13 when the 2001 tournament happened. I'll be 38 on the men's final.

The 2008 Wimbledon final was great, no doubt. But we kind of got lucky with that. Fed lost the first two sets, and nearly lost in straights (I wonder if we would have held the match in such high regard if Fed lost the 3rd set tiebreak.) Plus, the way that aged, I wouldn't call it a monumental passing of the torch, as Federer beat Nadal at Wimbledon a full 11 years later, in 2019. That would be like if Sampras had beaten Federer at Wimbledon in 2012 (which, ironically, was won by Federer).

I'm just glad I got to witness tennis before the institution of the 5th set tiebreak. Because of that, we're never going to get matches as great as the 2001 semis/final, 2008 final, 2009 final, Isner-Mahut, 2018 semis, and 2019 final. Imagine if some of those matches were decided by a 5th set tiebreaker at 6-6, instead of it being played out. I sometimes wish the 2019 final would have been played out, instead of the tiebreak at 12-12. That one finishing on a tiebreak kind of hurts its legacy a bit.

 

[Kieran]

I was 12 going on 13 when the 2001 tournament happened. I'll be 38 on the men's final.

The 2008 Wimbledon final was great, no doubt. But we kind of got lucky with that. Fed lost the first two sets, and nearly lost in straights (I wonder if we would have held the match in such high regard if Fed lost the 3rd set tiebreak.) Plus, the way that aged, I wouldn't call it a monumental passing of the torch, as Federer beat Nadal at Wimbledon a full 11 years later, in 2019. That would be like if Sampras had beaten Federer at Wimbledon in 2012 (which, ironically, was won by Federer).

I'm just glad I got to witness tennis before the institution of the 5th set tiebreak. Because of that, we're never going to get matches as great as the 2001 semis/final, 2008 final, 2009 final, Isner-Mahut, 2018 semis, and 2019 final. Imagine if some of those matches were decided by a 5th set tiebreaker at 6-6, instead of it being played out. I sometimes wish the 2019 final would have been played out, instead of the tiebreak at 12-12. That one finishing on a tiebreak kind of hurts its legacy a bit.

Yeah but what made the 2008 final so great was that Roger fought back. Obviously that’s a whole nother level of tests than a straight sets match. It contains twists and turns that might be decisive - in either direction. Roger was 5 points from victory, up 4-3 in the fifth, with a break point. Rafa saved it with a strong serve followed by an aggressive smash. It was as heroic as tennis can get. But Roger had already shown plenty guts and resistance in the third set tiebreak, saving championship points. And I believe he was 3-all, 0-40 in that set, staring at something symmetrical and dire: a straight sets blow out, with three identical 6-4 sets.

It was definitely a changing of the guard: Rafa became number one. The only match I’ve seen that matches it for that level of tense myth-making narrative is the 1980 final, with Borg and McEnroe. Borg took a savage body blow in the first set and collapsed onto the ropes, with McEnroe setting himself on fire everywhere. 6-1!

Then the match swung back to Bjorn, and then…McEnroe saved 8 changing points in the fourth set tiebreak.

It was unbelievable! He won that set, immediately got to 0-30 on Borg’s serve - then Bjorn didn’t drop another point on serve in the fifth…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I was 12 going on 13 when the 2001 tournament happened. I'll be 38 on the men's final.

The 2008 Wimbledon final was great, no doubt. But we kind of got lucky with that. Fed lost the first two sets, and nearly lost in straights (I wonder if we would have held the match in such high regard if Fed lost the 3rd set tiebreak.) Plus, the way that aged, I wouldn't call it a monumental passing of the torch, as Federer beat Nadal at Wimbledon a full 11 years later, in 2019. That would be like if Sampras had beaten Federer at Wimbledon in 2012 (which, ironically, was won by Federer).

I'm just glad I got to witness tennis before the institution of the 5th set tiebreak. Because of that, we're never going to get matches as great as the 2001 semis/final, 2008 final, 2009 final, Isner-Mahut, 2018 semis, and 2019 final. Imagine if some of those matches were decided by a 5th set tiebreaker at 6-6, instead of it being played out. I sometimes wish the 2019 final would have been played out, instead of the tiebreak at 12-12. That one finishing on a tiebreak kind of hurts its legacy a bit.

The 2008 Wimbledon final was the end of a historic streak, Federer arrived at Wimbledon on a formidable 65 match winning streak on grass and was undefeated on the surface since 2002?
By defeating Federer on his favorite surface Rafa became the first man in 28 years to win both the French and Wimbledon in the same calendar year, which by the way is the hardest to win in our game! This is why 2008 is still Rafa's best, ( I was live at RG in 2008 where he took his clay game to another level and was simply Unplayable)
Federer did rally after Rafa took a 2 set leads to force a deciding 5th set, which was interrupted by multiple rain delays, the players traded breaks deep into the night, ending in near darkness, Rafa's mind flashed back to the 2007 Wimbledon final in the break he was Never Going to lose another Wimbledon final
Of course it was " The Passing of the Torch" when Rafa finally won the 5th set 9-7, it ended Federer's staggering 65 match winning streak on grass and marked the crowning of a New Undisputed Era In Tennis, that is why it is the Greatest Wimbledon Final!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Anyway enough of going back in time to Wimbledon finals etc, we all better stick to the present
Noone is ever going to change my mind, and I have been watching the game for 60 years, ( I am at youngster at heart Wimbledon 2008 was the finals of all finals, my second favorite final was Borg v Mac in 1980, TB was off the charts

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Hurlingham Exho, at the last minute. He has been replaced by American Martin Damm #105, who will therefore face KAA on Wednesday. Djokovic hasnt provided any news on the matter on his social media either

Source : L'Equipe.

 

[Kieran]

Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Hurlingham Exho, at the last minute. He has been replaced by American Martin Damm #105, who will therefore face KAA on Wednesday. Djokovic hasnt provided any news on the matter on his social media either

Source : L'Equipe.

Has he run out of glowing green bottles? Is that it? Could be urgent and he’s gone off to get more? The poor boy. Oh the humanity!!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Has he run out of glowing green bottles? Is that it? Could be urgent and he’s gone off to get more? The poor boy. Oh the humanity!!

Apparently he was seen training this morning and no word yet why he withdrew late? hmmmm on the other hand it has been 'intense heat' at Wimbledon today 37 degrees, maybe he didnt want to melt
Jannik will be tested in his match against Cam Norrie, in the heat, help me if he passes out Jannik won 63 63 go and have a 'ice bath' ASAP

 

[Kieran]

Apparently he was seen training this morning and no word yet why he withdrew late? hmmmm on the other hand it has been 'intense heat' at Wimbledon today 37 degrees, maybe he didnt want to melt
Jannik will be tested in his match against Cam Norrie, in the heat, help me if he passes out Jannik won 63 63 go and have a 'ice bath' ASAP

It’s very hot in Dublin too. Jannik will find the weather will condition him for the worst..