The Tennis Thread

[Curls]

Don't die andy.

[PES Fan]

So Andy hasn’t ruled out the possible of returning. I rather him have the operation now and then see if he can continue. Rather than seeing him in pain at Wimbledon, I rather that not be his finale there.

[PES Fan]

Federer gone. Great performance from Tsitipas.

[Snowcannon]

LOLRENA LOLLIAMS. Up a double break, 4 match points, loses the match

[Denster]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching her choke.

[Tineash]

Some men's tennis was played today.

Somewhere in the world presumably, certainly not on strawberry floating Rod Laver Arena that's for sure

[Tineash]

lmao I just realised, the number one best thing Nishikori could do to beat Djokovic would be to permanently retire from tennis and let someone else play him instead.

[PES Fan]

lmao I just realised, the number one best thing Nishikori could do to beat Djokovic would be to permanently retire from tennis and let someone else play him instead.

Nishikori is a mystery. He’s just a carbon copy of Ferrer. Nothing special to his game. Djokovic would need to be way off his game to lose three sets to him.

Nishikori will never win a slam or challenge for one. Like Ferrer he gets pushed to 5 sets too much in the early rounds which leaves him jaded when he reaches the second week.

[Denster]

Nadal is a strawberry floating machine. Hope Novak gets through but he'll have to raise his game to beat Rafa in this mood.

[Tineash]

I still have more respect for Pouille than Nishikori, who should be capable of more but never ever delivers.

[TigaSefi]

That was a demolition job. These new strawberry floaters coming through better get sharp quick or the top 3 will still be playing in their 40’s.

[Denster]

Awesome from Novak. Could be a classic on Sunday.

[Drumstick]

'mon Rafa.

[Denster]

Novak!

He's torn Rafa a new one there.

Absolutely pummelled him.

[Poncho]

As close to perfection as you're going to get in tennis. Nadal didn't play his best because he simply didn't have a say. What a performance.

[Denster]

When he's like that - he's unbeatable. Peerless tennis. Restricting Nadal to 8 games in a Slam Final?
strawberry floating ridiculous.

[Denster]

Barring injury - I honestly think now it's a matter of when not if Djokovic beats Federer's slam total.

[Pancake]

Djoko

I agree, I think he has a real chance to surpass Federer.

[KK]

BT has lost the rights to their tennis coverage to Amazon:

Internet giant Amazon has acquired exclusive UK rights to the WTA tennis tour from 2020, SportBusiness Media understands, taking the property from pay-television broadcaster BT Sport.

The acquisition means Amazon now has rights in the UK to both the men’s and women’s tennis tours.

It landed the men’s ATP World Tour 1000 and 500 rights in 2017 in a five-year from 2019 to 2023. Pay-television broadcaster Sky Sports had previously held those rights.

Amazon also holds the UK rights to the US Open tennis major in a five-year deal from 2018-2022.

The company last year unsuccesfully bid for rights to the Wimbledon tennis major in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for the 2019 to 2022 cycle.

Amazon has, additionally, entered the UK football rights market with its acquisition of a Premier League rights package for 2019-20 to 2021-22.

It is thought Amazon’s sports-rights strategy remains in a test phase that may or may not lead to a more aggressive approach in future.

Incumbent BT Sport had covered WTA in the UK since 2013. Under its 2017 to 2019 deal, it held live rights to 52 events per year as well as digital rights.

The loss of the WTA property comes as BT Sport reportedly sealed a deal to acquire UK rights to wrestling promotion WWE from next year.

[Jenuall]

I'm still unclear on what this actually means for watching sport on Amazon. Are these going to go on to Prime Video or are they going to be pay per view type add-ons?