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Anyway, when a player is serving, and they get 3 balls thrown to them by the ballboy - they study the balls intently and then discard the two they don't want to use.

What exactly are they looking for?

Newer balls are best for serving so think they are trying to identify the balls that haven't been involved in the longer rallies. Not sure what shows that. Maybe fuzzier balls are better?

Although given that the balls are changed frequently I imagine the process is largely just a chance to gather yourself mentally before each serve.  Or think what's for dinner after the game.

About 15 years ago, there's was a bbc advert with Tim Henman serving,  where the voice over said he looks for the furry balls because they go better through the air.

Can't find it to post here, but that's my recollection.

Here you go Keith, excellent piece from the New York Times which seems to cover all bases.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/07/sports/tennis/07tennis.html?_r=0



(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzAwWDcwMA==/z/lFoAAOSwd4tUK62i/$_32.JPG)

http://www.changeovertennis.com/category/kelsey-andersons-blog/

This is an interesting read from the WAG angle of the tennis tour.

Why do they bother to put a ball into their pocket? Surely that must be uncomfortable running about?

Andy Murray out just now.

Has he been "lucky" getting to where he is in the world today? or is he going through a bad patch?

I for one said he would never win a Slam and was shocked when he won the US.  I felt his wimbledon win was due to a lack luster performance from Djok.

Is this just me being anti Murray or is he better than I give him credit for?

Yes

Murray is a fantastic player who is extremely unlucky to be playing in the toughest era of tennis since the game turned pro.

Is Federer the first sports star that literally everyone loves?

Beckham never had too many haters, which in football is pretty rare, & Bobby Moore was admired by most. Doubt David Bryant had an enemy on earth.

I think you're forgetting post 1998 World Cup Tikay when people were threatening to decapitate Beckham!

He's one of those guys that everyone loves now - not sure that was the case mid career as Federer has it.

Think Agassi had it similar to Fed.  Goran towards end of career?

Are you saying that Leeds United and Liverpool don't have many fans?

Federer though. He just oozes class, never read a bad word about him. I'm not a tennis fan, have no real appreciation of the finer points but even I can see how good he is.

That's just group think. They would have loved him to play for their team.

Fair point, although I actually thought that was a dreadful decision by the Referee.

Test how good you would be as a linesman:

http://graphics.wsj.com/are-you-good-enough-to-be-a-tennis-line-judge/

Good fun, it's quite tricky and I'm not sure I could do it for a whole match.  4/5 - would probably get a few insults now and again.

I am sure you could find someone who didn't like him but I would question that persons character! I think there must be a few others out there what about Richie Benaud or Sangakkara for a more modern day equivalent from the cricket world.

Very rare for an American crowd to be cheering against an American player (as they did last night against Isner), especially as he was the last yank standing and it was Labor Day!

Jimmy White.

I just went to the end of the thread without reading a lot of the previous posts when I see a post consisting of, "Jimmy White".
I did the American gameshow Jeopardy in my head, where they give you the answer and you have to guess the question.
I guessed the question to which Jimmy White might be the answer was, "what sports star in another discipline would have made a great tennis player?"
Jiimmy might have good in the 1970s when it was grace, finesse and drop shots but I think he'd struggle today :)
 

Cracking post, genuine LOL

That's really good.

Always bugs me when the tv cameras highlight a linesman after they've made a mistake, as I always thought it was a very difficult job to do well.

Players challenging incorrectly just emphasises how tough it is to be 100% certain on the really close calls.

Out of interest, why don't they let hawkeye make all the calls now?

Roger Federer might just be God.

That was the most perfect performance of tennis I've ever seen.

What is it with pop stars singing at Tennis Majors?

We get Cliff Richard, the US Open gets Justin Timberlake & Jimmy Fallon.


(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/09/10/04/2C21810900000578-0-Dancing_fools_Jimmy_Fallon_left_and_Justin_Timberlake_right_danc-m-146_1441856428535.jpg)

ESPN Stats & Info ✔@ESPNStatsInfo
Serena Williams had never lost a Grand Slam Semifinal or Final match after winning the first set. She now drops to 38-1

Canadian Greg makes Fed Stan a '50/50' match.  Nothing between them. Stick to talking BS greg.  How do sky allow these over paid ex pros to make such fundamental errors in their prep and spout it live on screen? 

I didn't think I'd ever miss week one of the NFL.

My tv might be switched onto the US Open final instead this year.

Federer and Djoko just put on an absolute clinic.

Pretty special those two games were.