Wimbledon

[stotty]

Shame...Stan was really rolling in that third set but couldn't clinch it. He reads Novak better than anyone else which has made him a dangerous opponent to Novak over the years. That match is history now though...

[stotty]

Stan has at least found some form and now serving much better.

5-5 third set

[stotty]

My proclamation is what it is.

Novak is in imperious form and is simply demolishing Stan at this point. Stan can't find a first serve for love nor money and, frankly, what chance has anyone got who cannot find at least 65% first serves against Novak. Looks a lost cause.

Looks like the bookies and stroke are right.

[stroke]

Stan is in nowhere near the physical shape of Novak and looks ponderous. McEnore thinks Novak hasn't lost a centimetre of speed and he's probably right. He also thinks Novak is playing even better than ever because he's serving better and his forehand is better than at any point in his career. I hadn't noticed the forehand but he certainly serves better.

6-3 3-0 Novak

My proclamation is what it is.

[stotty]

I think the odds on the match pretty much say it all. I cannot ever recall a 90%+ probability of losing winning a match.

Stan is in nowhere near the physical shape of Novak and looks ponderous. McEnore thinks Novak hasn't lost a centimetre of speed and he's probably right. He also thinks Novak is playing even better than ever because he's serving better and his forehand is better than at any point in his career. I hadn't noticed the forehand but he certainly serves better.

6-3 3-0 Novak

[stroke]

Novak v Stan is now underway. This could be another early tournament treat if Stan can raise his game. I haven't seen him play for ages so I'm wondering what his level is like. First impression is he looks a little slower.

Novak breaks to go 4-2 up after a lockdown rally to win the game.

I think the odds on the match pretty much say it all. I cannot ever recall a 90%+ probability of losing winning a match.

[stotty]

Novak v Stan is now underway. This could be another early tournament treat if Stan can raise his game. I haven't seen him play for ages so I'm wondering what his level is like. First impression is he looks a little slower.

Novak breaks to go 4-2 up after a lockdown rally to win the game.

[stotty]

I think Eubanks will be the slight favorite vs O'Connell. Should he move on, most likely it will be vs Tsitsipas. At that point, every match for him, other than Novak, a toss up. He has the game.

I missed the match as I was on court working all afternoon. That was a good win because Norrie is no pushover. It's going to be interesting to see how deep Eubank goes in the tournament.

[stroke]

I think Eubanks will be the slight favorite vs O'Connell. Should he move on, most likely it will be vs Tsitsipas. At that point, every match for him, other than Novak, a toss up. He has the game.

[stroke]

Eubanks wins in 4 in about as good of display of power tennis that I have ever seen on grass. His serve(standing alone) is the best left in the tournament to me. And what a humble enduring post match on court interview. He is certainly the story of the tournament thus far to me.

[stroke]

Norrie fights back to even at 1 set all. One service break again, Norrie got it. Quite the entertaining match here.

[stroke]

Eubanks very impressive in winning the 1st set vs Norrie with one break of Cam's serve. Chris may very well have the best serve left in the draw. He won 86% of his 1st serves and 88% of his second serve points in that set. May be the best serving stats I have ever seen.

[stroke]

Norrie did well last year and will have the crowd firmly behind him. That said, there is no crowd more respectful than a British crowd so Chris shouldn't feel it too much. It is certainly a big match for him and it would great if he can find his best form.

So true, like night and day to the FO crowd.

[stotty]

Alcaraz just hit a 99 mph forehand winner against Muller...an absolute bullet. I don't think I could hit a forehand that hard even if I didn't have to keep it in the stadium.

[stotty]

McEnroe came out with an interesting comment yesterday. He said the game has changed again in terms of what a player needs to be good at. According to McEnroe the most important shot in the game these days is the return of serve, second is the serve, and third most important is the forehand. This kind of falls inline, in an upside down sort of way, with Jim's post that serves are slowing down. Seems no matter how hard you serve Novak is going to get it back. Makes sense that all the other players are trying to emulate Novak in the return of serve department.

Any stats on return of serve, Jim? Are players getting more balls back in play than ever before?