Live Sim Thread

[SirBloody Idiot]

ftr I don't actually know the result yet.

But this theory would explain why Daniels hasn't been shown on TV since January last year.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

That and the fact I'm mainly playing ****hacks.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Varga *3-6 2-3 Maxum
Nearly a heartbreaker from Maxum as he lets a 40-15 lead slip to hand Varga another break point. Again the serve under pressure is good, though, and he's able to control the rally and draw an error on the forehand wing of Varga. He takes a couple of attempts, but finally holds to keep his nose ahead at 3-2.

Varga 3-6 3-3* Maxum
Ooh Varga is really building now on serve. And the forehand is starting to work for him better. Maxum has a bit of a look in at 0-30, but Varga reels him back in with a pair of really nice forehands - one cross court and one down the line - to draw level. Maxum is well behind the baseline here against the some deep and heavy hitting from Varga so its no surprise he's not even in the frame as a drop shot wins Varga the game.

Varga *3-6 4-3 Maxum
Maxum begins with his fifth ace of the match, but finds himself in a world of trouble soon after with a bad backhand error handing Varga two break points. Maxum saves his third of the set, but Varga gets a big piece of a second serve at 30-40 and bounces an overhead smash into the second row of the Barcelona crowd to secure a huge break of service.

.

 

[ripper868]

Come on Jarkko, fight back son! take this hack in two! (though 3 will do)

SBI - i don't have internet at home at the moment, loving this read ftr. Super effort!

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Geez, tough to get some of these through the national censors...

Varga 3-6 5-3* Maxum
Ahh, big opportunity missed by Maxum. He moves well to 0-30 and gives himself a look at a break, but gets a bit too excited with an overhead smash as he takes it on the full and gives Varga the chance to pass him on his backhand side. While his forehand has been inconsistent, he's stepped up there with that double hander and a second winner for the game gives him game point. He strings four points together to seal it and leaves Maxum to serve to stay in the set.

From Oleg, East Robbham, via text: "Maxum has gone back into his shell a bit here. Needs to find that aggression from the first set." Too right, Oleg. He's relying on errors too much here from the Hungarian.

Varga *3-6 5-4 Maxum
So Maxum is going to make Varga serve it out. He's still misfiring on the forehand wing as a pair of netted shots gives Varga a 40-30 lead. Varga draws level and denies Maxum a couple of chances to hold, but with his fourth game point Maxum fires down ace number six for the match to pick up a big hold. If Varga serves this out, at the very least Maxum will serve first in the third set.

Varga 3-6 6-4* Maxum
Easy as you like! Maxum would have hoped to put the pressure on Varga here, but the sixth seed gets three first serves in and doesn't give him a chance as he holds to love. This one is going to three after a great set from Zoltán Varga!

 

[ripper868]

Varga will choke, Maxum to fire up in the third.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

We return at 3-3 in the third set because I am quite lazy.

Varga *3-6 6-4 4-3 Maxum
That could be the moment! Maxum, who has looked so shaky so far this set on serve, has been broken as Varga shows some great defence to draw errors. Maxum looks like he has it on ice at 40-30 with a cross-court forehand, but Varga makes him play a volley and he's not confident enough to hit it anywhere but into the top of the net. Varga sets himself up a break point soon after and converts it decisively but showing the East CWLander how its done at the net.

Varga 3-6 6-4 4-4* Maxum
Varga takes the first point of the game with a classy forehand slipped down the line, but misses that same line with his next two shots as he shows some impatience to give Maxum 15-30. Maxum cracks a clean winner off Varga's second serve to bring up two break points, but squanders one with a forehand error while Varga saves the other with an unreturned first serve. He gets a third break point for the game, and cruicially works Varga around with some slice before whipping a forehand into the back of the court to level the scores at 4-4!

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Varga *3-6 6-4 4-5 Maxum
Maxum's problem is still on serve, and his third double fault of the set hands Varga a 0-30 lead. Still, he denies the Hungarian an opportunity to capitalise as a wide serve is framed by the Hungarian and a gutsy serve and volley levels the scores at 30-30. Serving from the ad court, Maxum finally holds serve after two deuces in another shaky but very important service game.

Varga 3-6 6-4 5-5* Maxum
Varga rebounds from a poor service game with a ripper as doesn't drop a point with four first serves. He's thrown a few of these in here and then, and he heaps the pressure back on Maxum at five-all.

Varga *3-6 6-4 5-6 Maxum
Finally an easier service game for Maxum as he finds the lines with some good serves to set up some dominant points. At 40-15, he plays a trademark cross-court forehand into the deuce court to secure a 6-5 lead. If Varga wants this, he has to take it in a breaker.

.

 

[Johnners]

Carn Maxum!

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Varga 3-6 6-4 6-6* Maxum
30-30 gives Maxum a look in at a chance to steal the match and he gives himself every opportunity as he constructs a point very well and finishes it off at the net to bring up match point. Varga saves it with a clutch ace, and then sets up game point as Maxum frames a backhand horribly. With game point, Varga sends it to a deciding tiebreaker with some great use of the slice and a gutsy backhand winner that takes the line to level the set at 6-6.

.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

THIRD SET TIEBREAKER

Varga *0-1 Maxum
Great start for Maxum as he gets a first serve in and controls the point before finishing with a cross-court forehand to draw an error from Varga. He needs as many of those first serves as he can because he's looked particularly vulnerable on his second serves which are considerably slower.

Varga 1-2* Maxum
Immediate minibreak for Jarkko! Varga's second serve is good but Maxum throws the kitchen sink at it and nearly hits a clean winner. Varga keeps it in play, but his drop shot pitches up and Maxum puts away a backhand flick at his toes at an insane angle to move to 2-0. Varga again misses his first serve, but his second serve has some real kick on it and Maxum sends it straight into the net.

Varga *1-4 Maxum
Oh, this is starting to look mighty difficult for the sixth seed. He's only a minibreak down, but Maxum is looking really bright and seems to have got rid of the wobbles from early in the set. He wins the first point as Varga fails to return a serve to his forehand side, and then moves to 4-1 after a long rally in which Varga misfires with a slice and the ball drops on the wrong side of the tape.

Varga *1-5 Maxum
My oh my, what a time for a double fault! Varga's first serve is just wide, but his second serve is awful and takes the net half way up. He was trying to put some real work on it but mistimed it completely to give Maxum a 5-1 lead at the change of ends and a chance to go for broke with the final in sight!

.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Varga 2-5* Maxum
The match is on Maxum's racquet as he misses a golden opportunity to set up five match points by missing that cross-court whipping forehand he's made so often this match. After a short backhand down the line from Varga, Maxum misses his chance by looping it wide to leave himself two short of the win.

Varga *3-6 Maxum
Maxum puts a big dent in his requirement with a slick first serve which he finishes off with a calculated risk by coming up to the net and putting away a backhand volley. It isn't a great one as Varga keeps it in play, but the follow up forehand volley wrongfoots him and brings up four match points. He gets a good first serve in which is great, but is too hesitant to pull the trigger in a long rally which ends with Varga cracking a rare forehand winner. Could this be a change in fortunes for the Hungarian? 26 shots that last rally.

Varga 3-6 6-4 6(3)-7
No change of fortune as Varga errs on that forehand side again to hand Maxum a massive victory and his first PTA tour final! The Torneo Godó, no less!

So there we have it, Jarkko Maxum is through to his first PTA tour final with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3) boilover in the first semi final. He's restrained in his celebration but is clearly holding back some real emotion. Varga, meanwhile, will have his chance to get his revenge in just a couple of days when the two meet in the first round in Rome! Pick of the action, that.

Later today we'll find out who Maxum plays in the final - either Daniel Páez Blanco or Miroslav Brdar. I unfortunately won't be covering that as my attention turns to the Sweden vs. East CWLand Bandy World Championship match, but we'll have the result up as soon as it is available!

Up the East!

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[Magrat Garlick]

Bandy in May? Itstl.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Haha shhh. It is a very cold spring.

 

[ripper868]

Maxum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is for all the little people, hopefully can maintain some form into the final as both of the possible opponents will be tough as teak.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

BBC Sport - Tennis - Wimbledon 2011: Davis v Drake as it happened

3 July II - The Championships, Wimbledon - Men's Singles Final - Davis vs. Drake

All times in BST

1209: The official weather forecast is in and we're looking good: "During the afternoon there is a fair chance that cloud will tend to thin and break again, to perhaps allow increasing amounts of sunshine as the tournament draws to a close." Roof schmoof.

...

1400: Our first sight of the players, as they begin the long walk from the locker room to the Centre Court. One of them will make the return journey as Season II Wimbledon champion.

1401: A quick reminder that this year is the first time ever that the Wimbledon final is available to watch in 3D. If you are watching it wearing a pair of those natty specs, then please let us know what you think.

1402: Here they come. Jefferson Drake leads Heath Davis out on to a packed Centre Court to a standing ovation. A few final preparations and they will be good to go.

1405: Twelve-year-old Christopher Elm from West Ruislip has just performed the coin-toss. Drake calls heads... but it's tails. Davis chooses to serve, and the pair of them begin their warm-up.

Jason Hall's prediction: "I'm going with Drake. I got a good look at him at Queens, and the guy hits the ball so well. Davis I don't think has as many options, so I think he is going to struggle against Drake's defence."

1412: All eyes now on the two men in the middle of Centre Court now, as they fire down a few last serves in their warm-up. I saw Drake practicing earlier, and his power is frightening close up. Davis will get a good view from the other side of the net.

1414: Here we go then. Davis to serve first. Excited? Yep, me too...

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

C'mon the West!

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Davis, leader of the free world.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

FIRST SET

Davis 1-0 * Drake
The chair umpire has to ask the crowd to be quiet twice before we can get underway. Pretty lively start. Any pressure on Davis doesn't seem to get to him as he slams down an ace with his first serve. A few wobbles from 40-0 as he sends a backhand long and then watches as Drake creams an 85 mph winner down the line for 40-30. He frames his next backhand into the net, though, to allow Davis on the board.
* denotes NEXT to serve

bigson on Twitter: "A couple of five set wars and a bandaged knee for Drake. Could be crucial."

* Davis 1-1 Drake
No hanging around from Drake in this service game as he races to 40-0 with a couple of unreturned first serves and a classy winner. Davis has a look at a point in return, but fluffs a cross-court forehand to give Drake the hold to love. The Easterner just lobs the balls back to the Westerner after a cruisy start.

Davis 2-1 * Drake
An early sniff for Drake here as, at 15-30, he takes advantage of a short forehand from Davis to plant a backhand deep and finish off the point with a great overhead smash. Two break points. Pressure on Davis' serve early, but the 23rd seed has no troubles saving the first as he slams down his second ace of the match. Longer rally at 30-40, but Davis finally unloads with a big forehand winner down the line after being put on the defence. No passiveness from either player as Davis nails a third ace and escapes with a hold as Drake sends a forehand wide as he looks for the line.

* Davis 2-2 Drake
My oh my, does Drake have somewhere to be? He's looking ice cold on serve as he starts this game with his first ace, and then a couple of unreturnable serves to shoot out to 40-0 again. Davis finally gets a look at a second serve for the first time this match, but Drake unloads with a 90 mph forehand winner off a lazy return from the 23rd seed. "Davis is looking way too defensive against the Drake serve," special commentator Jason Hall adds. With 7/8 first serves in, it is probably easier said than done to be anything but defensive.

 

[benchmark00]

C'mon the West!

Choke.