Lopez tips Roger for Wimbledon and rates cilic ahead of andy and rafa

[Tatenda]

Feliciano Lopez tips Roger Federer for Wimbledon but sees Rafael Nadal behind Marin Cilic
George Bellshaw
Sunday 25 Jun 2017 7:09 pm
Feliciano Lopez
Marin Cilic Queens Club
Roger Federer Tennis
Wimbledon
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Murray NOT in top-three favourites for Wimbledon with Nadal No. 1, says ex-champ »
Comments
43
Feliciano Lopez, 35, stuns Marin Cilic to win first Queen's title »
Queen’s champion Feliciano Lopez believes Marin Cilic should be ranked among the favourites at Wimbledon and rates his chances ahead of Rafael Nadal .
The 35-year-old, who won his first Aegon Championships title on Sunday, sees his final opponent as one of the finest players on grass and agreed with Goran Ivanisevic’s assessment that he’s among the top-three favourites at the All England Club.
Fellow 35-year-old Roger Federer , who also won a title in Halle the weekend before Wimbledon begins, is Lopez’s pick to win the title, although he acknowledged just how open the draw is.
And despite beating the Croat 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (10-8), he still sees Cilic as one of the favourites.
‘Right now he’s a contender rather than other players that they supposed to be, but they are not in very good shape,’ he said.
‘Tennis is about the moment you are living. And Marin, he’s been playing great already three, four months.
‘Reaching the finals here, again, for me he’s top-three on grass. He won here one time, lost the finals twice. I don’t know in Wimbledon his results, but for sure they were very good, also.
‘This year, seeing the other guys, it’s a very open Wimbledon. Definitely Marin is one of the contenders.
‘I think in the last three, four years, Andy [Murray] was probably the best player on grass. I will say Roger No. 1 and then Marin, Andy.
‘Rafa is full of confidence after winning the French, but he didn’t play on grass in the last two years, I think.
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‘It’s a very unique surface. You need time, need matches. He didn’t play one match for such a long time.
‘But with Rafa you never know, because he’s capable of everything. But yeah, Roger, for sure, is the No. 1 contender right now.’
MORE: Feliciano Lopez, 35, stuns Marin Cilic to win first Queen’s title
Who will win Wimbledon?

http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/25/felic...sees-rafael-nadal-behind-marin-cilic-6733425/

 

[clayqueen]

Lopez: "I don’t know in Wimbledon his results, but for sure they were very good, also."

Cilic record at Wimbledon is 21-9. When he won Queens in 2012, he made the 4th round at Wimbledon.

 

[Xavier G]

Cilic has a live chance. I think I'd still pick Murray ahead of him though. Roger has a really good chance, but still needs things to go his way in a 2 week tournament now.

 

[tennisaddict]

Let us hope Cilic is on the other side of the draw of Fed.

It would be a travesty if these two are drawn before.

 

[timnz]

Cilic has a live chance. I think I'd still pick Murray ahead of him though. Roger has a really good chance, but still needs things to go his way in a 2 week tournament now.

Cilic is incredibly dangerous. I think any player at all in the draw will be nervous playing him

 

[mental midget]

Cilic is incredibly dangerous. I think any player at all in the draw will be nervous playing him

agreed. when he's on he's a heck of a ball striker, great serve, dangerous off returns and moves unbelievably well for his size.

 

[timnz]

agreed. when he's on he's a heck of a ball striker, great serve, dangerous off returns and moves unbelievably well for his size.

With his lower ball toss in the last year or so - you just don't know where the ball is going to go.

 

[Xavier G]

Cilic is incredibly dangerous. I think any player at all in the draw will be nervous playing him

Yes. The guy's a solid grass court player, big, a good server and he's won a Major too.

 

[tennisaddict]

Feli is a Fedtroll

 

[Tatenda]

Fed vs cilic quarter final then

 

[Backspin1183]

I agree with this viewpoint. Federer is the favourite, then others likes Cilic, Murray, Nadal, Djokovic, Raonic.

 

[Tennisanity]

Cilic over Rafa at Wimbledon.

 

[HipRotation]

Let us hope Cilic is on the other side of the draw of Fed.

It would be a travesty if these two are drawn before.

Given the embarrassment of his 2016 Quarter Final against Federer, I don't think Federer has anything to worry from Cilic.

 

[TahoeTennis]

Lopez knows Roger F'ing Flies around the court!!

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

All this Cilic hype gonna result in him getting Rosol'd

 

[Legend of Borg]

i wish 2016 wimby cilic faced murray before the final

woulda been a fresh match

 

[tennisaddict]

Given the embarrassment of his 2016 Quarter Final against Federer, I don't think Federer has anything to worry from Cilic.

But it would be fun to see Cilic face Novak and Rafa.

He has beat Murray and Fed, should give him the surge in career if he beats one of the other two here

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

But it would be fun to see Cilic face Novak and Rafa.

He has beat Murray and Fed, should give him the surge in career if he beats one of the other two here

Djokovic usually ragdolls him

Think he was 0-16 against him until last yr.

 

[Legend of Borg]

Given the embarrassment of his 2016 Quarter Final against Federer, I don't think Federer has anything to worry from Cilic.

are we talking about the same match?

the one in which fed had to save MPs and barely scraped a win?

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

are we talking about the same match?

the one in which fed had to save MPs and barely scraped a win?

Think it was moreso citing Marin failing to beat a pretty gimpy Fed.

Cilic definitely blew a pretty pristine chance last year, makes it harder to believe in the hype this year.

That said he's not an opponent I'd relish seeing in the draw, as of late he has been more than problematic to Roger.

But on the flip-side, I'd expect Djokovic/Murray/Nadal to beat him. I don't trust his mental fortitude at all. It's not his game I'm worried about. It isn't terrible, but it could be better.

 

[Noelan]

All this Cilic hype gonna result in him getting Rosol'd

Rather Simoned

 

[tennisaddict]

Djokovic usually ragdolls him

Think he was 0-16 against him until last yr.

Have you watched him on grass this year ?

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Have you watched him on grass this year ?

Form is such a fickle beast and something really hard to trust though, if you got the Roger form that he had when he torched Murray in the 2015 Wimbledon semi-final, or the one that torched Wawrinka in the 2015 USO semi-final, we're talking about more major victories. And that's Roger, who's very mentally tough.

Mental toughness not something I attribute to Cilic. I wouldn't call him a mental midget but I wouldn't call him a mental stalwart either. Form in these tune-up tournaments mean next to nothing.

Hell, I felt like 2014/2015 Wimbledon & 2015 USO prior to the final that Federer was playing the best tennis of anyone. Could be biased there though lol.

Really depends on how heavily you weigh form / history / external factors I guess. I've never been overly-reliant on form as it fluctuates so heavily.

 

[Legend of Borg]

Think it was moreso citing Marin failing to beat a pretty gimpy Fed.

Cilic definitely blew a pretty pristine chance last year, makes it harder to believe in the hype this year.

That said he's not an opponent I'd relish seeing in the draw, as of late he has been more than problematic to Roger.

But on the flip-side, I'd expect Djokovic/Murray/Nadal to beat him. I don't trust his mental fortitude at all. It's not his game I'm worried about. It isn't terrible, but it could be better.

ok i see

still, i don't think fed is too eager for a re-match even if he was injured especially the form that cilic is in at the moment

also, 2014 USO never forget...

 

[beltsman]

As I stated previously, Cilic will win Wimbledon.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

ok i see

still, i don't think fed is too eager for a re-match even if he was injured especially the form that cilic is in at the moment

also, 2014 USO never forget...

I agree completely, it's not a match-up I'd relish. But funnily enough not really a match-up I'd necessarily expect him to win vs one of the other top dogs. I don't know, Marin is very enigmatic to me. Maybe not as enigmatic as a Tsonga but definitely unpredictable. That's what makes him simultaneously scary to play against but also somewhat unreliable to pick with conviction to win.

 

[MasturB]

Felici: "You been flying all over the court huh?"
Lord Fedr: "We got a few more years"
Felici: "Phawwwwwwwk"
Lord Fedr: "Thanks you too man"

See Feliciano. He wasn't lying about himself or you. Now he believes that conversation was true.

 

[MasturB]

Still pissed Cilic didn't beat Nole in 2015 USO against Nole. Would have given Rog another one.

 

[Legend of Borg]

I agree completely, it's not a match-up I'd relish. But funnily enough not really a match-up I'd necessarily expect him to win vs one of the other top dogs. I don't know, Marin is very enigmatic to me. Maybe not as enigmatic as a Tsonga but definitely unpredictable. That's what makes him simultaneously scary to play against but also somewhat unreliable to pick with conviction to win.

the second delpo

a scary dark horse

 

[Legend of Borg]

Still pissed Cilic didn't beat Nole in 2015 USO against Nole. Would have given Rog another one.

without even googling that match i know it was bad

i'm pretty sure cilic got like single digit games against djoker and it was a blowout with a bagel somewhere in it

i don't know in what universe cilic was beating djoker on that day

 

[KINGROGER]

Let us hope Cilic is on the other side of the draw of Fed.

It would be a travesty if these two are drawn before.

Yeah hopefully Murray or someone takes Cilic out at QF stage.

I want Fed to win taking out Murray/Nadal type players. Don't want to see him face ball bashing servebots like Cilic, Raonic, Kyrgios and see another travesty like 2016 SF.

Still pissed Cilic didn't beat Nole in 2015 USO against Nole. Would have given Rog another one.

Yeah. Or at Wimbledon 2014. Or Kevin Anderson 2015. Or Simon AO 2016. Fed would have won any of them.

 

[cc0509]

And despite beating the Croat 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (10-8), he still sees Cilic as one of the favourites.
‘Right now he’s a contender rather than other players that they supposed to be, but they are not in very good shape,’ he said.
‘Tennis is about the moment you are living. And Marin, he’s been playing great already three, four months.
‘Reaching the finals here, again, for me he’s top-three on grass. He won here one time, lost the finals twice. I don’t know in Wimbledon his results, but for sure they were very good, also.
‘This year, seeing the other guys, it’s a very open Wimbledon. Definitely Marin is one of the contenders.
‘I think in the last three, four years, Andy [Murray] was probably the best player on grass. I will say Roger No. 1 and then Marin, Andy.
‘Rafa is full of confidence after winning the French, but he didn’t play on grass in the last two years, I think.
MORE
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‘It’s a very unique surface. You need time, need matches. He didn’t play one match for such a long time.
‘But with Rafa you never know, because he’s capable of everything. But yeah, Roger, for sure, is the No. 1 contender right now.’

I agree with Lopez that you have to judge tennis and make predictions based on the moment but it's also true that in Queens, Cilic didn't have to play any real big threats on a grass court surface so it's hard to judge how he will fare if he has to play a few Big Four members at Wimbledon(all of whom he has terrible records against.)

 

[Djokovic2011]

Still pissed Cilic didn't beat Nole in 2015 USO against Nole. Would have given Rog another one.

Yep, those match points Marin missed out on will haunt him forever. Probably would've been easier for him to stomach if he'd only won three games or something.

 

[Sentinel]

As I stated previously, Cilic will win Wimbledon.

I thought you changed that to Bull.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Yep, those match points Marin missed out on will haunt him forever. Probably would've been easier for him to stomach if he'd only won three games or something.

Which match was that ? Didn't Djokovic ragdoll him in 2015 USO?

 

[Djokovic2011]

Which match was that ? Didn't Djokovic ragdoll him in 2015 USO?

I was being sarcastic mate.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

I was being sarcastic mate.

Wasn't sure if there was some previous match he blew against him. I recall a yr he had Andy Murray in trouble and blew it.

Went back and looked, 2012 USO, which Mury won

 

[VexlanderPrime]

I'll believe it when I see it. Cillic simply has not delivered often enough to be considered a top contender much less a top 3 favorite. He could win every grass event under the sun, doesn't matter. Make a Wimby final then I'll listen.

Also don't see how Rafa, as bad as he has been on grass, can be behind Cillic if Lopez is just looking at level of play the last 3 months. Rafa in the zone. I still don't think that will translate to grass but it's as good as any argument for Cillic.

 

[Rosstour]

He's right. Cilic came so close last year, it took everything Fed had to stop him, and he couldn't even beat Baby Milos after that.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

I'll believe it when I see it. Cillic simply has not delivered often enough to be considered a top contender much less a top 3 favorite. He could win every grass event under the sun, doesn't matter. Make a Wimby final then I'll listen.

Also don't see how Rafa, as bad as he has been on grass, can be behind Cillic if Lopez is just looking at level of play the last 3 months. Rafa in the zone. I still don't think that will translate to grass but it's as good as any argument for Cillic.

couldn't agree more with this. And he didn't even win those tune-up tournaments lol

so not only did he not win tournaments people put way too much stock in, but he lost to two guys who won't even likely get all that far at Wimbledon themselves.

I like Marin, he's a tough player, but this is some hype he's getting that he hasn't lived up to well, ever at Wimbledon.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Feliciano Lopez tips Roger Federer for Wimbledon but sees Rafael Nadal behind Marin Cilic
George Bellshaw
Sunday 25 Jun 2017 7:09 pm
Feliciano Lopez
Marin Cilic Queens Club
Roger Federer Tennis
Wimbledon
Single? This is why you should give Match.com a try this summer »
Murray NOT in top-three favourites for Wimbledon with Nadal No. 1, says ex-champ »
Comments
43
Feliciano Lopez, 35, stuns Marin Cilic to win first Queen's title »
Queen’s champion Feliciano Lopez believes Marin Cilic should be ranked among the favourites at Wimbledon and rates his chances ahead of Rafael Nadal .
The 35-year-old, who won his first Aegon Championships title on Sunday, sees his final opponent as one of the finest players on grass and agreed with Goran Ivanisevic’s assessment that he’s among the top-three favourites at the All England Club.
Fellow 35-year-old Roger Federer , who also won a title in Halle the weekend before Wimbledon begins, is Lopez’s pick to win the title, although he acknowledged just how open the draw is.
And despite beating the Croat 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (10-8), he still sees Cilic as one of the favourites.
‘Right now he’s a contender rather than other players that they supposed to be, but they are not in very good shape,’ he said.
‘Tennis is about the moment you are living. And Marin, he’s been playing great already three, four months.
‘Reaching the finals here, again, for me he’s top-three on grass. He won here one time, lost the finals twice. I don’t know in Wimbledon his results, but for sure they were very good, also.
‘This year, seeing the other guys, it’s a very open Wimbledon. Definitely Marin is one of the contenders.
‘I think in the last three, four years, Andy [Murray] was probably the best player on grass. I will say Roger No. 1 and then Marin, Andy.
‘Rafa is full of confidence after winning the French, but he didn’t play on grass in the last two years, I think.
MORE
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‘It’s a very unique surface. You need time, need matches. He didn’t play one match for such a long time.
‘But with Rafa you never know, because he’s capable of everything. But yeah, Roger, for sure, is the No. 1 contender right now.’
MORE: Feliciano Lopez, 35, stuns Marin Cilic to win first Queen’s title
Who will win Wimbledon?

http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/25/felic...sees-rafael-nadal-behind-marin-cilic-6733425/

Am I the only one that singled in on that?

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

He's right. Cilic came so close last year, it took everything Fed had to stop him, and he couldn't even beat Baby Milos after that.

That doesn't prove all that much (from a standpoint of winning the entire tournament) given Berdych, Tsonga, Stakhovsky beat Federer, and Benneteau almost beat Federer at Wimbledon. If you serve-bot you have a chance on grass.

So yeah, good chance to beat any one guy, I'll agree. Unlikely you can serve bot all the way to a trophy, though. Too many good defensive players.

Murray was playing by far the best tennis at Wimbledon last year anyway, as evidenced by his beat-down of Raonic.

I don't think Cilic would have fared much better than Milos did. I'm not even sure Federer wouldn't have gotten beat soundly.

Federer isn't as much of the "final boss of Wimbledon" as he used to be. Plenty of other players in the field that can and should handle Cilic.

 

[reaper]

Is this a vote of self confidence from Lopez? Elevating the guy he's just beaten above Nadal and Murray.

 

[Bukmeikara]

Is this a vote of self confidence from Lopez? Elevating the guy he's just beaten above Nadal and Murray.

Cilic is indeed looking good. Three times finalist in Queens, three time QF at Wimbledon and two of those were five sets against Federer, Djokovic. He is knocking on the door quite repeatedly and sooner or later he would crack it. This year apart from Federer, the usual favorities are far from their best and he is the one who can take advantage. Great serving, good seeding, past success at Slams.

 

[Tommy Haas]

I didn't like how Lopez kept stalling during the third set tie-break trying to wait out the wind. Cilic certainly didn't like it and gestured to the chair umpire by tapping his wrist.

 

[beltsman]

I thought you changed that to Bull.

I am 50/50. I can foresee that external factors may conspire against Bull.

 

[Sentinel]

I am 50/50. I can foresee that external factors may conspire against Bull.

Bull always wins unless external factors conspire against him.
Vamos Bull.



@drakulie would love your poast.

 

[octobrina10]

The headline should have been:

¤¤ Lopez says: "But with Rafa you never know, because he’s capable of everything."¤¤

 

[Sentinel]

The headline should have been:

¤¤ Lopez says: "But with Rafa you never know, because he’s capable of everything."¤¤

"Capable".
Oh thank God, for a moment I read "culpable"

 

[jussumman]

How intense is Cilic when when he's looking over the other side of the net to decide where to serve next? It's like a hunter ready aiming for his kill.