Re: Indian Wells Thread

[Tenez]

Dolgo sent 4 FHs in the net or out. Very quick!

[summerblues]

This match so far, the last match he played and his play for most of the AO (especially against Andy and Tsonga), as well as some of his play in Dubai are all very encouraging for Roger - not just the results, but the overall quality of play.

He is far more comfortable holding his own on the BH now, which gives him more options to go for the kill on his terms.

[noleisthebest]

What an amazing BH flick from Federer in that 2nd point. This is what Stan can't do. That woudl have been Dolgo point.

I didn't see that...Stan's BH has limited variation and feel, I even prefer Gasquet's BH to his.
I am always annoyed when people jump on bandwagons and use every opportunity to belittle Fed's BH, to me, the best shot I've ever seen.
Is there anything he can't do with it?

[summerblues]

I will be very surprised if Dolgo comes back to win this.

[noleisthebest]

Dolgo sent 4 FHs in the net or out. Very quick!

What a shame...was he rushed, or just in his hyper-aggressive mode trying the impossible?

[noleisthebest]

I will be very surprised if Dolgo comes back to win this.

Of course he won't, just sit back and enjoy tennis SB!!!

[Tenez]

This match so far, the last match he played and his play for most of the AO (especially against Andy and Tsonga), as well as some of his play in Dubai are all very encouraging for Roger - not just the results, but the overall quality of play.

He is far more comfortable holding his own on the BH now, which gives him more options to go for the kill on his terms.

Agreed....though he has had a few poor sets and even matches.

[Tenez]

What an amazing BH flick from Federer in that 2nd point. This is what Stan can't do. That woudl have been Dolgo point.

I didn't see that...Stan's BH has limited variation and feel, I even prefer Gasquet's BH to his.
I am always annoyed when people jump on bandwagons and use every opportunity to belittle Fed's BH, to me, the best shot I've ever seen.
Is there anything he can't do with it?

I would say it's more about Fed's quick hands. He feels the ball and he can always control the ball an extra split second enough to bring the ball back.

[Tenez]

Dolgo sent 4 FHs in the net or out. Very quick!

What a shame...was he rushed, or just in his hyper-aggressive mode trying the impossible?

missed a couple of sitters and then a couple of crazy hopeless FH.

[noleisthebest]

If you ever get the chance, go and see Dolgo serve from close up. It's simply awesome!

[Tenez]

Amazing point!

And now Cowan also joins us in saying that Federer moves and plays as well as ever. Adding that if he doesn't win another slam it;s because the others are going to play better.

[summerblues]

Cool.

[noleisthebest]

Of all the days of this wretched tournament, it had to be windy TODAY

Haven't seen Larry's pretty face in the crowd, I suppose he only watches junk tennis....

[Tenez]

Fed's footwork is amazing today.

[Tenez]

Fed is going for too many drop shots.....lucky on this one,

[summerblues]

Vintage Fed for the break.  Very nice match so far from Roger.  Dolgo his usual erratic self.

[Tenez]

Great match with great points...amazing how great it is despite the wind and slow court.

[summerblues]

Haven't seen Larry's pretty face in the crowd, I suppose he only watches junk tennis....

They did show him.

[noleisthebest]

Vintage Fed for the break.  Very nice match so far from Roger.  Dolgo his usual erratic self.

It's the wind.

[summerblues]

Great match with great points...amazing how great it is despite the wind and slow court.

I would not call it a great match.  Only one guy is playing well.  Dolgo's game is easy on the eye, but pretty mediocre quality.

[noleisthebest]

Great match with great points...amazing how great it is despite the wind and slow court.

I'd like to see them play on every surface.
Wind clearly affected Dolgo more as his movement and shot-making is more fragile than Fed's.

[noleisthebest]

Great match with great points...amazing how great it is despite the wind and slow court.

I would not call it a great match.  Only one guy is playing well.  Dolgo's game is easy on the eye, but pretty mediocre quality.

I suppose, you prefer Nadal's "quality",no?

[Tenez]

What I like about this match is that Dolgo, though erratic, challenges Federer like no one else on Fed's grace and quick hands. The other players only challenge Federer physically.

So today we are seeing Federer from a different angle and I like what I see.

[noleisthebest]

Fed is just so, so good!

[Tenez]

Great match with great points...amazing how great it is despite the wind and slow court.

I would not call it a great match.  Only one guy is playing well.  Dolgo's game is easy on the eye, but pretty mediocre quality.

I disagree. Give Dolgo that extra split second and his UEs turn into unretrievable winners. This is what all players experienced this week against him....including Rafa.

The wind probably affected him a lot too....but it's the pace Fed played that killed Dolgo's confidence.

[summerblues]

Fed looking better and better.  Nice practice for what may be a much more difficult test tomorrow.

Nole vs Isner should be a closer match.  I do not really care much about the result in that one.  Everything else being equal, I prefer Nole's tennis to Isner's, but if Isner wins, that is fine by me too.

[noleisthebest]

What I like about this match is that Dolgo, though erratic, challenges Federer like no one else on Fed's grace and quick hands. The other players only challenge Federer physically.

So today we are seeing Federer from a different angle and I like what I see.

Yes, so true; that's why I looked forward to this match so much. It's such a shame wind ruined it. Both players enjoyed each other's challenge.

[noleisthebest]

And now after this beauty......that crane called Isner grunting his brains out.....  

[summerblues]

I disagree. Give Dolgo that extra split second and his UEs turn into unretrievable winners. This is what all players experienced this week against him....including Rafa.

Some of the points will change, yes.  But he will always spray it a lot.  Nadal was well below par in the match against Dolgo.  Dolgo would not have won otherwise - he was missing as much as ever.

[noleisthebest]

I disagree. Give Dolgo that extra split second and his UEs turn into unretrievable winners. This is what all players experienced this week against him....including Rafa.

Some of the points will change, yes.  But he will always spray it a lot.  Nadal was well below par in the match against Dolgo.  Dolgo would not have won otherwise - he was missing as much as ever.

Nadal was not below par, Dolgo made him look like he was. He should have won that match in 2 sets...

He was making Nadal run left and right with his super risky shots, mixing it up with lots of junk balls (real moonballs), serving brilliantly....
Nadal only looks good when he can impose his big left bicep...but Dolgo never allowed him to as he was taking Nadal's serve so early and so well.

[summerblues]

I suppose, you prefer Nadal's "quality",no?

No, I do not prefer it, but it is far higher quality than Dolgo will ever be able to dream of.

You are mixing up "style" and "quality".  Nadal plays game which is very ugly to my eye (though I understand that others may like it) - I really dislike his style.  But his game is very high quality - at least for the type of courts and equipment that tennis is currently being played on and with.  Quality is measured by wins and losses, nothing else.

[truffin1]

No I have not but 16/15 that doesn't make many crosses...on what frame size?

I am sure this will make the raquet very spiny but the downside will be clearly precision.

On a 99sqi-- it' part of that new Wilson Spin series--  really not the style for me-- but just curious if anyone has had some experience with it.  My buddy swears it's given him pop and power while safer.

So Fed back in a Masters Final! Love it... Saving the match for later, but assuming he played great.. Beat the guy who beat Nadal too :-)

[summerblues]

Nadal was not below par, Dolgo made him look like he was.

I recommend you rewatch the match with a cool head.

[Daniel]

Federer is too good.  And yes, Federer's style of play made Dolgo look bad.

but it is far higher quality than Dolgo will ever be able to dream of.

If you mean the art of defence and moonballing then yes. Reaction time, attacking talent, and the better style is Dolgo's all day long.

[summerblues]

If you mean the art of defence and moonballing then yes.  Reaction time, attacking talent, and the better style is Dolgo's all day long.

That may be all true.  But in today's tennis, solid defence and consistency have higher value than attacking talent or reaction time.

[noleisthebest]

I managed to miss the beginning of the match completely...3:2 Isner....

GO NOLE!

[Tenez]

Same here....I was cooking pasta! How sad is that? Delicious though (stilton cheese sauce) !

[Tenez]

Nadal was not below par, Dolgo made him look like he was.

I recommend you rewatch the match with a cool head.

I think had nadal been not rushed and had his tiiming constantly broken, he would have found his range and been deadly. I did not watch the 3rd set...but certainly in the first set, I did not see him play badly. Just rushed.....and we know he hates that.

[noleisthebest]

Same here....I was cooking pasta! How sad is that? Delicious though (stilton cheese sauce) !

Pasta night here, too

Was scraping the last bit of lasagna from the dish, those are the nicest bits!

[Tenez]

NITB...Djoko is a defender!.....I know this is not news but he is a bloody defender.

[Tenez]

NITB...Djoko is a defender!.....I know this is not news but he is a bloody defender.

He is an attacker when playing Nadal and Murray though even that is not as clear cut as it used to be.

[noleisthebest]

Nole at his gritty best. Not much drama but plenty of tension.

GO NOLE, SERVE IT OUT !!!

[noleisthebest]

NITB...Djoko is a defender!.....I know this is not news but he is a bloody defender.

And bloody good one that!

[summerblues]

Isner will need to do better in the second set, though I do not know what he should do.  Nole is returning his serves with ease, and Isner has really nothing else going for him.

[Tenez]

NITB...Djoko is a defender!.....I know this is not news but he is a bloody defender.

And bloody good one that!

I'll give him that!

[Tenez]

Isner will need to do better in the second set, though I do not know what he should do.  Nole is returning his serves with ease, and Isner has really nothing else going for him.

Still he could have been 1 set up!

[noleisthebest]

NITB...Djoko is a defender!.....I know this is not news but he is a bloody defender.

And bloody good one that!

I'll give him that!

Deal!

[summerblues]

On a separate note, Roger is now 4:1 against top 10 players for the year.  The last time his first five matches against top-10 players went 4:1 was in 2007.

[Tenez]

Isner is neither an attacking player not a defender....he is just a server!

[noleisthebest]

Isner is neither an attacking player not a defender....he is just a server!

He isn't even a server...he is a tree!

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