ATP 250/500 2015 (Vienna/Stockholm/Moscow)

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:... I saw a bit of Thiem-JJ yesterday, Thiem plays too far behind...

JJ can hit hard and this is the typical case where being confident, having a better timing (in a year or 2) will make a huge difference.

yes, one look at Stan gives that hope!

Tenez wrote:The way Federer retruned Pete in SW19 was quite exceptional in retrospect. Hewitt did it too.....but with those new strings, big frame and 2 hands...fed has nat gut, 85inch racquet and SHBH!!!!

Yes...but he is The Special One.
It's such a shame that racquet had to go. It complemented and rewarded his natural ball-striking giving him that deadly FH.

New one is good and has produced equal beauties, bit Fed probably enjoyed the old one more, maybe that's why it took him so long to switch - he hit the brick tennis wall almost literally with players being able to rally for ever.

i am not sure. I think he feels he can attempt more things with the new one. For instance....SABR woudl have been out of question with a 90inch racquet.

Tenez wrote:i am not sure. I think he feels he can attempt more things with the new one. For instance....SABR woudl have been out of question with a 90inch racquet.

Yes, it gives him more options.
I suppose he is still improving with it.

He was beginning to take the ball so early in Cinci.

I'd love to see his FH roar once more before he retires!

His shots have in my view certainly improved.....but his body has certainly not the same flexibilty and recovering power that he had at 24. And it's going to be harder from now on....let's not fool ourselves.

On the day, yes he can and will be brilliant....on a 7 match slam or even TMS.....it's getting gloomy for him.

It's such a shame he did not adapt to bigger frame when he was much younger. If he had to start from scratch his career, he woudl of course adopt the new racquet. Shame he did not make that decision 30 or 25 years ago.

In a away very unlucky to have such a talent starting his career at the end of an era (SVing). I don;t think anyone woudl have touched him had he started playing with new material like Nadal and Djoko. Just look at how easy he dominated his generation. the problem he had at teh beginning was against those who adopted to new technology earlier (Hewitt, Nalby). Had he made the move like them....he woudl have won 25 slams. Pretty sure of that.

Tenez wrote:His shots have in my view certainly improved.....but his body has certainly not the same flexibilty and recovering power that he had at 24. And it's going to be harder from now on....let's not fool ourselves.

Yes, and that's what impresses me about his 2015.
He is playing his most aggressive tennis, creating, SABR-ing at 34, testing his body (agility, reflexes, general fluidity, speed of footwork)  to the limit and passing with flying colours....but as you say, on the day in final rounds of tournaments.

Tenez wrote:....on a 7 match slam or even TMS.....it's getting gloomy for him.

It is, especially if TDs continue to roll out sandpits and pass them as hard courts and big heavy balls like in RG.
I just hope AO makes a bit of a speeding effort next year. Laver needs to put a word in for Fed
That's if anyone listens to him...
But regardless, that body has done a lot of work and needs to pace itself/avoid injuries plus keep superfit and continue to work hard...so much pressure before he even steps on the court hits the ball.
So far, he looks like he is still enjoying it enough to put up with the pain and keep going.

Tenez wrote:It's such a shame he did not adapt to bigger frame when he was much younger. If he had to start from scratch his career, he woudl of course adopt the new racquet. Shame he did not make that decision 30 or 25 years ago.

Do you mean AT 25 or 30?
Well...that is a big regret, but at least he gave it a go in the end.
It would be interesting to find out why it took him so long...

Tenez wrote:In a away very unlucky to have such a talent starting his career at the end of an era (SVing). I don;t think anyone woudl have touched him had he started playing with new material like Nadal and Djoko. Just look at how easy he dominated his generation. the problem he had at teh beginning was against those who adopted to new technology earlier (Hewitt, Nalby). Had he made the move like them....he woudl have won 25 slams. Pretty sure of that.

I suppose with the tennis he played in 2015, he proved to himself he could do it, even though it was too late for a other wave of winning dominance.
Though, had it not been for Nole, he'd've won 2 slams this year.

Nadal was "lucky" he always had Nole or Fed  delivered on a plate tired, thanks to rigged draws.
Even Murray in Wimbledon 13 and Olympics.
Cilic USO 14...

The back injury in 2013 was almost a death knoll for his career. Then just as he started coming back in 2014, the new twins slowed everything again for a time.

Confidence and momentum are so hard to earn in this era, and he had tide to swim against.

But in the heart of hearts, he and everyone knows and acknowledges it.

No I mean in 25/30 years ago!!! At least for the size of the frame and 15 or more years ago to adopt to new strings. he only adopted the new strings in 2002 whereas nalby and hewitt had them 3 or 4 years before that.

Without those new strings no-one coudl have touched him either.

really unlucky in a way.

And yes 17 slams is actually a poor representation of his talent and mental strength. Had not conditions changed there would have been no-one stopping him winning slams at the 2004-07 rate till more or less now.

Tenez wrote:No I mean in 25/30 years ago!!! At least for the size of the frame and 15 or more years ago to adopt to new strings. he only adopted the new strings in 2002 whereas nalby and hewitt had them 3 or 4 years before that. .

That is very interesting. I didn't know it.

I remember Tipsarevic trounce Nalby in straight sets in R1 of Wimbledon 2012 on C1.
That was the first time I saw either live and was amazed with the difference in ball striking.
How much Tipsarevic muscled the ball thanks to his big legs while Nalby's shots on the other hand looked weak and silky, like he didn't have breakfast that mormong.

Then followed on Fed and ferraried past Ramos on fresh grass.

Were Fed and Nalby both playing with 90" racquets at the time?

Tenez wrote:
Without those new strings no-one coudl have touched him either.

really unlucky in a way.

But why didn't he choose those?
Was he ill-advised or enjoyed/trusted his talent?

Or simply could not predict where things were going.

Alarm bells must have gone off when he saw Nadal in that sleeveless top...

Match of the Day:

Stepqnek-Fognini
Pouille-Traver
Berdych-Zverev
Almagro-Dimitrov
Gasquet-Darcis

Pouille through to the 1/4F.

Tenez wrote:Pouille through to the 1/4F.

Excellent!
Traver is a really tough, hard-hitting grinding cookie.

Caught angew games if Rosol-Tsonga.
Apart from noticing weird grunting from Rosol, I couldn't believe (sorry,mbut there is no other way of describng her) a complete idiot of a commentator on tennistv.

Apart from telling is how Tsonga is going to serve for the set at 5:4 with great surprise (as if Tsonga's ranked 1268 or stg), she then went on to elaborate and educate us how in tennis it's all so topsy-turvy,.. We have breaks of serve, holding serve...and all that with ridiculous dramatic intonation, like it was the first match she ever saw...amd what's even worse, like it is the first match we are all seeing...

Andrew Castle is Einstein compared to her...

I just want to know how on earth do some of these people get their jobs.

I thought I'd have a nice quiet evening watching some tennis, but I can't even do that, so I have to go and play to calm down.

I always find women to be annoying commentators.  Sue Barker was another "WOW!  TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN Ks [or whatever it was]"  Like she's hip for saying "Ks".  It sounds crap.

I despise Castle.

yes castle is a tough one to listen to. The worst thing is I think he knows about tennis but simply chooses to big it up and sell it to the masses as a burger.

Listening to him commentate on Murray matches is like listening to George Bush declare victory in Iraq.  He is delusional.  I remember watching as Roddick kicked Murray out of Wimbledon one year (that I predicted).  He was still making out as if Murray was winning when he was down sets and heading for the door.

I remember at one point, Murray lost a point and Castle claimed that Murray was feeding on the pressure.  It was absolutely unbelievable.

When you think about it, there is no reason why tennis commentators should be any better than news readers...
I can't help thinking they were (more) genuine in the past.

Almost every profession has now turned into a salesman.

Some excellent matches today. Shame I win't be able to see most

Karlovic-Gulbis
Fognini-Ferrer
Pouille-Agut
Baghdatis-Mulle
Chardy-Gasquet
Momfils-Rosol
Berdych-Dimitrov

Pouille-Agut starting.
Allez!

noleisthebest wrote:Pouille-Agut starting.
Allez!

And now the stream disappears like  the match is not even being played...

Finally home...just saw the scores and Monf serving for the match (semi against Ferrer tomorrow)

He looked in the mood, unlike Rosol, who left the court unentertained.

Now Baggy trying to move Muller about...now how co e Nalby retired and Baggy is still going?

Btw, did anyone see news today of Delpo working in coming back (...again!)

He had three wrist surgeries this year.

Would be lovely to see him again, hopefully he'll be able to catch up.

Btw, did anyone see any tennis earlier today?
Looks like Ferrer is back to his super grinding best - the score suggests he dispatched Fabio with ease.

Also Pouille...where was he failing - again too slow on his feet?
Gutty is very good.

noleisthebest wrote:Finally home...just saw the scores and Monf serving for the match (semi against Ferrer tomorrow)

He looked in the mood, unlike Rosol, who left the court unentertained.

Now Baggy trying to move Muller about...now how co e Nalby retired and Baggy is still going?

Btw, did anyone see news today of Delpo working in coming back (...again!)

He had three wrist surgeries this year.

Would be lovely to see him again, hopefully he'll be able to catch up.

Isn't Baggy younger than Nalby? Baggy was a youngster when federer was at his winning-slam peak.

No did not read the news about Delpo...I fear we will never know how good he coudl have been though i doubt he will ever catch up though he could do a Muster.

noleisthebest wrote:Btw, did anyone see any tennis earlier today?
Looks like Ferrer is back to his super grinding best - the score suggests he dispatched Fabio with ease.

Also Pouille...where was he failing - again too slow on his feet?
Gutty is very good.

No did not see anything. I checked the score at 4 all.....and then quickly later I checked again....and it was 64 62. Just lack of consistency.....but at least he reached the 1/4F. That's not too bad.

Tenez wrote:
Isn't Baggy younger than Nalby? Baggy was a youngster when federer was at his winning-slam peak.

No did not read the news about Delpo...I fear we will never know how good he coudl have been though i doubt he will ever catch up though he could do a Muster.

You're right!
Jus checked...Baggy is "only" 30!
I don't know why I thought he was older...he seems to have been around for ever.
Even Nalby is just 33...which makes Fed look ancient comparatively speaking.

I saw a bit of Baggy-Muller...don't know how he won that in the end, probably Muller's UEs...shame. I enjoyed his FH - so natural - real weapon...yet Baggy's "ancient" looking game ended up being enough to stop  him.

It will be interesting to see how fast if at all Delpo can catch the rest...even before the injury he was really bashing the ball...which is why both his wrists went....what has he got left?

Tenez wrote:
No did not see anything. I checked the score at 4 all.....and then quickly later I checked again....and it was 64 62.  Just lack of consistency.....but at least he reached the 1/4F. That's not too bad.

I suppose...
You were right back in that AO...(or was it USO?) when he lost that 5 setter to Monfils...it looked like it stopped his career.

I've never seen him play that well again.

Some nice SFs today:

After surviving Isner and Karlovic back to back, can we announce Earnie is back (again)... even provisionally?

Monfils-Ferrer, quite interesting style wise. Monfils seems to have made up his mind what he wants to do with (the rest of) his career: he has given up the chase (officially) and is now clowning around more than ever at the same time masking the fact he has started playing aggressively compared to before or - most of the time. Who knows what that may bring...
He wants to go down as The Man Who Had Fun!

And why not!!

He looked very creative and relaxed against Rosol yesterday, and when you get creative and relaxed while serving for the (3set) match, it has to be a good sign. If you are Monfils, of course.

Also playing Gasquet, Cilic, Johnson...speaking of Johnson, a classic product of American serve and big FH school (and not much else) - he falls into this youngish category, too (though I haven't checked, don't know even if he is older than Harrison )

Then there is Donskoy playing Cilic......a Russian name I have heard a few times before...could he be any good?

So...while we wait for draws for Basel with its big names (ok, and Valencia), plenty of "little" questions to ponder...

Oh, I nearly forgot! - Match of the Day:

Kohlschreiber-Agut...two human sized skillful players - it's got to be good!

Donskoy was very promising as at 23 he was 65 in the world with a great game...but sadly got injured.....Looks like he is on his way back....unless FK is right and he is over his peak!

Yes, there are a lot of mid-weight Russian names floating around the bottom half of 100+ ranking: Golubev, Donskoy, Kuznetsov, Kuku...then Rublev.
I even saw he was playing doubles with Tursunov in Moscow!
I thought Tursunov retired (as well as Andreev)...

Why is that?

Is Russian school of tennis dying out?

Brothers Zverev are interesting as they are playing for Germany, so not sure how to classify them, esp the younger "promising" one.

like Golubev and Kuku playing for Khazakstan.....cause they are sure of playing the DC there.....and making more money. Khaz has the money but no players so some Russians go there to play for them.

Tenez wrote:like Golubev and Kuku playing for Khazakstan.....cause they are sure of playing the DC there.....and making more money. Khaz has the money but no players so some Russians go there to play for them.

And funny thing, Kazakhs  were doing much better than Russia in Davis Cup this year.
It all used to be one country not so long ago, anyway.

Anyone watching Monf-Ferrer?

I just started, Ferrer won the first set in the TB.

Monfils looks spent.
Still able to make Ferrer run by just placing the ball at will. Great hands.

Some feisty fighting from Monf, great to see.

From 00:30 down serving at 4:4 in the second set, he plays 4 excellent points and  now having Ferrer serve to stay in the set.

Ferrer incredibly fit!
Hitting the ball hard all the time. He really is the king of cross-court. When he retires, he will have no regrets or unfullfilled potential...

Yet when I saw him in RG against Murray this year it was Murray who looked superfit and tireless compared to Ferrer.

Everything is relative!

And Ferrer grinds Monf into a double-faulting dust/machine...skipping and hopping fresh as a daisy after the win.
He is back to his CC drubbing best.

I don't mind him now and then, but not today against such fun playing Monfils.

Ah well...

It will be interesting to see how Johnson plays against him in the final tomorrow.
He also has a similar single-minded simplicity about him, of a different kind of course.

Grinder vs Bomber.

missed the monfils match....but Monfils has no excuse to lose against someone like Ferrer who is less powerful and mobile.
In his case, it's really in the head!