ATP Masters 1000: Cinncinati

Tenez wrote:Those French players are such showmen but who gets the win at the end? not them!

I know Paire would've preferred a win over this point, but....joie de vivre is priceless!

The match which could boost Nadal for the second phase of his career helping him to reach the summit again.....or kill any hope he may have left once and for all.

You think so?

I thought Nole buried Nadal in RG this year.

Maybe a loss would be demoralising, but not sure a win would boost him.
Maybe a win over Nole in a slam.

PS
I am assuming you are talking about tomorrow's potential Fedal match.

Nadal's based his whole career confidence on beating Federer. he is a player full of fear but knowing that he could beat Federer gave him wings.

Doing again, would certainly do him lots of good.

Yes, but that was in the beginning of his career, until Nole came on the scene.

The win should mean more to Fed. A nice statement at this stage of his/both players' career.

Federer telling it as it is.....as usual!

Q. It felt like there was a bit of experimentation going on out there at different times. Can you talk about that. (Indiscernible.)
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, like you said, it's the first round of the hard court season for the next six‑plus months or so, I have, you know, things in mind that I hope we're going to work again on the hard court season.
No. 1, you have to be fit and tough, because you can stop on a dime and move the other direction, which on other surfaces is not so easy to do.
Here in Cincy it plays pretty quick, so why not move forward a bit. You have to just pick the right times and keep your opponent off balance, I think is a good play for me.
Yeah, I grew up as an attacking player. I mean, somewhat, I guess. It wasn't crazy, but everybody who had a decent serve and one‑handed backhand used to serve and volley back in the day at Wimbledon to some extent and then also other places, especially against the better baseliners. I just felt it was almost the only way out, because from the baseline I couldn't hang with the guys until I realized, Well, if I am not going to start improving my baseline game, I will never actually beat those guys on a regular basis and on the slower surfaces.
Thankfully that was a good thinking, because the surface has slowed down a lot as the years went by. I had no choice but to adapt, I guess, as well. Clearly worked a lot on my baseline game, on my one‑handed backhand, and got stronger and stronger. Mostly also because all the guys used serve there and play it there, so it was good practice in matches, to be honest.
I think once I got fit enough I was able to use that really to my advantage, you know, my coordination, anticipation, just the whole idea of how to play. You can move defense into offense. I think I was doing that better than anybody for a certain period of time. "AND" Today I can still do it, but I guess I pick my moments to do it.

And that's pretty weird! A clear sign Federer is distancing himself from his "job".

Q. You talked in your other press conference about having a lot of practice obviously since you didn't play in Canada. What was it like to be out there tonight, to get another match under your belt and start your tournament defense?
ROGER FEDERER: Very nice. For most of the day I was not even aware ‑‑I mean, I knew I had a match tonight, but I was just wandering around doing stuff with my wife and my kids. I looked at the watch and I was like, Oh, I play in a three or four hours. I better get over there and get warmed up. It's been a while since I've had a match.

Mmmm...it is weird, almost disrespectful.

Maybe he subconsciously does not want to play.
I am like that with the gym...always late.

Plus, he is in the "enjoyment" phase of his career with nothing to prove.

He did say he had put hours into fitness training after Wimbledon, and obviously trusts his talent enough not to need any extra pre-match prep.

And then there's all the years of experience...how many times has he been in Cinci?

I bet he knows some shopkeepers by name...

Very busy so not seen any tennis, just the scores.
Looks like Noke is tanking (no disrespect to Goff).

He is injured.

Off to playing now
LS,
If you are watching, please post how things are going between Goff and Nole.

Goffin looking good against Djoko. Still some work to do though.
Not sure if Djoko's tanking..

BTW; Goffin is the least discussed player on OTF, right? He's closing in on the top 10..

If it's a tank, Goffin is the ideal player to cover that because he's hitting some really good shots

Yes, Goff is a very nice player, born on the wrong era...this is a bruising generation for him.

It would help if he could take his FH earlier.
If only Nishi had his heart!

gotta go now

Djoko breaks back but Goffin gave him that one.

luvsports! wrote:Djoko breaks back but Goffin gave him that one.

but still a break ahead

I wonder how much nerve Goffin has.
Djoko is there for the taking but he won't go away easily.

O no! Goff suddenly gets nervous...

luvsports! wrote:I wonder how much nerve Goffin has.
Djoko is there for the taking but he won't go away easily.

Here's your awnser...

Djoko will finish it off now

Not much. 3-3

Sigh  . 6 games in a row.

noleisthebest wrote:

He is injured.

 You still don't know him do you?

gallery play wrote:Goffin looking good against Djoko. Still some work to do though.
Not sure if Djoko's tanking..

BTW; Goffin is the least discussed player on OTF, right? He's closing in on the top 10..

No he is actually quite appreciated here by most. But again he comes up with strange losses....a bit like STan for many years before 2014.

gallery play wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:

He is injured.

 You still don't know him do you?

I give up!

I didn't see any tennis today...and I really thought he was injured.

Anyway...how on earth did Goffin manage to lose from being 3:1 up in the 3rd set..

There is a lot of waste in Cilic's game. It's a shame!

Cilic lacks drive. He is so tame.

I could barely recognise him in last year's USO.

His aggressive angry face was almost comical! I've nomidea how Goran managed to work him up into that froth.

....Whereas Gasquet improves with age!

3-0 up Nitb!
He imploded

luvsports! wrote:3-0 up Nitb!
He imploded

Stupid!

And disappointing. He is just too nice.

Nole is almost having the Nadal lockeroom aura effect now

Silly me thought he didn't want to face Stan imjured...

A very late night for Fed.....not good for the following day.

Yes..he just puts up with late night scheduling knowing it's because he's so popular.

It will be interesting how he deals with big Kev.
He's always had his way with players like him.

nadal having a bathroom break...after the 5mn warm up! Good start!

Tenez wrote:....Whereas Gasquet improves with age!

Just saw the results, great win for him.

I watched him a bit yesterday, his BH is living a life of its own, I am serious!!!

What aI saw in Boodles was only the beginning.

I wish he got a bit more attention...not just "the beautiful backhand", he is hitting some crazy shots with it, full topspin whack from all positions!

He gets all those crazy natural angles only SBH can create. And from all over the court.
It's quite something.

But he needs to sort his court positioning and flatten out the fh!

Dimi is playing well....thus far...quite aggressive!

I gave up on Richie's FH...

Actually, one year I had 2 hours to kill between afternoon and evening session in O2.
Richie was on the reserve list that year and I caught him practicing with Tsonga.
He was actually warming him up for Tsonga's RR match against Nole.

I was amazed how good his FH was during casual practice...flatter and better (and faster) than Tsonga's.

Why he doesn't strike it like that in matches I have no idea...

There is so much less bite in Nadal's FH nowadays.....he won't go far!

I'd better start watching!

I can't see nadal bothering federer tomorrow....if there is such a match.

...and what's the first thing I hear?
"Time violation from Fergus Murphy"

That will give hawkeye on v2 a field day.

I worry about feds vs rafa.

I'll have to give one thing to Nadal: however much he scrambles, he never looks weird or undignified like Nole...always balanced and coordinated in his digs.

Cincy with 20sec rule too fast for Nadal.
Will Lopez keep his composure to the end?
He looks like he believes...

Dimi playing well, good to see.
Murray isn't though.

Feli breaks back with rafa serving for the set.

Dimi hit 21 winners in 10 games to Murray's 7. State of tennis these days. 
Go dimi!

Three DFs from  Feli...

WHY???????!!!!!!!

Switching to Dimi-Murray.

Set and a break, go dimi!

Wow, Dimi trouncing Murray!

And what a difference in his body language...should've hot rid of Rasheed earlier.

Still weaponless but single-mindedly attacking now.

How things can change...

noleisthebest wrote:I'll have to give one thing to Nadal: however much he scrambles, he never looks weird or undignified like Nole...always balanced and coordinated in his digs.

true. But he does look like an average player nowadays.

Murray is everywhere.