US open prediction game! Day 9!

1 joker available!
Mladenovic (33) vs Vinci (33)
Tsonga (19) vs Cilic (9)
Serena (1) vs Venus (23)
Lopez (18) vs Djoko (1)

Andrea Hlavackova (CZE)   20 Lukasz Kubot (POL) vs. Anastasia Rodionova (AUS)  17 Max Mirnyi (BLR)

Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) [12] Nicolas Mahut (FRA) [12] vs. Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) [3] Horia Tecau (ROU) [3]

Martina Hingis (SUI) [1] Sania Mirza (IND) [1] vs. Yung-Jan Chan (TPE) [9] Hao-Ching Chan (TPE) [9]

Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 17 Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) [6] Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) [6]

Vinci (33) joker
Tsonga (19)
Serena (1)
Lopez (18)

Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 17
Max Mirnyi (BLR)
Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) [12]
Nicolas Mahut (FRA) [12]

Martina Hingis (SUI) [1]
Sania Mirza (IND) [1]

Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 17
Sam Querrey (USA)

Nice to see PH Herbert still alive in doubles.
I can't believe Vinci made it to the last 8...thanks to Bouchard's "accident", poor Cibi.

Why should there be a w/o? Why not apply the lucky loser system here as well, esp if the player is still available.

4th night match on Ashe in a row for Nole. On paper, Feli has no chance, but the one time I saw them play on clay in the first Serbian Open final all the way back in 2009 (or was it 2010?) he was a tricky opponent.

Similar to Gasquet, he can create some crazy wide angles and lengths with his BH.
Plus the court is fast, so it may not be that one-sided as expected.

I wish Fognini was playing, though.

Tsonga-Cilic...no idea, but I think this one is Tsonga's to lose.
He's been playing very well, I don't think he's dropped a set yet.

Williams brothers, anyone?

Q. How happy are you with your tournament overall? Only got broken once.
JOHN ISNER: I mean, I did play well here, for sure. You know, going up against him in the Round of 16 is not easy. But I have a lot to be proud of, for sure. I would certainly still like to be in the tournament. I really would have liked my chances against some other players out there. But he was too good. That's what I was up against. There's nothing you can do about that.

I agree with that.

Q. The way the crowd was, it was mixed. Does it bother you this is the United States Open, they're not 100% behind you?
JOHN ISNER: Yeah. I mean, if I was playing anyone else, the crowd I think would have been more behind me. But Roger, you know, he's a legend, living legend, still going.

I expected the crowd to be into it on both sides. I don't think there was really a favorite. I mean, okay, yeah, if it was 100% on my side, that would be nice. But I understand that people pay a lot of money to see that guy play. So it's all good.
======
fair point.

Izzey is a nice guy.
I think he finished his studiest first & played college tennis befire going pro relatively late.
That's why he is so mature and level-headed on the court.

Tenez wrote:Q. How happy are you with your tournament overall? Only got broken once.
JOHN ISNER: I mean, I did play well here, for sure. You know, going up against him in the Round of 16 is not easy. But I have a lot to be proud of, for sure. I would certainly still like to be in the tournament. I really would have liked my chances against some other players out there. But he was too good. That's what I was up against. There's nothing you can do about that.

I agree with that.

Do you remember our discussion when I was saying Fed was a better returner than Nole and used the (I think IW 2010 or 2012) example when Isner knocked out Nole but couldn't get past Fed in the final?

You were arguing Nole was a better returner.

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:Q. How happy are you with your tournament overall? Only got broken once.
JOHN ISNER: I mean, I did play well here, for sure. You know, going up against him in the Round of 16 is not easy. But I have a lot to be proud of, for sure. I would certainly still like to be in the tournament. I really would have liked my chances against some other players out there. But he was too good. That's what I was up against. There's nothing you can do about that.

I agree with that.

Do you remember our discussion when I was saying Fed was a better returner than Nole and used the (I think IW 2010 or 2012) example when Isner knocked out Nole but couldn't get past Fed in the final?

You were arguing Nole was a better returner.

Are you sure it was me. I have always thought Fed was a better returner on fast surfaces. However on slower ones being able to move right and left is key..and more so having that DHBH cause then you really can inject pace back on both sides.

Tenez wrote:
Are you sure it was me. I have always thought Fed was a better returner on fast surfaces. However on slower ones being able to move right and left is key..and more so having that DHBH cause then you really can inject pace back on both sides.

I went to look for it and guess what I found!

http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/122199

How cool was the OP saying Federer is the future?

Feds imo handles the big servers better, but not as good in general.

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:
Are you sure it was me. I have always thought Fed was a better returner on fast surfaces. However on slower ones being able to move right and left is key..and more so having that DHBH cause then you really can inject pace back on both sides.

I went to look for it and guess what I found!

http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/122199

How cool was the OP saying Federer is the  future?

Can't see anywhere where I say Djoko returns better than Fed.

luvsports! wrote:Feds imo handles the big servers better, but not as good in general.

But isn't that about being better at returning?

If you can return the big servers better than surely you are a better returner.

I'm still looking for it, thought it was on JA606, but it's probably here.

Regarless, I have always been impressed with the ease Fed dismantled big servers WITH A SINGLE BACKHAND!!!!

Much better day for you yesterday Tenez. Comeback time.
I'm in 2nd!

Tenez wrote:

luvsports! wrote:Feds imo handles the big servers better, but not as good in general.

But isn't that about being better at returning?

If you can return the big servers better than surely you are a better returner.

Reflex returns for sure but Djoko was crucifying Feds on the return in the wimby final.

luvsports! wrote:

Tenez wrote:

luvsports! wrote:Feds imo handles the big servers better, but not as good in general.

But isn't that about being better at returning?

If you can return the big servers better than surely you are a better returner.

Reflex returns for sure but Djoko was crucifying Feds on the return in the wimby final.

But that was essentially because Fed rushed the net as he knew he was not fit enough to handle rallying with Djoko at the end of a slam .

Fed was "crucifying" Nole's serve In Shanghai, Dubai and Cinci....where conds were faster.

It's infinitely easier to return with two hands.

Nole is good at controlling ball direction while keeping length, unlike Murray his returns are less predictable as his wrist is looser.

Also the position from/with which he returns is ridiculously athletic.

Wow!!!
Check this one out, I don't remember ever reading this! Borg answering our questions!!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8350824.stm

Good old BBC 606 days

PS still looking!

TS: Mlad tsonga (joker) serena djoko, rod/mir, herb/mahut, hingis/mirza, mattek/quer

Q: Did you call/text/thank Rafa for preventing Roger from beating your five-in-a-row Wimbledon record?
Tenez
A: "No, I didn't do that! I was happy for Roger when he equalled my record - I was there to see it. And records are there to be broken, and I was there the year after also. If Federer had beaten the record it would have been great."
===================
Yes I remember. I thought it was funny how he picked my question.....as Borg famously texted Federer for stopping Pete for a 5 in a row!

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:Do you remember our discussion when I was saying Fed was a better returner than Nole and used the (I think IW 2010 or 2012) example when Isner knocked out Nole but couldn't get past Fed in the final?
You were arguing Nole was a better returner.

Are you sure it was me. I have always thought Fed was a better returner on fast surfaces. However on slower ones being able to move right and left is key..and more so having that DHBH cause then you really can inject pace back on both sides.

I give up the search for now. Need to go out.
Will come back to it some time...but while I was looking, I did find some fascinating old threads.
We've had such fabulous times discussing tennis over the years!

Tenez wrote:Q: Did you call/text/thank Rafa for preventing Roger from beating your five-in-a-row Wimbledon record?
Tenez
A: "No, I didn't do that! I was happy for Roger when he equalled my record - I was there to see it. And records are there to be broken, and I was there the year after also. If Federer had beaten the record it would have been great."
===================
Yes I remember. I thought it was funny how he picked my question.....as Borg famously texted Federer for stopping Pete for a 5 in a row!

I didn't know that!

Mine was:

Q: Who is your favourite player at the moment and why?
Noleisthebest
A: "Roger Federer is certainly the best of them, but I don't have one favourite. He is the greatest player I've ever seen, but with Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as well this is a great time for tennis.
"I've seen every single match that Nadal and Federer have played against each other. They bring out the best in each other, but it's great that there are others there as well to push them."

I am pretty sure I was hoping for Borg to mention Nole in a more "significant" way...Fedal was the big chip on my shoulder at the time...what!!!! Nole reduced to a "pushing role!!!!? mind you, this was all in 2009.
I was such a fan!!!

My picks :

Vinci (33) joker
Tsonga (19)
Venus (23)
Lopez (18)

Anastasia Rodionova (AUS)  17 Max Mirnyi (BLR)

Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) [12] Nicolas Mahut (FRA) [12]

Martina Hingis (SUI) [1] Sania Mirza (IND) [1]

Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 17 Sam Querrey (USA)

What's the concept of the joker, btw? How does it work? ta

Vinci (joker), Cilic, Lopez, Venus, mirnyi, Mahut, Chan, Mattek

Joker is double points score.


As a moderator I thought it's about time I'd intervene! (Tenez edited)

CB: Mlad (joker) tsonga serena djok kubot rojer hingis sands

I don't know anything about the women's game so I don't bother.  It bores me stiff.

In the matches remaining for the men I'd go Tsonga, Federer, Wawrinka. And I'd gamble that Lopez beats Djokovic to gain some points.  Shove a Djoker on it haha.

How things have changed: Feli Lopez, a SBH-er of 34 (next week), is foing better than a year younger DBH-er Ferrer and 5 years younger Nadal.

It's a proof of how costly DBH tennis is physically.

noleisthebest wrote:How things have changed: Feli Lopez, a SBH-er of 34 (next week), is foing better than a year younger DBH-er Ferrer and 5 years younger Nadal.

It's a proof of how costly DBH tennis is physically.

I wish but it is more a proof of how fast the USO is. had it been more like the recent sluggish courts, it may have been a very different story.

1. Mladenovic (JOKER)
2. Tsonga
3. Djokovic
4. Serena


doubles
5. Rodinova/Mirnyi
6. Rojer/Tecau
7. Mirza/Hingis
8. Querry/Sands

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:How things have changed: Feli Lopez, a SBH-er of 34 (next week), is foing better than a year younger DBH-er Ferrer and 5 years younger Nadal.

It's a proof of how costly DBH tennis is physically.

I wish but it is more a proof of how fast the USO is. had it been more like the recent sluggish courts, it may have been a very different story.

Yes.  Australia Open will likely be Djokovic and defenders succeeding.  Wawrinka might prove the exception there, but generally that slow hard court kills players like Fed.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:How things have changed: Feli Lopez, a SBH-er of 34 (next week), is foing better than a year younger DBH-er Ferrer and 5 years younger Nadal.

It's a proof of how costly DBH tennis is physically.

I wish but it is more a proof of how fast the USO is. had it been more like the recent sluggish courts, it may have been a very different story.

You're right!
I wonder if any TDs are regretting those slowing down decisions...

But this USO really gives me hope for next year. Even AO!
Would be super interesting to see how Bercy and WTF play in November.
Enough of that sand-paper court.

Tsonga-Cilic starting!

I always thought Tsonga would win a Slam... but in crunch moments at latter parts of tournaments, he's always fallen short. It's sad... I really like the guy. Still... not over yet.

Cilic is playing well, but not as well as last year.

Tsonga's returning letting him down.

The problem is Cilic serve is ridiculously difficult to beat when he's playing with confidence (something he does better than Isner).

noleisthebest wrote:Cilic is playing well, but not as well as last year.

Tsonga's returning letting him down.

I agree. But he's getting better and better. You have to give the man credits. There was a lot of pressure on him as a defending champ, but he seems to reach -at least- the semi final. Mentally he has been rock solid this week and if he gets that flow back from last year, anything can happen.

I hope he does to beat Djoko but then lose to Feds

Tsonga takes the 3rd. Game on.

luvsports! wrote:I hope he does to beat Djoko but then lose to Feds

Wow, what a daydream

Let me dream in peace!

WHo will trouble Novak more, Cilic or Tsonga?

gallery play wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Cilic is playing well, but not as well as last year.

Tsonga's returning letting him down.

I agree. But he's getting better and better. You have to give the man credits. There was a lot of pressure on him as a defending champ, but he seems to reach -at least- the semi final. Mentally he has been rock solid this week and if he gets that flow back from last year, anything can happen.

He looks more relaxed with himself this year to me, in a good way.
The court suits him.

But both are thinking they can win this, that's the fun of this match, esp if it goes to 5th.

luvsports! wrote:WHo will trouble Novak more, Cilic or Tsonga?

I was just thinking that...very tough question.
I'd say Tsonga in the zone. He plays faster.

Cilic has a block against Nole, they are mates.

luvsports! wrote:WHo will trouble Novak more, Cilic or Tsonga?

Cilic, hands down. I even think Cilic will beat Djoko if he plays as good as last years semi or final

Even though he is 13-0 vs Djoko?

luvsports! wrote:Even though he is 13-0 vs Djoko?

Last year Fed had a similar record against Cilic...

On this surface Cilic should have a chance, much depends of form of the day.
Tsonga is useless, he never wins when it counts. He should actually stop wasting his and Cilic energy, for the good of tennis

What's wrong with Tsonga's knee?

5-0\