Miami 2018

Early break for Isner. Delpo with another slow start.

Wow. 15 winners to 0 for Isner. 
Playing very well. Delpo can't get any rhythm.

Delpo is so sluggish, he is struggling in every move.

117mph fh from Isner! :O

Come on Isner!!! Delpo won IW, enough for now for him, Isner, home turf, some USA player after many years to win it, not bad.

luvsports! wrote:117mph fh from Isner! :O

Those long levers can generate extreme pace on the shots...

Jahu wrote:Come on Isner!!! Delpo won IW, enough for now for him, Isner, home turf, some USA player after many years to win it, not bad.

If he gets Zverev in finals, Isner is going to lose. But hey, this sf is not over.

Well, a step at a time, Zverev can choke badly too, and I hope he does!!

Come onnnnnn 3:0 TB. Delpo needs a rest.

This is over.. 2 minibreaks for Isner..

Isner takes it, maybe Carrot-Busted can beat Zverev too.

This is probably the best I've seen Isner play. Nothing to take away from him.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

Tenez wrote:I have no problem with that. Unless you think it is fair to compare Renshaw with Pete and Federer.

You are not getting my point. Renshaw's greatness will be measured by the game and success he had during his time. So will be for Pete, Federer, Nadal, Coric, Shapo. They all are going to be measured against the competition they were having to face. And this what I'm doing.

I think you are not getting your own point as you are the one comparing Nadal v the nexgen. My point is you could compare them....but put things in perspective like comparing Renshaws' 7 titles with Pete's.

I'm comparing a young Nadal's success he had against his competition in 2005. He he was unbeatable on clay since, no matter who he faced. He took out all top clay-courters, Federer etc... not once but weeks after weeks.. for the entire clay season. And he did it again the following year.. and year... He passed every test that was being put to him on clay.

I know. No different than Wilander beating all teh greats of clay when he arrived at 18 at RG. He arrived with a big frame versus all those clay greats who learnt to play with a small wooden racquet. Nadal arrived with those new strings and biceps no-one saw before him. Now they all come with those new strings and biceps....so it's a bit harder than then. Now you can speculate that Nadal would have still made a difference today but that is speculation. All I am saying is that You cannot compare that nextgen unless you compare eras as well.

Can you say even 1/4 of that for any young player after Nadal. While I agree about competition getting tougher, but the rate of this incline has been very slow in the last 10-15 years. This rate is high when changes are dramatic, especially when assisted by technological advancements (which you yourself have agreed that there is hardly anything in the last 15 about years)

This is the very reason it has been hard for those youngsters. Unlike Nadal or Pete, or Wilander, they did not have that techniology advantage but are facing players who have gained so much experience in those last 10 years. They know how to prepare, train, plan, surround themselves...much better than those youngsters can afford or simply know. It took many years for Nadal or Federer to understand they had to take the ball earlier, or change racquet, adding weight to the frame etc...all this to stay ahead of the pack.

Now see what any other young player has been performing against their competition. Zverev is the only one who has won a masters(2). But it wasn't a stellar performance, some assitence with draw opening/injury to top guys. No one else has even been in a TMS final. Raonic reached W finals, but only once. What followed the next year? The following tournaments?

It is no coincidence if all those young players struggle to be consistently good.

Zverev is a good example. You can see he wants to succeed badly and managed to reach number 4. But why is he the one who did better than the rest? cause he is the one who learnt best from the top players: Being consistent, run right and left, ,minimise risk, etc....and why does he fail still? cause his fitness is not as special as Nadal's was 13 years ago.

Its almost certain they are unable to defend their best results the following year when they are defending their results. Even 26-27 yo Dimi will likely not going to defend his Cincy and WTF titles.

I don't think we should discuss Dimi. I don;t think he represents some of that nextgen very much.

Looks like Delpo was very tired.

I am supporting Busta here.

Zverev looked absolutely horrible vs Medvedev, significantly better vs Coric, and he looks improved again today.  Maybe he is finding some form. He is one of the players who - on form - might have a chance to trouble Rafa on clay. We could see them play on clay next weekend in DC.

After a very long time, I look forward to a WTA final.

Tow young and talented, attacking, athletic players.

Go Jelena!!!  

Zverev's rise to dominance continues.  He's going to be up there winning slams very shortly.  He's definite favourite in Miami.

The way Isner is playing, I reckon he may get over the line.

Isner will blow him off the court, 2 TB probably.

Actually, Stephens is just a boring counterpuncher, doing nothing but pocketing Ostapenko’s  UEs.

I expected a better match.

yes. disappointing match. But that's the problem with Ostapenk. It's nt controlled aggression. In a way she is a bit like Rublev. Just by retrieving the ball (And Stephens is not that good at that either), it was enough to produce too many UEs.

After winning the Mens double, looks like the USA might win everything in Miami.

Happy Easter, everybody!

Or, as we say/greet in Serbia: Christ is risen!

Tenez wrote:yes. disappointing match. But that's the problem with Ostapenk. It's nt controlled aggression. In a way she is a bit like Rublev. Just by retrieving the ball (And Stephens is not that good at that either), it was enough to produce too many UEs.

I don’t see Ostapenko as Rublev. More like Stan.

Rublev really is 1D, plus he is a basher, Osapenko and Stan are not, they are all about heart and execution.

Rublev needs to win a slam with his heart like Stan and Jelena to be put in the same sentence.

gallery play wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:I don’t know why, but I have a feeling Fed won’t win any more tournaments.

Yeah, that's more likely than winning USO.

A week later...(I am laughing at my own self here st the wisdom of the whole seven days of historical hindsight), what is Fed doing now?

Resting, chilling....because that is all he needs (plus half decent fastish conditions) in order to play.

So I hope he does come back and win some more, however disjointed his game looked vs Delpo and Kokki.

If he managed to recover from that loss to Raonic in Wimbledon semi when he flicked his leg in resignation flatfaced on grass, I think he could squeeze in another year or two of beautiful flights...even if it’s just during 3-4 tournaments like last year.

Btw, should he say something about slow conditions at USO publicly and put pressure on “TD”(I don’t even know who makes that decision there..., Nike?)

noleisthebest wrote:Happy Easter, everybody!

Or, as we say/greet in Serbia: Christ is risen!

Or, as people in Yorkshire say, "Chris has risen."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-35899023

Watching on French TV. ZVEREV admits he put on 4kg of muscles and parts from Ferrero and hopes to get Lendl on board.

luvsports! wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Happy Easter, everybody!

Or, as we say/greet in Serbia: Christ is risen!

Or, as people in Yorkshire say, "Chris has risen."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-35899023

Good ine!

Though, a bit untimely...

Come on Isner, crush this sleeper russian spy 

Isner has also put on muscles. He is now moving and playing like he is 15cm shorter, Delpo size.

He defo looks more agile, can reach quite some balls and fast to turn sides.

Tenez wrote:Watching on French TV. ZVEREV admits he put on 4kg of muscles and parts from Ferrero and hopes to get Lendl on board.

it looks it's all gone into his legs. Considerably bigger quads than last year.

I am almost envious of Miami crowd...all that sunshine, they look so happy and enjoying themselves...even with this stupid music...

Maaan, one of those serves from Isner is going to crack open the court on the T.

Now that he is more agile, Isner should put a bit more effort into his return games...he is doing nothing there...stupid to put all his eggs into the serving basket, however good it is.

Great to see both players super pumped-up!

That's what finals should be all about...two huge come oooons clashing on the court, love it!

Good attack from Isner to break. Keep it uppppp

Now, Isner's t-shirt is what I call yellow.

Super playyyy

Wow, Isner sending the crowd into delirium!

When was the last time a Yank won anything meaningful?

Holy molly what a shot now!!!

Isner not scared to hit lines.

...and takes second set, well deserved, some great play this set from both.

Some real gutsy shots form Isner, he deserves this, so long as he doesn't burn out emotionally, he is walking on the tightrope right now...

Break himmm nowwwww

Break himmm nowwwww

Zverev has no balls, or just one, scared to approach the net, waiting for Isner UEs.

Great, human final...no big names...
Go, gooo Johnny, go go goooo!