Re: ATP 1000: Miami

by Tenez Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:14 pm

noleisthebest wrote:Gassquet on fire....super tennis guaranteed when SBH-ers are playing

TRue, Isn't it? Despite very loopy shots, it's much more creative.

by Tenez Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:20 pm

luvsports! wrote:good points tenez but you still wont change my mind, maybe we should move this to the doping thread

No worries. But we just saw here Almagro cheating on Gasquet and taking advantage of Gasquet trust in him to call a ball "clearly out" when it was clearly in.

Players are ready to cheat to win...if they could dope without being caught they would and in fact they do. And the ITF/ATP are just way too happy to wash their hands of it.

by noleisthebest Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:22 pm

Good to see Gasquet playing well again.
I can't believe his ban for cocaine use was longer than Odesnik for smuggling dope....

by noleisthebest Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:25 pm

Tenez wrote:
noleisthebest wrote:Gassquet on fire....super tennis guaranteed when SBH-ers are playing

TRue, Isn't it? Despite very loopy shots, it's much more creative.

Yes, it's great fun both to watch and play. I still don't know how DBH was allowed in the first place.....completely changed the sport.

by noleisthebest Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:35 pm

Odesnik on his doping ban:

"It was probably one of the most difficult things I’ve had to deal with. Just because your reputation takes a bit of a knock and things of that sort when—whatever the case may have been. But just trying to conduct myself in the best way that I know how, and just move on with my life and my career, and try to do the best that I can.”
Odesnik was criticized by number of players before and after he returned to tour, including fellow Americans Ryan Harrison, Andy Roddick and James Blake.

“His situation is openly known to what he did and I think every player can agree that he didn’t serve the sentence necessary for his actions,” Harrison said after he played Odesnik in 2011.

Odesnik told the Times that players’ feelings toward him may have changed. “I think a lot of them maybe respect the way that I came back,” he said. “And that they see me working hard, and see me doing things in the right way. And whether some of them respond well or not I don’t really know. I mean, no one’s said anything derogatory to me. And if a player doesn’t like me, then don’t talk to me. But, you know, I’m pretty cordial with quite a lot of the guys, and I appreciate it.”

Odesnik also gave support for broader drug testing efforts.

“For me, it’s great. For me, especially, I’ve had a lot of out-of-competition testing, I’ve already had my biological passport
taken a year and a half ago. I’ve already had several blood tests at my house.”

What a joke!

by noleisthebest Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:54 pm

Two SBh-ers in the 3rd set tie-break, it doesn't get crazier than this ATP 1000: Miami - Page 5 478237397

Come on Richard!!!!!!!!!!!!

by noleisthebest Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:58 pm

You know Gasquet's in the zone when he's serving and volleying ATP 1000: Miami - Page 5 364988687

by noleisthebest Tue Mar 26, 2013 8:04 pm

And Gasquet it is in 3 sets ATP 1000: Miami - Page 5 4006036031

He'll play the winner of Berdych-Querrey who are next on the same court.
Murray a comfortable 6:2 up against Seppi.

by Tenez Tue Mar 26, 2013 9:20 pm

noleisthebest wrote:And Gasquet it is in 3 sets
He'll play the winner of Berdych-Querrey who are next on the same court.
Murray a comfortable 6:2 up against Seppi.

Well done to you and Gasquet! I was away since my last post so did not see the end. Glad he did as he is ahead of Alma in the ranking....just.

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:36 am

Quaterfinalists:

Djokovic/Haas-Simon
Ferrer-Melzer
Gasquet-Berdych
Murray-Cilic

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:57 am

Nole time

I expect a very aggressive start, full-on focus during the entire match and job done in straight sets.

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:19 am

Despite the break for Haas wind etc, I really like Nole's "new" forehand. I don't ever remember him hitting it so well.

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:33 am

And that's the first set gone in a puff. Wrong tactics. No time for aggression in this wind. time to slow things down. BIG time ATP 1000: Miami - Page 5 563610107

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:50 am

Come on Nole, crush the kraut!!!! ATP 1000: Miami - Page 5 49141995

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:20 am

That was some performance from kraut......ALLEZ SIMOOOON!!!!!!!!!!

by laverfan Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:54 am

noleisthebest wrote:That was some performance from kraut......ALLEZ SIMOOOON!!!!!!!!!!

Commiserations, NITB.

by Tenez Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:53 am

Yes surprised by the score. Was Nole having an elbow problem?

He certainly dislike the wind like no other number 1.

by wilson_nxt Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:56 am

by Tenez Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:08 am

wilson_nxt wrote:As being of German descent I find the term kraut offensive, please refrain.

Welcome to NITB world!

I am the frog here! Winking

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:36 am

Tenez wrote:
wilson_nxt wrote:As being of German descent I find the term kraut offensive, please refrain.
Welcome to NITB world!

I am the frog here!

ATP 1000: Miami - Page 5 Miss-piggy-tennis

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:53 am

Tenez wrote:Yes surprised by the score. Was Nole having an elbow problem?

He certainly dislike the wind like no other number 1.

Elbow may have been a minor problem, but I really didn't notice anything very wrong with Nole last night.

If anything I marvelled at Haas's endless source of energy to outlast Novak in many rallies from the baseline, and I am talking fast, flat cross court corner to corner type of rallies.

I am not sure Nole chose the right tactics to start with: he went for short points and tried to ht and volley a lot, but his approach shots were not good enough for sly Haas who just could not miss last night, I lost count of how many times the ball skidded off the line to give Nole trouble.

The score doesn't tell the full story. Novak fought hard to the end with tons of guts which was great to see; his serve however was not clicking, probably because of the wind as he took pace off it and Haas had no problem sending those back with interest. So he was a bit rattled and rather than opt for the retrieving scenario (here may lie the clue whether he was injured because he opted for the ultra attacking mode instead) he took it to Haas and went for the lines, missing by not very much on a few crucial points.

Not a lot to read into this match, except that Haas played really well, his backhand in particular was a weapon, but not in shot making, more in defending, it was a classic lesson in how to do it, I was impressed, Nole could not hurt him there at all as Haas was blocking and.or slicing them all back with great depth and consistency.

There were also some meaty FH exchanges, it really was a good match to watch, played fast with no moon-balling and no pushing.

Novak is now set to play DC against the yanks next weekend, and after that prep for clay.

All in all, this will make one very interesting end of Miami, I would really love to see a completely new winner there on Sunday.

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:59 am

Also, I am not too sure about all this new racquet talk, I actually like his forehand and serve now more, they are both heavier and faster and are moving back Novak's game to his Wilson days, and if this hard court US stretch was a adaptation phase, so be it. Fewer points to defend next year.

by luvsports! Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:19 am

I would love tommy to go onto win this now 2bh but I can't see it.

Order of preference:
1) Haas (2) gasquet (3) simon (4) cilic
dont really care about the rest.

by wilson_nxt Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:23 am

by Tenez Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:30 am

noleisthebest wrote:
Tenez wrote:Yes surprised by the score. Was Nole having an elbow problem?

He certainly dislike the wind like no other number 1.

Elbow may have been a minor problem, but I really didn't notice anything very wrong with Nole last night.

If anything I marvelled at Haas's endless source of energy to outlast Novak in many rallies from the baseline, and I am talking fast, flat cross court corner to corner type of rallies.

Told you stamina improves as you get older....,more so with today's substances.

Not a lot to read into this match, except that Haas played really well, his backhand in particular was a weapon, but not in shot making, more in defending, it was a classic lesson in how to do it, I was impressed, Nole could not hurt him there at all as Haas was blocking and.or slicing them all back with great depth and consistency.

I read that again he can be beatable on his way to finals be it TMS or slams. This is where Federer and Nadal (in slams at least) were different.

Andrew Castle is the worst commentator ever. He says so many stupid things when he comments. Including last week about Haas when Cowan asked him whether Haas could have done better in his career of he had not been injured: "NO!!! He maxed out"!!! How ridiculous is that? He was number 2 at an early age and had he not been missing so many years injured he woudl have done much better.

by wilson_nxt Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:46 am

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:47 am

When I think natural stamina with over 30s I think Stepanek, not Haas.

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:51 am

Tenez wrote: I read that again he can be beatable on his way to finals be it TMS or slams. This is where Federer and Nadal (in slams at least) were different.

Interesting. I can' remember last time Novak was knocked out before SFs.

I don't count his Bercy tank loss to Querrey last year. The only two I can remember is bombing out to Anderson at IW 2008 after winning AO, and loss to Safin in 2nd round of Wimbledon (same year I think).

by wilson_nxt Wed Mar 27, 2013 12:51 pm

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:14 pm

wilson_nxt wrote:Since when does natural stamina have much to do with sport? Every athlete trains to build on what they have including Djokovic with his egg chambers, etc. Lets not forget all these top players are gifted athletes from the outset, you don't make it to the top in the tennis world being pretty much average at anything. Getting to be a top tennis pro is a process of natural selection. Those who are mentally weak, poor movers, untalented at ball striking, not naturally fit, etc, get weeded out along the way. All the top players are good at just about everything, they have to be or they get sussed out along the way by the millions of others writhing to get to the top of the tennis pile.

Unwittingly, you have answered your own question here.

I disagree with just about every word in the rest of your post and don't have the time to go into it point by point right now, but will add that there is no such a thing as natural fitness, just like nobody is born fat.
As for natural selection, in today's day and age tennis academies are more like players factories pumping out well-drilled little robots, esp in WTA.
Naturally talented players stick out by a mile and are very easily spotted, sadly there are not many at the top now. Many slip through the net under the badge of talent because they win matches, all the McEnroes are lost somewhere down the line well before the "selection" even starts taking place on tour.

by Tenez Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:33 pm

noleisthebest wrote:
Tenez wrote: I read that again he can be beatable on his way to finals be it TMS or slams. This is where Federer and Nadal (in slams at least) were different.

Interesting. I can' remember last time Novak was knocked out before SFs.

Yes but MPs down a few times...Something that he might not get out everytime. Federer everywhere and Nadal on clay had almost no dips like those.

I don't count his Bercy tank loss to Querrey last year. The only two I can remember is bombing out to Anderson at IW 2008 after winning AO, and loss to Safin in 2nd round of Wimbledon (same year I think).

Neither do I. I am just saying that he is not as dominating as the previous 2....far from it if anything as his shots/tennis are not. It;s his retrieving skills whch are impressive but that means like Nadal he is likely to be at the mercy of a good attacking player on form.

Interestingly I saw live that Wimbledon Djoko/Haas 1/4F match where Haas also prevailed.

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:39 pm

It is very hard to dominate in slow conditions.
Nole did well to dominate Nadal in 2011 and I hope he manages to to the same this year.

by luvsports! Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:40 pm

noleisthebest wrote:
Tenez wrote: I read that again he can be beatable on his way to finals be it TMS or slams. This is where Federer and Nadal (in slams at least) were different.

Interesting. I can' remember last time Novak was knocked out before SFs.

I don't count his Bercy tank loss to Querrey last year. The only two I can remember is bombing out to Anderson at IW 2008 after winning AO, and loss to Safin in 2nd round of Wimbledon (same year I think).

Ones that immediately come to mind in slams and masters are: qf aus 2009 roddick quarter final, 3rd round FO 2009 kohlschreiber, qf haas at wimby 09, qf aus 2010 tsonga, qf melzer at FO 2010

Masters: rochus 2010 IW (early round cant remember when), ljubicic miami quarters 2010, tsonga paris masters 2008, llodra paris 2010

by Tenez Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:43 pm

noleisthebest wrote:It is very hard to dominate in slow conditions.
Nole did well to dominate Nadal in 2011 and I hope he manages to to the same this year.

IT's actually easier. When you rely on fitness and you have superior fitness, then it's pretty easy...this is why all those physical players reach the business end of slams.

It;s harder on fast conds cause there you rely more on talent and talent depends on form of the day.

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:45 pm

Tenez wrote:
noleisthebest wrote:It is very hard to dominate in slow conditions.
Nole did well to dominate Nadal in 2011 and I hope he manages to to the same this year.

IT's actually easier. When you rely on fitness and you have superior fitness, then it's pretty easy...this is why all those physical players reach the business end of slams.

It;s harder on fast conds cause there you rely more on talent and talent depends on form of the day.

It is easier if you are doped up to your eyeballs like Nadal. But even he, genetically strong and athletic plus all the medicinal advances could not dominate more than a year or two, had to disintegrate physically. And never won WTF.

I agree that slower conditions hinder attacking tennis (i.e. talent) but that's another story.

Once the conditions get back to before, there may be an opportunity for someone very talented to dominate long term again.

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:00 pm

luvsports! wrote: Ones that immediately come to mind in slams and masters are: qf aus 2009 roddick quarter final, 3rd round FO 2009 kohlschreiber, qf haas at wimby 09, qf aus 2010 tsonga, qf melzer at FO 2010

Masters: rochus 2010 IW (early round cant remember when), ljubicic miami quarters 2010, tsonga paris masters 2008, llodra paris 2010

You're a pain in the neck LS ATP 1000: Miami - Page 5 2033450363

OK, go on and do the same diligent search for Federer and Nadal, my brain can only remember Rosol and Soderling

by luvsports! Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:18 pm

haha ok sure but just for feds!, see this is what i am good at, remembering pointless stats and its interesting to test myself to see if im right smiley

.

Feds: From 03 onwards (after 1st wimby win)
Slams: 2003 US Open last 16 nalbandian, FO 2004 round 2 or 3 kuerten,
2010 - FO and Wimby qf losses to soderling and berdych in 4 sets each. 2011 wimby tsonga qf, 2012 US open berdych.

Masters: From 08 this time Winking

(this will be tough probs will miss out a lot):
IW 2013 Nadal qf, roddick miami 2012 3rd round, toronto 2011 tsonga 3rd round i think, 2011 rome gasquet 3rd round, monte carlo 2011 melzer qf,

rome 2010 gulbis 2nd round, 2009 MC wawrinka round 3, berdych miami 2010 4th round (remember that hawkeye line call where feds had mp), early loss at IW's 2010 to baggy i think, karlovic cincy 08 round 3?, simon montreal 2008 2nd round, roddick miami 2008 4th round/qf? rome 2008 stepanek qf, benny 2009 paris round 2/3, w/o vs blake 2008 paris qf

by luvsports! Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:23 pm

slams for nadal i will do as far back as i can remember (2005 onwards)

05: blake US open 3rd round, wimby 2nd round muller, hewitt aus round 4
06: youzhny us open qf,
07: aus qf gonzo, ferrer US open 4th round
09: soderling FO 4th round Winking

10: qf aus murray
11: qf aus ferrer
12: rosol round 2 wimby Winking

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:35 pm

luvsports! wrote:slams for nadal i will do as far back as i can remember (2005 onwards)

05: blake US open 3rd round, wimby 2nd round muller, hewitt aus round 4
06: youzhny us open qf,
07: aus qf gonzo, ferrer US open 4th round
09: soderling FO 4th round
10: qf aus murray
11: qf aus ferrer
12: rosol round 2 wimby

you do realise none of those count 'cos he was injured...

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:35 pm

Today in Miami,

at 7 PM
Melzer-Ferrer (who would've thunk?)

and

at 11 PM
Haas - Simon

by luvsports! Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:40 pm

why are they giving old man haas a match today? Or are they doing it weds, fri, sun

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:45 pm

luvsports! wrote:why are they giving old man haas a match today? Or are they doing it weds, fri, sun

he is in the top half of the draw.
I can't wait to see Simon take him on and do his webweave.....

by paulcz Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:30 pm

Although he struggled with Falla and Gimeno in previous matches, he looked very good with Querrey. Berd has a big chance to go through Gasquet and get to the semi for the fourth time, definitely he plays the best tennis atm. I am not sure if I can withstand to watch him more than one set though. ATP 1000: Miami - Page 5 123628122

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:34 pm

paulcz wrote:Although he struggled with Falla and Gimeno in previous matches, he looked very good with Querrey. Berd has a big chance to go through Gasquet and get to the semi for the fourth time, definitely he plays the best tennis atm. I am not sure if I can withstand to watch him more than one set though.

yes that will be an interesting match. A lot will depend on Gasquet's returning. I can't see him winning if he gets stuck 3m behind the baseline as he often does against big hitters like Berdych who seems very comfortable and confident against lower ranked players.

by luvsports! Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:37 pm

Gasquet confidently dismissed bird last year at toronto/montreal in straight sets but then was comprehensively beaten in IW by an in form bird, my moneys on bird (but he may get tired).

Melzer broken at 5-2 when serving for the set Sad

by luvsports! Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:51 pm

takes it 6-4!

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:54 pm

Go Melzyyyyyy ATP 1000: Miami - Page 5 3559488474

by luvsports! Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:07 pm

3-1 down in 2nd set Sad

by luvsports! Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:11 pm

breaks back! 3-2

by noleisthebest Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:15 pm

Best thing about this half of the draw, they all know they can beat each other and have kind of a a once in a life opportunity to get to the final.

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