Re: Indian Wells Thread

[noleisthebest]

In fact former USSR, would now have Gulbis, Dolgopolov, Strakh...

I am very keen to see this young Austrian Diminic Thiem, SBH, very aggresive player, mot aure whether he is playing today or tomorrow.

[N2D2L]

It's natural to want to see a cheat lose.  It's not natural to support one.

See I knew it, you just repeat the same lines and false clichés again and again; sometimes even twice on the same day.

[Tenez]

Jiri Vesely...Is he another, maybe better version of JJ?

Did not see him play but looks like another talented giant running Murray close despite his young 20yo.

[Tenez]

Monfils losing a match he served to win . 10DFs!!!!

[N2D2L]

Vesely is definitely not another JJ...

[N2D2L]

Fognini is such a boss.

[Tenez]

What's the difference?

[N2D2L]

Tenez, did you see what Bogbrush had to say about Federer on v2?

[N2D2L]

What's the difference?

Vesely likes rallying on the baseline, and doesn't randomly do drop shots every 10 seconds like JJ does.
Also JJ can generate serious power from nowhere, and Vesely can't do that.

[N2D2L]

Given their similarity in height, it's pretty surprising how different their games are.

[Tenez]

Tenez, did you see what Bogbrush had to say about Federer on v2?

No. What does he say?

[N2D2L]

Tenez, did you see what Bogbrush had to say about Federer on v2?

No. What does he say?

'It still amazes me how bad Federer is these days.'

[Tenez]

What's the difference?

Vesely likes rallying on the baseline, and doesn't randomly do drop shots every 10 seconds like JJ does.
Also JJ can generate serious power from nowhere, and Vesely can't do that.

I guess those extra 2 inch forces JJ to shorten rallies a bit more.

I have never seen JV play....but being 77 at 20....is really impressive nowadays. Though again cause built like tank.

[Tenez]

Tenez, did you see what Bogbrush had to say about Federer on v2?

No. What does he say?

'It still amazes me how bad Federer is these days.'

Really? I did not see that first set but he was playing ok in that 2nd set.

[N2D2L]

What's the difference?

Vesely likes rallying on the baseline, and doesn't randomly do drop shots every 10 seconds like JJ does.
Also JJ can generate serious power from nowhere, and Vesely can't do that.

I guess those extra 2 inch forces JJ to shorten rallies a bit more.

I have never seen JV play....but being 77 at 20....is really impressive nowadays. Though again cause built like tank.

Well I don't know about making JJ shorten rallies; more like they simply have different styles. Vesely likes trading, while Janowicz tries to dominate and keep things in his hand more.

[N2D2L]

Tenez, did you see what Bogbrush had to say about Federer on v2?

No. What does he say?

'It still amazes me how bad Federer is these days.'

Really? I did not see that first set but he was playing ok in that 2nd set.

The quote was from his first match at Indian Wells, not this one. But I think he is talking about in general, hence 'these days', rather than one specific match.

[Tenez]

Well. he can say that as federer often experiences a set when he is completely off timing and his serving is terrible....but then the next set or next match he can play superbly. Hope BB can see that too.

[N2D2L]

Well. he can say that as federer often experiences a set when he is completely off timing and his serving is terrible....but then the next set or next match he can play superbly. Hope BB can see that too.

Well he said 'these days', I don't know how to interpret that.

But yes I agree with you on the above line myself, it's clear he is more inconsistent and patchy due to age.

[Tenez]

Well. he can say that as federer often experiences a set when he is completely off timing and his serving is terrible....but then the next set or next match he can play superbly. Hope BB can see that too.

Well he said 'these days', I don't know how to interpret that.

But yes I agree with you on the above line myself, it's clear he is more inconsistent and patchy due to age.

I am sure you will end up convincing yourself !

[N2D2L]

Well. he can say that as federer often experiences a set when he is completely off timing and his serving is terrible....but then the next set or next match he can play superbly. Hope BB can see that too.

Well he said 'these days', I don't know how to interpret that.

But yes I agree with you on the above line myself, it's clear he is more inconsistent and patchy due to age.

I am sure you will end up convincing yourself !

Ok, I agree with myself that he's more inconsistent and patchy due to age.

[N2D2L]

Again this is an issue where you know I am right, but you're just being stubborn.

[Tenez]

Seppi's playing awful!

[Tenez]

Aging cannot roll back the years. So the aging effect means you cannot do things you could do yesterday. That is aging by definition. Injury means you cannot do things you could do yesterday but might be able to do again.

Fed alternates from great tennis to crap and then great again. That is injury not age.

You are the one stubborn and wrong....as usual!

And remember you went on saying he is aging as his reflex and timing have gone down. That was your argument. Guess what we saw him play the most beautiful aggressive tennis with reflex volleys on the fastest court on the tour just last week...again 2 players on form. In fact he had most trouble with a 36yo man....and just2 days ago I posted a clip where he can execute 2 shots, 2 brilliant volleys in 0.8s!!!! slower reflexes?  

[N2D2L]

I still believe his timing and reflexes are not as sharp as they were in his prime, and I stand by that.

Aging cannot roll back the years. So the aging effect means you cannot do things you could do yesterday.

Yes, and part of that is that Federer cannot play continuously and consistently at a high level as he did during his prime. That is both during matches (where his form can change between sets and periods) and more importantly during tournaments (form changes more dramatically from match to match).

[N2D2L]

You are the one stubborn and wrong....as usual!

Nope, once again it's the other way round.
I am not saying his back injury isn't a problem for him, and clearly it was last year, but this year from what he's said in his interviews is that his back is better. His new racket is to some extent negating the negative impact of his decline due to age, that much is also clear.

[Tenez]

Sharapova is another cheat....denying she called for HE....when she did.

[bluenose]

I'm just watching Stan play and this is what occurs to me.  He is a classic basso.  Roger is the perfect baritone, modestly late to find his voice but then sweet and true, equally capable of thrilling high and low notes.  Stan is the heavy voice, late to harden and hellish to learn to control but rare and wonderful.  If Stan truly has found control then he can do wonders.  I don't think there's another basso in the bunch - power plus gravitas.

Everyone has been crying for tenors and nobody has missed the bassi!  Having even one may change the tennis dynamic enormously.  I suppose we thought Del Potro would fill that role but he turned out to be a bass baritone at best.

Allez Stan!

[truffin1]

Tenez, did you see what Bogbrush had to say about Federer on v2?

No. What does he say?

'It still amazes me how bad Federer is these days.'

There are an awful lot of top players in their prime that would love to be as bad as Federer is at 32 "these days"

That being said- it's clear Federer is still hampered by something- assuming the back. You believe it to be age. I think a little of both. He can and does play at a high level, but the margin or difference from the other player is just not as great. Anyone who has watched Federer through the years can see he is stiffer, does not play as freely. Serve leaves him suddenly which is most indicative of the back.  Despite him saying he feels great again- you can see the tension in his demeanor on court.. IT's just not the Federer we have known.   He keeps seemingly running into players playing at a high level and able to keep it closer than ever- like today. What the typical lazy commentators don't mention is the reason these guys keep showing up and playing at such a high level and keeping it close is because Federer simply can't pull away and lets them play at a high level. Whereas before he was hyperagressive, taking the ball absurdly early and creating suffocating pressure on his opponent which resulted in the opponent playing at a lesser leverl-  the opponent now has less (even slightly) pressure and can raise their game and keep close. Federer's GOAT talent and his own avg level is still good enough to win most days as long as he isn't severely hampered by injury like last year.

This week- the courts aren't helping anything. Federer isn't even bothering to approach the net unless a gimme floater.  Normaly, I think he owns Stan, but doubt Fed gets past him, and certainly can't get past Nadal on this mud speed court.

[Tenez]

I'm just watching Stan play and this is what occurs to me.  He is a classic basso.  Roger is the perfect baritone, modestly late to find his voice but then sweet and true, equally capable of thrilling high and low notes.  Stan is the heavy voice, late to harden and hellish to learn to control but rare and wonderful.  If Stan truly has found control then he can do wonders.  I don't think there's another basso in the bunch - power plus gravitas.

Everyone has been crying for tenors and nobody has missed the bassi!  Having even one may change the tennis dynamic enormously.  I suppose we thought Del Potro would fill that role but he turned out to be a bass baritone at best.

Allez Stan!

I know who is the castrato!

[N2D2L]

There are an awful lot of top players in their prime that would love to be as bad as Federer is at 32 "these days"

That was a quote from BB, not me.
I think it was meant to be a comparison to what he was during his prime, rather than a degradation of all players ranked below him.

That being said- it's clear Federer is still hampered by something- assuming the back. You believe it to be age. I think a little of both.

To make it clear, I am not saying the back is not an issue, I think both are issues.
This year though I think Federer is more positive about his back it seems, which is a good sign.

Whereas before he was hyperagressive, taking the ball absurdly early and creating suffocating pressure on his opponent which resulted in the opponent playing at a lesser leverl- the opponent now has less (even slightly) pressure and can raise their game and keep close.

Do you think this is due to back or ageing, or something else altogether?

[N2D2L]

I know who is the castrato!

Who ?

[Tenez]

Tenez, did you see what Bogbrush had to say about Federer on v2?

No. What does he say?

'It still amazes me how bad Federer is these days.'

There are an awful lot of top players in their prime that would love to be as bad as Federer is at 32 "these days"

That being said- it's clear Federer is still hampered by something- assuming the back. You believe it to be age. I think a little of both. He can and does play at a high level, but the margin or difference from the other player is just not as great. Anyone who has watched Federer through the years can see he is stiffer, does not play as freely. Serve leaves him suddenly which is most indicative of the back.  Despite him saying he feels great again- you can see the tension in his demeanor on court.. IT's just not the Federer we have known.   He keeps seemingly running into players playing at a high level and able to keep it closer than ever- like today. What the typical lazy commentators don't mention is the reason these guys keep showing up and playing at such a high level and keeping it close is because Federer simply can't pull away and lets them play at a high level. Whereas before he was hyperagressive, taking the ball absurdly early and creating suffocating pressure on his opponent which resulted in the opponent playing at a lesser leverl-  the opponent now has less (even slightly) pressure and can raise their game and keep close. Federer's GOAT talent and his own avg level is still good enough to win most days as long as he isn't severely hampered by injury like last year.

This week- the courts aren't helping anything. Federer isn't even bothering to approach the net unless a gimme floater.  Normaly, I think he owns Stan, but doubt Fed gets past him, and certainly can't get past Nadal on this mud speed court.

Margins are always bound to be thinner for a few reasons:

1 - The rest of the field also catches up. See Nadal and Djoko.
2 - He is unlikely to give his all on every match. Does not play with the same intensity.
3 - You woudl be surprised to see the number of sets he lost in 2006 and 2007 v complete unknown. Not as lates as 2010/2011 and 2012 he was crushing all the top players at WTF...bar that 2012 final where he was certainly tired.

[noleisthebest]

I just woke up, has castrato started his match yet?

[summerblues]

The one I really look forward to is tomorrow, Dimitrov - Gulbis, both playing well, Earnie surely relishing a chance for a rematch after the last week's loss in Acapulco.

I think they also played a week (or two?) before then, with Gulbis winning.  So this is their third match this year, having split the first two.  I hope Dimi can take it, the draw - not the most difficult one to start with - has opened up even more in the bottom half, so I would like to see him take advantage of that.

[N2D2L]

I just woke up, has castrato started his match yet?

Not sure if I prefer castrato or Nadull.   

[Tenez]

I just woke up, has castrato started his match yet?

No they are looking for balls!

[N2D2L]

I just woke up, has castrato started his match yet?

No they are looking for balls!

Look this is really mean to Dolgopolov.

[summerblues]

Are you guys not supposed to be asleep all?  Everyone seems to be here still.  So unusual.  Usually the place is mostly empty by the time I get in.

[noleisthebest]

I just woke up, has castrato started his match yet?

No they are looking for balls!

[noleisthebest]

The one I really look forward to is tomorrow, Dimitrov - Gulbis, both playing well, Earnie surely relishing a chance for a rematch after the last week's loss in Acapulco.

I think they also played a week (or two?) before then, with Gulbis winning.  So this is their third match this year, having split the first two.  I hope Dimi can take it, the draw - not the most difficult one to start with - has opened up even more in the bottom half, so I would like to see him take advantage of that.

I didn't know they played the 3rd match, so they are even now...Even more interesting!

[N2D2L]

Are you guys not supposed to be asleep all?  Everyone seems to be here still.  So unusual.  Usually the place is mostly empty by the time I get in.

Please... Rafito is playing.
X factor player, everyone wants to see him.

[noleisthebest]

Are you guys not supposed to be asleep all?  Everyone seems to be here still.  So unusual.  Usually the place is mostly empty by the time I get in.

Please... Rafito is playing.
X factor player, everyone wants to see him.

.....lose!

[N2D2L]

Has anyone seen the clip of Nadal accidentally dropping orange juice (or Fanta or something) on his shorts, and then he gets really embarrassed because it looks like he wet himself?   

[N2D2L]

Or maybe he really pissed himself and tried to cover it up by dropping orange juice on purpose?

[N2D2L]

Are you guys not supposed to be asleep all?  Everyone seems to be here still.  So unusual.  Usually the place is mostly empty by the time I get in.

Please... Rafito is playing.
X factor player, everyone wants to see him.

.....lose!

If you want to see him lose why on earth are people staying up to watch him slay Dolgo?

[summerblues]

This is shaping up to be very exciting.

[summerblues]

Are you guys not supposed to be asleep all?  Everyone seems to be here still.  So unusual.  Usually the place is mostly empty by the time I get in.

Please... Rafito is playing.

Yeah, you do end up being around some crazy times here and there.  How do you do that?  I imagine you are still in high school (?).  Do you not need to go to school tomorrow?  Or maybe at your age it is all easy to handle?  I know that I find it pretty rough going during the AO (late night matches here) trying to catch some tennis while also having to earn living.

[N2D2L]

Oh ffs, his back must be hurting, he is double faulting again.
Against Stepanek he hit tonnes of DFs.

[Tenez]

I wish I could stay up.....Enjoy...and good night from me.

[summerblues]

Did anyone see Stan?  Was he that good or was Seppi that bad?

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