ATP 500/250: Dubai, Acapulco, Buenos Aires

Very good win for Coric and surprising. He beat Nadal last year in Basel, but who hasn't beaten Nadal in the past few months, old and young, high and low ranking. 

Of course the game is desperate for younglings, but of all youngsters, it had to be Coric? Can't say I enjoy his playing style too much. I hadn't seen much of him before this match, it showed that he certainly has great defense, very fast, very solid and plays rather smart. His losses this year include several good offensive players, like Wawrinka, Stakh and Chardy. Will be exciting to watch what he can do tomorrow vs. Fed.

Favourite match today: Berdych vs. Stakhovsky. Stakhovsky is a joy to watch, he plays so differently from most everybody else. Berdych was... being Berdych.

Yes, Coric is weaponless, just like Dimi, but it's very difficult for youngsters to breakthrough now unless they are very strong.

Look at the size of Raonic!

The whole tour is working so hard these days, everyone trying to make the most of what they have.

Slow conditions are killing all players now.
Nadal is the only one that needs them as he simply can't adapt to anything faster, but his body can't cope with it any more.
Most have caught up with fitness as well as strings, noone can reach week 2 of a slam fresh, whch is where draw-rigging comes into play.

I am confident that as soon as Nadal retires, things will start to improve, just like they did when he was out for 7 months after that loss to Rosol in Wimbledon 2012 (time violation started being observed).
He has done his bit for tennis popularity and needs to fade away with some dignity if he can.

If he loses in RG, that would be the beginning of the swift end for him.

He struggles with accepting defeats like noone else,  not so much as a professional tennis player, but the loss of "aura" , adulation...

I am actually amazed that Coric was so effective against Murray, he was a wall, but the balls coming back had purpose.
I know he is only 18, but I don't see him as a slam winner, if  anything, he is a modern Hewitt and Hewitt is nowhere near winning anything now.
Coric's  breakthrough isn't marked by great tennis...his shots are decent but nothing more than that.
His belief is his biggest weapon, but Dimi was like that in the beginning and where is all that confidence now?

Real confidence on the court should come from a weapon. Fitness, percentage tennis...all that is very fragile.

I still think there are proper talents waiting to come. Someone with light feet, quick hands and hunger for attacking.

In the meantime Nishi-Dolgo have started, time to sit back and enjoy!

Btw, imagine if Nishi had Dolgo's drive and aggression....

Good post but I still don't see why you support Nole when you say this bar the Serbian connection.

Nishi is a superior talent and a cleaner ball-striker than Dolgo, but it's such a shame he was moulded in Boletieri Academy.

Dolgo is an an ultimate gambler, and he must totally love playing.
Shame he so often has to endure the losing feeling, although I'm pretty sure he isn't bothered about it as much as some.

luvsports! wrote:Good post but I still don't see why you support Nole when you say this bar the Serbian connection.

I've written about it many times in fragments and it's not a one sentence answer.
There is a private element to it, too.

I know its the consistency thing but for me dolgo can hit bigger heights shot making wise than nishi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq3LSgRLico

Noshi is a cleaner ball-striking, his timing s really awesome but unfortunately, his game quite behind his talent.
Dolgo is the opposite.
He does take the ball early and is very light on his feet, but his contact with the ball is two-leagues behind Nishi.

That's where Nishi gets his consistency from - the sheer level of hand to eye coordination, it simply cannot be taught and is so rare in these conditions.

It's disappointing how that huge talent is in suffering because of his lack of spirit, and  also not such an athletic body.

I shudder to think what Fed would be like if he was built like Nishi...

He really got all pieces of the puzzle together and when we see fractions of those in various other players, we get unnecessarily frustrated.

But I love watching Dolgo play, he's got a special madness for the ball.

Wow, Nishi and Dolgo are really treating us here, almost fighting for shot-making prestige, awesome!

This fan is dead tired but thanking you

Come on, Dolgo!!!

Wow, I just saw Dolgo CONSTRUCT a point and send a few disciplined, down the middle balls. He must have felt dirty after winning that point!
Even Nishi looked shocked

Another super day of tennis:

Federer-Coric (I bet Fed is loving the opportunity/challenge of taking on the latest "new" generation...)
Djokovic-Berdych (last time they played Berd narrowly avoided the double bagel)
Ferrer-Harrison (Harrison continues his resurgence, after Dimi he managed to fell Karlovic. Here comes the ultimate test, though)
Nishi-Anderson (Nishi playing in great form, an upset would be a big surprise)
Nadal-Delbonis (so long as Delbonis plays his game, it should be a decent match)

Berdych Djoko is a waste of time. Berdych has no weapon v Djoko. Not gooing to watch that one for sure.

Glad they put Fed Coric first. Wonder whether that was a Fed wish.

Tenez wrote:Berdych Djoko is a waste of time. Berdych has no weapon v Djoko. Not gooing to watch that one for sure.

I don't blame you!
I rarely watch those, too,  just a few games to see their form.
Berd has actually put on even more muscle since AO, somehow despite the extra weight he is now chasing balls along the baseline...and getting to them, I was really surprised.
That must be his new (Murray's ex-coach) input.

When I see him and Cilic I often wonder what is it that made Berdych so much more successful (apart from Marin's USO slam, so I suppose it's evened out in some way).
They are both chokers, but Cilic is a better mover and has more dangerous game.

As for Fed, yes, good decision to play first, must be his choice.

noleisthebest wrote:Berd has actually put on even more muscle since AO, somehow despite the extra weight he is now chasing balls along the baseline...and getting to them, I was really surprised.
That must be his new (Murray's ex-coach) input.

I essentially noticed that Berds is a rare player wearing a shortish short, exposing his quads. Whether there are bigger or not I can't really say. They are huge but they have been so for some time. However certainly using Murray's coach we know where this is heading.

Cilic has much better shots. If it wasn't for injury he would have a much better career. I don't see Cilic as a choker really. Not that obvious. He is a tall guy and was certainly ran down by the usual RRunners....like all attacking players. The RR choose to RRun specifically cause they are themselves chokers and prefer to bet on fitness than their shot making ability.

Not sure I agree with that Berdych has lost weight for me, or at least he is a better mover than he was last year.
How can you put on weight and cover more ground? He was covering a lot of ground vs Murray and Rafa. I think like Murray he has lost a bit of weight.

luvsports! wrote:How can you put on weight and cover more ground?

Simply by developing those quads....they are the key to moving fast, so bigger legs makes better movers.

Tenez wrote:Cilic has much better shots. If it wasn't for injury he would have a much better career. I don't see Cilic as a choker really. Not that obvious. He is a tall guy and was certainly ran down by the usual RRunners....like all attacking players. The RR choose to RRun specifically cause they are themselves chokers and prefer to bet on fitness than their shot making ability.

You're of course right about the pressure RRs apply on their opposition.
The reason I mention Cilic as a choker is that match he managed to lose to Murray when he was a set and 5:1 up, that was the 2013 USO, the one Murray ended up winning.
Ivanisevic helped Cilic a lot - he improved his serve and made a real weapon of it - I think that's what stabilised Cilic's confidence,  released his FH and led him to USO victory.
And remember, he did not have to play any RRs en route to his slam win.

In his mind he knew he had tired Fed in the semi-final, someone that was not going to pressure him physically and where he could play clean tennis.

I saw him beat Chardy in Wimbledon and he looked very good - he then ran into Nole in the QF and that was the end, a very, very close and tough match, though.

He too has piled  on muscle and that certainly showed on his FH.

Unfortunately, he managed to injure his shoulder in the meantime, and I wonder if that was caused by changed serving technique.

His motion obviously was not as natural and smooth as Goran's.

luvsports! wrote:Not sure I agree with that Berdych has lost weight for me, or at least he is a better mover than he was last year.
How can you put on weight and cover more ground? He was covering a lot of ground vs Murray and Rafa. I think like Murray he has lost a bit of weight.

To me, Murray looks bigger than ever. He is so (over)trained his veins are sticking out everywhere.
It doesn't help that he is wearing skin tight tops that look a size too small. Even his shorts are getting shorter, similar to Berdych.
Their quads are simply ridiculous.

With Berd there is no RR-ing so he uses the legs more to pile on power into his shots, with Murray, there is an awful lot of running involved and then you can just imagine those poor muscles screaming for oxygen all the time.

Tennis is crazily physical now.

The thing I don't fathom about Murray is his second serve.

He is such a hard worker, he is tall and strong, he should have worked it out by now.

Can it be the lack of guts?
Is he so confident in his fitness and rallying skills that he isn't bothered by it?

If I was him, I'd get a coach just to fix his serve and work on it until I get it done.
Surely he can afford it.

Could Agassi be a solution for Murray?


" He’s a tortured perfectionist.

It would help Andy if he came to terms with what could keep him at his highest level mentally.

I don’t think it’s true he doesn’t have a fighting spirit – that guy is his own highest critic, he holds himself to a standard you wouldn’t dare hold him to.

When I look at him I don’t see someone who isn’t a fighter but I do see someone who has to put his circumstances in context and figure out how to constantly get back to the job in hand.

That’s tougher for some players than others.

I see myself in Andy, I’m not sure for the same reasons, but I can identify with how he appears a lot of the time.
It’s a living hell being a perfectionist but does it make you better? It can be a strength because everything is going to get done with the highest degree of standard.

But everyone’s strength is their weakness too because it can also be demoralising, you don’t accept less and you can be at your worst.

It’s the artist taking the knife to the canvass – I think it makes Andy shine but I also think it makes him want to hide.

There are times in my career I felt like Pete made me better, there were other times I felt like he cost me my livelihood.

There were times I was demoralised by it and there were times I was inspired by it – I think we’ve seen that too with Andy.

Every grand slam final he’s played has been against Djokovic or Federer – I don’t envy it but I sure respect it and appreciate it.
I do see him winning a slam this year.

I think Djokovic is a clear level above the field at the moment but a lot can happen, you have to lace your boots up seven times to win a slam.

i would put Djokovic as the clear dominant player this year but no doubt Andy can beat him, even when he’s at his best, Andy is that good.

Agassi must be looking for a job. They all need money at the end....look a Aranxa Sanchez even.

Coric ball-striking sounds very physical, a bit like Thiem, his career isn't going to last long like that.

Tenez wrote:Agassi must be looking for a job. They all need money at the end....look a Aranxa Sanchez even.

Agassi can't live without limelight and attention. I can only take him in very small doses.

Coric's in-your-face fist-pumping is such a turn-off.
Pride comes before the fall and his landing is going to be particularly painful.

yes...but he is bloody impressive already.

Daddy Nole was much classier in his cockiness in his early career.

The thing is Federer is a bad opponent to gauge Coric's strength. I think Djoko woudl have strugggled quite a bit more.

noleisthebest wrote:Daddy Nole was much classier in his cockiness in his early career.

Still very similar to some extend. They look like lottery winners.

Tenez wrote:The thing is Federer is a bad opponent to gauge Coric's strength. I think Djoko woudl have strugggled quite a bit more.

Nole would have no trouble against Coric, I think. Fed is a good measure, I think, he makes Coric look nowhere near as good as Murray yesterday.

Fed not as mobile today.

Tenez wrote:Fed not as mobile today.

I noticed that, too. Big difference from yesterday.

nitb translating services here
Coric:
"I can't play. I have no rhythm. I have nothing"

..."9 years of training (expletive) 9 years and I can't won my service game!"

Coric reminds me very much of Bruguera. He is very much a mixture of Nadal and Djoko.

Tenez wrote:Coric reminds me very much of Bruguera. He is very much a mixture of Nadal and Djoko.

Yes he is, but he hasn't picked up the best of both...just a blend.
I read somewhere that .coric is a natural lefty, yer he plays as a right-hander, that could explain the absence of natural factor about him.

He certainly moves very well for his age...must be quite natural.

Actually this big confidence front can often be just a facade.

Tenez wrote:He certainly moves very well for his age...must be quite natural.

Yes, that's where he is better than both Nole and Nadal, looks natural in any part of the court, but his ball-striking is artificial.

Fed is experimenting here, almost casual...every point he plays different, no wonder Coric can't get any rhythm.

Great volleying.

noleisthebest wrote:nitb translating services here
Coric:
"I can't play. I have no rhythm. I have nothing"

Asking too much of himself.

In short: GOAT vs The Kid

noleisthebest wrote:Fed is experimenting here, almost casual...every point he plays different, no wonder Coric can't get any rhythm.

Great volleying.

yes...but as we noticed he looked either bored or stiff.

Even Fed's chipped SBH return is better than Murray's DBH returning Coric's serve today....

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Fed is experimenting here, almost casual...every point he plays different, no wonder Coric can't get any rhythm.

Great volleying.

yes...but as we noticed he looked either bored or stiff.

I even noticed a touch of disdain.

I said on v2 Coric is being hyped too much, and see what happens.

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:The thing is Federer is a bad opponent to gauge Coric's strength. I think Djoko woudl have strugggled quite a bit more.

Nole would have no trouble against Coric, I think. Fed is a good measure, I think, he makes Coric look nowhere near as good as Murray yesterday.

You will be up for a surprise pretty soon...a few month. Coric does everything much better than Djoko at the same age....bar the serve. Coric being slightly shorter, he will be able to outlast Djoko pretty easily.

Yep...no amount of hype can help you on the court...