The Tennis Thread - Part 2

[Sakuraba]

Kinda disappointing that Nadal and Djokovic ended up in the same half. That's ideally your French Open final, the two premier grinders of the past decade.

Federer must be pretty stoked about his draw. Ideally for him he would make the finals, obviously, against a worn out and checked out Djokovic. As we've seen in the Rome finals, he's not beating Nadal on clay under any circumstances.

The biggest loser here is Murray. If he indeed plays Queens, then I don't know how seriously I can take his bad back. I'm sure he plays in pain, but taking a few weeks off doesn't seem like any long term cure. The tennis is already littered with long breaks. In guessing that he realized he sucks on clay, isn't getting any better on it, and decided to focus on grass.

 

[Frico]

Total bummer when I read a potential semi with Djoker/Rafa due to them being in the same half. I wanted a rematch of last year in the final and now that's not happening. Novak might also have to face Dimitrov and Haas the last two guys who beat him. So yeah, pretty bummed. If the semi does happen I'll be rooting for Novak (and I'm a big Rafa fan).

And yeah, Fed must be on cloud 9 lol. Expect him to move through comfortably but I'm looking forward to his frist round match with Carreno Busta. Busta can play and here's hoping he brings some of that up and coming talent.

I'm also a believer that Murray realized his game on clay is a no go even if he is in pain.

CAN'T WAIT!!!!

 

[Sakuraba]

Yeah, seriously. If you've been in pain for TWO YEARS then why don't you just wait for the long break after Wimbledon to rest? Is a four week vacation going to cure chronic back pain? It's kind of embarrassing that we've got a top four player in the era of ubiquitous slow courts, and yet he actually has to skip the French Open. He just can't move on the stuff.

Looking at the draw, some highlights for me:

-there's really no way Djokovic and Dimitrov shouldn't rematch in the 3rd round. There isn't anything standing in the way of that pairing. I don't believe in David Goffin.
-Another Dolgopolov/Tomic match? Maybe.
-Tommy Haas is really old and that doesn't help on clay, much less best of five. But he has a really good draw and opportunity to make a quarter.
-Gasquet has strung together some consistency at the Slams. Looking at it, he's actually made the 4th round of seven of the past eight Slams. Wawrinka is in his section but he's banged up. Gasquet should make his first quarterfinal since his semifinal run at Wimbledon a hundred years ago when we thought he'd be the next superstar.
-Berdych and Gulbis in the second round? That's a tough break for Berdych considering Gulbis is a top ten talent and straight setted him out of Wimbledon last year.
-what the hell is James Blake doing in Paris?

 

[Sakuraba]

ESPN is interviewing Andy Murray via phone right now. He noted that he has seen a "pop back specialist". I'm guessing he's talking about a chiropractor.

 

[Sakuraba]

This phone interview has been going on for over ten minutes now. Jesus. It's not even really listenable because Murray is speaking so low and monotone. I'm struggling to make out his words.

 

[Frico]

Murray literally always sounds boring. Doesn't matter if it's a presser or a phone call he's always slow and at times sounds like he's mumbling.

Day 1 of RG was just an appetizer but both Serena and Fed looked really strong. I was expecting more from Busta but nerves and the occasion clearly got the better of him. He had the look of "I'm playing Roger Federer" lol. Still a good player and we'll probably be hearing more of him later on.

Really looking forward to Day 2.

 

[Sakuraba]

Federer looked sharp. I know Carreno-Busta is a talent and he's shown as much these past few weeks, but Federer remains remarkably consistent against non Top Ten opponents. Recent losses to Nishikori and Benneteau back in Rotterdam notwithstanding. Most of his additional losses since his declining years began in 2007 have come against top ten guys, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, then the big hitters that can pin him well behind the baseline on good days like Berdych, Soderling, and Delpo. If Federer doesn't make finals it has to be considered a bust. He shouldn't even have to play at too high a level to make it. He should be able to delve into his bag of tricks and hit all the cutesy shots he loves without the pressure of being in a struggle to win every point. He could build confidence or could fall into bad habits. I'll have some more thoughts on the current state of Federer's clay court game as the tournament progresses. Right now I'm tired and know I'm rambling.

The Venus/Urszula match was pretty darn remarkable. It wasnt the best played match obviously, but when you consider how tired they were, to continue to chase balls down and to drag themselves out of hole after hole. I mean, you could look at in a negative way and say this match epitomizes everything that has been wrong with the woman's game for the past five years, technically and tactically, yes and yes, but this was good drama and I loved it. It was a brilliant display of heart from two women, one fading away and one trying to emerge, in the first round of a tournament that a Grand Slam champion man was too cowardly to play. Two thumbs up.

It's sad to see Venus get knocked out early in every Slam. To personalize it for a second, it makes me a tad reflective to think back to those New York nights on USA Network when she was a 17 year old-maybe future world no. 1 blasting her way to the US Open finals. It's sad to see a player I grew up watching struggle and drop out early at each Slam. Though she is older than me, she was there when I really started to watch tennis and really appreciate how intricate and competitive a game it is. It makes me feel older.

 

[Frico]

Amazing match yesterday with Mofils and Berdych. Hopefully this is a more serious Monfils and he can back up his win over the fifth seed. You have to wonder how much he'll have in the fuel tank and sets up another potential great match against Gulbis. Tough who to root for as I like both.

Rain delay today but looks to be clearing up. Bring on Djoker/Goffin!

 

[Sakuraba]

Monfils could be kryptonite to Gulbis. With his backboard defense and his serve humming as it was yesterday, that's a rough combo for Gulby. Still, Gulbis was able to hit like seventy something balls past Nadal in three sets, so anything is possible. But I see a lot of unforced errors off his racquet and it'll be interesting to see how handles a hostile crowd.

If I didn't like Berdych, I'd almost feel sorry for him. He's had some tough ass first round draws at Slams.

 

[Sakuraba]

Hey, Djokovic's outfit doesn't resemble the Serbian flag. That makes two straight majors, only this outfit isn't hideous like the black and yellow striped duds from Melbourne.

 

[Frico]

Gulbis was a possible dark horse for me to make a good run this year at RG but I viewed the entire match as a win win. Meaning I would've been happy with whoever won and TBH I'm happy it was Monfils. This is a more serious Monfils which a lot of people have made note of and he's playing good ball at the moment. This was also a great way of backing up his win against Berdych.

Novak, Dimitrov and Rafa tomorrow!

 

[Sakuraba]

Monfils is definitely a character, but he's always found a way to shrink to the moment. He played Federer in the semis probably six years ago now, and he looked good in a losing effort, he could have easily won that match or at least pushed it five sets. Then he played Federer the next two years and he got straight setted twice and was never in either match. Playing an injured Nadal at the 2009 US Open, he didn't go for any shots and was content to play an all out defensive match. When he played Djokovic at the 2010 US Open in windy conditions, he exclusively hit a forehand slice the entire match to everyone's puzzlement. Hopefully he doesn't flame out, his draw is certainly favorable to a semifinal run. He's already beaten Ferrer twice at Roland Garros, and pretty well has his number.

Djokovic and Dimitrov deserve a proper five-set rematch, and yeah, is there anyone that doesn't want that match? I kind of believe Djokovic needs that match. He needs to defeat Dimitrov and build some confidence. He seems fragile to me at the moment. We know he's not exactly a front-runner, but he seems vulnerable in a way that he hasn't been in three years.

Speaking of exercising demons, please god let Rosol have his good stuff against Fognini tomorrow. Fogninny is the only thing standing in the way of Nadal-Rosol II.

I'm excited for Wawrinka-Zeballos. I know Zeballos hasn't exactly been good since he conquered Nadal, and Wawrinka has been a beast on clay, but how does this match not go five edge-of-your-seat sets?

Isner and Harrison play too. I won't be watching them, but they're American so ESPN will probably feature them.

 

[Frico]

I really really really really REALLY want to have Djokovic/Dimitrov happen again. Especially to see if lightning strikes twice. I also agree something seems/feels off with Novak. Wawrinka is also having a great clay court season and is where he belongs in the top 10.

I have to say out of all the young players up and coming Harrison annoys me the most. They keep trying to paint him as the future and when you listen to him in interviews he sounds like it gets to his head. Like he's entitled to success. His ranking fell to 92 and with a forehand like his it doesn't surprise me. Always drops the ball short and in today's game you can't afford to do that. I've watched several matches of his where that side of his game comes off really weak.

Isner leads their H2H and I expect him to win. He beat Ryan just a few weeks ago. If there's one American player I'd like to see be "that" guy it's Jack Sock. He doesn't take himself seriously like Raonic or Dimitrov, he just lets it happen. His game can be huge at times and he showed that against Garcia Lopez. He also beat Blake whereas Harrison got crushed by him. And his matches with Isner are always closer. That's what stands out for me, the difference in level.

I don't really like today's American players to begin with TBH. At times the commentators sound desperate for a new star and I get that. But I don't see that happening for a long, long time. The players from different parts of the world always seem to have more hunger to me. American tennis is always about the lime light and the "now". And if said player doesn't live up to the expectations/pressure POOF! not mentioned again. Like Oudin.

 

[Frico]

Also, Monica Puig. I really like her. Alot.

 

[Frico]

Freaking raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain.

 

[Sakuraba]

Good to see Nadal back to his whining and crying. The complaints about the courts in San Paulo were okay, but now he's back full throttle with the Woah is Me routine. Is it fair to Nadal that Fognini gets an extra day of rest? No. Is it fair to Fognini that Nadal is a physical freak? Nope.

He also threw in some mild sexism by saying "girls" only play best of 3, so their schedule should be at the behest of the men's.

 

[Frico]

I missed the rest of Monfils/Robredo but read Monfils had four match points but couldn't close? Man that's tough. But you have to give Robredo the full amount of credit. He's having an amazing comeback. Also disappointed in Raonic going out but Anderson impressed.

AND DUDE! Djoker/Dimitrov 2 tomorrow. I'm going to be rooting for Showtime again. Only because winning again will be an even bigger statement than Madrid. Hoping the match delivers.

 

[Sakuraba]

I was talking to a friend today about that match, and he said that this could be Dimitrov's Federer over Sampras moment, but that he may have shot his load too soon in Madrid, and put an edge into Djokovic.

I think it's actually a bad comparison because Federer's win over Sampras came in the twilight of Pete's career. The landscape was also wide open as the men's game was dominated by older players, underachievers, and guys that had injury trouble. Lleyton Hewitt was the temporary beneficiary of this transitional period.

For Dimitrov, there is no transition going on right now. I think the best he can hope for is taking the Djokovic road of building stamina and consistency, and then you can win when things break your way at tournaments and rivals start to slow down. He has to routinely defeat players of lesser talent. Djokovic had that ability when he was still a teenager. If he can start to win the matches he's supposed to win, and become a top ten player, then in two or three years he could be number 1. There's really no one out there his age that's capable like he is and showing dramatic improvement. Raonic seems like he'll always be limited, and the jury remains out on Tomic.

You have to like that he's had success in Brisbane, Rotterdam, had Djokovic put him out at IW, Murray in Miami, Nadal in Monte Carlo, a revived Robredo in Barcelona, Wawrinka in Madrid, and Gasquet in Rome. He's getting put out by some great players.

 

[Sakuraba]

You know for the better Part of two years anytime Simon is up in Federer's section I always point to him as a stumbling block. Then he got smoked by Fed in Rome and I shut up this one time. Now Simon is up two sets to one and threatening Federer's QF streak.

Federer has stepped up his game as Simon has dipped a little and is now up a break in the fourth set 5-2, but is he going to fade as he did against Murray in Australia? He's had an easy road thus far, unlike Oz, and Simon isn't Andy Murray. We shall see what happens.

 

[Sakuraba]

The easy road to this match is helping Federer. He looks remarkably fresh, and he has stepped his defense up a ton. He's also hitting his forehand really well and dictating rallies with it. Like I said, his movement has improved.

Federer has taken him to a fourth deuce here as he's trying to win his eighth straight game. Simon is weary but fighting.

Federer gets a drop shot return~! and a lob to get break point. Superb rally sees Simon find the line on a tough volley for deuce. Simon holds. 3-1

 

[Frico]

Between this match and Robredo/Almagro today really has been a treat. Special moment for Robredo at the end and Almagro has yet another choke like he had at the AO. I won't even mention Nole/Dimitrov as it was a case of Novak being too good and Dimitrov over thinking the occassion as he said after the match.

Federer is now the number one trending topic on twitter. Rightfully so. Love reading people's thoughts on matches.

 

[Sakuraba]

Break point for Simon! Federer with an unreturnable! Deuce

Federer with an ace! Match point. Simon is red in the face

Federer tries to go down the line with a forehand but gets net. Deuce

Fed forehand long. Simon killing the ball deep. Fed ground strokes shaky. Serve has bailed him out. Lets see

A big kicker serve to Simon's backhand gets a short ball that fed puts away. Deuce

Fed slice serves wide and Simon puts one off the line. Match point.

Simon gets in a rally and tries the freaking awful jumping backhand that has become trendy over the past year. It's wide. Federer wins. Tsonga is next and he's been steamrolling folks.

 

[Sakuraba]

That's disappointing for Almagro with how well he played here last year, and that's in addition to the Ferrer comeback you mentioned. If it's one thing that the past two days has thought us, it's that the old guys don't quit. Guys like Haas, Fed, and Robredo, they're experienced and incredibly gifted. They aren't out there on the wrong side of 30 hitting balls and waiting out rain delays because they're hard up for cash. They love to play and win and they are fighters.

This has been a good tournament for the one handed backhand. 7 of the remaining 12 men hit with one arm.

 

[Sakuraba]

Djokovic/Kohlschreiber - didn't Kohlschrieber used to be a grass court specialist? This is his fourth straight Slam making the 4th round. He had a good draw thus far, and I can't fathom him defeating Djokovic. Not many people remember but Kohl knocked off Djokovic at Roland Garros a few years back.

Wawrinka/Gasquet - Ah, the super talented underachievers. I don't think Nadal has to sweat this, since Gasquet has lost like the last 15 or so sets they've played and Stan has NEVER won a set against Nadal in nine matches.

Ferrer/Robredo - Ferrer in straight sets. This is exactly the wrong opponent Robredo needs to see after the week one he endured. Ferrer's already beaten him a few times this year to boot.

Tsonga/Federer - thank god for this match. It's a real all star quarterfinal. They know each other well, they've beaten won five set classics off each other at Slams. First match at the French. Tsonga had been killing people, playing well in front of his home crowd, and had a shot to beat Djokovic here last year. The money quote: "I know he can beat me, and he knows he can beat me," Federer said. "But I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen."

Let the fireworks begin.

Just to add, Mary Carillo brought up the whole Simon said women don't deserve equal prize money thing, and she twisted the knife there as Federer was making his comeback. Can I just say again that Simon was right? The men's game is more popular, more people watch and talk about it, most gear is sold to men. The men are where the money is at. Maybe Simon isn't a household name like Sharapova, but he contributes to the ATP as a role player. He did his job today in pushing Federer, drawing eyeballs and tweets to the match. So shut the hell up Mary Carillo with your impassioned nonsense. The men deserve the prize money because they bring in the money to the sport.

 

[Poetic Chaos]

Definitely props to Simon for having the guts to speak the truth the big names can't.