Year Round The Tennis Thread

[Atobe the king]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Rant (not really, but kind of)

Spoiler

The end by his lofty standard perhaps. Break point conversion was shit. Came to net at the wrong times, ton of errors (almost 50 in 3 sets). He doesn't really need to retire, he's a step slower, was never a power player so thats not the issue. He needs confidence, how he'll get it is a different story. People have been telling the guy he should retire since 2009, if he did that he wouldn't have won #14,15,16, and 17. Had sampras retired when he was losing to those players in the first rounds and stuff he wouldn't have gotten number 14...he was seeded about 17th? Federer is still top 8 in the world. W/o much to defend this fall or next year.

Round of 16 is in no way bad, he just set a ridiculous standard. Needs to get his head on straight,he said post match even if he won with the way he was playing he'd stand no chance against Kohli let alone Rafa. He's 7-0 against Kohlshreiber, saying something like that shows how far his confidence has dipped.

He says time and time and again that he loves the sport, i think that matters to him more than his legacy. I've thought the same too....retire while still on top so you dont rack up these losses to players when you're clearly passed your best (like Federer and Nadal having winning head to heads VS Agassi because he played into their dominant years), but thats an insult to him tbh.

 

[FrostyMouse]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Perhaps, Atobe, perhaps. If he loves the game, it's fine if he wants to be out (like Hewitt, for example), but Fed would just become this story every Major and, at least from my perspective, it would start to get annoying. When you're competing for Majors, it's fine to draw attention, but when you're past it, the attention will start getting in the way.

 

[Atobe the king]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

That's just the way the media is. Like how if you watch Majors on ESPN they go on and on about how isner and the other americans have good draws and can make a big push. And then none of them get beyond the 3rd round.

Just depends on the popularity of the player in the end I guess. No one really cares that say...Karlovic is still competing, but there's always this silly hype when James Blake even won a round this last year lol.

 

[FrostyMouse]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

We're Americans, however, and we do get stuck watching the American-biased commentating. I fully expected Kohlschreiber to beat Isner and he did. Fish will probably never even play again.

I think Blake retired as he was doing some commentating for the Tennis Channel a few days ago.

When Brian Baker won a few rounds at Majors last season, there was silly hype. He was a decent player, but we've seen that he can't keep up even that modicum of form. I think he got wiped in the first round at the US Open this year.

 

[goldb]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Sad to see Federer losing like this. I think it's about time to seriously contemplate retirement; which I think he should have really done after he won his last GS. I worry it'll get worse and I really want him to end on a high note.

@Frosty: James Blake retired last week. Last time I saw him play was in Eastbourne during the summer, which was a surprise because he had been "off the grid" for me, so I'd thought he was long gone.

 

[FrostyMouse]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Ah, thanks for the info, Bob.

---------- Post added at 08:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:50 PM ----------

A fun day for the top seeds. Serena got a double bagel and Djokovic did as well, with a 6-3 6-0 6-0 victory.

 

[Atobe the king]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Sad to see Federer losing like this. I think it's about time to seriously contemplate retirement; which I think he should have really done after he won his last GS. I worry it'll get worse and I really want him to end on a high note.

@Frosty: James Blake retired last week. Last time I saw him play was in Eastbourne during the summer, which was a surprise because he had been "off the grid" for me, so I'd thought he was long gone.

Lol federer is my absolute fave...how do you think i feel. But its okay...this happens to every great. Sampras losing in the first/second round of majors to nobodies before he won number 14 etc. He's talking about the 2016 olympics...so he really doesn't want to retire. It's definitely in his head, i know he lost that match to nadal in cincinati but it was actually a really good match he had rafa on the ropes until he started getting a bit passive, fought off several match points. Nadals match point was out..no idea what may have happened if he challenged. I believe in Roger lol.

@Frosty Yeah blake retired after losing to karlovic after being up 2 sets . And yeah brian baker lol...all that hype. Same for Harrison and Sock

 

[FrostyMouse]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

In some ways, it's even worse with Mardy Fish. After he finally got fit after about 10 years on tour, his injuries cropped up again. Let's hype up the fact that he's a "top 10 player," but completely ignore the fact that he can't win against other top 10 players and that he was only in the top 10 because of silly ranking points, like how you can be No. 1 in the WTA rankings without even having made a Major Final. He actually made it to one or two Masters Series Finals, but he clearly didn't have it. He's been injured again (the heart issues) for a while.

 

[Atobe the king]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

I genuinely feel for Mardy because his heart issues. Was never a fan of the guy though, he was on his way out either way tbh. The only American i ever truly supported during the Fedal era was Roddick . Wear and tear got to be too much.

Americans were spoiled by so many greats i suppose. The Petes,Aggasis, the Couriers, Jmacs etc...but Europe dominates now and the have to accept that. Young up and comers from Europe (and it some cases asia!) are the ones moving up. Kei nishikori could have been top 10 by now if he didn't mess up in um...Montreal i think. Harrison is sort of cocky but has made no waves against the top players. They hype up sock but his fitness is suspect. Querrey i always believed was destined to be top 20 and nothing more. Isner, regardless of what they say is pretty much just a serve and occasional solid FH. I don't see it getting any better for american mens tennis.

 

[FrostyMouse]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Yeah, same for me. Roddick was the only one I ever supported, but Roddick completely lacked a backhand, except in 2009.

They hyped up Donald Young for years, even when he couldn't make it past the first round of Majors. I think he got wiped in the first round of the US Open this year.

Some of the countries, such as Canada, have a "star," but it's not a star of their own making anyway. Milos Raonic plays for Canada, but he's not Canadian. Anyway, all he really has is a serve and a big backhand. He's not making it to the top.

Isner's a confusing one, as he sometimes gets wins over the top five, but his tennis style is anathema to me. Big man tennis is just wrong.

Yeah, it's not happening for the US in men's tennis. In terms of women, there's overhyped Sloane Stephens, who's actually 16th in the world right now, but she doesn't really have it, I don't think. Christina McHale will never make it anywhere. Melanie Oudin had one good Major and now she's ranked like 200th in the world. Alison Riske couldn't even beat Hantuchova...

To be honest, I don't think that a lot of the great American men would've won in the the last 10 years. They weren't great in the way that the top three, plus Murray now, four are. Fed's fallen away, so it's really a top three right now.

I think that Soderling could've been the No. 1 player in the world, but the Mono got to him and that was the end.

 

[Atobe the king]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Yeah, same for me. Roddick was the only one I ever supported, but Roddick completely lacked a backhand, except in 2009.

Stefanki was good for Roddick but at the same time he made him start playing way too passive for me. 09 was a great year for him minus the USO, semis at the AO beating Djoker. And that wimbledon final where he actually outplayed roger and still lost. His newfound backhand solidity sadly came at the cost of his FH..which used to be a major weapon.

They hyped up Donald Young for years, even when he couldn't make it past the first round of Majors. I think he got wiped in the first round of the US Open this year.

2nd round i think...espn claims he's on a comeback trail

Milos Raonic

Yeah, top 10 player imo, nothing more.

Isner's a confusing one, as he sometimes gets wins over the top five, but his tennis style is anathema to me. Big man tennis is just wrong.

Yeah...it'll never happen when it counts, he can never get to them in a slam. His highlight was taking Nadal to the 5th in the french.

Yeah, it's not happening for the US in men's tennis. In terms of women, there's overhyped Sloane Stephens, who's actually 16th in the world right now, but she doesn't really have it, I don't think. Christina McHale will never make it anywhere. Melanie Oudin had one good Major and now she's ranked like 200th in the world. Alison Riske couldn't even beat Hantuchova...

I give Sloane a shot, she does okay in majors. Christini McHale....nope. The other two just lol .

To be honest, I don't think that a lot of the great American men would've won in the the last 10 years. They weren't great in the way that the top three, plus Murray now, four are. Fed's fallen away, so it's really a top three right now.

Oddly, Murray and Djokovic have underperformed outside of majors. I'd still say fed is in the top 4, if only because the other guys aren't up there. Raonic no,berdych lost to feds pigeon last night,Ferrers grit doesnt get him wins against the top. Gasqet is solid but no where near a number 4. Tsonga....idk how MIA he's going to be.

I think that Soderling could've been the No. 1 player in the world, but the Mono got to him and that was the end.

Idk...he was a solid number 4 or 5. He never really solved the federer problem, his win against roger at RG was his only win. He was 1-16 against federer. With fed beating him several times after the RG loss. He's 2-6 VS Nadal, Nadal lost to him twice in 09 and seemed to have figured him out. 2-6 VS Djoker. 2-3 VS murray however. He was hitting his peak though....he could have shook things up. I actually regularly search for soderling news but i always get the same thing "he's working hard to come back,no set date etc"

---------- Post added September 05, 2013 at 08:01 PM ---------- Previous post was September 04, 2013 at 03:51 PM ----------

Wow...Murray. I didn't expect such a trouncing. Poor Andy he gets let downs from losing slams but also winning them. His consistency is so lacking :/

 

[Josef]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Nadal vs Djoko again, huh? Personally I do think that Wawrinka might be the surprise, but ... nah.

 

[goldb]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Gutted for Murray but he admitted later on that was difficult to get pumped for this event after Wimbledon. It's always a shame for me, to see a champion losing in straight sets. Though I have to say, Wawrinka played a really good game last night. I hope he can really cause an upset and maybe win; he's been in Federer's shadow for so long and I still can't believe this is his first semis!

 

[FrostyMouse]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Wawrinka hasn't made it to a SF before? I thought he'd been to one or two.

 

[goldb]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Wawrinka hasn't made it to a SF before? I thought he'd been to one or two.

Best results: Quarter finals at Australian(2011) and French(2013), 4th Round at Wimbledon(2008 and 09).

 

[FrostyMouse]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Best results: Quarter finals at Australian(2011) and French(2013), 4th Round at Wimbledon(2008 and 09).

Huh...I thought he'd been to an AO one and a French one, but I guess it was just the QFs.

 

[Atobe the king]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

I remember Stans match against Djoker earlier this year at the AO...Stan has built on that match all year while Djoker doesn't seem to be at the level that got him that 3rd straight AO. An upset wouldnt' surprise me tbh. But Djoker will be more motivated than Murray for sure.

 

[FrostyMouse]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Serena smacked down Li Na. 6-0 6-3 should not be the score of a SF.

 

[Atobe the king]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

Serena too good for inconsistent Li Na, but i was surprised by the bagel lol

 

[goldb]

Re: The Tennis Thread- US Open (26/08-08/09)

I saw the highlights of that game after work; the first set was scary; especially watching the game without the commentary, just hearing the crowd and Serena's grunting get louder after each shot. Bloody hell .

Na Li made it somewhat closer in the second, with some good winners and rallies too, but Serena was just too strong and maybe wanted it more in the end. Li admitted to being a bit nervous and the court looking really big at the begining for her.

---------- Post added September 08, 2013 at 01:01 AM ---------- Previous post was September 07, 2013 at 09:54 AM ----------

What a match between Djokovic and Wawrinka; some really brilliant rallies and points. Both men had their strategies really well planned out but in the end Djokovic's game plan outlast his opponent. Anytime Wawrinka came to the net or moved away from the baseline, you felt that point was Djokovic; not always the case but more often than not.

Nadal on the other hand disposed of Gasquet in straight sets. It's the final we'd been hoping for.