Mens Tennis Forums banner

Hardcourt season 2008

14K views 465 replies 31 participants last post by  Truc 
#1 ·
#4 ·
And I don't like him playing against Mahut in particular.
They really seem to get along very well with Gilles, both times I've seen him practice this year (Zagreb and Hamburg), it was with Nico and they were joking a lot together and having fun.

Mahut has had such a bad grass season, he must be quite low on confidence. But it's a very tough match for a first round after a break, 50-50 imo.
 
#10 ·
Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any livestream for Indy. That's too bad, it is so unusual to see him scheduled on the Center Court for a first-round match (unless he's playing a crowd favorite or a local player)! Even in the very French friendly Casablanca event, he was playing on outside courts for all his first rounds.
 
#19 ·
Wow, there even are a few quotes of Gillou in the articles, that's another premiere! He doesn't mention his serve. Well, that's the only thing I could see on the SB and it was driving me nuts to see "2nd serve" every time Gilles was serving!

"Second-seeded Gilles Simon won his debut match, outlasting Nicolas Mahut 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
"I wanted to play on Tuesday, but they said that was impossible," said the 25th-ranked Frenchman. "I did not expect to play my best match today. So I just did my best."
Simon's best pushed him into Wednesday's second round, where he will play Benjamin Becker of Germany. Becker swept Kristian Pless of Denmark, 6-3, 6-4.
Simon and Mahut spent much of their match battling in long baseline volleys. Simon scored points when he went to his backhand.
"The first set was a great set for me. I was feeling good on the court. The second set was really hard. Every shot was hard to play. I was feeling the heat," Simon said.
Simon said he's in the United States to adapt to the heat and humidity and to get accustomed to the courts in preparation for the masters tournaments. He plans to play at Toronto and Cincinnati before heading for the Olympics, then returning to the U.S."
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/tennis/07/14/simon.indy.ap/index.html?section=si_latest
 
#20 ·
He really could improve his stamina, it happens way too often he's exhausted after one set, even if it was very hot. That seems so much easier to improve than his netgame.
At least his record against Frenchies is starting to look decent now! He's beaten the ones he's supposed to beat lately, also got that lucky win over Jo in Rom...

It will be his first match against Becker.

1st round in doubles today, let's hope Nico wants to make up for his loss (he entered the MD of Toronto, so he doesn't need to go there for the qualies.)
 
#28 · (Edited)
He really could improve his stamina, it happens way too often he's exhausted after one set, even if it was very hot.
He desperately needs to improve his stamina. He seems to get tired so quickly and you're right it's one of the things he could easily improve if he just commits to doing it. It will give him more confidence on the court as well. I think it has improved Andy Murray's game. Remember what his fitness was like.

1st round in doubles today, let's hope Nico wants to make up for his loss (he entered the MD of Toronto, so he doesn't need to go there for the qualies.)
They will be playing at the same time Frank is playing - 12:00 EST - so I can follow both of them at the same time. :)

Simon and Mahut spent much of their match battling in long baseline volleys.
I'm sure it was a mistake and they meant to put long baseline rallies. The two words being similiar sounding so it's easy to get them mixed up.
 
#22 ·
I had the same reaction first and I looked up "volley" in my dictionary, I guess it's in the sense of "1. the simultaneous discharge of a number of missiles or firearms - 2. a burst or outpouring of many things at once or in quick succession"? :shrug:
 
#24 ·
That Gilles article made the home page of Sydney Morning Herald, I'm impressed :rolls: I also found it funny that the title is "Number two seed Gilles wins Indianapolis". Aside from the fact that, conventionally, he should be referred to as Simon, the headline also made it sound like he won the whole tournament :lol: Atta boy :hatoff:
 
#30 ·
No no, I'm aware it was a bit silly! :lol: I thought of something like "salves de fond de court", you know. :angel: But we'll go with Mary's explanation, thanks!

They lost in doubles (6-4 6-4) - but 0 ace, it looks like Nico didn't do his job either.

I don't know what will happen with the last doubles spot for the Olympics after Jo's withdrawal.
Dominguez says in L'Equipe they're going to talk with Paulo, Gaël and Gilles about it. But it's not possible to build a decent doubles team with these 3, none of them can play doubles and Paulo and Gaël also can't team up. :shrug:
 
#31 ·
I don't know what will happen with the last doubles spot for the Olympics after Jo's withdrawal.
Dominguez says in L'Equipe they're going to talk with Paulo, Gaël and Gilles about it. But it's not possible to build a decent doubles team with these 3, none of them can play doubles and Paulo and Gaël also can't team up. :shrug:
:topic: But Llodra/Clément are sure, no?
 
#32 ·
Yes, Llodra-Clément have a wild-card, they're sure to play.
I was talking about the 2nd French doubles team which was supposed to be Jo-Gaël. They have to pick players who have qualified in singles, that's the rule, they can't nominate Mahut, Benneteau, Santoro... and all the other French players who are much better doubles players than the ones who have qualified!
I don't know what they will do. Dominguez says he'll talk with the players and take a decision until the 23rd of July. I doubt Paulo and Gaël get along well enough to team up, but Gilles in doubles :help:...
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top