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Vote the biggest victims of Surface slowness

Vote the biggest victims of Surface slowness

10K views 152 replies 71 participants last post by  Lestat 
#1 ·
Amidst serious AO discussions in match threads, often multiple arguments pops up pertaining to slow courts hindering progress of certain players. Who really is a victim of Slowing down of surfaces and who is not? Please vote and discuss. Multiple votes allowed.
 
#4 ·
Tsonga and berdych (perticually Tsonga) appear to be the two main losers imo
 
#11 ·
Mostly just Tsonga tbh. The other top players all like it slow. I doubt Ferrer loves that they're all medium-slow now, either. It's helped him on grass but hurt him on clay where he likes it very slow and hard where he likes it quite fast. Federer was helped on clay but hurt on HC and grass. Same with Berdych. The real victims are Llodra, Becker, etc.
 
#16 ·
I chose Tsonga, Berdych and Federer, relatively to the others.

Del Po no, his kind of game suits slow courts as well, and he doesn't move well enough. I don't get the "big forehand" MTF legend (did Lenders watch Del Po-Chardy ? I remember I thought of what he tells us "when the rally goes to Del Po's forehand, it's game over for the opponent" :haha: )
 
#33 ·
Del Po no, his kind of game suits slow courts as well, and he doesn't move well enough. I don't get the "big forehand" MTF legend (did Lenders watch Del Po-Chardy ? I remember I thought of what he tells us "when the rally goes to Del Po's forehand, it's game over for the opponent" :haha: )
Del Potro generates his power from big swings, not by redirecting power of other players shots. On fast courts, Del Po wouldn't be able to generate his swing.

Out of the top players, Tsonga most definately. He's a classic example of a player born in the wrong era. Other examples include Llodra, and other S&V's (not many these days :()
 
#19 ·
Federer himself actually admitted that it helped him.
What Federer said IIRC, and what I think is true, is that top-players have less danger to suffer losses against lower-ranked players, typically big servers ... in those conditions.

It's easier for top-players to be so constant at reaching the late rounds.

It's not the only reason comparing to the 90s by the way : also the seeding system.

But I don't think that Fed did say that it helped him against the likes of Nadal, Djokovic and Murray, who have been his main opponents for long. He's not stupid.

I think overall Fed has mostly suffered of slower hardcourts against those, but I don't think he's suffered of slow grass overall because it's also helped him against big servers.
 
#20 ·
Going by official ratings Murray would probably do better with more fast courts:

Cincinnati Category 5: Fast (Winner x2)
Rogers Cup Category 5: Fast (Winner x2)
Shanghai Masters Category 4: Medium-fast (Winner x2)
US Open Category 5 – Fast (Winner x1)
 
#30 ·
I actually think DP benefits from the slowness. He has a huge take back on the forehand and sometimes appears a little rushed on fast surfaces. Where as he is good enough that he can take huge cuts with his forehand a number of times in a row without missing so he can still build a point on slower courts.
 
#34 ·
Tsonga. I think Berdych and Del Potro cope just fine on the HC as they are at the moment. Both guys are also very good on the clay.

Glad those awful servebots are disadvantaged.
 
#35 ·
Tsonga and Berdych. Del Potro could use faster courts for sure, but not too fast since he needs time for his very long strokes - the USO before being slowed down is probably the ideal surface for him. For Berdych and especially Tsonga, the faster the better.

Of course Federer would benefit a lot as well.
 
#37 ·
federer would have won AO 2008 and 2011 and 12
US open 2009 2010 2011 2012 100% if it was as fast as it was in sampras' day

a slower Rg would have suited roger- he bagled dull at hamburg
on very slow clay 2005-2007 federer can beat nadal

basically federer should have at least 2 calender grand slams but homogenized surfaces screwed him over
 
#38 ·
federer would have won AO 2008 and 2011 and 12
US open 2009 2010 2011 2012 100% if it was as fast as it was in sampras' day

a slower Rg would have suited roger- he bagled dull at hamburg

on very slow clay 2005-2007 federer can beat nadal

basically federer should have at least 2 calender grand slams but homogenized surfaces screwed him over
I think low bounce was very important in that also, making Rafa's topspin shots less effective. That "Hamburg effect" could also be seen in last year's RG final. Rain lowered bounce and Nole took 3rd set.

Anyway, faster clay would also benefit Roger. Madrid's fast, low-altitude clay has been good for Fed. And Madrid's blue clay even better. :D
 
#40 ·
Tsonga and a bunch of players not in the poll. Including Nadal and Simon is just asinine.
 
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