[Cloudygirl]

Originally Posted by silverwhite

I'm not even expecting any results. Just want to see him play the game that drew all of us in

Yup exactly this.

I'd like to see him show heart in his game and not look like he's lost before he's even started and not play ten million miles behind the baseline.

[Blackbriar]

Originally Posted by marina36

Well... I'm tired and bored about the media and the journalists. I don't know how it is in the other countries but in France, it is a media doggedness on Richard! Yesterday, everything was normal. But now, every French lost, and they try to find a "culprit". And obviously it is Richard. Because according to them (and I saw it on several sites: l'Equipe, Eurosport, rmc) Llodra and Monfils are excusable because of the Davis Cup which shortened their preparation. But Richard was also there!!! And Tsonga is excusable because its body is fragile. But he is not hurt, I saw his match and he gave up mentally, he didn't fight! But that, nobody says it.
Richard lost against the n°6 in the world! While the others French (except for Simon) made real disappointing performances. And nevertheless, it is always the same who is the most brutally criticized. And openly, I'm fed up with that.

I hope Richard doesn't read all this bullshit...

I don't know which can be its future, I don't know if he is going to have a brain wave one day, I don't know if he will manage to win big tournaments; but what I can say, it is that although he loses or although he wins, I shall always be there. Because I love this player, beyond his results.

Yeah you're right, but don't worry, people are not so naive. Whatever they say, people will joke about Monfils and Tsonga just as much as they will do about Ritchie. Tsonga was pityful -d. by n°47!- and people know that. They will think "who beat him?" and read its Dologopolov and then think "WTF". And Monfils, well, everybody knows Monfils. At least when they read Gasquet beaten by Berdych they may remember the Wimbledon's finalist.

Personally, I'm just disgruntled because there was nothing to be saved from his last match. It was "old Ritchie" all over again, like he had no coach to tell him what to do, what must be changed. He looked like a junior against a pro. Like a deer in the headlights.

[Puschkin]

Originally Posted by marina36

But now, every French lost, and they try to find a "culprit". And obviously it is Richard. Because according to them (and I saw it on several sites: l'Equipe, Eurosport, rmc) Llodra and Monfils are excusable because of the Davis Cup which shortened their preparation. But Richard was also there!!! And Tsonga is excusable because its body is fragile. But he is not hurt, I saw his match and he gave up mentally, he didn't fight! But that, nobody says it.
Richard lost against the n°6 in the world! While the others French (except for Simon) made real disappointing performances. And nevertheless, it is always the same who is the most brutally criticized. And openly, I'm fed up with that.

It is always the same: when Llodra reached the Top 30 last year for the first time in his career, it was a huge acievement, how often has Richard been Top 30? When JWT is injured it is poor JWT, when Richard is injured, he fakes or is a weakling. It is true that Richard is most harshly treated by the French press, but Gael comes close.

Originally Posted by marina36

but what I can say, it is that although he loses or although he wins, I shall always be there. Because I love this player, beyond his results.

Then we are already 2, and I am sure there will be more particularly outside of France.

[reggie1]

+1  I don't have as much time to post now but I always check the forum and will always support him.

[icecastle]

Originally Posted by Puschkin

Then we are already 2, and I am sure there will be more particularly outside of France.

+1 me too, although my current sig and avi is misleading.

I don't think I'll ever tire of supporting Richard. I guess his unpredictableness is part of his charms to me.

[Cloudygirl]

me too if I was going to give up on Richard it would have been ages ago. He's stuck with me now!!

[Roger the Dodger]

Originally Posted by Blackbriar

Yeah you're right, but don't worry, people are not so naive. Whatever they say, people will joke about Monfils and Tsonga just as much as they will do about Ritchie. Tsonga was pityful -d. by n°47!- and people know that. They will think "who beat him?" and read its Dologopolov and then think "WTF". And Monfils, well, everybody knows Monfils. At least when they read Gasquet beaten by Berdych they may remember the Wimbledon's finalist.

Personally, I'm just disgruntled because there was nothing to be saved from his last match. It was "old Ritchie" all over again, like he had no coach to tell him what to do, what must be changed. He looked like a junior against a pro. Like a deer in the headlights.

Its his humongous talent that invites all the blame on him.

Thing is Richie has a head of his own and actually is capable of sound tactics which he does try and execute with little luck these days. If we could rewind time back to 07 (when we thought Richie had finally arrived) and press play from there, we could fix him a coach who'd rid him his nerves for good, teach him to close matches, stay fit and not give up - we'd see him winning 6-7 tournaments in a year. But we cant do that.

What we can hope is to see him schedule reasonably, compete in many small tournaments in a year and become an MM king/ finalist of sorts. That'll give him confidence, make him tactically sound again and strong in the head.

For Richard 250 >>> than 500/1000/ Slam. He should not miss the chance to compete in one 250.

[Gasquet maniac]

Richard has grown on me.....We hope the best for him in his tennis career and we will stick by him be it rough or good times.....Good luck Richard!!!!!!

Hopefully he is maturing now and he definitely have the game to match the top 10 players in the world......

[Blackbriar]

Originally Posted by Gasquet maniac

Hopefully he is maturing now and he definitely have the game to match the top 10 players in the world......

I definitely think he can beat Melzer and Verdasco on grass. Beyond that, challenging a top 10 is