[Sjengster]

Well, sorry to say I'm going to have to support Sanguinetti on this one, simply because the poor guy desperately needs to make at least an adequate defence of his title to stay in the Top 50.

Ever since he won those titles at Milan and Delray his form has plummeted down (did you see his first-round match against Kafelnikov at the US? - a classic case of two players low in confidence struggling to see who can make the most UE, a contest won in the end by Davide).

Fabrice has just won a Grand Slam doubles title, after all.

 

[Sjengster]

Well, this is one match - I didn't say that it applied to every other French player, although now Escude has lost I can see why you might be concerned about Fab pulling through.

Just trying to provide a little spice to the conformity, that's all.

(Always thought 'cheering threads' were rather odd ideas, actually - I mean it doesn't exactly influence the result, does it?)

 

[Sjengster]

Sure sure, I get the idea, but I think it would be more interesting if people went around posting contradictory views on cheering threads - then we could have an honest and open discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of various players, but without resorting to any childish abuse or name-calling.

 

[Sjengster]

A picture tells a thousand words, doesn't it?

The fact that Nicolas is staring at the ball as though it's an unfamiliar object might give some clue as to the reason why he lost his first-round match here.

 

[Sjengster]

Well, it's always struck me that Nicolas isn't the most mentally clued-in guy out there, but then that's part of his appeal. I'm not saying he's in the Safin league, but there are times when he can't think clearly or tries to over-press and it loses him the match vis-a-vis the Agassi encounter in Melbourne.

Here, I should imagine he hadn't adjusted well enough to the flight from Australia, the new surface, the playing conditions, the opponent... and it cost him the win today.

A few years ago, one of Escude's old coaches mentioned that he sometimes had a Cubist perspective on life and that he was something of a rebel in terms of French tennis, seeing life as inhibiting his creative desires and wishes. I suppose that's all part of his roguish Gallic charm (that, or the quite incredibly gnomic jaw he possesses) but I wonder sometimes whether that attitude returns to haunt him.

Just a thought, anyway. Best wishes, the Sjengster (whose favourite player also lost today, so we're in rather the same boat as it happens).

 

[Sjengster]

Well as you can tell from my post count I'm fairly new to this forum game, and I haven't really started posting regularly on any particular player forums yet.

I only happened to drop by here casually and leave a few comments, so it won't exactly be a regular occurrence, don't worry. Seriously though, I do think it helps sometimes that we're able to offer conflicting views and opinions on players; when everybody just starts agreeing with everyone else that their favourite is wonderful, the whole thing becomes a little dull and repetitive to be honest.

 

[Sjengster]

I never said I didn't like Frenchies; in fact Escude's my favourite French player, especially after that dazzling return display against Agassi at the AO. What I really admire about him is the way he nearly always manages to pull rabbits out of the hat, beating all his opponents in Davis Cup 01 including Hewitt, saving a match point against Bastl, saving two match points against Calatrava at Melbourne last year and saving six against Sampras before eventually losing...

I was just pointing out some of his mental deficiencies, that's all, and the fact that he certainly looks very... French (that beard!)

I wouldn't try and pointlessly insult any one else's favourite player/players, and I wouldn't expect anyone else to do the same to mine.

 

[Sjengster]

Don't worry, don't worry, I understand completely about the cheering threads - I was really half-winding you up earlier when I asked what their purpose was, don't hit me for it.

I'm actually a pretty big fan of the French players' style of play, if not the players themselves. Vive la difference!