[TheMightyFed]

There was a hype on Nadal following his win in Montreal, but, be it tireness or ball dimension or whatever, he's not there for the real challenge: beating Fed in a Slam final on non-clay surface... by the way I never heard Federer complaining about the balls or bounces or that kind of stuff,
He's still young and he has a great year, but he'll have to be consistently in quarters in slams if he wants to be a threat. His scheduling must be redone, because playing so many matches on clay takes its toll, physically but also in terms of adaptation to other surfaces. Other guys ? I hope a Blake or a Gasquet will be consitent enough in the coming months to propose something new to Fed on his favourite surfaces, because if he keeps the kind of record he has on grass/hard (1 loss in one year), it will lack some spice a bit, don't you think ?

 

[auwkeung]

Gasquet has been going down hill a bit since RG i think

and Roger beat Blake in Cincy......the determining factor should be whether Blake can keep up to the level of play when he played against Nadal

 

[Action Jackson]

There was a hype on Nadal following his win in Montreal, but, be it tireness or ball dimension or whatever, he's not there for the real challenge: beating Fed in a Slam final on non-clay surface... by the way I never heard Federer complaining about the balls or bounces or that kind of stuff,
He's still young and he has a great year, but he'll have to be consistently in quarters in slams if he wants to be a threat. His scheduling must be redone, because playing so many matches on clay takes its toll, physically but also in terms of adaptation to other surfaces. Other guys ? I hope a Blake or a Gasquet will be consitent enough in the coming months to propose something new to Fed on his favourite surfaces, because if he keeps the kind of record he has on grass/hard (1 loss in one year), it will lack some spice a bit, don't you think ?

 

[rofe]

There was a hype on Nadal following his win in Montreal, but, be it tireness or ball dimension or whatever, he's not there for the real challenge: beating Fed in a Slam final on non-clay surface... by the way I never heard Federer complaining about the balls or bounces or that kind of stuff,
He's still young and he has a great year, but he'll have to be consistently in quarters in slams if he wants to be a threat. His scheduling must be redone, because playing so many matches on clay takes its toll, physically but also in terms of adaptation to other surfaces. Other guys ? I hope a Blake or a Gasquet will be consitent enough in the coming months to propose something new to Fed on his favourite surfaces, because if he keeps the kind of record he has on grass/hard (1 loss in one year), it will lack some spice a bit, don't you think ?

Don't worry, your avatar will take care of Roger on hardcourts Real Soon Now (TM).

 

[Jogy]

by the way I never heard Federer complaining about the balls or bounces or that kind of stuff

after Gasquet match in Monte Carlo he did...
every else fault it was, but not him for losing to Gasquet

in one or two years Federer will be the past and other will have attention

 

[Shabazza]

Gasquet has been going down hill a bit since RG i think

you can't be serious! Gasquet going downhill after RG

mdhubert I agree with you, so I don't have a problem with Roger losing just 1 hc match a year

 

[BlackSilver]

There was a hype on Nadal following his win in Montreal, but, be it tireness or ball dimension or whatever, he's not there for the real challenge: beating Fed in a Slam final on non-clay surface... by the way I never heard Federer complaining about the balls or bounces or that kind of stuff,
He's still young and he has a great year, but he'll have to be consistently in quarters in slams if he wants to be a threat. His scheduling must be redone, because playing so many matches on clay takes its toll, physically but also in terms of adaptation to other surfaces. Other guys ? I hope a Blake or a Gasquet will be consitent enough in the coming months to propose something new to Fed on his favourite surfaces, because if he keeps the kind of record he has on grass/hard (1 loss in one year), it will lack some spice a bit, don't you think ?

Hum, I think I am going to sleep..........
........
.......

 

[joycomesmorning]

I agree...and tennis is the poorer for that....

The Sanguinetti-Srichaphan match proved beyond any doubt that spectators don't need big-time names to really get into a match...they need intense lay-it-on-the-line competition...

I don't care about either of those players emotionally...but for a couple of hours, I did...it was the best tennis of the Open...

Without competition, tennis will survive...but it will never THRIVE

jcm

 

[TheMightyFed]

after Gasquet match in Monte Carlo he did...
every else fault it was, but not him for losing to Gasquet
\

Yoda, is it you ?

 

[TheMightyFed]

Hum, I think I am going to sleep..........
........
.......

more than 2 lines seems to be difficult for you... mmmhh, sorry :devil:

 

[Shabazza]

I agree...and tennis is the poorer for that....

The Sanguinetti-Srichaphan match proved beyond any doubt that spectators don't need big-time names to really get into a match...they need intense lay-it-on-the-line competition...

I don't care about either of those players emotionally...but for a couple of hours, I did...it was the best tennis of the Open...

Without competition, tennis will survive...but it will never THRIVE

jcm

at the Sanguinetti-Srichaphan match

 

[Billy Moonshine]

I hate Federer's dominance.
He is a genius and I only dislike him because it's in my nature to prefer the underdogs, which every player on the tour is when they face him, except Safin, who i adore for his volatile character and explosive, inspiring game.
Pete had Andre, Becker, Edberg, Chang, Ivanesivic.
Lendl had Wilander, Borg, McEnroe, Becker, Edberg.
Roger has....Safin, Hewitt, Roddick, Agassi, Nadal. All of whom are fab players but Safin is too crazy to be a consistent threat. He just isn't there in the final stages of a tournament to challenge him. Hewitt is a great player but lacks the firepower to blow Fed of court a la Safin and Fed knows exactly how to dismantle him. Roddick is too one dimensional and poses no challenge. Agassi at his peak would have been a challenge but now he is a few steps slower and Fed exploits this. Nadal has Feds number on clay and maybe at the Oz open he could beat him, but forget Wim and US.
In my opinion Fed will dominate Wim and US for next six yeers.
What needs to happen is for a young promising player with a great fast court game to dedicate themselves to their craft and challenge him or for the other players to seek out sports psychologists, get super fit so they can outlast him and keep working hard. Otherwise the atp tour is going to be a great specatcle like a beautiful painting in a gallery, but it's a sport and what we want to see is competition and if we don't get it, well, tennis and it's stars might suffer for it with low viewing figures and smaller paychecks. Hopefully Gasquet and the other newcomers can keep working hard to change the status quo.
I wish i had a sensible answer for why noone can challenge Fed and i think that it's down to safin and nalbandian to get it together and pose a challenge next year.

 

[Dirk]

Roger complained that the clay court wasn't watered after the 1st set but he gave Richard all the props for that win. If Roger stays healthy he will be one of the top faves are every slam. Richard could be the best of the new bunch. If he stays on course he could have a shot at all the slams. Murray also looks very good and has a smoothness to his game.

 

[TheMightyFed]

I hate Federer's dominance.
He is a genius and I only dislike him because it's in my nature to prefer the underdogs, which every player on the tour is when they face him, except Safin, who i adore for his volatile character and explosive, inspiring game.
Pete had Andre, Becker, Edberg, Chang, Ivanesivic.
Lendl had Wilander, Borg, McEnroe, Becker, Edberg.
Roger has....Safin, Hewitt, Roddick, Agassi, Nadal. All of whom are fab players but Safin is too crazy to be a consistent threat. He just isn't there in the final stages of a tournament to challenge him. Hewitt is a great player but lacks the firepower to blow Fed of court a la Safin and Fed knows exactly how to dismantle him. Roddick is too one dimensional and poses no challenge. Agassi at his peak would have been a challenge but now he is a few steps slower and Fed exploits this. Nadal has Feds number on clay and maybe at the Oz open he could beat him, but forget Wim and US.
In my opinion Fed will dominate Wim and US for next six yeers.
What needs to happen is for a young promising player with a great fast court game to dedicate themselves to their craft and challenge him or for the other players to seek out sports psychologists, get super fit so they can outlast him and keep working hard. Otherwise the atp tour is going to be a great specatcle like a beautiful painting in a gallery, but it's a sport and what we want to see is competition and if we don't get it, well, tennis and it's stars might suffer for it with low viewing figures and smaller paychecks. Hopefully Gasquet and the other newcomers can keep working hard to change the status quo.
I wish i had a sensible answer for why noone can challenge Fed and i think that it's down to safin and nalbandian to get it together and pose a challenge next year.

good post. Long, but good. Anyway, Fed will still be beautiful to watch... Props to Safin in Aussie Open

 

[mangoes]

Gasquet is a natural talent..............give him a little more time and I think he will come into his own. Right now his physical fitness is a big issue. However, moreso than even Nadal, Gasquet is showing he can handle all surfaces.

Blake being a rival for Roger..................DON'T MAKE ME CHOKE ON MY LUNCH. Everyone has a great match or tournament at some point in their career. However, I can think of several players that can kick Blakes' big cinderella ass on any given day. The potential for a great blake era has passed. The Newbies are here and they are already demonstrating the level and quality of tennis they are capable of achieving.

And while I don't believe in making excuses for players, we didn't see the very best out of Nadal during that match with Blake. Nadal, himself, admitted he played badly.

In my opinion, Safin is the second best player in the world, but he is emotionally challenged.............lolol...

Nadal, in my opinion, is the third best player in the world. But, I have a big issue with him staying so much on the clay and avoiding other surfaces. That is why, I do not think he should be no. 1 in the world as yet.

Hewitt is right up there in the top 5, but I do not think Andy should be in that list. I personally think that at 35, Agassi is a better player than Andy.

 

[TheMightyFed]

Blake being a rival for Roger..................DON'T MAKE ME CHOKE ON MY LUNCH. Everyone has a great match or tournament at some point in their career. However, I can think of several players that can kick Blakes' big cinderella ass on any given day. The potential for a great blake era has passed. .

Don't forget he had a bunch of injuries and sad events in recent months, he showed against Nadal he can play awesome, maybe the events he had to go through built the motivation to drive him to the top, he's not that old...

 

[mangoes]

Don't forget he had a bunch of injuries and sad events in recent months, he showed against Nadal he can play awesome, maybe the events he had to go through built the motivation to drive him to the top, he's not that old...

I am extremely sick and tired of hearing of James Blakes' woes. Other players have faced difficult situations in life, but they don't milk it for sympathy. James blake was no great player before the woes in his life. He is having a good tournament, nothing more.

Blake isn't like Gasquet, naturally gifted, who we know that given a little more time, he will become a major contendor in tennis.

 

[Billy Moonshine]

I am extremely sick and tired of hearing of James Blakes' woes. Other players have faced difficult situations in life, but they don't milk it for sympathy. James blake was no great player before the woes in his life. He is having a good tournament, nothing more.

Blake isn't like Gasquet, naturally gifted, who we know that given a little more time, he will become a major contendor in tennis.

Mangoes, I totally agree with u. I like Blake but the media are using his woes to make a story and he is milking it in his post match interviews. Although I think this is because the media are asking him about it and encouraging him to do so, but he could say that it's the past and leave it at that.

 

[ExpectedWinner]

Pete had Andre, Becker, Edberg, Chang, Ivanesivic.
Roger has....Safin, Hewitt, Roddick, Agassi, Nadal. All of whom are fab players but Safin is too crazy to be a consistent threat. He just isn't there in the final stages of a tournament to challenge him. Hewitt is a great player but lacks the firepower to blow Fed of court a la Safin and Fed knows exactly how to dismantle him. Roddick is too one dimensional and poses no challenge. Agassi at his peak would have been a challenge but now he is a few steps slower and Fed exploits this. Nadal has Feds number on clay and maybe at the Oz open he could beat him, but forget Wim and US.

I want to rewrite it.

Ivanisevic was too crazy to challenge Pete consistently. Chang was a great player but lacked firepower. Edberg/Becker were removed from their prime. Sadly, Andre had other interests and wasn't comitted to hard training during Pete's prime time. By the time Pete was almost 28, Andre had "only" 3 Slams.

 

[TheMightyFed]

I am extremely sick and tired of hearing of James Blakes' woes. Other players have faced difficult situations in life, but they don't milk it for sympathy. James blake was no great player before the woes in his life. He is having a good tournament, nothing more.

Blake isn't like Gasquet, naturally gifted, who we know that given a little more time, he will become a major contendor in tennis.

I know I know and I'm also fed up with it, but I was just picking up a guy that was 20 something before some career break, plays well on hardcourt, is hungry, and hasn't played Fed in 12 finals in a row. This guy could be top 5 IMO and is James Blake, that's it. Don't mix media stuff and cold analysis on "who is not yet the bitch of Federer on hard court ?". After all, he's "only" 0-2 against Rog ! And Blake is not Gasquet, on that we agree 100 %