Tennis 2018

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Raoul said:
You seem to find joy in players who don't do well at slams. Weird, but whatever floats your boat.
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I find it weird how you manage to overrate absolutely any and every kid despite them proving absolutely nothing on the biggest stages. Zverev is just the biggest example of your over hyping these players and then making strange excuses for it.
 
wr8_utd said:
I find it weird how you manage to overrate absolutely any and every kid despite them proving absolutely nothing on the biggest stages. Zverev is just the biggest example of your over hyping these players and then making strange excuses for it.
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I'm not overrating anyone. These are young players with their entire careers ahead of them. Rather than looking backwards, you have to evaluate their talent in the present and extrapolate where they will be once they reach their peak potential. Rather than gleefully cackling at players when they lose a match, try looking at their longer term potential of where they will be in 3-5 years from now.
 
Raoul said:
I'm not overrating anyone. These are young players with their entire careers ahead of them. Rather than looking backwards, you have to evaluate their talent in the present and extrapolate where they will be once they reach their peak potential. Rather than gleefully cackling at players when they lose, try looking at their longer term potential of where they will be in 3-5 years from now.
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I'm sure the likes of Zverev might do well when the top players are gone and there's no quality opposition but I live in the present and in the present not ONE of them has proven they have what it takes to do it on the big stage. Thiem is possibly the only exception and even he can do it only for 3 months a season. I think it's time to accept most of these kids are not even Close to being as good as you think they are. Nick, Shapovalov Zverev etc.
 
Another star doing wonders out there. Nick just lost the first set to Kei 6-1 in 16 mins.
 
wr8_utd said:
I'm sure the likes of Zverev might do well when the top players are gone and there's no quality opposition but I live in the present and in the present not ONE of them has proven they have what it takes to do it on the big stage. Thiem is possibly the only exception and even he can do it only for 3 months a season. I think it's time to accept most of these kids are not even Close to being as good as you think they are. Nick, Shapovalov Zverev etc.
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Zverev isn't even losing to the 'right' players.

I see Kyrgios is a set and a break down to Nishikori.
 
wr8_utd said:
I'm sure the likes of Zverev might do well when the top players are gone and there's no quality opposition but I live in the present and in the present not ONE of them has proven they have what it takes to do it on the big stage. Thiem is possibly the only exception and even he can do it only for 3 months a season. I think it's time to accept most of these kids are not even Close to being as good as you think they are. Nick, Shapovalov Zverev etc.
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Kyrgios is a headcase who is already at a more advanced stage in his career. Shapovalov is a teenager and not in the same category as the others. He just turned pro 2 years ago and shouldn't be lumped into the older players in the early 20s. He belongs in the class of Tsitsipas, Rublev etc.
 
Raoul said:
Kyrgios is a headcase who is already at a more advanced stage in his career. Shapovalov is a teenager and not in the same category as the others. He just turned pro 2 years ago and shouldn't be lumped into the older players in the early 20s. He belongs in the class of Tsitsipas, Rublev etc.
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Good week for him. Plays Isner in R4.
 
Did anyone watch the Nadal match? How'd he do and what's De Minaur like? From what I've heard he's an entertaining player
 
Raoul said:
Nishikori is very underrated imo. Each time I've seen him, he's played better than expected.
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I think his injury record makes you wonder whether he's ever actually a fit. I certainly thought Kyrgios would have the better of him today.
 
saivet said:
Zverev isn't even losing to the 'right' players.

I see Kyrgios is a set and a break down to Nishikori.
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Zverev loses to just about anyone. He never even ends up facing anyone decent because he loses a long time before he can even face them.
He's doing it across all surfaces.
 
saivet said:
I think his injury record makes you wonder whether he's ever actually a fit. I certainly thought Kyrgios would have the better of him today.
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Yeah poor guys been unlucky with injuries. I also don't think he's strong enough mentally to have ever taken that next step
 
Djokovic looked pretty good, guess he'll be the slight underdog against Nadal (assuming he keeps this up and wins his quarter) but it'll be interesting to see them play each other on grass again.

One of the worst calls you'll ever see from Jake Garner in that last set. Thankfully it didn't affect the outcome.
 
Raoul said:
If that were true he wouldn't be #3.
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It kind of is true. He picks up all his points at Masters and 500 titles. No one denies his quality at those levels. It's at Slams where he's, well, rubbish.
 
Giggsy92 said:
Djokovic looked pretty good, guess he'll be the slight underdog against Nadal (assuming he keeps this up and wins his quarter) but it'll be interesting to see them play each other on grass again.

One of the worst calls you'll ever see from Jake Garner in that last set. Thankfully it didn't affect the outcome.
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I am not sure Nadal is going to make it through both Vesily ( big serving leftie) and Del Potro.but if he does, Djoko is going to favorite against Nadal for me. He's playing much better stuff so far.
 
Giggsy92 said:
Djokovic looked pretty good, guess he'll be the slight underdog against Nadal (assuming he keeps this up and wins his quarter) but it'll be interesting to see them play each other on grass again.

One of the worst calls you'll ever see from Jake Garner in that last set. Thankfully it didn't affect the outcome.
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Rafa will need to get past Del Potro in the quarters to get to the potential Djokovic match. Should be a fun 2nd week.
 
Raoul said:
Rafa will need to get past Del Potro in the quarters to get to the potential Djokovic match. Should be a fun 2nd week.
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If Kyrgios comes through against Nishikori, he'll be in Djokovic's quarter.
 
Kei 2 sets up. This one is done then. Nick should be doing much better other on Grass.
 
Pretty much Kyrgios out. I didn't see the whole of the set, but his body language was not good at all. Shaking his head after pretty much every point.
 
Raoul said:
There's nothing strange about it when 12 of the top 20 players on both sides have already been beaten. Its simply the year of most ranked players losing early.
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Each event is independent and not dependent on previous events. The probability of a coin toss doesn't change if you have 10 heads in a rowr
 
saivet said:
Did anyone watch the Nadal match? How'd he do and what's De Minaur like? From what I've heard he's an entertaining player
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For a straight set win with a breadstick, it seems dominant, but I didn’t quite feel like that when watching. De Minaur got his fair share of chances on Nadal serve but were just incapable of winning points in key moments.

Nadal still returns from way below the baseline and that’s his biggest issue I think. DelPo will be the true test, if he makes it past the QF then it’s give and go between him and Djoker.
 
InfiniteBoredom said:
For a straight set win with a breadstick, it seems dominant, but I didn’t quite feel like that when watching. De Minaur got his fair share of chances on Nadal serve but were just incapable of winning points in key moments.

Nadal still returns from way below the baseline and that’s his biggest issue I think. DelPo will be the true test, if he makes it past the QF then it’s give and go between him and Djoker.
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Even Kuku had tonnes of chances vs Rafa on serve. Better players will take advantage
 
InfiniteBoredom said:
For a straight set win with a breadstick, it seems dominant, but I didn’t quite feel like that when watching. De Minaur got his fair share of chances on Nadal serve but were just incapable of winning points in key moments.

Nadal still returns from way below the baseline and that’s his biggest issue I think. DelPo will be the true test, if he makes it past the QF then it’s give and go between him and Djoker.
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Interesting. Sounds similar to his previous round though highlights looked good.
 
I truly hope one of Nadal/Djokovic/Del Po can reach the final.

But Zverev and Kyrgios are a joke. Ok Kyrgios you going to lose but atleast try putting some effort in. Nishikori isn’t easy but just try. He was criticising Bartoli on instagram before the game because she was calling him and Monfils a child.

Zverev losing to Gulbis is ridiculous. The guy can’t do it in 5 sets. Every match in a grand slam seems a struggle for him and I rarely seen a GS game where he’s like destroyed the opponent.

One of the reasons Nadal/Fed/Djokovic have been successful is they make the early rounds as practice rounds at times. It’s really during the quarters or after where they drop sets.
 
Bojan11 said:
I truly hope one of Nadal/Djokovic/Del Po can reach the final.

But Zverev and Kyrgios are a joke. Ok Kyrgios you going to lose but atleast try putting some effort in. Nishikori isn’t easy but just try. He was criticising Bartoli on instagram before the game because she was calling him and Monfils a child.

Zverev losing to Gulbis is ridiculous. The guy can’t do it in 5 sets. Every match in a grand slam seems a struggle for him and I rarely seen a GS game where he’s like destroyed the opponent.

One of the reasons Nadal/Fed/Djokovic have been successful is they make the early rounds as practice rounds at times. It’s really during the quarters or after where they drop sets.
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It's honestly a bit embarrassing Zverev is World #3 or whatever he is. He's a constant failure in 5 sets and it doesn't look like changing anytime soon.
 
Zverev's problem at Slams seems to be mental, it is as if he's daunted by the prospect of a 5 setter alone. Take the match against Fritz, blew it, saved by the dark, then came back when it's essentially a 2 setters and destroyed him.

Kyrgios has made no secret of the fact that he doesn't enjoy tennis all that much and would prefer to do something else. Can only motivate himself against the top guys, which is a shame given his undeniable talent, but that's just life, it happens.

The likes of Rublev, Chung, Tsitsipas, Shapovalov seem to be much more put-together. It's hard to tell whether they are ready to challenge once the old guys are gone or the Raonic/Dimitrov bunch will takeover for a while but one thing for sure, it'll be a long long time before we see anyone with the class of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic again.
 
Anyone watch Strokes of Genius: Federer vs Nadal?

Great watch, produced by the Tennis Channel and was on BBC 2 just now. Would definitely recommend.
 
InfiniteBoredom said:
Zverev's problem at Slams seems to be mental, it is as if he's daunted by the prospect of a 5 setter alone. Take the match against Fritz, blew it, saved by the dark, then came back when it's essentially a 2 setters and destroyed him.

Kyrgios has made no secret of the fact that he doesn't enjoy tennis all that much and would prefer to do something else. Can only motivate himself against the top guys, which is a shame given his undeniable talent, but that's just life, it happens.

The likes of Rublev, Chung, Tsitsipas, Shapovalov seem to be much more put-together. It's hard to tell whether they are ready to challenge once the old guys are gone or the Raonic/Dimitrov bunch will takeover for a while but one thing for sure, it'll be a long long time before we see anyone with the class of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic again.
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Its almost always mental for players. They can't maintain their mental acuity for protracted periods during high pressure situations and wind up losing focus and making unforced errors. Its also what separates the great players (Fed/Rafa/Novak) from their pursuers - they hold their nerve long enough to ensure their opponents make mistakes before they do. I don't see any traces of this in the younger players, but then again few saw that in a 19 year old Federer either.
 
Raoul said:
Its almost always mental for players. They can't maintain their mental acuity for protracted periods during high pressure situations and wind up losing focus and making unforced errors. Its also what separates the great players (Fed/Rafa/Novak) from their pursuers - they hold their nerve long enough to ensure their opponents make mistakes before they do. I don't see any traces of this in the younger players, but then again few saw that in a 19 year old Federer either.
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Yes, but in Zverev’s case it seems to be more than the usual ‘losing focus and makes errors’. The amount of time he has given sets up 6-0 or 6-1 suggests that something is wrong with the way he approaches a match to begin with. We don’t know if it will get better with time.

Sometimes everything have to come together before you have an all time great. As much as I love Federer, had it not been for his friend and coach dying when he was 20 that forced him to re-evaluate his perspective , he could have easily not become focused enough to start challenging. Could’ve ended up like Dimitrov now.
 
Fed broke first game of the match. Nothing to see here.

Edit: 4-0. Mannarino won only 2 points after 4 games.
 
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