Tennis Thread 2014

The Man Himself said:
Just checked who you were talking about and not surprised. Best thing is to make use of 'ignore' button for such posters. In fact both of them here. If it helps their opinions on any topic are equally awful.
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Haha glad you agree.
 
Dustin Brown probably has the most awkward technique at the top level of men's tennis, but if he has a good day against the top, top players then he's a machine. He made Nadal his bitch yesterday and it was a sight to see.
 
My ex teammate from university is playing against Federer in the doubles final today at Halle! Hope he isn't too overawed
 
Tim Henman said:
My ex teammate from university is playing against Federer in the doubles final today at Halle! Hope he isn't too overawed
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Between Dimitrov and Janowicz, who do you think is better poised to go on to become a great player, if at all?
 
Scarecrow said:
Definitely Dimitrov, if I may answer. It's not even close.
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Interesting. I have watched little of Dimitrov but I was impressed with Janowicz's run in Wimbledon in year when Murray won it and he lost to Murray. Janowicz comes across bit cocky and he need to get it straight before he has achieved something but about Dimitrov I have only heard but not seen him deliver at grand slam stage. Again, having not seen very little means I can't compare them my own at this stage.
 
The Man Himself said:
Interesting. I have watched little of Dimitrov but I was impressed with Janowicz's run in Wimbledon in year when Murray won it and he lost to Murray. Janowicz comes across bit cocky and he need to get it straight before he has achieved something but about Dimitrov I have only heard but not seen him deliver at grand slam stage. Again, having not seen very little means I can't compare them my own at this stage.
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I've watched nearly every game Dimitrov has played on a TV court since 2009, trust me :D. I may be a bit bias, as I'm also Bulgarian, but I genuinely believe that he's the biggest talent on the tour right now. As for Janowicz - I'd even put him behind Raonic and Nishikori, as he doesn't seem to have their consistency and attitude.
 
Scarecrow said:
I've watched nearly every game Dimitrov has played on a TV court since 2009, trust me :D. I may be a bit bias, as I'm also Bulgarian, but I genuinely believe that he's the biggest talent on the tour right now. As for Janowicz - I'd even put him behind Raonic and Nishikori, as he doesn't seem to have their consistency and attitude.
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I see. I too have heard that talentwise Dimitrov is one of the most talented around on tour among the youngsters but Dimitrov's record is probably worst at grand slams among the names you mentioned and adding Tomic to it. Again, I have only heard about most of them and I generally watch grand slams only and from QF onwards and these guys are yet to reach that stage on consistent basis. Will start watching all of them bit more if possible :)
 
Dimitrov's physique and endurance have always been his biggest problem, along with his inability to play effectively rather than always going for the hotshot. That's why, I think, he's yet to make his mark on the Slams where the format is 3/5 sets. He's progressed very, very much under his new coach in both physical and mental aspects of the game though, so I'm sure you'll get to see him more often soon :).
 
I wouldn't describe Dimitrov and Nishikori as young talent as they both about 24. They just in a tough era. Usually you'd see tennis players breaking out at 18 or 19.

Obviously that hasn't happened in the last 5 or years. Since Del Potro won a slam in 2009 basically. But tennis isn't a sport where you peak in mid 20s. People will say Murray won a slam at that time. But Murray won master events and reached quite a few grand slam finals. Really at the age of 24 they should be making the step up.

It's disappointing because for the last three years I have been hearing about these guys and Raionic coming up and they do very little.
 
The Man Himself said:
Between Dimitrov and Janowicz, who do you think is better poised to go on to become a great player, if at all?
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I imagine Dimitrov. I never rated Janowicz so highly. Don't think he can move well enough because of his size and that gets exposed in today's game. I think Dimitrov has the most complete game out of the current bunch of "youngsters" and all it will take is a breakthrough win at a slam in the next 12/18 months and his game will explode. Then again, the current top 4 are so amazingly consistent and don't seem to be going anywhere which makes it tough for guys to break through.
 
Nadal-Federer in one half, Murray-Djoker in other for Wimbledon.
 
Good story for you guys.. Well "heart-warming" I suppose and a look into the mindset of us players at the lower tier of the game. In 2011 I had just graduated from university and had started playing full time on the tour. I got to the 400s in around 6 months and was doing decently before I hurt my shoulder. After I hurt my shoulder I was hanging around that tournament before my flight home and was talking to a fellow US college player who graduated in my year. He had been struggling a little bit and didnt enjoy the daily grind of the tour and had decided enough was enough. I spoke to him a little bit and gave him my point of view that if he can find funding he should continue because

A) as tough as it is, he is a good player and might as well give it a shot.

B) Nothing he ever does in his life will compare to winning tennis matches.

This week that young man qualified for Wimbledon and won his first round yesterday and plays Fabio Fognini in the second. Such an awesome story , I love seeing things like that happen. It won't set him up financially for life but how many people will be able to say they played Wimbledon!
 
Djok looked pretty imperious yesterday. Last Slam he won was Aus last year I think? Not sure if Murray has played well enough in the year to have a good shot.
 
Why are BBC1 & 2 showing the same match?! I want to see Lisicki damnit!
 
Nadal through.

@Skills You on about that rally in the Nadal match? That was insane.
 
Sue Barker: "We miss Boris in the commentary box this year".

Oh no we don't!
I for one, am ecstatic he isn't doing commentary this year - long may it continue :D
 
Tim Henman said:
Good story for you guys.. Well "heart-warming" I suppose and a look into the mindset of us players at the lower tier of the game. In 2011 I had just graduated from university and had started playing full time on the tour. I got to the 400s in around 6 months and was doing decently before I hurt my shoulder. After I hurt my shoulder I was hanging around that tournament before my flight home and was talking to a fellow US college player who graduated in my year. He had been struggling a little bit and didnt enjoy the daily grind of the tour and had decided enough was enough. I spoke to him a little bit and gave him my point of view that if he can find funding he should continue because

A) as tough as it is, he is a good player and might as well give it a shot.

B) Nothing he ever does in his life will compare to winning tennis matches.

This week that young man qualified for Wimbledon and won his first round yesterday and plays Fabio Fognini in the second. Such an awesome story , I love seeing things like that happen. It won't set him up financially for life but how many people will be able to say they played Wimbledon!
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thats nice. In some town in Australia i met some italians working at some farm, and one of them was best friend with Fognini...
 
Bojan11 said:
I wouldn't describe Dimitrov and Nishikori as young talent as they both about 24. They just in a tough era. Usually you'd see tennis players breaking out at 18 or 19.

Obviously that hasn't happened in the last 5 or years. Since Del Potro won a slam in 2009 basically. But tennis isn't a sport where you peak in mid 20s. People will say Murray won a slam at that time. But Murray won master events and reached quite a few grand slam finals. Really at the age of 24 they should be making the step up.

It's disappointing because for the last three years I have been hearing about these guys and Raionic coming up and they do very little.
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I don't agree. Tennis players used to break out at 18 or 19 but there's a reason that hasn't happened in the last decade. The game has simply changed. It has become much more physical than before and yes, nowadays players do peak in about the mid 20s. The current great generation obviously also plays a role in this but it's not the only thing. I don't think we'll ever see a slam won by a teenager again. These times are behind us.
 
George Owen said:
thats nice. In some town in Australia i met some italians working at some farm, and one of them was best friend with Fognini...
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Was a close match today.. Puetz threw away the third set, had two set points in the breaker to go up two sets to one.
 
Stepanek is a tough match for Djokovic as he is very unorthodox and a bit of a classic player to be honest. I'm still backing Murray all day long to retain his title.
 
Thinking of throwing 10 pounds on Rafa, Stan, Roger losing today. Wont happen but I reckon they all have tough matches (providing Muller in particular turns up and serves well). I wonder what the payoff would be.
 
I think Federer will lose today. Nadal and Wawrinka might drop a set or two, but I reckon they'll both get through safely enough.
 
They might all win in straights.. I'm just saying that those are potentially three guys that can hurt them on grass courts. If Muller turns up he is going to drive Federer crazy. Lu isn't as dangerous because he doesn't have the weapons that the other two have but he is very crafty and comfortable on low bouncing courts.
 
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