Tennis Talk 2010

[breezybee]

Every year at the WTF there is one player that can't seem to win a match. Actually I think last year there were two. After watching today's match, I would not be surprised if Berdych goes and loses to everyone. His level of play is just horrible these days. It's too bad really because when he's playing well I really enjoy watching his games.

lt - maybe you can grope watch Ferrer instead. I know I'd have no problem with that. I do hope that Verdasco it there though and you get to see him at least on the practice court.

[lt]

Yeah, it was Rafa and Fer who didn't win a match last year. I think that's why Rafa took extra care of his shoulder going into the finals this year.

It's a good question as to who won't win a Round Robin match this year. . . I think I agree with you, breezy. Sadly, I think David is the other one who might run into some issues.

I can now rest easy--Max and Mahesh have qualified.

[breezybee]

lt - That might well be the case with David. When he went all the way through to the final with Federer in 2007 I was absolutely shocked. Don't know if he still has it in him. Maybe he'll be in Berdych's group!

Woo Hoo Max! To celebrat I'm reposting the picture I took of him this summer.

[lt]

I love that picture--such hops.

But my favorite jumping picture this year goes to Austin Jackson of the Detroit Tigers (Getty makes things so difficult. Type "Austin Jackson Brandon Inge" into the search--the image is the second image). I think it's Brandon Inge's look of "How did you get up there? Fine, high five."

[breezybee]

lt - cool picture.

I'm trying to watch Soderling and Roddick but these are some of the most boring rallies I've ever seen.

[lt]

Whoa. . . Llodra is having a good ol'time in his home country. He beat Davydenko (sad) and will meet Soderling in the semis. Nice. I hope his form holds for Davis Cup because I'll be rooting hard for France. But, oh yeah, he's not even on the starting team right now. What will Forget do? He cannot ignore this run. . . .

With Melzer's loss in the QFs, that cements Fer in the 9th spot. Now I guess its just up to the tournament/Fer as to whether they put the alternate in London or if he stays home unless he's needed. And I'm officially done obsessing about this (no, I'm really not). I have, however, spent a good amount of my day looking at the fun things in the Wimbledon shop. I won't pay for the Wimbledon grounds tour, but I'll travel out there to buy stuff. (LT, helping the world economy--one shopping trip at a time!)

[mooncreek]

I thought Llodra would be the best choice even before this week. Now having beaten Djokovic and with all the points from this week raising his ranking, it seems a given he should at least play against him. I forget the order of DC matches but they can always use the fourth player to play Troicki.

[breezybee]

I don't see how he can't play Monfils and Llodra. I believe the court surface they are going to play on in Serbia is pretty fast and that really suits Llodra. Simon has been pretty hot and cold and of course Tsonga is out. I don't he'll even consider Gasquet.


ETA - Is anyone else watching the Soderling/Llodra match? Fabrice is there!

[falafaclese]

I'm watching. Momo is there too. I assume she's still coaching Llodra? Llodra's playing quite a match so far.

[mooncreek]

These two semifinal matches couldn't have been closer. I watched some of Soderling/Llodra and cannot wait to see Federer/Monfils later. Between the two matches, six sets: five tiebreakers and a 7-5. One point away from being an all-French final.

[breezybee]

Can't believe Roger blew that set. I was really hoping for a Monfils/Llodra final but then I wouldn't have known who to root for. Also, the crowd would have been all confused with two Frenchmen playing. They won't be confused during the Soderling/Monfils final though. Given the way Monfils likes to rile the crowd up it should be an interesting match tomorrow.

[falafaclese]

Well, that was a disappointing final after those two pretty great semis, but at least Monfils looked like he was trying to fight against his flatness. I can't stand it when he starts resorting to the kooky throw-away shots, and at least there wasn't a lot of that today. He just seemed like he didn't have enough left in his tank mentally to play the way he needed to to wrest control of the rallies from Soderling, and if you can't get Soderling moving consistently, you're just not going to be able to run down his powerful shots. Soderling has a much more utilitarian game in my opinion, and he doesn't need the kind of emotional high Monfils needs to execute, so he was able to more effectively recuperate from yesterday. The level of control he exercised today was pretty impressive. He never gave Monfils the opportunity to pose much of a threat even in the second set when Monfils was doing a better job of staying with him. I like them both, so this wasn't a major disappointment, I just wish it had been more of a battle after yesterday.

I just hope the improved emotional maturity Monfils has been showing the past few weeks continues. I'd like to see France win the DC final, and I'd also like to see Monfils continue to improve next year.

[whyistherumgone]

I so wanted Monfils to win, but it became clear early that he didn't have enough left in the tank to do that. He was reverting back to his old bad habits...pushing, playing so far behind the baseline that he should be required to buy a seat in the first row (thank you Twitter for that one ;D), etc. Add that to the fact that Soderling wasn't playing badly, and there's the loss that brings Monfils' finals record to 3-13. I always say that you can't lose in the final unless you first get there, but the boy's gonna get a complex (if he doesn't already have one).

I love Gael, I really do. I just can't help it. At his best he's fun and exciting, and at his worst he is infuriating and painful to watch (possibly physically so, if you give into your urge to try and smack him through the TV). Very rarely have I gotten through a match of his without saying out loud to myself "What the $%#! are you doing?!?". That's just part of the deal. But I find him sweet, funny, charming, and entertaining most of the time. Not to mention his friendship with Gilles Simon is adorable .

I like this new, more serious version of him. But I don't want him to lose all of the silliness. Just the unnecessary crap that gets in the way of him doing well in matches. IMO, whatever 'it' is, he's got it. He also has the talent to be an elite player. And I feel like tennis needs him to be one of the best, top 10, top 5 players in the world. There are very few tennis players who can bring people in to the sport. People who have never watched a tennis match in their entire life. I know Federer and Nadal have done that, and I truly believe Gael can do it, too. It's just a matter of him putting it all together, without losing what makes him stand out.

Steve Tignor said it best: "You’ll get more enjoyment from a player if you learn to love the flaws as well. In Monfils’ case, start by remembering, and being thankful, that you’re not his coach."

[falafaclese]

Nov 15, 2010 1:51:33 GMT whyistherumgone said:

I like this new, more serious version of him. But I don't want him to lose all of the silliness. Just the unnecessary crap that gets in the way of him doing well in matches. IMO, whatever 'it' is, he's got it. He also has the talent to be an elite player. And I feel like tennis needs him to be one of the best, top 10, top 5 players in the world. There are very few tennis players who can bring people in to the sport. People who have never watched a tennis match in their entire life. I know Federer and Nadal have done that, and I truly believe Gael can do it, too. It's just a matter of him putting it all together, without losing what makes him stand out.

Steve Tignor said it best: "You’ll get more enjoyment from a player if you learn to love the flaws as well. In Monfils’ case, start by remembering, and being thankful, that you’re not his coach."

I have a feeling he'll never completely lose it. A lot of what makes him electrifying comes from his physicality. Even when he's being subdued emotionally, it still comes out. It's funny you posted this, because I was thinking today how interesting it would be if he put it together and made it into the top five, and stayed up near the top consistently. He has it in him to do it, it's just a question of whether he can continue maintaining focus. Of course he also needs to stay healthy consistently. Time will tell. Maybe he'll be next year's Soderling.

[lt]

There are very few tennis players who can bring people in to the sport. People who have never watched a tennis match in their entire life. I know Federer and Nadal have done that, and I truly believe Gael can do it, too.

Oh boy, do I agree with you. He's one of those guys (like, I have to admit, Beaker when he first came on the scene) that sports fans flipping channels will stop to watch.

There was a moment in his semi match where he started inciting the crowd and you could see Roger get visibly angry. And then watch him calm himself down because that's what it is to play Gael.

Soderling has a much more utilitarian game in my opinion, and he doesn't need the kind of emotional high Monfils needs to execute, so he was able to more effectively recuperate from yesterday.

Agreed. No one will stop channel flipping to watch Soderling, but, boy, he's good. Liked his speech too--he understands that telling the French that their tournaments are the best is the easiest way into their hearts, even when he beats their favorites. The French crowd cracked me when Soderling mentioned his beautiful girlfriend because they started whistling and making appreciative noises. Ah, so French. Love it.

eta: The Round Robin match ups and schedule for Sunday and Monday have been set. I'm clapping my hands in glee over here.