ATP 1000 Coupe Rogers 2013, Montreal, Canada

[don_budge]

Something fishy about Nadal...

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

And the game would be so much more interesting to watch. Instead we are moving to the development of more and more human automatons who can just pound from the baseline until someone collapses. Try to find a video of the Edberg/Chang 1992 semifinal at the US Open. There's movement, athleticism and contrast.

don

I very much liked that whole post. The jury is still out on Jerzy...but the more that I see, the more that I feel he should be a little farther along with his strategic and tennis acumen in general. The serve is a big mystery to me. How could a coach not recognize the vast potential of a player that can mix it up and bring 12 different variations to each side of the court in permutations of spin, speed and placement? This aspect of serving is totally lacking from Jerzy's repertoire. He should be following a pretty good percentage of these serves to the net. At his height he is playing the other man's game if he chooses to slug it out from the backcourt.

With regard to the equipment...I think everyone here knows where I am coming from. Standardization. Anything that Michael Chang ever accomplished in professional tennis should have an asterisk by it...because he used a racquet that was 110 square inches. He cheated...as far as I am concerned.

But this brings us to Rafael Nadal. What's up with this hombre? Is he cheating? His first tournament back in how many weeks and once again he is as fit as a fiddle and head and shoulders over the rest of the field with only Djokovic to contend with him.

So let's get this straight. He retires after the Australian Open due to problems with his knee...so he goes and somehow straightens out his problem then returns to the field and captures every title that he plays for. Not only that but he extends his good fortune to the clay court season in Europe and wins everything in sight...including the jewel at Roland Garros.

He skips the practice grass court sessions then goes to Wimbledon and loses a half heartedly played match against some nobody then once again he is disappeared from the scene. But once again he shows up at the next tournament and just out classes everyone in terms of fitness and strength and being sharp with his game.

I don't know anything about doping cycles...but there is something fishy going on here.

[klacr]

Leadership in LaCroix...2014

Sometimes I feel like I am trying out to be Walter Matthau's replacement in Grumpy Old Men III, but it is getting more and more irritating seeing players who could benefit hugely from a little use of classic aggressive tennis tactics unable or unwilling to even try them. I'll sign KLACR's petition right now, but I think a more viable option would be a tennis circuit with rackets with a maximum 80 square inches of string bed and 27.5" maximum length AND with a requirement on string elasticity similar to the COR requirement the golf manufacturer's have to follow that would hold the strings to the kind of action they could offer in 1985 before the advent of all the exotic strings. You can't go back to wood because you need the manufacturers involved and supporting and developing their products. But you could control the technical specs of the rackets to where they could not exceed the power specs of a wooden racket. Then a wooden racket could compete. Of course, this wouldn't work without some multibillionaire putting up a few hundred million dollars to get the circuit started for 3 to 4 years. But imagine the wonderful play you would have if players with today's tremendous athleticism and fitness were matched against one another with modern material rackets limited to the power specs of 1970's wooden rackets and the more limited forgiveness of an 80 inch stringbed. You wouldn't have to require players to serve and volley; it would be the smart way to play, at least occasionally.

And the game would be so much more interesting to watch. Instead we are moving to the development of more and more human automatons who can just pound from the baseline until someone collapses. Try to find a video of the Edberg/Chang 1992 semifinal at the US Open. There's movement, athleticism and contrast.

Serenity?!? Sorry, not for me!

don

Thanks for the support don. Let's see if we can get my campaign for Tennis commissioner trending for a run in 2014. We'll need a catchy slogan and a few hundred million dollars for my campaign budget. I gotta be able to travel around this country and spread the word to people. Get them to believe in serve and volley again. Need a campaign manager...now hiring.


Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[tennis_chiro]

Very Frustrating!

Just got done watching Blake's win over Janowicz. What was that quote about accepting the things I can not change?

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

I thought I saw a little progress in the ability to handle adversity in staying in matches the last couple of months, but I see no progress in the development of the front court game. Without that he is just a fast big man with a nice drop shot. If he doesn't transition forward, the big players will have their way with him. His shots are penetrating and forcing, but if he doesn't capitalize on the advantage those aggressive shots afford him, he will pay too high a price for the added risk that goes with hitting those balls with a lower safety margin. What I said in post #10 of this thread seems doubly true to me now.

It was certainly a nice win for Blake, but he did exactly what he has always done: went for his shots even when he shouldn't have. Blake dictated pace of play and Jerzy never really got comfortable. But in the brief period at the end of the 2nd set when Jerzy was controlling play from the baseline and had a couple of chances to get ahead, he was unwilling to follow his forcing play to the net and finish the point. Blake got another chance and he was willing to take it. If Jerzy was following such a close-out-at-the-net strategy, I don't think Blake would have ever been so close in the match; maybe because Jerzy was pretty awful in the first set, but Blake should not have gotten that second set.

Somebody has got to get to Jerzy and his camp and make him understand that he is fast for a big man with nice all court agility for a big man, but merely one of many and not even very high up on the list if he tries to play the game from the baseline.

As much as I like to watch Jerzy play when he is playing well and converting his advantage into points won by finishing at the net (no, not all the time, but at least a good percentage of it and certainly when the opportunity presents itself), this is tough to take. When he plays like he did tonight, it is no fun to watch; just irritating and frustrating. I have gotten over the years to where I couldn't stand to watch Blake anymore because as electric as his shot-making can be, his tendency to give away so many points with poor shot selection and his inability to adapt to the situation and his opponent would just make you pull your hair out.

Sometimes I feel like I am trying out to be Walter Matthau's replacement in Grumpy Old Men III, but it is getting more and more irritating seeing players who could benefit hugely from a little use of classic aggressive tennis tactics unable or unwilling to even try them. I'll sign KLACR's petition right now, but I think a more viable option would be a tennis circuit with rackets with a maximum 80 square inches of string bed and 27.5" maximum length AND with a requirement on string elasticity similar to the COR requirement the golf manufacturer's have to follow that would hold the strings to the kind of action they could offer in 1985 before the advent of all the exotic strings. You can't go back to wood because you need the manufacturers involved and supporting and developing their products. But you could control the technical specs of the rackets to where they could not exceed the power specs of a wooden racket. Then a wooden racket could compete. Of course, this wouldn't work without some multibillionaire putting up a few hundred million dollars to get the circuit started for 3 to 4 years. But imagine the wonderful play you would have if players with today's tremendous athleticism and fitness were matched against one another with modern material rackets limited to the power specs of 1970's wooden rackets and the more limited forgiveness of an 80 inch stringbed. You wouldn't have to require players to serve and volley; it would be the smart way to play, at least occasionally.

And the game would be so much more interesting to watch. Instead we are moving to the development of more and more human automatons who can just pound from the baseline until someone collapses. Try to find a video of the Edberg/Chang 1992 semifinal at the US Open. There's movement, athleticism and contrast.

Serenity?!? Sorry, not for me!

don

[klacr]

Yes, it's handy being a lefty. They get the lefty serve on the big points...40-30...ad-40. That's a BIG advantage against a righty.

I have always thought this should advantage should removed by leveling things out. By this I mean a righty should start his service game serving first to the ad box when playing a lefty. OR... the lefty, when playing a righty, might start serving to the ad box rather than the deuce box on the first point of his service game.

I think this would be fairer. What do you think? These lefty players have been getting away with murder for years.

Stotty,

It's a nice thought, but simply a pipe dream. But I shouldn't admonish as my hopes are even greater. The first rules I would institute as commissioner of tennis would be...
1.) Every player must use a wooden racquet
2.) Every player must serve and volley at least two points in their own service game, every service game.

Yes its fantasy. But I'm allowed that.


Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Stotty,

Thanks.

Personally I'd take Federer's forehand or Del Potro' or Berdych's (on his good days). Nadal's forehand would be amazing but it just wouldn't fit my style or ersonality. Instead of having Rafa's forehand, I'd love to be lefty...please. Just for one day. You know exactly where my serve is going into the ad court, and I don't care. Just try to stop me

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Yes, it's handy being a lefty. They get the lefty serve on the big points...40-30...ad-40. That's a BIG advantage against a righty.

I have always thought this should advantage should removed by leveling things out. By this I mean a righty should start his service game serving first to the ad box when playing a lefty. OR... the lefty, when playing a righty, might start serving to the ad box rather than the deuce box on the first point of his service game.

I think this would be fairer. What do you think? These lefty players have been getting away with murder for years.

[klacr]

Stotty,

Thanks.

Personally I'd take Federer's forehand or Del Potro' or Berdych's (on his good days). Nadal's forehand would be amazing but it just wouldn't fit my style or ersonality. Instead of having Rafa's forehand, I'd love to be lefty...please. Just for one day. You know exactly where my serve is going into the ad court, and I don't care. Just try to stop me

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Like the screenshot, Klacr!


I wish I could borrow Nadal's forehand just for a day. It would be nice to feel what it's like to hit a ball like that. Even at my age I would be unbeatable for the day in my vicinity with a forehand like that. I could think of a few local players I'd like to mash up with it too.

[klacr]

Rafa destroyed Raonic in the finals of Montreal. It was over after the 3rd game when Nadal broke the serve of the big Canadian. Rafa is a threat in Cincy and certainly at the US Open. And with absolutely zero points to defend. The race for #1 is on.

Here are the match stats...If you are Raonic, you are not going to beat Rafa with those 2nd serve pts won.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stroke]

Nadal/Djokovic match last night was a good one. Both played well I felt. It seems like the rhythm of their matches comes down to how much Djokovic can keep Nadal from getting his feet set on his forehand, still the biggest weapon out there in their matches.

[klacr]

Ok...I suck at prognosticating...nothing new under the sun. I was right on the first three then I couldn't buy a pick. I was right about Nadal and Jerzy though...a good fight by Jerzy. He is undaunted in defeat. He served terrible so he will save it for another day. Matosevic I had never heard of before...curious to see how he stands up to Nadal. Berdych...another lament for poor klacr. Davydenko and Raonic...who cares? Gulbis over Murray...alert the media.

Tonight...the quarterfinals

Pospisli over Davydenko...just for klacr. It was no fluke Canuck. Raonic and Gulbis...why not Ernesto? Djokovic vs. "Cocaine Lips"...easy enough barring a snowball from hell. Nadal and Matosevic...do bears poop in the woods?

Davydenko pulls the rip cord just three games in. Pospisil moves on to semis. I appreciate don_budge picking Pospisil over Davydenko saying it's not a fluke. But sadly, Davydenko's performance made me even more upset for what could have been "the week" for Berdych knowing it could ahve been him in the semis. I just can't win.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Try again...

Djokovic vs. Istomin...Novak leads 2-0. Soon to be 3-0.

Nishikori vs. Gasquet..."Cocaine Lips" leads 2-0. Make it 3-0.

Nadal vs. Janowicz...Never played before. Nadal baptizes Janowicz...but not without a fight from "Jerzy Joe".

Matosevic vs. Paire...Never played before. Paire wins...in deference to Stotty.

Berdych vs. Pospisil...Never played before. Berdych in a butt spanking.

Davydenko vs. Bogomolov...Tied at a victory apiece 1-1. Two Russians...one a U. S. transplant. Give it to Snowden...I mean Bogomolov as a possible spy. Davydenko two three setters in two days...Bogomolov coming off a big win against David Ferrer 6-2, 6-4. What gives with that?

Del Potro vs. Raonic...Never played before. Del Potro wins in the battle of the Titans. Unfortunately one of them is not as mobile as the other.

Murray vs. Gulbis...Murray leads 5-0. Make it 6-0 in spite of that fishy swimming forehand that is all the rave.

Ok...I suck at prognosticating...nothing new under the sun. I was right on the first three then I couldn't buy a pick. I was right about Nadal and Jerzy though...a good fight by Jerzy. He is undaunted in defeat. He served terrible so he will save it for another day. Matosevic I had never heard of before...curious to see how he stands up to Nadal. Berdych...another lament for poor klacr. Davydenko and Raonic...who cares? Gulbis over Murray...alert the media.

Tonight...the quarterfinals

Pospisli over Davydenko...just for klacr. It was no fluke Canuck. Raonic and Gulbis...why not Ernesto? Djokovic vs. "Cocaine Lips"...easy enough barring a snowball from hell. Nadal and Matosevic...do bears poop in the woods?

[klacr]

All good points don_budge. Once he matures, whenever it might be, pretty sure he'll clean his game and mental strength up a bit. Let's hope so.

Berdych is winning this week. I can feel it. I saw it in a dream. Don't ask.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Did I just predict Berdych would win the tournament this week?

Unless the rules of tennis have changed I'm pretty sure losing 7-6 to Pospisil in the 3rd set means Berdych cannot win Montreal. Can someone confirm this rule just to be safe? Beyond consoling right now. This draw was perfect for him.

This loss hurts. I seem to say that every time he loses.


Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

That forehand drop shot of Jerzy's is one of the best I've seen. He can steer it onto a dime.

But I really don't think his forehand is good enough. Sure, he slams plenty of winners, but misses lots too. That simply isn't good enough if you're trying to break into the "top four territory". He seems to struggle with balls hit at his body....gets jammed....this happened numerous times in the match.

Strange he gets tight on his serve. I really can't explain that one. I notice he holds the racket higher up the handle than most, too...unusual these days.

I thought Nadal was very average in the match, yet he managed to pull the match out of the bag. He wasn't moving well...worrying. He is a lesson in himself on how to play matches. That boy plays a tight match when it's crunch time.

[don_budge]

Fun to watch...but

But he really is a lot more fun to watch than most.

Absolutely.

The thing about his forehand grip and the lack of exaggerated topspin...on the other hand he seems to be much more comfortable hitting under the ball. Underspin on drop shots and on volleys.

He is extremely intriguing and I couldn't agree with you more about his getting to the net. Some of the volleys that he hit against the net looked like he was born to volley. He is so comfortable playing in the middle of the court with his slice backhand...he has a lot of possibilities. In order to serve and volley though he will need to have a command of a dozen different serves to each court and he hasn't shown that yet. He is old enough to know this stuff. If he had 15 year old Stefan Koslov's feel for the game he might just be a legitimate contender...but as it stands now he lacks the consistency of a top ten player let alone a top four. But he has all of the potential in the world so the question is...do the people behind him have the vision? Do they have the plan?

Sometimes it seems that it takes players playing the whole court a little longer to mature but if he is going to do it...it should be sooner than later. He definitely is a player to watch.

[tennis_chiro]

Still high on Jerzy

Disappointing to see the array of ue's and df's. But it is great to see that his weapons work so well against even Nadal. He had a couple of weeks off because of his arm and he is missing a lot more than he was at Wimbledon. He can't handle that kind of layoff. Of course, Nadal was rusty as well.

But I love to see him take the game forward and finish with good classic volleys. I would like to see more serves in, less double faults and a few more blocked returns that would get the point started more often and then more forays to the net.

Jerzy is good on the baseline, but not if he just stands there and tries to trade with guys in the top 20; only if he transitions to the net and finishes the point. Otherwise, the speedsters will just neutralize his power until he misses before they do.

Don't understand the double-faults. D_B is probably right that he needs more spin, but I think the biggest contributor to his progress right now would be someone like Bob Rotella (Golf is not a Game of Perfect). At 6'8", he shouldn't ever double fault, especially with the nice rhythm he has for his motion. I think he has to do the Nicklaus thing of visualizing the shot before he hits it and really gathering himself before he serves a little more.

I'm seeing signs of more maturity in the way he fought through calls he didn't like in the first two matches this week and stayed focused pretty well after dropping that first set. He played poorly when you consider double faults and ue's, but he was really only a couple of points from winning the match: 6-5, 30-30 in the first and his feet didn't move for that duck volley and 3-0 up in the second set. Plus he had at least 7 untouched dropshot winners against Nadal. That's amazing.

I would love to see him come under the influence if not the actual full-time coaching of someone like Stefan Edberg (Is Tony Pickard still around?) to get him to take advantage of the serve-and-volley and chip-and-charge tactic a little more to throw his opponent off. He gives so many points away going for winners on returns of first serves.

But he really is a lot more fun to watch than most.

don

I forgot to say it was a great opportunity missed. He could have had this match. Nadal was very rusty and struggled with many shots he never misses normally. That would have put him in the quarters agaist a qualifier, Matosevic. Probably couldn't have handled Djokovic who looks awfully good to repeat right now and Murray has just dropped the first set against Gulbis.