2013 BNP Paribas Open...Indian Wells, CA

[stotty]

My friend and I...Major Tom of the Swedish Army, professor of War Studies, were discussing the culmination point as it pertains to war and tennis matches. The point where the aggressors resources begin to wane to the level of the defenders and the tide of the battle is reversed.

Classic culmination point...Stotty!

Well, "culmination point" is a nice way of describing it. I am very familiar with what you mean. The culmination point for me is often just over a set and half...coming up to closing time. It's very difficult to finish players like Borg and Gonzales off. Opponents had to play very well and keep it up. I think this is where the five setter comes in to play magnificently and separates the best from the rest.

I just felt McEnroe indulged in that second set with a few extravagant shots here and there. They turned out to be costly. Two sets to love would have been handy. I think McEnroe learnt a lot from that one match...made mental notes.

What worries me about Jerzy is he doesn't learn. I suspect he is no where near as intelligent as McEnroe. I am not optimistic for his future if he is going to remain immature or a slow learner...or worse, both.

Boxing has the same type of culmination point when two contrasting boxers fight. Ali versus Frazier being the classic example.

[don_budge]

Classic Culmination Point...

At 1-6 down and against the run of play Borg somehow hangs on to go 6-5 up in the second...at 15-30 on Mac's serve, Borg rifles a backhand return down the line...a beauty...Mac then is 15-40 down and loses the set two points later.

For me, that 15-30 point was the turning point. I will remember it all my life more than any other point. What a match. It's still my favourite to this day.

My friend and I...Major Tom of the Swedish Army, professor of War Studies, were discussing the culmination point as it pertains to war and tennis matches on the train to Stockholm last week. The point where the aggressors resources begin to wane to the level of the defenders and the tide of the battle is reversed.

Classic culmination point...Stotty!

[stotty]

15-30

You did say classical match. Here is an all-time favorite and classic. Any good tennis student should watch this one from beginning to end. Every tool in the trade by two geniuses from polar opposite sides of the same coin.

The American Volcano vs. The Swedish Ice Bear. John McEnroe vs. Björn Borg. All wooden racquet final at Wimbledon. We will never see the likes of this kind of tennis again. I think that it is a shame...and I am not being nostalgic in the slightest.

Borg's "Western" forehand and one and a half hand backhand vs. the McEnroe all Continental game. What a classic matchup. This is where I am coming from...exactly here. Soon after this...the tennis world and I parted ways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayQ2ZCfHVnk

At 1-6 down and against the run of play Borg somehow hangs on to go 6-5 up in the second...at 15-30 on Mac's serve, Borg rifles a backhand return down the line...a beauty...Mac then is 15-40 down and loses the set two points later.

For me, that 15-30 point was the turning point. I will remember it all my life more than any other point. What a match. It's still my favourite to this day.

[don_budge]

And one other thing don_budge, can you name me a classical match (one I could find on youtube), where in your opinion, every tool in the trade was used in a proper manner? I'd like to chess map out that match, make some cards and use it as a proper teaching tool to better understand where exactly you are coming from with all of this please?

You did say classical match. Here is an all-time favorite and classic. Any good tennis student should watch this one from beginning to end. Every tool in the trade by two geniuses from polar opposite sides of the same coin.

The American Volcano vs. The Swedish Ice Bear. John McEnroe vs. Björn Borg. All wooden racquet final at Wimbledon. We will never see the likes of this kind of tennis again. I think that it is a shame...and I am not being nostalgic in the slightest.

Borg's "Western" forehand and one and a half hand backhand vs. the McEnroe all Continental game. What a classic matchup. This is where I am coming from...exactly here. Soon after this...the tennis world and I parted ways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayQ2ZCfHVnk

[don_budge]

God Mode...the Roger Federer definition

Federer had moments of what I call "God Mode".

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Right you are...klacr! Federer's definition of "God mode" (mine too) as he was quoted as saying...

"It was one of my best serving days ever," Federer told reporters. "When you are serving like that, everything seems easier. I was just going for it out there."

I remember having days when I served out of my mind. Of course that was a long time ago...with a Jack Kramer Pro Staff wooden racquet. It made the rest of the game so much easier.

When serving well every aspect of your game seems to follow. The confidence factor in holding serve is huge...particularly in the latter stages of a tournament. When faced with someone serving so aggressively as Federer was...Dolgopolov found himself to be quickly overwhelmed with the sensation of not knowing what had hit him.

This is vintage Federer all of a sudden. It is amazing what the 10 square inches has achieved in such a short span of time. Or is it 8 square inches. Doesn't matter? Ask Hawkeye. Size does matter.

If he continues to serve like this against Novak Djokovic he will be very tough to beat. If an opponent is routinely holding serve like Federer has been lately it puts additional pressure on the opponent to come up with the same goods.

If the motion is not perfect that extra amount of pressure sometimes has implications on the motion and once the motion becomes the least bit shaky...it opens up opportunities. Opportunities to a player serving with such confidence look to be the size of beach balls and can quickly be gobbled up. Djokovic has not been so invincible lately. He hired Becker to help him with the intangibles of staying at the top of the game but is that enough? Tonight we shall see what we shall see.

Confidence is such a huge factor in big matches. Federer's confidence seems to be waxing while Djokovic's seems to be waning...if ever so slightly. He will make a good front of it if his is. He's a tremendous competitor. Slippery when wet and tough to knock out. But Federer got the drop on him recently...it only serves to boost his confidence. His chances at Wimbledon go up with every victory over top players now. The serving factor is huge. Especially when you factor in the confidence that goes along with it.

[hockeyscout]

Federer had moments of what I call "God Mode". Those moments were much more frequent in 2004-2007. Roger was able to hit his backhand with more confidence and aggression than I can ever remember. He made Dolgopolov look amateur. Djokovic struggled today. Had two chances to serve it out for the match against Isner and could not close it out. Federer has not lost a set all week. Djokovic needs to find his form fast or this could be Federer's title...again.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

P.S. Please excuse any typos. Trying out one of these new machines called an iPad. Don't laugh, just not a tech guy.

You might want to try a program called Digital Dragon Naturally Speaking. Just talk, and it'll type everything you say.

[stroke]

Federer had moments of what I call "God Mode". Those moments were much more frequent in 2004-2007. Roger was able to hit his backhand with more confidence and aggression than I can ever remember. He made Dolgopolov look amateur. Djokovic struggled today. Had two chances to serve it out for the match against Isner and could not close it out. Federer has not lost a set all week. Djokovic needs to find his form fast or this could be Federer's title...again.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

P.S. Please excuse any typos. Trying out one of these new machines called an iPad. Don't laugh, just not a tech guy.

I agree. Fed had those moments. When he is on like that, he is going to win unless he is playing Nadal. I like his chances tomorrrow. And I like his chances at Wimbledon this year for another major.

[klacr]

Roger in the finals with a victory over Alexandr Dolgopolov...from Ukraine...6-4, 6-1. Very impressive run up to the finals. He's back. Kicking butt and taking names.

What a difference 10 square inches can make.

Federer had moments of what I call "God Mode". Those moments were much more frequent in 2004-2007. Roger was able to hit his backhand with more confidence and aggression than I can ever remember. He made Dolgopolov look amateur. Djokovic struggled today. Had two chances to serve it out for the match against Isner and could not close it out. Federer has not lost a set all week. Djokovic needs to find his form fast or this could be Federer's title...again.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

P.S. Please excuse any typos. Trying out one of these new machines called an iPad. Don't laugh, just not a tech guy.

[hockeyscout]

And one other thing don_budge, can you name me a classical match (one I could find on youtube), where in your opinion, every tool in the trade was used in a proper manner? I'd like to chess map out that match, make some cards and use it as a proper teaching tool to better understand where exactly you are coming from with all of this please?

[hockeyscout]

Missed it...but I suspect you are right. Like his mentor he has a tendency to try and topspin drive through the brick wall instead of dismantling the structure piece by piece utilizing a slice and dice tactic. One brick at a time...adds up. One tactic alone is not going to win for you all of the time...mixing up the tactics has a multiplier effect on your strategic goals. The ability to mix it up is a good tactic to throw against the brick wall structures of modern tennis players today. It won't necessarily win all of the time...but it sure evens up the process. Of course the better one gets at it increases ones success ratio.

So explain to me why don_budge this is the case? Every tennis coach is saying "we'll teach the young man a tactical game." Is it happening. If so, why isn't it happening. Bows and arrows, khopesh, gladius, pilum, sawed off shotgun, machine gun, kaleshnikov, shields, amours, well you get the picture, you gotta use every tool in the art of war right? So, what's going wrong in the developmental process aside from space age rackets and unbelievably scientific stringing techniques? Why aren't their more tools being used now?

[don_budge]

Roger Federer...and primal movement.

Roger in the finals with a victory over Alexandr Dolgopolov...from Ukraine...6-4, 6-1. Very impressive run up to the finals. He's back. Kicking butt and taking names.

What a difference 10 square inches can make.

[don_budge]

Slice and dice...to win

Dimitrov made the tactical error of hitting over his backhand too much. His ball stayed in the Gulbis strike zone. If Dimitrov would have used his slice, Gulbis would have had a much tougher time generating pace and being able to dictate. Opportunity lost for Dimitrov. I was rooting for him.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Missed it...but I suspect you are right. Like his mentor he has a tendency to try and topspin drive through the brick wall instead of dismantling the structure piece by piece utilizing a slice and dice tactic. One brick at a time...adds up.

One tactic alone is not going to win for you all of the time...mixing up the tactics has a multiplier effect on your strategic goals. The ability to mix it up is a good tactic to throw against the brick wall structures of modern tennis players today. It won't necessarily win all of the time...but it sure evens up the process. Of course the better one gets at it increases ones success ratio

Murray and Wawrinka join Nadal on the flight to Miami. Federer remains as does Djokovic...and six other lesser choices. All of whom are capable of one more upset. It's getting interesting. Best of three makes it a bit of a crap shoot. Indian Wells is not a fifth major no matter what anyone says...the two out of three format assures us that it is not..

[klacr]

Dimitrov made the tactical error of hitting over his backhand too much. His ball stayed in the Gulbis strike zone. If Dimitrov would have used his slice, Gulbis would have had a much tougher time generating pace and being able to dictate. Opportunity lost for Dimitrov. I was rooting for him.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Gulbis

I saw the third set of Dimitrov v Gulbis yesterday. I thought Gulbis played really well. He actually looks quite comfortable at the net. So many times when I've watched Gulbis play close matches like that, he loses. But against Dimitrov he really took the match by the balls in the last five or six games. Some of his backhands were scorching. I was impressed. It's about time this guy did something. Let's do it here...right now...at Indian Wells.

[stotty]

Dolgopolov was hitting big. 99% of the time. Once in a while he'd try a drop shot which Nadal would run down and hit a winner off of but mostly he jumped launched himself into every shot, whole game was red lining and he was not afraid to litter the stat sheet. No obvious patterns of play. Went after Nadal backhand and went after Nadal forehand, he didn't care, gave Rafa no rhythm. Pretty confident and inspirational performance from Dolgopolov. Played with lots of positive emotions at the right time. He won this match for Ukraine.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

I caught a good section of the highlights. Yes, no tactics. Unless playing loose and going for broke is a tactic. It has been for some...Soderling and Rosol. Nadal wasn't hitting the best length from what I saw, which made Dolgopolov look even better. Dolgopolov was getting plenty of opportunities to work inside the baseline and did so with aplomb.

Dolgopolov deserved the win 100%, but I cannot read too much in to his victory. It's just I was hoping for something more tactical, but then Plexipave doesn't allow for much in the way of tactics. It's a slugfest surface and not much else. If it were down to me I would dig them all up or turn them into carparks.