2015 U. S. Open…ATP 2000…Flushing Meadows, New York

[stotty]

I haven't seen any matches at the US Open as I no longer have SKY TV. I will have to look into this streaming business...or maybe there is pay per view somewhere.

It's tough for me to get up for tennis right now. I watch the news and get depressed. The Islamic State have been destroying so many ancient historical sights that are so beautiful and of such great historical importance. It's mindless vandalism on an epic scale. I felt completely broken yesterday just watching the newsreels.

Places like Afghanistan and Syria cannot be repaired once the lid is off. Powder kegs. My father always told me you can never sort that lot out...just bunches of tribes that cannot be governed other than by merciless dictatorship.

I better go and stream some tennis to cheer myself up....

[don_budge]

The French Tennis…Benoit Paire

Benoit Paire is immensely talented. I spoke to my friend Cyril Saulnier today. he was top 50 on ATP at a point in his career. He's familiar with the french players and especially Benoit Paire. Cyril's old coach was the coach of Paire for quite some time. Cyril and I exchanged texts today and said he was shocked and so impressed. said he didn't know how he did it considering Benoit Paire does not even train. Bad diet and piss poor work ethic. And yes, Cyril also mentioned the forehand.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Here we go with that talent discussion again…

But I did see the tie-break in the fourth set and the fifth set of that match on EuroSport here in Sweden. Nishikori had two match points in the tie-break that Paire just sort of brushed aside and then he just brushed aside "The Samurai Kid" in the final set. Actually he pummelled him with backhand after backhand. He was just pounding that backhand…and the serve as well. Paire was very nonchalant about the fifth set as if the outcome was already set.

The forehand is a bit unorthodox by todays standards. Even the backhand is somewhat "homemade". On top of this the mental game seems to be rather lax or lackadaisical too. He has had some "explosive" results but the consistency hasn't been there. Paire made some rather clever shots in the last set as well as demonstrating a surprising affinity for net play. He's another guy on my long list that probably should have been trained more in the all court game. The serve appears to be very solid.

Here is another French player in the top echelon of the game…a total of eleven in the main draw at the Open this year compared to eleven Spaniards and fifteen Americans. Each of the French seems to have their own take on the game. All of them unique and distinct. I wonder if they are on the verge of some sort of dominance in the sport. They certainly have the numbers.

[klacr]

Benoit Paire is immensely talented. I spoke to my friend Cyril Saulnier today. he was top 50 on ATP at a point in his career. He's familiar with the french players and especially Benoit Paire. Cyril's old coach was the coach of Paire for quite some time. Cyril and I exchanged texts today and said he was shocked and so impressed. said he didn't know how he did it considering Benoit Paire does not even train. Bad diet and piss poor work ethic. And yes, Cyril also mentioned the forehand.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Benoit Paire upsets Nishikori in 5 sets.

Just can't buy stock in Nishikori. As soon as I try to like him and appreciate his ability and belive he's on the cusp, he pulls up lame again.

Credit to Paire and his eclectic game.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Well he is talented that Paire...extremely so. Up until now he's been unwilling to suffer...dig deep enough. The last two matches I have watched of him he's looked better in that department. So maybe he's on the cusp of breaking further up the ranks. Shame about his forehand....

[klacr]

Benoit Paire upsets Nishikori in 5 sets.

Just can't buy stock in Nishikori. As soon as I try to like him and appreciate his ability and belive he's on the cusp, he pulls up lame again.

Credit to Paire and his eclectic game.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[bottle]

The Swedish tennis program has some rather daunting logistical problems. They are only daunting because of a rather short sighted vision on the part of the leadership…and their traditional way of conducting business. It would require a fundamental change in the way of thinking and this is not the Swedish forte. This also happens to be one of the traditional strengths of Swedish culture.

From my limited (but not too limited) personal experience, you have a very good take on Swedish culture.

[klacr]

That's too bad for Swedish tennis then. That Federation needs to restore the glory. Tough though when the standard and acceptable phrase is "Lagom". Happy with mediocrity and being adequate will get them no where.

Certainly the Spanish System has a proven track record. Ymer only wants what is best for his career.

But back to the US Open...
Top half of draw is playing Monday. Djokovic during the day, Nadal-Coric in the evening.
Fed, Murray, Berdych will compete on Tuesday. Which means the tournament doesn't start until Tuesday.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Life goes on…With or Without You (tennis)

Good for Elias Ymer and good for Swedish tennis. Would be great to get that country back on the tennis map.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Good for Elias but not necessarily for Swedish tennis. It appears that he has ditched the Swedish Tennis Federation for Spain…a warmer climate and better training conditions overall. Coaching? He was with the Niklas Kulti cult in Stockholm…"From Good to Great".

The Swedish tennis program has some rather daunting logistical problems. They are only daunting because of a rather short sighted vision on the part of the leadership…and their traditional way of conducting business. It would require a fundamental change in the way of thinking and this is not the Swedish forte. This also happens to be one of the traditional strengths of Swedish culture.

I don't see any progress really. Elias is actually from Ethiopia I believe and there isn't much brewing from the natives here. Tennis is in many ways a cultural phenomena and this is a prime example where tennis is not a priority in any way shape or form and is marginalized every where you turn. It is what it is…but tempting to say it is kind of sad. But that is spoken as an "outsider"…nobody else seems to care very much. Life goes on here in Sweden and that is the name of the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4VHVu8Px-0

[stotty]

What the pundits say...

The TV pundits over here are say the US Open won't suit Federer as it's not only the courts that are slow, the balls are too. (not sure what ball is used...they didn't say). Djokovic doesn't like the wind and apparently he's in for loads of it judging by the forecast. Advantage Murray. He will like the slower courts and balls, plus, he spent many of his formative years playing in a howling gale in Scotland. The event is made for him it seems.

[klacr]

Swedish teenager completes Grand Slam…qualies. Elias Ymer has qualified for all four this year and he is projected for the winner of Nadal/Coric in the second round if he beats Diego Schwartzman who is ranked #94 to Ymer's #145.

That's impressive. Well earned. No freebies or wild cards for him. Did it the old fashioned way.

His coach is Galo Blanco. Blanco worked with Raonic for quite some time. Respectable player back in his day as well making top 50.

Good for Elias Ymer and good for Swedish tennis. Would be great to get that country back on the tennis map.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Elias Ymer…qualifies for U. S. Open

Swedish teenager completes Grand Slam…qualies. Elias Ymer has qualified for all four this year and he is projected for the winner of Nadal/Coric in the second round if he beats Diego Schwartzman who is ranked #94 to Ymer's #145.

[klacr]

Coric upsets Nadal in 1st round. Nadal then takes "hiatus" for rest of season due to an undisclosed injury. Fresh and ready for Aussie Open and clay court season in 2016.

Just a prediction.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[lobndropshot]

A potential upset of the tournament in round 2 for Djokovic. He has to be on his game right away for the potential match up against vasek pospisil.

[klacr]

Kyrgios vs. Murray
Coric vs. Nadal
Verdasco vs. Haas
Nishikori vs. Paire
Kokkinakis vs. Gasquet
Nieminen vs. Tsonga

Interesting first round matches. Some for the storyline and the press and some for my own personal interest.

Courts slower than Cincy. Advantage Murray and Djokovic.

Berdych has a clear path to at least 4h round. Meeting with Fed in quarters...last time they played in quarters in NYC...

https://youtu.be/pn0pTnBrWqA

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

https://www.tennisplayer.net/article/music-videos/

Yeah…I'm looking at the bottom half as well but for a different reason. None other than Roger Federer…the Living Proof of my teaching paradigm. It's tempting to project him all of the way into the semi's against Andy Murray. After last weeks performance and the previous five meetings with Murray it is tough to resist projecting him straightaway into the finals.

Without Roger in the draw this is just another humdrum affair…but this guy is just riveting…captivating. Any classic tennis player, coach or student of the game is focused on this player…there rest are window dressing. But as a side show…the Murray/Kyrgios matchup is perfect first round fodder.

I just wonder about one thing…guess what it is. I wonder about the speed of the courts. Will the USTA do the right thing and speed them up so that Federer gets one more shot at his sixth title? Is there any justice in the tennis world?

No speeding up of the courts. I checked that out. The US Open has slightly more sand in the paint which apparently gives more traction for the player...and the ball. So it seems it will be a slower court than Cincinnati...so not good news for Federer fans.