2016 Wimbledon Championships...ATP 2000...London, England

[don_budge]

John McEnroe and his dilemma...

My good man!!! One set all...McEnroe should have recused himself from doing this match. I sense some indecision in his voice. Conflict of interest. It seems to be a minor situation but somehow once again tennis metaphors life. The American court system is rigged.

Terrible dilemma for McEnroe. He is a bit tongue tied. He has put himself in a position of conflict of interest and he is finding that he cannot serve two masters. On one hand he has a vested interest in Raonic but on the other and more importantly he has a deep emotional interest in Federer. His heart is with Federer. You see...Federer is the Living Proof of what McEnroe once was. McEnroe cannot help himself for the feeling in his heart but the deal with Raonic is a financial one. He should have recused himself. It was either stupid or ignorant. I am leaning on a stupid verdict.

[don_budge]

Stotty and McEnroe...

We noticed. You have had sabbaticals before so we didn't panic. Love of the game was always going to bring you back, of this we were sure.

Roger is a set down and 4-4 as I write. Raonic just pulled off an excellent low volley...first time I have seen that this tournament and maybe the one before that. It's a dull game though. Roger will just have to bide his time and take what opportunities turn up. Let's hope some do.

My good man!!! One set all...McEnroe should have recused himself from doing this match. I sense some indecision in his voice. Conflict of interest. It seems to be a minor situation but somehow once again tennis metaphors life. The American court system is rigged.

[stotty]

One of the things that I have never said on this forum besides "I agree" or "I disagree" is I'm sorry. But nobody cares anyways. Didn't anybody notice that I was gone??? Just kidding...I had to see a man about a dog. More on that later. What a man...what a dog.

We noticed. You have had sabbaticals before so we didn't panic. Love of the game was always going to bring you back, of this we were sure.

Roger is a set down and 4-4 as I write. Raonic just pulled off an excellent low volley...first time I have seen that this tournament and maybe the one before that. It's a dull game though. Roger will just have to bide his time and take what opportunities turn up. Let's hope some do.

[don_budge]

Roger Federer vs. Steve Johnson...John McEnroe and Jack Nicklaus

I had a great day at Wimbledon.

One of the things that I have never said on this forum besides "I agree" or "I disagree" is I'm sorry. But nobody cares anyways. Didn't anybody notice that I was gone??? Just kidding...I had to see a man about a dog. More on that later. What a man...what a dog.

My feelings about Wimbledon and tennis haven't change at all. My teaching paradigm will never change...it is etched in stone. Bill Tilden is the book. Richard Gonzales is the model with the Don Budge backhand. Harry Hopman is forever the coach. Last but not least and perhaps most importantly for any budding or future tennis aficionado...Roger Federer is the Living Proof.

After Roger it is over and more and more you are beginning to realize that I never lie. I always tell the truth...just like Tony Montana in "Scarface". I always tell the truth...even when I lie. But you see him and then you won't. Soon it will be poof and he will disappear. It might even happen this afternoon. Two o'clock in the afternoon against Godzilla serving Milos Raonic. It could...but I pray that it won't. I believe that it won't. The possibility of Raonic beating Roger doesn't even occur to me. Because if he does...Wimbledon is over. Quite possibly for good. This is the reality of my life. Not yours.

Roger managed to resurrect himself didn't he? I'm not talking just about that match the other day against Marin Cilic. More on that in another post. But once again it was the mantra...preparation, preparation, preparation. He has managed to get himself into position. Head forwards...butt back. Balanced for an attacking stroke. It's only a game of balance and energy, isn't it? But how on Earth did he get himself into this position? Through a trail of meaningless losses on a trail of meaningless tournaments Roger set his sights on the prize at Wimbledon and now he is in position...to take a swing at the title. Just one more match and he is where he has set his sights...to play for all of the marbles.

On the trail to the destination point...as if he did his own version of a Google Map Quest he arrived in the round of sixteen against a very good modern day tennis player named Steve Johnson. Johnson had ironically dispatched of a now fading star who used to be referred to as "Baby Fed". Grigor Dimitrov is finding out what the announcer said during his match...it might have been Brad Gilbert...the imitation is never as good as the original. Dimitrov may as well have been a hologram in modern day linguistics...his lack of fundamental substance is costing him dearly just when the after burners should be kicking in. Last year Dimitrov beat Johnson in straight sets and this year he lost to him in four. You are going the wrong way Grigor...get the nose up. He apparently doesn't have any better taste in women...going for image as opposed to substance. That's only a guess by the way. You never now about boys and girls.

Steve Johnson is no slouch these days on the ATP Tour. He is ranked #29 as opposed to Dimitrov's #37. He is eating his way up the food chain. In fact he had eaten his way all the way up to Roger Federer in the round of sixteen and he found out why Roger has been there all of these years. He met the original full head on and discovered exactly why it is that I have designated him as what I call "The Living Proof". Roger started to vibrate once again with the tennis universe. It was only a sputter compared to his next round but you could see that he had the engine beginning to purr once again. His preparation started to kick in just in the nick of time. He put the pedal to the metal and routinely delegated Johnson back to the locker room with his tail tucked neatly between his legs. He can now say that he played against the great Roger Federer and he played him in fine form. Johnson was in form...and Roger once again became Roger. He hit his stride during this match and it gave him enough confidence to do what he needed to do later. More on that later.

Perhaps the most beautiful and the most poignant moment of the tournament occurred during this match and nobody else picked it out except me. It happened in the announcers booth where it in normally a couple of idiots full of sheer and utter nonsense trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip. Trying through hyperbole and hype to elevate this mediocre of a sport to heights that it considered normal in the past. In the booth for the match between Johnson and Mr. Living Proof we had "The Great" John McEnroe with his little brother Patrick as his sidekick...but the kicker was that their guest was none other than "The Great" Jack Nicklaus. You see that I don't use that term lightly.

The two great ones had a discussion that I hope one day appears on youtube. It will be worth watching a replay of Federer's rehearsal with Johnson just to witness this conversation alone. As Stotty would testify, and he is no golfer, the conversation was a golden moment. A precious moment. It was a moment that I wish that all of you could have been present and accounted for. All of you. It was John McEnroe and Jack Nicklaus discussing tennis and golf. Two titanic icons discussing God's greatest gifts to mankind in terms of recreation...tennis and golf.

Sometimes in life you are treated to a gift...a divine present and here it was. John and Jack talking about things like the grass engineering at Wimbledon and the golf course. They were talking about the similarities between the psychological games in the two great sports. They touched on tactics. They launched into equipment...don't get me started here. These two great iconic geniuses did nothing more that validate what I harp on ad infinitum. Nicklaus chimed in that the "new and modern" golf ball goes fifty yards further. I went to a party later on in the afternoon and my dear old best friend from years gone by had seen the same discussion. Although he was less bowled over by it than I was. But that can be attributed to by perception...and perspective.

I wish you all had heard it. They spoke the truth about a number of things. They dealt with it delicately too. Like an insider secret...as if only the blessed could have understood what they were saying. Because what they were talking about and saying could only be taken as blasphemy and dangerous by the current entities ruling both the tennis world and the golf world. The rest of the world as well. I think that Donald Trump would have had enough sense to keep his mouth shut while these two were speaking. So that he could listen...and learn something. I am sure that he would use it later...when trying to deliver the truth to an audience of unbelievers. Unbelievers in anything of substance. Like the tennis world. The World of Tennis. That hologram of a sport.

More later about the man and the dog...about Federer and Cilic. Shhhh...I didn't mean to interrupt. But notice that I didn't say that I was sorry. God bless you all...each and every one of you.

[gzhpcu]

Kerber emulates Steffi Graf. Good win over Venus. She will play the final with confidence agaist Serena. May the best player win.

[klacr]

Who would bet against a Federer v Murray final? It looks on the cards....even likely. Raonic will have to serve out of a tree to win in my view...although he is very capable of doing just that.

Murray must be hot favourite to dispatch his robotic opponent, and the bookies over here have him as the overwhelming favourite to lift the title. Personally I think Roger will take some beating should he make it to the final.

The good thing about playing Cillic and Raonic is they aren't the most taxing of matches. One spends most of the time walking along to baseline waiting for a returnable serve. It's not like Roger has to work his socks off like he would playing Nadal.

But tennis is a funny game. It could turn out to be a Berdych v Raonic final. Imagine that...

Oh...I can imagine!!!

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Who would bet against a Federer v Murray final? It looks on the cards....even likely. Raonic will have to serve out of a tree to win in my view...although he is very capable of doing just that.

Murray must be hot favourite to dispatch his robotic opponent, and the bookies over here have him as the overwhelming favourite to lift the title. Personally I think Roger will take some beating should he make it to the final.

The good thing about playing Cillic and Raonic is they aren't the most taxing of matches. One spends most of the time walking along to baseline waiting for a returnable serve. It's not like Roger has to work his socks off like he would playing Nadal.

But tennis is a funny game. It could turn out to be a Berdych v Raonic final. Imagine that...

[stroke]

Agree with lc about Cilic. He is such a professtional. Roger is going to be very tough to deny here now. That 3rd set, the way he turned it around, shows once again, as if we needed a reminder, that he just does not go away ever in a match. He and Cilic both could be an instructional clinic on the way to be professional out there on the court.

[klacr]

Fed-Cilic was epic.
Raonic-Querrey was a snoozer
Murray-Tsonga was admirable

Oh, and Berdych-Pouille was a bit os a snoozer as well. Because Tomas handled it well. Dare I say, Berdych is looking like 2010 form that got him to finals.
Big test vs. Murray. But I have to believe.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Terrific comeback from Federer. I was sure he was out! Now for Raonic....

It was...a terrific comeback.

Cilic played so incredibly well for two and a half sets and then lost his nerve at the critical juncture. He should have won in three. I felt sorry for him because he played so well and deserved to win. He's a credit to the game the way he focuses and gets on with it. I like his intensity and the tempo he plays at. In big matches like that it must be so hard to close out and cross the finish line.

Murray was back to his usual self for a couple of sets...whinging and moaning but then finally getting the job done.

Roger has a great chance here to go all the way. The two men he cannot beat in five, Nadal and Novak, are not in the frame. Has Roger ever lost to Murray in a slam? If Roger gets past Raonic, it's game on.

[gzhpcu]

Terrific comeback from Federer. I was sure he was out! Now for Raonic....

[bottle]

Can't warm up to him would be an understatement for me. I do find him more likeable than Serena.

You've always had a dislike for Serena and the need to advertise it. Well, either something is wrong with Serena or something is wrong with you.

[stroke]

Kyrgios was quoted in a London paper this week saying, "I don't like playing tennis, but I don't know something else to do." Remarkable and, from my perspective, sad.

He could start by not acting like such a princess jerk out there whether he likes tennis or not.

[curiosity]

Kyrgios was quoted in a London paper this week saying, "I don't like playing tennis, but I don't know something else to do." Remarkable and, from my perspective, sad.

[stroke]

Rewiring would be about right. If you play Murray, Novak, Rafa, or Roger, you cannot afford to be slack. Their level is extremely high and no matter how talented a newcomer may be, nothing other than complete focus is going to cut it.

The bottomline with Kyrgios is he doesn't want to look like he is trying too hard. He's too far up his own backside to see the light. Maybe Leyton can talk some sense into too him. I like to watch him play but still can't warm to the kid.

Can't warm up to him would be an understatement for me. I do find him more likeable than Serena.