Australian Open 2018

[bottle]

I finished or rather was finished in a tournament match from early in the third set with a pulled hamstring. But that doesn't mean I would recommend that choice. Unless you are a Christian zealot deep into the subject of crucifixion.

[don_budge]

You never know. It is a final....sometimes funny things can happen.

Marin Cilic's victory over Roger Federer at the U. S. Open in 2014 was extremely memorable. It came immediately after Roger's victory over Gael Monfil's after finding himself two sets down in the quarterfinals. Roger was stretched to the limit of even his extremely large imagination against Monfil's. I remember that epic struggle. He had nothing left against Cilic and he played like it.

That being said...Federer owns an amazing 8-1 advantage over Marin Cilic who is an extremely dangerous player. He has made a name for himself moreso with his "almost" than he has with his actual wins. He gets the big name on the ropes and has a tough time closing the deal. This becomes a reputation that becomes hard to shake. Ask Ivan Lendl about this phenomena. But these players can get over this hump and sometimes it only takes a watershed moment to do it. A victory over Roger on Sunday would give Marin a whole new lease on life.

Roger has the necessary momentum and the necessary motivation now to come out with guns blazing against Cilic. He has three big time wins over Cilic since that fateful day in New York City. Most incredibly was a come from behind win at Wimbledon in 2016 where Cilic had him three sets to one. That match was unforgettable for me. I was getting ready to come back to Sweden that day and Roger finished him off just before I had to leave for the airport.

The final at Wimbledon was indeed another one of these strange modern day matches when a player comes out with less than the intestinal fortitude that they need to handle an occasion as big as they come. It seems to me that Marin was almost crying in his chair because number one...Roger was in the process of pinning his ears back and number two he had a blister on his foot. It was his foot wasn't it? Hmmm...sound familiar.

Well now Cilic is on the receiving end of a strange disappearing act by his opponent and Federer also had the same experience. Funny things can happen? Yeah...they sure can.

About quitting: I remember a Pat Rafter vs Andre Agassi match, where Rafter in the fifth set had terrible leg cramps and could barely move, but he finished the match instead of quitting. As don_budge says seems like the Aussie open has seen a negative trend set...

Did Rafter really do that? He's never been a big favourite of mine (Prince racquet user) but nevertheless he has grown in my eyes. An Australian with a never say die attitude...even when you are dead. Cramps are a terrible pain and to finish with cramps and practically crawl to the net to shake your opponents hand is a victory...even if you lose. Even if you lose...you win. This is typical Australian sporting courage. Personified by the crew that Harry Hopman developed way back when. Good for Rafter...thanks gzhpcu.

So this is a fast court and it's going to be about getting the quick drop on the opponent. Seizing the initiative. Quick strike tennis. Cilic has a huge serve and perhaps questionable nerves. He may have worked out his issues for Sunday's meeting. I suspect that he has. But Roger is in great form it appears. He is well rested...although maybe too well rested. I hope that he comes out with the same look on his face Sunday as he did today. Even when Chung was injured Federer just kept pouring on the heat. Just as he should. When you smell blood don't even begin to feel sorry for the opponent...finish him. Then feel sorry for him. It's the way of the old tennis players. The Aussies did this...never ask for quarter and never give any. Roger has to get on top and just keep pounding away. But he has shown that he can claw his way back if he needs to.

I hope that Cilic doesn't quit during the match. I know that Federer won't. This quitting stuff is really a bad example for younger aspiring tennis players to be exposed to. But who cares? It's almost over anyways. Once the "Living Proof" is gone what will be left?

[stotty]

Well, I guess if anyone thinks Cilic is going to win, they would be in a position to make a lot of money.

Actually, I don't think I have seen Cilic play as well as he has so far this tournament. If Cilic can serve well and pound the ball and not get the jitters like Berdych did when moments come around, he may have a shout. And it would be better for him to hit the ball into the stadium seating than to let Roger find any sort of rhythm.

You never know. It is a final....sometimes funny things can happen.

[stroke]

I am all for Roger's inimitable way of making it look easy, but this is looking Washington Generalesque.

[gzhpcu]

About quitting: I remember a Pat Rafter vs Andre Agassi match, where Rafter in the fifth set had terrible leg cramps and could barely move, but he finished the match instead of quitting. As don_budge says seems like the Aussie open has seen a negative trend set...

[stroke]

Well, I guess if anyone thinks Cilic is going to win, they would be in a position to make a lot of money.

[don_budge]

A Special Thanks to Rafael Nadal and Company...

Don_budge, you are only demeaning yourself with your comments. If your bias keeps you from recognizing the quality of that match, you should not upset yourself by watching Nadal's matches.

Great effort by both players. Unbelievable level from Cilic.

don

A special thanks to Rafael Nadal for once again proving my point. Nadal demeaned the sport of tennis the other day when he quit in the middle of a tennis match...a Grand Slam tennis match no less. Today a virtual unknown decided that it was better to quit than finish his match in the semifinals. After all...if Rafael Nadal can do it...why can't he?

Overall it is a very messed up situation in professional tennis. There is no going backwards. Life is much the same with society today. It has been engineered beyond all recognition. The players might as well wear pink because they are becoming a bunch of you know whats. Fill in the blank...frankly I don't care what word you use.

But then again there will be legions of apologists. Those that are willing to make up excuse after excuse to explain what has transpired. I have a word for the whole kit and caboodle...disgusting.

You don't quit on a player of Roger Federer's stature. You crawl to the end of the match if you have to. To show respect...in order to not demean yourself or the game. Certain things should be held sacred. Things from the past...traditional standards.

Nothing personal. I would never demean myself. Never.

[stotty]

So many injuries this year...desperately disappointing. Money back, please!

[don_budge]

Chung quits...unfucking believable.

[don_budge]

Down 1-4 in the second set Chung takes a medical timeout. He has a blister or something on the bottom of his foot. I remember having problems like this way back in the good old days...you just played on. No wonder these guys are wearing pink these days.

This timeout seems to be going on and on and on. Pussy tennis. Now he is finally lacing up his shoes. I hope Federer just puts the pedal to the metal now and makes this kid his mother never had him. Gamesmanship? Pound him into next week. These guys use these timeouts to change the momentum of the match. Modern tennis sucks.

[don_budge]

Obviously you and Federer are on the same page. Roger chooses to return serve and breaks Chung immediately. Now he goes to work with his serve. He needs to serve lights out.

A perfect start and Chung looks to be a fish out of water. He cannot match the experience of "The Old Man". Old man experience. Chung is obviously overwhelmed. Roger served 20% in his first service game but managed. The Chung serve doesn't have enough mustard on it to make a dent in Federer's return game. Roger has given him a steady diet of sliced backhand...varying the depth, speed and spin. He has effectively taken Chung out of his comfort zone. Way out of his comfort zone. In fact...you might say he is in his discomfort zone.

[don_budge]

Chung's has a strange serve....narrow base and no weight transfer.

Obviously you and Federer are on the same page. Roger chooses to return serve and breaks Chung immediately. Now he goes to work with his serve. He needs to serve lights out.

[stotty]

Some of the Next Gen....

Player	Age	Ranking	Titles
Alexander Zverev	20	4	6
Nick Kyrgios	22	17	4
Lucas Pouille	23	18	4
Andrey Rublev	20	32	1
Borna Coric	21	46	1
Karen Khachanov	21	47	1
Denis Shapovalov	18	50
Hyeon Chung	21	58

Who will be the first to win a slam?

[bottle]

I have always felt that Zverev's game most closely resembles Novak's. I think he will win multiple Majors. I do not think he will ever be as good as Novak(to me the 3rd best player of all time). As far as no one having the complete game of Roger, I certainly agree. No one ever has had it and I don't think we will ever see anyone that can duplicate it. Micha and Sasha's game merged would certainly be an improvement, but still not anywhere close to Fed. I think it was you that said one time that you thought Nadal would certainly like to play like Fed, but that was not possible. I agree with that wholeheartedly. Nadal with his 10 French Open's, has done plenty. He looks like the 2nd best of all time to me. Wilander has too much to say. A couple of years ago, he was saying that Fed's record vs Nadal was poor basically because he did not have the necessary cojones.

Watch out for Quadzilla.

[stroke]

My feeling is that Zverev is really good but he is just not nimble inside the court to become a multiple grand slam champion. As much as Nadal stays back he would attack inside the court in his prime. He worked tirelessly to improve his net game and so he was able to incorporate this part of his game.

Djokovic was unique. I just don't think that Zverev can physically do what Djokovic did. He is just not mobile enough.

Even Cilic improved his serve.

My bet is on one or more of the guys around 6 feet to be the next great player/s.

It's not mental to some extent. If only Mischa and Sasha could merge into one.

Then we would have a multiple grand slam champion.

I have always felt that Zverev's game most closely resembles Novak's. I think he will win multiple Majors. I do not think he will ever be as good as Novak(to me the 3rd best player of all time). As far as no one having the complete game of Roger, I certainly agree. No one ever has had it and I don't think we will ever see anyone that can duplicate it. Micha and Sasha's game merged would certainly be an improvement, but still not anywhere close to Fed. I think it was you that said one time that you thought Nadal would certainly like to play like Fed, but that was not possible. I agree with that wholeheartedly. Nadal with his 10 French Open's, has done plenty. He looks like the 2nd best of all time to me. Wilander has too much to say. A couple of years ago, he was saying that Fed's record vs Nadal was poor basically because he did not have the necessary cojones.