Australian Open 2018

[bottle]

It's the Racquet Dummy...

No...you cannot say enough about this guy. Not if you have any knowledge or respect for the game.

Yes you can, too. It's easy to go overboard in tendentious praise of Roger Federer (https://www.google.com/search?q=tend...hrome&ie=UTF-8 although first definition here omits the almost necessary connotation of tediousness in tendentiousness). As a quarter Swiss person with a Swiss surname I am happy to assert that true love of Roger dictates imitation rather than stuffy pontification. And a total eschewing of those who say, "You can't imitate him because he's Roger Federer." Then, "Well maybe you can imitate the way he looks back to keep his head still. But that's the limit I as coach shall hold you to."

What nonsense. You can imitate the racket path in his backswing over that of Ivan Lendl if you choose. You can try to imitate Roger's footwork as well. It won't hurt you. There are a hundred other Roger things you can imitate and don't let the pompous prigs talk you out of it.

But here I change the subject since this is the Australian Open. Could it be that I am actually the first person to comment on the great match between Carolyn Wozniacki and Simona Halep? Shame shame subscribers to TennisPlayer. Have you also subscribed to the idiocy of one person in this forum, the imitation Don Budge?

You can do it if you want-- I won't stop you. But I sure will laugh at you. And add this: You can cut your insecurities in half-- there is an easy way. Just decide that women are no good. But, a warning: the insecurities that are left will become more virulent. Reader, this basic mistake of yours has earned for yourself the privilege of homework-- you can look up the word "virulent" yourself.

[bottle]

Yes you can, too. It's easy to go overboard in tendentious praise of Roger Federer (https://www.google.com/search?q=tend...hrome&ie=UTF-8 although first definition here omits the almost necessary connotation of tediousness in tendentiousness). As a quarter Swiss person with a Swiss surname I am happy to assert that true love of Roger dictates imitation rather than stuffy pontification. And a total eschewing of those who say, "You can't imitate him because he's Roger Federer." Then, "Well maybe you can imitate the way he looks back to keep his head still. But that's the limit I as coach shall hold you to."

What nonsense. You can imitate the racket path in his backswing over that of Ivan Lendl if you choose. You can try to imitate Roger's footwork as well. It won't hurt you. There are a hundred other Roger things you can imitate and don't let the pompous prigs talk you out of it.

But here I change the subject since this is the Australian Open. Could it be that I am actually the first person to comment on the great match between Carolyn Wozniacki and Simona Halep? Shame shame subscribers to TennisPlayer. Have you also subscribed to the idiocy of one person in this forum, the imitation Don Budge?

You can do it if you want-- I won't stop you. But I sure will laugh at you. And add this: You can cut your insecurities in half-- there is an easy way. Just decide that women are no good. But, a warning: the insecurities that are left will become more virulent. Reader, this basic mistake of yours has earned for yourself the privilege of homework-- you can look up the word "virulent" yourself.

Was that last thought too complicated? Let me rephrase it then. We only like men's tennis here at TennisPlayer? True or false?

[bottle]

Was that last thought too complicated? Let me rephrase it then. We only like men's tennis here at TennisPlayer? True or false?

Still too complicated? Let me rephrase then. To exclude or minimize women's tennis is stupid from almost any point of view you can come up with. And not manly but rather WUSS (https://www.google.com/search?q=wuss...hrome&ie=UTF-8). Congratulations, Steve. They're scared to death of you even though some of them have female students they really admire and could even mouth the word "focus" out onto the court like Darren Cahill.

I'm so glad I have mentored both men and women in eight-oared rowing. And can tell you which group is more coachable. But you would have to ask the question first.

[bottle]

To re-phrase: Getting laid is not the same as helping some young woman become a better tennis player.

[don_budge]

Roger Federer versus Marin Cilic...2018 Australian Men's Singles Final

The roof is closed.

[don_budge]

Roger Federer quickly up a double break in the first set...3-0. If Marin Cilic's nerves were getting the better of him at Wimbledon we can only imagine how it is that he feels at this moment. Roger is in position to apply relentless pressure on the nervy Croatien. Personally...I hope that Roger makes him wish his mother never had him. Maintain that pressure!

He's listening...4-0.

[don_budge]

Mats Wilander agrees...he says that Roger needs to make Cilic feel more and more uncomfortable. Remember the "Discomfort Zone"?

[don_budge]

Up 5-2 serving for the first set...a great moment in the match for Federer. Serving out the set is a skill. An art. A science. Let's see how he handles it. 15-0. 15-15. Ace...30-15. Ace...40--15. First serve in...game and first set to none other than Roger Federer.

The first set was important for Roger...perhaps more important than for Cilic. At any rate...it is very important to win the first set in a best of five. Otherwise you are going to be playing from behind. Roger is probably not the player to be playing from behind against.

Keep the pedal to the metal...he's playing like a boss.

[don_budge]

All even. Cilic wins the tie-break. The tide turns.

[don_budge]

The tide has definitely turned. Now it is Cilic who is the aggressor. Federer managing to stay even and managing the ebb and flow of the match. But Cilic is looking very confident and maintaining more pressure on Federer than the other way around. Roger must get into the Cilic serve. He cannot wait it out for another tie-breaker.

[don_budge]

Just like that...Federer hears the cosmic voice of don_budge and breaks the Cilic serve and quickly holds his own. Damn...it is like the Federer of old. Quickly striking and turning the tables once again. Just like that...Cilic serving to stay in the set.

[don_budge]

Federer serving for the set. The difference between this and the first set is the situation is so much more pressure. How does the Maestro handle it? 30-love. 40-love. Third set to Federer...he leads two sets to one. Fantastic performance. The break and 3-2 was just sublime. Cilic's nerves cracked while Roger held his.

[don_budge]

My Lord...what a beautiful return. At 30-40 in the first game of the fourth set Roger takes a bomb out wide to his backhand and slices it low and wide to the Cilic backhand. He misses. A break to Federer in the fourth and now the tide has really turned. He only has to serve out the championship and he starts with an easy service game at 15. Sublime.

[don_budge]

A dangerous point of the match now and Roger cannot afford to blink. He nearly broke Cilic again which would seemingly have clinched the championship. But Cilic holds and now Roger continues on his mission to hold serve for the duration of the match.

[don_budge]

Sweet...a drop shot at 40--love to win the game. 3-1 to the Swiss Maestro. Another masterpiece in the making.