Tennis Random, Random (On Court)

#5851

mick1303 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 29, 2025 8:25 am ...

When we talk about mental strength, IMO we shall consider the scale of the match we're looking at. It affects the stakes. Ferrer and Diego S never really had a chance to showcase their mental strength on the biggest occasions. They were eliminated earlier as a routine.

Ah. Then we are seeing this in a different way.
First, you know my opinion about mental strength; it is not as important as your strokes. But, in the case we are talking about, to me mental strength is being always focused. It is not insane belief you are going to win; Ferrer must have known, when playing Roger, that his chances were almost null. But he still went out there and gave it 100%. On every single point. That is, to me, mental strength.
And it is the reason there is a limit to it. And there have been plenty of players that reached that pinnacle, and we never mention them. Pete always gave 100%. Courier and Chang. Edberg. Connors (until Jeremy Shales called that ball in). On the lesser players, Giles Simon. Ferru and Diego. You know one guy? Argentinian Carlos Berlocq. These guys never gave up, until the end. That was to me mental strength.
As much as I disliked him: Hewitt. He never gave up.

#5852

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 29, 2025 1:15 pm in the same vein, I always felt Federer was not as strong mentally as his great rivals - he cracked under pressure sometimes.. Nadal never did..Federer was just such a great playr he would win anyway. I have commenetd simlarly about Rybakina elsewhere.. when she is on a roll, she is simply unbeatable.. when things get close, she is not able to find another gear - maybe because she is always in top gear.

Agree on Federer. There were a few matches in which he was a bit out.
Elena. I am not sure. Elena has something. Her margin of error is almost not there. So, when she is misfiring, yes, the balls keep flying out.
But somehow, she keeps hitting out. That, to me, is some mental strength. She just keeps going for it.

I gather that the true queen of mental strength in the WTA is Paolini. All other I have seen crack at one time or another (except Elena, which I just said).

mick1303 · #5853

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 29, 2025 4:11 pm
mick1303 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 29, 2025 8:25 am ...

When we talk about mental strength, IMO we shall consider the scale of the match we're looking at. It affects the stakes. Ferrer and Diego S never really had a chance to showcase their mental strength on the biggest occasions. They were eliminated earlier as a routine.
Ah. Then we are seeing this in a different way.
First, you know my opinion about mental strength; it is not as important as your strokes. But, in the case we are talking about, to me mental strength is being always focused. It is not insane belief you are going to win; Ferrer must have known, when playing Roger, that his chances were almost null. But he still went out there and gave it 100%. On every single point. That is, to me, mental strength.
And it is the reason there is a limit to it. And there have been plenty of players that reached that pinnacle, and we never mention them. Pete always gave 100%. Courier and Chang. Edberg. Connors (until Jeremy Shales called that ball in). On the lesser players, Giles Simon. Ferru and Diego. You know one guy? Argentinian Carlos Berlocq. These guys never gave up, until the end. That was to me mental strength.
As much as I disliked him: Hewitt. He never gave up.

Well, it happens sometimes, when people are arguing without first laying out the definitions. And continue to argue not realizing that they talk about different subjects. Like we just did )) I have a different opinion on what mental strength is - in my view it is the ability to keep the level of play high (do not drop it or drop it to the minimum possible degree) when the pressure moment in the match arrives.

#5854

dryrunguy wrote: ↑Fri Nov 28, 2025 3:24 pm Correct me if I'm wrong, but was there a fairly direct "transition" between Novak's early career retirements and lackluster efforts, his surgery for the deviated septum, and then a dramatic improvement in his physical and mental stamina and the subsequent improvement in results? Or do I have the timeline wrong? I remember being really frustrated with him early on. And then I realized, oh wait, the guy can't... breathe... It seemed to explain a lot at the time. IIRC.

Don't forget the hyperbaric treatment that isn't hyperbaric treatment...

ashkor87 · #5855

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 29, 2025 4:14 pm gather that the true queen of mental strength in the WTA is Paolini. All other I have seen crack at one time or another (except Elena, which I just said).

Pegula too..I have seen her beaten but not cracking..

#5856

And since you mentioned her, Emma. She simply never wavers.
(Navarro).

#5857

ashkor87 · #5858

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 30, 2025 5:19 am
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 29, 2025 4:14 pm gather that the true queen of mental strength in the WTA is Paolini. All other I have seen crack at one time or another (except Elena, which I just said).
Pegula too..I have seen her beaten but not cracking..

i thought of saying 'beaten but never defeated'

ashkor87 · #5859

Interesting stats on service aces:
Rybakina is (ofcourse) the leader with 516 but the next 2 surprise me: Noskova with 373 and Tauson with 358 (never thought of them as big servers)
Men: Fritz is leader with 867, Opelka next with 790, FAA third with 783. All 3 surprise me - but I guess you have to play a few matches, and Opelka clearly hasnt survived in tournaments long enough.. but I would have expected Zverev and Sinner to be up there.

#5860

I would have expected Shelton.
There is something odd with his serve. He can crack it at 140+, but I don't think his placement is that good.

Elena's gap between her and Noskova is hard to believe.

dryrunguy · #5861

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 2:34 am I would have expected Shelton.
There is something odd with his serve. He can crack it at 140+, but I don't think his placement is that good.

That's the problem, isn't it? He'll never be a great and consistent server until he terminates his obsession with the radar gun.

#5862

He needs to call Goran. Somebody to teach him how to use that lefty slice. But, as you say, he likes speed. Which if it is aimed at the other player, at that level won't work.

#5863

Did you all see that Serena is re-entering the drug-test pool with the ITIA? They published her name in October and no one noticed until now.

It was on Reddit yestesrday, Served at 8 am this morning, then The Athletic and Ben followed up.

This is good time to mention that I'm the newsletter writer/editor at Served now. Today was my first newsletter. I noticed the Reddit thread last night and called the ITIA first thing this morning to confirm it. I should have written a bigger piece on it instead of sticking it in a bullet point at the end.

So, if you haven't subscribed to Served, please do so on Substack (it's free), and join the chat there occasionally. It's anemic right now and I'll be building it up in the near future. I'd love to see you guys there (but also here as always).

https://www.newsletter.servedpodcast.com/

#5864

meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 5:04 pm Did you all see that Serena is re-entering the drug-test pool with the ITIA? They published her name in October and no one noticed until now.

It was on Reddit yestesrday, Served at 8 am this morning, then The Athletic and Ben followed up.

This is good time to mention that I'm the newsletter writer/editor at Served now. Today was my first newsletter. I noticed the Reddit thread last night and called the ITIA first thing this morning to confirm it. I should have written a bigger piece on it instead of sticking it in a bullet point at the end.

So, if you haven't subscribed to Served, please do so on Substack (it's free), and join the chat there occasionally. It's anemic right now and I'll be building it up in the near future. I'd love to see you guys there (but also here as always).

https://www.newsletter.servedpodcast.com/

I just saw this and I'm curious to see where it goes.

#5865

JTContinental wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 7:39 pm
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Dec 02, 2025 5:04 pm Did you all see that Serena is re-entering the drug-test pool with the ITIA? They published her name in October and no one noticed until now.

It was on Reddit yestesrday, Served at 8 am this morning, then The Athletic and Ben followed up.

This is good time to mention that I'm the newsletter writer/editor at Served now. Today was my first newsletter. I noticed the Reddit thread last nig ht and called the ITIA first thing this morning to confirm it. I should have written a bigger piece on it instead of sticking it in a bullet point at the end.

So, if you haven't subscribed to Served, please do so on Substack (it's free), and join the chat there occasionally. It's anemic right now and I'll be building it up in the near future. I'd love to see you guys there (but also here as always).

https://www.newsletter.servedpodcast.com/
I just saw this and I'm curious to see where it goes.

Where WHAT goes? Serena's return to drug testing, Megan's newsletter, or the SERVED newsletter?

Be more specific, JT!!!
I guess Serena might be thinking that if Venus is still playing, and she has now lost some weight, she can compete in the tour with no issues. The wildcards will follow ASAP.
Megan: congrats!!!

Sounds pretty cool, and I wish you the best

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