ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 10, 2023 4:17 pm Thiem is looking very good against Gasquet. I know, it is not a huge litmus test, but they are going full macho on the BH's and are crushing it.
I say he is still running around his BH too much. With such a sledgehammer, why do so?

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 1:00 am

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 10, 2023 4:17 pm Thiem is looking very good against Gasquet. I know, it is not a huge litmus test, but they are going full macho on the BH's and are crushing it.
I say he is still running around his BH too much. With such a sledgehammer, why do so?

Maybe the wrist...still protecting it?

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 1:03 am certainly expect Djokovic to win, he is officially a resident and he is fresh and hungry, I expect

skatingfan wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 6:50 am

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 1:03 am certainly expect Djokovic to win, he is officially a resident and he is fresh and hungry, I expect

Novak hasn't made it past the quarters at Monte Carlo since 2015. I think the courts play too slow for him.

skatingfan wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 6:50 am

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 1:03 am certainly expect Djokovic to win, he is officially a resident and he is fresh and hungry, I expect

Novak hasn't made it past the quarters at Monte Carlo since 2015. I think the courts play too slow for him.

skatingfan wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 6:50 am

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 1:03 am certainly expect Djokovic to win, he is officially a resident and he is fresh and hungry, I expect

Novak hasn't made it past the quarters at Monte Carlo since 2015. I think the courts play too slow for him.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 13, 2023 10:58 pm Zverev did everything possible to lose that match. Served for it twice, had MP in the TB.
On the other hand. Medvedev's movement on clay has improved a lot. He is sliding well, and his very-back return position makes no difference. A second cow on ice that will master the surface?

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 1:45 pm Good call on Fritz doing well on clay. Beating Stefanos qualifies for that.
I wonder why you say that being slow on clay does not matter. I think the opposite. One of my strengths of clay was that I was fast enough to get to drop shots, and I had proper recovery after sliding. It is a different recovery, because players can't slide on hards as they can slide on clay, but the footwork is crucial.
And Fritz is light on his feet, which helps a lot. As a matter of fact, he is light all over, which may do him well for longevity.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 1:45 pm Good call on Fritz doing well on clay. Beating Stefanos qualifies for that.
I wonder why you say that being slow on clay does not matter. I think the opposite. One of my strengths of clay was that I was fast enough to get to drop shots, and I had proper recovery after sliding. It is a different recovery, because players can't slide on hards as they can slide on clay, but the footwork is crucial.
And Fritz is light on his feet, which helps a lot. As a matter of fact, he is light all over, which may do him well for longevity.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 13, 2023 10:58 pm Zverev did everything possible to lose that match. Served for it twice, had MP in the TB.
On the other hand. Medvedev's movement on clay has improved a lot. He is sliding well, and his very-back return position makes no difference. A second cow on ice that will master the surface?

JazzNU wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 4:26 pm

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 13, 2023 10:58 pm Zverev did everything possible to lose that match. Served for it twice, had MP in the TB.
On the other hand. Medvedev's movement on clay has improved a lot. He is sliding well, and his very-back return position makes no difference. A second cow on ice that will master the surface?

No, that was an grossly overused phrased where Maria was concerned as she never sucked on clay the way it was played up to be. To a lesser extent but still worth noting, Daniil has been to the SF here and to the Barcelona Finals in previous years, which is easily one of the most stacked 500 level events on tour. I can't remember who he beat on his SF run in Monte Carlo, but as is typical with the event, they were noteworthy wins over guys who can play on the surface. The guy who has lived in France since he was a teenager is not nearly as bad on clay as he and others try to pretend he is, it's that he's not as good as he is on hard courts and grumpy Daniil makes regular appearances because of it. It's definitely in his head to a certain extent. When this "terrible on clay" persona of his wasn't a thing a few years ago, he was actually winning on clay.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 5:02 pm Well, then tell him that because he himself has said he is not good on clay. Plus, he had never won an event on it, so certainly his least successful surface.
But sure, he is not as bad as others.
And the "cow on ice" quote about Sharapova came from herself. So I was using it in that context. She won 6 slams/premier tournaments on that surface, so indeed she was not bad either.

mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 7:15 pm Zverev said Medvedev was "one of the most unfair players ever" because Medvedev took a toilet break, so Medvedev had some thoughts.

JTContinental wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 7:01 pm Fritz is the first American to make the SF here since Vince Spadea in 2003

nelslus wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 8:16 pm ...

OK, sure I'm not getting over Medvedev's behaviors on the court in his pretty recent past. But, you know what? If I have a very recent history of "allegedly" beating up (at least) one girlfriend- I at am going to have enough common sense (or my PR team is gonna stress this enough) to get that I need to keep a very, very low profile, and that i am in no position to question any other player's behaviors. Ever, I.E.- STFU.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 8:24 pm

nelslus wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 8:16 pm ...

OK, sure I'm not getting over Medvedev's behaviors on the court in his pretty recent past. But, you know what? If I have a very recent history of "allegedly" beating up (at least) one girlfriend- I at am going to have enough common sense (or my PR team is gonna stress this enough) to get that I need to keep a very, very low profile, and that i am in no position to question any other player's behaviors. Ever, I.E.- STFU.

So, the fact that the ATP issued a statement saying they found no evidence of this happening means nothing? We spoke about this; the ATP, and even the legal system, never pronounces anybody "innocent". You get a "not guilty" or, as was this case, "no proofs of the allegation".
It makes no difference? He will always be seen as an abuser?

ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 8:53 pm I don't know how many of you remember and maybe I do because of posting OoP's and draws for so long but Fritz was playing here and other European clay court events for at least the last 3-5 years. He wasn't doing well but he was learning, and he was the only young US player doing so. He is still learning but I'm not surprised he's done well here. It's not a surprise to me and it's why I low key support him.

As far as US players are concerned I think he's the #1. In another year or two Shelton may be nipping at his heels but right now Shelton is doing what Fritz did. He knows he might not win but he's getting first had knowledge of what the stuff feels like underfoot and how to adjust his game to suit it.

Is Tiafoe in the top three US mix? The European swing will be very important for him also. Rome of course is the big test for all of them.

mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 9:34 pm ...


If you want to go for accuracy, the investigation said insufficient evidence, not no evidence or no proof.

Nelslus' post actually just states the fact that he was accused and would be wise to not give interviews where he comes off as a douche, which has nothing to do with his guilt or innocence.

ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 10:22 pm Frances seems to be taking tennis seriously now and has since he dropped his friend as his coach.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 8:24 pmSo, the fact that the ATP issued a statement saying they found no evidence of this happening means nothing? We spoke about this; the ATP, and even the legal system, never pronounces anybody "innocent". You get a "not guilty" or, as was this case, "no proofs of the allegation".
It makes no difference? He will always be seen as an abuser?

JazzNU wrote: ↑Sat Apr 15, 2023 12:57 am

ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 10:22 pm Frances seems to be taking tennis seriously now and has since he dropped his friend as his coach.

His friend served him well as coach and is the main reason Michael Mmoh is having the best year of his career. Ever consider why the tennis community talked down about him when he was Frances' coach?

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 15, 2023 3:50 pm With the rain and the conditions, this is becoming almost impossible to hit a winner. This will become just a physical contest.

ti-amie wrote: ↑Sat Apr 15, 2023 1:50 am

JazzNU wrote: ↑Sat Apr 15, 2023 12:57 am

ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri Apr 14, 2023 10:22 pm Frances seems to be taking tennis seriously now and has since he dropped his friend as his coach.

His friend served him well as coach and is the main reason Michael Mmoh is having the best year of his career. Ever consider why the tennis community talked down about him when he was Frances' coach?

Could it be both Frances and his friend learned a lot from their shared experience?

JazzNU wrote: ↑Sat Apr 15, 2023 5:24 pm If Rune thinks the next Big 3 are him, Alcaraz and Sinner (they aren't, but let's go with the delusion), does he realize he's the Djokovic personality that will be the least liked of the group? He stays acting like brat.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:28 pm Of course, ESPN down here cut to Italian Football and did not show the Sinner/Rune match. So I can't gauge anything.
Tomorrow: Rune in three?

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 16, 2023 2:06 am Nope. We haven't forgotten. And, Rune said he would like to be part of a new Big Three, down the road. He made no claims he, or Sinner and Alcaraz, already are.

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 16, 2023 5:06 am Yes, too many players hit loose balls, after the point is over. Even at the club level ..I have been hit several times, once in the eye, by a stray ball after the point was over- you drop your guard...quite dangerous ..Rune should have been defaulted..he missed, is that a virtue,? Djokovic did get defaulted...

Suliso wrote: ↑Sun Apr 16, 2023 1:42 pm Rune has now won three straight sets at 7-5...

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 16, 2023 2:21 pm With Rune in this one. The ball landed close enough to the line, and he just simply hit it back. And he did raise his hands in apology.

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 16, 2023 5:06 am Yes, too many players hit loose balls, after the point is over. Even at the club level ..I have been hit several times, once in the eye, by a stray ball after the point was over- you drop your guard...quite dangerous ..Rune should have been defaulted..he missed, is that a virtue,? Djokovic did get defaulted...

Serious here. Do you believe Rune was trying to hit Sinner, on purpose?
And Djokovic. He hit a lines person, not his opponent. After the point, and game, were over, by carelessly hitting a ball. Which is written in the rules as a reason for default. Why is the concept of RULES so hard to understand?

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 16, 2023 2:21 pm With Rune in this one. The ball landed close enough to the line, and he just simply hit it back. And he did raise his hands in apology.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 16, 2023 6:22 pm My GF tells me that he thanked the crowd for being supportive, "despite of where I come from".
I don't think I will ever be a fan because the game is something that does not thrill me (still, much better than Medvedev's) but as a person, I would not mind one bit having a couple of beers with him.

Deuce wrote: ↑Sun Apr 16, 2023 10:28 pm As usual, heavy, heavy bias against Rune from those who *claim* to be 'tolerant', 'non-judgemental', etc.
It's so predictable.
The criticism is all packed up and ready to be unleashed - it's pre-determined. The kid could help an old lady to cross the street, and these people would find something to criticize about him.
Sigh...

Had Sinner done the exact same thing(s) as Rune, these same people who lambaste Rune at every opportunity wouldn't say a word.
The very definition of bias and prejudice...

mmmm8 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 17, 2023 3:02 am Very happy for Rublev First saw him in person in US Open juniors in maybe 2013... there was some racquet throwing maybe. It's been a long journey watching him come up. So glad he's turned out endearing off court as well.

JTContinental wrote: ↑Mon Apr 17, 2023 6:00 pm So are we just full on insulting fellow forum members in prominent tournament-focused threads now?

mmmm8 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 17, 2023 3:02 am Very happy for Rublev First saw him in person in US Open juniors in maybe 2013... there was some racquet throwing maybe. It's been a long journey watching him come up. So glad he's turned out endearing off court as well.