Talk About Tennis 2.0

skatingfan wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 10:38 pm

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 1:29 am But this is the same FH she had last year, with which she won the Open.
It is not as if she has a new FH, or the rest of the tour are noticing NOW that she has a technical flaw. She is a well known quantity.
There's got to be something else.

My understanding of the issue is that it's a confidence thing. When she swings properly she hits the ball well, and consistently, and when she hesitates we see the errors.
[/quote
Sorry, wrong quote. I meant to comment on Alcaraz

ti-amie wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 3:49 am

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 9:18 pm I am not putting you on, Skating, but: how does winning take a toll? At worst, the elation should carry him for a long time. He really, really, now has NOTHING ELSE to win. He is the sole player ever to have win it all (Agassi did not win ALL MS1000's).

mick1303 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 3:15 pm

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 9:18 pm I am not putting you on, Skating, but: how does winning take a toll? At worst, the elation should carry him for a long time. He really, really, now has NOTHING ELSE to win. He is the sole player ever to have win it all (Agassi did not win ALL MS1000's).

If we are to nitpick, then "won all masters 1000" does not pass the scrutiny. It is not the fault of Novak that some events change the venue and the spot on the calendar. It used to be Madrid Indoors (last played in 2008). Also the last clay TMS before the French was Hamburg (was denoted to 500 series in 2009). Novak did play those events in 2006-2008. So he had 3 tries for each event. In 2008 he was already a Slam champion, so it's not like he was a complete rookie. Just did not manage to win them and then they were relocated.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 4:11 pm

mick1303 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 3:15 pm

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 9:18 pm I am not putting you on, Skating, but: how does winning take a toll? At worst, the elation should carry him for a long time. He really, really, now has NOTHING ELSE to win. He is the sole player ever to have win it all (Agassi did not win ALL MS1000's).

If we are to nitpick, then "won all masters 1000" does not pass the scrutiny. It is not the fault of Novak that some events change the venue and the spot on the calendar. It used to be Madrid Indoors (last played in 2008). Also the last clay TMS before the French was Hamburg (was denoted to 500 series in 2009). Novak did play those events in 2006-2008. So he had 3 tries for each event. In 2008 he was already a Slam champion, so it's not like he was a complete rookie. Just did not manage to win them and then they were relocated.

I don't get your point, Mick. What you say is completely true; Novak did not win the Hamburg Masters even though it was played for three years during his career, because it was then demoted (the tournament, not him). But Hamburg was replaced by Madrid, which he has won.
My point was not about his accomplishments; I am past that one and as much as I don't like Novak, the claim for GOAT it too solid for me to say he is not. But my point is that I don't see how winning that elusive Olympic Gold could be TOLLING.
He has had the greatest career of all time. If he loses in 1R at the USO, sure, he will not feel good. But the year has been a success for him already.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 8:45 pm Yes. That was dumb. How to ruin an immaculate image in one bad moment.
It will mean nothing. Roger busted his racquet during that Novak match at Miami (IW?) a long time ago. But that was totally out of character.
About the match.
What happened? Was Carlos off? He was playing well last night.

patrick wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 7:29 pm Agree on Slams needing to stay best of the 5 along with the following:

1. WTA Slam SF and F needs to be best of 5
2. ATP Masters final needs to be best of 5 with the finalists getting a bye at the next Masters tournament if not a bye already

mick1303 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 8:52 pm I'm not sure about automatic entry to the next year Masters. The thing is - the entry-list for Masters is composed on the current year performance (race). The results from last year are not relevant. Also there is a stipulation for Slam winners. They are getting an entry if their ranking is inside top 20. In 2004 Gaudio got in while being #10 over Agassi (#8) and Nalbandian (#9). In 2002 both Al Costa (#11) and ToJo (#14) were outside top8 and their slam wins granted them participation. It means that somebody from top 8 did not get in. If in addition to this we will award last year Masters finalists, it may get even worse: potentially #5 player can be snubbed. So I would keep the entry rules as they are and bring back best of 5 final.