2011 U.S. Open (unofficial) Thread

#76
#76
Just saw the Fed/Monaco match on DVR. Fed plays like that, and he is a tough out for anyone. The sound of the ball coming off his racket was comparable to 4 years ago. Granted, Monaco isn't much. But Fed whooped dey ass. Going to make for an interesting couple days...
 
#77
#77
volfanbill said:
Roddick has been playing well, but I can't help but notice a cocky swagger he has about him this tournament that I haven't seen in years. I've been counting him put for years. I'm not ready to do it against Ferrer. We'll see I guess.
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I hope Andy pulls it out. Unfortunately, I'll be moving my wife out of her office in Germantown all day, so I won't get to see that one unless there are more rain delays. I'm going to hate missing some of the matchups on today's slate, but should be back for the Roger/Jo Willie match.
 
#78
#78
beergood said:
Just saw the Fed/Monaco match on DVR. Fed plays like that, and he is a tough out for anyone. The sound of the ball coming off his racket was comparable to 4 years ago. Granted, Monaco isn't much. But Fed whooped dey ass. Going to make for an interesting couple days...
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Love the nick. Couldn't agree more.
 
#79
#79
Anyone catch any of the live tennis today? I see Roddick is starting out strong. I'd be happy if he proved me wrong.
 
#80
#80
This is horsesh*t. Why let the women get their matches in tonight? Four days in a row for the men is a tough ask. Someone is gonna get hurt.
 
#81
#81
Pretty remarkable to tune in to tennis this afternoon at the exact moment they interview Rafa during his rain delay.

There is something to be said for the players actually revolting against the USTA today because of the slippery weather conditions. Rafa, Murray, and Roddick, among others, stormed into the officials' offices and laid down the law.

Rafa also said that the USTA didn't care about the players' health but only money. He said the players were just part of the show. It was very strong language critical of how things are run by the USTA.

The weather is frustrating for the fans in the stands, the fans watching at home, and the players. However, you can't destroy your main attraction by sending them out to play in dangerous conditions.

Federer played in a drizzle to close out his match with Monaco the other night. Sure, he wanted to get the match over with, but at what cost? Anyone that has played tennis even during a light ran can attest to how slick a court gets in no time.

I hate that the weather and resulting delays will play a role in determining the US Open champion, but am totally with the players on not wanting to risk perhaps a career ending injury just to rush through this thing.
 
#82
#82
I think the players did the right thing. Theres no way it was going to be safe even when it was just misting. In the Fed match, I'm pretty sure Monaco wanted it over with as much as Fed. My wife says there is no way this championship is equally fair to the players who have to play four days in a row. Her reasoning is, some matchups are just tougher than others - if your remaining draw is one that produces somewhat easy matchups for you (mentally and physically), you're much more likely to be fresher for the finals. Eh, maybe she's right, but this is going to be one tough few days for some of the men.
 
#84
#84
Fed/Joker will be interesting. From what I saw, which was brief, Fed was on Tsonga like a duck on a june bug. Hope he can continue the form through monday...
 
#85
#85
DyronNix said:
Pretty remarkable to tune in to tennis this afternoon at the exact moment they interview Rafa during his rain delay.

There is something to be said for the players actually revolting against the USTA today because of the slippery weather conditions. Rafa, Murray, and Roddick, among others, stormed into the officials' offices and laid down the law.

Rafa also said that the USTA didn't care about the players' health but only money. He said the players were just part of the show. It was very strong language critical of how things are run by the USTA.

The weather is frustrating for the fans in the stands, the fans watching at home, and the players. However, you can't destroy your main attraction by sending them out to play in dangerous conditions.

Federer played in a drizzle to close out his match with Monaco the other night. Sure, he wanted to get the match over with, but at what cost? Anyone that has played tennis even during a light ran can attest to how slick a court gets in no time.

I hate that the weather and resulting delays will play a role in determining the US Open champion, but am totally with the players on not wanting to risk perhaps a career ending injury just to rush through this thing.
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I respect Rafa for saying that stuff. Others said it too, but he -- and this may be because his English (though it has improved by leaps and bounds) is not exactly eloquent -- really communicated his thoughts in a straightforward manner. But he wasn't vitriolic about it either. I've always liked Rafa as a tennis player, but he also seems like a legitimately upstanding dude.
 
#89
#89
Quoting OP
2. Rafa Nadal
...What we also know about Rafa is that he is very much a player that needs to get his reps in. With continued reps muscle memory starts to produce better shots, better shots produce wins, which in turn results in increased confidence and increased opportunities for continued reps. You can rinse, lather, and repeat this cycle with Rafa, and eventually he'll find himself in top form, where is basically unbeatable. His unbeatableness will end when either with an injury or just fatigue from the grind. And he'll have to start the cycle from the beginning. This is just how Rafa is.

The reason the above paragraph is important in assessing his chances at winning this tournament, is that Rafa has a pretty pedestrian draw. Check out his quadrant and find somebody who has a chance of beating him? Youzhny? No. Roddick? No. Ferrer? No. ...



Reposting to advise your crystal ball is in working order. He is making Roddick look like a junior.
 
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#90
#90
Why I don't really like Roger Federer that much: at his very core he is anti-humble. He thinks things are beneath him, and he really believes that. For example, the forehand winner from Djoker when Federer was serving with two match points was just one of the sickest, ballsiest shots I've ever witnessed. Ever. I mean it was the epitome of an "I'm Keith Hernandez" moment. Well, apparently Federer thinks that shot was beneath him.

"Some players grow up and play like that. I remember losing junior matches and being down 5-2 in the third and they start slapping shots and they all go in for some reason. That's the way they grew up playing when they were down. I never play that way. I believe hard work's going to pay off. [...] So for me this is very hard for me to understand how you can play a shot like that on match point. But maybe he's been doing it for 20 years. Maybe for him it's very normal. You'll have to ask him."

You stay classy, Rog.
 
#91
#91
I thought Serena would definitely definitely win this tournament. Props to Stosur for beating her fair and square and convincingly.
 
#92
#92
Predictions for tomorrow?

I gotta stay with Djoker, but I think Rafa puts up a valiant fight. Djoker in 5 sets. Could be another really good one.
 
#93
#93
Serena's old enough to know better than pop off at officials. Just can't help herself. Cost her a game. Will cost her more.

Novak in straight sets.
 
#94
#94
I think people are giving Serena a harder time than she deserves. I would have been pissed too in that situation. That call is a judgment call that I don't think you make when the person clearly wasn't able to return the shot.

And players pop off at officials all the time. I'm not getting why Serena is getting hit with so much criticism. She didn't say anything that bad.
 
#96
#96
That being said, if I could eliminate either the every point scream in womens tennis or the occasional tirade, I'm goin with the screaming...
 
#97
#97
Anybody watch the Djoker/Nadal match?

All I can say is "WOW". The score is misleading in that it appears lopsided. Only the final set was lopsided, where it started to appear that Rafa simply ran out of gas. The rest of the match was maybe the highest-level tennis I have ever seen played. And it was definitely the highest-level display of baseline tennis that I have ever seen. McEnroe called it the most physical match that he'd ever seen, and I can't disagree. Nadal wanted this match bad, and was relentless. But Djoker was doing to him what Rafa does to every other player on tour: making him have to work sooooooo hard to win every point, and frustrating him into eventually starting to go for too many lines.

The striking thing about this match -- and I highly recommend anybody who appreciates tennis to watch it -- was the speed and court coverage of these guys. Both guys are brilliant at getting to balls they shouldn't be able to get to and then making beautiful defense shots that allow them to turn around on the next shot and try to dictate the point again. And I never thought I would say this because I thought Nadal was the best on-court mover I had ever seen, and maybe Nadal would beat Djoker in a 40 yard dash, but Djoker's ridiculous gumby-like flexibility coupled with his foot speed allow him to cover more court than even Nadal.

I honestly think the only thing that has really changed between these two guys when they played in the final last year, is that Rafa's serve has regressed. He was broken 5 times all of 2010 US Open. He was broken 11 times in the 2011 final. This match could turn out differently if Rafa was serving with 2010 form.

So many points are like 20-30 point rallies with both guys just absoluting crushing the ball, and hitting lines and getting to balls they shouldn't get it.

Djoker was the better man today, and his been all season, but I'd love to see these guys play again. And soon.
 
#98
#98
first three sets were great stuff.

Every time djoko gets pushed to a fourth though, he strangely needs a trainer and a nice 4 minute back rub and stretch. Maybe ITF should just allow everyone a backrub at the start of the fourth.
 
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