2014 Davis Cup

[brokenshoelace]

I saw the match Friday. He looked totally off and stiff. His explanation makes sense, especially after seeing him play today.

Still, singles will be a different matter and I'm sure Tsonga will challenge him.

Actually his explanation doesn't make a whole lot of sense. If he wasn't practicing, it's because his back was bothering him. So his back just magically healed on the day of the match?

You think he is lying?

What is your explanation for it then?

He had a spasm, decided to give it as much rest as possible, played Monfils, realized he was not adjusted to the circumstances and lost. He was aweful the first set, second and third were not great either but definitely better than the first.

I'm not saying his back is not bothering him, but I think the no practice explanation makes sense.

Are people here doing their best to be naive and misunderstand obvious points for the sake of biases and agendas? That goes for the same ones who hide behind "likes."

Again: Why didn't he practice? Because his back was hurting. Now, is that debatable?

So yeah, he might have been off because he didn't practice, but he didn't practice because he was injured. That's the root of the problem. Lack of practice might throw your timing off, but it sure as $hit doesn't make your movement stiff the way it did for Federer yesterday. Keep in mind, it's not like he hasn't been playing tennis in ages for this lack of practice to have as big an effect as it did. He just played a crap ton of tennis last week.

Also, I'll remind you that today was a double's match, meaning that the injury isn't quite as magnified since he doesn't have to move laterally as much much, do as much defending, slide around, etc... I still think he'll beat Tsonga tomorrow, by the way.

As far as "is he lying? Why would he say his back isn't bothering him?" Uhhh, because it's probably not a good idea to tell tomorrow's opponent: "Hey, by the way, I'm still hurting. So, yeah, move me around." Could it be that?

Or did you want him to scream in pain when asked about it so that everyone jumps at him for making preemptive excuses and bringing up injuries?

"I'm not saying his back is not bothering him"

So you think it is bothering him? If so, there it is. We're in agreement.

I swear any time injuries come into play this place gets all the more dodgy just to avoid tackling the issue head on and admit that sometimes, injuries actually DO affect players, even if it means making nonsensical arguments.

 

[Kieran]

I heard btw that it stinks inside the stadium, cause it's a football pitch they had just fertilized and then removed. Lol

That's called "Mirka Repellent..."

 

[brokenshoelace]

I think he's giving a red herring, so the French don't see him as a lame duck (a herring for a duck. I know :cover). I agree with Broken, if he didn't practice it's because his back was sore. I can't see that it's miraculously healed.

If it had, he'd do a lot better against Monfils, even playing blindfold, left-handed, and with no practice...

I almost didn't want to "like" this post because all it's doing is state the extreme obvious. Then I realized you and I are the only people who seem to spot the obviousness.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Edit: also, yeah they were both silly, it was more the 'federer and Stan are no friends' narrative that was stupid IMO. It just didn't make sense to me.

No yeah, you're right. It's stupid. Friends always call it each other's wives publicly like that. They also criticize each other in public too.

God forbid they're "only" teammates with a good relationship, just not necessarily friends. Nope, that's "stupid." But your practice theory isn't. Wait, I forgot, it's Roger's theory.

 

[Kieran]

I think he's giving a red herring, so the French don't see him as a lame duck (a herring for a duck. I know :cover). I agree with Broken, if he didn't practice it's because his back was sore. I can't see that it's miraculously healed.

If it had, he'd do a lot better against Monfils, even playing blindfold, left-handed, and with no practice...

I almost didn't want to "like" this post because all it's doing is state the extreme obvious. Then I realized you and I are the only people who seem to spot the obviousness.

The thing is, Fed could lose easy tomorrow, then Stan wins - and at some future time after the DC final Federer could state he was injured all along, and he'd be okay to do this, because it's the truth. Some people will still say, :ras: he's making excuses, he said he was okay during the competition.

But...of course he said he was okay during the competition. A boxer doesn't tell his opponent that he's blind in one eye, or some analogy that works like that.

We'll know more tomorrow, anyhow...

 

[Denis]

BS, federer said the back was not the primary reason he lost. It was a week no practice on this court and Monfils playing the match of his life (sic).

Back could definitely be an issue still, that's what I've been saying too. Also said couldn't say if he was moving better cause it is doubles. But his serve was good, and he was hitting the backhand much better.

Let's see tomorrow.

 

[Kieran]

The thing is, Monfills bashed 44 winners so he obviously held his end up. although of course it can be quite encouraging when TMF isn't looking so mighty down his end of the court. But kudos to Monfils. Maybe the USO match did him some good, after all...

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It's just at this point in time, maybe France are calculating things in overdrive. Did they select the right players? The right surface? JW was complaining that fans weren't getting behind him - did they choose the right city?

I think they have two experienced players who they can rely on, as much as anybody they have. They're facing strong motivated opponents, lads with a much better pedigree than the French can offer...

Well to me Jo Willy's worst surface is clay? remember when he made the s.final at Roland Garos and Ferrer just routed him in 3 sets.

 

[Kieran]

Yeah but Jo Willie beat Federer that year. He lost so swiftly against Ferrer because Jo Willie has no...accessories, if ya get me drift?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Yeah but Jo Willie beat Federer that year. He lost so swiftly against Ferrer because Jo Willie has no...accessories, if ya get me drift?

.......................:blush:

 

[Denis]

Yeah but Jo Willie beat Federer that year. He lost so swiftly against Ferrer because Jo Willie has no...accessories, if ya get me drift?

Probably one of my worst memories in tennis that day. Novak losing in 5 against Nadal and Jo willie's retarded twin showing up against Ferrer. :cover

 

[Kieran]

Yeah but Jo Willie beat Federer that year. He lost so swiftly against Ferrer because Jo Willie has no...accessories, if ya get me drift?

.......................:blush:

:snigger

:smooch :heart:

 

[atttomole]

I did not watch the doubles so I am a bit curious. How was the body language in the Swiss team? Was there any hint of the 'altercation' that has been talked about this week?

 

[Fiero425]

I did not watch the doubles so I am a bit curious. How was the body language in the Swiss team? Was there any hint of the 'altercation' that has been talked about this week?

You would think nothing ever happened; 2 grown-ups smiling and "high fiving" all the way! They weren't threatened in the least by the French team! :nono uzzled :angel: :dodgy:

 

[mrzz]

Well, the no injury no practice alternative (for Federer's loss) is possible, even if not likely, because
1) Even if he had practiced a bit more, he could still say he had little practice; and
2) Injuries heal after some time, it could be four orr five days this time, and he chose not to practice, just not to run the risk.

Anyway, I would guess that the back was bothering him at least a little, as, honestly, the only ways I think Federer (or any top 3) can loose to Monflis is either because of injury or by being in a very bad day (yes, this is a dig at Monfils, but not just that, it regards their styles of play too, but that's too long of a story).

And, as I posted somewhere else, if France had their best doubles line up on court today, they could be 2-1, or this could have gone to five. They played safe, but stupidly. You play safe if you are the favourite. They are not.

 

[Front242]

I did not watch the doubles so I am a bit curious. How was the body language in the Swiss team? Was there any hint of the 'altercation' that has been talked about this week?

You would think nothing ever happened; 2 grown-ups smiling and "high fiving" all the way! They weren't threatened in the least by the French team! :nono uzzled :angel: :dodgy:

I missed the match but good on them for winning it. Not like anything did really happen anyway as Roger can hardly be to blame for his wife acting the muppet. If the Swiss win then both Stan and Roger have the DC win on their resumes so why would they bother dwelling on this overblown incident the media made a big song and dance over.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Just as a thought , how bout stopping all the BS and enjoying the tennis tomorrow? There might be some serious drama in France tomorrow. France is in no way out of it. JWT is capable of beating Roger, he showed at the RG. If it is 2-2 and Monf-Stan plays the final rubber, Stan might wish a hundred Mirka's were haggling him instead of the alternative...

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

I didn't see todays doubles either..surprisingly easy win for swiss, and they say stan n Federer played well, and the French failed to get going.

looks like Federer was trolling the French by using his Friday's gael monfeeee singles as practise time on clay for today doubles and tomorrows singles.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Gasquet was the weak link in the doubles team for France,that is for certain.
Roger and Stan played well and deserved their win.

 

[britbox]

I didn't watch the match, but pleasantly surprised by the outcome. Had a bad vibe that the French would take the doubles.

Swiss in the driving seat. I'd be surprised if they lost both of the remaining matches, but if Federer loses the first match, the atmosphere could be raucous for the Wawrinka rubber match and who know what could happen. All still up for grabs.