2018 Australian Open, Melbourne - ATP GRAND SLAM

[El Dude]

I suggest you read my post over again carefully. The main point is that if the reward is the SAME people will, or at least should choose the easiest way. If you tell Rafa that you've come from the future and know that he won this AO then absolutely he'd probably prefer that he beat Fed or Nole in the final. Of course the reality is he wouldn't know the result until the final is played. And I can guarantee you he'd much rather have a 95% chance at winning the final than a 50% chance. Same with other athletes in other sports. I mean with your idea you probably think players on the winning NFC team will want to see the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Or that LeBron is happy to see the Warriors in the finals or Olympic sprinters were happy Bolt was around. Sorry but that's crazy.

My hatred of Nadal has nothing to do with it. Same applies for Roger, Novak and basically any athlete who isn't stupid. The prize is the same so why would anyone not want a much higher probability of winning?

Yes, I understand your post and I think you are partially correct, but that it is an ambivalent matter - or at least that's what I imagine. I cannot claim to know the minds of high level athletes like Nadal (or Lebron James), but I do think they love a good challenge.

I have a young client in 12th grade whose father has offered to let him take over his multi-million dollar business right out of high school. The kid doesn't want to do that because he wants to make his own way - he wants the challenge of building himself up on his own power.

It isn't quite the same with Rafa, but I don't think he's purely looking at the easiest route to winning more trophies and raising his Slam count. The Slam count thing - while I'm sure it matters to players - is a bigger deal to fans, especially folks such as yourself who are hugely (overly, imo) invested in their favorite player ending with the most Slams.

To put it another way, while maybe the prize is all that matters for you and many others, I don't think that is a universal truth.

 

[Front242]

Just got up and see Berdych is annihilating Del Potro.

 

[Denis]

DP is going out in straights. Lol at those who thought Berdy would be a walkover.

 

[DarthFed]

DP is going out in straights. Lol at those who thought Berdy would be a walkover.

I know that I'm the rare guy that likes Berd but I wasn't ready to write him off just yet after a bad 2017. He is going to make the QF's here at the very least now and a nice win today.

 

[atttomole]

What was up with Del Potro? He looked tired to me. Berdych was hitting the ball very well,, and his serve was on.

 

[Denis]

I know that I'm the rare guy that likes Berd but I wasn't ready to write him off just yet after a bad 2017. He is going to make the QF's here at the very least now and a nice win today.

It’s a really good tournament for him over his career and DP is actually a bit of an underachiever in down under. I like Berdychs personality.

Looking forward to the Berdy - Fussovic QF

 

[Denis]

Ramos is just the perfect player to play Novak into form. I’ve seen some really good stuff today. He needed that as I expect Chung will be more of a challenge than people realise.

 

[Moxie]

Ramos is just the perfect player to play Novak into form. I’ve seen some really good stuff today. He needed that as I expect Chung will be more of a challenge than people realise.

Anyone who saw Chung play today will realize.

 

[Front242]

WTA related comment but delighted that pos Dopapova is gone. Good riddance to bad rubbish as they say. Good weekend so far.

 

[El Dude]

Wow, nasty return of serve by Novak for match point.

 

[Denis]

Good win for Novak. Chung will be a big test, looking forward to that one!

 

[Moxie]

I suggest you read my post over again carefully. The main point is that if the reward is the SAME people will, or at least should choose the easiest way. If you tell Rafa that you've come from the future and know that he won this AO then absolutely he'd probably prefer that he beat Fed or Nole in the final. Of course the reality is he wouldn't know the result until the final is played. And I can guarantee you he'd much rather have a 95% chance at winning the final than a 50% chance. Same with other athletes in other sports. I mean with your idea you probably think players on the winning NFC team will want to see the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Or that LeBron is happy to see the Warriors in the finals or Olympic sprinters were happy Bolt was around. Sorry but that's crazy.

My hatred of Nadal has nothing to do with it. Same applies for Roger, Novak and basically any athlete who isn't stupid. The prize is the same so why would anyone not want a much higher probability of winning?

Roger has flat-out said that one of his greatest wins was beating Nadal at the AO last year. I doubt that he would deprive himself of career highs just to provide you with stress-free finals or assured bragging rights on tennis forums. Your endless chasing of the prizes for your champion does display some lack of understanding of the champion's mentality, I suspect. I agree with @El Dude when he says we can't presume to know what they think or want. As has been said, Nadal has humorously said before he'd like to play the easier match. Roger said, after Nadal beat him at Wimbledon in 2008, "best court, worst opponent." OK. But do you really think they'd be happy playing for all of their big titles v. scrubs? I don't. I really do think that the absolute elites, like Rafa and Roger, want to be tested, and they want to pass the test. I get you point about 'if I knew it would come out well in the end, I'd love to beat a great rival.' But that is a fan perspective, I think. They play who's in front of them. That's why they all say they don't like to look at the draws. Of course they look at them, but they can't afford to think about them too much. Not like we do. But I do think a great champion relishes a big challenge.

 

[Ricardo]

Yes, I understand your post and I think you are partially correct, but that it is an ambivalent matter - or at least that's what I imagine. I cannot claim to know the minds of high level athletes like Nadal (or Lebron James), but I do think they love a good challenge.

I have a young client in 12th grade whose father has offered to let him take over his multi-million dollar business right out of high school. The kid doesn't want to do that because he wants to make his own way - he wants the challenge of building himself up on his own power.

It isn't quite the same with Rafa, but I don't think he's purely looking at the easiest route to winning more trophies and raising his Slam count. The Slam count thing - while I'm sure it matters to players - is a bigger deal to fans, especially folks such as yourself who are hugely (overly, imo) invested in their favorite player ending with the most Slams.

To put it another way, while maybe the prize is all that matters for you and many others, I don't think that is a universal truth.

You just have no idea about what competitors think, should not comment on this from a wheel chair.

 

[DarthFed]

Djokovic looked really good from the bits I saw today. He looked completely different from the Monfils match. I know the heat was extreme but it was more than that. Even the groundstrokes looked different. This looked closer to old Nole. I don't see Chung or Thiem challenging him if he plays like this.

 

[Federberg]

As has been said, Nadal has humorously said before he'd like to play the easier match.

why do you assume that was merely humour? Why was he not being honest? I'm neutral in this argument but have we got to the point that we don't take what these guys say at face value when it doesn't suit our narrative? Speaking as someone in commerce, I would far rather my competition is rubbish than great. I'm in it to win, and the easier the better. You might say it's sports, but I would counter and say it's competition. Winning and making money is my bottom line

 

[DarthFed]

Roger has flat-out said that one of his greatest wins was beating Nadal at the AO last year. I doubt that he would deprive himself of career highs just to provide you with stress-free finals or assured bragging rights on tennis forums. Your endless chasing of the prizes for your champion does display some lack of understanding of the champion's mentality, I suspect. I agree with @El Dude when he says we can't presume to know what they think or want. As has been said, Nadal has humorously said before he'd like to play the easier match. Roger said, after Nadal beat him at Wimbledon in 2008, "best court, worst opponent." OK. But do you really think they'd be happy playing for all of their big titles v. scrubs? I don't. I really do think that the absolute elites, like Rafa and Roger, want to be tested, and they want to pass the test. I get you point about 'if I knew it would come out well in the end, I'd love to beat a great rival.' But that is a fan perspective, I think. They play who's in front of them. That's why they all say they don't like to look at the draws. Of course they look at them, but they can't afford to think about them too much. Not like we do. But I do think a great champion relishes a big challenge.

Again you guys are missing the point. I'm not saying these guys aren't fierce competitors or that they don't relish challenges but if you think they prefer a much lesser chance to win just so they can feel extra challenged I think you're just wrong. Like you said, they play who is in front of them. That USO Rafa won last year counts the same as the 2913 USO when he beat Novak. The 2009 RG doesn't count any less since it was Sod in the finals.

 

[DarthFed]

Roger looking better today, the backhand has been deadly at times, but Gasquet is playing better than I figured. Not used to him being this aggressive but it's great to watch.

 

[Moxie]

why do you assume that was merely humour? Why was he not being honest? I'm neutral in this argument but have we got to the point that we don't take what these guys say at face value when it doesn't suit our narrative? Speaking as someone in commerce, I would far rather my competition is rubbish than great. I'm in it to win, and the easier the better. You might say it's sports, but I would counter and say it's competition. Winning and making money is my bottom line

Fine then, you and Darth are right. Roger and Rafa would prefer to cower away and play only make-weights.

 

[Federberg]

Fine then, you and Darth are right. Roger and Rafa would prefer to cower away and play only make-weights.

That's your opinion you're imposing. They're not cowering. They have travelled all the way to Australia to win. That's it. If they can get it easy then of course they're going to take it. That's not cowardice, it's a desire to win. I'm talking about their motivations not our fan preference for drama and entertainment. Are you really saying that you believe that given the chance they would rather play against each other instead of.... Lukas Lacko in the final? Come on, you know the answer to that

 

[atttomole]

So many beautiful backhands in this match.