ATP World Tour Finals 2017, London, UK

[herios]

I'm very encouraged by what I see in Grigor. I also read an article in which he was downplaying the "Baby Federer" moniker and he just sounded more mature and focused than a few years ago. Maybe we're entering a few year stretch in which we get to see him actualize his potentials.

I am also optimistic, more than before in any case.

 

[El Dude]

I am also optimistic, more than before in any case.

Glad to hear it - makes me feel less pollyanna .

As for your previous post, what about Shapo? Some here seem to think he has a higher upside than Zverev. I must say I like his combination of a well-rounded game and just a kind of lively quality, like he just loves playing. After Zverev, he is the next genner that I think has the best chance at greatness - and only after Zverev because Sascha is so much more advanced, and we don't yet know how Shapo will develop.

As you know, I like Rublev quite a lot but don't think he's on the Zverev/Shapo/possibly Aliassime level. I think Rublev will be in the next tier down - with Thiem, Kyrgios, and others.

 

[Busted]

I am also optimistic, more than before in any case.

I'd be more optimistic if he could play a match without getting coaching from the stands. Guess he dated Sharapova too long and ONE of her bad habits rubbed off on him. For his sake let's hope that's the only one...

 

[Busted]

I was surfing some tennis sites just now and saw that Murray and Lendl have parted ways - again. I don't think that bode's well for Andy's upcoming season. The times he's been able to big tournaments it's been because he's had Lendl guiding his game.

 

[Busted]

Glad to hear it - makes me feel less pollyanna .

As for your previous post, what about Shapo? Some here seem to think he has a higher upside than Zverev. I must say I like his combination of a well-rounded game and just a kind of lively quality, like he just loves playing. After Zverev, he is the next genner that I think has the best chance at greatness - and only after Zverev because Sascha is so much more advanced, and we don't yet know how Shapo will develop.

As you know, I like Rublev quite a lot but don't think he's on the Zverev/Shapo/possibly Aliassime level. I think Rublev will be in the next tier down - with Thiem, Kyrgios, and others.

I see more upside with Shapovalov than Zverev...mainly because he's NOT 6'6". When has a player that tall ever gotten to #1 - or won a Slam and been able to back it up for an extended period of time? Never. Physically that's just a lot of body to move around the court. As Zverev gets older he'll gain weight and muscle and probably won't be as nimble at 25 as he is at 20. I think his window to be at the top of the game is much narrower than guys who are 4-5" shorter than he is.

I haven't see much of Auger-Aliassime but I keep reading comments about what a great game he's got. Saw some videos on YT of course and see a lot of Federer mimicking from both him and Shapovalov - as you see in most young players. If you're gonna copy someone's game - may as well copy the GOAT. Nobody wants to base their game on the #29 player! Aim big or go home.

 

[Busted]

Looks like Goffin wants the last nail to be driven to his Coffin by none other than TMF.

Just finished watching the Cilic match. If Roger brings his C-game again Goffin will STILL lose but at least he will be able to console himself that he won a set. Goffin said in the press after his win today that he was going to try something completely different against Roger because obviously he HAS to do something different or else he'll get thumped again. I've been scratching my head because he can't grow 4" and gain 20 pounds overnight. That leaves being more aggressive and coming forward - or hiring some thugs to detain Roger so he's late arriving for the match and is defaulted. Otherwise...I can't think what else Little David Goffin can do to beat Roger. Then again...I didn't think he'd beat Nadal even if Nadal played on 1 leg...

 

[Busted]

With Thiem's loss, Grigor has clinched #4 ranking independent of what happens in the last RR match.

Sadly this will now give Dimitrov a false sense of his game. Gonna be a real blow to his ego next year when he falls back down the rankings to around 12-15 where he belongs. Seriously - WHO has he beaten this year? I looked it up - prior to the WTF his only 3 Top 10 wins came in the same tournament - Brisbane at the start of the year. Yes, that's right...prior to this week Dimitrov had not beaten a ranked inside the Top 10 at the time of their match.

Brisbane - 5 - Nishikori - F
Brisbane - 3 - Raonic - SF
Brisban - 8 - Thiem - QF

Other than these 3 wins the first week of January 2017 - prior to the WTF, he lost to every Top 10 player he played

AO - 9 - Nadal - SF
Madrid - 9 - Thiem - R16
Wimbledon - 2 - Federer - R16
Beijing - 1 - Nadal - Final
Shanghai - 1 Nadal - QF

Other players he beat at big tournaments?

Sofia - 11 - Goffin - F
Cincy - 23 - Kyrgios - F

Other players he lost to in early rounds?

Rotterdam - 11 - Goffin - QF
IW - 18 - Sock - R32
RG - 23 - Carreno Busta - R32
Stockholm - 19 - DelPo - F
Paris - 14 - Isner - R16

So pardon my skepticism about Dimitrov's chances of remaining in the Top 10 - let alone to Top 3-4 - when Murray, Djokovic, Wawrinka, etc., return next year. Espeically since DelPo will most likely make his move to get back into the Top 5. He has 0 points to defend at the AO and Dimitrov has 720 points to defend. As much as I've side-eyed Nadal's return to #1 in this injury-filled year...my eyes are literally going to get stuck in the back of my head if anyone claims that Dimitrov will be in the Top 5 this time next year. He played 22 regular events this year - and didn't make it past the R16 in 12 of them. THAT is how decimated the men's game has been this year. 1 big win and they're in the Top 10 doing their "I"m the kind of the world!" routine. If Dimitrov successfully defends his Cindy title I'll need smelling salts to bring me out of a stupor.

 

[Busted]

Double breadsticks, and he's dropped a total of 4 games the last two matches. Wow

Sorry...but your awe at Dimitrov's mediocrity is cracking me. For God's sake - HE'S NOT PLAYING ANYONE! I watched the Goffin match - and shrugged. If he was throwing down these numbers on Roger, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray...I'd be impressed. (Not so much with Stan though because it's always a crap shoot as to which Stan is going to show up.) But...it's Goffin, Thiem and Carreno Busta! Thiem can't play on HC, Carreno Busta is better on clay, too - and Goffin just ain't got enough fire power to win back-to-back big matches. Seriously...that group is a glorified 250 event.

As a reminder - remember at Wimbledon when people were saying Dimitrov was tearing it up and would give Roger a tough match? This is the same thing - 2.0. IF he and Roger both make the final on Sunday...then let's see if Dimitrov really is "balling"...

 

[isabelle]

Thiem is getting abused by an injured McFly. That dude needs to go back to the drawing board this offseason. Time to think about better scheduling as he's been underwhelming for awhile. I don't think he should be relegated to being a clay court specialist but he's shown nothing off of it and even on clay this year he didn't exactly set the place on fire.

is it true that Dom and Mladenovic are "in love" ?? I heard that don't know if it's true or not

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Good morning fellow Feddies! it is time to wrap this semifinal up in less than an hour.

 

[DarthFed]

is it true that Dom and Mladenovic are "in love" ?? I heard that don't know if it's true or not

Seemed like it during Cincy and USO when she was always in his box. If so it's the best thing Dom has done in his career

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Goffin saves four break points and then finally succumbs on the fifth one in the opening game.

 

[DarthFed]

Breaks to open the match. Hitting well but still blocking back nearly every return which is frustrating

 

[DarthFed]

Roger ordering around one of the linebabes.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fed up 2-0. But, Goffin made Fed play four 4 mins and got to deuce.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Goffin gets on board and that too with a love game.

Looks like he is determined to make Rog work for his win today.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fed gets e-surance break. Up 4-1 now.

Couple of nice backhand shots in that game.

 

[DarthFed]

Double break. Roger is a nastier version of Biff. Just not much of a chance for Goffin unless Roger is generous with errors and serves poorly.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Three serve and volley pts in that game to go up 5-1.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I was surfing some tennis sites just now and saw that Murray and Lendl have parted ways - again. I don't think that bode's well for Andy's upcoming season. The times he's been able to big tournaments it's been because he's had Lendl guiding his game.

I would like to see an announcement when a player and a coach depart and it is not due to "mutual agreement".