Aussie Open 2014: Ball and Courts faster...

[brokenshoelace]

Irrelevant!

It's an outdoor HC that operates at the medium pace-high bounce level..........they can move the speed and the bounce within that range as much as they like but chances are the finalist will be the top 2 seeds. I actually prefer a faster court for Rafa if he is going to defeat Novak here, it would give his forehand more mileage instead of hitting 5 would be winners just to see them coming back with interest. That's why Rafa it's a better player at the UO than the AO......his forehand goes through the court easier when he is in offensive mode.

Couldn't agree more. I've argued and argued, for years now, including one recent thread with a certain poster here, about how misunderstood the whole surface thing is, especially vis-a-vis Nadal. The slower the hard court, the LESS I would give Nadal a chance against Djokovic, unless maybe it's a super high bouncing surface like Indian Wells. But yeah, watching their 2012 final, Nadal had to absolutely CRUSH his inside out forehand to be able to hit through Djokovic. He had to hit the ball huge, and even then, Novak was running them down, counter-punching, turning defense into attack, etc... things that he can't do as easily at the US Open. Most importantly, Nadal can actually gain some cheap points on serve on faster surfaces against Novak.

Of course, the flip-side is on faster court, if Novak is in the zone and playing aggressive, he'll be ending points quicker against Nadal and Rafa risks being blown out (ie the first two sets of their 2011 US Open final). But yeah, if Novak is not in full unplayable mode, I prefer Nadal's chances against him at the US Open.

The point is not about the speed of the court, but the bounce. GSM, when he wrote that Nadal was in trouble, was referring to the bounce. Low bounce = not good for Nadal.

But the point is, it's all relative. The AO will never be "low bouncing" per se. Not with this surface and these conditions. It might be "lower bouncing" than it was in previous years (which it reportedly is), but barring a complete surface change, it's not going to be low bouncing.

 

[Denis]

Sure, so its probably a bit dramatic to say Nadal is in trouble. But anything that will help in the final is good news for me.

 

[Kieran]

Just once they ain't watering the courts after the fourth set tiebreaker, we'll take our chances!

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Nadal gave a pre-tournament presser today.

Here is one Q and A.

Q. How are you finding the speed of the courts so far? There was a lot of talk they might be faster than in years past.

RAFAEL NADAL: Completely different conditions than what I remembered of this tournament. Faster conditions that I ever played here in Australia.

Well, I really don’t understand very well why they change because the last couple of years, Australian Open had amazing matching, long ones, good ones for the crowd. I don’t know why the people who decide to make the conditions that fast.

I am not sure for the show is the best thing. But they decide and I’m just a player to try to be competitive from the beginning. I am practicing every day as much as I can and with the right intensity, the right attitude.

I arrived one week before. I think that I am practicing better a little bit every day. I hope to adjust my game to these conditions.

I DON'T think these comments should be taken lightly. Nadal's frame of mind is always important before a tournament.

But then again he usually plays possum and makes a bunch of pre-qualifying statements why he is not the favorite at a bunch of tournaments.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

if rafa doesn't win the title then so-called 'uncle toni' will give a village idiot indignant interview and claim "rafa didn't win the major because of them".

 

[Luxilon Borg]

if rafa doesn't win the title then so-called 'uncle toni' will give a village idiot indignant interview and claim "rafa didn't win the major because of them".

I am very curious to see how he will handle the time violations that will be inevitable for him
as he generally likes to slow the pace down if the courts/balls really are faster.

 

[huntingyou]

you guys are something else HAHAHA

grasping at straws, anything to help you sleep at night...."wafa ain't winning this"

Rafa played his best tennis last year at Montreal, and it's not coincidence it was the fastest outdoor HC he played in all year long. The faster the better, this is the AO with super high temperature and a gritty surface.......that topspin will be blasting off the court.

So tell me borg, explain to me how this "faster conditions" will impact rafa's time violation management? I thought I heard it all before but you sure are something else. I'll tell you what he will do.......win the next point after the time violation and then look up at the umpire and dare him to give him more. That's Rafa right there!

 

[Luxilon Borg]

you guys are something else HAHAHA

grasping at straws, anything to help you sleep at night...."wafa ain't winning this"

Rafa played his best tennis last year at Montreal, and it's not coincidence it was the fastest outdoor HC he played in all year long. The faster the better, this is the AO with super high temperature and a gritty surface.......that topspin will be blasting off the court.

So tell me borg, explain to me how this "faster conditions" will impact rafa's time violation management? I thought I heard it all before but you sure are something else. I'll tell you what he will do.......win the next point after the time violation and then look up at the umpire and dare him to give him more. That's Rafa right there!

He said it himself in his book. With faster conditions he needs more time to gather himself and
focus between each points. It really is not complicated. He got more time violations in Canada then at all the other tournaments. And at crucial times. Yeh, Toni bitched.

 

[huntingyou]

you guys are something else HAHAHA

grasping at straws, anything to help you sleep at night...."wafa ain't winning this"

Rafa played his best tennis last year at Montreal, and it's not coincidence it was the fastest outdoor HC he played in all year long. The faster the better, this is the AO with super high temperature and a gritty surface.......that topspin will be blasting off the court.

So tell me borg, explain to me how this "faster conditions" will impact rafa's time violation management? I thought I heard it all before but you sure are something else. I'll tell you what he will do.......win the next point after the time violation and then look up at the umpire and dare him to give him more. That's Rafa right there!

He said it himself in his book. With faster conditions he needs more time to gather himself and
focus between each points. It really is not complicated. He got more time violations in Canada then at all the other tournaments. And at crucial times. Yeh, Toni bitched.

You know how much worth I place on what Rafa says: ZERO, NADA, NOTHING

I'm talking facts here that can be observe by the casual eye. Rafa played his best tennis on hardcourts at Montreal last year. His match against Novak was the highest level of tennis he displayed all year long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qcAK1JrS2w

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

the aussie open folk said the courts were the same as last year..or was that a player quote :huh:..same courts, same balls, same conditions, etc...

maybe they might have sneaked in slightly less sand/grit in the court finish to make the ball skip through without sticking so much..

whats the view from the players who were in the qualifiers ??..they are the only ones to actually play on the courts so far.

 

[huntingyou]

the aussie open folk said the courts were the same as last year..or was that a player quote :huh:..same courts, same balls, same conditions, etc...

maybe they might have sneaked in slightly less sand/grit in the court finish to make the ball skip through without sticking so much..

whats the view from the players who were in the qualifiers ??..they are the only ones to actually play on the courts so far.

Stossur said the ball took more spin and was much easier to hit winners. Roger found it a "bit" quicker but Andy said it was the same as last year. That's why broken it's right when he says this type of discussion it's fruitless; the changes are not that transcending that it will impact the top players performance. They all can adjust; it can impact individual matchups; especially when the margins are blur like Rafa-Novak for example. I guess it's better to just wait for the first round and see for ourselves....one thing it's for sure; the courts get quicker as the grit wears out but that's true of all outdoor HC

 

[Luxilon Borg]

The early reports are that the Aussie Open 2014 ball is FASTER than last year, and so are the courts.

Cilic claimed the courts at Brisbane are the fastest he has played on.

Can this be?

Are they trying to avoid another 6 hour final?

As a side note, man the announcers calling the Hopman Cup are clueless, except
for Darren Cahill.

"Rafael Nadal is absolutely not a fan of the faster courts laid down for this edition of the Australian Open, with the Spaniard complaining that they will cut the spectacle from matches. What he means is more along the lines of what the speed might do his own heavy game which relies on brute power an slower court to bludgeon his opponents."

 

[Denis]

I don't get it. If Rafa did complain in these terms, why does he just not say 'I prefer slower high bouncing courts, because it suits my game better' instead of this crap. As a spectator I can perfectly speak for myself, I don't need Rafa for it. This is cringe-worthy.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I don't get it. If Rafa did complain in these terms, why does he just not say 'I prefer slower high bouncing courts, because it suits my game better' instead of this crap. As a spectator I can perfectly speak for myself, I don't need Rafa for it. This is cringe-worthy.

Hey man, Rafa is concerned about the "fans"!uzzled

 

[brokenshoelace]

Someone needs to remind Nadal how the courts played on the last slam he won.

 

[brokenshoelace]

By the way, this is a typical case of sensationalism. Eurosport's article claimed that Nadal "fumed," yes, FUMED at court speed. Nadal's actual quotes are the following:

"I really don't understand very well why they change because the last couple of years, Australian Open had amazing matching, long ones, good ones for the crowd. I don't know why the people who decide to make the conditions that fast."

"I am not sure for the show is the best thing. But they decide and I'm just a player to try to be competitive from the beginning."

They're fairly docile comments and hardly "fuming." That of course, does not make them accurate, since he's making it sound like faster courts means we're suddenly not going to get any rallies, which is bogus.

Federer was typically more level-headed:

Federer added: "I think even these conditions here, we'll see long rallies after all. We're not talking about a lightning speed court.

"In Brisbane it was fast, but it wasn't lightning either. This is like medium, if that. I don't know what the big problem is."

I don't know what the big problem is either. This is just a case of people making a bigger deal out of this, Nadal included. As I said, I absolutely loath surface talk due to all the conflicting opinions.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Someone needs to remind Nadal how the courts played on the last slam he won.

Yes, but slower ball. For sure.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

By the way, this is a typical case of sensationalism. Eurosport's article claimed that Nadal "fumed," yes, FUMED at court speed. Nadal's actual quotes are the following:

"I really don't understand very well why they change because the last couple of years, Australian Open had amazing matching, long ones, good ones for the crowd. I don't know why the people who decide to make the conditions that fast."

"I am not sure for the show is the best thing. But they decide and I'm just a player to try to be competitive from the beginning."

They're fairly docile comments and hardly "fuming." That of course, does not make them accurate, since he's making it sound like faster courts means we're suddenly not going to get any rallies, which is bogus.

Federer was typically more level-headed:

Federer added: "I think even these conditions here, we'll see long rallies after all. We're not talking about a lightning speed court.

"In Brisbane it was fast, but it wasn't lightning either. This is like medium, if that. I don't know what the big problem is."

I don't know what the big problem is either. This is just a case of people making a bigger deal out of this, Nadal included. As I said, I absolutely loath surface talk due to all the conflicting opinions.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jan/13/rafael-nadal-unhappy-courts-plexicushion-australian-open

Rafael Nadal's uncle and coach Toni joined the world No1 on Monday in criticising Melbourne Park's faster hardcourts which, he feels, will ruin the spectacle for the Australian Open fans.

The speed of the blue Plexicushion courts has polarised opinions with Roger Federer and Australian Lleyton Hewitt welcoming it while Nadal questioned the logic behind the change.

"The spectators want a bit of rallying, a bit of tactics. People don't go to Barcelona's stadium to watch Lionel Messi taking penalties," Toni Nadal told AS.

"This year everything is a bit quicker, that's my feeling and also Rafa's. I don't know if it's because of the courts or the balls, which I think have been changed, but I don't think it's good for the spectacle," he added.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

By the way, this is a typical case of sensationalism. Eurosport's article claimed that Nadal "fumed," yes, FUMED at court speed. Nadal's actual quotes are the following:

"I really don't understand very well why they change because the last couple of years, Australian Open had amazing matching, long ones, good ones for the crowd. I don't know why the people who decide to make the conditions that fast."

"I am not sure for the show is the best thing. But they decide and I'm just a player to try to be competitive from the beginning."

They're fairly docile comments and hardly "fuming." That of course, does not make them accurate, since he's making it sound like faster courts means we're suddenly not going to get any rallies, which is bogus.

Federer was typically more level-headed:

Federer added: "I think even these conditions here, we'll see long rallies after all. We're not talking about a lightning speed court.

"In Brisbane it was fast, but it wasn't lightning either. This is like medium, if that. I don't know what the big problem is."

I don't know what the big problem is either. This is just a case of people making a bigger deal out of this, Nadal included. As I said, I absolutely loath surface talk due to all the conflicting opinions.

Speed of Courts a Hot Topic at Australian Open
NY TIMES

MELBOURNE, Australia — With the first Grand Slam of the year quickly approaching, one of the hottest topics among players has been just how quick play will be at the Australian Open.

The top seed Rafael Nadal, a player at his most comfortable on slow clay, said he believed the blue hardcourts at Melbourne Park were considerably speedier than they have been in the past.

“Completely different conditions than what I remembered of this tournament, faster conditions that I ever played here in Australia,” Nadal said, his tone indicating displeasure with the perceived change.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Someone needs to remind Nadal how the courts played on the last slam he won.

Isn't this a case of a fan telling a player which type of court they should prefer?

The last time when another fan made a similar statement (about a different
player) somebody went on a rampage.