AUSTRALIAN OPEN, Melbourne, ATP GRAND SLAM

[mrzz]

Brazilian author Nelson Rodrigues has a lot of good quotes, one them is, roughly translated, "Nothing is more tiring then defending the obvious". I cannot believe people write what they write. Now I know I really should not even care to read (but unfortunately I generally do). Ok, some stats from the AO website. Net points won by Nadal, from the first three rounds:

17/24 (71%)
9/13 (69%)
11/16 (69%)

From Federer

20/23 (87%)
24/29 (83%)
16/24 (67%)

Even without considering multiple known facts as:

1) Federer is coming back after 6 months lay off;
2) Nadal in general rushes to the net only to finish off points (thus his success rate gets higher);
3) Federer faced better ranked playes (just check and don´t preach);

and so on and so forth, even so, Federer´s success rate is higher, and the total number of net points is higher.

And I really find hilarious that people came with one youtube video as "evidence"... go to the same youtube and count the videos with Nadal volleys. They are good videos, he is indeed a good volleyer. Now search for Federer volley videos. There are 100 times more.

I really cannot believe I am wasting my time on this.

Edit: Fact number 3) is incorrect. It is only true when you count the first four rounds (and Includes Nishikori). For the first three, Federer faced a top 10 in Berdych, which Nadal did not, but faced lower ranked players in the earlier rounds.

 

[mrzz]

It's looking like that. I really didn't think think Monfils would be a trouble for Rafa, even with the new maturity in his approach, but he doesn't appear to have any strategy.

Maturity? As a 7 years old is more mature than a 4 years old?

 

[Moxie]

Rafa's dad's hair has gone completely white. Given the last 2.5 years, that explains my greys too.

 

[britbox]

:lulz2: Ok, I've followed the scores enough to get that. And the thread to know something about what's going on. But Misha Z...wtf? Happy Rafa beat the other one, though.

Mischa's win over Murray was a throwback to a different age. Incredible volleying.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I think Monfils will find a reason to retire in this match.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Mischa's win over Murray was a throwback to a different age. Incredible volleying.

Second best volleyer on tour behind Rafa IMO.

 

[britbox]

I remember an anecdote from Pete Sampras... pretty sure it was after Federer's second or third Wimbledon triumph where he'd stayed back a lot more (in comparison to his first success and campaigns before that)... Sampras asked why Federer wasn't serve and volleying and Federer's reply was "I don't need to".

 

[mrzz]

The guy with the highest tennis IQ in tennis history against one to which the concept does not apply. A classic.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Really impressed with Nadal's serving. He has to serve this good, if not better, against Raonic given the very few opportunities he'll have to break.

 

[brokenshoelace]

It seriously baffles me that an athlete with Monfils' physical abilities has not made the most of his game for so long.

 

[Moxie]

It seriously baffles me that an athlete with Monfils' physical abilities has not made the most of his game for so long.

#mentalgame #injuries

 

[Federberg]

^It drives me crazy. This guy could dominate anyone if he wanted it badly enough.

 

[Denis]

I cannot watch. Can anyone give an update on what Monfils is doing? Is he in clown-mode or just being outplayed?

 

[Moxie]

^It drives me crazy. This guy could dominate anyone if he wanted it badly enough.

I don't know if that's fair. He is pretty undisciplined, though he's been working on that. But he's also a passive player. He's a great athlete, but you can't change him into another person.

 

[Moxie]

I cannot watch. Can anyone give an update on what Monfils is doing? Is he in clown-mode or just being outplayed?

Outplayed. Though Rafa should have his foot on Gael's neck right now, and doesn't.

 

[mrzz]

I cannot watch. Can anyone give an update on what Monfils is doing? Is he in clown-mode or just being outplayed?

Both

 

[Moxie]

Both

No...except on one failed trick-shot, what has Gael done that counts as "clown-mode?"

 

[brokenshoelace]

I cannot watch. Can anyone give an update on what Monfils is doing? Is he in clown-mode or just being outplayed?

i would say it's more passive mode than clown mode. He's not trying outrageous things or anything but he's not playing aggressively enough. Though he's started doing that a bit more.

 

[mrzz]

Just one? I am not recording but I´ve seen more. Add to that a lot of times when he, instead of trying to put the ball back in play, closes his eyes and hit it with all the strength he has, sometimes even hitting it with the frame. He broke the record probably, of "most far out ball in tennis history". Hell, he hit a winner (out of complete luck) hitting a frame. Maybe this is not "clown mode", but is "suicidal mode".

 

[Moxie]

Maturity? As a 7 years old is more mature than a 4 years old?

I don't think this gives Monfils enough credit. I really do think he has tried to be more measured and less of a showman over the last 10 months or so...and he's gotten results from it. I think he's at his highest ranking. It just won't last at this level, I don't think.