Barcelona Open 2017, Barcelona, Spain, ATP 500

[Front242]

Probably the toughest opponent at the moment that he could face given the form of all the top guys. Well, except one :snicker

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Nadal makes his 10th Barcelona final without dropping a set, and aims to win his 10th title.

Thiem only lost the one set against Murray, so he's been playing well also. But it's hard to imagine anything other than Nadal taking the title again, on the court that now bears his name.

With two more Masters events to go, he'll have every chance to be ahead of Federer in the Race and Rankings by the time RG rolls around.

 

[Front242]

Totally off topic but thinking of big hitters made me wonder where the hell Gulbis is lately. I know hes been out with injury for quite a while but seems he played a challenger today and retired after losing the first set 6-1. Still his shoulder or what? Been awol ages now.

 

[Puppet Master]

Totally off topic but thinking of big hitters made me wonder where the hell Gulbis is lately. I know hes been out with injury for quite a while but seems he played a challenger today and retired after losing the first set 6-1. Still his shoulder or what? Been awol ages now.

Don't even mention it Front... I liked the dude's game so much, but there's just no point. I don't know what he does in life, but his work ethic is completely screwed and in spite of that, tennis is just not his #1 priority.
You could clearly see it. Last year he reached the fourth round of RG, because Tsonga retired in the previous round. People started hyping him around, even I did, but his tennis was a far cry from his best level, even then. Needless to say, he humiliated himself against Goffin, struggling to win games AFTER winning the first set. The spark is gone. What's left is a ballbashing mug, that can't even win challengers.
We should not pitty him as a person, he has a good life, but to me, GOATbis, is dead...

 

[Front242]

Totally off topic but thinking of big hitters made me wonder where the hell Gulbis is lately. I know hes been out with injury for quite a while but seems he played a challenger today and retired after losing the first set 6-1. Still his shoulder or what? Been awol ages now.

Don't even mention it Front... I liked the dude's game so much, but there's just no point. I don't know what he does in life, but his work ethic is completely screwed and in spite of that, tennis is just not his #1 priority.
You could clearly see it. Last year he reached the fourth round of RG, because Tsonga retired in the previous round. People started hyping him around, even I did, but his tennis was a far cry from his best level, even then. Needless to say, he humiliated himself against Goffin, struggling to win games AFTER winning the first set. The spark is gone. What's left is a ballbashing mug, that can't even win challengers.
We should not pitty him as a person, he has a good life, but to me, GOATbis, is dead...

Well he's been working with Larry Stefanki since last season trying to change his forehand and ditched the airplane signature forehand. I'm thinking changing the motion completely has maybe made his shoulder injury more prolonged and, in fact, maybe it was this motion which caused it in the first place. Hope to see him back playing a high level soon anyway. Having a billionaire dad is likely not helping his work ethic. With the amount of money in the family he probably doesn't need to be going after hookers either.

Funny Gulbis quotes here https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/top-quotes-ernests-gulbis

 

[Fiero425]

Totally off topic but thinking of big hitters made me wonder where the hell Gulbis is lately. I know hes been out with injury for quite a while but seems he played a challenger today and retired after losing the first set 6-1. Still his shoulder or what? Been awol ages now.

Don't even mention it Front... I liked the dude's game so much, but there's just no point. I don't know what he does in life, but his work ethic is completely screwed and in spite of that, tennis is just not his #1 priority.
You could clearly see it. Last year he reached the fourth round of RG, because Tsonga retired in the previous round. People started hyping him around, even I did, but his tennis was a far cry from his best level, even then. Needless to say, he humiliated himself against Goffin, struggling to win games AFTER winning the first set. The spark is gone. What's left is a ballbashing mug, that can't even win challengers.
We should not pitty him as a person, he has a good life, but to me, GOATbis, is dead...

I can't imagine someone as affluent as Gulbis to ever really achieve; esp. if hard work is needed to excel! I don't blame him! It's the same reason The US has been in real "straights" trying to produce another world beater; the hunger just isn't there! When you're spoiled rotten from birth, there's no real incentive to get out there and do "anything" necessary to get to the top! Look at the Williams sisters dodging bullets in Compton, Navratilova avoiding tanks when the USSR overran Czechoslovakia, or Nole playing hopscotch with landmines in his backyard! Compare their upbringing to Gulbis where his father OWNS an island and his future is secure! Our brats are spoiled rotten, catered to from the time they're born; how can we expect much from them? uzzled :nono :dodgy: :cover

 

[the AntiPusher]

Totally off topic but thinking of big hitters made me wonder where the hell Gulbis is lately. I know hes been out with injury for quite a while but seems he played a challenger today and retired after losing the first set 6-1. Still his shoulder or what? Been awol ages now.

Don't even mention it Front... I liked the dude's game so much, but there's just no point. I don't know what he does in life, but his work ethic is completely screwed and in spite of that, tennis is just not his #1 priority.
You could clearly see it. Last year he reached the fourth round of RG, because Tsonga retired in the previous round. People started hyping him around, even I did, but his tennis was a far cry from his best level, even then. Needless to say, he humiliated himself against Goffin, struggling to win games AFTER winning the first set. The spark is gone. What's left is a ballbashing mug, that can't even win challengers.
We should not pitty him as a person, he has a good life, but to me, GOATbis, is dead...

I can't imagine someone as affluent as Gulbis to ever really achieve; esp. if hard work is needed to excel! I don't blame him! It's the same reason The US has been in real "straights" trying to produce another world beater; the hunger just isn't there! When you're spoiled rotten from birth, there's no real incentive to get out there and do "anything" necessary to get to the top! Look at the Williams sisters dodging bullets in Compton, Navratilova avoiding tanks when the USSR overran Czechoslovakia, or Nole playing hopscotch with landmines in his backyard! Compare their upbringing to Gulbis where his father OWNS an island and his future is secure! Our brats are spoiled rotten, catered to from the time they're born; how can we expect much from them? uzzled :nono :dodgy: :cover

The US main problem is tennis is still consider an elitist sport..it's not as noteworthy as the other sports so the best athletes don't participate. Can you imagine what type of tennis player Lebron, Westbrook Cam Newton played tennis..it may have been Roger, Rafa, Novak who?

 

[El Dude]

Tennis is not one of the most popular sports in the US, far behind (American) football, baseball, and basketball - and maybe other sports. Maybe this is because there hasn't been a truly great American men's player since Agassi and Sampras, or maybe it is a chicken-egg thing. But like Fiero said, young male athletes are looking at role models and they see Tom Brady, LeBron James, Mike Trout, not Sam Querrey and John Isner.

 

[Fiero425]

Don't even mention it Front... I liked the dude's game so much, but there's just no point. I don't know what he does in life, but his work ethic is completely screwed and in spite of that, tennis is just not his #1 priority.
You could clearly see it. Last year he reached the fourth round of RG, because Tsonga retired in the previous round. People started hyping him around, even I did, but his tennis was a far cry from his best level, even then. Needless to say, he humiliated himself against Goffin, struggling to win games AFTER winning the first set. The spark is gone. What's left is a ballbashing mug, that can't even win challengers.
We should not pitty him as a person, he has a good life, but to me, GOATbis, is dead...

I can't imagine someone as affluent as Gulbis to ever really achieve; esp. if hard work is needed to excel! I don't blame him! It's the same reason The US has been in real "straights" trying to produce another world beater; the hunger just isn't there! When you're spoiled rotten from birth, there's no real incentive to get out there and do "anything" necessary to get to the top! Look at the Williams sisters dodging bullets in Compton, Navratilova avoiding tanks when the USSR overran Czechoslovakia, or Nole playing hopscotch with landmines in his backyard! Compare their upbringing to Gulbis where his father OWNS an island and his future is secure! Our brats are spoiled rotten, catered to from the time they're born; how can we expect much from them? uzzled :nono :dodgy: :cover

The US main problem is tennis is still considered an elitist sport. It's not as noteworthy as the other sports so the best athletes don't participate. Can you imagine what type of tennis player LeBron, Westbrook, & Cam Newton played tennis? It may have been Roger, Rafa, & Novak who?

It's also something that takes time, energy, & MONEY! It was expensive enough when I was a kid back in the 70's! It was rare to have a racket purchased which cost more than $40-50 with strings! That may not get you the strings today; sorry, but I haven't played in years! Even in my day tennis clothes, equipment, balls, & lessons cost a fortune! I'd hate to think how much it is these days! uzzled :nono :cover

 

[Moxie]

Zeballos took a selfie with Rafa before he walked off the court. That was kinda cute. Tomorrow Thiem will look to be the least popular man in Barcelona. Hope not.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Totally off topic but thinking of big hitters made me wonder where the hell Gulbis is lately. I know hes been out with injury for quite a while but seems he played a challenger today and retired after losing the first set 6-1. Still his shoulder or what? Been awol ages now.

Mrs Tribble is a big fan of Gulbis, ever since he beat Henman at the French Open in 2007. :devil

Have seen him play live briefly at the USO one year; his forehand stance really was amazing! :eyepop

 

[the AntiPusher]

I would expect to see the return of the cc backhand tomorrow from Rafa..Thiem has been hittin the ball deep all week and tomorrow won't be different.

 

[Carol]

Zeballos took a selfie with Rafa before he walked off the court. That was kinda cute. Tomorrow Thiem will look to be the least popular man in Barcelona. Hope not.

 

[Fiero425]

Tennis is not one of the most popular sports in the US, far behind (American) football, baseball, and basketball - and maybe other sports. Maybe this is because there hasn't been a truly great American men's player since Agassi and Sampras, or maybe it is a chicken-egg thing. But like Fiero said, young male athletes are looking at role models and they see Tom Brady, LeBron James, Mike Trout, not Sam Querrey and John Isner.

Tennis won't be big again in The States until someone from this new generation makes a name for himself in the world! Querrey, Isner, Harrison, & Young just didn't get the job done! Sock & Johnson moving up steadily and I guess we have hope for Tiafoe and a few other newbies, but it doesn't look good for us! The ladies seem to have more going for them! The next gen. for the men looks to be led by Sasha Z., Thiem, Pouille, and others! Sock might upset 1 or 2 elite players, but not sure he can sustain it for a whole tourney; esp. a major going BO5! He uses a lot of energy running, stroke producing, & psyching himself up! I'm exhausted just thinking about him playing the game!

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

4-Dominic Thiem (Austria) beat 1-Andy Murray (Britain) 6-2 3-6 6-4

 

[britbox]

3-Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Horacio Zeballos (Argentina) 6-3 6-4

 

[El Dude]

Fiero, there is no surefire American elite player, but there are some good prospects and young players, and American men's tennis looks more promising than it has in 10+ years. In my mind, Tiafoe and Fritz are the most promising of the young guys, but Opelka, Escobedo, Kozlov, Donaldson, Mmoh, Paul, and Rubin all have varying degrees of potential.

 

[britbox]

Barcelona Final

v

Rafael Nadal (3) v Dominic Thiem (4)

H2H: Nadal leads 2-1

2016 Monte Carlo Masters R16 Clay Rafael Nadal Dominic Thiem 7-5 6-3
2016 Buenos Aires SF Clay Dominic Thiem Rafael Nadal 6-4 4-6 7-6(4)
2014 FO - RG R64 Clay Rafael Nadal Dominic Thiem 6-2 6-2 6-3

 

[Busted]

Don't even mention it Front... I liked the dude's game so much, but there's just no point. I don't know what he does in life, but his work ethic is completely screwed and in spite of that, tennis is just not his #1 priority.
You could clearly see it. Last year he reached the fourth round of RG, because Tsonga retired in the previous round. People started hyping him around, even I did, but his tennis was a far cry from his best level, even then. Needless to say, he humiliated himself against Goffin, struggling to win games AFTER winning the first set. The spark is gone. What's left is a ballbashing mug, that can't even win challengers.
We should not pitty him as a person, he has a good life, but to me, GOATbis, is dead...

I can't imagine someone as affluent as Gulbis to ever really achieve; esp. if hard work is needed to excel! I don't blame him! It's the same reason The US has been in real "straights" trying to produce another world beater; the hunger just isn't there! When you're spoiled rotten from birth, there's no real incentive to get out there and do "anything" necessary to get to the top! Look at the Williams sisters dodging bullets in Compton, Navratilova avoiding tanks when the USSR overran Czechoslovakia, or Nole playing hopscotch with landmines in his backyard! Compare their upbringing to Gulbis where his father OWNS an island and his future is secure! Our brats are spoiled rotten, catered to from the time they're born; how can we expect much from them? uzzled :nono :dodgy: :cover

The US main problem is tennis is still consider an elitist sport..it's not as noteworthy as the other sports so the best athletes don't participate. Can you imagine what type of tennis player Lebron, Westbrook Cam Newton played tennis..it may have been Roger, Rafa, Novak who?

The main problem for the USTA is that the best athletes are more attracted to professional team sports - the NFL, MLB and NBA. That's what they grow up seeing on tv. That's our culture here - not soccer and tennis - or even hockey. They see these athletes selling products and making tens of millions of dollars. That's just the reality of sports in the US. We're a team sport culture where individual players stand out as the best of the best. If a kid from a lower income family wants to play tennis, yes, it's harder for the child because they may not have immediate access to courts or the parents may not be able to afford the equipment and traveling to tournaments. But at the same time, these kids are growing up with NFL, NBA or MLB idols. The only current American tennis player that's go regular endorsements is Serena - and let's face it, she's 35 now and doesn't engage the interest of young kids. Typically it takes a major male athlete to move the bar - and the US hasn't had someone like that since the height ofSampras\Agassi era - a good 15-20 years ago.

Also, if I had to pick a past American athlete to imagine as a tennis player in today's game? I'd take Bo Jackson. He could literally do anything until he injured his hip and had a hip replacement - so why not tennis...