Barcelona Open 2017, Barcelona, Spain, ATP 500

[the AntiPusher]

Without any doubt I enjoy listening to Robbie Koenig and Jason Goodall

I have a theory; Robbie Koening is dead, and they have recorded 3 audio clips of him and they always play one of these:
1) OH THAT IS OUUUUTRAGEOUS!!!
2) OIL PAINTING OF A BACKHAND!!!
3) JAW DROPPING STUFF!!!

I can't think of any other explanation
Although I do like Robbie, he has had other iconic quotes.

My goodness, I had not any idea that Robbie died , when it happened ?

Oh that guy is my favorite especially when pairing with Jason Goodall.

Miss Carol , Robbie K is alive and well.. PM was just giving you some fake news:eyepop

 

[the AntiPusher]

No more seeded players left in Rafa's half :cover

Oh boy here we go again..:nono

 

[Carol]

I have a theory; Robbie Koening is dead, and they have recorded 3 audio clips of him and they always play one of these:
1) OH THAT IS OUUUUTRAGEOUS!!!
2) OIL PAINTING OF A BACKHAND!!!
3) JAW DROPPING STUFF!!!

I can't think of any other explanation
Although I do like Robbie, he has had other iconic quotes.

My goodness, I had not any idea that Robbie died , when it happened ?

Oh that guy is my favorite especially when pairing with Jason Goodall.

Miss Carol , Robbie K is alive and well.. PM was just giving you some fake news:eyepop

Oh! I'm glad to hear that but I won't trust to any news coming from PM anymore :ras:
But now I understand he just was pretending

 

[the AntiPusher]

Really..so who do you enjoy to listening to ?

Without any doubt I enjoy listening to Robbie Koenig and Jason Goodall

I have a theory; Robbie Koening is dead, and they have recorded 3 audio clips of him and they always play one of these:
1) OH THAT IS OUUUUTRAGEOUS!!!
2) OIL PAINTING OF A BACKHAND!!!
3) JAW DROPPING STUFF!!!

I can't think of any other explanation
Although I do like Robbie, he has had other iconic quotes.

My favorite Robbie K line .."There's no stopping the King of Clay"

 

[Moxie]

I think his 2016 season on clay was a bit of an outlier. Before that he never really had big results this time of the year.

Grass will be different. I think Murray will be fine by then and if he avoids Roger he has a good shot at winning Wimbledon.

I'm going to slightly disagree with you on 2016 being unusual for Murray. In a way, the question was, for me, why he didn't do better on clay before. He spent two years as a junior in Barcelona training on clay, and he has a patient, defensive game. This year, we'll see how he plays himself back into the season, after injury, and as the #1, which is obviously a stressor from some more than others. But I agree as to grass. No reason to think, if healthy, he won't be ready to defend Wimbledon come June.

 

[Carol]

Goffin, Carreño, Zverev, Agut out, wow it means that they have not played well or their opponents have worked well knowing how to play on clay

 

[DarthFed]

^ As long as Roger's healthy I don't think Murray or anyone is a favorite over him for Wimbledon. Murray would probably be the #2 favorite but I think the big servers and big hitters pose a bigger threat to Roger there this year.

I think there are a lot of reasons Murray hasn't done that great on clay. A big part of his game is counter-punching and he's more effective with a faster surface. That, a poor 2nd serve, and a mediocre forehand has held him back there and in general held him back from accomplishing more off clay as well.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Goffin, Carreño, Zverev, Agut out, wow it means that they have not played well or their opponents have worked well knowing how to play on clay

Who defeated Obi Wan (Goffin) ..that's my dawg

 

[Moxie]

^ As long as Roger's healthy I don't think Murray or anyone is a favorite over him for Wimbledon. Murray would probably be the #2 favorite but I think the big servers and big hitters pose a bigger threat to Roger there this year.

I think there are a lot of reasons Murray hasn't done that great on clay. A big part of his game is counter-punching and he's more effective with a faster surface. That, a poor 2nd serve, and a mediocre forehand has held him back there and in general held him back from accomplishing more off clay as well.

Perhaps I should have said that Murray would be ready to "try to defend" his Wimbledon, as that is what I intended. ATM, Roger is early favorite at SW19 as Nadal is early favorite to RG, but we'll have to see how things continue. Let's be real: Fed won his first Major in 4 1/2 years in January. It's a lot to hope he's going to win another one 5 months later.

 

[Carol]

Goffin, Carreño, Zverev, Agut out, wow it means that they have not played well or their opponents have worked well knowing how to play on clay

Who defeated Obi Wan (Goffin) ..that's my dawg

It seems the Russian is playing well

 

[DarthFed]

I get your point but tennis like other sports is a lot about momentum. Roger has it now and Rafa is starting to get some this year too.

Obviously everyone was shocked he won the Australian Open, regardless of health and any other factors I don't think any of us figured he'd win another AO or RG. Wimbledon is a much different story, from now until he retires he will always have a pretty solid chance there. He was 1 converted BP away from the final last year when he was rusty and in poor health. He figures to be the strong favorite there as long as he's healthy.

 

[Carol]

Wimbledon? I wouldn't put my hand into the fire for those two. I mean if Federer won't play any tournament on clay I suppose that he is practicing from now on grass, otherwise it would be a miracle if he would be able to play well and win. On the other hand I don't see Muzz with the same form he had last year, maybe because his elbow or his head or who knows but he looks far to be a #1

 

[Moxie]

I get your point but tennis like other sports is a lot about momentum. Roger has it now and Rafa is starting to get some this year too.

Obviously everyone was shocked he won the Australian Open, regardless of health and any other factors I don't think any of us figured he'd win another AO or RG. Wimbledon is a much different story, from now until he retires he will always have a pretty solid chance there. He was 1 converted BP away from the final last year when he was rusty and in poor health. He figures to be the strong favorite there as long as he's healthy.

I agree that Roger at Wimbledon is like Rafa at RG: If they're in, they'll be on the short list. I'm not sure how "rusty" was an issue for Roger last year at Wimbledon. Surely rust after 7 months off didn't factor at the AO. I'd buy injury better. The knee, was it?

 

[DarthFed]

Knee and back were both issues. It's not just about match practice, he was barely practicing at that point. Different situation from coming in healthy this year after 7 months off.

 

[Carol]

Knee and back were both issues. It's not just about match practice, he was barely practicing at that point. Different situation from coming in healthy this year after 7 months off.

So you are confirming that he is able to practice now, isn't? It's true that the AO was a big surprise how Roger was playing so well (or the others top players badly?) but my point and question is, will he do so well next time or the others top players will play much better?

 

[DarthFed]

He is possibly playing RG as well as two grass warmups before Wimbledon. Not worried about rust and aside from a miraculous return to form by Djokovic I'm not worried how the other top players are playing at Wimbledon.

 

[Moxie]

Knee and back were both issues. It's not just about match practice, he was barely practicing at that point. Different situation from coming in healthy this year after 7 months off.

I'm sure you're not making excuses for his losses, and I'm sure that his being fresh to the tour is all that he needed to win his first Major since 2012. Right?

 

[DarthFed]

I'm sure you're not making excuses for his losses, and I'm sure that his being fresh to the tour is all that he needed to win his first Major since 2012. Right?

Nah, he lost because he played terribly at Wimbledon, he would need to to lose to Raonic in a major, especially his best one.

Yes he hadnt won a major since 2012, underachieved for a few years for sure. As for this year you may have noticed a few improvements. He is playing much more aggressive on the backhand and return. That's why he's been winning.

 

[Carol]

Roger knows what he is doing but I think to play RG without have played any tournament on clay and right after playing on grass it seems that he is taking a little risk, I don't see it could be easy

 

[Moxie]

Nah, he lost because he played terribly at Wimbledon, he would need to to lose to Raonic in a major, especially his best one.

Yes he hadnt won a major since 2012, underachieved for a few years for sure. As for this year you may have noticed a few improvements. He is playing much more aggressive on the backhand and return. That's why he's been winning.

He played terribly, or he had rust and health issues? You've said both, re: Wimbledon last year. Either you're making an excuse, or you aren't. You know why I'm prodding. "Excuse" issues can be sensitive. And about that newly aggressive backhand and return...how come it took him so long to figure that out re: Nadal? He's stunningly renovated on the backhand. Why did he wait so long?