Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Day 5

[Murat Baslamisli]

Bad call for David. He has to replay the point, which he pretty much won.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Stan's living dangerously. He needs more patience.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

3 BPs for Stan. Nobody wants to win this set.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

It is amazing how hard David tried to get the break and how loose he played the following game.

 

[Moxie]

You gotta say, David Ferrer has a lot of heart.

 

[Denis]

Stan's living dangerously. He needs more patience.

This.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Well then...David comes back from 2-5 to win the set.

 

[Denis]

You gotta say, David Ferrer has a lot of heart.

If running around is your definition of having a lot of heart. He is certainly not courageous in his shotmaking.

 

[Riotbeard]

You gotta say, David Ferrer has a lot of heart.

If running around is your definition of having a lot of heart. He is certainly not courageous in his shotmaking.

He is when he has to be. Watch him play rafa, and he is quite courageous (or desperate) with his stots. Against stan, he is better off playing defensive I think, it's just better tactics based on their games. He can't out hit stan.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Haven's seen David this animated in a long time...He really wants this one. Numero 3 at stake.

 

[Moxie]

You gotta say, David Ferrer has a lot of heart.

If running around is your definition of having a lot of heart. He is certainly not courageous in his shotmaking.

He is when he has to be. Watch him play rafa, and he is quite courageous (or desperate) with his stots. Against stan, he is better off playing defensive I think, it's just better tactics based on their games. He can't out hit stan.

My definition of heart is belief and fight, even when you are playing for nothing, and you're all but out. If you think that's just "running around," you and I see it differently.

 

[nehmeth]

So Coleslaw had the lead in the first set and managed to lose it? Not watching the match, but it would be nice if Ferrer can win at least one match before heading home.

 

[Denis]

You gotta say, David Ferrer has a lot of heart.

If running around is your definition of having a lot of heart. He is certainly not courageous in his shotmaking.

He is when he has to be. Watch him play rafa, and he is quite courageous (or desperate) with his stots. Against stan, he is better off playing defensive I think, it's just better tactics based on their games. He can't out hit stan.

My definition of heart is belief and fight, even when you are playing for nothing, and you're all but out. If you think that's just "running around," you and I see it differently.

Aha, I see. Like last Tuesday. :nono

Ferrer is basically a pusher with a nice inside-out forehand. He can have tremendous tenacity, yes, but so does my dog when I throw a ball. And against players like Stan I do not like all this retrieving instead of playing some ball. It's weasel-like: he should fight fire with fire. That is, if he wants my support. If he is there to get the 80 000 euros, this might be the better approach.

 

[Kieran]

Well, tenacity is a virtue in a tennis player. I'd say that when players face Ferrer they know he isn't going to become despondent, he isn't going to make it easy for them, he'll give whatever he has in effort and they're going to have to play better than him to win. I think the guy has tremendous heart, considering he has no big weapons and he's not going to get easy points off his serve. he does most things well, but as Denisovich says, he has no huge winners in his satchel.

But...he doesn't go away easy. He might crack with the fright like he did against Nole, but he sticks to the task admirably and puts himself in positions. I think he's still #4 because of his incredible stickability and I wouldn't be surprised if he's still there next year, too. Compare him to Tsonga or Berdych. If they had this guys honesty in his effort, they'd do so much better...

EDIT: I doubt he's playing for the 80 grand. He qualified for this event and he's there by right...

 

[Moxie]

You gotta say, David Ferrer has a lot of heart.

If running around is your definition of having a lot of heart. He is certainly not courageous in his shotmaking.

He is when he has to be. Watch him play rafa, and he is quite courageous (or desperate) with his stots. Against stan, he is better off playing defensive I think, it's just better tactics based on their games. He can't out hit stan.

My definition of heart is belief and fight, even when you are playing for nothing, and you're all but out. If you think that's just "running around," you and I see it differently.

Aha, I see. Like last Tuesday. :nono

Ferrer is basically a pusher with a nice inside-out forehand. He can have tremendous tenacity, yes, but so does my dog when I throw a ball. And against players like Stan I do not like all this retrieving instead of playing some ball. It's weasel-like: he should fight fire with fire. That is, if he wants my support. If he is there to get the 80 000 euros, this might be the better approach.

You're pretty harsh on a guy who's made the most of his strengths and gifts. To each his own, Deni, but personally I don't understand people who resent certain styles of tennis to the point of hostility.

 

[Denis]

^^ very true, I wish Tsonga had a tenth of tenacity of Ferrer, but I'm afraid it's not even close to that figure. It's crucial of course. And Ferrer deserves praise for it. But I refuse to call Ferrer a player 'with a lot of heart'. That's only if tenacity comes with incredible shotmaking and the courage of making shots.

 

[Denis]

Well, here we are at 5 -4 again. Let's see if Stan fares better this time.

 

[Kieran]

^ very true, I wish Tsonga had a tenth of tenacity of Ferrer, but I'm afraid it's not even close to that figure. It's crucial of course. And Ferrer deserves praise for it. But I refuse to call Ferrer a player 'with a lot of heart'. That's only if tenacity comes with incredible shotmaking and the courage of making shots.

I suppose it comes down to the definition of "a lot of heart." I would more associate it with effort than talent. Moral courage to stick with the task, regardless of any technical deficiencies. I think he shows a lot of courage, but he's not Rafa or Nole or Roger. Still, it's his ability to chase and stick to it that has him where he is, as opposed to his shotmaking skills...

 

[Kieran]

Well, here we are at 5 -4 again. Let's see if Stan fares better this time.

Yeah, I get the impression Stan is a bit of a shrinking violet when it comes to taking charge...

 

[Denis]

Nonetheless, set point...