Controversy! Johnson-Medvedev Grudge Match at Citi Open

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Andrew Miller writes:

What's the Montreal venue like? Or the Toronto venue?

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Andrew, though I did not see it I was told Ruud was ahead then lost control of the match and knew he was going to lose and just quit because he didn't want to give Paul the credit of a true win. Two different people told me this. But Paul must've been playing well because he backed it up. I did a Biofile with Ruud and interviewed Ruud's dad about his son's game and his progression and where he's at right now physically and mentally.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

Scoop, if that's what Ruud did, not the best. These guys have pride but he should've stuck around, just as Henin should have sucked it up and faced the loss to Mauresmo in that Australian open final in 2006? That said, I'm happy for Tommy Paul. I think you'd said or one of the commenters, Duke? Thomas Tung? That Tommy Paul had been playing very evenly on the futures. Wherever you can get the wins. Winning cures losing.

 

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Duke Carnoustie writes:

Tommy Paul played some good tennis in Winnetka; I saw him beat Taylor Fritz there. That was no indication of these last two weeks though. Does anybody know if Paul and Bhambri get SEs into Montreal? Querrey v. Kokk is the final; If Sam wins he becomes Sambrero Sam instead of Samurai Sam with two wins in Mexico this year.

 

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Duke Carnoustie writes:

Dzumhur may be best known to the U.S. tennis fan as the opponent that made Harrison break five rackets!

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

Sombrero Sam!!! Hysterical

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

Diego Moyano must be a solid coach. He gets his players to focus.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Focus, hit hard and worry about your side of the net. The three coaching cliches.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

No, it was Sambrero Sam Sambrero Querrey

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

Moyano sounds like a Macci protege!

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Hartt writes:

Andrew, I can talk a bit about the Toronto venue, called the Aviva Centre. The main stadium is quite nice, it is large, seating 12,500. They use the same surface as the USO. There are about 12 other courts. I especially like the Grandstand stadium, which has been named for Milos Raonic. It is quite small, you get a terrific view from any seat. Today I saw a few games there between Dabrowski and Lepchenko before it started to pour. Lepchenko sauntered onto the court 10 minutes late for her match! A nice feature is a covered viewing area overlooking 4 or 5 practice courts. Today I saw Ka. Pliskova working with a hitting partner and Siniakova and Cibulkova practicing together. They were out there despite the rain. I was pleased to see huge banners on the side of the main stadium, celebrating past champions, including Mauresmo and Seles. There were a lot of activities, including the opportunity for young kids to try their hand at tennis. This is a family week-end with free admission, so there were lots of families with kids. It was great to see some very young children avidly watching tennis. It's too bad the rain disrupted the matches. The worst thing about Rogers Cup is getting there. It is located at York University, a long way from the city centre. Driving there is a nightmare and public transit is even worse. In a few months a subway stop will open at York University, much to my relief.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Thanks Hartt. I feel there

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Not sure what Moyano brings to the table. If anything substantive to help these players become top 50 players. Or is he a court scheduler/caddy.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Dan Markowitz writes:

What's with Sock? He's proving that while he's a good player, an entertaining one, he's not a solid winner or slam contender. Not by a Kevin Anderson long shot.

 

[Busted]

This isn't being a "character" - it's being childish and unsportsmanslike. If he wants to play with the adult men, then it's time to put on his big boy pants and leave the Pampers at home.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Chazz writes:

Sock in the post match complained about the court: "Pretty shocking tennis court. I don't think I'll be back at this tournament, probably, in the future. Probably the worst court of the year. Speed, bounces, everything. It's pretty shocking...probably the worst tennis court on the tour."

 

[Busted]

Dan Markowitz writes:

What's with Sock? He's proving that while he's a good player, an entertaining one, he's not a solid winner or slam contender. Not by a Kevin Anderson long shot.

I can't even look at Kevin Anderson anymore without thinking about the 6-1, 6-1 beat down Roger put on Anderson in Cincy in 2015 - when he unveiled the SABR. IIRC Anderson was ranked 15 or 16 at the time and it was such a complete dismantling that I cackled my way through the whole match.

 

[Busted]

Chazz writes:

Sock in the post match complained about the court: "Pretty shocking tennis court. I don't think I'll be back at this tournament, probably, in the future. Probably the worst court of the year. Speed, bounces, everything. It's pretty shocking...probably the worst tennis court on the tour."

Isn't this kind of like the year Madrid was played on that slippery fast, blue clay and Nadal and Djokovic whined to high heaven because they lost early and threatened not come back the next year if it was still the slippery - and fast - blue clay? And Roger said nothing and won the tournament - but the following year the tourney was back to the slow red clay and Nadal, of course, won Somehow I doubt thought that DC will change the court like Madrid did just because world #19 Jack Sock whined about it.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Dan Markowitz writes:

Wow, DC organizers cant be too happy w Sock unloading on court. Might be true, but was he complaining about it after hecbeat Raonic in the quarters. Something about Sock, the guy's hard to take w his smirks and head shakes and always acting like he's the good-behaving version of his pal Kyrgios. Sock puts on a good show, but he's more flash than substance. Right now, there's not one American male player besides possibly QBall I really did appealing or want to root for. Paul might be that guy, but I hear he's not the brightest bulb in the box.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

Sock said that? Poor sport. Not even sure if there's a kernel of truth there. Zverev Alex seems to be enjoying it.