Indian Wells, BNP Paribas Open, Masters 1000

[Moxie]

It would be a really bad look if he doesn't withdraw from Miami after this. He would make Moxie look bad after our conversation today

Really bummed that Rafa can't play today.

This doesn't really make sense now, does it? I mean, I want him to skip Miami as I said, but what about him playing there would make me look bad?

 

[Federberg]

Really bummed that Rafa can't play today.

This doesn't really make sense now, does it? I mean, I want him to skip Miami as I said, but what about him playing there would make me look bad?

Lol! I was teasing. We were talking about Roger not showing up for his match against Novak. If Rafa were to turn up in Miami, would this be much different to what Roger did?

 

[Moxie]

Please tell me Rafa didn't really say this: "Sometimes I feel sad because I'm in a disadvantage to all my opponents."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/47598786

Oh, give it a rest. He's bummed out and tired of getting injured. He probably is feeling petulant and put-up, and he had to talk to the press.

 

[El Dude]

If Rafa were to play Miami it would imply that he just didn't want to lose to Roger. I don't think Miami is all that sacrosanct to him. The priority has to be clay season, so he won't do anything to possibly jeopardize that - and Monte Carlo is just a month away. The best thing for Rafa is to go rest on his boat for a couple weeks.

 

[DarthFed]

If Roger cannot beat Raonic he might as well retire!

I won't go that far. It's been an encouraging couple tourneys for Roger even if he doesn't finish the job tomorrow. He was playing basketcase tennis most of last year and for now he seems to be holding up mentally a lot better during the tight moments. I have hopes for Wimbledon but then I always do. The key for him there is health and mentality

 

[tented]

He’s going back to Spain. He’s not going to Miami.

 

[El Dude]

Oh, give it a rest. He's bummed out and tired of getting injured. He probably is feeling petulant and put-up, and he had to talk to the press.

Moxie, I almost never go after Rafa. I realize he is upset, but this comment went beyond "poor me" to "I have it harder than others." I like Rafa, but he is not beyond reproach for saying stupid things.

 

[Moxie]

Lol! I was teasing. We were talking about Roger not showing up for his match against Novak. If Rafa were to turn up in Miami, would this be much different to what Roger did?

LOL. I wasn't making any comment, to be clear, Roger's choice to skip that final. I was only pointing to your comment that Roger and Rafa would never do that to a finals crowd...except one did. I believe he chose to protect his DC...even though people around here might think that's an odd choice, given the disparity between the esteem with which they hold each accomplishment. I think if it had been his last match of the year, 90% he'd have played it, unless he really thought he'd do long-term harm. That's why I hope Rafa skips Miami...that knee has to need rest and I don't see he'll get enough in a week or 6 days.

 

[Federberg]

Moxie, I almost never go after Rafa. I realize he is upset, but this comment went beyond "poor me" to "I have it harder than others." I like Rafa, but he is not beyond reproach for saying stupid things.

Seconded

 

[Moxie]

Moxie, I almost never go after Rafa. I realize he is upset, but this comment went beyond "poor me" to "I have it harder than others." I like Rafa, but he is not beyond reproach for saying stupid things.

That's why it surprised me you would be so unsympathetic as to point it out.

 

[El Dude]

Wow, 0 unforced errors in that first set for Thiem. He looks good and healthy. I hold to my prediction that he'll win a clay Masters this year. If he doesn't, I'll dub him the new Nishikori.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

He’s going back to Spain. He’s not going to Miami.

I would have been surprised if Rafa played Miami even if he had made the final in IW.

 

[Federberg]

LOL. I wasn't making any comment, to be clear, Roger's choice to skip that final. I was only pointing to your comment that Roger and Rafa would never do that to a finals crowd...except one did. I believe he chose to protect his DC...even though people around here might think that's an odd choice, given the disparity between the esteem with which they hold each accomplishment. I think if it had been his last match of the year, 90% he'd have played it, unless he really thought he'd do long-term harm. That's why I hope Rafa skips Miami...that knee has to need rest and I don't see he'll get enough in a week or 6 days.

100% he would have played but for DC. He did that for his country. Nothing to do with how he perceives the Tour final. Took one for the team. As both Novak and Rafa would too I believe

 

[tented]

Moxie, I almost never go after Rafa. I realize he is upset, but this comment went beyond "poor me" to "I have it harder than others." I like Rafa, but he is not beyond reproach for saying stupid things.

Andy Murray, for example, has it harder than any of the (used to be) Big Four.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

New Nishikori?

Thiem is nothing at all compared to Kei. Kei is capable of a very high level of tennis actually really fast and explosive on the court. He's beaten Djokovic at USO and defeated Federer at Miami. Thiem has not done anything remarkable till now.

 

[El Dude]

That's why it surprised me you would be so unsympathetic as to point it out.

One can be sympathetic but still point out such things. I'm sympathetic to his knee injury and, if you remember, said that he genuinely looked hobbled vs. Khachanov and complemented him on his clinical destruction of the Game of Thrones cast member. If anything, I quoted him because it seemd out of character. He usually doesn't resort to saying such things.

 

[mrzz]

Good first set by Thiem. He is playing much better indeed, still not quite his best, but much better than a month ago. FH is quite decent, BH still at 80%. Anyway just four points lost on serve all set.

Raonic is volleying with extreme class -- not to many guys are doing this better than him right now.

 

[tented]

Apologies to all of our Canadian friends here, but I just can’t stand watching Raonic. I really hope Thiem wins this.

 

[El Dude]

New Nishikori?

Thiem is nothing at all compared to Kei. Kei is capable of a very high level of tennis actually really fast and explosive on the court. He's beaten Djokovic at USO and defeated Federer at Miami. Thiem has not done anything remarkable till now.

I would disagree with that assessment, as I think Thiem is a comparable talent to Kei, at least on clay.

But I mainly said that because Nishikori is arguably the greatest player of the Open Era not to win a Masters. I would say that Thiem is, right now, the best clay player not to win a clay big title.

 

[El Dude]

Andy Murray, for example, has it harder than any of the (used to be) Big Four.

True, although I'm of the opinion that staying healthy is part of overall greatness and shouldn't as much be viewed as luck or good fortune as a knack for fitness and health. It isn't unlike how in baseball, a pitcher with "good mechanics" is less likely to get injured. Mechanics aren't just luck: it is a developed skill, a smooth throwing action that puts less stress on the arm.

I'm not saying that Andy didn't have misfortune, but that we can't just separate such injuries from the overall picture of a player: style of play, training regime, etc. Andy's rugged physical style lent itself to such an injury...not to mention his over-playing in 2016 to eek out that #1 ranking.