Is Kyrgios ready to roar or flop?

[scoop]

Scoop Malinowski writes:

Schiavone is super fit (saw her training videos) and she could be a threat to go deep. Solid win today for Francesca. Bemelmans beats Haas in four and this is a rare GS win for the 29 yr old Belgian lefty who hasn't done anything in a major since two years ago (3R at US Open). Dr Ivo Tiebreakovic lost in five to Bedene 76 67 76 67 68. And all the breakers were close duels 75 57 86 types. Steve Johnson and Querrey through. Pretty good day for US men and women. Young takes out Istomin which is a nice win as we all remember what Istomin did in Austalia. I think DY is about ready to seize his career high ranking this summer.

 

[scoop]

Scoop Malinowski writes:

El Dude; Dimitrov and Kyrgios could not be more opposite. I've never seen Super G tank or play show off tennis. And he's very friendly with the media and even says thank you sincerely after his press conferences.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

Hartt, the article's take on Kyrgios' fitness really surprised me. He literally doesn't do the small stuff that veterans rarely overlook then finds himself injured. I'll have to read the article again and take more time with it. For anyone else interested in a fine piece of tennis writing I second Hartt's recommendation. See Hartt's entry above.

 

[El Dude]

Scoop Malinowski writes:

El Dude; Dimitrov and Kyrgios could not be more opposite. I've never seen Super G tank or play show off tennis. And he's very friendly with the media and even says thank you sincerely after his press conferences.

Scoop, I realize that and said as much at the start, but I think you missed the point of my post! The similarity is not in the person, but in their career trajectories and degree of disappointment so far. Grigor is four years older, so is less likely to fulfill his potential, but both have experienced similar patterns.

 

[Moxie]

Scoop, I realize that and said as much at the start, but I think you missed the point of my post! The similarity is not in the person, but in their career trajectories and degree of disappointment so far. Grigor is four years older, so is less likely to fulfill his potential, but both have experienced similar patterns.

I agree with El Dude's post earlier. They may be wildly different personalities, but they are on the same drift as to wasting talent. The window is closing quickly for Dimitrov, but Kyrgios still has time to make much of his gifts. I am unimpressed by Dimitrov's gentlemanliness, or whatever, if he's unable to summon the fire in the belly. And I'm not fussed about Kyrgios' antics, if he can somehow pull his talent and head together at some point. But I'll take Sasha Zverev any day, if they're both going to squander their talents.

 

[Moxie]

Dan Markowitz writes:

Very disappointing especially after Indy Wells and Miami. Look, can't judge him on this. He has to get healthy first. Two quick observations: How can Venus Williams play after killing a man in a car accident so recently? I mean, I know the adage, the show must go on, but I'd think after such a horrific incident--whether she's guilty or not--she wouldn't play Wimbledon. Second, the umpire has to call time violations on Nadal. It's bordering on ridiculous. In the second game of the match, he made the ball kid give him four balls before he hit serve.

Dan, I realize these threads seem to be a moveable feast, so I'm just going with the random comments. Nadal gets called for time violations all the time. And he's lost first serves for them. What more do you want?

And I think you are awfully judgmental and unfair before time to say that Venus "killed" someone in a car accident and wonder how she can be playing Wimbledon, rather than, what?, sitting at home in a mea culpa puddle? She's seen a lot of tragedy in her life. Often, the safest space for a tennis player is on the court. I'm sure it's not callousness that has her playing, but the need to keep up a normal life while this otherwise tragedy plays itself out in the courts. From what I read, she was driving 5 mph in traffic. Whatever happened that caused the collision, it wasn't drugs or speed or any impairment, by all accounts. It sounds like it was unfortunate. If you saw her press conference today, you could see that she's heartsick. I don't know what more you want.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

catherine writes:

Scoop - re Schiavone I've never understood why Francesca hasn't done better on grass - she's got a good serve, can volley, runs well. Maybe early on she just persuaded herself W'don wasn't the place for her. Hope she makes another couple of rounds here.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

Bouchard, Robson, former best buds, both lose. Suarez Navarro gets better of a Bouchard that gets worse every year.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

catherine writes:

Bouchard gets flashbacks at Wimbledon

 

[Ricardo]

Dan, I realize these threads seem to be a moveable feast, so I'm just going with the random comments. Nadal gets called for time violations all the time. And he's lost first serves for them. What more do you want?

And I think you are awfully judgmental and unfair before time to say that Venus "killed" someone in a car accident and wonder how she can be playing Wimbledon, rather than, what?, sitting at home in a mea culpa puddle? She's seen a lot of tragedy in her life. Often, the safest space for a tennis player is on the court. I'm sure it's not callousness that has her playing, but the need to keep up a normal life while this otherwise tragedy plays itself out in the courts. From what I read, she was driving 5 mph in traffic. Whatever happened that caused the collision, it wasn't drugs or speed or any impairment, by all accounts. It sounds like it was unfortunate. If you saw her press conference today, you could see that she's heartsick. I don't know what more you want.

Moxie everyone knows your position regarding Nadal, but people are right to point out that ATP are not enforcing the time violation rules enough....is Nadal called out every 10th time he goes over time or something? lower ranked players can't get away with that, and overall it's unfair to players who abide by the rules.

Your old argument that he always plays 'slow'.....you know that doesn't stand, it's his problem. If rules are made to be broken, or being lenient for certain players, might as well not have those rules and just let them have it whatever. Djoker can then bounce the ball 1000 times until he feels comfy, or the opponent runs out of patience. Most players can only wait so long in their 'ready position', and you can manage to piss them off by making them wait frequently and excessively......there is an impact.

 

[Ricardo]

besides, the police have said that she was at fault which caused the tragedy. Of course common sense dictates that it was not intentional, it still qualifies that she 'killed' someone by accident.....assuming the police report is factual, which is the only thing we can go by anyway. now tell us what it has anything to do with 'she's seen a lot of tragedy in life'.....as if she should be granted some kind of concession? for a start she'd probably not be allowed to go free if it wasn't for her fame and position, after an incident like that.

another thing, her press conference means nothing. heartsick? if she has conscience she'd stay and sort it out before going on tennis vacation, after being involved in something like that. clearly she is still just a self-entitled big mouth who doesn't give a shit about 'strangers'.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Dan Markowitz writes:

Moxie, Fair enough. I'll watch Nadal more carefully, but regarding Venus, she did kill someone in a car accident. Witnesses said she went through a red light. This happened July 9th, enough time to get over it or let the process proceed, perhaps? but I'm just saying, I don't think she should play pro tennis until this matter is resolved. I know that sounds harsh and it's very unfortunate, but that's the way I feel.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

catherine writes:

If Kerber loses to Falconi today I believe she will be only the 2nd women's top seed to lose in her first match at Wimbledon. And Angie would be following in the footsteps of another German - Steffi Graf, who lost to Lori McNeil in 1994.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

catherine writes:

Correction - Steffi was the first defending champion to lose in the first round.

 

[scoop]

Scoop Malinowski writes:

Please specify if you're discussing Venus Williams or Michael Venus the 2017 Roland Garros doubles champion. Thank you

 

[scoop]

Scoop Malinowski writes:

If Kokkinakis wins this battle with Delpo, all the sudden it might be safe to say Kokkinakis is the top Aussie singles force. With Kyrgios and Tomic looking so unsteady at the moment. Could the sudden rise of Kokkinakis spark Kyrgios? Hope so.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

Scoop, Aussie men losing. Tomic Kokkinakis and Kyrgios are all OUT of the tournament. A terrible showing for a country that apparently was "back" in the game. All the understudies like Thompson also finding exits. A poor showing for the Australian men.

 

[britbox]

Yeah, pretty bad return for Team Australia on the face of it, although I think there are more positives to look at with Kokkanakis than negatives. Kyrgios getting flak but clearly injured coming in. Tomic's having a terrible year to date, don't really expect too much from this show pony going forward.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Andrew Miller writes:

Australia's women are more consistent. Hewitt's retirement, their men's players have really sunk and progress is on the wta tour. Players follow the model of Stosur and Molik, who progressed at mid age for tennis, see Barty and Gavrilova.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

catherine writes:

Barty 'mid-age' ? She's 21.