Mercedes Cup, Stuttgart Open 2018, ATP 250

[DarthFed]

I fear I've asked you this before, but I find nothing about them changing the balls at Wimbledon. I did find this article, though, that says they've been using Slazenger since early 1900s, which is a heavier ball, and that a heavier ball doesn't bounce as high.

http://www.tennis.com/gear/2017/09/sphere-influence-how-tennis-balls-differ-slams/69174/

Maybe you can help with a source for what has changed since 2007, and what is the effect.

I figured you knew about the altitude in Madrid, but since you whine so much about the surfaces, I didn't want you to get your hopes up with the renovations at RG.

This provides an interesting discussion:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/547256-how-the-humble-tennis-ball-has-hepled-change-the-game

And this:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...the-court-speeds-at-wimbledon-and-the-us-open

Just because Slazenger has always provided the ball doesn't mean it's always been the same weight. We all remember the discussion last year with McEnroe on comparing the balls from 2017 to 2016. Let's face it, the Wimbledon tournament director has a hard-on for baseline tennis and has made longer points the routine on grass. That was the purpose of messing with the surface and for making the ball heavier. We all know who that favors and who that hurts.

 

[Horsa]

This provides an interesting discussion:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/547256-how-the-humble-tennis-ball-has-hepled-change-the-game

And this:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...the-court-speeds-at-wimbledon-and-the-us-open

Just because Slazenger has always provided the ball doesn't mean it's always been the same weight. We all remember the discussion last year with McEnroe on comparing the balls from 2017 to 2016. Let's face it, the Wimbledon tournament director has a hard-on for baseline tennis and has made longer points the routine on grass. That was the purpose of messing with the surface and for making the ball heavier. We all know who that favors and who that hurts.

I'm very sorry to interrupt your conversation but thought that you might like to know (if you don't already) that Slazenger was originally established in Yorkshire in the 1890's to make footballs though it later started making the tennis balls & racquets it is more famous for.

 

[DarthFed]

I know nothing else about them but I hate the company and the Wimbledon tournament director.

 

[Horsa]

I know nothing else about them but I hate the company and the Wimbledon tournament director.

O.K. I'm very sorry. I thought you might find it interesting to know but as you don't I very much apologise for interrupting your conversation.

 

[DarthFed]

Anyways sorry to get this thread sidetracked. I will reserve further bit**ing until the main event. But with how they've ruined real grass court tennis I do reserve the right to complain every year B-)

Tomorrow should be interesting how Roger handles playing 3 days in a row, especially since this was another war with Nicko. I do hope he wins both this and Halle but the worst result would be a 3 setter tomorrow and a bunch more next week. Usually he is strong at Halle and can straight set everyone.

 

[DarthFed]

O.K. I'm very sorry. I thought you might find it interesting to know but as you don't I very much apologise for interrupting your conversation.

No problem, I appreciate the background on them. They should've stuck with what they were good at

 

[Horsa]

No problem, I appreciate the background on them. They should've stuck with what they were good at

O.K. History fascinates me. Sometimes I forget that not everyone likes it. I agree or sold tennis racquets & balls to families & schools cheaply so children could learn without too much expense but professionals could use good quality tennis racquets & balls because they're good for learners & if you're a learner you don't want expensive kit especially if you don't know whether you want to keep going & schools don't want expensive kit because they need it in bulk.

 

[Moxie]

This provides an interesting discussion:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/547256-how-the-humble-tennis-ball-has-hepled-change-the-game

And this:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...the-court-speeds-at-wimbledon-and-the-us-open

Just because Slazenger has always provided the ball doesn't mean it's always been the same weight. We all remember the discussion last year with McEnroe on comparing the balls from 2017 to 2016. Let's face it, the Wimbledon tournament director has a hard-on for baseline tennis and has made longer points the routine on grass. That was the purpose of messing with the surface and for making the ball heavier. We all know who that favors and who that hurts.

I'll read the second one later, but I did find the first one and didn't quote it because it talks about changes in the balls in 2001. You're talking about 2006.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I did not get to see the match live as it overlapped with my Gym session today. Looks like it had lots of tense moments.

Anyway, Congrats to Fed for making it to #1 again.

I am not worried about the finals against Milos here. Milos is tamable in an easier manner.

 

[DarthFed]

I'll read the second one later, but I did find the first one and didn't quote it because it talks about changes in the balls in 2001. You're talking about 2006.

I thought it talks about the change in court. The second one discusses that it may have even played slower than USO because of the extremely heavy ball. Either way, we can stop the talk, sorry I brought it up. It's a sore subject but it's up to Roger to get 10 Wimbledon's anyways. Put an end to his underachieving there and the bastard's chase.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Was watching bits and pieces. Caught the end of the TB from 3-3. Clutch play from Roger there. Back to number 1 for I guess 1 week minimum. Raonic will be a tough final opponent but on paper Roger should win this and build more points cushion.

Of course, Roger should win this, so that he can get to #98 and also as the points will help him in the long run.

However, in the short run these points will not help him. Even if Roger wins Stuttgart, his lead over Rafa will be just 150 points.
So, if he does not win Halle (not reaching final is not enough) or does not win Wimbledon (not reaching final is not enough), he will
be handing the #1 right back to Rafa.

 

[Fiero425]

Of course, Roger should win this, so that he can get to #98 and also as the points will help him in the long run.

However, in the short run these points will not help him. Even if Roger wins Stuttgart, his lead over Rafa will be just 150 points.
So, if he does not win Halle (not reaching final is not enough) or does not win Wimbledon (not reaching final is not enough), he will
be handing the #1 right back to Rafa.

I just can't remember a race this tight going back and forth from week to week at times! Even when Nole was winning everything in sight, he had tto wait months and get to Wimbledon SF to finally take over the #1 ranking back in 2011! With Fedal, it's not coming down to tournaments, but matches! That's amazing since they're teetering on retirement! "Again, WTF Next Gen?" :whistle:

 

[the AntiPusher]

I could care less about temperature, on a proper grass court Rafa wouldn't have had a prayer of winning one. That backswing alone would ruin his chances

I don’t think you should be so dismissive of Rafa’s chances on grass however the past 7 years has been horrible.
He has won two and made it to 3 other finals..That’s a lot better than what Roger has accomplished on clay.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Anyways sorry to get this thread sidetracked. I will reserve further bit**ing until the main event. But with how they've ruined real grass court tennis I do reserve the right to complain every year B-)

Tomorrow should be interesting how Roger handles playing 3 days in a row, especially since this was another war with Nicko. I do hope he wins both this and Halle but the worst result would be a 3 setter tomorrow and a bunch more next week. Usually he is strong at Halle and can straight set everyone.

Why wait to start bit**ing now, Rafa’s RG trophy hasn’t even made it to Molocca yet. Speaking of Nadal, his highly anticipated corpse isn’t even dead or cold in the ground yet you have already started on court grass speed, balls or anything you deem will make the courts more baseline friendly. ( Rafa friendly in lament terms). Roger breaks more of a sweat chasing afterwards his two set of twins then he has the past couple of years against the anemic opposition he faced at Wimbledon. Come on dude, you know I am correct about this one. RELAX.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I don't know if there is such a thing as too fast for him. Movement means less when it is this fast but of course Roger overall in his prime is better than this 36 year old version.

His main competition at Wimbledon would've come from the huge servers, it's possible he loses a couple that he won but it's also very likely he never loses to Nadal or Djokovic. If they had zero wins there as would be likely they wouldn't be in the GOAT picture (and Nole is far out of it now anyways). For as much as Nadal and his uncle complain about surfaces it has been way to his benefit compared to Roger. If RG was played on Madrid type surface how many less does Rafa win and how many more does Roger?

Enough..Darth the main problem i had early on as a tennis player, i didnt respect the skill of a pusher..the same can be said with you of Nadal, Djokovic and Murray's games. You dont respect their games..All three has earned their numerous titles and victories including whipping Roger's ass on many occasions . Its ludicrous that you NEVER give anyone their due respect, Especially Rafa(Wimbledon 08) and JMDP (US 09) over Roger. HELL, You dont give Novak his due over Roger back to back at Wimbledon, what you think they were flukes. Tennis is not a fair weather surface sport meaning the courts conditions are part of the game.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Of course, Roger should win this, so that he can get to #98 and also as the points will help him in the long run.

However, in the short run these points will not help him. Even if Roger wins Stuttgart, his lead over Rafa will be just 150 points.
So, if he does not win Halle (not reaching final is not enough) or does not win Wimbledon (not reaching final is not enough), he will
be handing the #1 right back to Rafa.

Those guys likely don't care about this #1 race as much as you do. If they did, Rafa would not pull out of Queens
But at least #1 now switches hands with the contender earning it by playing & winning rather than practicing "armchair tennis". That's what Fed ws doing for last 3 months: doing nothing just watching Rafa and waiting and cheering everyone to beat and dethrone Rafa. He did not succeed in these dreams and realized he must earn #1 rather by himself. So went to work in Stuttgart where he met the minimum expectations. A gravy in the form of another number: #98, would be nice,

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I don’t think you should be so dismissive of Rafa’s chances on grass however the past 7 years has been horrible.
He has won two and made it to 3 other finals..That’s a lot better than what Roger has accomplished on clay.

I actually give credence to Rafa's chances this year. Whether Rafa can get past the first week depends on the draw. There are not too many big servers who are consistent enough to mount an attack and win. Rafa might actually catch a break in the early part of the tourney this year. If Rafa gets past the first week, he could suddenly become a contender for the title.

Further another different this year is that he did not play since AO retirement to Davis Cup (that is like more than two months of break). So, he is apt to be fresh as well.

 

[britbox]

Semi-final

1-Roger Federer (SUI) beat 4-Nick Kyrgios (AUS) 6-7(2) 6-2 7-6



7-Milos Raonic (CAN) beat 2-Lucas Pouille (FRA) 6-4 7-6(3)

 

[britbox]

Doesn't look like anyone's talking about Raonic at all; a pretty dangerous lower seed that did beat Roger in Brisbane a couple years ago! Fed barely made it through today against Kyrgios; he might be vulnerable to the big serving of Milos! He should have taken back the #1 ranking just in time for Wimbledon, but it'll all come down to QUEENS which is thought to be the toughest draw in their history! :whistle:

Raonic is dangerous for sure.

 

[monfed]

I hope Fred tanks this to get one bad match out of the way. It won't affect his #1 ranking. Do the Halle-Wimbledon double again like last year and keep #1.