Miami Open, ATP Masters 2018

[atttomole]

Do you think I'm a non-native speaker of English? Just curious.

I think you are a native speaker, but still your level is much better.

 

[Moxie]

Ferrer the journeyman double faults and is broken by Zverev.

Ferrer is no "journeyman." He's a former #3-4 in the world.

 

[Moxie]

I think you are a native speaker, but still your level is much better.

Than a native speaker? I guess that's a compliment. Still, confusing.

 

[atttomole]

Than a native speaker? I guess that's a compliment. Still, confusing.

That can't be confusing. Being a native speaker does not mean that one writes or speaks the language well. Some native speakers do struggle actually.

 

[atttomole]

Ferrer is no "journeyman." He's a former #3-4 in the world.

I like Ferrer's determination. He is a fighter, but he is not top drawer.

 

[Moxie]

I like Ferrer's determination. He is a fighter, but he is not top drawer.

But he's also no "journeyman." That implies a middle-ground player. Zverev has one MS1000 more than Ferrer, and exactly, I think, the same highest ranking. They may be 10+ years difference in age, but Zverev doesn't have, at this point, a better resume.

 

[Andy22]

Nick is a "fun guy" who is clearly not mature enough to understand the fuzzy boundary between joke and offense. And likely never will because he's already too old to learn such basic social norms. Even as a fellow OZ, he does not impress me and I even dislike him. I understand that he's a very likable personality in the locker room (as all players have said) but he will never achieve the "classiness" of top players like Fedal, both on and off court, no matter how hard he works to curb his behaviour. That's why I think he does not deserve to achieve #1 (or even top 10) status, irrespective of his tennis talent.

Dude you being too hard on my and your home boy kyrgios, he's Young and like all young people, kyrgios lacks class but that's starting to come, you how he is with little kids, and not think ever goes to far. He's great to watch and not boring like some tennis players, he that the game needs and he's a Aussie, so going to back my boy to win a few slams in the coming years.

 

[Andy22]

I know he is practicing and scheduled to play in MC but I don’t know too much else
Oh I forgot to say that he is practicing for the next Olimpics but as a swimmer

Hi always good to met a fellow nadal fan welcome back.

 

[atttomole]

But he's also no "journeyman." That implies a middle-ground player. Zverev has on MS1000 more than Ferrer, and exactly, I think, the highest ranking. They may be 10+ years difference in age, but Zverev doesn't have, at this point, a better resume.

I think 'journeyman' applies perfectly to Ferrer. He is a middle-level player.

 

[Moxie]

I think 'journeyman' applies perfectly to Ferrer. He is a middle-level player.

Your standards are awfully high. Ferrer has been #3 in the world. He has 27 titles. He's made the finals of RG. The SFs of AO and USO 2x and the QFs of Wimbledon 2x. Middle-level? Maybe you should tell me what you think "middle-level" means. And for the record, Zverev has 6 titles, and a poor showing at Majors. As far as I can tell, Ferrer is exactly one of those players that got stuck behind the glass ceiling of the Big 4. In another era, he might have managed a Major.

 

[Moxie]

Frances gets back on serve v. Berdych in the 1st. Go, Tiafoe!

 

[Moxie]

What a backwards overhead from Tiafoe!

 

[El Dude]

Glad to see you back, Carol.

That said, will Carol and nadal goat 2 interacting be like crossing the streams in Ghostbusters?

 

[Moxie]

Frances has hit some lovely volleys in this match, and has been having great success at the net. They go to TB in the first. (To an empty stadium.)

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Dude you being too hard on my and your home boy kyrgios, he's Young and like all young people, kyrgios lacks class but that's starting to come, you how he is with little kids, and not think ever goes to far. He's great to watch and not boring like some tennis players, he that the game needs and he's a Aussie, so going to back my boy to win a few slams in the coming years.

Sorry Goat2 but I have to disagree. Even with all that good stuff Nick is doing with kids etc, and his much improved on court behaviour, he has very serious personality issues (that can be summarized as "immaturity") so deeply engraved in him, that it's safe to say he won't be able to overcome them. I'm not denigrating Nick and don't want him to stop playing: in the end he brings lots of fun to the game. But I'm saying the moral scrutiny at the top of the game is incompatible with Nick's character, so Nick simply does not belong there. E.g. respect is the bottom line.
This latest incident of disrespectful sloganeering against Verdasco on Twitter, stems from the fact that Verdasco's opponent Kokk, is Nick's best mate. Yeah, he could say that he wished Kokk would win and everybody would agree he should support his friend. But throwing in a denigrating joke about his opponent is a serious mistake.
Remember what Nick muttered to Stan on court, not so long ago? I don't need to recall the details of that disgusting slur on this forum. But note that slur was also a result of the fact that Kokk is the closest friend of Nick and he wanted to contrast his friendship with Kokk against his opponent (Stan) in the fervour of a battle. ATP, like all of us, turned very lenient and imposed just couple months of suspension for this appalling slur, because Nick is young and deserves a chance to come back from it.
Now, let's ask: did Nick learn anything from his mistake therein? Not much because the incident almost repeats itself, in different settings & less serious form but the same social aspect. He clearly regretted his impulse and deleted the offending Tweet. But had he matured since the incident with Stan, he would maybe apologize and say to move over it. But his further engagement and adverse follow-up exchange only aggravate his initial mistake.

 

[Moxie]

Now Berdych getting mad that the Tiafoe camp is too noisy. No wonder...they're practically the only 8 people in the stands. Berdych isn't doing himself any favors by being distracted. Also, the wind is hard on his high ball toss.

 

[Moxie]

Great job by Tiafoe to win the 2nd set 6-2. There's no one left in the stands, no one here. I may not make it, either. Go, Frances!

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Now Berdych getting mad that the Tiafoe camp is too noisy. No wonder...they're practically the only 8 people in the stands. Berdych isn't doing himself any favors by being distracted. Also, the wind is hard on his high ball toss.

It's hard to believe no one came (?) for such an interesting match on the Grandstand (!). Until you notice that the time in Miami is just past 1am! I wonder what kind of scheduling/weather quirk resulted in such insanely late time of this match.
The longer it drags, the bigger favourite Frances is, who has die-hard locals and his family to fill his box while jet-lagged friends of Berdych are sleeping deep.

 

[Moxie]

Fantastic point, won by Tiafoe!

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Great job by Tiafoe to win the 2nd set 6-2. There's no one left in the stands, no one here. I may not make it, either. Go, Frances!

Did he look too good or what?