Miami Open, FL, USA, ATP Masters 1000

[EdbergsGhost]

I don't want this to seem like I'm knocking ND but what does it say about the standard and the future of men's tennis when a mainly defensive baseliner with limited skill, but is great athlete and mentally strong competitor, can actually reach number 1 and wins just about every tournament he competes at. In nearly 40 years I been watching tennis, I don't think I ever seen the tennis standard as low as this , seriously folks.

Before Nadal stepped up, Roger played the players in front of him. To this day fans of Sampras contend that was the lowest standard they'd ever seen. It is rather sad that the same things are now being said of the Djoker's competition. Someone will step up before too long. Every great champion goes through a season of seeming invincibility, and every other player seems mediocre by comparison.

 

[EdbergsGhost]

Does anyone understand, why the crowd was rude to Novak in the match against Thiem, while they cheered for him in all the other matches in Miami?

The only thing that crosses my mind is that in ihe match against Thiem there was possibly a large group of Austrians and then some of the rest started cheering against No1e with them.

I doubt very much that a contingent of Austrians was to blame. I believe it was the young guy who plays some flashy tennis and shows real grit, that won the audience over. Americans always like to root for the underdog, and Thiem is someone worth cheering for.

 

[Moxie]

I doubt very much that a contingent of Austrians was to blame. I believe it was the young guy who plays some flashy tennis and shows real grit, that won the audience over. Americans always like to root for the underdog, and Thiem is someone worth cheering for.

It wasn't Austrians, and the crowd wasn't rude. The tennis was exciting, and they wanted more. I don't think it's just Americans...when the underdog is pressing the favorite, the crowd wants to see more of it. In the end, they want the big dog to win, though.

 

[Vince Evert]

ND the biggest snore fest in tennis since Jim Courier.

 

[Mastoor]

Every No1e's opponent was also underdog and some of them are also still young. The crowd was rude because how would you call that they booed No1e when he asked for challenge, not to mention he was right.

 

[Vince Evert]

Got the trainer working on his knee. You're right, though, Billie. And of course it's in part the opponent, but his serve was great yesterday, and not nearly so many UFEs.

A second rate ND is Mr. Nishikori. Basically reacts to whatever the opponent does and with no obvious weapons in his game.

 

[Vince Evert]

Before Nadal stepped up, Roger played the players in front of him. To this day fans of Sampras contend that was the lowest standard they'd ever seen. It is rather sad that the same things are now being said of the Djoker's competition. Someone will step up before too long. Every great champion goes through a season of seeming invincibility, and every other player seems mediocre by comparison.

It's nice to think that way EdbergsGhost but we ("we" meaning you and others who share your view) might be kidding ourselves. There's been too many competitors who have been hyped up by the press, their fans and tennis commentators, over the last 8 seasons only to find that their level of tennis has fallen away.
Not 'sad' but that's the reality.

 

[Moxie]

Every No1e's opponent was also underdog and some of them are also still young. The crowd was rude because how would you call that they booed No1e when he asked for challenge, not to mention he was right.

OK, I did see that. You believe that Novak isn't loved enough. He's won Miami 6 times. Well, Rafa has won RG 9 times, and they can be awfully rude to him there. What do we take from that? That there is a crowd mentality? That it can be partizan? What can you say? They pay for their tickets, and they cheer as they will. EG says that Americans tend to root for underdogs. I think all crowds will, if the undercard is playing well. They just want more tennis, when it's exciting. I wouldn't take it too personally, vis-a-vis Djokovic and Miami.

 

[Vince Evert]

Every No1e's opponent was also underdog and some of them are also still young. The crowd was rude because how would you call that they booed No1e when he asked for challenge, not to mention he was right.

It's not 'rude' mate. Basically the crowds want to see more competition by ND's opponents. After all the crowds pay good money to see competitive high quality tennis. If i were a spectator I would be pissed off big time.

 

[Carol]

My goodness, it's a pleasure to read comments on this blog instead the ones at the Tennis.com, how many insults all around there. I don't understand why if the fav of some posters wins why those ones like so much to be merciless with the others players, they should to be happy and just enjoying with the win. I've read the most crazy things like "could be this the era of the Big one and the three stooges?" and that has been maybe very kind compering with others posts which if someone has different opinion then they call him "troll" "hater" and a bunch of bad things without any respect. I think saying with logic, education and knowledge everybody has the right to say what they think about the game and results and nobody has the obligation to like the same player or to see everything the same way it would be very boring, isn't? too much sadism, bad very bad. I'd like what they say if the things change which could be possible

 

[Mastoor]

OK, I did see that. You believe that Novak isn't loved enough. He's won Miami 6 times. Well, Rafa has won RG 9 times, and they can be awfully rude to him there. What do we take from that? That there is a crowd mentality? That it can be partizan? What can you say? They pay for their tickets, and they cheer as they will. EG says that Americans tend to root for underdogs. I think all crowds will, if the undercard is playing well. They just want more tennis, when it's exciting. I wouldn't take it too personally, vis-a-vis Djokovic and Miami.

Moxie, it must be that we know each other for 7 years on the internet and yet you didn't figure out that most of time I mean EXACTLY that what I say. And above I asked that I wonder why they were rude to No1e in the match against Thiem while the crowd cheered for Novak in all the other matches in the tournament.

As for Rafa and FO, didn't he get booed against Mathieu when he went to drink water in the middle of PHM's first service and it was around million years ago. I don't remember any rudeness after that.

 

[Mastoor]

It's not 'rude' mate. Basically the crowds want to see more competition by ND's opponents. After all the crowds pay good money to see competitive high quality tennis. If i were a spectator I would be pissed off big time.

Well, he must be the only player to whom it was booed for challenging a bad call, i don't know what is that if not rude.

 

[Carol]

Miami same like NY there are people of different nationalities and depending from where they are always are cheering for their "boys". Sometimes you can see more French people or S. Americans, or Serbians and I can tell you that all of them are yelling a lot but sometimes ones makes more noise than others. Usually the Frenchs make more noise and also the Serbians, I was in the crowd every year and I know what I'm talking about. I was a couple of times in the USO and at night there are a lot of drunk people and you can hear anything and not too nice...

 

[EdbergsGhost]

ND the biggest snore fest in tennis since Jim Courier.

I guess for the next few years, you won't have to worry about insomnia.

 

[Moxie]

Moxie, it must be that we know each other for 7 years on the internet and yet you didn't figure out that most of time I mean EXACTLY that what I say. And above I asked that I wonder why they were rude to No1e in the match against Thiem while the crowd cheered for Novak in all the other matches in the tournament.

As for Rafa and FO, didn't he get booed against Mathieu when he went to drink water in the middle of PHM's first service and it was around million years ago. I don't remember any rudeness after that.

I didn't say that you don't mean exactly what you say. I said that the crowd was looking for more of an entertaining match. That's not hard to understand. Root for the underdog in the 2nd, pull for the favorite in the 3rd. That's not uncommon.

If you don't think that Rafa has been under-appreciated at RG, I don't really know how to explain it to you. They not only pushed for Soderling in 2009, they saw Rafa off the court rather harshly, after 4 straight wins at RG. He was not their champion. I could make other examples, but that says enough. I'd be surprised if you don't remember that.

 

[EdbergsGhost]

There's been too many competitors who have been hyped up by the press, their fans and tennis commentators, over the last 8 seasons only to find that their level of tennis has fallen away.

How is that different from any other sport? Federer is the best of all time, he plays smarter now, uses every trick he's acquired over the years, but his speed and consistency is not near what it was.

 

[Carol]

Well, he must be the only player to whom it was booed for challenging a bad call, i don't know what is that if not rude.

Mastoor, many players has been booed for challenging a bad call, Ferderer included but I don't think it can affect them too much to win or to lose.
Enjoy the win of your fav!

 

[Moxie]

How is that different from any other sport? Federer is the best of all time, he plays smarter now, uses every trick he's acquired over the years, but his speed and consistency is not near what it was.

Plus, Djokovic's level hasn't "fallen away." And he's not really over-hyped by the press. (OK, a tad.) He's head-and-shoulders above the field, at the moment. This will change at some point, but not in the near future.

 

[Vince Evert]

I guess for the next few years, you won't have to worry about insomnia.

Good one. Plus I couldn't be bothered to watch the grind fest tennis of today.

 

[Vince Evert]

How is that different from any other sport? Federer is the best of all time, he plays smarter now, uses every trick he's acquired over the years, but his speed and consistency is not near what it

Yes even Roger (and I'm a fan of his) when he was in his prime, was ridiculously over-hyped by the press and by other RF fans. It used to make me cringe in those days.