Monfils Uses Emotional Adrenaline To Slay Kei in Montreal

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catherine writes:

I think Sloane S is so funny - I've started to count the 'likes' in her press chat. As in: I'm here and I'm fresh as a daisy and the others are 'like, huffing and puffing' ( why ? They had a good break after W'don to attend each others' weddings etc)and then she quickly backtracks in case the WTA is listening and she gets accused of 'negativity' about the circuit and says her colleagues are all 'happy' - like, of course. And, like, Sloane I really hate that green dress you've been wearing - a parachute would be more flattering Scoop - Bouchard, star power ? Not outside North America. You've got to bring more to the table.

 

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Hartt writes:

But, Catherine, surely you are aware that North America is the centre of the universe?

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Like Pops. He is like Krajicek with a two hander.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Scoop, Tommy Paul - he's quite something. Much as Fritz hits stuffing put of Penn and Wilson balls, Tommy Paul showed some very advanced strategy. I've been thinking for some time that Fritz is the set up guy in next Gen American players. He opened the door for his peers. He's looking a lot like Krickstein - opened the door and Chang, etc ready to blow down the house.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

But still, best young players, obvious. Zverev Alex. Coric. Khachanov. Rublev. Chung. Medvedev, and now, perhaps better than all of them combined, Shapovalov! They have the high rankings and versatile games and mental toughness and experience. All USA players on the men's side are below them whether in terms of rankings or skills. And when USA next genners beat Johnson, it doesn't mean much because that's more of a match up issue for Johnson. I'd put an asterisk next to Tommy Paul though. I'd thought Escobedo was showing the chops to take out veterans. But Paul went a step further and actually had top ten players gasping for breath. It's one thing to show promise. Yet another thing to actually put top players on the run.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Anticipating Dan's take here, No, next Gen USA men aren't like the generation of Krickstein and Chang. That's false. They are right now looking more like capable understudies for the group immediately ahead of them - Isner, Querrey, Sock, Johnson, etc. They'd have to prove themselves and take out those guys - as in an actual power grab - to show that they are for real. Frankly - and this is very obvious - Keys and Stephens and McHale and Riske etc are way better than their USA men's counterparts in terms of their accomplishments on the wta tour. They don't get the press but they are better on the whole. But the USA men have done an excellent job of raising their level of play. I've said it before, we're at a way way better point than the crash and burn of USA men's tennis in February 2014, when Isner looked around and had no help, and when Hewitt looked at Brad Klahn and said, big serve, flashy forehand, weak backhand...yeah, easy match here in Delray against the #2 USA man. If only he knew...Klahn had fought so hard to get to the ATP tour and had a miraculous run to the #68 spot in the world. And slid down fast as he headed back to the challengers and met the likes of Kyrgios, ready to begin his own run up to the top fifty.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

In other words: Win titles and show you are for real. It's not enough to have a swell game. Players need to win singles and dubs titles to show they can do it. Win tough matches. Win even when their serve or forehand is off.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Bouchard doesn't fetch headlines in the UK tabloids? I guess they prioritize Konta etc. UK must be embarrassed, they've had some excellent junior players that should spell success on the wta tour. But for the most part those players have rotten luck on the tour. I'm not on the Watson bandwagon. Robson is disappointing and her highlight has been a media feud with Bouchard that's old news. Konta's an Aussie under the British flag, a hint of Rusedski in her allegiance. British women...the new British men.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Like Broady, but her game hasn't caught fire. Tall, strong, unusual in her strategy but uneven, inconsistent.

 

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catherine writes:

Andrew - no one here would know who Bouchard was, seriously. And the tabloids wouldn't sniff unless there's a REAL scandal. Kontas's a plastic Brit. And we're supposed to pronounce Johanna the Hungarian way which doesn't trip naturally off our tongues. She might as well change now to Joanna. Mind you, I'm not sure what Konta's situation will be post-Brexit. Will certainly affect others seeking to fly the Union Jack of convenience.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Konta strikes me as a soup to nuts Aussie (sorry world, but Lisicki and Kerber, poles as they are, seem completely German as players. Much as the Zverev boys don't come across as ruble-betting or chess playing, fun loving, press happy and un PC Russians!).

 

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Chazz writes:

Eubanks is in the Cincy qualies against Fratangelo. Let's see if Atlanta was just hometown brilliance or whether he is a force for the future. My guess is the latter.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Sorry for the stereotypes. Just that the Zverevs on court don't seem so Russian, and Konta doesn't seem very British, and the German girls speak polish but don't seem polish in other ways. Guess what I'm saying is Konta cant erase her Australian upbringing and the Zverev's aren't from Russia and nor are the talented German raised girls whose parents are polish. Much as Agassi isn't his Iranian dad, and Sampras wasn't his Greek father. They are themselves.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Fratangelo better man up! I'd guess Eubanks is a little rusty with a few weeks off, and this is a must win for Fratangelo.

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Catherine, I'd assume everyone in the UK knows Murray and calls him a Scot but claim him when necessary, and otherwise tennis takes a backseat to football every day of the week except the final weekend of Wimbledon, when the tabloids are running overtime. You know best.

 

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Chazz writes:

A couple things about Fritz-Sandgren last night. Sandgren had several break points but Fritz was clutch when he needed to be. His big serves helped in those situations. Also, Fritz might not have the best movement side to side (though he's not as robotic as some) but his long arms bail him out and he's able to use his reach to get to difficult balls. Sandgren is a solid player across the board but probably doesn't have any lethal weapons.

 

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catherine writes:

Andrew - Murray's a divisive figure but when he wins W'don, yes, he's British, which includes Scotland for the time being. Football, and cricket in the summer if there's a major international tour, are the only sports. Tabloids really prefer football all year round. That's their readership. Guardian, Times, Telegraph do more on tennis. (NP) Agassi's of Armenian descent.Father passed through Iran.Dropped the 'an'. Angie is only half Polish, father I think. German is her first language and she grew up in Bremen. So pretty German, yes. Lisicki I'm not sure. Nationality is a moveable feat. I live in England but I did not grow up here so like many others I feel part of two countries. But Konta I fear will never be totally embraced as a British player. There'll always be that reservation.

 

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catherine writes:

I meant 'moveable feast' obviously

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Chazz, I like Sandgren, plays a pleasant game. Overall solid to my eye. Was Fritz going for his shots and playing with desire, or content to rally? His feet were very lazy last time i watched a few clips, and he was content to rally versus his dial it up debut and his junior record. His backhand, though I don't like it, was deadly, and he enjoyed taking control of points. He began playing like a favorite. Is he improving or has he slid in terms of his effectiveness out there? Is he waiting on shots or showing some hunger for the short ball?

 

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Andrew Miller writes:

Catherine, I guess if Konta wins she's the UK's Mary Pierce, who played under the French flag as a Quebec born half French half USa superstar. All will be forgiven if she wins the us open! That's the case for everyone though. If Halep wins it will prove Cahill knew what he was doing, if Pliskova wins she wont be soft, if Muguruza wins she will be taking over Aranxta's record year by year and show that making fun of your coach in occ if they are male is the best use of occ, etc. All will be forgiven.