Mutua Madrid Open 2017 Clay Masters

[britbox]

 

[Haelfix]

Brilliant match by Rafa. He returned as well as I've ever seen him. He was in almost every single Kyrgios service game, and I think Nick has a tendency of tuning out when that happens to him. He also anticipated so many balls, and was really able to drive his backhand.

Generally speaking, Kyrgios lacks fight, so I don't see him winning the FO. You could tell that his shots were good enough, but that he just didn't know how to use them on clay against such an adversary. It reminded me of some of the early Rafa-Novak meetings where Rafa was easily able to outmaneuver his adversary.

Also, it's just a bad idea to push balls, hit week slices and overuse drop shots against Rafa on clay. It just never works out well, for anyone. You simply have to play a physical match from start to finish.

 

[mrzz]

I posted on discuss.tennis that I expected Nadal to outclass Kyrgios on clay. He has very good speed and physical strength, has a monster serve, and can keep his focus on a competitive match, but he simply lacks the tools to succeed on clay, at least as of now. Yes, he can fire a winner if a ball floats too high even from far back, but against a basic good deep shot he simply can do nothing different.

Yes, on grass he will be a threat to anyone, but until then I do not see him going past R3 in any tournament.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I posted on discuss.tennis that I expected Nadal to outclass Kyrgios on clay. He has very good speed and physical strength, has a monster serve, and can keep his focus on a competitive match, but he simply lacks the tools to succeed on clay, at least as of now. Yes, he can fire a winner if a ball floats too high even from far back, but against a basic good deep shot he simply can do nothing different.

Yes, on grass he will be a threat to anyone, but until then I do not see him going past R3 in any tournament.

My sentiments exactly, I don't see Krygios lasting late into the 2nd week of any slam

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Then in that case Kyrgios probably will not become a future world no. 1. But let's give him another year. Federer played his first good clay tournament in 2005 I guess at Roland Garros. He has 23 then. So, let's see what Kyrgios can do in 2018 on clay.

 

[Puppet Master]

Nishikori gives Pushak a walkover. He should straight up retire. What a damn pu$$y...
What the hell is he made of? Not even glass at this point.

To all of you on this forum, if I ever see someone calling him Samurai, we are going to have some issues. Those were noble warriors that lived and died with honour. I don't want to see them disrespected like that.

 

[Puppet Master]

Then in that case Kyrgios probably will not become a future world no. 1. But let's give him another year. Federer played his first good clay tournament in 2005 I guess at Roland Garros. He has 23 then. So, let's see what Kyrgios can do in 2018 on clay.

Kyrgios isn't half the player that Federer was, or is, as a matter of fact. If you watched yesterday's spectacle vs Rafa, he landed some very big serves, but they were all neutralised on clay, and by Nadal's good returning. He is talented, but his first strike tennis just won't thrive on clay, no matter what. Same as Zverev. If it wasn't for Nadal, Goffin would have dealt with him. If not for Goffin, Djokovic probably. On clay that is. And this is no surprise, he should focus during the grass season, and try to have a good run there. Quarters at W would be fantastic for him.
I think that he has a very good shot of beating anyone there not named Federer, and even Roger could get a run for his money.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Nishikori gives Pushak a walkover. He should straight up retire. What a damn pu$$y...
What the hell is he made of? Not even glass at this point.

To all of you on this forum, if I ever see someone calling him Samurai, we are going to have some issues. Those were noble warriors that lived and died with honour. I don't want to see them disrespected like that.

kS and I said that about Kei last month, the man is made of glass

"Samurai , he is not" says Yoda

 

[herios]

Well to be fair, I did say that Kyrgios is a darkhorse at Wimby, which I see no reason not to believe, and I did jokingly suggest that he'd bash Rafa off the court, but that was mainly to get Rafalites upset. To be honest, I'm kind of glad to see the pouty toddler get the smackdown. Who actually enjoys seeing Kyrgios win?

Until he makes another deep run in a slam, meaning QF at least, for me Nick is rather a spoiler than a dark horse.
That is exactly what he did in the last two events where he beat Novak. He cannot go all the way to the end due to his inconsistency from one point, game or match to the other.

 

[Kieran]

I'm glad to see some balance finally prevail with regards to Nick's "current form." The boy's unusual, untrustworthy, and a basket case. Day to day form is difficult to gauge with Nicky, let alone extrapolating something that will happen a month from now, based on a single match that happened a month ago.

kS and I said that about Kei last month, the man is made of glass

"Samurai , he is not" says Yoda

I think at this stage the nickname "samurai" is only used ironically. The match I'm most looking forward to is Coric-Thiem, with hopefully Sasha awaiting the victor in the semis...

 

[DarthFed]

Nishikori gives Pushak a walkover. He should straight up retire. What a damn pu$$y...
What the hell is he made of? Not even glass at this point.

To all of you on this forum, if I ever see someone calling him Samurai, we are going to have some issues. Those were noble warriors that lived and died with honour. I don't want to see them disrespected like that.

Pushak, lol. I hope he gives an 8th straight beatdown to Twa*dal tomorrow but I'm not counting on it. It is going to take awhile for Nole to return to form, maybe Rafa will have run for the hills by then.

 

[Moxie]

Nishikori withdraws with wrist pain. Djokovic into the SFs.

 

[Ricardo]

Nadal giving Kyrgios a clinic... nothing different from what I expected, Kyrgios baseline game is too limited.

I think you've grossly underestimated Kyrgios baseline prowess. If you look at his past matches against the very best baseliners, Djoker, Fed and others, he's got to be pretty decent as stats show that he's got a good winning % in the rallies, so he can't be too shabby.

I know he doesn't look right somehow the way he strikes the ball, it's seemingly not technically 'correct' or sound like all the great ball strikers, nothing like Novak or Zverev, or smooth like Federer, but pretty amazing shots come from his weird forms and thats all that matters.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I'm glad to see some balance finally prevail with regards to Nick's "current form." The boy's unusual, untrustworthy, and a basket case. Day to day form is difficult to gauge with Nicky, let alone extrapolating something that will happen a month from now, based on a single match that happened a month ago.

kS and I said that about Kei last month, the man is made of glass

"Samurai , he is not" says Yoda

I think at this stage the nickname "samurai" is only used ironically. The match I'm most looking forward to is Coric-Thiem, with hopefully Sasha awaiting the victor in the semis...

Cuevas may have made the tennis shot of the year and retaken the momentum of this match

 

[britbox]

Zverev into a third with Cuevas... Just won his first game to arrest a slump after getting handed a second set bagel. 1-1 in the decider.

 

[kskate2]

I'm glad to see some balance finally prevail with regards to Nick's "current form." The boy's unusual, untrustworthy, and a basket case. Day to day form is difficult to gauge with Nicky, let alone extrapolating something that will happen a month from now, based on a single match that happened a month ago.

kS and I said that about Kei last month, the man is made of glass

"Samurai , he is not" says Yoda

I think at this stage the nickname "samurai" is only used ironically. The match I'm most looking forward to is Coric-Thiem, with hopefully Sasha awaiting the victor in the semis...

Perhaps we should call him Glassikori :laydownlaughing

 

[the AntiPusher]

I'm glad to see some balance finally prevail with regards to Nick's "current form." The boy's unusual, untrustworthy, and a basket case. Day to day form is difficult to gauge with Nicky, let alone extrapolating something that will happen a month from now, based on a single match that happened a month ago.

kS and I said that about Kei last month, the man is made of glass

"Samurai , he is not" says Yoda

I think at this stage the nickname "samurai" is only used ironically. The match I'm most looking forward to is Coric-Thiem, with hopefully Sasha awaiting the victor in the semis...

Perhaps we should call him Glassikori :laydownlaughing

I thought you and I agreed it would be geisha girl :snicker

 

[mrzz]

If you look at his past matches against the very best baseliners, Djoker, Fed and others, he's got to be pretty decent as stats show that he's got a good winning % in the rallies, so he can't be too shabby.

In fact I watched the last match against Federer, watched his match against Goffin, and against Nadal yesterday. Against Djokovic I only watched the highlights.

We could check the stats, but if he does not get the upper hand after the serve, he is in trouble. Against Federer in Miami, he broke Federer on one game, out of three or four UFE's, and besides that he would rarely even get to 30. The rallies he still wins are mostly due to the opponents UFE. Against Goffin it was basically the same. His stats as a receiver are very poor (for a top 20).

I am not getting in "forum mode" and going straight to the hyperbole -- saying his ground strokes are sh!t -- but they are weak for a top 20, and at best average for a top 50.

In fact this is even obvious. His serve is far above average (even for the top 10), he is fast and tall, he keeps the hammer down on big points. If he still had a good base line game, he would be #1, not #16.

 

[herios]

Sasha's run is over

 

[the AntiPusher]

Then in that case Kyrgios probably will not become a future world no. 1. But let's give him another year. Federer played his first good clay tournament in 2005 I guess at Roland Garros. He has 23 then. So, let's see what Kyrgios can do in 2018 on clay.

Kyrgios isn't half the player that Federer was, or is, as a matter of fact. If you watched yesterday's spectacle vs Rafa, he landed some very big serves, but they were all neutralised on clay, and by Nadal's good returning. He is talented, but his first strike tennis just won't thrive on clay, no matter what. Same as Zverev. If it wasn't for Nadal, Goffin would have dealt with him. If not for Goffin, Djokovic probably. On clay that is. And this is no surprise, he should focus during the grass season, and try to have a good run there. Quarters at W would be fantastic for him.
I think that he has a very good shot of beating anyone there not named Federer, and even Roger could get a run for his money.

in fairness to Krygios, some people have a tendency to get tennis talent mixed with tennis abilities which includes competing and mentality