Mutua Madrid Open, Madrid, Spain, ATP Masters 1000

[Fiero425]

Safin was before my time so I can’t compare him to AZ who reminds me of Djoke. He’ll get to number one but not be a favorite, sort of like Djoke who was and will never be as popular as Fedal. AZ can continue winning, but I won’t watch unless he’s playing an opponent I like or dislike. I do think this will be what most casual tennis fans do which should be cause for grave concern among the atp heads. When Fedal retires, viewership will drop dramatically unless there’s a player who is entertaining to watch.

I've already blogged about Safin being one of the most gifted and talented players ever! Too bad his brain was left in his bags at times! He had every shot in the book with power and touch! His greatest wins were against #1 players at the time and defeating them for a major; Sampras to win USO final and recovered to beat Federer in AO SF he ultimately won over Hewitt! in the final! :whistle:

 

[Moxie]

Looks like the clay sweep still belongs to Muster. If even Wafa can't break it then it will never be broken.

Like @10isfan, I'm wondering which clay sweep you're talking about. In 1995 (I looked it up), Muster won something like Mexico City, Estoril, Barcelona, Rome, MC and RG. But in 2010, Nadal won 3 MS 1000s on clay (MC, Madrid, Rome) and RG, also considered a "sweep." Muster was a "clay specialist," I think. He won about 3-4 titles off of clay. What he played on clay leading up to RG in 1995 would be considered suicide in today's game, when top players are aiming to feature on all surfaces. This is why it's hard to compare eras, too. There weren't 3 MS1000s on clay in Muster's era.

 

[britbox]

Safin was before my time so I can’t compare him to AZ who reminds me of Djoke. He’ll get to number one but not be a favorite, sort of like Djoke who was and will never be as popular as Fedal. AZ can continue winning, but I won’t watch unless he’s playing an opponent I like or dislike. I do think this will be what most casual tennis fans do which should be cause for grave concern among the atp heads. When Fedal retires, viewership will drop dramatically unless there’s a player who is entertaining to watch.

I think once you create the vacuum, it will get filled. I'm liking a few of the younger players, but invariably they get short shrift from media and fans who have existed on a Fedal/Djokovic diet. Their time will come. It's the middle generation that has been the weak link IMO.
Take a look at Stefanos, 10s - he's a single hander on the backhand, pretty nice to watch and definitely one to watch out for. He's "flavour of the month" right now, but I think he's a keeper.

 

[monfed]

Like @10isfan, I'm wondering which clay sweep you're talking about. In 1995 (I looked it up), Muster won something like Mexico City, Estoril, Barcelona, Rome, MC and RG. But in 2010, Nadal won 3 MS 1000s on clay (MC, Madrid, Rome) and RG, also considered a "sweep." Muster was a "clay specialist," I think. He won about 3-4 titles off of clay. What he played on clay leading up to RG in 1995 would be considered suicide in today's game, when top players are aiming to feature on all surfaces. This is why it's hard to compare eras, too. There weren't 3 MS1000s on clay in Muster's era.

Yes it's hilarious that dull broke his set streak with a straight sets defeat.

 

[isabelle]

happy for Sasha hope he can have a good RG, a new winner is needed in Paris

 

[Moxie]

Yes it's hilarious that dull broke his set streak with a straight sets defeat.

That's rather a cowardly bait-and-switch answer, rather than own that you're wrong or defend your claim, which 2 posters asked you about.