Roland Garros Day 3: Tuesday, May 27 - Order of Play

[brokenshoelace]

In any event, I'm not too worried. Rather happy that Novak get's to close the gap on the h2h once more if Novak makes the final.

To use the quote you once used on Kieran: "That sounded too confident to be believable."

 

[brokenshoelace]

Looks like there is no one left in Rafa's side of the draw that can remotely challenge him until the semis and even there, it is Murray, or whomever that can get there.

I am not seeing this as a positive by the way. He will cruise through easy matches and next thing you know, you have Nole on the other side of the net and you have not played anybody remotely close to THAT level.

We'll see how this plays out.

I don't think that will be a problem for Rafa. Getting through with confidence and improving his serve will be more important.

That's the problem, Nadal will not feel the need to go after his serve against these guys. He never does.

 

[Moxie]

Looks like there is no one left in Rafa's side of the draw that can remotely challenge him until the semis and even there, it is Murray, or whomever that can get there.

I am not seeing this as a positive by the way. He will cruise through easy matches and next thing you know, you have Nole on the other side of the net and you have not played anybody remotely close to THAT level.

We'll see how this plays out.

I don't think that will be a problem for Rafa. Getting through with confidence and improving his serve will be more important.

That's the problem, Nadal will not feel the need to go after his serve against these guys. He never does.

You don't think he'll be working on the things he needs to get Djokovic, if he has a chance? (I ask that sincerely.) We've seen it before. He's got to know his serve needs work. You really think he'll just play it safe and then hope a better level appears when he needs it?

 

[brokenshoelace]

Looks like there is no one left in Rafa's side of the draw that can remotely challenge him until the semis and even there, it is Murray, or whomever that can get there.

I am not seeing this as a positive by the way. He will cruise through easy matches and next thing you know, you have Nole on the other side of the net and you have not played anybody remotely close to THAT level.

We'll see how this plays out.

I don't think that will be a problem for Rafa. Getting through with confidence and improving his serve will be more important.

That's the problem, Nadal will not feel the need to go after his serve against these guys. He never does.

You don't think he'll be working on the things he needs to get Djokovic, if he has a chance? (I ask that sincerely.) We've seen it before. He's got to know his serve needs work. You really think he'll just play it safe and then hope a better level appears when he needs it?

I think Nadal will work to improve his game in general as the week goes on, in an effort to get it to the necessary level. I don't think he'll work on anything specific with a particular match-up in mind (I've literally never seen him do that, even when Djokovic was owning him in 2011). That should, in theory, include the serve. The only problem is I genuinely have seen zero improvement in Nadal's serve since the AO. He's not going for more, he's not going for better direction, etc... so I really don't think we'll be seeing much of that during this week. Confidence is a strange thing, especially with Nadal.

My honest expectation is, Nadal looks OK but not particularly special in the first week (with some good moments here and there), but actually takes it up a notch in the second when he plays Ferrer. One thing I do not expect to improve significantly however, is the serve.

 

[brokenshoelace]

To elaborate on two things, in order not to get misinterpreted:

When I say "I don't think he'll work on anything specific with a particular match-up in mind" I don't mean that he won't be working on that in practice, or work on specific gameplans to deal with Djokovic. I mean we won't be seeing him trying out different things in actual matches against other opponents, in order to "test" them for when he faces Djokovic later. That's what I've never seen Nadal do (and it's not a knock on him or anything. Just an observation).

As far as the serve goes, it's pretty much the only streaky aspect of Nadal's game. It comes and goes. Right now, it's not coming. When it comes, it tends to stay for a few tournaments (we saw this starting Wimbledon in 2010, or during last summer's NA hard court season), but when it goes, it disappears for a while, and we're seeing that now.

 

[Moxie]

I don't think that will be a problem for Rafa. Getting through with confidence and improving his serve will be more important.

That's the problem, Nadal will not feel the need to go after his serve against these guys. He never does.

You don't think he'll be working on the things he needs to get Djokovic, if he has a chance? (I ask that sincerely.) We've seen it before. He's got to know his serve needs work. You really think he'll just play it safe and then hope a better level appears when he needs it?

I think Nadal will work to improve his game in general as the week goes on, in an effort to get it to the necessary level. I don't think he'll work on anything specific with a particular match-up in mind (I've literally never seen him do that, even when Djokovic was owning him in 2011). That should, in theory, include the serve. The only problem is I genuinely have seen zero improvement in Nadal's serve since the AO. He's not going for more, he's not going for better direction, etc... so I really don't think we'll be seeing much of that during this week. Confidence is a strange thing, especially with Nadal.

My honest expectation is, Nadal looks OK but not particularly special in the first week (with some good moments here and there), but actually takes it up a notch in the second when he plays Ferrer. One thing I do not expect to improve significantly however, is the serve.

In 2011, no, but I would have said I thought he was in 2012, (going to other players' BHs more, for example,) and working on his aggressive stance, but you could call those general adjustments, too. Anyway, I trust your judgement. And I agree that confidence is a mystery, esp. with Nadal, and it's very related to his serve. I don't really understand how it comes and goes with him. You're probably right that things will pick up when he plays Ferrer (which will likely happen,) and Murray, if it does. He played much better in Rome v. Murray than he had all week. Playing better opponents has helped him flip the motivation switch in the past. (Soderling in the QF in 2011 is an example. He rose to that occasion and didn't look back.)

 

[Luxilon Borg]

What massively disappointing efforts and results from Grigor, Hewitt,Haas (please guys, let's call it a day), Tomic...ughhhh

Giraldo...pretty lame result.

 

[rafanoy1992]

By the way, one thing I want to see in this tournament is to have Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, and Murray reach the semifinals. Having these four guys in the semifinals will be amazing even if they are not playing at their absolute best right now.

 

[Moxie]

What massively disappointing efforts and results from Grigor, Hewitt,Haas (please guys, let's call it a day), Tomic...ughhhh

Giraldo...pretty lame result.

Dimitrov played a very fine Karlovic, I must say. And when you're playing that serve, and he's also moving around the court, that's a tough ask. Dimitrov, however had one game plan, which was to stand in on the serve. When it wasn't working, he didn't change it. That was dumb. Haas was hurt, and Hewitt was playing a guy that he probably wasn't going to beat on clay. Some props to the guys that beat Hewitt and Dimitrov, I say. Giraldo I didn't see, but I had him to go deeper.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

What massively disappointing efforts and results from Grigor, Hewitt,Haas (please guys, let's call it a day), Tomic...ughhhh

Giraldo...pretty lame result.

Dimitrov played a very fine Karlovic, I must say. And when you're playing that serve, and he's also moving around the court, that's a tough ask. Dimitrov, however had one game plan, which was to stand in on the serve. When it wasn't working, he didn't change it. That was dumb. Haas was hurt, and Hewitt was playing a guy that he probably wasn't going to beat on clay. Some props to the guys that beat Hewitt and Dimitrov, I say. Giraldo I didn't see, but I had him to go deeper.

True, ivo played well, but considering, a lousy result for Grigor. Really lousy.

Let's hear it for Marinko!!!! First slam match win!

Fernando won, against a,lame Llorda.

Haas injury saga is really getting old...

Hewitt is delusional. It's over.

 

[Moxie]

What massively disappointing efforts and results from Grigor, Hewitt,Haas (please guys, let's call it a day), Tomic...ughhhh

Giraldo...pretty lame result.

Dimitrov played a very fine Karlovic, I must say. And when you're playing that serve, and he's also moving around the court, that's a tough ask. Dimitrov, however had one game plan, which was to stand in on the serve. When it wasn't working, he didn't change it. That was dumb. Haas was hurt, and Hewitt was playing a guy that he probably wasn't going to beat on clay. Some props to the guys that beat Hewitt and Dimitrov, I say. Giraldo I didn't see, but I had him to go deeper.

True, ivo played well, but considering, a lousy result for Grigor. Really lousy.

Let's hear it for Marinko!!!! First slam match win!

Fernando won, against a,lame Llorda.

Haas injury saga is really getting old...

Hewitt is delusional. It's over.

I do agree on Dimitrov. If he's going to make waves, he has to be bolder. As I said, Karlovic is a tough first round, and even still, he played very well. But he's 35, and not a lot more than a big serve, even on a good day, like today. Best of 5, Dimi! Grigor continues to disappoint.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Luxilon's anti-Hewitt agenda is hilarious. The man is old and completely hampered with injuries. He pretty much still competes because of his love for the game. What's wrong with that? You say he's delusional...did you actually hear him express his desire to win a slam? Or say he can still compete at the highest level?

 

[Moxie]

Luxilon's anti-Hewitt agenda is hilarious. The man is old and completely hampered with injuries. He pretty much still competes because of his love for the game. What's wrong with that? You say he's delusional...did you actually hear him express his desire to win a slam? Or say he can still compete at the highest level?

"Anti-Hewitt Agenda" seems as hyperbolic as Luxilon's notion that Hewitt is "delusional." I've been expecting Hewitt to retire for about 4 years now. That he still enjoys it enough to drag his family around the globe surprises me, but not nearly as much as when he still gets a few quality wins. If it still blows his skirt up, well, more power to him. However, I can understand why Luxilon Borg wonders why he's still around.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Luxilon's anti-Hewitt agenda is hilarious. The man is old and completely hampered with injuries. He pretty much still competes because of his love for the game. What's wrong with that? You say he's delusional...did you actually hear him express his desire to win a slam? Or say he can still compete at the highest level?

"Anti-Hewitt Agenda" seems as hyperbolic as Luxilon's notion that Hewitt is "delusional." I've been expecting Hewitt to retire for about 4 years now. That he still enjoys it enough to drag his family around the globe surprises me, but not nearly as much as when he still gets a few quality wins. If it still blows his skirt up, well, more power to him. However, I can understand why Luxilon Borg wonders why he's still around.

Sigh. No it's not hyperbolic since he's been harping about him for a long time now, and I personally have engaged in long debates with him over that. You don't need to play mediator on everything, nor be politically correct.

It's foolish to wonder why Hewitt is still around since nobody actually knows the details of his personal life, and using the term "dragging his family around the globe" makes it sound like Mrs. Hewitt herself has complained about this in public, which to my knowledge, she hasn't. Therefore, given that we have no reason to think his family isn't fully supportive of this (and maybe even enjoying this), I find this notion a bit forced (which is quite in line with the needless defense of Luxilon )

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Luxilon's anti-Hewitt agenda is hilarious. The man is old and completely hampered with injuries. He pretty much still competes because of his love for the game. What's wrong with that? You say he's delusional...did you actually hear him express his desire to win a slam? Or say he can still compete at the highest level?

Uh, yeh I did smart man. I read every interview he did after Brisbane.

http://fansided.com/2014/01/05/lleyton-hewitt-confident-chances-australian-open/#!

"If I play like I did this week I have a chance of doing damage to some serious players. It just gives me a lot more confidence going out there believing in how well I’m hitting the ball at the moment and that I can match-up with the best guys. Obviously it’s a different stage, winning three (sets) out of five against those guys (but) that’s why I still play the game (Reuters)."

Case closed.

I have every right to hope he retires...actually you know what...nah...I really enjoy watching him lose.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Luxilon's anti-Hewitt agenda is hilarious. The man is old and completely hampered with injuries. He pretty much still competes because of his love for the game. What's wrong with that? You say he's delusional...did you actually hear him express his desire to win a slam? Or say he can still compete at the highest level?

Uh, yeh I did smart man. I read every interview he did after Brisbane.

http://fansided.com/2014/01/05/lleyton-hewitt-confident-chances-australian-open/#!

"If I play like I did this week I have a chance of doing damage to some serious players. It just gives me a lot more confidence going out there believing in how well I’m hitting the ball at the moment and that I can match-up with the best guys. Obviously it’s a different stage, winning three (sets) out of five against those guys (but) that’s why I still play the game (Reuters)."

I have every right to hope he retires...actually you know what...nah...I really enjoy watching him lose.

So that quote makes him delusional? Let's review the facts:

He had JUST beaten a top player in Federer, and won a championship. And he said if he plays like that again, he can beat top players... Uh, I don't know about you, but this sounds logical. In case you haven't noticed, he didn't say "I'm going to play like this week in and week out." In fact, he pretty much acknowledged the difficulty of doing this in a slam due to the five set format. He just said he's going to go out there and play with belief, which is actually the attitude you should approach a tennis match with. But of course this makes too much sense for you.

Please, if you're going to sarcastically call me "smart man" make sure you don't sound like a complete moron in the process. Thanks. Perhaps you should have let Moxie fight your battles for you. She was making you look good for a second

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Luxilon's anti-Hewitt agenda is hilarious. The man is old and completely hampered with injuries. He pretty much still competes because of his love for the game. What's wrong with that? You say he's delusional...did you actually hear him express his desire to win a slam? Or say he can still compete at the highest level?

Uh, yeh I did smart man. I read every interview he did after Brisbane.

http://fansided.com/2014/01/05/lleyton-hewitt-confident-chances-australian-open/#!

"If I play like I did this week I have a chance of doing damage to some serious players. It just gives me a lot more confidence going out there believing in how well I’m hitting the ball at the moment and that I can match-up with the best guys. Obviously it’s a different stage, winning three (sets) out of five against those guys (but) that’s why I still play the game (Reuters)."

I have every right to hope he retires...actually you know what...nah...I really enjoy watching him lose.

So that quote makes him delusional? Let's review the facts:

He had JUST beaten a top player in Federer, and won a championship. And he said if he plays like that again, he can beat top players... Uh, I don't know about you, but this sounds logical. In case you haven't noticed, he didn't say "I'm going to play like this week in and week out." In fact, he pretty much acknowledged the difficulty of doing this in a slam due to the five set format. He just said he's going to go out there and play with belief, which is actually the attitude you should approach a tennis match with. But of course this makes too much sense for you.

Please, if you're going to sarcastically call me "smart man" make sure you don't sound like a complete moron in the process. Thanks. Perhaps you should have let Moxie fight your battles for you. She was making you look good for a second

Lol. The Drama King returns. All worked up.:blush::lolz:

He has laid out the same spiel for 3 straight years. He gave a dozen more interviews with even stronger language, I won't bother to link, don't have that kind of time to waste on you.

I never asked Mox to fight my "battles"...lol...leave the lawyering behind..not everything is a battle.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

What massively disappointing efforts and results from Grigor, Hewitt,Haas (please guys, let's call it a day), Tomic...ughhhh

Giraldo...pretty lame result.

Dimitrov played a very fine Karlovic, I must say. And when you're playing that serve, and he's also moving around the court, that's a tough ask. Dimitrov, however had one game plan, which was to stand in on the serve. When it wasn't working, he didn't change it. That was dumb. Haas was hurt, and Hewitt was playing a guy that he probably wasn't going to beat on clay. Some props to the guys that beat Hewitt and Dimitrov, I say. Giraldo I didn't see, but I had him to go deeper.

True, ivo played well, but considering, a lousy result for Grigor. Really lousy.

Let's hear it for Marinko!!!! First slam match win!

Fernando won, against a,lame Llorda.

Haas injury saga is really getting old...

Hewitt is delusional. It's over.

I do agree on Dimitrov. If he's going to make waves, he has to be bolder. As I said, Karlovic is a tough first round, and even still, he played very well. But he's 35, and not a lot more than a big serve, even on a good day, like today. Best of 5, Dimi! Grigor continues to disappoint.

Agree about slam showings...although Australia was a good one with a vicious battle with Nadal that had him knocking at the door.

I just find it puzzling since he beat ivo two weeks ago.

Terrible tactics today.

 

[Moxie]

^ I hadn't noticed that you and LB were engaged in a debate on that. Forgive me for making an opinion. When I say he's "dragging his family around the globe," I make no assumptions about his wife, or his life. Don't take my phrasing too much to heart. One does wonder, however, and even with Federer, how long the peripatetic life of a tennis player can suit a large-ish family. I simply wonder, as do plenty of folks, how long the various things that push and pull at Hewitt (family, his body, his results,) will keep him in the hunt in tennis.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Luxilon's anti-Hewitt agenda is hilarious. The man is old and completely hampered with injuries. He pretty much still competes because of his love for the game. What's wrong with that? You say he's delusional...did you actually hear him express his desire to win a slam? Or say he can still compete at the highest level?

Uh, yeh I did smart man. I read every interview he did after Brisbane.

http://fansided.com/2014/01/05/lleyton-hewitt-confident-chances-australian-open/#!

"If I play like I did this week I have a chance of doing damage to some serious players. It just gives me a lot more confidence going out there believing in how well I’m hitting the ball at the moment and that I can match-up with the best guys. Obviously it’s a different stage, winning three (sets) out of five against those guys (but) that’s why I still play the game (Reuters)."

I have every right to hope he retires...actually you know what...nah...I really enjoy watching him lose.

So that quote makes him delusional? Let's review the facts:

He had JUST beaten a top player in Federer, and won a championship. And he said if he plays like that again, he can beat top players... Uh, I don't know about you, but this sounds logical. In case you haven't noticed, he didn't say "I'm going to play like this week in and week out." In fact, he pretty much acknowledged the difficulty of doing this in a slam due to the five set format. He just said he's going to go out there and play with belief, which is actually the attitude you should approach a tennis match with. But of course this makes too much sense for you.

Please, if you're going to sarcastically call me "smart man" make sure you don't sound like a complete moron in the process. Thanks. Perhaps you should have let Moxie fight your battles for you. She was making you look good for a second

Lol. The Drama King returns. All worked up.:blush::lolz:

He has laid out the same spiel for 3 straight years. He gave a dozen more interviews with even stronger language, I won't bother to link, don't have that kind of time to waste on you.

I never asked Mox to fight my "battles"...lol...leave the lawyering behind..not everything is a battle.

I think the fact that she felt the need to intervene on your behalf says a lot about the quality of your argumentation...or lack thereof.

Until you can show me any quote that makes Hewitt sound delusional, you're absolutely wrong. There's nothing delusional about what he said in the above quote since guess what...he had just beaten a top player. Which is pretty much the opposite of delusion.

Anyway, given your previous level of expertise regarding Hewitt ("he's stupid for asking for faster courts" even though his best results have come on faster surfaces), let's just say you're not the best equipped person to talk about him.