Rolex Shanghai Masters 2018, China

[Jelenafan]

Not everyone likes Federer and there are plenty that prefer the other two. I don't think that even needs to be stated. We are talking about 2 majors with 2 people who decide over the surface composition and ball decisions. Let's just say if those Wimbledon and USO directors are Federer fans they are morons...

I just find it sheer speculation without any tangible evidence that the Tournament Directors specifically just want Nadal and Nole to win those Majors, that's all.

 

[Moxie]

Not everyone likes Federer and there are plenty that prefer the other two. I don't think that even needs to be stated. We are talking about 2 majors with 2 people who decide over the surface composition and ball decisions. Let's just say if those Wimbledon and USO directors are Federer fans they are morons...

I didn't say that they're Federer fans, but you have to think that they want Federer to go deep in their tournaments. It hurts ticket sales and ratings when marquee players go out early, or even if they don't make the final. One has to suspect that, whatever they have done to the surfaces over the years is based on a considered notion of what makes the most entertaining tennis. Why would they want anything else?

 

[DarthFed]

I just find it sheer speculation without any tangible evidence that the Tournament Directors specifically just want Nadal and Nole to win those Majors, that's all.

Most things on these boards are speculation, but there are facts; we all know play at those tournaments has slowed down a crazy amount over the years and we all know who that helps and who that hurts.

WHY they've made these changes is all speculation, but the effects of the changes are not. Anyways I try not to bitch about USO too much because Australia sped up the past two years (thank Christ). But Wimbledon is a catastrophe of a tournament now, and thus Roger has been mostly poor there since his late 20's.

 

[Billie]

Nole was magnificent in all the matches in Shanghai. I watched all of them. I liked Shanghai Nolefam who had more Serbian flags than in SC matches in Serbia.

Seems Nole has found a way how to beat opponents quickly without losing too much energy and spending too much time on court.
He looks unbeatable now.

I am looking forward to Nole's next appearance. I am not sure if it will be Vienna or Basel before Paris. Perhaps Vienna would suit him better because both his coaches live around there. In all times, they even had a tram line between Bratislava, where Vajda is from to Vienna.

Nole wasn't broken even once in the whole tournament, that has to be a record for him, no sets lost either. He was really above everybody else. I think we need more courts like the one in Shanghai, so Nole doesn't have to tire himself out in long matches. It also helps his serve be more effective. Fan support was nice as well. The commentators were saying that he is 11:0 in finals in China and somebody mentioned somewhere that he only lost 2 matches out of 37 or so in total played there. On to Paris next. It would be something for him to end up #1 after being ranked in the 20s earlier this year. But even if it doesn't happen, he did amazingly well, especially after the disaster that was IW and Miami.

 

[Mastoor]

Nole wasn't broken even once in the whole tournament, that has to be a record for him, no sets lost either. He was really above everybody else. I think we need more courts like the one in Shanghai, so Nole doesn't have to tire himself out in long matches. It also helps his serve be more effective. Fan support was nice as well. The commentators were saying that he is 11:0 in finals in China and somebody mentioned somewhere that he only lost 2 matches out of 37 or so in total played there. On to Paris next. It would be something for him to end up #1 after being ranked in the 20s earlier this year. But even if it doesn't happen, he did amazingly well, especially after the disaster that was IW and Miami.

I think the fact that Nole's opponents admitted they didn't know what to do against him will make everyone scared.

Nole is on 18 wins streak and he didn't lose a set in last 10 matches, since he lost a tiebreak to Tennys Sandgren.

 

[Jelenafan]

That’s why I laugh when others think he needs to get to 20 Majors for Goat talk, win the next two Majors and get two more back to back Ye #1 and he’s got some serious heat as GOAT.

 

[Mastoor]

That’s why I laugh when others think he needs to get to 20 Majors for Goat talk, win the next two Majors and get two more back to back Ye #1 and he’s got some serious heat as GOAT.

Imagine Nole winning one more Roland Garros and one more Cincinnati. What would his record look like even if he doesn't win anything else?

 

[Fiero425]

Imagine Nole winning one more Roland Garros and one more Cincinnati. What would his record look like even if he doesn't win anything else?

I've said in the past, winning those 2 events once again will round out his career more than any other player in the history of the game! At this moment I believe him to have the most balanced results even over Fedal! They both have limitations which is why Fed is still trying so hard approaching 40! Nole has a record neither will touch! :whistle: :cuckoo:

 

[Moxie]

Imagine Nole winning one more Roland Garros and one more Cincinnati. What would his record look like even if he doesn't win anything else?

It would be a nicely rounded resume, but it wouldn't take the GOAT prize. There is plenty to argue within all of that.

 

[Jelenafan]

It would be a nicely rounded resume, but it wouldn't take the GOAT prize. There is plenty to argue within all of that.

There's something to argue with anybody's GOAT credentials, period.

 

[Moxie]

There's something to argue with anybody's GOAT credentials, period.

I think this era is going to be tough, because such future Hall of Fame players have played against each other in competitive years. Mastoor is angling for the bonus points, in case Novak doesn't actually top Roger or Rafa.

 

[Fiero425]

I think this era is going to be tough, because such future Hall of Fame players have played against each other in competitive years. Mastoor is angling for the bonus points, in case Novak doesn't actually top Roger or Rafa.

You saying you wouldn't give bonus points for winning 4 majors in a row? What about if Nole wins a couple more YEC's & YE #1's? :whistle:

 

[DarthFed]

He'd get bonus points in case of a tie or close to it but he wouldn't be in the picture if he only finishes with 16. The Nole slam is not worth 4 extra majors.

 

[Fiero425]

He'd get bonus points in case of a tie or close to it but he wouldn't be in the picture if he only finishes with 16. The Nole slam is not worth 4 extra majors.

What if they're the next 2 "down under" and in Paris to own 2 Nole-Slams? Who's to stop him; Roger, Rafa? Doubtful at this point!

 

[Moxie]

He'd get bonus points in case of a tie or close to it but he wouldn't be in the picture if he only finishes with 16. The Nole slam is not worth 4 extra majors.

Probably mentioning 16 because of Rafa at 17. At this moment, I don't think the Nole slam even makes up his 3 deficit with Nadal. There is a lot still in play, but @Fiero425, no, I wouldn't say just if he wins more YECs and YE#1s, (and, presumably you're adding RG and Cincy in here) but doesn't beat either in Slam count, that won't seal the deal.

 

[Moxie]

What if they're the next 2 "down under" and in Paris to own 2 Nole-Slams? Who's to stop him; Roger, Rafa? Doubtful at this point!

If you doubt that Rafa can beat Novak at RG, you haven't been paying attention. For all of his tries at it, he only beat him at RG in a year that everyone and their Grandma beat Rafa. And then he still didn't even win the title. Who knows what the next few months hold, but don't be crowing over RG just yet, for one. Or the AO, either.

 

[monfed]

Most things on these boards are speculation, but there are facts; we all know play at those tournaments has slowed down a crazy amount over the years and we all know who that helps and who that hurts.

WHY they've made these changes is all speculation, but the effects of the changes are not. Anyways I try not to bitch about USO too much because Australia sped up the past two years (thank Christ). But Wimbledon is a catastrophe of a tournament now, and thus Roger has been mostly poor there since his late 20's.

Catastrophe? LOL the grass was changed in 2002. The grass in 2017 was the same as in 2018 only the weather conditions dried up the grass so the balls didn't skid through in the first week. Unless they go back to the grass of 2001, what can they change or what has changed?

And USO is the catastrophe, making another HC slam slightly sped up that too only in 2017 doesn't change that. AO is now what it was prior to 2008 which is a medium fast HC. USO has become some kindof IW - Miami ripoff with the biggest tennis balls in any tournament. USO should be 2009 bare minimum speed because it's a fast HC.

 

[Billie]

Imagine Nole winning one more Roland Garros and one more Cincinnati. What would his record look like even if he doesn't win anything else?

Why does he need to win all the big ones twice when the others haven't even won all of them once? I say let him win whatever he can and we'll tally at the end of his career. Patience my friend.

 

[DarthFed]

Catastrophe? LOL the grass was changed in 2002. The grass in 2017 was the same as in 2018 only the weather conditions dried up the grass so the balls didn't skid through in the first week. Unless they go back to the grass of 2001, what can they change or what has changed?

And USO is the catastrophe, making another HC slam slightly sped up that too only in 2017 doesn't change that. AO is now what it was prior to 2008 which is a medium fast HC. USO has become some kindof IW - Miami ripoff with the biggest tennis balls in any tournament. USO should be 2009 bare minimum speed because it's a fast HC.

They've also gone to a heavier ball since the change in the surface to make it play even slower. The conditions in 2002 are vastly different to the current trash. Yes the conditions this year made it even more atrocious but the slow conditions at Wimbledon have been retarded for many years and that's why Roger has had so many clownish losses there. Proper grass he wouldn't have only 8 Wimbledon's

 

[Jelenafan]

They've also gone to a heavier ball since the change in the surface to make it play even slower. The conditions in 2002 are vastly different to the current trash. Yes the conditions this year made it even more atrocious but the slow conditions at Wimbledon have been retarded for many years and that's why Roger has had so many clownish losses there. Proper grass he wouldn't have only 8 Wimbledon's

Hogwash.

Now the excuses are reduced to “ proper grass”.