Upset Corner - RG 2017 Edition

[mrzz]

You did deserve that. However, I disagree that it is "far from true" on clay. Verdasco, while he's a good HC-er, for a Spaniard, he also has solid pedigree on clay. Also he's a stronger server than Cuevas (except for those pesky DFs,) and he has bigger weapons, in general. I'm just wondering if Cuevas over-played in the lead-up to RG. On paper, their match should have been tight.

Verdasco has a harder forehand, and a better serve, yes. All the rest, Cuevas is miles ahead. Unfortunately he still has some underdog syndrome and sometimes just disappears in big matches. Maybe the fact that he is a South American with a Spanish name makes people (not you, Moxie) believe he is just a grinder. The guy has a beauty of a backhand, can change the direction and pace of the ball at will, can find a drop shot from two meters behind the base line, and also has a very good volley.

 

[Moxie]

Verdasco has a harder forehand, and a better serve, yes. All the rest, Cuevas is miles ahead. Unfortunately he still has some underdog syndrome and sometimes just disappears in big matches. Maybe the fact that he is a South American with a Spanish name makes people (not you, Moxie) believe he is just a grinder. The guy has a beauty of a backhand, can change the direction and pace of the ball at will, can find a drop shot from two meters behind the base line, and also has a very good volley.

Personally, I hate the word "grinder," and I think it reflects more on the fan who uses it than the player. I have tons of respect for Cuevas. Justin Gimelstob (former player and Tennis Channel commentator here in the US) has admitted to a full-on man-crush with Cuevas, and many picked him as a serious spoiler at RG this year, if not dark horse. That's why the match today was so surprising. I didn't see the match. Did you?

 

[mrzz]

Personally, I hate the word "grinder," and I think it reflects more on the fan who uses it than the player. I have tons of respect for Cuevas. Justin Gimelstob (former player and Tennis Channel commentator here in the US) has admitted to a full-on man-crush with Cuevas, and many picked him as a serious spoiler at RG this year, if not dark horse. That's why the match today was so surprising. I didn't see the match. Did you?

No, I did not. In fact, I learnt the word "grinder" here on the boards, so I suppose it means one guy that basically just pushes the ball back (but I could be wrong). While I admit that I prefer a bit more aggressive game styles, I know that are defensive game styles which take a lot of ability and strategy to execute. Juan Monaco was a good example. My point was that Cuevas is a different kind of player. The fact that he does not a forehand that strong does not mean that he cannot play aggressively. It is just a different kind of aggression, that uses much more technique than power.

Maybe that´s why he shies away in big matches, as you need loads of confidence to do that.

By the way, I like Verdasco and don´t want to take anything away from him. But he is kind of uni-dimensional. And I came to that conclusion while actually rooting for him in some matches that he lost...

 

[isabelle]

Thiem beat Nole, what an upset !!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

If Stan beats Rafa, it is not an upset.

 

[Moxie]

If Stan beats Rafa, it is not an upset.

:lulz2:

 

[isabelle]

Andy beaten bu Stan is an upset I don't like at all but Stan was the better player at the end

 

[mrzz]

If Stan beats Rafa, it is not an upset.

Surely not. We would need a new word for it. But I love semiotical/etymological challenges...