US Open Day 1: Monday, August 26 - Order of Play

[Denis]

Here's an interesting fact: Rafael Nadal's last hardcourt loss was in Indian Wells 2012 against...Roger Federer! Nadal withdrew Miami before his semifinal match began against Andy Murray.

Rafa was out for most of the hard court season last year, so it is not that surprising. But he is in sublime form at the moment for sure.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Gulbis lost to Haider-Maurer. Quite an upset and a disappointment, his draw looked like he could've made the SF with his best game.

Also disappointing his match wasn't on a streamed court.

Another one of the Hype Brigade. Along with Tomic, Harrison, Rosol, and bunch others, its style over substance. Major technical flaws.

Although I do believe that at his top level Ernie can be devastating. Amazing athlete.

The only member of the Hype Brigade that has had a result is Jersey Boy.

 

[Denis]

Gulbis lost to Haider-Maurer. Quite an upset and a disappointment, his draw looked like he could've made the SF with his best game.

Also disappointing his match wasn't on a streamed court.

Is he on his way back to party-mode or something? Disappointing, very.

 

[Denis]

Gulbis lost to Haider-Maurer. Quite an upset and a disappointment, his draw looked like he could've made the SF with his best game.

Also disappointing his match wasn't on a streamed court.

Another one of the Hype Brigade. Along with Tomic, Harrison, Rosol, and bunch others, its style over substance. Major technical flaws.

Although I do believe that at his top level Ernie can be devastating. Amazing athlete.

The only member of the Hype Brigade that has had a result is Jersey Boy.

Rosol has been hyped? By whom? Harrison?

Gulbis is a player that can potentially become the story of a Slam. But not this one unfortunately. I would not put him in the league of average top 100 players like Harrison and Rosol.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Gulbis lost to Haider-Maurer. Quite an upset and a disappointment, his draw looked like he could've made the SF with his best game.

Also disappointing his match wasn't on a streamed court.

Another one of the Hype Brigade. Along with Tomic, Harrison, Rosol, and bunch others, its style over substance. Major technical flaws.

Although I do believe that at his top level Ernie can be devastating. Amazing athlete.

The only member of the Hype Brigade that has had a result is Jersey Boy.

Rosol has been hyped? By whom? Harrison?

Gulbis is a player that can potentially become the story of a Slam. But not this one unfortunately. I would not put him in the league of average top 100 players like Harrison and Rosol.

Agree, he is not run of the mill..but the legend has been far greater than the reality. Winning 250 in FL is one thing, not getting to the 2nd of a slam is another.

I still consider him part of the over hyped pack. His forehand is and will continue to be an issue under pressure.

P.S. I also consider Nishikori to be over hyped. Great athlete but his potential is somewhat limited.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

who hyped rosol ??...no one ever did..he is a journeyman pro who pulled off an all time shock win ..

no need for any hype, at the time or since.

looked at rafa/wafas match and decided the easy stroll to victory wasn't all thast exciting..woger on later ..

oh yes DAN EVANS..:laydownlaughing...talking of shock wins, the bloke who until recently would rather go out on the razzle than train properly (like gulbis), then comes thru qualifying to waste no 11 rank nikishori..:clap

makes a change from the usual 'plucky brit' stories (e.g bogdanovic 7 wild cards at wimby..7 first rd defeats).

 

[Iona16]

oh yes DAN EVANS..:laydownlaughing...talking of shock wins, the bloke who until recently would rather go out on the razzle than train properly (like gulbis), then comes thru qualifying to waste no 11 rank nikishori..:clap

makes a change from the usual 'plucky brit' stories (e.g bogdanovic 7 wild cards at wimby..7 first rd defeats).

Andy has always said that that Evans had talent but not a great work ethic. Dan said today that he knew Andy has been watching his challenger matches on livestreams. Andy also gave him some tips on how to beat Nishikori. Andy is always willing to spend time with the other Brit players if he thinks they will work hard. Over the years he's invited quite a few of them to train with him in Miami.

re: Bogdanovic I'm pretty sure that 4 of those 1st round defeats were against top players. I think he had Nadal twice and Federer and Hewitt. His record wasn't as bad as it sounds.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

wow..tomic won a 3hr 56 min five setter,

he battled his way through for once. (rare event, rare event).

 

[tented]

Congrats, Dodig! What a match.

 

[brokenshoelace]

JMac repeating his thesis that Rafa has the best volley in the game. I don't quite agree with him. Rafa has a nice touch at the net and he re-directs the ball well, or has a good dropper, but he never actually punches the ball, like a deep hard volley that goes to the baseline. Mostly because he does not go to the net unless he knows it will be an easy put-away. That's also why he has a really good percentage at the net. What he does, he does well, I agree with that, but volley, in the classical sense, like one that probes, asks questions, like Pete's or Edberg's, Rafa simply does not have that shot.

Murat.. All due respect but John McEnroe has the best hands in the history of the game(no one will dispute that). McEnroe just doesn't say things like that if he didn't feel it was true.. he should know wouldn't you agree

Nadal isn't even in the top 5 volleyers on tour. Mac did indeed have tremendous volleys but that hardly means he can't be wrong about the subject. Nadal has a very good touch at the net and a tremendous overhead, but his punch volleys are absolutely inexistent, his backhand drop volley is occasionally to heavy, and he struggles with mid-height volleys (he's really good with high volleys and is surprisingly good at picking the ball up from really low points).

Federer, even today, is a much more complete volleyer. Murray has more solid volleys. Llodra's volleys are light years ahead of Rafa's. Tsonga is another one who obviously has more volleys. Nadal is immensely helped by his great approach shots and the fact that he doesn't go to the net too often compared to some of the guys I've mentioned.

 

[brokenshoelace]

JMac repeating his thesis that Rafa has the best volley in the game. I don't quite agree with him. Rafa has a nice touch at the net and he re-directs the ball well, or has a good dropper, but he never actually punches the ball, like a deep hard volley that goes to the baseline. Mostly because he does not go to the net unless he knows it will be an easy put-away. That's also why he has a really good percentage at the net. What he does, he does well, I agree with that, but volley, in the classical sense, like one that probes, asks questions, like Pete's or Edberg's, Rafa simply does not have that shot.

Murat.. All due respect but John McEnroe has the best hands in the history of the game(no one will dispute that). McEnroe just doesn't say things like that if he didn't feel it was true.. he should know wouldn't you agree

AP - Mac contradicts himself 20 times a day depending on what match he's working. He's blows with the direction of the wind.

This. I think people shouldn't get caught up in taking the pros' opinion as gospel, especially when they have a mic in front of them, and can say some contradictory/stupid stuff non-stop. I like Wilander on commentary but he's someone who's also guilty of much of the same, in addition to some outrageous general narratives.

 

[brokenshoelace]

And I think we need to stop being surprised when Gulbis suffers a customary loss.

 

[the AntiPusher]

JMac repeating his thesis that Rafa has the best volley in the game. I don't quite agree with him. Rafa has a nice touch at the net and he re-directs the ball well, or has a good dropper, but he never actually punches the ball, like a deep hard volley that goes to the baseline. Mostly because he does not go to the net unless he knows it will be an easy put-away. That's also why he has a really good percentage at the net. What he does, he does well, I agree with that, but volley, in the classical sense, like one that probes, asks questions, like Pete's or Edberg's, Rafa simply does not have that shot.

Murat.. All due respect but John McEnroe has the best hands in the history of the game(no one will dispute that). McEnroe just doesn't say things like that if he didn't feel it was true.. he should know wouldn't you agree

AP - Mac contradicts himself 20 times a day depending on what match he's working. He's blows with the direction of the wind.

This. I think people shouldn't get caught up in taking the pros' opinion as gospel, especially when they have a mic in front of them, and can say some contradictory/stupid stuff non-stop. I like Wilander on commentary but he's someone who's also guilty of much of the same, in addition to some outrageous general narratives.

Understood but not one ex player or commentator has challenged John on this declaration of Rafa's volley skills

 

[tented]

And I think we need to stop being surprised when Gulbis suffers a customary loss.

I don't remember ever being surprised by a Gulbis loss. Rafa losing to Darcis? That's surprising. Roger losing to Stakhovsky? Surprising. Gulbis losing -- ever? Not surprising.

 

[tented]

JMac repeating his thesis that Rafa has the best volley in the game. I don't quite agree with him. Rafa has a nice touch at the net and he re-directs the ball well, or has a good dropper, but he never actually punches the ball, like a deep hard volley that goes to the baseline. Mostly because he does not go to the net unless he knows it will be an easy put-away. That's also why he has a really good percentage at the net. What he does, he does well, I agree with that, but volley, in the classical sense, like one that probes, asks questions, like Pete's or Edberg's, Rafa simply does not have that shot.

Murat.. All due respect but John McEnroe has the best hands in the history of the game(no one will dispute that). McEnroe just doesn't say things like that if he didn't feel it was true.. he should know wouldn't you agree

AP - Mac contradicts himself 20 times a day depending on what match he's working. He's blows with the direction of the wind.

Yeah, McEnroe is always currently watching the best player in the history of the game, hitting the greatest forehand of all time, while playing the best match he's ever seen.

 

[shawnbm]

wow..tomic won a 3hr 56 min five setter,

he battled his way through for once. (rare event, rare event).

To be fair, I do believe Bernie is now 5-1 or 6-1 un five set matches.uzzled

 

[tented]

wow..tomic won a 3hr 56 min five setter,

he battled his way through for once. (rare event, rare event).

To be fair, I do believe Bernie is now 5-1 or 6-1 un five set matches.uzzled

You're right. He's now 5-1 in five-setters. Very impressive.

 

[Moxie]

JMac repeating his thesis that Rafa has the best volley in the game. I don't quite agree with him. Rafa has a nice touch at the net and he re-directs the ball well, or has a good dropper, but he never actually punches the ball, like a deep hard volley that goes to the baseline. Mostly because he does not go to the net unless he knows it will be an easy put-away. That's also why he has a really good percentage at the net. What he does, he does well, I agree with that, but volley, in the classical sense, like one that probes, asks questions, like Pete's or Edberg's, Rafa simply does not have that shot.

Murat.. All due respect but John McEnroe has the best hands in the history of the game(no one will dispute that). McEnroe just doesn't say things like that if he didn't feel it was true.. he should know wouldn't you agree

AP - Mac contradicts himself 20 times a day depending on what match he's working. He's blows with the direction of the wind.

Yeah, McEnroe is always currently watching the best player in the history of the game, hitting the greatest forehand of all time, while playing the best match he's ever seen.

Ha! Too true. He's a great promoter of the sport, and never met a superlative that he didn't embrace.

 

[the AntiPusher]

JMac repeating his thesis that Rafa has the best volley in the game. I don't quite agree with him. Rafa has a nice touch at the net and he re-directs the ball well, or has a good dropper, but he never actually punches the ball, like a deep hard volley that goes to the baseline. Mostly because he does not go to the net unless he knows it will be an easy put-away. That's also why he has a really good percentage at the net. What he does, he does well, I agree with that, but volley, in the classical sense, like one that probes, asks questions, like Pete's or Edberg's, Rafa simply does not have that shot.

Murat.. All due respect but John McEnroe has the best hands in the history of the game(no one will dispute that). McEnroe just doesn't say things like that if he didn't feel it was true.. he should know wouldn't you agree

AP - Mac contradicts himself 20 times a day depending on what match he's working. He's blows with the direction of the wind.

Yeah, McEnroe is always currently watching the best player in the history of the game, hitting the greatest forehand of all time, while playing the best match he's ever seen.

Ha! Too true. He's a great promoter of the sport, and never met a superlative that he didn't embrace.

LOL.. There isn't too much :heart: on this board for my former tennis idol Johnny Mac..BTW.. he is starting to bare a striking resemblance to CNN Anderson Copper as of late:snigger

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Murat.. All due respect but John McEnroe has the best hands in the history of the game(no one will dispute that). McEnroe just doesn't say things like that if he didn't feel it was true.. he should know wouldn't you agree

AP - Mac contradicts himself 20 times a day depending on what match he's working. He's blows with the direction of the wind.

Yeah, McEnroe is always currently watching the best player in the history of the game, hitting the greatest forehand of all time, while playing the best match he's ever seen.

Ha! Too true. He's a great promoter of the sport, and never met a superlative that he didn't embrace.

LOL.. There isn't too much :heart: on this board for my former tennis idol Johnny Mac..BTW.. he is starting to bare a striking resemblance to CNN Anderson Copper as of late:snigger

Nah, AC is a wimpy bleeding heart. Mac has guts.