US Open, Flushing Meadows, NY USA - Grand Slam (Men)

[Moxie]

Yes, he has weaknesses - most notably his mentality, which is a huge stumbling block. And I don't think the matches are always on his racquet, just more so than Milos. I have seen Kyrgios reach a higher level than Milos - one that can challenge the Big Four. Milos doesn't have that higher level; when he's at his best, he can beat one of the Big Four, but only if they aren't playing their best.

Again, it is a floor/ceiling thing. Milos has a much higher floor than Nick - he doesn't give up on matches, doesn't disappear, just looks wooden and one-dimensional. But I've never seen him play a truly elite game, whereas Nick at his best is simply explosive and truly elite.

I agree with you, Dude, overall, in the comparisons. And, like you, I'm not sure I can speak to the comparative net games. It's true that Milos has worked on his and it's much better than it was. I give him all kinds of credit for hard work. And Nick's isn't impressive. But I think you're right about floor/ceiling. I also believe that Milos has pretty much at his max best, and the younger stars are going to make it harder to get back to top 3. Berdych/Tsonga territory is about right, imo.

 

[TennisFan101]

Does someone know why Patrick McEnroe says something about Roger's back issue but also the Rafa's knee issue? and meanwhile three of the experts are seeing Rafa as favorite

http://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/...erts-pick-their-winners-year-final-grand-slam

That is strange. The clip is dated today so who knows. If McEnroe has inside information I don't know if he is legally bound to keep quiet until the tournament director makes an announcement or a player holds a news conference.

 

[Carol]

That is strange. The clip is dated today so who knows. If McEnroe has inside information I don't know if he is legally bound to keep quiet until the tournament director makes an announcement or a player holds a news conference.

It's very confused what Patrick has said, I've seen pictures of Rafa shopping in NY and he looks very happy and in his last interview he doesn't say anything about his knee. Maybe Patrick heard about the incident 4 days ego when Rafa was practicing and he thinks that he could have a "slight issue" like he said. And remember he is a hard Roger's fan so.....

 

[Moxie]

As for Andy, it is a lame stunt but I'm not sure what he gains from it. I mean, I guess he could theoretically be taking away a few points from one of Fedal, as if they meet in SF, one can only earn 720 rather than 1200. If he really did that for points it is beyond pathetic, but I'd rather assume innocent until guilty and that he was thinking, "I'll give it one more day" and when he woke up still sore and stiff, he pulled out.

I have a hard time believing that he'd do what he did to block either/both of Fedal in points. I'm sure he was really, really hoping to play. But, as someone here pointed out, having seen what a good draw he'd gotten, and given the number of points he has to defend the rest of the year, if he was that close to healthy on Thursday, one would have thought he'd have given it a go. Even he admits that he's been getting different advice from different specialists. We might say that he owes his first loyalty to his own career, but it's hard not to think that he owes something to the tournament and the game, so his decision feels pretty hard to defend. If he couldn't face a really fortuitous draw on Sat., I'm not sure what he thought he was capable of on Thursday.

 

[Front242]

It's very confused what Patrick has said, I've seen pictures of Rafa shopping in NY and he looks very happy and in his last interview he doesn't say anything about his knee. Maybe Patrick heard about the incident 4 days ego when Rafa was practicing and he thinks that he could have a "slight issue" like he said. And remember he is a hard Roger's fan so.....

It took a whole 1 second on google to find out.



Edited to upload a better quality clip.

 

[Moxie]

It took a whole 1 second on google to find out.

Edited to upload a better quality clip.

He didn't do anything specific. And he's always cautious about the knees. He took a similar moment at the USO final in 2013, I think. He's admitted that they just hurt sometimes. I'm hoping this was a day when it hurt a bit, and not a re-injury.

 

[El Dude]

@mrzz, as I think you saw, I'm not comparing their net games so won't comment on that. I honestly don't know. But I think you are confusing what "ceiling/floor" means. Best past results aren't necessarily the same thing as "ceiling," which is usually used to denote how good a player is at his very best, and how good he can be. I think right now, Nick at his very best is already better than Milos at his very best; and I agree with @Moxie that Milos has probably maxed out his ability. Nick still has some room to grow.

As for Nick's mentality, I think it is a blessing/curse thing - or like the Greek heroes, whose fatal flaws are the flip-side of their greatest gifts. But I do think Nick can improve his game through working on his mentality: not giving up, learning how to focus in and get over perceived slights and set-backs. He's a bit of a mess out there.

 

[Moxie]

Just a moment of local pride: The US Open is the single-most revenue generating non-one day sporting event in the US. Maybe not surprising, but we beat golf, and IW. Go NYC and US Tennis!

 

[Front242]

He didn't do anything specific. And he's always cautious about the knees. He took a similar moment at the USO final in 2013, I think. He's admitted that they just hurt sometimes. I'm hoping this was a day when it hurt a bit, and not a re-injury.

Should be fine, yeah. Was mainly just highlighting how easy it is to find stuff on google and Youtube lol.

 

[Moxie]

Should be fine, yeah. Was mainly just highlighting how easy it is to find stuff on google and Youtube lol.

Good point. I was looking for articles, including in Spanish press, but I doubt the Nadal team is going to come out with "Nadal's knee is screwed." Personally, I think P-Mac was making an equivalency with Roger's back and any whiff of Rafa's knee hurting, which seems over-determined.

 

[Carol]

It took a whole 1 second on google to find out.



Edited to upload a better quality clip.

You are a little late, I posted that vid four days ego, check!

 

[Front242]

You are a little late, I posted that vid four days ego, check!

Good for you. Then why the puzzled post asking about a knee injury then when you already should have known.

 

[Moxie]

You are a little late, I posted that vid four days ego, check!

I thought you had, which is why I was confused that you were debating what Patrick McEnroe had to say. What do you really think about the knees, then?

 

[herios]

I am hoping at this USO to see Grigor bringing it, taking his momentum and make some big noise.

 

[Moxie]

Regarding Sasha Zverev in his new position, as the favorited in the bottom half, thus the best chances to reach the final, I have hard time believing it, until I am seeing it.
He has progressed only once in the second week of a slam, at the most recent Wimbledon, where he was eliminated in the round of 16.
I think there will be a lot of pressure to live up to his ranking and although this is a depleted field he will face, he might come up short.
A QF is definitely in his reach this time around, but beyond that could be tough.
He may prove me wrong and go all the way to the final, but I am not entirely convinced.

I agree with you on this @herios. Not to tip my hand in the Draw Challenge, but I don't think he'll go deep enough. And, has it been said? The big benefactor of the reshift in the draw I think is Cilic. He was originally facing Gilles Simon in the first round. Now he's got Tennys Sandgren.

 

[kskate2]

I don't know why this is even being discussed. PMac is a notorious butt licker and a troll. Wouldn't put much stock in anything he says.

 

[herios]

I agree with you on this @herios. Not to tip my hand in the Draw Challenge, but I don't think he'll go deep enough. And, has it been said? The big benefactor of the reshift in the draw I think is Cilic. He was originally facing Gilles Simon in the first round. Now he's got Tennys Sandgren.

Also Sam Querrey can benefit big time. He just got lifted into a top 8 seed.

 

[Moxie]

I don't know why this is even being discussed. PMac is a notorious butt licker and a troll. Wouldn't put much stock in anything he says.

Yes, Ms. K....tell us how you really feel!

 

[Carol]

Good for you. Then why the puzzled post asking about a knee injury then when you already should have known.

Because that vid doesn't mean that he has a knee injury, he is training after that every day and good so I don't understand why the big mouth of Patrick has said that, got it?

 

[Moxie]

Also Sam Querrey can benefit big time. He just got lifted into a top 8 seed.

Sure he can, but I don't think he's going to take it to the final, and I think Cilic just got an easier path.