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

[Busted]

Just saw that Murray has pulled out AFTER he let them make the draw yesterday. What a jerk. Why not pull out on Friday morning and let them re-seed everybody so Federer and Nadal can't end up on the same half of the draw? In fact - why go to NYC at all knowing you're not 100% and can't make a deep run? Normally I have nothing against Andy Murray - but this was just dumb ass and poorly done of him. This basically leaves the bottom half of the draw a cake walk and possible coronoation for Sascha Zverev. As long he doesn't run out of gas or lose to Cilic - he shouldn't have much problem making the finals. I doubt the USTA & ESPN are too happy with Murray either because they lost a potential Fedal final and if Federer loses to Kyrgios or Nadal - then they've got an average final that'll get crappy ratings instead of a blockbuster final that'll get great ratings. ESPN has to hope that Federer makes the finals or else the ratings are going to be as bad as last year's Djokovic\Wawrinka match. I hate to break it to Nadal fans - but his ratings aren't as good as Federer's and ESPN can't charge as high an ad rate if Federer's not in the final. We all know that for ESPN this comes back to making m-o-n-e-y.

 

[Busted]

What is this anxiety over Tiafoe first round all about for Roger fans?
The American has only 2 wins over top 50 players to date. One of them was Zverev, true, but Zverev was gassed plus Zverev is not an attacking player.
Roger just has to bring his C game and that will be enough.

I'm calling it the Shapovalov Effect. Anybody can get hot - and Roger didn't play that great in Montreal even though he still made the final. Yes, his C-game SHOULD get it done against Tiafoe but some of these young guys are very hungry and would love nothing better than to take out the GOAT on the biggest stage in tennis in the United States - especially if you're an American. Nadal's C-game didn't get it done against Shapovalov or Kyrgios - so the fear that Roger's C-game (which is miles better than Nadal's C-game!) won't get him past a motivated young player. Tiafoe has watched Shapovalov's stock rise and has to wonder when it's going to be HIS turn to have a huge break through run.

 

[DarthFed]

The worry about Tiafoe is all about his back. If he is not 100% that becomes a potential tough match. Tiafoe hasn't done much yet but he's trending up. An easy first two rounds wouldve been nice for Roger if his back is good but not 100%. That'd give him an extra 5 days before it gets tough.

 

[DarthFed]

Just saw that Murray has pulled out AFTER he let them make the draw yesterday. What a jerk. Why not pull out on Friday morning and let them re-seed everybody so Federer and Nadal can't end up on the same half of the draw? In fact - why go to NYC at all knowing you're not 100% and can't make a deep run? Normally I have nothing against Andy Murray - but this was just dumb ass and poorly done of him. This basically leaves the bottom half of the draw a cake walk and possible coronoation for Sascha Zverev. As long he doesn't run out of gas or lose to Cilic - he shouldn't have much problem making the finals. I doubt the USTA & ESPN are too happy with Murray either because they lost a potential Fedal final and if Federer loses to Kyrgios or Nadal - then they've got an average final that'll get crappy ratings instead of a blockbuster final that'll get great ratings. ESPN has to hope that Federer makes the finals or else the ratings are going to be as bad as last year's Djokovic\Wawrinka match. I hate to break it to Nadal fans - but his ratings aren't as good as Federer's and ESPN can't charge as high an ad rate if Federer's not in the final. We all know that for ESPN this comes back to making m-o-n-e-y.

Totally agree about Murray. If he's withdrawing after seeing that blessing of a draw then he never had serious ambitions of going deep in this event. Beyond shitty. I also wonder why they can't move the seeds around when the 1st round is two days away. Gives players plenty of time to prepare for the "new" 1st round opponent.

 

[The Strokes]

Murray is now out!
I wondered about him playing ...
Some lucky loser will sit in the nice #2 spot ...

 

[Busted]

Many know I don't believe in a Tignor curse, but this has to be noted: He's picked for a Murray v Kyrgios final. Very bold. And I think he's jumped the shark on this one.

The Tignor jinks strikes again - Murray pulled out today. That may mean that Kyrgios won't be far behind...

 

[The Strokes]

So actually Cilic is moved to Murray's spot, then a few more shuffles.

 

[Busted]

Totally agree about Murray. If he's withdrawing after seeing that blessing of a draw then he never had serious ambitions of going deep in this event. Beyond shitty. I also wonder why they can't move the seeds around when the 1st round is two days away. Gives players plenty of time to prepare for the "new" 1st round opponent.

I'm pissed at Murray because like you said with that easy draw he had to have known that he could make the semis without much problem even on 1 leg. So his injury must be worse than he's letting on. He's been in NYC for 2 weeks - he got there just after Cincy started - so he's had plenty of time to figure out that hip isn't ready for him to play. Maybe Lendl's sour moods and gamesmanship are starting to rub off on him? And maybe Roger's back will be hurting him in November and he'll have to pull out of Murray's charity XO? LOL! That's just me being petty on Roger's behalf. He's way too nice to do that if he's not injured.

Also, wondered the same thing about shifting the seeding and leaving the draw the same - but I've been following tennis since I was a kid in the '70s and I've NEVER seen them do that. They put a qualifier or lucky loser in that slot and keep the draw the same.

 

[Busted]

So actually Cilic is moved to Murray's spot, then a few more shuffles.

Cilic was moved to Murray's spot? That sucks. The effectively makes him the #2 seed instead of 5. Why not move Federer to #2 instead of moving Cilic to the other quarter of the bottom half draw so that he and Zverev can't meet in the quarters as was originally scheduled? I guess they're trying to set up a Zverev\Cilic semi, but honestly - the whole thing still sucks if you're Federer and Nadal.

 

[DarthFed]

The way the draw worked out I'd love if Fed had moved over to Murray's spot. But even without that I still don't see why they don't reseed them and move the players around. Not that much effort

 

[herios]

I'm calling it the Shapovalov Effect. Anybody can get hot - and Roger didn't play that great in Montreal even though he still made the final. Yes, his C-game SHOULD get it done against Tiafoe but some of these young guys are very hungry and would love nothing better than to take out the GOAT on the biggest stage in tennis in the United States - especially if you're an American. Nadal's C-game didn't get it done against Shapovalov or Kyrgios - so the fear that Roger's C-game (which is miles better than Nadal's C-game!) won't get him past a motivated young player. Tiafoe has watched Shapovalov's stock rise and has to wonder when it's going to be HIS turn to have a huge break through run.

Tiafoe has a faulty technique on his FH and it could easily breakdown if rushed.
Roger was always rushing his opponents, therefore all he needs is ti direct his groundies to Frances FH.
The only problem will be if Roger serve is WTA speed like in Montréal when he was injured.

 

[herios]

The way the draw worked out I'd love if Fed had moved over to Murray's spot. But even without that I still don't see why they don't reseed them and move the players around. Not that much effort

Because it was never done before. There is no precedence to such procedure.

 

[herios]

With Murray pulling out, Roger will be #2 ranked AFTER the US Open.
There will then be a chance fort Fedal final in Shanghai. That will be a first also, no? LOL

 

[mrzz]

Obviously it would be better for the tournament (and more fair, in the seeds system logic) to redraw, but honestly it would the biggest shit storm in history saying A B or C were helped so I actually prefer it this way.

 

[DarthFed]

Because it was never done before. There is no precedence to such procedure.

Well of course, I know that. I'm just saying it's a system they should consider changing.

 

[Carol]

Poor Muzz, obviously he has a serious hip problem, hope he won't need a surgery

Meanwhile Angie, Venus, Roger and Rafa at Kids Day in NY

 

[Front242]

Roger is pinching Venus' arse

 

[Moxie]

Roger is pinching Venus' arse

Actually, I think this was taken just before he did. In the frame after you see the shock on Venus's face. And in the next frame, she knees him in the groin. :lulz2:

 

[Moxie]

Because it was never done before. There is no precedence to such procedure.

Also because I think you can't move players around in a draw that is set. That does make it look like you're rigging it. (That old paranoia of tennis boards.) The only answer would have been to move the seeds and redo the draw. But I agree with everyone who says that it was very poor of Murray not to have decided this 36 hours ago. Whomever it would have affected. But let's face it: not allowing them to put Rafa and Roger on opposites sides was a crappy move, esp. on the tournament.

 

[MartyB]

Also because I think you can't move players around in a draw that is set. That does make it look like you're rigging it. (That old paranoia of tennis boards.) The only answer would have been to move the seeds and redo the draw. But I agree with everyone who says that it was very poor of Murray not to have decided this 36 hours ago. Whomever it would have affected. But let's face it: not allowing them to put Rafa and Roger on opposites sides was a crappy move, esp. on the tournament.

Never liked Murray now I detest him. He knew he could not compete. What a. A__hole.