US OPEN, Flushing Meadows, NY, USA, GRAND SLAM (Men)

[britbox]

Rafa's Draw

Probables

R1: Istomin
R2: Robert or Seppi
R3: Bellucci, Benneteau or Ramos-Vinolas
R4: Pouille or Bautista Agut
QF: Raonic or Monfils
SF: Novak
F: Murray or anyone else from the bottom half of the draw

Rafa's got a decent draw through to the Quarters. Bellucci is an enigma but can't see him doing it over a 5 set format.

 

[britbox]

Murray's Draw

Probables

R1: Rosol
R2: Granollers or Monaco
R3: Simon
R4: Lopez or Dimitrov
QF: Nishikori or Goffin
SF: Stan, Thiem, Delpo
F: Novak, Rafa or anyone else from the Top Half.

Murray is safe IMO until the Quarters. Dimitrov might take a set but he isn't winning that match over 5. I think Murray has a great chance to go all the way to the finals. Biggest doubts with Muzza are how he performs in the final and that depends on who he gets. I don't think he'll relish a final with Rafa let alone Djoker... anyone else I think he wins the USO.

 

[teddytennisfan]

I will be day by day, match to match to get the idea who will be able to win this USO, meanwhile I'd rather not anticipated events. Of course I'd love to see Rafa in the final and if he get the "15" much better but right now I have not any idea who will win

come to think of it -- we actually have 3 of the top level players nursing a wrist condition.

NOLE, RAFA, DELPO!!

 

[teddytennisfan]

Rafa's Draw

Probables

R1: Istomin
R2: Robert or Seppi
R3: Bellucci, Benneteau or Ramos-Vinolas
R4: Pouille or Bautista Agut
QF: Raonic or Monfils
SF: Novak
F: Murray or anyone else from the bottom half of the draw

Rafa's got a decent draw through to the Quarters. Bellucci is an enigma but can't see him doing it over a 5 set format.

RAFA will be tested by these players but he can handle it even in his current form , i think. to get to at least quarters , maybe even mor.e

monfils gets that far - you can NEVER tell - he's been so brilliant lately.

 

[britbox]

On a sidenote, a little on how the ballkids train...

 

[teddytennisfan]

On a sidenote, a little on how the ballkids train...

HAHA. remember that phenomenal ball kid at the AUSSIE some years ago? how HE caught the ball with one hand by just lunging at it? boy -- he was a STAR!!!

 

[Moxie]

If Rafa's wrist holds out, he can get anyone in his draw, including Nole at the USO. He has before. Finger's crossed.

 

[teddytennisfan]

If Rafa's wrist holds out, he can get anyone in his draw, including Nole at the USO. He has before. Finger's crossed.

DEFINITELY -- in recent years -- NOLE really has had his number -- but then which player really hasn't nole done that with? that's part of being THE BEST after all -- just like RAFA in his turn before that.

but we all know - as the best of the best in history -- they have the games to beat the other and it all boils down to a few critical mistakes here and there that are just human nature - no matter how great.

i can't wait for this US O to get started!! let\s just hope they're ALL in good health , fit, all that nagging injury business behind them for a while more and they bring some of their VINTAGE BEST! each of them

boy -- we could be in for SOME USopen big battles!!

come on RAFA you can do it still - and the great rivals like NOLE AND ANDY AND DELPO should be ready to bring their best!!

 

[teddytennisfan]

If Rafa's wrist holds out, he can get anyone in his draw, including Nole at the USO. He has before. Finger's crossed.

maybe rafa REALLY did need that long lay-off after all. sometimes conditions like that wrist can be more than just what the doctor says is enough, isn't it? it's still person by person...

but what i liked about RAFA'S rio -- nevermind that distasteful loss to KEI and that long ''shower" break -- was RAFA brought in the week his FIGHT and finished every match playing with FIRE.

 

[teddytennisfan]

On a sidenote, a little on how the ballkids train...

ONE thing i PREFER the AUSSIE , wimby and FO -- is they retain CHILDREN as ball kids.

the USA has tended to become more 'adult ball-kids' over the years - i noticed - unless i am wrong - but i know they DO have a 'ball-kids casting call" and it s a paid job really - so lots of grown-ups go for it.

but i still like seeing the courts done by REAL kids, u know? just sentimental, i guess.

 

[teddytennisfan]

Murray's Draw

Probables

R1: Rosol
R2: Granollers or Monaco
R3: Simon
R4: Lopez or Dimitrov
QF: Nishikori or Goffin
SF: Stan, Thiem, Delpo
F: Novak, Rafa or anyone else from the Top Half.

Murray is safe IMO until the Quarters. Dimitrov might take a set but he isn't winning that match over 5. I think Murray has a great chance to go all the way to the finals. Biggest doubts with Muzza are how he performs in the final and that depends on who he gets. I don't think he'll relish a final with Rafa let alone Djoker... anyone else I think he wins the USO.

andy might not relish finals with nole or rafa IF both are in top shape -- bu i think also think andy's recent form - belief in himself -- has made strides that i think will bring him just that extra ''fight' against either nole or rafa .

at their levels - THEIRS - and very few others , if any - it's almost always crap-shoot - just throw the dice and see how it falls. lol!!

ya -- dimitrov might take a set - MIGHT -- but to me ANDY is just too good - MORE authoritative in his shot making (i mean on his own style) , far more consistent in hitting high quality shots , and just plain PHYSICALLY stronger, imo. dimitrov's fancier game isn't going to blind andy at all, imo.

i mean this is andy who's beaten ROGER convincingly when roger was playing at his very best -- and dimitrov is far from that.

 

[teddytennisfan]

i just realized we are having FIVE USO champs playing more or less in some good form at least.

NOLE - ANDY - RAFA - DELPO -- CILIC

wow.
and then WAWRINKA can come up with an uncanny run that surprises everyone (though i dont think he's in it right now)..plus HIS two MAJORS

that's a good heavyweight presence there.

WEIRD that ROGER isn't there.

 

[teddytennisfan]

If Rafa's wrist holds out, he can get anyone in his draw, including Nole at the USO. He has before. Finger's crossed.

i just recalled that USO is the ONLY major RAFA and Roger NEVER met. !!!

 

[britbox]

i just recalled that USO is the ONLY major RAFA and Roger NEVER met. !!!

That worked pretty well for Rafa :whistle:

 

[teddytennisfan]

That worked pretty well for Rafa :whistle:

i
don't we all know that!!! haha.
i just recalled it because we're suddenly talking about Rafa having some chances again - depending of course ...

but also because i keep feeling weird that ROGER isn't there - i mean this is normally where he gets a great run - besides wimbledon

and it just came back that in their early rivalry Almost no one would consider rafa would even ever win outside of FO - let alone win the other majors BY defeating roger...u know? it just crept up on you even when the whole world was watching their rivalry..and before you know it --

it's RAFA that hold the record of beating his rival on EVERY surface rather than the other way around . lol.

that's why - there was one year at the USO - that MARTINA NAVRATILOVA was commentating during a roger or rafa match and she addressed a question about ''greatest of all time" about roger.

and MN said "well -- the way rafa's been dominating him - and on every surface --it's somewhat hard to make the claim being the best ever when you're not even the best of your own era if people can argue that YOUR MAIN RIVAL KEEPS BEATING YOU"

 

[britbox]

^ Hey Ted, I always enjoy that debate, even if it's predictable and tribal... Fire up another thread to launch it mate. Otherwise I'll have opened up an unholy can of worms on the USO thread with Fed not even playing

 

[teddytennisfan]

^ Hey Ted, I always enjoy that debate, even if it's predictable and tribal... Fire up another thread to launch it mate. Otherwise I'll have opened up an unholy can of worms on the USO thread with Fed not even playing

OH MY god. FEDERBERG is going to get mad at me!! lol. i better shut up about that. hehe.

 

[teddytennisfan]

^ Hey Ted, I always enjoy that debate, even if it's predictable and tribal... Fire up another thread to launch it mate. Otherwise I'll have opened up an unholy can of worms on the USO thread with Fed not even playing

now it makes me wonder --

there's this question : what IS it about the game of players that makes one so problematic for another one ? or in particular times?

like RAFA - has problems now from NOLE - where ANDY seems to have problems from NOLE...but NOLE gets riled up byWAWRINKA... BUT he can't really solve ANDY..

ETC.

 

[Mary]

New York, New York....

It seems that all players 6-4 and taller are in Nole's path. That can't be good.

My thoughts too - a lot of big heavy servers. Not the best draw for him.

 

[Mastoor]

On a sidenote, a little on how the ballkids train...

They should have gone to Bronx and selected the most dangerous looking guys for ball boys. Lets see if anyone will yell at them or next to them or if they will throw towels at them. In fact, I don't think any player would dare to ask for towels anymore.