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

[britbox]

 

[teddytennisfan]

JACK SOCK ABOUT TO GO TO MEET JO WILFRIED TSONGA!!
MONFILS showing that long-awaited maturity if only he can continue.


looks like the second week is even more promising with top quality talents -- both the GREATS AND HIGH ACHIEVERS AND THE

''we wish they had done more already" guys.

PLUS a few nice ''they're good too and have a chance"

 

[Tennis Fan]

She said that only because she has a sister, if she had a brother I'm sure she would root for him.

Thanks for the intel, Mastoor. She got me that time. I thought, "Wow, she really is a fan. What an uproar that would cause within the family."

 

[Tennis Fan]

very well said -- i think we are always reminding ourselves of one siomple fact>

we MAY be ''invested" in our players for one or other reason - but at the end of the day?

they don't even KNOW us!! lol. we\'re just fans. and they couldn't really care less because what the do - like any of us would do - is for themselves -

tha'ts nothing 'being 'selfish'

itis just what life is like. it's THEIR way of earning a living - lots and lots of money and fame and they work hard at it - just like anyone has to - going to the office or man the store or whatever one has to do .

but THEY are players - we are fans of the sport and the players.

but their lives are not ours - and THEY wouldn't exchagne theirs for OURS -- that' is sure - lol.

so - indeed - at the end of the day -- we can't forget this.

True. I like my players. I want them to win all the time. I know that's not going to happen so I don't get disappointed if they lose. They're not the only players on tour and everyone deserves a break for all of the hard work they put in as well.

And that's so true, they're the players, we're the fans, they don't know us from Adam and it's very unlikely that they would care what we think anyway. I think the best way is to like who you like, respect everyone and just keep it moving. It's really not that deep to me.

 

[Tennis Fan]

dont get me wrong -- i don't resent any of stan's/ or any of their success - that's them - uknow. who am I to discuss what they deserve? they work for it and that's their means of earning a living -

stand has his daughter to support, etc..roger has had his dreams of glory, same as rafa and nole and andy -- they just exist ina world that gives such huge rewards IF they are lucky to have talent, the right families and support around them - the places to grow and train and find opportunities in - the right opponents on any given day, the right SHOT at the crucial time..blahl blah, blah...

BUT as fan -- i have MY OWN PERSONAL tastes that are part of being a fan of 'anything" - knowing that i have my preferences..

and stan i just never really felt warm to, but tha'ts my business and also my failure maybe. maybe i just don't see in him what makes others admire his playing or his presence or whatever it is.

GOOD for him that he emerged from udner ''my dear friend roger's" shadow -- - but i still don't like him, lol.

can i really fullye xplain , inspite of all i say -- as to why i just LIKE nole? or rafa/ or andy etc? and knowing there are people who list their 'dislike' of the same people? same way i dislike some wawrinka but others like him?

in that sense -- i am not different from any other tennis fan, no better and hopefully no worse. i just have my own bag of players i like better than other.s and iam HAPPY about that. lol.

Nope. I didn't think that. I don't resent anyone's success or cheer on anyone's downfall either. Everyone belongs to someone, they're humans, they have families and loved ones who care about them. I would hate for people to be dogging my son out when they don't know a darn thing about him.

Who we like is subjective and isn't always based on human rationale. Two players can do the exact same things and we'll like one and not the other. It's intrinsic. Like you, some players I just don't warm up to, but I don't dog them out either. If I'm not fond of them I might mention it once, but I'm not going to go on a spree dogging them out either. Good for Stan for coming out of Roger's shadow, he was too talented not too, so he did, and I'm cool with that. He just wouldn't be the horse I'll be rooting for. I understand exactly what you're saying and I also don't see you dogging players out. Not warming up to someone isn't a crime; it's a preference.

I remember people dogging Caroline out for being #1 without a major. Who cares? She obviously did enough to get the #1 spot, so in my mind she deserved it.

 

[Tennis Fan]

No1e played first 3 games against Youzhny very numberonely before he learned of the injury, so there can't be anything wrong with him. It was also nice to see him practicing at Ashe after the match in front of the many fans happy to stay.

Rafa showed flashes of his old self, so I think the semifinal between the two will be a final before the final. it will be also the best match within the rivalry in last couple of years.

Saw Murray against Lorenzi and i don't think anyone was impressed.

That was really nice of him to practice for the fans. Hopefully that way they didn't feel cheated.

I think/hope the SF clash will be good if they both make it, but there are still so many variables involved.

I was puzzled by Andy's performance. I knew he would win, but it felt like he was on autopilot; not engaged at all. Maybe it was hard to get up for Lorenzi and he had a hard time keeping his intensity, but it was one of the strangest matches I've seen Murray play.

 

[Tennis Fan]

u know you just made a GREAT reminder - we all really need it:

expectations can be unreal..indeed. we have to keep that in mind.
sometimes , or maybe even all the time - it CAN be unfair even towards our players - including those we like.

theya re after all - despite all that very oimpresive thing they do that we can only dream of -- still just human beings. they have to go to sleep , eat, get sick and not feel so well every day...and perform so as to win what they want -- and have to do it in public

while WE think they SHOULD do this and that....we become SPOILED in sense..we're not satisfied that someone - ROGER

got 17 majors because no one thought anyone could - and now we think rafa or nole SHOULD if ''they are to be as great or successful". and winning 14 by rafa or sampras is no longer ''enough" -- we see players win all four majors in their generation that used to be so much harder - and we now expect 'big talents' to do it in their careers or ELSE ...

and yet AGAIN -- turning around - we think that because someone WON 2 MAJORS in the 'era of players who win everything" -- THAT person is already such a great, great, great player than those in previous era...

in a sense WE - as fans are not only spoiled in a sense -- but unrealistic also -- wanting players to do things we can't be bothered to try...lol.
i've learned one thing though - in a small way - that i think helps me ENJOY being a tennis fan in general and as a fan of my favorite players...

i remind mysel.f to root for my players - one season at a time.

worry about it and then take it as it comes..if they win, they win GREAT...IF they lose - well - even they can't win everything..and others too are trying to win and have their share. so i'll be happy for them and in fact TRY to share in it -- and see how they are so happy about it - and imagine how it must be such a life-changer for THEM and their families and friends too.

i always look at it that way ..maybe it's what i learned from following all these players all these years.

but DURING matches when i watch -- i am then just as fascinated by their shot-making -- or at least one of the players if i choose to take the time to watch A tennis match at all -- and then it all becomes about THAT BALL ...THIS BEAUTIFUL AMAZING SPORT we all love - called TENNIS.

Lovely post. When I first started watching tennis I used to feel that way; experience highs and lows, but now, after decades of watching it I can no longer wreak emotional havoc on my emotions. I know that there are cycles, sometimes my player is up, and sometimes he's down. I take it all with a grain of salt, after all, it's not me and when the match is over I still have to go back to my reality. Now, I enjoy the game more because there is no more stress or anticipation over things that I cannot change.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal moving and defending better than I've seen him in a long time. And it's good to see him move closer to the baseline on the second serve return. He's also not standing as wide when he's serving from the ad court (although he almost literally never went up the middle). But the forehand is just... ugh. He's taking so much racket-head speed off when he's going for his shots... It's gotten better this set. Let's see if he steps it up in the third.

 

[brokenshoelace]

That break point he lost highlights my point. He got a super short slice to his forehand side and he literally just guided it down the line. It was legit hit with less intensity than a practice shot. He paid for it and lost the point. His tentativeness when not feeling good about his game is probably my biggest frustration with Rafa as a fan.

 

[britbox]

Good hold by Rafa in the last game to stay in touch.

 

[Billie]

I am impressed with this young Pouille. Isabelle must be loving this USO, Gael and Jo-Willy already in the quarters and another is giving Rafa all he can handle. Great backhand, had a lot of clean winners off of that side. Can Rafa stage a come-back?

 

[teddytennisfan]

Good hold by Rafa in the last game to stay in touch.

Good hold by Rafa in the last game to stay in touch.

but dear RAFA Is in real trouble from this POUILLE.. the frenchman is very smart!! and is flying with confidence with real hands on the racket!! wow.

one thing i was watching for is what Brokenshoelace pointed out about the serves and the forehand - the forehand does lack that ''look" of heavily flying through the air...and seems to bounce off too lightly -- but not fast enough off the court - is that what it means ''lacking in spin?" and so makes it easier for the other player to hit it back with control?

 

[teddytennisfan]

That break point he lost highlights my point. He got a super short slice to his forehand side and he literally just guided it down the line. It was legit hit with less intensity than a practice shot. He paid for it and lost the point. His tentativeness when not feeling good about his game is probably my biggest frustration with Rafa as a fan.

Brokensholace -- i have been trying to learn more from what you described about the weaker forehand topspin? is that wha tit means? to me it looks like when it flies it doesn't look like the older one where the ball looks like it is weighty object - today it looks like just a ''flat'' ball that looks too high in the air and easy for the opponent to hit back...

 

[teddytennisfan]

uuuyyyy 2 sets down...my , my. RAFA better get really going here.

Pouille is playing really well!

 

[Billie]

Thanks for the intel, Mastoor. She got me that time. I thought, "Wow, she really is a fan. What an uproar that would cause within the family."

Ha Mastoor is a party pooper.

I was just joking, although we do call our uncles' and aunts' kids brothers and sisters, their kids nieces and nephews. I still can't figure out the names of the relations in English, 1st, 2nd cousin, etc. We have different names for each member of a family, including in-laws.

 

[Billie]

uuuyyyy 2 sets down...my , my. RAFA better get really going here.

Pouille is playing really well!

Time for some heavy cheering, Todore!!!! Rafa really looks in trouble.

I remember Pouille from Wimbledon. The commentators here reminded me that he was a lucky loser in Rome and because Tsonga withdrew, Pouille made it to the draw and went all the way to the semi final before losing to Andy. Then he made another breakthrough at Wimbledon getting to the quarters there. And he is seeded here. It's been quite a rise for him in the last several months.

 

[teddytennisfan]

Time for some heavy cheering, Todore!!!! Rafa really looks in trouble.

I remember Pouille from Wimbledon. The commentators here reminded me that he was a lucky loser in Rome and because Tsonga withdrew, Pouille made it to the draw and went all the way to the semi final before losing to Andy. Then he made another breakthrough at Wimbledon getting to the quarters there. And he is seeded here. It's been quite a rise for him in the last several months.

YES -- RAFA!!! GET back those TOPSPINS!! AND that SERVE! HE knows how to do it - RAFA needs to dig deep!

 

[teddytennisfan]

the french always come up with the most surprising players!

 

[teddytennisfan]

Ha Mastoor is a party pooper.

I was just joking, although we do call our uncles' and aunts' kids brothers and sisters, their kids nieces and nephews. I still can't figure out the names of the relations in English, 1st, 2nd cousin, etc. We have different names for each member of a family, including in-laws.

that is just so amazing to me!! love things like that!!

 

[teddytennisfan]

RAFA NEEDS to bring this to 5 sets!