Miami MOTD - Djoko and Fishy

First topic message reminder :

Because it was called for and the effort in me responded!

My gf thinks Nole's legs are a bit too skinny NITB.

She liked Safin's legs. She liked Safin's everything actually.

Mine thinks Nadal looks like an angry chipmunk lol

Speaking of Nadal, he is apparently really struggling with injury again:

“I have to recover well and improve my knee if I really want to have any chance to win,” said Nadal, whose left knee has been bothering him since Indian Wells a fortnight ago. “If not, it’s going to be almost impossible.”

I don't get why he'd say that. Why tell Murray that he's really struggling?

As for Murray, Lendl has some very complimentary things to say about his student:

“The one thing that surprised me is what a quick learner he is,” Lendl said. “I was a slow learner and it took up to 18 months for me to pick things up.

“Andy has more talent than I did,” Lendl added. “He has wonderful hands. Yes, the strings are different on the rackets today but the angles he creates – I couldn’t do that.”

Misdirection. Lulls your opponent into a little bit of complacency.

It's funny about Murray, back in 2007 he was widely thought to be a shoe-in to be the next Federer.

I wonder if the +ve head to head against Federer and resulting load of expectation actually harmed his development as a player.

Maybe i'm too cynical... I read it as a pre-prepared excuse in case things go wrong.

0-30... This has turned into a very interesting match, rather than an exhibition of how good Nole is.

Danny_1982 wrote:Maybe i'm too cynical... I read it as a pre-prepared excuse in case things go wrong.

0-30... This has turned into a very interesting match, rather than an exhibition of how good Nole is.

Hey I think the same. And he often does it before an important match - that way he can never really lose.

Ferrer's looking a bit flat now.

... but Djokovic unable to take advantage seemingly

It's a funny one with Murray. I'm sure it's all in his head. I agree with Mats Wilander in that, in terms of his tennis ability, he's as good as the other 3. He just hasn't produced when it really matters. I still think he's a multi slam winner waiting to happen.

I can barely keep my eyes open... feel like

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ambYDEzLpFU/SIe8VaAN5YI/AAAAAAAAAFw/wPm465bukI4/s400/sleepy+time+tom+edited.jpg

Some great points being played.... I know people are getting a bit bored of slower courts, but I must admit I love watching 2 top players trying to batter each other into submission over long rallies like this.

Danny_1982 wrote:It's a funny one with Murray. I'm sure it's all in his head. I agree with Mats Wilander in that, in terms of his tennis ability, he's as good as the other 3. He just hasn't produced when it really matters. I still think he's a multi slam winner waiting to happen.

He is not as good as the other 3 Danny. If he was, he'd've won a couple of slams by now. My latest verdict is his poor shot selection when in position to close a point. too passive still. I suppose that's mental.

Well, it's unlikelier with every passing year. And the style of play he's adopted makes it even harder.

“He’s going to have to grind very hard for the next few years if he keeps playing this way. He tends to wait a lot for the mistake of the opponent.

That oft-repeated Federer quote from 2008 seems pretty prescient:

"He stands way far behind on the court and that means you’ve got to do a lot of running. I gave him the mistakes today but I think overall, over a 15-year career, you want to look to win a point more often than for an opponent to miss. That’s what served me well over the years but, who knows, he might surprise us all and do it for 20 years.

“I don’t think he’s changed his game a whole lot since I played him in the Bangkok final. Not that I’m disappointed, but I really would have thought he would have changed it in some ways.”

I'm falling asleep too... I honestly don't enjoy this sort of war of attrition!

looks like straight sets after a wobble in the 2nd.

g'night all!

Maybe I'm a little biased as I'm a fan - but remember those are Wilander's words, not mine. You might be right about shot selection. An indicator that the problem is indeed in his head, not in his hands.

I still think he's a multi-slam winner waiting to happen though. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm still convinced it'll happen.

This match looks pretty much done now.

reckoner wrote:I'm falling asleep too... I honestly don't enjoy this sort of war of attrition!

I am, great tennis!

it aint over yet 15-30

What a point.... 41 shots. BP Ferrer.

break back!! great point

Djokovic is still playing some great stuff I've got to say. His movement looks unbelievable, and the consistency of his depth is brilliant too.

Ferrer is playing fantastic to stay with him. This is a great match now.

Danny_1982 wrote:Maybe I'm a little biased as I'm a fan - but remember those are Wilander's words, not mine. You might be right about shot selection. An indicator that the problem is indeed in his head, not in his hands.

I still think he's a multi-slam winner waiting to happen though. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm still convinced it'll happen.

This match looks pretty much done now.

Wilander is pretty pathetic almost all the time. He never, ever said anything good about Nole until last year, when he had to.
what does that say about you as a tennis expert if you can't spot such a massive talent...not a lot, not a lot...

Ferrer living up to his reputation of a class grinder...

To be fair, I think last year surprised everyone as far as Nole is concerned.

The thing that amazes me most about him is his speed. He gets to everything nowadays. He's got to be the fastest player. Rafa and Murray are no slouches but this guy is lightning!

they think its all over..... it is now!

Nole

Danny_1982 wrote:To be fair, I think last year surprised everyone as far as Nole is concerned.

The thing that amazes me most about him is his speed. He gets to everything nowadays. He's got to be the fastest player. Rafa and Murray are no slouches but this guy is lightning!

Monfils and rafa are faster

Cooo, I enjoyed that....super match and effort from both

LuvSports! wrote:... Monfils and rafa are faster

Djokovic has the extra dimensions of bendiness and stretchiness in getting to the ball and controlling the return. Also he tends to anticipate / read the game better as can be seen from his returning stats.

Nore Staat wrote:

LuvSports! wrote:... Monfils and rafa are faster

Djokovic has the extra dimensions of bendiness and stretchiness in getting to the ball and controlling the return. Also he tends to anticipate / read the game better as can be seen from his returning stats.

when I saw him live at the O2, I was astounded at the balance he gets in the most difficult positions, simply phenomenal!

good night/morning everyone....look forward to both semi matches....now let me get some sleep

Danny_1982 wrote:“Andy has more talent than I did,” Lendl added. “He has wonderful hands. Yes, the strings are different on the rackets today but the angles he creates – I couldn’t do that.”

Says the guy who has one of the best inside out FH ever. At lleast he is aware the strings are the main reason but he doesn't know to which extend.

Well done Nole

Respect to all those with the energy to stay up and watch the match!!

Well I expected Djokovic to win and it panned out something like I thought it would. The Monaco/Fish match was a bit more of a surprise with Fish just not at the races but credit to Juan Monaco who played a very solid game and dispelled a few myths about his ability to serve out matches when he has a big lead.

Monaco didn't have to serve it out IIRC - he broke Fish again to take the second set 6-3

Ah right tp (didn't see the end) but point is that it has been said he has problems closing out matches from a winning position against top ten players but this time he has changed that.

Very true CC, Fish did rather help settle Juan Monaco's nerves by beginning with a double fault as he served to stay in the match, but I really like Pico and was delighted to see him come through especially after having knocked Roddick out after Andy's own tremendous victory over TMF - it would have been sad to see him then succumb in turn!

time please wrote:Well done Nole

Respect to all those with the energy to stay up and watch the match!!

cheers, sooo knackered today lol

reckoner wrote:

time please wrote:Well done Nole

Respect to all those with the energy to stay up and watch the match!!

cheers, sooo knackered today lol

I'm going through my poisonously bitter triple esspresso at the moment

noleisthebest wrote:

reckoner wrote:

time please wrote:Well done Nole

Respect to all those with the energy to stay up and watch the match!!

cheers, sooo knackered today lol

I'm going through my poisonously bitter triple esspresso at the moment

Pret extra strong latte for me!

time please wrote:Well done Nole

Respect to all those with the energy to stay up and watch the match!!

TP, here's a little taste of what you missed last night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPa4736S7W4

Nole was awesome.

Nore Staat wrote:

LuvSports! wrote:... Monfils and rafa are faster

Djokovic has the extra dimensions of bendiness and stretchiness in getting to the ball and controlling the return. Also he tends to anticipate / read the game better as can be seen from his returning stats.

Monfils is also very flexible and is still faster 2bh, he just isn't as good on defence, much more passive

LuvSports! wrote:

Nore Staat wrote:

LuvSports! wrote:... Monfils and rafa are faster

Djokovic has the extra dimensions of bendiness and stretchiness in getting to the ball and controlling the return. Also he tends to anticipate / read the game better as can be seen from his returning stats.

Monfils is also very flexible and is still faster 2bh, he just isn't as good on defence, much more passive

so how do you know he's faster then?

i saw them in a race, i had the starting gun monfils won comfortably

LuvSports! wrote:i saw them in a race, i had the starting gun monfils won comfortably

and what's the point of that...really, they are not sprinters, they are tennis players, and in tennis the speed of brain is the most important one.

not that point, around the court it seems that monfils is the fastest.

LuvSports! wrote:not that point, around the court it seems that monfils is the fastest.

I disagree. Nadal is the fastest.

agree to disagree