The Random Tennis News Thread

[The Special Juan]

First topic message reminder :

There's not really a thread up for random tennis news that perhaps doesn't require it's own topic.

First of all, it's sad to hear of the death of Brad Drewett, Chief Executive of the ATP. I don't know if anyone's mentioned that and I've missed it.

Secondly, here's an interesting bit of tennis gossip about Evert and Connors: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/05/04/tennis-connors-evert-idUKL3N0DL05G20130504

[The Special Juan]

A bit of a spectacular collapse from Edmund as he was leading 7-5 4-2 only to lose the next 10 games. I can only assume he injured himself at some point as during that match he mas making Berankis look silly.

[lydian]

Goffin wins his 3rd Challenger in 3 weeks beating homeboy Jarkko Nieminen in the final. So he's won 15 straight matches without losing a single set, all on clay, and he's won 15 of those 30 sets by 60/61/62. Impressive. This guy is definitely on a tear! He's playing ATP Kitzbuhel next week so will be interesting to see if his body can hold up to 4 straight weeks clay play...I suspect not! So he rises to #78, his highest ranking since breaking his wrist last Sept. This guy hasn't peaked yet....yes he may have a slight frame but I think over time he can become a top20 player still, there aren't many more talented on tour tbh.

Ward is into a US HC Challenger final too

[lydian]

Interesting comments from Nieminen and agog fin, post final on Sunday...

Goffin:
"I was looking for some confidence, that’s why I went to the Challengers. To play Jarkko here, in front of his own fans was a great challenge. I served really well and it helped me to stay in the match until 3-3 in the first set when Nieminen began the match very aggressively. Then I stayed focused, and played a really good tie-break.

Physically I feel good, really fit. I'm ready to continue. I don’t spend a lot of energy in my play. I play fast and move well and the conditions here were good for me."

Nieminen:
"I played my best tennis of the whole week in the first set, but I couldn’t put a final touch on it. David was an opponent of another caliber than the rest."


I'm still a believer in Goffin's ability...hopefully he can make it count in this weeks ATP250.

[lydian]

Holding my Goffin flag up further....he won his 1st round at ATP Kitzbuhel today, 62 64 vs 6'8' Kenny De Schepper. That's 32 consecutive sets won...
Next up he's against #1 Phili-Kohli...the 16 match run may stop there!

Lots of Brits in action again this week too, along with the 17 year olds Coric and Zverev.

[LuvSports!]

I'm here with ya Lydian!
I've been a fan of Goffin ever since his 2012 FO run, when he got to round 4 as a LL.
He took a set off Feds and gave him and more so me, a massive scare!

Similar to him imo is Berankis, who had a good run at aus in '11 and '13 and is very talented.

[HM Murdock]

yes he may have a slight frame but I think over time he can become a top20 player still, there aren't many more talented on tour tbh.

Misty-eyed whimsy!  

He's another one who is given the free pass of being declared talented without having to go through the traditional method of actually getting near winning anything.

Age 23, seven consecutive first round slam losses, first round losses in 6 of the 10 Masters he's entered.

Attractive strokes may be enough to declare a teenager talented. After a while, you need some results on the CV to back it up.

[lydian]

LS   

HMM, misty-eyed whimsy? I think not. I've seen enough players to know talent when I see it. I also think you're being a trifle harsh once the actual facts are known. Goffin only turned pro late at 19 years old, then played futures and challengers before moving from 276 to top 50 within 12 months from Sep11 to Sep12. That takes talent. As does his current winning form of 32 consecutive sets and counting on clay, even at Challenger level, many 60/61/62. Don't forget challengers are tough usually guys ranked 50-125 who are desperate to break into the top levels of the game. 3 titles on the trot is no mean feat.

Anyway...you mention 7 consecutive slam defeats in R1 but just look at those R1 draws...
2012 USO - R1 Berdych, #6 seed! (on Berdy's fave surface)
2013 AO - R1 Verdasco, top20 at time! Lost in 5 sets...
2013 FO - R1 Djokovic, #1 seed! Close match too...76 64 75
2013 Wimb - R1 Tsonga, #6 seed! (on Tsonga's fave surface)
2013 USO - R1 Dolgopolov

Sept 13 - broke his wrist, didn't play rest of season

2014 AO - had to withdraw pre-event due to injury
2014 FO - R1 Melzer...4 tight sets (Melzers fave surface)
2014 Wimb - R1 Murray, #3 seed! (Murray's fave surface)

Most of the Masters R1 losses have been tough draws too inc. Robredo & Almagro (took to 3 sets) on clay, Haas & Davydenko (lost 2 TBs in 3 sets) on hard. So all in all that's been a pretty tough draw run of first round opponents for anyone never mind an up and coming player. All very tough top20 level and above players, nearly always on their favourite surfaces.

Then to top all that off, breaking your wrist in mid 2013 is a complete disaster for a tennis player. 'Bad luck' has been this guys middle name. Surely he's due some easier R1 players in slams some time soon from 128 players in the draw to get a foothold and build his confidence in the slams. It's been these run of R1 losses that badly affected his confidence so he went back to the challengers to find himself again. So far so good.

I may be wrong but once Goffin finds his feet properly then trust me this guy has a big win in him somewhere, his ball striking ability is second to none as his matches against Djokovic, Federer and the 2nd half of the Murray match this year have shown. He just needs a break in the bigger events...that's luck, not wrist.

[HM Murdock]

Lydian, let's put it this way - do you think any of Goffin's shots or skills would rate in the top 5 examples on tour?

I'm really surprised you rate his ball striking so highly. It's aesthetically nice but I don't sense any real potency in them.

[lydian]

Shots...no. Skills yes...he takes the ball really early. Ridiculously early at times actually. This is a 150lbs guy that can live with and beat heavy sluggers on clay. It's not his overwhelming power that wins matches, it's his early ball taking, positional play and tennis brain.

Is he going to be top 5? Er, no. Top 20 even? Possibly.
I think he's staple at least top 25-40 ability. So my point is not that he's missing out on winning slams, but that languishing around 100-110 ranking is way below his ability...as the current run shows...it's just been a bad run for the guy.

Time will tell but his ball striking ability is top notch, and if Gilles Simon can get to top 15 ranking off a slight frame then why not this guy? Is Simon more talented than Goffin? I don't believe so. In many respects they're quite similar players.

He is starting to get more muscly (see pic below from his match with Nieminen) so we'll see, if he can add a further 10-15 lbs of muscle then things could get very interesting.

Federer himself said of Goffin..."He took the ball early every time. He's got great potential in terms of his touch and the way he reads the game. I think he can go very far. He's very talented and hope he can make it to the top 20. That would be great."

When Federer calls someone "very talented" and says they "can go very far" I sit up and listen.

[Henman Bill]

great discussion and insights from both especially Lydian. You're convinced me at very least he should get into top 40 by end of next year if he avoids injury.

[lydian]

Definitely more muscle than 12 months ago...this photo from last Sunday and Challenger win from Sunday previous.




The thing that always strikes me with this guy is the hunger in his eyes too, you can see the guy 'wants it'. I'm absolutely convinced Goffin can go far and is showing determination to do so.

Cheers HB

[HM Murdock]

Personally, I think 'maybe one day making the top 20' is a pretty low bar to qualify as being one of the most talented players on tour.

But we're into different definitions of talent again.

[lydian]

I didn't say one of the most talented guys on tour...one of the best ball strikers which is different. There are no definitive definitions of talent...only various components that add together. Speed, hand-eye, endurance, mentality, power, will to win, etc. Some guys have it all...the multi-slammers...some have a few, others less so.

Goffin has prodigious ball striking talent but thats not enough in this slow-ball era, you need the power, size & endurance to match. These are the areas that hold Goffin back. Some he can work on if he really really wants it...others are genetics you can't change. Everyone has their ceiling, I just don't think he's hit his yet...would you not agree?

Anyway...he has Kohlscreiber tomorrow, a stern test for any player on clay, let's see how Goffin fares against a bigger name. But tomorrow aside I still think this guys star is starting to rise.

[Born Slippy]

Evans has Challenger finals to defend in the next two weeks (120 points). His first round match last night was stopped at 2-2 in the final set. Vital for him that he wins that and gets on a bit of a roll.

Zverev lost 61 60 to Diego Schwartzman in Kitzbuhel. Still a long road ahead for him. No one will take him lightly nowm

[The Special Juan]

Sabine hits the fastest women's serve in history!! 131mph!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/28558592

At least she'll be remembered for something.

[lags72]

I do hope Goffin can push onwards & upwards and that we get see much more of him. When he's on song he really is good to watch, in fact one of the best of the newer generation, and I guess the attraction is down largely to the the quality of his ball striking as highlighted by lydian.

Seems a long time since Wimbledon when we last saw the big guys in action, it's been quite a break for them. Do I assume they're all fit & raring to go next week in Toronto ....??

[lydian]

Absolutely BS...Evans has a lot of points to defend, and of course his mini-run at USO too...if he fares badly up to mid Sept his ranking could plummet. Kyle Edmunds is making good progress...up another 11 places this week so far and beating players ranked well above him including yesterday.

Wow re: Lisicki...131 is astonishing speed for either sex to hit. She really should have won Wimb last year

Agree Lags...he's a great player to watch and plays a little different to the identikit guys, he really reads the game and changes his approach from one point to the next, and very aggressive.

Yep...busy times ahead for the top guys...Toronto & Cincy back to back then USO not long after...the engine room of the season coming up and will show us who will end up as YE #1 I suspect. Lets see if winning Wimb has transformed Djokovic's self belief.

[lags72]

Credit also to Ivanovic, who actually got a full hit on that Lisicki bullet serve, even if it did miss the line ......

[The Special Juan]

I'm expecting Djokovic to go on a tear here. Favourite surface, full of confidence, rivals flagging... He couldn't ask for more.

[lags72]

TSJ - I guess that's how Novak himself sees the script, and it's probably where the smart money is. He will certainly be very set on ending the year top of the charts.

But then very often things just happen to come along that weren't in the script .... Might he be distracted by his new 'family life' .....?? Surely Rafa and Andy are well rested by now ....?? Yes, Roger will understandably be flagging as the season moves on, but then any pensioner would be .....

An intriguing couple of months ahead, and many/most of the London spots are still very much up for grabs   

[HM Murdock]

If Novak wants YE#1, then he has to rack up the points over the Canada, Cincy and USO.

I don't know exactly when his baby is due, but I'd guess October, which means he could miss one or some of China, Shanghai and Paris.

But I see no strong favourite for the coming weeks. I fully expect Roger and Rafa to be at the business end of tournaments and surely Andy has to come good sooner or later?

[LuvSports!]

Goffin beats Kohli in straights 6-3 7-5

[LuvSports!]

and then later that day he smashes lorenzi 6-2 6-1, boom

[lydian]

That's 18 straight wins with 36 straight sets!!!
Goffin reaches his first ATP World Tour semi-final.
This guy is on fire

[lydian]

...just looked at some records for most consecutive sets won.

Borg won 39 sets in a row between the WCT Invitational, and Las Vegas in 1980. John McEnroe won 35 consecutive sets, as well as another streak of 30, in 1984. Federer has won 29 consecutive sets, and Nadal has 28. Djokovic's longest streak is 18.

Ok, Goffin has played 3 Challengers as part of this but still good opponents and on clay...is anyone still doubting this guys talent yet?

[LuvSports!]

Yes! His eyes are to close together! Anndddd his country borders the Dutch!

[lydian]

....shocking crimes against tennis lol

[Born Slippy]

For anyone interested, USTA tends to screen the challengers around this time. The USTA website is showing two courts in Vancouver. Kokkinakis (talented Aussie teenager) is currently playing on one court. Dan Evans is on the other - just dropped the first set in fairly uninspiring fashion.

Ward already through to the QF on a walkover. Edmund and Klein into the QF in another challenger in Spain.

[lydian]

Cheers BS, was aware of those results but not the USTA stream.
Evans body language at times is terrible, like he can't be bothered!
He threw that match away...it's like he plays with no brain at times and far too many passive BH slices.

[Born Slippy]

Yeah, its a shame as it looked around February when he made his first ATP semi as though he was going to build on last year. However, he will be back down to around 200-250 after the US Open unless he can start pulling results together.

[The Special Juan]

Evo's not the only one falling down rankings - Azarenka is now 11th and has lost 5 matches in 6. In a bizarre statistic, Venus holds a 4-0 H2H record over her and hasn't even dropped a set.

[The Special Juan]

TSJ - I guess that's how Novak himself sees the script, and it's probably where the smart money is. He will certainly be very set on ending the year top of the charts.

But then very often things just happen to come along that weren't in the script .... Might he be distracted by his new 'family life' .....?? Surely Rafa and Andy are well rested by now ....?? Yes, Roger will understandably be flagging as the season moves on, but then any pensioner would be .....

An intriguing couple of months ahead, and many/most of the London spots are still very much up for grabs   

I keep forgetting about the kid. Novak will either play better after it or have a dip. I can't see things staying the same. Nadal's struggling with an injury and Murray's "finished" so unless someone else fancies stepping it up then we could be on for a bit of a procession. If Stan's fit and well, he'll fancy his chances come the later events.

[LuvSports!]

Goffin wins in 3! He served for the first set but lost it 7-5 before coming back to reach his first atp final, ALLEZ!

[lydian]

Sacre bleu - Goffin drops a set!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What's going on?

But wins his 19th straight match - 57 64 63

Goffin might be slightly narked though as he served for the 1st set at 5-4...must have felt the weight of straight set #37.

Anyway...Goffin becomes the 2nd fastest ATP mover of the week...up 22 places to #56 now.

[LuvSports!]

Looking good for a young gun final with Thiem a set and 3-0 up on monaco!

[The Special Juan]

Was Monaco injured? He was top 20 one minute and then completely disappeared off the radar the next!

[LuvSports!]

He got to 10 which was an absolute joke!

[The Special Juan]

You get players like that - nothing special but string a few good runs together, surge up the rankings and then fall back down the next year when they can't defend those points again. See: Janowicz. Monaco at number 10 was pretty funny though, no way he should have been ranked that highly.

[lydian]

Thiem vs Goffin is tough to call. I wonder how much gas Goffin has left in him, he said he was tired last Sunday! I'm picking Thiem in 3 sets.

Tough for Edmund, lost in final set TB.

[The Special Juan]

The Rogers Cup draw is up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Rogers_Cup_%E2%80%93_Men%27s_Singles


Poor Andy has a stinker of a draw but it could be worse, if Nadal hadn't have withdrawn then he'd have had to play in the first round proper!! Djokovic doesn't have it too easy either with Stepanek/Monfils, Tsonga, Murray, Stan, Bottom half finalist in his way. Federer's isn't bad - he'd fancy his chances v Janowicz, Cilic and Daveed but Berdy or Raonic could be very troublesome (Berdy has a better chance than that lump Raonic).

[LuvSports!]

Goffin wins in 3!

[lydian]

Yes!!! Goffin wins his first ATP title...and extends his match winning streak to 20!
That's now 4 titles in 4 weeks on clay...and people call him a lightweight!
This is the new Nadal...lol.

So Goffin moves up 30 places to #48 ranking.
Anybody listening about this guy's talent yet...?

[The Special Juan]

Have you ever read anything on this forum lydian? It doesn't count unless you beat 2 of the big 3...

It's a very impressive feat.

[lydian]

Yeah I know TSJ...obviously the tennis world only revolves around 3-4 players. I'm happy to stay a "misty-eyed whimsy" as one poster called me last week who also said the guy had to show some results to back up his talent...does winning 4 titles in 4 weeks culminating in an ATP title, where he beat the #1 seed in straights, count? Probably not...

[The Special Juan]

I'm slowly coming around to him but I don't know how high he can go. I don't see a top 10 player there but I do see one who can become a seed at the big events. And after all, plenty of players have made a comfy lifestyle in the bracket.

[lags72]

He's a no-nonsense-let's-get-on-with-it sort of player.

Good to watch, and here's hoping this win provides a springboard.

[lydian]

Goffin less than 12 months ago was losing R1 after R1, culminating in losing 60 60 in a tour event to Nieminen, then breaking his wrist. His confidence and future for all his obvious talent was at rock bottom, yet still only 22 years old. His ranking then dropped out of the top100. So he's done remarkably well to recover from that injury, avenge Nieminen in a final and climb back into the top 50 again. Ok, this isn't a top 5 player but it's a great comeback story of determination and overcoming adversity nonetheless. I hope this guy continues to prove everyone wrong and make them sit up and take notice!

[lydian]

James Ward is in the Vancouver Challenger SF and is now at his career peak of #128, so hats off to the quiet British man of tennis!

I read somewhere that Goffin is also only the fifth player born in the 1990s to lift a tour-level trophy, joining Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov, Bernard Tomic and Federico Delbonis. Somewhat surprising hey...? That's how good his win today is...plus it was the youngest ATP tour final in quite some time so the young guys seems to be breaking through more.

It was interesting for Thiem to say of Goffin..."Of course I’m very disappointed. But I lost against an extremely strong opponent, who didn’t commit a lot of mistakes and played with a lot power."
So maybe he's jumped up in physical terms recently too...

[LuvSports!]

Yes and for Thiem to say that, who at times outhit Stan the Man in Madrid, is quite a telling remark. Maybe it was just me but I thought it was axiomatic when goffin played feds in '12 that he had a good weight of shot. Maybe he was just on a role, I dunno.
Great to see and hear though!

[Born Slippy]

I think Ward is at 150. I suspect 128 is where he would be had he won Vancouver. Unfortunately he lost to Dustov in the SF.

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