2018 In Between Grand Slam Thread

mickmackey1 · 17-02-2018 4:45pm

Chivito550 wrote: »

How do we compare across sports though?

For example, Edwin Moses was unbeaten for 122 straight races over 400m hurdles from August 1977 to June 1987. 9 years, 9 months and 9 days without defeat. After this defeat, he went on to win another 10 races straight.

He won Olympic gold in 1976 and 1984, and was robbed by the US boycott in 1980. He also won the inaugural world championship title in 1983, and defended his title 4 years later in 1987, before bowing out of the sport with Olympic bronze in 1988 in the final race of his career.

All these years on, he remains the second fastest man in history, with only a freak run surpassing him. He ran under 48 seconds an outrageous 45 times during his career.

He’s just one example of pure greatness. Is he better than Federer? I don’t know how we can compare really.

Recency bias is a huge factor in these discussions.

The last 18 months clinches it imo, 35/36 is an outrageous age for a tennis player to be achieving these standards. Ed Moses was only 33 when he had to settle for bronze. There will never be a unanimous verdict of course, but Fed must have as good a claim as any.

Meanwhile Goffin forced out of his semi v Dimi with a freak eye injury from the ball rebounding off the racquet frame.

mickmackey1 · 17-02-2018 4:57pm

https://twitter.com/TennisTV/status/964880230287515653

yerwanthere123 · 18-02-2018 12:22pm

Kvitova a win away from her second title on the bounce and re-entering the top ten. Pretty good going considering it was once unclear if she'd be able to return to any kind of competitive level.

PropJoe10 · 18-02-2018 4:58pm

Another title on the board for Roger, 97 now in his career and 12 behind Jimmy Connors.

Rob2D · 18-02-2018 9:09pm

PropJoe10 wrote: »

Another title on the board for Roger, 97 now in his career and 12 behind Jimmy Connors.

I never thought anyone would come close to Connors. Crazy.

Royale with Cheese · 18-02-2018 9:52pm

Oldest ever world no.1 by a good 3 years, and he did it after skipping the entire clay court season :eek:

Koala Sunshine · 19-02-2018 9:16am

Congrats to old man Fedmaking world number one, now at about 70% of his previous 2006 peak and still manages to make number 1! His forehand is a shadow of it's former self and he moves around the court like a snail compared to 2006.

yerwanthere123 · 22-02-2018 9:30pm

Thrilled Petra got back to the top ten. Good SF lineup in Dubai as well, hope Kerber can take the title.

Bouchard's long awaited case against the USTA has been in court the last couple of days, with a verdict due today. Word is that she'll win, in which case it would remain to be seen how much compensation she'd get. Personally I think it would be a token amount, I can't see how she'd get anything substantial given how her 2015 had gone prior to the fall and how her career has gone since. I think the most she can reasonably be compensated for is that tournament and the rest of the season, anything beyond that wouldn't be appropriate imo. The "millions and millions" that her lawyer is seeking is beyond ridiculous.

jr86 · 23-02-2018 10:16am

I've just been looking at Wawrinka's results since the AO, dear me he is WAYYY off where he needs to be

I speculated at the time last year when he was ruled out that we may not see him near his best again. Granted, I'm looking in from the outside but he never struck me as someone who'd burst his gut to get back near the top.

Wouldn't surprise me to see him slide down the rankings and become a peripheral player from here

It's very funny how sport works, you often get players/teams who just take advantage of half-chances in big events - players like Tsonga, berdych, Ferrer, (even Delpo too who only has 1 slam) have been toiling away at the top for far longer and been much more consistent players year round at their best, but their best form early this decade coincided with the big 4 total dominance

yerwanthere123 · 23-02-2018 2:25pm

So Bouchard won her case, although she was deemed to be 25% liable. Today begins proceedings for how much compensation she'll get. I've seen estimates that she could get up to $40 million, which would be a farce imo.

Obviously only she can know how much the concussion affected her. But still, it's extremely difficult to imagine that the concussion had much to do with how her career has panned out. She had already flopped at various tournaments throughout 2015, and given how little she appears to actually care about her tennis and correcting her technique, I'd be very reluctant to put much blame on the concussion.

Her lawyers can make an argument for all the tournaments she *could* have won, but common sense need to come into play here. She'd won Nurnberg. That's it. By all means compensate her for a deep run at the US Open and a strong finish to the season, but to get tens of millions would be beyond ludicrous.

Johnmb · 23-02-2018 5:26pm

jr86 wrote: »

I've just been looking at Wawrinka's results since the AO, dear me he is WAYYY off where he needs to be

We won't really know where he's at until the Slams. Even at his best he had a habit of losing terrible matches at normal tournaments, and then being on fire during the next Slam.

jr86 · 23-02-2018 5:29pm

Johnmb wrote: »

We won't really know where he's at until the Slams. Even at his best he had a habit of losing terrible matches at normal tournaments, and then being on fire during the next Slam.

Ivashka? Basic? Griekspoor?

Who the hell even are these people? :eek:

RosyLily · 26-02-2018 5:17pm

http://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/22585510/davis-cup-transformed-world-cup-tennis-2019

Changes to the Davis Cup is long overdue. I'll miss the home/away aspect of it - made for some great atmosphere! Wonder if the Fed Cup is next.

Rob2D · 27-02-2018 1:16am

Good. Davis Cup has been a complete mess for too long.

yerwanthere123 · 27-02-2018 3:47am

Nice title win for Tiafoe, the youngest American to win a debut title since Andy Roddick.

Regarding the Davis Cup changes, I'm not sure how motivated the players will be to play it at the end of the season. I think the best thing to do would simply have been to change it to a biennial event, something I know some players have previously advocated.

jr86 · 27-02-2018 10:32am

Good to see changes, but I agree with yerwanthere with regard to the skepticism about players' effort levels at the end of the season. How many top players in recent years have we seen rock up to the Tour Finals and given a token effort?

Every 2 years would be ideal. As for when - it's difficult to find an ideal time unless other events are moved. During the summer is tricky as too close to August has players pulling out to head to North America (as we saw with the Olympics in 2016), and too close to Wimbledon might mean top players pulling out who go deep at Wimbledon and on the other end of the scale more tank jobs at Wimbledon in the first round

RosyLily · 27-02-2018 7:51pm

Agreed. Not a good time to have it. Most of the players are knackered/not bothered by then, you can see that as clear as day at the World Tour Finals. It would have made more sense to have it after the US Open or maybe in the Spring.

Floppybits · 28-02-2018 4:38am

Nadal pulls out of Acapulco at the last minute due to a hip injury. Its not looking good for him for indian wells.

yerwanthere123 · 28-02-2018 4:44am

With his body as crippled as it has been, it's really bizarre that he still bothers with tournaments like Rio at this stage of his career.

jr86 · 28-02-2018 10:38am

Yeah it's about time he committed to a reduced schedule at this stage

That should include not bothering with grass anymore

dominatinMC · 28-02-2018 12:37pm

jr86 wrote:

Yeah it's about time he committed to a reduced schedule at this stage

jr86 wrote:

That should include not bothering with grass anymore

Agreed, considering his injury record, he really needs to adopt a Federer-type of approach to the tour now. Maybe this latest setback will be a wake up call to him at last.

mickmackey1 · 28-02-2018 1:18pm

Hasn't finished any of his last 5 tournaments now, aged 31. Federer has won 5 of his last 6, aged 36. Kinda sums up the gulf separating talent from hard work.

dominatinMC · 28-02-2018 1:45pm

mickmackey1 wrote: »

Hasn't finished any of his last 5 tournaments now, aged 31. Federer has won 5 of his last 6, aged 36. Kinda sums up the gulf separating talent from hard work.

Give it a rest with your Federer rhetoric. This is an issue related to Nadal, not Federer, but yet you bring Federer into the equation. Symptomatic of Federer fanboy insecurity.

mickmackey1 · 28-02-2018 4:00pm

dominatinMC wrote: »

Give it a rest with your Federer rhetoric. This is an issue related to Nadal, not Federer, but yet you bring Federer into the equation. Symptomatic of Federer fanboy insecurity.

Just pointing out a reality that will be of interest to genuine tennis fans... understand your bitterness though.

dominatinMC · 28-02-2018 4:47pm

mickmackey1 wrote: »

Just pointing out a reality that will be of interest to genuine tennis fans... understand your bitterness though.

:D You never fail to entertain! Don't confuse "genuine tennis fans" with Federer fanboys, who would of course be very interested and, in some cases, delighted to hear those very succinct facts which you pointed out. :rolleyes:

Pluto Planet · 02-03-2018 2:56pm

jr86 wrote: »

Good to see changes, but I agree with yerwanthere with regard to the skepticism about players' effort levels at the end of the season. How many top players in recent years have we seen rock up to the Tour Finals and given a token effort?

Every 2 years would be ideal. As for when - it's difficult to find an ideal time unless other events are moved. During the summer is tricky as too close to August has players pulling out to head to North America (as we saw with the Olympics in 2016), and too close to Wimbledon might mean top players pulling out who go deep at Wimbledon and on the other end of the scale more tank jobs at Wimbledon in the first round

It's fine when the way it is now, once of year and end if season.

jr86 · 02-03-2018 3:02pm

Is it?

Are players really going to turn up/give 100% so late in the season?

Rikand · 04-03-2018 12:28pm

jr86 wrote: »

Is it?

Are players really going to turn up/give 100% so late in the season?

National pride does still mean a lot to some players

jr86 · 04-03-2018 12:58pm

And lets be honest there's plenty - like in every sport - who despite throwing out a few nice PR soundbites will be far more concerned with their own career and longevity than partaking in an interest-dwindling event that eats into their own off-season, even if it is representing their country.

Plenty were willing to forego national pride when they pulled out of the Olympics (and I completely see their POV).

yerwanthere123 · 04-03-2018 9:45pm

There was quite a strong backlash from some of the players when the changes were announced anyway, so I don't think this new format will last long. I mean, I don't really care about Davis Cup, but even I know the home/away factor is such a big part of it, to take it away is silly.

yerwanthere123 · 06-03-2018 1:49am

On to Indian Wells... Sharapova opens against Osaka, would play Radwanska in the 2nd round, possibly Muguruza in the 3rd and Barty/Vandeweghe in the 4th. Good luck getting through that draw Maria :pac:

Azarenka returns against Heather Watson, and would face familiar foe Sloane Stephens in the 2nd round. Serena opens against Diyas and could play Venus in the 3rd round.

Floppybits · 12-03-2018 11:41am

Djokovic and Edmund knocked out in Indian Wells. Cant believe that Djokovic lost, he was 5-2 up in the first set and cruising and then just lost concentrating, rhythm and timing and lost the set and then struggled after that. I suppose it is a bit of rust in the well oiled Djokovic machine from the injury layoff. Hopefully he plays in Miami.
Edmunds lay off as well from the Australian open cost him this match. He didn't look fully fit in it.

jr86 · 12-03-2018 12:12pm

Bloody hell that's a horror result by Djokovic.

I'd never fully write him off but he seems absolutely miles away from slam winning form.

I didn't even know Indian Wells had started

With 2 of the big 4 (as well as Wawrinka) ruled out, I guess it's not surprising - the popularity of Mens Tennis seems to have hit a real lull

dominatinMC · 12-03-2018 12:13pm

Floppybits wrote: »

Djokovic and Edmund knocked out in Indian Wells. Cant believe that Djokovic lost, he was 5-2 up in the first set and cruising and then just lost concentrating, rhythm and timing and lost the set and then struggled after that. I suppose it is a bit of rust in the well oiled Djokovic machine from the injury layoff. Hopefully he plays in Miami.
Edmunds lay off as well from the Australian open cost him this match. He didn't look fully fit in it.

I was genuinely shocked by Djokovic...he looked completely lost out there. His timing on his groundstrokes was way off, even more worryingly he looked like he wasn't hitting through the ball, which could be a subconscious decision (or even conscious) to protect the elbow.

Floppybits · 12-03-2018 12:58pm

When I seen the start of the match I thought Djokovic was going to win without being tested too much. Then whatever happened in the 8th game of the first set turned the whole match around. I guess it should be expected after the layoff the Djokovic had that he is going to have results like this until he plays more matches. I would expect to see him play a few 250 and 500s to get back into match fitness/Rhythm.

yerwanthere123 · 12-03-2018 2:04pm

Lots been happening in Indian Wells, Serena's won her first two matches back, but Azarenka's out to Sloane Stephens after previously defeating Heather Watson.

Naomi Osaka is doing well, into the 4th round having beaten Sharapova and Radwanska along the way. Sharapova is on a three-match losing streak, her future in the sport isn't exactly looking bright right now. I'd have thought by the time the clay rolls around again she'd be back in the mix, not facing prospect of her ranking taking a dip in Stuttgart.

16 year-old Amanda Anisimova is having a nice run, into the 4th round after beating Kvitova. Bouchard, meanwhile, made great use of her wildcard by making her now customary 1st round exit. Only so long she can keep getting these WC's, even the endorsements are now starting to dry up.

Not going to bother commenting on the men's, not really interested in the Federer coronation.

Floppybits · 12-03-2018 4:21pm

The men's draw is week with no Nadal, Murray, Wawrinka and now Djokovic but in saying that Del Potro looks to have hit some form winning Acapulco and quietly making his way through the rounds in Indian Wells same with Cilic. Raonic is back as well and seems to be doing well. Be interesting to see how he gets on after the lay off.

Nishikori was suppose to be back but he has picked a bug and was unable to compete. That guys just has now luck.

Floppybits · 14-03-2018 12:08am

Great seeing Del Potro back to his best. Has a great chance in this tournament.

jr86 · 14-03-2018 10:16am

Floppybits wrote: »

Great seeing Del Potro back to his best. Has a great chance in this tournament.

To be fair ferrer is well on the road to retirement

Can't see anyone touching Roger really

yerwanthere123 · 17-03-2018 12:39pm

Wow, what a result from Osaka! Thought Halep would be way too solid for her. Great to see two youngsters in the final, a real winner takes all affair. Kasatkina only has one premier title to her name whilst Osaka has only reached a single final. Hoping Osaka can do it, but think Daria will.

jr86 · 17-03-2018 1:01pm

Great to see Raonic playing well again imo

Always got a lot of stick but he really improved as a player in 2016 and injury has really cursed him since, when he was very close to regular slam contention

That said Federer will probably drop a handful of games between here and the title.

walshb · 17-03-2018 9:42pm

Fed really had to pull it out of the bag..4/3 down in final set and broke to go on to win final 3 games..

jr86 · 17-03-2018 9:46pm

Really thought he'd blow Coric away.

Would love to see Raonic winning it out but can't see RF losing the final after that

mickmackey1 · 17-03-2018 9:48pm

Epic match, Coric is clearly a lot more than just hype. The court seems soooo slow, I thought they wanted Fed to win everything...

jr86 · 17-03-2018 9:55pm

mickmackey1 wrote: »

Epic match, Coric is clearly a lot more than just hype. The court seems soooo slow, I thought they wanted Fed to win everything...

Indian Wells is always painfully slow. A wet dream for prime Nadal/Djokovic

mickmackey1 · 17-03-2018 10:26pm

jr86 wrote: »

Indian Wells is always painfully slow. A wet dream for prime Nadal/Djokovic

I thought Miami was the slow one, Fed seemed to have a lot more difficulty winning there last year.

Floppybits · 18-03-2018 11:16pm

Some final this is. Both players going for it and poor Fergus in the chair getting it from both players. ðŸ˜€

walshb · 18-03-2018 11:39pm

MP Fed!

walshb · 18-03-2018 11:41pm

Del breaks...5/5

jr86 · 19-03-2018 12:02am

Well thank God for that, for the sake of the men's game.

It's a shame Del Potro is so injury prone as he could really take advantage of this new era. On his day he really is a class act.

2018 In Between Grand Slam Thread

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