Djokovic Clear No. 1 After Dubai Title, Berdych Beatdown

Novak is now over 3700 points clear at the top, not bad.
He is on his way to LA to play with his childhood idol Sampras before IW.

March 3rd, 2013 at 12:06 am

^ Oh that’s right Wog Boy; I forgot about that exho. I think the Bryan Boys and Fish are also playing – but it’s cool Nole will get to play with Sampras! I hope I can find a stream for that. :) p.s. will look up that film you mentioned.

March 3rd, 2013 at 12:08 am

jane,

The line from the movie became synonym for everything we want to do but cannot do it for whatever reason. The movie has to be watched with the little bit of knowledge of looming war and German invasion of Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1941. and to be openminded. I am pretty sure mat4 can explain it better … mat4 are you around?

March 3rd, 2013 at 12:27 am

here is the link of the mention sequence with english subtitle:

“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6xzSNVZQMs”

March 3rd, 2013 at 12:51 am

Congrats to Novak !! This is his fourth Dubai trophy and he is just one less than Roger. The significant thing about this victory is the way Novak outsmarted Berdych even when he was not at his best. If ever there was a day when Berdych could have fancied his chances against Novak was this day when Novak was below his best. But still if Novak managed to beat him in straight sets, it just goes to show the high level Novak has achieved which is much ahead of competition.

March 3rd, 2013 at 1:44 am

If it was Roger at the other end today, I think the match would have become more intense and interesting. Berdych is always an easy meat for Novak.

March 3rd, 2013 at 1:44 am

Congrats to the world no. 1. The best in the tour right now. He’s going to stay at the top for a long time I think

March 3rd, 2013 at 2:59 am

Maybe somebody already posted but I am just watching now Berdych/ Nole match and noticed that Berfych doesnt have sponsor on his clothes. Is he finished with Nike, not that it is imoprtant.

March 3rd, 2013 at 3:45 am

I finally managed to watch the match.

Novak didn’t play well, nor did he play well this tournament. He played a few good sets, but his overall level was below what he has shown at the AO.

In the final, it seemed clear that Berdych has the weapons to beat anybody, but lacks the nerves: he botched overheads, easy volleys in crucial points. He came out with a clear, successful strategic plan (about the same Tomik played last month against Djokovic), playing down the line with his BH, and suddenly, when the match became tense, he reverted to his usual play, hitting hard and waiting for things to happen.

Novak slowly improves his FH. There are more and more shots faster than 150 km/h, his spin is more effective (it was one of the elements that allowed him to break Berdych’s FH so easily; it is one of the key elements of the resurgence of his serve). In some matches, he played his lethal IO backhand, but seldom.

I still think that his game is in plain mutation. His FH changes, his BH changes, his overall strategy on the court takes another shape. In some matches, it was almost clear he experimented. He has now on of the best FH on the tour, certainly one of the most versatile, he has vastly improved his net game, especially his FH. Now, we have to wait and see where he will land.

BTW, Novak has a streak of 13 wins against top 10 players, for the second time of his career. Just like in many other stats, he is clear second behind Roger Federer. I would be very happy if he manages to finish his career with most of his stats at that place. But you never know.

Finally, congrats to @alison for his fav convincing win.

March 3rd, 2013 at 4:22 am

Thanks Mat4 im female gender though.

March 3rd, 2013 at 4:41 am

mat4,

Still watching Dubai final, I’ll get back to you about Nole’s game but I think he is playing good, steady good tennis. Second set 1:1 …

March 3rd, 2013 at 4:54 am

@WB:

Here I am! But about explaining…

First, you have to live Eastern Europe to understand it, just like you have to live South America, or China. Then, you have to reject the myth of the “right of Western Europe to bring civilization to the World”. Finally, the Western world can’t handle the truth.

jane is a very open minded person, with a broad culture, so, I think she will understand. If he doesn’t understand, no one can help her.

March 3rd, 2013 at 4:57 am

@alison:

Sorry, I didn’t notice the mistake even when checking after you post. So:

Congrats to @alison for HER fav’s convincing win.

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:04 am

… your post…

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:04 am

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/indies/img-up-for-sale/5052512.article
Nole fans. IMG up for sale. Does this have any effect on your man? #JustAsking

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:08 am

No problem Mat4.

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:10 am

Peter Bodo wrote an article about the sale of IMG this week. We have seen that Novak’s draw seem to be easier since he signed with IMG. Then, who knows?

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:44 am

About the match, Berdych didn’t choke … Nole was rock solid and answered all the questions that Berdych asked him … problem was that Berdych run out of the questions and Nole still had few more answers in his bag.
jane is right about Nole, he was focused 101% and knew what he wants and how to get it. Just look at the last two games.

BTW, Dubai has been voted best 500 tournament by ATP players for the nineth time in last ten years.

mat4 thanks for coming back to me about the movie, have you seen it?

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:59 am

How long Rafa was with IMG? Was he?

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:00 am

How long Roger was with IMG? Was he?

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:06 am

Giles,

Are you suggesting something?

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:07 am

Wog boy. Not suggesting, just asking.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:41 am

Congratulations Novak and his fans… Watched the match, berdych was off to a fast start and was overpowering djokovic. But Novak was solid, consistent and won the big points. His first serve has become really precise and getting him a lot of free points.

March 3rd, 2013 at 12:18 pm

^ thanks marrisv; same to you for Rafa.

mat4, I agree with you insofar as this; at Dubai Nole didn’t play his best consistently from the start to the end of any of his matches. Yet he still won the tournament, beating Berdych and Delpo along the way. Even Nole himself claimed after the final that while he didn’t play his absolute best he was mentally strong and his serve turned out to be a reliable weapon. Plus his forehand looked great. I agree that he is working on some aspects of his game and is still in transition. I kind of wish he weren’t playing DC this year so he’d have a little extra time between events for concentrated practice efforts. But hopefully he knows what he’s doing.

March 3rd, 2013 at 1:13 pm

Great to here different fan groups congratulating their favs rivals,a refreshing change from the usual trash talking.

March 3rd, 2013 at 1:41 pm

“I agree with you insofar as this; at Dubai Nole didn’t play his best consistently from the start to the end of any of his matches. Yet he still won the tournament, beating Berdych and Delpo along the way. March 3rd, 2013 at 1:13 pm

“That is, I think, what impressed me the most. Oh, sure, he yelled at himself after a few misses, but overall he was a tiger today. :)

March 2nd, 2013 at 6:52 pm

Which one is it, he didn’t play well, but yet he was strong and focused and a “tiger” yesterday?

March 3rd, 2013 at 1:51 pm

^ Both – they’re not mutually exclusive. In other words, his shots might not have been at their best (excluding his forehand and serve) BUT he was mentally very strong and focused. As I already stated at 1:13.

Also one quote above of mine refers to *the whole tournament* and the other one refers to *the final.*

Nole lost focus in some of his other matches; his second sets versus Viktor and Juan Martin were not as good because he lost mental focus. What was nice about the final is that he *stayed focused* all the way through. Further, Nole’s serve was up and down throughout the tournament, but again, in the final he was able to serve well consistently.

March 3rd, 2013 at 2:06 pm

@jane, WB:

Of course, you could be right that Thomas didn’t really choke (although he did ;-): Novak puts so much spin in his shots, and changes that spin constantly, it provokes a lot of errors from a flat hitter usually.

I was shocked by the way Novak destroyed Berdych’s FH: he never did it so easily. Usually, he had to make the Czech run from side to side, but this time, Nole was happy just to exchange blows from the baseline, certain that he will win the FH rally.

His game wasn’t consistent: he was imperial in the first sets of most of his matches (the final excepted), but he had lapses in his focus a few times in the 2nd set. It is not always easy to remain motivated when the outcome is clear and the difference of class obvious.

I also noticed that he develops a high rebounding CC FH (he played it a few times in the final, perhaps in the semi too, but I am not sure), and Berdych had troubles to get it back in play from above the elbow.

Yes, the serve percentage was up and down, but the first serve was efficient. Novak has more juice and more spin on that shot.

March 3rd, 2013 at 2:50 pm

“I also noticed that he develops a high rebounding CC FH (he played it a few times in the final, perhaps in the semi too, but I am not sure), and Berdych had troubles to get it back in play from above the elbow.”

I noticed this too mat4. It reminded me a little of Rafa’s spin on clay to Fed’s backhand. You could see Berdych having to reach up to return the ball.

March 3rd, 2013 at 2:55 pm

@jane:

C. Bradnam said he trained with Seppi in MC after the AO, so I thought it was mostly on clay (although it’s still winter in France, so I guess I am wrong). But this stupid assumption made me notice this “clay”, “nadalesque” shot. Does Novak already prepare for a encounter against Rafa on clay?

March 3rd, 2013 at 3:55 pm

mat4,jane

Yes, high CC FH Rafa style, he used it more in the first set when Berdych was overpowering him eith his FH, it was good very smart thing to do since Berdych started to have upper hands. Nole had to change something to stop Berdych’s momentum and he did it.
Nelo played to best FH in the world (SF and F)and was scared to go one for one, FH against FH. I enjoyed them.
mat4, you are right, there is more spin on his shots, invluding serve, than before, whether is racquet or technique or both.

No, Berdych didn’t choke:)

March 3rd, 2013 at 4:10 pm

“wasn’t scared”

March 3rd, 2013 at 4:11 pm

Prediction time:

IW: Novak Djokovic
Miami: Andy Murray
Montecarlo: Novak Djokovic
Madrid: Novak Djokovic
Rome: Rafael Nadal
RG: Rafael Nadal
Queen’s: Andy Murray
Halle: Roger Federer
Wimbledon: Andy Murray
Montreal: Roger Federer
Cincinnati: Novak Djokovic
USO: Novak Djokovic
Shanghai: Andy Murray
Paris: Juan Martin Del Potro
WTF: Andy Murray

March 3rd, 2013 at 4:45 pm

Wogboy just to let ya know,Wigan were hammered at home by Liverpool 0 4,a Stewart Downing goal and a Luis Suarez hat trick yipee,YNWA a great weekend for both of us.

March 3rd, 2013 at 4:50 pm

@alison:

Watch a bit of your man against Ferrer. He looked very good.

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:22 pm

@WB. jane:

I was very glad Rafa played that well. Otherwise, there would always be stories how he wasn’t at his best when Novak took the FO..

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:24 pm

Rafa’s defeat in the semi against Andy will be epic..

(jamie inspired me.)

:-)

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:26 pm

Thanks Mat4 im glad hes playing well,ill take your word for it,as i havent actually seen him play except for highlights,hope it continues win or lose,looking forward to seeing him playing again at IW win or lose,its just great as a fan to have him back.

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:42 pm

my post 4:10pm

Sorry people, too many mistakes even for my standards, was posting while stuck in the morning traffic, not smart thing to besides it is illegal:(

Thanks alison, I told you so, Liverpool is work in progress we have to give them more time, it took Ferguson four years and Eric Cantona to win first title, he would never do that without Frenchman.

mat4, you are walking fine line now:)

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:44 pm

It was more Berdych choking and giving up in the second set than djokovic being a tiger, hence my question.

Mat4’s description of the match was more accurate, jane’s assessment changed from thread to thread and made Djokovic out to be extremely solid and roaring as a tiger, which he wasn’t.

As always, Berdych folds when playing against Djoker and Nadal. They both run him from side to side, which Fed does not do now that he’s older, and this gets the big guy tired. The distance T-Berd runs in the long points was shown on TV after long points.

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:54 pm

WB:

BTW (sorry: TWB): Watched the film. It began one year in Avignon, where I watched Le Théâtre ambulant Šopalović. Then I was interested by yugoslavian theatre and film, there was Kusturica, and eventually I discovered Kovacevic.

March 3rd, 2013 at 5:56 pm

Yeah, Berdych clearly “gave up” in the second set, lol.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:02 pm

No need to LOL, it’s my opinion of what I saw. I’m not laughing at your comment, which IMO was an inaccurate description of the match as opposed to Mat4’s, which was more insightful.but be my guest and laugh…

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:07 pm

I stand by my assessment of the final, which I posted on the other thread and which Alok posted only part of here:

“mat4, Nole played well, so did Berdych; it was a tight contest. Berd didn’t play his best on some of the bigger points on his serve, but he played well on Nole’s serve – even serving for the match he pushed Nole and he broke him early in set 1 with some amazing power. But Nole’s inside-out forehand stood out for me, and he served, today, exceptionally well. I think after the first set, he’d hit over 80% first serves in. And Berdych just can’t punish Nole’s second serve, like Nole can punish his. Nole’s return was a weapon today. Very strong showing. Even when he went down love-30 serving for the match, even when he got a time violation at deuce in that same game, always, always he seemed confident and very focused. That is, I think, what impressed me the most. Oh, sure, he yelled at himself after a few misses, but overall he was a tiger today. :)”

——-

As anyone can see, I didn’t say he played “his best” nor that he was “roaring”; I said he played “well.”

And I also said that what impressed me the most in the final match was his focus. I stand by that, too.

In no way does my “assessment changed from thread to thread”.

Here’s what I wrote above:

“mat4, I agree with you insofar as this; at Dubai Nole didn’t play his best consistently from the start to the end of any of his matches. Yet he still won the tournament, beating Berdych and Delpo along the way. Even Nole himself claimed after the final that while he didn’t play his absolute best he was mentally strong and his serve turned out to be a reliable weapon. Plus his forehand looked great. I agree that he is working on some aspects of his game and is still in transition. I kind of wish he weren’t playing DC this year so he’d have a little extra time between events for concentrated practice efforts. But hopefully he knows what he’s doing.”

——–

I say he didn’t play his “best” consistently. That doesn’t contradict my earlier assessment that he played “well” on the other thread. There is a different between “best” and “well.”

I also distinguished during other matches that his serve was up and down, and that was his focus sometimes lapsed as well, hence his inability to close out a couple of matches on serve.

BUT in the final match, his focus was “tiger”-like; he knew what he wanted and he kept his eye focused on the prize, even when he was down love-30 in the final game. His mental strength in the final trumped Berd’s.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:13 pm

I suppose my English comprehension is weak, but I know sarcasm, and I know when someone didn’t analyze a match well enough, until another brought in points which were agreed to by said person.

Anyway, unimportant don’t need sarcasm and will leave djokovic matches for his “fan”. No talking tennis here.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:23 pm

I don’t know if it is only me but I noticed that Alok always and almost exclusively contradicts jane’s posts, but I will leave that to two of you to sort it out.
BTW,Nole was The Tiger, Siberian one, but if you don’t like the bloke you will find hundreds of reasons not to give him a credit.

mat4, you discovered right people and I know Kusturica is big in France he was even awarded highest French order and given citizenship.
The problem with those movies id that you have to be familiar with mentality and history of that part of the world to really appreciate the movies.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:27 pm

Prediction time:

IW: Novak Djokovic
Miami: Rafa Nadal
Montecarlo: Novak Djokovic
Madrid: Rafa Nadal
Rome: Rafael Nadal
RG: Rafael Nadal
Queen’s: Andy Murray
Halle: Roger Federer
Wimbledon: Roger Federer
Montreal: Roger Federer
Cincinnati: Novak Djokovic
USO: Novak Djokovic
Shanghai: Roger Federer
Paris: Roger Federer
WTF: Novak Djokovic

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:30 pm

ALOK
We don’t have crystal balls like Jamie but what are your predictions?

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:32 pm

Your english comprehension is clearly fine, but I am allowed to rebut comments that are made explicitly about my posts and their viability, especially when I am being accused of changing my opinion from thread to thread. When I initially responded to mat4’s question about how Nole played, I said he played “well”, served well and was extremely focused. I also discussed Berd’s play, which I thought was strong. Nothing I said then contradicts what I said on this thread, as you implied. I have no problems discussing Nole’s matches, in fact I enjoy it, and as far as talking tennis goes, that’s all we were doing. So there is no need to bow out of a conversation.

There’s a nice summary at Tennis.com which I just read; it basically states that Nole played big points better, but also that he’s a bad matchup for big hitters.

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/03/dubai-djokovic-d-berdych/46661/#.UTPc9ZiIKQI

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:32 pm

I hope both jamie and Lazlo are correct that Nole wins Monte Carlo and Cincinnati; they are the only 2 Masters titles he is missing!!

Wog boy, cheers.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:34 pm

Jane, how cunning of you to deviate slightly in your assessment of the Dubai final. ;)

Back to tennis: I’m really looking forward to IW and all of the big 4 back at the same tournament. Hope Andy’s 4 week training block turns out to have been a wise strategy.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:36 pm

DA, sigh, did I even? I didn’t think so. Anyhow, am going to let it be. And yes, looking forward to IW. Rafa will be lurking in the QFs! “Eeek!” for the others.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:38 pm

@jane:

We can’t say that Berdych really choked, but the truth is that he missed some very crucial points. Novak was 3/4 on BP, Berdych 1/4 (or 5). I remember he missed a smash, and easy volley, two or three FHs.

But, on the other side, it is quite usual when you hit flat. I remember that Lendl was always ready to play the “one ball more” game against Connors, who was a very steady player, but he hit flat, and would make an error earlier.

We also shouldn’t forget the amount of spin Novak puts in his FHs, his lobs, and it could explain some of Berdych’s errors.

What made me think that Berdych was a bit troubled after the first set, although he fought until the last point, is that he changed his overall strategy in the match: he played a lot of BH DTL in the first set, then much less in the second. But I noticed that Novak almost didn’t engage in CC BH rallies in the second set, rather hitting in the middle or DTL, and trying to engage and FH rally instead.

And yes, his FH was really outstanding in this match.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:44 pm

Jane, you missed my emoticon. And yes to the QF “eek” factor. Any of the 3 could get him, right? I think I know who he’ll have the best chance against.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:44 pm

@WB, I don’t say much to jane, if at all, and it’s because I find jane’s assessment to be confusing. She changes from thread to thread when someone else adds their opinion.

I’d like you to show me where I always contradict jane. I believe the last time I said anything to jane on one of her comments was several months ago. So plz stick to the facts. perhaps jane can ascertain this to be true.

@jane, as I said my cmprehension is probably not clear, but you do change from thread to thread.
what’s this:

“mat4, I agree with you insofar as this; at Dubai Nole didn’t play his best consistently from the start to the end of any of his matches.”

However, in your original post you said:

“mat4, Nole played well, so did Berdych; it was a tight contest. Berd didn’t play his best on some of the bigger points on his serve, but he played well on Nole’s serve – even serving for the match he pushed Nole and he broke him early in set 1 with some amazing power.”

“Oh, sure, he yelled at himself after a few misses, but overall he was a tiger today. :)”

It’s the reason I asked which one is it. You changed your analysis when Mat4 added his comments.

I hope you can see the difference.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:53 pm

i agree with all the comments about the Dubai final. it’s quite clear that berdych only has a plan a type of game, i.e. big serve, flat FH putaway, serviceable BH. he doesn’t seem to know how to adapt and vary his game when things don’t go his way. it’s interesting that he has more success & consistency against federer and murray even though they both also vary the shots by hitting flat or with spin. the only conclusion i come to is djokovic is completely in his head.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:54 pm

Oh thanks DA, tone is so slippery sometimes in online venues. :) They’ll all be checking be the draw with baited breath!

mat4, I thought Nole’s BH was actually not so great in the final; he made a few uncharacteristic errors off that side; on the other hand, as you note, Berd’s was excellent, on the DTL. Agree with you about spin and potentially forced errors. Perhaps that explains some of Daveed’s uncommon errors last night during the final? It could also explain things like a missed smash or a flubbed volley, but then again it could be – as the summary I posted mentions – the “shadow” of Nole. he he. There is no doubt that after a lot of losses to a player, there is a mental imposition on the opponent that may not be there otherwise, and on stressful plays like smashes and volleys, that weight can bear heavier.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:55 pm

@WB:

“Wog boy Says:

I don’t know if it is only me but I noticed […]”

Yes, I did notice it, although I don’t think it is exclusively.

jane is usually very humble about her knowledge of the game, and her posts are very not only insightful but balanced and respectful, but obviously it seems it is not enough.

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:56 pm

@jane: You found it laughable when I said Berdych gave up after the frst set, then if it’s not so, why would Mat4 say this:

“What made me think that Berdych was a bit troubled after the first set,”

@DA why do you always have to behave like a little brat?

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:56 pm

@volley, the consensus of opinion is that it was not a highly contested match. I think djokovic just played enough to win as Berd only can pound his serve, when he plays against djokoer and Nadal. when they run him around he begins to fade and give us. With Fed Berd can hit his big serve and FH, and not have to run as much.

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:01 pm

Alok, that’s not a change of assessment. I said he didn’t play his “best” consistently from beginning to end of any match, which I think is true; if he had, I believe the scoreline would’ve been more lopsided – even in the final.

I said he played “well” in the final and was very focused (in my initial post). I didn’t say he played consistently the very best top-form Nole level in the final. Frankly I don’t think I’ve seen that from Nole since 2011; I’ve seen flashes and periods of his best. But not the kind of form where he was handing out bagels and breadsticks on a regular basis. To me, the two assessments don’t contradict. To you, they do clearly. But you often see these things in my posts.

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:02 pm

mat4,

Ok, delete “exclusively” but keep the rest.

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:07 pm

I’ll let mat4 respond for himself as to what he means. I don’t think Berdych gave up. In fact, I think he kept fighting. Even when Nole was serving for the match, Berdych got it to love-30 and then to deuce. Were he to have broken back there, it would’ve been back on serve. 1 break in a set does not, at least to me, suggest holding up the white flag. And actually, Nole didn’t run Berdych side-to-side a lot. Berd had Nole running probably more! Nole was bold enough to go forehand to forehand with Berd at mat4 already pointed out.

I don’t see that it was a poorly contested final; I found it to be tightly contested. Tighter than when Nole won the final there last time, in 2011.

I think this tennis.com quote captures the Berd/Nole match-up well:

“This is a comfortable match-up for the six-time Grand Slam champion because he’s the more agile athlete, he’s quicker around the court, a better ball-striker on the run and shrewder at changing up the spins on his shots, which gives him access to angles the flatter-hitting Berdych can’t consistently produce. Though Berdych has scored significant doubles victories in leading the Czech Republic to the Davis Cup, he often looks averse to the front court and is prone to playing clunky volleys under pressure. It cost him when he hammered a backhand down the line to open the court, but bungled a routine high forehand volley, slapping it into net to drop serve for 4-all in a deflating donation.”

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:08 pm

jane, I don’t really want to duke anything out with you. You said: “I said he didn’t play his “best” consistently from beginning to end of any match,..”

Only after Mat4 gave his opinion. Before that you sounded as though djokovic was playing terrific from start to finish, asin in today he was a “tiger” What do you think a tiger does? he tears up his foe. If not, why would you LOL me when I said Berd gave up in the second set. sure he hit the ball back, but he didn’t really fight.

To me what I see from you is that you try to build up djokovic more than he plays, especially after he beats an opponent Fed loses to.

Anyway, that’s it. I will not say anything about djokovic to you or his fans as it seems that too much is read into my comments. I

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:11 pm

@jane:

You’re right about Novak’s BH, although it worked well in the second set. In Australia, Novak played a lot of devastating IO BH, but none in the final against Berdych. But it could be related to his overall strategy: he was certain to break Thomas’ FH, so he targeted mostly his FH.

When I rewatched the last games of that match, there were a few FH to FH rallies where Novak kept hitting harder and harder, until he provoked an error.

Then, in that second set, he hit his IO FH with more angle, and he especially hit shorter, so that Berdych didn’t have opportunities to hit DTL (Murray did something similar to Novak in the AO final too).

What impressed me most, after that second look, is the impression of power that emanated from Novak’s shots. I feel he just overpowered Berdych. [What’s interesting is that Novak stood usually three feet behind the baseline in the most brutal rallies.]

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:13 pm

Tiger as in focused; the tiger comment followed my points about his focus being most impressive, because it was linked.

Re: building up Nole – look at my comments during his matches with Delpo or Troicki. In both cases I noted how he lost focus or made errors. However, in both cases I was commenting during the match about the good AND bad in his play. In the case of the final I was giving an overall comment to mat4, at his request, as I knew he hadn’t seen it yet. Of course I focus on the positives because he’s my fave. But I am not blind to his faults. Indeed, one big one from 2012 to now is his lack on consistently playing at a top level. He often starts matches at a really high level and then takes the pedal off the metal for whatever reason – concentration lapse or perhaps opponent levelling up, too.

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:17 pm

“especially after he beats an opponent Fed loses to.”

Wot?? Alok I don’t know what you mean here; this didn’t even cross my mind! Berd and Fed have a different sort of match up than Nole and Fed, and plus Fed is older and probably slower than he used to be so perhaps Berd has levelled the playing field there. Or maybe Fed doesn’t handle/mute the raw power as he used to. Or maybe he just used the wrong strategy versus Berd. That was an entirely different match.

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:24 pm

mat4,

“When I rewatched the last games of the matc, …”

Spot on, I loved them. You would expect the other way around but Nole was the one dictating FH exchange and he did same thing to Delpo, and he does it time and the time again with them without any fear.

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:25 pm

Lazlo Says:
ALOK
We don’t have crystal balls like Jamie but what are your predictions?

March 3rd, 2013 at 6:32 pm

Lazlo, I’m bad at predictions. I’d like Fed to win Wimby and WTF. Rafa RG, Rome and MC. Murray to defend his USO title. This is what I’d like to see happen, but I believe that djokovic will win most of the title this year, with a declining Fed, and a Rafa that’s not 100%. But, maybe Murray might have something to say about Djokovic winning so much, and will win more than the USO. We’ll see.

I

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:27 pm

I too noticed how far back he played sometimes mat4. Imo, sometimes that was a flaw in Nole’s strategy during the final and during the Delpo match – which I noted at the time. When he gets back into the Dubai letters versus an opponent with the kind of power Berd or Delpo have, he risks being blown off the court, and in some exchanges he was. He played to passively in some cases, but at other times he did step in and go toe-to-toe.

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:28 pm

@jane:

I think it could be also the effect of the new racquet. I am just checking on youtube, and it seems staying further allows him to hit harder.

No doubts that he was pushed from time to time, but it seems that Novak sometimes deliberately goes back to have a bigger swing at the ball.

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:37 pm

Dubai crown belongs to Nolence of Arabia, and he played the way he wanted without dropping a set, that says everything.

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:37 pm

^ :)

mat4, I don’t know much about the new racquet, except it seemed apparent he had some issues with errors during the AO due to the racquet handling; he overhit quite a bit. So then it makes sense what you say about standing further back. Only sometimes, when Berd or Delpo came in, that worked to Nole’s disadvantage methinks.

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:45 pm

@Mat4 @WB, if it is as you claim that I always contradict jane’s comments, then there should be many threads of me doing that, if so show me them. I think it’s better for two people to discuss something without others chiming in and adding fuel. It’s obvious you two feel the need to defend her as you’re all fans of the same player, but it’s not necessary.She can speak for herself.

I do my very best to avoid jane’s comments for the above reason, and I should not have said anything today, except I saw glaring inconsistencies.I thought it’s what people do on forums.

March 3rd, 2013 at 7:50 pm

Alok,

I am not pretender, even Blind Freddy could see that you dislike Nole for whatever reason (pretty sure they are not only tennis reasons) and that most likely person you are going to take on for whatever reason (I don’t think it is only tennis reasons) is jane. This is all within your rights to do so since forum is open for discussion same as it is within my rights to notice that without insulting people. You said yourself that “we are not here to make friends” that means to say something that you think is correct regardless of whether you are going to like it or not. I merely stated obvious. I said clearly that both of you are capable to sort that out between two of you. I didn’t say who is right and who is wrong as you can notice I just said what I think about the match and about your post and I leave it there. That is my right as a poster.

As for mat4 he sowhere in the Europe noe deep asleep so I guess he will speak for himself once he wakes up.

March 3rd, 2013 at 9:18 pm

” … he is somwhere in the Europe now …”

March 3rd, 2013 at 9:20 pm

Novak has only a lot of points to gain from hereon. Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome, Monte Carlo, French, Wimbledon et al. He just is going to pile up those points if he keeps winning. Therefore retaining No.1 position is going to be pretty easy for Novak. I think it would be the third consecutive year he would be finishing as No.1 That would be a phenomenal achievement. I do not think anybody can stand against Novak in hard courts considering that he has taken his game to a different level. May be Murray can take him head on if he plays his best Tennis. But I do not see any other player including Roger and Rafa who can stand up against him in hard courts.

March 4th, 2013 at 12:25 am

@9:20pm, if you say so, but you are so wrong. You don’t have a clue on how I think, but feel free to jump in anytime.

March 4th, 2013 at 2:22 am

Prediction time:
Nole to win all four major to complete the true Grand Slam.

I don’t care about other tourneys.

March 4th, 2013 at 5:42 am

^^^ Dream on, no harm in dreaming!

March 4th, 2013 at 5:44 am

^^^Dreams come through sometimes … in Novak case most of the times! Didn’t he already fulfilled his dreams … Wimbledon … #1 … ?
Now it is our turn to dream, why not;)

March 4th, 2013 at 6:13 am

^^^ try to imagine life without dreams ?

March 4th, 2013 at 6:24 am

Wogboy my dream would be to win the lottery,and for LVC to win the premier league,FA cup,League cup(or whatever its called these days),and the European cup,i know that they have done all that anyway,but to do it all in the same year,what an achievement that would be,and what is a person if they dont have dreams eh?

March 4th, 2013 at 6:34 am

Seriously speaking though,i would be delighted if this year were to be the same as last year,with the GS and the other tournies too been shared out,not just one player dominating,competition is whars good for the game IMO not domination,depending on if your a fan of the sport as a whole,or just a fan of the one player,no offence to anyone,i also cant help thinking how fantastic it would be to see someone new actually making a breakthrough,call it female intuition or just a hunch but im thinking Nishikori will be the 1st of the new breed to make that breakthrough hmm,time will tell though.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:44 am

Seriously, I think Nole’s chances to win all four majors THIS YEAR are very likely, given what’s going on with his own game and the issues others are facing ATM.

French Open: Nadal will be favored IF he is healthy. Currently he is not 100%. He has time for recovery, if he uses it wisely. Any slipups, and Nole will pounce! Like a tiger? :)

Wimbledon: Roger will be almost 32 by the time Wimbledon starts. That’s his biggest issue. He can still win it, I think, but he will need his A game, plus a little bit of luck, to win this year. He beats 99% of the players no problem. Luck could come in the form of Nole, Rafa and Andy running into troubles.

US Open: I think Nole will be favored to win his 2nd USO title. He is simply the best hardcourt player on the planet!

March 4th, 2013 at 7:26 am

I think the match up between Berdych and Djokovic is a bad one. There isn’t much that Berdych does better than Djokovic, and Djokovic has better defense and is more solid coming forward.

On the other hand, against Federer, Berdych can hit through Federer’s spin and direction, doesn’t defend as readily as Djokovic, so Federer doesn’t have the opportunity to use direction and spin to disrupt his power, and Federer’s return isn’t as much of a weapon so Berdych can be more agressive with less risk.

I don’t know if Federer would have beaten Berdych, but I know it would have been much harder for Berdych to beat Djokovic than Federer because his match up against Djokovic is worse.

One reason I think Djokovic wasn’t at his best against Berdych is that Berdych hits with more power and forces Djokovic to be more resourceful. He did it, and did it well, but it won’t look as dominating as it does against the vast majority of other players.

March 4th, 2013 at 10:30 am

One correction – “I don’t know if Federer would have beaten Djokovic”!

March 4th, 2013 at 10:33 am

Jamie predicitons haven’t been always right. He has written Roger off again. That is no surprise.

Well Novak won, not surprise there. Berdych played crap as usual.

Roger will win a Grand Slam.

March 4th, 2013 at 12:05 pm

FOT, “Berdych played crap as usual.”

Nah, it was a “tight” contest. LOL.If the way Berdych played was playing a match tight then what is crappy play? The majority of analysts said Berdych lost his plan and forgot what he should do to win. When that happens a plyer loses his focus and concentration, and the end result he will lose the match. The second set was clearly Berdych giving up.

I hope you’re right that Fed will win a GS. I think he can win Wimby or if he doesn’t, he’ll train very hard to win the USO. I hope this year is not a year of domination, by only one player,again which makes it boring for some of us. However, to speak such truth,it’s thought of as not liking a certain player.

March 4th, 2013 at 3:14 pm

I wouldn’t say it was boring between 2003-2007, for the real tennis lovers when one player dominated for four years, or was it? Maybe that aplies only for one player, very selective?

March 4th, 2013 at 4:11 pm

At least there’s no pretending what I feel, but you pretend you like Fed yet zing him, e.g., AO 2008 that remark about Fed and serena. So are you any better than I am for you to criticize me?

Who’s being more selective?

March 4th, 2013 at 4:33 pm

@Wog Boy:Spot on mate!
Is so hard for Novak to be loved by tennis fans…seriously!When 31 year old Fed plays great at that age-he is amazing-Novak quick recovery-doping for sure…Nole applauds oponnents shots?Cynical…Fed also does that!Oh, but he is a gentleman and real class.When Nadal pump fists and roars he is Spanish Hot Bull…Novak does similar?he is Balkan boy with no class…
One more thing-In last couple of weeks, everybody talks about Novak winning a lot, Nadal being back and Federer maybe winning Wimbledon…Its amazing how people have a short memory-Who was in AO final?
Andy Murray!!Nobody mentions Andy and I think he is up there at the top.
Also, I can see Alison got all excited about LVC beating Wigan…Its a Wigan-bottom of the table club!!!!
(actually I watched the game-LVC was good, very good )

March 4th, 2013 at 4:35 pm

Wig boy says “Dubai crown belongs to Nolence of Arabia”.
Is that why he would like Dubai upgraded to a Masters 1000?
Hmmm

March 4th, 2013 at 4:46 pm

Every fan has their own faves. loving another player is not in the picture. It’s sport, and all about who wins. Yet, total domination is not good for the sport.

I’m not the only one who says that so why am I being singled out? Is it because I’m not one of the inside group and gets into the middle of every conversation egging on fans of other groups to jump on the few Fed fans left on this site?

March 4th, 2013 at 4:47 pm

Yeah, if Fed who has 5 dubai crowns, on won as recent as a year ago, had said that he would have been laughed at. considering it’s not a full complement of Masters players at dubai that statement is not only foolish and self-serving, it’s laughable.

March 4th, 2013 at 4:50 pm

Courbon LVC have blown hot and cold all season,losing to teams they should beat handily,so this was a good result,playing with passion and desire thats been lacking all season :-),personally i needed that as my other fav team YCFC got beat in the last 5 minutes by Yorkshire rivals Bradford City 0/2 :-(.

March 4th, 2013 at 4:52 pm

“When 31 year old Fed plays great at that age-he is amazing-Novak quick recovery-doping for sure…Nole applauds oponnents shots?Cynical…Fed also does that!Oh, but he is a gentleman and real class.When Nadal pump fists and roars he is Spanish Hot Bull…Novak does similar?”

This says it all about how deeply some feel about Fed, but God forbid I should say anything I’m singled out. Look at what happened to Dave. there are still hints thron his way even though he’s not blogging here. I suppose we can say dave was driven away.

March 4th, 2013 at 5:02 pm

@Alok:That comment was not about you.Just how people general feel about Novak.
Regarding the ‘spot on’-that was about you (but others also )talking about boring when one person dominates-I totally agree with Wog Boy because that is almost always said by Federer fans which is comical- Fed dominated for a years!!!
I can see that you read this blog regulary so you should know that I regard Federer as greatest tennis player and with utmost respect.And its not just saying or pretending…I mean it.But I’m pointing at double standards and I’m afraid I have to mention Fed ( I mentioned Nadal also, did I?)in that content.
Regarding Dave-I remember that episode after he stop posting (under that name…)He was patronising and rude to number of people.Shall I fell sorry?He started war on couple of fronts….and he lost it (If he read more history there was a chap with small moustache that done same thing ).He is free to come back…
I think I said enough.Lets talk tennis next time…

March 4th, 2013 at 5:23 pm

@Alison;You are right-they played with passion.
Nadal looks silly in sombrero..
I’m looking foward IW.I bet Andy (bacause nobody expects ) will do well.And Nadal?I still don’t know what to think about how good he is at this moment (Very good obviously but can he beat Novak or Andy?).Thats why IW will be interesting in that aspect also…
And last, I want to see my man do well.

March 4th, 2013 at 5:30 pm

@courbon, fair enough. I’d say you are fair in your comments, and you don’t get into the midde of other people’s arguments being judgmental.

Can’t say that for the others though, who can’t show proof but just criticize to back up their friend who likes to get into the middle everything, earning and truly deserving of the title ‘cunning’. It’s how I see it and I’m entitled.

March 4th, 2013 at 5:32 pm

^ I dont know if it was actually me that started the conversation about domination with my post at 6.44am this morning,which was a reply to Sidney when he mentioned Novak winning a calendar GS this year?which i actually still stand by,but this was not taking pot shots at Nole or his fans,just an overall generalisation about the players.^

March 4th, 2013 at 5:34 pm

@Alok:

You’re not singled out. But you just overdo it. When you mentioned that you didn’t quite understand jane’s position, she answered in details, quoting her previous posts and showing that, although she maybe could have been misunderstood, her point of view was clear. I don’t understand why you had to continue, and what you tried to prove.

Then, you quote Courbon who is a Novak fan. He certainly doesn’t feel much about Fed. He also didn’t write anything negative in the quotation about Federer.

Then, as a fan, you should be able to see and accept the less pleasant side of your fave. Djokovic, e.g., tends to take MTO when he’s tired and loses an important match, just because he can’t accept defeat. Federer is prone to show his anger when he loses a match he had good chances to win. Murray will grab his tight every time he loses. Nadal, who is so humble and objective in post match interviews, is a bully on the court. So what? They don’t have to be perfect. We just expect them to win.

Finally, what happen to Dave?

March 4th, 2013 at 5:40 pm

@Alok;Cool with me.Lets speak when tournament starts.

@Alison:You mentioned something about LVC lifting 3-4 trophy in one season?Thats not dream thats a pure fantasy…

:Good night everyone..zzzzzzz

March 4th, 2013 at 5:40 pm

This is what I want to see for the sport. I think a lot of people have lost interest at the present time with Nadal not being 100% and Fed’s game up and own.

I’d like to see Murray get over his hiccups and not give up against djoker, but play to his potential. I want to see Rafa come back and give Novak and Murray a good contest on HC, and Fed to start being more passionate if he wants to remain in the top 4, practising and not trying to play himself into form. He’s riding on his belief that he can create the same magic as when he was younger. wrong, and it’s why he loses concentration on match points losing matches he shouldn’t lose.

Also, I’d like to see DelPo and the other younger guys start pushing the top 4, this way it won’t be a foregone conclusion that it will be one of the top 4 winning every tournament they play.

that’s my wish for tennis, so those who pretend to think for me and know how I feel, are way off in their judgment.

March 4th, 2013 at 5:41 pm

Courbon im with Brando,its great Rafas back,but im not expecting much on HCs against the other 3,after not playing for so long,they are much better than he is on that surface,a semi at IW would be great assuming he gets that far,its still early days yet,small steps to start with.

March 4th, 2013 at 5:42 pm

Courbon yeah true lol,more chance of me winning the lottery.

March 4th, 2013 at 5:43 pm

Alok i agree i have nothing against Novak,and his fans which are great fans,but i completely agree with your post at 5.42pm.

March 4th, 2013 at 5:48 pm

Courbon your right about the sombrero not one of Nadals better looks.

March 4th, 2013 at 5:51 pm

@alison:

I hope the same, and Novak playing at his absolute best the following two years and winning all the slams. Sorry, three years.. ;-)

March 4th, 2013 at 5:53 pm

@Mat4, jane didn’t say anything different to show me her position. all she did was re-state her comments and try to cover up her ‘tiger’ remark, as though I’m stupid I don’t know what a tiger does? What’s tiger focus? That’s pure crap. IMO. She tried to make it look like Novak destroyed Berdy by being a tiger. that’s what a tiger does.

jane tried to change her initial analysis which really didn’t give any insight as to what happened in the match, by adding in your comments to make herself appear as though she knew what she was talking about the match. he changed the ‘tiger’ stuff around, telling me it’s linked, and then insulting me by LOL when I said Berdy choked.

what happened to dave? is that a rhetorical question?

March 4th, 2013 at 5:58 pm

Well, ATP players voted Dubai nine out of last ten years as the best 500 tournament. That says something about tournament.
We had six out of top10 players in Dubai this year, and it is almost every year like that, which other 500 tournament has that, Barcelona … Acapulco …

I am not pretender I say what I think. When I don’t like something I say it and oposite. I said few times I am not Fed fan but I respect his game and by watching Novak in last few years I can asure you Novak picked up few Federer tips and implemented them in his game including mind things, I am glad he did it. I said facts about Fed and Serena complaining in 2008 about new surface at AO, strangely they both couldn’t defend their titles, what is wrong with that. At the same time I wasn’t happy when he lost against Haas last year in Halle because I thought that he didn’t look right for some reason, I wasn’t happy with his loss against Berdych and seeing him in pretty bad shape in third set when he just looked tired and old, sorry Fedfans. I wanted him in final even that means he would stay closer to Novak pointwise. As much as I want Nole to win and the other to lose I respect the others and I am not happy when I see them losing not in the manner that I think is right to lose (those few Fed examples plus Rafa against Ferrer at AO etc). You can track my posts back and the other posters can remember too.

courbon,

You are right about Andy, he is real contender, not only on the grass and HC but clay too. It will be dog fight until the end of the year, Rafa will be scary good, his game is not the same as seven months ago. He (read uncle Toni) did the same thing as in 2009, he changed Rafa’s game, that is why it took them seven months, injury has been sorted out in the first few months but they wanted to male sure his game is right, IMO.

March 4th, 2013 at 5:59 pm

Courbon when Kimberly puts up the bracket challenge for IW you should test your metal and give it a go,its all great fun,time for bed for me now too zzzz,over and out,night all.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:03 pm

“make” and not “male”

March 4th, 2013 at 6:05 pm

@Wogboy

Interesting thing you mentioned the the tour players rank Dubai #1. I wouldn’t have thought that. Dubai must have some great stuff there!

March 4th, 2013 at 6:07 pm

Djokerer wars?

March 4th, 2013 at 6:07 pm

@alison: Alok i agree i have nothing against Novak,and his fans which are great fans,but i completely agree with your post at 5.42pm.”

LOL alison, then you are agreeing with yourself @5:42pm, I know what yhou mean. My post was at 5:41pm. thanks and I’m still laughing.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:12 pm

“This is what I want to see for the sport. I think a lot of people have lost interest at the present time with Nadal not being 100% and Fed’s game up and own.”

Based on what? Tennis was featured a good amount on ESPN in 2011 when Djokovic was on his winning streak. It was a great story and casual fans love seeing that kind of stuff. And then last year we had the most diverse year in almost a decade. You know what casual fans really hate? Dominance.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:17 pm

Dubai is a modern architect’s dream country. I think it’s the aesthetics that the players love. Hot though. Money and extravagance of wealth is everywhere. Some Hotel rooms are two storied. Emirates airlines, the preferred carrier, has the same ambiance in first-class equipped with rooms and showers, etc., with a staircase leading from regular class to first class seats/suites.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:18 pm

mat4,

I guess so ;)

March 4th, 2013 at 6:20 pm

“You know what casual fans really hate? Dominance.”

March 4th, 2013 at 6:17 pm

If casual fans loved 2011 which was Djoikovic’s dominant year, then why would they hate dominance?

I’m not a casual fan, but I belong to a class of fans who don’t like dominance. I like diversity which is why I liked 2012 and it’s why I’m wishing for the same this year. djokovic has already wone the AO, now it’s time for others to win one of the other slams, possibly 3 different winners.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:23 pm

@Alok:

I think jane was quite respectful and showed a lot of good will quoting her previous posts. I don’t understand why you were offended by a lol, considering your own previous post which could look a bit awkward.

And, about choking. There were three big misses by Berdych: 4-3, break point, missed volley, set point — double fault, 3-4 break point, missed smash. But is it really a choke? Berdych’s inconsistent net play in tight situations is notorious, his lack of strategy is also well known. When I rewatched the match, I noticed that Djokovic stopped playing CC BH rallies, and avoided to hit high balls on Berdych’s BH. He adjusted his game, Berdych was unable to do so, the way he always is. He played at his usual level which is quite good, but not good enough.

About the tiger parable: the more I think of it, the more I feel it was well said. I don’t remember Djokovic hitting so hard in recent times, and I don’t remember a Djokovic so ready to impose his will on the court.

Finally, yes, the Dave question was a rhetorical one. But it was also to remind that I read these blogs, and that I didn’t forget how jane was savagely assaulted just for being polite and gracious in his posts.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:28 pm

They didn’t love it, ESPN actually talked about it. There’s a difference. But as terrible as ESPN is, they are the leading sports broadcasters.

Really, Alok? A Federer fan who hates dominance? That just doesn’t go hand in hand. I love dominance in any sport and the main reason is Federer. I loved 2004-2007. And I hope Djokovic dominates this year. I love how the Heat have been dominating the NBA. I hate how there’s no dominant football team right now.

I know I’m in the minority, though. Most people root for underdogs and upsets and so on. But that nonsense doesn’t tickle my fancy.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:28 pm

Games raised, chokes, dropped levels. Berdych matches up well with Federer but matches up terribly with Djokovic. Sometimes it’s just that simple.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:31 pm

@Skeezer, Ben, WB:

Glad you’re here.

@Skeezer:

Yes, Dubai has a lot more of “it” than other ATP 500.

@Ben:

What are “Djokeres wars”?

March 4th, 2013 at 6:36 pm

@ben :- “You know what casual fans really hate? Dominance.”

agreed.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:42 pm

@Ben, I like serious competition. Hey, I like cricket,and I love it when india was winning, but it got to be monotonous as the team and fans seemed to take things for granted and just sat on their butts. now, they aren’t winning so much, it’s nice to see them fighting to win again. Same kind of what has happened to Fed in a way, and his fans. We all got too complacent.

@Mat4, OK, time to put an end to how I see and feel about some things. I don’t agree with the ‘tiger’ remark but some things are best left alone.

On Dave, well I think it’s the same thing I’m talking about. Several people getting into the middle of that fight. It would have been best if the main people involved had been left to defend their positions with Dave, than for so many getting into the fray.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:45 pm

@Ben Pronin

“Really, Alok? A Federer fan who hates dominance?”

Don’t expect any logic. It changes like the wind.

I’d like to back up what wog boy and mat4 have said in defense of Jane (btw, I’m not a Nole fan so that blows your theory). This poster has a weird obsession with her.

And Jane, please don’t dignify the poster with a response. You’ve been gracious enough.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:48 pm

@volley, LOl.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:51 pm

btw, I’m not a Nole fan so that blows your theory)”

You also said you weren’t a Nadal fan

March 4th, 2013 at 6:55 pm

“You also said you weren’t a Nadal fan”

that’s correct. i’m not exclusively tied to one player. i like several players, but mostly delpo, tsonga and murray. i have the utmost respect for nadal and nole. anything else that needs clarification?

March 4th, 2013 at 6:58 pm

I love dominance…..when my fav is dominating. Any fan who thinks otherwise is lying…just read the posts when Nole was on his run….or Rafa in 2010…or Fed in all those years….C’mon guys…OWN UP.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:59 pm

” i have the utmost respect for nadal and nole. anything else that needs clarification?”

Errr….yeah. Whats your take on Roger Federer?

hehe.

March 4th, 2013 at 6:59 pm

@6:58pm, I get it, you don’t like Federer.

March 4th, 2013 at 7:01 pm

I like when Fed wins yes. I want him to be on top, and keep his records, but for me he does not have to win everything.

March 4th, 2013 at 7:10 pm

i respect federer as one of the greatest ever players much of his off-court behaviour/comments in recent years has turned me off. mostly it amuses me. i think pseudofed gets it about right.

March 4th, 2013 at 7:12 pm

“Skeezer says:

[…] Errr….yeah. Whats your take on Roger Federer?”

One of the true tennis legends. So graceful, so elegant, incomparable. Perhaps the third best of the Open era, behind Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal…

hehe

March 4th, 2013 at 7:14 pm

I’m working all day not even looking at posts and yet still somehow embroiled. Weird.

Anyhow…

This business about not jumping into other people’s discussions is rather ironic, ha ha.

March 4th, 2013 at 7:54 pm

@Mat4

naughty naughty :)

_______

“his off-court behaviour/comments in recent years has turned me off.”

LMAO…you mean compared to who? Rafa? HAHAHAHAHa….

Sorry…trying to be civil, but you left yourself gaping wide mouth open on that one…

Fed is a the quintessential world class athlete and best ever role model for the sport. A few fans get P.O’d cause he tells it like it is. At least he is pretty spot on in telling the truth. Is he perfect? No,,,,, but compared to the rest he is an Angel. Am I defending him? Yes and no. As a avid Fed fan I will never get over his remark when Novak “slapped a lucky winner” in his USO semi 2 years back. He had other MP and to whine about that was unacceptable. He had the match pn his racket more than once. But he is still the man of Tennis! UNlike others who rant about there fav that he can do NO wrong.

March 4th, 2013 at 7:59 pm

BTW Notice how NO ONE has mentioned the apparently VERY UGLY time rule change complaint ( rafanatics ) AFTER Rafa won his recent title? Guess it is a ALLLLLL okey dokey now. Rafa CAN win and play by the rules. Way to wipe off the sweat and win RAFA!!!! You da man.

March 4th, 2013 at 8:03 pm

Why would you need Federer to win everything when he’s already won everything?

I would love for him to complete all of the Masters but I don’t think that’s likely anymore.

March 4th, 2013 at 8:15 pm

volley is a Fed hater from TT, nadal and murray fan

alok, don’t pay attention to volley she’s looking to make friends to make this site TT.

March 4th, 2013 at 8:16 pm

Winning all MS tourneys would be a good record, but agree will not likely happen.

March 4th, 2013 at 8:36 pm

“you mean compared to who? Rafa?”

you’re a tiny bit obsessed with rafa imho. and no, i’m not comparing him to rafa or any other player in this instance. i’ve been turned off by the occasions where he hasn’t given credit to his vanquisher (e.g. tsonga, berdych, nole, murray – i will concede that he always respects nadal) as well as the odd unnecessary snide comment. it’s beneath him and it’s disappointing. simple. you can be as emotive and outraged as you like, it’s just an opinion and it won’t change. you can idolize him FOR me if that works.

no need to drag this out. we’ll just agree to disagree.

March 4th, 2013 at 10:18 pm

@phil
Yep. Got that.
And a pretender of emotiveness and obvious hider of Rafa love from TT. Typical stuff and easily seen.

——-

@volley

Really? Your a bit2 obsessed with Fed. Apparently you don’t read all my posts. I have critisized Fed at times. I know he’s not perfection. But he is closer than anyone else in the game.

You say all that weak sh!t about Fed but then “as a fan” you never address Rafa’s injury controversy, nor the wishy washy statements from his camp, nor his selfish complaints about tour surfaces, rules and regulations, nor his misleading statements about his condition and/or chances against opponets. In fact you never critisize any player mostly except Fed. Your exposed, and your game is up. Own up to it. This is not TT Rafa love site. Quit hiding behind your posts.

March 4th, 2013 at 10:52 pm

@phil, thanks for letting me know. I guess I’m now a target, because I’m a Fed fan? It now makes sense to me as to why I got some previous digs on a couple of different threads, which I ignored. Oh well.

I’m in no way obsessed with anyone. Since the best era thread where I began the discussion, I have made an effort to avoid discussing anything on djokovic, and this time I wanted to end the discussion but then others got involved. I suppose I’m damned if I do and if I don’t.

March 5th, 2013 at 12:01 am

Great going by Mr. Djokovic. I am sure he will end up with more GS titles than nadal. and more weeks at no.1.

March 5th, 2013 at 12:37 am

@Skeezer:You said some good stuff up there.Specially like that one about you not liking Feds whinging about MP at US Open…but, hey-I did not like Novaks shirt ripping (first time ok-spontanious, second time?) or all his comments (but mostly early in his carer ).Its nice to see Fans of particular player but try to be objective as well.
Also, can you tell what is TT?

March 5th, 2013 at 12:40 am

@Alison:OK, lets make a deal.If you win lottery ( good couple of millions ), you invite Wog B, Mat 4 and me to Wimbledon-If I win (just started playing) I’ll get you guys to Roland Garros.Deal?

March 5th, 2013 at 12:43 am

@Mat 4:Novaks said in interview that he is trying to adapt his game to faster surface.I knew it!I mentioned before, that his game becoming more Federesque-going to the net, better volley…now, that my simple observation-whats your take?(I’m going to work now, I’ll answer after work )

March 5th, 2013 at 12:51 am

Courbon deal lol,by the way TT is another site called tennis talk.

March 5th, 2013 at 1:36 am

courbon,

Don’t you think it is little bit overcrowded, I mean you, mat4 and me?
You stay and mind your little kids, mat4 is busy writing novels and I will come over to London and let both of you know how Wimbledon went;)

March 5th, 2013 at 1:54 am

hey skeezer, enough with the Rafa obsession already. Leave that to his REAL fans. You just can’t help yourself, mentioning his name even when the topic is not Rafa – related. What’s with you, eh?

March 5th, 2013 at 3:38 am

@ skeezer :- ” but then “as a fan”

repeating a lie over and over doesn’t make it true. believe it or not, not everyone who criticizes federer is a nadal fan *gasp*. perhaps in your b & w world but, hey, if it gives you the opportunity to froth about the player you hate, go for it.

and btw, believing the word of a previously unheard of poster who “suddenly” arrives (and is obviously the sock puppet of an existing poster) shows incredible naivety. i mistakenly thought you were a more mature poster.

with all that said, hope your man does well at IW. let’s hope for a good, competitive tournament for all fans.

March 5th, 2013 at 4:43 am

@Courbon:

Novak’s evolution was strange. He played close to the baseline until 2009, relying on his excellent first serve, model strategy in rallies and flat shots DTL from both sides. He didn’t have any big weapon, but he was steady, resilient in defense, balanced on both sides and already his shots landed close to the lines with great depth and accuracy.

Then he changed his racquet. The new one gave him more power, but he needed almost a year to find his range and change his court positioning. He got back a meter, played with more spin, and basically slowed down his game, becoming more of a grinder.

But he couldn’t overpower Nadal, nor could he outlast Murray who was more versatile and had a better first serve, and he gave Roger too much time to prepare his attacks.

He played very well at the end of 2009, but he had already decided to try to work with a new coach. We know the results.

So he went back to the fundamentals. He reworked his serve, especially insisting on precision and spin. In the meantime, he got a racquet which gave more stability and control, so he reverted to his old game, staying close to the baseline again. With more control and spin, he could hit harder his FH, and he developed a very angled CC FH to play against Rafa (Murray did it first, but Novak hits it faster and lower), but played on the run, it became a crucial defensive weapon against DTL shots (RF was the model, there).

Then, he improved his service game with simple and efficient combos: serve wide in the ad court followed by a BH DTL, or wide in the deuce court with a IO FH or a CC BH.

The last changes were his net game, the BH slice and the added speed and spin on his shots, and I tend to think, reading the reviews of the new graphene racquets, that the racquet has a bit to do with it.

His main weakness was his physical strength: Novak has difficulties to create his own pace, although he is exceptional at absorbing and redirecting pace. So he had to learn to play against the slice. He did it in a few ways: hitting outright winners — he often played “almost” winners, retaining a safety margin, but it allowed Murray and Nadal to slice or moonball those shots back [last year, his avg. FH speed was 10 mph slower than Berdych’s, but visually it seemed to me that it isn’t the case any more] — approaching the net when it was clear that a slice will follow.

This increased power allows him to use his BH like a second FH, often IO.

Novak was always an excellent player on fast surfaces, but now he has more weapons to play well on grass, although he still relies on high rebounds on his BH, and I believe that his clay game will be better too.

March 5th, 2013 at 8:25 am

Its been ages since Cindy Brady last sent a post,and its completely true Novak could win more GS than Rafa,and theres no two ways about it,but on the other hand Rafa could still win more,and Andy Murray could be the thorn to Novak,that Novak was to Rafa,but indeed anything is possible i suppose,and only time will tell.

March 5th, 2013 at 9:48 am

@mat4

good post. Know all to well and remember Nole pre 2009. Serve, and the new improved FH was a magnificent improvement.

March 5th, 2013 at 10:53 am

Courbon lol yeah got it now,its still a deal,you can bring all the kids along too,all expenses paid after all money will be no object,nice hotels for you all,my hubby can sit in the pub getting P*SSED as he cant stand tennis,oh god if only,could really do with a couple of milion been skint and all that.

March 5th, 2013 at 3:33 pm

@Alison:Thats a deal!Same with RG.
I’m so tired-I have to go to bed-I’ll see draw of IW when I wake up and have a read with black coffee.Godnight and speak to you tomorrow.

March 5th, 2013 at 3:51 pm

Courbon before you go,just to say why not give Kimberlys bracket challenge a go,when the link comes up,its all in good fun?anyway yeah goodnight and speak to you tomorrow.

March 5th, 2013 at 4:03 pm

“and btw, believing the word of a previously unheard of poster who “suddenly” arrives (and is obviously the sock puppet of an existing poster) shows incredible naivety. i mistakenly thought you were a more mature poster.”

Now the plot thickens. Who’s obsessed? This volley character with me. volley’s main focus since she showed up a few weeks ago, is on what I say and do. How unnatural is that?

Perhaps phil is someone she pissed off on TT, and has shown up for the purpose of exposing her? I have no idea what’s wrong with this woman, who says she’s a fan of Tsonga, DelPo and Murray, but does not discuss them at all, not even on the DelPo thread that’s headlined.

I don’t think tennis is the focus here, but the obsession she has with Fed and some of his fans. Sick!I doubt that this sick obsession will make her friends only enemies, and someone who is best ignored.

Posters how up

March 5th, 2013 at 7:27 pm

@ Alok

oh grow up. i’ve referred to you only once and that was to defend Jane. here’s a helpful hint: not everything posted here is about you (although it’s revealing that you think you’re the sock puppet. very revealing).

btw, your searching skills leave a lot to be desired, there are numerous posts by me about tennis. must try harder. on second thought don’t bother.

March 5th, 2013 at 7:45 pm

oops, disregard … Posters how up. IPad is slow. should read

There are many posters who show up after reading some comments which provoke them and makes them want to speak up. Is there some rule that says the poster has to establish residency on the blog for them to post a comment in order to escape derogatory comments from posters like volley? If not, they are someone else’s sock puppet? geez.

volley is now the moderator?

March 5th, 2013 at 7:45 pm

volley, I think you need to grow up. You don’t need to write my name for me to assume you’re talking about me. A part of phil’s comment was addressed to me, so why would I think you didn’t mean me?

Wrong, it’s not only the comment defending jane that you’ve gone after me. You did so on another post some weeks ago (which I’ve ignored) when I posted on why some fans of two other players hate Fed so much. If I remember correctly you stated a code was needed to decipher what I said. Then there were two other occasions after that, and again on Sunday, defending jane, and yesterday with Ben. All of your comments were ridiculing me for stuff that only you found something to criticize. I very rarely address jane, so this craziness that I’m obsessed with her is just crazy. FYI, I didn’t search for your posts, just going from memory.

March 5th, 2013 at 7:58 pm