posted Nov 29, 2007

Didn't help Safin or Nalbandian much last year.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2007

Russian tennis players are all enigmas like Safin. Why the guy has only won two grand slams is beyond me. Kafelnikov only managed two as well with the grand total between Davydenko and Youznhy a big fat zero.

American tennis obviously has many more multiple slam winners. But guess what? The well has dried up. Since Agassi retired Roddick is their only remaining grand slam winner and he has still too limited a game to add to his single slam.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2007

To see Roddick pass Fed (at Shanghai) with his backhand was a sight to behold. Pork fell from the sky.

Hi, Anorak. Where have you been?

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2007

Hi personfromporlock,

I've been around here, just not been posting as frequently.

Nice to see you posting quite a lot here.

This was a very light-hearted post, and almost a joke, the only point in it being whether training for the Davis Cup matches would help the Russians And Americans to keep match-fit. Remember that everyone else will be holidaying, and will be going into the AO a bit rusty.

Only Raskolnikov (i.e. Nameless) has responded to this issue, and I totally agree with him. I don't think it really matters, to be honest!

Macca, that's a bit cruel on Roddick. The guy tries his best against Fed and had matchpoints against him last year in Shanghai. We also know how close the USO quarters was.

We should be glad that Roddick is playing. Some of Fed's virtuoso performances have come against Roddick.

Where are Andy1073 and Tennisveritas?

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2007

I like Andy, but it doesn't cloud me to the brutal facts about him. The "working girl" analogy was not my own, but whilst harsh it conveyed a message. I think, for Federer, he is basically a workout and an opportunity to practise his volleys.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2007

Watching Roddick throw the kitch sink at Fed in Shanghai, (their games were fun until the second Wimbledon final but when the rivalry failed to materialise, Andy stopped smiling) there was one point where the ball hit the net and dropped onto Roddick's side and it just wasn't going to happen for the American.

The missed match point at the same venue last year was more of the same, though he should have made it, and had he, it wouldn't have changed a thing.

Maybe, three or four years from now, we might see a Roddick big serve win over a thirty year old Fed, but, like Maccaogi, I doubt it.
-Canon fodder for the Swiss.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2007

Fed v 5-Bellies in AO final.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2007

It might well work in the opposite direction, I think Fed has retained number 1 because he makes sure he has good breaks and comes to the big tournaments fresh. I guess the others daren't copy his schedule becuase they don't start from the premise of going deep or winning every event they play in.The danger is he makes a few early exits which I guess was the problem in Spring this year, and he loses match sharpness.
And as people of pointed out, none of the DC competitors are players who one can easily imagine winning a slam.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2007

Why is davydenko not playing in the singles?
and only in the doubles!!

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Dec 1, 2007

If I remember well Safin once said because the existence of Federer everything is wrong with the rest of them. Roddick might have got 2 Wimbledon;Gonzales 1 AO...I observed this year USO. Davydenko played well. He hadn't lost a single set to other players. But when he met Federer in the SF he lost. The same with Gonzales in he AO,or Djoko at the USO. Now Roddick is very strong. He beat Yousny in straight sets. I think there is nothing wrong with these players. Take Federer out. They are great group of players,and play wonderful tennis.

add comment | complain about this comment