2015 Miami Open Thread

[bksballer89]

Men's bracket

Draws - Tennis - ATP World Tour

No Fed in this tournament. Tsonga & Monfils are in this tournament.

 

[cezero]

del potro's in it, too

welcome back to the big guy

he destroyed his wrist permanently to get his 1 major, but i'm sure it was worth it for him

if he gets through pospisil, then he gets dimitrov. tough task, especially with only 3 matches this year, but not out of the question.

 

[Old Lion]

Last one until June for me. Might watch the FO last few if Djoker makes the semis. Hopefully Delpo is back to his old self by Wimby. He adds an extra element. Questionable as to whether his wrist will ever be the same.

 

[bksballer89]

Yeah I'm not a big fan of clay season. Will watch now and then but not nearly as much as I watch during hard court season

 

[cezero]

Clay is and always will be my favorite surface to watch tennis on.

It requires a player to use their complete set of skills the most consistently.

The USTA is smart to promote training on clay for US players. We need it desperately.

For surfaces overall, these are what I like watching most:

1) Clay
2) Medium-Fast Hard Courts
3) Fast/Indoor Hard Courts
4) Grass

 

[bksballer89]

I do agree that our players need the clay training desperately.

Pretty embarrassing that the only player on the men and women side to expect anything out of during clay court season is Serena

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Clay is rough for Nadal if he wears white shorts.

His penchant for bum picking in his routine causes some nasty looking brown spots....

 

[bksballer89]

Tourney started today. Tottaly forgot.

Querrey is on court now

 

[cezero]

I'm DVR'ing it all until Fri night.

I'm a teacher, and this is the last few days before Spring Break. Just brutal. Will treat myself to non-stop tennis all weekend, and then through next week.

So much napping.

 

[Hs0022]

Fed is done with the mid year HC swing. Next up is a clay tournament I believe.

 

[bksballer89]

I'm DVR'ing it all until Fri night.

I'm a teacher, and this is the last few days before Spring Break. Just brutal. Will treat myself to non-stop tennis all weekend, and then through next week.

So much napping.

I don't think the big boys play until friday anyway.

 

[bksballer89]

Fed is done with the mid year HC swing. Next up is a clay tournament I believe.

Yep this is the last major hard court tourney until the US Open series anyway. Clay for the next 3 months then off to grass for a month

 

[Old Lion]

Yep this is the last major hard court tourney until the US Open series anyway. Clay for the next 3 months then off to grass for a month

I wouldnt mind a little longer grass season. Newport plans on expanding. Not sure of the details yet. Things move slow around here.

 

[cezero]

I agree completely that the clay season is too long, and that grass is too short.

I love clay, but there's no doubt about that for me. No idea if it will ever change much since the vast majority of the tennis-playing world and fanbase play on clay predominantly.

 

[Hs0022]

Clay is and always will be my favorite surface to watch tennis on.

It requires a player to use their complete set of skills the most consistently.

The USTA is smart to promote training on clay for US players. We need it desperately.

For surfaces overall, these are what I like watching most:

1) Clay
2) Medium-Fast Hard Courts
3) Fast/Indoor Hard Courts
4) Grass

Just more evidence that you are a secret Nadal nut! Which I suspected a long while back.

 

[cezero]

i'm pretty sure you're joking, but it's not remotely true.

i don't loathe nadal as much as i let on with the old ESPN board with that geriatric piece of shit who hated fed.

but that's a long ways from being a fan of his. i can acknowledge his accomplishments without loving the way he plays.

 

[Hs0022]

Ok, then we will have to go with the other fact. You are a hardnut critic of Federer and Bodo would be happy to let you share some of his workload. Miami feels like bland soda for me that Fed is not in it. No desire to drink bland soda.

 

[bksballer89]

Wow Sharapova is 2 games away from being eliminated in straight sets

 

[cezero]

Ok, then we will have to go with the other fact. You are a hardnut critic of Federer...

not a critic of fed. a realist.

for me, fed is the greatest tennis player of all time. and he changed the game for the better with his greatness. nole, murray, and even nadal knew the only way to compete with him was to be a physical specimen, and not allow him to expose their movement by slicing and pureeing them around the court like he did for 5 years when he was utterly dominant. nadal had that wicked topspin that went right into fed's greatest weakness, but the other 2 took longer to even get to where they could beat fed consistently.

it's crazy, really. you see him against those 3, and he always tries to take the ball as early as possible, but rarely resorts to trying to draw his opponent into the net and expose their movement. then fed plays guys a tier or 2 down, like raonic, and he can comfortably get away with that old reliable slice play to opponents backhands to draw them in, and then ruthlessly crush them with easy passing shots.

fed's going to be 34 soon. great as he is, in this generation, it's just unrealistic to expect him to win majors anymore. if he does, then great.

this is just the way tennis goes. pete fluked 1 last major win in a very weak era. it would be a much bigger task for fed. if he does it, i'll be as happy as anybody.

 

[Hs0022]

Pete achieved that last slam with a lot of luck, mental strength and somewhat akin Indiana Jones sliding and squeezing under the trap door and barely pulling his hat after him. But men's tennis is always tough no matter what era. The equipment changed after that and courts and balls slowed down and Pete pulled that last rabbit out of the hat just in the nick of time. For Fed it may not be possible as the equipment change and the modern strings may do him in. Because opponents are doing just that, robbing you of time for shots. Fed still is in great shape and should have won his last slam at Wimby last year but Novak is too good at the important matches between them. The thing is that even thoughFed changed his physical game by coming to the net more he has yet to adjust the mental game needed to win. The slowing down opponent's pace, being patient in rallies to break opponents serve, the medical time outs etc. he just tries to do it his way and if it works great if not to hell with it style. Nadal has the one weapon against him the crazy topspin that is enabled with modern strings. That is why I think Borg is greater than Nadal having done what he did with ornery strings.