Clay Court Season Thread

[Smart]

How would you compare his form now to his FO SF run in 2009?

That run was in 2010, and my memory of Berdych's run was that he went for broke on second serve returns and was breaking people left and right because of it. I still don't think he would have been in the type of grinding points that he was in for the first two sets today. The ability to be behind in a point but hit the backhand deep enough to get back in isn't something I'm used to seeing from him. In 2010, I feel like an out of position Berdych would have had a "winner or bust" attitude.

The key difference there isn't when you are in-form, it's when you are out of form. Berdych was in-form in 2010, and that's why he went SF/F in back to back majors (beating 3 of the big 4). Right now, Tomas can be playing terribly and still beat bad players with a combo of big serve/forehand and weaker backhand. His worst loss in seven tournaments is to Ferrer, with all seven coming to top ten players. That's pretty crazy for a guy who was seen as volatile and inconsistent for the better part of a decade.

 

[nuraman00]

That run was in 2010, and my memory of Berdych's run was that he went for broke on second serve returns and was breaking people left and right because of it. I still don't think he would have been in the type of grinding points that he was in for the first two sets today. The ability to be behind in a point but hit the backhand deep enough to get back in isn't something I'm used to seeing from him. In 2010, I feel like an out of position Berdych would have had a "winner or bust" attitude.

The key difference there isn't when you are in-form, it's when you are out of form. Berdych was in-form in 2010, and that's why he went SF/F in back to back majors (beating 3 of the big 4). Right now, Tomas can be playing terribly and still beat bad players with a combo of big serve/forehand and weaker backhand. His worst loss in seven tournaments is to Ferrer, with all seven coming to top ten players. That's pretty crazy for a guy who was seen as volatile and inconsistent for the better part of a decade.

Thanks.

I still think of Berdych as that "winner or bust" player, as you described for most of your 1st paragraph.

I didn't see today's match, wasn't in the mood because I had wanted Monfils instead. Also, I recorded the wrong program, I thought "ATM Monte Carlo Masters Finals" would have done it. But what I had needed to record was Center Court Live, which was right before it. By the time the program that I had scheduled started recording, it was late in the 3rd anyways (from the Center Court Live broadcast).

I'll keep what you said in mind as I watch Berdych over the next few months, and see if he's the grinder you now describe.

 

[Fiero425]

In Barcelona Open 3rd round, Fabio Fognini took out Rafa Nadal in straight sets; 6-4, 7-6!

 

[Hs0022]

Fiero, I pumped my fist and yelled when Fognini won MP. But I fear that if Rafa starts losing regularly on clay I may be reduced to rooting for him, and I cringe at the thought of doing that.

 

[Hs0022]

Hopefully this loss will be a step in the right direction in getting Brad, Mac bros and co. to pull their faces out of Rafa's ass. Too many people in there already (reminds me of the episode in South Park and Cartman)

 

[cezero]

I'm sure Rafa isn't too worked up over losing at a 500 tournament where he was defending 0 points.

I think he knows there's only so much left in the tank for a guy with his legs, and he's saving it for 1000 tournaments (Madrid, Rome) and of course the French.

He's defending 1000 points in Madrid as defending champ, and 500 for Rome as defending runner-up. Quite a contrast from the 0 points he was defending at Barcelona.

 

[bksballer89]

Tennis - Self-doubt plagues Rafael Nadal against Fabio Fognini at the Barcelona Open

 

[cezero]

Rafa has always loved to lower expectations and do his best to go into the biggest, most important tournament as the underdog.

This is something he and his camp have done for a decade.

Serena's coach (Mouratoglou) explained his suspicions in that article.

 

[bksballer89]

Rafa has always loved to lower expectations and do his best to go into the biggest, most important tournament as the underdog.

This is something he and his camp have done for a decade.

Serena's coach (Mouratoglou) explained his suspicions in that article.

You know that kid who beat Ferrer today? Pablo Andujar

 

[cezero]

Andjuar's pretty old. Above average dirtballer.

Ferrer is ancient for a tennis player. Headed straight downhill fast.

 

[nuraman00]

In Barcelona Open 3rd round, Fabio Fognini took out Rafa Nadal in straight sets; 6-4, 7-6!

Wow!

 

[Old Lion]

I don't think people realize how talented Fognini is. Unfortunately, he is such a headcase that he never lived up to his talent.

 

[Smart]

How about 18-year-old Korean Hyeon Chung with the win at green clay of the Savannah Challenger? Climbs into the top 100 for the the first time (at #88) and doesn't appear to be slowing down. The only three guys who are 21 or younger with more points this year are Vesely, Kyrgios, and Coric.

In other news, the generation ahead of them continues to be a train wreck. Dimitrov is the youngest ranked guy in the top 25, and he'll be 24 in two weeks. There's a three year gap where Tomic and Sock are the two best players. To put that into perspective, Simon, Wawrinka, Tsonga, Isner, Berdych, Nadal, Gasquet, Monfils, Murray, and Djokovic are all within three years of each other.

 

[bksballer89]

novak skipping madrid

 

[Fiero425]

novak skipping madrid

Nole skipped it last season and is already ahead of the game with his 5th AO and winning the 1st 3 Masters of the year! What's the sense of him overplaying in back to back 1000's before the French Open? He's proved he doesn't need the extra practice playing only 3 matches before winning Aussie Open in Feb.!

 

[Hs0022]

Nike wants to stay fresh for RG. If he doesn't win this year he better retire from tennis.

 

[Hs0022]

Nole. I hate autocorrect. It should be called "autowrong".

 

[bksballer89]

So Madrid started today and the following women were all eliminated in round 1:

Venus
Kerber
Halep
Bouchard

 

[Old Lion]

So Madrid started today and the following women were all eliminated in round 1:

Venus
Kerber
Halep
Bouchard

As much as I bash Womens tennis, the thing it has going for it is that it is unpredictable.

Also the skirts seem to be getting shorter

 

[Fiero425]

Both the men and ladies draw is tough from day 1! Venus was knocked out in the 1st round by an unseeded Azarenka; no shame in that! Halep has gotten to #2, but she's been dodging losses until today! She had better learn to be ready from the first strike of the ball and stop giving away a set! It finally caught up with her! No Nole, but the event is loaded!