Clay Court Season Thread

[nuraman00]

Yep. I agree.

People forget just how much Rafa has benefited from the extended clay court season with all of those MS 1000 tournaments in the past. It's been a cake walk for him up until now to accrue enough points during the dirt season to keep him as a top 3 seed at Wimbledon, the US Open, and Australia.

Gimelstob and the idiot I've seen on USA Today talking about the universe bowing down to Rafa this year for his seed at the French is really annoying.

How does he have time to commentate? Isn't he Isner's coach?

To be fair, I remember Paul Annacone having long studio sessions with Tennis Channel during last year's FO, even though he was also simultaneously Sloan's coach. But there's a difference between doing a guest interview for 15-20 mins on Tennis Channel, and actually doing a full studio show. Doing a studio show requires more prep work and such. Time he could be used with Isner, or to scout Isner's opponents.

 

[bksballer89]

How does he have time to commentate? Isn't he Isner's coach?

To be fair, I remember Paul Annacone having long studio sessions with Tennis Channel during last year's FO, even though he was also simultaneously Sloan's coach. But there's a difference between doing a guest interview for 15-20 mins on Tennis Channel, and actually doing a full studio show. Doing a studio show requires more prep work and such. Time he could be used with Isner, or to scout Isner's opponents.

Davenport does the same thing and she coaches Keys. Brad Gilbert did the same but not as frequent when he was with Murray

 

[nuraman00]

Davenport does the same thing and she coaches Keys. Brad Gilbert did the same but not as frequent when he was with Murray

Oh, thanks. I guess I didn't realize it with Davenport.

When Gilbert coached Murray, I barely remember him on ESPN afterward. But maybe he was there, and when I saw him, I just forgot that he was also coaching Murray.

 

[bksballer89]

Y'all watching or nah?

On serve in the first 5 games.

It is on Tennis Channel

 

[bksballer89]

1st set to Novak

 

[nuraman00]

1st set was even, but then for some reason FED mis-hit a bunch of balls at the end and lost 6-4.

Then he played a weird game early in the 2nd, and is down a break 0-2.

In both of these broken games, it's not like he's mis-hitting good balls. He's just making strange errors.

 

[nuraman00]

Y'all watching or nah?

On serve in the first 5 games.

It is on Tennis Channel

Yeah, watching. Just don't want to get up from the couch as much right now.

 

[bksballer89]

Novak is dominating

 

[Liberal Icon]

Novak is dominating

It is all but over for Federer. I congratulate him for putting up such quality Tennis for the Rome Masters. Congratulations to Djokovic now there is no doubt that he is the best and it will be almost impossible for anyone to beat him at the French open.
Congratulations to Maria Sharapova for winning the Rome by beating Miss Suarez-Navarro the 10th seeded player and would be well-primed for the French open, now that Serena her nemesis is experiencing some injuries and open to be possibly taken out in the early round again -that is if she is taken out since it is almost lights-out with Serena when she reaches the semis.
I am disappointed that my girl Vika did not perform as well as I expected her to. I am sure she would put up a better fight at the French.

 

[nuraman00]

Djokovic wins the 2nd set 6-3.

FED was 0-1 in BPs for the match.

Entire match was 1 hr, 15 mins.

Disappointing match. I was expecting it to be more competitive, with a few more breaks.

FED played pretty well, but couldn't get in Djokovic's service games.

Still on my wishlist for FED is: Monte Carlo; Rome; a 2nd FO; Olympic Gold.

Wild idea, throwing it out there: In a few years, could he play doubles with Wawrinka, and win a Doubles major?

 

[nuraman00]

I am disappointed that my girl Vika did not perform as well as I expected her to. I am sure she would put up a better fight at the French.

I like Azarenka at any major, think she has a solid all-around game, and can go deep at any major.

 

[nuraman00]

So what's up with the Porsche + Nike hats Sharapova's team was wearing? Since when did Porsche align themselves with Nike?

 

[bksballer89]

If Novak wins the French it is very possible that he gets the grand slam.

He is playing unreal

 

[Liberal Icon]

I like Azarenka at any major, think she has a solid all-around game, and can go deep at any major.

I agree. The injuries actually have derailed her and it is only one of confidence after injury that happens to even the best of them that is actually hobbling Vika. She had the match against Serena and she blew it that has actually done major damage to her psyche. But she is a fighter and I expect her to come back.

 

[Liberal Icon]

If Novak wins the French it is very possible that he gets the grand slam.

He is playing unreal

He is going to win the French.

 

[bksballer89]

He is going to win the French.

Only person I can see beating him is Rafa. I'll be stunned if he lose to another player

 

[nuraman00]

I agree. The injuries actually have derailed her and it is only one of confidence after injury that happens to even the best of them that is actually hobbling Vika. She had the match against Serena and she blew it that has actually done major damage to her psyche. But she is a fighter and I expect her to come back.

Come to think of it, I hadn't thought about whom to root for at this year's FO. Usually I do that after the draw comes out.

But, thinking about it now, I'll pull for Azarenka. She hasn't won it before, and it would be nice to see her add another major, especially one away from the hard courts.

 

[nuraman00]

OT: Whenever Murray wins his next major, I'd like to see him beat Nadal to do so. That's the one thing missing en route to his titles. He's lost to Nadal so many times at majors, would like to see him beat Nadal at the FO or Wimbledon.

He's already beaten Nadal at the USO and AO, so that's why I prefer him to beat Nadal at those other two locations, if given a choice.

 

[nuraman00]

Only person I can see beating him is Rafa. I'll be stunned if he lose to another player

Just thinking about a rivalry I want to see. I want to see Wawrinka and Djokovic play a 5 setter at the FO.

2013 AO, 2013 USO, 2014 AO, 2015 AO. If they added the 2015 FO, it would be an even greater incredible 5 majors in a row with 5 setters, between them.

 

[Liberal Icon]

Only person I can see beating him is Rafa. I'll be stunned if he lose to another player

Rafa is still hobbled more by mental issues than erosion of his impressive physical skills on clay. I do not expect him to do anything more than he has done now; that is put an challenge to Djokovic even if he gets that far.