2013 U. S. Open Championships...New York, New York

[klacr]

Look at the posts here on this thread. There is virtually nothing to write about. Even I cannot find anything to extrapolate on. Nobody even batted an eyelash when Federer lost to Robredo...except for stevenmila. Everyone yawned except klacr (who shed yet another tear) when Wawrinka toppled Berdych.

Don't remind me...

Credit to Wawrinka, he played well.


Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[klacr]

The lack of depth is a real problem. If the top four got killed in a plane crash, tennis would be all but finished for a few years at least.

That would be tragic...But on the bright side and looking at the rankings with Berdych at #5, that would make him #1.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stevenmila]

concentration of power

Don put down brave new world and keep an eye out for fabios girlfriend.

[stevenmila]

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Ev...x?e=560&y=1978

some other things of note there are
the first three lines
$300,000
Borg
hewitt

[stotty]

Ever cloud has a ....

That would be tragic...But on the bright side and looking at the rankings with Berdych at #5, that would make him #1.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Ever the optimist...

[klacr]

Wawrinka and Gasquet.

Two players with one-handed backhands in the semifinals of the US Open. It may be a small and inconsequential, but I still appreciate it. Now if only Edberg, Becker, McEnroe, Krajicek could come back and show these guys how to serve and volley.


Andy Murray looked lifeless and unable to come out of his funk. Wawrinka played great.

Just for the sake of the one-handers, would love to see Wawrinka, Gasquet or Youzhny (who plays Djokovic tonight) win the title. Doubt it would happen but that's why they play the game!

The last player to win a grand slam with a one-handed backhand besides Federer...Gaston Gaudio 2004 French Open. Food for Thought.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Just fine...?

I can see Murray taking care of Wawrinka just fine. Gasquet has about as much chance as me. I cannot see Djokovic coming unstuck either.

Well...he did sort of take care of him just fine. He more or less handed him a spot in the semifinals of the 2013 U. S. Open. Very sporting of him. Just kidding. Murray's reputation for years had him being a choke artist...and there are times when he will still have problems handling emotional issues at critical junctures. You would have thought the Murray would have risen to the moment. But it is more difficult to do than to say. Particularly on a consistent basis...such as a Roger Federer has done through the years. But Wawrinka played crunching tennis. The credit goes to him to apply the pressure that makes Andy feel vulnerable at times.

So in a sense we have two similar matches in the semifinals now. We have two players with powerful one handed backhands against the two top contenders in this "modern age" of tennis. But as similar as they may be...they are equal parts different.

Stanislas Wawrinka vs. Novak Djokovic

The only match that Stanislas remembers of the previous 14 confrontations with Novak is the last one. That one was the 5-set epic down under in the round of sixteen at the 2013 Australian Open. Djokovic managed to win that match with a match that bordered on the surreal. Both players seemed to be going full machine right to the very end. It defies the limitations on human endurance. It finally ended 12-10 in the fifth.

This ending has to have stuck in the craw of Stanislas. He was so close to knocking over one of the big dogs in a meaningful situation. If he had won that match it may have just put him over the top when it comes to confidence and the stuff that top four contenders are made of these days. The victory over Murray bodes well for the confrontation looming with Djokovic. It just may be the shot in the arm that makes him truly believe that he belongs with the big players in big time situations in big stadiums. It just may be his time.

Djokovic does not seem to be quite as invincible as he was a couple of years ago...but what can you say? He doesn't lose to just anybody. Wawrinka won two out of the first three matches they played back in 2006...he would dearly love to recapture a little bit of them "Glory Days"! Who wouldn't...asks Bruce? Bruce reminds me a bit of Aaron. Do you see it...klacr? Tell him I said hello. I wonder if he remembers me. Glory days...how they will pass you by. In the wink of a young girl's eye.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64ejl3a0wxU

Wouldn't it be ironic if a Swiss man were to replace Roger Federer as one of the "Big Four"?


Richard Gasquet vs. Rafael Nadal

Now here is another completely different proposition. Probably less likely to be decided in the favor of the underdog. Gasquet has lost to Nadal the only ten times that they have ever played. Gasquet took 5 sets to defeat a guy that Nadal will normally send back to the locker room in straight sets. But in fact Nadal is "only" 20-4 against David Ferrer. Nadal should probably handle Gasquet in straight sets...even though Gasquet has taken a total of four sets off of Nadal in their previous ten matches.

So what can Gasquet do against Nadal? He can do the same thing that Djokovic does. Play the same strategy against the backhand of Nadal. The best chance that Gasquet has is to have the points dictated from backhand to backhand tactics. The problem is that Nadal is left handed. He is used to this situation in virtually every match he plays. Players inevitably end up going back to the forehand side of Nadal because they are programmed to play cross court.

Richard Gasquet will have to decide early on how it is that he wants to dictate the points because if Nadal gets the upper hand...forehand to backhand...it may end up being a short match. The shortcoming that Gasquet has when comparing his chances against Nadal with Djokovic's is a weakness in the forehand. Whereas Djokovic can seize the opportunity to take it aggressively at the Nadal forehand...Gasquet is going to struggle.

Gasquet must try to play aggressively on the Nadal backhand and then try to play aggressively on the forehand once he softens him up a bit...hopefully. It's a daunting task. It is the only way to play to the Nadal forehand...with malice. Anything defensive or tentative is going to be cat food...and this cat is hungry. Nadal took the time off Wimbledon to rest, retool and reinvigorate. How he did all of that to emerge as the man to beat remains a bit of a mystery...but this is how it is.

Gasquet has a pretty good slice serve out wide on the deuce court...I would suggest that he uses that almost exclusively. Start the point out on the backhand and try to keep it there until you find an opportunity to be aggressive to the other side. Djokovic employs this in a bit of a reverse...he will often to aggressively at the forehand to loosen things up on the backhand side but I don't believe that Gasquet has that kind of firing power...or staying power.

Both matches on paper are interesting...but the Djokovic vs. Wawrinka has more potential to living up to its billing.

[stroke]

No doubt the Wawrinka-Novak match looks more interesting than Nadal-Gasquet. To me, Wawrinka had 2 prominent edges on Murray, his serve and forehand. Their backhands are about a wash. Vs Novak, his serve and forehand may be slightly better. Backhands about a wash again.

Gasquet, massive talent, appears to just drift too far behind the baseline. Nobody creates angles like Nadal with his forehand. I think Agassi said one time....I don't know what Nadal is playing out there but it isn't tennis....Agassi was referencing Nasal bringing ping pong qualities to tennis to expand the court. Gasquet is going to be doing a lot of running.

[klacr]

Djokovic does not seem to be quite as invincible as he was a couple of years ago...but what can you say? He doesn't lose to just anybody. Wawrinka won two out of the first three matches they played back in 2006...he would dearly love to recapture a little bit of them "Glory Days"! Who wouldn't...asks Bruce? Bruce reminds me a bit of Aaron. Do you see it...klacr? Tell him I said hello. I wonder if he remembers me. Glory days...how they will pass you by. In the wink of a young girl's eye.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64ejl3a0wxU

:

Yes, I see it. Aaron is doing great. We are sharing a mutual student so we communicate once in a while with our game plans and lesson structure so we are on the same path. Plus, he's a resident at the club where I work so I see him occasionally walking the dog.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Stanislas Wawrinka's Moment...?

No doubt the Wawrinka-Novak match looks more interesting than Nadal-Gasquet. To me, Wawrinka had 2 prominent edges on Murray, his serve and forehand. Their backhands are about a wash. Vs Novak, his serve and forehand may be slightly better. Backhands about a wash again.

There come's a moment...or a match in every great tennis player's career that may signify that they are entering another level of the game. If Wawrinka had won that five set epic down under against Djokovic it may have changed his outlook on things.

This is a huge moment for Wawrinka. Without a doubt the biggest in his career. It's a shame it is coming a bit late for him to wholly capitalize on it if he should succeed. At 28...if he accomplishes this task the tendency may be to just feel that it was enough and not enough to light a fire in his belly. In his heart.

He defeated a tough opponent in Tomas Berdych in four sets and then topped that effort with a straight set win over the defending champion and current Wimbledon champion Andy Murray. Pretty convincing stuff. He pounded Murray into submission...going away. Each set giving up fewer games than the previous. But it will all be for naught unless he rises to the occasion today against Novak Djokovic. What a great match this could be. If only it lives up to its potential.

Judging from the match at the Australian Open...all things are to be considered pretty equal. With just one tiny little bitty differential...the mental toughness. Novak was not going to take no for an answer and he did not. He moved on. For Wawrinka it was almost enough for him to say that he took the great Novak Djokovic to the limit before succumbing. Well...this is the moment for him to vow to himself...it won't be enough until the match point is in his bag. He can never let up until it is. Djokovic is the slipperiest of opponents. He is an escape artist. Anyone remember his great escape against Federer in the semi's a couple of years ago. That may have been a Federer moment...in the other direction.

There is one other factor that may just play a bit in the favor of the Swiss number two. That just may be that he lived in the shadow of the Swiss number one for all of those years. The motivation to perhaps make a name for himself other than the number two in Switzerland maybe help to propel himself over this high hurdle.

Looking forwards to watching this one. The other one...I always pull for the underdog when they are playing someone that I disapprove of. There are certain tells about his personality that make me suspicious. Not to mention the RoboCop physique. I cannot help but feel that there is something fishy about Nadal...although Richard had his own brush with the drugging authorities.

[don_budge]

One more thought...

I had just one more thought regarding this match between Stanislas Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic. Check out the respective roads to the finals...

Stanislas Wawrinka...

Radek Stepanek...7-6, 6-3, 6-2
Ivo Karlovic...7-5, 7-6, 6-4
Marcos Baghdatis...6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 7-6
Tomas Berdych...3-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-2
Andy Murray...6-4, 6-3, 6-2



Novak Djokovic...

Ricardas Berankis...6-1, 6-2, 6-2
Benjamin Becker...7-6, 6-2, 6-2
Joao Sousa...6-0, 6-2, 6-2
Marcel Granollers...6-3, 6-0, 6-0
Mikhail Youzhny...6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0

It may not seem like much but the quality of competition that Wawrinka has played is substantially tougher than that of Djokovic's competition. Wawrinka played five quality opponents and Djokovic maybe just one. It may just be that Wawrinka really has his teeth into this tournament and Djokovic may still feeling his way around.

I watched the set that Djokovic lost to Youzny and it almost appeared to me that he threw it...he played really spotty. So unlike him. But he may have felt that he needed to impose a bit of pressure on himself as he had not been challenged at all up to that point.

Advantage Wawrinka...2-1. Up a break in the first set.

[stroke]

To me, Stan and Gasquet are the 2 players(outside the big 4) that screams need to win a major. Unfortutely for Stan, even if he gets past Djokovic, he had Nafal waiting. He will have to put up the "winner" numbers he did vs Murray to really have a chance to beat him.

[stotty]

In the UK the odds are 33-1 in favour of Nadal to win his semi. Wawrinka was given a 10-3 outsiders chance. The bookies at least gave Wawrinka some respect, while Gasquet, prior to the match starting at least, is being given close to zero respect as a credible opponent to Nadal by the bookmakers.

I missed the Djokovic v Wawrinka match. I'm glad Djokovic won because he is the only man on earth that can stop Nadal...the bookies can't see Gasquet doing it and neither can I.

[tennis_chiro]

Try to see a recording of the match

...

I missed the Djokovic v Wawrinka match. I'm glad Djokovic won because he is the only man on earth that can stop Nadal...the bookies can't see Gasquet doing it and neither can I.

Actually, Wawrinka was clearly the better player through the first three sets. Djoker was lucky he pulled out the second set in the TB. After the injury timeout in the fourth set, Wawrinka's movement was definitely compromised. But before the injury (strained upper right thigh), Wawrinka looked like he was really the better bet to threaten Nadal. He was actually dismantling the Djokovic defense with his power off both sides. Really some great hitting.

If Stan can get just a little steadier under Norman's coaching, he could have a big impact on who makes up the top 5 in the next 3 years.

don

[don_budge]

The Wawrinka Moment...became Djokovic's Moment.

There come's a moment...or a match in every great tennis player's career that may signify that they are entering another level of the game. If Wawrinka had won that five set epic down under against Djokovic it may have changed his outlook on things.

This is a huge moment for Wawrinka. Without a doubt the biggest in his career. It's a shame it is coming a bit late for him to wholly capitalize on it if he should succeed. At 28...if he accomplishes this task the tendency may be to just feel that it was enough and not enough to light a fire in his belly. In his heart.

The moment came and went. It was barely perceptible. Only to those with the sense. The sense to make sense...of the things that are before them.

At 1-1 in the fifth set...Wawrinka served a game that went some twenty plus minutes. Djokovic refusing to let go of it and Wawrinka refusing to win it. The first service percentage of Wawrinka at his moment of truth was somewhat deplorable. He couldn't seem to buy a first serve...the constant pressure of defending break points with second serves took its toll. Even though Djokovic lost that game...he knew that deep down inside he had tested the soul of his opponent and he had blinked. Sometimes when you lose...you win. You make your opponent pay a steep price for winning something in order that you soften him up for the kill somewhere down the road.

That is precisely what Djokovic did. Serving at 1-2 he served the most routine of service games and returned Stansislas back to the hot seat. Back to his service game where he had labored under the duress of tiredness, fatigue and doubt. It was too much to bear. Djokovic broke him with an invincible will. After the match...on EuroSport Mats Wilander asked Novak Djokovic what the difference was between him and his opponent on this day. Without hesitation or batting an eyelash, he said..."mental toughness".

At the very moment when everything was hanging in the balance he was at his toughest. We have witnessed this type of "Djokovic Moment" time and time again. He is the slipperiest of opponents...it's never over until it is over. When the fat lady is singing...and even then he may have some nasty little twitches left. The guy just refuses to cave in. When Wawrinka foolishly exhorted the crowd for more noise he got what he wanted but it just may have distracted him from the task at hand. Djokovic...ever the clever gamesmanship waited until the crowd was done with Wawrinka's bidding then once again summoned their noise. He is not to be outdone. Not to be upstaged. Subtly...he is working the angles.

So Djokovic lost that epic game but he knew in his steely resolve that he had won something more important. He had planted the seed of doubt in his Swiss opponent's heart. Sure enough...the toll was more than the fleeting victory of the game. Wawrinka's fate was sealed. It was all over but the crying.

But once again it seems that Wawrinka is too satisfied with coming close. That there is the difference between the top two players in the world and the rest. These give nothing away. When they lose they truly suffer. They hunt their opponents for the next chance. When Djokovic beat Nadal at Monte Carlo there were those that thought that he had his number...but even as Nadal congratulated him deep down he was saying to himself...see you at Roland Garros sucker. Wawrinka isn't that mean. Nobody is. Except the top couple of players. Federer used to be that mean. How do you think he got that permanent sneer on his face?
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