2014 Swiss Indoors Basel…ATP 500…Basel, Switzerland

[don_budge]

The Draw for the 2014 Swiss Indoors...

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Event-Draws.aspx?EventId=328&Year=2014

What a great looking draw…it should prove to be highly entertaining. A possible Roger Federer vs. "Ex-Baby Fed" Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals. Last week during the tournament in an interview Grigor once again confirmed that he no longer is playing in the shadow of Roger…he is his own man now. He admitted that he styled and tooled his game after Federer's but he now has moved to another level within himself. Interesting stuff. I watched a kid at one of our little series matches here who was styling himself after Federer. You could certainly choose worse models.

Hopefully Stan Wawrinka will stand up like a man and meet either Fed or Baby Fed in the semis. Stan has been suffering from his win in the 2014 Australian Championships. It's a belief disorder. He sort of never could believe that he beat Nadal in the finals and Nadal certainly didn't help him either with the Academy Award performance that he put on during the match and the awards presentation afterwards. It is amazing to me that so many idolize this pretender. The Usurper. Get over it Stan…just start swinging for the fences again. Quit thinking about it…everyone wants to beat you even more badly than before. Show 'em who's boss. Look at Roger…all of these years everyone wanted to take him down. Be a Man about it…Stan.

Down below there is a very interesting match with David Goffin and Dominic Thiem. Goffin, arguably the most improved player on the tour this year and Dominic Thiem a rising star. Levels of the game. Levels of development. Where the roads meet.

The much discussed Milos Raonic waiting for one of these two in the semis if everything goes as planned seeding wise. But you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and seeds. Donald Young in the house trying to up his game to the next level. Another guy who should have been a one handed backhand player out of the Feliciano Lopez mode…or more ambitiously…John McEnroe mode. Donald's serve seems to have improved and the rest of his game has followed incrementally.

At the very bottom gracing us with his presence in spite of an impending appendicitis episode. He is the type who makes his excuses before they actually happen…just to cover the bases should someone have the audacity to beat him. Fafa Nadal. What a piece of work. Interesting choice of tournaments to play Basel instead of native Valencia. Who wouldn't love to see Roger take down the Spaniard a notch or two. I wouldn't be surprised to see a quickened indoor surface to give an advantage to the native Swiss. They need to quicken the courts anyways to give Brian Gordon another project to measure. How quicker courts have a detrimental effect upon the ATP forehand…and on and on and on.

[don_budge]

David Goffin defeats Dominic Thiem 76 63…and Donald Young

It was an interesting match…which is just sort of being entertaining. David Goffin may arguably be the most improved player on the tour this year. So what is it that enabled him to take this quantum leap.

Attitude. It's all about attitude in the end. Just look at his face. Like a mean little cat. 5' 11" and 150 lbs. and as mean as a snake. Dominic Thiem…6' 1" tall and 180 lbs. was bullied into submission in every facet of the game. Most notably 15 aces for Goffin and just a single clean service winner for Thiem. It's an educational process in the climb up the ATP ladder. There is much more to it than ATP forehands by the way. It's has a lot to do with attitude. Thiem just got schooled by one mean little cat. One tough hombre.

With new students I try to immediately let them now what they are in for. No sense in beating around the bush. I say to them that you must imagine that you are a cat…a very mean and hungry cat. Then I take a ball out of my pocket and introduce them to the mouse. Cat…meet mouse.

David Goffin isn't very big. He isn't so strong or physically intimidating. But he is taking down some of the big guns lately…and he does it with some smart tactics and the attitude that the bigger they come the harder they fall. Last night Dominic Thiem held his serve the first six times he served but when it came to the tie-breaker it was all David Goffin. He let him know who was boss. I didn't stick around for the second set but it was predictable. Thiem was thoroughly mentally beaten after that first set.

Donald Young continues his own personal quest as he has nabbed another first round victory. Donald is even par after the first couple of holes…looking down the fairway at perhaps one of the sternest tests on the course. He plays the winner of Steve Johnson and our player du jour…Milos Raonic.

Rafa Nadal's opening act was a resounding success. He strutted like a peacock to victory in his opening round over Simone Bolelli…the hapless Italian. Hapless? Well…33 times he has played a player in the top ten and 33 times he has come in second. 34's a charm?

[klacr]

Wawrinka clearly not a cat.

Loses to Kukushkin. Since winning Monte Carlo, Wawrinka has been a shadow of himself. He caught lightning in a bottle at Melbourne and beat a player whom I favor in the semis before blowing away Nadal. You can see the confidence level of Wawrinka is displayed clearly in his level of returns. The chipping and chopping on even 2nd serves shows you he is not completely behind his game and there is an internal struggle inside that rectangular box he makes his living in. The backhand is gorgeous. Just gorgeous. But there has to be more. And he has lost it...for now

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

The Swiss Pair…Federer and Wawrinka. Different cats.

Wawrinka clearly not a cat.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Once you win big you have a big target on the middle of your back. The opposition is motivated to take down a big stick. In order to handle that kind of pressure it takes a special kind of cat.

Getting there is one thing. But holding onto the position is quite another. Maybe that was enough for Stan. To hold a single Slam title. Afterall…that puts him in another stratosphere. To win multiple Slams is another story. The same might well be said for Andy Murray. It isn't for the feint of heart that is for certain.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/10/43/Basel-Tuesday-Federer-Preview.aspx

Roger Federer has a completely different take on the situation but then again his road has been a totally different journey. It is a bit of mystery how certain players react to different scenarios.

Speaking of Roger…he plays tonight and I am very curious about his performance in this tournament. His serve and volley and his net approaches have sort of shocked the tennis world as of late. How times have changed. It used to be that the game was won at the net and now it is news when a player suddenly makes the move forwards. Look for Roger to continue to "shock and awe" us. Afterall…never change a winning game as Bill Tilden always said.

[don_budge]

Serving it out…in style

Roger Federer serves out the match with Denis Istomin 36 63 64. All that I saw was the last game which Federer served out at love. Ace on match point. Exclamation point. Getting the horse in the barn.

Milos Raonic pushed to a third set tie-break by Donald Young. Donald…close but no cigar. Once again he was knocking on the door. Once it opens he must let himself in. You have to admire his persistence. No doubt he has been written off in certain circles.

David Goffin takes another step into the draw and he faces Milos Raonic next. He could make it interesting but on paper Milos has it all going on…doesn't he? Another David and Goliath matchup. Borna Coric up against Rafa Nadal next. The 124th ranked player in the world…hungry for a big takedown. No fear when you are young and a rising star. But Rafa is too strong…isn't he?

[klacr]

Been watching Basel all day. David Goffin just keeps winning doesn't he?

Donald Young gave many people a surprised when he pushed Raonic to the limit. 3rd set tie-breaker as close as it gets.

Federer weathered the Istomin storm and won in three sets. Istomin always seems up to the challenge. Even if he doesn't win against the top players he never gets overwhelmed by the moment and always gives the fans some entertaining points to boot.

Coric vs. Nadal. I'm looking forward to it. Nadal has "appendicitis" and Coric is 17, so the youngster simply doesn't care. Coric walks into the match respecting Nadal, but thats where it ends. Coric will give it his all. Rooting for the youngster.

Getting ready to watch Dimitrov vs. Pospisil. I always find it amusing how in the warm-up, two handed backhand players love to hit one-handers. An inner desire to be classic and aesthetically pleasing. Pospisil just attempted it at beginning of warm-up.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

The Host versus The Clone…Federer vs. Dimitrov

Been watching Basel all day. David Goffin just keeps winning doesn't he?

Donald Young gave many people a surprised when he pushed Raonic to the limit. 3rd set tie-breaker as close as it gets.

Federer weathered the Istomin storm and won in three sets. Istomin always seems up to the challenge. Even if he doesn't win against the top players he never gets overwhelmed by the moment and always gives the fans some entertaining points to boot.

Coric vs. Nadal. I'm looking forward to it. Nadal has "appendicitis" and Coric is 17, so the youngster simply doesn't care. Coric walks into the match respecting Nadal, but thats where it ends. Coric will give it his all. Rooting for the youngster.

Getting ready to watch Dimitrov vs. Pospisil. I always find it amusing how in the warm-up, two handed backhand players love to hit one-handers. An inner desire to be classic and aesthetically pleasing. Pospisil just attempted it at beginning of warm-up.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj_iL2vP_Yg

Denis Istomin definitely has some nice game. He stood up to Roger Federer yesterday but this a new and rejuvenated Federer. His whole game has picked up a notch. Things are starting to balance themselves out rather nicely.

First of all…this resurgence starts with the new racquet. Enter Stefan Edberg. Edberg reconnoitres the Federer tactical acumen into a more net seeking mission. Notice how seamless the net approaches are compared to a year ago. Pre 98 square inches. Look at the use of the slice backhand now. With a 11% more racquet face to work with this shot becomes so much better when approaching, defending and neutralizing. Even subtle aggression. Remember Ken Rosewall?

Seamless. There's a word for you. Seamless net approaches. Notice how the swinging volley has quickly become an anomaly, whereas the classic closing tactics on the net are becoming more of an instinctive reaction instead of an afterthought. The backswing on the volleys has been significantly reduced and "levelled" off as well. No more exaggerated underspin…except when he applies the "kiss of death" drop shot. Notice how the rhythm of approach, stagger and finish becomes seamless on the opportunity approaches. The serve and volley is meaningful…not just a throwaway when he is hopelessly defeated.

Speaking of swinging volleys. I remember a comment that tennis_chiro made during our discussion about the relative merits and demerits about the swinging volley. He advocated a drive volley but more importantly he advocated closing in on the net with a couple of quick steps instead of waiting for the ball and swinging at it. Couple this commentary with my "up and back" approach to tennis and there you have it. A brand new paradigm. Not! Merely classic tennis tactics.

It all began with Roger getting a bit older. Then the realization that things were starting to slip away because he was giving too much away in the equipment factor. The switch to the new racquet and then the new architect on board to put together the vision of the "new" Roger Federer. To sort things out. Every facet of his game gets just a little bit better…say 11% better. And it all adds up…as Saul Bellow suggested. It a synchronistic effect…the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. The question is…why didn't he do it three years ago?

Next…the clone versus the real deal. Youth conquers all. Grigor Dimitrov looked just a bit vulnerable himself the other night against the young up and comer Alexander Zverev. But he is showing some signs of maturity himself as he seemed to be less than one hundred percent physically and righted the ship. The next night he comes out looking like a million dollars and cleans up on Vasek Pospisil. It's two out of three between these two "look a likes".

It's even steven as they say in the cheap seats. Give the nod to Roger though. Home court. Tactics. Experience. Dimitrov is ever dangerous and not to be counted out or taken lightly. But Federer is the last remaining link to classic tennis. The one and only tennis. He may just be delivering the goods to the game…reviving tactics to go along with the endless drone of technique. It's modern times…afterall. Technology trumps art. Truthiness trumps reality. Don't get me started.

[don_budge]

Roger Federer vs. Denis Istomin

It looks like they may have withdrawn the highlights of the Federer vs. Istomin match yesterday.

Edit…here it is again. Reappearing and morphing into a slightly longer version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jddzsrz2C7o

I just wanted to draw your attention to another facet of the "new" Federer play. During the course of the five minute highlight film Federer intentionally hit the ball very short to Istomin and sort of followed this into the net. Then he did one of about a half dozen things…not the least of which was send a lob over the hapless Istomin after he has futilely chased down and weakly returned a Federer drop shot. The "Kiss of Death".

While Roger is exploiting the forecourt himself on his side of the net he is simultaneously exploiting his opponent's inability to play his side of the forecourt as effectively as Roger. This is pure Tilden…make your opponent play your game. A majority of the modern professional tennis players are strictly backcourt specialists and they are very tentative when forced to go to the net quite against their will. It isn't within their comfort limits…the control limits. The quality control background actually does come in handy. Statistically speaking…that is.

Roger demonstrates a couple of beautifully executed "drop shot and lob" combinations to go with his angled volley options. He's playing some good tennis and he is relaxed. I am really looking forwards to his match with Dimitrov. It comes on at 8 PM here in Europe. Just in time for me to drive through the woods and the country home…from the little dungeon of a tennis club. That makes me happy to no end.

[klacr]

That first set from Federer and Dimitrov was complete class. Federer takes it in a tie-break.

17 year old Borna Coric upsets Nadal.
Nadal's season is done. Won't play Paris. Won't play London. No mas!

David Goffin is 42-2 since Wimbledon! He's in semis and the favorite to make it to finals.

Been a very interesting quarterfinal day in the Swiss city of Basel.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Glory Days…Roger Federer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vQpW9XRiyM

"Well they'll pass you by. In the wink of a young girl's eye."

Roger Federer had a "Federer Moment" last night. He took down his clone and best imitator…Grigor Dimitrov. It was a little like watching Federer…play Federer. Baby Fed. Last night it showed…imitation may be the highest form of flattery but in the end the imitation rarely exceeds the original.

The first set was a dandy. Both players playing at a very high level yet there were moments when both struggled to hold onto the level. But being great players they maintained their balance and kept it all together. Clearly Roger had the edge even throughout the even first set…he was the aggressor. Applying pressure to his opponent. But in the tie-breaker he just asserted his will and the deed was done. Tremendous serving with all of the accoutrements to back it up.

The second set was vintage Federer. An early break in the beginning of the set , then another as the set wore on...and then he routinely served it out. Exclamation point in the final game. The serve was really dominant and when his serve is dominant his confidence swells in every other aspect of his game. The net play totally unsettled Dimitrov and threw him off of his rhythm…even though he struggled to maintain it early in the match. But the pressure was too much and Roger was feeling nothing but the inspiration that goes along with playing superlative tennis with some new found tactics. In this way he has a fresh lease on life…on the sport. He feels inspired…when he isn't just dog tired.

The racquet is vindication. By switching he has levelled the playing field. The game only has to reduce the legal size of the racquet head and marginally increase the speed of the courts. Balance will be restored.

This tournament has exceeded expectations and as usual it is Mr. Tennis leading the charge.

[don_budge]

David Goffin vs. Borna Coric…Hunger (Knut Hamson)

17 year old Borna Coric upsets Nadal.

David Goffin is 42-2 since Wimbledon! He's in semis and the favorite to make it to finals.

Been a very interesting quarterfinal day in the Swiss city of Basel.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Very interesting indeed…my good man. This match up with David Goffin and Borna Coric is absolutely marvelous. I've been watching Goffin and looking forwards to seeing Coric. Both hungry players. Both mean cats…Goffin a mean little cat. Just perfect. The winner to face the winner of you know who and the other one.

[don_budge]

Croatia and the Swiss Indoors Basel…Federer vs. Goffin in the finals

What are the odds that two fellows from Zagreb, Croatia would make the semifinals of the Swiss Indoors in Basel, Switzerland. Calculators please…

Ivo Karlovic gave Roger Federer a pretty good tussle in the top half of the draw at 76 36 63 to Federer. Heavy serving? At 6' 11" tall, Ivo is the tallest player to be ranked in the top 100 since 1973 or so. According to the ATP website. But that serve is coming down on you…and coming fast. This guy is actually a full 6 inches taller than Milos Raonic. The bigger they come…the bigger they fall. The ideal height for a tennis player is still 6' 1" tall and it will remain that until Roger Federer retires…at least.

There were no service breaks in the first set and the tie-breaker saw a couple of service breaks traded back and forth. These two have played many tie-breakers in the past and Federer has won 80 percent of them. Go figure. Karlovic mixes his serve up with placement rather well…he throws in the body serve intelligently almost scoring blows to the Federer body a number of times. Like a baseball pitcher keeping the batter honest.

Federer let his guard down just a bit in the second…just enough for Ivo to score a break but in the end it was moxy over might. Federer got the break in the third and proceeded to serve it out routinely.

The other Croatian was also in the hunt as Borna Coric lost to David "Gollum" Goffin 64 36 63. This was my first look at Borna Coric and my first impression is that he is pretty deceptive. At first glance he is sort of difficult to watch. There is something sort of elusive about him. I cannot quite put my finger on it. Perhaps it is that he is deceptively fast. It is very tough to maneuver him out of position. Very tough…sort of Novak Djokovic. But the ball keeps on coming back and then all of a sudden he is teeing off on it a bit. He lulls you…then he slips in the mickey.

David Goffin for his part is one little tenacious tennis player. What he lacks in size and brute strength he makes up for in hustle, playing intelligently and perseverance. The kid was giving it to him in the second set but David never wavered and persevered right to the finish line. He has just a bit of trouble getting the old horse in the barn right at the very end but he managed it. The Goffin serve is deceptive in it's own right…he takes care of his service game. He bangs his fair share of aces as well.

So this sets up an extremely interesting final at the Swiss Indoors but Federer should prevail. On paper it doesn't seem that Goffin should have too much that will give Federer problems…but therein lies the strength of Goffin. He won't let that count him out and look for him to compete to the very last. He's extremely quick and he doesn't give up on anything. It will be very interesting to see if Federer will reinstitute his net tactics. His match with Karlovic didn't really present the opportunities but this match with Goffin should. It should be interesting…and entertaining as well. As long as the "Swiss Maestro" hasn't retired.

[stotty]

The other Croatian was also in the hunt as Borna Coric lost to David "Gollum" Goffin 64 36 63. This was my first look at Borna Coric and my first impression is that he is pretty deceptive. At first glance he is sort of difficult to watch. There is something sort of elusive about him. I cannot quite put my finger on it. Perhaps it is that he is deceptively fast. It is very tough to maneuver him out of position. Very tough…sort of Novak Djokovic. But the ball keeps on coming back and then all of a sudden he is teeing off on it a bit. He lulls you…then he slips in the mickey.

Thanks for this. I haven't seen him play yet but from what people say, both you and others, he seems an intriguing player. It's impressive to be making this kind of an impact. Just when people are saying you have to be well in your twenties to mix it with the best, along comes an upstart at just 17. As you have said yourself, there are no rules, no set formulas...that's the beauty of tennis. Just when you think you have it sussed..."bada bing all over you nice ivy league suit".

I'm in Maine right now visiting my 80-year-old mother. It's very beautiful with all the autumn leaves starting to drop. But not a tennis court in sight. Maine seems not to be a State for tennis.

Federer to win in straight...

[bottle]

Maine!

[stotty]

Maine!

Yes, nice here. The home of E B White. Not one tennis court have I seen thus far.