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Well, seems that Roger just started training again 15 minutes ago. Hope all goes well. He has one of the best physiotherapists around, Daniel Troxler, well known in Switzerland for his outstanding results with athletes.
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Who would have thought the two most important members of the Swiss Davis Cup team for this final would be the team doctor and physiotherapist and not Roger and Stan. No Roger, No Cup. That simple.
Kyle LaCroix USPTA
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Maybe that two hour fight about Mirka's heckling Wawrinka caused his back to seize up.Comment
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He trained with Chiudenelli yesterday for 30 minutes and said he felt no pain. Managed to serve fluidly too. That was a real test for his back. Keeping my fingers crossed... Yeah, Geoff, maybe that was it...Comment
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Federer will play against Monfils on Friday! He should roll over him...
Wawrinka vs Tsonga (tougher...)Comment
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Roll over…???
Like he was supposed to roll over Wawrinka Saturday? Like he was supposed to roll over Monfils at the U. S. Open? Not so fast…it could be a couple of thrilling matches.Originally posted by gzhpcu View Post
Interesting that Monfils was the pick to play Federer.
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She got mad that Wa man did not give up the point. But it was fed's fault. The ref called out: "Love 15. Love 30." And fed did not pay any attention, and then she blamed Wa man, for taking it. Who wouldn't have? Fed? He would have done the same thing: It's all out war out there.Originally posted by gzhpcu View PostComment
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I would have chosen Simon to play one of the matches for France. He stays in the fight better I feel.Comment
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Stan beat Tsonga in 4 sets.... Simon, by the way, a couple of weeks ago, told the French spectators not to applaud any points Federer makes, because he used to applause and that will throw him off...
Also: all of the French Davis Cup players live in Switzerland, so as to pay less taxes...Comment
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Depth of Shot
First two sets:
Justin or was it the other guy was talking about the depth of the French team.
The real story though was the depth of Gael's shots-- much deeper than those of Roger.Comment
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2014 Davis Cup Finals...France vs. Switzerland…Lille, France
Yep…and then there are stories within the stories. Layered thickly and neatly…like an onion. We try to peal them away to see the reality of the situation.Originally posted by bottle View Post
Clearly an indication that Federer is not fit to fight. Yet. Gael Monfils wouldn't let an opportunity like this to go by without pouring on the heat…no matter how much respect and awe he might have for Mr. Modern Tennis. Stan Wawrinka clearly showed that he is not to be taken for granted with a nice and neat win over Jo Wilfried Tsonga. Showing no ill effects from any cat fight that allegedly took place after that epic performance in the O2 last weekend.
Federer wouldn't have it any other way and he undoubtably took his beating without any complaining or whining. So thinking ahead and thinking about his strategy to try and take home the Davis Cup…he more or less showed up on Friday knowing that he wouldn't be able to compete but he gets his boots on the ground and gets himself accustomed to the surface and the atmosphere. Plus he gets one more day of rest…or he has bought himself a 48 hour reprieve if you count the day of the Monfils match where he expended more energy off the court than he did on. Plus he suddenly resurrects himself on Sunday to give whoever it is a good solid thrashing to squash the crowd and set the table for his tried and true buddy…Stanislas Wawrinka. This could be a brilliant ploy…we shall see. It's a possible scenario. One to consider…Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine.
The Swiss concede the doubles point with a couple of lackluster players against the top echelon of Benneteau and Gasquet. But wouldn't it be something if the Swiss could pull off a shot in the dark upset. More than likely this is not going to happen…then the Swiss dig in for one last stand on Sunday.
The first singles player on Sunday will have to keep the hopes alive and for all intents and purposes it will feel like he is playing for his life…and for his country. This is the Davis Cup spectre. If that first player is none other than Roger Federer look for him to rise from the dead like a modern day Lazarus. Look for a miraculous recovery. If that point is secured then the second man will be up against more of the same kind of energy with the only exception being that the French player will be up against the same kind of pressure also and maybe more in front of the hometown throng. Nerves are different in Davis Cup play. Particularly in the finals.
Now Stanislas must go out and be a real man about things and secure his point and Roger must do the same. If Roger is going to play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga he is even odds if he is healthy. He is 11-5 head to head but if he one hundred percent it wouldn't surprise me to see him take down the Baby Bull of France. Gael Monfils is the loose canon. He and Wawrinka are 2-2 and it is always interesting to speculate on which Monfils will show up. The one with the fragility of something less than you would expect or could it be the lion tamer. He plays to the crowd…he fancies himself to be an entertainer. But when the chips are down who is going to show up. Stan Wawrinka had his game face on last weekend. He gave it to Tsonga according to the script if the Swiss are writing it. If it comes down to Wawrinka and Monfils…that could be quite a spectacle.
The French team is loaded with talent. They are as deep as any country in the world right now and that includes Spain. This could get interesting…as klacr likes to say. I'm picking the Swiss…but keep in mind I only bet with my heart which is why I never actually put any money on it. I always feel for the underdog. To come from behind…the sweetest win of all.
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The Lackluster Swiss Doubles Team...
As it turns out the lackluster doubles team is Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka. This is so great to see. In the face of the rumour mongers. The two Swiss dudes attached by their cosmic umbilical cord. Let the women do the bitching…the guys have some business to take care of.Originally posted by don_budge View PostThe Swiss concede the doubles point with a couple of lackluster players against the top echelon of Benneteau and Gasquet. But wouldn't it be something if the Swiss could pull off a shot in the dark upset. More than likely this is not going to happen…then the Swiss dig in for one last stand on Sunday.
Federer scampered the entire width of the court to cover a ball hit on Wawrinka's side. He looked really quick doing so. The French team of Benneteau and Gasquet is formidable. A great Saturday afternoon blessing today.
Federer just pounced like a cat to blanket the net on a volley. Nice.
Last edited by don_budge; 12-02-2014, 01:48 PM.Comment
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Stan and Roger win in straight sets. One sees that Roger plays doubles a lot better thanks to his improved volley. (Thanks Stefan...)Comment
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Let it come to you…good things will happen. The Swiss lead 2-1
Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka over Jean Benneteau and Richard Gasquet…6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
It wasn't only the volleys of Roger Federer…doubles is the ultimate team game. That is not to say that there wasn't a captain on the field and it was Federer. He took charge when anything was played down the middle in the air. He commandeered all of the overheads and he knew when to defer to the Wawrinka forehand on balls played in the backcourt down the middle.
With Federer in the forehand corner and Wawrinka in the backhand corner there aren't too many options…particularly when neither of the French players are very assertive around the net. Interesting strategy to put Federer in the forehand side by the way. Conventional wisdom has the steadier player in the backhand corner but the choice is clearly made in deference to Wawrinka's bludgeoning backhand. He was much more aggressive on his returns and this left the door open for Roger to take some liberties on the other side. They make a great TEAM…there is no "I" in team.
Clearly they put any difference aside. Their camaraderie on the court was admirable. They encouraged and lifted each other up through the whole match. They were way more aggressive and it seemed that Wawrinka's confidence in his volleys was buoyed by the presence of "The Master". Stan is particularly solid and lethal off of the backhand volley. Throughout their epic singles at the O2 last weekend Wawrinka was approaching the net with deadly efficiency off of backhand slice approaches to the Federer backhand and his backhand volley was very solid…save for one or two at crunch time. That stands for reason though as volleying is not option one…or even two.
This key doubles point changes everything though. The earlier post based on the Swiss conceding the doubles point is now null and void. You see…this is why they play these things out. Anything can happen. So, one of the Swiss men need to capture a match tomorrow and the Davis Cup is Switzerland's. I know one fellow on the forum that will be particularly proud if that happens. But the truth is we all will be proud knowing that Roger and Stan are acting like men and putting any minor squabbles or differences aside. Women…nothing but trouble. But try getting along with out them. Boy oh boy!
Emotions run terribly high in matches such as last weeks performance by these two professionals. The panties get in a bunch in a hurry. But they conducted themselves really well considering all of the microphones that were in place. I never heard a peep. Apparently someone did. But we can just ignore stuff like that. Like a blemish. Like a pimple. If someone has one on their face…one doesn't point at it and say…"look mommy, that person has a pimple on their face". People argue. Boys and girls. It makes the world go around. That is why I always liked John McEnroe…never a dull moment. A spectacle now and then. It's good for the gander.
I really enjoyed that doubles. With all of the talk that we put in here on the forum about the ancient art. I am somewhat surprised that the French team did not utilize Michael Llodra in this venue. With his left handed serve and his volleys he may have been a key cog this afternoon for the French. Jean Benneteau was developmentally limited on his backhand volley. Jean uses a two handed backhand and that doesn't always guarantee a sound volley technique on that side. Richard Gasquet was too reticent at the net as well. The Swiss were swarming…and blanketing the net. As a team…their ladies are really proud of them tonight and busy getting them ready to do the good fight tomorrow. I am pulling for the Swiss…even though they are no longer the underdogs. See how these things go…just let the game come to you. Good things are bound to happen.
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