2015 Australian Open…ATP 2000...Melbourne, Australia

[stroke]

We all know what seperates Djokovic, Murray(when he is totally engaged), and Nadal(when he is physically 100%), is their almost inpenetrable defense, they do not go away or bail out on points. We will see if Berdych can hit through that. Nishikori vs Wawrinka is a great match up. Djokovic is certainly the favorite vs Raonic, but I don't think anyone would be shocked to see Raonic break through and win this tournament with that serve.

[stotty]

We all know what seperates Djokovic, Murray(when he is totally engaged), and Nadal(when he is physically 100%), is their almost inpenetrable defense, they do not go away or bail out on points. We will see if Berdych can hit through that. Nishikori vs Wawrinka is a great match up. Djokovic is certainly the favorite vs Raonic, but I don't think anyone would be shocked to see Raonic break through and win this tournament with that serve.

Raonic's first serve percentage has been hovering over 70 percent throughout the tournament....averaging 71.75% to be precise. He's been having good success off his second serve too. If he serves well, he's a threat, no doubt about it. He bores me to death, though...a real lumberjack if ever there was one.

Wawrinka versus Nishikori is the one to watch. I will look forward to that. They are both nice men and hit the ball really sweet. I think Wawrinka might edge it.

[don_budge]

Murray vs. Kyrgios…a classic case study

Two great topspin lobs in that tie-break.

Murray got a little passive however and in the end relied on Kyrgios getting ahead of himself. A long way back for Kyrgios now...Murray ain't no Seppi.

In this case "great" may indeed be an understatement. The two lobs were in a word…brilliant. One topspin lob off the forehand and one topspin of of the backhand. Both in the second set tie-breaker at an absolute pivotal (convergence) point in the match. Andy Murray plays very intelligently and when he puts aside all of the antics of clutch and grab and man ups he can be a very tough hombre.

This match was a classic case study in one of my favorite tennis riddles. You are well aware of this one…it starts with the rhetorical question. Question…what is power? Answer…control is power. What is control? To begin with we can discuss spin, speed and placement.

Andy "shrinks" the court according to our astute tennis aficionado in Great Britain. I thought about that word as I was watching Murray dissect the effervescent Kyrgios. He came out dressed as a "Galactic Banana" in electric yellow. Shoes, short and shirt…to match the tennis balls. I wonder if this was the plan…to somehow cause his opponent to lose the ball in the yellow background of his outfit. No matter…Murray played it smart. He put the ball in places where Kyrgios could not get his teeth into it…it was outside of his "wheelhouse". Kyrgios for his part is a free-wheeling slinger with this devil may care attitude. His off key attitude may have just caught up with him here. His devotion to power…as in sheer speed. But he showed some caginess as well. We'll see more of him that's for certain. But for today…control trumped power. Plain and simple.

Smart match…Tomas Berdych up next. Berdych owns Murray 6-4 head to head lifetime. He has also beaten Mr. Clutch and Grab twice in Grand Slam events. Murray can sometimes be a bit of a shrinking violet…to put it nicely. To put it in mixed company. So what gives? For one thing Tomas Berdych has just taken out the Stumbling Spaniard in straight sets after losing to him a million times in a row. He is riding a crest. He hasn't lost a set in the tournament and it is already the semi-finals. I get the feeling that Tomas is feeling it. Low keyed as he is, he has moseyed his way into contention.

Which Andy Murray is going to show up? It's best of five and it's getting late in the tourney and man…he has looked awfully good. That was a convincing win over Grigor Dimitrov in the previous round too. I don't know…I got this feeling. This could be a great match. A couple of questionable characters with lots of unproven potential…and something to prove. Take your pick.

[stotty]

A good drubbing can work wonders...

In this case "great" may indeed be an understatement. The two lobs were in a word…brilliant. One topspin lob off the forehand and one topspin of of the backhand. Both in the second set tie-breaker at an absolute pivotal (convergence) point in the match. Andy Murray plays very intelligently and when he puts aside all of the antics of clutch and grab and man ups he can be a very tough hombre.

This match was a classic case study in one of my favorite tennis riddles. You are well aware of this one…it starts with the rhetorical question. Question…what is power? Answer…control is power. What is control? To begin with we can discuss spin, speed and placement.

Andy "shrinks" the court according to our astute tennis aficionado in Great Britain. I thought about that word as I was watching Murray dissect the effervescent Kyrgios. He came out dressed as a "Galactic Banana" in electric yellow. Shoes, short and shirt…to match the tennis balls. I wonder if this was the plan…to somehow cause his opponent to lose the ball in the yellow background of his outfit. No matter…Murray played it smart. He put the ball in places where Kyrgios could not get his teeth into it…it was outside of his "wheelhouse". Kyrgios for his part is a free-wheeling slinger with this devil may care attitude. His off key attitude may have just caught up with him here. His devotion to power…as in sheer speed. But he showed some caginess as well. We'll see more of him that's for certain. But for today…control trumped power. Plain and simple.

Smart match…Tomas Berdych up next. Berdych owns Murray 6-4 head to head lifetime. He has also beaten Mr. Clutch and Grab twice in Grand Slam events. Murray can sometimes be a bit of a shrinking violet…to put it nicely. To put it in mixed company. So what gives? For one thing Tomas Berdych has just taken out the Stumbling Spaniard in straight sets after losing to him a million times in a row. He is riding a crest. He hasn't lost a set in the tournament and it is already the semi-finals. I get the feeling that Tomas is feeling it. Low keyed as he is, he has moseyed his way into contention.

Which Andy Murray is going to show up? It's best of five and it's getting late in the tourney and man…he has looked awfully good. That was a convincing win over Grigor Dimitrov in the previous round too. I don't know…I got this feeling. This could be a great match. A couple of questionable characters with lots of unproven potential…and something to prove. Take your pick.

Nice post.

Murray has been a different man this tournament and there is a reason for that few may understand: Murray took his 6-0 6-1 drubbing from Federer very badly at the end of last year...badly in a positive sense that is. He thought he was right up there with Federer and Federer showed him he wasn't. It's no great shame of course as Federer is quite simply an incredible player when in full flight. He can do that to players if he gets it right and they get it wrong.

But deep down Murray hated his drubbing. He hated it so much that it corrected his attitude. He wants to rectify things by winning a slam. Whether he can do it or not is still a tall order but the byproduct of that drubbing from Federer has given him every chance. Being severely humiliated can be a very grounding experience and not something quickly forgotten...if ever. I make him slight favourite against Berdych. He'll need to bring his full game to the table but if he does he should have too much for Berdych.

Willander is right. Murray is an intelligent player...he has a kind of native intelligence for the game. He made Kyrgios look a little naive out there at times and played him perfectly most of the time.

[don_budge]

Andy Murray…the road back

Murray has been a different man this tournament and there is a reason for that few may understand: Murray took his 6-0 6-1 drubbing from Federer very badly at the end of last year...badly in a positive sense that is. He thought he was right up there with Federer and Federer showed him he wasn't. It's no great shame of course as Federer is quite simply an incredible player when in full flight. He can do that to players if he gets it right and they get it wrong.

But deep down Murray hated his drubbing. He hated it so much that it corrected his attitude. He wants to rectify things by winning a slam. Whether he can do it or not is still a tall order but the byproduct of that drubbing from Federer has given him every chance. Being severely humiliated can be a very grounding experience and not something quickly forgotten...if ever. I make him slight favourite against Berdych. He'll need to bring his full game to the table but if he does he should have too much for Berdych.

Willander is right. Murray is an intelligent player...he has a kind of native intelligence for the game. He made Kyrgios look a little naive out there at times and played him perfectly most of the time.

Kei Nishikori and Andy Murray? Who cares? As boring as it gets. A terrible match and poorly executed. The net play was borderline crummy at best. Nishikori is ample proof of the game of tennis gone wrong. A one dimensional player with a rather unimpressive service motion. Of course he has unbelievable quickness and unbelievable ball striking talent but is that enough? Apparently it is with the game being played the way it is today.

For Murray's part he may as well be coached by a girl because he really played like a pussy yesterday. He may be tired though and not 100% to his capabilities. His long road back from surgery…well, we will never know the whole story about that. His performance was really disappointing. Not to me…I could care less about either he or Nishikori…but to the London crowd. I wonder if Murray voted yes or no…to a free and independent Scotland. I suspect he sided with the royalty and the Queen…there are too many freebies to be passed up for him to go out on a limb for the masses.

For Andy's part he manned up. He played like a meek little puddy cat against Nishikori but he brought some balls to the game yesterday. As for his upcoming match with Roger he senses just how fit and prepared the Swiss Maestro is at the moment. Federer has gaged every step and every moment since the Parisian debacle against Milos Raonic to arrive in London in the fittest and sharpest of condition. He has gaged it exactly right as he has escalated his performance in the first two matches and still seems to have another gear to shift into. I suspect we will see glimpses of that Thursday against Murray. Here is what Murray had to say and he is measuring his words as he doesn't want to piss off the Swiss Knife any more than he already is.

“It will be obviously a very difficult match,” said Murray. “But it will be an exciting match. A good one to be part of. I hope I can play well. We've had some very good matches over the years. I hope on Thursday it will be the same.”

I detect doubt. Whenever I here the word "hope" more than once in a statement it turns out to be pie in the sky. Anybody here remember some unknown pariah preaching "hope and change" to a nation of hopefuls. How about "more of the same"…meet the new boss same as the old boss. I hope Roger pins his ears back. Period.

Wow!

Roger Federer vs. Andy Murray…Here is a match on paper that should be very close with a favored Roger Federer threatened by upset by underdog and hometown favorite Andy Murray. Does it make any difference to Londoners if Andy voted yes or no? Murray certainly has the defensive game to withstand the onslaught of Federer on a sandy laden court but does he have what it takes in the intestinal fortitude variable? Another question is how important is this match to Federer…he can play it soft too when the results don't seem to matter as much.

Federer is giving us a clinic on preparation these last months. Somehow jockeying his relatively ancient body through the paces of trying to land in the number one position on the tour at the end of the year. It certainly has been a valiant effort win or lose and isn't that what it is all about in the end? Doing your best? I think so. Let the game come to you. That is exactly what he has done. He sprints and fights when he has too then he lets off of the reigns when it makes sense to grab a breath of air and pace himself. So here he is at the pinnacle…against Andy Murray in front of Murray's "hometown" crowd. It would have been "interesting" if the vote had gone to the "yes'"…would Andy still technically have had a hometown crowd. Anyone else thinking along those lines?

It's ok isn't it? This is a forum?

Good matches have been none existent so far at this venue at the O2. There could be two good ones tonight.

Yes…I remember Andy Murray back in November/December. He was laying the groundwork for his comeback. He was looking patchy at times…but he was working out the kinks. It's been a long road back. He hit a rough patch at the O2…he was probably exhausted from his efforts leading up to that event. It's nice to sit on the sidelines with nothing better to do…than report! Was I being a bit overzealous? You be the judge.

I think that this is true about Murray and it is one of his greatest strengths. Against most of the players he can sort of dictate the play at a certain speed of play but when he is up against a player of Federer's pedigree…he is always going to be second when it really counts…as Greg Rusedski opined before the match. Let the game come to you also means that you have to go out and seize the moment and you cannot pussyfoot around and be passive against such an energy as the one Roger Federer possessed this November evening in London.

When I said that Murray played like a pussy against Nishikori I was merely calling a spade a spade. I stand by what I said. No uncertain terms. Look up pussy in the dictionary. It means one of several things. Either a vulgar term for a woman's genitals or a weak, cowardly, or effeminate man. It could be the informal for a cat. Guess which context I was using. Get a life. It is one thing to counter shots with players that have no more in mind than camping out on the baseline but it is quite another against a player that is trying to disrupt your game by any means necessary. You cannot pussyfoot around with the latter. Murray played like a woman…look for the lesbian coach to disappear.

Once and for all Federer is putting on a display and a clinic that demonstrates why the modern game is ineffective and inferior to the classic game. EVery single player from the classic era was capable of playing this kind of tennis…maybe not at the level we witnessed last night but certainly at very high levels. I have seen John McEnroe at that level many, many times and he was also very destructive on the strong gripped forehand, two handed backhand game. The myth of the modern game.

The above is what I have really nailed…so far in this tournament. You can say all you want about this, that and the other thing. But this is match play psychology…right out of the book…the Bible of Tennis. Match Play and Spin of the Ball. Tilden is the book. This tournament is the result of weeks of preparation. I would guess that the planning for this was to commence right after the U. S. Open.

Roger is now in the midst of his plan as he enters the semifinal phase of operations. He has had the quick match that he needed. He had the peak performance that he was looking for. When he had Murray down he never let up and he was just relentless and ruthless. Just as a tennis player should be…every time he walks out onto the tennis court. Once you reach that point there is no point in pussyfooting around you go for the jugular…and he had Murray by the throat last night. Now he has a day of rest and he can spend the time resting and getting in a hit just to confirm what he now suspects…he is there and he is ready. In the moment. Aaron would say that he is "treeing"…meaning he is in the upper branches looking down on us.

Federer sent a message too over on the other half of the draw to Mr. Djokovic. Just incidentally. The court is playing really slow which is lucky for Djokovic because otherwise it might change the complexion of things to come. Now you must listen and understand that this game has been fixed for a long time…the engineering is out of control.

It's the racquet. That is what I was hoping for in the Open…but Monfils screwed that up with a sensational performance in the quarters. Then Federer was vulnerable for "The Sleeper" Marin Cilic to knock him out. He had no legs. Ok…no matter. The Champion is undeterred. Go back to the drawing board and come up with the next plan. Stefan Edberg and the racquet. Stefan has Federer resorting to the old school tactics which are not old school at all. They are merely fundamental tennis tactics and psychology. There is nothing new under the sun but more and more people are starting to not understand the importance of knowing your history.

In the world of tennis one can come off being ignorant without endangering the world. The same cannot be said for poiitics and foreign relations.

That match last night was exciting and riveting. I sure am glad that I was able to watch it here in the comfort of my office and not have to make the drive to the O2 and pay a zillion dollars. I don't particularly like crowds. You can understand why.

[klacr]

4 words....

Bring on Andy Murray.

Sincerely,

a Big Berdych Fan

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[klacr]

So the Berdych win over Nadal in my mind was great. But something does not sit well with me.

Why can't we appreciate and applaud a Nadal opponent who wins for what he did as opposed to overlook him because of what Nadal couldn't do?

Berdych won. Crushed Nadal. Nadal lost only his third bagel set (0-6) in his Grand slam career. 2006 Wimbledon vs. Federer and 2004 US Open vs. Roddick.

Berdych became just the 2nd player to have defeated all members of the big 4 (Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Nadal) in grand slams. The first player to do so was Tsonga.

Winners/unforced errors
Berdych - 46/21
Nadal - 24/26

Total Points Won:
Berdych 98
Nadal 71

Why is it that every time Nadal loses there is always that aura of him being injured and his opponent never legitimately beat him? The first question in the post match interview today was

"Were you feeling at all unwell or unfit today?

This gives Rafa greenlight to start with excuses. Rafa does not bite on this question. But the next question in the interview is

"Do you think it's also the fact that you haven't played such a player for a while, the whole process of coming back?"

Rafa then gives his classic response. "Today is not the day to talk about that". This is the go-to win/win response from Nadal because it shows that he is not "willing" to make an excuse after the match, yet it lets everyone know that in a matter of days someone will leak news that Nadal has some vague injury that hampered him during the fortnight, thus giving him sympathy and letting him off the hook from any grand slam loss.

I grew up playing and competing in sports in which an athlete's physical state and ability to perform was broken down into two categories.
1. Hurt
2. Injured

If you were hurt, you can suck it up and continue to play. "Cowboy up" as I like to call it.

If you were injured, stop play immediately because you could risk further injury or worsen your current issue.
So is Rafa hurt or injured. If he's hurt, he needs to suck it up and not look for reasons or excuses.
If he's truly injured, then he's an idiot.

I also grew up with another thought in my mind...
no matter what your opponent says, does, or looks, no matter how many braces and bandages they have on, if he has power to walk out on court, he is 100% healthy. Once you step on court, you are sending the message that despite ailments that are accepting the power of full engagement and have an agreement that you are and will give 100% If you don't think you can be 100% then don't waste anyone's time.


Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[tennis_chiro]

So the Berdych win over Nadal in my mind was great. But something does not sit well with me.

Why can't we appreciate and applaud a Nadal opponent who wins for what he did as opposed to overlook him because of what Nadal couldn't do?

Berdych won. Crushed Nadal. Nadal lost only his third bagel set (0-6) in his Grand slam career. 2006 Wimbledon vs. Federer and 2004 US Open vs. Roddick.

Berdych became just the 2nd player to have defeated all members of the big 4 (Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Nadal) in grand slams. The first player to do so was Tsonga.

Winners/unforced errors
Berdych - 46/21
Nadal - 24/26

Total Points Won:
Berdych 98
Nadal 71

Why is it that every time Nadal loses there is always that aura of him being injured and his opponent never legitimately beat him? The first question in the post match interview today was

"Were you feeling at all unwell or unfit today?

This gives Rafa greenlight to start with excuses. Rafa does not bite on this question. But the next question in the interview is

"Do you think it's also the fact that you haven't played such a player for a while, the whole process of coming back?"

Rafa then gives his classic response. "Today is not the day to talk about that". This is the go-to win/win response from Nadal because it shows that he is not "willing" to make an excuse after the match, yet it lets everyone know that in a matter of days someone will leak news that Nadal has some vague injury that hampered him during the fortnight, thus giving him sympathy and letting him off the hook from any grand slam loss.

I grew up playing and competing in sports in which an athlete's physical state and ability to perform was broken down into two categories.
1. Hurt
2. Injured

If you were hurt, you can suck it up and continue to play. "Cowboy up" as I like to call it.

If you were injured, stop play immediately because you could risk further injury or worsen your current issue.
So is Rafa hurt or injured. If he's hurt, he needs to suck it up and not look for reasons or excuses.
If he's truly injured, then he's an idiot.

I also grew up with another thought in my mind...
no matter what your opponent says, does, or looks, no matter how many braces and bandages they have on, if he has power to walk out on court, he is 100% healthy. Once you step on court, you are sending the message that despite ailments that are accepting the power of full engagement and have an agreement that you are and will give 100% If you don't think you can be 100% then don't waste anyone's time.


Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

I like it!

don

[GeoffWilliams]

Imo, Nadal is a bully, cheating cheap psych artist ped taking scum of the earth. The Butt Pick Kid. Only a matter of time that it all comes out ala Lance Armstrong and Bill Cosby. Will they demand the tournament money back? Change the records? No. Tennis is not a game for rich aholes any more. It's a blue collar fight to the death out there and if you are not cheating, you are not trying. No way to stop the cheaters currently, esp. since they nearly automatically forgive anyone caught. And hide it.

[don_budge]

Fafa Nadal…Good Night Irene

"Were you feeling at all unwell or unfit today?

This gives Rafa greenlight to start with excuses. Rafa does not bite on this question. But the next question in the interview is

"Do you think it's also the fact that you haven't played such a player for a while, the whole process of coming back?"

Rafa then gives his classic response. "Today is not the day to talk about that". This is the go-to win/win response from Nadal because it shows that he is not "willing" to make an excuse after the match, yet it lets everyone know that in a matter of days someone will leak news that Nadal has some vague injury that hampered him during the fortnight, thus giving him sympathy and letting him off the hook from any grand slam loss.

I grew up playing and competing in sports in which an athlete's physical state and ability to perform was broken down into two categories.
1. Hurt
2. Injured

If you were hurt, you can suck it up and continue to play. "Cowboy up" as I like to call it.

If you were injured, stop play immediately because you could risk further injury or worsen your current issue.
So is Rafa hurt or injured. If he's hurt, he needs to suck it up and not look for reasons or excuses.
If he's truly injured, then he's an idiot.

I also grew up with another thought in my mind...
no matter what your opponent says, does, or looks, no matter how many braces and bandages they have on, if he has power to walk out on court, he is 100% healthy. Once you step on court, you are sending the message that despite ailments that are accepting the power of full engagement and have an agreement that you are and will give 100% If you don't think you can be 100% then don't waste anyone's time.


Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Brilliant! It makes me as happy as a little girl…it makes me feel positively gay (gay as in frivolously happy) that someone else sees through this bafoon. It makes me cringe when "fans" start talking about what a great sport this pretender is. Truly transparent…and Kyle has painted a very realistic picture.

The Fafa swan song. It's a tradition that when he says good bye to the adoring multitudes that he makes this nonsense up.

My hat is off to you and a huge sense of gratitude to Tomas Berdych.!

[don_budge]

Stan Wawrinka versus Kei Nishikori…boring

I've been watching tennis for ages, and I like today's tennis. Yes, different from the days of wooden rackets, but much more athletic and longer rallies. (excluding the long, boring rallies between Borg and Vilas...) Watching Federer, Nishikori, Nadal, Wawrinka is always entertaining. I think our memories are imperfect, and we often look back at "the good old days" and forget that people at that time were probably also complaining about the same thing. Today's tennis has evolved, but I like it.

Well it makes me happy to no end to know that there are those out there that are entertained by modern tennis…because that is exactly what it is. It is dished up to entertain…just like all of the rest of professional sports. My memory is crystal clear…somehow void of the prerequisite brain washing these days. The tennis has not evolved…it has been engineered. I just love it when tennis players say stuff like that…especially those that claim to have been an engineer.

Stan Wawrinka vs. Kei Nishikori? I certainly can appreciate the athleticism but come on…that was really boring. No matter how you try to spin it…a literal snooze fest.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2015/01/4/Australian-Open-Wednesday-QF-Wawrinka-Nishikori.aspx

Trust me…I couldn't even bring myself to read the article about this match. I posted it because of the picture of the Stan Wawrinka forehand. Beautiful balance on a ball that he was obviously moving full steam to his right on. Look at the weight so elegantly and gracefully balanced on his front foot. See that classic follow through with the racquet head along with the per functional body rotation.

There isn't any mystery in modern tennis. There is no next. It is a rerun of the past…in some way shape or form. Where is it going? Nowhere really. At least not anywhere where it hasn't already been.

On a side note…in the Murray/Kyrgios match, Andy missed every single topspin, swinging, driving volley that he attempted. So as "smart" of a match that he played, he still has a rather major deficiency staring him in the face. Go call the thought police. I am beyond caring at this point. Trust me.

[don_budge]

Novak Djokovic versus Milos Raonic…quarterfinals 2014 French Open

I watched Novak Djokovic play Milos Raonic the other day at Roland Garros...and while he was impressive there seemed to be something lacking in his resolve. That being said it is hard to establish any sort of rhythm against a player like Raonic. It is also hard to establish any real interest as a spectator...I had to run out for coffee a couple of times to stay awake. Literally.

I have so much to write about...some of it about the tennis. Stay tuned...my friends.

Speaking of a snooze fest. When in Paris this past summer I dropped in at Roland Garros one day to watch some tennis. I looked back in the forum to this thread and realized that since I was being there…I didn't have time to write about a lot of the things that happened to me.

But I was there for the Novak Djokovic/Milos Raonic match in the quarterfinals and that was followed by the Maria Sharapova/Margin Muguruza. My buddy and I from the Hawaiian Islands were in attendance that day and it was a beautiful thing…in spite of the tennis. Adding to the plot my friend was sitting to a group of four Canadians and on my side was a Russian couple. I am so happy that I got to sit next to the Ruskies…she was a pretty good looker and we had such a nice conversation. You can imagine.

But anyways…the tennis was truly boring. I must have had six cups of coffee as I struggled from nodding off into a coma. Raonic and Djokovic was so forgettable…but that was Paris. That was on clay. Not that this won't be boring also. Unfortunately…Milos is about as entertaining as watching paint dry…or grass grow. But this is some rather fast hard court…by todays standards anyways so this could throw a monkey wrench in Djokovic's day.

But Novak is a wily and cagey sort of tennis player. He plays defence and returns service with the best of them. Since Milos doesn't follow his serve to the net and therefore capitalizing on his biggest weapon it very well could be that he will be able to neutralize the big howitzer and whittle the big lumberjack to pieces.

John McEnroe has gone on record apparently as saying that Milos' serve is the best ever. But it is also true that sometimes Johnny Boy doesn't always think before he opens his trap.

[don_budge]

Djokovic/Raonic...

Novak wins his first service game at love. Milos struggled to no end but finally won his after a number of opportunities for Djokovic. Djokovic quickly wins his second as well. If Milos continues to struggle on his serve it certainly doesn't bode well for him. Advantage Djokovic.

Mats said the key to this match is Djokovic's serve. I agree.

[stotty]

I missed Wawrinka v Nishikori and saw only the first four games of Djokovic v Raonic. Djokovic looked really sharp from the outset and it wasn't boding well for Raonic when I left.

Last night I woke up in a cold sweat that Raonic and Berdych had made it to the final...classic tennis's worst nightmare come true...imagine it? They have to be the dullest guys out there...deadly boring...a couple of planks. I was relieved to see Djokovic playing in fine form when I left for work this morning, and felt confident he would dispatch Raonic with aplomb.

I really wanted to see Wawrinka v Nishikori. Nishikori hits the ball so cleanly and I love the way he has to compensate for his funny little serve. I was disappointed to see he was dispatched in straight sets.

[don_budge]

Stan the Man...

I missed Wawrinka v Nishikori and saw only the first four games of Djokovic v Raonic. Djokovic looked really sharp from the outset and it wasn't boding well for Raonic when I left.

Last night I woke up in a cold sweat that Raonic and Berdych had made it to the final...classic tennis's worst nightmare come true...imagine it? They have to be the dullest guys out there...deadly boring...a couple of planks. I was relieved to see Djokovic playing in fine form when I left for work this morning, and felt confident he would dispatch Raonic with aplomb.

I really wanted to see Wawrinka v Nishikori. Nishikori hits the ball so cleanly and I love the way he has to compensate for his funny little serve. I was disappointed to see he was dispatched in straight sets.

I'll say this about Stan...he was really sharp.