2015 TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open…ATP 250...Istanbul, Turkey

[don_budge]

To be fair there are three simultaneous ATP 250 events being played this week. But unfortunately there is only one Roger Federer. He and his clone Grigor Dimitrov are headlining the event in Istanbul, Turkey and there isn't any really good reason why they shouldn't meet in the finals.

You really should check out the facility that they are playing at and take into consideration the number of satellite events that Turkey is hosting these days. Where the east meets the west…on the outer limits of the Middle East. There lies Turkey. Probably a cesspool of politics and such nonsense.

But Roger has chosen this sort of cushy event amid any security concerns. He is tuning up his clay court game before he makes his nominal appearance at the French Open this year. I doubt that he will make a serious run in Paris…he is merely using this part of the tour to tune up his game and his conditioning. He has his sights on Wimbledon…where he let one slip away last year. He sure did one helluva a job to get to the finals. Too bad his tactical mind wasn't present though. Djokovic was there for the taking…as was the title.

There is only one Roger Federer and unfortunately to any true tennis aficionado it is quite apparent that this is his swan song. He cannot keep this up forever. He is picking his spots and his events very carefully. He plots every step knowing full well it is only a matter of time before the reality of the situation kicks in…nothing lasts forever.

But feel free to comment on any other ATP events here. If there had been room in the title section I would have added…Millennium Estoril Open, Estoril Portugal and The BMW Open by FWU AG in Munich, Germany. It's only there is nothing of any interest at either event. When saying nothing…we might as well say minimal interest. There are the bit players…players that are other than Roger Federer. The professional tennis tour has been reduced to it's LCD alright. The lowest common denominator that is.

[klacr]

...But Roger has chosen this sort of cushy event amid any security concerns. He is tuning up his clay court game before he makes his nominal appearance at the French Open this year. I doubt that he will make a serious run in Paris…he is merely using this part of the tour to tune up his game and his conditioning. He has his sights on Wimbledon…where he let one slip away last year. He sure did one helluva a job to get to the finals. Too bad his tactical mind wasn't present though. Djokovic was there for the taking…as was the title...

It also helps that Roger got $2 million for showing up to play this event. I would choose Istanbul as well.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

It also helps that Roger got $2 million for showing up to play this event. I would choose Istanbul as well.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

$2 million just for showing up! Are you serious? What kind of world are we living in? I hope he's donating most it to the Nepal disaster. There must come a point where it's pointless to have more money.

[don_budge]

An interesting question...

What kind of world are we living in?

Yes…what kind of world are we living in?

[klacr]

Obligatory PSA

Don't fret. Expect a big charity gathering from Federer and Friends benefiting Nepal Earthquake victims at This year's French Open or perhaps sooner in Madrid or Rome. Planning something. Federer understands his role as a role model and person of great influence. It's nice to be important, it's more important to be nice.
I've given a few dollars to the American red Cross in it's relief efforts. I encourage everyone to do whatever they can to lend their support to a devastated country.

On another note, Climbing Mt. Everest has taken a slide down my bucket list after seeing some of the video from people at the scene. But I still want to conquer that monster.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[gzhpcu]

Some of the beautiful temples I painted here have been destroyed by the earthquake in Kathmandu! The quake caused the statue of Hindu god Garud to topple from its pillar.

[bottle]

Fabulous. A great signature too.

[don_budge]

Roger Federer vs. Pablo Cuervas…2015 Finals of the Istanbul Open

I've given a few dollars to the American red Cross in it's relief efforts. I encourage everyone to do whatever they can to lend their support to a devastated country.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Love thy neighbour. Save your money. The current regime (The New World Order) will have you believing that you owe something to others on the other side of the globe. The truth is as much as I might be horrified by what happened…I didn't know any of them. There isn't any guarantee that the American Red Cross is not as corrupt as every other organization on the planet. Everyone wants to separate you from your money. Roger Federer receiving two million to show up is outrageous and it is one reason that I am not a fan of anyone anymore. But he doesn't owe anyone anything either…it is only part of the business of having a lot of money. You are expected to, if not required to, keep up appearances.

But that being said…Federer lived up to his "expectations" and reached the finals in Istanbul. I wonder if Dimitrov was given any appearance money. Pablo Cuervas is a worth opponent for Roger in any case. A tremendous clay court specialist with a really sweet one-handed backhand. I saw him play Robin Söderling a few years back in Båstad here in Sweden. He likes to kick his serve really wide on the backhand side which might be a good tactic against the good man Federer.

Roger seems to be using this segment of the tour to work on his conditioning in preparation for the one Grand Slam that he may just have a legitimate shot at. He is biding his time or rather he is preparing. He has ascended to the highest level in the field of preparation…last year was a masterpiece without even mentioning his change of equipment. He is also using this segment of the tour to pick up some spare change. The price is going up in the later stages of his career. Even in his hometown…his home tournament of Basel he is demanding that they up the ante. It's human nature…the beast is driven by greed or else you can call it by any other name.

His form? Does it matter? I watched him yesterday. I watch him every opportunity that I get. The game is done after he is gone. At least for me. There isn't anything that even remotely compares to this tennis player and there isn't anyone that can hold my attention for more that a few points. Grigor Dimitrov is really struggling. Perhaps his concentration has wavered somewhat with his new level of reconnaissance on the world stage. It could be the groupies.

[klacr]

Donating to the Red Cross for the Nepal earthquake may in fact be a naive way to separate myself from my money and who knows where it actually goes, but I gotta have faith in the system of helping others. We all help each other, it's only fair we attempt to pay it forward to those affected. But yes, I see and don't totally disagree with your points.

In regards to Roger, the clock is ticking. How much more of his brand of tennis will we see? The sand from the hourglass is quickly dropping to the bottom. Federer has not looked in peak form this week nor does he need to based on this draw.

The curious case of Grigor Dimitrov. So much talent and ability. His problem? He's treated like Roger Federer without having the success of Federer. Dimitrov is managed by Federer's agent company and therefore gets many of the perks as the Mighty Fed without legitimately earning them. Private jets, entire floors of hotel rooms booked, etc. He has quickly forgotten the struggle, which leads to an enormous hunger and fight. And when Dimitrov isn't being pampered Federer style, he's at home living the luxury lifestyle under Sharapova who has (like Federer) won big in her career and demands tall the perks. Yup, Dimitrov is a victim of others success. Living like an icon without being one. It does things to the psyche. Why bother sacrificing everything and working your ass off to be a grand slam champion and madison avenue marketing goliath when you can just live like one? Less effort, same perks.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

I see Federer won the crown at Istanbul, picking up a meagre 80,000 euro pay check. Amazing when you consider he was paid 2 million just to roll up. Where's the sense in that? Why not put the two million in the prize money pool and raise the overall quality of entry? Is Federer really so valuable to a tournament that paying him 2 million just to roll up will put that many more bums on seats?

The pro game must be imploding on it's own basic principles. Tilden and Gonzales were paid fortunes to be become professional tennis players because they were better than the rest and had a quality about them that entertained. Federer is like an elite professional worth much more than the standard professional. I guess all players have "bums on seats" price tags. It has to boil down to who puts the most bums on seats.

I saw Nastase at Wimbledon when he was old and burnt out. They put him on an obscure outside court...Wimbledon's passing shot for all the trouble he'd caused them over the years. Nastase had the last laugh. He needed a police escort to get to that outside, far flung court. The court was mobbed with people clambering for a view. Now there was a player who could put bums on seats...

[don_budge]

The Sense…and Roger and me

I see Federer won the crown at Istanbul, picking up a meagre 80,000 euro pay check. Amazing when you consider he was paid 2 million just to roll up. Where's the sense in that? Why not put the two million in the prize money pool and raise the overall quality of entry? Is Federer really so valuable to a tournament that paying him 2 million just to roll up will put that many more bums on seats?

Yes…where's the sense? But where is the sense of anything anymore? CEO's making millions…the common man sweating it out. It's the name of the game. It transcends everything. Let them eat cake…off with their heads!

I saw the match. I watch everything Federer nowadays. But even that can barely hold my attention…particularly against a Pablo Cuervas or whoever it might be.

I was only looking forwards to a Grigor Dimitrov vs. The Real Thing…but it wasn't meant to be. klacr's take on the Dimitrov state of mind was one of his better analysis'. A bit scathing…if you know what I mean. Sometimes the truth hurts…make that the truth usually hurts. It's only that you don't hear much of it anymore. What you get is "truthiness". It's watered down for the masses to swallow. Politically correct. Personally I find it obnoxious. Give it to me straight…give it to me neat. Like whiskey. Way to go…klacr.

Roger Federer was only practicing in Istanbul. He got paid a king's ransom to do it too. Not a bad gig. A case may be made that the two three setters that he played were sort of staged. Just so the crowd got their money's worth. But Roger is Roger…and I am not. No problem…I am don_budge…that's good enough for me. I don't need millions…what I need is three square and a roof over my head.

Fed was making his way to the net quite regularly and looking particularly sharp on the volleys. Particularly on the forehand. Not as many forehand swinging bullshit volleys. Just short, succinct and to the point. Just the way this game was meant to be played. I wouldn't say that I am a fan of Federer or anyone for that matter…but I certainly can admire the way that he plays tennis.

That being said…he is overrated in the sense that there is virtually nothing to compare him to. You would never suspect that there were players that could even hold a candle to him. Not with the propaganda machine in full force. The rest of them are one trick ponies. G.O.A.T.? Highly unlikely…but certainly the greatest of his time. He is backing out of the room…with a cocktail in his hand. That Federesque grin from ear to ear. don_budge has already left the stadium. It's all over but the crying.

[don_budge]

Richard Gasquet wins in Estoril...

Which makes it a double coup for one handed backhands. Two in one week…Federer in Istanbul and Gasquet in Estoril. It's great to see…it destroys the modern paradigm of tennis. Better yet is that it destroys the false paradigm on clay. The whole tennis world drank the kool-aid believing that there is only one way to teach and play the game.

Here in Sweden I am looked upon as a heretic for not solely teaching the two handed backhand. In fact…I teach whatever stroke the STUDENT wants to play. But I encourage the one handed backhand because it is a more interesting game with less built in limitations in the long run. It takes a longer time to develop…but it is well worth it in the long run.