BNP Paribas Open, INDIAN WELLS, 2016

[stotty]

Murray goes out. The Murray Mumbles in full effect. He's never done well in Key Biscayne. Good news...he's coming home to his 2nd home in Miami. He comfortable down here and has a finals showing from 2015 he must defend this year.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Strange, Murray was 4-1 up in the third and cruising. So I decided to switch over to Amazon Prime to watch Madmen, an awesome series which I am watching two or even three episodes per evening. When I switched on TennisTV again to see the final score, I was amazed to find Murray had lost.

I once left the Wimbledon centre court when Connors was 1-6 1-6 1-4 down against Pernfors. I left early to avoid the car park crush. I switched on the radio on the drive home with Connors just having taken the third set.

Just goes to show it's never over until it's over in this game....

[gzhpcu]

Great win by Thiem, who just keeps getting better and better. His test will be playing Djokovic. Good win for Nadal over Verdasco. It was also cool to see Stan Smith and Charlie Pasarell among the spectators...

[don_budge]

The Uniqueness of Tennis…Love means nothing

Just goes to show it's never over until it's over in this game....

That's right Stotty…it's the scoring system! Before the tiebreaker things were even more in doubt before the final point was played. It ain't over until the fat lady sings rings truer in tennis than in just about any other endeavour. With the exception of course being passionate love affairs. These can drag on for an eternity.

[don_budge]

2016 World Tour Masters…ATP 1000…Indian Wells, California

The round of sixteen. Eight matches. Are any of them watchable from start to finish? I can certainly admire the athleticism but I question the noble nature of the game. It's been lost in lieu of a false paradigm. Snow-shoe sized racquets have eliminated any semblance of subtlety from the sport. Oh well…go along and get along. That's the ticket.

Novak Djokovic vs. Feliciano Lopez…Feliciano reputedly plays some serve and volley. Somehow he is bogged down by the slower than molasses courts most of the time. Even in the quicker venues he is somewhat lost in the flood.

Dominic Thiem vs. Jo-Wilfied Tsonga…Many are all of a suddenly jumping on the Thiem bandwagon. He has been a work in process on this forum for some time now. Here is an opportunity for a big scalp…which more than likely would set up a date with Novak Djokovic who doesn't appear to be 100% in form.

Rafael Nadal vs. Alexander Zverev…Another player making signs of crashing the party that has been enjoyed by Fafa and company for the past decade. Does the impertinent Zverev join a growing list of ATP tennis players that are feeling a diminishing sense of awe for the former invincible one? Somehow his horns seem to have been blunted.

John Isner vs. Kei Nishikori…Yawn.

Richard Gasquet vs. Marin Cilic…Gasquet is 2-0 head to head with another player that was given a bit of a scolding for a drug test related dispute. Amazing how they always somehow have some story to wrap around the dispute. Gasquet had "cocaine lips" and Cilic had another concoction…another excuse. I like Richard Gasquet because of his backhand.

David Goffin vs. Stan Wawrinka…I like Stan because of his backhand. I like Goffin because he makes a great underdog.

Thomas Berdych vs. Milos Raonic…Two of the less than exciting performers on tour these days. Big guys with two hand backhands. How can this be? Take your pick…I'll take Raonic. His serve is so good at times…it is unfair. Boring to boot.

Gael Monfils vs. Federico Delbonis…The "Amazing Mr. Monfils" with a chance to make a splash. If he can resist the temptation to "clown it up" he may have a place in the quarters. If Monfils had about 25% more discipline and 25% less hot dog…he may have been a force to be reckoned with. As it is…he is a shot in the dark. A long shot to go the distance here. I don't miss Andy Murray yet…but I may come time for the finals depending on who eeks their way through. Raonic may be the least interesting plausible possibility in the bottom half…but he has competition.

[stroke]

The 2 most interesting matches to me are the ones involving our 2 forum pegged future breakthrough stars. Nadal is of course the favorite, but Zverev would make a very tempting bet. He looks great off both sides, his serve in certainly better than Nadal's, and his movement on hard courts is at least equal to Nadal at this point in Nadal's career. His backhand looks up to the task of what is coming vs Nadal.

Thiem is not sneaking up on anyone at this point. I noticed the oddsmakers have his match vs Tsonga as a pick em. I like Thiem here.

I see Raonic as the 2nd favorite to win the tournament after Novak.

[don_budge]

Interesting on paper…but watchable?

The 2 most interesting matches to me are the ones involving our 2 forum pegged future breakthrough stars.

The thing about it stroke…they are interesting on paper. In fact…on paper they are all interesting. But are they watchable? I mean watchable from start to finish. For me…it's tough. There is very little going on a majority of the time in a majority of the matches. That is just short of saying there is nothing going on ever.

This is why Roger Federer is such an integral and urgent part of the game. When he is playing it changes the whole dynamic. There is the possibility of seeing "real" tennis being played. Instead of the monotonous backcourt drill that we are being dished these days.

[stroke]

The thing about it stroke…they are interesting on paper. In fact…on paper they are all interesting. But are they watchable? I mean watchable from start to finish. For me…it's tough. There is very little going on a majority of the time in a majority of the matches. That is just short of saying there is nothing going on ever.

This is why Roger Federer is such an integral and urgent part of the game. When he is playing it changes the whole dynamic. There is the possibility of seeing "real" tennis being played. Instead of the monotonous backcourt drill that we are being dished these days.

I would like to, but with the tv coverage it is tough. Yesterday, they cut away from the entire 3rd set of the Sock vs Thiem match for the Serena match. I did quit watching then. Mary Carillo covering a match is also a real roadblock for me.

[gzhpcu]

I would like to, but with the tv coverage it is tough. Yesterday, they cut away from the entire 3rd set of the Sock vs Thiem match for the Serena match. I did quit watching then. Mary Carillo covering a match is also a real roadblock for me.

Ever try Tennis TV? Works great. Also has a replay function for all matches.

[stotty]

I would like to, but with the tv coverage it is tough. Yesterday, they cut away from the entire 3rd set of the Sock vs Thiem match for the Serena match. I did quit watching then. Mary Carillo covering a match is also a real roadblock for me.

Ever try Tennis TV? Works great. Also has a replay function for all matches.

Phil's right. TennisTV is the best value there is.

[don_budge]

There are simply better things to do...

I would like to, but with the tv coverage it is tough. Yesterday, they cut away from the entire 3rd set of the Sock vs Thiem match for the Serena match. I did quit watching then. Mary Carillo covering a match is also a real roadblock for me.

http://www.batmanstream.com/tennis-live-streaming-video-2016-2.html

You are of course aware of this site. As far as I can tell every professional tennis match around the world can be seen on this site.

I just tried to watch Berdych and Raonic. This is my point about watchability. I saw two games and I am done with it. All that I will need to know will be known tomorrow morning when I bring up the draw sheet in the ATP Tour website. How the match progressed will be of no interest to me. I am not entertained…at all. I have a difficult time figuring out how anybody in their right mind could be entertained by this nonsense.

On the other hand if I have made it this far perhaps I can stay up a bit longer and try the Nadal/Zverev match on for size. But I know the result of that effort will just be a tranquillizer before hitting the hay. The boring metronome of Nadal and Zverev pounding away will surely make me sleepy. That's not to say that I wouldn't love to see Nadal get his ass kicked by a young upstart. No…that would make my day.

[stotty]

I just tried to watch Berdych and Raonic. This is my point about watchability.

Those two are as dull as dishwater. I gave up too. Rafa and Zverez may be more interesting....that said I doubt I'm going to wait up.

[klacr]

Zverev takes first set vs Nadal.

As for Berdych...on to Miami.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

The results…nocturnal dreaming

The round of sixteen. Eight matches. Are any of them watchable from start to finish? I can certainly admire the athleticism but I question the noble nature of the game. It's been lost in lieu of a false paradigm. Snow-shoe sized racquets have eliminated any semblance of subtlety from the sport. Oh well…go along and get along. That's the ticket.

Novak Djokovic vs. Feliciano Lopez…Feliciano reputedly plays some serve and volley. Somehow he is bogged down by the slower than molasses courts most of the time. Even in the quicker venues he is somewhat lost in the flood.

Dominic Thiem vs. Jo-Wilfied Tsonga…Many are all of a suddenly jumping on the Thiem bandwagon. He has been a work in process on this forum for some time now. Here is an opportunity for a big scalp…which more than likely would set up a date with Novak Djokovic who doesn't appear to be 100% in form.

Rafael Nadal vs. Alexander Zverev…Another player making signs of crashing the party that has been enjoyed by Fafa and company for the past decade. Does the impertinent Zverev join a growing list of ATP tennis players that are feeling a diminishing sense of awe for the former invincible one? Somehow his horns seem to have been blunted.

John Isner vs. Kei Nishikori…Yawn.

Richard Gasquet vs. Marin Cilic…Gasquet is 2-0 head to head with another player that was given a bit of a scolding for a drug test related dispute. Amazing how they always somehow have some story to wrap around the dispute. Gasquet had "cocaine lips" and Cilic had another concoction…another excuse. I like Richard Gasquet because of his backhand.

David Goffin vs. Stan Wawrinka…I like Stan because of his backhand. I like Goffin because he makes a great underdog.

Thomas Berdych vs. Milos Raonic…Two of the less than exciting performers on tour these days. Big guys with two hand backhands. How can this be? Take your pick…I'll take Raonic. His serve is so good at times…it is unfair. Boring to boot.

Gael Monfils vs. Federico Delbonis…The "Amazing Mr. Monfils" with a chance to make a splash. If he can resist the temptation to "clown it up" he may have a place in the quarters. If Monfils had about 25% more discipline and 25% less hot dog…he may have been a force to be reckoned with. As it is…he is a shot in the dark. A long shot to go the distance here. I don't miss Andy Murray yet…but I may come time for the finals depending on who eeks their way through. Raonic may be the least interesting plausible possibility in the bottom half…but he has competition.

As predicted…I couldn't stay awake. A couple of games of Berdych/Raonic playing with the imagination of dishwater was too much. The pillow beckoned…I followed. Willingly…gladly. Blissful sleep over boring tennis. Winning!

Novak Djokovic over Feliciano Lopez…Ho-hum. It's tough to get close to the net in an advantageous position on velcro courts against snowshoe sized racquets with strings that allow you to spin the ball like a whirling dervish.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga over Dominic Thiem…Buzz saw. Straight sets against a great opportunity to serve notice to the tennis elites. He could have taken a shot at Djokovic in the next round. Was the prospect of such a match too much for the young lad? Dominc Thiem? Notice the question marks. It still remains to be seen.

Fafa Nadal over Alexander Zverev…Another near miss. Didn't see it. I could have if I only had stayed awake another 15 minutes…opted for a reread of Dostoyevsky's "Adolescent". I made the right choice and I am making notes in the novel. Anybody interested in reading them?

Kei Nishikori over John "Tiebreak Kid" Isner…Two tie-breaks lost for "Tiebreak Kid". It must have been really exciting. Probably at least a two hour affair. What kind of self control does it take to sit through a match like this. Anyone see this in its entirety? Anyone? Is there anyone out there?

Marin Cilic over Richard Gasquet…Both former drug cheats who have served penance. Dueling cocktails?

David Goffin over Stan Wawrinka…Which Stan showed up? By the score it appears to have been a tight match…could this match possible have been watchable from beginning to finish. Answer…probably not.

Milos Raonic over Thomas Berdych…I wonder if either of these players cracked a smile…just once during the entire match.

Gael Monfils over Federico Delbonis...Straight sets which begs the question…what was wrong with Murray?

Did anybody see any of these matches from start to finish? Can you make it interesting in some kind of written form? Roger where are you when we need you most? Your sport is in big trouble. Our sport. Well…it's time for a good breakfast…and to walk the doggy. Puntzie. Over and out for the moment. I'll be back.

[gzhpcu]

Zerev played great. He allowed Rafa to escape. This win should help Rafa's self-confidence.

[stotty]

Did anybody see any of these matches from start to finish? Can you make it interesting in some kind of written form? Roger where are you when we need you most? Your sport is in big trouble. Our sport. Well…it's time for a good breakfast…and to walk the doggy. Puntzie. Over and out for the moment. I'll be back.

I rarely watch a whole match, but usually enough to get the gist of things. I watched the first set of the Nadal match. I had the sound turned down because my wife was watching a soap while I watched TennisTV on the laptop.

Zverez played well. The first set went to a tiebreak which took fifteen minutes to play....fifteen minutes to play 18 points, which meant I wasn't going to sit through the rest.

Something happened in the first set that resulted with Nadal having a heated argument with the umpire, with the sound turned down I could discern quite what it was about. Anyway Nadal went on to drop the first set.

Things haven't changed much from Nadal's standpoint. He cannot get back that rock steady security from the baseline he formerly had, and he misses way more forehands than he used to...sitters too. Zverez really wanted Nadal's scalp and became tight on the big points in the first set. Nadal is still a great scalp to have on your CV if you are an 18-year-old. Zverez need not have been as inhibited in the clutch. Nadal is not the Nadal he was, although he does have some terrific spells here and there.

Zverez has a future. He's tall and scrawny and yet to fill out. He can only get better.

I have never read Adolescent. Is it good? Have you read the book Dead Souls by Gogol? You could certainly relate that to today's tennis tour in some ways.