2016 U. S. Open Championships...ATP 2000...New York, New York, USA

[don_budge]

Third Walkover for Novak Djokovic...2016 U. S. Open Semifinals...and remaining quarterfinals

Amazing string of event for Novak Djokovic...another walkover. Tsonga retiring after two sets. "The Amazing Mr. Monfils" next up for Djokovic. I hesitate to call this an interesting match because every time I do it turns into something of a dud. But come on...this is a huge chance for Gael Monfils to make a statement to the game of tennis but does he have a game plan. Monfils plays a lot like Djokovic only more so. Djokovic being the ultimate defender but able to turn on the after burners seemingly at will.

Monfils will have to find another gear if he is to stand a chance against Djokovic. He has that gear but is has yet to show it over the course of five sets. He has played spectacular tennis but not at this level and he has reached a point where he is unfamiliar territory. The semifinals of a Grand Slam...I believe that he may have reached the quarterfinals up to eight times. Well...he is there now and it is time to put the pedal to the medal. He has the ball in his court and a victory over Djokovic could rescue the tournament and the game of tennis in general. It has become very predictable...and very boring. It is nearly impossible to watch a match from start to finish.

Juan Martin Del Potro and Stan Wawrinka in the bottom half of the draw could be an interesting match. But perhaps not. Wawrinka is anything but interesting besides possessing perhaps the best shot in the game when evaluated in terms of power and aesthetic appeal. That one hand backhand is a sight to behold. Juan Martin on the other hand looks to possess the other side of the coin with the thunderous forehand that seems to be getting bigger and bigger all of the time. If there is any justice in the tennis world it will be Juan Martin in the finals. Then we are assured of something resembling a compelling match if it is Djokovic. That first round loss in the Olympics still is fresh in the Serb's mind. If "The Amazing One" should prevail...all bets are off.

Obviously Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori should be designated as interesting as well...two top ten players in the world. Andy shouldn't have any problems here.

[klacr]

Wawrinka vs. Del Potro is the match I've been waiting to see. Wawrinka with that beauty of a one-handed backhand and Del Potro with his newfound ability to enter the forecourt and finisah at net. Has potential to be terrific.
Murray vs. Nishikori perhaps equivalent of watching paint dry when it comes to their style. Effective but not mesmerizing.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

I think these toilet breaks need to stop....

I think we should start a petition....

2 sets all Murray/Nishikori

Stotty

[stotty]

Murray's out...

Great performance from Kei....thought he'd blown after missing that sitter of a volley at 4-3 in the fifth.

Stotty

[klacr]

Credit to Nishikori. It was looking bleak after the first set. Then the rains came. Nishikori believed, executed and accomplished. Lets hope he doesn't pull up lame in semis.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Del Potro Crashes...Where is Roger Federer?

The semifinals are set for the 2016 U. S. Open Championships and nowhere to seen is Roger Federer. Welcome to the post Roger era of professional tennis. This is the culmination point that I have written about for some time now. There was 1968...the advent of the professional game. Then 1984...the ushering in of the new equipment. Don't forget 2001...the reengineering of the game relegating players to the backcourt. Now here we are in 2016...no Roger Federer in sight. We have arrived to a new spiritual plane in more ways than one.

Here is what we have. Novak Djokovic versus Gael Monfils and Stan Wawrinka versus Kei Nishikori. Anybody still one hundred percent invested in this tournament. I am exhausted from the attempt. After watching Del Potro lose interest in the fourth set it is hardly a sustainable situation for me any longer. I am only sitting here lamenting the fact that there is no Roger Federer in the draw to give me that last vestige of hope for the game.

I know that these are the best players in the world left in the tournament. But somehow this is not enough. I feel like I am attending a funeral.

[stotty]

Credit to Nishikori. It was looking bleak after the first set. Then the rains came. Nishikori believed, executed and accomplished. Lets hope he doesn't pull up lame in semis.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Costly that second serve of Murray's. Nishikori hit clean winners off it numerous times. Against Federer or even Djokovic he would seldom be able to do that.

I think Murray backed off too much in the rallies in the latter two sets. He couldn't afford to do that against someone with Nishikori's timing. Monfils mustn't do the same against Djokovic. He has to go for it and seize the opportunities ad they come round....which they will if he plays well enough.

Stotty

[don_budge]

Losers...and losers

When I got to the breakfast table the other morning I mentioned to my wife that Andy Murray had lost she sort of exclaimed, "Oh...that's a great thing". Personally I don't care for Andy Murray one little bit and Kei Nishikori has about zero impact on my life or my views on tennis teaching for that matter. I couldn't care less.

But there are two players that exist in the world who make me "happy" when they lose and they are Serena Williams and Fafa Nadal. I wonder if in the end these two will give tennis the black eye it certainly deserves for turning a blind eye to their behavior. Totally moaning about a supposed injury without giving the due credit to her opponent. Rule number one in the book of "tennis etiquette"...which is obviously not in play anymore. More or the "new normal".

Good bye Serena. See you never. Hopefully. Loser.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/08/tennis/us-open-tennis-serena-pliskova-kerber-wozniacki/index.html

[stroke]

Losers...and losers

When I got to the breakfast table the other morning I mentioned to my wife that Andy Murray had lost she sort of exclaimed, "Oh...that's a great thing". Personally I don't care for Andy Murray one little bit and Kei Nishikori has about zero impact on my life or my views on tennis teaching for that matter. I couldn't care less.

But there are two players that exist in the world who make me "happy" when they lose and they are Serena Williams and Fafa Nadal. I wonder if in the end these two will give tennis the black eye it certainly deserves for turning a blind eye to their behavior. Totally moaning about a supposed injury without giving the due credit to her opponent. Rule number one in the book of "tennis etiquette"...which is obviously not in play anymore. More or the "new normal".

Good bye Serena. See you never. Hopefully. Loser.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/08/tennis/us-open-tennis-serena-pliskova-kerber-wozniacki/index.html

she never surprises, that is something I suppose

[hockeyscout]

Time for her to get hernia surgery. No one is even close to Serena when she is healthy. Give her credit ... she gutted it out this year. Crazy girl. Say what you want about her but she competes no matter what. Warrior. Venus was the better of the two but Serena's compete level and insane dedication set her apart. Looking at video from when she was a kid I would never have thought she would surpass her older sister and so many of the games greats who were much more talented.

[klacr]

Djokovic beats Monfils in a weird match. Monfils accused of not trying, and he admitted it, although he said it was part of his "strategy".

Wawrinka, a heavyweight, muscles through a fatigued Nishikori. Yes Nishikori upset Murray but he pulls up lame against Wawrinka, starts cramping in 3rd set. When are we going to stop giving Nishikorii a free pass and just admit that physically he cannot maintain a high enough level to consistently compete for a grand slam? I'm also delighted by a performance of his, only to be let down when his body seems to fail him.

Djokovic-Wawrinka in the finals. Wawrinka is just one match away from only being a Wimbledon title away from a career grand slam....in the big 4 era. Wawrinka is a big match player, having won his last 10 finals in a row. Oh, and that backhand...

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

2016 U. S. Open Men's Singles Final...Who cares?

Djokovic beats Monfils in a weird match. Monfils accused of not trying, and he admitted it, although he said it was part of his "strategy".

Wawrinka, a heavyweight, muscles through a fatigued Nishikori. Yes Nishikori upset Murray but he pulls up lame against Wawrinka, starts cramping in 3rd set. When are we going to stop giving Nishikorii a free pass and just admit that physically he cannot maintain a high enough level to consistently compete for a grand slam? I'm also delighted by a performance of his, only to be let down when his body seems to fail him.

Djokovic-Wawrinka in the finals. Wawrinka is just one match away from only being a Wimbledon title away from a career grand slam....in the big 4 era. Wawrinka is a big match player, having won his last 10 finals in a row. Oh, and that backhand...

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

By all accounts a very strange match. You have no doubt heard me to refer modern tennis as "Big Time Wrestling" and I am aware that this kind of talk doesn't make the tennis community comfortable. But I am rarely far off from the truth...if at all. This is not say that I am always right...or never wrong. I let others decide. But this match had some of the earmarks that the Big Time Wrestling fiasco has. How about Djokovic tearing his shirt and playing with it. I didn't see the match nor do I have to. I tried to look at the highlights but it is just too tedious. The tennis isn't that interesting. I started watching the beginning of the match but quickly lost interest in the endless baseline duels sprinkled in with the dropshot tactic. It's a dumbed down version of the game that used to be played with the little tiny wooden racquets.

Stan Wawrinka? Question marks all of the time. Is Stan "The Man"? Or is he something else? So when he gets to the final he competes? I guess that sort of makes sense. But why not compete all of the time. Yes the backhand is something else...but it is the lack of consistency that gives me that "Big Time Wrestling" impression that I hate so much.

Novak doesn't appear to be at full strength. At least he wants us to believe that he is not with the parade of trainers coming to his rescue. Honestly I don't know what to think anymore. What's more...I don't think that I really care.

[hockeyscout]

Djokovic beats Monfils in a weird match. Monfils accused of not trying, and he admitted it, although he said it was part of his "strategy".

Wawrinka, a heavyweight, muscles through a fatigued Nishikori. Yes Nishikori upset Murray but he pulls up lame against Wawrinka, starts cramping in 3rd set. When are we going to stop giving Nishikorii a free pass and just admit that physically he cannot maintain a high enough level to consistently compete for a grand slam? I'm also delighted by a performance of his, only to be let down when his body seems to fail him.

Djokovic-Wawrinka in the finals. Wawrinka is just one match away from only being a Wimbledon title away from a career grand slam....in the big 4 era. Wawrinka is a big match player, having won his last 10 finals in a row. Oh, and that backhand...

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Cramping is just bad neurology telling you something isn't right.

He's hitting a point where there is something new in his development, and his body isn't liking it.

I think he will get over that hump sooner or later, if his trainers can push him in the right direction.

A lot of times diet change plays a big part in getting over that small hump, and I wonder if his body is toxic, or clean. It was a major problem for Djokovic until he figured out how to be a pro.

I am doing so much more work developing one athletes feet, and I have him walk on PVC pipes with heavy dorsiflexion in his toes. And, then I have the guy write his name fifty times on a whiteboard with a pen between his toes, followed by exercises to lift his toes and spread them apart. It's a lot of pain - and cramping, and that is normal. In time, it will go away.

Nothing to be worried about as he is real young and guys play into the 32+ range now - if I was this athlete I would take it as a good sign I am getting closer and closer.

[don_budge]

I wrote this yesterday but did not post it...

2016 U. S. Open Men's Singles Final...Who cares?

Stan Wawrinka? Question marks all of the time. Is Stan "The Man"? Or is he something else? So when he gets to the final he competes? I guess that sort of makes sense. But why not compete all of the time. Yes the backhand is something else...but it is the lack of consistency that gives me that "Big Time Wrestling" impression that I hate so much.

Novak doesn't appear to be at full strength. At least he wants us to believe that he is not with the parade of trainers coming to his rescue. Honestly I don't know what to think anymore. What's more...I don't think that I really care.

We'll get a couple of answers today...to a couple of questions and issues that I bring up. Issues that I continue to bring up. It's about the game. It's all about the game...it's certainly not about me. It's the game.

Drama at the Open.

[klacr]

Stan the Man? Sftanimal? Stanislas? Actually, It's Stan The Champion. Brilliant performance once again. His brand of tennis is physicality. He wore down Djokovic. Congrats to Stan for his 3rd grand slam title. He has as many grand slams as Andy Murray. He is a Wimbledon title away from a career grand slam.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton