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Fed is the oddsmakers favorite vs Kei. Roger will probably be the favorite in all his remaining matches(as long as he is in the tournament) except possible opponents Murray and probably Nadal
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If any of you get the chance to watch the Murray/Zverev match, do it. No more saying that today's groundies are too fast to volley. Fabulous display of classic serve and volley tennis. Best I have seen in a very long time.
don
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I hope Fed gets through Kei. I want to see him play Mischa. I thought the guy was 6' 0" tops the way he was getting down for the low volleys, but he's 6' 3". Serve and Volley is alive and well in Mischa Zverev.
donComment
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Originally posted by tennis_chiro View PostYep...this guy has been on my radar for a couple of months now. I think that he almost beat Novak Djokovic in China...Shanghai I believe. The left handed serve throws off the returner a tad extra. He can swing it wide and bang it down the middle. It isn't huge but he uses it tactically very well. The volleys are not even what you might call the best ever either but as you see he gets it done. The slightly quicker courts definitely helped the performance of the volleys...they stayed down just a tad to give Zverev further advantage to be at the net.Originally posted by tennis_chiro View Post
Against Djokovic he used the slight backhand to drive the Serb slightly crazy. Zverev nearly took him out in the match I saw them play. He just couldn't quite get the horse in the barn and Djokovic being the Houdini that he is wriggled out of his grasp. Just barely.
Here against Andy Murray he has Murray totally off balance with his tactics. Some of the looks that Andy has at passing shots look to be almost routine but he misses them and then looks over to his supporting cast and howls like a banshee. That's good to see. Murray is the most boring #1 ranked player in the world ever. I will go so far as he sort of gives tennis a black eye...the attractiveness of the game takes a further nose dive.
Which is another point regards Mischa Zverev. His "alt-tactics" add a dimension to the game that has all but been engineered out of the game. As it stands the game is at a culmination point and something has to give.
The courts are reportedly playing a bit faster at the Aussie Open and thesis all that it takes to motivate the players to get to the net. The upside of Zverev's victory is that it further paves the way for Roger Federer's quest. What looked to be impossible at the beginning of the tournament is starting to look like a fascinating idea. Maybe not too realistic at this point...but why not? Dreaming is for free...you know.
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Mischa Zverev. God bless him and the serve and volley game. I rest my case.
Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca RatonComment
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Amen. Meanwhile at the Aussie Open. I tuned in on Roger Federer vs. Kei Nishikori a bit late and I guess Federer missed me...he was down 3-0 and two breaks of serve. From down 5-1 he leveled the set and proceeded to blow it in a tie-break. Being a bit fatalistic about this one I went out with Puntzie and did the 6 kilometer track. I figured it would take me an hour or so and when I got back it would be the third set. As it was Federer reeled off two quick sets and now he is going to work on Nishikori in the fourth. It is 2-1 to Federer and 30-30 on the Nishikori serve. Come on Roger...we need a reason to believe in the old traditions of tennis. Oops...he has just gone around the net post with a backhand to even the game back to 40-40.Originally posted by klacr View Post
I hate to say it but I may have to leave this one in process. I am writing a research paper on STD's with my Swedish mid wife Phd...my 39th research paper translating from Swedish to English. Not too shabby for good old don_budge. I'm getting paid...eat your heart out bottle.Comment
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Nishikori to his credit did not go away in the fourth and took the match to a fifth. Roger Federer has broken the Nishikori serve in his first game to go up 2-0 and all he needs to do is serve it out now. This is old school tennis...serving it out. Come on Roger...bow your neck!Comment
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Down 3-0 in the fifth Nishikori shows his true colors and calls for the trainer. Tactically he keeps Roger waiting and stalls his momentum. No more medical time outs!!! Play or see ya never.Comment
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I just love the look on Roger Federer's face when he is serving out the match. 40-0 now...done! Quarter final date with Mischa Zverev.Comment
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If I've said it once I've said it a million times. I have never bought into the Nishikori stock. He always pulls up lame. Always struggling with his body. Helluva player but his body abandons him way too often for a player of that caliber.Originally posted by don_budge View Post
On a different note...How about Roger? Here's a little stat for you. This is the first time since 2009 that he has beat a top 10 player in 5 sets. (French Open-Del Potro)
Here's another stat
Federer has now reached his 49th Grand Slam Quarterfinal. Most appearances of any player in Open Era
Federer-49
Connors-41
Djokovic-37
Agassi-36
Lendl-35
Quarterfinal: Federer vs. Zverev.
Now would be a good time to review my comprehensive serve and volley series on this site. Just sayin'.
Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca RatonComment
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one more thing to chew on...
Most grand slam matches won
Federer-311
Connors-233
Djokovic-229
Agassi-224
Lendl-222
Nadal-205
Sampras-203
Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca RatonComment
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I did not know it was that significant a tally advantage for Fed. That is something. The GOAT discussions get tiresome, but the only argument against Roger to me really is his head to head vs Nadal.Comment
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Good stuff klacr. Nishikori's five set match record slips to 15-6 and Federer's raises to 26-20. Double check that klacr...but that is somewhat surprising. Outstanding performance in the fifth here against Nishikori. Federer just piled on the pressure and never let up. He was hounding him in nearly every service game but Nishikori kept hanging on.Originally posted by klacr View Post
If I've said it once I've said it a million times. I have never bought into the Nishikori stock. He always pulls up lame. Always struggling with his body. Helluva player but his body abandons him way too often for a player of that caliber.
On a different note...How about Roger? Here's a little stat for you. This is the first time since 2009 that he has beat a top 10 player in 5 sets. (French Open-Del Potro)
Here's another stat
Federer has now reached his 49th Grand Slam Quarterfinal. Most appearances of any player in Open Era
Federer-49
Connors-41
Djokovic-37
Agassi-36
Lendl-35
Quarterfinal: Federer vs. Zverev.
Now would be a good time to review my comprehensive serve and volley series on this site. Just sayin'.
Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton
Federer, Djokovic and Nadal have played in a watered down talent pool.Comment
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Here is another longer video of Mischa Zverev's upset of Andy Murray. You cannot see enough of this play. I wonder how Roger will deal with it in the quarters.Originally posted by klacr View Post
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Good video.Originally posted by don_budge View Post
Notice how Andy Murray seemed to have no issues with Zverev's net attacking early on. But the constant barrage game after game started to wear on Murray. Serve and volley does not have its full effect in the first points, instead it creates that cumulative pressure that wears down the opponent over the course of a match. Pressure paralyzes.
Another interesting detail...notice Zverev's forehand. Minimal backswing, but the contact point is stead and consistent. No huge loop and elbow twist and turn and torque. Just timing and precision.
I was down in Miami last year watching Zverev brothers practice. Obviously all eyes were on the younger one Alexander But I had my eye on Mischa, the older one. That forehand is more impressive up close and in person. But very different from what you usually see.
Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca RatonComment
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