Miami Open (Itau)...ATP 1000...Miami, Florida...United States of America

[don_budge]

My Wife...and Stan Wawrinka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0iA_rOcn9Y

Frankly I can understand your wife's infatuation with "The Fabulous" Fognini. He's no doubt a pretty sight for the ladies...and for some men that are so inclined. I returned to the game of tennis after a rather long hiatus. A golf odyssey. It must have lasted thirteen years or so. Round and round the golf course...how many times nobody knows. But I returned...the game came back to me. I got this job here in Sweden and lucky for me. It pays the bills. Barely...but there is a roof and food on the table.

When I started working at this little club they were kind enough to reward me with a prize to go and watch the Båstad Open. The first player that I saw was "The Fabulous" Fognini. I remember watching him strut around the court hitting the most audacious topspin I had ever seen. Remember I had been away from the game and wasn't familiar with all of the changes and the engineering. But he made an impression on me. His attitude...fuck 'em if they can't take a joke. He had it going on.

A couple of years later I saw him play Robin Söderling in a Davis Cup match not too far from here. Söderling thumped him and Fognini was scarcely present for the match. He was getting his ass kicked and apparently didn't want to make it like he was trying too hard to avoid it.

My wife...she likes Stan Wawrinka. I don't know why. You never know about women. They surprise you sometimes. Even after you've known them forever. She's a great gal though. A dead ringer for the singer in ABBA when she was younger. They used to mistake her for Agnetha in Gothenburg. She detests Murray. On her own too. She didn't need my influence. This woman surprises me...maybe I don't give her enough credit. I guess I do. Well you never know...live and learn. I trust her though. She's rock solid...just like her old boy. He was built like Thor when he was younger. Good genes. Good taste in men...most of all.

So it goes. But then this forum is what it is. Tennis too. It is what it is. For me...it's Roger Federer versus Anybody. Tonight it is going to be Juan Martin Del Potro. Not just anybody. Amazing guy Roger Federer. He owns Juan Martin 15-5. But they may as well be 0-0...it's a reboot. They haven't met in three or four years. The last seven matches that they played were real doozies. Just look at the scores. I think this match might just be the match of the tournament. At least so far.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/playe...otro/F324/D683

This tournament is upside down. Without Murray and Djokovic and with Federer, Nadal and Del Potro having been out with injuries the seeding is rendered less meaningful. But here we are in the third round with a clash of a couple of Titans. The backhand matchup is going to be very, very interesting. Juan Martin has had some wrist problems and surgery as a consequence. His backhand has undergone a bit of a metamorphosis. He hits a lot of slice backhands now as a result. It is going to be very interesting to see how these two match up now. A couple of years down the line. Juan Martin has shown some signs of returning to his old form and Federer has surprised everyone with his metamorphosis.

I am so curious what these guys were doing during their time off. All we get are canned youtube videos of them training their little hearts out. I want to know what they were eating. What they were putting in their mouths. What about injections? Microchips...implants? Just a thought...from the dark side of man's nature. To cheat. To get ahead. To one up the other guy.

It's the nature of the beast I will tell you. I haven't always been an angel either.

[don_budge]

Federer serving for the first set and uncharacteristically down 0-30. Big serve...15-30. Sledgehammer forehand by Del Potro...break point. Forehand pressure by Federer...30-40. Another great forehand by Federer...40-40. Backhand miss...advantage Del Potro. Great forehand...deuce again. Another sledgehammer Del Potro forehand...ad Del Potro. Ace...deuce. Forehand volley winner Federer...ad Federer. Set point...drop shot winner. First set to Roger Federer...6-3.

[stotty]

One set up to Roger. For god's sake don't lose to this big lug....come on Roger.

[stotty]

The Saber-Toothed Tiger versus the Diplodocus

Just love the way Roger yanks the big lug around and makes him look like and overgrown diplodocus. Del Potro is dispatched....good news for Stotty, at least.

[stotty]

I hear the Miami event has struggled to grow over the years due to planning constraints. Some think the tournament's days are numbered. What's the plan, Klacr? Should it stay or should it go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1WwnEDWAM

[don_budge]

Roger Federer versus Anybody...

Just love the way Roger yanks the big lug around and makes him look like and overgrown diplodocus. Del Potro is dispatched....good news for Stotty, at least.

Fed is perhaps not just the GOAT but also the GAAT. The greatest adapter of all time...

I remember Mats Wilander saying after playing John McEnroe..."John has a way of making you feel terrible out there". McEnroe also being a great adapter. Players that can read their opponents and adjust their games to tactically dismantle them are few and far between nowadays. But this was the gist of Bill Tilden's writings and the coaching of such greats as Harry Hopman, Welby Van Horn and Robert Lansdorp. Find the weak link and exploit it.

Or as Bill Tilden wrote...a more dangerous route is attacking the strength and once you have dismantled that the opponent is totally compromised and has nothing left to throw into the fight. Such was the lesson last night by the modern derivative of Tilden, Gonzales, Budge and Hopman. The Living Proof is Roger Federer. He took the fight right at Juan Martin Del Potro's forehand from the start and kept hammering at it...as if to prove a point. The point is...apparently Juan Martin is not the player that he used to be. What a shame for the current crop...it sure could use some back up.

The surprise is how easily Roger beat Juan Martin...6-3, 6-4. It wasn't that close. The commentatoes tried to make it sound as if it was closer than that but in reality Roger is in a league of his own right now and by the associative property...Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray beware. He has an axe to grind with both of you. Del Potro has been giving the heavyweights a hard time lately it seems but Roger Federer made him look somewhat like a has been and an also ran...all in one bundle. He simple had no answers to what Federer did to him last night. Once Roger took his legs out from under him by relentlessly attacking the forehand he had the whole court to play with and play with it he did.

I really hesitate to crown anyone in the modern era the greatest of all time because I believe that the equipment is a great deceiver. We see how some extra square inches has worked "miracles" with an aging Roger Federer. If some of the players in the past had the advantages that he has they also would have looked immeasurably better. You can only imagine a Rod Laver with one of these graphite lovelies. How about Richard Gonzales? Do you really think he would have had any problem coming over his backhand with a Prince Graphite? Remember when John McEnroe played Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon when John switched to an 80 square inch Dunlop and Connors was still tooling around with his bucket of bolts T2000? But Roger is the only adapter in the field nowadays. The only one with the Bill Tilden fundamental concept of how to destroy your opponent based on the opponents game. Roger is something of a shape shifter...another concept lost on modern man.

It's Roger Federer and anybody...I will tell you. Next "anybody" up is Robert Bautista-Agut. It is scheduled for ten o'clock tonight here in Sweden and I guarantee you that wild horses will not keep me away from watching him...against anybody. Speaking of wild horses...Puntzie and I just returned from walking the dirt roads through the forests...we saw nine moose cross the road in front of us. They were all cows and calves. The smallest calf lingered on the road to stare at us for about thirty seconds. It was a sign...a very good one. Thank you Lord.

"The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man’s heart, away from nature, becomes hard; he knew that lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to a lack of respect for humans, too. So he kept his children close to nature’s softening influence." -- Luther Standing Bear

[stotty]

Federer versus Agut

That was a strange first set from Roger. He did well to get through and win it. He looks out of sorts. He's rushing things and it seems like he doesn't want to be there. I haven't seen that attitude from Roger in quite a while. He's in no mood for protracted rallies that's for sure.

Still he got through and he's one set to the good.

[klacr]

Berdych-Federer quarterfinal on Thursday. And yeah, You bet your sweet ass I'll be there in person to witness it.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Roger Federer vs. Roberto Baptisto-Aguto (Anybody in this case)

Federer versus Agut

That was a strange first set from Roger. He did well to get through and win it. He looks out of sorts. He's rushing things and it seems like he doesn't want to be there. I haven't seen that attitude from Roger in quite a while. He's in no mood for protracted rallies that's for sure.

Still he got through and he's one set to the good.

Strange? Or is there a logical explanation. Let's see...Roger is 35 years old. His interest in putting his body and his head through the ordeal of playing tough, gritty opponents must be waning. Guys like what's his name are tough little customers...like terriers that just won't let go. The night before Federer took down the "Jolly Green Argentine" Juan Martin Del Potro which a significant feather in his ever expanding headdress at this point. He was mentally and physically peaked...and this was after the ordeal of the Indian Wells tournament. That is what it is becoming...an ordeal. Physically and mentally. When you are taxed on both accounts and weary on both ends...as you get older you tend to get a bit cranky. I would say he was battling a tenacious opponent and at the same time battling his attitude. Obviously he was not fully prepared for "the ordeal" two days in a row given his recent activity.

Roger Federer versus Anybody...

I remember Mats Wilander saying after playing John McEnroe..."John has a way of making you feel terrible out there". McEnroe also being a great adapter. Players that can read their opponents and adjust their games to tactically dismantle them are few and far between nowadays. But this was the gist of Bill Tilden's writings and the coaching of such greats as Harry Hopman, Welby Van Horn and Robert Lansdorp. Find the weak link and exploit it.

Or as Bill Tilden wrote...a more dangerous route is attacking the strength and once you have dismantled that the opponent is totally compromised and has nothing left to throw into the fight. Such was the lesson last night by the modern derivative of Tilden, Gonzales, Budge and Hopman. The Living Proof is Roger Federer. He took the fight right at Juan Martin Del Potro's forehand from the start and kept hammering at it...as if to prove a point. The point is...apparently Juan Martin is not the player that he used to be. What a shame for the current crop...it sure could use some back up.

But Roger is the only adapter in the field nowadays. The only one with the Bill Tilden fundamental concept of how to destroy your opponent based on the opponents game. Roger is something of a shape shifter...another concept lost on modern man.

It's Roger Federer and anybody...I will tell you. Next "anybody" up is Robert Bautista-Agut. It is scheduled for ten o'clock tonight here in Sweden and I guarantee you that wild horses will not keep me away from watching him...against anybody. Speaking of wild horses...Puntzie and I just returned from walking the dirt roads through the forests...we saw nine moose cross the road in front of us. They were all cows and calves. The smallest calf lingered on the road to stare at us for about thirty seconds. It was a sign...a very good one. Thank you Lord.

This is why I am saying that the only match to watch nowadays is Roger Federer and anybody. In my last post I got off a bit on a Tilden tangent but the point always applies...nearly a century later on. There is nothing new under the sun. The match was an equation pitting the overall strengths and weaknesses of Roberto and Roger. Roger weaknesses were largely of depletion...what he couldn't bring to the party. He didn't have the passion for the match...he didn't want to be there. He was cranky and ornery to boot. But he is what Bill Tilden wrote about...he is indeed in the book "Match Play and the Spin of the Ball". He is the book as well as direct lineage to Richard Gonzales. Because when he wants it...he knows how to take it. You want it? You take it...you pay the price. Today the price for Roger is a hangover. A tennis hangover. He has 24 hours before the next ordeal and it looks as though he wants it. Whether he can summon what is necessary is the question. Can he summon the Dragon?

He has Thomas Berdych waiting in the wings. Berdych should have all sort of reasons and ammunition to motivate himself for this match with Federer. Federer owns him 17-5 head to head and bounced him the last six times they have teed it up. What more does he need? Well he needs a game...he needs an all court game because if Roger gets it going with the serve and the play from "anywhere" on the court feel for the game it is going to be tough going for the Czech. I sense Roger wants something here though. If he didn't he could very well have tossed in the towel last night. He might even relish a face-off with the other quarterfinal of Zverev and Kyrgios. He might be in the mood for exacting a little pound of flesh from the youngsters. He remembers well what the new kids did with him when they last played...perhaps he wasn't as motivated. What did he have to win?

It's fun to play "Being Roger Federer" isn't it? Speculating on him against anybody. Who else brings that to the game? Answer...nobody. There are no more derivatives to the chain of Tilden, Gonzales, Budge, Hopman and all of the rest. Just an aging old warrior having a last go at it. On any given night he is still able to do the calculations and put on his game face to bring it to the court. It's amazing to watch. The funny thing is though it just goes to show how shallow the field is.

It's going to be a tough road to hoe. He can get by Berdych if he is feeling any where near fit to fight. The match in the semi finals should prove to be interesting. Let's see what happens in the continuing saga of Roger Federer.

[stotty]

Roger Federer vs. Roberto Baptisto-Aguto (Anybody in this case)



Strange? Or is there a logical explanation. Let's see...Roger is 35 years old. His interest in putting his body and his head through the ordeal of playing tough, gritty opponents must be waning. Guys like what's his name are tough little customers...like terriers that just won't let go. The night before Federer took down the "Jolly Green Argentine" Juan Martin Del Potro which a significant feather in his ever expanding headdress at this point. He was mentally and physically peaked...and this was after the ordeal of the Indian Wells tournament. That is what it is becoming...an ordeal. Physically and mentally. When you are taxed on both accounts and weary on both ends...as you get older you tend to get a bit cranky. I would say he was battling a tenacious opponent and at the same time battling his attitude. Obviously he was not fully prepared for "the ordeal" two days in a row given his recent activity.

Roger got better towards the end of the first set. He seemed to make up his mind he might as well win it. I was watching on my laptop with the sound down as Marcella, my wife, was watching a tense drama and didn't want the roar of the crowd interfering at key moments. When you watch matches without sound you get a much less biased view of things because you aren't subject to the opinions of the commentatoes...which are often wrong anyway...or come out with stupid things to fill airtime. With the sound turned down Roger looked positively disinterested at times. He was serving between points even quicker than usual. It was like he just wanted to get done and dusted and out of there. I missed the second set as it was getting late and I decided to go to bed.

I like Agut. He seems a decent, hardworking bloke. He's a respectful fellow and seemed happy to play at the brisk tempo of which Roger was playing his service games.

I cannot see Roger slipping up against Berdych. Tomas just seems another lug tailor-made for felling for Roger.

[don_budge]

I missed the second set as it was getting late and I decided to go to bed.

I was getting tired too. Understatement. It was way past my bedtime. The match was an hour late so it started around 11PM here in Sweden. I wouldn't be able to stay awake for any other tennis player but with Roger Federer playing...I stayed awake. I forced myself to. I learned something...I always do from Federer. He is like watching a movie...a movie called "Match Play and Spin of the Ball". Yesterday's chapter was a narrative about how to play successful tennis when you are less than one hundred percent. The tennis tour is a one trick pony show and the pony is Roger. There isn't a single player that can hold my attention for the duration for a tennis match. But Roger versus anybody is enough for me.

I struggled to stay awake. There were moments that I thought to myself...go to bed. At times I fought to keep my eyes open at times. I found myself hoping that Roger would break Agut and get it over with. I tried to get myself prepared to stay up if it went three sets. I pushed myself to the limits...to watch Roger Federer play tennis.

He was really struggling. With the sound off you didn't hear him exhorting himself on as he yelled "come on!" way more often than he usually does. He slashed at imaginary things with his racquet. He was muttering to himself. It was a tough match for him...much tougher than Juan Martin Del Potro was. It was tough because he wasn't prepared. He didn't have enough time to get prepared.

It was a fascinating match given all that was going on internally. He will have time to get ready for Berdych though. It looks as if Federer is really playing himself into form for this tournament. The semifinal will be the interesting match. If he is able to continue to gradually raise his level it will be awesome. Whoever it is better be ready. The one thing I will be watching for in the match with Berdych is the Federer serving game. If he is able to get this back on track...good night Tomas.

[don_budge]

I was going to watch Nishikori and Fognini...but it is getting late and I am going to bed. You see how I am...if Federer is not involved then it doesn't matter. Good night cruel world. Tomorrow is another day. I guess that I am tired from yesterday...last night. I can understand why Roger seemed to be a little cranky.

[stotty]

I was going to watch Nishikori and Fognini...but it is getting late and I am going to bed. You see how I am...if Federer is not involved then it doesn't matter. Good night cruel world. Tomorrow is another day. I guess that I am tired from yesterday...last night. I can understand why Roger seemed to be a little cranky.

Well I watched it, along with my wife, the adoring Fognini fan. My wife says Fognini will win the whole event because she is willing him on. I told her she cannot will the bloke to win because he's 4000 miles away and cannot her cheering. My wife disagrees. If she wills hard enough, it will happen, she says. Fognini is Italian and good-looking and therefore trumps all other players in the tournament as far as my wife is concerned. I said if Fognini wins the tournament I will eat my hat.

Anyway I missed most of the first set but from what I did see, Fognini played well and Nishikori barely showed up.

[johnyandell]

He's not good looking and he will lose to someone, soon.

[don_budge]

I woke up...nature call. Turned on the computer to see a bit of Sock and Nadal. I'm not exactly sorry that I did but it confirms everything that I believe. The tennis and the characters are both very annoying. It took barely two games. Good night...Irene.