2017 U. S. Open Championships...ATP 2000...New York, New York, U. S. A.

[don_budge]

Maybe he(Coric) was a so called next genereration, whatever that is. I do remember Mary Carillo was all in about Coric. Alex is way taller, and he is unsually attactive, even by pro tennis standards(his looks have done nothing in his life to hurt his self belief) He also has a better backhand, forehand, and serve than Coric. Coric probably is a slightly better mover. They both compete all the time, unlike Kyrgios, who once again brought the drama and did not feel like competing today.

It's a long road to the top. I woke at 3.45 here in Sweden just in time to see Borna Coric and Alexander Zverev shake hands. No kidding...perfect timing. The long, tall and good looking media darling looked none to happy.

Good media is nice...but it certainly doesn't cut it on the court. Alexander Zverev may be a number one player in the world someday but his press accolades are going to have nothing to do with it. Once you get there...it is quite another thing to stay there which you don't find out until you get there. Once you are there...you might just be too fucking tired to last there or your head might just be a bit messed up from the journey. Sort of a jet lag that prevents you from doing just exactly what it took to get there.

Borna Coric is a perfect example. "Next Generation" by definition is a player that has been pegged by the ATP to succeed to the extent that they will create enough interest to sustain the game as a business. This is what the game has been reduced to...the lowest common denominator. It's a business and that is all. There is no more art. There is very little true love for the game like there was when players were being developed on the grass root level instead of being farmed. Borna has had his ups and downs too. It's a long ass haul. Even to get where he currently is. Where is he? I'll tell you where he is...he is ranked #number 61 in the world. He too was being touted as somebody to be reckoned with by everyone. I remember when he took the court against Roger Federer in Dubai he was so full of himself...Roger barely looked at him as he kicked his ass all over the court.

If anything Zverev is too pretty. My buddy...the Ugly American from Hawaii called me the other day and went up one side of Zverev and down the other. Way too pretty...he is way too vain.

But we'll see. The brain trust made a calculated decision to bank on this kid and quite possibly they have done him a huge disservice. He seems fragile to me. Psychologically as well as physically. He technique and tactical game lend itself to destructive forces that add up over time. He is built to play going forwards but he elects to jerk around the court from side to side. He needs some meat in those legs. Then there is something about the heart. That is where the great champion beats the field. In his heart. His love for the game...everything else in life takes second place.

[stroke]

Yes...you are surely correct. But so was Borna Coric too at one point. He was another overhyped "Next Generation" star. Tonight we get a gratis litmus test of the "Next Generation". Zverev versus Coric. But don't try to watch it. It is certain to be a snoozer. Let me know. I like the fact that you are in Zverev's corner.

Maybe he(Coric) was a so called next genereration, whatever that is. I do remember Mary Carillo was all in about Coric. Alex is way taller, and he is unsually attactive, even by pro tennis standards(his looks have done nothing in his life to hurt his self belief) He also has a better backhand, forehand, and serve than Coric. Coric probably is a slightly better mover. They both compete all the time, unlike Kyrgios, who once again brought the drama and did not feel like competing today.

[stotty]

Well it may just have gone according to script. Roger Federer's script. He seems to be writing history these days. Someone gave him license to freelance. The first set Tiafoe was playing "lights out" but Federer really picked up the pace for sets two and three. He was playing vintage Federer and I mean the latest vintage as in Wimbledon, Australian, Miami and Indian Hills vintages. His form was absolutely scintillating and the backhand looked like the backhand that had us talking all year. I didn't see the first set even though I have seen three different highlights including the one on EuroSport here in Europe. The fifth set he had it comfortably in the bag but failed to serve it out. He missed a couple of volleys that would have sealed the deal. He concluded things a bit more dramatically than it needed to be by breaking Tiafoe for the match.

Our resident psycho head case has done Roger a huge...a HUGE by disappearing to John Millman a fellow Australian. The wife and I were sitting here watching bits and pieces of Nick Kyrgios in between commercials of NAVY CIS. It looked to me as if Kyrgios was tanking but later I caught a brief glance at a trainer apparently working on his shoulder. Any excuse will seem to do when you are Nick "The Jerk" Kyrgios. Harry Hopman is rolling around in his grave...God Bless him.

This loss really opens up the draw for Roger. It looks like a straight shot to the quarters where it might just be Dominc Thiem. This five set win gave Roger plenty of time to get himself acclimated to the courts and the atmosphere. Now with Kyrgios out he can get himself worked up into a fine lather to get ready for some serious tennis. There is lots of work to be done and he will be fine tuning himself all of the way. Like a Stradivarius violin. The top half appears to be heavier and heavier the more I look at it. But never mind...it is what it is. Roger is going to have to overcome all of the given obstacles...or someone else is going to do it. He has the wind behind his back and the five setter might actually work in his favor. I know one thing for certain...he will be trying to make it work for him.

I was a little concerned at times that he might not be running down some balls that he normally might. He may just have played Tiafoe a little soft at times...why I couldn't tell you. But in sets two and three there didn't appear to be anything wrong with him at all. It looked like he was in perfect form.

It's tough to know whether Roger is 100% or not because he is not about to tell Joe Public if he were impaired in any way, for two reasons: It would give the game away if he was impaired and players would know to exploit it...and...he's just not the type who like making excuses as he knows it looks like sour grapes. So all we can do is hope he isn't injured.

I don't know why you were worried about a Kyrgios/Roger match up. It wouldn't have been a physically taxing game and Roger has the perfect tools to beat the Jerk. Oddly enough, Roger's clone Dimitrov gave the tour a text book lesson on how to play Kyrgios. And anything Dimitrov can do, Roger can do even better.

Speaking of Dimitrov, he might have a good run this year. He's looking in good shape and has maintained good form for quite some time now. He's getting more efficient in matches and beating underdogs quickly with the minimum loss of games. Does that skill by chance remind you of anyone?

[don_budge]

Yes too close for comfort. I wonder how many players have survived a five set, first round scare in a grand slam and gone on to win the trophy? I'd wager not too many. Still, Roger seems to defy most odds in tennis....and life.

Well it may just have gone according to script. Roger Federer's script. He seems to be writing history these days. Someone gave him license to freelance. The first set Tiafoe was playing "lights out" but Federer really picked up the pace for sets two and three. He was playing vintage Federer and I mean the latest vintage as in Wimbledon, Australian, Miami and Indian Hills vintages. His form was absolutely scintillating and the backhand looked like the backhand that had us talking all year. I didn't see the first set even though I have seen three different highlights including the one on EuroSport here in Europe. The fifth set he had it comfortably in the bag but failed to serve it out. He missed a couple of volleys that would have sealed the deal. He concluded things a bit more dramatically than it needed to be by breaking Tiafoe for the match.

Our resident psycho head case has done Roger a huge...a HUGE by disappearing to John Millman a fellow Australian. The wife and I were sitting here watching bits and pieces of Nick Kyrgios in between commercials of NAVY CIS. It looked to me as if Kyrgios was tanking but later I caught a brief glance at a trainer apparently working on his shoulder. Any excuse will seem to do when you are Nick "The Jerk" Kyrgios. Harry Hopman is rolling around in his grave...God Bless him.

This loss really opens up the draw for Roger. It looks like a straight shot to the quarters where it might just be Dominc Thiem. This five set win gave Roger plenty of time to get himself acclimated to the courts and the atmosphere. Now with Kyrgios out he can get himself worked up into a fine lather to get ready for some serious tennis. There is lots of work to be done and he will be fine tuning himself all of the way. Like a Stradivarius violin. The top half appears to be heavier and heavier the more I look at it. But never mind...it is what it is. Roger is going to have to overcome all of the given obstacles...or someone else is going to do it. He has the wind behind his back and the five setter might actually work in his favor. I know one thing for certain...he will be trying to make it work for him.

I was a little concerned at times that he might not be running down some balls that he normally might. He may just have played Tiafoe a little soft at times...why I couldn't tell you. But in sets two and three there didn't appear to be anything wrong with him at all. It looked like he was in perfect form.

[don_budge]

I just have a feeling that Alex is confident in his overall appeal

Yes...you are surely correct. But so was Borna Coric too at one point. He was another overhyped "Next Generation" star. Tonight we get a gratis litmus test of the "Next Generation". Zverev versus Coric. But don't try to watch it. It is certain to be a snoozer. Let me know. I like the fact that you are in Zverev's corner.

[stotty]

Federer gets by,,,but it wasn't pretty. Tiafoe unleashed some haymakers and did not go away. Credit to him.Fed dodged a bullett. I figured he would find a way to win but this was a bit too close.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Yes too close for comfort. I wonder how many players have survived a five set, first round scare in a grand slam and gone on to win the trophy? I'd wager not too many. Still, Roger seems to defy most odds in tennis....and life.

[stroke]

Denis Shapovalov gets top billing against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga tonight on Arthur Ashe Stadium. People are starting to take notice. Alexander Zverev and Borna Coric are delegated to the Grandstand court. Hmmm...I wonder of Zverev is getting jealous.

I just have a feeling that Alex is confident in his overall appeal

[don_budge]

One other player of interest...Denis "The Menace" Shapovalov. Oh yeah...don't forget Maria Sharapova. Russians...Russians...Russians. The Russians are coming...get the women and children inside.

Denis Shapovalov gets top billing against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga tonight on Arthur Ashe Stadium. People are starting to take notice. Alexander Zverev and Borna Coric are delegated to the Grandstand court. Hmmm...I wonder of Zverev is getting jealous.

[don_budge]

Roger Federer versus Anybody (Francis Tiafoe)

Federer gets by,,,but it wasn't pretty. Tiafoe unleashed some haymakers and did not go away. Credit to him.Fed dodged a bullett. I figured he would find a way to win but this was a bit too close.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Fascinating match. I woke up at 3.30 AM only to find "The Living Proof" down a break in the first set. Somehow Tiafoe was dominating the play. His groundstrokes were like haymakers from the camera's angle and Federer looked to be on his heels and getting rocked to and fro. Tiafoe let out a war cry after he clinched the first set and this is always a bad idea against Roger. It's a fine balance between being respectful or pissing him off. He got a little testy after that. I noticed there was some indecision as to who was to cross in front of each other at one of the net changes.

Roger had him in his sights and surgically took him apart in sets two and three. He appeared to cruising at this point so I went back to bed. I should have stayed up knowing that Roger versus Anybody is a match worth watching. I would have liked to have seen Tiafoe get back into haymaker form...he looked to be out of it after three. A remarkable recovery on his part. Then the final set had to be riveting with Roger's U. S. Open on the line. Tiafoe will have many years to come. If he can stay healthy.

A couple of thoughts on Tiafoe. Number one is the one dimensional nature of his game. It is all about delivering haymakers. Nothing subtle about it. Number two...he hits the hell out of the serve but it notably deserted him in sets two and three where he had a heck of a time trying to get the first ball in play. The motion doesn't look like one that is designed for perfect timing that withstand all kinds of different influences. The forehand appears to be somewhat unorthodox but the backhand looks to be very dangerous. Perhaps more consistent than the forehand. That being said he is a dangerous opponent when he is hitting on all cylinders. The question will be one of consistency.

I wish I would have stayed up to watch the whole thing. Federer is coming to the end eventually. We are going to miss matches like these...him versus Anybody. Who's Next? Blaz Kavcic or Mikhail Youzhny? Roger should be able to handle that. The next match might not be so easy as it could involve a couple of pretty tough Spaniards...either Feliciano Lopez or Fernando Verdasco. Vasek Pospisil and Andrey Kuznetsov stand in their way in the pursuit of "The King". Nick Kyrgios' path looks to be a bit more straight forward.

One other player of interest...Denis "The Menace" Shapovalov. Oh yeah...don't forget Maria Sharapova. Russians...Russians...Russians. The Russians are coming...get the women and children inside.

http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index2370.htm

[klacr]

Federer gets by,,,but it wasn't pretty. Tiafoe unleashed some haymakers and did not go away. Credit to him.Fed dodged a bullett. I figured he would find a way to win but this was a bit too close.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Can't they relocate this tournament down south somewhere? It seems to rain every darn year over there in New York

https://www.klart.se/us/new-york/väder-new-york/

Here's a 14 day forecast for the weather...mostly sunny. Like my disposition.

[don_budge]

The opening match a five setter...not the best of starts.

I woke a 3 AM here in Sweden and he was down a break in the first. Tiafoe was playing some rather inspired tennis and had the old guy on his heels. He was just pounding it. But somehow Roger started to nip away at the power game and reigned the kid in. He was jerking him around using the slice backhand and even a slice forehand to slice and dice. The next two sets quickly went Federer's way...he was in complete control. I went to be thinking it was a foregone conclusion. Woke up to see he had won in five. Not a bad start in the sense that if he is healthy he got some of the nerves out of the way. He is going to have them totally under control for the mission that lies ahead for him.

You might be right...it is hard to interpret this as a good sign. I think he has a pretty tough draw ahead of him now that Tiafoe is behind him. It's good he got by him. You could say that.

[stotty]

The key for Federer is to get off of the court ASAP. The first couple of rounds are going to be real important. He doesn't want to get bogged down.

The opening match a five setter...not the best of starts.

[don_budge]

Can't they relocate this tournament down south somewhere? It seems to rain every darn year over there in New York

All eyes on Roger Federer. Lost a tightly played first set. Tight in the sense that Roger never felt his legs under him the entire set. He's come out feeling his way into the match in the second set. Tiafoe playing dangerously. Nothing to lose...everything to gain. Roger has upped the ante and is applying pressure. The question will be as always...can he maintain it?

[stotty]

Can't they relocate this tournament down south somewhere? It seems to rain every darn year over there in New York