2017 Rolex Paris Masters...ATP 1000...Paris, France

[don_budge]

As he was completing his mop up of Juan Martin Del Potro his vision shifted to Paris, France where he can secure 1000 points in his hunt for the number one spot in tennis. Rafael Nadal elects to show up. A week off to lick his wounds from the smack down in Shanghai...it might not do him much good. The conditions at the Paris Indoors are bound to be on the quick side. Would it be too much to ask Lord for another Federer versus Nadal final? With similar results?

Here's the draw:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/scores/current/paris/352/draws

I think Nadal has his work cut out for him to make the final. In fact...if I were a betting man I might just bet against him. Federer down below in the bottom half looks to be a lock for the finals. If the conditions are on the quick side...there isn't anybody in the bottom with the guns to take him out.

Back to back tournaments with Roger Federer in the draw. It doesn't get any better than this considering I have the week off and be able to track the comings and goings. Stay tuned.

[seano]

Federer has withdrawn from the Paris Masters, citing back issues. Hinted before final with Delpo that he might. Figures he is too far behind Nadal to catch him.

[stotty]

Federer has withdrawn from the Paris Masters, citing back issues. Hinted before final with Delpo that he might. Figures he is too far behind Nadal to catch him.

Bummer...what a shame.

[stotty]

I think Nadal has his work cut out for him to make the final. In fact...if I were a betting man I might just bet against him. Federer down below in the bottom half looks to be a lock for the finals. If the conditions are on the quick side...there isn't anybody in the bottom with the guns to take him out.

Back to back tournaments with Roger Federer in the draw. It doesn't get any better than this considering I have the week off and be able to track the comings and goings. Stay tuned.

I cannot see Rafa winning in a month of Sundays unless he alters his court positioning, and in particular his return of serve position. You simply cannot stand that far back against a player who can finesse a serve like Roger. It's suicide. Moya is a buffoon if he thinks that is any kind of tactic at all.

[don_budge]

Federer has withdrawn from the Paris Masters, citing back issues. Hinted before final with Delpo that he might. Figures he is too far behind Nadal to catch him.

It was too much to ask.

[don_budge]

I cannot see Rafa winning in a month of Sundays unless he alters his court positioning, and in particular his return of serve position. You simply cannot stand that far back against a player who can finesse a serve like Roger. It's suicide. Moya is a buffoon if he thinks that is any kind of tactic at all.

All of a sudden I can see him winning now that Roger Federer has withdrawn.

[stotty]

Let's hope Roger is fit for the finals in London. It will be a bummer if he's not. The organisers must be having kittens. No Novak, Andy, or Stan. Just two old fogeys propping up the tour.

[gzhpcu]

I think Roger is being wise. Taking breaks after a good run. This way we will see him for much longer.

[gzhpcu]

And now the tournament director, Guy Forget, who does not live in France but lives in Switzerland, criticizes Roger for pulling out of the tournament. (but Forget moving to Switzerland for tax reasons is OK.... )

[don_budge]

Never Fall In Love with a 10splayer...for to him Love Means Nothing

Understandably Guy Forget is crushed. The Rolex Paris Masters is his baby...literally his baby. He spends an entire year preparing every infinitesimal detail of this tournament in hopes of showcasing the tournament in every possible, conceivable way. Roger Federer figures in his plans to the nth degree. Obviously Guy Forget understands the most important thing in a professional tennis tournament today in the end of the Roger Federer era...the most important thing is Roger's presence. If he doesn't show...it no longer is a real tennis tournament. Rafael Nadal is not even a close second. Not even in the same class.

Roger cites that his decision was predicated on his preparation for London and his plan to avoid injury. I don't like the fact that he bailed either but I certainly cannot fault his "selfish" decision. He is the master of his own destiny as so few of us are. He doesn't want to go to work because of reasons of his own? He doesn't go to work...simple as that. Me...I haven't missed a day in nine years. He is living life on his terms...so am I. Guy Forget and I have something in common...we both have to get over the fact that Roger Federer is not playing the 2017 Rolex Paris Indoors. What a pity.

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/tennis/a/37679056/guy-forget-takes-swipe-at-roger-federer-for-missing-paris-masters/

I submit this withdrawal of Roger Federer from the Paris tournament as further evidence that supports every little thing I have written here on this forum. Roger is "The Living Proof". The funny thing is he further backs up my contention when he doesn't even show up. It demonstrates the total lack of depth in the professional game today. Ray Moore said it correctly when he got sacked for stating the obvious from his perch as tournament director at Indian Wells...the whole tour should be on their knees thanking God for Roger (he included Nadal but I don't). Federer's charisma has been carrying the professional game for many years. Federer versus Anybody is the match that the tennis public wants to see. There simply isn't a second place.

I can understand Guy Forget's frustration. He is not alone and the entire tennis world is in for a huge awakening on the day Federer announces his retirement. A huge sucking sound like the air escaping from a balloon will be heard throughout the tennis world.

[don_budge]

And now the tournament director, Guy Forget, who does not live in France but lives in Switzerland, criticizes Roger for pulling out of the tournament. (but Forget moving to Switzerland for tax reasons is OK.... )

There's a ton of money involved here. Not that Roger needs any of it. He can afford to pick and choose. But not Guy Forget...his whole package is staked on the appearance of Federer. He is understandable devastated that he withdrew. If he hadn't entered in the first place...that may have been even worse. At least tournament ticket sales were sold out in advance anticipating the Swiss Maestro.

Interesting your comments about Forget's residence seeing as you live in Switzerland. Tax reasons? Is that all?

I have tried to watch a bunch of these matches but I only last at most a game. The baseline rallies are just mind-numbing. I have I said that before? Do I repeat myself? Well of course I do. I'm a tennis teacher. The game is based on repetitive motions and consequently the teacher is endlessly repeating himself. Excuse me all to pieces.

But back to the action or rather, lack of it. I have watched bits and pieces of the following players...Nadal, Chung, Hasse, Del Potro, Mannarino, Thiem, Gojowczyk, Verdasco, Rublev, Sock, Edmund, Herbert, Lopez and Pouille. That's fourteen players and I never watched more than a game of any of them. I need some action. Not watching grown men play pitty-pat from the backcourt. Surely the actions is going to heat up. Nadal and Cuevas should be promising...right? Krajinovic and Mahut? Hasse and Del Potro was a dud. Maybe Isner and Dimitrov? Surely Isner will be throwing some heat at Baby Fed...unlikely to hold the attention of don_budge. Coffin and Benneteau? Benneteau has beaten Shapovalov and Tsonga...maybe. Bautista-Agut and Cilic? Maybe we can catch Marin crying again. Thiem and Verdasco? Sounds good on paper but in reality guaranteed to disappoint. I'm afraid we have been looking for a savior in Thiem but he cannot possibly measure up. He disappoints. There is no sustained success. Up and down. Next Generation...my derrière. Sock and Pouille. I like Pouille in small doses...Sock in even smaller.

So there you have it. Surely the matches will get more interesting...right? We'll see. I'll keep you posted. Too bad Roger Federer couldn't show up for work this week. It may have been a real tennis tournament.

[stotty]

And now the tournament director, Guy Forget, who does not live in France but lives in Switzerland, criticizes Roger for pulling out of the tournament. (but Forget moving to Switzerland for tax reasons is OK.... )

Forget is a tiny drop in the ocean. Seems anyone worth a few bob doesn't want to pay more tax than they have to. It's thought trillions of dollars are lying around in off shore accounts. That's trillions of dollars lying around and not swishing around in the world's economy. Not good. Look at Paul Manafort, laundering 18 million and not paying a cent in tax. It's rotten to the core.

But yes losing Roger or any of the top four is a blow to any tournament. I can understand Forget's disappointment.

[don_budge]

The Next Generation...The Never Generation

Dominic Thiem has sort of been mired in a bit of a slump as of late. The world's number six player has lost to the following in a string of defeats that must be disappointing for him.

Fernando Verdasco #39...6-4, 6-4...Rolex Paris Masters
Richard Gasquet #32...4-6, 7-5, 6-1...Erste Bank Open (Vienna, Austria)
Viktor Troicki #54...6-3, 3-6, 7-6...Shanghai Rolex Masters
Steve Johnson #46...4-6, 7-6, 6-4...Rakuten Japan Open
Guido Pella #72...7-6, 6-4...Chengdu Open

He didn't have any idea about how to beat Verdasco today. He looked lost. Alexander Zverev has lost that look as well. There has been a lot of "fake" hype surrounding these two players. Some results got some people excited but at the same time the players start to believe their own hype and they experience a feeling of entitlement. It's as if they only have to take their ranking out on the court and the other players will concede. It doesn't work that way.

Once you get that nice top ten ranking it provides a lot of incentive for the lower echelon to take down a "big" name. These guys are not ready for the pressure. Denis Shapovalov might just experience the same sort of dip in his performance. There is nothing that prepares a player for this. It's called experience. But players of Thiem's and Zverev's stature should be able to absorb the shock but it appears that they stumble under the pressure.

[stroke]

The Next Generation...The Never Generation

Dominic Thiem has sort of been mired in a bit of a slump as of late. The world's number six player has lost to the following in a string of defeats that must be disappointing for him.

Fernando Verdasco #39...6-4, 6-4...Rolex Paris Masters
Richard Gasquet #32...4-6, 7-5, 6-1...Erste Bank Open (Vienna, Austria)
Viktor Troicki #54...6-3, 3-6, 7-6...Shanghai Rolex Masters
Steve Johnson #46...4-6, 7-6, 6-4...Rakuten Japan Open
Guido Pella #72...7-6, 6-4...Chengdu Open

He didn't have any idea about how to beat Verdasco today. He looked lost. Alexander Zverev has lost that look as well. There has been a lot of "fake" hype surrounding these two players. Some results got some people excited but at the same time the players start to believe their own hype and they experience a feeling of entitlement. It's as if they only have to take their ranking out on the court and the other players will concede. It doesn't work that way.

Once you get that nice top ten ranking it provides a lot of incentive for the lower echelon to take down a "big" name. These guys are not ready for the pressure. Denis Shapovalov might just experience the same sort of dip in his performance. There is nothing that prepares a player for this. It's called experience. But players of Thiem's and Zverev's stature should be able to absorb the shock but it appears that they stumble under the pressure.

I have always felt that Thiem was really just a French Open winner, of the 4 majors. His big swings are always exposed on hard courts against very good players. Verdasco's brutal, efficient forehand was the best shot on the court and pushed Thiem around all day. A. Zverev, we will see. I think he can contend for all 4 Majors.

[don_budge]

I have always felt that Thiem was really just a French Open winner, of the 4 majors. His big swings are always exposed on hard courts against very good players. Verdasco's brutal, efficient forehand was the best shot on the court and pushed Thiem around all day. A. Zverev, we will see. I think he can contend for all 4 Majors.

Dominic Thiem's greatest potential may just be on the clay. I noticed to today in his match against Verdasco that he stepped forwards on his forehand approximately zero times compared to his backhand side where he routinely steps into the ball. Very odd...Federer steps in at every opportunity.

The Completion Backwards Principle...The Tubes (1981)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0JReHAlgqU

The completion backwards principle...The Tubes? Talk to ya later anyways. Interesting video here of Dominic "Justin Belieber" Thiem. I think Thiem resembles Justin Bieber. Dominic is playing left handed and Fernando is playing right handed. Alice in the Looking Glass? Check out this video of Thiem and Verdasco below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU0dN32PYSk

An ode to Fernando's backhand...courtesy of ABBA. Fernando.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQsjAbZDx-4