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

[don_budge]

2017 Rolex Paris Masters? Busted...

Guy Forget saw the handwriting on the wall when Roger Federer pulled out of the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters. He was extremely disappointed as he is well aware who butters his bread. Roger Federer is the biggest draw in tennis and some would say (like don_budge for instance) he is the only draw. The only matches that are of any interest now are Roger versus Anybody.

Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka are off licking their wounds. No where to be seen for months and months. Who knows they could be off and recycling their PED's. It seems all of the top players are taking extended breaks from the tour and I wonder if there has been some new breakthrough in PED technology...or is it all just a coincidence. Rafael Nadal is joining the party. He and Federer seem to be playing a little game of hide and seek from each other. Each assessing their chances or maybe even their PED status before daring to climb in the ring with each other.

Something very strange is going on these days as we transition into the next big tennis culmination point as the Federer Era gradually comes to a close. Guy Forget had nothing but headaches and the end result was a bust of final of Jack Sock and Somebody Krajinovic. I watched bits and pieces of at least a dozen matches from the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters last week. I had the week off last week so I had the time. If only Roger Federer had been playing. There might have been some tennis worth watching.

What will happen in London? Nadal is playing the shell game. Will he be there...or will he skate?

What's that sound I hear...that giant sucking sound like the air going out of the balloon. It is the vacuum that is soon to be without Roger Federer in the house. Tennis is in big trouble. They are desperately looking to reinvent the game. To "modernize" it.

[bottle]

Krajinovic through to the finals. I was hoping Isner would be in the finals. That would have to be an ugly match whoever played him. Isner was up 3-0 in the third set tie-break and managed to lose it. Watched a bit of the match here and there. It went on forever. I couldn't imagine being one in that crowd. Snoozing. Drinking coffee. Trying to stay awake.

Now for Bennteau and Sock. Sure this has to be better. Don't count on it. Jack Sock is horrible to watch. Question? Why do both Americans wear a baseball cap backwards. Ugly.

Wouldn't it be awful if somebody agreed with a man who has a deep antipathy to the word "agree?" I detest baseball caps worn backward but realize that in the olden days some long-necked players followed through directly over their head and hit their back.

[don_budge]

Last time two Americans made the final was 1987. Tim Mayotte defeated Brad Gilbert.

One word to describe this year's masters series in Paris. BORING.
Although Benneteau shows some flashes of all court tennis and fundamentals, Sock, Isner and Krajinovic don't really get my blood pumping. How much longer until e see Federer in London?

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Krajinovic through to the finals. I was hoping Isner would be in the finals. That would have to be an ugly match whoever played him. Isner was up 3-0 in the third set tie-break and managed to lose it. Watched a bit of the match here and there. It went on forever. I couldn't imagine being one in that crowd. Snoozing. Drinking coffee. Trying to stay awake.

Now for Bennteau and Sock. Sure this has to be better. Don't count on it. Jack Sock is horrible to watch. Question? Why do both Americans wear a baseball cap backwards. Ugly.

[klacr]

Men's Semifinals...2017 Rolex Paris Masters

The semifinals are set. Filip Krajinovic (#77) versus John Isner (#14) and Julien Benneteau (#83) versus Jack Sock (#22). What a DISASTER for the Rolex Paris Masters. No wonder Guy Forget is flummoxed. This is his worst nightmare. But the possibility exists for an All-American final. I wonder when that last time that has happened.

Perhaps some of the play has been entertaining. I, myself, cannot see sitting through any of these matches in their entirety. Imagine the whole Paris crowd collectively yawning at the prospects of these semifinals. Ok...let it rip stotty and stroke. The depth in men's tennis is up to snuff? I beg to differ. Houston...we have a problem!

Last time two Americans made the final was 1987. Tim Mayotte defeated Brad Gilbert.

One word to describe this year's masters series in Paris. BORING.
Although Benneteau shows some flashes of all court tennis and fundamentals, Sock, Isner and Krajinovic don't really get my blood pumping. How much longer until e see Federer in London?

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Men's Semifinals...2017 Rolex Paris Masters

The semifinals are set. Filip Krajinovic (#77) versus John Isner (#14) and Julien Benneteau (#83) versus Jack Sock (#22). What a DISASTER for the Rolex Paris Masters. No wonder Guy Forget is flummoxed. This is his worst nightmare. But the possibility exists for an All-American final. I wonder when that last time that has happened.

Perhaps some of the play has been entertaining. I, myself, cannot see sitting through any of these matches in their entirety. Imagine the whole Paris crowd collectively yawning at the prospects of these semifinals. Ok...let it rip stotty and stroke. The depth in men's tennis is up to snuff? I beg to differ. Houston...we have a problem!

[don_budge]

http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/11111330/rafael-nadal-withdraws-from-paris-masters-with-a-knee-injury

Poor Guy Forget...he must be livid. Juan Martin Del Potro in the third now with John Isner and he looks to be pulling up lame as well. Or maybe it's a fake. You never know these days. Fake...fake...fake. Everything seems to be fake.

[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

[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]

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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[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.... )

[gzhpcu]

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

[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.