Originally posted by don_budge
View Post
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
2019 Australian Open...ATP 2000...Melbourne, Australia
Collapse
X
-
Last edited by stotty; 01-19-2019, 02:38 PM.Stotty
-
-
I don't think Roger can beat Novak or Nadal in this tournament because of the subpar backhand return. The margins are so slim, and I've seen him dump way too many backhand chip returns in the net. Game looks good otherwise but he has to play almost perfect (Australian 2017, particularly 5th set) to beat either guy. I think Medvedev is the only guy that could stop Novak in his half. Berdych and Bautista Agut could trouble Nadal but not beat him, in my opinion.
Comment
-
Originally posted by bman View PostI don't think Roger can beat Novak or Nadal in this tournament because of the subpar backhand return. The margins are so slim, and I've seen him dump way too many backhand chip returns in the net. Game looks good otherwise but he has to play almost perfect (Australian 2017, particularly 5th set) to beat either guy. I think Medvedev is the only guy that could stop Novak in his half. Berdych and Bautista Agut could trouble Nadal but not beat him, in my opinion.Stotty
Comment
-
Originally posted by bman View PostI don't think Roger can beat Novak or Nadal in this tournament because of the subpar backhand return. The margins are so slim, and I've seen him dump way too many backhand chip returns in the net. Game looks good otherwise but he has to play almost perfect (Australian 2017, particularly 5th set) to beat either guy. I think Medvedev is the only guy that could stop Novak in his half. Berdych and Bautista Agut could trouble Nadal but not beat him, in my opinion.
Now it is Tiafoe who will face Nadal. The kid gave Dimitrov all kinds of trouble. All kinds.
Daniil Medvedev is going to be asked the question against Novak Djokovic. The existential question. He may prove to be "The Sleeper" in the draw much as Marin Cilic was a number of years ago when he won at Flushing Meadows. But with Novak is just about impossible to penetrate the defence. He takes care of his serve so efficiently and of course his return is just in another planet. Medvedev's slim margin for error may prove to be too much of a liability in this case as it seems to me that Djokovic has more variation of shape in his shots.
This round is revealing more and more "The Shape of Things to Come" at any rate. Federer looked superlative against Fritz...but Fritz is not Djokovic or Nadal. The key for Roger will be the serve. If the serve is 100 or 110 percent he stands a chance. If he serves subpar...it will be more telling than failed chip returns.don_budge
Performance Analysthttps://www.tennisplayer.net/bulleti...ilies/cool.png
Comment
-
Originally posted by stotty View PostInteresting start with Roger and Stefanos. Let's hope it continues and Stefanos grabs the first set to make it really interesting. Shame I have to go to work in 10 minutes time!
What can you say about Federer. Just stayed as calm as a cucumber. I wonder if Stefanos used up a bit more of his nerves in that very, very tight first set. He has shown in the past to show the ability to take a blow, recover and come back and deliver. Perhaps another Borg like quality. Second set...Federer holds at love. He served beautifully the first set and played some very effective sliced returns. Intelligent play...the Federer trademark.don_budge
Performance Analysthttps://www.tennisplayer.net/bulleti...ilies/cool.png
Comment
-
Originally posted by stotty View PostInteresting start with Roger and Stefanos. Let's hope it continues and Stefanos grabs the first set to make it really interesting. Shame I have to go to work in 10 minutes time!
This is a quality that Bjorn Borg possessed in resiliency. You could never count him out. I noticed that about Stefanos early last year when I jumped on his wagon. You can get him down but you must put him away. He doesn't go away or throw in the towel early on. I would think that Roger is having his hands full now because it appears to me that Tsitsipas is about to enter another level of stratosphere of confidence level.don_budge
Performance Analysthttps://www.tennisplayer.net/bulleti...ilies/cool.png
Comment
-
Roger serving at 3-4 in the third is 0 for 12 in converting break points. Stefanos refuses to buckle and Federer perhaps being not assertive enough when he has the opportunity. Cat and mouse.don_budge
Performance Analysthttps://www.tennisplayer.net/bulleti...ilies/cool.png
Comment
-
That's all it takes to take out Fed in a big match. Fed played like the master champion he is, and Stephanos, obviously a star in born. He is going to be a rock star of tennis. As db has said, and I agree, something about him reminds me of Borg, a 6'4" Borg. He is extremely likeable on the court, so watchable, and extremely good looking, but not in the pretty boy way of Alex. Massive endorsement dollars coming his way. Clearly, he is going to be a threat on all surfaces. He may be even better on clay. Very unusual skill set.Last edited by stroke; 01-20-2019, 05:51 AM.
Comment
-
Originally posted by stroke View PostAlex is a very slight favorite vs Milos. Should be a very interesting match. I am very curious to see how Medvedev deals with Novak also. Novak of course is a very strong favorite, but so was Fed.
I see Agut won in 5 sets. He must be getting tired despite his fine form of late.Stotty
Comment
-
Originally posted by stotty View Post
Good to see Stefanos take out Roger. We need a change. I am hoping Medvedev can do what everyone says he's capable of and maybe knock out Novak. If not Medvedev then maybe Zverev can do it. The trouble is Stefanos will likely have to get past Nadal and that might be tricky. I left the Roger/Stefanos match after the seventh game and the first thing I noticed is that Stefanos' backhand didn't seem as good as Roger's, or it wasn't until that point. It's almost a handicap to go into the ring against Nadal with a one-handed backhand.
I see Agut won in 5 sets. He must be getting tired despite his fine form of late.Last edited by stroke; 01-20-2019, 05:23 AM.
Comment
Who's Online
Collapse
There are currently 8279 users online. 5 members and 8274 guests.
Most users ever online was 139,261 at 09:55 PM on 08-18-2024.
- ,
- johnyandell ,
- bobbyswift ,
- ,
- jborell
Comment