2021 Wimbledon Championships...ATP 2000...London, England

[don_budge]

Seriously...is this really the Wimbledon lineup?

https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current/wimbledon/540/draws

There doesn't seem to be a single real bonafide grass court player besides Roger Federer in the draw. Thank God for Roger. This might just be his swan song as well. But even so...there is only one reason to get slightly interested in this tournament and it is all about Roger. I don't think his form is as bad as he has made it out to be. Hopefully the lawn at Wimbledon and the crowd and atmosphere will revive him. Inspire him. I could see him getting through his section of the draw to the round of 16...maybe even the quarters. But even by taking it one round at a time...he will keep it interesting as long as he is around. Who knows? He might just have one more surprise left in him. Just forget about the recent performances. They don't count for much if anything. Particularly the last match against Auger-Aliassime. He let it go after the first set. I want to believe that. Adrianno Mannarino is a really good first round opponent for him. Not to soft and not too strong. We'll get a finger on his pulse after this round. I saw Mannarino playing recently and he looked quite sharp against a favoured opponent. Actually it was Daniel Evans he played against and lost to.

The rest of it is just frightfully boring. Not a single volleyer in the bunch. Novak is the odds on favourite. A virtual lock. He is the wily cat in the field with all of his assets still at his disposal. He has reached an age where his experience is just about maximised and yet his physical skills and endurance have not been impaired. He played dead two rounds at the French and came roaring back as if nothing had happened. He put a real whipping on Nadal and made up his mind for him...about Wimbledon. If he couldn't beat Novak on the dirt he certainly doesn't have a snowball's chance in hades on the velcro...I mean lawn at Wimbledon. Nadal showing his true colours by the way. What a huge mistake to make a statue of him at Roland Garros. Suffice it to say that I will never return to that place again. Not to mention it is boring, boring...boring.

The only other point of interest other than Roger is good old Saint Nick. Nick Kyrgios. Which Nick is going to show? Has the time off given him time to think? Will he come back a changed man? This tournament could be his if he had his head on straight. The tournament is going to need a character like Nick to keep it awake as well. Otherwise it just could be four or five rounds of foreplay and Federer. Novak isn't going to cause any excitement at all. He will make his way through the fortnight without so much as a wakeup call. He could sleep walk to the finals. Unless someone gets hot and can see it through. But they will have to get the final nail in the coffin to make it stick. Otherwise this guy is slippery. He gives you the limp leg and then he is off to the finish line.

All eyes on Roger Federer. The preparation is all under his belt now. This guy knows how to prepare. Has he had sufficient time to do his homework? We are about to find out. Aren't we?

Sometimes I amaze myself with my grasp of what the reality is of things. I remember typing this post off the top of my head...just musing a bit about the way things are. In the tennis world. Coming off the French and the lamest of grass warmup tournaments that I can ever remember. All of the players trying to get the feel of the lawn. It isn't possible. Look at them all slip and slide in the backcourt. Look at the wear patterns of the lawn on the baseline. They all hug the baseline like that little blanket their mommies gave them as children. A security blanket. Once they are drawn forwards it is like a fish out of water. Flopping around without a clue. Oh sure...they play that little drop shot game. The crowd oohs and ahhs like they are witnessing something of interest. I guess it breaks up the tediousness. I have to say watching any of these matches is like watching any other match during the year. Pure and utter boredom. The forum posters playing along. This match and that match...should be interesting. Fascinating. Come on...be a man about it. It sucks.

But as in the post above that I quoted myself on. Is it unseemly? At least I'm not participating in some lick fest. Spot on...I say to myself. You are soooooooo right. Oh...thank you. Same to you. At least there is Roger. The "Living Proof" in my once teaching paradigm. What am I saying? I'm still teaching. Just a little. With great results I might add. Excellent results. Better than excellent. But anyways...there is Roger Federer. The rest of the field is slipping and sliding. Tearing up their joints. Ripping up their ligaments. Who ever thought of anything so stupid? Playing in the backcourt on such a slippery surface. Did you see Adriano Mannarino rip his knee up? Or was it his hip? I would think Andy Murray might have some intrepid thoughts about turning the other direction on a dime. Roger surely is playing it safe because of his tender knees. How many players are injured due to their inability to play the game on grass the way it was designed. It's retarded. Go forwards young man. You don't have that problem. Roger hugs the baseline. Even though he is in the backcourt he is at least looking to take the ball early...going forwards. They showed some of those graphics that you guys love so much. You love your graphics...don't you? Sure you do. It spells it all out for you. Makes it easy. The graphics showed how many times Roger takes the ball inside the baseline and how far inside the baseline he is. I'm not so interested in graphics. About as interested as in what the fake commentators have to say. They try to drum up some interest in an otherwise dreadful dull performance. A play without drama. Completely neutered. Just blah...blah...blah. You should hear them on the women's side. They knock themselves out trying to come up with the commentary. You can't make a silk purse out of pig's ear. Knuckleheads.

But there is Roger Federer. Just as I wrote in the opening post. He is carrying this tournament single handedly. I haven't heard a peep out of Novak Djokovic. I tried to watch him a bit against Denis Kudla. Nothing happening. The occasional drop shot just to break up the tediousness. He isn't called the Joker for nothing. You almost expect him to drill another lines person with a ball just to mix it up. At least there is Roger. What was he doing against Mannarino? He was on the ropes. I tuned in just a couple of games and then BOOM! Mannarino goes down. His leg buckling under him like a car accident in slow motion. That was ugly. I've slipped like that on clay. I got up...luckily. But it scared the hell out of me. Then it was Richard Gasquet. What is it with you guys? Do you really have to bang on old Richard so hard? What did he ever do to anybody? I like Gasquet. It's no crime to be at the end of your career. You guys probably look pretty lame at your jobs as well. Did you ever think of that? But Richard has been around a long time. He deserves a swan song. It's not a crime. Roger has owned him his entire career. Did you know that Gasquet has a 556-337 win/loss record over the years. That is really fucking good in my book. He would be 555-318 without his nemesis in Federer. Even better. Grass isn't his forte either. No? He actually has his highest win/loss ration on grass. He is just getting old. Older. The legs just aren't what they used to be. Roger played splendidly. Just came out firing and didn't quit. Gasquet knew what was coming. He wasn't fooled by the handful of preparation matches Federer played to tune up for Wimbledon. He played it soft. But check out Gasquet's career. Have a little respect. He's 461-70 after winning the first set. The guy is/was a player. The sun is setting on him a bit. Don't worry...your time is coming too.

https://www.atptour.com/en/players/richard-gasquet/g628/fedex-atp-win-loss

Then along comes Cameron Norrie. The poor Brits were out of their collective minds. They didn't know who to root for. The best of the recent past? Or their very own homey. Come on...dolts. Roger laid that to rest as well. He played well enough to advance but still hasn't showed his hand. I hope. The next match will tell a bit more. Lorenzo Sonego. If Roger thrashes him and why wouldn't he. Italians are clay courters. Roger should pin his ears back. Then the tournament begins. With earnest. Let's hope so. It has been a dull affair. Now Nick is gone as well. Your other whipping boy. Let's face it. I know you love Alexander Zverev. Roberto Bautista-Agut. Karen Khachanov. These guys make Sebastian Korda and Denis Shapovalov to be a breath of fresh air. Cristian Garin...a clay courter from Chile for heaven's sake. This is Wimbledon? You cannot be serious. You have got to be kidding me. Lucky for Wimbledon...Roger is still in the house. He carried the first week. Without him it's a big dud. A balloon without any air. A flop at the playhouse. A serious lack of drama. Where is the passion? The art? Am I the only one?

That's ok. I know I'm not. Even if I was...that would be ok. It's almost over now. Roger cannot last forever. He might just last some more of this upcoming week. As long as he does...there is air in the balloon. But the tennis is bad. Really, really bad. The wear of the courts is a tell. The players crumpling with injuries on the slippery courts another bad sign. The entire sport is nearly done. It is unrecognisable. The announcers droning on and on. There fake excitement is as nauseating as the rest of it. Chris Evert...Patrick McEnroe. The British clones. Thank God for John McEnroe. Once in a while he comes up with a good one. You nearly have to read between the lines with him nowadays. He's afraid to bite the hand that feeds him as well. Boris Becker lends just a bit of reality to the mix...but even he comes from the post classic era. He's from the oversized racquet era that destroyed the game of tennis. It is all a bunch of hooey now.

[stroke]

Becker had a funny observation in the Nick match vs FAA. The other commentator mentioned as the camera went to Nick's girlfriend, saying something like he is back with her after they had a bit of a row that played out on social media. Boris said if you have a fight with your girlfriend, why would you put in on social media?

[jthb1021]

I give Gasquet credit for having a really good career having been on tour a long time and having done really well for himself. Hats off to that no question about it! My issue is the competitor…look good snd lose or step out of your comfort zone and try to play with winning tactics against the opponent in front of you. French Open for example everyone and their grandparents know if you’re going to beat Rafa on the dirt you can’t play 3-7 feet behind the baseline to be competitive with him. Yet Richard came out and retreated back there and played some lengthy rallies finishing with Rafa running around a bh and just pummeling fh winners. Looked like vintage Rafa. If his bh is that good why not look to take it rising…easier said than done I understand, but why not try? I don’t question his game I question the tactics or lack of tactics.
if you’re playing Roger Federer at Wimbledon how do you expect to win or make it competitive coming to the net 17 times in three sets? He’s part of the reason the grass is brown on the baseline! 17 times against the 8 time Wimbledon champion that’s it? He’s had a great career, but I’m not going to look up to or commend him for mentally committing to play a losing match before it even started.
Please know I don’t think I’m anything special, but I look up to problem solvers and competitors!

[stroke]

Gasquet arguably has had the best career of all the French guys, Monfils, Tsonga, Simon. His backhand is beautiful, but with that big pretty swing, he does struggle to take it on the rise. Fed is about the only 1 hander that can do that regularly. He has a terrible record vs the 3, who he has played all many times, probably because he has advanced in a lot of tournaments and they are always waiting. I could see him having a lot more tournament wins if not for the 3.

[luv_all]

Sometimes I amaze myself with my grasp of what the reality is of things. I remember typing this post off the top of my head...just musing a bit about the way things are. In the tennis world. Coming off the French and the lamest of grass warmup tournaments that I can ever remember. All of the players trying to get the feel of the lawn. It isn't possible. Look at them all slip and slide in the backcourt. Look at the wear patterns of the lawn on the baseline. They all hug the baseline like that little blanket their mommies gave them as children. A security blanket. Once they are drawn forwards it is like a fish out of water. Flopping around without a clue. Oh sure...they play that little drop shot game. The crowd oohs and ahhs like they are witnessing something of interest. I guess it breaks up the tediousness. I have to say watching any of these matches is like watching any other match during the year. Pure and utter boredom. The forum posters playing along. This match and that match...should be interesting. Fascinating. Come on...be a man about it. It sucks.

But as in the post above that I quoted myself on. Is it unseemly? At least I'm not participating in some lick fest. Spot on...I say to myself. You are soooooooo right. Oh...thank you. Same to you. At least there is Roger. The "Living Proof" in my once teaching paradigm. What am I saying? I'm still teaching. Just a little. With great results I might add. Excellent results. Better than excellent. But anyways...there is Roger Federer. The rest of the field is slipping and sliding. Tearing up their joints. Ripping up their ligaments. Who ever thought of anything so stupid? Playing in the backcourt on such a slippery surface. Did you see Adriano Mannarino rip his knee up? Or was it his hip? I would think Andy Murray might have some intrepid thoughts about turning the other direction on a dime. Roger surely is playing it safe because of his tender knees. How many players are injured due to their inability to play the game on grass the way it was designed. It's retarded. Go forwards young man. You don't have that problem. Roger hugs the baseline. Even though he is in the backcourt he is at least looking to take the ball early...going forwards. They showed some of those graphics that you guys love so much. You love your graphics...don't you? Sure you do. It spells it all out for you. Makes it easy. The graphics showed how many times Roger takes the ball inside the baseline and how far inside the baseline he is. I'm not so interested in graphics. About as interested as in what the fake commentators have to say. They try to drum up some interest in an otherwise dreadful dull performance. A play without drama. Completely neutered. Just blah...blah...blah. You should hear them on the women's side. They knock themselves out trying to come up with the commentary. You can't make a silk purse out of pig's ear. Knuckleheads.

But there is Roger Federer. Just as I wrote in the opening post. He is carrying this tournament single handedly. I haven't heard a peep out of Novak Djokovic. I tried to watch him a bit against Denis Kudla. Nothing happening. The occasional drop shot just to break up the tediousness. He isn't called the Joker for nothing. You almost expect him to drill another lines person with a ball just to mix it up. At least there is Roger. What was he doing against Mannarino? He was on the ropes. I tuned in just a couple of games and then BOOM! Mannarino goes down. His leg buckling under him like a car accident in slow motion. That was ugly. I've slipped like that on clay. I got up...luckily. But it scared the hell out of me. Then it was Richard Gasquet. What is it with you guys? Do you really have to bang on old Richard so hard? What did he ever do to anybody? I like Gasquet. It's no crime to be at the end of your career. You guys probably look pretty lame at your jobs as well. Did you ever think of that? But Richard has been around a long time. He deserves a swan song. It's not a crime. Roger has owned him his entire career. Did you know that Gasquet has a 556-337 win/loss record over the years. That is really fucking good in my book. He would be 555-318 without his nemesis in Federer. Even better. Grass isn't his forte either. No? He actually has his highest win/loss ration on grass. He is just getting old. Older. The legs just aren't what they used to be. Roger played splendidly. Just came out firing and didn't quit. Gasquet knew what was coming. He wasn't fooled by the handful of preparation matches Federer played to tune up for Wimbledon. He played it soft. But check out Gasquet's career. Have a little respect. He's 461-70 after winning the first set. The guy is/was a player. The sun is setting on him a bit. Don't worry...your time is coming too.

https://www.atptour.com/en/players/richard-gasquet/g628/fedex-atp-win-loss

Then along comes Cameron Norrie. The poor Brits were out of their collective minds. They didn't know who to root for. The best of the recent past? Or their very own homey. Come on...dolts. Roger laid that to rest as well. He played well enough to advance but still hasn't showed his hand. I hope. The next match will tell a bit more. Lorenzo Sonego. If Roger thrashes him and why wouldn't he. Italians are clay courters. Roger should pin his ears back. Then the tournament begins. With earnest. Let's hope so. It has been a dull affair. Now Nick is gone as well. Your other whipping boy. Let's face it. I know you love Alexander Zverev. Roberto Bautista-Agut. Karen Khachanov. These guys make Sebastian Korda and Denis Shapovalov to be a breath of fresh air. Cristian Garin...a clay courter from Chile for heaven's sake. This is Wimbledon? You cannot be serious. You have got to be kidding me. Lucky for Wimbledon...Roger is still in the house. He carried the first week. Without him it's a big dud. A balloon without any air. A flop at the playhouse. A serious lack of drama. Where is the passion? The art? Am I the only one?

That's ok. I know I'm not. Even if I was...that would be ok. It's almost over now. Roger cannot last forever. He might just last some more of this upcoming week. As long as he does...there is air in the balloon. But the tennis is bad. Really, really bad. The wear of the courts is a tell. The players crumpling with injuries on the slippery courts another bad sign. The entire sport is nearly done. It is unrecognisable. The announcers droning on and on. There fake excitement is as nauseating as the rest of it. Chris Evert...Patrick McEnroe. The British clones. Thank God for John McEnroe. Once in a while he comes up with a good one. You nearly have to read between the lines with him nowadays. He's afraid to bite the hand that feeds him as well. Boris Becker lends just a bit of reality to the mix...but even he comes from the post classic era. He's from the oversized racquet era that destroyed the game of tennis. It is all a bunch of hooey now.

Insightful post that brings up some topics that I'm curious about myself.

1) Tennis' Dependence on Federer: So I'm 31 years old. I started watching tennis in 2005 and for whatever reason got hooked on Federer from the start. This is likely due to a mix of me witnessing the best years of his career, his stylish gameplay, and classy appearance off-court. I can easily say that I have no interest in watching professional tennis outside of Federer. Yeah, I happened to catch the Nadal-Djokovic semi at this year's French Open. It provided some entertainment, but yes I agree it was boring due to its repetitive nature. I very much saw how the commentators tried to make it seem like more than what it was. But back to Federer - part of the reason I joined Tennis Player is because, in addition to wanting to improve my game, I enjoy the in-depth analysis of Federer especially. Unsurprisingly, much of the membership here would feel the same. So my question is Don, although we feel this way, is this reflective in the wider tennis audience? How big of a hit will the sport take when Federer retires? Is he not retiring because of some behind the scenes politics pressuring him not to? Personally, I feel he should have retired a while ago and that broken knee was a sign from God!

2) The Viability of Serve and Volley: I've heard many older players and coaches lament the loss of serve and volley in today's game. However, I think the best players in the world, collectively as they compete with each other, figure out the optimum way to play the game in their era. With wooden rackets, this was serve and volley due to their lack of power (though I prefer the term "efficiency"). Taking the net was like taking the hill. With modern rackets this isn't the case. To put yourself in an advantageous position at the net, so as to not be a sitting duck waiting to be passed, is quite challenging. Regarding the entertainment value of baseline rallying vs serve and volley, I would say the former slightly overtakes the latter...the Sampras/Ivanisevic matches of the 90s comes to mind. You blink you miss the point, maybe even the game! Obviously enough people felt the same to the point where the grass at Wimbledon was slowed.

However, I will agree that overall I do see a degradation/simplification of the sport. Paint by numbers so to speak. The Federer Nadal rivalry, looking back now, was incredible for the sport. All the new guys like Thiem, Zverev, Medvedev....they all blend together and offhand are indistinguishable to me.

[don_budge]

The title of this thread could be..."American Men are on the verge of Extinction".

Sebastian Korda is going to change this...no American in the top 30.

Sebastien Korda breaks the Karen Khachanov serve at 5-6 in the fourth and it is down to one set, winner take all. Korda has winning in his DNA. He weathered the heat that Daniel Evans applied and here he is against the big lug Russian with a real chance to get to the quarter finals at Wimbledon. He should be even money here.

[don_budge]

Sebastien Korda breaks the Karen Khachanov serve at 5-6 in the fourth and it is down to one set, winner take all. Korda has winning in his DNA. He weathered the heat that Daniel Evans applied and here he is against the big lug Russian with a real chance to get to the quarter finals at Wimbledon. He should be even money here.

Peter Fleming in the announcers booth. John McEnroe's doubles partner from the past. He is excellent, astute and not overly wordy. No false hype. No conjuring of drama. Straight up tennis talk.

[stroke]

All these breaks of serve in this Seb Khachanov match in this 5th set does not bode well for true contender viability.

[stroke]

Fucsovics has really imposed his physicality on Rublev 4th and 5th sets, no easy task. Fuc is in about as good as shape as seems possible. HD looks like he could fight in MMA.

[stroke]

Alex pretty much gives away 1st set to FAA. His 2nd serve woes, when they rear their ugly head,, are way too much to overcome.

[stroke]

Fed is pretty much looking like only he can. Certainly when his feet are set, his so easy on the eye liquid whip forehand looks as good as ever. Sonego is game for the battle though.

[stotty]

I just watched FAA serve out the last game against Zverev with some aplomb. The boy was hitting the ball as clean as a whistle and closed out superbly.

Novak won easy enough but it was a woeful game to watch. Novak was strangely tentative and edgy and his opponent played like a fish out of water.

I thought Rublev would win today. I missed the match but he seems to have collapsed in the last two sets.

Berrettini is progressing well without taking too much out of himself in the process. He has the ability to take the racket out of anyone's hand but there are no easy matches anymore from here onwards.

[klacr]

Djokovic looks unstoppable to the finals. from there we will see what happens. If Fed is moving well, he is playing well. Much needed straight sets against Sonego. Speaking of Swiss...Viktorija Golubic is in the quarterfinals for the ladies singles. She is the first woman with a one-handed backhand to reach the final 8 at wimbledon since Schiavone in 2009.

That Khachanov-Korda match was absurd. The breaks of serve were unprecedented. Absolutely excited about Korda and his game though. Give him time.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA, PTR
Delray Beach
SETS Consulting

https://www.setsconsult.org

[stroke]

Novak is at -185, or about a 65% chance of winning the tournament going into the quarters. To say he is an overwhelming favorite to win the tournament is a bit of an understatement.

[arturohernandez]

.Viktorija Golubic is in the quarterfinals for the ladies singles. She is the first woman with a one-handed backhand to reach the final 8 at wimbledon since Schiavone in 2009.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA, PTR
Delray Beach
SETS Consulting

https://www.setsconsult.org

I was starting to wonder if the whole thing about women not being strong enough might be true. Seeing a 16 year old with a one hander compete with other junior girls, I can say that it take some time to get the confidence more than anything. The 1hbh backswing can also get long which makes it harder when the ball comes in quick. Although Shapo seems to be liking grass quite a bit despite the long backswing.

With patience it can become a very good shot. Golubic is a bit older and it is Wimbledon. So a good slice goes a long way. I have yet to watch any of her matches so I will go take a look.

Are we going to see a few more women start to creep in with one handers?