Laver Cup Says Good Bye to Fed - and the Big 3

[jimlosaltos]

Nobody beats captain John McEnroe 5 times in a row!

What a comeback back by Team World.

Felix Auger-Aliassime led the charge beating Djokovic in singles 6-3, 7-6(3), then teaming with Sock to beat Murray-Berrettini in doubles.

Finally, Frances Tiafoe, a late coach's add to the team, came from behind to win the decider over Stefanos Tsitsipas, despite Tsitsi leading almost every stat line.

Score: Tiafoe wins 1-6, 7-6 (11), and the super tiebreak third set 10-8

Tsitsipas had the only 2 breaks of serve, won 81 points to 63, won more first serves (78-71%) and dominated second serves (65% to only 41%), and receiving points (30-18).

All Tiafoe did was win both tiebreakers by a combined 4 pts <g>

The wonder of tennis' scoring system, but also the point system of the Laver Cup's team competition.

[jimlosaltos]

Fed coaching Novak (& hell hath surely frozen over).


This is part of what makes the Laver Cup unique and such fun. We have Roger Federer coaching Novak Djokovic.

No! Really !

Novak was getting thumped by Felix Auger-Aliassime, leading to this bench conversation on change-over. Basically, Fed said the inside-out-forehand is not working. "Either forehand corner or backhand. Easier said than done."
https://twitter.com/LaverCup/status/1574042859388403713

Felix Auger-Aliassime led the charge beating Djokovic in singles 6-3, 7-6(3), then teaming with Sock to beat Murray-Berrettini in doubles. FAA outplayed the former world number one decisively, with his forehand the best shot on the court, and outserving the Serb as well. Stat line: FAA 13 aces to 4, First serve 81% to 66%, and second serve 40% to a miserably 32% for Novak. Total points FAA dominant 72 to 57.


filedata/fetch?id=98658&d=1664132821&type=thumb

Caption: From right team captain Bjorn Borg, Vice Captain Thomas Enquvist, Fed, Berrettini (standing), and Djokovic. Screen cap from TC.

[arturohernandez]

Team Europe went nostalgic and lost. The big 4 are a shadow of themselves. Good for ticket sales but I suspect that none of them will be back next year. Alcaraz might be brought in to help balance the team out. Maybe a real doubles team too.

Novak looks like he is a shadow of himself as well. HIs wrist is not good again. All of this with more than a month off from competition.

I think we will look at the Federer Renaissance after his first surgery as another blip in history. A 36 year old number one is the stuff of history. The first to 20 GS. He won't have the record but he will be like Borg was. Not at the top in majors but a force to remember once we take into account the records that he holds.

If only he had hit an ace to seal Wimbledon in 2019. I think that would have the shut the door on the GOAT debate.

It's so sad to say goodbye to the big 4.

[jimlosaltos]

It's so sad to say goodbye to the big 4.

Sad indeed.

Will the ATP descend to a period of chaos like the WTA where anyone can win on any given day or will someone, say Alcaraz and Sinner, ascend to be true leaders?

Alas, even if they do win like the Big 3/4 I don't see anyone with the persona to generate the same passion as Fed and Rafa, to a lesser extent Andy. Djokovic's Q factor is negative something.

[arturohernandez]

Sad indeed.

Will the ATP descend to a period of chaos like the WTA where anyone can win on any given day or will someone, say Alcaraz and Sinner, ascend to be true leaders?

Alas, even if they do win like the Big 3/4 I don't seem anyone with the persona to generate the same passion as Fed and Rafa, to a lesser extent Andy. Djokovic's Q factor is negative something.

There is that Tiafoe guy with the hunger and personality to take the world by storm. Alcaraz has some magnetism as well. Not obvious but he is likable and his game is electric. Sinner does not seem as exciting. I don't see anyone else who might be dominant in both persona and game. But people start to like winners and if there is more than one, we get rivalries.

I suspect that the ATP will settle more into a few at the top for a while. Meanwhile, the WTA may NOT be like that for a while. Since the Williams, we have not have dominance.

The only one who could have been dominant for years to come is gone. Where art thou Ash?

[stroke]

Yes, the once great Laver Cup may never be great again.

[stotty]

The great thing about tennis is you never know who might crop up. Alcaraz is the real deal and well capable of dominating the rest of the field if he can just get a bit more of the 365 consistency that it takes to dominate. The jury is out on Sinner but he has plenty of wiggle room to improve and he's still pretty young.

And don't forget Nadal is still very handy and Novak is showing few if any signs of decline...they ain't done yet.

I watched about 10 minutes of the Laver Cup. It's a shame Roger had to bow out in that event rather than at Wimbledon. And as for all that crying...don't get me started.

[jimlosaltos]

And don't forget Nadal is still very handy and Novak is showing few if any signs of decline...they ain't done yet.

I watched about 10 minutes of the Laver Cup. It's a shame Roger had to bow out in that event rather than at Wimbledon. And as for all that crying...don't get me started.

Actually, in the Laver Cup doubles Fed, after a slow, rusty start, was playing significantly better than Rafa. While the big forehands from Foe and Sock could make anyone stone volleys, Fed made a number of excellent ones, but after a while Rafa was their target. Rafa complained on the sideline "I can't read his forehand. I haven't played doubles in a long time."

But his serve was also a shadow of itself. Was that from the persistent abdominal problems?

As for Nadal withdrawing for personal reasons, that was presumably pre-set. Europe had an extra alternate in Cam waiting to replace Rafa.

I'm speculating that he withdrew because his pregnant wife has been ill. That would be quite a distraction for anybody.

[jimlosaltos]

Two articles on retirement, its difficult impact hits two all-time greats differently -- Federer and Delpo.

NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/27/s...smid=url-share

So, how do you feel now that it’s really over?

I think I feel complete. I lost my last singles match. I lost my last doubles match. I lost my voice from screaming and supporting the team. I lost the last time as a team. I lost my job, but I’m very happy. I’m good. I’m really good. That’s the ironic part, is everybody thinks about happy fairy-tale endings, you know? And for me, actually it ended up being that but in a way that I never thought was going to happen.

NY Post: https://nypost.com/2022/09/27/juan-m...site%20buttons

Juan Martin del Potro reveals he can’t ‘psychologically accept’ life without tennis

“I can’t psychologically accept a life without tennis,” the 34-year-old Argentine said in a recent interview with Argentinian newspaper La Nacion. “I did not have a gradual transition to the after, I did not prepare, I have no idea what the other athletes did to live this process peacefully.

“I was No. 3 in the world, then suddenly I broke my knees and here I am, with nothing.”

The toll of his injuries has only been just now revealed, though, with del Potro saying he’s unable to run, can’t climb stairs without pain and can’t drive for long without needing to stop to stretch his legs.

“I recently went to Switzerland to see another doctor,” del Potro recently told reporters in Argentina. “I started another treatment, it was recommended by many tennis players and so far I have not even had a positive result.

“Imagine what it’s like after every treatment attempt or surgery, the frustration I can feel when things don’t work out. As usual I delude myself, I hope, I have faith in every new treatment I try and, when this fails, the blow is hard.

“This is my reality, which is hard, it is sad, but I always try to improve my situation and my new challenge is also to live in the best possible way, even psychologically, despite my problem.”

[jimlosaltos]

A note on the quickly famous photo of Fed & Rafa. It is by one of the very few female, professional photographers that follows tennis - Ella Ling from Sweden. Perhaps it is the sad, corrupt, impact of Napster and Bit Torrent that makes some people think that others' IP can be taken without even recognition. I can understand average social media users perhaps not stopping to appreciate that, and once something is widely spread it can be difficult to know the source, but when I see posts by the likes of Sports Illustrated's Wertheim that uses another media professional's work without credit ... that burns me. Just irresponsible.

Back to Fed interview:

Have you seen the photo of you and Rafa sitting on the bench crying and holding hands?

I have seen it.

More NYT interview:

Well, I mean, it was a short moment. I think at one point, I was sobbing so hard, and I don’t know, everything was going through my mind about how happy I am to actually experience this moment right there with everybody. And I think that’s what was so beautiful about just sitting there, taking it all in while the music was playing, and the focus was maybe more on her [the singer Ellie Goulding]. So, you almost forgot that you’re still being taken pictures of. I guess at one point, just because obviously I couldn’t speak and the music was there, I guess I just touched him, and I guess it’s maybe a secret thank you. I don’t know what it was, but for me, that’s maybe what it was and how it felt and some pictures came out of it. Different ones. Not just that one but other ones, too, that were just completely crazy, you know, so with different angles, and I hope to get those because they mean a lot to me.

~~~~~~~~

Fedal sobbing is apparently polarizing. While some dislike it, others applaud.

From CEO's to athletes to performers, some call it "the end of toxic masculinity". <g>

https://twitter.com/jon_wertheim/sta...92771041722369

[arturohernandez]

The great thing about tennis is you never know who might crop up. Alcaraz is the real deal and well capable of dominating the rest of the field if he can just get a bit more of the 365 consistency that it takes to dominate. The jury is out on Sinner but he has plenty of wiggle room to improve and he's still pretty young.

And don't forget Nadal is still very handy and Novak is showing few if any signs of decline...they ain't done yet.

I watched about 10 minutes of the Laver Cup. It's a shame Roger had to bow out in that event rather than at Wimbledon. And as for all that crying...don't get me started.

The crying was great. They should have brought out tissues for the whole crowd.

It seemed a bit staged to me. But hey it is Fed and with all that he has done for tennis, who cares? He always cried a lot anyway so it made it kind of his even though it was staged.

Ever since the LeBron decision one hour show, I have felt less and less authenticity in sport. But tennis deserves some attention. My daughter was trying to find tennis stickers at our local Hobby Lobby and Michael's. No luck. It's all football, volleyball, baseball, basketball. Tennis does not exist in the US. At least not in the mainstream.

So let Fed cry all he wants. It gets people watching and tennis needs that more than it needs a return to chivalry.

So it was a big crying fest for the greater good.

stotty Did I get at least a small smile to pop up on your face even briefly?

[stotty]

stotty Did I get at least a small smile to pop up on your face even briefly?

No...

[jimlosaltos]

No...

Hah !

@stotty's response made me smile --- so an indirect result <g>

[stroke]

No...

Copy that, could not agree more. And if I never heard the phrase toxic masculinity, systemic racism, an abundance of caution, or follow the science, ever again, it would be too soon.

[doctorhl]

No...

First time I saw a pro tennis player spread eagle on the court after a televised win.........professional wrestling came to my mind and the realization that the game and the audience had passed me by! I am still recovering from the on-field fist pumping and chest beating of self-indulgent player displays of narcissism in professional American Football and Basketball that has trickled down to youth sports.What would Harry Holman and Arthur Roberts say?