The debate about who is the greatest tennis player of all time has been going for as long as I can remember and unfortunately the great Rod Laver, due to politics, will only be remembered as ONE of the greatest tennis players of all time.
If 'Rocket' had played those five years that he was banned then it would be a massive understatement to say that Federer and Nadal would only be vying for second and third on the all-time list of Grand Slam titles.
Rod Laver played in an era that was simply not on the same page as today's Walt Disney type of script where a Spanish lefty and a Swiss genius dominate the record books.
We should always remember just how good 'Rocket' was as a tennis player despite a rather 'modest' Grand Slam record that continues to be belittled by the aforementioned players.
So to those two;
Many swear that Roger Federer will ALWAYS be the greatest player of all time, or is simple terms, the GOAT, though I beg to differ.
Let's look at these two players and dissect a few facts and figures.
Rafael Nadal leads Roger Federer by 24 wins to 16 in head to head singles matches.
The Spanish legend also owns a 10-4 win/ loss record in Grand Slam meetings between the two.
In Paris, on Rafa's favourite surface, clay, the Spaniard leads six matches to zero.
At the Australian Open, Nadal leads 3-1.
The two quite surprisingly have never met at the US Open.
At Wimbledon, Federer leads 3-1.
So what do all of those figures tell us?
Personally, I believe that Rafa is all over Roger and unlike Novak Djokovic who initially used to get beaten up badly by Roger, well, Rafa has never been afraid of Federer. In fact, at the Miami Masters in 2004 a 17-year-old long-haired upstart from Mallorca belted the then World Number 1 by the score of 6-3, 6-3.
By that same time, Federer had already won four Grand Slam titles.
In fact, by 2010, Federer led Nadal by as much as 16 Grand Slam titles to 9.
As it stands at the end of the 2019 Grand Slam run, Rafa sits just one behind Roger at 19- 20.
Personally, I have never witnessed such an egotistical obsession between two sportsmen in the run home to be known as THE GREATEST. Once again, let's spare a thought for Rod Laver who quite possibly would have retired on perhaps 25 Grand Slam titles, and I believe that's being conservative.
Right from the start of his career, Rafa was after Roger's mantle which was rather obvious in that Miami thumping when most 'normal' 17-year-olds boys were playing soccer or trying to impress girls at lunch hour in High School.
Rafa was no ordinary kid.
When he was 16 he beat the then World Number 4 and his mentor Carlos Moya in straight sets at the Hamburg Masters in Germany.
What were you doing when you were 16??!!
It seems that Rafa had a vision right from day one on a tennis court and that was to be the best ever. At one stage Roger Federer led Rafa by as many as 9 Grand Slam titles yet even that figure did not seem to be a daunting one for the Spaniard as he has reeled them in with the precision and patience of a surgeon.
So are we forgetting the OTHER tennis player who owns a rather healthy Grand Slam record also?
Well for some reason Novak Djokovic has managed to escape the hype that Roger and Rafa have created although that may just be human nature as we only look at first and second in most instances, let's be honest here.
When Nick Faldo came back from 6 strokes behind Greg Norman at the Augusta Masters Golf in 1996 do you remember who came third?
When Usain Bolt won the 100 metres over Justin Gatlin at the 2015 World Athletic Championships who came third?
Most brains can only ever digest first and second in any walk of life.
Novak Djokovic though, in my most humblest of opinions will surpass both Federer and Nadal in Grand Slam title wins, he has to, he is the youngest of all three and seems to save his best for the big titles.
He owns no fear of Federer nowadays as he proved in the Wimbledon Men's Singles Final of 2019 after being down two Championship points.
That's not easy to turn around.
He also owns no fear of becoming the greatest, some have struggled with that label in past years.
Novak sits at 16 Slam wins. Barring injury, he will become the greatest Grand Slam winner of all time, with a leg in the air, no risk at all.
Tennis is a funny sport, that's stating the obvious and I often refer to it as egotistical, however, there is a reason for that and I could state many examples, but here's just two;
Andre Agassi once labelled Jimmy Connors an 'egotist'.
Now I like Andre but that comment lacks substance coming from a player who once said "Image is everything" in a Nike television ad.
He coulda said no.
Or going on a 'Summer of revenge' against the great Boris Becker in 1995 that gained many pages in his bestseller 'Open'.
That's not egotistical talk either ey Andre?
C'mon Champ, perspective required here.
Many eras of tennis, many egotistical things said and done, this current one, however, takes the cake.
Federer has just announced he will play the Olympics next year in Tokyo.
If Rafa wasn't going to, well, I reckon he will now.........
Glenn Thompson
Thursday 17 October 2019
Friday 16 August 2019
ATP BIASED UMPIRES
At the Madrid Masters in May this year, Alexander Zverev was about to serve to his opponent Stefanos Tsitsipas when he looked up and found that Stefanos was nowhere to be found.
Stefanos took a little extra time after a point and went for the towel at the back of the court even though it seems to be a tennis rule that the receiver must play to the server's tune.
On this particular occasion, however, the receiver was not ready so the server walked away from the baseline rather than simply wait and watch, because you see in tennis, that's what happens.
It's an ego thing where players like to have the upper hand and when a player is not 'bowing' to the opposition's 'requirements', well many players will walk away and come back when the opponent is ready, rather than stand there and wait.
Again, it's an ego thing.
That's tennis.
In this particular match, the umpire made quite possibly the dumbest call I have ever witnessed, he gave the server, Zverev a time violation for not serving within the allotted 25 seconds, even though it was an impossibility due to the simple fact that his opponent was not ready.
It was no surprise to see Zverev take on the umpire and state his case that he was actually ready to serve some 15 seconds before. A player can only do so much in a match as it's rather obvious, if the opponent is not ready, well, not a lot can happen.
It's interesting to note that in another match in Madrid, the biggest tennis time-waster on the planet, Rafael Nadal was timed at 56 SECONDS between serves, yet no time violation was given.
Why not?
Because it's Rafa, the legend.
Umpires are reluctant to get on the wrong side of him due to his status and the fact that they may just get an unwanted paragraph or two in the Spaniard's next Biography.
Fast forward to Wimbledon this year.
On more than one occasion Rafa made Nick Kyrgios wait while he got everything in place before he received another NK bomb. Quite rightly NK had words with the umpire and explained that the receiver must play to the server's tune.
When the umpire calls time, most players are up and about, not so the case with Rafa, he will quite often take another 30 seconds or so while he drops his water bottles in place or places his towel strategically on the chair.
The opponent waits.
Rafa's opponents ALWAYS have to wait.
So to Cincinnati this week.
The verbal stoush between Nick K and the umpire started when NK was given a time violation for taking just a few more seconds than what he should have done, though common sense surely should have taken precedence here.
Nick Kyrgios would have to be the FASTEST player on tour between points, no risk.
The violation ticked Nick off to such an extent that he forgot he was in a tennis match as he spent more time talking to the umpire than he did in focusing on trying to beat Kachanov.
After the match which the Aussie lost in three sets, NK posted a video of him taking 28 seconds to serve, which is indeed a long time for the Aussie to deliver, though the adjoining video of Rafa taking 41 seconds to serve quite strangely went unpunished.
So what is it then?
Do the ATP umpires turn a blind eye to Rafa simply because his trophy cabinet is larger than the rest and is NK being targeted simply because he is a bit of a live wire and they know it will send him over the edge?
Are they trying to send him over the edge??
Nick Kyrgios has definitely got a bee in his bonnet about Rafa, that's obvious, though I do believe he has a valid point as there are TWO RULES, one for the Spanish legend and one for everyone else.
The ATP needs to educate their umpires on what they are in fact doing in a tennis match because it's not really that hard to do when you really look at it.
Forget who is playing, legend or backyard hack, keep the time, look at the shot clock, call a time violation if a player goes over the allotted time on a regular basis or they could just use a bit of common sense.
If a player who regularly plays quickly has a few seconds here and there over the available 25 seconds then maybe, just maybe that player could be afforded a few seconds luxury without being given a violation.
Surely an ATP umpire should own enough intelligence to work the angles on this one.
Rafa took 41 and 56 seconds between points on two occasions at different events and nothing gets said.
NK gets a warning at 28 seconds.
You gotta be joking, or as the great Jonny Mac once said 'You cannot be serious'.
Is it just me or do these ATP umpires pick and choose who they dish out their time violations to as they seek their 2 minutes of fame in the following day's Sporting headlines?
You do the sums..........
Thursday 4 July 2019
'WIMBLEDON 2019, ( SOME OBSERVATIONS )
This year's Wimbledon Championships have so far dished up a smorgasbord of Journalist delights, however not all of the action has been on court and we have the walking, talking billboard Nick Kyrgios to thank for that.
Let's, however, start with some on-court observations;
Maria Sharapova, the screeching Russian who has battled to find her way back amongst the World's elite once more since her well-documented drug suspension a few years ago, did herself no favors in Round 1.
How can't you finish a match at 0-5 down in the third??
Was it too much of a dent to her huge ego to simply play the final set out or did it all have to be about her latest 'injury'?
Whatever the facts were surrounding the supposed injury it's an unwritten law in tennis that you let the opponent take just a 'hint' of glory if you are trailing by daylight in the final set.
Man up, cop it on the chin, accept the fact that you were outplayed, injury or otherwise.
At 0-5, C'mon, grit the teeth, swing at a few, go through the motions, lose with dignity.
Complain about the shoulder in the Press Conference but don't make it all about YOU on the court.
Now speaking of Press Conferences, I fully understand that it's a necessity for Journalists and Newspaper Companies alike that they take place but seriously, I do not blame Nick K for treating them with contempt.
Some of the questions he was asked were a little lame, to say the least.
For a start, 11 pm in London is probably about an hour or so after it gets dark at this time of year so if Nick was at a pub at that hour should it really be front page news?
By all reports he wasn't drunk so was he simply out for dinner and a lemon, lime, and bitters while enjoying his time in London as opposed to what all of the other 'robots' who play the game were probably doing at the same time?
Here's a question thrown at Nick by a Reporter;
Now just on Rafa, I don't mind him but seriously the guy flaunts the rules doesn't he?
I mean, how many service lets did he hit during the Kyrgios match and was it really necessary to go through that whole painful routine after each let serve?
Is it just me or does the rule need a slight tweak?
Why after a service let is it not a priority to serve the next ball almost instantly and in particular without a superstitious routine thrown in for good measure? Rafa, along with Novak's ball bouncing antics will be the reason why tennis one day gets limited to ONE SERVE ONLY which may, in fact, make tennis a whole lot more interesting than some of the matches we endure as spectators.
Can you imagine an Isner/ Anderson match with ONE SERVE each?? Oh the joy of that scenario.
Have you seen the highlights of the Connors/ Navratilova 'Battle of the Sexes' match from a few years back? Now there was a ridiculously entertaining tennis match where the great 'Jimbo' was only allowed ONE SERVE and boy was it fun to watch.
Whoever invented the two serve tennis rule obviously was a player who lacked the technical qualities required to start a point without a free swing first.
Funny rule when you really give it some thought.
Now to Serena and Ash.
A lot of the talk has been about whether or not Serena 'disrespected' Ash by acting surprised in a Press Conference at the fact that Ash was, in fact, World Number 1. Personally, I found it all a bit ho-hum. Whilst I am not really a Serena fan I can see her point on this occasion.
I mean seriously, does a player who has won that many titles and that much money still get up in the morning and log on to the World Tennis Rankings website and take a deep breath "I can barely contain my anxiety level here, what number am I today? "
C'mon, get a grip, let's give Serena the benefit of the doubt on this one, as Australia's very own 'Tennis Expert' Sam Groth perhaps should have also done. Grothy attracted the ire of many as he hammered Serena in an article he recently wrote which went down as well as a fish milkshake for Serena fans.
One even suggested that Grothy is as good a Reporter as he was at tennis.
That was harsh.
Now just on our very own new World Number 1 Ash Barty;
Brutal isn't she?
At 6-1, 5-1 up in her second round clash she had the audacity to challenge her helpless opponent's first serve which was called in however Ash was merciless in her approach and was not simply prepared to cough it up without another look at it.
Yet that's what the greats of the game do, they are merciless and meticulous in everything they do and probably not out at the local Pub at 11 pm kissing female Journalists on the cheek as Nick K was spotted doing in London the night before he was due to face Rafa.
Each to their own.
Wimbledon week 2 is sure to be full of tennis, tennis and more tennis but unfortunately for those of us who like a bit of the feisty stuff and entertaining post-match interviews, well Nick won't be around, in singles that is.
I am sure he will behave himself in the Mixed Doubles.
Between you and me, I find the thought of that rather uninspiring.
Time for the 'Tour de France'........
Glenn Thompson
( Author of 'PERSPECTIVE' A Tennis Point of View)
Available on Amazon.com, paperback, and Ebook
Let's, however, start with some on-court observations;
Maria Sharapova, the screeching Russian who has battled to find her way back amongst the World's elite once more since her well-documented drug suspension a few years ago, did herself no favors in Round 1.
How can't you finish a match at 0-5 down in the third??
Was it too much of a dent to her huge ego to simply play the final set out or did it all have to be about her latest 'injury'?
Whatever the facts were surrounding the supposed injury it's an unwritten law in tennis that you let the opponent take just a 'hint' of glory if you are trailing by daylight in the final set.
Man up, cop it on the chin, accept the fact that you were outplayed, injury or otherwise.
At 0-5, C'mon, grit the teeth, swing at a few, go through the motions, lose with dignity.
Complain about the shoulder in the Press Conference but don't make it all about YOU on the court.
Now speaking of Press Conferences, I fully understand that it's a necessity for Journalists and Newspaper Companies alike that they take place but seriously, I do not blame Nick K for treating them with contempt.
Some of the questions he was asked were a little lame, to say the least.
For a start, 11 pm in London is probably about an hour or so after it gets dark at this time of year so if Nick was at a pub at that hour should it really be front page news?
By all reports he wasn't drunk so was he simply out for dinner and a lemon, lime, and bitters while enjoying his time in London as opposed to what all of the other 'robots' who play the game were probably doing at the same time?
Here's a question thrown at Nick by a Reporter;
"Do you regret going to the pub last night and do you think you would have played better if you hadn't?"
“You look way too excited to ask that question. You must have a really boring life.”
I thought that was a pretty good answer.
Another tennis enthusiast described Nick's night at the pub as 'legendary status', obviously referring to the Aussie's outrageously down to earth approach to his chosen sport.
Whilst most Tennis Pros are stuck inside their tiny bubble as far as training, diet and early nights are concerned it seems the sport now has someone who spends more time out of the bubble than in it.
After all, isn't it an Aussie tradition the night before the local Club Championships to go to the pub with ya mates and sink an ale or two to keep it real?
Whilst the Media outlets had a field day with that particular story I found the whole thing to be somewhat endearing towards Nick K's rather polarizing personality.
The guy actually treats tennis as a job and not a matter of life or death and in this era where the outrageous egos of Roger, Rafa and Novak are still trying to outdo one another for the 'GOAT' status ( Greatest of all time), well, I find it somewhat refreshing.Another tennis enthusiast described Nick's night at the pub as 'legendary status', obviously referring to the Aussie's outrageously down to earth approach to his chosen sport.
Whilst most Tennis Pros are stuck inside their tiny bubble as far as training, diet and early nights are concerned it seems the sport now has someone who spends more time out of the bubble than in it.
After all, isn't it an Aussie tradition the night before the local Club Championships to go to the pub with ya mates and sink an ale or two to keep it real?
How can we not love Nick's way of dealing with taking on one of the sport's all-time greats? Stay at home, play the match over in your head and get minimal sleep or go out and take your mind off it.
Have a few laughs.
Love it.Whilst the Media outlets had a field day with that particular story I found the whole thing to be somewhat endearing towards Nick K's rather polarizing personality.
Now just on Rafa, I don't mind him but seriously the guy flaunts the rules doesn't he?
I mean, how many service lets did he hit during the Kyrgios match and was it really necessary to go through that whole painful routine after each let serve?
Is it just me or does the rule need a slight tweak?
Why after a service let is it not a priority to serve the next ball almost instantly and in particular without a superstitious routine thrown in for good measure? Rafa, along with Novak's ball bouncing antics will be the reason why tennis one day gets limited to ONE SERVE ONLY which may, in fact, make tennis a whole lot more interesting than some of the matches we endure as spectators.
Can you imagine an Isner/ Anderson match with ONE SERVE each?? Oh the joy of that scenario.
Have you seen the highlights of the Connors/ Navratilova 'Battle of the Sexes' match from a few years back? Now there was a ridiculously entertaining tennis match where the great 'Jimbo' was only allowed ONE SERVE and boy was it fun to watch.
Whoever invented the two serve tennis rule obviously was a player who lacked the technical qualities required to start a point without a free swing first.
Funny rule when you really give it some thought.
Now to Serena and Ash.
A lot of the talk has been about whether or not Serena 'disrespected' Ash by acting surprised in a Press Conference at the fact that Ash was, in fact, World Number 1. Personally, I found it all a bit ho-hum. Whilst I am not really a Serena fan I can see her point on this occasion.
I mean seriously, does a player who has won that many titles and that much money still get up in the morning and log on to the World Tennis Rankings website and take a deep breath "I can barely contain my anxiety level here, what number am I today? "
C'mon, get a grip, let's give Serena the benefit of the doubt on this one, as Australia's very own 'Tennis Expert' Sam Groth perhaps should have also done. Grothy attracted the ire of many as he hammered Serena in an article he recently wrote which went down as well as a fish milkshake for Serena fans.
One even suggested that Grothy is as good a Reporter as he was at tennis.
That was harsh.
Now just on our very own new World Number 1 Ash Barty;
Brutal isn't she?
At 6-1, 5-1 up in her second round clash she had the audacity to challenge her helpless opponent's first serve which was called in however Ash was merciless in her approach and was not simply prepared to cough it up without another look at it.
Yet that's what the greats of the game do, they are merciless and meticulous in everything they do and probably not out at the local Pub at 11 pm kissing female Journalists on the cheek as Nick K was spotted doing in London the night before he was due to face Rafa.
Each to their own.
Wimbledon week 2 is sure to be full of tennis, tennis and more tennis but unfortunately for those of us who like a bit of the feisty stuff and entertaining post-match interviews, well Nick won't be around, in singles that is.
I am sure he will behave himself in the Mixed Doubles.
Between you and me, I find the thought of that rather uninspiring.
Time for the 'Tour de France'........
Glenn Thompson
( Author of 'PERSPECTIVE' A Tennis Point of View)
Available on Amazon.com, paperback, and Ebook
Friday 28 June 2019
BOOK IN STORE
GT WROTE A BOOK, AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM FROM JULY 1, 2019
PAPERBACK AND EBOOK VERSIONS
Tuesday 11 June 2019
'A SUGGESTION FOR LLEYTON'
OK here it is, a totally unbiased update for you on just how well the latest Lleyton Hewitt comeback is going.
In the last 24 hours, a bloke by the name of David Vega Hernandez of Spain who is currently ranked 105 in the World (in Doubles) teamed with Alex De Minaur of Australia to defeat Hewitt and Jordan Thompson in the first round of the Libema Open in the Netherlands.
Vega Hernandez has amassed a grand total of $14,500 this year in Mens Doubles and since commencing on the World Tour in 2012 he has won a total of just over $127,000. So in my calculations, David has earned around $18,000 for each year he has spent playing Mens Professional tennis.
I would say that Roger and Rafa would carry that amount of money around with them in the ashtray of their Porsche or Ferarri.
As far as the matchup in the Netherlands was concerned, well I believe that was a reasonably kind draw for Hewitt and Thompson as De Minaur doesn't really own too many credentials in the art of two on two tennis.
In fact up until the win yesterday, Alex hadn't actually won a Mens Doubles match this year.
Now since January, Lleyton has played five events with three different partners including John-Patrick Smith, Alexei Popyrin and his good mate Thompson for a grand total of ZERO wins.
So I will put this suggestion out there to the ATP.
If a retired player wishes to still play tennis should the obvious suggestion be this;
There are a series of tournaments played regularly over the course of a season for 'retired' Tennis Professionals and the tour is commonly known as 'The Champions Tour'.
It gives players who are not up to the challenge of the main tour anymore a chance to still play the game. It can still provide a lifeline of sorts for players who are struggling with the fact that they simply are no longer competitive against the 'big boys'.
Veterans AFL is a big hit here in Australia for guys who still like to have a kick and a bit of a run around with their mates. The Champions Tour of tennis is basically the equivalent of Veterans AFL and by all reports, it really is a wonderfully run organization for guys who still own a bit of skill but simply are no longer capable of playing the highest league anymore.
So here it is, my suggestion to the Association of Tennis Professionals, commonly known as the ATP;
Please, for the goodness of tennis, can you guys consider having a quiet word with Lleyton, for the credibility of not only the ATP but for the sport itself?
I will offer some dialogue as a small suggestion;
'Look Lleyton, it's like this, you haven't won a match since January and this latest event just proved what we have been thinking for quite some time now, you are no longer competitive on the ATP Tour.
I know, it's tough but a fact of life, sometimes you just have to accept that you had your time and now it's no longer your time. We feel that your spot in the main draw of an event should be taken by a younger player who requires not only the chance to prove themselves but also the prize money and ranking points that are essential in the growth of a future Tennis Professional.
We have for you a list of events that are available for you on the Champions Tour and we wish you well in your future days against guys who are a little bit like you, past their prime technically and physically yet still an asset to the sport as far as nostalgia is concerned.
We will no longer be allocating you a Wild Card into any future ATP Tour events'.
Kind Regards
The ATP
So there you go, I have been accused in the past of perhaps being a little too harsh on Lleyton however on this occasion I believe that what I have written is simply a suggestion for a guy who is struggling with his own mortality.
Maybe I am mellowing in my old age...
In the last 24 hours, a bloke by the name of David Vega Hernandez of Spain who is currently ranked 105 in the World (in Doubles) teamed with Alex De Minaur of Australia to defeat Hewitt and Jordan Thompson in the first round of the Libema Open in the Netherlands.
Vega Hernandez has amassed a grand total of $14,500 this year in Mens Doubles and since commencing on the World Tour in 2012 he has won a total of just over $127,000. So in my calculations, David has earned around $18,000 for each year he has spent playing Mens Professional tennis.
I would say that Roger and Rafa would carry that amount of money around with them in the ashtray of their Porsche or Ferarri.
As far as the matchup in the Netherlands was concerned, well I believe that was a reasonably kind draw for Hewitt and Thompson as De Minaur doesn't really own too many credentials in the art of two on two tennis.
In fact up until the win yesterday, Alex hadn't actually won a Mens Doubles match this year.
Now since January, Lleyton has played five events with three different partners including John-Patrick Smith, Alexei Popyrin and his good mate Thompson for a grand total of ZERO wins.
So I will put this suggestion out there to the ATP.
If a retired player wishes to still play tennis should the obvious suggestion be this;
There are a series of tournaments played regularly over the course of a season for 'retired' Tennis Professionals and the tour is commonly known as 'The Champions Tour'.
It gives players who are not up to the challenge of the main tour anymore a chance to still play the game. It can still provide a lifeline of sorts for players who are struggling with the fact that they simply are no longer competitive against the 'big boys'.
Veterans AFL is a big hit here in Australia for guys who still like to have a kick and a bit of a run around with their mates. The Champions Tour of tennis is basically the equivalent of Veterans AFL and by all reports, it really is a wonderfully run organization for guys who still own a bit of skill but simply are no longer capable of playing the highest league anymore.
So here it is, my suggestion to the Association of Tennis Professionals, commonly known as the ATP;
Please, for the goodness of tennis, can you guys consider having a quiet word with Lleyton, for the credibility of not only the ATP but for the sport itself?
I will offer some dialogue as a small suggestion;
'Look Lleyton, it's like this, you haven't won a match since January and this latest event just proved what we have been thinking for quite some time now, you are no longer competitive on the ATP Tour.
I know, it's tough but a fact of life, sometimes you just have to accept that you had your time and now it's no longer your time. We feel that your spot in the main draw of an event should be taken by a younger player who requires not only the chance to prove themselves but also the prize money and ranking points that are essential in the growth of a future Tennis Professional.
We have for you a list of events that are available for you on the Champions Tour and we wish you well in your future days against guys who are a little bit like you, past their prime technically and physically yet still an asset to the sport as far as nostalgia is concerned.
We will no longer be allocating you a Wild Card into any future ATP Tour events'.
Kind Regards
The ATP
So there you go, I have been accused in the past of perhaps being a little too harsh on Lleyton however on this occasion I believe that what I have written is simply a suggestion for a guy who is struggling with his own mortality.
Maybe I am mellowing in my old age...
Sunday 9 June 2019
'THE TAXI DRIVER'
When someone has a win at anything in life, every man and his dog wants to have a piece of the victory.
But maybe that's just human nature as everyone who has ever rubbed shoulders with a winner believes that their 'influence' may just have been the touch of gold that made all the difference on game day.
Take for example the recently played French Open Tennis Championships where a Social Media organization liked to believe that their time with the runner up made all the difference to their rapidly improving career.
Let me explain;
Two years ago, Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic played a tournament in the Land Down Under, not a big event, just a stepping stone event for budding professionals, an event that the World has a seemingly never-ending amount of.
They are called Challenger Events and just about every Country in the World has them but it's all about the timing as far as some are concerned as they look to claim their part of tennis success.
So it seems that one tournament, in particular, believes that their little event paved the way for Marketa to become a Grand Slam semifinalist, simply because that was one of the events she participated in on her road to tennis success.
Let's just say that it is part of the same organization who lay claim to being part of Roger Federer's success at the Australian Open a couple of years ago. Just quietly, they couldn't wait to get their mugshot in the newspapers as they did their best to explain that Roger graced their courts in the lead up to the Oz Open so therefore they are taking some of the credit.
I live in a small town that owns several organizations who love to take credit for a win by anyone in any field and over the years there have been some absolute classics. In some articles, the player who has had some success on the big stage is still referred to as 'a product of'....
So do these 'accolade claimers' in fact have a point or are they simply full of their own self-importance?
In my most humble of opinions this is my point of view;
If you were the one who first taught a player to hold a racket, kick a ball, bend it like Beckham or run like the Bolt then sure, I believe that you can lay claim to an accolade. If you took a player from another coach and that player's success level was rather modest until he or she started to excel then you can look at it in two ways;
The initial coach did the hard work and you simply came along after that hard technique work had been done and helped with the tactical side.
OR;
You took that player from a wasted talent and turned them into a champion through your own way of teaching.
Which way do you want to look at it?
I wrote a post some time ago regarding Stan Wawrinka's win in the French Open and Magnus Norman's rather humble view on the part he played in it all. Sure Magnus was Stan's coach at the time however even Magnus admitted that he did not teach Stan how to hit a ball so therefor Stan's initial tennis coaches should take much of the credit.
Nicely said Magnus.
So to the 'accolade claimer';
We all yearn for success, to be known as a link in the chain of success, to have been part of an event that was lucky enough to have had a champion grace your courts in the years prior to that player's success.
But please be honest with yourself;
Only certain organizations or coaches can really lay claim to have had any real impact on a player's success. The rest are simply part of the chain, sort of like a Taxi Driver who offers a hint of their 'expertise' as an armchair expert on a trip from the airport to an event.
Be honest with yourself, did you really help and were you a fair dinkum part of it all or were you simply a Taxi Driver?
Friday 17 May 2019
'TOTALLY PREMEDITATED'
Personally I don't mind Nick Kyrgios however what just transpired in Rome at the Italian Open was quite possibly one of the most premeditated blow ups that I have ever witnessed on a tennis court.
As you are probably well aware, Nick doesn't think much of Novak and who would Nick have played if he had won his match against Casper Ruud?
Yep, Novak.
Now you do the sums on Nick vs Novak on clay.
Chances of Nick winning?
Zero.
So you have to understand with the sport of tennis that's it's an ego trip for most, a battle one on one where the victor then struts around as though he has just won a heavyweight boxing bout.
That's basically tennis in a nutshell.
The thought of losing to Novak?
Pretty hard to digest ey Nick?
So let's do something other than a tanking episode which Nick has been accused of in the past and why not take it to a whole new level and get disqualified instead??
No way in the World was Nick ever going to take on Novak on a surface that he is not real comfortable on and especially just 48 hours or so after he publicly stated that he has no time for the current World number 1.
Nick's take on the whole Novak gesture thing to the crowd has got to be one of the funniest things I have ever heard in my life. In case you missed it, Nick stated in an interview just this week with Ben Rothenberg that if he plays and beats Novak he will do the Novak gesture thing to the crowd as a way of taking the piss out of the Serb.
Personally, once again, I found that comment to be nothing short of absolutely hilarious.
Have you seen the gesture by Novak?
Nick used the correct terminology, it's CRINGEWORTHY.
Well said Nick.
So there you go, that's my take on the whole Italian affair, it was premeditation at it's absolute best.
Remember, play was washed out the day before, all players had to play two matches in one day to make up for the washout and if Nick won he would be on his second match in the space of a few hours.
Now that may not bother some, however, playing Novak on clay as your second match of the day?
Would go down as well as a fish milkshake......
Well played Nick, love ya work.......
As you are probably well aware, Nick doesn't think much of Novak and who would Nick have played if he had won his match against Casper Ruud?
Yep, Novak.
Now you do the sums on Nick vs Novak on clay.
Chances of Nick winning?
Zero.
So you have to understand with the sport of tennis that's it's an ego trip for most, a battle one on one where the victor then struts around as though he has just won a heavyweight boxing bout.
That's basically tennis in a nutshell.
The thought of losing to Novak?
Pretty hard to digest ey Nick?
So let's do something other than a tanking episode which Nick has been accused of in the past and why not take it to a whole new level and get disqualified instead??
No way in the World was Nick ever going to take on Novak on a surface that he is not real comfortable on and especially just 48 hours or so after he publicly stated that he has no time for the current World number 1.
Nick's take on the whole Novak gesture thing to the crowd has got to be one of the funniest things I have ever heard in my life. In case you missed it, Nick stated in an interview just this week with Ben Rothenberg that if he plays and beats Novak he will do the Novak gesture thing to the crowd as a way of taking the piss out of the Serb.
Personally, once again, I found that comment to be nothing short of absolutely hilarious.
Have you seen the gesture by Novak?
Nick used the correct terminology, it's CRINGEWORTHY.
Well said Nick.
So there you go, that's my take on the whole Italian affair, it was premeditation at it's absolute best.
Remember, play was washed out the day before, all players had to play two matches in one day to make up for the washout and if Nick won he would be on his second match in the space of a few hours.
Now that may not bother some, however, playing Novak on clay as your second match of the day?
Would go down as well as a fish milkshake......
Well played Nick, love ya work.......
Saturday 16 February 2019
'GAEL MONFILS'
I was never a fan of Social Media in the beginning, in fact I despised it, I only bought a computer because my kids required the net for certain school subjects, now I am hooked.
Such is life.
I don't go out of my way to argue with people on Social Media, though I know some that do.
Locally here in 'Sleepy Hollow' we actually have a Facebook page titled 'Have a Whinge' and it's all about saying something about our town and what we don't like about it.
It's hilarious.
Some people have full on arguments, back and forth, almost like a game of tennis on a page, it's entertaining at times however sometimes I look at it like life in general now days, much of it happens on Social Media pages as opposed to real life.
Maybe that's why the local tennis courts are empty a lot of the time, many prefer 'hitting a ball' at each other on line as opposed to the tennis club.
Sorry, stating the obvious.
Two days ago I offered an opinion on the ATP Facebook page on Gael Monfils, the French Entertainer first, the French Tennis Professional second. I love watching this guy, in fact if he was playing Kyrgios and Roger was playing Novak at the same time I would let the latter play out their mind games against one another and read the result the next day.
Monfils vs Kyrgios, now that would be worth a look.
The thing is with these two guys is simple, don't over cook it, best of three would be suffice, no sense either of these two getting tired as that would take away from the entertainment of what they can both dish up.
You can have your best of 5, I usually do something else for the first 2 or 3 sets then tune in to see the conclusion, it's all pretty ho hum now days as the 'real' stuff gets going in set 4 or 5.
So to the ATP Tour Facebook page;
'IS THERE ANYTHING GAEL MONFILS TENNIS CAN'T DO' ?
The first reply was from someone who suggested he hasn't won a Slam and therefore should basically not be looked upon as taking the game seriously. Someone else actually suggested that because Gael doesn't win Slams and doesn't really bother the scoreboard too much at the Big 4 events he is actually 'taking the piss' !
This was my answer;
Glenn Thompson "Why would he want to try to win a Slam ? Only a few can do. Makes over a million each year in prizemoney, probably double at least in endorsements. Marion Bartoli thinks he and Kyrgios are 'wasting their time'. For what ? Great lifestyle, weekly wage most would give their right arm for. Will never beat the big guns over 5 sets, yet is a three set highlight package. All tennis players have their strengths, their weaknesses, Gael is not a Slam contender, he knows it, don't see him getting too upset over it, we shouldn't either".
Now I told you already that I am not big on Social Media but that hasn't stopped me from counting the 'likes' on that comment of mine, 20 to be exact. So 20 others agree with me, some actually offered a comment back;
" Well said Glenn! Each player bring different, entertaining skills to the court, there's more to life than slams"(Y
So are tennis players ONLY measured on their Grand Slam results ? Well it seems the answer is 'YES' if you talk to the traditionalists of the sport however 'NOT NECESSARILY' if you speak to the public who want to see some entertainment and not just a result for the history books that seem to define a tennis player.
Gael Monfils has won just over 15 million bucks in his time on a tennis court which I have traced back to 2003 when he was ranked 1058. So in 15 complete years he has amassed around a mil each year and the figures don't lie.
2018 - Monfils won 29 matches and $1,245,000.
2017 - Monfils won 20 matches and $1,003,000.
The enigmatic Frenchman it seems is very content to do what he does best and that is entertain without actually winning too much as his trophy cabinet suggests just that with a rather modest SEVEN titles to his name.
If you look at most work places now days and let's face it, probably since the beginning of time most employees are happy to earn a wage without actually running the office because when you are 'head honcho' a lot more responsibility is expected of you.
Is a 'common employee' wasting his or her time just because he or she is simply happy to help the office run smoothly without actually trying to run it themselves ?
Easy to answer isn't it ?
Gael Monfils is an 'employee', someone who makes the 'office' run smoothly, even reminds me a bit of myself when I was a Postman for 20 something years. I did things a bit differently, fed many a dog a biscuit on my Postie run to keep them on side and left 90 year old Mrs Smith's letters and packages on the door step on a rainy day.
Gael Monfils delivers packages his way, not necessarily by the book but he does it with a bit of flair. He will never 'run the office', he is simply a Postman of sorts who will always deliver the goods.
He is courteous to fellow employees and customers alike, a prerequisite for a Postman.
Now there's a new vocation for you Gael once your time is up on a tennis court......
Such is life.
I don't go out of my way to argue with people on Social Media, though I know some that do.
Locally here in 'Sleepy Hollow' we actually have a Facebook page titled 'Have a Whinge' and it's all about saying something about our town and what we don't like about it.
It's hilarious.
Some people have full on arguments, back and forth, almost like a game of tennis on a page, it's entertaining at times however sometimes I look at it like life in general now days, much of it happens on Social Media pages as opposed to real life.
Maybe that's why the local tennis courts are empty a lot of the time, many prefer 'hitting a ball' at each other on line as opposed to the tennis club.
Sorry, stating the obvious.
Two days ago I offered an opinion on the ATP Facebook page on Gael Monfils, the French Entertainer first, the French Tennis Professional second. I love watching this guy, in fact if he was playing Kyrgios and Roger was playing Novak at the same time I would let the latter play out their mind games against one another and read the result the next day.
Monfils vs Kyrgios, now that would be worth a look.
The thing is with these two guys is simple, don't over cook it, best of three would be suffice, no sense either of these two getting tired as that would take away from the entertainment of what they can both dish up.
You can have your best of 5, I usually do something else for the first 2 or 3 sets then tune in to see the conclusion, it's all pretty ho hum now days as the 'real' stuff gets going in set 4 or 5.
So to the ATP Tour Facebook page;
'IS THERE ANYTHING GAEL MONFILS TENNIS CAN'T DO' ?
The first reply was from someone who suggested he hasn't won a Slam and therefore should basically not be looked upon as taking the game seriously. Someone else actually suggested that because Gael doesn't win Slams and doesn't really bother the scoreboard too much at the Big 4 events he is actually 'taking the piss' !
This was my answer;
Glenn Thompson "Why would he want to try to win a Slam ? Only a few can do. Makes over a million each year in prizemoney, probably double at least in endorsements. Marion Bartoli thinks he and Kyrgios are 'wasting their time'. For what ? Great lifestyle, weekly wage most would give their right arm for. Will never beat the big guns over 5 sets, yet is a three set highlight package. All tennis players have their strengths, their weaknesses, Gael is not a Slam contender, he knows it, don't see him getting too upset over it, we shouldn't either".
Now I told you already that I am not big on Social Media but that hasn't stopped me from counting the 'likes' on that comment of mine, 20 to be exact. So 20 others agree with me, some actually offered a comment back;
" Well said Glenn! Each player bring different, entertaining skills to the court, there's more to life than slams"(Y
So are tennis players ONLY measured on their Grand Slam results ? Well it seems the answer is 'YES' if you talk to the traditionalists of the sport however 'NOT NECESSARILY' if you speak to the public who want to see some entertainment and not just a result for the history books that seem to define a tennis player.
Gael Monfils has won just over 15 million bucks in his time on a tennis court which I have traced back to 2003 when he was ranked 1058. So in 15 complete years he has amassed around a mil each year and the figures don't lie.
2018 - Monfils won 29 matches and $1,245,000.
2017 - Monfils won 20 matches and $1,003,000.
The enigmatic Frenchman it seems is very content to do what he does best and that is entertain without actually winning too much as his trophy cabinet suggests just that with a rather modest SEVEN titles to his name.
If you look at most work places now days and let's face it, probably since the beginning of time most employees are happy to earn a wage without actually running the office because when you are 'head honcho' a lot more responsibility is expected of you.
Is a 'common employee' wasting his or her time just because he or she is simply happy to help the office run smoothly without actually trying to run it themselves ?
Easy to answer isn't it ?
Gael Monfils is an 'employee', someone who makes the 'office' run smoothly, even reminds me a bit of myself when I was a Postman for 20 something years. I did things a bit differently, fed many a dog a biscuit on my Postie run to keep them on side and left 90 year old Mrs Smith's letters and packages on the door step on a rainy day.
Gael Monfils delivers packages his way, not necessarily by the book but he does it with a bit of flair. He will never 'run the office', he is simply a Postman of sorts who will always deliver the goods.
He is courteous to fellow employees and customers alike, a prerequisite for a Postman.
Now there's a new vocation for you Gael once your time is up on a tennis court......
Saturday 2 February 2019
TENNIS AUSTRALIA BACK FLIP ( WEAK AS PISS )
Funny isn't it, you put pen to paper, write a few things down, post them, makes you feel a bit better that you got it all of ya chest, because that's what a Blog is all about. Three people may read your Blog however it is the personal satisfaction that writing gives you as opposed to the views that it may receive.
So to the latest.
I couldn't believe my luck today as my least favorite organization in the entire World, Tennis Australia gave me yet another 'weak as piss' moment that I looked upon like a kid in a candy store would look at an all day sucker.
I had just finished posting my three favorite 'weak as piss' articles from my Blog due to a conversation I had with one of my two friends when a news feed came through regarding the latest on the Tomic/ Hewitt/ Davis Cup/ Tennis Australia comedy routine which came to light thanks to Bernie at the Oz Open in January.
So here it is, personally I think it typifies tennis in the Land of Oz, no one knows anything about anything, no one really has a plan, they simply make it up as they go along.
The following is from Craig Tiley, Tennis Australia Chief Executive in regards to Lleyton Hewitt's claims that he was 'threatened' by Bernard Tomic.
OK SO TO TODAY'S HEADLINES AND A 'SLIGHT' BACK FLIP FROM MR TILEY
So to the latest.
I couldn't believe my luck today as my least favorite organization in the entire World, Tennis Australia gave me yet another 'weak as piss' moment that I looked upon like a kid in a candy store would look at an all day sucker.
I had just finished posting my three favorite 'weak as piss' articles from my Blog due to a conversation I had with one of my two friends when a news feed came through regarding the latest on the Tomic/ Hewitt/ Davis Cup/ Tennis Australia comedy routine which came to light thanks to Bernie at the Oz Open in January.
So here it is, personally I think it typifies tennis in the Land of Oz, no one knows anything about anything, no one really has a plan, they simply make it up as they go along.
The following is from Craig Tiley, Tennis Australia Chief Executive in regards to Lleyton Hewitt's claims that he was 'threatened' by Bernard Tomic.
Tiley said he believed Hewitt's comments were made "in a time of the highest level of emotion".
He said Tomic would never be barred from representing Australia in Davis Cup but talks would have to take place with Hewitt if he wanted to be selected.
"As far as I'm concerned the doors are always open for players to compete," Tiley told Grandstand.
( COURTESY OF ABC NEWS , 27/01/2019 )OK SO TO TODAY'S HEADLINES AND A 'SLIGHT' BACK FLIP FROM MR TILEY
Bernard Tomic is deliberately sabotaging Australia’s tennis culture, according to Lletyon Hewitt and Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley. Hewitt has backed an attack by Tiley on Tomic in another escalation of a bitter feud between the outcast player and tennis hierarchy.
“We expect players to be respectful of the sport and each other,” Tiley said in a statement on Saturday. “Bernard does not meet the standards of behaviour and commitment to himself, the team or the sport. Now he is deliberately trying to damage that culture, and not for the first time.”
Hewitt, asked if he subscribed to the same view as Tiley, replied: “Yep.” Australia’s Davis Cup captain Hewitt has pledged never to select Tomic again after a recent blow-up during the Australian Open.
And Tiley, a week after expressing hope Tomic and Hewitt could mend their fractured relationship, freshly criticised the controversial player. “Our organisation remains deeply disappointed with the ongoing disrespect from Bernard and his father,” Tiley said. “We have given more than a decade of support. Ultimately, we have to draw a line when the behaviour does not warrant the support.”
( Craig Tiley, Courtesy of Australian Associated Press, 2/02/2019 )
So that only took about a week for the TA main man to change his views on the whole circus. Must have been a few beers sunk at another Tennis Australia BBQ with the usual suspects just recently ey Craig ?
Fair dinkum it's brilliant isn't it ?
One day we are looking at a resolution, the next we are looking at total banishment of a player from an organization that are happy to line the pockets of an egotist over the course of the Australian Tennis Summer with Wildcards at ALL THREE EVENTS, Brisbane, Sydney and the grandaddy of em all, the Oz Open.
I recently posted an article that received some airplay in which I put through a rather 'modest' estimate of around $20,000 that Tennis Australia may as well have slipped to Hewitt in brown paper bags rather than let him embarrass the sport and himself in this Country ONCE AGAIN with his appearances during his 'retirement'.
Boy oh boy what a young up and coming player could have done with 20 gees as far as kick starting his career this summer but hey, it's ok TA, Lleyton is still sporting that shit eating grin while he tops up Bec's shopping account.
Bernie as far as I am concerned is brilliant, he had the balls to stand up to TA and the crap that goes on in that Mickey Mouse organization as they support an ego trip that seems to now even surpass Jonny 'comeback kid' Farnham in 'one more time' appearances.
If I was to rate my 'WEAK AS PISS' moments on this Blog of mine, well, I believe Craig Tiley's back flip may just top the list. It's a severe case of 'lack of balls syndrome' and Mr Tiley should take a bow, he really stuck to his guns and showed em big time that he has the intestinal fortitude to run the sport of tennis in this Country.
Craig, we salute you, go hard buddy.......
Kind Regards
Glenn
Sunday 27 January 2019
'BEYOND BELIEF NOVAK'
Only Novak Djokovic can describe what mental zone he was in tonight as he dismantled Rafael Nadal's game that over the past fortnight actually looked like it was heading for an 18th Slam.
I recall several years ago a Press Conference in Paris where Novak spoke about 'variation' in tennis where he talked of 'loop balls', flat balls, slice balls, ways to keep the opponent guessing, and that was on the dirt.
Playing on clay it seems is an art form where only a tactical mind will prevail or an awful lot of spin, ala Spanish style.
Rafa, despite winning the US Open three times and the Australian Open once hasn't really enjoyed the hard surfaces that have seen him retired early particularly in recent years due to the physicality of it.
Let's face it, hard courts are not only brutal on the body but also on the mind, no advantage on a hard court in any aspect.
Novak it seems is a tactical genius, more so than the man who he calls his 'greatest rival'.
Just quietly I find that comment rather interesting as he doesn't mention the 'GOAT' Federer in the same breath.
Bit going on there ?
So to the Australian Open Mens Singles Final of 2019.
Nothing short of ridiculous that the World's best player can dismantle the second best by a cricket score. A bathroom break, a three course meal, a taxi ride, two beers at a local pub, it was daylight between these two.
Novak could have done all of the above and still won comfortably.
What I find so 'distressing' is the way in which Rafa's topspin game was completely shot to pieces by a style which cannot possibly be taught by any tennis coach in the World as a 'safe' way of playing.
Flat hitting from on the baseline.
Now in saying that, a fellow by the name of Juan Martin Del Potro commenced a run in New York in 2009 that made the public plus the tennis coaches of the World sit up and take notice of the style which he adopted, particularly against the 'dirt ballers'.
The Argentinian's 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 demolition of 2003 French Open Champion Juan Carlos Ferrero in the fourth round was not only impressive but offered a blue print of sorts to the rest of the tennis World who struggled with the high bounce of the fancy names who were outrageously tough to beat on European clay.
In the quarter finals of the US Open of 2009 Del Potro won the last three sets against Cilic 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. Degree of difficulty there on a hard court ??
Outrageous.
Semi Finals, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 over the greatest topspinner of our time, Rafa.
At 1.98 metres tall is that the height that can in fact stand on the baseline and thank a 'moon baller' for the generous and hittable height of ball that has most players almost in the front row of seating looking for a reprieve ?
So did Novak in 2019 perhaps go through the intricacies of that match in New York where Del Potro belittled Rafa ? Well the style and score similarities says exactly that, how else do you explain the one sided nature of a final that offered so much and yet delivered barely a whimper of combat ?
I have coached tennis for around 30 years, I know enough to help most players out but I am far from a 'guru', I will leave that to the 'Zen Masters' of the tennis coaching World who can come up with ideas on how to beat a ball that unless taken early will bounce over your head.
Novak did that to Rafa in Melbourne and unless I am a poor judge of ability if I was the Fed I wouldn't be too concerned about Rafa surpassing his 20 Slam haul, I would be more concerned about Novak.
In fact Fed's record on tonight's performance at the Oz Open is looking decidedly 'modest' with the current mood the Serbian is in.
Wherever Novak was in that 18 months that saw his ranking and form look like a local club player is now a thing of the past not dissimilar to the great Tiger Woods who's brilliant game went missing for years for one reason or another.
Many styles in tennis, many tactics, many ideas, many 'idiot proof' ways of playing however I am now a believer in the mind being the biggest factor in the sport without a doubt.
What Novak dished up to Rafa tonight was a mental belting from one mind to another that defied logic and now puts the sport into even more perspective with the so called 'Next Gen' players apparently knocking on the door of the big guns.
No where near it, not in the same post code.
Never liked Novak.
After tonight I believe he is a genius...…..
I recall several years ago a Press Conference in Paris where Novak spoke about 'variation' in tennis where he talked of 'loop balls', flat balls, slice balls, ways to keep the opponent guessing, and that was on the dirt.
Playing on clay it seems is an art form where only a tactical mind will prevail or an awful lot of spin, ala Spanish style.
Rafa, despite winning the US Open three times and the Australian Open once hasn't really enjoyed the hard surfaces that have seen him retired early particularly in recent years due to the physicality of it.
Let's face it, hard courts are not only brutal on the body but also on the mind, no advantage on a hard court in any aspect.
Novak it seems is a tactical genius, more so than the man who he calls his 'greatest rival'.
Just quietly I find that comment rather interesting as he doesn't mention the 'GOAT' Federer in the same breath.
Bit going on there ?
So to the Australian Open Mens Singles Final of 2019.
Nothing short of ridiculous that the World's best player can dismantle the second best by a cricket score. A bathroom break, a three course meal, a taxi ride, two beers at a local pub, it was daylight between these two.
Novak could have done all of the above and still won comfortably.
What I find so 'distressing' is the way in which Rafa's topspin game was completely shot to pieces by a style which cannot possibly be taught by any tennis coach in the World as a 'safe' way of playing.
Flat hitting from on the baseline.
Now in saying that, a fellow by the name of Juan Martin Del Potro commenced a run in New York in 2009 that made the public plus the tennis coaches of the World sit up and take notice of the style which he adopted, particularly against the 'dirt ballers'.
The Argentinian's 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 demolition of 2003 French Open Champion Juan Carlos Ferrero in the fourth round was not only impressive but offered a blue print of sorts to the rest of the tennis World who struggled with the high bounce of the fancy names who were outrageously tough to beat on European clay.
In the quarter finals of the US Open of 2009 Del Potro won the last three sets against Cilic 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. Degree of difficulty there on a hard court ??
Outrageous.
Semi Finals, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 over the greatest topspinner of our time, Rafa.
At 1.98 metres tall is that the height that can in fact stand on the baseline and thank a 'moon baller' for the generous and hittable height of ball that has most players almost in the front row of seating looking for a reprieve ?
So did Novak in 2019 perhaps go through the intricacies of that match in New York where Del Potro belittled Rafa ? Well the style and score similarities says exactly that, how else do you explain the one sided nature of a final that offered so much and yet delivered barely a whimper of combat ?
I have coached tennis for around 30 years, I know enough to help most players out but I am far from a 'guru', I will leave that to the 'Zen Masters' of the tennis coaching World who can come up with ideas on how to beat a ball that unless taken early will bounce over your head.
Novak did that to Rafa in Melbourne and unless I am a poor judge of ability if I was the Fed I wouldn't be too concerned about Rafa surpassing his 20 Slam haul, I would be more concerned about Novak.
In fact Fed's record on tonight's performance at the Oz Open is looking decidedly 'modest' with the current mood the Serbian is in.
Wherever Novak was in that 18 months that saw his ranking and form look like a local club player is now a thing of the past not dissimilar to the great Tiger Woods who's brilliant game went missing for years for one reason or another.
Many styles in tennis, many tactics, many ideas, many 'idiot proof' ways of playing however I am now a believer in the mind being the biggest factor in the sport without a doubt.
What Novak dished up to Rafa tonight was a mental belting from one mind to another that defied logic and now puts the sport into even more perspective with the so called 'Next Gen' players apparently knocking on the door of the big guns.
No where near it, not in the same post code.
Never liked Novak.
After tonight I believe he is a genius...…..
Tuesday 22 January 2019
'TENNIS SCORING SYSTEM, STILL ROOTED'
TRYING TO TEACH A KID HOW THE TENNIS SCORING SYSTEM WORKS, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, NOTHING HAS CHANGED....
The following is a detailed conversation between my son and myself regarding tennis, Wimbledon 2014 and how the scoring system works.....
"Dad what are the numbers on the top of the screen "?
"That tells us the score between these two players buddy "
" So what do they need to win "?
"Three sets, and a set is made up of games where you have to win 4 points a game"
"What's 40-30"?
"That's when one player has won 3 points and the other has won 2, the guy on 40 just needs one more point".
(a point later)
"What's deuce Dad"?
"That's when both players have won 3 points each and now they need to get 2 points clear to win the game"
"So what does each set go up to "?
" 6 games buddy"
( a few minutes later)
"Hey Dad that guy is 6 and they are still playing "
"Yeah mate it's confusing, if it gets to 5 games all they have to then get to 7, but if it gets to 6 games all they have to play a tie breaker to 7 points "
( a few minutes later)
Hey Dad the score is 7-6 (in the breaker) why are they still playing"?
" I know mate it's confusing, if they get to 6 points all they have to play to 2 points in front "
( A couple of hours later)
"Hey Dad did you see that ? The total points that have been won , it's close, 112 to 109"
"Yeah mate and the guy that is trailing 3-4 in the last set has won more points"
(big mistake Dad)
"So the player that is losing Dad, he's winning "?
" Not really mate, it's on serve, so it should even out in the end"
(a short time later)
"Hey Dad it's 7-6, why are they still playing"?
"Well buddy when they get to 6 games all if it's two sets all they then play to 2 games in front to decide the winner of the match, so it may end up say 16-14"
(The final stats are shown)
"Hey Dad the total points won , didn't the guy that lost win more points "?
"Yeah mate , that's right"
"So how did he lose "?
"Tennis scoring buddy, doesn't make a lot of sense"
"Footy isn't that hard"
"No mate you stick to footy, it's a bit easier to understand, if you win more points you win the match, pretty simple hey"?
Funny game this tennis........
* Footnote- in 2010 at Wimbledon Mahut won 24 more points than Isner but lost the match....
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