Nadal, Federer (actually), Djokovic (generally), Murray (hopefully), Thiem and Goffin (stylistically), Stan (if and when), and perhaps a few others make up a short list of guys whose games translate to clay. Otherwise the analysis of a draw like Madrid is witchcraft. Clay is witchcraft, at best. Otherwise, as I and many before me have …
Category: Clay
2017 Barcelona Open: Otra Décima
On a court bearing his name, Rafa cinched his 10th Barcelona title, matching last week's la decima down in Monte Carlo. He beat Dominic Thiem 6-4 6-1 in the final. The trend continues: 2017 Fedal. Although Federer had the spotlight early and for good reason, winning the year's first major and first two Masters, Rafa …
Monte Carlo Wrap: Same Old, Same Old
The title of this post doesn't necessarily refer to the Nadal win, his 10th MC title and his 29th Masters title (a new-era metric for all of you tennis "historians" out there who unknowingly build wishful thinking logical fallacies to promote their favorite player). Nadal continuing to play solid tennis is more the story relating to …
Monte Carlo QF – The Survival of the Serb
Following the Djokollapse of 2016, we discerned even after a win over Murray in the 2017 Doha final that Novak still had much work to do to convince any of us actual tennis detectives that he was out of trouble. The Djokofans rejoiced, sending him on his merry way to Melbourne for his annual AO crown. He …
Monte Carlo Midweek: Djokovic Still Struggling and Dimitrov Succumbing
The title above pretty much covers the biggest news thus far at the Monte Carlo Masters where we're into the R16. I watched the Djokovic match with Simon and the only thing that might undermine my inference (and my title) is if Simon turned-out to be playing an even higher-level of his unusual brand of (awkward) …
Continue reading Monte Carlo Midweek: Djokovic Still Struggling and Dimitrov Succumbing
Monte Carlo
Greetings. Are you ready for some dirt balling along the French Riviera? Seems a bit of a contradiction. I have already written much about my opinions of the clay, yet here we are on the eve (play is underway obviously) of the European dirt harvest. Congrats to Steve Johnson for taking the U.S. Clay Champs last week …
Miami 2017 Finale
I hope this post isn't as anti-climactic as Sunday's final. Here's how I began my preview of the Miami final a few days ago: "The Fedal final tomorrow is a bit anti-climactic to be honest. If you’re caught-up in the Fedal rivalry, you’re probably a bit confused. If you need any clarity on that, search …
Indian Wells. . . and the Peanut Gallery
We will continue our discussion of the IW draw, try to add to the excitement everyone is feeling about the year's first Masters. But first let's take-out the garbage. I love it. I will pound this blog with ATP insight until the cows come home, out-write and out-think my wealthier tennis punditry in straights; be …
HRFRT: Tour Structure and Numbers
The structure of the ATP tour has changed much over the years. Not only has the structure changed, but the significance of some of the tournaments has changed, as well. Masters events, the 1000s, for instance, are a bigger part of a player's schedule than before. There is no question about this, which anyone can determine …
Djokovic Wins the French Open
The actual match was a foregone conclusion, and really not that great of a match, to be honest - even from Novak (in fact, the entire match seemed somewhat anti-climactic given Novak's form over the last year or so, over these last 4-5 years even, over the fact that he is so comfortable on clay, …
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