With the time difference and not having my priorities straight, I did not see much of the first round yesterday, of the men's bottom half of the draw beginning their journeys. I saw the end of the Federer vs Johnson match and the Swiss 6-time champ looked pretty smooth in his movement, variety, etc. One …
Air Quality > Tennis Quality
As we all know, despite a lack of mainstream tennis media coverage (ATP/Tennis.com, etc.), the poor air quality in Melbourne is having a massive impact on the tournament. At least one player, on the women's side, had to pull-out of qualifying following a fit of coughing. Other players have had much difficulty playing or practicing. …
Nadalism Addendum
First, yesterday's Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Andrey Rublev Adelaide SF was almost blogged as a "must watch," but I didn't quite have the faith in FAA to rise to the occasion. We've all liked his athleticism and the fact that maybe this is a little era in Canadian tennis that might push guys like Shapo and …
2020 Australian Open Draw
We have say this is another Nadal vs Djokovic Final this year if both are healthy and playing well. Whatever confidence Rafa lost against Serbia in the ATP Cup last week, we should assume that he, Moya and Co. will be ready to rumble in Melbourne. Looks like Nadal could have, potentially, a tricky R16 …
Nadal’s Style and 2020 in Brief
Nadal's Style Nadal as current #1 in the world is coming-off a massive campaign, 2019 proving that, once again, he is a consummate winner, one of the best at taking advantage of life's opportunities. His French Open legacy is exhibit A for such a claim. Imagine you really have only one particular surface on which …
Serbia Wins ATP Cup
If Hewitt had followed my game plan, Australia probably beats Spain in the SF. And if Spain's Captain Roig had included my in-put in his ATP Cup Final match strategy, we might have had a different result in that tie, as well. Nadal received a hard court tennis lesson yesterday from Djokovic, and then claimed …
ATP Cup Cheese
If you're Hewitt (or whoever is making these moves for team Australia), why in the world would you pit Kyrgios against RBA? I get the complication. You would have to start Millman to make the Kyrgios vs. Nadal arrangement work and Nadal could still beat Kyrgios. This is a Kyrgios problem and AUS's inability to …
Serbia vs. Russia SF #1
Tricky tie here. Like Evans did to AUS in that QF, can another one-hander give his side an edge? Khachanov has to be favored here though I haven't really seen the Russians play, although I did see Medvedev basically tell Mohamed Lahyani to fuck off during the Russian's rubber against Schwartzman. Lahyani practically gave Medvedev …
Goffin Defeats Nadal, Forces Doubles Decider
Rare for Nadal to lose for team Spain in this format. He’s been virtually unbeatable in his country’s colors. I woke to see him down a set and a break, and even down break points at 2-4. He pulled his way out of that and got the set to a TB. Goffin’s very aggressive approach …
Continue reading Goffin Defeats Nadal, Forces Doubles Decider
Serbia vs. Canada Live Blog
Right now, two things, one everyone sees, one no one sees: FAA continues to look absolutely amateurish. Take a page from Shapo and get a coach (great to see Youzhny still at the controls in Shapo's ((Canada's)) box!). Novak is with a partial mind toward tanking this rubber/tie, and getting some downtime before the very …
