Wow, what an opening week… and it isn’t even over yet!

jane, yes, our pet peeve. Pressers are dangerous on oh so many levels.

Von, I’m glad you could appreciate the humor in that. And I also think it’s probably best to have one’s children whip themselves; it avoids so many potential complications and resentments. Funny stuff.

Man, I like Gulbis more and more by the moment. I’m not sure what his true level of ambition may be, but I’d love to see him on the up and up for a long time to come.

I’m sad for Andy R., but I’m thrilled for Andy M… Could this maybe just maybe be his year? Tall order, I know, but still… And if he and Gasquet should meet and play their best stuff, that’d be a dream match.

Sean, I agree that Nadal’s road is a bit tricky. If he should face Stepanek, I see a major possibility of an upset there. I mean, Nadal could potentially just school him, but they’ve had some close ones and have never met on grass. If Nadal’s serve isn’t all there or if Radek’s returning is particularly on, he should have a lot of potential opportunities to break at net.

[…] And Maria has had service problems now for quite some time. So much for being the favorite to win Wimbledon. source […]

Von - where are ya girl? Hope you’re okay - “big hugs” as zola used to say.

Maybe it’s all Safin’s fault; one Serb falls another must rise? lol. I don’t know, but lots of crazy upsets so far this year.

When Maria crashed out I started to think that maybe her and Novak had a rendevous planned?! again, lol.

Ra,

My seniments exactly the following (sorry to echo your words so lenghthily but I just really agree):

“Man, I like Gulbis more and more by the moment. I’m not sure what his true level of ambition may be, but I’d love to see him on the up and up for a long time to come.

I’m sad for Andy R., but I’m thrilled for Andy M… Could this maybe just maybe be his year? Tall order, I know, but still… And if he and Gasquet should meet and play their best stuff, that’d be a dream match. “

Bummer. I thought Roddick had mis-spoke when, in his interview with Gimel-slob, he named himself among the 5 favorites to win Wimbledon. He normally says he takes things “one matches at a time” and keeps talk about himself as favorite to a minimum - so adding himself to the mix publicly on the air was, in my opinion, a bad idea. It’s much better being under the radar.

Blake, interestingly, said he couldn’t look past Schuettler, and he was right!

Can’t phone in the results…bad loss for Roddick, bad loss for Blake.

Sean,

Although Tipsy’s serve may seem unimposing, it has a lot of pop considering he’s a smaller guy; Fed couldn’t get a lot of breaks against him at the AO either.

I am sad for Andy; I’ll miss his presence here at the tournament. Yet, I am happy for the tattoed, Dostoyevsky-reading Janko: he’s nothing if not a character.

However, Fed did beat Tipsy at 2007 AO.

I really like Tipsy and hope he can advance further. I liked his interview. He seemed very pleased.

djoker out, arod out, looks like another boring steamroll to the final for federer and nadal -falls asleep-

It is hard to root against a guy who reads Dostoyevsky, but I feel bad for Roddick. Sharapova is a real enigma - she steamrolls her way to the 06 U.S. Open title only to take bad beatings and early losses in 2007. She steamrolls her way to the 2008 Australian Open title and then takes strange early losses … I do not know if it is a health or psyche issue, but sometimes she humiliates and other times is humiliated. It is very hard to figure her out. Stepanek, Youzhny, Murray, and Gasquet all still loom, but Rafa is so mentally tough that these guys have their work cut out for them to get past him.

Sean,
“Andy Roddick looked terrible today against Janko Tipsarevic in a stunning defeat…but in the rallies he’s just looks very below average and the pace of his shot appears lacking.”

I watched the match in entirety and very closely and find this passage not to be an accurate observation of how Roddick played and lost.

In total, he just missed 3-4 shots (safe shots overhit in agitation) more than he should have (read my posts in the other thread) to win the match, and that was enough to lose the match. About rallies, he played only one really bad rally, in which he tried to play safe and waited Tipsy to make error. Actually, I was impressed by the way he performed in the rallies. One big mistake behind his loss was his over-preparation for returning Tipsy’s weak 2nd serve, which resulted in wrong/confused selection of shots.

Overall, it was a praiseworthy performance by both players, and there was nothing “terrible” about Roddick except the loss. Well, at the end, what matters most is win, and you can characterize the loss any which way you want.

Maybe, you were showing some love for Roddick in your observation, which I may have missed it. If that is the case, my apologies.

Every one speculates that Fed’s day is over. What about Arod? I think his day is passed.

Before the start of the tournament I said Federer would be the champion.

Now I see it even clearer.

I said as well that only Nadal could beat him if he gets to the final and plays great, but honestly, he has a long road to go.

Kiefer is a very talented player (though a bit crazy as well) and extremely dangerous on grass.

If Nadal wins that one, then he would face Youzhny or Stepanek. Both them can beat him on grass.

Youzhny has powerful groundstrokes and a good serve, and has given trouble to Nadal more than once in the past.

Stepanek plays great at the net, has a good serve and his style could harm Nadal.

But even if Nadal wins that one too, he may face Gasquet or Murray or Hass, all of them extremely dangerous players on grass that could trouble him a lot.

I know Nadal has won his last seven matches on grass, but to get to the SF he must win three consecutive tough matches.

He can do it, but only if he plays great.

If he has a “bad day”, he’ll be out in one of those three matches.

But if he wins them all and gets to SF, I see him beating whoever gets there (Tipsarevic or Cilic or Tursunov or…) quite comfortably, and so reaching the final.

In the top half of the draw I can’t see anyone defeating Federer. Not Hewitt, not Ancic, not Berdych, not anyone else.

tasty tasty.

best of all, the rest of the tournament can be enjoyed without the smug mug of novak leering out at me. no doubt he’s back in serbia plotting his next disastrous PR move. heck, he and borg should start working together before the US Open to see what kind of drivel, i mean predictions, they can come up with.

as much as i have never liked roddick on court, off court he has always been an entertaining interviewee. i don’t think of him as a threat anymore; although i did think he’d make it past the second round.

janko is one of those guys that can just hang around. his match against federer earlier this year was unreal.

What would happen if Maria spent less time fussing about her outfits and hired a real coach instead of her dad? I think if she could ever acknowledge the need to accept advice from an unbiased expert and spent a year working to add depth to her one-dimensional game we might see a player far less prone to meltdowns. Currently she has no back-up plan to turn to when her game falls off the rails. Maybe a mature version of the raw promise that surprised and delighted us that first Wimbledon would resurface. Maybe the dreadful shrieking would disappear in the process. Will it happen? Doesn’t seem likely. Sad for the game, and sad for her.

I think Nadal played great… his style seems way more aggressive than last year’s… if he gets to the final I predict he will own Federer… maybe not as ridiculous as in Roland Garros, but he will win it in less than 5….. so myself being a Federer fan, just really hope Nadal gets beaten before the finals… (and yes, I am positive Federer will cruise all the way to the finals.)

Von,
I am sure Roddick will be back soon with a great statement. When I read/watched his interview, he showed great determination to work hard for another slam. As you know, he’s skipping Olympics for the summer prep, leading to US Open, so he will be playing most/all of US Series. And in his words, “I want to be prepared…physically and mentally…. playing a lot of matches going into a slam…has worked before, so that’s the best way I know how to go about it.” His plan to prepare for the US Open early on should produce the desired result, “win another slam.”
I know how it feels. I just went through that. Let’s get over it and move on. Roddick has a lot left and is capable of doing some wonders. I am fully convinced that he will live up to his promise.

What a very cruel headline!! How did they “stink” up wimbledon? If they did, what about the others who had prior losses, and those who wil fall tomorrow and the day after, and after, and after ……?

Shital:

“Overall, it was a praiseworthy performance by both players, and there was nothing “terrible” about Roddick except the loss. Well, at the end, what matters most is win, and you can characterize the loss any which way you want.”

Yours is a more accurate description of the match in its entirety as opposed to the writer’s. I saw the entire match, and except for A-Rod’s frustration and lapse at the end of the second set, I think he played very well. Tipsy got stronger as the match progressed; while A-Rod’s urgency and restlessness got the better of him. I’m sad that he lost but did not really hold out much hope for him going very far at Wimby due to his lack of match play coming into the tournamnet and his existing back problem. He gave his best effort and as a fan that’s all that matters.

_____________
jane:

Thanks for the concern — it’s appreciated.

Tipsy’s eyes wide-opened are pretty scary to look at.

I agree with a few others that Tipsarevic once again was really tough. I saw the match and believe it is a matter of Tipsarevic being great as much as Roddick being terrible.

Players hate it when people comment without being qualified players themselves, but I thought Roddick appeared basically content to just volley right back at Tipsarevic. There didn’t appear to be any strategy to win a point. It was just keeping the ball in play and hoping for the best…count on aces to hold serve.

On the other hand, Roddick was no pushover, and Sharapova and Blake are among the world’s best, so I don’t appreciate the unwarranted snark in the title to this article. I think it is more an issue of players struggling on grass, others better suited to that surface.

Some players are overrated just because they are Americans or just because that had some success in the past. There are many has-beens that get more press than they deserve. Sometimes this is all more entertainment than sport, but that’s where the prize money comes from, right? If it’s kind of dry, we invent some drama.

Taking Tursunov seriously is a joke. All I ever see him do is lose, lucky to get past a first round in other touraments. What was his last success?

andrea - your arrogant gloating & smugness is a little much. funny that you criticize novak for the same thing. pot calling kettle black much?

in the last thread you made some snippy remark about arod, in previous umpteen threads you’ve made barbs about novak.

it’s obvious you’re a fed fan to anyone with eyes, and that’s fine; roger has a lot of them.

but do you have to repeat over and over again how much you hate novak or how much you dislike borg just because he predicts something you don’t like? i mean the guy is a tennis legend and you make disparaging remarks about him repeatedly. does it make you feel better to put others down or kick others when they’re down? i guess i just don’t get it.

but you can bet roger would never speak that way about borg, b.t.w. and since you love rog so much maybe you should try emulating his behaviour? just a thought.

rogers twin sister - you’re correct that Fed did beat Tipsy, but I assume you mean AO 08. my point wasn’t who won or lost, but just that Tipsy is a tougher player to break than he seems to be.

Dan & trilby - a couple of good insights into “How do you solve a problem like Maria?” I’d say the sadomasochistic (humiliator / humiliated) bent in Maria comes from her nutso father. I agree with trilby that Maria could really benefit by changing things up, getting a coach who’s not related. trilby puts it best as such:

“maybe a mature version of the raw promise that surprised and delighted us that first Wimbledon would resurface.”

It was delightful to watch her win this thing at 17; reminded me of a certain Boris’s run. I’d like to see some of that back in Maria, but she needs something / someone new.

It is sad to see her implode like that.

<>

Try watching the match instead of polishing each other’s knobs.

Roddick played like garbage, lost his head, choked, and Tennis-X called him on it.

“Overall, it was a praiseworthy performance by both players, and there was nothing “terrible” about Roddick except the loss. Well, at the end, what matters most is win, and you can characterize the loss any which way you want.”

Yours is a more accurate description of the match in its entirety as opposed to the writer’s.

Try watching the match instead of polishing each other’s knobs.

Roddick played like garbage, lost his head, choked, and Tennis-X called him on it.

just to echo jane … I agree with her previous post to andrea.

I posted on the other thread to andrea — Be careful what you wish for others, it might come back to haunt you — you could choke on your own gloat. Now wouldn’t that be a tasty morsel? Your stupid barbs shows the level of your intelligence. They’re childish!

I might not like Federer but I do not gloat when he or any other player loses. It’s in poor taste. The player has enough to ponder; why make it worse adding trite nonsense? That’s just my thinking anyway, no one has to follow me. Carry on smart-ly!!

Chris:

“Roddick played like garbage, lost his head, choked, and Tennis-X called him on it.”

You say to-may-toes, I say to-mah-toes. I felt he played a good match, you don’t. Tennis.X loves to lambaste Roddick. You’d never see such a headline if the top 2 lost — like when fed lost in Dubai. He didn’t stink up anything, eh?

Only Roddick played like garbage? Blake could not take out Shuettler who has not won a title for aeons. He’s over the hill!

Tipsarevic is one of those players who’s very persistent when playing a top seed — he gives it his all, and then goes down in the next one or two rounds. Isn’t that what most lesser ranked players like to do? Secure a big scalp.

Thanks, Sean, for now jinxing Dmitry. He’s sure to go out in the third round now.

“and James Blake, well, he went James Blake losing from ahead in crushing five-set defeat to Rainer Schuettler.”

Aww.. just when he was making in roads on those 5 set matches. I thought he was getting the hang of them.

jane,

I have no qualms with being echoed. Especially since you’re always on top of giving credit for that sort of thing.

sardino and others,

I don’t know if you ever saw my point by point response on the “Serb Shocker” page. Anyhow, it’s there for you to see.

Andy needs a new coach.His brother needs to do him a favor by stepping aside.Andy holds the best serve in tennis.Lets get serious Andy.Its time for a change.Times tickin……..

Andy does not hold the best serve in tennis. He has the biggest serve, but not the most effective. He doesn’t serve the most aces.

The best serve is either Karlovic’s or Guccione’s. It’s not just about power, but placement and accuracy also, plus what you do after the serve.

Federer always outaces Roddick despite having an inferior serve.

Aaron Says: “Andy needs a new coach.His brother needs to do him a favor by stepping aside.Andy holds the best serve in tennis.Lets get serious Andy.”

Could not agree more Aaron. I hope John Roddick will employ a good psychologist to get to the bottom of Andy’s choking habits!

Well one good thing is that Andy’s shoulder appears to have healed, he was serving exceptionally well today.

Andy’s arm has been shot for at least 2 years now. Saw him live about 3 years ago, and his forehand was blistering. Then saw him live again last year, his forehand is average speed. Although he can still crank the odd serve at over 140 KMH, his serve has dropped velocity too- substantially. He’s lucky to still be in the top 10. He’ll be ranked in the 20’s by next year.

Chris

“Try watching the match instead of polishing each other’s knobs.”

Spot on.

Jane.

You seem to take great umbrage with what andrea said but its obvious that all she is doing is speaking her mind. We are a motley group of people on a random discussion group and we have different styles. Just because Von, Shital and you are cute to each other doesent mean that others have to be too. I for one find that tendency to be ‘gracious’ and sweet annoying but so what? Thats my problem really innit? I think its great that people speak their mind here and are offensive and sarcastic in good measure. Disparate styles make for more interesting discussions. If everyone was as ‘civil’ (As Shital put it recently) as the three of you, it would drive me nuts and I would surely abandon this site.

Kroll,

Wrong - I don’t take great umbrage with what she said per se, just that she’s been saying it ad nauseum lately - the stuff about Borg in particular.

As for people having different opinions, that’s great and I am all for that. When I came on this site it was pretty unilaterally a pro-Federer website, but now it seems to be more disparate, with plenty of different fans and opinions.

That said, I don’t see a reason for crudeness, insults, ad hominem attacks, etc., even in the context of disagreement.

Von

I am sorry I cant let this go but the one thing that truly annoys me is taking the high ground. A few comments (ridiculously offensive and uncivil by your standards I expect - Sorry for that)

“Your stupid barbs shows the level of your intelligence. They’re childish!”

Expressing your likes or dislikes does Not show your level of intelligence. Thats ridiculous. And besides you dont know the player, you are not his best friend, you are a fan (presumably). Your devotion to him and this rabid defence seems rather more childish.

“I might not like Federer but I do not gloat when he or any other player loses.”

Thats your choice, it seems a bit much to expect everyone to take your lead.

“The player has enough to ponder;”

Von, Are you kidding? He’s Not reading this discussion and this thread is not the subject of National Television so its irrelevant. Do not make a mountain of a mole-hill. Its just an opinion.

“That’s just my thinking anyway, no one has to follow me.”

Inevitably.

Jane,

Making ad hominem attacks on players is rather different than making them against others in the group, unless of course it gets too offensive. I think the former is well within the norms of discussion in this group. I am just saying that attacks on players are hardly the cause for personal concern, at least to the extent that you (and Von) seem feel.

Kroll:

You like andrea’s style, fine, I don’t. She’s annyoing and unfair in her criticisms. Try speaking your mind too much and you’ll be eaten alive by the vultures — especially the majority of the Federer fans. i used to speak my mind freely, but they didn’t like it. I have one behemoth who loves to give me an evaluation every 4 wweeks or so concerning any comments I utter about Federer. Consequently, I refrain from saying too much about him, unless it’s provoked. Is that fair? No, but it’s a means of survival. I could certainly crank up some not too sweet’ comments, but I won’t — it’s not worth the trouble.

Speaking one’s mind freely is different from someone consistently behaving like a bufoon. How many times do you have to lambaste anyone for your words to sink in? I like being friendly to people, but I’m not condescending. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. You stick to your style, i’ll stick to mine. I don’t get into most people’s comments because there are parameters. Hence, i won’t get into yours and I ask you to do the same for me. However, I’m glad that you’re so very open-minded, but I can assure you, that’s not the norm on these threads. Perhaps, eventually you’ll understand what I mean if you consistently read the commenrts, and then maybe, you won’t be so judgmental, and will understand why it’s better to be nice than nasty, or fully speaking one’s mind.

Jane

I see there is a history here (about andrea’s comments about Borg) that I am missing so sorry for that. Though I should say, Borg missing his predictions is not a big deal. Nobody expected Djokovic to be out this early. In fact great players getting their predictions wrong seems to be the natural order of things. Look at Pele (in football) or Sampras or Borg
.

Kroll:

I’m at a disadvantage here because I don’t know which player you support. If it’s Federer, then you’re OK since you won’t say anything anti-Federer. However, if you’re not, then try making some impartial anti-Federer comments and then you’ll find out what it really means to speak your mind.

“Expressing your likes or dislikes does Not show your level of intelligence. Thats ridiculous.”

I agree that if you express your likes and/or dislikes does not show your level of intelligence, but you have to consider the source, and then you’ll understand what’s a reflection of whom. What we write and/or speak is a reflection of who we are. You can’t make bread out of stone.

Kroll,

I don’t care that you missed it - no biggie. Usually I ignore the “barb-ers”; it’s their prerogative to come along and make insults. But when it’s utterly repetitive, sometimes I take issue. I’m entitled, I figure. I actually like what andrea has to say when she’s not insulting other players and/or their comments.

It’s good that you instigated this discussion about style. If you hate our “cuteness,” find us sickeningly annoying, what can I say? You’re entitled. Maybe you should take a page from “hiding behind our keyboard” (another poster) and imagine Brundlefly puking on our keyboards. LOL. I hate some posters’ rudeness similarly.

Anyhow, my bad if I implied there’s not room here for all types & styles. Within reason. (there’s always gotta be a caveat with me, another annoying habit i suppose)

Von
I see where you are coming from and your comments are fair so I admit to judging you early. An apology, I expect is in order. Unfortunately my natural form of humor is sarcasm and its hard to stray from that . And I can be creatively offensive ad infinitum irrespective of the environment so there

BTW, I am a Rafa supporter, though I disapprove of his annoying modesty in interviews. Also, I think Fed’s excuses in the AO regarding his mono are hokey. Its a wonderful card to pull out in the face of his declining dominance.

And

“You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”

You ve got to be kidding me!

Kroll,

“Though I should say, Borg missing his predictions is not a big deal. Nobody expected Djokovic to be out this early.”

PRECISELY. Thanks - you just reaffirmed (to a degree anyhow) my point to andrea in the first place. It’s not a bloody crime to get predictions wrong, and shouldn’t mean the tennis champ Borg has to be sullied because of it - sheesh.

I’m outta here - still gotta watch some taped tennis.

Kroll,

“BTW, I am a Rafa supporter, though I disapprove of his annoying modesty in interviews.”

Don’t know if you saw my response this your comments about the players’ attitudes on the other thread, but I liked what you said. I also think Rafa can be too self-deprecating and Djoko too self-aggrandizing (or at least vocal) - both largely in relation to Fed! The two need to find a happy medium.

Kroll:

Apology accepted. I’m glad to know you understand.

“And I can be creatively offensive ad infinitum irrespective of the environment so there.

I can hold the world record on that if I’m provoked, but I’ve learnt that it ain’t worth it — I now harness my tongue.

“You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”

You ve got to be kidding me!”

No kidding, it’s a proven fact. Corporate America has taught me many lessons on that addage. Try it, you might like it.

“Also, I think Fed’s excuses in the AO regarding his mono are hokey. Its a wonderful card to pull out in the face of his declining dominance.”

I hope you can survive this statement if, and when, his fans read your post. Or, maybe they won’t now that I’ve alerted you that a special type of wrath will be descending on you at any time. You’ll need eyes behind your head. My weird sense of humor is coming through.

Von you talk to much sometimes you should shut your big mouth…just shut it please woman.

Angel:

Why am I not surprised you would say such drivel. You run true to form. Any and everything anyone says about Federer that you dislike you vent. Why not attack Kroll, or is it because you’re afraid to — I’m easy target.

This is some comment thread. I am trying to understand this, we can’t criticize Federer? Why is he immune? I personally think Rafa is really that shy, and the language barrier perhaps accentuates this. Novak is a breath of fresh air, I like his arrogance and his impressions. He is funny and entertaining to watch. Roger is wonderful, this is his worst year, he is human. Do I have to pray to the Roger ideal to speak hear. I love watching him play, but Nadal is awesome too, I like them both. Shoot me.

***
veronicaromm Says:

This is some comment thread. I am trying to understand this, we can’t criticize Federer? Why is he immune? I personally think Rafa is really that shy, and the language barrier perhaps accentuates this. Novak is a breath of fresh air, I like his arrogance and his impressions. He is funny and entertaining to watch. Roger is wonderful, this is his worst year, he is human. Do I have to pray to the Roger ideal to speak hear. I love watching him play, but Nadal is awesome too, I like them both. Shoot me.
***

My thoughts exactly. I like all three of them, too - but particularly Djokovic and Federer.

In any case, it seems to be a case of Federer fans taking these criticisms personally. What I find most perplexing is these *certain* fans’ inability to adopt an objective viewpoint - it seems they are compelled to defend Roger vigorously while constantly denigrating other players, particularly Djokovic.

I see it as hypocrisy of the highest degree when they accuse others of being unfair to Federer, when they are simultaneously and completely unjustifiably labelling Novak a cheater, wimp, cocky, whatever it may be. It really speaks volumes about the character of these people - extremist and capable of both unwarranted loathing, and double standards.

veronicaromm:

As a big Fed fan, I have no problem with people criticizing Roger, as long as they make honest and/or well documented points…

On the contrary, Von’s comments really hurt my feelings nearly every time. In spite of what she says, I feel a very strong bias and terribly unfair attitude on her part. She has changed somewhat her style recently, but you can still detect the hate of her first comments. I don’t know what’s the origin of that but it does not feel very healthy to me and I’m thinking of leaving this forum because of it…

I’ve only just realised that I used a couple of words repetitively in my above post. If there was an edit button, I’d change it!

***
Von says,
“If it’s Federer, then you’re OK since you won’t say anything anti-Federer. However, if you’re not, then try making some impartial anti-Federer comments and then you’ll find out what it really means to speak your mind.”
***

This gave me a laugh, because it’s true

“jane Says:

andrea - your arrogant gloating & smugness is a little much. funny that you criticize novak for the same thing. pot calling kettle black much?

in the last thread you made some snippy remark about arod, in previous umpteen threads you’ve made barbs about novak.

it’s obvious you’re a fed fan to anyone with eyes, and that’s fine; roger has a lot of them.

but do you have to repeat over and over again how much you hate novak or how much you dislike borg just because he predicts something you don’t like? i mean the guy is a tennis legend and you make disparaging remarks about him repeatedly. does it make you feel better to put others down or kick others when they’re down? i guess i just don’t get it.

but you can bet roger would never speak that way about borg, b.t.w. and since you love rog so much maybe you should try emulating his behaviour? just a thought.”
====

Try not to call someone arrogant in an arrogant way. It’s arrogant.

Although it’s preferable to the insipid nice-nice. It bugs me almost as much as Novak snogging his little brother in that youtube video.

Von says,
“If it’s Federer, then you’re OK since you won’t say anything anti-Federer. However, if you’re not, then try making some impartial anti-Federer comments and then you’ll find out what it really means to speak your mind.”
***

Funny you should say that, considering Fed’s dominance is on the wane (leaving him to take refuge in ‘mono’ whenever it suits him).Further, talk of him winning RG is moot after the whipping
he got from Rafa this time (thank god for that!) with his fans left with quips like “Andre won it when he was 29 so Fed might too”. He might be the GOAT I admit but his dominance was getting tedious and the eulogies directed at him, cloying. I for one will be happy enough if he doesen’t win another slam.

Every player has good fans and bad fans. To single out one player’s fans like all the “victim of fed’s fans” club members above is a bit childish.

Von, if a 1000 people tell you you hate federer maybe it is time for you to take a look within yourself. Obviously it will be only Fed fans who take offense at your repeatedly biased statements going as far as to accuse him of lying about the mono. Your pals Shital and Jane will obviously not call you on that because they share the Federer dislike to some extent. (Definitely not as pathetic as you.) I will throw in this Kroll too with those other two. Kroll ofcourse would have seen the choice words a poster used for him if the people who moderate this site had not deleted those comments. Before you moral police crucify him as a Fed fan, let me tell you it is a novak fan called MD!

Anyway, Von you are hurt when Sean says Roddick stinked up the joint(something Roddick himself admitted in his press conference yesterday.) Yet you had no qualms in accusing Fed of lying about mono. If you have the right to deny Federer had mono which 99% of the media has no problem with, then surely Sean and everybody here is right in claiming Roddick choked especially since he himself claims so?

You deserve what you get. People who are fair and respect other players and their fans will get fairness and respect. Obviously you cannot in anyway even claim you have done so.

And another thing, stop lumping people as Fed fans. If you are human enough, take up the issue with which ever poster you have problem with. To paint Federer fans as some monsters is totally juvenile, especially when you are no Saint yourself.

As for the matches yesterday, I did not have great hopes for Blake anyway. His game his so high risk you just donot know when it will prove his undoing.

Roddick, we all knew this was a tough match. There is no doubt that roddick choked this match, but let us face it, we all knew this was a tough match going in. Much like the safin-djokovic match (which definitely had the biggest upset potential) and the gulbis-nadal match. That 2 of those 3 fears materialized and that nadal lost the 1st set only tell you how deep men’s tennis is. Federer’s dominance the last 4years might make people claim that men’s tennis does not have depth but that is far from the truth.

Tennis is still the MOST competitive sport in the world and it is as dog eat dog as it has ever been. It is just that people dont yell and scream at each other like the uncivilized morons that connors and mcenroe were. More people are diplomatic and civilized in the borg, sampras and agassi (in his later stages). Thank God that the Good still inspires people even though there is a lot of cleansing of the bad and learning to be done in tennis and this world.

Getting back to the match, Tipsarevic played a really good match much like he did at the australian open. Roddick made the mistake of not taking control of the match and letting Tipsy dictate the match. That is always a disaster for recipe. Ask nadal for more information (on why he routinely gets whipped by huge underdogs)

Another thing that was against Roddick was the slow courts of wimbledon. He will definitely be much tougher to handle on the faster courts later this year. If you look at the last two years, he has lost only to Federer at the open. US open is the new wimbledon (in the sense that big serving based games are better rewarded there). It might be time for Wimbledon officials to use heavier balls to restore the pendulum which has definitely swung towards making the conditions slower.

Another important thing regarding roddick is he needs a great coach like gilbert/cahill to be in his camp. The biggest misfortune both andys - murray and roddick have had is not being able to hit it off with a great coach like gilbert. I donot know what went wrong there but the price these two may pay might be humongous. All the more so in murray’s case. He has no way he can stand upto players like nadal and djokovic mentally without an expert like gilbert who seems to not only be a great strategist but a manly version of Dr.Phil - a motivational guru that is.

If murray ends up underachieving like he has done thus far he will certainly regret not being able to work things out with gilbert!

As for sharapova, looks like she has begun her customary walkabout after winning a grandslam like she did with her prior grandslams. I like her fighting spirit and the effort she gives but her shrieking and yelling like a mating moose on the court means I am not terribly sad she has lost.

It is not like maria has some unique game which we have never seen before or will never see after ( like players like justine/hingis/mauresmo/venus or even davenport) Her game is a very ugly version of that most hackneyed style of play in women’s tennis these days. Mindless ball bashing with no plan B

Jack,

I find this comment a bit surprising: “Ask nadal for more information (on why he routinely gets whipped by huge underdogs)” -

Does he routinely get whipped by huge underdogs? It’s a sincere question because I’ve never noticed it.

Jack - just checked Rafa’s playing activity: so far this year Rafa has lost to Youz (after lengthy semi); Tsonga (who plowed through at AO); Roddick; Djoko; Davydenko; and Ferrero (due to blisters).

The only huge underdog I see in this years results is maybe Seppi, who beat him in Rotterdam. All the others I listed seem reasonable enough losses: 3/6 are top-teners and the other 3 arguably had favorable circumstances or momentum (in Tsonga’s case - you can’t argue the guy didn’t play phenomenally at the AO).

So maybe you mean previous to this year or on a particular surface? I just don’t see Rafa as being “routinely whipped”; he’s the leader in wins this year.

Jack
I dont dislike Federer, I enjoy his matches and I think he is the GOAT (as I ve mentioned once before) but that does not mean that I worship him or am a fan. Life thankfully is more nuanced than you see fit to imply. I do think however that Fed has been making excuses about his fading dominance, with the mono being a perfect crutch.
Thats my opinion, but does that mean that I hate him? Please! Part of growing up is understanding nuances and I have no idea where you are in that process.

Its entirely likely that I am wrong about Fed and he was in fact right about the mono, something that would easily be proved if he gets back to his dominance of recent yore(Though if he doesent, there is little to say one way or another). If that happens, will I curl up in shame about the terrible accusations I made about the great champion. No. Its just an opinion, I havent spent countless hours researching or mulling over ever statement he’s made and I woudlnt lose sleep if I was wrong. So judge me as you seem fit.

To continue - in 2007, Rafa lost to: Fed, Nalby, Ferrer (injured USO), Djoko, Mahut (Queens finalist); Youz (Dubai finaist); Gonza (AO finalist). All, again, reasonable losses. And most of them top ten players. I don’t think we can call top tens or even top 20s underdogs, since as you mention above, tennis is very deep so in the top 20, on any given day, no one is a clear underdog.

Before the 2007 AO he lost to Malisse - the only noticeable underdog; and he wasn’t whipped. It was a tight two set loss.

Jane, Rafa could very well lose to Kiefer, Stepanek/Youzny or Gasquet. I don’t think Murray would beat him but any of those other fellas could do it. Of course I would bet against it happening but the way it looks now Federer has the much easier path to the final than Rafa.

With Andy, his baseline and return games are really in retreat. With a serve like he has he really should be more offensive when returning. Gulbis I thought was playing offensive return games and it paid off, at least for a little while. That’s what Andy needs to get back doing and I think he will this hard court season. And as some suggest, a new coach my be in order.

Von, they stunk it up by playing like garbage. Garbage smells. At least mine does.

PJ, anytime.

JCF, you may take Guccione’s or Ivo’s serve, but I’ll stick with Andy’s as still the best in the game. It may not be as lethal as it once was but it’s still a tough nut to crack.

Sampraszzz, because of his serve Andy will be in the Top 15 I’d say for at least four more years depending on his health and how much interest he has in tennis as he nears 30.

Jane
There is some truth in what Jack says about Rafa. As you ve pointed out, he hasnt lost that much to underdogs this year but he is vulnerable on hardcourts to a lot of players you wouldnt expect he would lose to based on ranking. Thats because he is still rather lacking on hardcourts. Besides Tsonga was playing fabulous tennis and I thought Novak was impressive in taking him down in the final.

Sean
Rafa does have a tricky draw and if he gets through, he ll really have affirmed his grass credetials. One would think that winning Queen’s has already done that but two of the prominent players he beat there(Djoko and Rod) are already out of Wimby! I think its only fair that he has a trial-by-fire this year. After all, his fabulous final performance last year notwithstanding, he got through his draw with considerable amount of good fortune.

Jack:

You’ve written so much that it’s difficult to answer everything, but I have one question for you, just show me where I’ve written that Fed didn’t have mono. Perhaps you’re using the quote I used to quote Kroll in his post to me, or a quote from another psoter. I’d just like for you to find my statement where I’ve stated that of which you’re accusing me.

“Von, if a 1000 people tell you you hate federer maybe it is time for you to take a look within yourself.”

More like 4 or 5 of the Fed worshippers. However, they’re like a militia, speaking for the whole gang. You’re just getting ahead of yourself here. I can name them for you if you’d like.

Jane:

At any moment there are top dogs and under dogs. From 2005-07 it was Federer and nadal, before that federer, roddick, hewitt and safin. 08 it is federer, djokovic and nadal.

The point is Nadal loses routinely to players he is not expected to on hardcourts. These are not mere losses. He gets the wallop of his life-time. You can explain away or qualify the losses in any which way you want - that he was tired against youzhny, surprised by tsonga or gonzalez on a hot streak or blake playing the match of his life, nadal is young etc, etc. If you start doing that no player ever has lost a match. I for one would not do that.

Maybe if nadal keeps continuing his miserable run on the hardcourts, I wouldn’t be counting him as a top-dog on hardcourts much like what happens with roddick on clay now.

Kroll:

When it gets proved that Federer did lie about the mono, i will curl up in shame at the accusations I made against you. I am surprised you cannot see that given that you are nuanced enough in life? Till then I will brand you a moron who spreads rumours against great champions. If you have not researched well enough on what Federer has said before you start making your oh-so-logical conclusion that Fed is using his to his declining abilities then you are just being a dumbass.

jack:

Isn’t also obvious to you that aside from myself there are fans of other players who see that the Fed group take umbrage to any and everything stated about him. Some of the Fed fans behave as if they are personal family members expressing deep hurt. That said, where am I being the chief offender?

Jack;

I’ve just given a cursory look at all of your comments, but in gist I have to say that you have appointed yourself judge and jury of anyone who has written anything you deem unfitting toward Federer, e.g., Kroll, calling him a “dumbass”. Maybe you have a psychological problem and are using this site to vent some displaced anger. I believe you need to look within yourself and ascertain what it is that’s really the problem here, defending Federer or just your need to vent. Don’t you think calling someone a “dumbass” is going a bit too far just becuse you disagree with their opinions? This is a classic case and exactly the form of abuse to which I refer when I say that one cannot speak freely on these threads because they are subject to abuse and tirades. Are you any better Jack? Reverting to name calling is a bit low and childish, don’t you think? Rise up out of the mire, please. it’s unbecoming and unnecessary.

Von:

So you have NEVER suggested that Federer faked mono?

If the Fed fans are militia, then what are you, jane and shital? Atleast that fed fans share a “like” of federer. What is common to a Djokovic fan and a roddick fan? You know the answer.

Are there any Federer fans who think you are a fair and objective poster when it comes to Federer? Anyways you dont have to prove anything.

I agree with all that Rafa’s most vulnerable surface is hardcourts; that’s reasonable enough. He stands too far back, though seems to be working on this - he’s smarter on clay and grass in adjusting his game in the moment. I don’t see it as much on hard - the adjustments. But he’s still gotta be one of the best players at making adjustments as a match proceeds. And this year his results on hard have been darn good. Semis at AO; quarters at Dubia; semis at IW; finals at Miami.

We’ll have to wait and see how he does in the latter part of this year.

Meantime - Sean - I agree Rafa has a tough path to the final here, tougher than Fed now that the draw has opened up on that side.

Jack;

you’ve still not answered my question, where did you see a post from me suggesting Federer lied about his mono? Don’t give me another question for an answer. You want to make broad statements, then back up your talk with the necessary information. If you can’t, then please stop making generalized statements.

I’ve answered you concerning the Fed posters who are the ones that take umbrage, aside from them the others are open minded and leave room for criticisms, bearing in mind that no one is perfect. If you take the time to read instead of just jumping in mid-stream you’ll find those comments where some of his fans do acknowledge certain aspects of his demeanor as not perfect.

You made some crude comments about Sharapova, just try making comments concerning Federer with similar language and then you’ll find out how much his fans can come down on you. You’ll get away with your comments regarding Sharapova because she does not have the same fan base as Federer on these threads.

Jack

“When it gets proved that Federer did lie about the mono, i will curl up in shame at the accusations I made against you. I am surprised you cannot see that given that you are nuanced enough in life? ”

Thats what nuance means? I dont see how the first statement leads to the second. Maybe there’s a Logic 101 course around that might be of some assistance.

Besides I never said Fed Lied about mono. A famous sportsman cannot lie about a disease and get away with it. I meant that he overstates it and uses it to justify every defeat he has, claiming right till he loses that he’s in the form of his life.

The statements I ve made about Fed and his mono :

“Also, I think Fed’s excuses in the AO regarding his mono are hokey.”

i.e. his excuses are hokey, not the mono itself.

“leaving him to take refuge in ‘mono’ whenever it suits him”
“with the mono being a perfect crutch.”

ditto for the others….

Its my mistake really, I assume that people understand the English language and are not normally as linguistically challenged as you seem to be (which is why you have little more to say than ‘dumbass’, though its probably the pinancle of creative prose by your standards). Words like ‘nuance’ and ‘excuse’ are clearly too hard to understand. I assure you that I shall simplify things appropriately in future.

Again, my sincere apologies for this oversight.

As I mentioned in another thread, Ferrer seems to be flying way below everyone’s radar. The #5 seed and S’Hertogenbosch winner is precisely the kind of player that has given Federer headaches in the past. That is, players who are very consistent and happen to be there when Federer has an off day. A couple of examples of this were Canas and Nalbandian last year.

Jane
Funny that you should mention this point, I remember a recent interview by Fed when he said precisely this, that Rafa is aggressive on grass and defensive on Hard courts. Which is bizarre since hard courts these days are faster than grass.

Jack,

Just to clarify - I am a tennis fan first & foremost.

Although Novak is probably my current favorite player, I like many other players’ games & personalities for various reasons, as I’ve repeatedly stated as such on these threads: e.g., Rafa, Murray, Roddick, Safin. I also increasingly like Gulbis and Cillic. The former in particular impresses me with his composure and power.

I don’t “dislike” Fed; he’s just never been a favorite of mine. This may be in part because of his utter dominance for a long while there; I like unpredictability in sport. For example, I appreciate Rafa’s amazing play on clay, but even that, with his winning everything on the surface becoming a foregone conclusion, is something I hope will evolve. That others will step up and give it a go against him even on clay. This is one reason why I began following Novak because he really crashed Rafa & Roger’s party. I hope more players follow suit and we’ll have a top ten of consistent players. Imagine the rivalries.