Venus Loses, Federer v Safin Today at Australian Open

Australia will have no men ranked in the top 100? Wow…how tennis has changed.

January 22nd, 2009 at 10:09 am

“How slow is the Australian Open court with so many Spaniards still alive and well?…”

Funny – I think it was Giner or JCF who mentioned last summer, when there was so much talk about slower grass, (hence Rafa winning Wimbledon or Hotsauce getting to Nottingham finals) that the next thing said by some tennis fans/pundits will be that hard courts are also slowing down; therefore Spaniards can do well on hardcourts, a surface that is not clay.

Maybe Spanish players are just good? On or off the clay.

January 22nd, 2009 at 10:49 am

Roddick should be through to at least the quarters; Nalby and Khols are both out, and Roddick should have no trouble with Santoro or Robredo. I don’t know about Lu as I missed most of the Fat Dave match…

January 22nd, 2009 at 11:12 am

The commentators did mention that the ‘Hisense” court is much slower than Rod Laver, due to the finsh that’a applied.

Hardcourts can be made fast and slow, e.g., the USO is very fast, while IW is slower.

“Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake have each beaten two qualifiers to reach the Australian Open third round…”

So did several top-ranked players. Why are they being singled out.

January 22nd, 2009 at 11:15 am

Von, yes, I’ve heard the AO court is more “gravelly” or has more stick to it. But I thought it funny to hear nonetheless, especially with reference to the Spanish players, because it is exactly what Giner (or JCF) predicted. That’s all.

January 22nd, 2009 at 11:20 am

Was there a “Fat Dave'”match? I thought there was a Lu v. Nalbandian match.

Just in case no one noticed, Malisse has a huge paunch too.

Too many handles are being thrown around.

“What a difference going from top-level commentary…”

Top level commentary would be wonderful, excedpt we are treated to 5 min ute an alyses throughout the matches that are selected to be aired. smack in the middle of a set the commentators decide to take an analysis break. I prefer to see the match then to hear them talk about the couldas, wouldas,and shouldas, but that’s just my personal preference. What’s the purpose of watching ESPN’s HDTV featuring the commentators coffee hour, only to be relegated to one’s computer to watch live streaming if one is desirous of watching a match in its entirety? Utterly frustrating!!

January 22nd, 2009 at 11:26 am

Von,

I want to watch the matches on my big screen HDTV broadcast on ESPN but I cannot stand the commentators. So I turned on my computer for the live stream broadcast as per your recommendation. I put the TV on mute and turned up the volume on my computer speakers but watched the TV screen. When they show the commentators and all those useless clips, then I switch my gaze to my computer. I wish I had a TV with a PC input so I can just hook up my computer to my TV so I can watch the matches on a bigger screen.

January 22nd, 2009 at 11:50 am

Von,

Maybe I should’ve said “telly tubbie”? I think you posted about that the other day; that the commentators had said as much.

Anyhow, no slight meant to Nalbandian. I actually like the guy! I think I’ve just heard him called that in so many posts here that it seeped into my brain by osmosis. He should lose a bit of weight, though, I think. It might help with his movement. He’s got all the shots, as we know.

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By the way, I agree 100% about the coffee-talk. Last night I found it intolerable. I’ve been trying to use the streaming but sometimes the image is choppy which is frustrating too.

January 22nd, 2009 at 11:57 am

Jane (and perhaps others, if non-British)- were those commentators Brits? If so they were thinking of a well-known British kids’ TV show called The Telly Tubbies. Apologies if you already knew this! On the subject of weight, I love Stefanki’s retort to Roddick. He certainly has a point.

January 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 pm

Polo:

It’s funny, I’ve been doing the same thing, switching back and forth – leaving on my computer and watching my HDTV, however, it’s annoying, especially after working all day, one just wants to be content to move into the “couch potato” mode. I have a TV with the PC input and an HDMI monitor with the TV hookup, but I simply resent having to switch around. I suppose if I want to enjoy the GS tourneys henceforth, I’ll have to be more resilient, but alas, I’m a very stubborn gal. But in all honesty, why should we? We have a TV channel that’s being paid big bucks to broadcast the tennis matches and all we are seeing and/or hearing are some of these adolescent-minded commentators.
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jane:

My remarks were meant for the article by Staff, not at you. I simply dislike handles. I didn’t like the commentators calling Dave “telly tubby” either. Truthfully, I think Nalby’s content with his appearance, it just seems to irk a selected few, e.g., the commentators and some reporters. Some people feel healthier with a few extra pounds. The media need to concentrate on themselves and leave the players to play their tennis. Roddick says he misses his “potatoes and cheetos”. I suppose that’s his comfort food.

As for their “coffee clutch”, I can’t believe Mary Carillo is still in her adolescent stage. The comments that emanate from her mouth just leaves me with my mouth agape.

Polo: FYI, I do turn down the sound whenever Carillo speaks, but sometimes out of curiosity I listen to her.
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An addendum to the hardcourts at the AO topic, Pam Shriver classifies them as “medium paced hard-courts”, she even mentioned Venus should bring her Wimby grass court game to the AO.

January 22nd, 2009 at 12:28 pm

Per Fed: “If Rafa maybe wouldn’t have agreed 100% chances would have been slimmer for him. I’m not sure. I think Rafa was comfortable with the decision, and he also then realized it was just important to get the right man and not an American or European. At the end of the day that doesn’t matter.”…

WOW, why should the players be involved in such an important decision? If the Nos. 1 and 2 players were to retire next month, then the other players would be stuck with their choice of an ATP CEO. And, what’s wrong with an American being the ATP CEO? Is that the only criteria that’s used to determine the CEO’s eligibility. I’m sure Helfant has more years of education than the Top 4 combined. This blows my mind.

January 22nd, 2009 at 12:39 pm

Good to see Andy strolling into the next round. The next match with Meltzer will be interesting as there’s needle between them after the Davis Cup. I agree comments about how people look are not necessary, how they play is the thing. You guys moaning about coverage should try living in the old UK. Only way we can get decent comprehensive coverage seems to be by adding to Rupert Murdoch’s coffers. No way. But I did see Carla play Venus. Wasn’t she FANTASTIC! What a backhand, very like Gasquets, truly beautiful.

January 22nd, 2009 at 12:58 pm

Watch the live streams, they are very good, except it’s tiring sitting at the computer for lengthy periods of time.

Carla’s backhand reminds me of Amelie Mauresmo’s also.

January 22nd, 2009 at 1:05 pm

MMT:

“Australia will have no men ranked in the top 100? Wow…how tennis has changed.”

Tennis has gone through a seismic shift. From the Aussies, to the Americans, to global. domination by any one nation is now a thing of the past. However, hope springs eternal …

January 22nd, 2009 at 1:08 pm

:: Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake have each beaten two qualifiers to reach the Australian Open third round… ::

nadal, djokovic, and federer have beaten two journeymen to reach the australian open third round…

January 22nd, 2009 at 1:12 pm

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m guessing the reason the story mentioned that Roddick and Blake beat two qualifiers is because they beat two qualifiers. And by the way, they’re the only players in the round of 32 who got there by beating two qualifiers.

It’s called reporting.

January 22nd, 2009 at 1:58 pm

It seems to me that Europe is creating (by far) the most quality players, with an exception made for Argentina, who seem to have a lot of good players too. Americans on on the decline, Brits have one hope in Murray, and the Australians are ont he outside looking in.

I agree with Jane that the Spaniards are just better players, but I would throw the French and Russians in there as well.

Those countries that used to dominate tennis should really take note of who’s doing it now, and try to emulate it.

January 22nd, 2009 at 2:03 pm

Come on Novak, JJ, Dokic and Ana tonight!

January 22nd, 2009 at 2:14 pm

Nole is on track again with the new weapon in his hands, this time again as a “hunter” and not a “hunted one”,

January 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm

I wouldn’t say Seppi (Federer’s first opponent) is a journeyman. He just missed being seeded.

January 22nd, 2009 at 2:54 pm

Von
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Sorry I think you have an issue with people lampooning the idea of “fat” sportsman. But I don’t see what the problem is…as normal people, it makes sense, you can be what you want, but for sportsmen at the highest levels, it really makes a difference as to how your physique is. If you turn your fat into muscle, it should make a difference to your mobility and flexibility. So I don’t see how the issue of “being comfortable with oneself” comes. Its not a mental issue, its purely physical imho. Besides, I think it shows the dedication that a player has to the sport, so that you do Everything to go higher, and that includes putting a few hours in the gym. Maybe its not entirely a coincidence that Nalby has been so inconsistent over the years, his immense talent nothwithstanding.

And its actually pretty easy to flatten that tummy, for sportsmen who can hire whoever the hell they want for the same. Of course not for us, with grad school and jobs or whatever on our minds, but a top sportsman? I really don’t think so.

January 22nd, 2009 at 3:19 pm

the only reason americans get singled out is because they suck and their media sucks! putting an american as the ATP ceo is a disaster for tennis, americans are very obnoxious and unlikeable and i think helfant will do his best to destroy tennis globally to aid american tennis! it will be a sad few years!

January 22nd, 2009 at 4:16 pm

Kroll:

You’re right that I do have an issue about references to “fat” athletes, and ‘fat” people in general, which goes to the very heart of my thinking that we must be happy and/or comfortable with who we are. However, I do agree with you that an athlete’s goal should be first and foremost to go higher and attain new levels of fitness in order to be the best they can possibly be, and more dedication and work-out time would be the answer to solving unwanted fat and distended abdomens.

I do disgree though, that’s it’s not a mental issue. If that were the case, then we wouldn’t see over-achievers and under-achievers, would we, and we’d have hundreds of Federers and Nadals on the tennis circuit. It’s their mentality which manifests the driving force or the complacency that we see, and, in this instance, it’s Nalbandian, who has immense talent, but is sadly lacking the will-power and/or discipline to implement those changes necessary in his gym time, to achieve a svelte physique.

With respect to their financial ability to hire whomever they choose to help them flatten their tummies, build muscle and stamina, et al., again it’s a matter of a mental issue. To overcome every problem, we must first admit we have a problem, and then make a conscious decision to bring about the required changes. This is where the mental aspect is necessary, because if the mind does not perceive a change is needed, then the physical changes are never going to be implemented.

January 22nd, 2009 at 5:41 pm

Von
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Good point. I was considering the absolute notion of “sportsman at the highest level” which is clearly stupid, as you ve pointed out. The standards (essentially the mean value) are higher, but there is clear variability around the mean and that should go a long way in defining the rankings.

January 22nd, 2009 at 8:34 pm

But surely there is no need to comment on the state of someone’s stomach, the proof of the pudding is in the performance which must be pretty evident to the guy in question too. And if an athlete allows him/herself to get severely out of condition, isn’t that more an indication of a state of mind rather than body?
And now that Bush is gone couldn’t we be a bit more generous towards the yanks? After all Putin is busy holding Europe to ransom over gas but it would be daft to blame the Russian people for that!

January 23rd, 2009 at 9:13 am

“How slow is the Australian Open court with so many Spaniards still alive and well?…”

I think you’re asking the wrong question here. Perhaps they’ve just improved? How slow was the US Open in 2003 when Juan Carlos Ferrero made the final?

If Roddick can win the US Open on such a slow surface and make the semis in slow Australia a few times, the finals at Wimbledon a few times (which had to be slow also if Nadal was to make 3 finals and win once), he should also be able to do similarly well at the French?

It’s only the third round and you are surprised to see this many spaniards? What, were you expecting them to lose in the first or second round simply because it’s a hard court? You need to look at the history of how they performed on hard courts. If it was grass you’d have a pretty good point.

“Why were Marat Safin and Guillermo Canas playing doubles? (They got crushed)…”

Safin experiments a lot in doubles. Choosing some interesting partners but changes them all the time. He’s partnered with Fed, Hewitt, and Philippoussis before to name a few.

“After the Aussie Open, with the first-round loss by Lleyton Hewitt, Australia will have no men ranked in the Top 100…”

That’s a scary thought, but at the 100 mark it doesn’t take many wins to get back inside it. Bernard Tomic was ranked over 700 going into AO (his first senior level tournament). He won one match and then lost in the second round, and as a result of his one win, his ranking will jump into the 100’s, according to a paper I read. That shows what little separates the players with triple digit rankings.

I’m fairly confident that Hewitt will finish the year in the top 30 or better. He hasn’t played since the Beijing Olympics so he has many points to pick up, and he’s looking quite competitive (gave Gonzo a real scare). As for the other aussie guys.. they are all underachievers.

January 24th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

“Sorry I think you have an issue with people lampooning the idea of “fat” sportsman. But I don’t see what the problem is…as normal people, it makes sense, you can be what you want, but for sportsmen at the highest levels, it really makes a difference as to how your physique is. If you turn your fat into muscle, it should make a difference to your mobility and flexibility. So I don’t see how the issue of “being comfortable with oneself” comes. Its not a mental issue, its purely physical imho. Besides, I think it shows the dedication that a player has to the sport, so that you do Everything to go higher, and that includes putting a few hours in the gym. Maybe its not entirely a coincidence that Nalby has been so inconsistent over the years, his immense talent nothwithstanding.”

I agree completely with this, and it amazes me that Nalbandian has managed to do this well. He seems to be fit enough to handle 5 setters without getting tired. Slimming down would give him a further edge.

“Tennis has gone through a seismic shift. From the Aussies, to the Americans, to global. domination by any one nation is now a thing of the past. However, hope springs eternal …”

The Europeans are doing really well at the moment, in particular the French who must have a really good Davis Cup team right now without needing the services of PH Matthieu any further.

January 24th, 2009 at 12:14 pm