Tony Roche: Roger Federer Can Win More Slams And Play For Another 4-5 Years!

Wishful thinking perhaps?
Roche is in fact a former coach so why not throw in his 2 cents! Lol

December 3rd, 2014 at 10:45 am

Absolutely Giles! You are so right! You follow him by throwing in your 2 cents! Lol! Predictable!

There is a Rafa thread up and running now Giles, why not do something productive for a change and comment on the player you love rather than hate?

Vamos Roger!

Vamos Champ!

Vamos Roache!

December 3rd, 2014 at 11:17 am

“Roche who has coached the likes of Federer, Ivan Lendl, Lleyton Hewitt and Patrick Rafter.”
I’d say that qualifies for a expert opinion on the matter.
—-
This past year his movement was as good as ever, but it’s a fact with age you’re going to lose a step eventually. When that happens, he’ll go down fast. Until then…go as long as you can go Maestro! Get that next Slam!
The GLOBAL Fans favorite player.

December 3rd, 2014 at 11:45 am

Federer had his best year since 2012 and he didn’t win a slam, he had his best chance at US open with no nadal, djokovic, murray and still didn’t win, with nadal, murray, del potro returning stronger i don’t see it possible, he’s only hope is wimby again, he can’t win at any of the other three.

December 3rd, 2014 at 11:54 am

@maaaaadmax. Typical fedfanatic using the word “hate”!! Pfffft. Hate is a very strong word which I do not use. I would rather say “dislike”, much more polite and just as effective.
BTW I will comment on any thread I wish to. I’ve chosen this one for now.

December 3rd, 2014 at 11:55 am

I hope this is true. He is so graceful on the court and so entertaining to watch!!

December 3rd, 2014 at 11:57 am

He can certainly play for a few more years,as he doesnt seem to suffer from any serious injuries,and although it wont be easy as theres new guys coming through he could possibly eek out another GS depending on a favourable draw,as stated above i think his best bet would probably be another Wimbledon….

December 3rd, 2014 at 12:06 pm

If he wins 5 more slams, then I will give birth to twins personally. You know, anything is possible.

December 3rd, 2014 at 12:43 pm

Genuinely honest opinion: pre uso 14 i thought he could. Was thinking he’ll get a Sampras 12′ farewell slam win. For me that presented itself this year in New York and he did not take his chance. One never knows but:1- I cannot see him getting a better chance than USO this year: a slam without facing a top 10 player? Unheard of chance gone by. 2- I cannot see him playing better next year. He’ll be a year older and this year showed at slam level there are better players. 3- competition is getting too deep: Nadal, nole, Murray (he’ll be better v 34 year old Fed next year), del potro, wawrinka, cilic, nishikori etc. And even big hitters can knock him off the court. I think he’s done winning slams and major titles.

December 3rd, 2014 at 1:18 pm

I won’t be one bit surprised if he doesn’t play on for 4 or 5 more years……as I said on another thread he’s chasing more records and he very well could win another slam…..I think it will be a tall order, however. He’s got the back niggle from time to time but so goes the sport. Roger has lots of fortitude to not have retired when he fell low in the rankings. He clawed his way back up, hey that’s what champions do. I will have to hand it to him, he’s something else to be able to do this at 33!!

December 3rd, 2014 at 1:25 pm

PS: love how Tony Roche gave that shout out to Rafael: recognizing his immense record and stating the obvious how more good fortune fitness wise would have only aided him to only improve it. Most the legends of the game to be honest have been extremely fair and lavish in praise to fedal. Just like fedal to one another.

December 3rd, 2014 at 1:38 pm

Getting injured time and time again isn’t bad luck, it’s the result of mistreating your body.

December 3rd, 2014 at 1:48 pm

Ben?

Elaborate on “mistreating” your body? The way he plays or…something else?

Giles Says:
@maaaaadmax. Typical fedfanatic using the word “hate”!! Pfffft. Hate is a very strong word which I do not use. I would rather say “dislike”, much more polite and just as effective.
BTW I will comment on any thread I wish to. I’ve chosen this one for now.

December 3rd, 2014 at 11:55 am

Giles. Hate is a very strong word, and one which you typify by commenting on every positive vibe from a current or previous coach or fan, for that matter. You are the disgrace here.

You should take a leaf out of Hippy’s book. Oh, I forgot, you don’t like her either because she is sane, gracious and thoughtful.

Of course you can post wherever you like – who said you couldn’t. I find it odd though when you waste so much time talking about Federer, who you “dislike”, rather than fawning over your favourite who you must have missed whilst he was having his stem cell therapy the last few months. That has been documented. Giles, tell me. Is that allowed in sport? Stem Cell Therapy? I didn’t think it was?

If so, may be Roger should get some SCT for his back? or Delpo for his wrist?

December 3rd, 2014 at 2:00 pm

Madmax appeciate that thanks,i think Bens talking about Nadals physical style of play,in relation to what Brando posted,in regard to what Toni Roche said about Rafa might have even done better without the ijuries,although im just summizing,they will all speak for themselves….

December 3rd, 2014 at 2:10 pm

@Ben……How do you think he’s abusing his body. I suppose there are lots of ways he could be……would like to know your take on the issue. Thanking you in advance. Okie

December 3rd, 2014 at 3:14 pm

Okie i think its due to his physical style of play….

December 3rd, 2014 at 3:17 pm

I was reading comments and after reading Ben’s I stopped scrolling to ask him a question….sorry I should have read everyone else’s…..seems others are wondering about too.

December 3rd, 2014 at 3:19 pm

Whether it’s his technique or whatever he’s doing off the court, something’s not right. Appendicitis was bad luck. But knee problems then back problems and even wrist problems? At some point, fairly early on, it’s his fault. It’s not “oh poor guy,” it’s “what are you doing that you keep hurting yourself?”

Bad luck is Kevin Ware and Paul George jumping and then snapping their legs in half on the floor.

December 3rd, 2014 at 3:21 pm

Oh, OK, Chick……..Another thing, I said abusing and Ben said mistreating his body, wanted to be clear on the correct word he used…..even though their akin to the same meaning…..I believe.

December 3rd, 2014 at 3:24 pm

@Ben, thanks!

I’ve never really said “poor guy”, he is what he is….a baseliner…….if he’s mistreating his body he’s the only one who can change the way he plays and I think that would be extremely hard to do at this stage of his career…..but maybe he’s working on shortening points……serve and volley, maybe???? That would be weird……LOL….yeah, I agree he’s his own worst enemy…….

December 3rd, 2014 at 3:41 pm

@Madmax…..do you have an authority on the stem cell therapy that it isn’t legal? I would be curious to see it. I’ve read it isn’t legal in Italy and somewhere else but can’t remember where.

December 3rd, 2014 at 4:01 pm

maaaaaadmax. FYI SCT is perfectly legal but then you already knew that didn’t you? Pffffft
BTW your fave should try it and thus avoid withdrawing from the final of important tourneys! Pffffft

December 3rd, 2014 at 4:13 pm

Tony Roche said the same for Lleyton Hewitt not long ago, he is getting old. Of course it is good to have Roger playing as long as he can but he can’t get better than he was, he is heading in another direction, besides, out of twenty last GS he played he won two, last one in 2012, if he as good as some think and the others are not as good as him he should have won more than two, no? I am sure younger Roger would have never do WO from WTF.
I thnik it is wishfull thinking with no disrespect for either Tony or Roger, the first test is in January in Melbourne.

December 3rd, 2014 at 4:17 pm

“Getting injured time and time again isn’t bad luck, it’s the result of mistreating your body”.
That is the biggest load of poppycock I have ever heard!

December 3rd, 2014 at 4:19 pm

One thing for sure, if he doesn’t win any more GS titles, he will definitely win the competition for the the best looking house, finally finished, stunning house and the views:

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/early-doors/roger-federer-s-£6-5million-swiss-villa-is-finally-complete—and-looks-amazing-132607852.html

December 3rd, 2014 at 4:40 pm

There’s something missing from the house, extra accommodation for skeezer and maaaaadmax.

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:09 pm

Ben, spot on. As an example, Rafa changed his serve shortly before ’10 open and served speed increased, then he shortly hurt his shoulder as a result and had to go back to the older technique.
Poppycock is a word used for the uneducated.
—
@wog boy
Didn’t Hewitt however have serious hip surgery that held him back in his career?

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:12 pm

Skeezer, as much as I respect Hewitts love for tennis and his fighting spirit, nevr liked him or was his fan, he won his last GS at the age of 21 in 2002, he never stood a chance of winning any more (one more final in 2005, AO) and the hip operation came much later. He won his GS titles when Sampras and Agassi were finishing and Roger was about ti star winning his GS titles, good on him for taking his chances between sunset of great champions (Sampras and Agassi) and sunrise of new champions, Federer and Nadal with Safin, I just had to mention Safin, far better player than Hewitt, IMO.

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:31 pm

When I first glanced at the picture of the Villa I thought he was standing in front if a steamed lined train……very industrial looking……but pretty.

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:36 pm

@My post 3:24 should be they’re and not their…..I do know the difference in case the grammar police should appear!! LOL

December 3rd, 2014 at 5:43 pm

It’s definitely not beyond fed to play another 4-5 years, though not sure about winning GS. Happy to be proven wrong, though.
Giles says:
Pfffft!
Giles, stop spelling out the sounds from your gastro-intestinal activities.
And stop saying Pfffft.
And calm down before you do a Gunter Parche.

December 3rd, 2014 at 8:10 pm

@Damien……what’s a Gunter Parche?

December 3rd, 2014 at 9:25 pm

@Okiegal
The guy who ended Monica Seles’ career.

December 3rd, 2014 at 9:42 pm

^^ LOL

December 3rd, 2014 at 10:23 pm

Roger is already doing wonderful things at 33, testing the limits of nature and a shining example for a fitness freak which is the most important element in Tennis. It is not enough if you are a brilliant player unless and until you are physically competent throughout yr career. Look at players Luke Rafa, Del Potto and Andy whose career have been curtailed to combating physical problems now and then. Novak who was too facing physical issues earlier in his career has found a way to come out of the quagmire. Nevertheless, I do not share Roche’s iptimism that Roger will be at the top three or four years from now as Tennis is a physically demanding sport which extracts much from a player and aging is agreat handicap to maintain yr dominance in the sport. Let us appreciate what Roger is doing at the moment by being an inspiration for budding youngsters and also for players over 30 that you can still remain a force to reckon with. Salute this Legend for what he has done to this sport by being a perfect brand Ambassador to make it a truly global one with his charisma. The tennis crowd loves Roger and sees him as a towering Icon who has done the sport proud by his accomplishments.

December 3rd, 2014 at 10:37 pm

/*Getting injured time and time again isn’t bad luck, it’s the result of mistreating your body.*/

Stupid shameful comment of the year..

December 3rd, 2014 at 11:09 pm

@Damien……Ok…..I got you…..I definitely remember the incident but I had forgotten his name, has been so long ago….Thanks!!

December 3rd, 2014 at 11:18 pm

@Wog why are you laughing out loud??

December 3rd, 2014 at 11:21 pm

“Stupid shameful comment of the year..”
Uh. Not.
Just cause you say so doesn’t mean diddly. Explain why not. Otherwise, it makes total sense!

December 3rd, 2014 at 11:23 pm

@Oki, nothing to do with your question or that tragic incident with Monika Seles, just the way Mills have put it together, but I realise now that it came out different way, not the way I wanted so I retract that “LOL”.

December 3rd, 2014 at 11:41 pm

@Wog….Thanks, I was kind of taken aback by it, thanks for the explanation…..I felt like I had misread your point.

December 4th, 2014 at 12:39 am

@Okiegal
No problem. And Wogboy, don’t worry, all good. The first part of my post, I was using a double entendre to highlight the toilet-worthy vitriol coming from Giles. The second part was to highlight the dangers of continuing to give such people with obvious issues a stage. I think doing so only enhances their neuroses. I sincerely hope it doesn’t come back to bite whoever’s allowing him to speak in a tragic way in the future.

December 4th, 2014 at 12:44 am

@tennis x
arent you guys making a top 10 for match of the year or performance of the year?

the latter is without doubt Cilic 2nd week.
he smashed with clinical performance the Fedsters dreams of #18.
Ik watched in shock and disbelief how well hè kept the level he was playing.He dominated 2nd week only matched by other greats… Federer, Nadal, Sampras, Borg, big Mac.

December 4th, 2014 at 2:15 am

Let’s see now. @Damien Mills (Geez another new poster) says “the toilet-worthy vitriol coming from Giles”. A harsh comment indeed which I will ignore but suffice it to say this “new poster” has deemed it necessary to respond not once but twice to my so called “toilet-worthy vitriol” comment.
BTW look in the mirror Ms Mills!

December 4th, 2014 at 3:46 am

The last sentence of the post@8.10pm December 3rd,was in poor taste,not agreeing with a poster is all well and good,and hell ive had my disagreements with Giles,but comparing him to someone whos stabbed a player is below the belt,seems tennis-x have a strange idea of moderation,i have to say alot of the time it depends on whos doing the insulting,and whos on the recieving end of the insults as to whether the tennis-x staff care enough to do anything about it?….

December 4th, 2014 at 3:58 am

HC. Thanks for your input on that poster’s OTT unnecessary comment. I agree with you on the moderation here.

December 4th, 2014 at 4:05 am

In spite of Rafas so called limitations as a player,when push comes to shove only one player in history has done better,hes won 14 GS,67 titles overall,is still ranked number 3,is still playing, still wants to carry on playing, still,enjoys playing etc,so why cant we leave him alone in peace to do so,his bodys breaking down his bodys rebelling,hes not the player he was etc,well that happens to all players eventually and many of them aint had the career success Nadals had,so what makes him any different….

December 4th, 2014 at 5:50 am

Ms Mills? At least now you and I have something in common, hon – takes one to know one :)
Got anything that doesn’t make your nation’s education system appear woefully inadequate?
Believe me, I’d rather talk tennis, but the day when I let a wannabe cool kid/bully try to spread discontent and run riot over people just because his favourite player (of all things) attracts criticism (who’s done his best to intimidate you too at times HC, I might add) is the day when I WON’T be able to look in the mirror.
It’s a slippery slope from ‘nasty as a kid’ to ‘violent as an adult’.
No hard feelings, HC.
Anyhoo, rafa’s not my favourite player, but damn he’s good when he’s on.

December 4th, 2014 at 7:40 am

DM i have no problem with you,and your right ive had my differences with Giles as i have with other posters,i just didnt like that particular comment is all,anyway back to tennis….

December 4th, 2014 at 8:04 am

Just watching Pat and Goran in the ITFL,which brings back memories of that Wimbledon final all those years ago,Pat having match points,and Goran snatching victory from the jaws of defeat,lol amazing final,second only to the 2008 final IMO….

December 4th, 2014 at 8:10 am

Sienna although i dont care for Cilic,due to the company he keeps when hes not playing tennis,i do admit i have alot of respect for him maybe not as a person but certainly as a player,although i do think Stans AO win was more impressive as he beat two GS champions back to back,i would also argue that Nishikori beat Novak and Stan back to back plus a top 10 player in Raonic,so he was spent when it came to the final,Delpo beat Rafa and Roger to win the USO in 2009,Berdych beat Roger and Novak at Wimbledon in 2010 before losing to Rafa in the final,JMO but those were more impressive….

December 4th, 2014 at 8:56 am

@HC
Yep, I remember that match too. I was travelling in Oz when I saw it. I was in a pub in Alice Springs and the crowd was going nuts. Felt heartbroken for Pat.

December 4th, 2014 at 8:58 am

DM I remember coming home from work and watching it on the Monday,i still have alot of bitterness towards Goran for first beating our Tim and then Pat in the final who was my favorite player back then,cracking final and i would love to sit and watch it again at some point,but i was gutted for Pat,who retired the following year sadly(sigh)….

December 4th, 2014 at 9:10 am

DM,
Well said!

December 4th, 2014 at 9:48 am

Chick 67 really? maybe in2,5 years

that is the problem with Nadal fanatics they are as much ahead as full of them selves.

on wawa win.
yes he did beat two giants. but novak was close call could easiley be aan different outcome in that match. Nadal did performe like we used to see. it was like Nadal crumbled because he knew he would be favorite to overtake Federer. (that would make interesting blog. Nadal never seems to be great being#1.)
but I wont take anything away from a slamwinner. they all are hard and against players who are if fit on top of their game.

on Cilic Us open win.
if you dont see the overpowering manner cilic took his slam then you are not such a great reader of the game.
Cilic dominated like;
Sampras wimbledon, Federer wimbledon, Us open and Au open TMF style, Borg Garros and Wimbledon, Nadal Garros. Big Mac wimbledon.

the true dominators of the game. there is a difference in winning a slam and setting new standards.

Cilic like the ones I mentioned raised the bar and set a new standaard.

Question remains can he reproduce that level?

December 4th, 2014 at 1:09 pm

I mean obviously Nadal did not performe…

funny typo.

December 4th, 2014 at 1:10 pm

@Chick 5:50…..There was a post on another thread that had an A B & C as to how could Rafa possibly be GOAT because he was out of the game too much. I was appalled by that comment because of the stats you posted on your comment. How can he have these amazing records if he hasn’t been playing. Too many clay titles……..they don’t count much…….since when?? Thanks for those stats……I would have looked them up myself but it was late…..sorry I stuck the G word in this comment, because I don’t dig that issue either……

December 4th, 2014 at 1:52 pm

Okiegal Says:
@Madmax…..do you have an authority on the stem cell therapy that it isn’t legal? I would be curious to see it. I’ve read it isn’t legal in Italy and somewhere else but can’t remember where.

December 3rd, 2014 at 4:01 pm

Oki, yes. I read that too. So if it is banned in sports in Italy, why not in Spain?

I don’t get it.

December 4th, 2014 at 1:58 pm

@Damien……Your post that mentioned Alice Springs, I’ve seen an entree at Outback Steakhouse that is called Alice Springs Chicken…..I thought it was an odd name for a dish…….it’s a town!! Thanks for giving me a little tidbit about “down under” that I had always been curious about…..

December 4th, 2014 at 1:59 pm

Okie i dont pay too much attention anymore,as far as im concerned both are amazing players,both have their own records,and i dont care who the G is anymore,and i will never be offended with anything you say,its all good ;))….

December 4th, 2014 at 2:03 pm

@Madmax…..That makes two of us…..I don’t get it either??

December 4th, 2014 at 2:04 pm

Okie/Madmax make that three of us then lol….

December 4th, 2014 at 2:06 pm

DM, you picked the most unusual place to watch tennis, Alice Springs. I bet the locals were pretty vocal.. with a help of few schooners:)
I felt for Rafter, he was my favourite at the time, gentlman through and through, he still can’t explaion how he lost that match:(

December 4th, 2014 at 2:07 pm

Oki, Alice Springs is a part of Golden Triangle, three most popular tourist destinations in Australia, Cairns-Alice Springs (Uluru)-Sydney. Every European/American tour group is doing it, visiting Alice Springs (Uluru).

December 4th, 2014 at 2:13 pm

Wogboy Pat was my favorite player too,was gutted he didnt win Wimbledon,he was one of the most talented players of that generation,i always enjoyed his match up with Andre….

December 4th, 2014 at 2:38 pm

@Chick…..loved Pat Rafter. I became a fan whenever he would do a missed toss, he would loudly say “Sorry, mate”…….cutest thing ever…..and he was the cutest thing ever. The first pony tailed guy I truly fell in live with!!!! LOL I just know I would fit in, in Australia…..the folks there seem to be high spirited people…..you can take that two ways!! LOL…..The Aussies seem to have a great time at the open.

December 4th, 2014 at 2:52 pm

@Wog….You bringing up the golden triangle…..that reminded me why I don’t fly. The route might take me over the Bermuda triangle……get my drift??? Lol

December 4th, 2014 at 2:55 pm

HC, agree, he was a joy to watch and a very good man too, unfortunatelly injury prone too.

Skeezer, if you are around, do you want me to get you few bottles of Shiraz, I just woke up in the beautifull Hunter Valley, watching kangaroos in the paddock, one kookabura on the three waiting for one unlucky lizard to turn up for her breakfast and Shiraz vineyard in the middle, I’ll do wine tasting later, the place I am staying has best Shiraz, by the end of the day I’ll be goner and I am looking forward to it:)

December 4th, 2014 at 2:57 pm

Oki, this is inland Golden Triangle, so you are safe:)

December 4th, 2014 at 2:58 pm

@Sienna 1:09…..”Chick, 67 really?”…I’m confident it was a typo, right Chick??

December 4th, 2014 at 3:00 pm

@Wog…..I appreciate that info…..flunked Geography in college…..well, almost….I concentrated on sports and square dancing..the fun stuff!

December 4th, 2014 at 3:03 pm

Okiegal sorry 64 titles which is still insane,Roger has 77 i believe,wow just wow when you look at the achievements of these two they just boggle the mind,these two hold the records Roger in the GS,Rafa in the Masters 1000s….

December 4th, 2014 at 3:18 pm

chick 77???
get it together!

December 4th, 2014 at 3:30 pm

Sienna i was talking about Cilic,Wawa,Nishikori Delpo,and their GS wins yet you were the first one who brought up Rafa, when i wasnt even talking about the guy,you did the other day when the thread was about Murray and yet again you were the first one to mention the guy,your obsessed with the guy,you talk more about him than you do about Fed whos supposed to be your favorite,i challenge you to send in a post without mentioning the name Nadal….

December 4th, 2014 at 3:37 pm

tell me more about a slam won by nishikori?
i think youre starting to break up.
but what is wrong with the way i adressed Nadal?

December 4th, 2014 at 3:45 pm

i give him credits for setting new standard in his dominationom clay
Just like borg, Mac, Lendl, Sampras and Federer. they all elevated tennis and set New atandards.

Federer of course was the ultimate. His 4 TMf years will never be duplicated. That
was insane.

December 4th, 2014 at 3:57 pm

@Wogboy @Okiegal
Yes indeed, a few schooners we’re had – they kept the cold at bay :) The atmosphere was extraordinary – you want to see a group of eclectic people band together over something, just put an Aussie competing against anybody in any sport in front of them!
The wine was flowing too, though the winery there didn’t produce as-good wine as the Barossa region in South Australia.That central strip was/is a beautiful part of the world.
And talking about cold – swimming in a rock pool at Kings Canyon in the middle of winter is about as cold as you can get there.

December 4th, 2014 at 3:57 pm

chick
now you claim 77 titles for Federer.
youre stealing them from old rog and giving them to Nadal.
and you seem to think nishikori is aan slamwinner.

get your act together girl.

December 4th, 2014 at 4:35 pm

@Damien Mills, it is pleasure to read you:)

December 4th, 2014 at 4:56 pm

@Sienna December 4th, 2014 at 1:09 pm
[Cilic like the ones I mentioned raised the bar and set a new standaard].
WOuld appreciate it a lot if you explained this a bit ? In which way did each one of them set new standards ?

December 5th, 2014 at 2:32 am

wilfred
if you fail to see the new standard Borg, Mac, Lendl, Sampras, Federer and Nadal have set then it is of little or no importance for you. they have excelled from other slamwinners in alle way that has raised the bar. their victories in tennis slams have come by winning +, that + sets them apart from others.

Agassi might fit with AU OPEN but he is already little below this groupe.

Cilic win was of that order that +.
But you need to back it up to get there.
Wawa win was not of that order.

December 5th, 2014 at 5:37 am

Wilfred i think what Sienna meanns,was Cilics run at the USO,straight setting Berdych,Federer and then Nishikori in the final,which was an amazing run,and lights out brilliant tennis,was it more impressive than Stans AO win?IMO no but in Siennas opinion yes,but we are all entitled to our own right?fair enough Stan didnt straight set Novak and Rafa to win the AO,but they are both GS champions,and Cilic only beat one,and Nishikori had nothing left for the final,although neither player have done anything much since to back it up…..

December 5th, 2014 at 5:47 am

of course also Djokovic is where agassi is atm.
another relative easy Au open or his novak slam will be enough.

December 5th, 2014 at 5:49 am

Errr what?….

December 5th, 2014 at 8:33 am

Sorry Roger has actually won 79 career titles career titles,and Rafa 64,Nishikori in my belief is has potential to be a GS champion,never has doesnt necassarily mean never will,and dont ever tell me to get my act together,as i dont appreciate it thankyou….

December 5th, 2014 at 8:48 am

Okie @December 4th 2.52pm lol,yeah me too loved Pat,cute guy and as Wogboy said he was a gentleman,love Andre too but Pat more,and i really liked that match up,wouldve loved to have seen Pat win Wimbledon grrr Goran….

December 5th, 2014 at 9:08 am

chick
it will be enough for novak to become tier 1 in open era
along with those I mentioned.

novak needs Garros or another convincing AU open.

Fed is only one who is tier 1+
for obvious reasons

December 5th, 2014 at 11:07 am

Ben Pronin Says:
Getting injured time and time again isn’t bad luck, it’s the result of mistreating your body.

——

Sorry Ben. I’m not seeing your point on this one. Rafa is a world class athlete. He trains and prepares for tennis as a world class athlete would. He’s not popping happy pills or drinking uncontrollably (at least not as far as any of us knows). Many elite athletes have had to fight through injuries. When a sprinter pulls up lame, has he/she done so because they have abused their body? In reality, elite athletes take better care of their bodies than any of us. There may be genetic reasons why Rafa’s knees a susceptible to injury. I can think of one player who’s style is similar to Rafa’s. An extremely physical player, Perhaps even more so than Rafa…Thomas Muster. The only injury issues he had were due to a knee injury caused by the car accident he was in. And he won a major after the car accident.

I don’t think that Rafa’s injuries are a result of mistreating his body. I agree that his style isn’t as easy on his joints as Federer’s but this is tennis after all. It’s a non-contact sport. You see athletes getting hurt in baseball too. Sometimes, it’s just bad genes.

December 5th, 2014 at 12:38 pm

@SG1 12:38

Great post, so true. We all know Rafa’s style of play is lots of running. If his knees are prone to be a weaker area of his body then he would be susceptible to injury…..knees problematic at a younger age. The newer issues, wrist and back has happened at the older phase of his life, career wise. The time he changed his serve caused a problem too. He hurt himself with that serve but also won the USO. I wonder in hindsight if he would have changed it??

December 5th, 2014 at 12:56 pm

@SG1. Well said. I do hope you get a sensible response from Pronin whose post in the first place was a load of cr@p!

December 5th, 2014 at 1:10 pm

@Giles…….in honor of our guy……El cr@po!

December 5th, 2014 at 1:34 pm

Okie. Hahaha, that sounds about right!

December 5th, 2014 at 1:55 pm

cute, albeit short, videos of ana and gael learning to bollywood dance:

http://sports.ndtv.com/tennis/news/234096-serve-and-volley-bollywood-style-tennis-superstars-put-on-their-dancing-shoes

nole and fed set to play in india next week, i think monday.

December 5th, 2014 at 1:55 pm

Hippy Chick Says:
Okiegal sorry 64 titles which is still insane,Roger has 77 i believe,wow just wow when you look at the achievements of these two they just boggle the mind,these two hold the records Roger in the GS,Rafa in the Masters 1000s….

December 4th, 2014 at 3:18 pm

HC, ROger has 82 singles titles. NO 77 or later when you say 79. :)

The next person he would try to overtake in this would be Lendl, who has 94 – may do it, but we will see.

Of course JC is the outright winner with 109. Awesome figure. Likely never to be equalled/surpassed. So in terms of most singles titles, it’s Conors, Lendl then Federer.

Rafa has 64 and ties with Borg and Sampras.

December 5th, 2014 at 1:56 pm

Okie. Wait for it, wait for it, old skeezer with his El cr@po! Lol

December 5th, 2014 at 1:59 pm

The only players that raised the bar in this century are Roger, Rafa, Nole, in that order, Federer was the first one (still doing it at the 33 years of age) to set new standards and raise the bar, he pushed Nadal to raise it even more and Nole finaly said “I don’t wont to be remembered as best ever #3 in the world” and set the standards of his own. All the others just had on off good tournament and failed to back it up (appart of Murray who is above “all the others”), besides, Stan had to beat #1 and #2 to win AO, I rate his win higher than Marin’s one.

December 5th, 2014 at 3:49 pm

Marin’s last three rounds at the US Open especially his straight set win over a renewed Federer was more impressive than Stan’s win over a nervy Djokovic and hampered Nadal at the Aussie Open in my opinion.

December 5th, 2014 at 4:03 pm

@Jane….I would love to hit the dance floor with Gael. I bet he’s a blast to hang out with…..lol

December 5th, 2014 at 4:05 pm

Djokovic wasn’t nervy, not at all, Stan just refused to blink as he usually does, and he was beating Rafa convincingly before Rafa got injured, even injured Rafa won one set.
ATP stan/Nole match second best of the year and Eimbledon final the best match of GS year, none of them is from USO.

December 5th, 2014 at 4:09 pm

^^driving and posting is illegal,, appart of making more spelling mistakes than usuall while doing it.:(

December 5th, 2014 at 4:21 pm

Madmax sorry 82 titles then….

December 5th, 2014 at 5:35 pm

When none Rafa fans talk about Rafas injuries,i dont know if they mean to do it,and maybe its me being defensive,but it always comes across as been quite smug and rather condescending??

December 5th, 2014 at 5:38 pm

@Wog……I was so shocked when the injured Rafa took that set off of Stan…..but Stan lost focus when he was losing it over the MTO, imo.

December 5th, 2014 at 5:52 pm

Rafa can’t catch a break these last few years, but I can’t help wondering if his style of play is a contributing factor…? Maybe, maybe not – I know when something goes wrong with my knees at an amateur level, other connected parts start to play up, so I can only imagine what happens at the elite level.

And if there’s one thing I dislike, it’s people who mug for fights. What I really can’t stand are sycophants who mug for fights.
Leave it out Giles, there’s no need for it.

December 5th, 2014 at 6:29 pm

yup Wog boy

the matches from us open where not selected because of the brutal domination by cilic.

had it been 5 or 4 set matches with sets to 5 or breakers.
duh!!!

December 5th, 2014 at 6:43 pm

Oki, you are right, Stan lost his focus but who ever remembers the match, first set was absolut beauty, they got stuck into each other from the word GO, now I have to go back to USO and Cilic SF and F matches. As much as Cilic play great he had tired Federer (reason called Monfils) with little or no return game and not good service day in SF and Nishikori who had no juice left in the tank for the final match, on the other side Stan had to beat Nole, Berdych (match could go either way if you remember) and Rafa.
Federer of late can’t play two long matches in a row, he needs more recavery time which is normal, so, to say that somebody set a new benchmark in tennis just by beating tired Roger and tired Nishikori is..well.. plain stupid.

December 5th, 2014 at 7:22 pm

@Wog…….the benchmark comment, I guess I’m pretty thick headed, but didn’t have a clue what that was all about……last paragraph, spot on. The Rafa/Stan match……had Rafa been w/o the back issue, don’t know the outcome…..but my gut says yes, Rafa would have made a comeback……but of course I would say that…….but of course I believe it!! VAMOS!!

December 5th, 2014 at 8:10 pm

Oki, if there is one player who can forget previous point (game, set) and think only about next point he is about to play, it is Rafa, so you might be right about his come back at AO.

Benchmark comment was for a poster who claims that Cilic “set new standards” in tennis the way he played in New York.

December 5th, 2014 at 8:19 pm

@Wog…..Cilic won his first slam, a-okay….but can he back it up, and for that matter can Stan??? We will see how the first slam of the season plays out……should be interesting. Cilic and Stan are gonna have to step it up and prove to everyone that they’re not one hit wonders!! I’m anxious to see how DelPo does too!!

December 5th, 2014 at 10:41 pm

yup the level Cilic reached in USOPEN was unbeatable by any standard of play we have witnessed.
not so strange because the game evolves

I agree that in order to generate more flow for Cilic era he needs to back it up otherwise his win would be of litle of no relevance.
but somehow Cilic can duplicate that level of play and finds the belief and mental strenght to reproduce time after time…. beware Cilic age is upon us.

not so with stan win. We know knew he could play with the top guys from time to time. His win was good/great for him but nothing more. Stan could win another one if all turnturn out ok for him in a slam.

But in potential Cilic is the one who can be a more potent top tier player. Just because in the manner he won.

December 6th, 2014 at 2:35 am

Too bad this rod clown isn’t “playing”:
The war between mirka & the opponents will destroy federer.

Roddick about federer:

“If that was something that did go back to Wimbledon [as Wawrinka suggested in his on-court conversation with umpire Cedric Mourier], it should have been sorted out earlier,” Roddick says. “Trust me, I lost a lot to Roger. If Mirka had an inappropriate yell in a game I probably would have seen it and I never saw it. She was always great.

“I was surprised that in that forum, in that arena, even if something is bothering you, I don’t know if that is the right place to address it with an umpire. It would have had to be really over the line for me to acknowledge it in the moment during a match, especially if it’s a friend. But they know their friendship better than the rest of us.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/11274559/Andy-Roddick-Defeat-to-Roger-Federer-in-Wimbledon-final-in-2009-is-still-my-greatest-moment.html

December 6th, 2014 at 1:17 pm