From Match Point Down, Troicki Turns Trick for ATP Sydney Title

It was the thriller, Troicki was serving and quolity match. Both players threw everything they had, it was obvious that Troicki was smell of an oily rag after having to play two hard fought three set matches previous day. Viktor was serving for the match in the third set and was broken. I thought, here we go again, another choke is coming, but he man up and both were having mini breaks and rebreaks he won with his favorit BC CC passing shot.
It was interesting watching fans, it was roughly fifty fifty support in Ken Rosewall Arena, half Bulgarian and half Serbian fans with few Aussies:)
Organizers should be ashamed that two time finalist and defending champion did’t play one single match until final on Ken Rosewall Arena, but every Tom and Dick, including that dickhead Tomic the Tank Engine played, whose behavior was nothing short of horrendous. Shame on organizers..

January 16th, 2016 at 5:41 pm

^^ **was running on the smell of an oily rag* should say

January 16th, 2016 at 5:43 pm

This is match point BHCC passing shot…and check his girlfriend, I am pretty sure Colin would like her if he is reading:

http://youtu.be/Uyn-LYdP-sU

January 16th, 2016 at 6:18 pm

congrats to viktor on defending his title
does this say anything about grigor’s potential or lack thereof? didn’t get a chance to watch as it started at around 2 am last night. i did see troicki was losing the first set badly so i kind of assumed grigor would win

January 16th, 2016 at 6:28 pm

Me too, WB, me too.

January 16th, 2016 at 6:29 pm

jane:

I didn’t watch the match, but they played two matches the previous day. So, a player like Dimitrov, that takes a lot of risks, usually is in a less favourable position.

I am completely blind with my new glasses…

January 16th, 2016 at 6:31 pm

Do you play the racket bracket? What about you, WB?

January 16th, 2016 at 6:32 pm

not usually mat4. not sure I could pick from 128. used to play in the past when conty and kimberly were around

January 16th, 2016 at 6:51 pm

mat4,
Actually Dimitrov had only to finish his Dolgopolov match after it was interrupted at 4:2 in the third set and then beat Muller in easy two sets, on the other side Viktor played two three sets, 2+ hours matches and was really spent for the final, that’s why it was so sweet.
jane, Dimitrov played well in both, Brisbane and Sydney, but he still reverts unnecessarily to defensive mood far too often and it is pity because he has aggressive weapons to stay on base line.

I like Jack Reader, self described tennis bum and Viktor’s coach, while Viktor was battling Grigor he cracked open can of beer, really unconventional (understatement) tennis coach and true blue Aussie.
Here is one true story while he was coaching Dolgopolov, I was trying to imagine him and Dolgo in next situation, have a read:
—
One of the funniest stories Reader confirmed yesterday was the idea he had a couple of years ago, as he and Dolgopolov were sitting in Nice trying to get to Paris, to pose as a gay couple to make use of a lovebirds’ cheap flights offer. Dolgopolov went along with the ruse as far as the check-in counter and then suddenly lost his nerve.

“They wanted proof of residence,” Reader explained. “I looked at him and he looked at me and said can I upgrade the ticket? He chickened out and ran off and paid the extra fare.”
—

January 16th, 2016 at 7:05 pm

mat4,
Actually Dimitrov had only to finish his Dolgopolov match after it was interrupted at 4:2 in the third set and then beat Muller in easy two sets, on the other side Viktor played two three sets, 2+ hours matches and was really spent for the final, that’s why it was so sweet.
jane, Dimitrov played well in both, Brisbane and Sydney, but he still reverts unnecessarily to defensive mood far too often and it is pity because he has aggressive weapons to stay on base line.

I like Jack Reader, self described tennis bum and Viktor’s coach, while Viktor was battling Grigor he cracked open can of beer, really unconventional (understatement) tennis coach and true blue Aussie.
Here is one true story while he was coaching Dolgopolov, I was trying to imagine him and Dolgo in next situation, have a read:
–
One of the funniest stories Reader confirmed yesterday was the idea he had a couple of years ago, as he and Dolgopolov were sitting in Nice trying to get to Paris, to pose as a g.a.y couple to make use of a lovebirds’ cheap flights offer. Dolgopolov went along with the ruse as far as the check-in counter and then suddenly lost his nerve.

“They wanted proof of residence,” Reader explained. “I looked at him and he looked at me and said can I upgrade the ticket? He chickened out and ran off and paid the extra fare.”

January 16th, 2016 at 7:07 pm

No mat4, I don’t play, you know I don’t like predictions, not for Nole anyway..

January 16th, 2016 at 7:15 pm

J., just finished an email.

January 16th, 2016 at 7:19 pm

^^ but you didn’t send me one, why are you ignoring me..everybody is ignoring me..

January 16th, 2016 at 7:31 pm

OK, a mail for you. In French…

January 16th, 2016 at 7:39 pm

Sorry people for double post, the first one was in moderation, I realized why so changed it and posted again, but then moderator gave it a pass for the original one.

January 16th, 2016 at 7:42 pm

thanks for the feedback on the match wog bog.

and for the message mat4. sorry for jamming out on the bracket challenge. good luck!!

January 16th, 2016 at 8:04 pm

*boy … sorry

January 16th, 2016 at 8:05 pm

I saw the 3rd set, and by then Dimitrov’s level was quite low. He missed several backhand passing shots in a row (4-5) in the net…disaster. He also was playing further behind the baseline the Troicki, which I just could believe my eyes. Of all people to whom one should not concede the baseline, Troicki, a near eternal baseline defender, is the wrong player to do this against. I don’t think he’s playing well enough to win the Australian – Troicki is not a player he should be losing to if he is a genuine contender.

Troicki for his part played well, but not out of his socks. He too made several inexplicable unforced errors on forehands up the line, unnecessarily taking risks to attack Dimitrov’s backhand. But where he was quite effective was on his first serve, which I don’t recall being as big and deep as it was today, and his backhand up the line which he hit successfully as Dimitrov defended his backhand corner. On the rare occasion that Dimitrov went up the line with his backhand, he didn’t even have to hit it so hard and he won the point. Troicki had to really belt it and he did frequently. Those two shots (1st serve and backhand up the line) were the key to his win.

Having said that Troicki has absolutely no chance of making the second week in Melbourne in my estimation, and if he does he’ll lose to the first seeded player he encounters. Generally speaking he’s just not that good of a tennis player in my opinion, but he played very well today.

January 16th, 2016 at 8:58 pm

Well, disagree abou serve, Viktor always had good an big serve and pretty accurate to. His second weapon is his BH, either DTL or CC, his defence game is usually very good (saved 11 out of 15 break points) and he is very good returner.
Viktor liability is his FH and his head, he just doesn’t have a head for the better results, he chockes on regular basis, just last year in three mos important matches he chocked after being two set up, DC match and two GS matches. Few years back I watched him playing final in Sydney against Simon and he chocked, last night his worst service game was one when he served for the match in third, again mental thing.
By saying all of this it is just the Viktor, good top30 player and he knows his limits and is happy where is he in tennis and his life, he really enjos his life, particularly considering that just over year ago he didn’t know if he will be still playing the tennis and had to start from zero playing challengers.

January 16th, 2016 at 9:25 pm

Wog Boy – that reminds me, the post I did directed at you, about Djokovic’s parents being “All-in” was stuck in ‘moderation’ for a day, so you missed it as did most, but you caught it a day later.
I thank you for thinking my amalysis was spot on. Novaks parents had made a high stakes bet, risking all they had, because they, especially the Dad, was certain of the outcome.
How this explained a lot about them going wild when Novak started to take off as a rising star of the game. The friction with Fed, as Novaks success was literally life changing for all the Djokovics. If fans knew the background, they would understand why Djokovic’s parents had so little patience to tolerate Federer’s disparaging remarks about the Redeeming Son.
The parents dissing Fed after he dissed Novak was understandable. Going to matches in T-shirts with his pic on the front..All the sacrifice, the days on the run from loansharks and landlords, working 3 jobs – was paying off. And they lacked the love for Fed that more well-heeled Westerners had for a fellow member of the gentry.

————————-
Troicki had another nice win. He’s 29. I know Tipsarevic made it into the Top 10, but I believe Viktor came up just short, 12th or so. I root for him, after his drug test screwing, to have another big run and this time to make it into the Top 10 so he will have that when he hangs it up…He came back with the help of friends. He found love again. He made the Top 10, with big wins.

January 16th, 2016 at 9:29 pm

@Chris:

But let’s be honest about the drug test: he showed an exceptional level of stupidity. After that, he was “target” tested, very often.

January 16th, 2016 at 9:39 pm

If a guy continually chokes, I would suggest he’s not choking, he’s just not a particularly good player, which Troicki is not. The illusion that he has the tools but just doesn’t believe it or have it in the head is an illusion indeed. No top players have as many deficiencies in their technique as he does, and his results and ranking are telling.

Full marks to him playing well today, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is attached to the baseline, his serve is erratic (the 2nd serve is terrible) and his forehand his poorly produced and prone to errors.

Not to dump on him, but to Jane’s question, I think Dimitrov doesn’t appear to be on his way to making a run in Melbourne, and Troicki is a non-factor.

January 16th, 2016 at 9:52 pm

I never said Viktor is top10 player or deserves to get there, did I? I said he is top30 player and his game with all goods and flaws follows his ranking. One of the reason is his head, apart of his FH, “bad” serve and everything else you pointed out as not good in his game, so I don’t understand what is your point when I never claimed he is top10 player or that he is going to make deep run in Melbourne?
He is good player, fun to watch, that’s Ll, not everybody can play like Roger, Rafa, Andy, Nole, no?

January 16th, 2016 at 10:09 pm

mat4,

Viktor was never the smartest guy, but you have to admit that his case was my word against official’s one and every system protects officials, but if he was top10 player it would be different, this way he was perfect scapegoat, so they can say “you see we are coming hard on drug cheats.”
I always take Serena case, not that she avoided drug test (panic room) but she never went next day or any day after to be tested, and officals, even asked never explained why, she didn’t even get slap on the wrist.

January 16th, 2016 at 10:17 pm

@WB:

First, your word against the word of an official… it’s always the word of the official. You know it quite well.

Then, I would like to avoid this topic. You know my views, I made them clear here a few times, and I don’t want to go through this again. Perhaps privately, but not on a blog page.

Finally, you know that where there is a lot of money, the rules change. As a Nole fan, you are aware of the media war that IMG waged on him for years, until he signed for them a few years ago. IMG made of an vain personality a model of “classy” behaviour, and of a half-witted boy the model of the ultimate warrior. To divert attention, IMG and consort made up the “egg case” — although, let’s notice that Novak acted in that occasion like Troicki, in the case mentioned above.

Hopefully, Novak is much more cautious now, and he weighs his words carefully.

To quote that dear George W. Bush: Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice, shame on me… or something like that (yes, yes, there are a lot of strangers in this world…)

January 16th, 2016 at 11:12 pm

^^^ You gotta be on your toes, Wog and don’t get fooled at all…….:)

January 17th, 2016 at 12:49 am

You’re precisely why I wanted to avoid this topic.

January 17th, 2016 at 12:56 am

Mat4 Who are you talking too….me or Wog??? I am lost as usual….

January 17th, 2016 at 1:12 am

Hello to All,

I don’t know about you, but I would be happy if AO would start now. I have butterflies in my stomach, like the Germans would say…

January 17th, 2016 at 1:35 am

Congrats for Viktor, read now he made well

January 17th, 2016 at 1:36 am

@ Mat4, I know, it is the wrong thread: but I have to mention that Alize could play Halep in 2 round, and that makes me nervous too :)

January 17th, 2016 at 1:40 am

@mat4
Re Andy. Exactly. Nole is the fittest player on the planet. It’s clear Andy gets exhausted playing him! You’re clearly only going to beat Nole from the back of the court over 5 sets just the once! And Andy had a good serving day then too. He needs his serve to be clicking. Needs to click and Andy fans know within 10 minutes of big matches against top players, whether he will lose or not. Not so important against less good players.
Probably why Fed has a better chance than most over 3. But Fed can’t win 5 set battles these days.
All players get tight, which is why so many matches, especially tie breaks, end on the disappointing double fault.
BTW No need to reference Bush, apparently origin of “Fool me once” is 17C Italy or even earlier.

January 17th, 2016 at 1:50 am

Sarah ,I do understand those little things called butterflies…..Rafa makes me nervous…which is silly. I can’t believe I let myself get so worked up over a tennis match…..I don’t even know him…..There have been times my heart will race…..seriously!

January 17th, 2016 at 1:50 am

Okie, perhaps it is not silly, we are only fans, and fans get nervous. It is hard for me aswell to see Nole playing against his rivals. You should see me during the critical points in his matches :)

January 17th, 2016 at 1:55 am

@Margot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjmjqlOPd6A

January 17th, 2016 at 2:47 am

Sarah, you should see me…..I act ridiculous! The difference in Novak and Rafa regarding serving, Novak is by far the better server. I wish Rafa could count on his serve when there is a break point…..sometimes it works…..Here lately he will break an opponent and then can’t back it up. Yes, Rafa is fighting an inner battle, me thinks!!

January 17th, 2016 at 3:23 am

mat4 Would you respond to my question @12:56….you are too much of a gentlemen not to….Thanks!

January 17th, 2016 at 3:29 am

@mat4
At least Georgy didn’t claim ownership. Unfortunately I can’t get a Youtube link to Italy circa 1650, but will keep trying…;)

January 17th, 2016 at 3:56 am

Okie, Noles serve improved indeed in the last years and he can count on it. Rafas 2 serve is bad, specialists also agree. Rafas 2 serve is not a challenge for Nole…and Noles mouvement on the court is also better lately. But Rafa had this strong comeback in 2013, when he played so agressiv…It would be also possible, he can come back again, as he once did it.

January 17th, 2016 at 3:56 am

@Sarah……Yes, Nole has the complete package, no doubt about it.

January 17th, 2016 at 4:15 am

Okie, I wouls say: he has still the complete package.
I sincery wish Rafa good luck in the first 1, and Nole too :)
Wish you all a lovely Sunday!

January 17th, 2016 at 4:17 am

@ Margot, please do not underestimate the genius of Gerge W Bush ;)

January 17th, 2016 at 4:24 am

https://books.google.no/books?id=NzsIAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=no&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

With dedication for Margot: see page 52 , paragraphe 4, :)

January 17th, 2016 at 4:43 am

This was one crazy match between Viktor and Dimi.
First two sets were bad, bad, bad… In the first, it seemed like Viktor forgot his legs locked in one of the lockers. He did not move at all. In the second, Dimi had problems with equipment, his racquet strings acting strange. Enough to make a few uncharacteristic mistakes. Third set was fabulous with great shot making, shots worthy of the best guys in the business. That last point was amazing. Viktor had the first MP, then Dimi had one, then Viktor capitalized on his second one.

I must say that I was really happy for Viktor after he was obviously neglected by the organizers. Not only did he not play any of his matches on the center court as a defending champ, but he was badly presented on his way to the finals. It was really condescending on the part of the organizers. After Dimi came on court, they announced Viktor only as Dimi’s opponent. What was that?! He was due a respect of a champion. He was supposed to be announced as a defending champion and a third time finalist. Not as a mere opponent to the guy that’s further down on the list than him. Rude.

January 17th, 2016 at 4:52 am

Danica,

Thanks for expressing my thoughts better than I was able to do.

January 17th, 2016 at 6:29 am

WB,
I think they were mad at him for voicing his opinion the day before so publicly. It was indeed disrespectful of them to put him on the court by the VIP bar.

January 17th, 2016 at 6:37 am

Good spot Sarah! matt4 should read that too.
matt4, I think you misunderstood me. I know Georgy said, I was just making the point that it wasn’t an original thought. Heaven forbid!

January 17th, 2016 at 6:48 am

Danica,
I am pretty sure Jack Reader gave them a mouthful, they just forgot that Viktor has an Aussie coach who speaks his mind and doesn’t take any crap and he encouraged Viktor to speak his mind too.
I have to be honest, I followed the tournament from the beginning and just couldn’t believe how poorly they treated Viktor, he was anything but defending champion and two times finalist, but that engineer from above (I have hot line with him) decided enough is enough..and Viktor won. How sweet that was and justice has been served:))

January 17th, 2016 at 7:01 am

Justice served. Indeed WB!

January 17th, 2016 at 7:06 am

@Margot:

Sorry, couldn’t answer earlier. It’s all a misunderstanding. GWB didn’t know the expression. That’s why I quoted him: he’s quite famous for such lapsus, slips.

@Okie:

Sorry, but sometimes I forget diplomacy. Yes, I didn’t want to write much about some topics because of GG and you.

January 17th, 2016 at 7:28 am

Thankyou Mat4 lol,it doesnt seem to stop anybody else,anyway wont be here after today as i really need to study for my work diploma,and sitting here blogging just aint getting the job done,im so far behind on my course work my assessor will kill me,and i see her on Wednesday eek….

January 17th, 2016 at 7:35 am

Big congrats to Viktor on winning the title,especially after being treated so poorly,and agree about his girlfriend what a stunner….

January 17th, 2016 at 7:40 am

‘Re Andy. Exactly. Nole is the fittest player on the planet. It’s clear Andy gets exhausted playing him! You’re clearly only going to beat Nole from the back of the court over 5 sets just the once!’

I kind of agree with this, but with a reservation;
What happened at the FO last year?
Why the pathetic collapse there after winning the 4th set with flawless tennis?
He should have marched on!
He had the night off due to rain delay so there should have been enough in the tank for another set.
This occasion may have been the one (of the few, that AO semi a few years back too) were we actually saw a proper choke from Andy.
Or at least a partial one.
Because he isn’t a choker but he does get distracted and nervy even though he is now basically an old hand!
And I do not ‘love’ him for this kind of behaviour either.

January 17th, 2016 at 7:41 am

mat4….Okay. I finally figured it out on my own that you did mean me. I read everything over again very closely and decided it was Rafa and xxxxxx! I don’t even like the word so I will x it out….
I can’t speak for GG, but don’t mind me, my shoulders are broad and can take it. But you not saying what you really want to say shows me that you do respect GG and I to a point…..I will say you have never beat around the bush as to your dislike for him and that tells me you are a very honest person because many, many times I don’t say what I want to because of the respect I have for some of the posters……Of course you really don’t have to go to the bother of repeating it all again….it’s is plain as day how you feel because you’ve said time and again. It’s all good between us I hope….If we all liked the same player how dull and boring life would be!! It’s is Sunday…..my sciatica is cured for the moment and I’m off to church!! Have a blessed Sunday everyone!!

P.S.mat4 Thanks for your respect omb……

January 17th, 2016 at 10:12 am

@CDP
Not letting you label Andy as a choker. I think at FO he, as you say, played flawless tennis, then took his foot off the accelerator, maybe even went into reverse AND Nole pounced.
Was he looking at the trophy/ did he severely underestimate Nole/ did he think “what’s going on, I can’t play on clay”/ was he exhausted by the effort/did a feather fall? All of these? None of them? Who knows? But let’s leave “choke” out of it cos you’re feeding the trolls and bloody hell, there are enough of them around!

January 17th, 2016 at 11:37 am

Nice post Margot at 11:37…… I am jealous of you. You tell posters what you think and you never fail to get responses from all fan bases! You are the most popular kid on the forum! How do you do it??? LOL Of course, I’ve said this before for funnies!

January 17th, 2016 at 1:20 pm

@Okiegal
Lol gal….I may get responses, but not cos I’m “Miss Popularity!” No sirree……..

January 17th, 2016 at 1:32 pm

You ain’t gonna change my mind!! I hope Andy does well in our first slam. Would it not be weird if this is the year for Andy to get to the finals and Kim went in labor….. eeek!

January 17th, 2016 at 5:11 pm

“Wog Boy Says:
I never said Viktor is top10 player or deserves to get there, did I?”

Neither did I – but you did say that his liability is his head and that he chokes, and I’m saying if the guy chokes a lot, it’s not choking, he’s just not that good of a player. The idea that any of it is in his head is, in my opinion, rarely if ever, the real issue with a player. It’s always the game.

Troicki is not that good of a player, and I stand by my prediction – he had a great week in Sydney, but he won’t make the second week, and even if he does he’ll lose to the first seeded player he meets.

January 19th, 2016 at 8:54 am