Marat Safin: If Federer And Nadal Are Still Winning It Means There’s Something Wrong With The Other Players

Preach it Safin!

December 1st, 2017 at 3:06 pm

After a storm there would be calmness, the same here after storm of Fed, Nadal, Novak.. There is calmness now, it takes few more years to get some tough competition like this.

December 1st, 2017 at 10:46 pm

I think there is something definitely strange about Fed. Two slams in one year at age 36 when he couldn’t win more than 1 slam in the last 6 years combined! Univ of B, more people should seek doctorates from there.

December 1st, 2017 at 10:50 pm

The only thing wrong with tennis is the desire to allow Fed & Nadal and others to continue to cheat. They’re doping and only a dope can’t or won’t see it.

December 1st, 2017 at 11:11 pm

Yep all the players past & present heaping the praise of Fedal must be on the same juice. Its all a conspiracy.
#not

December 2nd, 2017 at 12:06 am

Don’t want to start with the PED speculation again, but Rafa, Roger and Novak all seem a little suspicious with their domination. Tennis is a tough sport and no one is fit enough to win the amount these guys do. PEDs can sometimes never be caught as Mr. lance Armstrong has mad that obviously clear. Having said that, will Roger and Rafa have as good a 2018 as 2017 … http://www.138mph.com/tennis-predicting-the-atps-wtas-movers-and-shakers-for-2018-part-1/

December 2nd, 2017 at 6:17 am

I personally I wouldn’t bet my life on any of then

December 2nd, 2017 at 7:07 am

Agree Gonzo, its by and large an unintelligent discussion anyway, just mud slinging from one base to another, does it mean Novak, Andy, Stan have been upto no good this year,and i suppose you could agrue that the way Delpo comes and goes with injuries, that hes also under suspicion ?

December 2nd, 2017 at 7:36 am

I do not know about the others but needle of suspicion points unerringly toward Fed. For years he has been brazenly given an unfair advantage by way of favorable scheduling, rigged draws etc but there was nothing in his performance to make him any more suspect than the others. But this year there is no doubt that something is “strange” about his performance.. He knows it too so he has been careful not to win everything.

December 2nd, 2017 at 10:23 am

^Yawn.

December 2nd, 2017 at 10:32 am

t4t Says: “I think there is something definitely strange about Fed. Two slams in one year at age 36 when he couldn’t win more than 1 slam in the last 6 years combined! Univ of B, more people should seek doctorates from there… I do not know about the others but needle of suspicion points unerringly toward Fed. For years he has been brazenly given an unfair advantage by way of favorable scheduling, rigged draws etc but there was nothing in his performance to make him any more suspect than the others. But this year there is no doubt that something is “strange” about his performance.”

I think there is something definitely strange about t4t, who keeps spewing baseless false allegations with ZERO evidence. What he say about Federer and Basel U are ‘pure nonsense’… on a serial basis.

As I posted several times before, Federer is a unique, one-of-a-kind exceptional player in tennis history – that’s why most experts consider him the greatest of all time, as already indicated by the Tennis Channel’s 100 greatest tennis players in 2012. As Andre Agassi noted: “Federer is unique. In everything: greatness, precision, easiness. He plays tennis in a different way than others. When I say easiness, don’t misunderstand me: it’s not easy. But it seems Federer controls everything, has a solution for any issue. With so many options, he has the power to avoid the physical intimidation that many current players use. He knows that he can play elegantly, smartly, manage his efforts, take his time to get his injuries healed, learn new things and keep investing in his progresses. We cannot deny that Federer will mark the sport forever.”
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/886987/Roger-Federer-Andre-Agassi-Federer-great-tennis-news

Federer’s 2017 season proves what I have said several times before: Federer always had the capacity and talent to have won several additional Grand Slam titles (4-8), ATP Finals titles (1-2) and Year-End No. 1 (1-2) if only he had been more motivated, more focused and made a greater effort over much of the past 8 years since 2010 Australian. After winning 2010 Australian, his 16th Grand Slam title and almost 285 weeks at World No. 1 at age 28, Federer probably felt he achieved everything he wanted. He downshifted and started cruising through long periods of the ATP seasons… as his business, ATP Player Council presidency family and other off court activities distracted him. Despite being underprepared and less focused, Federer was still able to grind and win against lesser ATP opponents due to his competitive toughness and natural talent.

From 2010 to 2016, the only period when Federer put in consistent effort for a one-year period was from 2011 US Open to 2012 Cincinnati – when Federer decided he wanted to win another slam and break Pete Sampras’s 286-weeks record at World No. 1 (Federer was stuck at 285 weeks). In April 2011, Federer added 2012 Rotterdam to his schedule to give him a jump on 2012. Then, with his old smaller head racquet Federer took the No. 1 ranking from a helpless Djokovic, Nadal and Murray (he bageled both Djokovic and also Nadal). Roger put in the preparation and won over 12,000 points from 9 titles within the 52-week period: Wimbledon, ATP Finals, 4 Masters (Paris, Indian Wells, Madrid, Cincinnati) and 3 ATP 500 (Basel, Rotterdam, Dubai). All with his smaller head racquet based on older technology. Federer would probably have won a second grand slam (he had 2 match points on his service against Djokovic at 2011 USO semifinals; had he beaten Djokovic he probably would have beaten Nadal in the final… as Federer thrashed Nadal 6-3, 6-0 at the 2011 ATP Finals). Just as he did this year, in 2012 Federer squandered the Year-End No. 1 ranking and gifted it to Djokovic: after the 2012 US Open, instead of chasing ranking points and titles, he chose to play a meaningless Davis Cup tie and showed up underprepared in 2012 Shanghai (Federer’s win-loss percentage in the three months after 2012 Cincinnati was similar to his 2013 season).

Let’s not forget that it was Federer who put a stop to Djokovic’s incredible winning streak at the start of 2011, by beating him in a grueling French Open semifinal using Roger’s old smaller head racquet.

Given 35-36 year old Federer’s level of performance this season, it proves that the 28-year old to 35 year old younger Federer always had the talent and capability to perform at the same or even higher levels from the 2010 to 2016 seasons – but he simply chose not to do so. This allowed Djokovic, Nadal and Murray win more titles than they would have had Federer played with 100% preparation and focus.

It is rubbish that “for years he has been brazenly given an unfair advantage by way of favorable scheduling, rigged draws etc” Federer won three of his five Australian Open finals with only one day of rest, while the other two finals were won with two days rest. If draws were rigged, it was Nadal who benefited: between 2008 and 2011, Federer had Djokovic in his half of the draw in 14 out of 16 grand slam tournaments! Nadal had the easier path to the final in 14 of these 16 tournaments. Several statisticians suggested that this was highly unlikely. Since 2012, most of Federer’s draws have been unfavourable compared to Nadal and Djokovic.
http://www.playthegame.org/fileadmin/image/knowledgebank/Tennisdraws_Katarina_Pijetlovic.pdf

Stop spewing pure nonsense and/or supporting those who spew nonsense… just because you don’t like the facts.

December 2nd, 2017 at 2:28 pm

I’m more interested in the timing of Safin’s resignation from the Duma. Not a good time to be a Russian government official if you’ve got a positive international reputation.

Good news – he’s still smokin’ hot.

December 2nd, 2017 at 3:20 pm

Also, for the umpteenth time, I dislike Federer, but his style of play is light on the joints. His longevity is not that surprising to me.

The tennis schedule is nuts. If they want head to head competition among the top ranked players, they need to pare back the schedule. Someone who knows more about equipment than I do thinks the rackets and strings should be modified as well, to put less stress on the body.

December 2nd, 2017 at 3:23 pm

Aside from Fed and the OT Fed & PEDs debate, good to see Marat will be returning to tennis on the Seniors level. Supposedly, he did a decent job as MP to the Duma, from Putin and Medvedev’s Party.
Now in training in Monaco, working out there with his sister Dinara.
Interview also had him saying he believed Andy would be back, that Djokovic will have a harder road back because past the elbow, Djokovic’s head was not in the game after his amazing collapse after holding all 4 Slam titles at once. Had nice things to say about Kyrgios having the ability to beat anyone, and forgot or excluded Alex Zverev as a young player beating the Big 4.

December 2nd, 2017 at 4:07 pm

Has hero-worship risen to the point that someone seriously claims that Federer chose not to play at his best for 6 years which allowed Nole, Rafa and Andy to rise to the top. And the proof? Federer’s successes this year prove that he chose not to compete at a superior level during that 6-year period….evidently none of his competitors won it on merit….they all of Federer to thank for letting them win for 6 years. Sainthood calls -somebody call the Pope.

December 2nd, 2017 at 4:43 pm

….they should all thank Federer…..etc.

December 2nd, 2017 at 4:45 pm

“…Fed and the OT Fed & PEDs debate…”
You can’t sneak that in there without being called out. There is NO debate.

December 2nd, 2017 at 5:21 pm

j-kath @4:43 pm. I agree completely. That is the height of delusion to think Fed decided not to play at top level for 6 years. I suppose he also let Nadal win against him. Fed should definitely be canonozed! St Roger.

December 2nd, 2017 at 6:05 pm

…canonized

December 2nd, 2017 at 6:08 pm

The question is why was Fed confident he could win slams at 36 and allow 29-35 age group to be devoted to other pursuits? Does this mean he was confident about his Univ of B concoctions? Was he doping from 2003 and stopped in 2010, only to start again in 2017?

December 2nd, 2017 at 6:12 pm

“The question is why was Fed confident he could win slams at 36 and allow 29-35 age group…”
Cause he’s good.

December 2nd, 2017 at 6:26 pm

skeezer @6:26pm. My God the Cult is really serious about its delusions!

Ha ha ha
#ROFL
#Hilarious

December 2nd, 2017 at 7:16 pm

“Ha ha ha
#ROFL
#Hilarious”

Who sounds delusional?

December 2nd, 2017 at 9:12 pm

Skeezer – You have the right to stand up for Roger as often as you want….but come on….you have more sense than to support downright besotted stupidity.

December 3rd, 2017 at 4:47 am

j-kath Says: “… And the proof? Federer’s successes this year prove that he chose not to compete at a superior level during that 6-year period…).”
t4t Says: “… I agree completely. That is the height of delusion to think Fed decided not to play at top level for 6 years… The question is why was Fed confident he could win slams at 36 and allow 29-35 age group to be devoted to other pursuits?”

Let us be brutally honest. You both are unable and unwilling to comprehend what the incomparable Federer is really able to do – because your idols are unable to do it. Your jealous and mediocrity-tinted mindsets expect Federer to conform to the standards of your idols: Nadal and Djokovic are unable to go deep into tournaments without their best level attained through optimum physical preparation. When they switch off mentally and don’t train/practice enough they are vulnerable to bad losses and run away from competition claiming to be injured.

On the other hand, most tennis grand masters consider Federer the preeminent, peerless and ultimate tennis player in tennis history – a freak of nature who can do things no one else is able to do. Federer’s vast talent as well as fighting spirit enable him to go deep even without his best level from optimum preparation. He has proven that he is that good. Today ATP Tour tennis occupies less of his busy life than it did 12 years ago in 2004-2006. As ‘CEO of Roger Inc’, Federer is busy with many off-court business, charity, family and other activities. This is a player generating almost $1.5 million each week – yet his ATP tour prize money made up only 20% of his total earnings this year.

Given 36-year old Federer’s high performances from just 12 tournaments in 2017, it is downright irrational and obtuse to pretend that a younger Federer did not have the capacity to perform much better than he did for most parts of the seven years between 2010 and 2016 (obviously he chose not to perform at his best level during his mini-slumps during those years) – as Federer proved in the one year period between 2011 US Open to 2012 Cincinnati, when he used his old tech smaller head racquet and old tactics to take the No. 1 ranking from a helpless Djokovic, Nadal and Murray (Roger won over 12,000 points and 9 titles: 1 Wimbledon, 1 ATP Finals, 4 Masters 1000, 3 ATP 500, almost the 2011 Open as well). By 2012 Wimbledon, Rafa Nadal realized that Federer was at such a high level that he stayed away from hardcourts for the next 8 months until 2013 Indian Wells (Rafa played golf tournaments during the 2012 US Open as well as 2013 Australian Open).

Fortunately tennis grand masters understand Federer.

Tennis grand master Pete Sampras explained to Wimbledon: “ROGER’S JUST ONE OF THOSE FREAKS OF NATURE WHO COMES AROUND ONCE EVERY 50 YEARS. He’s been very smart with his schedule and hasn’t overplayed. He’s been playing enough to keep it fresh. He still enjoys the travel. He loves the game… he’s got the right to do whatever he wants. To come back after being out for six months and to win a major, that’s a pretty incredible feat. I think we were all surprised that he won the Australian Open because he was coming back after a long lay-off and that’s a tough tournament to win, because of the court and the heat. BUT ROGER’S ROGER, HE’S A FREAK OF NATURE AND HE CAN DO THINGS THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN DO. If I was surprised that Roger won the Australian Open, I wasn’t that surprised he won Wimbledon just because of the surface and his experience. When he’s playing well and feeling good, he really should win Wimbledon every year.”
http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2017-11-07/sampras_reflects_on_a_year_to_remember.html

Tennis master John McEnroe told the BBC Sport Scotland: “I guess cos it’s just a bunch of guys that have fallen by the wayside. Obviously after what Roger did not playing for six months and doing as well as he did – winning Australian, Wimbledon – people are thinking and maybe I can emulate that. THERE IS ONLY ONE ROGER FEDERER…”

Tennis grand master Rod Laver says Roger Federer has aged like a fine wine: “Yes, I’m surprised but not totally surprised because he’s looked after himself at 36 — he never put a lot of pressure on his game physically. He’s got a lot of physios, trainers. He hasn’t put pressure on himself early in rounds. When I say pressure, the way he plays he doesn’t let points go on indefinitely. When he’s not practicing, HE’S GOT FAMILY, DOES OTHER THINGS, HE’S NOT THINKING TENNIS ALL THE TIME ANYMORE. He’s enjoying every time he walks on the court. He goes to practices, plays matches and then it’s over. IF HIS FOREHAND WASN’T QUITE AS GOOD, HE’S NOT GOING OUT TO PRACTICE LIKE IN THE PAST. He’s got two sets of twins, and if they’re in Orlando and they go to Disney World, he goes with them. It’s refreshing. He doesn’t have a weakness… He has a bigger-headed racket, is meeting the ball flatter than slicing it. It’s giving opponents a lot more questions to how to beat him… That to me is a whole new ballgame.’’
https://nypost.com/2017/08/27/tennis-legend-offers-refreshing-reason-for-roger-federer-surge/

December 3rd, 2017 at 5:54 am

@j-kath,
Scuse me? Specifics?
—-
@Tony N
Nice read on Laver & Sampras! They must be “besotted”. ;)

December 3rd, 2017 at 9:28 am

jkath, it is clear from the simply delusional explanation given by Tony and supported by skeezer that the Cult agrees that Roger’s performance this year is not natural. So there is a consensus about this among rational people like you and me and the Cult. Finally all of us agree on something! Probably a first on tx.
#Miracle
#ViveLaUnivOfB

December 3rd, 2017 at 10:35 am

…rational people, like you and me, and the Cult…

December 3rd, 2017 at 10:36 am

t4t,
Ask Laver and Sampras, apparently they are part of your imaginary “cult”.

December 3rd, 2017 at 11:15 am

They did not say Fed let others win from his age 29-35, did they?

December 3rd, 2017 at 11:45 am

^No only YOU said that my imaginary thinking factless friend..

December 3rd, 2017 at 11:53 am

Tony N.: When I see the length of your postings I scroll down – if that is rude – I apologize. I hope, whatever it is you want to keep on repeating – or whether you have managed to find something new to say – that other people will appreciate your efforts…good luck with that.

December 3rd, 2017 at 12:38 pm

Skeezer: Thanks! The Gang (i.e., the anyone-but-Federer-gang made up of t4t and j-kath) believe that the tennis grand masters Pete Sampras, Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Bjorn Borg, Roy Emerson, etc. are in the cult of hero worshippers at the height of delusion and downright besotted stupidity :) The Gang’s hubris drives them to disingenuously attack the tennis grand masters.

Tennis grand master Ken Rosewall: “I’m like millions of others. I admire Roger so much. I think he’s going to be a force in tennis for a few more years… I was playing some of my best tennis at 35. Roger’s doing the same thing. I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t continue for at least another two or three years.” In another interview, Ken Rosewall said: “When it comes to Roger, I’m never really too surprised by anything he’s done… I think everyone is really happy that he’s back in the game because he’s just a tremendous ornament for world tennis… I always thought (he could win more grand slams) because he’s pretty good physically, moves well on the court and his game just seems to come so easily while he’s in good condition… He (Nadal) is a difficult competitor. I don’t enjoy watching him play that much, he takes too much time and so on, but he’s very effective and hard to play against…” Rosewall feels Federer might have already done enough to establish himself as the greatest player in history. ”His legacy might be hard to reach now with what he’s done over the last ten-to-fifteen years since he started winning events. “And not just his titles. He’s so popular and has always tried to do the right thing… he’s been idolised by hundreds of thousands of people for the way he’s played. He’s also done a lot for charity, a lot of special things to help tennis and he’ll certainly be regarded as one of the best of all-time.” In another interview ROSEWALL REITERATED THAT FEDERER IS THE GREATEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME. “DEFINITELY! I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYONE TO SAY THE CONTRARY. Roger is the best in any area of the court and in every circumstance. He is perfect, with and without his racket in hands.”

Tennis grand master Bjorn Borg, who played against Rod Laver during his final years, said in this video interview that Roger Federer “is the greatest player ever to play the game” up to mid-2016. Since that interview, Federer won two more grand slam championships.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IHOQfI_FxY

Tennis grand master Roy Emerson: “Every time I pick Federer because he’s my favourite.” Elsewhere Emerson said: “Roger is not just a ‘power hitter,’ he is a true class-act on and off the court. He has the age-old finesse I referred to along with the modern style of play. A true gentleman player.”

These besotted hero-worshippers, millions of them including the tennis grand masters.
http://www.eurosport.com/tennis/what-makes-roger-federer-the-greatest-man-to-play-tennis_sto6255705/story.shtml

Regardless, what is truly admirable about Nadal and Djokovic is that they managed to maximize on their full potential to become the best they could be on the relatively easier and homogenous court conditions since 2008 — they did it through great coaching, relentless hard work, rigorous practice and single-minded discipline.

With Federer, we are left with the feeling that he has still not fully exploited all of his unmatched vast and deep talent (particularly between 2010 and 2016).

December 3rd, 2017 at 12:54 pm

Roger Federer VS Rafael Nadal – Best Points Of 2017 HDhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6aEU45BVvQ

December 3rd, 2017 at 1:07 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6aEU45BVvQ

December 3rd, 2017 at 1:08 pm

Hey J kath, it is not just you but also skeezer who skips Tony N’s long posts!!! skeezer thinks I said that Fed let others win from age 29-35!!!!
#hilarious
#Tony N should shorten his posts so that at least the faithful would read it
#ha ha ha!

December 3rd, 2017 at 2:11 pm

t4t, your last post is nonsensical: “also skeezer who skips Tony N’s long posts!!! skeezer thinks I said that Fed let others win from age 29-35!!!!” Once again you’re trying to misrepresent your nonsense as true.
My last two posts were already shortened for you st :)
Btw, it was your nonsensical posts that prompted me to post on this thread. If only j-kath would apply her double standards to criticize your nonsensical and false posts… perhaps I would have little reason to post.

December 3rd, 2017 at 2:34 pm

t4t: His problem is he thinks he’s Federer and is always on the defensive – He has totally put me off Federer….I used to quite like him.

December 3rd, 2017 at 3:48 pm

I think Federer will survive the loss of your insincere love — given that he values genuineness.
Your problem is the hypocrisy of your deliberate double standards, as shown by your actions. You first appeared on this thread just to respond to my insightful, well-argued and fact-filled first comment.
Yet you were nowhere to be found for two days while t4t spewed his nonsense and falsehoods (see below) which, in the first place, had caused my response. In effect, you disingenuously ignored, tolerated and supported the root problem (t4t’s nonsense) — just as you tolerate and support the nonsense of Giles, Wog Boy, etc. — in order to rush to attack the thoughtful response to the problem. It’s not that you don’t know you have your priorities totally wrong and are contributing to the root problem.

t4t Says: “I think there is something definitely strange about Fed. Two slams in one year at age 36 when he couldn’t win more than 1 slam in the last 6 years combined! Univ of B, more people should seek doctorates from there.” AND
t4t Says “I do not know about the others but needle of suspicion points unerringly toward Fed. For years he has been brazenly given an unfair advantage by way of favorable scheduling, rigged draws etc but there was nothing in his performance to make him any more suspect than the others. But this year there is no doubt that something is “strange” about his performance.”

Federer – Top 50 Best Points of 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lik0i22sPh4

December 3rd, 2017 at 5:04 pm

“His problem is he thinks he’s Federer and is always on the defensive”
You can thank t4t for attacking offensively on Fed for that with imaginary topics like, lucky, fixed draws, PEDS, magic potions, pretty much anything and everything negative on Fed. You’re looking at the wrong reasons for you’re Fed issue.

December 3rd, 2017 at 6:17 pm

Tony N has shortened his last two posts a bit. I think the realization that even skeezer, the High Priest of the Cult, is skipping his posts must have shocked him into less verbosity.
#skeezerHasHisUses

December 3rd, 2017 at 7:13 pm

Vote for the Laureus ‘Best Sporting Moment’ — the Roger-Rafa doubles team up at the Laver Cup is one of six nominees from the sports world. In the link, scroll down to the six nominees (most are worthy of a vote). Voting requires a Facebook account.
https://mylaureus.com/

Perhaps Tennis-X can start a new blog on this story (if so, then remove my post here)

December 3rd, 2017 at 9:21 pm

https://twitter.com/genny_ss/status/937627318457131008
Rafa fans.
Vamos! Well done Champ!

December 4th, 2017 at 5:27 am

Thanks for the links Giles and Toni.N ;-)

December 4th, 2017 at 5:41 am

Is there something wrong with the other players, or are Federer and Nada just *that* good? (Could be both)

December 4th, 2017 at 10:56 am

Check; actually, awarded this accolade by the Spanish as the greatest Spanish athlete of the last fifty years.
There’s an interesting article featuring Dolgopolov and his opinions on the top three in the IB times UK. ( I don’t post, it’s easy to find.) I’ve seen him play a couple of times and as someone once said about Federer, he looks as though he invented walking. He is the most comfortable with his body of anyone on the circuit, probably because his parents were gymnasts. He’s also a delight to watch when he’s not retiring.
For all you people who are still determined to find the Roger skeletons, why not make your festivities happy by celebrating your favourite player and saying ‘begone double standards.’

December 4th, 2017 at 11:49 am

Nadal is not that old. But Fed’s performance at age 36 , winning 2 slams and 3 masters, something he did not do after 2009, well that raises questions about Fed. Is he that good or is there something else?
2015 was a weak year too as both Murray and Nadal were coming back from surgery/injuries but Fed could not capitalize even though he was 2 years younger. As for the rest of the field, I think there is nothing wrong with them. Zverev and Thiem, as well as Dimitrov, played well. Kyrgios is the new Safin so he may win a slam or two but nothing more unless he shows commitment and discipline.

December 4th, 2017 at 12:00 pm

“Is he that good or is there something else?”
Simple answer,
He’s just that good.

December 4th, 2017 at 12:11 pm

Man,
For some reason TX is always stalked by at lease one of those dungy-brains to spray the horse-shit around. One disappears another pops in. But with everyone of them points are more or less the same:
-The entire world rigs draws for Federer. He is the king. so.. pretty plausible.. yeah right!.
-He wins so he must be doping…., again the dungy-brain analysis. Can’t think anything other than some kind of sh*t.

If internet was 4D, many tx would be more toxic than a dumping site by now with their non-sense.

December 4th, 2017 at 12:13 pm

^YEP!

December 4th, 2017 at 12:18 pm

RZ – No, what Safin said is that after Djokovic and Murray showed up t 19, 20 to challenge Federer and Nadal, no one else came along.
IMO, Safin is a little too close to the action to see that in the early through mid 2000s, you had the flawed game of Roddick, the dominant yet underwhelming Leyton Hewitt on top for 75 straight weeks, and a gifted player with all the tools on mental sabbatical (himself, Marat).
Then Fed got it together at 23 and dominated except on clay for 5 years, then Rafa became an all-court player, almost beat Fed at the 2007 Wimbledon,and Fed lost at Djokovics 2nd straight Slam Final, in Australia, then lost the next 2 Slams to Rafa, was booted from the YEC for losing to Simon and Andy in the RR, lost to Nadal in Australia..then Nadal and Djokovic injured themselves in the Madrid Final and Fed regrouped.
But the Weak Era ended about mid-2007. The era of the Big 4 started.
Everyone thought once the Big 4 left some room, the favorite “young guns” would get titles. Nope, Andy and Novak get injured and we got instead the Rafa-Fed show, encore performance.

December 4th, 2017 at 12:23 pm

A few thoughts:

1) Given the amounts of money in sport today, I’m wiling to keep an open mind about athletes and doping. I’m not saying that Nadal or Federer cheat. I don’t believe either of them do. This being said, I won’t lull myself into definitively believing they aren’t.

2) Federer and Nadal didn’t have great years because they cheated. Federer made some changes in his game. Brought in a new coach. Improved his backhand. Nadal got healthy again and improved his serve. Combine this with other players not being 100% healthy open the door for them to dominate again. Novak is the best player on earth in Australia but Federer did not have to face him. Murray is one of if not the best grass courter in the world. Federer did nt have to play him. Nadal didn’t have to deal with Novak at both the USO and FO. 2017 was the result of a lot of circumstances all coinciding. Great players like Nadal and Federer don’t let opportunities like this slip by.

3) Don’t know who it was but they were saying that Federer didn’t win majors between 2012 and 2016 because he didn’t want to? Excuse me but this is complete bunk. Federer didn’t win any majors between 2012 and 2016 because he couldn’t. Whatever the reasons were, he had opportunities but couldn’t seal the deal.

December 4th, 2017 at 12:41 pm

^Finally a very reasonable and rational post. Thanks.
I agree completerly. And there are ‘dungy-brains’ on all sides of the isle.

No one knows for certain if Federer of Nadal or Nole or any one is cheating, except for themselves.

If Louie CK can disappoint than I wouldn’t bet on anyone else.
So, its possible albeit remotely, to me.

But circumstance played a big role in how 2017 turned out to be.
That said, if federer had to play murray this year(providing murray being 100%) at wimby, it would still have been 3-0 to Fed. I would’ve bet on that one fore sure.

December 4th, 2017 at 1:02 pm

You cannot single out and condemn any player without proof. “If’s” don’t mean anything without proof.
RE: Andy being the best Grass court player….no way no how. Fed would have torn up both these guys the way he played this year. Probably Rafa too against the NovAndy. The few say that Novak and Andy would have made a difference. How do you really know? Did they play this year? All I saw was a greatly improved Rafa and Fed who looked like to me they trained right, got back to 100% and managed their schedule very well until the very end of this year to stay healthy and fit. Kudos to both.

December 4th, 2017 at 1:32 pm

@chrisford1 – I saw that. That’s why I said maybe it’s both. Put another way, if Fed and Rafa weren’t the GOATs (and not just in how they play but how that reputation follows them on and off the court), there would definitely be more cases of young guys knocking them off.

December 4th, 2017 at 1:52 pm

The only thing that did get my attention were those pics of Roger at Indian Wells or Miami this year with freaky bulging veins in his legs and forearms. Epo causes unnatural red blood cell production and can do that to veins. Anyone see those? For the record, I love Roger . . .

December 4th, 2017 at 4:06 pm

^^^
University of Basle and Novartis are working overtime for their favorite son..

He is also more grumpy on court and facial expression changed, it’s mean.

December 4th, 2017 at 4:42 pm

SG1 @ 12.41 @ 12.41pm

Agree – especially with par. 3 which a couple of people plus myself commented on – it was so unbelievable….”diddly squat”.

December 4th, 2017 at 4:45 pm

skeezer Says:
You cannot single out and condemn any player without proof. “If’s” don’t mean anything without proof.

—–

In a court of law youre absolutely right…but this is not a court of law. This is sport laced with insane amounts of money. People will do what they think they have to do. You dont always need visible inequivocal proof to know somethings up. Sometimes there are things that dont make sense and common sense says “this doesnt seem right”. Ive never had that feeling with roger or rafa. Theres certainly no proof theyve ever done anything but proof is a funny thing. Proof usually shows up when the athlete falls from grace. Not before.

December 4th, 2017 at 9:11 pm

“University of Basle and Novarti…”
This is what you do when no one cares about the false and misleading accusations. You repeat yourself for attention.
#failed

December 4th, 2017 at 9:13 pm

As for 2017 federer mopping the floor with murray on grass…perhaps…perhaps not. My point is that federer never had to play that match. And for teh record i did say murray was one of the best if not the best grass court player in the world. I never said he was definitively better than federer on grass. Federer is arguably the best player to ever play at wimbledon. Prime federer vs prime murray on grass is a colossal mismatch. But this is not a prime federer.

December 4th, 2017 at 9:18 pm

As for safin’s comments, im buying it. No one has more expertise in regards to wasting talent than safin. Not even kyrgios. If he thinks the next generation of players arent stepping up…who am i to argue with him? Every player outside of the Big 5 seems to take a step forward then two back.im hoping shapovalov will break that mold and grab what he believes is his to take. If federer and nadal are battling for all 4 majors in 2018 it would definitely signal some lack of depth. As talented as fed and nadal clearly are THEY ARE OLD!!!!

December 4th, 2017 at 9:36 pm

@SG1
👍

December 4th, 2017 at 9:47 pm

Even if you don’t feel like reading (but you will read it), check the pictures of 36 years old limbs before and mow:

http://tennispurist.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/the-curious-case-of-roger-federer.html?m=1

December 4th, 2017 at 10:04 pm

^^
now

December 4th, 2017 at 10:09 pm

^When one scours the internet for stuff to hate on you get this by WB, the Jealous man.
One quick search and you can find veins popping on the top four;
http://www.menstennisforums.com/2-general-messages/890561-doping-tennis-thread-no-accusations-w-o-proof-vol-2a-2.html
What does this all mean?
Bunch of hater crock.

December 5th, 2017 at 1:10 am

Wog Boy discredited his own nonsense by relying on the self-proclaimed ‘tennis purist’ for rubbish on Federer. This ‘tennis purist’ used to rant that he is “Anti-imperialist. Anti-capitalist. Pro-DPRK (North Korea). Juche is beautiful (Juche is North Korean ideology). The revolution will be launched from the Global South. May tweet about tennis during relapses.” These rants used to be on his Twitter.
http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2017-04-16/25817.php#comment-718771

It is idiocy for an incompetent layperson to jump to conclusions about a person’s calves. There are variances in human anatomy between individuals. For example, the shape of the human stomach varies between individuals (see “Anatomical classification of the shape and topography of the stomach”). Thus, if we were to remove the stomachs of Wog Boy and lylenubbins, their stomachs would likely have different shapes. Now, a layperson could speculate whether these differences were caused by PEDs or genetic defects or malnourishment, but that would just be mindless speculation.

One simple reason why the claims of Federer doping are ludicrous, dumb and irrational is that Federer’s biological passport would indicate whether or not he got his 2017 results from hard work or from doping. If Federer had been doping then the drug testers would discover that his biochemistry results this year are different than his biological markers in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Since WADA did not flag Federer’s biochemistry this year as unusual, this indicates that Federer got his results from hard work.

For example, during the first three years of the International Cycling Union’s biological passport program, 26 riders were found positive for EPO. In 20 out of the 26 cases, it was their abnormal blood profile in their biological passport which raised suspicions – this led testers to do a targeted doping test for EPO.

Second, for many years, Roger Federer has led the calls for biological passports and other tougher measures to catch drug cheats (in those days, Andy Murray was next most vigorous advocate of anti-doping measures of the top players). Why would Federer be promoting tougher measures that in future, once more advanced tests are developed, would detect any currently undetectable drugs he might be taking today? Such measures would put at risk his annual “$60 million in earnings from deals with blue-chip companies like Nike, Rolex. Mercedes-Benz and Credit Suisse” as a future scandal will harm his drug-free image? Because Federer makes the largest amount of off-court income of any athlete in world sports (his ATP prize money is only about 20% of his total income), he has a financial incentive to remain clean – since his greater off-court income largely depends on his enduring clean image. Given that his off-court earnings actually increased in 2016 (when he was absent for half the season and had mediocre results) it would make more sense for him to retire than to keep on playing while doping.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/feb/15/roger-federer-biological-passports-drugs

Given these two points, common sense should tell us that Federer has a greater incentive not to dope. SG1 refuses to lull himself into believing that Federer is not doping (because he mistakenly presumes the insane amount of money from the tennis tour is an incentive for Federer and other players to dope… it’s like saying the insane amount of money of rich people is an incentive for all poor people to kidnap, rob or steal from rich people, thus we should not believe that any poor person is not a kidnapper, robber or thief). However, SG1 is fixated on the wrong incentive: the smaller on-court income from the tennis tour does not motivate Federer as much as his greater off-court income. It is this off-court income that incentivizes Federer to remain clean (even though he does not need it).

Let’s use common sense. Obviously the ATP pro players have their suspicions of who is or is not doping. Thus it is significant that the players voted to award Federer the ATP Sportsmanship Award in an unprecedented 12 years since 2004. The players are rational — they would not have voted so many times for Federer if they suspected him of doping.

On the other hand, take Wog Boy’s idol. The founding president of the World Anti-Doping Agency Dick Pound once said that Djokovic’s attitude towards doping is ‘the Lance Armstrong approach’. Furthermore, the ATP players have never once voted Djokovic for the sportsmanship award — what do the players know that we don’t?

December 5th, 2017 at 3:02 am

SG1 Says: “Novak is the best player on earth in Australia but Federer did not have to face him. Murray is one of if not the best grass courter in the world. Federer did nt have to play him.”

2017 Djokovic and 2017 Murray would have probably lost to 2017 Federer.

2017 Federer probably would have beaten the career-best Murray at Wimbledon. As grass court grand master Pete Sampras explained to Wimbledon: “Roger’s Roger, he’s a freak of nature and he can do things that no one else can do… I wasn’t that surprised he won Wimbledon just because of the surface and his experience. When he’s playing well and feeling good, he really should win Wimbledon every year.”

2017 Federer probably would have beaten Djokovic had they played in any tournament between 2016 Wimbledon and 2017 Wimbledon – given the lower level that Djokovic had been after 2016 French Open (which his ex-coach Boris Becker and several experts had indicated was due more to mental issues, lack of practice and personal problems rather than physical health). Regardless, Djokovic is not undefeatable at the Australian Open: in the 2014 Australian quarterfinals ‘no major’ Stan Wawrinka beat Djokovic in five sets (9-7 fifth set). In 2017 Australian, wild card Denis Istomin beat Djokovic. Federer’s no slouch at the Australian with his five titles. It’s possible that Djokovic tanked his 4th round match to Kyrgios in Indian Wells to avoid facing a hot Federer.
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/740705/Boris-Becker-Novak-Djokovic-split-He-didn-t-practice-as-much-as-he-should

December 5th, 2017 at 3:47 am

SG1: “ they were saying that Federer didn’t win majors between 2012 and 2016 because he didn’t want to? Excuse me but this is complete bunk. Federer didn’t win any majors between 2012 and 2016 because he couldn’t. Whatever the reasons were, he had opportunities but couldn’t seal the deal.”

That’s not what I said. I did not say that Federer didn’t win majors between 2012 and 2016 because he didn’t want to win more majors. I said that a younger Federer always had the capacity and talent to win more major titles, more ATP Finals titles and more Year-End No. 1 than he actually did in the seven years between 2010 and 2016 – this great capacity/talent is proven by 35/36 year old Federer’s performance during the 2017 season as well as by Federer’s performance between 2011 US Open and 2012 Cincinnati. However Federer couldn’t win more majors and No. 1 because he chose to spend his efforts on non-tennis activities, did not train and practice enough, and came underprepared into many tournaments during much of those seven years between 2010 and 2016. In other words, the loss of preparation and focus that afflicted Djokovic after 2016 French had also afflicted Federer for several years after 2010 Australian – except Federer is so talented, capable and competitive that even an underprepared Federer was often able to fight his way and go deep. Had Federer been as prepared as he was this year, he would have sealed the deal on several lost opportunities. I had explained it before in this comment:
http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2017-04-08/25788.php#comment-718335

Alexandr Dolgopolov explains the differences between Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/alexandr-dolgopolov-explains-differences-between-rafael-nadal-roger-federer-novak-djokovic-1650023

December 5th, 2017 at 4:38 am

https://twitter.com/ubitennis/status/938021434940461056
Grigor has dumped Team 8.

December 5th, 2017 at 10:01 am

https://twitter.com/jane79591745/status/938047372327731200 ^^^

December 5th, 2017 at 10:13 am

Wog Boy @ 10:04 pm Dec 4th
Wow! The article says exactly what we have been saying. The silence of the mainstream media is indeed deafening. A young Nadal wins, he is doping, a 36 year old dominates the year, beats Nadal 4 times in a row, seems to have endless stamina and not a peep from the media.

December 5th, 2017 at 10:44 am

Medical technology has progressed to the level that birth defects can be corrected by altering the DNA. This is being mis utilized by super rich athletes to gain super powers. Fed is super rich. He wants to win 20 grand slams and keep beating Nadal to erase the one blemish on his supposed goatness. Suddenly Nadal who is 5 years younger is no longer able to beat Fed. I cannot shake off the feeling that Fed is now invincible and he stayed away from the clay season only to avoid suspicion. His losses at US Open and WTF seemed fake.
Fed will probably win one more slam and announce his retirement. Unless the fawning media and fawning ITF tempt him to feel secure and stretch his record to keep winning till his 80s!

December 5th, 2017 at 10:51 am

“Roger Federer is top dog again after Rafael Nadal snubbed for top honour by ATP”: Federer d Kyrgios (Miami Open) is the Top ATP World Tour Match Of 2017.
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/888237/Roger-Federer-Rafael-Nadap-ATP

Thiem d Dimitrov (Madrid) is No. 2

Monfils d Nishikori (Montreal) is No. 3

Djokovic d Murray (Doha) is No. 4

Nadal d Pouille (Beijing) is No. 5

None of the three best-of-3 set Federer-Nadal ATP Tour matches made the list because Federer dominated all in straight sets. ATP Rivalries Of 2017: Federer vs. Nadal
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/best-rivalries-2017-federer-nadal

t4t Says: “The silence of the mainstream media is indeed deafening.”
Unlike your repetitive squeaky parroting, which is worse than deafening… and irrational. The intelligent mainstream media know that the anti-doping biological passport system — which Federer advocated to have implemented — assessed Federer’s biochemistry to be clean, no doping. The mainstream media understand just how great Federer is and realize that he has the capacity and talent to be performing at this level at age 36.

December 5th, 2017 at 11:25 am

The Secret to Roger Federer’s Success is This Man. “Rog does have the biological age of 36 but for me, he has an athletic age that is younger than that and yet he has the maturity of someone well over 40. So it’s quite a balance,” explains Pierre Paganini, Federer’s renown fitness and conditioning coach.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/12/sports/tennis/roger-federer-atp-finals.html

December 5th, 2017 at 11:36 am

“However Federer couldn’t win more majors and No. 1 because he chose to spend his efforts on non-tennis activities, did not train and practice enough, and came underprepared into many tournaments during much of those seven years between 2010 and 2016.”

For a pro this is tantamount to not trying and you quite frankly have no clue what’s in Federer’s head so don’t even go there. Saying that Federer could have won more majors between 2010 and 2016 because he won 2 at the age of 35/36 is also BS. Federer was the best Federer he could be from 2010 to 2016. Jimmy Connors has a saying that I love. “The problem with experience is, by the time you have it, you’re usually to old to use it.” Federer needed the drought from p post Wimbledon 2012 to 2016 to figure out what he needed to do to get better. What you’re saying is that if Federer worked a little harder between 2010 and 2016 then he would have won a bunch more majors. I don’t know of any athlete that has been able to be completely dominant for 15 years straight. Federer is phenomenal athlete. Perhaps the best athlete ever. But as good as he is, he’s still human. His mind gets tired and he gets injured. The argument you’re making could be made about Borg or Sampras or McEnroe. If only “Fill in the name” had tried harder. It doesn’t work that way. Federer, unlike Safin, maximized (… and is still maximizing) every bit of his considerable potential.

December 5th, 2017 at 12:40 pm

It’s unfortunate that people can’t see that their heroes are human. Federer is the best player I’ve ever seen. That doesn’t mean he only loses due to his own failings. The Novaks, Rafa’s, Stan’s and Murray’s of this world work their tails off and they are also phenomenally talented. But saying that 2017 proves that Federer could beat any of the guys he lost to between 2010 and 2016? That’s drinking a little bit too much of the Federer Kool-Aid for my liking.

December 5th, 2017 at 12:45 pm

Watch the 2009 US Open Final. DelPotro took that match from Federer. Federer didn’t do anything inherently wrong in that match. DelPo plastered the ball for the last 4 sets and took Federer out of his comfort zone. And this was prime Federer in the middle of 4 consecutive GS final appearances.

December 5th, 2017 at 12:49 pm

I have seen Fed lose matches that he has had NO chance. 09 Delpo was one, Rafa a few times on Clay. Fed could/can be outhit by the big hitters when they are on song. No one is immuned however. Ut by Feds overall career results, he has handled it better than anyone.

December 5th, 2017 at 1:01 pm

SG1, it’s unfortunate that you’re spewing fog to distract people from thinking rationally. I never said that, in the seven-year period between 2010 and 2016, Roger Federer would have (a) won all 26 grand slam championships that he failed to win and won all 5 ATP Finals that he failed to win as well as (b) reversed all 19 losses to Djokovic, reversed all 10 losses to Nadal, reversed all 5 losses to Murray or 2 losses to Wawrinka – during that seven-year period. It’s silly to think that he could have won everything he failed to win, so stop pretending this was what I said.

What I clearly said was that Federer’s high level in (a) 2017 and (b) between 2011 US Open and 2012 Cincinnati – these two periods prove that Federer always had the talent/capacity to have won more big titles and big matches in the seven year period between 2010 and 2016. As I stated, Federer could have won several additional Grand Slam titles (4-8), ATP Finals titles (1-2) and Year-End No. 1 (1-2) if only he had been more motivated to push himself 100% in training and practice during those seven years. For example, most reasonable people would accept that 2017-level Federer would have been able to win some of the 26 grand slam championships that he failed to win between 2010 and 2016.

However, outside these two periods Federer did not play at this high level most of the time because he came into many tournaments underprepared, lacking practice, and relied on his fighting ability to win matches. A player can have the greatest talent and capacity but — if it is not leveraged through hard work, conditioning and practice — it will not be realized. In several majors during that seven year period, Federer lacked the fitness to win the next match after a five setter – yet in 2017, Federer was fit enough to be able to win through 3 five-setters in 4 matches! Obviously he had put in a lot of fitness and conditioning work for 2017.

In your hubris, you should tell Boris Becker: “It’s unfortunate that you can’t see that your player Djokovic is just human.” Your claim that Djokovic did not play well because he was not healthy after 2016 French Open was contradicted by Djokovic’s own coach Boris Becker. Becker revealed that Djokovic lost motivation and did not practice enough. What Djokovic was afflicted for one year, Federer was afflicted for most of seven years.
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/740705/Boris-Becker-Novak-Djokovic-split-He-didn-t-practice-as-much-as-he-should

As for your example of “2009 US Open Final”, it was before the 2010 to 2016 period. Regardless, Federer was just 2 points from winning the match in the fourth set. Federer himself thinks if he played his 2009 US Open final clash with Juan Martin del Potro again, he would probably win — he certainly should have won it within the first four sets, it was only in the fifth set that Delpo was untouchable. Federer said: “I felt like that I left that match with a lot of regrets. Probably feels like one of those matches I would like to play over again. Feel like I would probably win it somehow because I should have been up maybe two sets to love or should have been up two sets to one. I don’t remember if I was. I just had all these chances in multiple moments. The only time when he was really better, in my opinion, was the fifth set. Obviously that was good enough to beat me that day. It was a good match. A lot of back and forth. I guess I was a bit disappointed, you know. But Juan Martin did play extremely well. He beat Rafa and me back-to-back, so I felt like he deserved it at the end.”
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/850421/US-Open-2017-Roger-Federer-2009-final-regrets-Juan-Martin-del-Potro

It’s nonsense that Federer was the best Federer he could be from 2010 to 2016. There was one period when he did try his best: 2011 US Open to 2012 Cincinnati, when he won over 12,000 points, 1 major (almost 2 majors), 4 Masters 1000, 3 ATP 500, winning percentage over 90%. At 2011 ATP Finals he bageled Nadal. At 2012 Cincinnati he bageled Djokovic in the final. After 2012 Cincinnati, Federer’s level just inexplicably dropped – his winning percentage for the remainder of 2012 (US Open to ATP Finals) was about the same as his mediocre 2013 season. Federer didn’t make much of an effort to challenge Djokovic for the Year-End No. 1 in 2012 – he even admitted that his goal was to weeks No. 1 record, not to be year-end No. 1. Unlike Pete Sampras who chased ranking points in 1998 fall, Federer chose to play a meaningless Davis Cup match and showed up in 2012 Shanghai looking underprepared. The 2013 slump that people presume happened in 2013 really started in 2012 fall. One match he was bageling Djokovic, thereafter he was vulnerable to low-ranked players.

So your argument “For a pro this is tantamount to not trying” – well, Federer practically admitted it. And he acted it by what he did.

December 5th, 2017 at 2:29 pm

Edit the second last paragraph: There was one period when he did try his best: 2011 US Open to 2012 Cincinnati, when he won over 12,000 points, 1 major (almost 2 majors), 1 ATP Finals, 4 Masters 1000, 3 ATP 500, winning percentage over 90%.

December 5th, 2017 at 2:33 pm

Uncle Toni,

You words are so adorable. Can you continue to write long prose consisting of long paragraphs accompanied by pictures. Future generations will learn how to write from you.

Dear Webmaster,

Your website cannot keep up with Uncle Toni’s prose.

December 5th, 2017 at 4:32 pm

At least Slimy has a cats to talk with, the other nuts obviously has nobody to talk with..apart of the the picture of 36 years old on the wall, what a lonely life.

December 5th, 2017 at 4:37 pm

“Oh would the Lord the giftie gie us to see oorselves as others see us…”

To Humble Rafa: Please give my love to Uncle Toni. He’s obviously feeling bereft of attention….couldn’t you send him one of your cats? Or a dog – they have an enormously capacity to smell – they can smell when someone is sick and needs help.

December 5th, 2017 at 6:09 pm

At least WB has a Parrots to talk with, the other nuts obviously has nobody to talk with..apart of the the picture of 30 year old on the wall, what a lonely life.
See. Easy peasy. requires 0 intelligence.

December 5th, 2017 at 7:38 pm

If the fawning ITf was objective it would make enquiries about Fed’s supposed knee surgery. Where was it done, who was the surgeon, what had he specialized in, a list of his patients, were they mostly athletes, were they super rich, did their performance improve remarkably after the “operation”? Chances are, the surgeon has a Swiss Bank account and so have his clients so his secret is safe. Unless ITF summons up the will and the clout to force Swiss Banks to reveal the transactions.

December 5th, 2017 at 8:53 pm

^links? Facts?
Nope nada.

December 5th, 2017 at 8:59 pm

Merry Christmas all. And a special Ho,Ho,Ho to Woggers to whom I say:
When I feel sad after another match slips away after having multiple set and match points, the following song always cheers me up :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djU4Lq_5EaM

December 5th, 2017 at 9:22 pm

I will not stand here watch anyone insult Skeeze’s cats. They are his babies and we should all respect them. Sure, Skeeze may get upset sometimes (after “some” matches) and not feed them, but his love for cats is unparalleled.

December 5th, 2017 at 10:18 pm

“Woggers”?

If that was me, thanks Fred Stone, great song, you had to dig deep for that one.
I haven’t lost any set or match points, not yet, but I feel lonely trying to finish renovation of my veranda before Christmas, I am fed up with sanding, painting, hidden nails etc and running out of patience;)
I’ll give you more cheerful one, that’s what we all need during festive season, about my favorite fruit, plums and the girls in the clip are quite plumed;)
You might not understand the words, but then again you might understand them Fred Stone, just imagine the drink that you make from these plumes, Merry Christmas, enjoy it:

https://youtu.be/6rtNX9TxosE

December 5th, 2017 at 10:35 pm

Ok, good bye till the next season. The Cult has ordered tons of Fed posters for the holiday celebrations. Gallons of saliva are gonna flow! Ugh! Imagine what the Fed posters are going to look like after the Cult rituals!
The rest of us are going to celebrate with family and friends! cheers!

December 5th, 2017 at 10:57 pm

^really? Good bye? Awesome👍
Buh bye!

December 5th, 2017 at 11:07 pm

To the anyone-but-Federer gang:
Humble Rafa, I give you ‘moving prose’ so your academy’s adorable trainees can learn from you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmpLSW47MPQ

Poor Wog Boy, you’re still trash talking to your parrots despite being repeatedly double bageled.

j-kath, speaking from experience of having several sniffer dogs around you?

t4t, instead of spewing nonsense, go find true facts about Federer’s knee surgery, so that I can share information about Djokovic’s supposed injury. Wait! Don’t go to expensive Switzerland – you won’t be able to afford it until you get an honest paying job.

You all deserve to be proud of Nadal and Djokovic, who both maximized and squeezed out every bit of their potential through great coaching, discipline, hard work, living a system, sacrifice. They don’t have much more to give, having reached the limits of their potential. These limits are indicated by the relatively shorter spurts that they were able to redline on their potential: Djokovic was unable to keep the No. 1 ranking for longer than 53, 48 and 122 weeks respectively; while Nadal was unable to keep the No. 1 ranking for longer than 46, 56, 39, 16+ weeks respectively. Both Nadal and Djokovic benefited from easier tour conditions from 2008 (relatively homogenous court surfaces, first round byes for top players; no more best-of-five set finals in ATP tournaments; shorter calendar; etc.). Had they started their careers in 1998 with Federer under the tougher tour conditions before 2008, I doubt they would have been as successful.

On the other hand, Federer kept the No. 1 ranking for 237, 48 and 17 weeks, most of it during his prime from mid-2003 to 2009. From the older Federer’s perspective, he had already done an intensive 6+ years on the ATP Tour by 2010 Australian. The GOAT Federer’s ‘barrel of potential’ (capacity and talent) is greater than Nadal or Djokovic. Unlike Nadal and Djokovic, Federer did not maximize and squeeze out every bit of his greater barrel of potential for much of the seven-year period between 2010 and 2016. For Federer, this isn’t a case of ‘hindsight is 20/20’ since Federer has figured out years ago what he needed to do to be better. For the 2017 Australian, although it seemed that Federer brought in a new coach, made some changes in his game and improved his backhand, Federer’s coach Severin Luthi reminded everyone that “But this is not the first time he played (his backhand) so well. When he beat Nadal 6:3, 6:0 in the ATP final (2011), he similarly took the balls early with the backhand and played them more flat” (see link). After his 16th major the 2010 Australian, I think Federer decided to downshift in intensity on the ATP Tour and spread his energies on multiple off-court activities (just like Djokovic after winning 2016 French Open).
https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/sport/tennis/ich-spuerte-dass-fuer-roger-alles-moeglich-ist/story/23037215

December 6th, 2017 at 3:36 am

Thus it is significant that the players voted to award Federer the ATP Sportsmanship Award in an unprecedented 12 years since 2004. The players are rational — they would not have voted so many times for Federer if they suspected him of doping.

On the other hand, take Wog Boy’s idol. The founding president of the World Anti-Doping Agency Dick Pound once said that Djokovic’s attitude towards doping is ‘the Lance Armstrong approach’. Furthermore, the ATP players have never once voted for him. What do the players know that we don’t?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Well, they know Novak has not been on the ballot since his breakthrough year of 2011. The Edberg Prize is rigged. The more honest Laureus Awards have Fed winning 4 Novak winning 3 as the top male sportsman. (Rafa has 1, Andy has been nominated)

The clash between Novak and the aptly named Dick Pound was Djokovic saying tennis did not have the doping problem some sports do, and Pound saying that was just what Lance said about cycling. Events seem to have shown Djokovic correct – frequent testing and the biological passport introduction in 2014 have not uncovered a significant case of doping in tennis. Sharapova’s ban was just her stupidity. Hiding use of a performance drug from her team and doctors she saw when it was legal, and when it became illegal no one knew she was a user and gave her a heads up.

December 6th, 2017 at 4:00 am

Remarks above the crosses in my last post are Tony N’s.

December 6th, 2017 at 4:01 am

Here’s a real doping story, from Switzerland,

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2017/12/06/russian-whistleblowers-call-ioc-decision-fair-remain-focused-reform/926149001/

December 6th, 2017 at 7:26 am

hmm knowing the political ‘cold’ conflict between USA vs. Russia, China etc. I’m not sure that the Russians are the bad guys, here

December 6th, 2017 at 11:02 am

chrisford1: “The Edberg Prize is rigged.”

What arguments or facts do you have to suggest the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award is “rigged”? Besides Federer, the other 2017 nominees were Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro and Marin Cilic. The ATP Players — who know how the nominees behave in private — could have voted for Nadl, delpo or Cilic. Instead the majority again voted for the player with the most sportsmanship, integrity, fairness, and professionalism: Federer.

According to the ATP: “The Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award is voted by the ATP players from the nominees. The award goes to the player who, throughout the year, conducted himself at the highest level of professionalism and integrity, who competed with his fellow players with the utmost spirit of fairness and who promoted the game through his off-court activities.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATP_World_Tour_Awards#Stefan_Edberg_Sportsmanship_Award

Alexander Zverev is an example of a player convinced about Federer’s clean sportsmanship.
https://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/news/Tennis_Interviews/49624/atp-board-member-sascha-zverev-wants-to-imitate-role-model-roger-federer-/

Read “Survey of athletes 2017 Antidoping Switzerland”

Btw, there is a difference between ‘sportsmanship’ (Edberg award) and ‘sportsman’ (Laureus award).

December 6th, 2017 at 11:40 am

Talking about sportsmanship,here is a fun thesaurus entry
sportsmanship: antonym gamesmanship
Example acts of gamesmanship:pretending to be drunk midpoint in the game, trying to fall on the ground after netting FH or missing shots, seem injured until opponent starts notices and is distracted, pretend one type of injury and take MO for another one mid-game, etc, etc.
Example usase:

….., despite being one of the best players to ever play the game, has been observed numerous times, in grandslam and other ATP events, resorting to mild to moderate gamesmanship tactics to distract opponents.

You can earn the sportsman award by being the best player in the ATP herd.
But earning sportsmanship award consistently for a decade would require that you don’t show an iota of gamesmanship in any match.

Now, the haters like to to present themselves as the eternal victims of rigging and unfairness and spray hate all around. Outside of tennis, its exactly what’s going on around USA right now. This is purely out of hate which is the culmination of extreme jealousy & incompetence.

December 6th, 2017 at 12:03 pm

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2017/01/roger-federer-medical-timeout-pat-cash-australian-open-atp-tennis/63849/ ^^^^^

December 6th, 2017 at 12:21 pm

Dear Tony N,

Please take step back and take a few breaths. You’re posts are among the longest on Tennis-X because you feel the need to refute every single thing that takes anything away from your hero. The length of your posts don’t do anything to give credence to your opinions. If anything, your posts do the opposite. They illustrate your fanaticism and lack of perspective. This is an open forum and you’re free to write what you want. All I’m saying is that you won’t get people to see things your way by shouting them all down. Everyone on this site has been right or wrong about something. You don’t have all the answers anymore than Federer does.

Yours sincerely,
SG1

December 6th, 2017 at 12:40 pm

Giles: You’re repetitively parroting Pat Cash’s disingenuous nonsense that I had already rebutted in the link below. Cash conveniently omitted that 5-years younger Nadal took a bathroom break after just one set, where the panicked Rafa went to the dressing room and returned to court in fresh clothes. Nadal did this after being dominated in the first set (Federer led 28-21 points) – when Fed was in complete control and had the momentum to roll over Nadal in straight sets. Come on, who needs to take a 4-minute bathroom break to pee after after just 10 games? TV commentator John McEnroe said that Nadal was trying to disrupt Federer’s momentum: “Momentum swing? Already Rafa is feeling the pressure… clearly part of it was due to the fact that this guy the great Roger Federer was able to pick his game up…” A few minutes later McEnroe added that Nadal “made a real attempt to slow things down… he took a (bathroom) break, he left the court, he kept Roger waiting…”? It’s possible that Federer — who had dominated Nadal — would have won the match in straight sets had his momentum not been disrupted by Nadal’s bathroom break gamesmanship. If the match ended in three sets, then there would have been no fifth set and therefore no need for Federer to call an MTO (given that Federer had knee surgery and played 3 five setters).
http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2017-09-04/26906.php#comment-730344

December 6th, 2017 at 12:59 pm

Uncle Toni is opinionated and verbose.

December 6th, 2017 at 1:37 pm

Dave talking codswallop AGAIN!!

December 6th, 2017 at 1:54 pm

SG1. Excellent post. NOW, if only the man would listen!

December 6th, 2017 at 1:57 pm

Dear SG1: Stop disingenuously attacking the messenger… because your naive opinions attempting to rebut the messenger’s insightful message… were in turn debunked by the messenger’s perspective, facts, principles and/or logical arguments. You just don’t like it that your opinions were rebutted. I don’t have to agree with opinionated rebuttals that I disagree with — just as you are free to disagree with my arguments. It’s arrogant to expect me to agree with your naive rebuttals. So please take a step back and take a few breaths yourself.

What I said about Federer is certainly plausible and partly based on facts. His off-court business and other activities from 2010 to 2016 are possibly the largest and most time-consuming of any active athlete in world sports (until perhaps Tiger Woods returns to golf). Federer is like the busy CEO of a $100 million dollar business operation — it’s naive to think he’s just a top tennis player only trying to win major titles.

Just Federer’s former off-court job as president ATP Player’s Council took a lot of his focus and time away from preparing for grand slam tennis matches.

‘Federer takes on role as backroom power broker… as enduring as his off-court endeavors. Much of Federer’s behind-the-scenes work this year has focused on persuading the four majors to share a larger piece of the revenue pie with players. He has also lobbied that a larger percentage of prize money go to earlier rounds to rectify a growing income distribution gap. That work has increasingly fallen on his shoulders, as both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, once Player Council members, left their leadership positions. Take his pre-tournament schedule last month at the Masters event in Shanghai. Under added security because of death threats, Federer arrived on a Friday and discussed strategy with ATP player and board representatives till about 1 A.M. He practiced the next morning, spent about 7 hours in meetings with various representatives of the Grand Slams and still attended the player party Saturday night. On Sunday evening, he hosted three hours of meetings in his hotel room with the Player Council, ATP executive staff, and U.S. Open executives — all before he struck a match ball. “Roger has so many demands on his schedule and the fact that he is investing so much time into the player council and these negotiations shows his character and how much he cares for the future of the sport,” doubles specialist and council member Eric Butorac of the USA wrote in a recent email. “I believe it is very unprecedented to have a top player so involved.”… Demands can stretch on and on. The mind can become weary. Focus can waver. “I have to be careful I don’t do too much because I am there to play well,” he said. “I don’t want to be exhausted once I get to the match court. I don’t want to be tired at the end of the third set mentally because I’ve just done too much…”… Not known to chase numbers, Federer confessed that he had tweaked his schedule to play the Shanghai Masters and keep his No. 1 ranking alive a few more weeks, whereas in other times he might have taken a rest after a long summer. That allowed him to become the first player to hold the top spot for more than 300 weeks and move well past Sampras’ 286 weeks at No. 1 — a record he had trailed by just one week… “the 300 and Shanghai was that important to me… The goal was to get back to No. 1, not finish the year end No. 1. That’s exactly how it all happened. I’m happy that I achieved my goals… I’m busy. I have a lot on my plate.” ‘
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/tennis/2012/11/04/atp-world-tour-finals-roger-federer/1681357/

‘Others believe (Federer) needs to eliminate some of the drains on his time that have included the presidency of the ATP player council, which has helped lead the successful push for more prize money at the Grand Slam events in the last two years. “We were stuck in that room until probably about 9:45 last Friday night,” said the ATP board member Justin Gimelstob, pointing to a meeting room at the All England Club. “Roger does so much for so many people.” If Gimelstob were coaching Federer, would he suggest he cut back? “I’m too conflicted to answer that question,” Gimelstob said. “But, yes, if I were purely coaching him, I probably would.” ‘
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/29/sports/tennis/federers-conquerer-takes-a-u-turn.html

Eric Butorac (past president, ATP Player Council): ‘Butorac claims Federer is just as selfless with his time for his fellow tennis players as he is with fans. “Serving as his vice president on the ATP Player Council, I witnessed first-hand not only (Federer’s) commitment to attending the four-hour meetings often the night grand slams began, but also his role in negotiating more money for the players from the slams. Once the additional prize money had been secured, Roger made sure the increases were driven down to the lower-ranked players who needed the funds most.” from the article “Questions asked surrounding Roger Federer’s nice-guy reputation” ‘

December 6th, 2017 at 1:57 pm

Tony N is spraying the similar medicine to these haters in TX. Way to go Tony N,
That said, I don’t read your post, gosh they are too long, how fast do you type? Are the paragraphs in different posts repeated again agains ;).

But hey, at least your post, though I assume a little worshippy (not a word) aren’t as hateful and jealous as theirs. Ok, that’s a guess, (you didn’t give me a choice here)

December 6th, 2017 at 2:07 pm

Ive always found SG1 to be one of the fairest, most knowledgeable, and unbiased posters on this forum, you have to actually ask him who hes a fan of as you cant really tell, given how objective he is, and hes certainly not a hater of any player, my two cents ….

December 6th, 2017 at 3:02 pm

I agree with Willow. SG1 has responded factually to some heavy provocation. He/she has tried to reach a level of debate based on facts — (earlier I tried that too – but gave up).

I really do believe that the poster who takes umbrage so easily if everyone does not agree with his obsession with Roger is a deeply disturbed individual and reacts as only bullies do. I believe he needs to be cautioned by TX – even if it is only based on the fact that his lengthy repetitive postings are altering the democratic balance of the site.

December 6th, 2017 at 5:07 pm

@SG1…….Love your comments! I too think you are a fair poster. Don’t like lengthy posts so therefore I scroll d
o
w
n! Redundant, time consuming and obnoxious!

December 6th, 2017 at 5:26 pm

I guess there is only one poster who likes and reads Dave’s posts and keep encouraging him to keep posting, High Priest of the low Cult.

December 6th, 2017 at 5:45 pm

Willow: I forgot – Happy Birthday tomorrow – mine being spent at Dentist after 2 years of non-attendance – and it is 3 consecutive days! And I have to stop everything to drive there with storm Caroline scheduled to hit s-w Scotland – so not looking forward for various reasons.

So birthday well for two of us.

Hi Okie – always good to see U post irrespective of subject.

December 6th, 2017 at 5:47 pm

Happy birthday to you too J-Kath, ill be the big 50, hope everything goes well for you at the dentist, believe me im going through that too, and drive safely my dear, take care, love and hugs Alison XX ;-)

Okie lovely to see you here too ;-)

December 6th, 2017 at 5:59 pm

“SG1. Excellent post. NOW, if only the man would listen!”
You talking about yourself or t4t?
“Redundant, time consuming and obnoxious!”

December 6th, 2017 at 6:14 pm

Wog Boy: Who is Dave?

December 6th, 2017 at 6:23 pm

Willow: PS: Since hubbie died I have had my Personal computer (and phone) security penetrated….caused me a lot of problems….so I have stopped giving out personal info. – in fact I should not even have mentioned birthdays…..security problems are one of the reasons I don’t belong to facebook etc. PS: My credit card has been abused 3 times in the last 18 months!!….Nowadays when one sends in VAT returns they don’t allow you access to one’s account without them phoning you and giving you a 24 hour validation!

December 6th, 2017 at 6:42 pm

JK,
Dave is Tony N(obody), he used to post here until 36 years old was still winning something, when the things got bad for 46 years old Dave disappeared for a few years and came under different moniker so doesn’t have to justify himself for abandoning the cult when the things were not so rosy, but his conditions worsened since he was Dave..

December 6th, 2017 at 7:35 pm

^^ “for 36 years old” though I don’t have a doubt he will be still playing at 46…medicine has advanced..

December 6th, 2017 at 7:37 pm

@ JK….Happy Birthday!! Glad you shared that with us. Hope you had a spectacular day! I still read TX and feel the need to pop in with a comment occasionally. Hey …so sorry that you have had your security “breached”. Not a fun thing to have to deal with. My traveling friend and I got our purses stolen while we were in Fresno CA…. cell phones too…… I’m still discovering more cards I’m missing. It’s deer hunting season here in Oklahoma and I had forgotten that my life time hunting license were stolen too. So I get out in the deer woods and no license. So being the upstanding citizen I am, I didn’t hunt! Lol Hang in there through January….I will be thinking of you……

@Willow…..Happy Birthday to you also! Hey, it’s nice to be missed……thanks!

Skeezer dear, I love being quoted!!

December 6th, 2017 at 7:44 pm

Things you may not know.

Four of Skeeze’s cats are twins – 2 sets of identical twins.

December 6th, 2017 at 8:24 pm

Willow,
I am not referring SG1 as hater as I very much think he is not (based on his post). I actually like his posts. See my post on Dec 4th at 1:02pm on this thread.

I am referring to some posters that cant live with the fact that 36 year old won majors. So they keep going back to doping sh*t and cite some useless articles another hater published.
And they are doing that repetitively as if saying it 100000 times will make it true. Just come with some concrete evidence.
If these haters were big names like that french minister, thew would have been on court for sure. But they are nobody just barking every 10 minutes or so. That was my point.
Regarding Tony N he is doing kind of same thing these haters are doing in a different way. Hitting them with such long posts that their finger might get blisters by scrolling down to see another post. Good no him if he wants to go with that.

December 6th, 2017 at 8:34 pm

Even the arrogant ‘Humble Rafa’ is shouting dope, now that he keeps losing. That’s interesting.

December 6th, 2017 at 8:38 pm

Re; 8:24 post
This is what happens to a wanna be Rafa who is obsessed with cats. You talk about them so much YOU muat be the one who owns cats, cause I sure don’t.
——-
BTW, who is a Wog Boy?

December 6th, 2017 at 8:52 pm

@Willow & JK…Happy sweet 16th Birthday to u lovely gals!!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ElX1Tfrf92Q/TrTFjUH6uDI/AAAAAAAABgY/ml8dZ3Az5zA/s1600/IMG_1131.JPG

Oh!JK & Okie…Hope you guys be strong to wade this tough couple of months…My thoughts are with u guys from the thousands miles away….

December 6th, 2017 at 9:28 pm

“BTW, who is a Wog Boy?”

This is Wog Boy, King of Mykonos:

https://youtu.be/AdIpuydNNSo

December 6th, 2017 at 10:27 pm

J-Kath no problem my lovely, the internet can be a scary place, with hackers, and criminals getting into your files and computer data, i chat with friends on FB and people i know, or friends of friends, im careful about who i chat to online, stay safe my love XX ;-)

December 7th, 2017 at 4:27 am

Thanks Okie ;-)

Thanks AndiMira for the birthday wishes honey, and on FB, for the delicious cake , your very sweet XX ;-)

RogerNad fan i know what your saying, i just didnt find it fare that SG1 was attacked in that way, when all hes ever done was have an opinion, i could say alot more but ill leave it there ….

December 7th, 2017 at 4:33 am

Rognadfan: “Tony N is spraying the similar medicine to these haters in TX. Way to go Tony N… Tony N he is doing kind of same thing these haters are doing in a different way. Hitting them with such long posts that their finger might get blisters by scrolling down to see another post. Good on him if he wants to go with that.”

Thanks. It not “similar medicine”, though. The Gang of haters are spraying rubbish. I’m responding with prescription-strength medicine based on facts (facts are not hateful or jealous) and compelling analysis. It is not similar :)

I worship only facts, logical analysis and ‘big picture’ thinking – I do not anyone’s opinions from their self-important worldview without good facts.

My posts may be long, but no one is forcing anyone to read my posts and accept my views, most of which are in response to the rubbish spewed, encouraged and/or tolerated by the Gang (‘the anyone-but-Federer gang of haters). The funny thing is I usually don’t read the posts of the very Gang-members wanting to read my posts if only it contains less facts. I am a fair person — I do not want the Gang to read my posts. Yet, despite their incessant whining, the Gang continues to read every word I write. Because the Gang is a bunch of bullies trying to control “the democratic balance of the site”. The same Gang members arrogantly bore us and waste our time with personal chit-chat about their personal lives that is irrelevant to this site… but hey, we can scroll through it if we don’t like it, right? Their hypocrisy is monumental.

skeezer Says: “BTW, who is a Wog Boy?”
The Urban Dictionary defines wogboy as “a whinging primary schooler” (frist definition). Sounds about right. The second definition is also appropriate but I cannot repeat it.

skeezer Says: “SG1. Excellent post. NOW, if only the man would listen!” You talking about yourself or t4t? “Redundant, time consuming and obnoxious!”
LOL

j-kath Says: “Wog Boy: Who is Dave?”
One of your sniffer dogs who can smell when someone nearby is sick, disturbed and needs help.

Now for the interesting part.

It does not help anyone’s credibility to be certified as knowledgeable, fair and unbiased by the Gang. (Not sure what j-kath is smoking if she thinks that she or SG1 “has tried to reach a level of debate based on facts” – what facts?)

I am not convinced that SG1 is all that knowledgeable, fair and unbiased given his pedestrian analysis of the 2009 US Open final (see above) indicates his thinking was numbed by Delpo’s power and fifth set performance. SG1’s pedestrian view is contradicted by my quote of Federer himself who said recently that it is one of those matches he probably would win if he played over again (what Federer said is similar to my own analysis for years about that match).

Consider the context: Federer’s twin girls were born just a few weeks before the 2009 US Open (during the that US Open, new father Federer was apparently kept awake at night by the crying babies – enough to make anyone grouchy and vulnerable). During the US Open, Federer had reached the final having beaten Novak Djokovic in a straight sets semifinal and blasted a phenomenal tweener (as well as beaten Soderling, Robredo and former USO champion Hewitt before that). Having done the heavy lifting, Roger was possibly a bit overconfident about facing Delpo in his first major final (Federer had thrashed Delpo 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 in the 2009 Australian Open and held a 6-0 career record against Delpo). Federer lost that 2009 USO final to Delpo 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, 6-7, 2-6 where Roger had 22 breakpoints, made 11 double faults, was serving for the second set, and was 2 points from winning the match in the fourth set – Federer really could and should have won that match in three or four sets if only he was as mentally focused as he was against Roddick in the fifth set of the 2009 Wimbledon final. It was only in the fifth set that Delpo “was really better” according to Federer.

Go watch the first four sets of the 2009 US Open Final and read the match stats of the first four sets – it supports what Federer said (see link). The problem is that some people are too easily mesmerized by power shots.
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/850421/US-Open-2017-Roger-Federer-2009-final-regrets-Juan-Martin-del-Potro

What Roger Federer himself said is similar to my own analysis of the 2009 USO match that I had given on September 6 (see link). I have said similar things in previous years about that match. It helps if you have a photographic memory and are not mesmerized by Delpo’s power. This is what knowledgeable, fair and unbiased looks like.
http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2017-09-05/26918.php#comment-730444

If SG1 is unable to provide a knowledgeable, fair, objective and meaningful analysis on a single match, he is certainly not competent to challenge my analysis of Federer’s level of performance in the seven years between 2010 and 2016. Simple as that. I don’t appreciate someone trying to foist their inferior views on me.

December 7th, 2017 at 4:37 am

Willow Says: “RogerNad fan i know what your saying, i just didnt find it fare that SG1 was attacked in that way, when all hes ever done was have an opinion, i could say alot more but ill leave it there ….”

What I don’t find fair is your revisionist history and misinformation. SG1 misrepresented what I wrote, then disparaged it as “complete bunk“ based on his weak opinion. For example…

SG1: “Don’t know who it was but they were saying that Federer didn’t win majors between 2012 and 2016 because he didn’t want to? Excuse me but this is complete bunk. Federer didn’t win any majors between 2012 and 2016 because he couldn’t. Whatever the reasons were, he had opportunities but couldn’t seal the deal.”
http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2017-12-01/27401.php#comment-736005

December 7th, 2017 at 4:51 am

Top 2 Grand Slam matches of 2017
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/best-grand-slam-matches-2017-2-to-1

Top 2 ATP World Tour Matches Of 2017
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/best-atp-world-tour-matches-2017-top-2

December 7th, 2017 at 5:02 am

The ATP Board is made up of fedfans. SO OBVIOUS!

December 7th, 2017 at 5:23 am

Andi-Mira: That cake!!!!! Wow…..I’ll close my eyes and enjoy it…every last crumb. Taa much….you three (Okie; Willow and You A-M).

December 7th, 2017 at 9:21 am

Overseas Sports Personality of the Year 2017 Award

This award recognises the overseas athlete (i.e., outside Britain) who has made the most substantial contribution to sport this year. Voting for this BBC award is only available to people in the UK. Voting closes on Friday, December 8.

Six contenders were shortlisted:
Roger Federer (tennis)
Tom Brady (American football)
Katie Ledecky (swimming)
Tatyana McFadden (Para-athletics)
Sally Pearson (athletics)
Michael van Gerwen (darts).
http://www.bbc.com/sport/sports-personality/42066974

December 7th, 2017 at 9:33 am

Tennis players have won this BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year Award 16 times, since its inception in 1960. In 1969, Rod Laver was the first tennis player to win the award. Boxer Muhammad Ali, tennis player Roger Federer and sprinter Usain Bolt have each won the award three times. See who were the other winners from tennis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Overseas_Sports_Personality_of_the_Year#By_year

December 7th, 2017 at 9:45 am

JK…Hehe….I knew you’re going to enjoy that cake!!…Oh!btw…I hope you’re already prepared all the things u need for ‘Caroline’s visit okay?…Please stay safe JK…

December 7th, 2017 at 9:46 am

Damn Tony N, your posts are literally breaking the threads. Though, you seem genuinely working to write these posts. Let me remind you, respectfully, if you want someone to hear you, you have to produce the sound with the audible limits.
Your posts are like 100 decibels (a unit of loudness) while a typical range for some one to hear (normal sound) would be around 40-60 decibels).
Hope this analogy gets through you and I mean that with utmost respect. :)

On a lighter note- man it seems you have taken trolling to a whole new dimension. Unlike the trolls like Giles that just copy paste posts from other sites. Are you two the same person with split personalities?

December 7th, 2017 at 10:54 am

rognadfan: Obviously you have a comprehension problem or you can’t read. I clearly told you: my posts may be long, but no one is forcing you to read my posts. I usually don’t read your posts, so I am not interested whether or not you read my posts. Everybody here chooses posts to read and skips posts they don’t want to read. Now I mean this with the utmost respect: go spend your time reading the posts chit-chatting about personal life stories that are irrelevant to tennis. Bye bye.

December 7th, 2017 at 11:19 am

http://metro.co.uk/2017/12/07/rafael-nadal-right-novak-djokovic-reach-higher-level-roger-federer-7139597/

To WogBoy, VP and other Nole fans…..Rafa’s views seem to be on the mark according to the above article. Metro is a reasonably non-biased newspaper.

December 7th, 2017 at 11:39 am

this is the only overseas tenist I’ve heard of

goo.gl/x9Js2x

December 7th, 2017 at 11:39 am

Tony N…your exact words were that Federer didn’t fully focus on his tennis between 2010 and 2016. You claim that if he had “focused on his tennis” instead of other things, he would have a higher slam count. These are your words, not mine. You’re claiming that one of, if not the best player of all time, decided to go on a 7 year intensity vacation. What exactly is the basis for your claim? You are hardly impartial as we can all clearly see which gives your claim not even an ounce of worth. Do you know Federer personally because if you don’t you have no idea if he ever “mailed it in” even once let alone over a 7 year span. You are fully within your rights to question my tennis knowledge but that knife cuts both ways. You want to talk about revisionist history? Claiming that Federer should have won the ’09 match with DelPo (…or the 2017 version of Fed would have) is revisionist history at its best. Federer played brilliantly in that match but power is the great equalizer in tennis. Sampras lost to Krajicek in ’96 at Wimbledon because for one match, all the pieces fell into place for Krajicek. He took Sampras, a formidable power player in his own right, and relegated him to being reactive on his best surface.

You know what the really strange thing is? I have done nothing but praise Federer over the past year. I’ve gone so far as to say that he was the best player of 2017 even though Rafa ended up No.1 Yet, this is not good enough for a fanatic like you. For fans like you, it’s all or nothing. Sad. Very sad indeed.

December 7th, 2017 at 12:57 pm

It appears that very few, if any, read youknowwho’s posts. So why does he bother spewing all his bs ? Habitual VD!

December 7th, 2017 at 2:05 pm

Giles: I stopped reading postings by Dave/Tony N some time back. Through reading other people’s postings it was clear he was still challenging and bullying 99% of responders. I only have basic qualifications in counselling but for me the alarm bells are ringing….he enjoys oppotunities for conflict…. SO, what to do? He is unstable and will rant and rave but with any luck – if no-one responds to him – may will eventually withdraw. Otherwise?

December 7th, 2017 at 3:41 pm

JK,
Thanks for the link, agree with Rafa, one on one Nole is better player than 36 years old, his best is better than 36 years old best, proved and certified.

As for Dave, he is remorseful for abandoning the Cult and leaving 36 years old for a dead when he was going down the hill for quite a few years. That guilty feeling is killing him so he is looking for redemption and forgiveness with his incoherent posts.

December 7th, 2017 at 4:38 pm

The most annoying thing with his posts is that he buggers every single thread with his links so it doesn’t fit on my mobile phone screen, my thumb has to work overtime by moving the screen left and right in order to check the posts from the posters I usually read.

December 7th, 2017 at 4:48 pm

WogBoy: The article almost surprised me – from what we read elsewhere we become brain-washed…discounting Nole in favour of others. I was also very impressed that Rafa contributed so frankly and sincerely.

December 7th, 2017 at 5:44 pm

I agree with Rafa…in fact i agree with him a longggg time ago…

December 7th, 2017 at 7:03 pm

Not biased then, A-M?????????????????????
Goodie night – off to bed.

December 7th, 2017 at 8:16 pm

JK….Hahaha…No!..not biased then..and certainly not biased now…

December 7th, 2017 at 11:13 pm

@JK and Willow Hope you two had great birthdays!! We’re not getting older….we are getting better!! Aging like a fine wine!
@Mira…..I didn’t realize you could whip up a delicious looking cake…..chocolate at that! YUMMY!!
Agree on Rafa’s statement regarding Novak. When the Serb was at the pinnacle of his career, almost untouchable……as Rafa knows. That’s why I love Rafa, he is not so prideful that he can’t give credit where credit is due!

December 8th, 2017 at 1:21 am

JK and Willow: some people like you two, improve with age like a good red wine. Happy Birthday gals. xx
JK: Had a quick skim through this thread, *raises eyebrows,* agree with you and virtually everyone else.
BFN

December 8th, 2017 at 1:55 am

Aww Margot thankyou so much your such a lovely lady, and very kind too XX ;-)

December 8th, 2017 at 3:51 am

Miss Okie!!…I can whipped many things as u’re already know!…Ohohohohoho!!

Oh!…You’re absolutely right about your baby Bear Miss Okie!…That’s his one of his many qualities…When he was beaten mercilessly by Novak..all we heard from him was a praise & compliment how good Novak’s are…And i love the interactions between them & other Big 4 as well….

December 8th, 2017 at 5:38 am

To Charming Margot: Thank you warmly. Great to hear from you.

PS: My eyebrows are now meeting my hairline.

Seeyah.

December 8th, 2017 at 5:39 am

I Can appreciate what Rafas saying about Novak here, but i have to disagree with AndiMira( sorry hun ) i really wish he would stop been so damn nice, or be so friendly with Novak, same with Andy, i wish they would distance themselves and concentrate on ways to beat their biggest rivals, probably wont go down well here but thats just me ….

December 8th, 2017 at 6:01 am

Hahaha….That’s alright Will!…I will not go to England & kick your a@# just because u’re disagree with me on this matter!Hehehe….[Psst!Will?…unlike some people’s here who can’t handle the differences in our opinion!URGH!!..I hope they’re grow up!]

December 8th, 2017 at 7:21 am

AndiMira lol thanks babes, and also for the FB messages, got a birthday message on there from a certain person, made my day XX ;-)

December 8th, 2017 at 7:29 am

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/647045/nadal-muguruza-named-itf-world.html
ITF World Champions. Well done. Congrats.

December 8th, 2017 at 8:23 am

Oh!Really Will?Urgh!..AWESOME!!

December 8th, 2017 at 8:25 am

AndyMira ill give you a clue, initials RW lol ;-)

December 8th, 2017 at 9:43 am

Hahaha…I guess as much Will!….AWESOME!!

December 8th, 2017 at 9:54 am

AM we have been chatting for a few weeks now privatly, all perfectly innocent though this time, well sort of but i rather get the impression hes building upto something hmm ….

December 8th, 2017 at 10:17 am

Hahaha…Glad to hear you’re happy again Will!…But..God!I miss jalep so much..

December 8th, 2017 at 10:30 am

Btw…I think we’re going to get thrash for talking non tennis here Will!…Run for cover!!

December 8th, 2017 at 10:34 am

AndiMira yeah its sad i miss RC too, on a tennis note though, thats a great thread about Rafa and Garbine that Giles put up ….

December 8th, 2017 at 10:49 am

Yeah Will!…I already read about Rafa & Garbine…Spain must be proud of their Golden Son & Daughter..I bet!

December 8th, 2017 at 10:53 am

@Willow…..I haven’t asked you about your private conversations lately…..good to hear they are still going on!! COOL!!

@Margot……I guess I should not have included myself in the “aging like fine wine” comment. I’m not aging too well in the looks dept or physicality dept…… but I’m getting better about accepting the fact that getting older beats the alternative!!! LOL

December 8th, 2017 at 12:56 pm

In 2010 Rafa Nadal was voted BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.
Wonder if they’ll give it to Fed this year to accompany all the other fake awards.lol

December 8th, 2017 at 1:11 pm

“…..all the other fake awards.lol”
This….coming from a rafanatic. Of course! LOL

December 8th, 2017 at 2:02 pm

For trivia fans out there, like our facebook page where we post daily ATP and WTA questions and answers EVERY DAY ! https://www.facebook.com/TennisStud/

December 8th, 2017 at 5:03 pm

Part 1. The misleading and biased article “Rafael Nadal is right: Novak Djokovic did reach a higher level than Roger Federer” feeds biased & dumb analysis to make suckers of gullible ‘Djokovic/Nadal fanatics’ as well as ‘fanatics preaching their false balanced/fair view’.

To explain why the article is making suckers of its readers, we need to understand the facts and issues that the biased author omitted to tell readers. So read my post only if you’re interested in my analysis of these issues… otherwise use your free will to skip my posts (however, the hypocritical tiny Gang of Bullies does not seem to have free will so they should should apply their free willy to go back to their off-topic posts that are irrelevant to Tennis-X being “the best informational tennis website on the internet”… fortunately the Gang’s tiny number of bullies make up only a small fraction of Tennis-X’s readers)

In the biased article’s reader poll, 94% (of 37,000 votes) felt Federer reached the highest level in their career. Only 6% chose Djokovic.

Here’s why the author is biased and deceitful. What Nadal only admitted is that when Djokovic is at his best, he’s invincible against Nadal himself (i.e. as a match up, peak Djokovic had the technical level to be an invincible opponent against Nadal). Nadal never said that Djokovic was an invincible opponent for other players. And this is true since Djokovic twice beat Nadal 7 matches in a row — so Rafa is right if you realize this was what he mean. After all, Djokovic is unable to do even half of this to post-prime Federer, who has been the biggest threat to Djokovic during his peaks.

However, Nadal DID NOT say Djokovic at his peak reached a higher level than Federer at his peak… or that Djokovic is more superhuman than Federer… or that Djokovic eclipsed Federer’s finest form. All this was deceitfully made up by the cunning author Bellshaw to put these false beliefs in the gullible minds of suckers. [In any case, this is superhuman nonsense since only one of the Big Five – Roger Federer – has inflicted 6-0 bagels on all the other four players: Nadal (2011, 2007, 2006), Djokovic (2012), Murray (2014), Wawrinka (2012). How can Djokovic be a superhuman if he got bageled on hard courts in the season he was Year-End No. 1 and does not have the superhuman ability to bagel either Federer or Nadal?]

Djokovic is really a critical problem for Nadal’s legacy (Djokovic is a relatively insignificant problem for Federer’s legacy, since Federer’s prime was mid-2003 to 2010 Australian). After all, since Nadal has failed to dominate his own generation of players, how can Rafa be the greatest player of all time when he is not even the greatest player of his own Nadal/Djokovic generation? And the Nadal/Djokovic generation failed to displace the previous generation of greats (given Federer is still winning big and bageling them). Nadal needed to explain his failure to dominate Djokovic. Both Nadal and Djkovic benefitted from the lack of one or more superstar players in the next generation (4 to 6 years younger) whose game was developed to beat them… just like Nadal and Djokovic had been trained to beat Federer.

None of the other top echelon of all-time greats had these problems. Federer did his job as the greatest player of all time: (a) Federer and his generation displaced the previous generation of greats (Agassi, Sampras) and (b) after mid-2003, Federer decimated and dominated his generation of players ((Safin, Hewitt, Roddick, Nalbandian, DAvydenko, etc.) so completely that he made them look weaker than they actually were (yet several of them had wins against Nadal or Djokovic). Had the 2015-6 generation played at the same age in 2005-6, the talented Federer probably would have adapted and done the same to them.

December 9th, 2017 at 12:51 pm

Part 2. The author Bellshaw makes the false argument: “How can we overlook Djokovic dominating the greatest clay-court player of all-time – something Federer has simply never managed”. What’s “most damning for Federer” is Djokovic’s 2015-2016 results on clay: Djokovic beat Nadal on clay three times (including in French Open in 2015 but failed to win the title) and won four clay titles (including the French Open in 2016). What Bellshaw fails to reveal is that 2005-6 Nadal was playing like the greatest clay-court player of all-time — but 2015-2016 Nadal was not playing like the Clay GOAT (several players beat him on clay and he only won one clay Masters).

– Federer faced a red-hot Nadal in several clay finals. However, Djokovic did not play Nadal in any final — Novak won all four clay titles without facing Nadal in a final (Nadal was not even a top 4 player during any of these tournaments). Instead Djokovic’s final opponents were Murray (2), Berdych and Federer. Djokovic won 4 clay titles (2015 Monte Carlo, 2015 Rome, 2016 Madrid, 2016 French Open) and lost 3 clay tournaments (2015 French Open final to Wawrinka, Monte Carlo first match to Jiri Vesely, and 2016 Rome final to Murray).

– In 2015-16, Nadal was not playing like ”the greatest clay-court player of all-time”. Nadal won only one big clay title (2016 Monte Carlo final against Monfils). But Nadal’s clay losing record in 2015-16 was actually worse than Federer’s clay losing record in 2005-6: Nadal lost at the 2015 Monte Carlo semifinals to Djokovic, 2015 Madrid finals to Murray, 2015 Rome quarterfinals to Wawrinka, 2015 French quarterfinals to Djokovic, 2016 Madrid semifinals to Murray, 2016 Rome quarterfinals to Djokovic, 2016 French Open R32 to Granollers (he withdrew to his Spanish country man, realizing he would lose to Thiem or Djokovic). Rafa’s win-loss was only 48-11 (81%). Nadal lost 11 matches to Fognini (2), Murray (2), Cuevas, Granollers, Thiem, Wawrinka, Djokovic (3). Nadal’s 81% winning percentage on clay indicated Rafa was as vulnerable to losses on clay in 2015-16 — as Federer was vulnerable on all surfaces in Roger’s 3 worst ATP seasons in the past 15 years (2008, 2013, 2016 when Roger was 81% or worse)! Federer would have liked to play Nadal in 2015 and 2016, but they never did.

– Djokovic’s “ruthless straight sets victory” over “the king of clay at his favoured Slam in 2015” happened only because No. 7 Nadal was so vulnerable on clay that year. Djokovic’s level was really not as high as fantasized by Bellshaw and Nadal. Despite beating the great Nadal, Djokovic struggled in a 4+ hour, 5-setter semifinal against No. 3 Murray and then lost to No. 9 Wawrinka in the 2015 FO finals.

– It took Djokovic 8 defeats on clay to Nadal in the 5 years before 2011 for Djokovic to finally figure out how to beat Nadal on clay for the first time. It was just another case of a younger superstar learning how to eventually beat the older superstar from his age group. By 2015-16, after 11-12 years of watching Nadal on clay, other players in Nadal’s generation were also finding solutions to beat Nadal on clay.

December 9th, 2017 at 12:52 pm

Part 3. Bellshaw contrasted Djokovic’s 2015-2016 results with Federer’s 2005-2006 results on clay: Federer lost to Nadal on clay four times and won one clay title.

– Federer probably would have won five to six big clay tournaments (including two French Open titles) if he did not have to play Nadal four times, including in three finals. Unlike Djokovic, Federer had to face Nadal in several clay finals when Nadal was the red-hot king of clay and the No. 2 player. Federer won 1 clay title (2005 Hamburg Masters against Gasquet) and lost 5 clay tournaments (2005 Monte Carlo quarterfinal to Gasquet, 2005 French Open semifinal to Nadal, 2006 Monte Carlo final to No. 2 Nadal, 2006 Rome final to No. 2 Nadal, 2006 French Open final to No. 2 Nadal). Federer withdrew from defending his title at 2006 Hamburg after his 5-hour, 5-setter final against Nadal in Rome. Yeah, without a red-hot Nadal, Federer might have won 5 to 6 big clay tournaments in 2005-6.

– 2005-6 Nadal was truly the invincible king of clay, who was playing like ”the greatest clay-court player of all-time”. Nadal’s clay win-loss between 2005 Monte Carlo and 2006: 62-0 (76-2 from early 2005 when only Gaudio and Andreev managed to beat Nadal before he was a top 15 player before Monte Carlo). Nadal’s 81-match winning streak on clay was finally ended in 2007 Hamburg, when Federer bageled Rafa on clay. 2005-6 Nadal was so confident on clay that he possibly would have beaten 2015-16 Djokovic on clay in some matches.

– It took Federer 5 defeats on clay to Nadal in the 3 years before 2007 Hamburg for Roger to finally figure out how to beat Nadal on clay. Nadal initially befuddled every player on clay: that’s because, when 2005-6 Nadal first appeared as a top 10 player, he took everybody by surprise with his unprecedented movement, heavy topspin, left-handed playing ability on clay, loud distracting grunting and ott celebrating. I think Federer also made the mistake of expecting Nadal’s body to break down as had happened to other physical players like Hewitt, Kuerten, Coria, etc. In tennis, the older stars have a harder time adapting to younger stars whose game was developed to beat the older star.

– In 2005 Hamburg Masters, Nadal withdrew claiming to have a blister in his left hand. Nadal skipped the Hamburg Masters in 2004, 2005 and 2006, after losing in the third round in 2003. In 2007 Hamburg, Federer beat and bageled Nadal for the title. When Nadal finally won Hamburg in 2008, he had to resort to his medical timeout gamesmanship to divert Federer from winning the first set, who was up 1-5. Nadal never liked playing on Hamburg’s clay as it reduced the impact of his topspin. Hamburg was the “heaviest and slowest clay” Masters championship (until Nadal lobbied for this then 115-year old championship to be demoted to an ATP 500 event and removed from the clay season). Federer won four Hamburg ‘slowest clay’ titles (2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007 against Safin, Coria, Gasquet in best-of-five-set finals and then bageled Rafa 6-0 in his fourth final).
https://www.foxsports.com/tennis/story/roger-federer-clay-court-play-second-only-to-rafael-nadal-041211

December 9th, 2017 at 12:54 pm

Part 4. It’s flawed to compare Federer with Djokovic in 2015-6 to fulfill Bellshaw’s agenda of “truly ranking the ‘Big Four’ as the best players who ever competed simultaneously” because (a) peak Federer (mid-2003 to 2010 Australian Open) never competed simultaneously with peak Djokovic (2010 US Open onwards) and (b) tournament conditions were easier in 2015-6 and tougher in 2005-6.

Despite this, the author Bellshaw conveniently used peak Djokovic’s 2015 season to his 2016 French Open triumph as the benchmark by which Federer must be measured and judged – instead of using Federer’s mid-2003 to 2007 unprecedented dominance as the benchmark.

Yet, in 2015-6, subpar Federer (who was not playing at his full potential so his level was lower than 2017 Federer) still had the best results against Djokovic: Djokovic was 7-0 over Nadal, 6-3 over Federer, 9-2 over Murray (not 9-3 as claimed by the author), 3-1 over Wawrinka, 0-1 over Karlovic, 0-1 Vesely, 1-1 Lopez (when Djokovic also went 7-0 over Nadal between 2011 Indian Wells and 2012 Australian Open, Federer also stepped up to stop Djokovic’s winning streak at 2011 French Open and had match points against Djokovic at 2011 US Open).

In comparing Djokovic’s 2015-6 with Federer’s 2005-6, it’s important to note that we’re comparing two excellent seasons in a row (out of Federer’s four excellent seasons in a row) with Djokovic’s 1.5 seasons because Novak was unable to keep it up. And yet the deceitful Bellshaw is using Djokovic’s 1.5 seasons as the yardstick.

– In 2005 Federer was 81-4 (95.3%), losing to 4 different players Safin, Nadal, Nalbandian, Gasquet. Federer won 11 titles from 12 finals in 16 tournaments (he withdrew from 4 Masters and Basel due to three different injuries during the year). Federer played many ATP tournaments (ATP Finals, Masters, ATP 500) with best-of-5-set finals, no first round bye, less homogenous court conditions, lower prize money/incentives, etc.

– In 2006 Federer played nearly 100 matches: Federer was 92-5 (94.8%), losing to only 2 players Nadal and Murray (Mary Carillo called the Murray loss a tanking). Federer won 12 titles from 16 finals in 17 tournaments. Federer played many ATP tournaments with best-of-5-set finals, no first round by, less homogenous court conditions, lower prize money/incentives, etc.

– In 2015, Djokovic was 82-6 (93.2%), losing to 4 players Karlovic, Wawrinka, Murray, Federer. Djokovic won 11 titles from 15 finals in 16 tournaments. Djokovic played ATP tournaments under easier conditions: only best-of-3-set finals, first round byes, homogenously slower courts, higher prize money/incentives, etc.

December 9th, 2017 at 12:57 pm

Part 5. So what if “Djokovic downed Federer in six of their nine meetings in his strongest period – winning every single Grand Slam contest along the way, including two finals… in the same period beating the finest grass-court ATP star we’re likely to see?”

Aging Federer still did better against Djokovic than younger Nadal did: in 3 matches, Federer beat the invincible Djokovic’s “higher level” on the Serb’s favourite hard court surface. Unfortunately, the context of those 2015-6 matches was that Federer was subpar for most of the seven years between 2010 and 2016 — because he simply was not training and practising to his full barrel of potential. Had 2017 Federer been sent back to play in 2015-6, this Roger would probably have won more of their 9 meetings, including possibly the 2015 Wimbledon and US Open finals (given the actual match stats were closer than the scores). Instead of 6-3 it might be 3-6. (In his last five matches with the other Big 5 members: 33-36 year old Federer is 5-0 over Nadal, 5-0 over Murray, 4-1 over Wawrinka, 2-3 over Djokovic.)

Part of the reason Djokovic won so many Masters titles is due to the easing of ATP tournament conditions since 2008 (top players get first round bye, no more best-of-5-set finals, homogenous slower courts, etc.) as well as more advanced technologies available since 2008. Under 2005-6 tournament conditions Djokovic would have a harder time winning six Masters titles, five ATP Finals titles and certain otherATP titles. In 2005-6, Federer played best of 5-set finals and no first round bye in the ATP Finals, Indian Wells, Miami, Hamburg, Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid Indoors, Basel.

Djokovic was more likely to face top 10 players due to the easing of ATP tournament conditions after 2008. Under 2005-6 tournament conditions the same 2015-6 top 10 players would probably be less consistent going deep into tournaments and remaining top 10 players. Regardless, Federer has the record for playing the most top 10 players in the ATP era since 1973.

The International Tennis Federation’s constitution specifies “The Grand Slam titles are the championships of Australia, France, the United States of America and Wimbledon. Players who hold all four of these titles in one calendar year achieve the ‘Grand Slam’.” Genuine tennis experts do not dumb down to “boast holding all four Slams at one time – a feat only achieved by two other men in history (Don Budge and Rod Laver)”. Btw, Don Budge won an unprecedented 6 slams in a row (1937 Wimbledon to 1938 US Open).

December 9th, 2017 at 1:01 pm

” The misleading and biased article “Rafael Nadal is right: Novak Djokovic did reach a higher level than Roger Federer” feeds biased & dumb analysis …”

Isn’t that circular?

December 9th, 2017 at 1:18 pm

Blimey its only Rafas opinion, and hes entitled to it ….

December 9th, 2017 at 1:30 pm

Gosh – I scrolled down, and scrolled down and…yes scrolled down….what has happened to TX where there used to be some sort of equality/balance?

December 9th, 2017 at 2:20 pm

The moderation will be having a field day ….

December 9th, 2017 at 2:27 pm

His chronic [medical] conditions have deteriorated significantly. The man should be sedated 24/7 in order not harm himself and others.

December 9th, 2017 at 2:28 pm

Oh for heaven’s sake! I try not to be rude online but, GET A LIFE. Tony N.

December 9th, 2017 at 3:39 pm

The man is demented.

December 9th, 2017 at 3:59 pm

Just when you think that fanaticism of certain one fanatics can’t go any higher they prove you wrong.

December 9th, 2017 at 4:34 pm

Willow: So why isn’t there moderation? What do you think we have to do to get TX to back equality? We can all take short-lived spats and occasional OTP’s but Tony N is constantly bullying and distructive! ?????

December 9th, 2017 at 5:58 pm

J-Kath i agree, trying to be reasonable, doesnt seem to work either, god forbid you happen to disagree with him, or have a difference of opinion ….

December 9th, 2017 at 6:09 pm

Not one sentence did I read………I repeat……redundant…….obnoxious……time consuming……..and yawn!! 💤💤💤

December 10th, 2017 at 12:25 am

Pain in the derriere!

December 10th, 2017 at 6:31 am

@JK………YOU NAILED IT……..and where does he or she get the time to compose all of those lengthy comments???

December 10th, 2017 at 9:24 am

Scroll, scroll, scroll your boat gently down the stream………🎶🎶🎶 😂😂😂

December 10th, 2017 at 9:30 am

Who is the article’s inexperienced author ‘George Bellshaw’ who easily suckered an entire gang of gullible fanatics into thinking this was a “non-biased” article? Bellshaw’s Twitter link below indicates that he is (a) Djokovic fanatic and (b) a young sports reporter with only 2 years’ experience who graduated in 2014. You would think that even a fake ‘counselor’ would have seen through this shill instead of promoting his misleading and biased article.
https://twitter.com/BellshawGeorge/status/932961500830097408

Willow Says: “Blimey its only Rafas opinion, and hes entitled to it ….”

That was NOT Rafa’s opinion. That was the author Bellshaw deceitfully putting words into Rafa’s mouth. Rafa DID NOT say that “Novak Djokovic did reach a higher level than Roger Federer” or that Djokovic was invincible against the other players.

What Rafa actually said was: Peak Djokovic was an invincible opponent for himself Nadal to play against – because top-form Djokovic had the technical ability and level to be the toughest opponent specifically for himself Nadal (“But at a technical level, when Djokovic has been at the top of his game, I have to say that I’ve been up against an invincible player.”). What Rafa actually said is correct since the technical level of Djokovic’s backhand and defensive ability neutralizes Nadal’s lefty, topspin and defensive weapons – it’s a bad match up for Nadal due to the nature of their playing styles.

You can listen to what Rafa actually said in the audio clip in “Rafa Nadal: No le tengo ningún miedo al adiós” on El Larguero in SER. When you don’t bother to check your facts, how can you presume you are “trying to be reasonable”? The reality is that you are being unreasonable.

Bellshaw misused stats to mislead his readers about what was essentially the worst possible match-up specifically for Nadal. Djokovic certainly was not invincible to the other Big Five players. Federer beat Djokovic 3 times in 2015 (accounting for half of top-form Djokovic’s 6 losses in 2015) after beating Djokovic 3 times in 2014. Wawrinka beat Djokovic 3 times since 2014 — all in grand slams! Murray beat top-form Djokovic 3 times since 2015 – yet Murray failed to beat the ‘invincible’ old Federer even once in 5 attempts since 2014. A fair way of evaluating level of play is to compare how the player performed against their entire field of competitors (not just one player) during the period when each was in their respective peak while considering the different conditions under which the players competed.

j-kath Says: “I only have basic qualifications in counselling but for me the alarm bells are ringing…. He is unstable and will rant and rave… constantly bullying and distructive!”

A competent counselor would not have written such provocative things (such an attitude could drive a real counselor’s clients and people around them off the rails). You have been consistent in the hypocrisy of your double standards that tolerates nonsensical/abusive posts against Federer while bullying posters who make factual challenges pertaining to Nadal/Djokovic. Your (same ole) gang’s version of “equality/balance” is maintaining the imbalance, inequality, slant and bias towards Nadal/Djokovic that has been on these threads for many years.

That’s why there are so few pro-Federer posters on these threads in recent years, despite the Federer community being many times larger than the combined Nadal/Djokovic community. My facts and arguments expose the imbalance that your gang has been protecting for years – that’s why your gang is threatened by my posts that have mostly been compelling responses to repetitive ‘pure nonsense’ and abusive posts by your gang. It’s like the giant black pot calling a little quality kettle… black.

Wog Boy Says: “His chronic [medical] conditions have deteriorated significantly. The man should be sedated 24/7 in order not harm himself and others.” AND Giles Says: “The man is demented.” AND j-kath says “j-kath Says: “He is unstable”
Now these are real violations of posting guidelines: Personally attack other posters… Disrespect other posters… Write pure nonsense… Make repeated non-tennis related posts”. Must be hypocritical double standards that keeps the gang from calling out these repeated violations.

Regardless, isn’t it lovely that the very posters who claim not to have read my posts… are the very ones who probably have read every word of my posts. It’s not my problem that my honest facts and arguments contradict the imbalanced worldview of a tiny number of posters (in Tennis-X’s large community of readers).

December 10th, 2017 at 1:05 pm

For you Toni.N https://youtu.be/iEKLFS-aKcw ….

December 10th, 2017 at 2:26 pm

“That’s why there are so few pro-Federer posters on these threads in recent years, despite the Federer community being many times larger than the combined Nadal/Djokovic community.”

Do you have facts to support that statement?

December 10th, 2017 at 3:14 pm

BBB,
Don’t start him, please, I am tired of scrolling.

December 10th, 2017 at 4:28 pm

Its not that i mind posters putting their points across, but there is such a thing as overkill ….

December 10th, 2017 at 5:09 pm

Yep Wog Boy:

I’ve become a fast scroller/down pager – the minute I see a certain name.

December 10th, 2017 at 6:32 pm

Djoker fans whine again. How quick there memory slides on posters like CF1 1/2.
I scroll some of Tony N’s posts too, but ya gotta love a little payback. :)

December 10th, 2017 at 10:42 pm

The joy of being number one at the end of the year can’t be put in words. When all the other guys are out there training to be what you are now, is what good things in life are made of.

December 10th, 2017 at 10:54 pm

Willow @ 2.26 pm. Well played
Skeeze: Come off it. CF1 is a mere lightweight – a poster of succinct prose, of a feather-like touch, of endearing brevity…..etc etc., in comparison.

December 11th, 2017 at 4:42 am

Lol Wog Boy.

Skeezer, who’s whining? Sounds like it’s the guy who claims Federer fans have been driven off the board. 😢

December 11th, 2017 at 10:17 am

Re: Andy Murray – Margot have you heard anything Official about the name of his new baby girl —-I do hope there is nothing wrong in that area of his life — terrible thing to think something may be wrong – but why is there no announcement of such a simple detail – the press are usually chasing each other to report on big player’s personal life….. surely the baby has a name by now?

December 11th, 2017 at 5:40 pm

Hi Kath: I’ve seen rumours that she might be called Edith. Must be fans of Edith Piaf/Bowman, if so. As Andy is in Miami I can’t believe anything is wrong.

December 12th, 2017 at 2:08 am

Gals!…Stop speculating about such simple thing!…He confirmed to me via telepathicrazy.com yesterday that his new baby girl’s name is AndyMira Jr…There!…Now..who wants to kick the sofa,feel free to do that!!…Wooohoooo!!

December 12th, 2017 at 2:54 am

Yep, Andy Mira, rather have that name than Edith as rumoured….a bit old-fashioned…1st/2nd world warrish – although I do have some tapes, somewhere, of her and her sexy voice. Margot, think there was a christening for Sophia….none for “nameless”…..so far.

December 12th, 2017 at 3:54 am

I did hear a while ago that Edith was strongly favoured.

December 12th, 2017 at 6:34 am

JK!….Hehehe…Yeah!….I am too agree with u about Edith…but i guess if the parents love that name…well…we have no choice but to agree with them right?But Sophia is a very beautiful name..

December 12th, 2017 at 10:16 am

Meghan 👍👍👍

December 12th, 2017 at 12:18 pm

I don’t know the girl’s name but she will wear pants in keeping with the tradition.

December 13th, 2017 at 9:50 am

Hey hey hey!…Looks like Robin Soderling also agree with me & Rafa!…

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/892466/Novak-Djokovic-Roger-Federer-Robin-Soderling-Rafael-Nadal

Ladies & Gentleman!….Be ready with your ears & eyes pleazzzzeee!!..1,2,3…here it comes!!

December 14th, 2017 at 6:55 pm

AndiMira people can say whatever they like, but when push comes to shove 19-16-12 is really all that matters in the end ….

December 15th, 2017 at 4:11 am

Wow, this leaked out a few days early…

Date: Sunday, 17 December Time: 18:45 GMT Venue: Echo Arena, Liverpool Coverage: BBC One, Radio 5 live, BBC Sport website
Tennis star Roger Federer has won the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year for a record fourth time after a public vote.

The 36-year-old Swiss topped the poll ahead of five other shortlisted nominees.

Federer became the first man to win Wimbledon eight times and extended his record to 19 Grand Slam titles in 2017.

Boxer Muhammad Ali and athlete Usain Bolt are the only other people to have won the BBC award three times.

Federer said: “It makes me incredibly proud that the UK public have chosen me as the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.

“The support that the UK crowds give me whenever I’m here is amazing, and to be recognised on the shortlist alongside some of the greatest sportspeople of all time is extremely humbling.”

December 15th, 2017 at 4:24 am

Agree Willow!…but,19-16-12 is not infinite yet Will!…especially 16 & 12..considering the age advantage that still sided with them..but,let’s see…

December 15th, 2017 at 4:25 am

BBB Says:
Lol Wog Boy.

Skeezer, who’s whining? Sounds like it’s the guy who claims Federer fans have been driven off the board. 😢

December 11th, 2017 at 10:17 am

Just be quiet now you two. We read your comments, we won’t go off the board. In fact, I was thinking, the only time Wogboy comes back is when he has run out of booze, then he will take a swipe at Novak. No fan at all.

December 15th, 2017 at 4:27 am

Bathroom Breaks?

Do me a favour Tony N!

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wimbledon-toilet-breaks-rule-ruse/story?id=24428887

Who is the worst offender? Well, we all know that and it’s Rafa. A wealth of information out there. Read the above. I have 10 more to follow if you need more convincing.

The New York Times describes one scenario that has drawn attention: Rafael Nadal was losing the first set against Mikhail Kukushkin when, after a bathroom break, he won the next three sets.

“I needed to go to the bathroom; that’s all,” said Nadal, according to the Times. “I bring my T-shirt and my bandanna to change that there because I had to go to the bathroom. Not because I wanted to have a break, no.”

December 15th, 2017 at 4:55 am

AndiMira true, and i dont think Roger or Rafa are done yet either, people said they were, and yet they shared the 4 GS between them this year, however new guys are breaking through now so things could start to get more difficult to the big four and Stan, but as you say time will tell ….

December 15th, 2017 at 4:56 am

Regarding time between points, bathroom breaks etc, Rafa does have an issue with this, but hes not alone plenty of players are guilty of the exact same thing, Cilic, Djokovic, Delpo is terrible i remember a bathroom break that took him nearly 10 minutes, yet some think he is some sort of saint, anyway best saved for another day ….

December 15th, 2017 at 5:01 am

Ive always found BBB to be a very fair poster, i think the thing was endlessly long posts 6 of them, from a poster over and over again telling us all how wonderful Federer is, and getting in a huff whenever anybody dares to disagrees, as Margot said “GET A LIFE” ….

December 15th, 2017 at 5:11 am

Ok then, we won’t talk about Kei Nishikori’s 12 minute “ shower break” at the Olympics! Pffffffft

December 15th, 2017 at 6:20 am

Exactly Giles ….

December 15th, 2017 at 6:47 am

No matter what you both Say, we all know about the bathroom breaks – and yes Willow, I can hear you.

Secondly, shall we talk about the time between points. The bouncing of the ball. This can go to more than 25 seconds – who else does this?

Just wish you would be fair on this. What ‘IS’ the rule?

the answer is in the rule book
http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/TrackIt.asp?file=/en/players/ATP_Rulebook.pdf

o) Continuous Play / Delay of Game

Following the expiration of the warm-up period, play shall be continuous and a player shall not unreasonably delay a match for any cause. A maximum of twentyfive (25) seconds shall elapse from the moment the ball goes out of play until the time the ball is struck for the next point. If such serve is a fault, then the second serve must be struck by the Server without delay. The exception is at a ninety (90) second changeover or a one hundred twenty (120) set break. The procedures for enforcing this rule are as follows:
i) 25 Seconds Between Points.
1. Start stopwatch when the player is ordered to play or when the ball goes out of play;
2. Assess Time Violation or Code Violation if the ball is not struck for the next point within the twenty-five (25) seconds allowed. There is no time warning prior to the expiration of the twenty-five (25) seconds.
ii) Changeover (Ninety (90) Seconds) and Set Break (One Hundred and Twenty (120) Seconds).
1. Start stopwatch the moment the ball goes out of play;
2. Announce “Time” after sixty (60) / ninety (90) seconds have elapsed;
3. Announce “15 Seconds” if one or both of the players are still at their chair

Giles doesn’t count. Furthermore, he can’t count.

So, when we are talking about bathroom breaks, and when we are talking about time violations, there really is no contest. I don’t even know how you can argue this.

December 15th, 2017 at 8:01 am

Novaks terrible bouncing the ball a gazillion times, Kies terrible, Cilic is terrible, Andy to a lesser extent, and yes Rafas terrible, and i am being fair about this, thats why its unfair to single one player out, Delpo yes saint Delpo with bathroom breaks, Kie with his bathroom breaks, no problem with Nadal been called out for this, just have an issue when hes regarded as the only one when he isnt, MERRY CHRISTMAS MADMAX …

December 15th, 2017 at 8:17 am

Be fair, but since when have TX posters ever been fair to players other than the ones that are their favorites ?

December 15th, 2017 at 8:18 am

Oh no, madmax on the loose again! She’s been hiding under a rock for a while now and out she comes with all her usual bs!! You were not missed madmax.

December 15th, 2017 at 8:42 am

https://twitter.com/hmcabinetcat/status/941602068871213057
Apparently it’s Christmas Jumper Day. These guys look like Toni N, skeezer and madmax. ROFL

December 15th, 2017 at 8:48 am

Happy christmas TX posters https://youtu.be/j9jbdgZidu8 ….

December 15th, 2017 at 9:01 am

No actually Giles, I have been reading your tripe on here and laughing; thinking what a time waster you are. When I post, I’ll post when I think fit, not at your say so.

Willow, you disappoint me. Just answer for Rafa won’t you. He is the worst culprit. There is no competition and if you can’t admit to that, then you are not the fair poster you purport to be.

Giles, get a life.

December 15th, 2017 at 9:05 am

Madmax i am being fair, but i wont be walked all over, just to curry favour, if i dissapoint you fair enough, not much i can do about that, granted Rafas no saint, newsflash though neithers your second favorite, i wont go into some of the sketchy things hes done ….

December 15th, 2017 at 9:10 am

Giles,

http://www.uglychristmassweater.com/

You have an ugly personality. Here is a sweater to match.

December 15th, 2017 at 9:26 am

“BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year for a record fourth time..”
Congrats GOAT! Another all time record and award to make the jealous chirpers whine.
Booyah!

December 15th, 2017 at 9:35 am

Madmax. For goodness sake try and be original and not copy cat my posts.

December 15th, 2017 at 10:08 am

Another fake award to join the rest this year. Lol

December 15th, 2017 at 10:12 am

^And the “chirpin” has begun! LMAO!

December 15th, 2017 at 11:17 am

Congrats GOAT
—
Why congratulate a goat? At least a goat owner can appreciate the appreciation.

I don’t know how all freely given awards go to the same guy.

December 15th, 2017 at 2:26 pm

“I don’t know how all freely given awards go to the same guy.”
Simple answer for simple minded:
A) They aren’t free.
B) He EARNED them.
#takeacomedyclass

December 15th, 2017 at 4:01 pm

Do you know something folks – this particular tread is too long – it takes for ages to scroll down to reach current comments. If the conversation had been shorter earlier (rather than one poster’s OTP comments we might have alright). Please TX let’s start a new thread. If short of a title try: “Welcome Back TX Posters”….Views for the new season”??????

December 15th, 2017 at 4:02 pm

Agree J-Kath ….

December 16th, 2017 at 3:56 am

“Just be quiet now you two.”

“When I post, I’ll post when I think fit, not at your say so.”

Hmmm…..🤔

December 16th, 2017 at 12:46 pm

Im not really keen on posters that tell other posters what to do !

December 16th, 2017 at 3:16 pm

Just dropped by to extend my congratulations to Federer for winning another award. I would have done the same if somebody else won it. But Roger did, so what can I do?

December 16th, 2017 at 8:20 pm

TX is teeming with Christmas cheer!! Lol

December 17th, 2017 at 2:42 am

Congrats to Federer on winning overseas sportspersonality over the year ….

December 17th, 2017 at 4:58 am

Willow. I wish you would be as prompt in congratulating Rafa when he wins an award.

December 17th, 2017 at 5:04 am

Okie on here you must be joking lol ….

December 17th, 2017 at 5:04 am

Giles i have, lets not go there eh ?

December 17th, 2017 at 5:13 am

Okiegal:
I think you should request your entire congregation to pray for TX.
And if there’s a Catholic church nearby, maybe a few candles might help
…..

December 17th, 2017 at 5:55 am

Willow. No you havnt! We’ll see what happens next time. Cheers.

December 17th, 2017 at 6:22 am

To add im absolutely over the moon with Rafas year cheers ;-)

December 17th, 2017 at 7:33 am

Kath: rumours going round the babe’s name is “Eadie” only rumours tho.
BTW no need to scroll down, just go to “recent comments” on the right side of the home page.

December 17th, 2017 at 7:48 am

Thanks Margot. Re. “Eadie”….

Recent comments – yes – but it takes me/my equipment quite a while – Firefox blocks me.

December 17th, 2017 at 8:35 am

Gikes. I wish you would be as prompt in congratulating Fed when he wins an award.

December 17th, 2017 at 10:23 am

@J-Kath 5:55

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🕯🕯🕯……… Here ya go! I always deliver! Lol

December 17th, 2017 at 11:21 am

Skeezer. LMAO. I would if they were real and not fake! Cheers.

December 17th, 2017 at 11:52 am

Okiegal: I now bestow upon you the Scottish award for being “The grand wee Sports lassie of 2017”.
PS: For the award, I’ll be picking you up on the Banks of the Clyde as U don’t like flying..

December 17th, 2017 at 2:31 pm

@JK …… I hope no one on TX gets jealous of my award! LOL. I am still saying no to the “big” bird…….just pick me up at Clyde’s bar instead of Clyde ‘s bank….. I got money.! 💰💰💰 Lol

December 17th, 2017 at 4:43 pm

Okie: No money needed – you’ll be on the Royal Yacht – courtesy of Megan Markle and J-K (Rowling?)…yes that’s me (oooh…if wishes were horses etc.)……

December 17th, 2017 at 6:06 pm

@JK……..There’s only one yacht for me……. guess who?? LOL

December 18th, 2017 at 12:10 am

Okiegal: Such a difficult question…..name starts with “R” and it’s not “Roger”.

December 18th, 2017 at 4:37 am

@JK…..I’m glad you clarified the “R” thingy! I have seen a picture of it and it’s a beauty!! I can’t even imagine what it looks like on the inside! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas this year and a prosperous New Year! I also hope Andy’s 2018 season is injury free. Tough times for your favorite guy…….

December 18th, 2017 at 2:59 pm

Okiegal: Many thanks. I have chosen to be alone this Christmas and New Year – too close to too much. But am fine and wish you all you wish for you and yours.

December 18th, 2017 at 3:49 pm

Love and blessings J-Kath and Okie, best wishes to you both XX ;-)

December 18th, 2017 at 4:23 pm

Okie and by the way, Rafas says hes training and preparing really hard for the AO ….

December 18th, 2017 at 4:57 pm

And to U also Willow. Hugs.

December 18th, 2017 at 6:13 pm

@JK …….My thoughts have been with you as an anniversary draws nigh. Tough times ahead……if I had sent such a fraud cat I would fly to jolly old England and you and I could be sad together. Holidays are still horrible for me. My brother had a horrible traffic accident and I sat up with him all last night. He’s banged up pretty bad but hopefully he’s on the mend. He will be 82 Jan 1st….the first New Year’s baby born in our town in 1936! He’s a tough one.

@Willow….anxious to see how our Rafa does w/o his uncle. Looking forward to the Aussie Open!!You have a great Christmas too!! 🐻 hugs to you!!

December 18th, 2017 at 8:32 pm

@JK…..Thanks for my good wishes too…..forgot to mention that!!

December 18th, 2017 at 8:53 pm

Okie: I do hope your brother recovers fully….and doesn’t lose his driving confidence – and continues to enjoy his “golden” era” for a further decade or two of positive living.

December 19th, 2017 at 3:49 am

Willow,

I never thought I would see the day when you would team up with Giles. Now I know you have lowered your sights., lost your classy ways. You didn’t answer my question, you never actually address Rafa’s continual flagrant dismissal of ATP rules. By saying ‘terrible’, is not a response – such is your blinkered approach. No holds bar Willow, you have gone way down in my estimation, this should please Giles very much. You are now pretty much on a par with each other.

Madmax Says:
No matter what you both Say, we all know about the bathroom breaks – and yes Willow, I can hear you.

Secondly, shall we talk about the time between points. The bouncing of the ball. This can go to more than 25 seconds – who else does this?

Just wish you would be fair on this. What ‘IS’ the rule?

the answer is in the rule book
http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/TrackIt.asp?file=/en/players/ATP_Rulebook.pdf

o) Continuous Play / Delay of Game

Following the expiration of the warm-up period, play shall be continuous and a player shall not unreasonably delay a match for any cause. A maximum of twentyfive (25) seconds shall elapse from the moment the ball goes out of play until the time the ball is struck for the next point. If such serve is a fault, then the second serve must be struck by the Server without delay. The exception is at a ninety (90) second changeover or a one hundred twenty (120) set break. The procedures for enforcing this rule are as follows:
i) 25 Seconds Between Points.
1. Start stopwatch when the player is ordered to play or when the ball goes out of play;
2. Assess Time Violation or Code Violation if the ball is not struck for the next point within the twenty-five (25) seconds allowed. There is no time warning prior to the expiration of the twenty-five (25) seconds.
ii) Changeover (Ninety (90) Seconds) and Set Break (One Hundred and Twenty (120) Seconds).
1. Start stopwatch the moment the ball goes out of play;
2. Announce “Time” after sixty (60) / ninety (90) seconds have elapsed;
3. Announce “15 Seconds” if one or both of the players are still at their chair

Giles doesn’t count. Furthermore, he can’t count.

So, when we are talking about bathroom breaks, and when we are talking about time violations, there really is no contest. I don’t even know how you can argue this.

December 15th, 2017 at 8:01 am

Willow Says:
Novaks terrible bouncing the ball a gazillion times, Kies terrible, Cilic is terrible, Andy to a lesser extent, and yes Rafas terrible, and i am being fair about this, thats why its unfair to single one player out, Delpo yes saint Delpo with bathroom breaks, Kie with his bathroom breaks, no problem with Nadal been called out for this, just have an issue when hes regarded as the only one when he isnt, MERRY CHRISTMAS MADMAX …

December 15th, 2017 at 8:17 am

Willow, what about Rafa, that is the question, not others. RAFA. READ.MY.POSTS. RAFA TERRIBLE? This is what you say, but what is the answer Willow? What do you suggest? What can be done? Don’t bring in other players, just talk about the one that you know about and support it with a good argument, not a defensive, childish rant. Why do you think he is hardly ever fined or given a code violation? He does this so many times, but why is it not the case that something is done? Is it his reputation do you think?

BBB,

What is your point?

Giles, thank you for my christmas sweater. I appreciate the sentiments.

December 19th, 2017 at 8:59 am

And here we have madmax trying desperately to compete with Tony N on length of posts. Knock yourself out madmax.

December 19th, 2017 at 10:06 am

Madmax im not teaming up with anybody, the guy doesnt even care for my posts anyway, see the congrats i gave to Federer, and then see the response i got from him please, i know about the bloody bathroom breaks he should like the rest be taken to task about it, ive said it often enough, dont bring in other players, why shouldnt i when they are also guilty of the exact same thing, including as i say your second favorite ?, i dont really know what else your expecting me to say, but if your expecting me to bow down and be walked over, to curry favour im not going to do that, i will also ask you to answer then for your second favorite, and some of the sketchy stuff hes done, but thasts different i suppose because thats me asking you a question, and also because Novaks a player you like rather than Rafa being a player you dont particularly care for ….

December 19th, 2017 at 10:20 am

Marat Safin was talking about mens tennis, and the whole thread snowballed into time violations, time for some new topics, just aswell i dont live and breath tennis ….

December 19th, 2017 at 10:23 am

And i will repeat i dont appreciate posters telling me what to do either !

December 19th, 2017 at 10:28 am

Madmax is Toni N’s doppelganger! Why do so many Fed fans suffer from verbal diarrhea? Even on the grand stand there are two Fed fans who seem to be similarly afflicted. Maybe it has something to do with their desperation to sell the fake GOAT as the real thing!
Hey Madmax how did the saliva smearing Cult festival go?

December 19th, 2017 at 11:49 am

^Warning. Your personal bank calling post went past the allotted 25 seconds.

December 19th, 2017 at 11:56 am

@ JK…… A big thanks regarding my brother…… he made a statement the other nite that he probably couldn’t drive anymore……not sure but think he had a stroke which caused the accident. He doesn’t remember a thing so we probably will not ever know what actually happened. Thank goodness he didn’t hit anyone else as it was early in the morning and not much traffic out at that time……..It is going to be a slow slow recovery I fear…… but thanks again!

December 19th, 2017 at 1:30 pm

Tennis channel is showing 2017 matches. Watching Rafa playing right now…… best kit for him this year was the periwinkle blue with chartreuse trim he wore at the Frenchie……my personal fave! He rocked it!!

December 19th, 2017 at 1:36 pm

@Willow….I guess the comments you and I have discussed on Rafa’s tennis tics have been forgotten. We both have gotten aggravated about his time violations. We neither one like that he flirts with this rule but others have too….I see your point…..but he’s our guy and we have to take the bitter with the sweet and if he should lose points because of it …so be it, as it’s his own fault. I think all of Rafa’s fans are very important “….especially those who like to “ruffle” a few feathers, each fan base have those fans which is what makes the site more interesting….I will agree that it can get out of hand on occasion! Cheers Willow!! You are a solid Rafa fan! VAMOS!!!

December 19th, 2017 at 1:52 pm

Thanks Okie, love and hugs XX ;-) ….

December 19th, 2017 at 2:04 pm

@ Willow…… back at cha’…….🐻 hugs “n” 💕💕…….May your New Year be prosperous! 💰💰💰😎😎😎 (sunglass emoji is ready for the hot Aussie Open) lol

December 19th, 2017 at 2:56 pm

Okie right, its pretty black and white for me, i dont need to go into an in depth discussion to make my point, Rafa needs to speed up, so should alot of others, end of ….

December 19th, 2017 at 4:57 pm

@Willow…… We have both said this regarding Rafa many times……..but he’s not the only one……..

December 19th, 2017 at 7:43 pm

Several recent performances by Marin Cilic makes me question who currently takes the most time on serve.

Should Rafa continue to be pressed to speed up between points – as he has started to try to do – he will surprise his competitors as they won’t be able to read where on earth Rafa’s serve is headed for…..

December 20th, 2017 at 6:49 am

Just wanted to pop by, in order to wish all Happy Holidays! “See you” in 2018

Will also post a tennis article, since I liked it :)

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/892466/Novak-Djokovic-Roger-Federer-Robin-Soderling-Rafael-Nadal

December 20th, 2017 at 7:58 am

VP,

Do you know if Djoko is confirmed for Abu Dhabi. Can’t wait to see him back in action. If so, just 8-9 more days before he hit the courts.

December 20th, 2017 at 9:04 am

@JK……. We don’t hear much regarding Marin’s serve….. the critics only have 👁👁 for Rafa! But I can’t blame um’ for that!! Woot woot!!! 😍😍😍

December 20th, 2017 at 10:45 am

Daniel: Yes, Nole is confirmed for Abu Dhabi. Stan has withdrawn and so has the Canadian.

December 20th, 2017 at 11:53 am

Thanks JK, What about Murray, when is he hitting the courts again?

December 20th, 2017 at 12:57 pm

Any news on Andy ?

December 20th, 2017 at 1:00 pm

Daniel/Willow: Yep re. Andy: Playing at Brisbane: And Grigor says:

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/news/Tennis_Interviews/49975/dimitrov-if-there-s-one-person-that-can-return-that-s-andy-murray-/

December 20th, 2017 at 3:40 pm

YAY Finally some Andy news ;-)

December 20th, 2017 at 4:01 pm

Okie: Re. your brother – coincidentally, there’s lots of anti-ageing programmes on TV at the moment….making reaching 115 years of age a reasonable possibility for many….apparently genes help but so does exercise and sociability.

PS: Sorri to interrupt the revival of tennis on this strand – my excuse was that in the absence of tennis chit-chat was veering in a number of directions.

VP: Good to see U preparing to come back. Enjoy the hols. Soon be more tennis than we know how to handle it.

December 20th, 2017 at 5:40 pm

Daniel,

Just see, TX announced us Djoko and Nadal will be there. Stan and Raonic, not anymore.

J-K,

Have to admit, looking forward for the new season, and hope, all the injured from 2017: Andy, Nole, Nishikori,, Stan, all the others, will be fit in 2018, so that they can make it more interesting :)

Ok, now I will be really off until next Year!

Again, Happy Winter Holidays!

December 21st, 2017 at 2:39 am

Re. Andy Murray: Maybe I spoke too soon….see below:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2017/12/20/andy-murray-faces-anxious-wait-fears-grow-scots-comeback-injury/

December 21st, 2017 at 5:16 am

Looking forward to the new tennis season, wish i could say the same about the chat on this forum lol ….

December 21st, 2017 at 4:32 pm

@JK…..My brother had head trauma from his accident….he can be very sensible at times and then at times very confused. But I think when he gets over all the soreness of 8 broken ribs we will see improvement in his thinking. He’s in a rehab unit atm and they’re working him pretty during the day and by evening he’s all done in. But I think he’s coming around and we are seeing some improvement. Thanks for your concern!!

December 22nd, 2017 at 12:13 am

RIP Dick Enberg. Broadcasted 28 Wimbys.

December 22nd, 2017 at 9:57 am

Marca Tenis:
Andy Murray could go back to the operating room to solve his continued discomfort in the hip. He’s discussing the possibility of another intervention that would separate him from the first half of the 2018 campaign.

December 22nd, 2017 at 10:05 am

Dick Enberg: nice man, horrible tennis announcer.

December 22nd, 2017 at 10:46 am

skeezer Says:
RIP Dick Enberg. Broadcasted 28 Wimbys.
—
How many FO’s did he do? That’s how you judge the character of a man.

December 22nd, 2017 at 11:07 am

It’s sick how some critisize Mr. Edberg. A commentator on KNBR who once met DE told him if out of all the sporting events he had covered, Wimbledon was the very best and told him it was a must see in person.
Whatever.

December 22nd, 2017 at 12:49 pm

Gonzalowski: @ 10.05am

Please post the source/newspaper article re.your comment re. Andy Murray and another intervention> Thanks. I’ve searched all my local and national nwspapers here in the UK and can’t find it.

December 22nd, 2017 at 4:08 pm

j-kath here it is

http://www.marca.com/tenis/2017/12/21/5a3c1048e5fdeaec108b4609.html

December 23rd, 2017 at 4:31 am

Gonzalowski:

Thank you for the link – I’m flattered that you may judge me to be more of a linguist than I am.

It is true that an op. for Andy’s hip has been discussed. His first operation was for his back. In any event, his gait continues to appear awkward – and only improves when he runs. My guess is that while Andy may manage to win a few 3-set matches – his career is essentially over.

December 23rd, 2017 at 7:03 am

j-kath hehe well you know with traslator… I use it a lot you know my english is very poor.
Uf I hope it is not true that his career is finished !!!

good mojo for him

December 23rd, 2017 at 12:45 pm

Gonzalowski: As Andy is my favourite player, I also hope I’m wrong.
Thank you for your comments.

December 23rd, 2017 at 1:20 pm