The Tennis Thread 2014

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

Historically, do players who rely heavily on their service game often round out the rest of the game to become top players?

Not typically. Lots of guys like Zivojinovic, Curren, Resedski, Krajicek, Stich, Philippousis, Ivanisevic have burst on the scene overwhelming players on their serve only to fade away or have just average careers. Players have to have another ace (no pun intended) up their sleeve over just a great serve.

Guys like Becker, McEnroe (great lefty serve at the time), and Edberg all had horrible forehands but all had very good backhands and net game to go along with a very good serve. I would say Federer is the closest thing to the perfect all around tennis player that has ever been in the men's game as I believe Sampras relied more heavily on his serve and could never translate his game to clay.

Raonic has a good forehand but he needs to work on his backhand as IMO he spends too much time running around it and against the best players they will make you pay. I don't think you can write him off as he will improve but he's going to have to become a better overall player to beat the top 3 or 4 players in tennis. I personally think Dimitrov has more upside than Milos though.

[Erick Estrada]

I hope I'm not sounding overly critical of Raonic as this really is unprecedented times for Canadian tennis and it feels overly harsh being critical of a player that has achieved more in one year than we may ever see from a Canadian male tennis player in our lifetime when you look at how this country has fared in the sport over history.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I hope I'm not sounding overly critical of Raonic as this really is unprecedented times for Canadian tennis and it feels overly harsh being critical of a player that has achieved more in one year than we may ever see from a Canadian male tennis player in our lifetime when you look at how this country has fared in the sport over history.

Nah, I think you're just being honest and not overally harsh. I mean he will likely never develop a return game of the same calibre of Joker or Murray and he does lack foot speed. However, when you see the improvements he has made in the last 18 months of so, it still gives me encouragement that he will continue to be in the hunt for majors. I think Senator Clay Davis pointed it out earlier, the top three guys are just incredibly tough to beat and if you give them an opening, they are going to take advantage. However, they are also not going to be around forever and lest we forget, Milos is still just 23 years old.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Genie is obviously going to be up first tomorrow at 7am. Sock and Pospisil will be on Centre Court last tomorrow.

[Kidder]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Raonic has a good forehand but he needs to work on his backhand as IMO he spends too much time running around it and against the best players they will make you pay.

This is it precisely, it's one of the areas that is preventing him from reaching elite form. Just watch the highlights online at TSN and the first two points they show illustrate it perfectly, the ball is chipped back giving him the advantage, he runs around to the forehand, and unable to hit a clean winner he is woefully out of position for the return. This happens frequently. Or unforced errors when he tries to hit his bomb forehand aren't uncommon too.

He would be much better suited rounding his game and focussing on his backhand a little more so he can construct points a little more fully before he elects to go for the bomb forehand.

He has some of the best weapons in the men's game, but until he completes the arsenal I don't see how he can compete with the elite 3 (until like someone mentions, they fade and hopefully no one raises up to their talent level).

That said, after a period where he plateaued Raonic has continued to improve his game and results, rising up to number 6. Great to see! And screw Johnny Mac, I love how classy Raonic keeps it on the court. Go Milos!

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Not sure how anyone can be too disappointed with Milos. If you follow tennis you know there is a wide gap between the big 3 (and I'm kicking Murray out now) and the rest of the field. Milos needed a supreme serving day to have a chance today and it didn't happen. Milos is a guy for a few years from now when the Big 3 have faded away (a little anyways). But we're talking about 3 of the 10 greatest players to ever play the sport. It's not easy to win majors right now. Look at Djokovic today, a mediocre day by his standards and he still won relatively comfortably.

There isn't even a big 3 anymore.

Right now, Djokovic and Nadal are miles ahead of anyone else.

The second tier is where Raonic currently belongs. He and the others will move up as Federer and Murray decline - where they each top out in the near future depends on their development.

It's ironic that we are suddenly so spoiled as to focus on tearing Raonic apart rather than seeing the positive growth. Everyone was talking about how he couldn't do anything on grass before the tournament. He made the semifinals. The truth is, Raonic is a 3-8 level player right now. In one of the best eras of tennis in history. And he's 23.

[EldrickOnIce]

I don't think it's tearing him apart at all.
He was simply schooled today. Never threatened at all.
He will be better next time - was hard to watch how hard he was on himself in post match interview, but good to see.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I don't think it's tearing him apart at all.
He was simply schooled today. Never threatened at all.
He will be better next time - was hard to watch how hard he was on himself in post match interview, but good to see.

I was disappointed as well. I though he would at least make Federer sweat a bit. I see Raonic topping out to be a Roddick level of player. Manage to win one grand slam and make it to a few other finals.

[killer_carlson]

Soooooooo

the plan is to pvr the match, get crumpets, strawberries, tea, and other english brekkie materials, and watch Genie's match with my 6, 5 and 3 year old daughters.

I'm pretty sure they will watch a total of 2 seconds before running off, but on the off chance that Canadian history will be made, i want them to remember it.

[Senator Clay Davis]

So there's possibly a big X-factor that could come into play: the roof. The forecast for tomorrow suggests it might rain, and a closed roof is a big advantage for Kvitova. She has a very good career indoor record and it should help her serve better and harder. So hopefully the rain stays away.

[GirlySports]

Proud of Milos.

A) he's played well on grass getting over his injury at Wimbledon which put him out for months

B) Bouchard lost her first two grand slam semis and we weren't as hard on her.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Princess Eugenie will be in the Royal Box today. Weather not looking so great so a closed roof looking very possible.

[Mango]

Let's do this!!!

[CofR]

I am so excited for this match!

[GirlySports]

Woowoo im awake!

Go Genie!!!

[transplant99]

Ouch....Genie looks a tad ovewhelmed....needs to settle down, take a deep breath and just play he game. She is miles better at the net than Kvitova and needs to incorporate that as well.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Genie isn't overwhelmed, Kvitova is playing outstanding. But she's a peaks and valleys player so if her play dips she'll drop off hard.

[Resolute 14]

Yup, Kvitova is on her A game right now. But we've seen Genie do this a few times already this tournament. Get down early, come storming back. Hopefully history repeats itself again!

[Acey]

Yeah once Genie's serve starts working she'll be better off, but Kvitova certainly playing at a very high level, in that last game anyway.

[GirlySports]

Key hold as errors are creeping into Kvitova's game.