Who was saying Isner has no groundstrokes?

[stormholloway]

*This isn't a spoiler.

All I'm saying is that he is hanging with Federer even when the rallies get started. Who was the guy or guys who was saying he had no groundstrokes?

Speak up now!

 

[anointedone]

Federer is playing godawful tennis so far.

 

[iamke55]

It isn't that Isner has good groundstrokes that's keeping him alive, it's more that Federer has no serve.

 

[Sadyv]

I think it was mostly guys who had never seen him play, and just assumed he was another karlovic by looking at all the tiebreaks.

Someone even said Isner is no Karlovic, in the negative sense. Thats right, he isn't:He is much, much better. Stronger mentally, moves better, better ground strokes, and a serve that is right at the same level.

 

[Lionheart]

It isn't that Isner has good groundstrokes that's keeping him alive, it's more that Federer has no serve.

OMFG, please repeat what you said: Federer has no serve? LOLOL

 

[PeterSampras]

Alexander Popp

 

[anointedone]

It isn't that Isner has good groundstrokes that's keeping him alive, it's more that Federer has no serve.

Federer has no game of any kind today. I have never seen him look worse. Isner still does not impress me outside his serve. Federer is just terrible today, embarassing level for a World #1.

 

[stormholloway]

Federer is playing godawful tennis so far.

And you think it has nothing to do with Isner possibly upsetting his rhythm? Sometimes when a great player plays poorly the credit is due to the opponent.

I'm not saying Isner is the second coming, but he's a tall guy who has managed to manage his body effectively, and he's more than just a good serve.

 

[anointedone]

And you think it has nothing to do with Isner possibly upsetting his rhythm?

No. Isner has nothing much to his game except the serve and it is obvious watching even today. Federer has days in the last few months he is awful and today he is godawful. Except for Isner's serve he has nothing to do with that. Federer is just on the way down and his crapola plays today proves it. Nadal or Djokovic will soon displace him at #1 thank goodness.

 

[stormholloway]

I've seen him win several ground stroke rallies with Federer, including a forehand winner after a long rally. Don't give me that crap.

Federer is on his way down? What are you talking about? He's won how many grand slams this year?

It's pretty clear you don't know what you're talking about.

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

No. Isner has nothing much to his game except the serve and it is obvious watching even today. Federer has days in the last few months he is awful and today he is godawful. Except for Isner's serve he has nothing to do with that. Federer is just on the way down and his crapola plays today proves it. Nadal or Djokovic will soon displace him at #1 thank goodness.

Federer plays a bad tiebreak and then he doesn't deserve to be #1?

Looking at the stats in the match, Federer isn't playing that badly but if you happen to play against such a serve, chances are your rhythm is going to get messed up a bit: http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/stats/day12/1301ms.html

I am sorry that Federer can't play consistently great tennis like Nadal or Nole, but Federer will have a lot to say about anyone getting to #1 while he is healthy.

 

[WBF]

If you play tennis at that level, there is absoLUTELY no way to excuse something as "bad play". It's either an injury, or the other person playing better tennis and making him look bad (not giving him a chance to get in a groove, aces, etc). Don't try to blow off Isners quality of play by claiming the #1 in the WORLD is having "a bad day". He's #1 because he doesn't have bad days.

 

[stormholloway]

anointedone just looks at the score and says that Federer is playing poorly. That's such a novice way of analyzing the match. When someone serves as well as Isner does then it puts massive pressure on the rest of your game. That's what we're seeing from Federer.

It's especially difficult when this great serving player has decent ground strokes so when you do get in a rally it's not necessarily an automatic point. To me, Isner's ground strokes look better than Roddick's, though it may not be saying much.

 

[Tennisace1]

anointedone just looks at the score and says that Federer is playing poorly. That's such a novice way of analyzing the match. When someone serves as well as Isner does then it puts massive pressure on the rest of your game. That's what we're seeing from Federer.

It's especially difficult when this great serving player has decent ground strokes so when you do get in a rally it's not necessarily an automatic point. To me, Isner's ground strokes look better than Roddick's, though it may not be saying much.

roddick's groundstrokes are sooo much better than isner. Dont even say that. Isner is serving big, and keeping the shots in the court and being defensive, or hes hitting out right winners. Whats keeping isner together is his mental strenght and his massive serve. His kick serve is almost impossible to return. We all know that federer, is trying to read and sense the isner serve. Thats why he lost the first set, look at the second set now. I'm hoping isner can win another set!!!

 

[scholarlyg]

he doesnt have any groundstrokes. as soon as federer started returning that serve her lost the next set 6-2

 

[stormholloway]

roddick's groundstrokes are sooo much better than isner. Dont even say that. Isner is serving big, and keeping the shots in the court and being defensive, or hes hitting out right winners. Whats keeping isner together is his mental strenght and his massive serve. His kick serve is almost impossible to return. We all know that federer, is trying to read and sense the isner serve. Thats why he lost the first set, look at the second set now. I'm hoping isner can win another set!!!

I just randomly peeked into see a running backhand down the line against Federer for a winner. I can't even remember the last time Roddick did that.

I think Isner is better off of both wings to be honest. Roddick's ground strokes are hardly "so much better" than Isner's. I think Roddick has a bit more margin on his shots because of spin, but I like Isner's strokes more.

 

[stormholloway]

he doesnt have any groundstrokes. as soon as federer started returning that serve her lost the next set 6-2

I've seen him win several ground stroke rallies against Federer after having been on defense. Again, you're looking at the score line and making an analysis.

If he didn't have any ground strokes he wouldn't have won the first set tiebreaker would he?

 

[anointedone]

roddick's groundstrokes are sooo much better than isner. Dont even say that. Isner is serving big, and keeping the shots in the court and being defensive, or hes hitting out right winners. Whats keeping isner together is his mental strenght and his massive serve. His kick serve is almost impossible to return. We all know that federer, is trying to read and sense the isner serve. Thats why he lost the first set, look at the second set now. I'm hoping isner can win another set!!!

Excellent accessment. I cant stand Roddick but you are right, his ground game is still much superior to Isner. Isner has better volleys though.

 

[stormholloway]

A crapola set DUE to Isner's serve.

Oblivious to what people are talking about? Yeah, I guess I am. I formulate my own opinions. Where'd you read about Federer going down hill? Somewhere on these boards I presume.

And what is so much more superior about Roddick's ground game? The only thing is that Roddick moves laterally better. Roddick's backhand both slice and topspin are inferior to Isner's without question. The forehand can be debated for sure, but I think Isner hits the heavier ball.

I think Isner's strokes are better but the ability to move goes to Andy. I would hardly say, however, that Roddick's strokes are "so much better".

 

[hoosierbr]

Isner's groundies are ok but too inconsistent, his movement and footwork isn't there. But give him a break, he's just started the tour. He's only going to get better.

His volleys, though, are very weak. Even the easy, sitting high volleys he dumps into the net. He doesn't do much with them and they sit up begging to be hit for passing shot winners. Fed is very good at that. He doesn't bend much for the low ones either, something he'll need to improve if he wants to be an effective net player.

 

[NadalForever]

Whovever said that Isner has no groundstrokes is a very smart person because Isner has terrible groundstrokes. His serve is not even that good because after the first set he served like crap. A terrible and overrated player. Donald Young is the only American currently on the ATP tour who has what it takes to win a slam in the future.

 

[bluetrain4]

It's not that his groundstrokes are bad, it's that his movement is horrible.

He has good technique on his groundstrokes, and hits them just fine, at times great, when he is in position.

But, in a rally, he easily get's out of position due to his movement, so his ground game can really suffer.

 

[rod99]

it was me who said isner had no groudstrokes. i've seen him plenty b/c i lived in greensboro when he was still in high school and have seen him play since he was 12. he's got a top 3 serve in the world, good volleys and hands at the net but his ground game isn't top 500 in the world.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Oh, he has them alright, but not steady enough, esp towards of the end of the match with Fed. He must still work a lot on that.

 

[Fedexeon]

Yes, Federer was sub-par in the 1st set, but in 2nd, 3rd and 4th he played well, no question. See the unforced errors in 2nd and 3rd set, 0 unforced error. Maybe he took the first set to get used to Isner's serve.

 

[guygee]

Dont be surprised if he (Federer) loses #1 very soon.

Very soon? Is that is dog years?

 

[daddy]

Federer has no game of any kind today. I have never seen him look worse. Isner still does not impress me outside his serve. Federer is just terrible today, embarassing level for a World #1.

Has to happen somdays. That day was isner for him. ..

 

[daddy]

Isner guy is decent for a big derver can pop a backhand back and forehand can be a weapon. He has sillt forehand slice defending shot and has to omprove everywhere but I was likin the play, liking to watch the play where fed almost became annoyed at isner at firts set for serving too good and not cracking under pressure then. Latter it was expected !

 

[BreakPoint]

*This isn't a spoiler.

All I'm saying is that he is hanging with Federer even when the rallies get started. Who was the guy or guys who was saying he had no groundstrokes?

Speak up now!

Not me. I've always thought Isner had decent groundstrokes. He also has great touch at the net.

 

[Chopin]

Isner is a great server, but there's still a question mark in my mind if he can really beat a lot of the top players day in and day out (he's going to have off day's with his serves). In the first set today he served great!

That being said, Federer played quite well, and said so himself, I believe he had no errors for two sets of the match. I know I always am frustrated when I play players that give me no rhythm, I imagine pros have the same problems at their level of play. Federer steadied himself after the first set and took charge of the match.

 

[Kim]

Huh? Nadal and Nole playing more consistent than Fed???? MEAC?? Please say you didn't say that.

Also why do we ever feed trolls like anointedF-U-K??

 

[Fedace]

He doesn't, did you today's match??

 

[Ossric]

I find it funny how people say Federer is playing like crap.

3 straight wins, 1 set dropped. Wonder how he'd do if he was playing well...

Ever notice how he only plays as well as he needs to to win and doesn't get injured, hrm, I wonder why that is.

The man is leaps and bounds ahead of the field. He has fewer tournaments than any of the top players yet still leads Nadal by over 2000 points at the moment in the standings.

 

[Ossric]

Whovever said that Isner has no groundstrokes is a very smart person because Isner has terrible groundstrokes. His serve is not even that good because after the first set he served like crap. A terrible and overrated player. Donald Young is the only American currently on the ATP tour who has what it takes to win a slam in the future.

Isner and Young are both overrated atm imo. Young does seem to have a better overall game for sure however. Isner was blessed with freakish height that gives him that one huge weapon. If Isner was Young's height, he doesn't get an ATP tour win this year.

 

[stormholloway]

Isner and Young are both overrated atm imo. Young does seem to have a better overall game for sure however. Isner was blessed with freakish height that gives him that one huge weapon. If Isner was Young's height, he doesn't get an ATP tour win this year.

It doesn't work like that. It's an attribute. It's like saying if Federer had Roddick's balance, he wouldn't win another Wimbledon.

 

[War Safin!]

What I find utterly amazing is the amount of folks who are cracking on John Isner when the guy is a career 6-4.

You guys need to re-evaluate what you 'think' you know about tennis.

 

[veritech]

What I find utterly amazing is the amount of folks who are cracking on John Isner when the guy is a career 6-4.

You guys need to re-evaluate what you 'think' you know about tennis.

well considering the hype this forum gives him, one would think he's top 20.

 

[stormholloway]

Like I said, I'm not saying he's the second coming. I'm just giving him the props he deserves. He hung with Federer in their rallies and won many of them outright with good defense and big hitting. I'm not making predictions about his future. I'm just saying he deserves to be seen as more than one dimensional.

 

[grafrules]

Like I said, I'm not saying he's the second coming. I'm just giving him the props he deserves. He hung with Federer in their rallies and won many of them outright with good defense and big hitting. I'm not making predictions about his future. I'm just saying he deserves to be seen as more than one dimensional.

If he really won many of the rallies he would not have been crushed by a margin of 5 service breaks difference in the last 3 sets, even with one of the most devastating serves.

 

[gdsballer]

isner needs a lot more depth on his groundies, espescially the bh...doesnt need to worry about serve but when he hits his forehand and doenst just keep it in it can be really good

 

[stormholloway]

Hmm... several rallies? A good amount maybe? I mean considering his opponent, I saw him win rallies he shouldn't have won, especially for a rookie. Considering how tall he is and how his game isn't built around baseline rallies plus who he was playing, he did well from the baseline.

He hits a big heavy ball on both sides. Then again, he's only John Isner. I'm not making him out to be any more than that.

 

[grafrules]

Hmm... several rallies? A good amount maybe? I mean considering his opponent, I saw him win rallies he shouldn't have won, especially for a rookie. Considering how tall he is and how his game isn't built around baseline rallies plus who he was playing, he did well from the baseline.

He hits a big heavy ball on both sides. Then again, he's only John Isner. I'm not making him out to be any more than that.

OK that makes some sense. I just thought the way you worded it was a bit extreme.

 

[zorman]

In order to have good ground strokes a player needs absolutely one basic thing: good mobility and agility around the court. Isner due to his height has not and he never will. He is too static. That's why he went constantly for winners. He knew he wouldn't stand a chance against Federer or any decent base line player as a matter of fact.

 

[NamRanger]

well considering the hype this forum gives him, one would think he's top 20.

He beat a top 10 player and a whole slew of top 50 players in his run at Washington didn't he? I'd say he'll be in the top 20 very soon at the rate he's playing. I mean honestly, it's very rare that we see Federer drop a set in a GS, and usually it's to a quality opponent. Can't people just admit that Isner is actually pretty good and get off the Donald Young bandwagon?

 

[grafrules]

He beat a top 10 player and a whole slew of top 50 players in his run at Washington didn't he? I'd say he'll be in the top 20 very soon at the rate he's playing. I mean honestly, it's very rare that we see Federer drop a set in a GS, and usually it's to a quality opponent. Can't people just admit that Isner is actually pretty good and get off the Donald Young bandwagon?

Even if Isner's biggest weapon is his serve people forget the most important part of the game is the serve. So that is a good thing, not a bad thing. His groundstrokes may be below Young but Isner's groundstrokes are much better then people say they are, even if not as good as stormholloway seems to think, while Young's groundstrokes are not amazing either. The difference in serve between the two is much more then the difference in groundstrokes. Plus Isner can come to the net too, he is not just a baseliner, the net game is a big part of how he wins points to help him wins matches while Young is mostly a baseliner only, and he is not undersized like Young.

 

[J-man]

*This isn't a spoiler.

All I'm saying is that he is hanging with Federer even when the rallies get started. Who was the guy or guys who was saying he had no groundstrokes?

Speak up now!

I don't dislike Isner. But I still think he doesn't have ground strokes. But then again I did not to catch much of the Federer match.

 

[siber222000]

i said isner have no groundstroke and im not gonna take back my word. after watching monfils vs isner, i've decided that serve is only thing that'll keep isner alive

 

[Fedace]

Isner has workable forehand if the ball is not hit too hard at him. If roger's groundies are 5.0 level, then Isner's groundies are about 3.0 level. so he has long ways to go.

 

[IanRichardson]

what i think we all need to realize is that isner has only been a pro for a few months now. His groundstrokes are not that good, but they are solid enough that if he works everyday like he will since he now has no obligations with college that he can easily get into the top 20. As you will recall james blake was having trouble on his serve and his backhand and he has improved both of those a lot recently. All isner will have to do is work with quality coaches for a period of time and we will see improvement in his ground strokes. Think of it this way, you play in 3.0 tournaments and do really well, in fact you are for the most part the best 3.0 around. Then you decide to jump up and start playing 4.0 tournaments. Uhoh, they hit the ball better and more consistently. You have to adjust. That is what isner is having to do right now but obviously on a much better talent scale. For him to be doing this well right out of the gate should tell people something. And so what if he rides his serve to the top. Would you people be pissed if he had a killer backhand and used that to win every point? I dont see how some of you guys can hate the fact that he has one particular shot which he hits really well and he wins matches with.

 

[AznHylite]

the only reason why isner won that first set is probably because of his serve. I really doubt the ability of his groundstrokes now and in the future. And don't even mention his net game. It just plain sucks.