Murrayfan31
Hall of Fame
We see what he is capable of. Why couldn't he do this throughout his career?
One has to wonder what he'd be capable of in his physical prime with these wins in his late 20s/early 30s.
His physical prime is right now. He's never been as fit as he has been these last couple of years.
We see what he is capable of. Why couldn't he do this throughout his career?
His physical prime is right now. He's never been as fit as he has been these last couple of years.
Indeed. And congratulations to Pierre Paradis (the gaunt person beside Norman today) for physically training Federer and Wawrinka to amazing levels of performance in a very healthy way. I mean, just look at Fed's record in terms of attending the slams
He is incapable of consistency. He reminds me a bit of Nalbandian. Shows up for 1 event and then disappears for months on end.
Everything favored him at this RG: draw and schedule, so of course he was the fresher of the 2. But it's not a level he could keep up on a regular basis. It's going to be back to the obscurity where he belongs.
He's an average player most of the time.
He is incapable of consistency. He reminds me a bit of Nalbandian. Shows up for 1 event and then disappears for months on end.
Everything favored him at this RG: draw and schedule, so of course he was the fresher of the 2. But it's not a level he could keep up on a regular basis. It's going to be back to the obscurity where he belongs.
He's an average player most of the time.
He is incapable of consistency. He reminds me a bit of Nalbandian. Shows up for 1 event and then disappears for months on end.
Everything favored him at this RG: draw and schedule, so of course he was the fresher of the 2. But it's not a level he could keep up on a regular basis. It's going to be back to the obscurity where he belongs.
He's an average player most of the time.
He is incapable of consistency. He reminds me a bit of Nalbandian. Shows up for 1 event and then disappears for months on end.
Everything favored him at this RG: draw and schedule, so of course he was the fresher of the 2. But it's not a level he could keep up on a regular basis. It's going to be back to the obscurity where he belongs.
He's an average player most of the time.
I expected nothing less from you and I'm glad to see you dealing so well with the FO-resultHe is incapable of consistency. He reminds me a bit of Nalbandian. Shows up for 1 event and then disappears for months on end.
Everything favored him at this RG: draw and schedule, so of course he was the fresher of the 2. But it's not a level he could keep up on a regular basis. It's going to be back to the obscurity where he belongs.
He's an average player most of the time.
To me, the 4 things that stand out between Stan pre 2013 (2013 we were already beginning to see the changes and post 2013) areIt is amazing to see him hang in all those long rallies without breathing heavy. His improved cardio was definitely one of the key factors.
First it was Fed, now Stanimal.... ???Back in the gutter of the gutter, I see.
Stanimal has ravaged your brain. Bless your soul, Vero.
He is incapable of consistency.
He is incapable of consistency. He reminds me a bit of Nalbandian. Shows up for 1 event and then disappears for months on end.
Everything favored him at this RG: draw and schedule, so of course he was the fresher of the 2. But it's not a level he could keep up on a regular basis. It's going to be back to the obscurity where he belongs.
He's an average player most of the time.
Prior to his AO victory in 2014, he had won just 5 titles all of them at 250 level in nearly 12 years of playing the tour! Since 2014 AO, he has won a Masters tournament and now another Slam!
Given the obvious abilities he has now been displaying in the last 18 months, I would say that underachievement in the 2002-2013 period is an understatement!
He's been quite consistent at slam though since turning into STANIMAL.
Since that first AO match against Djokovic his results have been:
AO13 - 4th round
RG13 - QF
W13 - 1st round
US13 - SF
AO14 - W
RG14 - 1st round
W14 - QF
US14 - QF
AO15 - SF
RG15 - W
Apart from those 2 early exits those are amazing results for a non- big 4 player
OT, yes in the sense that his fitness and confidence wasn't where they are now.
No in the sense that I doubt he couldn't have gotten where he is now without his current coach and fitness trainer.
As heninfan said:
"It is amazing to see him hang in all those long rallies without breathing heavy. His improved cardio was definitely one of the key factors."
To me, the 4 things that stand out between Stan pre 2013 (2013 we were already beginning to see the changes and post 2013) are
a) his fitness
b) his level of belief and confidence
c) a much improved forehand (seriously, it got quite a bit better and when on, is probably the biggest ground stroke on tour these days) and
d) a somewhat improved serve
He developed in Federer's shadow as the understudy, and consequently never really believed in himself.
He isn't, but he believes he compete with them and beat them any day of the week now. He didn't prior to 2013/2014.I'm not buying this. Even after his RG win he said he isn't at the Big 4 level. Hasn't stopped him from blasting Nadal, Djokovic and Federer off the court in the last couple of years.
To me, the 4 things that stand out between Stan pre 2013 (2013 we were already beginning to see the changes and post 2013) are
a) his fitness
b) his level of belief and confidence
c) a much improved forehand (seriously, it got quite a bit better and when on, is probably the biggest ground stroke on tour these days) and
d) a somewhat improved serve
When his Stanimal is in check and he remembers to be that devastating mix of power and patience, he becomes a serious conundrum.
I think him underachieving most of his career is what made it possible to reach these new heights. Playing with a mediocre forehand for all those years forced the rest of his game to be better. Now that he's shed the handicap, and made the weakness into a strength, he's gone up a level automatically almost.
The mental game is what was lacking these last couple years but now he's got some big game experience and it's really all come together.
You don't strike me as someone with a bad memory, but I remember you saying that before ;-)I'm not sure on all these counts because I can't remember instances of his endurance being exposed before 2013 and generally I have a bad memory.
You needed to add an e) tactical and strategic astuteness (Norman).
Great perspective on it.I think him underachieving most of his career is what made it possible to reach these new heights. Playing with a mediocre forehand for all those years forced the rest of his game to be better. Now that he's shed the handicap, and made the weakness into a strength, he's gone up a level automatically almost.
The mental game is what was lacking these last couple years but now he's got some big game experience and it's really all come together.
And improved his forehand.Feels similar to what happened with Djokovic after he finally more or less sorted out his serve.
Yep, yep.His confidence and "IQ" for tennis improved. Picks and chooses spots better. Add his amazing power and you have a guy who maybe is too high risk to win consistently in GS, but when he's HOT, he's unstoppable.
I would like to hear what people think of my a-d list. Anyone? Cheers.