2016 Indian Wells R2 Tomas Berdych vs. Juan Martin Del Potro

[The Green Mile]

Berdych thumping forehands into Delpo's slice backhand, and finally gets the error. Breaks for 4-1.

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

Yeah, this is over. I feel really bad for Del Potro, but he needs to hang it up. The key to his past success was that his backhand could set up his forehand. That is clearly gone now.

Are you crazy? He's only been back for like two months!

 

[gogo]

Repeat after me:

 

[Gytha]

The comm is right tho. If he can't come back and hit his BH properly, how is he ever going to get back to where he should be? You won't get into the top 10 with that weak BH, no matter how good the serve/FH. Hopefully his strength and confidence will improve (I'm of the impression some of it is down to fear and being cautious rather than lack of actual strength)

 

[LinePainter]

I don't really care if Kyrgios curses, however I do have a problem with any player abusing umpires. It really bothers me when even players like Federer are very disrespectful to umpires when they are just doing their job.

 

[mightyrick]

Are you crazy? He's only been back for like two months!

Exactly my point.

It is very evident that it is hurting. Only after two months. He is not going to withstand the rigors of the tour. Guys are going to tear him apart on the backhand side. Best to just let go.

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

I do think part of Delpo's reluctance to hit the backhand is mental. It's only natural. He's had it operated on so many times, he's frightened of doing damage to it. So, he holds back. Anyone who's ever injured a part of their body severely would understand this.

^The above is especially for you @mightyrick.

 

[La Grande]

The comm is right tho. If he can't come back and hit his BH properly, how is he ever going to get back to where he should be? You won't get into the top 10 with that weak BH, no matter how good the serve/FH. Hopefully his strength and confidence will improve (I'm of the impression some of it is down to fear and being cautious rather than lack of actual strength)

He hasn't been back very long, I'm sure he believes it will improve.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Boooooooo

 

[La Grande]

Exactly my point.

It is very evident that it is hurting. Only after two months. He is not going to withstand the rigors of the tour. Guys are going to tear him apart on the backhand side. Best to just let go.

Let go and do what? He's been playing tennis for probably 20 years, working to get to this position. "Let it go"? In what world? It's his job, he enjoys it and it pays well. Play until you drop if you ask me..

 

[The Green Mile]

Cruising in this set is Berdych. MP.

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

Look at Berdych. Hitting the ball like he's the man. Where does all this proactivity and aggression and swagger go when he's facing Murray or Djokovic or Federer or even Nadal? Right down the toilet, that's where. Those guys make him their *****.

 

[La Grande]

Tennis players play so many matches every year. I wish commies and fans wouldn't pretend one match defines a season (or career)

 

[La Grande]

LOL berdych

 

[The Green Mile]

Look at Berdych. Hitting the ball like he's the man. Where does all this proactivity and aggression and swagger go when he's facing Murray or Djokovic or Federer or even Nadal? Right down the toilet, that's where. Those guys make him their *****.

Those guys are simply superior players to Berdych, especially mentally. Even still, he has the most wins against the "Big 4".

 

[Gytha]

Crowd right behind the Tower

 

[La Grande]

Lol, remember when Lendl was about to become Berdych's coach, then Berdych got smashed by Djokovic in Beijing? (I think, nearly double bagel) and all of a sudden Lendl was too busy

 

[The Green Mile]

Berdych has a 3rd MP here.

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

Those guys are simply superior players to Berdych, especially mentally. Even still, he has the most wins against the "Big 4".

What you say is true, but I'd rather stake money on Delpo in a match against any of those four than I would on Berdych in a match against any of those four. Delpo is - or was - that player that you could actually see beating them in a match. Berdych, on the other hand...

 

[The Green Mile]

Delpo fights off 3 MPs! Berdych to serve for the match.

 

[La Grande]

Glad Delpo got this game. Take that

 

[Meles]

Do we believe?

 

[Gytha]

Delpo makes Berd serve for it.

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

Lol, remember when Lendl was about to become Berdych's coach, then Berdych got smashed by Djokovic in Beijing? (I think, nearly double bagel) and all of a sudden Lendl was too busy

Because Berdych is not a winner. Lendl probably knows a winning spirit when he sees one, and he probably couldn't see one in Berdych. It's probably the same reason he wouldn't work with Dimitrov.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

At least no bakery

 

[La Grande]

Do we believe?

We do..

 

[The Green Mile]

What you say is true, but I'd rather stake money on Delpo in a match against any of those four than I would on Berdych in a match against any of those four. Delpo is - or was - that player that you could actually see beating them in a match. Berdych, on the other hand...

Yes, I would as well. I sometimes wonder how good Delpo could have become, if he didn't miss most of 2010, with his injury problems.

 

[Gytha]

Need a patented Berdy choke here lol

 

[Gytha]

Do we believe?

Never stop!

 

[La Grande]

Because Berdych is not a winner. Lendl probably knows a winning spirit when he sees one, and he probably couldn't see one in Berdych. It's probably the same reason he wouldn't work with Dimitrov.

Yup. He thought "Naaaah, even my wisdom can't help this one. This niqqa needs JESUS!"

 

[Meles]

0-30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[La Grande]

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH. We all felt his pain there

 

[The Green Mile]

Haha, you gotta love Delpo...

 

[Meles]

15-40!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[La Grande]

WE STILL BELIEVING?

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

It's partly mental; the reluctance on the backhand. I'm telling you. Give it time. Give HIM time.

 

[La Grande]

Haha LOVE DEL POTRO

 

[Gytha]

Hahahaha Delpo! Still smiling <3

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Boooo Berdych. Boooo.

 

[The Green Mile]

MP #4 for Berdych.

 

[Gytha]

Haha LOVE DEL POTRO

This is what we've missed!

 

[La Grande]

booooo

 

[gogo]

Mr Plastic takes it.

Dreams don't really come true.

 

[Gytha]

It's partly mental; the reluctance on the backhand. I'm telling you. Give it time. Give HIM time.

I'm gonna agree. I want to believe.

 

[Meles]

Berdy rounding into form. Delpo does have a ways to go.

 

[gogo]

I shouldn't be so rude. Congrats to Berdych. His fitness/sharpness had been suspect coming into this match and he came through.

 

[Gytha]

Delpo, a valiant effort <3

Just keep going!

 

[The Green Mile]

Nice backhand to finish it off. 7/6 6/2 to Birdman. Competitive opening set, then Berdych took control.

 

[ruerooo]

Need a patented Berdy choke here lol

I LOL'ed at this and I shouldn't have.

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

I really hope Delpo sticks with it. He just needs to keep working on the bh. I remember how hard it was for me to go back to running after a stress fracture on my leg. In fact, I still get the fear when I'm running, and I back off. I stop myself subconsciously and consciously sometimes from going as fast as I can because I'm afraid of snapping my ****. It just takes time.