2016 US Open QF: Lucas Pouille (24) - Gaël Monfils (10)

[E36BMWM3]

Can hardly blame the kid for being a bit flat after 19 sets in four rounds.

Still, some of it is that Gaël isn't allowing Lukas to hit as many amazing shots: not handing out many spinny balls inside the service box, and not giving up as much open court for Lukas to hit into. I think Monfils is perhaps playing better tennis than anyone not named Murray or Djovak right now.

Not to mention he seems faster than Nadal these days.

And yeah we can place a bit of blame. 22-year-old professional athlete, 1.5 days of rest... Should come up with the goods to trouble Monfils. Monfils is not a model for consistency and if he exploits a small crack the match could be blown wide open.

 

[Gary Duane]

Meanwhile lets wait until the courts are drenched to close the roof when anyone with radar could see what was coming.

Way to go, USO...

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Why is it taking so long?

 

[E36BMWM3]

Well, his all wasn't good enough for Pouille's all. And that's all there is to it, isn't it?

Right but I was referring to this particular match, and the fact that he won't win it. Not what happened on Sunday. But hey some of us dwell on the past.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

They give it their all and win against Nadal, show up flat for their next round match... it's the same story for all of them with but a few exceptions. Typical

To be fair though...he has played three five setters in a row, this was bound to happen.

 

[skip1969]

Why is it taking so long?

cos like gary duane said . . . they let the court get all wet. doh!

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Right but I was referring to this particular match, and the fact that he won't win it. Not what happened on Sunday. But hey some of us dwell on the past.

I don't see your point. Why would he have the obligation to trouble Monfils after beating Nadal? Monfils is playing much better than Nadal.

 

[skip1969]

To be fair though...he has played three five setters in a row, this was bound to happen.

this. lucas has worked his tail off to get this far. yes, the nadal match was long. but nadal isn't the only reason pouille seems a little flat.

 

[Gary Duane]

Time to mention that Pouille has won 49% of his points this year on HCs, 76% of his service games, 18% of his return games. I don't care how clutch he has been recently. Those are not the numbers of a future champion. I'm not yet convinced that he is more than a temporarily zoned player who is soon doomed to a big crash...

 

[veroniquem]

Oh oh is Gael gonna lose concentration now? That would be his style

 

[Sysyphus]

Outrageous claim: in terms of current or recent form, Gaël is playing the third best tennis on tour after Murravic. (will be 19 for his 21 last matches after this one)

Agreements/disagreements?

 

[E36BMWM3]

To be fair though...he has played three five setters in a row, this was bound to happen.

Agreed to some extent... Seems like fire is all but gone.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

I realize they are closing the roof now, but what is the point of even discussing? It closes in 5 minutes. When the rain comes, close it.

Their position on that is that since all courts don't have roofs, its use makes for an unlevel playing field. I'm just the messenger.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

cos like gary duane said . . . they let the court get all wet. doh!

Thanks, I didn't see his post.

 

[Gary Duane]

No reason for a 15 minute delay and another warm-up. I saw the rain coming on radar. Yet the guys at the USO can't do that and let it rain on the court - IDIOTS.

 

[Levi_Ackerman]

What the ****? Did Pouille retire?

EDIT: My bad. Rain delay.

 

[skip1969]

Oh oh is Gael gonna lose concentration now? That would be his style

he can thank the usta . . . who apparently haven't discovered radar yet.

there's an app for that.

 

[Boom-Boom]

his appendix has been taken out and poses no more trouble but that wrist is only 80% right now, and that is enough to hamper anyone,,,,RAFA's topspin was only measure at about 2800 RPM at the US open this year, it is normally 3500-3800 RPM's. If that isn't a proof enough ,,,,,,don't know what is..........No wonder Pouille won

wrong it was down from 3200 to 3000 no big deal

Pouille was the better player simple as that

 

[skip1969]

What the ****? Did Pouille retire?

EDIT: My bad. Rain delay.

lol. no, they had to close the roof.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

The US Open's relationship with wet floors is very complicated.

 

[skip1969]

Thanks, I didn't see his post.

oh NO . . . that wasn't a dig at you. i was just giving him his due. the "doh!" was for the usta.

 

[JoelSandwich]

You know considering all of the horrendous outfits this year, Monfil's outfit isn't that bad, it's quite nice.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

oh NO . . . that wasn't a dig at you. i was just giving him his due. the "doh!" was for the usta.

Oh, I know.
Meanwhile, Monfils continues to serve brilliantly. 5-3.

 

[E36BMWM3]

I don't see your point. Why would he have the obligation to trouble Monfils after beating Nadal? Monfils is playing much better than Nadal.

Uhhhh I don't know... maybe because you're in the quarterfinals of one of the biggest tournaments of the year with the chance to make your first semifinal round ever?? Naahhh I guess he doesn't want it then??

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Uhhhh I don't know... maybe because you're in the quarterfinals of one of the biggest tournaments of the year with the chance to make your first semifinal round ever?? Naahhh I guess he doesn't want it then??

Alright, forget it.

 

[tennisjedi]

Monfils is playing too good.
Pouille needs another 5 setter to win.

 

[Sambuccashake]

The only good thing about the current state of the match is that Monf will conserve energy for the clash to come.

 

[E36BMWM3]

Doubles away the set... ahhhh same story. Back to the drawing board Pouille... He did have a great run, congrats on the back-to-back-to-back 5 setters.

 

[junior74]

Guru looks like he is about to fall asleep . . . and he is gifted the 2nd set from his good friend.

 

[Gary Duane]

What the ****? Did Pouille retire?

EDIT: My bad. Rain delay.

Band of rain moving in from the east, counter-clockwise. I'm looking at it right now. It was about 99% certain that they were going to get a bit of rain.

 

[skip1969]

The US Open's relationship with wet floors is very complicated.

well . . . rain and the uso have been kinda going steady for a few years. now suddenly, here comes roof to spoil everything. rain (obviously) is a little jealous. the uso doesn't want to antagonize the jilted rain. roof is smug . . . she don't care. but uso doesn't wanna burn any bridges with rain.

hence . . . let's let the court get all wet. ta da!

 

[stringertom]

White Smoke (tm) has blown a Gasquet and is leaking oil.

 

[veroniquem]

Wow LaMonf all business. Love it!

 

[Meles]

Outrageous claim: in terms of current or recent form, Gaël is playing the third best tennis on tour after Murravic. (will be 19 for his 21 last matches after this one)

Agreements/disagreements?

Handily 3rd best.

 

[gn]

They give it their all and win against Nadal, show up flat for their next round match... it's the same story for all of them with but a few exceptions. Typical

Pouille played three 5 setters in a row. May be it has to be stickied somewhere in the thread.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Handily 3rd best.

Maybe pop in Del Potro in the mix as well. He's playing pretty well.

 

[Meles]

The only good thing about the current state of the match is that Monf will conserve energy for the clash to come.

May come into SF without dropping a set. That gives him a chance.

 

[skip1969]

i'm hoping pouille can pull out some energy from somewhere, i know he's beat. but he's shown heart in every round.

 

[Sysyphus]

Wow, Monfils–Tsonga should be a cracker!!

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Cahill with the delicious slice of service analysis. Awesome '15-'16 Monf comparison.

 

[Nostradamus]

wrong it was down from 3200 to 3000 no big deal

Pouille was the better player simple as that

no no no.....average rpm 2800 at US open. Normally he is at least at 3500 RPM. when he won the French open for all those years,,,Rafa was at 3500-3800 RPM

 

[Fedeonic]

Monfils is playing really well, but Pouille doesn't have anything left in the tank.

 

[Sysyphus]

Cahill with the delicious slice of service analysis. Awesome '15-'16 Monf comparison.

Do tell. I'm not watching ESPN(?). I'm guessing he's improved it? Placement maybe?

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Wow, Monfils–Tsonga should be a cracker!!

Maiden USO final for either. Vive la France!

 

[Meles]

Finally a drop shot.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Do tell. I'm not watching ESPN(?). I'm guessing he's improved it? Placement maybe?

Roddick-style last year w/ feet together at toss. Now, feet apart, rear leg also slightly behind, then drawn in at toss.

 

[Nostradamus]

now that it is Indoor match,,,who does that favor ?

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

now that it is Indoor match,,,who does that favor ?

Boris.

 

[gn]

Doesn't the fact that Monfils didn't drop a set, whereas Pouille dropped seven, suggest that Monfils is indeed the better player, at the moment at least? It's not that he just happens to be the lucky beneficiary of tiredness. It's that he's breezed through, whereas his opponent has struggled.

(Sure, Pouille played Nadal. But he also dropped the opening two sets against Chiudinelli and was pretty much outplayed for most of the first three and a half sets against Bautista Agut).

I agree that he should not have lost 2 sets against the qualifier. But this USO is insane with so many 5 setters as many as 19+. As for RBA, he is a quality opponent and a grinder who took a set against Novak at both USO'15 and FO'16, followed by Rafa and now another pusher. While I agree Monfils is a better player at this moment, you can't rule out the fatigue factor.

 

[Meles]

Maybe pop in Del Potro in the mix as well. He's playing pretty well.

I have him 4th, but if you weight for recent play its close.