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

  • Thread starter Deleted member 740774
  • Start date

Who Wins?

  • Gael in 3

    Votes: 11 29.7%
  • Gael in 4

    Votes: 10 27.0%
  • Gael in 5

    Votes: 1 2.7%
  • Lucas in 3

    Votes: 1 2.7%
  • Lucas in 4

    Votes: 3 8.1%
  • Lucas in 5

    Votes: 5 13.5%
  • Nadal is Finnish

    Votes: 6 16.2%

  • Total voters
    37
  • Poll closed .

fundrazer

G.O.A.T.

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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.

RBA is a good opponent, yes, and I suppose Monfils has had a pretty straightforward draw. Even Chiddenelli is a more accomplished opponent than Jan Satral.

In general, I'm still not sure it really makes sense to speak of the fatigue as an independent factor, rather than one related to quality. Usually, the top players go through more easily because they are better (and because the draw favors them). By the middle stages, those lower-ranked players who are still left in will have played more sets and so be more tired. But when they lose to a top player, the tiredness is a byproduct of their inferiority: if they were better than they are, they'd have won more easily and be less tired. Perhaps in this case, the difference in draw does make tiredness an independent factor, but it doesn't always.
 
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E36BMWM3

Hall of Fame
Pouille has soft hands at net... volleyed back a number of winners against Nadal as well. If he could only muster the energy here.
 

E36BMWM3

Hall of Fame
Guru will need to venture into the net more often in semis... he's fast enough to follow those wide forehands and take time away from Novak/Tsonga. Has a great shot at making it to the finals
 

wangs78

Legend
Pouille has no zip -. Pity, but that's what three 5-setters in a row does to you. Does make me respect Nadal more for his younger days when he played a couple of 5 setters in a row and could still win the tournament.
 

NGM

Hall of Fame
This must be the best slam performance ever for Monfils. Too bad he runs into Djokovic next round.

Monfils is well known as a clown but in this specific tournament his clowness is totally absent and he is acting like a man in the mission. I am impressed.
 

gn

G.O.A.T.
RBA is a good opponent, yes, and I suppose Monfils has had a pretty straightforward draw. Even Chiddenelli is a more accomplished opponent than Jan Satral.

In general, I'm still not sure it really makes sense to speak of the fatigue as an independent factor, rather than one related to quality. Usually, the top players go through more easily because they are better (and because the draw favors them). By the middle stages, those lower-ranked players who are still left in will have played more sets and so be more tired. But when they lose to a top player, the tiredness is a byproduct of their inferiority: if they were better than they are, they'd have won more easily and be less tired. Perhaps in this case, the difference in draw does make tiredness an independent factor, but it doesn't always.

Yeah, Top players gets the reward for what they are. But let's assume Monfils played a 5 setter against Nadal that lasted 4 hours in the previous round. Do you think he would have had a fair shot against Pouille? I don't think so. Also Monfils is not defeating Nadal in straight sets. But I get your point though. Hopefully, Pouille moves up in the ranking and gets a fair draw in the future.
 

wangs78

Legend
In a way, today could be a blessing in disguise for Pouille. If he uses this experience to push his training to Murray-like levels, it could very well push him into the top 5. But that is a big IF.
 
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