2017 Paris - General Discussion

[Meles]

Well done by Sock in this event.

Berger has brought a new dimension to his game:
1. Patient cagey play on backhand even mixing it up in final bringing all topspin at times, but mostly defending with slices
2. Generally more patient play on his forehand. The slow balling with the backhand sets up the forehand even more as opponents not able to take time away from Sock as effectively allowing Sock more opportunities to dictate with the forehand
3. The above has made Sock much more resilient in longer matches and given him new found confidence closing out matches.

The most deserving player to make WTF as he'll have plenty of momentum for the event.

 

[Red Rick]

Well done by Sock in this event.

Berger has brought a new dimension to his game:
1. Patient cagey play on backhand even mixing it up in final bringing all topspin at times, but mostly defending with slices
2. Generally more patient play on his forehand. The slow balling with the backhand sets up the forehand even more as opponents not able to take time away from Sock as effectively allowing Sock more opportunities to dictate with the forehand
3. The above has made Sock much more resilient in longer matches and given him new found confidence closing out matches.

The most deserving player to make WTF as he'll have plenty of momentum for the event.

He's definitely playing smarter, but he'll have a very tough time maintaining a top 10 position or getting even further. He's really bound to HC as his serve and return combo aren't good enough for grass and clay exposes his backhand too much.

Sock annoys me to no end because on his good points you can just see how ridiculous his upside is and on his bad points you see his ridiculous downside. He's 9th in the world tomorrow, and he has 4 area's to make tremendous improvement

1. forehand. If he flattens out with control it's a way more dominant shot. If he really tees off it's the biggest forehand in the world
2. backhand. It's passable at times, the slice is good but apart from hitting the occasional attacking shot or passing shot he needs to be able to rely on it more. It would give him way more choice in rallies
3. return. The biggest of them all. It is so bad at times and the quality of his returns on average serves really hampers his potential to go deep into slams as he doesn't break easily enough and he has the occasional crap serve game
4. footwork. He's reasonably quick, but he really waits for the ball to come to him. He should be the agressor, he needs to run to the ball to pound it and give himself a better height and angle to crush the ball.

 

[Meles]

He's definitely playing smarter, but he'll have a very tough time maintaining a top 10 position or getting even further. He's really bound to HC as his serve and return combo aren't good enough for grass and clay exposes his backhand too much.

Sock annoys me to no end because on his good points you can just see how ridiculous his upside is and on his bad points you see his ridiculous downside. He's 9th in the world tomorrow, and he has 4 area's to make tremendous improvement

1. forehand. If he flattens out with control it's a way more dominant shot. If he really tees off it's the biggest forehand in the world
2. backhand. It's passable at times, the slice is good but apart from hitting the occasional attacking shot or passing shot he needs to be able to rely on it more. It would give him way more choice in rallies
3. return. The biggest of them all. It is so bad at times and the quality of his returns on average serves really hampers his potential to go deep into slams as he doesn't break easily enough and he has the occasional crap serve game
4. footwork. He's reasonably quick, but he really waits for the ball to come to him. He should be the agressor, he needs to run to the ball to pound it and give himself a better height and angle to crush the ball.

Frankly his game revolves around the forehand and it's heaviness. Today he won because the opponent could not stop it. His footwork has been high this week with good court coverage. The backhand keeps getting better and better and he's definitely got a Del Possum thing going on with the slice. He's very much like Nadal at dealing effectively with slicing to his forehand, so the cagey backhand play sets him up all the more as slices to the Sock forehand not the best play. The slow balling also seems to set up better forays to net.

What I'd like to see from Sock is even heavier serving like he had two years ago. He's played all the top players reasonably well this year so looking forward to just about everyone at WTF dealing with his forehand. Heavy, heavy is what he needs on the forehand plus his grip change to something like an Eastern on one of his running forehand passes to break was amazing. Kyrgios is rubbing off on Sock with some of these showtime shots.

 

[Mainad]

Congrats to Sock:

1. First American to win a Masters 1000 since Roddick (2010 Miami).
2. First non-European to win a Masters 1000 since Roddick.
3. First American to win the Paris Masters since Agassi (1999).
4. First player outside the top 20 to win a Masters 1000 since Ljubicic (2010 Indian Wells).
5. Third maiden Masters 1000 champion this year (along with Zverev and Dimitrov).
6. One of 7 players this year to reach their maiden Masters 1000 final (along with Ramos-Vinolas, Thiem, Zverev, Dimitrov, Kyrgios and Krajinovic).
7. First American to make the ATP top 10 since Isner (2012).
8. Third American to make the ATP top 10 since Roddick (along with Fish and Isner).
9. Fourth player to become #1 in USA since Roddick (along with Fish, Isner and Querrey).
10. First American to qualify for the Year End Championships since Fish (2011).

That's quite a few firsts in there!

 

[Chanwan]

when a boy cries wolf so many times, no sane man can keep believing it every single time. He's saving himself for the bigger one now - after making sure he got the YE no. 1.

 

[I Am Finnish]

An unexpected good run from krajinovic hope he can playing like this from now on


Congrats sock for winning the first master

 

[Freddy Cat]

Let's not forget the true heroes of this tournament -- Benny and Isner. They did all the dirty work.