87 years old Feliciano Lopez thrashes Rublev

[Third Serve]

Rublev has the curious distinction of being a "hard-hitter" type of player who doesn't... actually... hit that hard.

 

[President]

What is the use of that skill if he can't even make Semi once in slam, which king Aslan did in one attempt.
Rublev already not only equalled but went above Blake carrerwise and he still has many years left.

Tough era plus some chokes here and there. Rublev is playing in a weak era.

 

[NAS]

Rublev has the curious distinction of being a "hard-hitter" type of player who doesn't... actually... hit that hard.

That is actually quite right, what he need little bit brain and Maturity, he will never be all court player but can win some significant titles with little bit tweaks

 

[NAS]

Tough era plus some chokes here and there. Rublev is playing in a weak era.

Lol tough era, you got me, that a whole talented person like Blake can never make single semi in his whole career

 

[mike danny]

What is the use of that skill if he can't even make Semi once in slam, which king Aslan did in one attempt.
Rublev already not only equalled but went above Blake carrerwise and he still has many years left.

Rublev has never displayed the level Blake did at 2005-2006 USO's.

 

[Jonesy]

 

[NAS]

Rublev has never displayed the level Blake did at 2005-2006 USO's.

That is right and fair point, I agree with you on this.

 

[President]

Lol tough era, you got me, that a whole talented person like Blake can never make single semi in his whole career

Call me when Rublev can make the finals of the ATP Finals and beat great players like Rafael Nadal, Davydenko, etc numerous times.

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Serve will always be big in present conditions

Yeah cuz everyone practically sucks at return, net skills and controlling the play with forehand.

 

[NAS]

Call me when Rublev can make the finals of the ATP Finals and beat great players like Rafael Nadal, Davydenko, etc numerous times.

What is there to call? Davy is already retired isn't he and he already defeated Rafa, Tsits and Med unless you think davy is better than Med

 

[NAS]

Yeah cuz everyone practically sucks at return, net skills and controlling the play with forehand.

Nobody sucks at return, modern racquet has make serve most important point

 

[ghostofMecir]

Feliciano‘s YE rankings

2004: 25th (21st was his highest ranking for season)
2005: 33rd (20th)
2006: 79th (34th)
2007: 35th (35th)
2008: 30th (22nd)
2011: 20th
2014: 14th
2015: 17th

No backhand mug from weak era gets highest ranking during strong era of baseline titans.

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Nobody sucks at return, modern racquet has make serve most important point

No my friend.
None of the nextgen have returning capabilities close to big3.
Modern equipment is present since 1,5 decades.

 

[NAS]

Just remembered didn't Rublev defeated Thiem in Vienna final when Thiem won us Open and then went into Yec final, don't remember exactly

 

[NAS]

No my friend.
None of the nextgen have returning capabilities close to big3.
Modern equipment is present since 1,5 decades.

Remove big 3 they are outliers

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Remove big 3 they are outliers

Removing big3, even then nextgen are not even as good of returners as ferrer, murray, delpo etc

 

[President]

Removing big3, even then nextgen are not even as good of returners as ferrer, murray, delpo etc

Exactly, in the 2000s and 2010s we had great returners like Ferrer, Nalbandian, Murray, Del Potro, Blake, etc. Tsitsipas for example has a joke of a return for a player of his level.

 

[NAS]

Removing big3, even then nextgen are not even as good of returners as ferrer, murray, delpo etc

Don't you think Zverev or Med is good returner

 

[Nuclear]

Lopez is from the strong era. Can’t expect weak era bums like Rublev to match that level.

Sculpted by Federer's breadsticks. Hardened by Nadal's bagels.

 

[President]

Don't you think Zverev or Med is good returner

They both return from too far back to really put offensive pressure on their opponents' serves. They are good returners though, I'll admit that. Not as good as guys like Ferrer, Murray, and obviously Djokovic.

 

[Third Serve]

Exactly, in the 2000s and 2010s we had great returners like Ferrer, Nalbandian, Murray, Del Potro, Blake, etc. Tsitsipas for example has a joke of a return for a player of his level.

i raise you Shapovalov

 

[RS]

Better than USO 2007 4R Lopez?

 

[NAS]

They both return from too far back to really put offensive pressure on their opponents' serves. They are good returners though, I'll admit that. Not as good as guys like Ferrer, Murray, and obviously Djokovic.

Hmm you are right on this but I think serving in general is becoming big with these tall players, you know something is wrong if Novak starts struggling against Zverev serve( 2018 yec).
Not only they are tall, they also move good

 

[President]

Lopez probably has the most aesthetically pleasing serve ever. Perfect, beautiful motion.

 

[NAS]

Better than USO 2007 4R Lopez?

Mister click and bait return.
Lol joking

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Don't you think Zverev or Med is good returner

No my friend. They're not good returners. Getting stomped by Djokovic of all people's s&v is pretty hilarious (no disrespect to nole but his net skills are far from impressive)

 

[PilotPete]

This is why Djokovic's numbers are inflated and why he has losing records to Fed era so-called mugs.

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Lopez probably has the most aesthetically pleasing serve ever. Perfect, beautiful motion.

I'd give that to sampras. But yeah, Lopez is a close second Candidate with roger.

 

[President]

Hmm you are right on this but I think serving in general is becoming big with these tall players, you know something is wrong if Novak starts struggling against Zverev serve( 2018 yec).
Not only they are tall, they also move good

Look at how Murray dealt with Raonic's serve (who serves way better than either Med or Zverev) for an example of how to aggressively return big serves. You don't have to stand 20 feet behind the baseline like Medvedev does. Ferrer and Blake were both masters of taking serve returns very early.

 

[Harry_Wild]

Feliciano is working hard to get back on track so he can live a comfortable life afterwards with his second wife. Rumor is that his 1st wife got 30% of his net worth and he has to paid monthly alimony to her. He has fallen recently, but always makes a comeback. It seems he has gave up doubles for singles.

 

[RS]

Mister click and bait return.
Lol joking

Started a new meme

 

[mike danny]

Exactly, in the 2000s and 2010s we had great returners like Ferrer, Nalbandian, Murray, Del Potro, Blake, etc. Tsitsipas for example has a joke of a return for a player of his level.

Don't forget Hewitt in the good return department.

 

[President]

Don't forget Hewitt in the good return department.

Very true. Agassi also for early-mid 2000s.

 

[aldeayeah]

Feliciano is working hard to get back on track so he can live a comfortable life afterwards with his second wife. Rumor is that his 1st wife got 30% of his net worth and he has to paid monthly alimony to her. He has fallen recently, but always makes a comeback. It seems he has gave up doubles for singles.

Realistically speaking, Feli is almost out of the picture ranking wise, and probably won't be seen again but for the occasional WC after his 2019 Queens points finally drop off.

Kinda fitting that he and Verdasco fade away together

 

[octobrina10]

Realistically speaking, Feli is almost out of the picture ranking wise, and probably won't be seen again but for the occasional WC after his 2019 Queens points finally drop off.

Kinda fitting that he and Verdasco fade away together

They both play in Challengers. This months, Feli reached the Tenerife (Spain) Challenger final and Verdasco - SFs. And Feli reached the Pau (France) Challenger QFs.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1454541664870092814

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1457414392904142854

 

[aldeayeah]

They both play in Challengers. This months, Feli reached the Tenerife (Spain) Challenger final and Verdasco - SFs. And Feli reached the Pau (France) Challenger QFs.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1454541664870092814

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1457414392904142854

Nice! Do not go gentle into that good night

 

[tennis_pro]

Wow Lopez is freaking amazing. The guy is 40 years old, never even reached the top 10 at his peak and he beat a top 5 guy probably at or close to his peak.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Wow Lopez is freaking amazing. The guy is 40 years old, never even reached the top 10 at his peak and he beat a top 5 guy probably at or close to his peak.

Rublev isn't anywhere close to his peak game-wise at the moment. Obviously that's on him. Guy plays too intense in order to keep his one-dimensional game at a high level, so half a year of sustained intensity proved too much. Nothing wrong with him physically though, this is a mental fail. Some world #5 who's this feeble.

 

[pj80]

This is why Djokovic's numbers are inflated and why he has losing records to Fed era so-called mugs.

Fed could not win a set vs pre prime Rublev *ranked 70 at the time* on his most successful Harcourt...lol

 

[PilotPete]

Fed could not win a set vs pre prime Rublev *ranked 70 at the time* on his most successful Harcourt...lol

Feli is 40!! Rublev is prime now! Absolutely pathetic. Methinks Fed's competition would squash Djokovic. See Roddick and Safin. Djokovic exposed.

 

[bluetrain4]

Lopez: "I turned pro the same year you were born, and I made my first Slam QF when you were 8."

 

[pj80]

Feli is 40!! Rublev is prime now! Absolutely pathetic. Methinks Fed's competition would squash Djokovic. See Roddick and Safin. Djokovic exposed.

what a shock that YOU would think that...

 

[PilotPete]

what a shock that YOU would think that...

Facts are not difficult to conceive, although it wouldn't be shocking if they were for you.

 

[pj80]

Facts are not difficult to conceive, although it wouldn't be shocking if they were for you.

the only fact is that Fed couldn't win a set off of Rublev

 

[I Am Finnish]

87 year old ?

 

[Booger]

87 year old ?

He turns 88 next week. Most people don't realize Feliciano actually fought in the Korean war.

 

[PilotPete]

the only fact is that Fed couldn't win a set off of Rublev

You forgot the fact that Djokovic has losing records against Roddick and Safin, lollllllllll.

 

[pj80]

You forgot the fact that Djokovic has losing records against Roddick and Safin, lollllllllll.

fed has losing record vs big Z, Thiem and Rublev....lol

 

[PilotPete]

fed has losing record vs big Z, Thiem and Rublev....lol

Fed is a lot older than those guys. Djokovic lost during his prime to Roddick, lolllllll.

 

[Martin J]

Feliciano‘s YE rankings

2004: 25th (21st was his highest ranking for season)
2005: 33rd (20th)
2006: 79th (34th)
2007: 35th (35th)
2008: 30th (22nd)
2011: 20th
2014: 14th
2015: 17th

No backhand mug from weak era gets highest ranking during strong era of baseline titans.

That's because players hit peak in their 40s. No wonder Fred played his best tennis in 2019.