Baker-Simon 2nd round Roland Garros

[firepanda]

Oh, this is precious. I've just read through the entire post.

1) Pre-match analysis. Accusations of trolling, hating and misogyny. Squees from Baker fanboys audible here in New Zealand. Lots of Simon hate.
2) Sudden intensity as match begins. Petty squabbling over game styles and players. Furious last-minute predictions.
3) Despair and post-match discussions begin as Baker is 2-0 down.
3.5) Frantic hoping as Baker comes back a set. Lots of Baker-lauding.
4) Pure, thrice-distilled joy as Baker wins a second set. Predictions suddenly change. Jubilant cries of "Breeeaaadssstiiiick!"
5) Baker loses --with a bagel, no less-- and a cloud is formed over this thread. Accusations of trolling, hating and misogynynyng resume.

For what its worth, I'm a massive Simon fan, since he plays almost exactly like I do. I keeping a cautious eye out for Baker as well. He's talented, but so was Gulbis.

 

[jdubbs]

Obviously, the fact that he's making ATP finals just a short time into his comeback and beating top flight players like Monfils, Davydenko, and pushing Simon to 5 sets bodes well for his future if he can stay healthy.

His return game is absolutely world class, as is his BH. And his heart and humble demeanor have won him a lot of fans.

 

[Bud]

i'm not saying he'll breakthrough or not breakthrough, and i don't know the guy so i couldn't care less . . . i realize he's been the big 'feel'good' story of the last couple of weeks (and the networks love a feel-good story) . . .

but it smacks a bit of desperation how everyone has jumped on the baker bandwagon after just one good tourney result.

You're kidding.. I hope?

Baker has moved from about #800 in the world 10 months ago, when he started back on the tour after years of layoff due to injury. He's now close to top 100. Is that not a breakthrough to you?

 

[jakemcclain32]

Oh, this is precious. I've just read through the entire post.

1) Pre-match analysis. Accusations of trolling, hating and misogyny. Squees from Baker fanboys audible here in New Zealand. Lots of Simon hate.
2) Sudden intensity as match begins. Petty squabbling over game styles and players. Furious last-minute predictions.
3) Despair and post-match discussions begin as Baker is 2-0 down.
3.5) Frantic hoping as Baker comes back a set. Lots of Baker-lauding.
4) Pure, thrice-distilled joy as Baker wins a second set. Predictions suddenly change. Jubilant cries of "Breeeaaadssstiiiick!"
5) Baker loses --with a bagel, no less-- and a cloud is formed over this thread. Accusations of trolling, hating and misogynynyng resume.

For what its worth, I'm a massive Simon fan, since he plays almost exactly like I do. I keeping a cautious eye out for Baker as well. He's talented, but so was Gulbis.

To put Brian Baker, a gutsy kid with the heart of a lion, and an unreal work ethic(You have to have that to come back from what he did) even in the same time zone as a lazy, self centered, lackadaisical, lazy, bratty, lazy, daddy's boy with no work ethic borders on sacrelig.

 

[Tennis_Crazed]

You're kidding.. I hope?

Baker has moved from about #800 in the world 10 months ago, when he started back on the tour after years of layoff due to injury. He's now close to top 100. Is that not a breakthrough to you?

Agreed...i'm pulling for the guy and hope he cracks top 60 so he can play all the grand slams. In tennis you need consistency to keep your ranking up, so hopefully he does

 

[BreakPoint]

You're kidding.. I hope?

Baker has moved from about #800 in the world 10 months ago, when he started back on the tour after years of layoff due to injury. He's now close to top 100. Is that not a breakthrough to you?

A year ago, Baker was playing in the USTA Adult League in the Middle Tennessee section playing against other hackers and bringing the refreshments for home matches. Today, he was on center court at Roland Garros taking the 11th ranked player in the world to 5 sets. I'd say that's pretty incredible.

 

[mellowyellow]

He shows promise, but Oudin showed promise beating some "good" players along the way, women better in their own respect on the womens tour than Simon is on the Mens tour. Wait for him to be on tour and for the newness to wear off for him and for everyone that plays him before drinking all the koolaid...

 

[mellowyellow]

To add, a guy with a Bob Hope nose is not winning a Slam.

 

[skip1969]

Believe me, I am baffled by them too. This one guy named skip actually thinks Simon is a better tennis player than Baker.

there's an old sports saying: "you are what your record says you are."

 

[skip1969]

You're kidding.. I hope?

Baker has moved from about #800 in the world 10 months ago, when he started back on the tour after years of layoff due to injury. He's now close to top 100. Is that not a breakthrough to you?

of course it is. i'm not knocking what he's done to comeback. but i think the back and forth was about whether baker would succeed on the big tour. and in the process of hyping it, some people took the opportunity during the match to diss simon for everything from his nationality to his style of play.

so yes, the whole thing did seem a bit desperate to me. having blinders on and ignoring reason and objectivity always smacks of desperation. but then, i forget where i am. :wink:

 

[jdubbs]

of course it is. i'm not knocking what he's done to comeback. but i think the back and forth was about whether baker would succeed on the big tour. and in the process of hyping it, some people took the opportunity during the match to diss simon for everything from his nationality to his style of play.

so yes, the whole thing did seem a bit desperate to me. having blinders on and ignoring reason and objectivity always smacks of desperation. but then, i forget where i am. :wink:

Well, I'd favor the opinion of a guy like Djokovic, who described Baker as one of the best players in the world a few years ago, over your opinion or other posters. You seem desparate to squash an unbelievable story, maybe it scares you and other people on this board a little, I dont know. When even Fed talks about how he wants to practice with or play Baker in a match, well that kind of sums it up.

/thread

 

[onyxrose81]

He shows promise, but Oudin showed promise beating some "good" players along the way, women better in their own respect on the womens tour than Simon is on the Mens tour. Wait for him to be on tour and for the newness to wear off for him and for everyone that plays him before drinking all the koolaid...

The two situations are completely different. Oudin never should have been hyped and I still don't get how or why that happened. She was of small stature and didn't have any weapons to hurt anyone. Baker has always been a touted player but injuries got in the way of that promise. He may flame out soon but there is good reason for the interest shown him. Oudin's hype came from people wanting a new American star and she was never going to be that.

 

[mellowyellow]

One thing different is Oudin waa hyped after her big wins... Nof before like D YOung, R HArrison.

 

[skip1969]

Well, I'd favor the opinion of a guy like Djokovic, who described Baker as one of the best players in the world a few years ago, over your opinion or other posters. You seem desparate to squash an unbelievable story, maybe it scares you and other people on this board a little, I dont know. When even Fed talks about how he wants to practice with or play Baker in a match, well that kind of sums it up.

/thread

it's a great story. run with it. have fun. enjoy. like i said, it makes to difference to me one way or the other. good luck to the guy.

 

[jdubbs]

it's a great story. run with it. have fun. enjoy. like i said, it makes to difference to me one way or the other. good luck to the guy.

Thanks, we're just having fun with it. It's nice to have an American that carries himself with composure and grace, and a game to back it up.

Roddick, Young, Harrison, and Serena and all of their antics are personally embarrassing to me as an American, so yeah, i'm hoping Baker can keep it up. not too often a guy comes out of nowhere to play as well as he has.

 

[skip1969]

i've been seriously injured so i'm happy the guy has persevered. like i said, i ain't knockin him. i just took exception to some of the bandwagoners dumping on his opponent for no good reason. it sort of negates the beauty of a feel-good story if people act like *sses.

 

[bluetrain4]

The two situations are completely different. Oudin never should have been hyped and I still don't get how or why that happened. She was of small stature and didn't have any weapons to hurt anyone. Baker has always been a touted player but injuries got in the way of that promise. He may flame out soon but there is good reason for the interest shown him. Oudin's hype came from people wanting a new American star and she was never going to be that.

I actually think the initial Oudin hype was directly due to actual results -- that US Open QF run, coming on the heels of an unexpected Wimbledon 4th Round -- substantive, albeit isolated, results. The continuing hype, after her results started to trail off was probably from "people wanting a new American Star." When her results went from "trailng off" to "tanking", the hype subsided.

 

[pushing_wins]

where can you watch a replay of this match?