Beijing 2017 - General Discussion Thread

Who will lift the Phoenix trophy?

  • Total voters
    49
AnOctorokForDinner said:
O unbiased one, how was the first set of the Nadal-Dimitrov semi better than the first set of the Federer-Nadal final? Your statements imply that clearly.
1st set of the semi: Nadal has a tough start saving double BP, then both cruise on serve except for the one game where Nadal breaks to 30 with good shots. 1st set of the final: no slow start from Nadal this time, both cruise on serve except for one game where Federer breaks to 15 with good shots. The starting game shouldn't be key, since Nadal going 15-40 down vs Dimitrov was heavily helped by his 0-30 start with two unforced errors.

The 2nd and 3rd sets were more interesting in the semi, but Nadal helped by mugging up on serve (think of the mirror double faulting on BP, yikes!), so their quality is overstated. The 4th set was the biggest difference, being the best set of the semi and probably the worst set of the final - no argument here.
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Well it’s tough to base whether a match was high quality or not based on facts, because what’s fun for me isn’t necessarily going to be fun for you.

I watched both matches from start to finish and felt that the SF was more consistent than the final overall. No notable dips in quality between sets or by either player. A bit like the RG 2013 SF, but not as extreme.

There’s also the fact that I was so hyped up for the Fedal match that in retrospect nothing short of something like the classic Fedal Wimbledon matches would have been enough. No such expectation for the SF, where I thought it would be a fairly short match for either player, but then turned out to be a war. A bit like how I left the cinema disappointed after watching Inception after all the hype. Not a bad movie by all means—very good even—had I gone in with no expectations whatsoever.

Also, not sure why the hostility from you. Seems a bit uncalled for to be honest. Did I say something recently that I shouldn’t have?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Charleneriva said:
Hi Ghost. Nice to see you here - I assume you can watch the SaRu match now? :D

Re LC, yep, Bejing is faster, but the ball at LC is lower to my eye. But the main thing is Isner was goating that day, more or less. I had no problem with Rafa losing that match. Isner so deserved it.
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No, at work and cant leave before one h time!
Ill watch scores though.
 
DRII said:
"What a point to win it !!!!!

WOW

THE GRIGOLO HAS RISEN"

giphy.gif


yea, thats not emotional at all...
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2/10 for trolling

Must try harder
 
What a BH slice passing shot from Rublev! Why he doesn't use this shot more it's a mistery. Even during rally it can break opponent timing. He has the shot. Use it!
 
Bender said:
Well it’s tough to base whether a match was high quality or not based on facts, because what’s fun for me isn’t necessarily going to be fun for you.

I watched both matches from start to finish and felt that the SF was more consistent than the final overall. No notable dips in quality between sets or by either player. A bit like the RG 2013 SF, but not as extreme.

There’s also the fact that I was so hyped up for the Fedal match that in retrospect nothing short of something like the classic Fedal Wimbledon matches would have been enough. No such expectation for the SF, where I thought it would be a fairly short match for either player, but then turned out to be a war. A bit like how I left the cinema disappointed after watching Inception after all the hype. Not a bad movie by all means—very good even—had I gone in with no expectations whatsoever.

Also, not sure why the hostility from you. Seems a bit uncalled for to be honest. Did I say something recently that I shouldn’t have?
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Nah, just picking on you a bit. It's very nice that you still delivered an honest answer, so no problem. It's just that I've been somewhat annoyed at the overrating going around. That was a great match and still the most consistently good match of the tournament, even if the difference between it and the final is exaggerated, but not an all-time great match. Highlight of the season, not the decade - not close to the 2009 semifinal. (and even that gets overrated, because it's one of the best matches for sure, but can't be *the* best match with that massive downer ending of a double fault)

I find it amusing that so many people apparently expected superb quality throughout, such hype. A final between two old and inconsistent geezers was never going to be peak stuff for five entire sets. I didn't expect much beyond Federer breaking down physically and mentally and losing in swift straights, so you may imagine the final exceeded my expectations immensely.
 
That's more like it, a face-saving break from Ruby with 2 superb FH return winners from the duece court, which clearly rattled Sascha.

Super lengthy 7 deuce, 6BP, 1MP game and Sascha finally broken when serving for the set.

Now second chance for him to close out the match.

Another tasty pass from Ruby, the 4th of the match. But Sascha gets the job done this time.

Nice hug at the net there. :)

A bit disappointing from Rublev. Too erratic. Hopefully their next match will be better.

Well done, Sascha.

Now my favourite Kyrgios vs Zverev (and Rafa vs Dimitrov). :)
 
Charleneriva said:
That's more like it, a face-saving break from Ruby with 2 superb FH return winners from the duece court, which clearly rattled Sascha.

Super lengthy 7 deuce, 6BP, 1MP game and Sascha finally broken when serving for the set.

Now second chance for him to close out the match.

Another tasty pass from Ruby, the 4th of the match. But Sascha gets the job done this time.

Nice hug at the net there. :)

A bit disappointing from Rublev. Too erratic. Hopefully their next match will be better.

Well done, Sascha.

Now my favourite Kyrgios vs Zverev (and Rafa vs Dimitrov). :)
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How will you say Sasha played? Did he look fatigue?
 
Nostradamus said:
he looked tired. he needs to take some time off. he is no threat in majors with 5 set matches unless he works on his stamina. he should try the Gluten free diet.
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He has played many matches this year. Any player would get tired from that amount of matches. He often plays doubles too.
Im mostly worried for injuries.
 
Charleneriva said:
He's improving. But imo he's mostly just good at lateral movement, so while I believe he will keep improving his net skills, I don't think he will ever be truly great at the net.
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A bit like Djoko, he can improve net playing, but will never be like a 'natural net player'.
 
AnOctorokForDinner said:
Nah, just picking on you a bit. It's very nice that you still delivered an honest answer, so no problem. It's just that I've been somewhat annoyed at the overrating going around. That was a great match and still the most consistently good match of the tournament, even if the difference between it and the final is exaggerated, but not an all-time great match. Highlight of the season, not the decade - not close to the 2009 semifinal. (and even that gets overrated, because it's one of the best matches for sure, but can't be *the* best match with that massive downer ending of a double fault)

I find it amusing that so many people apparently expected superb quality throughout, such hype. A final between two old and inconsistent geezers was never going to be peak stuff for five entire sets. I didn't expect much beyond Federer breaking down physically and mentally and losing in swift straights, so you may imagine the final exceeded my expectations immensely.
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Oh alright. It’s just that I had this same conversation before quite recently, so I assumed it was more than just a little ribbing. My bad.

For the 2009 SF I think the only REAL downer was that DF at MP. The match was pretty amazing from start to finish otherwise.

But then again, it’s been a while since I last watched that match, and to steal a quote from Bojack Horseman: “when you look at [something] through rose-colored glasses, all the red flags...just look like flags.”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Bender said:
For the 2009 SF I think the only REAL downer was that DF at MP. The match was pretty amazing from start to finish otherwise.
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No match is perfect, but yes, that one was about as good as it could be, realistically - until that last point. It's really, really annoying how Verdasco was playing his heart out for five sets, saving so many BPs, so close to achieving a perfect mental performance as much as he is capable of, and then finally his choker nature prevailed at the very end. It's just too bad. That's why I prefer the relatively unheralded Djokovic-Wawrinka AO 2013 4R for the best match. The first two sets were up and down, but then the duo rose to similarly high levels, only Wawrinka persisted very long despite the unfortunate line call and fought to the end, including the match point - Djokovic had to wrestle it away from him with amazing play.

They're all great, though, so I don't like to make much of a difference between the likes of AO 05 SF, Rome 05 F, Rome 06 F, Wimbledon 07 F, Wimbledon 08 F, AO 09 SF, RG 11 SF, AO 12 F, AO 13 4R etc. - best matches in the Fedalovic era.
 
Pagoo said:
What's going on with the men's game? A lot of bagels lately. The tour is a mess at the moment.
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Just wait for 2018. I'm super excited for the 2018 tennis and NBA seasons! :D Nole, Murray, Nishi, Wawa, and other top guys back. And then you have OKC, Cavs, Warriors, Rockets, Celtics new lineup.
 
TheGhostOfAgassi said:
How will you say Sasha played? Did he look fatigue?
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Sasch (can we call him that? :D) played his best match in the tourney I think. Moved well (don't think he's injured or tired at all, let alone "fatigued"); Meles's approval inducing servebotting (only to DF on 1st MP :oops:); scarily good depth on groundstrokes + great angles off both wings; excellent defence; went big big on FH etc.

But the sharpest contrast was how despite being only 6 months apart, he looked much more composed and matured compared to Ruby, who is still far away from being a true Ruby. Ruby has heart and a great FH, but he's simply too erratic. Definitely needs to improve that serve, vary his game and tennis IQ. If only Goffin had a stronger physique and a big(ish) weapon... :oops:
 
Charleneriva said:
Sasch (can we call him that? :D) played his best match in the tourney I think. Moved well (don't think he's injured or tired at all, let alone "fatigued"); Meles's approval inducing servebotting (only to DF on 1st MP :oops:); scarily good depth on groundstrokes + great angles off both wings; excellent defence; went big big on FH etc.

But the sharpest contrast was how despite being only 6 months apart, he looked much more composed and matured compared to Ruby, who is still far away from being a true Ruby. Ruby has heart and a great FH, but he's simply too erratic. Definitely needs to improve that serve, vary his game and tennis IQ. If only Goffin had a stronger physique and a big(ish) weapon... :oops:
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Im watching it now. Me too cannot see any fatigue on Sasha. He maybe started first game sloppy but rest was fine. He plays like his ranking. Agree on the contrast. Sasha has grown much in one year mentally. Its nice to see someone young like him play so solid.
Obvious different levels these two.
Sasha serves looks so surgical in a way, his FH and BH too. He gets great angles with that height. To me it looks like he moves better and better on court, better at the net too compared to last year.
 
Lol, the semifinals are: winner of the USO and 3 guys who failed to make it past the second round of USO. Seriously, all 3 of them have the game to beat Nadal on these courts. But when it really matters they all are irrelevant, at least for now.
 
TheGhostOfAgassi said:
Who are you cheering for?
Tough call for me. Maybe Sasha since I have him the Sudden Death thing :p
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I'm cheering for Sascha but Nick is looking awesome. Ultimately, I am glad one of the 2 will make final. That means that whatever happens in other semi, the final will be exciting !!!!
I have no doubt that the future of tennis is Z/KG/Shapo and the good news is: the future is already here woohoo :)
 
BeatlesFan said:
How come no poll for Nick-Sasha!? :eek:
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You mean for the match or to win the whole thing?

The match: match thread? I'll create one if you want.

The whole thing:
Sascha: right on top behind someone
Kyrgios: sorry, didn't know he was gonna play. The entrant list wasn't available anywhere until Saturday when the draw was out. I thought he was playing Tokyo.
 
We couldn't have hoped for a better line-up for Semi's.

Nadal - Dimitrov

Nick - Zverev

I would like Zverev to win against Kyrgios. I would be afraid of Nadal's chances if he happens to meet Nick in finals. Nick gets extra inspired against big 3.
 
ForumMember said:
We couldn't have hoped for a better line-up for Semi's.

Nadal - Dimitrov

Nick - Zverev

I would like Zverev to win against Kyrgios. I would be afraid of Nadal's chances if he happens to meet Nick in finals. Nick gets extra inspired against big 3.
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Zverev too. He already has wins over Federer and Djokovic and was very close to beating Nadal. I agree Zverev should be a bit easier than Kyrgios, but it is actually close. Anyway, Nadal has to beat Dimitrov first.
 
Just watched Nadal-Isner highlights, it was unsettling watching Nadal returning just one meter behind the baseline, like this was some parallel bizarro universe. Just a few weeks ago, Rafa was crouching to return just in front of the linespeople. Guess it paid off, no?
 
cucio said:
Just watched Nadal-Isner highlights, it was unsettling watching Nadal returning just one meter behind the baseline, like this was some parallel bizarro universe. Just a few weeks ago, Rafa was crouching to return just in front of the linespeople. Guess it paid off, no?
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Welcome to the Rafa Universe! He can can change tactics before and during a match. For me the the GOAT in versatility.
 
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