Denis and Felix need to learn from Bianca

[prairiegirl]

It's been a real pleasure having Bianca back on the tour. As I watch her, I feel Denis and Felix could both learn from her. She knows how to fight in a match until the last point. She knows how to be a consistent winner and win titles. She won't win everything, of course, but I believe she has an amazing career ahead of her. Bianca plays intelligent matches. She understands how to adapt her game to her opponent and she keeps trying tactics until something works. She never falters emotionally - rather, she plays with tremendous focus and intent. She could teach those two a lot.

 

[Turbo-87]

The kind of fight she has can't be taught.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I love Bianca

 

[BeatlesFan]

I have no clue who Bianca is (don't follow WTA), but I've not seen Felix not fight until the end of a match. Are there examples where FAA just tanked the last set or gave up emotionally? I don't watch all his matches, but watch many and haven't seen this. Denis is a different matter and we won't see or hear from him much until the HC season.

 

[James P]

She is more skilled relative to her sex and her current tour than Denis and Felix are.

 

[Serve&Bash]

Shapovalov competes well. FAA doesn't in big matches so maybe there is some merit to this comparison for him. Its an apple to oranges comparison. Andreescu has a top 3-5 game relative to her peers on the WTA tour. Shapovalov and FAA don't and on any given day they can be beaten by multiple active players no matter how hard they compete.

 

[Hitman]

It's quite simple. You are either an alpha predator or you're not.

 

[weakera]

I love Bianca and I may well be IN love with her.

 

[Nuclear Warhead Sinner]

I love Bianca and I may well be IN love with her.

Dude, aren't you like 50?

 

[gjm127]

I have no clue who Bianca is (don't follow WTA), but I've not seen Felix not fight until the end of a match. Are there examples where FAA just tanked the last set or gave up emotionally? I don't watch all his matches, but watch many and haven't seen this. Denis is a different matter and we won't see or hear from him much until the HC season.

He has heart palpitation issues. I know he also. Had surgery done recently as well. But I still wonder how it is going to impact him on the long run.

 

[USO]

 

[weakera]

Dude, aren't you like 50?

Not even close lol, do you ever see me discussing tennis from before 2002?

 

[Nuclear Warhead Sinner]

Not even close lol, do you ever see me discussing tennis from before 2002?

I thought you were old. It must be because you had Toni or Rafa's father as your pfp at some point

 

[Robert F]

I appreciated the drive, but it seems to go into overdrive and almost seems a hindrance at times with some gamesmanship.
Her BH was killer last night.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Not even close lol, do you ever see me discussing tennis from before 2002?

Someone has to be over 50 to discuss pre-2002 tennis?

 

[Jason Swerve]

He has heart palpitation issues. I know he also. Had surgery done recently as well. But I still wonder how it is going to impact him on the long run.

For this reason, I don't agree with the Felix aspect of things. She's got fight, but we'll see if she's got win. One-slams are a dime a dozen these days.

 

[guitarra]

Bianca is a unicorn. You can't learn from her.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

More into Safin than Bianca but Bianca is very charismatic. No one on ATP touches her in that dept.

 

[D-Lite]

How is Bianca on clay? I feel she's been injured so long and I don't even recall seeing her play on the stuff.
Really excited for Bianca v Ash, but I hope she's not too fatigued from all the 3 setters - kinda concerned she will have little gas left in the tank and Ash will feast. Fingers crossed it's a big battle. Next, I need to see these 2 against Iga on clay - kinda hoping we are about to see some big rivalries on the WTA tour. Seems it'll be a while until we see Bianca v Naomi on a HC which is a shame.

 

[bjsnider]

It would help them both if they decided to play on the WTA. That's one thing they could learn.

 

[Mark-Touch]

Only young male Canadian players can learn from Bianca?

 

[daggerman]

How is Bianca on clay? I feel she's been injured so long and I don't even recall seeing her play on the stuff.

She's played very few tour-level main draw matches on clay. Fewer than 10 for sure.

I actually wouldn't be terribly surprised if clay ends up being her most successful surface (health permitting, of course). Her movement, defensive skills, drop shot, moonball, and inside-out forehand (particularly on high balls) all project very well onto clay, and it's really just a matter of whether her body can handle the grind.

EDIT: It's true that Denis and FAA need to learn from Bianca. I'm pretty sure Felix knows that, as well. Not quite as sure about Shapo.

 

[Jason Swerve]

Bianca is a unicorn. You can't learn from her.

You can learn from adults who win a Grand Slam. You can't learn from 15-year-old kids who win a Grand Slam.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

You can’t teach someone to have a winning mentality (Felix’s problem) and you can’t teach someone vision and tennis IQ (Denis’s problem)

 

[RelentlessAttack]

Actually forget that, you can’t teach those things unless your name is Magnus Norman

 

[JackSockIsTheBest]

Dude, aren't you like 50?

wtf

 

[MeatTornado]

How is Bianca on clay? I feel she's been injured so long and I don't even recall seeing her play on the stuff.
Really excited for Bianca v Ash, but I hope she's not too fatigued from all the 3 setters - kinda concerned she will have little gas left in the tank and Ash will feast. Fingers crossed it's a big battle. Next, I need to see these 2 against Iga on clay - kinda hoping we are about to see some big rivalries on the WTA tour. Seems it'll be a while until we see Bianca v Naomi on a HC which is a shame.

She missed the entire clay season in 2019 iirc (grass too). And she was out all of 2020, so she didn't even play the couple tournaments that were held.

I also read a lot of people say Sakkari was going to win if last night's match went 3 because Bianca would be too tired. She's the queen of possuming on the women's tour.

 

[MeatTornado]

I have no clue who Bianca is (don't follow WTA), but I've not seen Felix not fight until the end of a match. Are there examples where FAA just tanked the last set or gave up emotionally? I don't watch all his matches, but watch many and haven't seen this. Denis is a different matter and we won't see or hear from him much until the HC season.

Tanked? No. Gave up emotionally? All the time, what are you talking about. You can see a mile away when he's lost a match. He doesn't possess anything near the mental strength of an Andreescu when down in a match.

 

[Crazy Finn]

How is Bianca on clay? I feel she's been injured so long and I don't even recall seeing her play on the stuff.

She's played very few tour-level main draw matches on clay. Fewer than 10 for sure.

I actually wouldn't be terribly surprised if clay ends up being her most successful surface (health permitting, of course). Her movement, defensive skills, drop shot, moonball, and inside-out forehand (particularly on high balls) all project very well onto clay, and it's really just a matter of whether her body can handle the grind.

Agree. It might take a bit of adjustment, but I think she'll be fine. Her game has adaptability and variety and should translate to clay. Nothing she does is hard court focused.

In 2019, if looks like she played 3 matches on clay. She played two 100+ ranked players in the Fed Cup on clay in February (prior to her breakthrough at IW) in the Netherlands. She also won her opening round match at RG against Bouzkova 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 before withdrawing (with injury) before her 2nd round match with Kenin.

In 2018, she went 3-2 in 5 clay matches (ITF and RG Qualifiers). She actually played more grass matches in 2018 - going 6-2 at an ITF tourney and Wimbledon Qualifying.

EDIT: I'll keep going because it's fun....

In 2017, she went 8-3 on clay and 6-3 on grass at various ITF tourneys and Qualifiers. She also played 2 matches on carpet, going 1-1.

I couldn't find any further non-hardcourt matches for Bianca on the WTA site in 2016 or 2015.

I'm not saying how relevant any of this is, but she's played some on both clay and grass on the tour.

 

[Alexh22]

To me these are very very different players. Just because they are Canadians there isn’t much to be copied/ learnt among on another.

 

[Znak]

According to TTW men can't learn anything from Bianca since a 5.0 male can apparently beat her....

 

[Benben245]

Felix needs to stop playing doubles so often is what he needs to do. If he thinks this doest hurt his long term longetivity in best of 3 just look at jack sock's career arc. Also, the margins in the Isner match could easily have been swayed by court time influenced by his competition in doubles.

 

[victorcruz]

Bianca's got heart. You can't teach that.

 

[gadge]

Currently she’s the closest thing to young Rafa on the wta tour. She’s got the heart and desire.

 

[Dan Lobb]

Tanked? No. Gave up emotionally? All the time, what are you talking about. You can see a mile away when he's lost a match. He doesn't possess anything near the mental strength of an Andreescu when down in a match.

I can think of other great players who seemed to give up in tough matches, but they ended up winning one or two Slam events. I won't mention names.

 

[Dan Lobb]

Competitive desire is important because it motivates a player to develop more weapons and perfect their games.

Bianca has an endless supply of strokes.

I want to see the two young Canadian men develop more shots.

 

[MadariKatu]

Currently she’s the closest thing to young Rafa on the wta tour. She’s got the heart and desire.

She doesn't have the movement. What about Gauff? She has the heart and desire, and moves really fast, unlike Bianca

 

[fed1]

She doesn't have the movement. What about Gauff? She has the heart and desire, and moves really fast, unlike Bianca

Bianca has way more variety in her game than Coco. Also, Coco has some serve issues and a forehand that breaks down under pressure. Bianca doesn’t have issues on either.

 

[TagUrIt]

Bianca is definitely in my top 3 if favorite players. I enjoy watching her matches. She has weapons from all facets of the game. I like nothing more than when she’s in a baseline rally and just hits an amazing drop shot on her opponents. I like that she very passionate and doesn’t quit no matter how tired or what the score board says.

 

[ron schaap]

To me these are very very different players. Just because they are Canadians there isn’t much to be copied/ learnt among on another.

maybe learn to speak French?

 

[Alexh22]

maybe learn to speak French?

Well they all know how to speak French already.

 

[gadge]

Bianca has way more variety in her game than Coco. Also, Coco has some serve issues and a forehand that breaks down under pressure. Bianca doesn’t have issues on either.

not in terms of movement, just in terms of mental strength and resilience. Coco does choke under pressure sometimes especially on serve.

 

[jdx2112]

Shapovalov competes well. FAA doesn't in big matches so maybe there is some merit to this comparison for him. Its an apple to oranges comparison. Andreescu has a top 3-5 game relative to her peers on the WTA tour. Shapovalov and FAA don't and on any given day they can be beaten by multiple active players no matter how hard they compete.

Shapo fights. He just needs to be steadier, mentally especially. He gets a little too revved up. FAA needs to learn how to fight, ie find a way to win when plan A falls apart.

 

[Visionary]

Shapovalov competes well. FAA doesn't in big matches so maybe there is some merit to this comparison for him. Its an apple to oranges comparison. Andreescu has a top 3-5 game relative to her peers on the WTA tour. Shapovalov and FAA don't and on any given day they can be beaten by multiple active players no matter how hard they compete.

I've heard Shapo's got issues with discipline. I mean the kind of a self-control on tour/prior to matches. Some say he's self-indulgent. Apparently, Denis enjoys lavish life and entertainment more than he should. I respect this young man's skills and talent, but I see how this would explain some of his erratic performances in some matches.

On the other hand, Andreescu is an amazing competitor who will prepare for her matches. What she's been struggling with is her health. Perhaps, it is up to her coach to see whether they are doing the right thing at times when preparing for tournaments. Sometimes, injuries come from practices that may not be appropriate but that's just my guess here.

 

[jdx2112]

I've heard Shapo's got issues with discipline. I mean the kind of a self-control on tour/prior to matches. Some say he's self-indulgent. Apparently, Denis enjoys lavish life and entertainment more than he should. I respect this young man's skills and talent, but I see how this would explain some of his erratic performances in some matches.

On the other hand, Andreescu is an amazing competitor who will prepare for her matches. What she's been struggling with is her health. Perhaps, it is up to her coach to see whether they are doing the right thing at times when preparing for tournaments. Sometimes, injuries come from practices that may not be appropriate but that's just my guess here.

Not entirely sure what Shapo's isssues are off the court, other than being 21 years old, but what I like about him is that he seems aware of his mental issues on the court and wants to address them. He still loses control here and there but he's engaged with the problem.

 

[Visionary]

Not entirely sure what Shapo's isssues are off the court, other than being 21 years old, but what I like about him is that he seems aware of his mental issues on the court and wants to address them. He still loses control here and there but he's engaged with the problem.

Well, if you don't get to sleep enough prior to your matches, your knowledge of all the mental issues is pretty much inadequate on the court then.

 

[jdx2112]

Well, if you don't get to sleep enough prior to your matches, your knowledge of all the mental issues is pretty much inadequate on the court then.

Ah, yeah, not so good. But what in the hell is there to do in these bubbles? Is his girlfriend with him?

 

[helterskelter]

I love Bianca and I may well be IN love with her.

Remember when you claimed to be 94 years old a year or two ago? Seems like that's quite the age gap!

 

[silentkman]

I have no clue who Bianca is (don't follow WTA), but I've not seen Felix not fight until the end of a match. Are there examples where FAA just tanked the last set or gave up emotionally? I don't watch all his matches, but watch many and haven't seen this. Denis is a different matter and we won't see or hear from him much until the HC season.

LMAO; why comment if you don't know who she is?

 

[Visionary]

Ah, yeah, not so good. But what in the hell is there to do in these bubbles? Is his girlfriend with him?

With him or not, that matters little when you step on the court unprepared.