Greg Rusedski 2005 season projection poll

[paddyslad]

Now that Rusedski has the ATP fiasco well behind him and that is what it was, a fiasco. Just ask Koubek this year! Will Greg regain his form and chase Henman down as the British #1 in 2005?

You are some of the best informed tennis junkies I have ever come into contact with. I like to read what the experts think.

In my opinion, Greg will have to play well early on (Doha, Aussie Open) and make some semi-finals in the early Masters Series events. He needs a few wildcards from some tourneys with smaller draws. The ATP should have helped more with wildcards last year after the witch hunt, I mean the alleged steroid case. The mighty lawns of Wimbeldon could help solidify a year ending in success. Three tourney wins could get him into the top 16, only with solid play in other events. He must be more consistent in the larger tourneys.

I am on the bubble. He won the Newport last year and got into some finals during a trying year that saw him (IN Court) more than on the court. He shot up the rankings in only a little more than half of a season. Not bad, but age and a history of injuries are not on his side.

I hope he can pull it off, god knows I will be pulling for him. If he cracks the top 20, he should be considered comeback player of the year. I doubt the ATP will like that very much.

Let me read what you think. Cheers and have Happy and Safe New Year.

 

[Gugafan_Redux]

"Sampras is a step slow. He'll never win another major."

A little off-season reminder of one of tennis' funniest moments.

But to answer the question, I don't seen Greg doing anything different in 2005. Namely, dangling around 20 - 50 in the world, picking up a small grass court title and getting smoked by top 10 players. :wink: (I said grass and smoked.)

 

[tdent]

I don't think he'll need any wild cards this year, but the ATP does owe the guy something. He should be able to climb the rankings if he stays healthy and has some good draws. Henman will probably drop in the rankings as I think last year he had some easy draws and good luck but I don't think Greg will catch him. Greg had some great results at the end of last year, but he needs to do better in the slams which he has had difficulty probably because they are best of 5 sets, also with so many clay court events in Apr/May it won't be easy for him. The only thing I want him to do is beat Agassi, that I would love to see since Agassi had a hissy fit last time Greg beat him. I love Greg's attitude and loyalty to the UK even with that Canuck accent... Go Greg!

 

[paddyslad]

Good takes on Greg.

Good point Tdent regarding the clay. Thats not the surface Greg makes a living on. His best wishes is to win a few rounds on the clay and hope to get through it without his ranking slipping.

Hey Guga Fan, where did you get that picture? Anyone have more photos of Greg.

I forgot he took a shot at Sampras. Silly for him to have said that. Sampras probably hung that quote on the bulletin board of Flushing Meadows, just to motivate himself. Looks like it worked.

 

[Paul_G]

I dont think theyve ever liked each other, I remember lefi shiris or andrew castle or someone commentating at the 2002 open and saying Sampras always frowned on the fact he went and played for another country not his own, but whats that got to do with Sampras anyway?

Fair dos though it was out of character for him to say hes not the sampras of old and hes a step and half slower getting to the net, but then he had just been beaten in 5 close sets! :wink:

 

[joehight]

I like Rudsedski's game

I'd like to see Rusedski make the top 15. Always have liked his game. The big serve and great volleys. But I also like the way Henman played this year. His serve is not quite the weapon that Rusedski's is, but his voleys are even prettier.

 

[AndrewD]

I dont see it happening but who knows? If Henman has a bad year for whatever reason and Rusedski does well early on then he has a chance to be the number 1 Brit again. I suppose he doesn't have a lot of points to defend early on and probably limited ones throughout the year so that might be to his advantage whereas Henman is exactly the opposite.
As to getting into the top 15 again, I dont think so. Like Gugafan_Redux said, probably between 20 and 50 (not that there's anything wrong with that lol)

 

[paddyslad]

Greg Rusedski's New Rival

His new rival without question is Tommy Robredo.

Last two times they have played, Robredo has complained Greg was slow playing by going for a towel every point.

I was at Cincy Masters and Greg was getting irate for Robredo to be questioning him. Robredo's little game worked. He beat Greg who was up a break in third set. Robredo got under his skin.

Every point Robredo won, he kept yelling VAMANOS!!! It was even more annoying than Leyton Hewitt's COME ON! At one point, Greg aced Robredo and yelled VAMANOS with Greg starring him down and spiked the second ball from his pocket. Robredo just smiled.

I can't stand Robredo. No court class. Robredo barely shook hands with Rusedski, it was a cold moment at net. But hey, Tommy won the match because he ran his mouth.

I talked to Greg on the way to the locker room. He was mad as hell.

 

[Gugafan_Redux]

Okay, now that the boards are not locked.... Paddys, the image came from a google image search.

 

[equinox]

With his injuries and that awfully bad hair cut, the only person he may beatup on is John McEnroe in exhibition matches.

Average player. Average carreer.

He's finished.

 

[Datacipher]

"Sampras is a step slow. He'll never win another major."

Remember, what he said was worse than that! RuPEDski actually said:

"He's a step and a half slow coming into the net. He's just not the same player,'' Rusedski said. "I lost the match. He didn't win the match tonight. He's not playing that great. I'll be surprised if he wins his next match, to be honest with you"

Typical RuPEDski silliness. Here's a quote for you Greg...you better double up the PED doses because you're never going to win A major.

 

[Max G.]

Actually, the quote isn't that silly... I'd agree with all but the last sentence. Rusedski choked away the match plain and simple; Sampras WAS a step and a half slow.

...looking at the past couple of US Opens though, it should have been clear that Sampras would raise his level pretty soon. Which he did.

 

[Craig Sheppard]

Yeah but what cocky ******* says that about one of the greatest ever? A cocky ******* that's a really sore loser. Maybe he was a step slow, maybe not--it's not really your place, is it Dick--err, Greg to point that out to the media while crying about your loss? Show some class, guy. Greg is the king of the "what the hell were you thinking" press conference.

 

[paddyslad]

Lol

You are right Graig. Rusedski has had some tough interviews after losses. Greg just is very emotional, like Johnny Mac. Mac used them to get better. Greg's emotion hurts him sometimes. Sampras match (that was wrong), two Robredo matches this year were Robredo kept crying about Greg's slow play. I was at Cincy Masters. Robredo was wrong.

Don't forget his meltdown at Wimbeldon two years ago against A-Rod. Classic.

I wish he would come down some before going to the ATP press conference. You never talk about another player in a negative light. It makes you look like a poor sport.

Has anyone been to those or listen to the questions the players get at the press conferences? Some reporters are jackasses. Go to the ATP tour site and click the listen section.

No secret that Greg is my favorite player, but he goes overboard sometimes. He is exciting to watch. Always makes it interesting. He wants to win, just like J Mac.

 

[Craig Sheppard]

Paddy, keep in mind I don't know Greg as a person, all I see is what is broadcast on my TV. Offcourt he may be a good guy, I just see him saying distasteful stuff to the media and it paints his whole image. His game is a good allcourt game though, which is much better to watch than baseline bashers. You're right though, he needs to decompress before going in to talk to the media. Even football players and baseball players don't call out other players, even if they cheated or lost. The worst you'd hear is "I...I....I don't know about that..." or something.

Johnny Mac can be an ass too oncourt. Fortunately I've had chances to hear him interviewed and hear him as a commentator, which makes up for a lot and gives him a different image. Same w/ Justin Gimelstob. He never had a great IMO on tour, but now listening to him do a little commentating, he seems ok. If Greg wants to stick around, I suggest he get into something positive to build his image.

Craig

 

[paddyslad]

Agree with Craig

I could not agree with you more.

Rusedski was doing some broadcasts himself in Europe. Fans on the Rusedski website said he did a great job for sky sports (I did not seei it, they maybe biased but I trust their judgement). He can't play forever, he is 31. With his tennis smarts, Brit/Canandian accent, sharp looks, and colorful personality he could go far in Tennis TV. Look at Leif Shiras?

I have met Greg and talk to him numerous times. He is smart and funny. His wife is a doll. His competive side just brings out some of the worst in him at times. He hates losing. Just like J-Mac.

There is other sides to Greg that people don't hear about. He is very generous with charities, British youth, and fans.

I saw him sign autographs for kids after losing a match with Robredo in Cincy. Not many pros sign after losing. He was mad as a hornet, but made time for the kids, including mine after the tournament.

 

[tdent]

Interesting we are talking about off court stuff, I have been to many tournaments, and no one gives more to fans than Greg. I talked to him at the Stella Artois a few years back, we weren't even talking about tennis just about him living in London, cool guy. Most of the players and I mean MOST are complete .... the players on court personas are completely different...

 

[bertrevert]

I always think of him as being a bit jacked-off on court. He always seems irascible, ticked-off, but maybe that gets him going. J Mac was ticked off but at least not jacked off - he was intense for it. Rusedski is flat it seems to me. I've never liked his on-court demeanour. I wish he'd celebrate what he had. I reckon his career is over. I've never liked his game becuase he seemed so stuck-up about other players - no respect for his opponents. He losdt that show match recently in London and still just looked ticked-off all the way through it hwile losing to that young up-coming guy. Rusedski just doesn't seem to pay kudos to the winner (which would be a way of rating his own game).

 

[paddyslad]

You are right Bert

Somedays, he can be a bit of a redass on the court. Somedays he is polite and engaging with the crowd. He treats the ball kids well, not the chair umpires very well.

 

[bertrevert]

Somedays, he can be a bit of a redass on the court. Somedays he is polite and engaging with the crowd. He treats the ball kids well, not the chair umpires very well.

Weird, but I have absolutely no doubt that Rusedski's a cool guy off court (look at the girl he married, nice) and he's great to fans. He was good for UK tennis too at that time earlier on.

But Henman has the class - he can pull a funny face and not take it too serious, he befriended Sampras, he's got more of everything and currently made it to the Tennis Masters Cup (Houston 04).

Rusedski with the hunched shoulders, greaser slick, and jacked-off attitude - well his on-court demeanour speaks of someone who has worked real hard (I have no doubt that I could not even comprehend how hard he has worked to get there) but worked so hard that he could not enjoy it when he got there.

 

[paddyslad]

Nice

Good point Bert. You get to the point in life that maybe it is time to look around and take somethings in. Like I said before, he probably uses that focus to win. He might want to think about tennis as this could be my last year, have fun with it. He will still work hard, thats Greg, but I hope he makes an easy transition to life outside of tennis, on TV or maybe coaching. I could easily see him as someone similiar to Brad Gilbert. Competive and always finding a way to win. Gilbert worked his ass off and had to fight everypoint. Greg has more talent, but Gilbert had the tennis mind. Greg's tennis mind will come out after tennis.

I feel that is when we get to see the Greg I know, the more human side.