How good is Stan still?

[pj80]

he had a chance in the 2nd set to put away the Danish kid..and then again in the 3rd set.

 

[spottishwood]

Plays well at times with moments of brilliance but fails to sustain that level.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Crazy that he was the only player with chances to best the kid in straight sets

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Plays well at times with moments of brilliance but fails to sustain that level.

Stan has lost the focus on fitness training.
Plus, age & all those injuries which required surgeries have made him slow.

 

[Nate7-5]

If he puts in some hard work 2 months, I think he can make the 4th round at AO

 

[spottishwood]

Stan has lost the focus on fitness training.
Plus, age & all those injuries which required surgeries have made him slow.

Well, Can't blame him. It's probably not worth the effort anymore.

 

[ibbi]

I think, like most old guys, he can have one day in the sun where he rolls back the clock and looks sublime, but he's unlikely to be able to put such days together anymore. Certainly not in best of 3 where he has to play back-to-back days.

On the other hand, in the bo5 format, I'm not sure he's fit enough to really hang with any half-decent player.

 

[Olli Jokinen]

He's good, but it's in his head – can't finish of the games.

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

He's a mug.

 

[Incognito]

A mere shadow of what he once was. Not the same guy that made djoke cry at the 2015 FO.

 

[DSH]

Crazy that he was the only player with chances to best the kid in straight sets

Luckily he didn't, otherwise, the ********** would be celebrating their idol's triumph ad nauseam.

 

[alexio]

hes toast unfortunately

 

[Poisoned Slice]

hes toast unfortunately

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Luckily he didn't, otherwise, the ********** would be celebrating their idol's triumph ad nauseam.

What do you think would've happened in a potential non injured Alcaraz vs Djokovic match?

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Well, Can't blame him. It's probably not worth the effort anymore.

Why not?
He can still win a title at 500 or so.

 

[Tshooter]

Retired to Drip at the USO.

#porkwrinka

 

[Fabresque]

That Rune match meant nothing.

These formers greats always have those matches where they just turn back the clock and put in a classic performance. Murray @ Stuttgart this year was a good example of that.

 

[wangs78]

He seems to be training pretty steadily and hard if his IG posts are anything to go by. But at his age, and after those injuries and surgeries, the kind of movement and agility needed for consistent success is gone.

 

[NeutralFan]

It shows the sad states of ATP that even grandpa Stan , who can barely move , almost beat Paris masters champion.

 

[Sudacafan]

Stan Smith was good back in his time.

 

[Tshooter]

Stan Smith was good back in his time day.

 

[Zardoz7/12]

I remember when Stan COMPLETELY blew Murray off of the court at the US Open in 2013, barring the big 3 I never saw anyone dismantle Murray like that, not even Berdych or Del Potro. In 2013 this was considered a breakthrough for Wawrinka in slams, reaching the semis for the first time.

 

[Sudacafan]

I think he was good in more than one day.

 

[Subway Tennis]

I remember when Stan COMPLETELY blew Murray off of the court at the US Open in 2013, barring the big 3 I never saw anyone dismantle Murray like that, not even Berdych or Del Potro. In 2013 this was considered a breakthrough for Wawrinka in slams, reaching the semis for the first time.

Great post. That match was Stan putting the tour on notice for sure.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

I remember when Stan COMPLETELY blew Murray off of the court at the US Open in 2013, barring the big 3 I never saw anyone dismantle Murray like that, not even Berdych or Del Potro. In 2013 this was considered a breakthrough for Wawrinka in slams, reaching the semis for the first time.

Absolutely superb stuff from Wawrinka that year.
Its a shame he wasn't clutch enough to close out Novak on both HC slams that year. Imagine the clutch-rinka appearing 1 year earlier, the only slam win Novak would've had over him would be AO2016 SF in the 6 matches that they played.

 

[Subway Tennis]

What do you think would've happened in a potential non injured Alcaraz vs Djokovic match?

Alcaraz at his best will always beat Djokovic imo.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Alcaraz at his best will always beat Djokovic imo.

At indoors HC, his serve + return combo will be heavily weaker than Djokovic's, compared to what it was on Madrid clay, don't you think?

 

[Tshooter]

I think he was good in more than one day.

I don't make idiom, I just use it.

 

[Zara]

No good.

 

[Zara]

Crazy that he was the only player with chances to best the kid in straight sets

Grasping at straws I see. If he didn’t win then the chances he had no longer matters.

 

[Subway Tennis]

At indoors HC, his serve + return combo will be heavily weaker than Djokovic's, compared to what it was on Madrid clay, don't you think?

The main difference for me is that he won’t get as much value on his kick serve. It won’t fizz with spin and kick up so violently. So you’re right that the conditions change things for sure.

But in every other regard, Carlitos will still have plenty of tools at his disposal. And I think indoors he gets more value on attacking shots and that will help him as it puts less pressure on his shot tolerance with shorter points.

 

[MichaelNadal]

That Rune match meant nothing.

These formers greats always have those matches where they just turn back the clock and put in a classic performance. Murray @ Stuttgart this year was a good example of that.

 

[jondice]

In his prime, when Stan was on, I loved watching him play more than anyone not named Rafa.

I hope he has one more good run somewhere.

 

[socallefty]

The problem for Stan and most old guys coming back from injury is to sustain a high level throughout a big tournament.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Grasping at straws I see. If he didn’t win then the chances he had no longer matters.

Yeah true. But still baffling to see, right?

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

The main difference for me is that he won’t get as much value on his kick serve. It won’t fizz with spin and kick up so violently. So you’re right that the conditions change things for sure.

But in every other regard, Carlitos will still have plenty of tools at his disposal. And I think indoors he gets more value on attacking shots and that will help him as it puts less pressure on his shot tolerance with shorter points.

Interesting take. Although I'd still rank Djokovic's shots as of now on low bouncing courts to be much more effective than Alcaraz's.

 

[BGod]

If he wants to play he should be going through qualifying because he's not getting the match practice he needs. He keeps losing in 1st rounds and then a week off.

 

[Frenchy-Player]

he had a chance in the 2nd set to put away the Danish kid..and then again in the 3rd set.

You mean "the baby"

 

[ChaelAZ]

150 mug I guess.

 

[gjm127]

Plays well at times with moments of brilliance but fails to sustain that level.

Pretty much. I feel like consistency can be gained with confidence following one big win. A match-up against Djokovic could help. Hope AO23 can deliver on that.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Interesting take. Although I'd still rank Djokovic's shots as of now on low bouncing courts to be much more effective than Alcaraz's.

Fair. It will be fascinating to see their next meeting.

 

[jl809]

Can still beat Djokovic in 4 or 5 at the AO or USO

 

[BeatlesFan]

I remember when Stan COMPLETELY blew Murray off of the court at the US Open in 2013, barring the big 3 I never saw anyone dismantle Murray like that, not even Berdych or Del Potro.

Lord Gulbis destroyed Andy in the 2013 Canadian Open, 6-4, 6-2.

 

[Mainad]

I remember when Stan COMPLETELY blew Murray off of the court at the US Open in 2013, barring the big 3 I never saw anyone dismantle Murray like that, not even Berdych or Del Potro. In 2013 this was considered a breakthrough for Wawrinka in slams, reaching the semis for the first time.

He repaid the favour a few years later.

 

[helterskelter]

Absolutely superb stuff from Wawrinka that year.
Its a shame he wasn't clutch enough to close out Novak on both HC slams that year. Imagine the clutch-rinka appearing 1 year earlier, the only slam win Novak would've had over him would be AO2016 SF in the 6 matches that they played.

Seven, I think. Starting at AO 2013, Wawrinka has a 4-3 H2H in slams against Djokovic, and in Djokovic's three wins, Wawrinka always took two sets.

2013 AO (Djokovic in five)
2013 UO (Djokovic in five)
2014 AO (Wawrinka in five)
2015 RG (Wawrinka in four)
2015 AO (Djokovic in five)
2016 UO (Wawrinka in four)
2019 UO (Wawrinka in three)

I believe that makes Wawrinka one of only two players with a positive slam H2H against Djokovic in the last decade (2013-2022), except perhaps for 1-0s. Nadal is 5-4 in slams against Djokovic in the same period. (And unlike Wawrinka, Nadal didn't take two sets in all of his defeats. In fact, he only took two sets in one of them - Wimbledon 2018).

N.B. Thought for a moment that Thiem might be 2-1 in slams against Djokovic, but then remembered RG 2016. They are 2-2.

 

[Federev]

I think, like most old guys, he can have one day in the sun where he rolls back the clock and looks sublime, but he's unlikely to be able to put such days together anymore. Certainly not in best of 3 where he has to play back-to-back days.

On the other hand, in the bo5 format, I'm not sure he's fit enough to really hang with any half-decent player.

This.

But goodness, I wish he would have one last run.

When he’s on, he’s so so fun to watch.

And when he’s peaked he could literally beat anyone in the world in an age when tennis is the best it’s ever been.

That’s saying something.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Seven, I think. Starting at AO 2013, Wawrinka has a 4-3 H2H in slams against Djokovic, and in Djokovic's three wins, Wawrinka always took two sets.

2013 AO (Djokovic in five)
2013 UO (Djokovic in five)
2014 AO (Wawrinka in five)
2015 RG (Wawrinka in four)
2016 AO (Djokovic in five)
2016 UO (Wawrinka in four)
2019 UO (Wawrinka in three)

I believe that makes Wawrinka one of only two players with a positive slam H2H against Djokovic in the last decade (2013-2022), except perhaps for 1-0s. Nadal is 5-4 in slams against Djokovic in the same period. (And unlike Wawrinka, Nadal didn't take two sets in all of his defeats. In fact, he only took two sets in one of them - Wimbledon 2018).

N.B. Thought for a moment that Thiem might be 2-1 in slams against Djokovic, but then remembered RG 2016. They are 2-2.

I made a mistake apparantly. Djokovic won the 2015 SF against Stan, in 2016 he won against Roger.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Fair. It will be fascinating to see their next meeting.

Let's hope its the AO QF, would be fireworks if the surface isn't dead low bouncing.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Let's hope its the AO QF, would be fireworks if the surface isn't dead low bouncing.

I was going to mention Melbourne. I think there is a good chance we will see it!

We also have Rune vs King Nadal to look forward to. Rune won’t be able to beat Rafa at RG but they will most likely have some good fights at the m1000 level.

 

[Mainad]

Is Stan still at stand still?