Is Cincy good preparation for USO?

[nikdom]

Darren Cahill was commenting the other day that Cincy has always been the fastest hard-court tournament (or atleast way faster than the USO grounds).

Given this, and the heat and humidity conditions, is Cincy a good preparatory tournament for the US Open or does it actually hinder?

In other words, as a player, is it easier to play on a very fast surface and then go to a slighter slower one or is it easier to practice on slightly slower courts to move onto faster ones - which transition is easier? I would guess rhythm would be affected in both cases, but probably more in the second case.

Also, USO night matches are completely different from Cincy day matches. So, for example, Federer will most definitely play either 11 am sessions or night sessions at USO. How does it help him to play all these day matches in the heat at Cincy? Will it not tire him out?

...could this also be the reason many top ranked players tanked...*ahem*..sorry lost, so they can go into the USO fresher?

Your thoughts..

 

[nikdom]

Being so close to the USO on the calendar I'm sure has an effect on the tanking as well.

 

[Tchocky]

Whoever does well in Canada or Cincy has a good chance of doing well at the Open.

 

[J-man]

I think it is much easier for most players to go from faster courts to slower courts. Your timing isn't horribly affected. Not like going from slow to fast.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Cincinnati plays nothing like the US Open. The heat definitely causes the ball to fly more at Cincinnati. US Open is much cooler and therefore is not an endurance contest like Cincinnati.

 

[Moose Malloy]

historically the players that do well in cincy do better at the us open than those that do well at canada.

I'd wouldn't take what Cahill says so literally, not all players agree about court speed at tournaments.
"way faster" than the us open is a stretch, agassi & sampras don't agree.

Also, USO night matches are completely different from Cincy day matches. So, for example, Federer will most definitely play either 11 am sessions or night sessions at USO. How does it help him to play all these day matches in the heat at Cincy? Will it not tire him out?

It can be brutally hot at the US Open, conditions aren't that different in cincy. Fed plays many night matches at the us open(& has already played a night match in cincy), it doesn't really matter when he plays.
and fed won cincy in '05 & won the open that year, so your theory isn't sound.

 

[The tennis guy]

historically the players that do well in cincy do better at the us open than those that do well at canada.

I'd wouldn't take what Cahill says so literally, not all players agree about court speed at tournaments.
"way faster" than the us open is a stretch, agassi & sampras don't agree.

I agree. Cincy court is closest to US Open court since 1997. People who do well at Cincy do generally do well at US Open.

US Open courts have been relatively stable since 1997, but warmup events before the open have up and down speed wise. The trend is courts are being speeded up at warmup events this year.

 

[Topaz]

Yes. I agree with Moose, in that the conditions in NY can be just like Cincy. DC can be good prep, too.

I don't know about Cincy being the fastest courts...I heard a lot of commentators saying DC was the fastest. But regardless, they are both really fast, and the conditions and humitidy can defintely be a factor.

 

[johnkidd]

I've only ever hit on the practice courts in Mason but from my experience the courts seemed slower then your normal hardcourt we would normally play on. The courts had a lot of bite. When you hit a slice backhad it would really grab. Just my .02

 

[Dimonator133]

i'd add a fourth choice called "it depends"

 

[Dimonator133]

that was a 7-5 set that felt more like 6-2


(wrong thread)