So a bunch of us, both paying and not, got treated to only a set of competitive tennis in yesterday's RCA final. As disturbing as that is, particularly since the weather conditions were just as forecasted, more disturbing was that Dent failed to start his match with a hat on and, more egregiously, failed to come out with a hat after his 3rd set injury timeout ... AFTER HAVING SEEN AND TALKED TO AN ALLEGED TRAINER WITH SOME PASSING KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICAL TRAINING, ETC. Meanwhile, Ginepri sported a lightweight, white, nylon hat the entire match, and came off as though he were playing in San Diego in April. Sure, Robby's overall in better shape (at least yesterday) than Taylor, but this ballcap contrast to me was striking. As many of us know, a ballcap is the easiest, quickest way to take some edge off the summer heat. A nylon ballcap can be wet with water to make it even cooler, without adding weight. This is basic, simple preventive maintenance, and adidas wouldn't have minded a little free adverting, either. I do not get it. I hate to say it, but unless Taylor's in love with his great mane of hair (let's face it - it's great), there's just no excuse.
Taylor and tour trainer: It's Called a Hat
- Thread starter Colpo
- Start date
joe sch
Legend
I agree. When dealing with heat and the sun, a player needs all the protection and precautions possible. Keep very hydrated, before, during and after. Wear some form of hat or visor. Wear sweat absorbing equipment, head, wrists and possible neck. Wear a high level skin sun protection like SPF30+. I think Taylor being from mild climate SCal has not learned many of these lessons yet.
thats a great point colpo. it would have certanly helped him..not only the heat and humidity drains you, but the direct sun on your head can be very draining...i never wore a hat either until i moved to sunny florida and i had trouble adjusting to it with the serve and all and maybe taylor cant serve with a hat (even wearing one backwards helps tho..wearing a hat makes a big diff i think. sometimes i even wet down a bandana and wear it around my neck (i'm giving away my age w. that one) and that helps keep your core a bit cooler i think..anythng you can do when the weather gets oppressive like that is good. maybe they dont make a hat big enough for his blockhead? ;O remember what lendl wore? the french foreign legion hat?
Kaptain Karl
Hall Of Fame
Yeah. Llendl was such a "fashion plate." I wondered why that Legionaire hat never caught on....
Taylor Dent is a mystery to me. I don't think he has the hunger (or "smarts") to match his ability.
- KK
Taylor Dent is a mystery to me. I don't think he has the hunger (or "smarts") to match his ability.
- KK
Shyyre
Rookie
Dent's a punk, period. I was at the RCA's on Saturday for the semi's when he played Rusedski... he looked like he was about to pass out then as well. Lucky for him Rusedski was playing even worse than he was, because it didn't look like he was going to get through if it went to a third set.
On Sunday, I watched on TV, and it was pathetic. I love serve and volleyers and in that he's not bad. he even has some good ground strokes and has shown on many occasions that he can come up with great shots at crucial times (ie, that passing shot on the run to end the first set sunday)
but the fact is, he doesn't even look like he wants to be out there. as soon as he starts losing he just gives up. it's sad... in a way, especially for all the people who braved the heat to watch it. he needs to get in shape (he split with his old trainer because he wante him to work out more and Taylor didn't want to) but he just won't any effort, even in a final.
oh, and like roddick, all he does is **** and moan when things aren't going his way... stop complaining and play... if wanted to pay to see people ***** we go on Jerry Springer
spoiled brats man, spoiled.
On Sunday, I watched on TV, and it was pathetic. I love serve and volleyers and in that he's not bad. he even has some good ground strokes and has shown on many occasions that he can come up with great shots at crucial times (ie, that passing shot on the run to end the first set sunday)
but the fact is, he doesn't even look like he wants to be out there. as soon as he starts losing he just gives up. it's sad... in a way, especially for all the people who braved the heat to watch it. he needs to get in shape (he split with his old trainer because he wante him to work out more and Taylor didn't want to) but he just won't any effort, even in a final.
oh, and like roddick, all he does is **** and moan when things aren't going his way... stop complaining and play... if wanted to pay to see people ***** we go on Jerry Springer
spoiled brats man, spoiled.
Richie Rich
Legend
fist pump said:
maybe a hat would constrict blood flow to Dent's tiny brain even more? can't believe this guy is top 30 in the world!!
Exactly, the hat would help, but really Taylor is just out of shape. I was at Indy for the Semis and Finals, and I could just tell that he wasn't going to make it in the second game of the second set. He is just carrying too much weight, and he got completely lethargic, struggling to make even basic footwork adjustments.
Solid comment about San Diego in April, that is some nice weather.
Solid comment about San Diego in April, that is some nice weather.
Not so sure a hat is the key to beating the heat. They are constricting, uncomfortable, and generally hold (body) heat in, even if venilated. Plenty of players never wear them. And, on a 120 degree day on the court-- as it was in Indy -- it is a little simplistic to suggest that wearing a hat would magically revive a clearly ailing player.
the hat prob would have helped him.......mabe you guys dont think the efect of the sun and heat are accumulative over the course of a tournemant or that each match drains you, and if you arent used to getting to the finals, thats another thing..i'm not saying that taylor dent is in good shape or bad shape, but wearing a hat over the course of several matches is of benefit for alot of people in the scorching sun and heat..nobody is saying it would perform a miracle
Marius_Hancu
Talk Tennis Guru
that's why Lendl used that Foreign Legion cap and won the Australian with it, if I remember well ...
The hat is a nice idea, but he lacks the motivation to achieve the fitness that is required to survive in the brutal summer conditions of the American ******* (and East Coast). It's really that simple. Look at how Agassi works, Hewitt, Federer, look at Ginepri, Henman, on and on.
What's more is that, as man have said, his style is more, not less, demanding. Serve and volley is far more taxing than a baseline game, the draining that goes on with all this bursts forward, the lunges to the side, the backpedaling. The hard courts are his surface, and the biggest hard court tourneys are now. Without fitness, he's peaked, he's always going to have to pray for unseasonably cool days....two weeks of rain in New York for Taylor, please.
What's more is that, as man have said, his style is more, not less, demanding. Serve and volley is far more taxing than a baseline game, the draining that goes on with all this bursts forward, the lunges to the side, the backpedaling. The hard courts are his surface, and the biggest hard court tourneys are now. Without fitness, he's peaked, he's always going to have to pray for unseasonably cool days....two weeks of rain in New York for Taylor, please.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Maybe he needs a strap-on sombrero, eh? http://sidesalad.net/archives/MrTSombrero.jpg
Kaptain Karl
Hall Of Fame
I think I figured out your hat problem....
- KK
... It's more comfortable -- and more effective -- if you wear it on your head. (Try it. Let us know....)UpTheT said:
- KK
that's hilarious!I was at Indy Saturday and had never seen Dent play in person before. He's friggin' enormous! There's no way he weighs 195, which is what he and the ATP media guide say. I probably weigh that right now, and I'm 6'2", same as him, and he has to have 20 pounds on me (some of it muscle, obviously!). He is not going to last serve/volleying much longer being that big; Sampras was probably the heaviest top s/v'er and he was about 180-185, I would think. S/v'ing at that size is like running a marathon at that size: It's possible, talent can take you to a certain level, but ultimately the game is won by lighter people. I mean, no wonder Ginepri won; he was carrying about 60-70 pounds less around the court, and only from one doubles alley to the other!
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