Tennis: US Open 2012

[Mark2010]

If only he'd started coming in behind his serve say 2001-2002, he could have been so much better.

For sure. When your serve is your best weapon, you need to be a great volley player. Hope John Isner will learn that.

 

[qtlaw]

What's even worse is when I watch him, he's basically playing defensive tennis after the serve. At least in 2003, he'd whale away on his FH and do all that running around to hit a FH. Now, its like he's content to just chip that BH and stay in the point, even after the guy was stabbing at the return and happy to get the serve back. Damn shame.

 

[Mark2010]

Speaking of guys who stayed too long, I noticed Lleyton Hewitt is still playing.

For those a bit younger, Hewitt won Wimbledon and the US Open in 2001-02, but hasn't been a contender for anything in at least five years as Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and others passed him by. Never had a huge weapon to begin with, but was always a tough fighter.

I would love to write a story on him and ask simply "What keeps you going out there?" He knows he's never going to fight his way back to the even the top 20, has more money than he could spend in several lifetimes and is still something of a celebrity --- love him or hate him --- in Australia. So why keep grinding away against players 10 years younger week after week in such a physically demanding sport? (I mean, this ain't golf.) I admire him a ton for it; I don't think I'd have the heart to keep going like he does.

 

[qtlaw]

Speaking of guys who stayed too long, I noticed Lleyton Hewitt is still playing.

For those a bit younger, Hewitt won Wimbledon and the US Open in 2001-02, but hasn't been a contender for anything in at least five years as Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and others passed him by. Never had a huge weapon to begin with, but was always a tough fighter.

I would love to write a story on him and ask simply "What keeps you going out there?" He knows he's never going to fight his way back to the even the top 20, has more money than he could spend in several lifetimes and is still something of a celebrity --- love him or hate him --- in Australia. So why keep grinding away against players 10 years younger week after week in such a physically demanding sport? (I mean, this ain't golf.) I admire him a ton for it; I don't think I'd have the heart to keep going like he does.

He wanted to show he'd last longer than Clijsters

 

[Mark2010]

OUCH!!

Victoria Azarenka advances to semifinals by beating defending champion Samantha Stosur in a third-set tiebreak. Still unsure how I feel about tiebreaks in the final set. I like to play it out a little longer, although not 70-68. Maybe go to, say, 10-all and then play a tiebreak to decide it.

 

[ringer]

Speaking of guys who stayed too long, I noticed Lleyton Hewitt is still playing.

For those a bit younger, Hewitt won Wimbledon and the US Open in 2001-02, but hasn't been a contender for anything in at least five years as Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and others passed him by. Never had a huge weapon to begin with, but was always a tough fighter.

I would love to write a story on him and ask simply "What keeps you going out there?" He knows he's never going to fight his way back to the even the top 20, has more money than he could spend in several lifetimes and is still something of a celebrity --- love him or hate him --- in Australia. So why keep grinding away against players 10 years younger week after week in such a physically demanding sport? (I mean, this ain't golf.) I admire him a ton for it; I don't think I'd have the heart to keep going like he does.

Hewitt probably still finds it challenging. And it's not a bad payday, even if you lose early. I'm guessing it's not too much more complicated than that.

But he would still make a fun story because he's a colorful guy.

 

[Mark2010]

When you've been to the top of the mountain, it's hard to get excited about reaching the third round. And he's got more money than he'll ever spend, so that can't be the driving force.

I understand loving the game, but his game is so physically grueling it just makes me wonder.

 

[westcoastvol]

I spent a majority of the holiday weekend at Flushing. Saw Azarenka's match, saw Federer, saw Serena, saw Murray, saw Roddick.

Serena is far and away the class of the tournament. Federer's match was somewhat of a blowout, Tomic tanked the third set vs. Roddick. Easy to get up and go get a drink or see someone else on a smaller court during those matches, but just the way Serena just systematically ****ing demolished her opponent (7 unforced errors) was just amazing, and I say that having never been a big Serena fan.

 

[da man]

When you've been to the top of the mountain, it's hard to get excited about reaching the third round. And he's got more money than he'll ever spend, so that can't be the driving force.

I understand loving the game, but his game is so physically grueling it just makes me wonder.

Are you sure he's swimming in money? I have no idea --perhaps you do -- but there are many athletes who have made more than him who have gone broke. I'm not saying Hewitt is broke, but he might not be set for life, either.

 

[MileHigh]

Interesting takeout in this week's SI to help the Open and U.S. tennis overall -- switch to clay courts.

Don't think it will happen, but it was interesting nonetheless.

 

[Mark2010]

When you've been to the top of the mountain, it's hard to get excited about reaching the third round. And he's got more money than he'll ever spend, so that can't be the driving force.

I understand loving the game, but his game is so physically grueling it just makes me wonder.

Are you sure he's swimming in money? I have no idea --perhaps you do -- but there are many athletes who have made more than him who have gone broke. I'm not saying Hewitt is broke, but he might not be set for life, either.

I'll take his career earnings and retire right now, thank you very much. He can buy a second home right next to Mitt Romney.

If he was foolish enough to squander that large of a wad, well, he's just a fool.

 

[Mark2010]

I spent a majority of the holiday weekend at Flushing. Saw Azarenka's match, saw Federer, saw Serena, saw Murray, saw Roddick.

Serena is far and away the class of the tournament. Federer's match was somewhat of a blowout, Tomic tanked the third set vs. Roddick. Easy to get up and go get a drink or see someone else on a smaller court during those matches, but just the way Serena just systematically ****ing demolished her opponent (7 unforced errors) was just amazing, and I say that having never been a big Serena fan.

When Serena decides to concentrate and focus she's one of the best ever. As I mentioned earlier this summer on the Wimbledon thread the difference between Serena and Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert is that Serena has had far more off days over the years when she just wasn't there mentally.

She SHOULD win the tournament. But I said that last year and she lost to Stosur in the final, so I wouldn't rate it a lock just yet. She demolished both Azarenka and Sharapova at the Olympics. Will she have the same focus this week? Who knows?

 

[Mark2010]

Interesting takeout in this week's SI to help the Open and U.S. tennis overall -- switch to clay courts.

Don't think it will happen, but it was interesting nonetheless.

Heavens no. If we think matches last too long now with too many boring baseline rallies, that will only make the problem worse. What we need are a handful of really good serve-and-volley players on both the men's and women's sides.

 

[qtlaw]

Yeah, what fun was it watching Vilas and Harold Soloman rally in dirt at Forest Hills? Dreadful.

You want Lendl v. Wilander for 7 hours? Or McEnroe v. Borg? You need contrasting styles (and personalities) to heighten interest.

Mens tennis has gotten a tad lifeless because its just baseliners. Even Isner and Roddick with the huge serves stay back after a first serve. I want to see more Ivanisevics, Beckers, Edberg, Sampras (although he was the epitome of lifeless off the court and sometimes stayed back as well.)

 

[Mark2010]

It's the new racket technologies where guys just hammer the crap out of the ball.

 

[Deeper_Background]

and its over... http://espn.go.com/tennis/usopen12/story/_/id/8341151/2012-us-open-juan-martin-del-potro-sends-andy-roddick-retirement

 

[Norrin Radd]

Based on Twitter, Andy Roddick is one of the greatest, most beloved champions in tennis history.

 

[qtlaw]

Based on Twitter, Andy Roddick is one of the greatest, most beloved champions in tennis history.

Nitwits. They're on Twitter (rather than watching the lovely Ivanovic get thrashed by Serena).

 

[MileHigh]

Based on Twitter, Andy Roddick is one of the greatest, most beloved champions in tennis history.

More of a punk.

Meanwhile, Fed is down a set and a break, and just shook off three more break points.

 

[MileHigh]

But not in the seventh game. Berdych to serve for the second set up two breaks. Back to football.