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Davis Cup Weekend In Monte Carlo, Let’s Discuss
31 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
A good effort by the Davis Cup rookie Ryan Harrison, taking on the ATP world #6 Tsonga, lost a close first set 57, dropped the second, fights to win the third but Tsonga takes charge to close it out in the fourth. Not a bad loss, despite 10 double faults by the American teen in his first live Davis Cup singles match, Tsonga is a lethal player, especially on clay and in France. Now it’s up to Isner to level this tie, he will have to subdue Gilles Simon, the same man he edged in three tough sets (63 16 75) in Indian Wells.
In other Davis Cup action, Almagro crushed Melzer, Spain takes the 1-0 lead on Austria. Spain will likely meet the U.S.-France winner.
I’m looking forward to the Serbia-Czech Rep. clash and also Croatia vs. Argentina where Monaco, Del Potro and Nalbandian are all playing.
Monte Carlo is a difficult place for Americans to do well. I can’t ever recall seeing an American player have any kind of success there, from Sampras to Agassi to Courier to Roddick to Chang. Sampras lost to Fabrice Santoro 6-1 6-1 in Monte Carlo in 1998. Mardy Fish said in Miami that he’s only played Monte Carlo once: “One time. It’s a really tough time looking at the schedule for Americans. It’s almost impossible. You’ve got to – we have to be over there for Madrid and Rome, what do you do? Do you go after (Miami), stay there for seven weeks, or do you come back and then go back over and have a week and a half off? It’s a really hard time. It’s a beautiful place, a beautiful tournament. Everyone in my family wants to go, my wife wants to go. My dad wants to go so bad just to see it. I have good memories from there. I actually got to play, it was my firt Masters Series that I got straight into. I got into it last minute. I was ranked #75 in the world in 2003. I got into it last minute. I remember I went with my coach. We were boarding a plane. We had left from Tampa and we were going to go to Atlanta, then to Nice and then you drive from there. I saw my draw and I played Gustavo Kuerten. We almost got back off the plane and went back to Tampa [smiles]. It was a quick trip, because I got in late. We left on Saturday night and I got there on Sunday, played Monday and I was home on Tuesday. But we had fun while we were there.”
Fish lost to Kuerten in Monte Carlo, first round, 63 16 06.
Monte Carlo is a pain and a bane for the Americans
Scoop Malinowski · April 6, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Interesting comments by Justin Gimelstob on Tennis Channel about a rift between captain Forget and Simon, how Simon was only on standby for this tie and how Forget opted to play Llodra on the slow indoor final decider vs. Serbia/Troicki in 2010 and Llodra got crushed. Then Simon got to play Troicki in Australia weeks later and crushed him. Seems Forget doesn’t have an overabundance in confidence in Simon.
Mitch · April 6, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Tsonga is definitely not “lethal” on clay.
Scoop Malinowski · April 6, 2012 at 2:57 pm
He looked it today with all those drop shots )
Scoop Malinowski · April 6, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Mother of Mercy, Isner is just devouring poor Simon.
Dan Markowitz · April 6, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Interesting with Isner up a set and a break on Simon, can No. 1, Isner actually be a threat on clay at Roland Garros, and No. 2. If Bryans win tomorrow, can Isner knock off Tsonga, because whether or not he’s “lethal,” on clay, he’s got to be the favorite in France. If Tsonga can beat Isner, I don’t like Harrison’s chances.
Scoop Malinowski · April 6, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Dan, Isner is looking like a wrecking machine in clay, he is no doubt “lethal” on red clay, the topspin pops right into his strike zone, he moves and returns comfortably on the surface. Taking out Federer the way he did was not a fluke. Isner is most definitely a contender to win the French Open, don’t think Rafa, Fed or Djok would be thrilled to run into Isner in Paris. Whatever happens in doubles and in Isner-Tsonga, I actually like Harrison’s chances vs. Simon, if it comes down to that. I think Jim Courier will get him ready with the right strategy, Jim got to see Simon close up today, I really like Jim’s tennis mind and ability to inspire the team.
Scoop Malinowski · April 6, 2012 at 9:08 pm
Nalbandian lost a 5 hour 9 minute marathon to Cilic in five, Jaite opted to play the veteran instead of Monaco who is coming off his best ATP result ever the SF in Miami. Delpotro is up a set on Karlovic and should win to level, Delpo just beat Ivo in Miami. Playing Nalbandian was a curious call that did not pay off today for Jaite. Stepanek lost a marathon to Tipsarevic, though Berdych did dominate Troicki who is not having a great year so far. Spain as expected is up 2-0 on Austria, who doesn’t have a big name team but is consistently in the World Group year in year out.
Steve · April 6, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Simon if one of those players I would dread to play. Very smart and very fit.
Is he tanking against Isner or is Isner on his game?
Scoop Malinowski · April 6, 2012 at 11:58 pm
Steve, Simon tried but Isner just annihilated him, don’t know if you’ve seen Isner play on clay lately but his game is devastating, he can pound winners off the first or second ball and plays surprisingly good defense when need be. You know about his serve. Isner ain’t a top 10 player by any luck.
Thomas Tung · April 7, 2012 at 1:52 am
Isner is taking a page out of Soderling’s playbook … play some solid defense (but don’t mentally become a pusher), hit big on serves/forehands, and the heavy topspin/slower surface can actually play into your power game (provided you’re as tall as Isner, or at least Soderling, who’s 6-4). Shots that would normally be winners on other surfaces just sit up long enough for the likes of Isner to get there and do something with the ball; even allowing him to pound it.
Dan Markowitz · April 7, 2012 at 2:07 am
Now I like Isner, seems like the best guy of all the Americans, maybe along with Querrey, but just because he beats Federer and Simon in D-Cup matches and took Nadal to five sets at RG, doesn’t mean he’s in a league with Soderling on the clay, who got to two French Open finals. I mean, come on, folks, his best win at the French in three prior years is Marco Chuidinelli. You’re talking like the guy is a great clay warrior and his career record at the French is 2-3. His best showing, the third round. If he beats Tsonga in a key match, then I’ll be really impressed, but I don’t see this guy as a second-weeker at the French.
Andrew Miller · April 7, 2012 at 3:05 am
Dan’s point on Isner sounds about as true as you can get. Isner can’t be a threat at Roland Garros unless he shows some more than the impressive Davis Cup wins (and a finals appearance at a red clay tournament, which he had in losing to Querrey on clay a year or two ago – first time a Yank won a clay title in Europe in a long time).
Before Isner can be a contender on clay he has to show some results at Monte Carlo or Rome or Madrid. If he makes the semis at two of them, or semis, quarters, quarters or so at all three of them, then I think we can talk about the possibility of Isner making the 2nd week at Roland Garros.
I do think the comment on his game being like Soderling is also right – on clay he is Soderling-esque.
In the past players that do well in the tournaments leading up are more or less second week players at Roland Garros. Some exceptions of course. That’s why the game is great! It’s like any given day you can have an upset.
If the #1000+ player can scare Federer in Tokyo, then a lot of things can happen in the sport that I think are crazy. It doesnt happen often but it happens.
Final note, seems Isner will move ahead of Fish this year into the #1 U.S. player slot.
Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Thomas well said about Isner’s game. Let me ask you, how far do you think Isner can go at the French Open over the next five years? Can he win?
Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Dan before Soderling made the finals, his previous results in Paris were 1st (04) 2nd (05) 1st (06) 1st (07) and 3rd round in 08. Absolutely no indication that he could make a final of SF. After seeing that info I like Isner’s chances even more. Isner vs. Tsonga will be a thriller, looking forward to that one.
Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Andrew, Before Soderling’s French Open final in 09, his previous best showing in Master Series clay events was only a QF in Monte Carlo in 07, the rest are all 1st, 2nd or 3rd round exits. The French Open has had some big surprises of certain players making the SF (Verkerk, Henman, Rafter, etc.) so it can happen with Isner who is a solid top 10 player now.
Andrew Miller · April 7, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Scoop – any given day! If the 1000th ranked player can almost beat Federer at home, there’s no reason why Isner can’t put up a good result at the French. It’s hard to see it now. If he gets out of the early rounds it could be an exciting tournament for him.
It would also be huge for U.S. tennis. Isner actually seems to like playing on dirt. Here he is, this giant tennis player from North Carolina who basically serves out of a tree and doesn’t care about the surface.
He’s the best all surface U.S. player since Fish. (Don’t laugh: Fish and Querrey have both won titles on all surfaces). I’d say Querrey is the best all surface player but I can’t say it given that he’s on the comeback trail.
I am actually hoping for Querrey to assume the rightful spot of #2 or #3 U.S. player.
Dan Markowitz · April 7, 2012 at 6:06 pm
What 1,000th ranked player are we talking about who almost beat Fed? Fish hasn’t won on European clay. Winning in Houston is like winning in Newport, it’s kind of clay and grass, but since the best clay and grass players aren’t there, it’s not so big. It’s like Gulbis winning at Delray, that’s done a lot for his career…
You really think Harry can beat Simon on red clay in France when he couldn’t beat him last month on hard courts in the states?
Andrew Miller · April 7, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Dan you will love this. Here’s the story on the 1000th plus player who almost beat Federer. He also put a scare into Ferrer two years later and lost in three. Must be excited to play at home!
CNN, October 2006:
“TOKYO, Japan — World number one Roger Federer survived an almighty scare from 1,078th-ranked Takao Suzuki before edging into the Japan Open semifinals on Friday.
The top seed prevailed 4-6 7-5 7-6 after being pushed to the limit by the inspired Japanese wildcard, who was playing his first tournament in nine months.
“I could see the headlines,” said a relieved Federer. “‘Federer loses to a guy outside the top 1,000. I’m glad I won, it saved my image.”
The Swiss finally booked a place in the last four with a dipping forehand return that forced Suzuki into a volley error to give Federer the third-set tiebreak 7-3.
A hot start from Suzuki had ruffled Federer, the Japanese forcing him into a wild forehand to break in the third game of the opening set.
Normal service was belatedly resumed in the second when Federer levelled the match with a vicious forehand return to Suzuki’s feet on set point.
Suzuki, who returned to tennis after suffering a serious shoulder injury in January, quickly recovered his composure to put Federer under more pressure in the third set.
Federer’s class told when it mattered, however, as the nine-times grand slam singles champion ripped through the tiebreak to close out the match in just over two hours.
“I had to dig deep and come up with a good breaker in the end,” said Federer, who improved his win-loss record for the year to 75-5. “There’s always a fear of losing. It was a relief.”
Steve · April 7, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Speaking of drop shots I just picked up Alren Coben’s book DROP SHOT used for 4 bucks. I hadn’t known it was a tennis reference and opens with a match in progress.
Also, the TV adaption of the Hercule Poirot story, DEATH IN THE CLOUDS, features the French Open:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cN_TCf8EGw
In other news, gotta love Nalby’s effort.
Steve · April 7, 2012 at 11:22 pm
…I meant Harlan Coben. doh
Steve · April 7, 2012 at 11:27 pm
241 unforced errors in the Nalby/Cilic Davis Cup match.
Dan Markowitz · April 8, 2012 at 3:23 am
Well, I saw Takao Suzuki play a lot. He was in a lot of USO qualis, as I recall. He might’ve been ranked 1,000 when he played Fed in 2006, but he was much higher ranked earlier in his career and he had a real solid serve and volley game for a small guy. He was built like a fireplug and could really whiz around the court. I’m sure he had some wins over Top 50 players in his career.
Andrew Miller · April 8, 2012 at 3:37 pm
And Isner comes up huge again. He is clearly the top U.S. player despite being #11 to Fish’s #9 and the only one of the Yanks, at this point, who is capable of making a run at a slam quarterfinal, on any surface. Fish and Roddick are swapping in and out of the 2nd best U.S. player based on their results this year, with Fish edging Roddick only because Roddick plays his heart out and then has zero in the tank for the next match – physical fitness. But really? Isner is ahead of both of them by miles.
I did not see today’s matches but I have to hand it to Isner and Coach Courier. Sheesh. Here are the statements from the articles on the match:
Isner:
“I if play like I have this weekend, I can beat a lot of people…If I can keep this level up, I am going to be very hard to beat.”
“I played three of my best matches all year on clay. It’s a surface I enjoy playing on and a surface I think I can do very well on.”
Press:
“Isner built on the U.S. team’s momentum after a straight-set doubles win on Saturday. He didn’t face a break point…”
Guy Forget:
“You have to congratulate him. John Isner was huge today…He played very well and he has a lot of talent. Jim Courier is a great leader, and he has a lot of class.”
Ryan Harrison suffers his 2nd Davis Cup loss of the tie in France, now 1-2 in matches.
NOTE THE MENTION TO COURIER’s wardrobe ha ha! My position has been if the suit is working keep it. I am beginning to believe in Coach Courier’s approach: make sure everyone gets along and send the signal that he’s the coach not the player – an absolute divide between having sneakers on and having dress shoes.
Andrew Miller · April 8, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Takao Suzuki seems like a great player!
Dan Markowitz · April 8, 2012 at 4:29 pm
Suzuki wasn’t a great player, unless you’re talking in terms of Japanese players, but for a short guy, he could really attack the net and play a big game. He never broke into the Top 100, but he reached No. 106 and at 35 he’s still playing.
Impressed by Isner today. I did not give him a good chance to beat Tsonga. But his serve is so big, he was hitting it at around 70 per cent for first two sets, I believe. And now he’s combined that big forehand, enough maneuverability and some nice volleys, and at least on clay, a very nicely disguised forehand drop shot. He hit absolute winners off the dropper on numerous occasions.
Courier looks like the lead singer to a dinner band in his suit, but he seems positive, very cool and he’s a steady hand. I felt PMac could sometimes get that wincing look on his face which probably did his players no good.
Spain is beatable, especially if Nadal doesn’t play.
Andrew Miller · April 8, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Dan: U.S. wins Davis Cup in 2012 with Isner “serving” as the “Djokovic” of the U.S. Davis Cup squad?
Andrew Miller · April 8, 2012 at 5:12 pm
Dan ha re: Takao Suzuki and “great player” remark. Yeah sometimes I think a great player is “any player I would not win two points off”. Knowing my game and myself, I do not think I would win a point off Suzuki.
You’re right – calling Suzuki a great player is a stretch, even for Japan. We can’t call him the Japanese Federer – more like the “Japanese Derreck Rostango”.
A streaky player with some great matches is probably the right frame for him.
Andrew Miller · April 8, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Captain Courier must be a pretty smart guy. He doesn’t seem to invite the criticism that PMac invited – PMac often made no bones about calling a duck a duck, but sometimes invited some conflicts between his announcing duties and his Davis Cup duties as captain. PMac could be brutally honest in his evaluation of a player, U.S. or not, publicly as an announcer and it seems he also didn’t have much of a bedside manner as coach (maybe one of the reasons that Roddick and Blake decides to sit out 2010 for Davis Cup, something that helped Isner out but seemed to guarantee Roddick and Blake would never contribute helpfully to Davis Cup again). There also always seemed to be a competition between Roddick and PMac (who’s the coach versus who’s the team leader?).
Courier solves all that. His credibility as a player goes without saying (no U.S. player has the number of slams that Courier does or the record or anything close to it), so they listen to him. He also seems to handle things straightforwardly – he calls players and tells them why they didn’t make the cut ( you see no one complaining now about how they weren’t selected, no favoritism of Blake over Ginepri as in 2005 when Ginepri reached his first slam semifinal and basically the only slam semifinal from a U.S. player not named Agassi or Roddick since 2005).
For whatever reasons PMac seemed like he favored players and the reasons weren’t necessarily fair (Ginepri had a better result than Blake and was playing as well if not a little bit better, and probably would have performed as well if not better in Davis Cup). Ginepri never made it back from his high point in the 2005 US Open semifinal loss to Agassi. PMac invited the feud with DYoung and seemed to do the same with Wayne Bryan. PMac invited the feud with Spadea and look how well that turned out on the dirt of Spain in 2004? Maybe Spadea too would have been ripped up by Moya. But we’ll never know.
In each case PMac favored some players over others.
No one questions Courier much and Courier seems like a better backroom dealer, maybe he even says stuff like “Listen, this is why I can’t take you. Your results are X during this period of time. You need to improve. You show me this and this becomes a different conversation.”
Andrew Miller · April 8, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Don’t get me wrong, I like PMac – I even believe his coaching was outstanding for Davis Cup and that he ended his career as captain with not only an excellent record but also on a high note, with the team in place for years to come. He made Davis Cup as important in the U.S. as it is in other countries – something worth participating in and fighting over.
In part it’s probably because the U.S. players aren’t as good as those of yesteryear: there is no group of slam champions like Sampras, Agassi, Courier and Chang to work with, and when slam winning isn’t possible the only way to shore up your legacy is Davis Cup. But you have to also say it’s something that PMac turned into a priority for players: when players complain that they ARENT on the team, you begin to see that Davis Cup is now something U.S. players want to do.
That’s a tribute to PMac. He may have made questionable moves on strategy and definitely strained some players’ relations (and impacted their growth for sure), but his legacy as Davis Cup captain is a very, very solid one.
Dan Markowitz · April 8, 2012 at 5:57 pm
You think PMac favored players!! Maybe like in 2004 when Spadea was No. 19 and had just gotten to Miami semis and they’re playing on clay in Spain and PMac chooses Fish over Vince. PMac’s a fishy guy sometimes (pun intended).
Check out Vince in his epic loss to Michael Chang in 1996 USO. Vince is up two sets to one and up a break in fourth and loses. If he’d won, he’d have Arnold Boetsch in Rd. of 16 with a nice draw into semis. VINCE YOU COULDA BEEN A CONTENDER!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_e6wNIjAtk
Andrew Miller · April 8, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Dan – I think PMac was wrong for snubbing Vince in favor of Fish and for picking Blake over Ginepri and even in picking Harrison over DYoung, because Vince, Ginepri and yes, even DYoung earned spots on those teams. I think his criteria was horrible for selecting players and I think the Davis Cup results, as strong as they were in the PMac era, could have been better, without the resentment and without torpedo-ing the players’ lives. No great bedside manner from PMac!
But I also need to give PMac credit where it’s due: he turned Davis Cup into something U.S. players cared about. Even if U.S. players weren’t contending for slams in the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era, they were putting up huge effort in Davis Cup. Sampras and Agassi needed to be BEGGED to play and the internal dynamics weren’t always “one for all and all for one”. But PMac created cohesive (if unfairly and somewhat arbitrarily chosen) teams. His reasoning was faulty on some choice occasions.
But did he end up being a strong coach? No doubt.
Did he also have a legacy with some obvious mistakes that impacted the team, probably for the worse? In the words of a thoroughly discredited politician, “you betcha!”
Did he contribute to players development? Yes and no – he made Roddick a better player and Fish a better player and Isner a better player through Davis Cup, and by overlooking Ginepri and Vince and DYoung no doubt made them worse players because of the fallout and the hurt feelings. We may say hey guys, take it like a man. But let’s be honest: they were snubbed and being rejected, whether by Kirilenko or PMac, sucks.
At the end of the day: PMac was a very solid coach. The best of judgement? No. Best way of handling conflicts? Definitely not. Improved U.S. tennis? Yes – no doubt. Improved commitment from U.S. players to Davis Cup? YES.