Dec/14
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Hewitt’s Intensity in IPTL is as fiery as ever!
10 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Look at Hewitt’s unbelievable intensity for this IPTL doubles, this is Hewitt at his most intense, it’s like a major final or Davis Cup!!
The match pits Hewitt and Kyrgios vs. Bopanna and Monfils. There seems to be a lot at stake here between the Singapore Slammers and the Aces…
I counted five Hewitt Come Awns and a couple of fist pumps and Vichts. Hewitt’s veins are bulging and his eyes are as ferocious as you’ve ever seen. Which leads one to believe this remarkable court gladiator is far from finished from competing at the ATP level. Far…from…finished.
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Andrew Miller · December 10, 2014 at 5:51 pm
The U.S. version of Hewitt, Ryan Harrison, re-hired Grant Doyle. Under Doyle, Harrison got his career high #43, with wins over: for the most part players he should beat and some he shouldn’t have (the mark of a player on the move – you beat whoever is in front of you and go further in a draw than you are supposed to). I like this move from Harrison, suggests some humility. Having an Aussie on board is also good news. I think coaches like Gully, Berger covered too much for Harrison’s behavior – I suspect Doyle will ask Harrison to be himself in a more productive way (channel that emotion into some good tennis).
This is a mature move.
Ok, I won’t talk about Harrison anymore for now. But when he breaks top 50 I will break my silence!
Scoop Malinowski · December 10, 2014 at 6:38 pm
I like this move by Harrison, could correct the fine line of a win and loss. A microcosm of Harrison’s year was in Newport, up a set and 4-4 in the second on Hewitt first round. Hewitt battled back to eke out the win. Crushing loss for Harrison, then Hewitt goes on to win the titles in Newport in singles and doubles. Harrison is just a tweak here and there away, maybe a mental adjustment, a good win then another can start the roll he needs.
Andrew Miller · December 11, 2014 at 7:52 pm
On another Hewitt foe’s off court moves: Gimelstob to coach Isner.
Prediction: Isner falls out of top 30. Either Querrey or another U.S. player takes over the top U.S. spot, which will probably be somewhere in the 20s. No faith from me in Gimelstob – I liked his game but not his announcing (not even a top 10 announcer in the U.S., and that’s including announcers whose names I do not know) and I feel his announcing was closer to what he’d tell a player to do.
““John is a very unique talent, a great guy both on and off the court and I am thrilled to be able to be a part of his team,†Gimelstob said. “Coaching is in my blood. I have the highest regard for the level of commitment coaching a player of John’s pedigree entails.
“I am excited for the new challenge, and look forward to pursuing it with a player that I believe in so much. I have had a great relationship with John for years and think we will communicate really well as player and coach.â€
Andrew Miller · December 11, 2014 at 7:53 pm
Actually, I think this REALLY opens the door for non-Isner U.S. players. My opinion, but if you have Boynton then Sell, you want a more experienced hand at the wheel.
May Gimelstob prove this wrong. He has his work cut out for him.
Dan Markowitz · December 11, 2014 at 9:21 pm
Wow, that came out of left field. I know Gimel had a lot of good coaches, Phil Dent amongst them, and he knows the game well, but he hasn’t ever coached as far as I know.
I was just talking to Vince about Gimel tonight and he said Mark Baron in Delray Beach has Gimel playing in the Seniors event. I think that’s wrong. Vince should be playing in Delray. Firstly, because he’s from Boca, but also because he’s a former finalist in Delray and was a better player than Gimel.
Vince called Gimel “my boy,” and I like Gimel, but the last time I saw him, he was yelling at me in Newport for sitting courtside and cheering too loudly for Vince in their match. Gimel has come up in the world, though.
Dan Markowitz · December 11, 2014 at 9:44 pm
I never liked this set up of coaching a player and then still working as a tv analyst. PMac could get away with it because he was only the Davis Cup coach, same as Courier. But when you’re the full-time coach of a player, and also trying to be a tv analyst, that’s like a little crazy. If Gimel is really committed to being Izzie’s coach, he should take a break from his announcing gig.
Coaching and announcing didn’t work too well for Annacone.
Scoop Malinowski · December 12, 2014 at 7:12 am
I like Gimelstob’s TV work, he comes off to me as a very wise and bright analyst who really can break down and analyze a match. I think with a lethal weaponed gladiator like Isner under his guidance could be an interesting combination. I think Gimelstob can inspire and bring out the best of Isner. We’ll see. Keys is also working with TV analyst Davenport who said she will travel with her husband and four kids with Keys. That’s a awfully big team for Keys to be toting around. Hopefully not to the point of distraction. But I like that Davenport/Keys combo a lot. With all the Americans in the QF of Orange Bowl, US tennis is looking on the rise.
dan markowitz · December 12, 2014 at 8:34 am
I don’t understand it, Scoop. Does Doc Rivers continue to announce hoops once he takes a coaching job? Of course not. Not only does a tv announcer coaching a pro player look bush league, it’s a clear conflict of issues. What’s Davenport going to say when she analyzing the top prospects in the women’s game? Is Gimel going to fairly and objectively analyze Izzie’s game on the tube? Not likely.
Now, I know you’ve got this US juniors vibe going these days, but just because Opelka and Mmoh make the finals of Eddie Herr, it doesn’t mean they’re going to be primetime players. So far, Kozlov, Tiafoe and Rubin, even though they’re 17, 18 years old, haven’t done diddily-squat on the pro tour and there are other teens, international players, Coric, Kyrgios and Zverev to name a few, who have. Talk to me when one of these “prospects” really breaks out.
Were any of these young men as promising as Harry when he was their age? I rest my case.
Scoop Malinowski · December 12, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Dan the good thing about this wave of American teens is they are coming up minus the hype and predictions of their future rankings. Dave Red Ayme told me they are just saying Mmoh has a bright future to be a very good player, no specific silly projections of Top 20 or that stuff like how Andy Murray called Caroline Garcia a future #1 which put a big ol X on her back. Mmoh is also earning his way up the levels of tennis without an overload of wildcards. Mmoh and Tiafoe won a round at US Open in main draw dubs last year. Opelka – you probably never heard of him before last week. Tommy Paul is another kid making waves. Dominique Schaefer is into the semis this week at Orange after losing the singles final last week at Herr (where she won dubs). Ingird Neel saved a MP and is in the QF at Orange. Bellis is still alive at Orange. Kozlov hasn’t lost a set yet at Orange. These kids are coming up strong.
Scoop Malinowski · December 12, 2014 at 3:34 pm
Taylor Fritz is another American teen who is highly touted by the insiders. I didn’t know anything about him but by the way they talk about him, he must be right there in the mix with the other big names. Taylor Fritz has a lot of respect.