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Jan/15

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The Iron Man of the ATP is Feliciano Lopez

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Feliciano Lopez played his first major at the French Open in 2002 – has not missed a major since. That’s 53 in a row. (I believe Federer is the only man who has played more consecutive majors – Fed hasn’t missed a slan since the 2000 Australian.)

Last year at the US Open Lopez is when I became a believer in the intestinal fortitude of the Spaniard. He was battling Dodig in the first round on grandstand, first match on. It was hotter than hot. It was scorching just sitting there in the media box. Lopez was getting smoked by the Croatian but he managed to turn the tables and battle back to win the fourth set 64. Then at 1-1 in the fifth, Dodig retired.

In the second round Lopez, showing no ill effects of that win, defeated Japan’s Ito in another rugged four sets on another brutally hot day. Remember, this is the same US Open that force Americans Jack Sock and Steve Johnson to retire.

Fast forward to Melbourne this year. The pattern continues. Lopez saves three match points and beats Denis Kudla in five sets. Lopez outlasts Adrian Mannarino who retires in the fourth set, unable to even properly walk, his legs are so fatigued. Lopez wins again in the third round and sets up a fourth round duel with Milos Raonic yesterday. Lopez the gladiator saved another match point in the fourth set tiebreak, which he won 9-7, and then finally lost 6-3 in the fifth to the Canadian.

By the way, Lopez is still alive in the doubles with his partner Max Mirnyi, they’re into the fourth round. Does this guy ever get tired?

Lopez’s overall five set record is 19-10.

Remember, Lopez is 33 years old. He plays a physically demanding game with his primarily defensive/neutral slice backhand. Isn’t his body supposed to be starting to break down after all the wear and tear?

Nope, I say Lopez is the ATP Iron Man.

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14 comments

  • Andrew Miller · January 26, 2015 at 11:54 am

    S-V style plus a lot of slice. Steffi Graf lasted a long time with this style.

  • Dan markowitz · January 26, 2015 at 1:44 pm

    Good call to highlight FLo, Scoop. The guy is a physical stud. Can’t ever see to get over the hump in a slam, but he’s surpassed his brother in tennis, Verdasco. Who’s everyone picking in Kei-Wawa war?

  • bjk · January 26, 2015 at 1:53 pm

    Lopez is lean and athletic, he doesn’t waste too much motion on court. Raonic is another matter. He’s got the lower body of a power forward. Raonic is at the age that players like Delpo/Safin/Philippousis start to break down with injuries. Interesting to see how long he can take the punishment of five set matches on hard courts while carrying around over 200 pounds.

  • Andrew Miller · January 26, 2015 at 2:09 pm

    Wawa over Kei. Wawa looks mean again.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 26, 2015 at 2:37 pm

    Lopez is my favorite player to watch of this era, outside of Fed Rafa Djokovic. This guy is dedicated to the sport, never misses a major since 2002, always give his all, has a flashy artistic game with variety. I believe he has more artistry than even Federer, but Fed gets all that glory because he wins more and he’s better. Lopez plays with the intensity of Hewitt but keeps in contained. Great player. His defining moment was beating Delpo in the Davis Cup final in Argentina. Doesn’t get much bigger than that.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 26, 2015 at 2:38 pm

    I think Nishikori is ready to shock the world and win this thing. My two original picks are Kei and Djokovic. Ranoic has bigger stronger legs than the world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

  • Dan markowitz · January 26, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    FLo doesn’t do anything better than Fed except volley maybe. I like FLo but I think his game–while I like the aggressiveness–is somewhat predictable. I’m with you Scoop on Kei.

  • loreley · January 26, 2015 at 3:43 pm

    It’s mainly because the conditions are pretty fast this year. Last year as well.

    Guys like Muller, Garcia-Lopez came far too. Not because they are great players, the conditions suit them. A nice draw helps as well. Also the young guns from Australia had/have an advantage because it’s fast.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 26, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    I remember Isner said fast hard or fast indoor courts are not his favorite surface because he prefers the courts to be a bit slower which helps his return and baseline game. Rafa seems to be handling these fast courts well so far.

  • Dan markowitz · January 26, 2015 at 6:08 pm

    How would Garcia Lopez be helped by fast courts?

  • Andrew Miller · January 26, 2015 at 7:06 pm

    Ggl if i am not mistaken had some good delray results on a fairly fast court. He is a good, solid spanish player who has earned his keep as the dan goldie or thierry champion of spanish tennis.

    Isner won what, three or four points off the mueller serve in set one? Find it interesting Agassi said he would love to work with Isner, maybe because he believes that if he could solve the problem of his legendary awful service return he would be winning tournaments left and right.

    Also found Lopez remarks about racquets and serving interesting. I dont think today’s crew of players has equal or better placement than sampras . Actually think like federer sampras wouldnt ever lose to dimitrov.

  • Andrew Miller · January 26, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    Lopez basically said todays racquets and strings turbs everyone into a tough opponent. I dont thin . That is true either because look at lopez…a consistent lefty! Rare.

  • loreley · January 27, 2015 at 3:04 am

    Garcia Lopez is unlike other Spaniards no clay courter. He prefers faster courts.

  • Illuminatus · January 28, 2015 at 9:08 am

    floppy and nadal have the same ‘nutritionist’ from viva espana !

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