Nov/13
4
ATP World Tour Finals Discussion
38 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Nadal, Wawrinka, Berdych, Gasquet.
Djokovic, Federer, Del Potro, Ferrer.
The top eight players in the world, The Masters of Tennis, Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, England 02 Arena.
Nadal will attempt to secure World Number One.
Let the games begin…
(Roger Federer Artwork by Karl Rosenstock)
Scoop Malinowski · November 4, 2013 at 11:27 am
Rough week already for Del Potro who took a train from Paris to London and while stopping to sign an autograph for a fan, had his luggage, passport, money and cherished Pope Blessed Rosary stolen – in just a matter of seconds. Unbelievabe example of trying to do something nice for someone and getting taken advantage of for doing an act of kindness.
Gaurang · November 4, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Wawrinka won against Berdych today. So here are my picks, as I mentioned in the comments of a previous article:
Nadal will probably win all 3 of his round-robin matches, but could loose one. He and Wawrinka to go through to Semi’s.
Its tough to call who will be left out among Djokovic, Fed and Del Potro in group B. Even though I could say Djoker and Delpo, but Federer just beat Delpo last week. And also Fed reached the finals last year at this tournament and is a 6-time winner. I think I would have to go with Djoker and Fed to go through to the semi’s. In fact, Fed could also win against Djoker in the round-robin. Lets see.
Semi’s:
Nadal defeats Federer
Djoker defeats Wawrinka
Finals:
Djoker defeats Nadal
Andrew Miller · November 4, 2013 at 4:23 pm
Nadal might hoist the champ cup. He has the best draw!
Gaurang · November 5, 2013 at 8:31 pm
Just watched the Novak-Fed match’s third set on TennisTV CatchUp section.
Novak’s mind was solid during that third set, with no signs of nervousness. If he plays like that for the rest of the tournament, he will simply sweep it 5 of 5, just like last year.
Btw — here is a 1-min video cut short where Nadal was just about to explain more about the court:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9KiTlcPGaA
He says the court in London is slower than in Paris, so it will help his game.
There’s one interesting thing he mentions though — that in indoors the ball does not tend to stay on the racket as long as outdoors, so he is not able to get as much top spin on it when playing indoors.
Gaurang · November 5, 2013 at 8:35 pm
One more thing — looking at Federer’s game now — he is just making too many mistakes now-adays. If he does not improve this thing soon, we may have to officially claim that he has entered the twilight zone of this career.
Scoop Malinowski · November 5, 2013 at 8:42 pm
It appears Djokovic has mastered Federer. When Djokovic locks in he dismantles Federer. He may never lose to Fed again.
Andrew Miller · November 5, 2013 at 10:24 pm
Federer must’ve borrowed Gulbis’ forehand.
Dan Markowitz · November 6, 2013 at 6:53 am
Ooh, Scoop, that is low. Gulbis’s forehand is probably the ugliest shot in the history of tennis.
Gaurang, you really going out on the limb with your picks this year, but hard to argue with them.
Scoop Malinowski · November 6, 2013 at 7:38 am
“Ugliest shots” in the history of tennis would make for an interesting discussion…Braasch’s serve, Edberg’s forehand,
Harold · November 6, 2013 at 9:32 am
Gasquets forehand is uglier than Edbergs. Edberg had little takeback, Gasquets is just plain ugly and comes up so short all the time.
The move to make Nadal a lefty, has to be considered inthe top 2 coaching decisions of all-time, right up there with Sampras switching to a one handed backhand
Scoop Malinowski · November 6, 2013 at 10:37 am
Never liked Rusedski’s backhand.
rob30 · November 6, 2013 at 10:44 am
Yes, Gasquet’s fh is ugly and is an average shot but he has a great backhand to compensate (+ good consistency from the baseline and better mentality and physique the last few years, won two 5 setters at the Us Open Vs Raonic and Ferrer for example).
Mitch · November 6, 2013 at 11:29 am
Will Stan ever get a set off Nadal?
Gaurang · November 6, 2013 at 5:04 pm
Btw, more comments from Nadal regarding the surface and indoor/outdoor:
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/11/nadal-feel-ball-indoors-different-likes-surface/49704/
One quote byNadal from the article:
” Just the opponents have the chance to hit the ball and to go for the winners with better chances of success than in outdoor courts.”
Wow. This implies that Nadal cannot do the same. So he is basically admitting that he is a defensive player compared to other top players.
Scoop Malinowski · November 6, 2013 at 8:24 pm
Nadal can hit winners on any surface when he really wants to but he’s generally a defensive player. Defense wins championships, offense sells tickets.
Andrew Miller · November 7, 2013 at 10:41 am
Wawrinkas complaint on Uncle Toni coaching from stands is interesting. For all Nadals brilliance this is one knock against the goat aspiration – djokovic and federer perform without in match coaching. ATP should come down hard on this.
They won’t. But they should.
Scoop Malinowski · November 7, 2013 at 11:55 am
Andrew: It’s to the point of bizarre now why Uncle Toni feel the need to coach Rafa during a match. Everybody knows it’s going on and it’s not like Rafa is some dummy out there needing instructions. It’s mystifying why Uncle Toni can’t zip the lip and have faith in Rafa to win the match on his own.
Gaurang · November 7, 2013 at 12:20 pm
I have not noticed that. Have you guys seen it?
Gaurang · November 7, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Scoop, the very fact that Nadal is on the record saying that in indoors (Where there’s no wind and hence more predictability) his opponents have more chance of hitting winners — means that Nadal is not able to do so even if he wants to. Since if he could also do so, then Nadal wouldnt have a disadvantage in that aspect, and he wouldnt even have brought up the point.
Scoop Malinowski · November 7, 2013 at 12:31 pm
It’s a bit odd that he would say that Gaurang. I have seen him clout winners on all surfaces. It could be another clever way by Rafa to curry sympathy while trying to maintain his image as “the underdog.” Rafa likes to use this mental ploy of portraying himself as the humble underdog. IMO.
Andrew Miller · November 7, 2013 at 1:23 pm
ATP should penalize Toni Nadal for the simple fact he thinks he’s above it all. Nadal will win anyway – he’s already proven he wins without his uncle.
Tom Michael · November 7, 2013 at 6:04 pm
I don’t think Rafa gets coaching from the stands. First of all there is no video footage of it. All accusations started from Federer’s accusations back in the 2006 Italian Open. He said that there is some code in what Uncle Tony says. All he says is venga or vamos, or positivo. He is the replacement for the lack of sports psychologist in Rafa’s camp. He is not the strategist. I don’t see any change in strategy coming from Rafa throughout the match. Nadal took the higher road on this matter and still remained civil to Federer who actually does not deserve it. He should be paying the uncalled for fines that Rafa was forced to based on false accusations.
There is footage of Marian Vadja giving signals to Novak. Especially during this year’s Roland Garros semifinal against Nadal. Particularly about moving more forward into the court to attack.
These false accusations can not be used against Rafa as his future status as Rafael GOATal.
Scoop Malinowski · November 7, 2013 at 6:19 pm
Tom, I do remember Mary Carillo or Shriver saying it was so blatant how obvious Uncle Toni was about coaching Rafa, she witnessed with her own ears and eyes. I have heard many insiders talk about Uncle Toni’s illegal coaching during matches. But the strange thing is it seems so unnecessary, Rafa can surely handle manage himself on the court without any outside counsel. It’s mysterious why Uncle Toni continuously does this. Most players don’t seem to mind it except for an occasional complaint like Stan yesterday. Perhaps it’s Uncle Toni’s ego trying to make himself look more important to Rafa’s success? Or he wants to appear more important than just a guy freeloading in the Nadal box? Because we all know Rafa is a great player with or without Uncle Toni’s presence at this point. Just like Mike Tyson was still great after his trainer Cus D’Amato passed away. It’s not like Rafa’s going to suddenly forget how to win.
Tom Michael · November 7, 2013 at 6:42 pm
So Carillo or Shriver know Spanish? This is news.
Andrew Miller · November 7, 2013 at 11:14 pm
Tom, Wawrinka didn’t like it the other day! As for Uncle Toni he thinks he’s above it, said so himself.
“I talk to Rafa during matches. I know that it’s not allowed, but I think that at my age I have nothing to hide.”
Who knows. Maybe like great players with huge egos, Uncle Toni is the great coach with an enormous ego. He’s in belichek territory.
Scoop Malinowski · November 8, 2013 at 7:32 am
Andrew but Uncle Toni doesn’t get near the credit and glory Rafa does. Rafa gets it all.
Scoop Malinowski · November 8, 2013 at 7:35 am
Nice win for Djokovic over Del Potro. He really seems to be in that groove where he is like a machine, not missing, he looks near unbeatable. I can see Djokovic regaining the dominant form from two years ago again next year and just rampaging through the tour, making a run at the Grand Slam too. His movement is just a bit smoother and more efficient than Nadal’s.
Tom Michael · November 8, 2013 at 8:07 am
This quote also preceded by the statement that the Nadal camp does not use sports psychologists.
“I talk to Rafa during matches. I know that it’s not allowed, but I think that at my age I have nothing to hide.â€
Scoop Malinowski · November 8, 2013 at 9:35 am
It shows a lack of respect for the rules of the sport. And the opponents of Rafa.
Tom Michael · November 8, 2013 at 9:45 am
Encouraging words like venga, vamos, and positivo is not coaching. And is not against the rules.
Harold · November 8, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Wawrinka should have kept his mouth shut. Now that Nadal clinched not having to play Djoker in the semi’s, he looks like he might dump the next 2 sets to screw Wawrinka out of the semi’s.
Payback sucks
Scoop Malinowski · November 8, 2013 at 7:51 pm
Harold it looked like that a little bit in the second set. But Rafa looks determined to win this event, and remind Djokovic who his daddy is, in the final. Rafa hit quite a few winners out there vs. Berdych didn’t he. Phooey on that idea that he can’t hit winners on a fast indoor court.
loreley · November 9, 2013 at 5:08 am
Uncle Toni is coaching Nadal while matches all the time. It’s nothing new. Nadal also takes time away from his opponents.
Via Twitter:
Rafa says he and Stan have good relationship: “That’s why I told Toni to stop because the relationship is more important than any match.”
https://twitter.com/EleanorcrooksPA/status/398958335484911616
Scoop Malinowski · November 9, 2013 at 8:24 am
It’s puzzling Loreley why Uncle Toni persists. I like how Rafa handles him. BTW do you know of the German runner Sabrina Mockenhaupt who finished 7th in the NYC Marathon? I did a Biofile with her. Really good one. What an interesting character she is.
loreley · November 9, 2013 at 9:53 am
I don’t know her.
Uncle Toni should shut up 😉
Andrew Miller · November 9, 2013 at 10:52 am
Nadal seems determined to put an end to the “I tank indoors” narrative. But Uncle Toni is out of line – he’s become the old school Richard Williams!
Gaurang · November 9, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Ok so my picks for group standings have been spot on. Am in the lucky zone as of now!
Maybe I should buy a few lottery tickets 🙂
Gaurang · November 9, 2013 at 12:56 pm
Oh considering I made the picks after the first match where wawrinka had already beat berdych, it makes the group standings picks look easy in hindsight (group b was tricky though) Let’s see what happens in the semi’s and finals.