It looks like Gael Monfils is ready to become a major factor in the grand slams. He’s really belting the backhand, coming into the net more and making the volleys. His serve looks bigger now too. Le Monf, despite a couple brain cramp ill-fated drop shots, played spectacular, winning tennis against Nadal in Doha and looks to have taken his game to a higher level with more emphasis on winning rather than being a showman. He has a new coach who I did not recognize, and The Magician Fabrice Santoro was sitting in his box during the straight set win over Nadal. After watching this fine performance by Monfils, I rate him as a serious contender to win a major this year.
How do you like Dolgopolov now? In Brisbane, he saved three match points, beat Stepanek in three sets (Steps is a former title winner in Brisbane), and dominated Simon in the semis 63 64, despite some kind of leg injury. Dolgopolov seems to be playing a little more patient and consistent tennis but he still assaults a high number of winners in each match. He’s got a great personality too, when the TV commentator asked him about the correct pronunciation of his name, he says it can be said both ways and he’s mixed up about it now too.
Grigor Dimitrov is another young player ready to make his move. Dimitrov destroyed Mardy Fish 61 62 at Hopman Cup and apparently Fish could not contain his frustration about being brutalized by Dimitrov, at least that’s Pat Cash’s interpretation on the confrontations they had during their match and the mixed doubles. Dimitrov said he didn’t know exactly what so irritated the American veteran but most accounts of the match say it was nothing specific, it just looked like Fish was having a bad day and was made to look helpless in the match. That’s never a good feeling, especially for a feisty and proud guy like Fish who surprised the tennis world by making the top ten in 2011.
The Tennis Channel crawl showed that Dominik Hrbaty won an ATP match against Pere Riba. I thought Hbraty retired a couple of years ago.
I don’t know about you but I love the new Murray/Lendl combination. Lendl is a tennis genius who knows what it feels like to fall short in grand slam finals. Lendl eventually figured it out by coming from two sets down in the French Open final vs. Johnny Mac, for his first and elusive major title. Lendl began to appear back on the ATP scene a couple of years ago at the US Open locker room for a senior’s event during the US Open and apparently he’s eager to get back into the world he once dominated. Lendl can only help Murray who is only a slight fine tuning away from winning his first, elusive major title.
Dimitrov's first top ten win vs. Fish
Dan markowitz · January 7, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Scoop.
Got to take you to task on your debut analysis in ’12. Monfils a slam contender? Semis or better? Not happening. Dolgopolov beats Steppy and Simon and he’s ready for big-time. I’ve got to see way more. Lendl a tennis genius? Maybe with his own game, but theres been no evidence to suggest he’ll say the right things to Murray or that even Andy is coachable.
Big big favorite is Djoko now. Roger and Rafa have faded big time in two weeks.
Scoop Malinowski · January 7, 2012 at 10:37 pm
The way Djokovic is playing now, the supreme confidence he exudes might be intimidating Rafa and Fed similarly to how Tyson brutalized boxing in the late 80’s. Djokovic is clearly the king of the hill and he might even be better this year. He looks like a machine right now. Dan you have to see Monfils, how he crushed Nadal. Very impressive. The qualities have always been there, like Murray, if he makes a few smart changes in his tactics and learns some new shots, La Monf can absolutely take it to a new level.
Gans · January 8, 2012 at 4:20 am
Scoop:
Gael played great against Nadal. I will agree but it stops right there. Just when it mattered the most, when the title was at stake the old Monfils arrive.
A very poor effort from Monfils in the finals. Although he is capable of playing at a high level, he seems to be not ready to take it to the next level to be able to win a major.
Dimitrov beat Mardy so thoroughly? Wow, but sad to hear the bad blood between the two. Mardy is beginning to lose his cool these days. Influence of Rod’dick’ may be?
Don’t be fooled by Djokovic’s confidence. You said it before. He is only playing possum! 🙂
Andrew Miller · January 8, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Doesn’t surprise me that Lendl wants back “in” on the ATP Tour and why not back in at the very highest levels of the game? This gives Lendl’s mind some challenges he didn’t even know were possible: how to beat Nadal, how to beat Federer, how to beat Djokovic – all players who will go down amongst the best in the sport.
He probably sees it as hey, I have Murray. I will try to use Murray to beat these guys – I can do it. Murray needs my brain and I need Murray’s game. We can do this.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this totally fails. But I also wouldn’t be surprised if it results in Murray’s first slam in 2012. However, whatever the case, this is similar to the Roddick-Connors pairing – you get two big egos together and, whether in two months or ten months this will have run its course. Let’s hope for good fireworks.
Dan Markowitz · January 8, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Say what, Andrew? Lendl needs Murray’s game? Lendl had a better game than Murray has. He was as fit, better serve, better forehand, better toughness. Better in all areas except for touch and court speed.
Scoop Malinowski · January 8, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Lendl had an aura of invincibility. My friend who managed the US Open locker room for decades told me the other players were in awe of Lendl, when Lendl walked by, they’d all turn and look at him in awe. He said he never saw another player receive that kind of reverence and awe, not even Nadal, Sampras or Federer. I will never forget how he said that. He also said Lendl used to walk around the locker room naked except for his socks on. lol. I think it’s going to be a massive benefit for Murray to have a guy like Lendl who will give him key advices in the key moments when he will need them most.
Mitch · January 9, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Andre Agassi also recounts a naked Lendl locker room moment in Open. Brad Gilbert also talks about this swagger in Winning ugly. This could be the most important thing he imparts to Murray, whose biggest problem is arguably his attitude.
Andrew Miller · January 10, 2012 at 4:51 am
Dan – why wouldn’t Lendl see coaching Murray as a chance to see if Lendl’s “mentality” would work on the ATP tour in 2012? Lendl can’t compete anymore – he’s no Muster and has no desire to play himself. But coaching another top tier player to slam wins against the very best in the game? That’s a pretty worthy challenge – and it would effectively pit Lendl’s way of seeing tennis versus the other guys ahead of Murray. That’s where Murray needs to go – somewhere he’s never been. Lendl’s been there over and over.
All that said I still don’t see how this pairing will work out more than this year. Lendl probably does not want back in on the grinding and Murray seems like a player who constantly needs a coach to grimace at. The best pairings seem to be top players with coaches who were “good” players but not superstars. See Roddick-Connors.