Throughout his career, Lopez has played in the most five-set matches that have gone beyond 6–6, with the longest fifth set being 16–14er at the 2009 Australian Open against Gilles Müller.
Four years ago at the US Open is when I became a believer in the intestinal fortitude of the Spaniard. He was battling Ivan Dodig in the first round on grandstand, first match on. It was hotter than hot that day. It was scorching just sitting there in the media box. Lopez was getting smoked by the Croatian but he somehow 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 Tatsumi Ito in another rugged four sets on another brutally hot afternoon duel. Remember, this was the same US Open that forced Americans Jack Sock and Steve Johnson to retire.
Lopez showed further Iron Man tendencies at the Australian Ope three years ago. Lopez saved three match points and beat Denis Kudla in five sets. Lopez outlasted Adrian Mannarino who retired in the fourth set, unable to even properly walk, his legs were so fatigued. Lopez won again in the third round and set up a fourth round duel with Milos Raonic. 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.
Does this guy ever get tired?
Lopez’s overall five set record is 24-11. He has almost 9,000 aces. Six career singles titles. A Roland Garros doubles title won against the Bryan Brothers. Hall of Fame worthy material?
Lopez is still a lethal force in the ATP at 36 years of age. He just won Queens Club last summer in a marathon final vs Cilic. He smoked Jack Sock last night in Indian Wells, a player he had been 1-2 career against. Lopez 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 at age 36?
Nope, it hasn’t and it may never. Feliciano Lopez is the ATP’s “Iron Man.”
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1 2 Next »JG · March 14, 2018 at 9:36 am
could it be the style of play of Lopez and Federer is less taxing on the body, especially on hard courts.
Scoop Malinowski · March 14, 2018 at 9:43 am
JG; Or Lopez is just a super fit beast with some good Spanish doctors advising him on training regimens.
Hartt · March 14, 2018 at 9:51 am
Scoop, interesting piece. His win over Cilic at Queens was one of the best matches I have seen in a long time. But I had not realised that Feli is such an iron man.
Duke Carnoustie · March 14, 2018 at 10:46 am
Who is the lovely lady in the picture with Feli?
It was a nice match but Sock lost. He isn’t better than these kind of players and certainly not in a Slam.
Michael in UK · March 14, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Great to read this piece Scoop, you make a very strong case!
Scoop Malinowski · March 14, 2018 at 3:06 pm
Thanks Michael. It’s a special achievement by Lopez and deserves recognition. The measuring stick for great players should not just be how many majors they won or their ranking, that’s a narrow-minded approach to grading and categorizing players.
Bryan · March 14, 2018 at 3:32 pm
I always enjoyed watching Lopez play and if he’s not playing one of my top guys usually root him on to win. A true grinder, the tour needs more like him.
Duke Carnoustie · March 14, 2018 at 3:43 pm
So nobody knows who the woman is?
Scoop Malinowski · March 14, 2018 at 3:51 pm
Duke, i used the photo from twitter. Because it’s recent and I could fit it into the story without overlapping. No idea who she is but she’s a beauty. Could probably find out by searching FL on twitter and scroll down a ways it should pop up.
Hartt · March 14, 2018 at 5:57 pm
Will post this here because it is the most recent thread. Kohlschreiber just won over Herbert in SS, the 2nd set going to a TB that Kohli won easily. Especially given the extremely windy conditions, Kohli played well throughout the match. After defeating Cilic yesterday, Kohli is having a good run at IW. Unfortunately, there is a good chance he will face Delpo next.
Kohli is a player who is fun to watch. There was 1 point in particular that should make the highlight reels. He had a tough dig, and then Herbert hit his shot on the sideline. Kohli ran like crazy, got outside the sideline and hit his shot just barely inside. Herbert had no chance. Both guys had to laugh.
Kohli is 34, and said he is still enjoying tennis. Not too long ago he hired a new coach, so he is still working on his game.
Scoop Malinowski · March 14, 2018 at 8:38 pm
Kohlschreiber is a very good player, always felt if he hired a top coach like a Ljubicic or a Moya or Gilbert or Cahill, he could have been a top ten player. He was very close but got stuck in that 15-40 range. He has all the qualities and shots, and he’s still proving that he is a top player. He’s had a very good career but maybe he could have gone a few steps higher up the mountain if he had some better coaching.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 3:12 am
Martic takes Simona to 3 sets. Osaka bts Pliskova.
I think Angie will win this.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 3:38 am
Don’t know who advised Naomi to hire Bajun but it’s paid off. Very impressed with her play v Pliskova. Definitely a Serena type game in there somewhere.
Thinking again, Angie may not win this but she should be pleased with how far she’s come in a tournament which has never suited her.
Simona looked a bit sloppy at times. She hasn’t been tested yet.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 4:29 am
Sascha Bajin of course I mean.
scoopmalinowski · March 15, 2018 at 6:24 am
Osaka looks ready. Shes a rising force.
Dan Markowitz · March 15, 2018 at 8:15 am
I find Osaka to be one of the female players I really like watching. She’s like a mini-Serena without the Serena hijinks. How can anyone be a fan of Halep? Who demeanor is so off-putting. The way she treated her coach Darren Cahill when he came out to coach her on-court during the Martic match is beyond bad. She didn’t make eye contact with Cahill at all and then when he gave his coaching, she waved him off with a doff of her hand.
Cahill, if he had any respect, would resign from his post after IW because its not only embarrassing, it’s disrespectful.
What is it about IW that players get sick all the time? Last year it was Kyrgios pulling out with an upset stomach and then last night Baghdatis got ill too. They talk about the low humidity in the desert, but maybe the extreme heat knocks these guys out.
Qball is the only American who can win semi-big matches. The fact that he dismissed F Lo routinely where Sock had so much trouble with the Spaniard is telling.
Hartt · March 15, 2018 at 8:27 am
Yes, Sascha seems to have been a good choice as Osaka’s coach.
Speaking of him, it was a nice change on twitter when he complimented Maria Sakkari. After the match with Osaka she congratulated the members of Naomi’s team. As Sascha said, so much stuff on twitter is negative – so good for him to say something positive about an opponent.
Scoop Malinowski · March 15, 2018 at 8:57 am
F Lo could have been spent from the Sock epic, maybe needed a day of recovery. But Querrey is really stepping it up now, plays with fire and desire now and he looks potent. I think Sam is finally putting it all together. I don’t mind Halep being in a bad mood when losing or venting on Cahill. Some of the women players are known for venting on their coaches, no one more famously than Muguruza’s epic line to Sumyk, “Tell me something I don’t know.” Let’s face it, some women players like to vent their frustrations on the coach. Lord knows what happens behind closed doors or when no one is watching.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 9:20 am
Simona is Queen in Romania and she gets what she wants. She’s wearing Pink Pyjamas because That’s What She Wanted.
I wouldn’t like to say Simona is getting a bit above herself but this isn’t the first time she’s made Cahill look like a dismissed servant on court. Next time Darren splits from her he should just stay away. I’m sure a lot of ATP guys would be pleased to hear from him.
And it’s not as if Her Majesty would be lacking in suitors for the vacant coaching job.
Women players are frequently a bit off-hand with their coaches. Maybe the WTA should offer lessons in courtesy. Occ is after all supposed to ‘enhance the fan experience.’ Which it often does, but perhaps not in quite the way the WTA envisaged.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 9:55 am
Scoop – I mind bad manners toward coaches on court because it’s unnecessary and makes the coach look pitiful and humiliated.
Truly classy players don’t do it.
If players need to ‘vent’ they can go off somewhere after the match and beat up a pillow or something.
Scoop Malinowski · March 15, 2018 at 9:57 am
Catherine, I have noticed your tone towards Halep has changed rather drastically 🙂 “Her Majesty” 🙂 “Her Majesty Halep” is the Queen not only of Romania but also of all of tennis. And the fact of the matter is Cahill is her strategy servant and cheerleader. Catherine you and Mr. Cahill must adapt to the new Simona world order 🙂
Hartt · March 15, 2018 at 10:05 am
This is one reason I don’t like OCC. Too often both the player and the coach end up looking bad. Simona acknowledges that she will call on Cahill to calm her down. But she should learn to deal with frustration herself, and not expect someone else to do it for her.
Scoop Malinowski · March 15, 2018 at 10:17 am
Hartt; It’s a known fact that players like to vent at and yell at their coaches and boxes. Hewitt used to shout sometimes for his box to not just sit there like mannequins. Lopez has a tendency to mockingly vent at his box. Gimelstob did too according to Dan. Verdasco was just doing it this week in the Fritz match. Coaches and boxes have to put up with a lot of stuff. But they have it easy, they just go on vacations and enjoy the first class treatment and sit in the box while the player is out there fighting on the court, doing all the work and enduring all the suffering and of course getting all the glory if he or she wins. Coaches and boxes have it easy compared to the player.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 10:24 am
Hartt – yes, the whole dynamic is wrong, particularly if it is a male coach, as it usually is. Few times I’ve seen a woman coach everything’s been much calmer.
Scoop – I will bow down to the new Simona World Order when she wins a couple of GS without coaching assistance on court 🙂
I have to confess my attitude to Simona changed in some way when she didn’t go to Rio. Irrational maybe, but there you are.
Chazz · March 15, 2018 at 10:32 am
No mention of Fritz but he had his hands full with Coric, who is playing extremely well. He had his chances but Coric gave him a gift in the 2nd set tiebreaker when he netted an easy put-away. BTW, what’s with Coric’s hat being slightly tilted sideways? I have noticed this before. Is he some sort of Croatian gangster?
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 10:39 am
Scoop – it’s not all a bed of roses for a coach. You can get sacked at a moment’s notice,leaving, in some cases, lasting ill-feeling. No pension, not much of a golden parachute unless the coach has been farsighted.
And boxes have filled over the years – used to be there would be hardly anyone in the box. Now it’s coach plus coaching staff plus loved ones. And the player decides who goes in the box.
Ban boxes ! More seats for bigwigs of the ITF 🙂
Joe Blow · March 15, 2018 at 10:45 am
OCC is horrible. If the ATP had it, and the players acted towards their coaches in the disrespectful way the women do, there might be fistfights on court.
It’s not enhancing to the viewer, because, they only call for their coach when they are losing or playing bad. Who wants to see pissed off players forced to smile, and act as if their coach better have the answers. When they show they’re pissed off, it’s a bad optic.
Failed experiment! Go back to letting the players figure it out for themselves.
On another topic. The Tennis world better hope Fed and the rest of the Big 5,play 5 more years, The next gen is so not ready. Zverev, Thiem,Dimitrov, still a ways to go before they win 7,5 set matches. Rest of the tour has no juice. There were 500 people watching the 3rd set of Delpo
Coric/Fritz was boring and error filled, Feds playing decent tennis and doesn’t face break points, and straight sets everyone.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 10:58 am
Another thing about occ is that the male coaches are usually down on one knee in front of the player like some mediaeval knight asking for a favour from his Lady.
But often all he gets is a raspberry 🙂
Joe Blow · March 15, 2018 at 11:02 am
Go back to the old days. Coach pulls his left ear, play the opponents back hand, right ear, forehand. Picks his nose come to net( never happens in women’s game..ha ha)
Hartt · March 15, 2018 at 11:05 am
I think the big problem for tennis when the big 4 (or 5) retire is with casual fans. They want to see the big names and aren’t especially interested in tennis in general. Hopefully, serious tennis fans enjoy watching a variety of players and will turn out to see Zverev, Dimitrov, Nishikori, Raonic, Tiafoe, Shapovalov, etc. Or, if they can’t attend a tourney, will watch them on TV.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 11:25 am
Harrt – serious tennis fans in Britain wouldn’t fill the Albert Hall, and it’s not on free tv either. So they can watch W’don (still free) and that’s it. Except WTF which seems a social occasion as much as anything.
You just hope some new star will burst upon the scene. Felix ? Denis ?
Joe Blow – I’ve seen some coaching from the stands eg Torben Beltz touching peak of his cap and rubbing his left ear lobe – much good did it do him, or Angie come to that. Beltz won’t have the same opportunities with Vekic, who usually exits tournaments before coaching, on court or off, has any noticeable effect.
Joe Blow · March 15, 2018 at 11:25 am
The “ casual” fan fills up the stadium, because it’s an “ event”, seen, and be seen mentality of the new mindset, when it’s Fed or Nadal. When they leave there’s going to be a huge drop off. Z, Thiem and Dimitrov are GS capable players but no juice. Shapo and Kyrgios still a way to go. I’m not as impressed with Tiafoe as some of you on here
Cablevision one of the biggest Cable TV companies blew off the Tennis Channel years ago, and didn’t look back. ESPN pretty much dumped the Masters series, except for QF and on. Tennis in US is like hockey, real loyal fans, but only for the Majors or Stanley Cup playoffs.
Nationality helps in tennis because it’s an individual sport and rooting interest to follow.
Promoters didn’t give Tiafoe a WC into Miami? Unless Tiafoe turned it down to maybe get some matches, no excuse. Eubanks and Ymer got WC’s, plus some weird other choices.
Here’s a future dream for the Newport and Delray fans on here, in 2020, Fed chasing Connors for his 109 and 110 title enters those 250’s to get the record
Joe Blow · March 15, 2018 at 11:29 am
I watched a Zina Garrison match many years ago, happened to be sitting next to her coach and friends. She looked at him every point, he was doing something every point.was hard not to watch the dynamic. Coach looked at me cross eyed, wanted to tell him, don’t worry about me, I don’t work for the ITF
Dan Markowitz · March 15, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Hartt,
Every one of the players you mentioned except for Shapovalov and maybe a little interest in Tiafoe, I don’t usually seek out going to their matches. There’s something called flair and personality and only Shapovalov, Kyrgios, Fed and Nadal really have it on tour now. I mean Opelka interests me now because he’s a talented freak and I like watching a Gasquet, Wawa and Sela for their stylish play and one-handers. Djoko in his prime drew my interest as did Murray because of their high level of play, but of these young guys coming up: Zverev, Chung, Donaldson, Fritz, I’m not that interested.
scoopmalinowski · March 15, 2018 at 12:23 pm
Blake snubbed Tiafoe a wc or is Big Foe in main draw? Seems too many non Americans got wcs into miami. Fritz vs Coric was fantastic. Fritz was fantastic and stole second set but fell just short in the end.
Hartt · March 15, 2018 at 12:49 pm
Did Tiafoe need a WC for Miami? The player list goes to Marius Copil at No. 93, and presumably Tiafoe would have made that.
Hartt · March 15, 2018 at 12:53 pm
Dan, we all like to watch different players, and I think there are lots of fans for the players I mentioned.
But it’s true that the players who have charisma in addition to great tennis skills will bring out more fans. I know I’m not objective about these two, but the crowd support they get in tournaments points to both Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime having that charisma. I don’t expect anyone will have the incredible support that both Fed and Nadal have, but there will be exciting players in the future.
JG · March 15, 2018 at 2:07 pm
Tiafoe moved up in the rankings with Delray win, I am sure he’s direct entry–Johnson just squeezed out a win in the Dallas Challenger-that field looks better than a lot of 250’s. Surprised Tiafoe didn’t enter, he’s not getting in any matches since Delray — other than first round loss at Indian Wells. Maybe he should just start practicing on clay. Speaking of, I read the Tennis Magazine interview with Blake, the tournament director for Miami and he said its too hot in Miami to turn the event into a clay court tournament because the points would last long and it would be tough on the players–that reason doesn’t make sense to me, there may be other reasons but that one doesnt do it. I would like to see a green clay mens tournament in the US other than a challenger, the east coast players grew up playing on green clay. Has anyone seen Federer play on green clay, I bet he’d enjoy it, it plays faster than the red.
Joe Blow · March 15, 2018 at 3:10 pm
From Wertheim Twitter
Sweden’s Mikhail Ymer (No. 360) Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic (No. 183) gets a Miami Open wild card. Frances Tiafoe (no. 64 with a win over DelPo) is in qualies.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 3:10 pm
Kasatkina bts Kerber 6-0 6-2.
Seriously, I thought it might be close. I was wrong.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 3:16 pm
Shriver: Have you ever played better ?
Kasatkina: I think, no…
Hartt – you should give yourself a treat for that one.
Chazz · March 15, 2018 at 3:16 pm
Joe Blow, that makes absolutely no sense at all.
Hartt · March 15, 2018 at 3:22 pm
Wow, I thought that Dasha had a decent shot at winning that match, but did not expect this. She could do no wrong and poor Angie had no answers. Daria said she was excited about possibly playing Venus – thinks it will be a night match in the big stadium.
Catherine, I have to be tough about the treats, but Dasha could win this tourney, especially if she keeps playing like this. And, as she says, the high-bouncing ball really helps her. She will move into the top 20 and, if she wins IW she will be in the top 10.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 3:38 pm
Yes – but the way Daria was playing I think she would have won on a ploughed field.
The desert air and high bounce took its usual toll on Angie. Maybe she underestimated K. Anyway, she departs IW having never won a PMandatory tournament in her entire career.
It’s amazing to think Dasha is currently outside the top 20, until this match.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 3:49 pm
Chris Evert falling over herself in praise of Kasatkina’s all court game.
Maybe that was Angie’s problem – when did she last play anyone with an all court game ?
Hartt · March 15, 2018 at 4:17 pm
Yesterday’s NY Times had a long article by Christopher Clarey about Dasha and her coach, Philippe Dehaes. Apparently they started working together last fall and according to the piece, as well as Dasha herself in her last press conference, he has helped her confidence.
Her coach said of her game that it “really is atypical.”
The coach also said: “She likes the show. She likes the jump backhands, the drop shots. She plays this way naturally, but it’s festive tennis.” In other words, she is fun to watch!
He does not favour OCC and was “super proud” that Daria did not ask for it during her matches with Stephens and Wozniacki. He knows that her goal is to win a Grand Slam, and of course OCC is not allowed at them. (Don’t you wish that more coaches took this approach?)
No wonder he gives her confidence. He said to her: “Dasha, you have everything in your game to be one of the best girls in the world. You just have to do the right thing at the right moment, perfectly.” And of course that is exactly what Dasha did today. 🙂
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Thanks Hartt – very interesting. I watched the highlights and understand what Chris meant by ‘all-court game’ – Daria doesn’t go to the net or anything but she has such variety in her shots that she can hit from almost any position. That sliding backhand you’ll see repeated on clips is something else.
I wonder if Kerber’s team did any real scouting – Angie must have seen Daria play at IW but for much of this match she looked shell shocked. Fisette should be pondering a few things. Good to hear Dehaes’ views on occ – don’t think Angie asked for it this match – she wouldn’t have had time 🙂
Hartt · March 15, 2018 at 4:52 pm
I think Angie did have OCC – yes she did because I remember hearing German. I was commenting at the time, so did not watch it.
Hartt · March 15, 2018 at 5:00 pm
Dasha doesn’t go to the net often, but she can make a put away volley. The main thing I like about her style is that she is not a “Big Babe Ball Basher,” as one poster calls them.
catherine · March 15, 2018 at 6:08 pm
I caught up with the occ – Fisette went on and on and Angie didn’t say anything at all. She also took a toilet break – I’ve never seen her do that before. Definitely not her day.