Mar/14
11
The Future On Display At Indian Wells Today
65 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Ernests Gulbis vs. Grigor Dimitrov. The Latvian Lip vs. The Bulgarian Bomber.
At the rate these two titans are surging through the ATP, it would not be a surprise if they are battling it out for majors sooner than later. Gulbis and Super G are forcing the best out of each other and their intense battles are the perfect tests to advance their games up to the elite level.
Eugenie Bouchard vs. Simona Halep. Neil Harman of the London Times tweeted today this match is “unmissable.”
Tennis-prose.com’ll be tuned in, if you’re not, we’ll tell you all about these two titanic showdowns in full and glorious detail.
My picks: Gulbis in three and Halep in three.
Enjoy…
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« Previous 1 2Doogie · March 13, 2014 at 7:42 pm
I also say this “subconscious tank theory” exists. We are on same page.
Agassi wrote it too and I believe in it. There are some reasons why u dont want to face one specific opponent.
Andrew Miller · March 13, 2014 at 11:27 pm
Patrick right. Dolgo a-ok.
EddietheEagle · March 14, 2014 at 8:05 am
Gulbis’s forehand preparation is very distinctive. It’s quite like Serena’s in the very early take back.
Scoop Malinowski · March 14, 2014 at 8:19 am
I did see Annacone come out to coach SS, he had his legs crossed with shades on, a little too casual for my liking. Rough loss for Sloane she let that one get away. There is no doubt Stan has nothing but love and respect for Fed, it’s like big brother little brother and father/son at the same time. There is no way Federer has done anything to make any player dislike him. If any player ever showed Fed any kind of disrespect, the Fed Army of fans would crush that player.
Scoop Malinowski · March 14, 2014 at 8:22 am
I enjoyed Dolgopolov beating Raonic too Patrick, the style contrast is night/day. Everyone loves how Dolgopolov plays and I haven’t heard anyone say they like Raonic’s style.
Dan Markowitz · March 14, 2014 at 8:47 am
I just don’t think you guys know how these guys think and compete. They didn’t get to where they are now, even if they’re only Top 50, thinking, “I can’t beat that guy.” It’s like the Vitas comment about Borg, “No one beats Vitas Gerulaitis 18 times in a row,” or something to that effect.
I asked Spadea once, have you ever gone into a match not wanting to play it because you were afraid of the venue or your opponent?” and he said, “No, that’s what I live and train for. I always think I can win.”
I’m betting Stan wants a piece of Roger. If he took out Murray, Djoko and Nadal, he probably wants Roger’s scalp, too.
Scoop Malinowski · March 14, 2014 at 10:23 am
Federer is differnt Dan. Players have even called him “The God of Tennis.” His fans are the greatest fans of any sport. I don’t think Stan likes to play his pal Roger, he’d much rather play anybody else. It’s got to be an uncomfortable feeling for Stan to play Federer or his good friend Paire. Speaking of players self belief, for my Facing Hewitt book I interviewed a player who actually told me one of the reasons he retired from the ATP was that there were certain players he knew he couldn’t beat. As important as confidence and self belief are, there are always exceptions when a player just knows deep down he can’t beat a certain other player. And it’s a dreadful feeling. I remember being told that Archie Moore said he knew he had no chance to beat the young Cassius Clay and it was the worst feeling in the world. I would not be surprised if Roddick called it quits because he knew he couldn’t beat Rafa or Djokovic ever again, and we know he isn’t particularly fond of Djokovic at all.
Andrew Miller · March 14, 2014 at 10:52 am
Wawrinka is doormat for Federer. Completely different case. Reminds me when gasquet played agassi in Rome a week after beating Federer in Monte Carlo in 2005. Against Federer he found his game. Vs. Agassi being a hero to him gasquet played awful and said so. The whole issue is whether you want to play them or not. Wawa always seems like a fed doormat.
As for dolgo vs. Raonic find it hard to cheer on raonic. His game is big and lumbering. For a big player my favorite game now is Kevin anderson. He can do it all .
Scoop Malinowski · March 14, 2014 at 12:24 pm
Andrew, it’s called deferring. Stan seems to defer to Federer most of the times they play. Well said: “The whole issue is whether you want to play them or not.” Bill Tilden once said “I never lose to someone I hate.” Put that in reverse, I bet he always would lose to someone he loved. You get the sense Stan adores Fed like a big bro.
Andrew Miller · March 14, 2014 at 8:03 pm
Agassi l. To chang to avoid Becker! Sometimes you just dont want to play someone.
Scoop Malinowski · March 14, 2014 at 8:25 pm
I know a nationally ranked player in the 35s and I remember him saying there were certain players he hated to lose to, meaning there were some that he liked and didn’t mind losing to. Dan you’re a lil out of touch on this, if you played tournaments and leagues regularly you’d be more in tune with these competitive intricacies.
Andrew Miller · March 14, 2014 at 8:50 pm
Williams girls! I still believe they dont want to play each other. Bryan bros until college never played and took turns defaulting to each other. It is smart – I know players that never played again because they lost to a brother etc. Even though they were by far the more talented being the younger player. Might even be happening with the djokovic boys or Harrison’s. Harrison 2 is a good player if he took a set off Izzy . there is a lot of psychology at play . some players probably dont do what klahn did and play Asia because they think they should play against their peers etc. It is possible that generations of u.s. players didn’t make it because they didn’t want to separate from the pack and its suffering.
Andrew Miller · March 14, 2014 at 8:50 pm
Aka instead of making themselves better they made themselves worse !
Scoop Malinowski · March 15, 2014 at 9:36 am
Good point Andrew, the Williams sisters must hate playing each other. I know the Radwanskas don’t like to play each other and stopped a while ago, they just hit and drill and practice together. It’s not healthy for family members to compete like hell against each other. Stan and Fed are like tennis brothers. We know the McEnroes didn’t like playing each other.
Abe Froman · March 17, 2014 at 9:13 am
@ pat…cilic, djoko, etc. are juicin now more than ever !….former-yugos will play with fire..