Pancho Segura was on the grounds again today, the 92 year old legend was being wheeled around in his chair by son Spencer next to the Sock-Gonzo match fourth set. I was able to collect these nuggets of wisdom from the Hall of Famer…
Tomic: I like him very much. He might become the best player in the world. He’s got everything. He can play the net more. He can serve. I love his slice backhand. Very good at baseline.”
Djokovic: Super athlete. Could be more of a killer.”
Harrison: “He has a temperment problem.”
Isner: “He’s a quiet contender. Anybody who has a serve like that can win.”
Dimitrov: “I love the Bulgarian kid. I like his game very much. He hasn’t won any big matches. You have to win a big match.”
Nadal: “Nadal is my pick to win the tournament.”
Gulbis: “I like his game. But he plays like he has no head. He has temperment problems.”
Raonic: “He goes to the net from too far back.”
“We may see a new champion.”
“We will see someone who can serve lefty and righty, that will come soon.”
‘I beat Jack Kramer in Cleveland 6-4 in the fifth set. He got mad at me. He didn’t talk to me for two weeks.”
“Today we don’t have anyone who attacks second serves or short balls. Safin and Soderling did.”
“Rios was a great player. But he had a bad temperment. I don’t think he was a credit to the game for the way he behaved. Tennis is a game of opportunity for people. You should be grateful to play the game. He was a great talent.”
Thomas Tung · August 30, 2013 at 12:50 am
Would love to know what he thinks of Dogopolov or, for that matter, Berdych/Murray. It’d be nice to have an extended article, or even a book, where he gives his opinion of all players of note on the ATP tour, past and present …
Doogie · August 30, 2013 at 6:29 am
@ kelsey
X-Man last tournament will be the AUS-Open. He will retire after that. Another “legend” leaves the tour 🙁
Scoop Malinowski · August 30, 2013 at 10:53 am
Thomas, you’re right if I see him again today I will ask him for more player comments. I asked about Sock but he hadn’t seen Sock yet.
dan markowitz · August 30, 2013 at 9:45 pm
Scoop and I were watching Del Po against Hewitt in Ashe. Del Po looked a goner with Hewitt serving for a two set lead, but lo and behold, Lleyton double faulted on set and then break point and Del Po won the breaker and now is up two sets to one. What is it with Del Po, the guy looks like a world beater at times and then in matches like tonight, he barely treads water. I know he has a 2-2 lifetime record against Hewitt, but at this point in Lleyton’s career, Del Po should be crunching Hewitt.
We also just walked out to Court 4 where Hingis after losing in the doubles earlier today against the No. 1-seeded team of Vinci and Errani, is playing mixed doubles with the Swede, Lindstedt against Bhuphati and Chan. The Court is packed and Martina looks very fetching and is competing well.
Back upstairs to see if Del Po can close it out.