Milos Raonic: “I have to start winning more. Ive been doing things well but until recent weeks my mind hasnt been on tennis. At first it was about dealing with innuries. Then it was about trying to do as well as I can to win as many matches as possible on grass. Now is the first period of time that zive had to solely commit to tennis matches rather than all the other pieces around my game.”
“Former players (as coaches) tend to think that because something worked for them, it will work for you.”
Alexander Zverev: “My dad might be one of the greatest coaches of all time. He has two sons that are top 25 in the world. Im 8 in the world, my brother is 25 right now but he csn get even higher. We are two completely different game styles. That is not easy to do. Youve got to be very smart and know what to practice and what to teach. On court hes doing different things. I do different things. No other coach has done that – to bring two players from scratch to top 25 in the world. I think he really is one of the greatest coaches of all time.”
Eugenie Bouchard: “It was a very tough decision to play Challengers. It was very humbling to play Challenger events because it is so different than WTA events. You dont even need a pass to get anywhere. My team and my coaches didnt want me to play but I forced the issue. I wanted to punish myself a lil bit. Go see that people have to grind and work through. I skipped the whole Challenger scene because from juniors I was playing WTAs and Grand Slams. I didnt even win the tournament there because there are great players playing those events.”
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1 2 Next »Hartt · August 3, 2017 at 2:39 pm
I love that quote from Sascha because of course he is right. What his father has accomplished coaching 2 very different players is amazing.
Now Stan and Cilic are both battling injuries. It seems more a matter of when, not if, players will have serious injuries. I hope Milos has had his quota of injuries for the season. I wonder if the fact that so many players, both men and women, are hitting the ball extremely hard plays a role in a lot of these injuries.
Duke Carnoustie · August 3, 2017 at 3:17 pm
No Wawrinka, Cilic, Murray and of course Djokovic in Montreal. This should mean a big opportunity if anyone can seize it.
Andrew Miller · August 3, 2017 at 4:18 pm
Wow. For such a good tournament? Bad news…
catherine · August 3, 2017 at 4:25 pm
Hartt- players play a lot on different surfaces, and usually a style pretty tough on the body. It’s probably not necessary to belt the ball so hard but that’s the fashion. Unless you’re Roger Federer.
Bouchard took a third set pounding I notice. She’s certainly going in for some self-punishment.
Scoop Malinowski · August 3, 2017 at 4:27 pm
Very interesting for Zverev to praise his dad and i fully agree. No prominent tennis figure has publicly credited Pop Zverev and what he has done is miraculous. Just did biofile with Caspar Ruud and interview with dad Christian about Caspar. Great stuff.
Hartt · August 3, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Scoop, am looking forward to the Ruud Biofile.
I am just getting over Milos’ match against Baghdatis. Milos got off to a slow start, just barely managed to win the first set TB, but played better as the match went on. His groundies in particular improved. He will want to peak in Montreal next week.
I see Sock won over Donaldson, taking the 2nd set easily.
Hartt · August 3, 2017 at 6:21 pm
For Canadian women players right now the one I am very excited about is Bianca Andreescu, who is just starting her pro career. She only turned 17 a few weeks ago. Today she beat Kiki Mladenovic in SS. I could not see her match because it was on at the same time as Milos, but someone did a running commentary on it. After getting off to a slow start Bianca dominated for the rest of the match. She is now No. 143 in live tennis rankings. So both Bianca and Denis have recently cracked the top 150.
I was planning on seeing Bianca play at the Rogers Cup qualies on Sat. But, with Sharapova withdrawing, Bianca got the main draw WC she should have received in the first place. So, I will have to be satisfied with whoever else is playing.
Scoop Malinowski · August 3, 2017 at 6:39 pm
Andreescu is the real deal.02 down then dominated a top player. She is big strong and Serena stout. Her win cost me a scheduled Mladenovic biofile though.
Hartt · August 3, 2017 at 7:01 pm
Scoop, sorry to hear you did not get the Mladenovic biofile. Maybe you should do one on Bianca. Catch her at her first WTA tourney. Bianca and partner Chirico are scheduled to play their QF match tonight, but I wonder if they will get to play because of the rain. Bianca has been a heroine in more than one Fed Cup tie as well as what she is accomplishing here. Starts off by beating Giorgi, then wins over Kiki. Can she go farther?
Andrew Miller · August 3, 2017 at 7:02 pm
Halep wins from a set down. On a day where everyone else in her draw got the upset bug, this is a great result. She can keep Cahill for another match 😉
Hartt · August 3, 2017 at 8:18 pm
According to the Tennis Canada website Bianca Andreescu is the first WTA player born in 2000 to beat a top 20 player. She can’t let Felix have all the fun in the youngest ever department! 🙂
Duke Carnoustie · August 4, 2017 at 12:01 am
So Fritz went down to Kokkanikis? Kokk is the U.S. #NextGen killer south of our border.
Semis are Kokkinakis v. Berdych and Querrey v. Lopez or Dzumhur.
Interesting that the tournament ends Saturday, giving the finalists an extra day to get ready for Montreal.
Huge win for Kevin Anderson over Thiem. Paul locked in a tight one with Muller. I am headed to bed.
Duke Carnoustie · August 4, 2017 at 12:02 am
Crazy that Anderson is 6-0 vs. Thiem.
Duke Carnoustie · August 4, 2017 at 12:05 am
Also FYI Fognini pulls out of Montreal.
catherine · August 4, 2017 at 2:24 am
Andrew –
Her first two matches Simona has dropped the first set against opponents she should beat with one hand tied behind her back.
I think this is a cunning tactic on the part of Cahill. Let’s see if it works with Makarova 🙂
catherine · August 4, 2017 at 2:53 am
Has Sharapova withdrawn from Toronto ? I thought it was just Stanford.
Hartt – if you are going to qualies tomorrow maybe you’ll see some of the MD players practising.I imagine most will be there already if they are out of previous tournaments or didn’t play.
catherine · August 4, 2017 at 5:04 am
PS
My mistake – SH bt Sloane in 2 but a long first set. So that counts a 3 🙂
Doogie · August 4, 2017 at 6:51 am
Anisimova through to quarterfinal again.
Currently ranked 180 with 9 tournaments played!
Plays Bektas today – expect another win.
Doogie · August 4, 2017 at 6:59 am
@duke
how do u know that with Fognini?
Where do u get these infos from?
Hartt · August 4, 2017 at 7:04 am
Catherine, yes Sharapova has withdrawn from Toronto.
I usually see some of the practices. I got to see Serena from just a few feet away and that was a great way to understand just how powerful she is.
Chazz · August 4, 2017 at 9:21 am
I saw part of the Thiem-Anderson match last night and what a match that was, it was played at such a high level. Anderson is just ripping winners whether it’s his serve, FH or BH. I think he has a great chance to win the tournament.
Tommy Paul has gone up 51 spots to #174 this week. Kokkinakis and Paul emerging has to be the top story this week.
Scoop Malinowski · August 4, 2017 at 9:58 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Anderson is now 6-0 vs Thiem. That is one of those head scratchers like Safin vs Santoro and Wayne Ferreira beating Sampras seven times. Thiem seemed to be working a lot on his serve in practice all week.
Scoop Malinowski · August 4, 2017 at 10:05 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
If the US #NEXTGEN is a horse race I have Paul leading by a neck right now with Donaldson in second and Tiafoe Fritz right there. Just out of the money are Kozlov and Opelka and Escobedo. Mmoh and Rubin are bringing up the rear.
jg · August 4, 2017 at 10:46 am
They are saying the courts are playing lightening fast, which doesn’t help Thiem, those courts used to play pretty slow but they resurface every year before the tournament and I wonder if they did it on purpose, they completely rebuilt the grandstand court, it was a rubble heap about a month ago. I’m going to play there when they reopen in 2 weeks and see how they play. Tommy Paul must like the fast courts.
catherine · August 4, 2017 at 10:59 am
Wawrinka out for the rest of ’17.
Shuffling around at top of ATP.
Chazz · August 4, 2017 at 11:05 am
Woah, first Djoker and now Wawrinka out? USO should be very interesting with frontrunners maybe being Fed, Nadal, Murray and Cilic (in that order?).
Scoop Malinowski · August 4, 2017 at 11:33 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Sock said the courts are fast with grandstand faster than stadium.
catherine · August 4, 2017 at 12:04 pm
I wouldn’t count on Murray, last I heard.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 12:05 pm
Tommy Paul! I mean, undeniable now. Eubanks shocked USA men’s tennis last week (even as Isner won a title and motivated Sock and Querrey to man up this week). Tommy Paul shocked USA men’s tennis this week AND was the less emphasized story in Atlanta.
Sure, a few small tournaments.
But he’s beating real players, whether they retire or not.
Admittedly:
I liked Caspar Ruud’s game. Clean ball. But if you can’t make it in the heat it’s game over in this sport.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 12:06 pm
Harrison also has put in a solid effort, though was drummed out this week against the Baghdatis.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 12:07 pm
Bouchard, more endearing even as her results trail off. Quaint.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Monica Puig: Nostalgic over olympics and pledges to win a slam, according to USA today newspaper.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Fast courts suit USA men. Except for poor Kudla, who hates his hometown tournament surface.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Eubanks is best next Gen player from USA. He exposed Fritz and Donaldson lack of effort and courage. Though one tournament and a home crowd boosted him, his opponents were far more hyped and had more resources such as coaching and scouting. Eubanks showed superior technique and was more fierce.
Lets not deny what our eyes saw out there. In a talented generations of new players here in the states, and a fluid dynamic where players are rising and falling in the rankings, two players have been smashing everyone else. Eubanks and Paul. Donaldson may be holding steady as Escobedo and Fritz and Tiafoe and Opelka take a back seat, but this is the heart of the USA season.
Sell your Fritz stock until he gets a real coach.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 12:18 pm
Ok, Donaldson is consistent and good. But obviously has an issue with power and his return game.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 12:19 pm
Fritz movement is poor. Needs proper coach. Gimelstob or someone.
catherine · August 4, 2017 at 12:42 pm
Puig pledges a Slam ? Coaches line up please 🙂
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 2:10 pm
Puig said it this week. Will nostalgia rob her of a decent career? I don’t think this is a bad question, everyone on this blog followed her unreal olympics. But her performance if there’s no medal stand has been…n/e
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 2:19 pm
Dan’s right, cats away mice playing over past two weeks. I’d argue whoever wins will be in better position come masters and us open, but peaking now matters very little.
Scoop Malinowski · August 4, 2017 at 2:46 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Donaldson is hitting harder now. I have seen him play for three years now, since he played doubles here three years ago with Kozlov vs the Bryans on stadium court. In the last year he has made a giant stride. He is stronger and he hits the ball with a different sound now. He was up the mini break in the first set TB on Sock but Sock raised his level. He definitely made up ground from Miami loss to Sock. Not giving up on Donaldson. He could be the best of the bunch.
catherine · August 4, 2017 at 2:58 pm
Andrew –
I think it was me who mentioned the mice, not Dan, who was more keen on spotting references to The Player Who Isn’t Competing This Week.
I retired the mice a while ago because they had exhausted their repertoire and collapsed.
Where are the cats ? Awaiting in Toronto, Montreal and Cinci ?
Fattening up.
catherine · August 4, 2017 at 3:27 pm
Another 3 setter for SH – Cahill must be busy rationalising: ‘It’s all good practice’ etc etc
And Andrew – I do agree that peaking now actually means very little when it comes to the USO.
Puig – as the memory of her Rio medal fades with time she may have a better chance of getting to grips with improving her game. At present I imagine most players see her as still living on the past glory.
catherine · August 4, 2017 at 3:30 pm
Oops ! Simona’s retired in 3rd – don’t know why. Not good if injury.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Puig said she cant help thinking about olympics.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 4:08 pm
Yes Catherine you and Dan said same thing different ways. You had cat mice reference and dan just said Atlanta etc has weakest field.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 4:09 pm
Scoop I have no crystal ball. You have one with Harrison, you saw him in stands with Dan at us open in 2010. You both liked him. You guys also saw Escobedo and liked him too.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 4:10 pm
Scoop, as for Donaldson who knows? I liked the easy power of Eubanks. Clean game. No messing around. Sharp strategic play. Could be just one dream run, a mirage but I thought wow, cut through the field.
Andrew Miller · August 4, 2017 at 4:12 pm
Scoop, as you know I’m hard on Fritz. Bad on court habits and stroke and fitness issues.
Chazz · August 4, 2017 at 4:36 pm
Sock sure looks like he has snapped out of his lengthy slump. That was an unexpected win over Raonic, didn’t see that coming. Anderson is most likely his next opponent in the semifinal.
catherine · August 4, 2017 at 4:47 pm
Simona says she retired because the heat was affecting her. Felt sick.
Was it that hot when she was playing ? Has anyone else had to retire ? She certainly didn’t look very well.
Wonder about S’s fitness sometimes. Hope she’s ok for Toronto.
Usual stuff to the press about loving DC and wanting to return. I don’t think.