Qatar Chaos: Murray vs. Djokovic play the match of the decade

Match I wanted see is Ram Arevalo. Indiana’s best ever player vs El Salvador’s best ever player. So many u.s. men’s players floundering in qualifiers in Australian open. Baker lost. Kozlov lost badly to Bhambri who usually qualifies every year. Mmoh is probably thrilled in main draw. Some lesser known players as advancing like Krueger.
Glad lone wolf Sock patches up with Harrison. Harrison relieved he’s main draw.

Tiafoe Smycheck should be the match of the qualies.

The Sock-Harry dynamic is an interesting one. You’re right, Scoop, I remember seeing the two of them up on the porch there in Newport and they were going over fantasy football picks. I think there is tension between the two because Harry was undisputed top dog and then Sock just usurped him and not only did Harry not follow close on his tail, he dropped back much further. Now that Harry might be making a resurgence, it’ll be interesting to see if a rivalry will develop.

Did you see Brydan Klein beat Shapavolov in the second round of an Aussie challenger last week, but lost in the final round of that event. I didn’t see his name in Aussie O qualies and doubt he’s in Main Draw with his ranking around no. 250.

Was glad to hear Filip Peliwo won a match, even if it was because of a retirement. I know successful juniors don’t always do well as pros but Peliwo’s drop seems to be especially bad. In 2012 he won 2 juniors Slams – Wimby and the USO and was RU in the other 2, finishing the season as the top junior. Right now he is ranked 512 and turns 23 later this month, so he isn’t a youngster any more. Even accounting for injury problems this is an unfortunate record. Filip is a relatively small guy, 5’11” and slim but other small players like Goffin have been successful.

He and Felix are also in doubles in the Futures tourney. But I can’t see Peliwo getting very far at this stage of his career. I wonder how guys like him manage to fund their tennis.

Not to say he won’t just that the pros is another level and guys like Ginepri made bold moves to work with premiere coaches. If he wants a say in Canada’s tennis this year he’ll need to dial it up and push himself. Otherwise he’ll look around and find himself comparing notes with Bhambri and Quinzi and Andrea Collarini if not Oliver Golding. Incredibly USOPEN jrs is closest to sure thing in Jr tennis a marker of whether a Jr will make it or not but it’s not quite true. For every Sock there’s jury’s still out Jasika. For every Murray a Peliwo.

Hartt I’m sure every player has a story and I’m sure few players have the endorsement money of Jack Sock. Scoop you already know I am a sucker for a great game or grit I AM A FAN OF KRISTI BOOGERT!!! For goodness’ sakes. My guess is tennis Canada has a limited pot of money and it’s going to anyone but Peliwo. So either a player figures out how to max his game or he gets sidelined. Brian Baker has done this. Maybe Peliwo should talk to him. But slumming in futures is bad news. He won a futures but really he needs to get out of that.

Yes Boogert! Saw her play. She came before Belgium’s Clijstrs and Henin boom. On Peliwo and in fairness to him and the game if he wins a few dubs and singles this week that is momentum and momentum and confidence , and id argue a few true believer fans in the stands matter

We should never underestimate this.

So sure Peliwo CAN make a run and doing it in futures this week may drive his belief and training and coaching options etc. Or superstitions and rituals etc.

I believe that. We’ve seen it in the sport before. Ryan Harrison was at wits end in challengers last year post Wimbledon. And he’s not completely in the clear. But it is FACT that he no longer hovers around the 200s, he got back to 100 in a riveting six months. MISCHAZVEREV, noted favorite against any next generation opponent that is not his talented young brother, faced same thing. The sport was made for comebacks.

But he does need to find what works, stay healthy. I think he also needs to stay with dubs and play better opponents and add a killer shot as Kerber did. Max his current game and improve his consistency. And call Spadea.

A player willing to learn work and embrace competitive match play in the sport will always have a place in pro tennis.

Catherine why no love for Robson. The lta is seriously awful. I am no fan of Ms Bathroom Break Momentum stealer herself Konta. She wins but it’s no picnic to watch. But she wins.

Folks I hit or miss on predictions all the time. Sometimes I see a player and say sheesh that guy is amazing. Example Denis Novikov big game. If see him hit in practice so smooth. But in a match? Lazy feet hasn’t put in the physio and gets tired even in Dubs. So good example or unfortunately example of coasting on one part of game. When saw him he had absolute lock on match but then unraveled. Also one big German player with a huge beautiful game. But hasn’t broken through because movement is bad! As in awful bad speed and more importantly BAD FOOTWORK!!!!!!
Never can tell. And that is before looking at coaching fitness support from family or tennis academies or sponsors or entourage. That is basic what happens in real world matches.

Andrew –

I’ve never rated Robson – always felt she had a few goodish wins before her injury but never seemed to develop. Admit I dislike her style. Can’t stand that witless baselining, not from her or anyone.
Also remember one of Laura’s early coaches parting company because (he said) she did not work hard enough or have a serious approach.

BTW – athough I live in UK now I did not grow up here so have a slightly detached view of British tennis goings on. The LTA is a joke. Konta has done well but she’s not someone I’d make an effort to watch.

Don’t know what’s happened to Radwanska – she’s had some rocky results recently.

Maybe her mind’s elsewhere ?

Konta derserved her win – naturally in the UK some refer to her as ‘the Australian’ 🙂

Guess Robson = UK’s Dennis Novikov. Great form oodles of skill and in need of an Olympic track and field trainer.

Andrew –

It’s ok having Radwanska’s ‘tennis mind’ but she doesn’t seem to put it into physical form on the court, at least in any consistent way.
To me, the main question about Radwanska is how much she ever wanted to put into becoming a dominant player – things like building herself up, conditioning etc, what Kerber did basically.
I suspect Martina N’s rapid departure as R’s coach had something to do with this issue.

Scoop – we’ve had this discussion before re Robson – and agreed she has always been slow and was never keen on hard training but also I don’t believe she has the true natural talent.
If she had it would’ve outed itself by now.

I agree with your Radwanska comment – I think she’s losing interest in some vital way. She’s close friends with Angie but hasn’t learnt from her example.

Scoop-

I respect your views but perhaps we understand ‘extraordinary talent’ differently.

Serena Williams has extraordinary talent – Laura Robson no, although as you say she has time on her side.

I read today that she’s now consulting a psychologist.

Serena who last played a juniors at age 8? PLEASE! Be skeptical of junior glory.

Ram Arevalo was a classic! Ram wins his qualy 8-6 in third.

By winning Auckland, his second title, Sock will move up to his best career ranking at No. 20, just 40 points behind Isner who is at No. 19.

I think Sock could make top 15 this season and continue to move up the rankings next year.