11
Wimbledon Tuesday: Stokes of Genius, Passion and Atomic Power
21 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios, Scoop
By Scoop Malinowski
My friend Harry Cicma, a former Rutgers tennis player and ATP ranked professional texted me that today was the greatest day of tennis he had ever seen.
It’s quite possible tennis reached another echelon today as the ATP heavyweights staged another epic display of jaw-dropping tennis.
It wasn’t just strokes of genius, today was more than that, try strokes of genius, supreme passion and atomic power.
Federer vs Anderson. Kevin Anderson was a player who nobody predicted greatness from. Not one pundit ever took the risk to say Anderson was going to be a contender for majors or win one. Not ONE. Yet Anderson always believed in himself and he proved his greatness again today, confirming his US Open final last year was not a one hit wonder. Anderson outlasted, outsmarted, outhit, and outplayed a top form favorite Roger Federer, saving a match point and prevailing from two sets down, 13-11 in the fifth.
It was another heartbreaker for Federer but there was no shame, Anderson earned it, deserved it and proved he is a terror to have to play. He has the huge serve and he backs it up with smart baseline play. Plus he plays with an edgy intensity. You know Anderson is a bulldog and will not stop until you pull out the tranquilizer gun.
Earlier this year Anderson caught flak for daring to say he believed he was in the Rafa-Fed echelon. Today he backed up those bold words.
At Indian Wells in March, Kevin Anderson dared to say he can play as well as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
“Tennis is a process, I got things going last year in Paris, now I can put myself in the position of winning. My best game is just as good as Federer’s or Nadal’s, they just can play it more often than I do, but I feel I’m getting better at it.”
The six-foot, eight-inch South African certainly did get better at it and he may not stop here. Next up Anderson will face John Isner in the semis, a four-set winner vs Raonic. This is Isner’s first major semi and his emergence this year is another shocker. For the first two months Isner could barely win a match but everything changed finally in Miami when Isner won his first match in Miami, the key moment was grinding out the third set vs Jiri Vesely. From there, Isner won Miami and hasn’t stopped since. Isner holds an 8-3 head to head lead over Anderson, his old NCAA rival.
Novak Djokovic had his hands full with Kei Nishikori, locked at a set each, Djokovic found himself down 0-40 on his serve but somehow raised his game a notch at the most desperate moment, he saved that game and pretty much dominated from that point on, winning in four sets.
Djokovic now gets Nadal, who managed to survive an unbelievable effort by a top form Juan Martin Del Potro, 6-4 in the fifth. Both players were giving it 200%, each falling, diving and flying all over the court, decorating the arena with an astonishing array of genius, power and passion far beyond the norm. I actually wondered a few times if this match was maybe possibly better than Federer vs Nadal 2008. It was that riveting.
At the end, Del Potro fell face first at the baseline and laid there, completely broken and destroyed. He had given it everything, every ounce of his talent, will and passion. There was nothing left. Nadal had to cross the net to embrace him.
It’s hard to imagine anyone beating Nadal right now, he’s at his very very best. He looks unbeatable, playing maybe the best he’s ever played. And Rafa looks a step closer to proving once and for all, the greatest player of all time is not Roger Federer.
Anderson · Djokovic · Federer · Isner · Nadal · Wimbledon
Chazz · July 11, 2018 at 5:08 pm
Anderson deserved to win today but he still deserves flak for saying that his best is every bit as good as Federer’s best and Nadal’s best. That is still a laughable statement.
I’ll stick by my claim before the tournament to watch out for Djokovic and my prediction after Cilic lost that this is Djoker’s tournament to lose.
Scoop Malinowski · July 11, 2018 at 5:40 pm
Anderson not only matched Fed’s best today, he upped the ante and sent Fed home with a royal flush 🙂 I saw no decline in Fed today, I saw Anderson raise his level to another level that Fed could not handle. Incredible display by Anderson, no way around it, no way to deny it. Anderson is not ticket seller and he probably never will be, with his blue collar hard hat court demeanor, but we have to give the man his due, he’s a GREAT tennis player.
Duke Carnoustie · July 11, 2018 at 6:51 pm
Give Ando credit. He said he was the man and now he proved it. I still think he goes down to Isner, who has a point to prove and said he may invite Donald Trump to the biggest match of his career.
Notable too is that two NCAA players will meet in the SW19 semis. That proves NCAA tennis is quality training for the big time.
Give Roger credit. He didn’t blame the Court 1 assignment -unlike his fans on reddit who have their pitchforks out for SW19. Like that woman shrieking at his match.
What a display of tennis bravery though between DelPo and Rafa. Two titans thrilling their Latin fans.
It was a great day to be a tennis fan and John Isner Made American Tennis Great Again!
Scoop Malinowski · July 11, 2018 at 7:05 pm
Correction Dukester, Sock, Serena, Sands, Sandgren, Tiafoe and the Bryans kept American tennis great but General Isner reinforced the battalion with his heroics. I would be shocked if President Trump took Isner’s offer but I love the gesture by General Isner. Delpo vs Rafa was an unbelievable battle, it may have set the record for knockdowns in a tennis match. Delpo surely shed a few tears in the locker room, he gave it more than Kyrgios has given for the last two years.
Duke Carnoustie · July 11, 2018 at 7:12 pm
Right Scoop I was just making a joke since I know many people on social media hate Isner because of his politics even though he is the nicest guy on the planet and has never said a bad word about anybody. Probably the nicest person on that list of players you mentioned.
Kyrgios was probably playing video games today so he didn’t watch the tennis.
Leif Wellington Haase · July 11, 2018 at 7:20 pm
I agree with Scoop…other than the first Super Saturday in 1984 at the US Open (I was at that Open, but missed that day, alas), which featured Smith-Newcombe, Cash-Lendl, Connors-McEnroe, and Evert-Navratilova…that is the best day of men’s tennis I can recall ever having witnessed. And obviously the caliber of today’s tennis is in another mind-blowing dimension, which was on full display.
Djokovic’s return to championship-level form in itself would have been significant, but in context it barely even registered. Anderson played absolutely lights-out from match point down and he hadn’t played badly before: serving from behind in the fifth he had every chance to fold to Federer, and didn’t.
Delpo-Nadal was, of course, what put the day in another category. I couldn’t help thinking what might have been every time I saw Delpo hit a backhand well, but not like his pre-injury form. Nadal’s combination of playing the backhand, drop shots, and net game (which shouldn’t surprise anyone anymore) put him over the top. But it took an immense effort against a player in Delpo, who in short stretches plays at a higher level than anyone in tennis history. (He remains the only player I’ve seen take down Djokovic when Novak was playing at his A+ game.) A 71 minute 6-4 set? I’ve only seen one of those before, the US Open war of attrition between Djokovic and Nadal that, for a while, put Nadal in eclipse.
And not to forget Isner…I first met him when he was playing challengers, and losing in the first round, in places like Yuba City and Shingle Springs, CA. The dedication it has taken him to become the player he is rivals just about any story in tennis, despite his height and size. Anderson, his contemporary, was always more polished and well-rounded but has managed to turn a shaky ground game (he used to have that South African flat forehand that works, mysteriously, at altitude) into a weapon. He’s also improved his serve considerably since he came out of Illinois.
By the way, that Illinois team over a five year period– Anderson, Amer Delic, Rajeev Ram, Brian Wilson, Ryler DeHeart (who won Yuba City, and once played Nadal in the US Open), and Ryan Rowe– was probably the best non-coastal college tennis team in history.
Looking at this Wimbledon, with the players I see in the wings, in five years they won’t be calling it “big men’s tennis”– it will just be “men’s tennis”. But happy to see Mackie McDonald, whom I first saw play when he was four years old, strike a blow for the under 6-footers (he’s listed at 6 feet, but barely 5′ 10″), get to the fourth round, and debut in the top 100.
Duke Carnoustie · July 11, 2018 at 7:45 pm
Watch Djoker’s interview today. He is on a mission. He is probably not happy Fed lost because he would have loved to beat him in his own backyard.
I wonder if Agassi’s barbs fired him up or what but Djoker clearly has the fire back in him. It’s been two long years without a Slam since he won RG and it is time for the big dog to eat!
Chazz · July 11, 2018 at 9:51 pm
Yeah, psycho Djoker is back. That match against Nadal on Friday will be epic.
Duke Carnoustie · July 12, 2018 at 2:44 am
I’ll add that Djoker and Jelena are going strong again judging by some lovey-dovey IG pix. That gives the Serb no excuse now.
It is time for him to take what is rightfully his.
On the other hand, Isner’s marriage has boosted his mental capacity and he has owned the Ando-Kelsey team in the past. Isner is going to play Sunday.
Scoop Malinowski · July 12, 2018 at 9:15 am
Chazz, Djokobeast is not fully back until he beats Rafa or Fed or wins a major. He says he feels very close though and the full recovery could happen vs Rafa. If Djokovic loses in straight sets to Rafa, it means more work and inner beast summoning must be done.
Scoop Malinowski · July 12, 2018 at 9:17 am
I watched this interview with Djokovic Duke and the sparkle is back in his eye and the defiant tone in his voice and demeanor. He could care less about Roger, he just wants to win this tournament.
Scoop Malinowski · July 12, 2018 at 9:19 am
Leif and all, I think Delpo of yesterday would have beaten Roger yesterday. Just like at US Open, we saw top flight Delpo. Top flight Delpo can beat Roger but he can’t beat Rafa. I know this is an assumption but it’s based on experience. Further minute evidence Rafa is superior to Roger?
Hartt · July 12, 2018 at 9:24 am
Kerber won in SS over Ostapenko. Angie played well, served well and had her usual good defense. Penko had her go-for-broke style, with a huge number of winners and UFEs.
So likely a Serena vs Angie final. but after Fed lost yesterday I guess I shouldn’t take a Serena win for granted.
Scoop Malinowski · July 12, 2018 at 9:25 am
Duke, it’s nice to see the Djokovic’s back on the same page and united and animated. Compared to that US Open where she sat like a dead mannequin in the back of the box totally disengaged from the match. It’s also good to not see Senor Peace and Love nowhere in sight.
Scoop Malinowski · July 12, 2018 at 9:26 am
Did anybody notice the lack of TV coverage showing coach Carlos Moya in Rafa’s box? They showed the father Sebastian and the girlfriend Xisca but no Moya, or did I miss it. They showed Carlos Costa and Roig but I never saw Moya or Uncle Toni if Uncle Toni is there. When usual patterns by TV are broken you begin to wonder.
catherine · July 12, 2018 at 9:36 am
Hartt – I posted below about this. And I agree with Scoop that Julia is too respectful of Serena to win. Also there’s no way Julia will want to play Angie in the final. They’ve been friends for most of their lives.
Hartt · July 12, 2018 at 9:59 am
Scoop, Moya was not expected to be at Wimby, word is that he is with his kids, who are on vacation. Am glad he has his priorities straight.
Duke Carnoustie · July 12, 2018 at 12:36 pm
How times change. The priority previously for Moya was as many conquests as possible! I guess we all get older.
Scoop Malinowski · July 12, 2018 at 1:28 pm
For Moya to skip the biggest event of the year makes no sense. Why not go on the vacation a week later? Or maybe it proves Nadal doesn’t need a coach and hasn’t needed any coach for about eight years. This is the first time an elite player didn’t have his coach at Wimbledon because he went away on vacation. Something fishy here.
Leif Wellington Haase · July 12, 2018 at 6:44 pm
Scoop, I agree with you completely…both Rafa and Delpo would have beaten Roger yesterday and when both are healthy and hitting on all cylinders I’d make them favorites over Roger too (though not Djokovic, though it is true that when a zoning Delpo beat prime Djokovic at Indian Wells a few years back he succumbed to Nadal in the final)
Incidentally, you reminded me why I always underrate Nadal and am resistant to him being the GOAT. I do think the GOAT is basically a lifetime achievement award and with Federer owning the most Grand Slams as well as having the most titles, or tied for the most, at three venues he deserves the imaginary crown. And I think the best player of all time (which I count as the highest-level consistent play over at least six months) belongs to the Djokovic of 2015 and possibly 2011, when his serve was a bit better.
However, since Rafa clearly wins in a half a dozen categories or more:
–best clay courter of all time, best defender of all time, best movement of all time, player you’d most want playing if your life was at stake, and more…why not the greatest of all time?
Other than an awards-based criteria, for me it comes down to admitted prejudice, which data may one day cure. I’m biased against defensive-minded players and prefer either big servers with a decent ground game or all-court baseliners with a decent serve (namely everyone else who belongs in the tennis pantheon). Nadal is truly unique. It drives me crazy that players haven’t been able to attack his mediocre serve more successfully or take advantage of his return positioning, but his unorthodox strengths best even the high points of great orthodox play.
With one more Wimbledon and perhaps a hard court major I think it could be case closed for Nadal as the GOAT. (However, if Djokovic can win this tournament and go on a run of 3 of 4 or 3 of 5 Slams before the kids finally take over– they do have to, don’t they?– he will be back in the GOAT mix as well. So they are playing tomorrow for history in addition to all the usual motivations.)
Scoop Malinowski · July 12, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Leif, they may never take over. We all thought Dimitrov would invite himself to the elite pantheon but he never got there. And right now it looks like Thiem Shap and Zverev are taking the Dimitrov route. It’s still early but there has to be some concerns with Rafa Delpo and Djokovic looking so strong right now. My money is on Tsitsipas being the one who breaks through first. But I’m not running to the betting parlor just yet. Nadal is going to be considered the GOAT when all is said and done, he will pass Federer. The one threat to him though is Djokovic who could catch fire for the next few years as he looks to have his head back on right.