Mmmm....I'd have to ask my wife....I'd be really tempted....but I am busy at work too....I think not unless I go with a friend and we make it a lightning visit.
Montana Doug wrote: Mmmm....I'd have to ask my wife....I'd be really tempted....but I am busy at work too....I think not unless I go with a friend and we make it a lightning visit.
Come on Doug...what a chance to see Tim....especially the fact that ATP Montana only exists in your mind...get a friend and go man !!!!!
Opps....I didn't make myself clear....my wife and I were watching Henman practice....he was not hitting with my wife....
The Roddick Henman match was the best match I have seen live period. Just a great match. I was so excited to be there. No one around me (all Americans) thought Henman would play that well and even win. I thought he had a fair chance although I did not favor him. I was not able to go back for the Semi, which was an easy match, or the final.
Strange, Indian Wells is dry year round....but Cinci is humid and hot esp in August. I think Henman likes to play in Miami as his family is there, but by far I'd guess the dry heat of LA or Indian Wells or Dubai would be better for his game. It is strange that he has done so well in Wash DC & Cinci, although he has done well in Miami too, his game is set up for the desert.
I see ! I was thinking, I know Henman's a great guy but not many pros would spend part of their practise session hitting with a spectator at a major tournament !!!
I remember reading that Tim played a superb tactical match against Roddick, really attacking his backhand a lot and at that time Roddick's technique on his backhand passing shots wasn't that good. Tim's got a good record against a lot of big servers because he tends to block his returns and so makes a very high percentage of them.
It's strange how Tim hasn't done so well in Miami, he has been unlucky there several times though. I remember he got to the quarters in 1999 or 2000 and he played Agassi in an absolute thriller. Tim missed something like 3 match points in the 3rd set tiebreak before eventually losing it 11-9. In 2002, he got to the 4th round there before having to retire after the first set against Federer, that was a real shame as at that time, Tim had such a big psychological advantage over Fed, he probably would have won that one. The main masters series events where Tim has underachieved to an extent are Toronto/Montreal and Madrid. For some reason I don't think he's been past rd3 in either. It's especially weird with Madrid as the balls really fly because the arena's at altitude and so you'd think it'd suit Tim's game down to the ground.
Henman tends to play best when it's really hot as the ball fly through the air and off the courts faster. He struggles more when it's damp and conditions are slow...like the two matches he had against Tursunov in the slams last year.
How well has he done in LA ? I don't think he's played there for quite a while as he always takes 3-4 weeks off after Wimbledon. Think he's been to the latter stages in Indianapolis several times
Ahhhh....see you young guys....let me educate you....and all this is without checking scores at an ATP site I promise you....he has not done bad at Miami at all....I think it was 1998 he got to the Semis and lost to Rios...it may have been 1999, but he took Rios to a third after two close sets but Rios walked the third...still a good result as I think that was the year Rios won Indian Wells and then Miami to be the #1 player in the world without winning a major.
Tim played LA once that I remember....it was the Summer of 1998....my wife and I took a mini vacation down at Newport Beach and I really wanted to go up to LA but romantic get aways are not to be interupted....anyway, there was an angry match with Turango....well Jeff was angry and Henman lost in the final against a guy from LA called Andre. I think that was the only time Tim played in LA and did well....Vegas air will help his game, although he has been off for what? Four months.
Oh and Drew....I would, but being that I have the tennis channel and that they sponsor the Vegas event we get morning to evening tennis. It is so hard to drive that far for that event when you know you will get to see the matches at home. Believe it or not, you will get four hours a day from Indian Wells max on ESPN2 if you are lucky....for Vegas it will be wall to wall live coverage.
I would go down, but these next two weeks are so huge for me, if I found a cheap flight I'd do it. Besides...in some ways I hate Vegas....Indian Wells/Palm Springs is a lovely place to visit in March, esp if you play golf and want to play tennis on grass courts.
You know, if you ever visit SoCal you can play on the courts at Indian Wells for $10 for a whole afternoon....any court you want for as long as you want except the Stadium Court, the big one etc. That works out to about five pounds and 50p. Amazing deal if you come out here and I can tell you where the grass courts, clay courts are too, although they are a little more $$$$....you'll pay about 12 pounds for them....lol