I'll answer some of what Steven says, hopefully not to numb inducing length that I can be guilty of Anyway, I basically stick to my thoughts..
No doubt there was a bit of "hamming it up" going on, something that of course goes on on this forum and I join in with at times and maybe I would have understood that more if we were talking about an in-form Boggo playing a much lower ranked player. However, in this case, I am afraid Steven's comments during the match do read just as too much cynicism about Boggo and how he handled himself in this tennis match. As was clear I myself got very frustrated at time, but particularly in the third set I felt I was riding with a guy giving it his all. He lost some decent positions in the match, if you want to use the word "choker" so be it.
Of course we didn't actually see the match or how he played, but my feeling was it just came across as so critical as to leave an unfair impression of how things had transpired. Steven's description of how the actual points and games went over the match is accurate ( thanks to anyone who does that for others by the way, my typing is generally not good enough to ever do more than game by game ) so that is there together with the match stats on ATP if anyone cares to look.
I think we'd all agree that Boggo hasn't been in any great form lately and that to me is the main reason that he lost. Personally, I'd really love him to do much better and climb these rankings and as some others have shown in the past, it is not too late. He has the ability and frustration about the that can be maybe why it is possible to go over the top in comments during a particular match, as I think Steven did last night.
Let's remember Steven often struggles to perform in late night matches. He's much more suited to short tactical rat-a-tat-tat morning posts than the long slog that took place last night. But let's bear in mind the form of all posters vary over time - and it's already been a very long season. Perhaps a break from the board would re-invigorate this sometimes incredibly skilled poster, or perhaps, sadly, maybe he is now past his awesome peak - this is the sad truth that will come to all forum members some day.
It's almost guaranteed that his No.1 ranking would survive a month or so away from the board. It would take a monumental effort during the late summer season from Johnnylad, Drew or Count Zero to catch him, and with none of them showing any great form at the moment I really can't see that happening. Since the Shedman's retirement he really hasn't had any sort of rival - perhaps the great man is getting sloppy.
But though and of course indeed, we've all heard about the rumours that Steven and his long time posting-coach, "Sunglasses" Rabbit, have not been seeing eye to eye lately. And turmoil from such situations can affect any poster's form. Maybe Steven needs to make a clean break from "Sunglasses" before his form hits any lower.
Personally I would love to see him regain the form he had in 2008 (pre-Rabbit), some of his posting back then was truly inspired.
Steven has had many blips in his career in the past - but in the end it's down to himself to show if he has the determination to get over this one (or not)..
-- Edited by Akhenaten on Tuesday 3rd of August 2010 07:29:25 PM
Blimey! Lester bloody Cook's conjured another bunny out of the hat: he & his compatriot, David Martin, have just seen off the top seeds, Jordan Kerr & Michael Kohlmann, by 5-7 7-6(4) [10-7] in the first round of the doubles!