Week 35-36: US Open - Hard

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

RE: Week 35-36: US Open - Hard

RJA · Hall of fame

Madeline wrote:
The really annoying thing is, if Andy did come through and won the tournament, the haters would be able to say "Fluke - he didn't have to beat Federer or Nadal". Worse still if Delpo puts Djoker out. Now THAT would be a good result for Andy if he does get through Berdy.

In which case just remind them who Federer and Nadal beat in the final of their first slam wins.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I'll do that! Oh, I'll happily take a "fluke" win, but maybe stay away from MTF for the sake of my blood pressure. Anyway I would know it wasn't really a fluke - beating Berdych is a challenge for Andy.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Madeline wrote:
The really annoying thing is, if Andy did come through and won the tournament, the haters would be able to say "Fluke - he didn't have to beat Federer or Nadal". Worse still if Delpo puts Djoker out. Now THAT would be a good result for Andy if he does get through Berdy.

My answer to those people is always this. "OK, so Andy didn't have to beat Federer. He had to beat the person that beat Federer which technically is more difficult !!"

Personally, who cares - as long as he wins.

RJA · Hall of fame

Madeline wrote:
I'll do that! Oh, I'll happily take a "fluke" win, but maybe stay away from MTF for the sake of my blood pressure. Anyway I would know it wasn't really a fluke - beating Berdych is a challenge for Andy.

I only every visit MTF for the comedy value.

Mikeduke · County player

Great win.

I always think that Andy is the hardest player to predict the form of, if he had lost last night then it would have been disappointing but I wouldn't think it would be a massive surprise. Most of the other players you can see are playing in a certain way and then carry on that way.

You never seem to know what you are going to get with Andy, but at least now he can turn around when he is struggling and do something that changes the game round. I feel like in the past this is something he struggled with, but obviously something is driving him through (confidence in winning gold, Ivan, or just experience of being there so many times)

RJA · Hall of fame

Mikeduke wrote:
Great win.

I always think that Andy is the hardest player to predict the form of, if he had lost last night then it would have been disappointing but I wouldn't think it would be a massive surprise. Most of the other players you can see are playing in a certain way and then carry on that way.

Actually I would have been very surprised. Andy's consistency at Grand Slams is exceptional. Even though he struggles in plenty of matches like this he almost always finds a way through. Even at 3-6, *1-5 I still expected him to win the match. In his last 8 Grand Slams he has been beaten by one of the "big 3" in the semis or final on 7 occasions and the one other loss was Ferrer in the QF at the French which wasn't really an upset.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Madeline wrote:
Andy's should be first, as his half has been playing first. I do hope the weather is not hot and humid. Anybody see a coincidence that Andy played better as the match went on - and the day wore on into evening? Poor matches in rounds 1 and 3 in the day, good matches in rounds 2 and 4 in the evening, and a mixed one at the one which started in the day and finished in the evening!

Weather is likely to be warm, hotter than yesterday, but not as hot as the end of last week. Being on Ashe should be a positive, but being the 1pm kickoff not so. Never been at his best against Berdych in the past, but when it matters on Saturday strongly fancy him to get the job done, and hopefully whoever comes through the bottom half will have had to play some long matches and will be a little bit tired come Sunday.

Mikeduke · County player

Sorry if I missed this. If Andy beats Berdych does he go above Rafa?

RJA · Hall of fame

Mikeduke wrote:
Sorry if I missed this. If Andy beats Berdych does he go above Rafa?

Yes. Although unless he goes on to win the final he will have to do very well during the Asian swing to stay above him.

philwrig · Hall of fame

RJA wrote:
Mikeduke wrote:
Sorry if I missed this. If Andy beats Berdych does he go above Rafa?

Yes. Although unless he goes on to win the final he will have to do very well during the Asian swing to stay above him.

Another caveat though is whether Rafa will actually return to action this year.

RJA · Hall of fame

philwrig wrote:
RJA wrote:
Mikeduke wrote:
Sorry if I missed this. If Andy beats Berdych does he go above Rafa?

Yes. Although unless he goes on to win the final he will have to do very well during the Asian swing to stay above him.
Another caveat though is whether Rafa will actually return to action this year.

Rafa has already said he will miss the Asian swing. At absolute most he will play Paris and London so Andy should definately end the year at number 3 (or higher) unless he also suffers injury problems.

Armchair · County player

Mats Wilanders take on last nights match was very accurate (R5L).

The conditions on Louis Armstrong didn't favour Andy, the time didn't suit him, lack of crowd participation and a ludicrous slow start to proceedings definitely didn't help.
But Mats just didn't see him losing even at a set and breaks down and still expected Andy to turn it around.
So well done Mats a realistic appraisal of the situation on court and Andy's handling of it. Well informed commentary not just wall to wall filler.

They should have just given Tarango 20 dollars to go off and get popcorn and locked the door to the commentary box.

I love to watch Berdych on form, I'd prefer he wasn't too on form against Andy but it will be a great match I'm sure.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
philwrig wrote:
RJA wrote:
Mikeduke wrote:
Sorry if I missed this. If Andy beats Berdych does he go above Rafa?

Yes. Although unless he goes on to win the final he will have to do very well during the Asian swing to stay above him.
Another caveat though is whether Rafa will actually return to action this year.
Rafa has already said he will miss the Asian swing. At absolute most he will play Paris and London so Andy should definately end the year at number 3 (or higher) unless he also suffers injury problems.

Kind of hoping he might squeeze Valencia in as a warm up before Paris, but I am not holding my breath.

Spectator · All-time great

An intriguing question for the Saturday schedulers. If it seems likely, based on prior form, that a particular match time would suit a particular contestant, what do they do? If Murray's semi were going to be Murray/Federer, it would be almost guaranteed to be the later match-up. But this way both sessions will feature one known quantity and one less-well-known quantity. Who knows what will happen?

One does have to feel for Berdych. He has beaten Federer twice in two years at the QFs of slams and has made a slam final. He's been top-10 for two years and within the top twenty for the better part of six. And then in his press conference a reporter links his victory over Federer with Rosol's over Nadal. Ummm.....