Week 12 - ATP Masters 1000 - Miami, USA (Hard)

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: Week 12 - ATP Masters 1000 - Miami, USA (Hard)

SMC1809 · All-time great

Apart from his first service game, I think he's played very well.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Home & dry - eventually - by 4 & 3, having been broken when serving for the match & then squandered several MPs in Cilic's final service game...! disbelief smile

RJA · Hall of fame

After a shocking start he played pretty well. Semifinal will be tomorrow night 7pm in Miami (11PM GMT)

MiloTheCat · Lower Club Player

Did anyone see a backhand down the line? I feel it has gone missing again in what I've seen lately. Quite a few rallies could have been won more easily.

It is so strange that the signature shot of his early years has become such a rare sight. When you do see it these days it is usually played a yard inside the side line rather than threaded near to the line the way I remember.

indiana · Tennis legend

MiloTheCat wrote:
Did anyone see a backhand down the line? I feel it has gone missing again in what I've seen lately. Quite a few rallies could have been won more easily.
It is so strange that the signature shot of his early years has become such a rare sight. When you do see it these days it is usually played a yard inside the side line rather than threaded near to the line the way I remember.

I did hear Lendl being interviewed today and one thing he thought had improved during his time with Andy was Andy's forehand. He didn't mention the backhand ! I think he is right about the forehand and you are right about the backhand.

One other thing he thought was better is that he feels Andy sees off opponents more straightforwardly these days. Again I'd generally agree, particularly in the Slams, which is a good habit to have got into to help conserve energy.

Seems to generally still be very happy working with Andy. He'd had his morning game of golf so was quite chilled for Ivan.

MiloTheCat · Lower Club Player

did he mention the 2nd serve?

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Got home just in time for match point! So I have just finished watching it after rewinding the livestream. And even then our daughter arrived for Easter before the end, so I missed bits. Interesting to hear you all say he was playing well - that wasn't my impression, but whatever - he still won in straights. I'm worried about Berdych or Gasquet, though. Gasquet seems to have got over a lot of his flakiness.

indiana · Tennis legend

Don't think Lendl said anything about Andy's serve.

I have heard a pundit recently suggesting Andy's second serve is a bit better. My own impression is that during last year and this both his first and second serve have improved, and I am one who has had a lot of criticism of Andy's serve in the past, particularly that second serve.

RJA · Hall of fame

Gasquet currently beating Berdych 6-3, 4-1*

RJA · Hall of fame

Gasquet won 3 and 3. He was very impressive but Berdych did make it easy for him.

Ratty · County player

MiloTheCat wrote:
Did anyone see a backhand down the line? I feel it has gone missing again in what I've seen lately. Quite a few rallies could have been won more easily.
It is so strange that the signature shot of his early years has become such a rare sight. When you do see it these days it is usually played a yard inside the side line rather than threaded near to the line the way I remember.

Ah, the good old backhand down the line. Spectacular, most definitely. But it's also a low percentage high risk shot played over the highest part of the net.

And of course its value is more as a threat, to keep your opponent aware - during those gruelling backhand-to-backhand exchanges - that you MIGHT every now-&-then switch direction, so he'd better not get TOO comfortable over in the corner of the court. And if he doesn't dare to get too comfortable, then of course that makes it impossible to hit a winner down-the-line, so there's no point in playing it - because if you don't hit a winner, your opponent has a nice angle to put you under pressure over on your forehand side.

It does sort of make me wonder why - Andy being the very epitome of a cerebral tennis player - we pundits think we know better than him ...

smile

korriban · Challenger level

Cheer up Ratty!

There's a difference between "used sparingly for surprise" and "missing in action". To be fair, in recent times the backhand down the line (ooh aah!) has been more MIA, one feels. I certain miss it, but welcome his improved forehand power and shape even more

But none of this compares to the aesthetic majesty of the Gasquet backhand. Instead of retreating 6-8 feet behind the baseline, he changed it up yesterday and played 10-12 feet behind the baseline!!! And launched BH after BH past a hapless Berd, which shouldn't be possible, of course, but happened regularly. Ooh aah indeed!

I don't think RG will ever win a GS, but I hope he does one day, and backing him is a bit like having Brazil or Barcelona as your second team (except that they win big more often than not).....maybe he's the Harlem Globetrotter of tennis......great fun, looks awesome, but would be beaten by all the top players day in day out.

korriban · Challenger level

Win or lose today, how beautifully is Tommy Haas playing? Variety, all court action, killer slices, great winners. Joyous!

RJA · Hall of fame

korriban wrote:
Win or lose today, how beautifully is Tommy Haas playing? Variety, all court action, killer slices, great winners. Joyous!

Started beautifully but has now totally fallen to pieces. One set all