steven wrote:I also noticed that he looked a lot happier when they had lost points than when they had won them, which is something that someone also remarked upon in his singles match. I wonder though if that's more a defence mechanism rather than him really not caring ... as if someone has trained him to smile and put a bad point behind him rather than taking it out on the flowerpots or similar. Maybe I'm just being naive, but things aren't always as they seem.
I have watched Dan play at least a dozen times, probably closer to twenty, in the last two years and I have never seen him act like that. His normal response to playing bad points ranges from expressing mild annoyance to absolute fury. If what he has being doing here is some kind of attempt not to show his true feelings then he is following some truly awful advice that goes completely against his nature. Dan is at his best when he is fired up, yes there are times when he goes to far, but that is part and parcel of his character.
To be honest I remain totally baffled by what happened Monday night. It really makes no sense at all, even by Dan's unpredictable standards.
steven wrote:I also noticed that he looked a lot happier when they had lost points than when they had won them, which is something that someone also remarked upon in his singles match. I wonder though if that's more a defence mechanism rather than him really not caring ... as if someone has trained him to smile and put a bad point behind him rather than taking it out on the flowerpots or similar. Maybe I'm just being naive, but things aren't always as they seem.
I have watched Dan play at least a dozen times, probably closer to twenty, in the last two years and I have never seen him act like that. His normal response to playing bad points ranges from expressing mild annoyance to absolute fury. If what he has being doing here is some kind of attempt not to show his true feelings then he is following some truly awful advice that goes completely against his nature. Dan is at his best when he is fired up, yes there are times when he goes to far, but that is part and parcel of his character.
To be honest I remain totally baffled by what happened Monday night. It really makes no sense at all, even by Dan's unpredictable standards.
Dan's just tweeted something on the lines of "bad day on the court, but still very happy camper". Cryptic. I thought his demeanour was over-relaxed, and once again he was speeding through his service games......even starting his action before the returner was settled on some points. He is giving off the impression that it doesn't matter, and I don't think its just a mental ruse to keep himself relaxed. Something is "up" probably. James looked excellent until that break against in the second set, when frankly Dan lost the game all on his own.